Courtesy Brian Claypool(CALIMESA, Calif.) -- The family of a 13-year-old California girl who committed suicide plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the school district, accusing the girl's middle school of failing to stop the bullying that the family says led to her death.



On Nov. 28, Rosalie Avila hanged herself in her bedroom "following months of relentless verbal abuse and bullying from classmates," a press release from the family's attorney, Brian Claypool, states.



Avila attended Mesa View Middle School in Calimesa in Southern California, ABC Los Angeles stationKABC reported. There, classmates would taunt her and call her names, including "whore" and "slut," Claypool said. Avila's peers would also call her ugly, tell her she had ugly teeth and sexually transmitted diseases, Claypool alleges.



In addition to the verbal abuse, classmates doctored a video "portraying what an ugly girl looked like and what a pretty girl looked like," using Avila's photo to represent the ugly girl, Claypool said in the press release, claiming that the video went viral.



"In her suicide note, Rosalie apologized to her parents for being ugly," the press release states.



Earlier this month, Avila's mother, Charlene Avila, told KABC that her daughter kept a list in her journal of people who hurt her, called her ugly or put her down.



Avila's father, Fred Avila, told KABC that she would come home and complain that kids were "calling her names about her teeth." When he would remind her that her braces would come off one day, she responded, "Yeah, but my teeth are straight and they're still making fun of me," Fred Avila said.



In October, Avila began cutting herself, Claypool said. The family's attorney claims the school did not intervene despite allegedly knowing of the struggles Avila was facing.



"The school was not only aware of the bullying, but also of Rosalie cutting herself and did nothing," according to the press release.



Claypool will announce the filing of the lawsuit on behalf of Avila's parents during a press conference Monday. He alleges that the school was negligent in its "failure to take appropriate measures to safeguard Rosalie as a victim of bullying and ensure her safety" as well as its failure to "take action against the bullies."



In an initial statement on Dec. 1, the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District said it was "saddened" by Avila's death and that crisis counselors were available to students.



"The communities of Yucaipa and Calimesa have proven to be caring, united, active, supportive communities in all manner of events, whether joyful or sorrowful," the initial statement read. "The District earnestly believes and hopes that those qualities will continue to come to bear here as we are all committed to the well-being and support of everyone in the YCJUSD family."



Days later, on Dec. 4, the school district released another statement saying that it was cooperating with investigators over the bullying allegations. The school district also said that "false" information had spread in response to the news of Avila's death.



"Sadly, as the public learns about this tragedy, false rumors and social media posts disrespecting Rosalie and her family have begun to spread," the statement read. "These posts are being handled by the appropriate authority."



In the second statement, the school district also emphasized that it is "committed to maintaining a positive, inclusive school culture that enables our students to grow academically and socially. This issue requires all of us to work together, to watch for signs and intervene when we see problems. It is more essential than ever that we all come together, united in our commitment for the safety and well-being of our children."



Links to suicide prevention awareness and the school district's bullying policy are now featured prominently on the school district's website.



Claypool and Avila's family plan to propose new legislation called Rosie's law that will advocate for stricter bullying laws to treat verbal abuse in the same manner as physical abuse "so that school districts will begin having harsher punishments for the perpetrators of bullying rather than shielding the bullies."



In a statement to ABC News, Claypool said that words can be "lethal weapons."



"Until school districts nationwide step up and implement legitimate anti-bullying programs and on-campus suicide prevention programs, rampant bullying and suicide will worsen," Claypool said. "Public image is more important to many school districts than student safety. Current anti-bullying laws and policies often protect the bully more so than the victim.



A community vigil in Avila's honor will be held on Monday evening.



Neither the school district nor the San Bernardino Police Department, which is handling the case, immediately responded to ABC News' request for comment.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Brian E. Miller first learned about duty and honor from a retired colonel who loved the beach.

My grandfather was the biggest influence, the Carlisle native said of Thomas Neier, a World War II veteran. He would tell us some stories about West Point and being in the Army.

The old soldier reinforced his eyewitness accounts with artifacts he kept from assignments with coastal artillery and air defense units. The memories had an impression on Miller, a 1986 Carlisle High School graduate recently promoted to brigadier general.

I feel very honored and blessed, said Miller, an Army Reserve officer now living in Red Bank, New Jersey. I feel humbled by the trust placed upon me and the responsibility that comes with the position.

As deputy commander of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, Miller oversees 12,000 Army Reserve engineers in 26 states in the eastern U.S. The 412th provides senior-level engineering support and guidance to armies and regional commands.

Korea

Earlier this month, Miller traveled to South Korea where he met with other Army engineers to review the challenges in terrain both to facilitate the movement of U.S. forces and its allies and to contain any advance by North Korean forces. There have been heightened tensions in recent months over the North launching missiles in support of its developing nuclear weapons program.

I didnt see any apprehension or fear, Miller said of his visit to the peninsula. I saw a very professional group of people. Were always preparing to be ready to fight and win our nations war.  Korea is no different.

After graduating from Carlisle, Miller enrolled in ROTC at Duke University where he earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and materials science in 1990. He then earned a masters degree in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University in 1992.

Miller has been in the Army Reserves for most of his 27 years in the military. From the start, he wanted the life of a citizen-soldier who held down a civilian job but served his country when called upon.

I appreciate the concept of the musket behind the door, Miller said referring to the Armys colonial origins.

Career path

In the course of his Army career, Miller deployed to Bosnia in 1995-96 and 2001-02, Iraq in 2004-05 and Afghanistan in 2014-15. As an adviser, he helped to build an engineering capability within the Iraqi army and to establish better processes and procedures for an Afghani two-star Army general to run and maintain ground facilities.

Over the years, Miller earned a masters degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 2001 and a masters degree in strategic studies from the Army War College distance education program in 2014.

I needed every year of experience, Miller said referring to his Nov. 18 promotion to general. The Army has provided me with deployments, positions and jobs that have been great for preparing me for that next step.

As a civilian, Miller works for the Public Service Enterprise Group, a power production company and electric and natural gas utility. Based out of Hicksville, New York, he is director of procurement for the PSEG Long Island electrical grid.
Troops of paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), stationed along the India-Bangladesh border at Akhaura exchanged sweets with each other on the occasion of Vijay Diwas (Victory Day).

After the flag retreat ceremony between the two border guards, Commandant (CO) of BSF 120 battalion Subrata Singh on Saturday exchanged sweets with BGB official Badrar Uddin Company Commander of Akhaura.

"During the 1971 Bangladesh's Liberation War our nation played a vital role in their independence. So this day is very important for them as they got victory in the liberation war. We the BSF, army and a nation as a whole during that time showed how a nation can come forward to helping its neighbour and improve their relation. On this auspicious day we are conveying greeting and sweets on behalf of BSF and India with Bangladesh," Singh said.

To enhance bilateral relations, the exchange of sweets between India and Bangladesh along the border in Tripura is an old and traditional gesture.

India and Bangladesh celebrate December 16 as 'Vijay Diwas' every year to mark their military victory over Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which eventually led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A student of Class 11th, has been arrested on charges of molesting a girl, studying in Class 5th in a school bus.

Both the students are studying in a renowned school in Noida.

According to police authorities, the matter was brought to their notice after the girl's family filed a complaint at the Indirapuram Police Station in Ghaziabad.

More details are awaited.

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Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati on Sunday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron over his tough stance toward Tehran, saying he should not "blindly" follow United States President Donald Trump.

The local media quoted Velayati as saying, "To sustain its international credibility, France should not blindly follow the Americans ... The French president is now acting as Trump's lapdog."

Earlier in November, President Macron expressed concerns over Iran's missile programme.

Macron had also hinted at possible sanctions on Tehran as he called for a firm stance over ballistic missile program.

Velayati also slammed the U.N. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley after she claimed that debris of a missile at a military base in Washington had been made by Iran and used on November 4 by Yemen's Houthi group to target an airport near Riyadh.

"This claim shows she lacks basic scientific knowledge and decency. She is like her boss (Trump) as he also says baseless, ridiculous things. Iran has not supplied Yemen with any missile," Velayati said.

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Eight people, including two women, were killed and several others were injured in a suicide attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church located on Quetta's Zarghoon Road on Sunday.

Geo News quoted Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti as saying that two suicide bombers stormed the church, one of whom was shot dead at the entrance and the other suicide bomber blew himself up outside the church hall.

According to Quetta DIG Abdul Razzaq Cheema a search operation was underway as two other terrorists were on the run after the attack.

At least 400 people were reportedly present inside the church at the time of the attack.

"The suicide bombers were unable to enter the main building of the church. If they were able to do this and we did not have security deployed to neutralise them, they would have caused a lot of damage," a senior police official was quoted as saying.

The church was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called the attack as an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations and create religious cleavages.

Condemning the terrorist attack, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain expressed grief at the loss of innocent lives and directed authorities to ensure best medical treatment possible for the injured.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the attack and urged the government to ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches.

In recent past, this was fourth such attack.

A suicide attack on two churches in Lahore's Youhanabad neighbourhood killed 15 people and injured more than 70 on March 15, 2015.

In an attack in 2013, 80 people were killed and 100 were wounded in twin explosions at All Saint's Church at Peshawar's Kohati gate.

About 2.5 million Christians are estimated to be living in Pakistan.

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A day ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election results, Congress workers were seen monitoring strong rooms, where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) are kept, after the party voiced fears of discrepancies during counting.



The counting of votes for the two-phase Gujarat Assembly election began at 8 am on Monday.

The Congress workers are guarding the strong rooms across the state to prevent any tampering with the results.





One of the party workers told ANI, "We are guarding the strong rooms across the state where EVMs, VVPATs are kept, to check and prevent any tampering."

The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of tampering with the EVMs.

On Saturday, the Supreme Court dismissed the Congress' plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to count and cross verify at least 25 per cent of VVPATs with votes cast with EVMs.



ALSO READ: Gujarat 2017 poll results to decide strategies of Cong, BJP in Karnataka



The state saw aggressive campaigning from the Congress Party and the BJP, both leaving no stone unturned to ensure victory.

While a majority of exit polls have predicted BJP's win, the Congress is hopeful of bagging the Patidar votes and unseating the BJP, which has been governing the state for the past 22 years.
The Hindu Jagaran Manch has warned schools in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh to not to celebrate Christmas.

As per the members of the Hindu outfit, celebrating Christmas is a step towards religious conversion.

Sonu Savita, the 'mahanagar' president of Hindu Jagaran Manch, alleged that the activity of taking toys and gifts to schools will affect the mentality of students.

Speaking to ANI, Savita said, "We have directed the schools not to impose Christian celebrations to Hindu kids because these actions indirectly lead to religious conversion. These activities also affect the students' mental condition."

Savita further warned the schools, if they continue such activities, the outfit will protest against the schools.

"As of now we have requested the schools to follow the directives, however, if such activities do not stop we will protest. The Hindu Jagaran Manch believes that it falls under the category of conversion if Hindus are suppressed for joining such kind of such programs, then we will take legal action against it," added Savita.

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The Indian Air Force bid adieu to the MI-8 helicopter, also known as the PRATAP in the phasing out ceremony held today at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru.

MI-8s served for 45 years after their induction into the Indian Air Force helicopter inventory in 1972, and is currently being phased out. The MI-8 helicopter arrived in India in the year 1971, in Mumbai. Between 1971 and 1988, the IAF inducted 107 MI-8 helicopters, rechristened as the PRATAP.

PRATAP was inducted in ten operational helicopter units and it operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The helicopter also operated extensively in humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the length and breadth of the country. The MI-8 has also been associated with VIP/VVIP flying for over decades.

PRATAP has also been the backbone of medium lift combat capability of IAF and served as an ideal platform for graduation of professional Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) aircrew from No. 112 Helicopter Unit (112HU), the alma-mater of all MLHs.

112HU, based here at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, is the last unit to operate this formidable platform, and has a record of passing out 119 pilot courses, 89 Flight Engineering courses and 57 Flight gunner courses.

The phasing-out ceremony of PRATAP was concluded at the sunset, and was attended by veterans headed by Air Chief Marshall (Retd) Fali Homi Major PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC. He flew the last MI-8 mission along with CO 112HU.

Air Marashal SRK Nair PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF was the chief guest on the occasion. Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, VM, Commandant NDA, the senior most MI-8 helicopter was also present on the occasion.

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Welcoming the additional economic, medical and civic support from New Delhi to Kabul, the Pentagon has told the United States Congress that India is Afghanistan's "most reliable regional partner".

The Pentagon in its report to the Congress titled 'Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan', stated that, "India is Afghanistan's most reliable regional partner and the largest contributor of development assistance in the region," reported Afghan's news agency Khaama Press.

This assistance includes civil development projects such as the Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam and the Afghan parliament building, the report added.

According to the Pentagon, India provides significant training opportunities for Afghan officers and enlisted personnel. Approximately 130 Afghans travel to India each year to attend various military academy and commissioning programs.

Earlier, on December 5, a batch of female officers of the Afghanistan's air force and military left for India for training purpose.

"India has also donated limited security assistance, most notably four Mi-35 aircraft," the report said.

On that note, India has played a vital role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime and has invested over USD 2 billion in various projects.

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Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said he was ready to enter into an alliance with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) for Islamabad's 'safety and security'.

This statement has come almost a month after he claimed he was the biggest supporter of the two parties.

"They (LeT and JuD men) are patriotic people, they have laid their lives for Pakistan, who can object if they form a political party," ARY News quoted Musharraf, as saying.

So far the two parties have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection, he added.

He further said, "I am a liberal and a moderate but that doesn't mean that I detest religious elements, I am the biggest supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba and I know that they too like me, the people from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)."

Musharraf, a month back, had said he liked the global terrorist, JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, and had met him.

The former president added he was always in favour of terrorist action in Kashmir, and the LeT and the JuD were the biggest forces to take on the Indian Army in the state.

The US had strongly condemned the release of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest and called for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution.

Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people, was released on November 24 after a Pakistan judicial body ordered his release from house arrest, rejecting a request from the government of Punjab to extend his detention by three months.

Meanwhile, last month, Musharraf announced to lead a grand alliance of 23 political parties, including the Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sunni Itehad Council, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, Muslim Conference (Kashmir), PML-Junejo, PML-Council, PML- National, Awami League, Millat Party, Jamiat Ulma Pakistan (Niazi Group), Aam Loug Party, Aam Admi Party, Pakistan Masawat Party, Pakistan Minority Party, and Social Justice Democratic Party.

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A lawyer for the Trump presidential transition team has accused special counsel Robert Mueller of unlawfully obtaining tens of thousands of emails as part of its Russia probe.

The lawyer, Kory Langhofer wrote to House and Senate committees on Saturday.

Transition team's attorney, in the seven-page letter, alleges "unlawful conduct" by the career staff at the General Services Administration (GSA) in handing over transition documents to the special counsel's office, reported Fox News.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is a government agency which was used for email hosting in the period between Donald Trump's election and his inauguration in 2017.

The GSA is reported to have supplied these records to Mueller's investigation team in the summer.

Langhofer wrote in the letter that the Special Counsel's Office "was actively using those materials without any notice" to transition officials.

"The materials produced by the GSA to the Special Counsel's Office therefore included materials protected by the attorney-client privilege, the deliberative process privilege, and the presidential communications privilege," the letter maintains.

The emails in question involve 13 transition officials, including four senior ones, according to the letter.

Responding to the accusations on Sunday, a spokesman for Mueller Peter Carr told Fox News, "When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process.

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The most important poll number to come out this week had nothing to do with defeated Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. It had to do with Fox News and Donald Trump. Well get to the numbers in a minute.

First: some disclosure. Im a Fox contributor and a Trump skeptic (aka a former Never Trumper). That makes this an awkward column to write, for reasons that should be fairly obvious.

Regardless, I dont think I am revealing any state or corporate secrets that Fox is the presidents favorite news network. He says as much all the time. According to CBS Mark Knoller, as of last October, President Trump gave more than three times as many interviews (18) to Fox and Fox Business as he has to NBC, ABC and CBS combined (5). Hes given two to religious networks and zero to CNN.

Some Fox defenders would say this is understandable because the other networks are so hostile toward the president. They certainly have a point.

Fox critics would say that Trump favors Fox because the network is exceedingly friendly to the president. Some even call it Trumps state TV.

The critics have a point, too, though an important distinction needs to be made.

Most of the presidents interviews havent been with the news side  which I think usually does a very good job of covering the news honestly and fairly - but with the opinion side. Sean Hannity, probably Trumps favorite host and, reportedly, an informal Trump adviser, explained in April 2016, If Im interviewing Hillary Clinton, its gonna be a hundred times harder than any Republican, because I believe the Republicans ... have a far better vision, one that I agree with ... Im not a journalist, Im a talk show host. (Hannity recently revised this, telling the New York Times hes an advocacy journalist).

Many other cable hosts pretend that they are dispassionate journalists when any reasonable viewer can see that they are ideological and political partisans. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow touts her show as covering the news without fear or favor. I dont know about the fear part, but any remotely objective viewer would see an awful lot of favor  to Democrats, liberals, Trump critics, etc.

Still, the same objective viewer simply must concede that Fox, particularly Fox and Friends (which Trump watches to the point where many in Washington now call the program the presidents daily briefing) and the primetime line-up  with Hannity at the forefront  is objectively and intensely pro-Trump.

The news side is a different animal (which is probably why President Trump wont sit down with news anchors Bret Baier or Chris Wallace). But even here its fair to say Fox doesnt follow the path forged by other news organizations, which often appear so determined to hurt Trump that they fall for bogus stories which my National Review colleague Rich Lowry calls, too anti-Trump to check. Whether that makes them biased toward Trump is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. That Hannity & Co. bend over backward to cast Trump in as favorable a light as possible really isnt up for debate.

But theres a difference between favorable and helpful. Much of the opinion stuff essentially involves mirroring Trumps Twitter feed, attacking Trump critics and railing about the rigged system, fake news and the deep state. Its so much muchness, as the British say.

The focus on the reality show drama and cult-of-personality stuff is distracting from the more straightforward, if more boring, case for the White House. That may not be evident in the ratings, but it is in the polls. Trump has been hemorrhaging support among key demographics for months, despite a much improving economy, victory over ISIS and mostly excellent judicial appointments.

Which brings me to those poll numbers. Suffolk University and USA Today released a poll this week which found that among people who trust Fox News the most, the presidents approval rating has been sinking. His favorability among Fox devotees in June was 90 percent. In October, it was 74 percent. This week? Fifty-eight percent. If that trend continues, he will be underwater with the Fox audience long before the 2018 midterms.

You can cry fake polls, as Trump often does. But was the same poll fake in June? Or are the same trends that led to Trumps historically abysmal approval ratings now reaching even the Fox faithful?

From Virginia to Oklahoma to Alabama, establishment and anti-establishment GOP candidates alike have lost in large part because Democrats, Independents and a significant number of Republicans disapprove of Trump more than they approve of him. His pander-to-the-base approach still does wonders for Hannity & Co.s ratings, but ratings arent votes.
Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz on Sunday reached Lahore ahead of a court hearing on December 19.

Sharif and his daughter returned on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK758, which landed at Lahore's airport around 8AM, and have reached Jati Umra, reported Geo News.

Nawaz Sharif had departed for London on December 4 after being exempted from appearing before the court to attend to his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz who is suffering from lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy.

The former premier had been granted exemption from appearing before the court till December 12.

The next hearing will be held on December 19, in which both Nawaz and Maryam are expected to appear before the court.

Reacting to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen's case verdict, while addressing the media in London before his departure for Pakistan on Saturday, the former premier said, "The decision speaks for itself. Everything we have said about double standards is being proven right."

Nawaz said that dual standard of law will not be accepted and the decision "speaks for itself".

Nawaz is facing three corruption references in the accountability court filed by NAB as per the directions of the apex court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The North Korean media has called United States President Donald Trump an 'old lunatic' and claimed America was 'scared' by its apparent successful test-fire of its Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month.

Country state news agency KCNA repeated the insult at the US president yesterday.

A statement read: "Frightened by the DPRK's successful test-fire of ICBM Hwasong-15, old lunatic Trump talked about 'way of serious approach'."

"Anti-DPRK hard-liners including the US ambassador to the United Nations let out such nonsense as "dangerous circumstances", going so impudent as to urge the DPRK not to "make a mistake."

"War maniacs of the U.S. are urging "Congress to discuss the issue of preemptive attack" on the DPRK, referring to the need to 'withdraw American citizens' from south Korea, only to make a war against the DPRK an established fact.

Trump has been trading insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over this issue.

North Korea's Minju Joson newspaper said the US needed to "cool their heads" in order to avoid "disgrace and destruction".

The paper said: "The Trump cult's talk about "military counteraction" is just ridiculous as it is incapable of judging what the declaration means.

"We warn him once again that if his regime resorts to military counteraction after losing discretion, it will face a tougher countermeasure by the DPRK and fall deeper into a quagmire.

"The Trump-led US authorities should behave with reason, well aware of where they are standing and what they are doing.

"They had better cool their heads heated by war hysteria and be prudent if they don't want to meet bitterer disgrace and destruction."

Amid tension between the nations which has put the on alert of conflict, Trump has referred to Kim as "rocket man" while his rival has previously called him a "mentally deranged dotard.

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In an another revolutionary move, Saudi Arabian women will be able to drive trucks and ride bikes.

The Saudi General Department of Traffic (GDT) announced the new regulations, stating that the women will be allowed to drive trucks once the required conditions and guidelines have been met, the local media reported.

"Saudi women will also be allowed to drive motorcycles as per the royal decree announced in September, which comes into effect in June 2018."

In addition to this, there would be no discrimination against female-driven cars with plates and special numbers.

King Salman, in September issued a decree, saying women will be able to drive from next June as a part of an ambitious reform push in the conservative kingdom.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the where women were barred from receiving a driver's license.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the assembly elections in Karnataka on the agenda for 2018, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed to the natives to support the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Addressing a 'Parivarthan Rally' here, Rajnath while praising the former chief minister said, "We want to empower Karnataka, and this will be possible when, in two to three months, a BJP government will be formed here. The BJP will contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka under B. S. Yeddyurappa Ji's leadership."

Accusing the Congress Party and its leadership in the state of indulging in corruption, Rajnath alleged that the grand old party is indulging in 'divide and rule' in the state and causing communal disharmony by involving caste and other related factors. He further claimed that scams such as that related to the construction of a steel flyover are being ignited by the Congress.

"Congress government here wants to divide Karnataka community to rule. I received information that even though there is no regulation in the constitution, Muslim community here was befooled with reservation which was later out ruled by the Court," he said.

Rajnath added, "The government here created such an issue over Tipu Sultan. I do not want to dive deep into history, but I have to ask: Why is there no celebration for Kempegowda, Kittur Rani Chennamma or Sir M. Visvesvaraya? Why only Tipu Sultan?"

Congratulating the newly-elected president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath further accused the Congress of igniting disorder and turmoil in several states, including Kashmir.

"I want to congratulate him (Rahul Gandhi) but also ask- did the fire of communalism, terrorism and naxalism in India erupt due to BJP's policies? Did fire erupt in Kashmir due to BJP's policies? If someone formed governments by setting fire, it is Congress. BJP is trying to douse the flame," claimed Rajnath.

Lashing out at the present state government over the lack of action being taken following the murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, Rajnath assured that if a BJP-led state government is formed, miscreants will not be spared, and laws would be more stringent.

"Paresh Mesta was recently killed. Gauri Lankesh was killed. What is this government doing in these murder cases? I want to assure Karnataka public that when our government is formed, we will probe her death from all angles, and culprits will be punished. We won't save anyone," he said.

Lauding the initiatives across various fronts taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath claimed that India is no longer considered weak, and is now a superpower that nobody can questions.

"If not for the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, the Doklam issue would not have been resolved. China too has understood that diplomatic ties have to be maintained. On the Indo-Pakistan border, our forces are strongly retaliating against attacks, as was seen during the surgical strike last year. We will not fire first, but if someone fires at us, we will not sit back," claimed Rajnath.

Highlighting the economic reforms undertaken in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Rajnath opined that steps such as demonetisation have lead to an intense crackdown on benami properties, shell companies and black money. Further, steps like financial inclusion and strengthening of agriculture have been praised by international agencies such as Moody and others too, he said.

At the rally, Rajnath was accompanied by Yeddyurappa and other party leaders.

On a related note, Karnataka will go to polls in April next year.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) acted as an obstacle in the development of the state.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony of 'Sobhagya Pradhanmantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana' here, the Chief Minister said, "The previous governments, Samajwadi Party and BSP, were acting as an obstacle in the development of Uttar Pradesh as they did not want the entire state to avail electricity. They are claiming that electricity has become expensive. They should be asked on what grounds were they charging people for electricity without even providing it in the first place."

He added no such similar situation would be experienced now.

"1.60 crore houses in Uttar Pradesh will be illuminated within one year. Camps will be set up in villages under the 'Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Bijli Har Ghar Yojana" wherein free electricity connections are being given to the poor," Adityanath said.

Union Power Minister R K Singh, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj, state Energy and Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and Transport Minister Swatantra Dev Singh also attended the program.

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After a Madhya Pradesh Police personnel aimed his gun on senior Congress leader Kamal Nath at a Chhindwara airstrip, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a high-level enquiry into this matter.

"As soon as we got the information about the incident, I personally directed the DGP and senior officials to conduct a high-level enquiry into the incident. After proper investigation, the officers will reach to other conclusions," Chouhan told ANI.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also assured to take necessary action against the accused.

"I must say that Kamal Nath is our senior leader. I respect him. Such incidents are serious, but they should not be politicised. We will take whatever necessary action is needed," he added.

The incident took place on December 15 after which the policeman was immediately overpowered by the security personnel and has now been placed under suspension.

Speaking to ANI, the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Neeraj Soni, had said "One of the policemen deployed for security of (Congress MP) Kamal Nath ji suspiciously pointed the gun towards him at the airport."

"We have suspended him and are investigating the matter," he added.

This incident came to light after Madhya Pradesh's former Advocate General and Rajya Sabha member, Vivek Tankha, took to Twitter and condemned the incident.

Nath represents Chhindwara in the Lok Sabha and is presently the longest-serving member of the Parliament. He has been elected nine times from Chhindwara.

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The Sikh community in Hangu district of Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province have alleged that they were 'being forced to convert to Islam' by a government official.

The community members have lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner Hangu Shahid Mehmood regarding the same, reported the Express Tribune.

Farid Chand Singh, who filed the complaint has claimed that Assistant Commissioner Tehsil Tall Yaqoob Khan was allegedly forcing Sikhs to convert to Islam.

Singh said the community have been living in the area since 1901 and have never been offended by anyone for religious believes, despite being a hotbed for sectarian conflicts.

He said that they were never approached by someone to convert to Islam and added that they have always maintained an amicable relations with the Muslims in the region.

"Had it been from someone ordinary, it would have never been felt so offending but when you hear such things from a government official, it becomes something really serious," Singh told The Express Tribune.

"We the residents of Doaba area are being tortured religiously," read the complaint.

On the other hand, DC Shahid Mehood said the member of the Sikh community were offended during conversation with the assistant commissioner, which the latter never really meant.

He further added that there is no such issue of converting someone forcefully to Islam, rather administration ensured religious freedom.

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In a bid to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, 50 Chinese couple tied the knot at a mass ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to the local media reports, the ceremony on Sunday was attended by the politicians and diplomats from both the countries in Colombo.

Sri Lankan Minister Champika Ranawaka said, "I want to thank these young couples for choosing Sri Lanka as the destination to have one of the most important events of their lives. No one can provide you with a scenic as well as romantic destination that captures the rich cultural diversity of a country quite like Sri Lanka."

The 'Royal Wedding Ceremony' was performed as per traditional Sri Lankan customs with the beating of Magul Bera, 'Jayamangala Gatha' and also the exchanging of rings.

A number of Chinese nationals attended the wedding ceremony as well.

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A Russian Soyuz spacecraft, carrying a three-member crew of astronauts from Japan, Russia and the United States, was launched on Sunday to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The spacecraft, with US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scott Tingle, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Norishige Kanai and Russia's Roscosmos agency's Anton Shkaplerov, is likely to dock to the space station's Rassvet module on Tuesday, the US space agency NASA said in a statement.

The arrival of Tingle, Shkaplerov and Kanai will restore the station's crew complement to six.

They will join Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos and his crewmates, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA.

The crew members will spend more than four months on board, conducting 250 experiments across the fields of biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technological development.

Vande Hei, Acaba and Misurkin are scheduled to remain aboard the station until February 2018, and Tingle, Shkaplerov and Kanai are scheduled to return to Earth in April, NASA's statement added.

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Sri Lanka wasted another brilliant start to their innings as they collapsed to 215 in 44.5 overs.

India need 216 runs to win and win the series 2-1. India have a brilliant home record as they have not lost a series here since the defeat to South Africa in October 2015.

Earlier, India won the toss and put Sri Lanka to bat first. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah got the first wicket for India, as he dismissed Danushka Gunathilaka for 13.

Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama then shared a handy 121-run partnership to keep the Indian bowlers quiet. Tharanga, was particularly harsh on seam bowler Hardik Pandya, who went for 20 runs in his two overs.

Both Tharanga and Samarawickrama played some glorious shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. At one stage, Sri Lanka were 135 for 1 after 22 overs and were looking at a score of 300-320.

However, India's spin twins, Yuzvendra Chahal (3 for 46)and Kuldeep Yadav (3 for 42) pulled things back very quickly. Both of them took three wickets each.

Once, Chahal got Samarawickrama for 42, it was just a matter of time. Tharanga looked set get his 16th ODI century, before he failed to read Kuldeep's googly, only to be stumped for a well made 95.

Tharanga's wicket turned out to be the turning point afterwards. Angelo Mathews, who scored a unbeaten 111 in Mohali on Wednesday, failed to replicate his form today and was done in by a ripper by Chahal.

Niroshan Dickwella and captain Thisara Perera were dismissed cheaply.

The spinners and Pandya then quickly mopped up the tail as Sri Lanka lost their way after Tharanga's dismissal.

India are currently levelled at 1-1 with Sri Lanka after the hosts won the second ODI in Mohali by 144 runs.

Sri Lanka have never won a bilateral series in India, having lost eight and drawn one.

Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma thrashed the visitors with his unbeaten 208.

The hosts conceived a seven-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Dharamshala.

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More evacuations were ordered in southern California as a wildfire that has been burning since December 4 raged on.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as the fire continued to burn, Efe news agency reported.

"Very strong north winds" and dry conditions have allowed the fire to increase "significantly" and make an "aggressive push" south, according to an incident report published by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) on Saturday evening.

The blaze, called the Thomas Fire, has burned over 267,000 acres (108,000 hectares), making it the third-largest in the state's history.

Only 40 per cent contained on Saturday evening, it was moving rapidly and now took aim at the hills above Montecito, known for its luxury resorts and mansions of celebrities.

Kelly Hoover, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman, said authorities dispatched hundreds of crews to Montecito, checking the communities door to door and ordering residents to leave the evacuation zone, Xinhua reported.

She warned that the situation was really dangerous for their lives since the Santa Ana winds mixed with the Sundowner, a northerly offshore wind in Santa Barbara.

On Thursday, a 32-year-old firefighter died on duty near the town of Fillmore. There have been no civilian casualties reported.

Over 750 family homes have been destroyed, as well as two apartment complexes and two mixed commercial and residential buildings. Another 18,000 structures were under threat.

Official estimates have placed the total cost of the fire at over $110 million so far.

Authorities do not expect the blaze to be fully contained until January 7, 2018.

--IANS

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The ongoing tussle between Gond Adivasis and the Banjara Lambadas in Telangana took a violent turn as the two communities clashed at several places in Adilabad district on Friday.

Scores of people were injured, some of them critically, as the two groups attacked each other in tribal areas in Utnoor, about 250 km from here.

Police used teargas shells at several places to disperse the clashing mobs, which set several shops and vehicles afire.

Police denied some media reports that two people were killed in the violence. Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Verma said nobody was killed in the clashes.

Police clamped prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons in agency areas and sent additional forces to violence-hit villages to contain flare-up.

Trouble broke out after a statue of Komaram Bheem, a freedom fighter revered by Gonds, was found garlanded with footwear in Betalaguda in Narnoor block. Adivasis took out a protest rally at Hasnapur, which turned violent. Protestors torched a hospital belonging to former MP Ramesh Rathod.

Tension had been building up in some parts of the state over last few days in the wake of demand by Adivasis to remove Lambadas from the list of Scheduled Tribes.

The violence in Adilabad came a day after Adivasis resorted to violence in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district against the inclusion of Lambadas in the Medaram Temple Trust Board, which organises Medaram Jatra, a tribal fair.

Adivasis alleged that Lambadas had no respect for their traditions and customs and were only trying to make money in the name of the temple.

Earlier this week, about a lakh Banjara Lambadas had gathered in Hyderabad to defend their right to reservation as a Scheduled Tribe in Telangana.

--IANS

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A 59-year-old man from Sydney has been arrested for allegedly acting as an economic agent of North Korea, the Australian Federal Police said on Sunday.

The man, identified as Chan Han Choi, has been charged with "brokering sales and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction", Efe news agency reported quoting a police statement.

Chan, who is a naturalised Australian citizen of Korean descent, is the first person to be charged under the country's Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act of 1995. It is also the first time anyone has been charged with allegedly breaching UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Chan was arrested on Saturday after "extensive investigations" over a "period of months" led police to believe the man "was acting as an economic agent of North Korea through his facilitation of various exports" from North Korea.

The Australian police allege that he was involved in the sale of "missiles and missile componentry and expertise" from North Korea, as well as in the transfer of coal from North Korea to contacts in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Police believe that the missile components could be used in the "guidance of ballistic missiles".

The man's alleged offences breach both Australian and United Nations sanctions against North Korea. Chan faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan praised investigators' patience and thoroughness, and reassured the Australian public that there were never "any weapons or missile componentry that ever came to Australian soil", adding that there was no "immediate threat" to the community.

Gaughan said that the man considers himself a "loyal agent" of North Korea, "believing he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose".

Australia has long supported the UN's and the US' opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop responded to North Korea's most recent weapons test in late November by condemning the regime's "illegal, threatening and provocative" actions.
The Arab League (AL) announced on Sunday that it has formed a ministerial delegation tasked with responding to the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The delegation will respond on the diplomatic and media levels to "the dangerous US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Xinhua quoted AL spokesman Mhamoud Afifi as saying.

The delegation includes the foreign ministers of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Afifi said the delegation was formed in light of the contacts made by Jordan in recent days, in its capacity as the chair of the Arab summit and the Arab Peace Initiative Committee.

He added that the delegation will hold its first meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman early next week.

Defying strong opposition and warnings from the Palestinians and Muslim countries, US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 to recognise the disputed holy city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

--IANS

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As many as 4,956 youths have been selected as Constables in different wings of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, an official said on Sunday.

"Happy to inform that 4,956 candidates selected as Constables in @JmuKmrPolice through a transparent recruitment process," Director General of Police S.P. Vaid tweeted.

"I congratulate all the selected candidates and their families. The final list can be accessed at jkpolice.gov.in after a few minutes," he added.

Despite militant attacks on policemen, thousands of educated youths from different districts of the state competed for recruitment.

--IANS

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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Sunday arrested a man from Sydney for allegedly acting as an economic agent for North Korea with the intent of raising revenue for the Pyongyang government.

Authorities have identified the man as South Korean-origin Chan Han Choi, 59, CNN reported.

The AFP said the man, a naturalised Australian citizen, brokered the sale of missiles, missile components and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and discussed the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

He also planned to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Vietnam and Indonesia.

However, there was no evidence that the governments of those two countries were aware of the plan.

These actions are alleged breaches of UN and Australian sanctions. He is facing six charges in connection with the acts.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," CNN quoted AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan as saying.

"This is the first time charges have been laid under the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act in Australia, and the first time we have laid charges specifically for alleged breaches of UN sanctions against North Korea."

Gaughan said the business activity occurred offshore and that "there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons, or missile componentry -- which he said was software-- had been imported into Australia.

"This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose."

More charges against the man have not been ruled out, according to the police statement.

--IANS

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The Christian community in Agra and Mathura on Sunday alleged police high-handedness over the arrest of seven people in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district on what it said were "fabricated charges of religious conversion".

The seven accused, now in judicial custody, were picked up by police from a house in a village after locals complained to the police that "outsiders" were fomenting trouble by resorting to forced conversion.

The charge was denied by the accused, who told the police that it was a private family affair involving relatives. But a local activist alleged that the police came under pressure from "Hindutva groups" to act against the Christians.

Ahead of the Christmas celebrations, the community says this was an attempt to hurt their religious sentiments by rounding up people without any investigation and on flimsy grounds.

"We may have to approach the Chief Justice of India to grant us all anticipatory bail as we may be arrested when we go out singing carols," said an agitated Christian leader in Mathura not wanting to be identified.

"Imagine, in the court some lawyers called us terrorists," he added.

Groups of lawyers mounted pressure when the bail application came up for hearing on Saturday, forcing adjournment till Tuesday, some lawyers said.

C. Michael, a community leader, told IANS that he had been trying to mobilize support and explain to police officials and also the local minister the real truth of the case.

"Of the seven arrested persons, two are Hindus. So how could they be involved in religious conversion? Our community is living in fear in Agra and Mathura, ahead of Xmas.

"But we are lining up support and lawyers and have full faith in our judiciary. It was a family programme. Outsiders were provoked and they interfered, making all kinds of charges," he added.

Christian leaders in Agra have met the parish priests, the Archbishop and other officials of different denominations.

Independent lawyers in Mathura indicated that the court had been virtually forced by the slogan-shouting brigade to postpone the decision till Tuesday.

A press conference scheduled for Sunday was called off as some supporters, fearing police action, backed out. A Hindu priest also chickened out, after initially agreeing to come out in their support.

Christian community leaders said their work was confined to providing healthcare and running schools.

"Some vested interests are deliberately trying to create differences and tarnish our image," said one of them who did not want to be identified by name.

The hearing of the bail application of the seven will take place on Tuesday.

On Saturday evening, lawyers headed by Mathura Bar Association President Braj Gopal Sharma and Secretary Trilok Chandra Sharma wanted the District Court to be fully satisfied with the sources of funding for "such religious activities".

The seven accused have been in judicial custody for the past 14 days.

Police officer Baij Nath Singh of Surir where the case was registered told IANS: "The seven were taken into custody after some villagers complained about religious conversion in a house."

According to the complainants, the accused were not only conducting religious ceremonies but also abusing Hindu gods.

Hindutva groups said there have been repeated attempts in Mathura, Hathras and Etmadpur areas to bring poor Hindus into Christian fold.

Superintendent of Police Aditya Shukla in Mathura told IANS: "It is entirely up to the court to decide the bail plea and judge the merits of the charges... The police have no role and we should not be accused of acting unfairly."

--IANS

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The Congress on Sunday evening hosted a dinner in honour of Sonia Gandhi, who stepped down on Saturday after 19 years as party chief, with the event being attended by leaders from 15 other opposition parties.

The dinner was also attended by former President Pranab Mukherjee who honoured Sonia Gandhi by presenting a shawl to her.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among those present.

Congress leaders from Punjab were patted by the central leadership over the party's sweep in the municipal polls in the state.

All India Congress Committee office-bearers and MPs attended the dinner.

"The dinner was attended by leaders of 15 other opposition parties," Congress leader Anand Sharma told IANS.

Among those present were leaders from Trinamool Congress, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Nationalist Congress Party and the National Conference.

--IANS

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Egypt's Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said on Sunday that Egypt is preparing a UN resolution against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Speaking during a parliament session, Abdel-Aal said Egypt has begun contacting all Arab leaders and a number of foreign officials for the resolution. Xinhua news agency reported.

Abdel-Aal stressed that Jerusalem will remain an Arab city, reiterating Egypt's rejection of the US decision to recognise the holy city as Israel's capital and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

All Egyptian parliament members appeared at the session wearing a sash with "Jerusalem is Arab" written on it.

Abdel-Aal added that Egypt's representative to the United Nations Security Council had called for holding an emergency session to get the US administration to withdraw its decision.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city.

Trump's declaration sparked widespread criticism and opposition from Arab and Muslim countries.

Jerusalem lies at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, it has not been recognised by the international community.

The Palestinians insist that they should establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the final settlement.

Under the previous Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, the status of Jerusalem should be determined through the final-status talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

--IANS

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Google may be courting fresh trouble after the European Commission's massive penalty in June as its rivals are preparing to lodge new complaints with the Commission alleging "inadequate" response to the record anti-trust fine, a media report said.

In recent weeks, several of Google's rivals have held meetings with Margrethe Vestager, Europe's competition commissioner, to express their dismay at the changes made to Google's results in response to last summer's fine, The Telegraph reported on Saturday.

"They are preparing to lodge formal complaints in the coming weeks," the report said.

The move could lead the European Commission to slap further multi-billion euro fines on the Internet giant and make it implement further changes in its search results.

After a seven-year investigation, the European Commission fined Google $2.7 billion in June for breaching EU anti-trust rules.

The Commission found that Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service.

It charged Google with demoting rival comparison shopping services in its search results.

The Commission also ordered Google to comply with the simple principle of giving equal treatment to rival comparison shopping services and its own service.

However, the changes that Google made to its search results after the European Commission's decision have failed to please its rivals.

They say Google's remedy has been inadequate because it continues to place its shopping service at an advantage in search results, The Telegraph report said.

While handing out the fine in June, the European Commission said that it would monitor Google's compliance closely and that the company was under an obligation to keep the Commission informed of its actions from time to time.
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship returned to Florida after hundreds of passengers contracted a gastrointestinal illness, the media reported.

During the five-night cruise, 332 cases of the illness were reported, Owen Torres, a spokesman for Royal Caribbean told CNN in a statement on Saturday.

He stressed that it was a small percentage -- 5.99 per cent -- of the more than 5,000 passengers and crew onboard the ship, Independence of the Seas.

"Those affected by the short-lived illness were treated by our ship's doctors with over-the-counter medication," Torres said, "and we hope all our guests feel better quickly".

It is not known what caused the illness.

According to reports, some passengers who were disembarking on Saturday in Port Everglades, Florida, believed the number of passengers who got sick was higher than what Royal Caribbean said.

Torres, the Royal Caribbean spokesman, told CNN the company is "taking steps like intensive sanitary procedures to minimise the risk of any further issues", and that the ship will "undergo special additional cleaning procedures before it departs on its next cruise".

"It was just terrifying," a passenger whose 15-year-old son came down with the illness, told local media on Saturday.

"Just the amount of people that were coming in at the same time with vomiting and diarrhoea and just looked ghastly."

--IANS

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It is the first time that India is not being blamed for the collapse of talks at the just concluded 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference here, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

The talks at the 11th ministerial conference (MC11) broke down earlier this week as the United States reneged on its commitment, along with other countries, to find a permanent solution to the issue of public food stockholding by members of the multilateral trade body.

"We came here with an open mind. This is the first time that India is not being blamed... we are definitely not going back as villains," Prabhu told reporters here on Saturday.

"We knew that nothing was going to happen because of the way the US administration was moving and questioning the efficiency of the global trading system," he said.

The Minister said that India was keen for a permanent solution to the food stockpiling issue, which ought to have been better than the existing "Peace Clause" compromise agreed upon earlier at the WTO till a permanent solution was found.

The WTO talks here collapsed after Assistant US Trade Representative Sharon Bomer Lauritsen declared in a small group meeting that a permanent solution to the food stockholding issue was not acceptable to America.

Prabhu said that he had held over two dozen bilateral meetings here during which he explained India's position, as well as of the developing countries, on various issues.

Under the WTO norms, a member-country's food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

India has been seeking amendments to this formula, fearing that full implementation of its food security programme may result in breaching of the WTO subsidy limit.

The 2013 WTO ministerial meeting in Bali in Indonesia had decided to put in place the Peace Clause as an interim measure, and had agreed to negotiate a permanent solution at the 11th ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Prabhu said that India continued to press for the reduction of farm subsidies by developed countries and resisted inclusion of new issues on the negotiating table in case these dilute the commitment to complete the existing agenda.

In an official statement in New Delhi earlier this week, India blamed a "major country" for derailing the process to find a permanent solution to the food security issue.

"In the agriculture negotiations in Buenos Aires, a major country stated categorically that they cannot agree to any permanent solution on the public stockholding issue at MC11," a Commerce Ministry release said.

"This has posed a severe threat to a successful conclusion of the conference as there was a ministerial mandate for a permanent solution by MC11. India is surprised and deeply disappointed that despite an overwhelming majority of members reiterating it, a major member-country reneged on a commitment made two years ago to deliver a solution of critical importance for addressing hunger in some of the poorest countries of the world.

"This has the potential to irreversibly damage the credibility of the WTO as a ministerial decision of all countries present in Nairobi has not been honoured," the Indian Ministry added.

--IANS

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that his plan is to transform the Congress from bottom upwards and he will like to bring in many new, young, exciting and dynamic faces.

In his first interview as party president with National Herald and Qaumi Awaz, Gandhi rubbished BJP's claims that his party fought the recently held Gujarat state elections of casteist lines and said that the party brought the OBC, Dalit and the Patidar communities together on a Congress platform.

Gandhi also strongly attacked the Narendra Modi government, saying "there is bankruptcy in the nation."

Answering a query, Gandhi said his plan was to transform the Congress from bottom upwards.

"But it is not just my plan, it is the desire within the Congress party to transform, evolve and change itself, and I would try and help to enable that," he said.

Gandhi said he will bring further democratise the Congress.

"That is certainly my intention. We have done a lot of work in the Youth Congress and NSUI, and very successful work at that. We would like to bring in as many new faces, young faces, exciting faces and dynamic faces (as we could). That's not to say that people who are experienced or older should not have space."

Gandhi alleged that the Modi government had far less talent compared to Congress-led UPA government.

"Just imagine those names. Compare a Manmohan Singh Ji with Mr. Modi. Compare a Chidambaram to Mr. Arun Jaitley. Tell [me], who can you compare Pranabda with in their government. Tell me, who can be compared with Mr. Antony in their government. So, when you actually look at them, from a policy perspective, it's not much weight there. You can see it, when you listen to them. I mean, what is being done to India's foreign policy is an out and out disaster," he said.

Asked about fear and insecurity among the people, Gandhi said it has happened earlier.

"Look at Indian history -- this has happened. A sort of polarisation you saw in the 1990s as well. But I primarily think that this country stands together, and we believe very deeply in love and affection.."

He alleged that there has been a large organised defamation campaign against the Congress party, carried out by the BJP and the RSS.

"I really felt this in Gujarat, that certain myths have been created, which are just lies," he said, adding that Jawahar Lal Nehru and Sardar Patel were friends. He said Sardar Patel had also banned the RSS.

Answering a query, Gandhi said the party has a lot of talent and has lot of work to do. "There are a large number of new people that we have to bring forward. There is tremendous talent in the Congress party that we have to utilise.

"We are going to show to the country, the true face of the Congress Party. You are going to see a change in the Congress party, you are going to see more of people who excite you, people about whom you can say that they are somebody very interesting who have been put there by the Congress party. We would like to be associated with decent persons and solid persons."

Gandhi alleged that BJP believes in a philosophy "guided by hatred." "Their leaders have been imbibed with such philosophy for years. Look at the comments made against an ex-Prime Minister."

Gandhi said Congress was a dynamic and an organic party and will open its doors and "provide the youth of the country with an alternative vision, that's premised on love and brotherhood."

The Congress president said Indians had thought three years ago that we could bear with the shortcomings in RSS' vision for India if they can deliver economic growth. "While flaws in RSS's vision still remain, Indians haven't benefited a great deal economically either."

Gandhi said the central problem of the country was that it is simply not producing enough jobs. He also slammed demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax and said economy had been crippled.

--IANS

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Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who arrived here on Sunday to take part in a state-level convention of women's self-help groups, was received at the airport by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with his wife and other ministers.

Chouhan ceremonially welcomed Naidu by draping an 'ang vastra' around his shoulders and put a khadi cotton garland around his neck.

Earlier, accusing Chouhan of failing to fulfil promises made in the earlier conventions, the Congress has asked him to provide details about the implementation.

--IANS

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The opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP accused the ruling Congress of booth capturing and misuse of power as voting was held on Sunday for municipal bodies across Punjab.

Minor clashes between Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party workers and those of the Congress were reported from Patiala city and a few other places.

In Patiala, the hometown of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, police cane charged supporters of both the SAD-BJP and the Congress as the situation turned violent.

Akali Dal and BJP leaders held a protest outside the office of the State Election Commission in Chandigarh on Sunday afternoon and accused the Congress of rigging the municipal polls.

"We have not seen such murder of democracy as what happened today (Sunday)," Akali Dal leader and former Minister Daljit Singh Cheema told the media in Chandigarh.

Polling began at 8 a.m. and continued till 4 p.m. State Election Commission officials said the counting of votes was scheduled to begin around 5.30 p.m. and the results were expected after a few hours.

Nearly 45 per cent voting was reported from various places till 3 p.m., election officials said.

Voting was held for three Municipal Corporations in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala, and 29 municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats.

The election for MC in Punjab's largest city Ludhiana was not held as the electoral rolls were not updated.

Candidates in 90 wards have won unopposed. There were 873 polling stations and 1,938 polling booths across the state.

This is the first big election in the state after the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, came to power after the Punjab assembly polls in February. The results were out in March.

The Congress won 77 of the 117 assembly seats. The AAP finished second with 20 seats.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Sanjay Dutt on Sunday began the shoot of his new film "Torbaaz" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

"New day, new film. 'Torbaaz'," Sanjay tweeted along with two photographs.

In one, he is seen praying with folded hands in front of a picture of Lord Ganesha, and in another image, Sanjay is seen doing 'aarti' with some incense sticks.

He is surrounded by the crew members of the movie, said to be an action-thriller set in Afghanistan. It is being directed by Girish Malik.

The film's producer Rahul Mittra is excited, and tweeted that he is "enjoying minus 10 degrees in the beautiful city of Bishkek".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Several senior Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in a drone strike on the outskirts of the coastal city of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

A military official, on condition of anonymity, said several strikes hit an Al-Shabaab base in Berhani location, some 60 kilometre south of Kismayo, killing several senior terrorists, Xinhua reported.

Residents of Berhani location said there were huge explosions early hours of Saturday.

"The strike hit the base where the terrorists were meeting leading to several casualties," the military officer from the Somalia National Army was quoted as saying.

There is no official confirmation from the US Africa Command (Africom) yet.

Africom, which has been using drones to attack Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (IS), carried out at least ten strikes in southern and northern Somalia in November.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A carrying a team of three astronauts from the US, Russia and Japan blasted off for the Space Station (ISS) on Sunday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The capsule with the three crew members -- NASA's Scott Tingle, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency -- is scheduled to dock with the space station's Rassvet module on December 19, the US space agency aid.

The arrival of Tingle, Shkaplerov and Kanai will restore the station's crew complement to six.

They will join Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos and his crewmates, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA.

The crew members will spend more than four months conducting approximately 250 science investigations in fields such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and development, NASA said.

Highlights of upcoming investigations include demonstrating the benefits of manufacturing fibre optic filaments in a microgravity environment.

Other important investigations include a new study looking at structures that are vital to the design of advanced optical materials and electronic devices and examining a drug compound and drug delivery system designed to combat muscular breakdown in space or during other prolonged periods of disuse, such as extended bed rest on Earth.

Vande Hei, Acaba and Misurkin are scheduled to remain aboard the station until February 2018, and Tingle, Shkaplerov and Kanai are scheduled to return to Earth in April, the US space agency said.
Authorities in the Philippines dealing with tropical storm Kai-Tak on Sunday raised the toll to 23, while 26 people were missing due to floods and landslides caused by the adverse weather affecting around 222,000 people in central areas of the island country.

The death toll includes 14 victims in Caibiran, four in Almeria, four in Naval -- where 23 people have gone missing -- and one in Biliran, which also registered three people missing, Efe news agency reported, quoting the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Biliran.

Biliran Governor, Gerry Boy Espina, will ask the authorities on Monday to declare a state of calamity in this eastern province which has a population of 172,000, local broadcaster GMA reported.

Of the total 221,953 people affected, 87,719 have taken shelter in evacuation centres, while 198 are being assisted elsewhere, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

The storm, known locally as Urduja, has become a depression with sustained winds of 55 km per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph, moving in a south-southeast direction at 15 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Despite the storm weakening, heavy rains caused by the weather system have become a danger for the population in the form of floods and landslides, with alerts being issued for Quezon, Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and northern parts of the island of Palawan, the westernmost island of Philippines.

At least two bridges and 19 highway stretches have become unusable and 15,534 passengers are stranded in different ports due to ferry and boat cancellations.

Kai-Tak has also grounded 57 domestic flights since December 13, with at least 21 being cancelled on Sunday.

PAGASA has said that the depression will hit Palawan on Monday and move off to South China Sea on Tuesday.

Some 15-20 typhoons hit the Philippine archipelago every year during the rain season which normally starts in June and continues until November.

--IANS

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A prostitution racket was busted here with the arrest of four persons, including two actresses from Mumbai, police said on Sunday.

The arrests were made during raids on two five-star hotels in posh Banjara Hills area late on Saturday night, police said.

Those arrested include an actress from Bollywood and another television actress. Two brokers, who were running the racket online and booking rooms in star hotels for the customers, were also taken into custody.

Police, however, have not identified the actresses. A police officer said two girls from Mumbai were arrested from the hotels. He said further investigations were on.

S. Ravinder, inspector at Panjgutta police station, said the police conducted the raid on a room at Taj Deccan following information that organised sex racket was being conducted.

Later, two more persons, including the television actress, were arrested from another star hotel in the same area.

This is not the first time that actresses have been arrested on charges of prostitution. In 2014, an actress from Mumbai was caught on similar charges. However she was acquitted by a court in December that year.

--IANS

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A Bend man was killed Friday night when his fuel truck rolled over and caught fire on Highway 22E east of Idanha.

According to a news release, the Oregon State Police responded to the incident around 11 p.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Kenworth Central Petro fuel truck, driven by 58-year-old Ronald Edward Scurlock, lost traction on the icy highway and flipped, coming to a stop and blocking the road. The truck's tank, which was filled with more than 11,000 gallons of fuel, ruptured and caught fire, spreading to nearby shrubs.

Scurlock was pronounced dead at the scene.

Additional collisions occurred in the area, including a responding Idanha-Detroit Fire District engine that rolled onto its side. No injuries were reported in these separate incidents.

Oregon State Police was assisted at the scene by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Idanha and Gates fire departments, Salem Regional Hazmat and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

It remained unclear as of Saturday afternoon how much of the spilled fuel burned or was lost into the ground or river. Department of Environmental Quality officials were on scene coordinating containment and cleanup with ODOT.

The investigation is ongoing, and the highway remained closed as of Saturday evening.
When "Monsoon Shootout" was offered to him over four years ago, actor Vijay Varma was thrilled at the opportunity of getting to play a lead role.

The Amit Kumar directorial, which was ready for release in 2013, hit the screens on Friday.

"I waited for this day for four years," Varma told IANS, sharing how he was "thrilled with excitement and nervousness".

"My love for Amit Kumar's short film 'The Bypass" was the reason I wanted to work with this director. And being an avid gamer and lover of noir thrillers like 'Zodiac' and 'L.A. Confidential', I jumped at the opportunity of being in a cop gangster drama. And plus, I was thrilled that someone was offering me a lead role," he added.

Prior to its theatrical release, "Monsoon Shootout" had premiered at Cannes and was lauded for its edge-of-the-seat plot at various film festivals internationally.

It features Vijay as the central character of a rookie policeman on the job who is torn etween making a tough choice against a criminal suspect on the run.

The film -- slotted in the seldom-done noir genre in Bollywood -- also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Neeraj Kabi in pivotal roles.

"I was a fan of Nawaz since 'Black Friday' and always wanted to work with him. When I did get a chance, I relished every bit of my time with him and learnt a great deal from him. He has seen life in all its complexities and what translates on screen is pure gold. He can light up a 70 mm screen with just, well at times, the shift of eye movement," he said.

On working with the acclaimed Tannishtha, he said she was his "source of refuge".

"She dropped in words of encouragement and with advise, whenever she could, to help me perform better in the film. She was a very strong support both on and off screen. It was an absolute pleasure to share my life and screen space with these incredible talents."

He believes it is a misnomer that the Indian audience only enjoys films with happy endings.

"'Do Beegha Zameen' and 'Sadma' had tragic endings and people love them immensely. A well-made film with any ending works. And tragedy moves people in a strange profound way," Vijay said.

His filmography features films like "Chittagong", "Rangrezz" and the impactful "Pink", in which he essayed on of the antagonists.

With movies that aren't necessarily 'mainstream', is that a result of his insistence on experimental cinema or based on what comes his way?

"I'm a lover of all kinds of movies and stories, from delicate profound stories to crass sex comedies. It's just that I am picking up stories and roles which are up for grabs for me at this moment. If people come to me with different genres, I will not hesitate to jump on it. I just want to work," he said.

Vijay will also be seen in Nandita Das' much-awaited "Manto", based on the life of famed writer Saadat Hasan Manto.

"It's a cameo that casting director Honey Trehan felt I should do and set up my meeting for with Nanditaji. I wanted to a part of a film on my favourite writer, in any capacity. I play the role of a young writer who is enamoured by Saadat Hasan Manto. It will bring some smiles to audiences face, hopefully," he said of the movie, which will reunite him on-screen with Nawazuddin.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Emerging markets, including India, have experienced what appears to be an overextended bull run this year. The majority of the assets have rebounded strongly from the oversold levels of late-2016. Going into the next year, the key question for investors is whether this positive momentum can persist?



When it comes to some of the biggest challenges for the next year, one of the most commonly cited is the withdrawal of monetary stimulus globally. From the United States to Asia to the Middle East, central banks around the world are now talking about normalisation  hike in interest rates and liquidity absorption. Just last week, on December 13, the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the third time this year by 25 basis points (bps). The same day, the Peoples Bank of China raised short-and-medium-term interest rate, and the next day, on December 14, the Central Bank of Turkey raised its liquidity window rate.
2017 was politically tumultuous for Tamil Nadu keeping the ruling AIADMK busy in putting its house in order as it faced storm after storm post-Jayalalithaa and the year also saw cinema veterans Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan hinting at entering public life.

'Resort politics' came to dominate the headlines even as a new dispensation under Chief Minister K Palaniswami took over following a rebellion by his predecessor O Panneerselvam against V K Sasikala in February.

In winds of change, T T V Dhinakaran, who was initially appointed AIADMK deputy chief by his aunt Sasikala, was now struggling to stay afloat with dwindling legislators' support and the challenge of a unified AIADMK.

Sensing the vacuum, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan dropped adequate hints of a political plunge, keeping alive a tradition of cinema stars graduating to .

Former chief ministers -- the late C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa -- besides other actors like S S Rajendran, Sarath Kumar and D Napolean have forayed into for successful careers.

According to Rajinikanth, the "system is rotten" as he asked his fans to "prepare for a war".

Haasan, in particular, went ballistic against the ruling AIADMK on corruption, throwing regular barbs against the government, with the ministers criticising him. A self- declared rationalist, he courted controversy when he hit out at what he called Hindu extremism.

Ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi, now in his 90s, too is not a novice to Tamil Nadu filmdom, having been a successful script-writer.

The demise of Jayalalithaa in December last year found its echo during the entire 2017, with the state government constituting a one-man commission to inquire into the circumstances and situation leading to her hospitalisation in September 22 and death on December 5, 2016.

The internal churning in the ruling AIADMK dominated the headlines, starting in February.

What seemed to have been a smooth ascension to power for Sasikala came a cropper with Panneerselvam throwing a spanner in the works.

Having elected the AIADMK chief last December, the decks were cleared for elevation of Jayalalithaa's close confidante as chief minister, when Sasikala was elected AIADMK's Legislature Party leader on February 5.

However, the then chief minister Panneerselvam had misgivings.

Jayalalithaa's 'Man Friday' and now deputy chief minister Panneerselvam made a sensational claim two days later that he was forced to make way for Sasikala's elevation.

He sat on meditation at the memorial of Jayalalithaa in Marina beach, sowing the first seeds of a revolt against Sasikala.

Panneerselvam's rebellion virtually set the cat among the pigeons, as an otherwise tight knit and disciplined AIADMK saw the first split in its ranks, decades after the death of its founder, MGR, in 1987.

The party was then divided between Jayalalithaa and V N Janaki, MGR's widow, before the former united it and brought it under the 'two leaves' symbol.

With an imminent trust vote staring at her party, Sasikala lodged her MLAs at a resort at nearby Koovathur for days together in February, earning the label 'resort politics'.

Sasikala herself made repeated trips to keep the morale of her legislators high.

In the meantime, she also met then governor Ch Vidysagar Rao and staked claim to form the government.

However, the Supreme Court, which had reserved judgement in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets cases in which Jayalalithaa was the main accused, convicted Sasikala, dashing her hopes of leading the state.

The apex court awarded her a four-year jail term, which she is currently serving in Bengaluru.

As a parting shot, Sasikala brought back her relatives Dhinakaran and S Venkatesh into AIADMK, making Dhinakaran her deputy and in-charge of affairs.

The two were among Sasikala's relatives who were expelled by Jayalalithaa in 2011.

Then Sasikala loyalist Palaniswami was elected Legislature Party leader, becoming the second chief minister of the state in less than two months after Panneerselvam, who took over following the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016.

Meanwhile, the two camps led by Panneerselvam and the chief minister continued to face-off, even as the ruling faction fielded Dhinakaran in the April 12 bypoll to RK Nagar, earlier held by Jayalalithaa, which was later cancelled.

The Election Commission rescinded the poll following complaints of money power.

However, things soon took an unexpected turn when Palaniswami revolted against Dhinakaran, with a section of the state cabinet announcing sidelining the former MP.

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami merged their respective factions after many rounds of talks in August, a move that further agitated the Dhinakaran camp.

The very next day, 19 MLAs supporting the beleaguered leader revolted against the chief minister, later prompting their disqualification as legislators by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal. One MLA later switched over to the ruling camp.

The patch-up between Panneerselvam and Palaniswami saw the former becoming deputy chief minister in the government.

Later, a general council of the unified AIADMK sacked Sasikala as interim general secretary and annulled all appointments made by her, effectively targeting Dhinakaran.

The camp got a shot in its arm when the Election Commission awarded the 'two leaves' symbol to it.

Now, Dhinakaran is fighting the December 21 bypoll to RK Nagar as an independent.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday called for a law that would bar the prime minister and chief ministers from participating in election rallies.

In an article in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', he said comments were made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "jumping into muck", adding that the Centre had become a "factory of elections".

"There were comments made on the prime minister during the Gujarat polls. All this happened as the PM himself jumped into the muck. It should stop now. There should be a law in place to stop the PM and CMs from participating in election rallies," Raut said.

"The parliament is the supreme constitutional institution in the country where new laws are made in every session. Now everybody should show the willingness to make a law to bar the PM and CMs from holding election rallies," he said.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Raut said the government's coffers were looted most by the Congress, but those who raised a voice against this were in power today.

However, the loot of the government's coffers has not stopped, he commented.

"Government money and machinery is being used for election rallies when a prime minister or a chief minister campaigns. We will now have to demand that this money should be recovered from the party, be it of Manmohan Singh or Narendra Modi," he said.

The Sena leader said when a PM or a CM goes for an election rally, they do not go on a personal visit but have their supportive machinery with them.

"Modi held 40-45 rallies in Gujarat for which he used government aircraft and helicopters. Being a PM, he spent crores of rupees of government money for election campaigning. His predecessors did not do anything different. The Centre has become a factory of elections," Raut said.

He said after Gujarat, assembly polls in Karnataka will be announced in three months time, and in another six months, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will go to polls.

"Fighting polls and winning them with any possible means has become the only concern for the government. The only way to stop all this is to have the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, or the PM and the CMs are kept away from campaigning. Or they should resign from their posts and then campaign for their party," Raut said.
China's ruling Communist Party has approved the establishment of 10 research centres to study and interpret President Xi Jinping's thoughts on socialism, according to a media report.

The research centres and institutes were established by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Party School, the Ministry of Education, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Defence University of the People's Liberation Army, the municipalities of Beijing and Shanghai, Guangdong Province, Peking University, Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Xi's thought touted as a new roadmap for the CPC to remain in power adopting to modern conditions was included in its constitution in the once-in-a-five-year conference held in October, an honour only given to party founder Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping.

Xi, regarded as the most powerful leader, has also been re-elected for the second five-year term as a leader of the party, president and head of the military.

With strong academic credentials, the new research centres and institutes will be able to play an important role in the study, promotion and interpretation of Xi's thought, an statement said amid growing criticism of increasing sycophancy in the party.

Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was introduced at the 19th CPC National Congress in October and listed as part of the guiding ideology for the CPC in its amended Constitution.

At a symposium on Friday, Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for the inclusion of it in college textbooks and classes as well as the cultivation of talent who can help spark national rejuvenation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Armed terrorists today attacked a Catholic church, killing two people in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, media reports said.

The attack targeted the church where prayers of Christian community were being held, the Express Tribune newspaper reported quoting Balochistans Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.

A loud explosion and gunshots were heard, it said.

The paper said that at least two people were killed.

According to eyewitnesses, a number of people have sustained injuries.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Citing the police, Geo reported that an exchange of fire is ongoing between terrorists and security personnel. The media personnel have been directed to stay away from the site.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service today in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least eight people and wounding 44 others including children and women.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added.

Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that eight people were killed while 44 others injured, including children and women. He said that nine injured are in critical condition.

According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about the number of attackers.

Ansari said that three militants were involved. He said one was killed by police and the second was able to detonate explosives. He said there are reports that a third militant fled from the scene and police was searching for him.

Earlier, DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Pakistan



Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two suicide bombers attacked a packed church during a Sunday service in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and injuring 44 others in a targeted assault on the minority Christian community ahead of Christmas in the Muslim nation.

The Islamic State (ISIS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. The groups Amaq Agency posted a statement online, saying attackers had stormed the church in Quetta -- the capital of Balochistan province. But the terror group provided no evidence for the claim.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Quetta.

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added.

Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"It was a coordinated attack," he said, adding that the security forces have cleared the church.

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that nine people were killed in the attack, including two women.

Two women were among the dead, and 10 women and seven children were among the injured, hospital officials said.

According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Sources in the Balochistan government said that few days back Methodist schools and churches had received threatening notes from the Sajjan group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The threatening notes were also received in Karachi and Lahore which led to missionary schools cancelling their examinations and taking an early winter/Christmas break.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack, calling it "an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages."



"Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts," he said.

Pakistan



Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 per cent of Pakistan's 200 million people. Today's assault raised concerns about the security of religious minorities, especially Christians, in a country with a dismal record when it comes to the treatment and protection of religious minorities, analysts say.

Pakistani officials denied that ISIS had an organised presence in the country, however, even though the terrorist group has claimed responsibility for several other attacks in Baluchistan in recent years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Kaushik Sen and his son Riddhi were allegedly heckled last night at NSC Bose International Airport here following arguments over car parking.

One airport parking agency employee was arrested after Sen, who was returning to the city from Bhubaneswar along with his wife, filed a complaint at Airport Police Station about the alleged heckling, sources in the police station said today.

The actor said the accused misbehaved with the driver of his car when he stopped the vehicle outside the domestic terminal area to drop his son, who had gone there to receive his parents. He also slapped a fine of Rs 100 on the driver for exceeding the free 10 minutes allowed to pick or drop a person.

Later, when Sen and his family were about to leave the parking lot outside the terminal, they found the accused allegedly 'misbehaving' with another car driver and protested against it.

"We got down from our car when we saw another gentleman and his driver were being harassed for protesting against overcharging. As we tried to intervene, I and my son Riddhi were heckled and verbally abused. We then called up the police station and some officers arrived at the spot to bring the situation under control," he said.

Countering the actor's claims, an official of the parking agency said Sen, his son and the occupants of another car misbehaved with the parking agency staff. He demanded that the CCTV footage be examined to ascertain what exactly happened last night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today lauded the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) for its role in effective conduct of Gujarat Assembly elections.

He was addressing the PAC Day celebrations held at the 35th PAC battalion here.

"The different challenging situations in which PAC officers operate in various states of the country, it has been able to win the hearts of the people residing in those states," he said.

"The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF) also have PAC commandos posted there...On the lines of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), security of Lucknow Metro has been assigned to PAC. It is also proposed to deploy PAC at Noida Metro," the chief minister said.

Adityanath said in the past 69 years of its glorious history, the PAC has rendered important services on a number of challenging occasions.

"Guarding international borders, foiling infiltration attempts, running drives against Naxals and terrorists, establishing the rule of law and helping to conduct peaceful elections, the PAC has established benchmarks by its 'nishthaa' (loyalty), 'nispakshtaa' (impartiality), professional acumen, courage and valour," he said.

Adityanath also said, "PAC has also played an important role in ensuring security of various festivals and fairs, especially the world-famous Kumbh Mela in Prayag (Allahabad), pilgrim places like Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi, courts and VIPs/VVIPs. Every year during the monsoon, PAC's flood relief company (Baarh Rahat company) is engaged in evacuating people from flooded areas and other rescue works".

"At present, there are 273 companies in 33 vahinis (battalions) of PAC. Of this, 199 companies are active, while 74 companies are 'akriyaasheel' (dormant). A process to recruit 18,000 jawans is on to make these dormant companies active," he said.

The chief minister was accorded Guard of Honour at the programme, an official statement issued by the state government said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today responded to state BJP president Vijay Sampla's accusations that the Congress party failed to deliver on its poll promises, claiming his government has fulfilled more than 100 promises made to the people.

Singh also asked the BJP what was it doing for the past 10 years when its ally, the SAD, was "busy looting the state and plunged into an abyss of total lawlessness, unemployment, industrial and agricultural ruin, and economic devastation."



Sampla, also the Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, yesterday challenged the Congress government in the state to list at least nine poll promises it had fulfilled in the nine months the party had been in power.

Singh said in a statement that Sampla's remarks, a day before the local body polls in Punjab, was clearly aimed at "misleading and manipulating voters".

"Why did Sampla choose to come out with his outrageous allegations on municipal council poll eve," he asked.

Polling was today held in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala municipal corporations, 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The ruling Congress party, the SAD-BJP and the AAP are contesting the polls on their party symbols.

"If Sampla expected the Congress government to set right the damage caused over 10 years by the SAD-BJP regime in less than 10 months...then he is not only politically immature but also totally disconnected from the ways of governance," Singh said.

"Sampla is clearly sleeping while the state government is busy implementing (its) decisions".

Singh then went on to explain his government's "success" in tackling the drug problem in the state and generation of employment opportunities for the youth.

He said anyone, who suffered due to the drug menace during the SAD-BJP rule, would endorse his government's anti- drugs campaign.

On employment, he said job letters have been issued to 27,000 unemployed youth under the 'Ghar Ghar Rozgar' scheme.

Singh said either Sampla was unaware of these initiatives or was choosing to ignore them to further his party's agenda.

"Had the SAD-BJP government undertaken less than 10 per cent of what the Congress government has done, it would have been a different story altogether," the chief minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'Amazon Obhijaan' will be the first Indian Bengali film to be released theatrically in the United Kingdom.

The film, a sequel to Bengali blockbuster 'Chander Pahar', will hit the big screens on January 12 in nine theatres of England, targeting over 100 screenings in a week, a spokesman of the film's UK-based distribution partner said.

"Amazon Obhijaan (Amazon Adventures) will be initially released in nine places in the UK through Cineworld chain



Feltham, Wood Green, Ilford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham Broad Street, Bradford, Leeds. The movie will also find screen space at The Odeon Trafford Centre, Manchester and Safari Cinema, Harrow, London," the spokesman said.

"We have also lined up two other films 'Meghnadbodh Rahosyo' and 'Mayurakshi' for release in the UK theatres," he said.

The Kamaleswar Mukherjee-directed film, extensively shot in the rain forests of Brazil, will be released in India on December 22 in six languages Bengali, Hindi, Odia, Assamese, Tamil and Telugu.

SVF Director Mahendra Soni said, "We have invested very heavily on the production and visual effects to deliver a world-class product to the Indian audiences - living here and in the UK."



'Amazon Obhijaan' is the sequel to the 2013 film 'Chander Pahar' (Mountain of the Moon). While 'Chander Pahar' was based on the children's adventure classic by writer Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay, the story and scripting of the sequel is the brainchild of doctor-turned-director Mukherjee.

Bengali actor Dev enacts the role of adventurer Shankar while David James of Brazil and Svetlana Gulakova of Russia also play significant roles in the movie.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anybody living in India is a Hindu, said on Sunday, asserting that the meaning of Hindutva is to unite all communities.

Hindutva is different from Hinduism, he told a public function at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan in the heart of Tripura's capital.

"The Muslims in India are also Hindus," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak said.

Bhagwat, who is on a five-day tour of Tripura since Friday to review the organisational work of the RSS in the north-eastern region, said, "We have no enmity with anyone. We want welfare of all. To unite all is the meaning of Hindutva."



Maintaining that India is a land of Hindus, he said "tortured" Hindus from across the world come to the country and get shelter.

The RSS supremo said, "Hindus believe in truth, but the world respects strength. There is strength in organisation. Being organised is the natural law."



Referring to the Partition, he said parts of India got separated in 1947, leading to the weakening of the spirit of Hindutva and a decline of the "Hindu Samaj".

"India was united for so long. There was unity among the Hindus," Bhagwat said.

Highlighting the rich heritage of the country, he said, "A perturbed and confused world is looking at India for a new world order that can accommodate the materialist as well as the idealist."



He urged the Hindus to get organised and trained at RSS "shakhas" (daily meetings), saying these were the only places where one could prepare for nation-building and self- development.

The "sanatan dharma" wants to work together with everybody on board, Bhagwat said.

The Left Front-ruled Tripura is scheduled to go to polls early next year and the BJP is making a serious bid to increase its footprint in the north-east. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have BJP governments.
Automobile industry body SIAM is seeking two tax rates for passenger vehicles under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime instead of multiple rates levied currently, as part of its wish list for the upcoming .

The industry body has also sought from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley a special tax rate of 12 per cent for electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles.

"The automotive industry has been suggesting two rates for cars in place of multiple tax rates, and requests the government to keep only two rates for vehicles under the GST regime," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in its suggestions for the Union 2018-19.

Currently, under the GST regime, small petrol cars with engine capacity less than 1200cc attract 1 per cent cess, while diesel cars with engine capacity of less than 1500cc attract 3 per cent cess, on top of the 28 per cent tax.

Similarly, cess on hybrid cars, including mid, large and SUVs, remains at 15 per cent, likewise those vehicles used for transport of not more than 13 passengers.

The industry has also urged the government for tax on used cars to be fixed at 5 per cent GST on the differential value between sale and purchase price of the used car.

Similarly, in the electrical vehicle vertical, the industry has sought extension of custom duty concessions for additional critical components.

Besides, it has sought denial of any custom duty concessions to CBUs (completely built units) of electric vehicles to support 'Make in India' programme.

The industry body has also sought the government to clearly provide definition of CKD (completely knocked down)/ SKD (semi-knocked-down) units of electric vehicles.

The SIAM has also suggested the finance ministry to exempt 10-13 seater ambulances from levy of compensation cess.
Ruling AIADMK led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK are locked in a fierce contest in the RK Nagar Assembly constituency here, which goes to the bypoll on December 21 amid charges of cash distribution for votes.

As voting day nears, both AIADMK and DMK have stepped up the campaign.

DMK is going all out to wrest the seat from its arch rival after over two decades, with party working chief M K Stalin addressing a series of meetings today.

Accusing the ruling AIADMK of corruption, including the 'Gutkha scam,' Stalin sought a decisive victory for the DMK, which, he said, would be a marker for a regime change.

AIADMK is also leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat.

Chief Minister Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and Ministers are criss crossing congested lanes and by lanes to retain the seat won by Jayalalithaa last year for the second consecutive time.

AIADMK is primarily seeking votes to continue the welfare schemes launched by Jayalalithaa.

Palaniswami has also urged voters to elect party nominee Madhusudhanan, assuring houses for the downtrodden.

At the same time, AIADMK sidelined group, led by T T V Dhinakaran,is trying hard to prove to his rivals in mainstream AIADMK that he is the heir to Jayalalithaa's welfare legacy.

Dhinakaran, nephew of jailed leader V K Sasikala and contesting as an independent, is campaigning with vigour.

Bereft of the party flag and the popular two-leaves symbol, the pressure cooker now occupies pride of place in his campaign, with flags featuring it in the middle.

The former MP's (both lower and upper houses) supporters use a flag with a black stripe on top, white in middle and an embossing of cooker over it and red in bottom to canvass.

BJP is also in the fray with senior State functionary Karu Nagarajan named as candidate.

Women supporters of parties lining up the streets with 'aarthi' to welcome candidates and showering flowers on them have become a routine feature now.

Madusudanan, ruling AIADMK candidate, is also banking on his popularity in North Chennai, besides his party's strength.

DMK nominee Marudu Ganesh, also a local up and coming party functionary, has accused the ruling regime of graft and assures he will address people's issues, all of which have been left "unaddressed" by the ruling party.

DMK has the advantage of support from allies, including Congress and IUML, besides friendly outfits like Left parties, MDMK and VCK who too are vigorously in the electoral field.

Stalin, meanwhile today submitted a petition to Special RK Nagar poll officer Vikram Batra alleging money distribution by the ruling AIAMDK and sidelined leader Dhinakaran's group.

Demanding appropriate action, he also wanted candidates accused of giving money not to be allowed to contest polls.

Senior AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai dismissed DMK's charges as borne out of "fear of poll defeat."



Jayalalithaa won the seat by a huge margin of 1.5 lakh votes in the 2015 bypoll. She retained it by a reduced margin of about 40,000 votes last year.

From 1991 till the last year's Assembly election, DMK has won the seat only once in 1996.

In 2015, P Vetrivel (AIADMK) vacated the seat to pave the way for Jayalalithaa to contest after she was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in disproportionate assets case.

AIADMK cadres here feel the absence of Jayalalithaa, noted for her engaging and interactive style of campaign.

DMK workers also miss their chief Karunanidhi's (who is not active in due to age related ailments) persuasive pitch in chaste Tamil to seek votes.

A constituency dominated by the working classes,including fishermen, there are 2,28,234 voters in R K Nagar, of whom 1,10,903 are men, 1,17,232 women and 99 transgenders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today hailed the civic poll results as a clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's "deceitful propaganda".

The Congress today swept the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. In Patiala, the Congress won 58 wards while the opposition failed to open account.

In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by eight which went to BJP and four to their ally SAD. In Amritsar, Congress won 69 while 12 went to the SAD-BJP alliance.

He congratulated people "for not succumbing to the pressure tactics of the Opposition, which had tried hard to derail the free and democratic poll process with its cheap gimmickry and provocative acts", a statement said.

The Opposition had used all possible tactics from open threats to misleading statements and rumour mongering to intimidate the voters, but failed miserably, he claimed.

"The people had not forgotten what the Akalis had done for 10 years and had responded by voting them out of power in the Assembly elections and now handing them a crushing defeat in the local bodies' elections," the chief minister said.

As far as the Aam Aadmi Party was concerned, it had come to Punjab like a summer storm but had been "completely decimated, with no apparent hope of revival", Amarinder Singh said.

"The sweeping victory for the Congress in the local bodies' elections, which many political pundits and even the media had described as a litmust test for the party, clearly showed that the government was on the right track and the people were more than satisfied with its achievements of the past nine months," the chief minister added.

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls.

"The Akalis tried their best to scare the voters away from the booths, especially in areas where the Congress has a stronghold, but failed to intimidate them," said Jakhar, in a separate statement issued here.

Jakhar claimed that this was for the first time in a decade that the "polls were held in a free and democratic manner".

"The Akalis, during their 10-year-rule, had brazenly used muscle power to rig the elections. Misuse of the police force to intimidate the voters and the political opponents was common under the Akali regime," he alleged.

The Congress workers too were buoyed by the palpable swing in favour of the party in the run-up to the elections, he further said, and expressed the confidence that with Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party high command, the euphoria in the party would translate into majority votes for it.

He said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had lost its ground completely in Punjab, as in the rest of the country, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had also failed to recover from the rout it had witnessed in the Assembly elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, prompting the J&K government to order a magisterial inquiry even as the Army and local police initiated separate probes.

Asif Iqbal Bhat, a driver by profession, was killed in cross firing between Army men and terrorists, Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

Based on information about terrorists in Thindpura village, the Army laid ambushes in the area on the night of December 16-17, he said.

"Around 2255 hours, an ambush party noticed suspicious movement of three people near a nullah. They were challenged by troops. The terrorists opened fire and the troops retaliated. In the crossfire,one person, Asif Iqbal Bhat, was killed due to a gunshot wound," the defence spokesperson said.

An investigation was underway, Kalia said.

Police said Bhat, a resident of Thandipora, was taken to the Kralpora sub district hospital, from where he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.

An FIR was registered at the Kralpora police station and a probe was underway, a police spokesperson said.

The Mehbooba Mufti government also ordered a magisterial probe into the killing, even as the Opposition condemned the incident.

"We have ordered an inquiry into the incident. Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Abdullah Malik will head the inquiry committee," Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) Khalid Jehangir told PTI.

He said the magisterial inquiry, which will be completed in three weeks, and the police probe will go on concurrently.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the killing and directed the probe be conducted in an expeditious manner.

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah said the Army's "uninvestigated" claim that Bhat was killed in cross firing should not be used to "brush the incident under the carpet".

Separatists Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani sought to blame the authorities for the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Buoyed by Rahul Gandhi's spirited campaign in Gujarat, the Congress said on Sunday that the exit poll results will be reversed and it would emerge victorious in the state.

Upbeat on the eve of the election results, Congress leaders hailed Gandhi's Gujarat campaign as a "winner", saying his issue-based strategy would bring positive results for the party on Monday, when counting will take place.

"We are confident of victory in Gujarat. The manner in which Rahul Gandhi spearheaded the campaign and used issue- based politics, he put the BJP on the mat forcing them to resort to non issues for public sympathy," Congress general secretary in charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot told PTI.

Gehlot, the former Rajasthan Chief Minister who was sent to Gujarat to lift party's morale ahead of the high stakes election, appeared confident of a Congress win in the state.

Asked whether the Gujarat election result would be the first test of Gandhi, who assumed charge as Congress President this Saturday, Gehlot said, "It is not the issue of whether he is on test or not. The issue is the way he came in and assumed leadership of the Gujarat campaign forcing state government's accountability and cornering the PM (Narendra Modi) and BJP chief on development issues."



"They had no answers to Rahul Gandhi's questions and were forced to rake Gujarati pride. In this lay Rahul Gandhi's victory. He has already proved himself," he said.

The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 22 years. Gandhi single handedly steered the Congress campaign in the state this time around.

Another Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia, former Congress legislature party leader in Gujarat, said the state was sure to "fall in Rahul Gandhi's lap" after the aggressive and successful development-based canvassing he launched.

"The BJP was so cornered by Rahul Gandhi's insistence on answers about Gujarat's development or lack of it that the PM and BJP President Amit Shah had no option but to peddle non issues. Gujarat is sure to land in Congress kitty after Rahul Gandhi's spirited show there," he said.

Modhwadia noted that all exit poll results predicting a BJP win will stand reversed when actual results come tomorrow.

Gandhi worked on new political strategies in Gujarat to take on the BJP in prime minister Modi's home state, including visiting a series of temples in an apparent attempt to project the Congress in a soft Hindutva mould.

Another strategy was the understanding it reached with dominant and emerging caste leaders in Gujarat, including Hardik Patel of the Patidars, Jignesh Mewani of the Dalits and Alpesh Thakor of the OBCs.

Results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are being widely considered as the first test of Gandhi, the new Congress president.
A court here has suggested to the Delhi Chief Secretary to conduct an audit to find out whether public money is being siphoned off in the name of divorce pension through dubious bank accounts.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Sethi also asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Dwarka in south west Delhi to personally look into a case which appeared to the court as "part of a larger scam for misappropriation of public money being systematically done" by way of withdrawal of divorce pension through dubious accounts.

Divorce pension is a scheme under the Department of Women and Child Development of the Delhi government to provide social security in the form of financial assistance to widows, divorced, separated, abandoned, deserted or destitute women above 18 years who have no adequate means of subsistence and are poor, needy and vulnerable.

"The present matter appears to be a part of a larger scam for misappropriation of public money being systematically done by way of withdrawal of divorce pension through dubious accounts and the complainant could be just one of the several victims whose names may have been used for such withdrawals," the court said.

It said that a copy of this order be sent to the office of the chief secretary of the Delhi government so that an audit can also be conducted at their end to find out how public money is being siphoned off in the name of divorce pension.

The court has asked the DCP to monitor the investigation and file a status report by February 1.

It said that the matter needs to be looked into by the higher authorities to uncover the entire nexus behind such dubious schemes.

The court also asked the chief manager of the Axis Bank, in which the fake account was being operated, to get an internal inquiry conducted to find the possible involvement of bank officials.

Advocate Rakesh Kumar Garg, the counsel for complainant Sonika Aggarwal, has submitted that someone had opened an account in Axis Bank in her name and was drawing divorce pension from the Delhi government since last many years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police in southwest China today claimed to have busted a cross-border drug-smuggling gang after apprehending 37 people, including four from Myanmar who had swallowed 183 packets of cannabis that was sneaked into the country.

The four Myanmarese were caught in Yinbin City police in Sichuan Province caught in May when during a regular check police officers found them behaving suspiciously.

When their medical examination was carried out, a number of thumb-size shadows were discovered in their stomachs in the x-ray, they said.

The four suspects eventually excreted 183 plastic drug packets, weighing a total of 916 grammes, the state-run Xinhua agency reported.

The drugs included heroin, methamphetamine and yaba (a stimulant composed of methamphetamine and caffeine), it added.

Police investigation revealed that the four men had been asked to smuggle the drugs from Myanmar to Chongqing and were promised 260 yuan (USD 40) for each packet transported successfully.

The other gang suspects were caught in Chongqing City and Yunnan over the past few months, the police said, adding among the 37 suspects, six were Myanmarese.

So far, police in the case have seized more than 440 grammes of methamphetamine, 26 grammes of yaba, over one kg of heroin and eight guns, the report said.

In a separate development, China's customs staff and police officers have caught 13 people and seized more than 5,200 pieces of smuggled mink fur from them.

The joint operation was launched by the customs and the police from the cities of Nanning, Shenzhen and Shijiazhuang, according to officials.

The suspects confessed to illegally transporting 1.85 lakh pieces of mink fur, worth around 72 million yuan (USD 11 million), since July through the China-Vietnam border, Nanning customs officials said.

The fur was purchased by Chinese buyers at overseas auctions. They were then delivered to provinces including Hebei, claimed as wool or clothes, they said.

The customs said that the gang was suspected of evading tariffs of around 17 million yuan (approximately USD 2.5 million).

High-end mink is usually imported with high duties. This has led smugglers using fake commodity names or to report low prices to evade tariffs, according to the customs.

Officials have warned that smuggled animal fur can carry pathogenic micro-organisms, which can spread diseases.

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Two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Cyclone Ochki-hit Kanyakumari district, the Tamil Nadu government today held a review meeting over the central assistance to be sought for the relief works in the region.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami, who is expected to accompany Modi during the visit on December 19, chaired the meeting which resolved to press the Centre on the demand for declaring the cyclone a national disaster.

Palaniswami had days ago written to the prime minister urging him to declare the cyclone a national disaster. A similar plea has also been made by neighbouring Kerala, where the southern coast bordering Kanyakumari was hit by the cyclone fury.

The meeting also resolved to seek assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund towards additional funding requirements to meet the relief works in the southern Tamil Nadu districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, affected by the cyclone last month, an official release here said.

Attended by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, ministers and officials at the State Secretariat, the meeting deliberated on the extent of damage caused by the cyclone that wreaked havoc in these districts, especially Kanyakumari.

Commissioner of Revenue Administration, K Satyagopal and other officials briefed the chief minister and ministers on the relief measures taken up far and the assistance to be sought from the Centre for various works, the release said.

The works included repair and refurbishment in respect of categories including fallen electric poles, damaged government buildings, national and state highways and bunds of water bodies.

A memorandum will be submitted to the Centre in this regard and the chief minister directed the officials to prepare a sector-wise dossier on the damage caused by the storm.

The meeting also decided to urge the Centre to grant a special financial assistance for setting up an integrated fishing harbour in Kanyakumari district aimed at finding a permanent solution to the fishermen there.

It was also decided to press for a plan to address flooding in Chennai and neighbouring districts.

Officials told the meeting that crops, including paddy and rubber, had been hit due to the cyclone and steps were being taken to give relief to the affected farmers.

Similar steps were being taken in respect of damaged boats and fishing gear.

Meanwhile, Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan held discussions with officials in Kanyakumari on the visit of the prime minister during which he would interact with affected people.

The cyclone, which left a trail of destruction, has claimed 18 lives in Tamil Nadu while the toll in Kerala was 68. It also left several fishermen of the two states stranded or missing.

Modi will be also visiting Kerala and Lakshadweep.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad today said the draft law proposing to ban instant triple talaq is associated with the issue of women's prestige, honour and justice.

The Union Cabinet on December 15 gave its nod to a draft law which seeks to make the practice of instant triple talaq "illegal and void" and provides for a jail term for violators.

"The draft law banning instant triple talaq with provision of three years imprisonment for violations is associated with the issue of women's prestige, honour and justice. And the BJP is with those women who are the victims (of triple talaq practice)," Prasad said.

He was addressing a training camp of BJP state-level office bearers at Jamuhar village in Rohtas district.

The Union minister said the country was facing challenges both on internal and external fronts, especially with neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan.

Prasad said illegal immigration from neighbouring countries also poses dangers to nation's political and economic stability.

On internal front, the country is facing problems like unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty etc, he said.

Prasad exuded confidence that GDP growth rate would touch eight per cent next fiscal.

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Rajya Sabha member Gopal Narayan Singh also addressed the training programme.

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A theatre festival in a remote Assam village by the Garo Hills could not have asked for a stage more spectacular.

The venue was a forest of sal trees, and the plays were staged without artificial lights or sound.

Nine plays from India and Bangladesh were performed at the three-day 'Under the Sal Tree Theatre Festival', which ended today.

Organised by the Badungduppa Kala Kendra, the drama fest was held in Rampur village in Goalpara district, near the Assam-Meghalaya border.

"I have seen a lot of plays in auditoriums. Then I thought of taking theatre to the villages, where nothing happens," said theatre artiste Sukracharjya Rabha, a disciple of Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Heisnam Kanhailal and the brain behind the festival, now in its eighth edition.

The festival, with plays performed in natural light and without a sound system, has been gaining global fame. Last year, groups from Brazil, Poland, South Korea and Sri Lanka took part in it.

Rabha, who is from Rampur, readies the venue every year, ensuring that not a single tree is cut for the event.

There is no formal stage for the plays. The actors perform in an open area, against a wall of hay, while the audience sits on multi-tiered bamboo benches.

"In the absence of sophisticated auditoriums in the villages, I realised that we have to do something on our own," Rabha told PTI here.

Though he accepted that an auditorium and technology were an inseparable part of proscenium theatre, the Assam-based director said these modern elements reminded him of the "colonisation" of society.

"Theatre should live among the people. If we can enact a play under natural circumstances, then it will connect reality and art to our ecological system. This will be our 'Indianness' and it will be our own theatre," Rabha said.

Theatre, he added, should be flexible, not remain stuck in a place and go to the people.

Rabha said the festival gets support from the entire village, some 150 kilometres from Guwahati, as it draws people from across the country. The Kala Kendra charges visitors for food and accommodation.

This year, the eighth such festival, started on December 15. Among the plays was a production from Bangladesh.

The organisers did not have enough funds for a bigger affair this time, Rabha rued.

Though the festival had a budget of Rs 20 lakh and was supported by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Cultural Affairs Department of the Assam government, the Badungduppa Kala Kendra has been facing a financial crisis, he said.

Film actor Mahendra Das, who figured in 'Rock On 2', is a regular visitor to the festival and appreciates its minimalistic approach.

Das felt the festival also promotes the concept of 'Theatre Tourism' in Assam, with people from across the country travelling to the Goalpara village for the shows.

"This festival shows us that a play can be done with minimum expenses with no light and no microphones. Everything is played live here. It is basically a peoples' festival," Das said.

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A 55-year-old man was trampled to death by a wildelephantin Chhattisagrh's Jashpur district, police said today.

The incident occurred last evening in the forest adjacent to Dadpani village under Kansabel police station limits when one Prem Sai was returning home from his field, a local police official told PTI.

While returning, Sai went inside Kudeldab forests to pick woods when he was attacked by the elephant, he said.

On getting the information, Forest and police personnel rushed to the spot and sent Sai's body for postmortem, the official said.

The kin of the deceased have been given an instant relief amount of Rs 25,000 by Forest department, he added.

Thickly-forested northern Chhattisgarh, comprising Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, is notorious for humanelephantconflicts.

The region has witnessed several killings of tribals and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue elephants in the past.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) have helped making elections "transparent and impartial" and those criticising them were doing so out of the fear of defeat.

Kumar's observation came a day before the counting of votes for the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and in the backdrop of allegations of EVM tampering in Gujarat to favour the BJP.

"Some may criticize the EVMs out of fear of defeat, but the EVMs have made elections transparent and impartial. Now, nobody can deprive anybody of the right to cast votes," Kumar, who has predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP in Gujarat, tweeted in Hindi.

The Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and Patidar leader Hardik Patel have expressed apprehension that the EVMs may have been tampered with in Gujarat where the BJP has been in power for 22 years and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had served as the Chief Minister for over a decade.

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The son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead at a spot close to the Uttar Pradesh legislature complex late last night and the issue is likely to rock the state Assembly and the Legislative Council tomorrow.

Vaibhav Tiwari (36), son of former Domariyaganj MLA Prem Prakash Tiwari, was allegedly shot at from point blank range at the Kasmanda House, barely 300 metres from the UP legislature building and the state BJP headquarters, police officials said.

His father was the BJP MLA from Domariyaganj in 1989, 1991 and 1993. In 2014, he had joined the Samajwadi Party though in this year's Assembly polls, he campaigned for the BJP.

The killing happened at a time when the opposition has been attacking the Adityanath dispensation on the law and order front. Opposition MLAs indicated that they were in no mood to spare the government over Vaibhav Tiwari's killing, an incident that sent shock-waves across the political spectrum.

"We will not allow the House to function. The state government has to give a categorical answer on the law and order situation. It has to make clear who is patronising criminal elements," Samajwadi Party legislator Sunil Singh Sajan told PTI.

The first two days of the ongoing winter session of the state legislature witnessed turmoil over law and order and other issues leading to repeated adjournments.

The scene is unlikely to be any different in both the Houses tomorrow as the opposition has decided to press for a discussion on the law and order situation.

"As soon as the Question Hour is over, we will press for a discussion. If the government runs away from discussion, we will launch a mass movement," Sajan said.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state Assembly, Ajay Kumar Singh Lallu said, "It is indeed a very serious matter. There is fear among the public and not a day passes off in UP without any major incident of crime."



We will raise this issue aggressively in the Assembly tomorrow and seek answer from the government, he said.

The lone MLA of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Sahender Singh, too criticised the UP government for the "poor law and order situation" in the state.

"I will definitely raise the issue of deteriorating law and order scenario in the House. The situation is so poor that criminals do not fear the police and go scotfree after committing crime," he said.

Tabling of the first supplementary budget is on tomorrow's agenda in the legislative business after the question and zero hours.

The agenda for the session that concludes on December 22 also includes introduction of bills to repeal ordinances for creating the Prayag Raj Mela authority, Allahabad for holding Kumbh, and ensuring stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those trading in spurious liquor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A farmer allegedly committed suicide last night by consuming poison at his farm in Rajpura village here.

Kailash Lal Singh Jamre (35) died during treatment at the district hospital, said Tejram Babar, the hospital's police post in-charge.

While family members said that the farmer took the extreme step due to debt, police said that the exact reason would be known after investigations.

Shankar Jamre, brother of the deceased, said that the farmer killed himself as he was unable to repay loans totalling around Rs 1.75 lakh, taken from a bank, a private company and two other cooperatives.

"Our father and elder brother were bed-ridden and the crop on his two-acre farmland was also destroyed," his brother said.

Three farmers have allegedly committed suicide in the past eight days in the state.

Earlier on December 12, Gokul Pal (50) had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree at his farm in Bhundi village of Umaria district.

Pal's son Naresh Pal (25) had claimed that his father was tense over his inability to repay loans worth Rs 90,000 which he had taken from two private lenders.

At Abgaon village of Harda district, farmer Dinesh Pandey (60) had allegedly committed suicide on December 10 by jumping into a well after getting a notice to pay his pending electricity bill of Rs 9,111.

The farmer's son, Sanjay Pandey, had said that the police had served a local court's notice to his father asking him to pay the pending electricity bill.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first ever state level ex-servicemen rally in Manipur was organised by the army today to honour the veteran soldiers of the state and their respective families.

The rally was held at the Leimakhong Military Station in Imphal West district. Veteran soldiers, widows of martyred soldiers and their dependents were given warm reception and felicitated with presentations and guided about the various facilities that can be availed from various departments.

Chief Guest Lt Gen (Retd) K Himalaya Singh, told the gathering, that the main purpose of the rally is to ensure welfare for all ex-servicemen in the state and reminded them that the army cares for its veterans.

He remarked the state has the highest per capita officer cadres in the country and highlighted the contribution the Indian Armed forces have made in nation building.

A booklet on various welfare schemes under implementation by the government and the armed forces for the benefit of the ex-servicemen was also released.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A fugitive US citizen, arrested in Bengaluru following a Red Corner Notice for allegedly causing death of a person in Indonesia due to medical negligence last year, has been denied bail by a Delhi court.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, who presides over the Special Extradition Court of India, dismissed the bail application of 57-year-old Randall John Cafferty, arrested from Bengaluru airport on September 29 following the notice.

The court noted the submissions made by advocate N K Matta, appearing for the Ministry of External Affairs, that a formal extradition request from Indonesia against Cafferty, currently in judicial custody, has been received by the central government.

Cafferty was held on a request of Indonesia for his provisional arrest as he was wanted there to face trial.

He is accused of committing various offences in Indonesia, including practising as a health worker without having an appropriate licence and causing medical negligence which resulted in the death of the patient.

Indian and Indonesia have an extradition treaty in place since 2011.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the re-polling held on Sunday at six polling booths in four Assembly constituencies of Gujarat, said officials.

Following the Election Commission's (EC) directive on Saturday, the polling was held at two booths each in Vadgam and Savli constituencies and one each in Viramgam and Daskroi constituencies.

While the Chhaniyana-1 and 2 booths of the Vadgam seat clocked a 74 and 73 per cent voter turnout respectively, booth number 27 in Viramgam recorded an 83-per cent turnout, said Gujarat's Chief Electoral Officer B B Swain.

Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is contesting from the Vadgam (SC) seat as an Independent candidate supported by the Congress.

The Nava Naroda booth of the Daskroi seat registered a 73-per cent voter turnout, while the Nhara and Sankrada booths in Savli constituency registered a 71 and 75 per cent voter turnout respectively.

The re-polling was held from 8 am till 5 pm.

The EC had yesterday ordered the re-polling after the second phase of voting in the Gujarat Assembly polls, covering 93 seats of central and north Gujarat, on December 14. However, the poll panel did not specify the reason for the fresh polling at these six booths.

The EC had also directed that the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips of 10 booths in seven constituencies be taken into consideration during tomorrow's counting of votes as the presiding officers of these booths had failed to wipe out the votes cast during the mock poll from the control units.

In the first phase on December 9, polling was held for the 89 seats of Saurashtra, Kutch and south Gujarat.

The counting of votes for all the 182 Assembly seats will be taken up tomorrow.
A hunt was on for a government school teacher for allegedly abducting and raping a 16-year-old girl for three days in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said today.

On December 3, the girl had gone to attend a marriage ceremony at a village in the Paddar area of the district, from where she was allegedly abducted by the accused, Surinder Kumar Sharma, a police officer said.

The accused allegedly raped the girl multiple times, before setting her free on December 6, he added.

The girl, a Class 10 student, earlier studied in the school where the accused taught, the officer said.

The girl, accompanied by her family members, approached the police and an FIR was lodged against the accused, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab the accused.

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The CBI has booked a Hyderabad- based retail company for allegedly cheating the State Bank of India to the tune of nearly Rs 134 crore by availing various credit facilities on the basis of forged documents between 2007 and 2014, officials said here today.

In its FIR, the agency has alleged that PCH Retail represented by its directors Balvinder Singh and Baljit Kaur had availed credit facilities to the tune of Rs 133.95 crore during the seven year period using false financial statements and documents.

The directors of PCH retail entered in criminal conspiracy with chartered accountant Bhavesh R Vithlani, a chartered accountant and Taran Jyot Singh, Director Versant Home Appliances Pvt Ltd (both named in the FIR as accused) and unidentified bank officials of the SBI and cheated the bank, the FIR alleged.

The CBI has alleged that the accused diverted the credit facilities availed by them to fictitious companies floated by them and others and siphoned off bank's funds.

"It was further revealed that out of the loan amount Rs 2.76 crore was fraudulently transferred to Versant Home Appliances Pvt Ltd for the purchase of immovable property which was subsequently transferred to the daughter of Balvinder Singh," it alleged.

It said that the account was declared a non performing asset on September 28, 2013.

Alleging that a wrongful loss of Rs 133.95 crore was caused to the bank, the CBI booked the accused for criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and criminal misconduct by public servant and abuse of official position.

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Forget mistletoe, Christmas is not Christmas in Italy without a slice of panettone -- and festivities kicked off in Milan today with free slices of the biggest Italian candied cake in the world.

Weighing in at 140 kilogrammes, the two-metre (over six foot) high marvel was sliced up into 1,200 pieces for sweet- toothed tourists and locals at the Victor Emmanuel II shopping gallery near the city's Gothic cathedral.

"Panettone is the Christmas dessert par excellence. Fashions may change, but panettone remains an unshakable tradition," Angelo Bernasconi, owner of the San Gregorio patisserie behind the giant dome-shaped delight, told AFP.

The Milanese factory makes the traditional cake with its candied fruits and raisins not just for Italy but around the world, with some 200 of the golden buns headed to a New York caterer alone each week.

In the run-up to Christmas "we never stop," says Bernasconi's partner Savino Moretti, who is retired but comes twice a week to pass on his 50 years of experience to the pastry team.

The pair, aged 67 and 68, say the secret to their success lies in the mother dough, which they inherited along with the shop from the master baker, who made it -- so legend has it -- by adding a dash of horse urine to the mix for acidity.

It takes 36 hours to turn out a panettone, with raisins and candied peel added to the mix of water, sugar, flour, eggs, butter and vanilla. Once baked, the cakes are hung upside down for 10 hours to allow the butter to drop.

The giant version had to be cooked in a special oven and was baked "a lot longer and more slowly," Bernasconi says.

"It tastes good, but a little different from usual. It's a little dry, otherwise it would collapse," he added.

According to the Italian agricultural association Coldiretti, three quarters of Italians will have a slice of panettone at some point over the Christmas holidays -- perhaps with a dollop of mascarpone cream or washed down with a sweet liqueur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Jason Priestley says he punched disgraced Harvey Weinstein in the face at a party organised by the media mogul's company, Miramax celebrating 1995 Golden Globes.

The response by the "902010" alum comes after actor Tara Strong referenced the alleged incident while tweeting a message of sympathy for Mira Sorvino, who thanked director Peter Jackson for speaking up against Weinstein.

"Of course there is more to the story... '95 Golden Globes... At the Miramax Party... Harvey told me I had to leave... I was leaving when he grabbed me by the arm and said 'what are you doing?' I said 'You told me leave, I'm leaving'.

"I didn't say you had to leave. You just told me to leave... Right over there' I tell him once again. Getting heated now. He then grabs me tighter and says 'Why don't we go outside and talk about this'. That was all I needed to hear," Priestley wrote on Twitter.

"'I'm not going anywhere with you' I said as I pushed him back and punched him with a right hand to his face. Suddenly, there were security guards pulling us apart and I was escorted out of the party..." he added.

In a recent interview, Jackson revealed Weinstein ran a "smear campaign" against Sorvino and Ashley Judd to keep them from working on "Lord of the Rings".

After "LOTR" director's revelations, filmmaker Terry Zwigoff said Weinstein and his brother Bob, discouraged him to take Sorvino in his 2003 film "Bad Santa".

"I was interested in casting Mira Sorvino in 'Bad Santa' but every time I mentioned her over the phone to the Weinsteins, I'd hear a click. What type of person just hangs up on you like that? I guess we all know what type of person now. I'm really sorry, Mira," Zwigoff wrote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CPI (Maoist) leader Kobad Ghandy was arrested by Jharkhand Police from Hyderabad in connection with two Maoist violence cases, a senior police officer said here today.

Ghandy wanted by the Bokaro Police in two pending cases was brought here last night. He was arrested two days back in Hyderabad, police said.

"We have arrested Kobad Ghandy, a Politburo Member of the naxal outfit, from Hyderabad in connection with two pending cases against him," said Bokaro, Superintendent of Police, Karthik S.

One of the cases was registered at Bokaro Thermal Power station (BTPS) Police station and the other at Nawadih police station in mid 2000, Karthik said.

Ghandy was the alleged mastermind in both the cases, the SP said adding that in one of the case six jawans were killed in an attack launched by the Maoists on a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) camp in Bokaro under BTPS police station.

Ghandy held a meeting with the naxals in Bokaro district ahead of the attack on CISF camp, Karthik said



In the second case 15 people were killed in a landmine blast triggered by the naxals under Nawadih police station of the district in 2006-07, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead at a spot close to the Uttar Pradesh legislature complex late last night and the law and order issue is again likely to rock the state Assembly and the Legislative Council tomorrow.

Anticipating the possibility of uproar in the Assembly, Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit said if members were bent upon derailing the listed business, stopping the live telecast during pandemonium may be considered as there was a perception that proceedings were sometimes disrupted for publicity.

Vaibhav Tiwari (36), son of former Domariyaganj MLA Prem Prakash Tiwari, was allegedly shot at from point blank range at the Kasmanda House, barely 300 metres from the UP legislature building and the state BJP headquarters, police officials said.

His father was the BJP MLA from Domariyaganj in 1989, 1991 and 1993. In 2014, he had joined the Samajwadi Party though in this year's Assembly polls, he campaigned for the BJP.

The killing happened at a time when the opposition has been attacking the Adityanath dispensation on the law and order front.

Opposition MLAs indicated that they were in no mood to spare the government over Vaibhav Tiwari's killing, an incident that sent shock-waves across the political spectrum.

"We will not allow the House to function. The state government has to give a categorical answer on the law and order situation. It has to make clear who is patronising criminal elements," Samajwadi Party legislator Sunil Singh Sajan told PTI.

The first two days of the ongoing winter session of the state legislature witnessed turmoil over law and order and other issues leading to repeated adjournments.

The scene is unlikely to be any different in both the Houses tomorrow as the opposition has decided to press for a discussion on the law and order situation.

"As soon as the Question Hour is over, we will press for a discussion. If the government runs away from discussion, we will launch a mass movement," Sajan said.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state Assembly, Ajay Kumar Singh Lallu said, "It is indeed a very serious matter. There is fear among the public and not a day passes off in UP without any major incident of crime."



We will raise this issue aggressively in the Assembly tomorrow and seek answer from the government, he said.

The lone MLA of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Sahender Singh, too criticised the UP government for the "poor law and order situation" in the state.

"I will definitely raise the issue of deteriorating law and order scenario in the House. The situation is so poor that criminals do not fear the police and go scot-free after committing crime," he said.

UP Assembly Speaker Dixit, however, was not amused at the possibility of the listed business of the House being disrupted.

"We may consider stopping the live telecast of proceedings...It may not be the entire proceedings, but only the portion during which there is pandemonium...But, no decision has been taken or declaration made in this regard so far, we are only contemplating," Dixit told PTI.

"There is a perception that law makers stall proceedings to gain easy publicity," he said.

Tabling of the first supplementary budget is on tomorrow's agenda in the legislative business after the question and zero hours.

The agenda for the session that concludes on December 22 also includes introduction of bills to repeal ordinances for creating the Prayag Raj Mela authority, Allahabad for holding Kumbh, and ensuring stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those trading in spurious liquor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of its drive to fight dengue, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to use drones from next year to take "difficult images" of stagnant water on terraces of high-rises in the city.

As per the plan, the city civic body had conducted a pilot-run last week and flown a drone over the South City towers located in southern part of the city's Bikramgarh area.

Dengue has taken several lives in and around the metropolis this year.

"With the number of high-rises in the city growing it's becoming quite a difficult task for our workers to reach to the terraces of the high-rises and the large housing complexes and run a check on dengue. Taking a stock of the situation we have decided to use drones for the purpose," a senior official of KMC's vector-control department said today.

"We are planning to fly the drones over the buildings to take images of stagnant water and plan accordingly to counter dengue," the official added.

In fact, after the pilot-run, senior officials held a meeting with mayor-in-council Atin Ghosh on the images taken from the drone, he said.

At the meeting, discussions on using the technology in dengue-prevention was held and a consensus was reached that the using drones might be initiated from next March, he said.

Incidentally, Ghosh had also directed the KMC officials to prepare a report on the usage of drones in the controlling the dengue menace in the city's multi-storied buildings.

"The inclusion of drones in capturing images will surely help KMC in controlling the vector-borne disease in the coming times. We consider this as a great decision for dengue prevention will be placed before the council meeting after mayor Sovan Chatterjee gives his nod," a civic official said.

However, introduction of drones would require nod of the city mayor as well as the mayor-in-council.

The KMC is actually working on the number of drones it requires for the purpose, another official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some leaders of the BJP-led NDA have pitched for an all India judicial service on the lines of the civil services and sought a discussion on the matter in Parliament.

The issue, which involves the demand for reservation in the judiciary for Dalits and backward classes, was raised in the meeting of top NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, on Friday, the first day of the Winter Session, highly-placed sources said.

A senior BJP leader told PTI that the matter was raised in the meeting by some members, who sought a discussion on the issue in Parliament.

They said there should be all India judicial service like the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Police Service, he said on the condition of anonymity.

The sources, however, declined to name the leaders who raised the issue at the meeting.

A large section of politicians, especially those drawn from disadvantaged classes, has been vocal over the issue, citing minuscule presence of these communities, especially Dalits and STs, in the higher judiciary.

The matter was in the limelight recently after President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his concern at a public event over "unacceptably low" presence of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the higher judiciary.

Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha had demanded recently that gates of higher judiciary be opened for women and disadvantaged classes, claiming that most high court and Supreme Court judges have come from 250-300 families.

"Not only for Dalits and backward castes, the door is closed even for people from general castes. Members of over 250-300 families have been becoming judges in high courts and the Supreme Court since Independence. Doors are closed for all others. They must be opened," he had said at a public meeting to mark the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

Dalit members of Parliament have long been raising the issue and saying that an all India judicial service will pave the way for reservation for the traditionally deprived sections of society in higher judiciary.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by three men in a park in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh yesterday, when the country was marking the fifth anniversary of the "Nirbhaya" gang-rape.

The girl, who works as a domestic help, was sitting in a park near Haiderpur slums with a male friend, when the three men came and picked up a fight with him, they said.

She was raped after she tried to stop the accused from beating her friend. They also threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident, the police said.

The trio also took her mobile phone, which was switched off, they said.

Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma said, "Teams under the deputy commissioner of police (Northwest) are trying to apprehend the accused."



On December 16, 2012, a physiotherapy student was gang- raped in a moving bus, and dumped on the streets under the cover of darkness in south Delhi, sparking outrage at home and abroad, with many citizens taking to streets demanding proper security for women.

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Gunmen today shot at a man and looted Rs 2 lakh from him near Enai village in Bihar's Saran district, police said.

The incident took place when Indal Singh, a businessman, was returning home when seven motorcycle-borne miscreants shot at him and decamped with the money, Bhagwan Bazaar police station SHO Surendra Kumar said.

Singh has been admitted to Chapra sadar hospital, the SHO said, adding, search is on to nab the culprits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed concern over decline in conviction rate for crimes and asked officials to expedite the process of speedy trial to achieve the desired results as in the past.

On his assuming power of Bihar for the first time in 2005, Kumar had successfully used the process of speedy trial to expedite conviction rate for crimes as an effective measure to control law and order in the state.

He was emphasising on the same successful weapon to control crimes.

"The concerted and coordinated steps that increased conviction rate since 2006 has now weakened", he said expressong concern while addressing a day-long seminar attended by High Court Judges, top civil and police officials among others here.

The seminar on "Effective Investigation, Speedy Trial and Timely Justice" was organised by Home department in association with Bihar Judicial Academy.

Patna High Court judge Justice K K Mandal, Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Advocate General Lalit Kishore, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General of Police P K Thakur besides several District Judges, District Magistrates and Superintendent of Police and Public Prosecutors attended the function.

Kumar assured the gathering that the government was ready to make any investment to achieve the goal of speedy trial and conviction, be it the use of technology such as video conferencing or creation of posts.

Kumar suggested that Bihar Judicial Academy should hold training programme for Superintendents of Police but it should also come out with short term training course of one or two or three days for Sub-Inspectors engaged in investigation work.

He asked Public Prosecutors to argue their cases in an effective manner.

"We are people's representatives and we do get reports from ground that they (PPs) don't put up cases effectively. I can not fathom the reason behind it but you must do your duty and let the court decide the matter," the CM said.

Kumar also asked DMs to monitor PPs at district level as whether or not they are effectively and timely putting up cases.

A two-day workshop on "Speedy criminal justice" was organised in October 2006 which was attended by District Judges, DMs, SPs, PPs, Kumar said adding that it proved to be an "effective workshop" that witnessed an increase in conviction rate then.

After that workshop, even the routine trials in regular courts were sped up.

In 2006, the total number of convicts were 6839 followed by 9853 convictions in 2007, 12007 in 2008, 13146 in 2009 and 14311 in 2010, he said reeling out data.

"But, after that it started witnessing decline in conviction rate and has further declined to 5508 convictions in 2016," Kumar said.

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Over 22,000 people have been indicted by Chinese prosecutors for property violations through Internet or telecommunication all over China in the first nine months.

A Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) investigation department statement has called for quicker efforts to deal with cyber and telecom fraud and to tackle the problem at its root.

The statement called on China's prosecutors to better understand the harm of such violations, calling for a heavy- hitting approach. It also requires timely and sufficient work in collecting evidence.

Chinese prosecutors have indicted 22,268 people in 8,257 cases for the violations, the statement said.

According to the SPP, between January and September, prosecutors also lodged accusations against 710 people in 334 cases of computer-related crimes, such as hacking computer systems, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier this year, seven people were sentenced to prison in eastern China's Shandong Province in a telecom fraud case linked to the death of a teenager.

Xu Yuyu, a high school graduate from Linyi, died of cardiac arrest last year after being defrauded out of 9,900 yuan ($1,500 ) which she intended to use to pay university tuition fees.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired two rockets at southern Israel today, the Israeli army said in a statement without giving further details.

State-owned Kan 11 TV said nobody was injured, despite one of the rockets apparently hitting a house.

The attacks ended a three-day lull in the latest wave of rocket attacks amid anger over US President Donald Trump's December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

On Wednesday Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza while a third came down inside Israeli territory.

Early Thursday morning Israeli aircraft hit three "military facilities" of the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.

Militants in the Palestinian enclave have fired both rockets and mortar rounds into Israel since Trump's deeply controversial announcement.

Trump's announcement was followed by protests across the Palestinian territories, with six Gazans killed -- four in clashes with Israeli forces along the border and two Hamas militants in an Israeli air strike in retaliation for rocket fire.

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The Hyderabad Police today arrested two persons for allegedly running a sex racket after a raid on two hotels last night. Police said that two women have been rescued during the operation.

According to Task Force (North Zone) Inspector K Nageshwar Rao, police raided two hotels in Panjagutta and Banjara Hills last night and apprehended Monish K and Venkatesh, the alleged organisers of this racket.

He said that the two women, one from Mumbai and the other from Kolkata, rescued are actors.

The two men have been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA)and further investigations were underway, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The following are PTI's top stories at 6.30 pm:



STORIES ON WIRE



Nation:



DEL1 DEF-BRAHMOS



New Delhi: Work begins to integrate the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfil critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

BOM11 MP-VP-WOMEN-BILL



Bhopal: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu says all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.

MDS2 KA-RAJNATH



Bengaluru: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh lashes out at the Congress government in Karnataka on the law-and- order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

DEL9 JK-LD CIVILIAN



Srinagar: Defence spokesperson says a civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

DEL5 INSURGENT CAMPS-BANGLADESH



New Delhi: In a major development reported after decades of cross-border insurgency along India's eastern frontier, the BSF says that camps and hideouts of Indian Insurgent Groups across the country's frontier on the Bangladeshi soil have been reduced to "almost zero".

BOM4 GJ-POLLS-COUNTING



Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held tomorrow for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

DEL4 HP-POLL-COUNTING



Shimla: The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known tomorrow as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal Pradesh where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have contested all 68 seats



DEL14 UP-2NDLD EX-MLA-SON KILLED



Lucknow: The son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead at a spot close to the Uttar Pradesh legislature complex and the law and order issue is again likely to rock the state Assembly and the Legislative Council tomorrow.

DEL8 HEALTH-EUTHANASIA BILL



New Delhi: Hospitals have to set up approval committees for considering cases of passive euthanasia, and any distortion of facts before such panels may lead to a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore, a redrafted bill states. By Payal Banerjee



FOREIGN:



FGN8 PAK-3RDLD ATTACK



Karachi/Islamabad: Heavily-armed terrorists strike a church during a Sunday midday service in the restive southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and injuring 44 others in a targeted assault on the minority Christian community ahead of Christmas in the Muslim nation. By Sajjad Hussain



FGN1 PAK-JADHAV



Islamabad: Pakistan says the visa applications of Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav's family had been received and were being "processed".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The following are PTI's top stories at 9 pm:



STORIES ON WIRE



Nation:



DEL1 DEF-BRAHMOS



New Delhi: Work begins to integrate the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfil critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

BOM11 MP-VP-WOMEN-BILL



Bhopal: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu says all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.

CAL3 TR-BHAGWAT



Agartala: Anybody living in India is a Hindu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says, asserting that the meaning of Hindutva is to unite all communities.

MDS6 KA-LD RAJNATH



Bengaluru: Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi a day after he accused BJP of spreading hatred, Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh says it was his party which has been trying to douse the fire "lit by Congress" on issues such as Kashmir and communal tensions.

DEL9 JK-LD CIVILIAN



Srinagar: Defence spokesperson says a civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

DEL5 INSURGENT CAMPS-BANGLADESH



New Delhi: In a major development reported after decades of cross-border insurgency along India's eastern frontier, the BSF says that camps and hideouts of Indian Insurgent Groups across the country's frontier on the Bangladeshi soil have been reduced to "almost zero".

BOM13 MP-CONVERSION-PRIEST-ARREST



Satna: A Catholic priest and a Bajrang Dal activist have been arrested from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, police say, three days after suspected workers of the right-wing group had allegedly beaten up priests and seminarians over forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

BOM4 GJ-POLLS-COUNTING



Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held tomorrow for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

DEL4 HP-POLL-COUNTING



Shimla: The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known tomorrow as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal Pradesh where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have contested all 68 seats



DEL25 HAJ-DRAW



New Delhi: The draw of lots for next year's Haj will be conducted in the second week of January with more than three lakh people applying for the pilgrimage through the the Haj Committee of India till now, a senior official says.

DEL24 NIA-NAIK



New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will file a fresh request before the Interpol for issuing Red Corner Notice against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, after its previous plea was rejected on the grounds that the agency had not filed any charge sheet against him, officials say.

DEL8 HEALTH-EUTHANASIA BILL



New Delhi: Hospitals have to set up approval committees for considering cases of passive euthanasia, and any distortion of facts before such panels may lead to a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore, a redrafted bill states. By Payal Banerjee



FOREIGN:



FGN18 PAK-4THLD ATTACK



Karachi/Islamabad: Two suicide bombers attacked a packed church during a Sunday service in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and injuring 44 others in a targeted assault on the minority Christian community ahead of Christmas in the Muslim nation. By Sajjad Hussain



FGN1 PAK-JADHAV



Islamabad: Pakistan says the visa applications of Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav's family had been received and were being "processed".

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A day after assuming charge as Congress President, Rahul Gandhi today hosted a dinner for party MPs and senior leaders as well as leaders of opposition parties.

A number of senior opposition leaders attended the dinner here along with Congress MPs, a move viewed as an attempt to bring them closer to Gandhi.

The dinner comes at a time when the opposition is seeking to corner the government on various issues in the truncated winter session of Parliament that started on December 15.

The opposition will formalise its strategy soon after the Assembly election results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh tomorrow.

Gandhi took charge of the Congress party's reins yesterday at a formal function from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who remained at the helm for 19 years.

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A team of railway officials has visited Raigarh to aseess steel plant of JSPL, which is interested in national transporter's tender to procure seven lakh tonnes of rails worth about Rs 3,500 crore, industry sources said today.

The Ministry of Railways has recently floated a global tender to procure rails. This is the first time that railways has come up with such a tender.

At present, state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is the only company supplying rails to the country's largest transport network railways.

SAIL manufactures 260-metre long rails at its Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in Chhattisgarh. Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) is the only private company in the country which produces rails.

A team of Railways comprising officers from Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) are camping in Raigarh and performing an assessment of the JSPL's plant, a source privy to the matter told PTI.

While an email sent to the JSPL remained unanswered, an official requesting anonymity confirmed that a railways team is visiting for an assessment of the "domestic producer and supplier of rails".

The plant has a capacity to produce 1 million tonne (mt) of rails, about 30 per cent more than the railways' requirement.

JSPL is confident of making early deliveries to the Indian Railways if it succeeds in securing the tender, a top company official had earlier said.

"It is a golden chance for JSPL (Jindal Steel and Power Limited) as the company has been looking to make inroads into the domestic rail segment for about a decade," Naushad Ansari, CEO Steel Business, JSPL, had told PTI over phone.

Ansari had said that the company is fully prepared and well equipped. It is capable of making early deliveries compared to any other player. "If we bag the tender today, we can start making deliveries in just three weeks. It would take much longer for a foreign firm to start making deliveries. JSPL has a capacity to supply over 50,000 mt rail per month."



"The delivery (is) to commence as early as possible and to be completed in 12 months from the date of placement of order (in case of domestic bidder) or opening of letter of credit (in case of foreign bidders)," the railway tender stated.

The company has experience in rails and is already supplying rails to other countries like Iran, Bangladesh, Mozambique and Brazil.

It has yet to enter the domestic rail space as the Indian Railways has been procuring rails from SAIL under an agreement it had signed with the PSU.

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Hitting back at a day after he accused BJP of spreading hatred, Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh on Sunday said it was his party which has been trying to douse the fire "lit by Congress" on issues such as Kashmir and communal tensions.

Addressing a BJP rally here, he also accused the Congress government in Karnataka of trying to 'divide' the society and lashed out at it on the law-and-order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

The senior BJP leader posed several questions to Rahul Gandhi, who made the charge after being handed over the baton by his mother Sonia Gandhi yesterday to take over as the Congress president, heralding a generational change.

Singh said: "Congress has got a new president. I congratulate him. He says that BJP is responsible for the unrest in the country. I want to ask him who is behind the conmunal tensions, terrorism, Naxalism and unrest in Kashmir?



"Who is behind the dynastic in the country? Let know that it is BJP which is trying to douse the fire lit by Congress," Singh said.

He also said the "whole world knew that the BJP alone knows how to run the nation. The Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results (tomorrow) will prove it again. Already exit polls have predicted that we are going to form the government in these two states," he said.

In his first speech to party workers after formally assuming charge as Congress president, had said: "They break, we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it. They get angry, we love. This is the difference between them and us."



Targeting the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka, Singh said the Congress regime believed in "spreading enmity" between different communities.

Referring to the killing of RSS activist Rudresh here early this year and VHP leader D S Kuttappa in Kodagu district in NOvember, 2015 and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta recently, he said they were "murdered in cold blood." Even Gauri Lankesh was killed.

"If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated," the Union Home Minister said.

Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants here in September, leading to a outrage.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week.

The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mesta's death, for which the BJP has blamed the "jihadi elements".

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

"There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide the Indian society," he added.

Singh said the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there was no such provision in the Constitution.

"Reservation based on religion is a deception with the people of the state. The Constitution does not allow it," he added.

The Union minister said the country was scaling new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Despite the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, various international economic organisations have projected a high economic growth rate for the country. They have even recommended such economic reforms," he added.

Regarding border security and internal peace, Singh said the way the Dokalam stand-off with China was resolved showed that India was a strong country.

"Even China realises that India is not the same anymore," he added.

Singh said the country had taken the terrorists in Kashmir head-on and curbed their activities substantially.

Karnataka's growth would be rapid if the BJP was voted to power in the state, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa too slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly talking about Modi in a derogatory manner.

"You (Siddaramaiah) are only a 'bachcha' (kid) in front of Prime Minister Modi. When the whole world is admiring Modi, who are you to talk about him in an insulting way," the former chief minister said.

The BJP rally here ws organised as part of "Parivarthan Yatra" with the party leaders crisscrossing the state to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Assembly polls, due early next year.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said that all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.

The bill seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

At a state-level convention of women's self-help groups (SHGs) here , Naidu said, "Women are given reservation in local government bodies. Efforts are on for women's reservation in Parliament. I personally support it (Women Reservation Bill)."



He said, "I hope all political parties reach a consensus so that women can be given reservation in state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This issue should not be given a political hue," he added.

Naidu said that when women were given reservation in panchayats, many had claimed that it was the woman's husband who was actually ruling.

"However, a change is being witnessed. Women would soon learn to fight for their rights," he said, noting there should be change in the law as well in the mindset.

Stressing that women's empowerment could create a new India, he said the focus should be on the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" programme.

He also said that there should be no discrimination between a son and a daughter and that ancestral or family property should be equally distributed.

"Our country is known as Bharat Mata. In our ancient scriptures, we find that education minister was goddess Saraswati, defence minister was Durga Devi and finance minister was Laxmi Devi," he said, adding that something went wrong during the colonial rule.

Stating that women showed their abilities when given an opportunity, he gave the example of India having women as defence minister, foreign minister and Lok Sabha Speaker.

Naidu also took potshots at those who opposed the Centre's Jan-Dhan Yojana, saying that after November 2016, the people learnt its importance.

"Many people urged their domestic helps, drivers to stash money, hidden in bedrooms and bathrooms, in Jan-Dhan bank accounts. The money reached the banks," he said.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several sops for women's SHGs.

He said these groups would be exempted from stamp duty on loan documentation as well as get a three per cent rebate on interest.

Chouhan said that the state government would open markets for them in all cities and also rent space in major shopping malls to provide selling space for these SHGs.

He said that federations comprising a group of SHGs could seek loans of upto Rs 5 crore backed by the government's guarantee.

Praising their work, Chouhan said that soaps produced by these SHGs were better than the ones made by noted international brands.

The convention is being attended by SHGs from across the state.
Overview of the seminar (Photo: VNA)

It was jointly held by the Embassy of Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with the Transport Union of Czech and the Asia Centre.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan cited statistics as saying that the two-way trade has increased over the years, hitting USD912.5 million in 2016. The figure is estimated to reach USD1 billion this year.

However, as of November 2017, there were 36 projects of the Czech Republic in Vietnam, with total capital of about USD110 million while Vietnam had only four investment projects worth USD5 billion in the country, the diplomat noted.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jiri Koliba affirmed that Vietnam remains an important economic partner of the country, adding that the Ministry has chosen Vietnam among 12 strategic export markets of the Czech Republic by 2020.

At the event, Vietnamese participants introduced the countrys business environment and shared information on Vietnams incentives and priorities in trade-investment for foreign investors./.
An International conference on 'Functional Materials' will be held at Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Basar in Adilabad district of Telangana for three days from tomorrow.

Around 200 delegates from over ten countries like US, South Africa, UK as well as from across India will take part in the three day symposium, A Ashok Vice Chancellor, RGUKT Basar, said in a press release here today.

According to Ravi Varala, Convener of the meet, the seminar will cover from basics to applications in nano-science and nano-technology, synthetic chemistry, green chemistry and computational materials science.

"Internationally acclaimed scientists from physics and chemistry will take part in the conference to discuss and showcase their research findings to researchers from India and abroad," Varala added.

Prof. Apparao M Rao, Director of Clemson Nano-Material Institute, Clemson University, will deliver the keynote address during the inaugural.

The theme of the conference is "Applications of Smart Materials in the areas of Nano-Science and Nano-Technology, Synthetic Chemistry, Sensors and Computational Materials Science".

The conference aims to address the application aspect of these functional materials in areas of societal relevance, to discuss current scientific issues and to ignite scientific temper in young researchers, the organisers said.

RGUKT is an autonomous body, established in a 270 acre campus to cater the needs of rural meritorious students. It is adopted by the Telangana government.

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RJD chief Lalu Prasad today said his party would go ahead with its decision to observe a Bihar bandh on December 21 and assured the Sikh pilgrims coming to the state to take part in the closing ceremony of the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh that it would not cause any problems for them.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called the bandh to protest against the sand mining policy of the Nitish Kumar government.

Prasad's assurance to the Sikh pilgrims comes in the backdrop of the JD(U) questioning the bandh, with only two days to go for the "Shukrana Samaroh", the closing ceremony of the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru.

The event is slated to be held in the state capital from December 23 to December 25.

"We have great respect for the Sikh community. We had participated in the opening ceremony of the 350th birth anniversary (of Guru Gobind Singh) function in January. I had sat on the ground and bowed my head to Guru Gobind Singhji Maharaj," the former Bihar chief minister told reporters.

The sand mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state had caused a slump in construction activities and led to loss of jobs among the workers, who were migrating to the other states in search of work, he claimed, adding, "Our fight is against a government which is indifferent to the plight of the common people."



Stating that his party was well aware of the sentiments of the Sikh pilgrims, the RJD chief said the places associated with the celebrations such as the gurdwaras, bypass road, tent city would be exempted from the bandh and hence, the pilgrims would not face any problems.

Instead, RJD workers would help the pilgrims reach their destinations, he added.

On account of the "Shukrana Samaroh", it was also decided to exempt the emergency services, including ambulance, train and flight services, from the bandh, Prasad said.

Bihar JD(U)'s chief spokesman Sanjay Kumar Singh had yesterday questioned the RJD's decision to observe the bandh in view of the "Shukrana Samaroh".

"Nitish Kumar has deferred his Vikas Samiksha Yatra, keeping in mind the Shukrana Samaroh, while the RJD has called for a bandh to protest against the sand mining policy," he had told reporters here.

The erstwhile Grand Alliance government in the state, comprising the JD(U), RJD and Congress, had organised the "Prakash Parv" on a grand scale in the first week of January to mark the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.

Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, is considered one of the holiest places by Sikhs across the globe, besides being a major tourist attraction.

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A Catholic priest and a Banjrang Dal activist have been arrested from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, three days after suspected workers of the right-wing group had allegedly beaten up priests and seminarians over forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity, police said today.

Father M George was arrested for forced religious conversion under the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, 1968. Vikas Gupta, the activist, was arrested in connection with the torching of a vehicle on the night of December 14.

Both were arrested yesterday, a police official said.

That night, suspected Bajrang Dal activists had allegedly beaten up a group of Christians, including 10 priests, and set their car on fire outside the Civil Lines police station over alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

Father George and five others were booked on the complaint of a local youth, Dharmendra Dohar, who claimed that he was lured with money to convert to Christianity on December 10, Superintendent of Police, City, V D Pandey said.

He said Gupta was arrested on the complaint of Father George Joseph, who was among the 10 priests and who has alleged that a group of activists had burned down their car.

A detailed investigation is underway, Pandey added.

Father M Rony, social work director of Satna Diocese, had told PTI that a group of young men had stormed the venue of a pre-Christmas function at Bhoomkar village, around 15kms from the district headquarters, on Thursday night and created a ruckus, alleging religious conversion.

The function was organised by Syro-Malabar Church of Northern India for children.

After receiving a complaint, police had taken 32 Catholic brothers (trainee priests) and two priests to the Civil Lines police station, Father Rony had said.

"When they reached the police station, they were beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists on the station campus. Hearing the news, four other priests rushed to the police station, but they were also thrashed and their car was set on fire," he had claimed.

Police later let off the Catholic group members, Father Rony had said.

Civil Lines police station sub-inspector Mohinee Sharma has denied that members of the Catholic community were assaulted during the incident at the police station campus.

Denying allegations of conversion, Father Rony had said the Diocese has been running a seminary at Barakala village in Satna district for 20 years and not a single person has been converted to Christianity.

Father Rony had said he was not aware who Dohar was.

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Vibration sensors to detect rash driving on highways, games for propagation of health knowledge, app to establish a link between farmers and retailers, were among the innovative products designed by engineering students at the 'Smart India Hackathon' here.

The projects, including an e-toll, that provides fast and secure electronic payment, were among the 57 selected ones which were declared winners of the six-hour non-stop digital product development competition 'Smart India Hackathon' conducted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

"Over 42,000 engineering students from across the country participated in the hackathon which was one of the largest such exercise in the world. Fifty seven projects on problem areas suggested by various ministries, including the Ministry of Road and Transport, Defence, Steel, Science and Technology, Civil Aviation and ISRO, among others," an HRD Ministry official said.

In order to engage the youth in coming up with digital solutions to common problems, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the aegis of the HRD Ministry, launched this hackathon in April.

Twenty-nine departments under various ministries presented 598 problem statements for which they do not have digital solutions and due to which there has been inefficiency, revenue loss and corruption.

The HRD Ministry has already rolled out applications for the second edition of the hackathon.

The 'Smart India Hackathon' is a non-stop digital product development competition, where problems are posed to technology students for innovative solutions.

"It harnesses creativity and expertise of students, sparks institute-level hackathons, builds funnel for 'Startup India' campaign, crowd-sources solutions for improving governance and quality of life and provides opportunity to citizens to provide innovative solutions to India's daunting problems," the official said.

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Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today that "some people are unable to digest" the central government's programmes for the poor and the minorities and were spreading negativity to disrupt the development process.

Speaking at a 'Progress Panchayat' in Rajasthan's Alwar district, the minority affairs minister said the Narendra Modi government was determined to further the agenda of development without any discrimination or appeasement.

The government has prepared its policies keeping in mind the welfare of farmers, youth, women and poor, he said.

"(But) some people are unable to digest the atmosphere of trust and development. These people are trying to disturb the atmosphere of development through their negative agenda," he alleged.

The government will not allow any negative agenda to dominate the main agenda of development, Naqvi said.

"By defeating those people who want to disrupt the development process, we are following the path of empowerment without appeasement and development with dignity, so that the light of development reaches to all...without any hindrance," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Naqvi said the programmes launched by his ministry such as 'Hunar Haat', 'Seekho aur Kamao', 'Nai Manzil', 'Gharib Nawaz Skill Development Scheme', 'Nai Roshni' have proved to be important steps towards skilling minority communities.

In the past three years, the Union minister claimed, the government programmes have provided employment opportunities to more than 50 lakh people from minority communities.

He also claimed that there's been a 90-per cent increase in selection of candidates from minority communities in the civil services. "This is the effect of empowerment without appeasement."



Naqvi also laid the foundation stone for various projects and inaugurated some others in the district.

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The daughter-in-law of a Samajwadi Party leader was today found dead, with the police suspecting that she might have committed suicide.

Thirty-five year old Babita, the daughter-in-law of local SP leader Kullan Devi, was found dead in her house in Kotwali police station area here, the police said.

Police have also recovered a country-made pistol, which was lying near her body, they said.

The reason behind the suspected suicide is not know yet, the police said, adding an investigation is on.

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Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian contacts with President Donald Trump's campaign has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, according to several people familiar with Trump's transition organisation.

But the investigators did not directly request the records from Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration, a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to those familiar with the Trump transition organisation.

The tens of thousands of emails in question pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials. Many of the emails that Mueller's investigators have now include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top government posts, said those familiar with the transition.

They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the records' sensitivity.

Yesterday, Kory Langhofer, general counsel for the transition group, sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing that the GSA had improperly provided the transition records to Mueller's investigators.

In the letter to the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and the Senate Homeland Security committees, Langhofer contends that the disclosure by GSA was "unauthorised," and it considers the documents private and privileged and not government property.

Langhofer also said that a GSA official appointed by Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's attorneys.

According to Langhofer, the assurance was made by then- GSA General Counsel Richard Beckler, who was hospitalised in August and has since died. A copy of the letter was viewed by the AP.

But late yesterday, another GSA official present for the conversation told Buzzfeed that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails to Mueller's team.

The GSA has provided office space and other aid to presidential transitions in recent years and typically houses electronic transition records in its computer system.

GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt told Buzzfeed that Beckler didn't make a commitment to the transition team that requests from law enforcement for materials would be routed through transition lawyers.

Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the agency wouldn't hold back records from law enforcement. Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on the government servers are subject to monitoring and auditing, he told Buzzfeed, and there's no expectation of privacy.

The documents were provided to Mueller's team by the GSA in September in response to requests from the FBI, but the transition wasn't informed at the time, according to people familiar with the transition organisation.

Officials with Trump for America learned last Wednesday that GSA officials had turned over the cache of emails to Mueller's team.

Late yesterday, Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, said the special counsel's office has followed the law when it has obtained documents during its investigation.

"When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," Carr said.

Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now cooperating with Mueller's investigation.

Flynn was fired by Trump in February for misleading senior administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

It's unclear how revelatory the email accounts maintained by the GSA will be for Mueller. Several high-level Trump advisers sometimes used other email accounts to communicate about transition issues between Election Day and the inauguration.

Flynn attorney, Robert Kelner, declined to comment.

Jay Sekulow, an attorney on Trump's personal legal team, referred questions to the transition group. Spokespeople for GSA didn't immediately respond to AP's emailed requests for comment.

The media site Axios first reported on the transfer of the emails to Mueller's team.

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A Taiwanese steel firm behind a toxic spill that killed tonnes of fish in central Vietnam last year was fined for a second time for illegally burying "harmful" waste, official sources said today.

The deadly dump from Formosa's USD 11 billion steel plant in Ha Tinh province sparked one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes, decimating livelihoods along swathes of coastline and prompting months of rare protests in the authoritarian country.

The firm was initially fined USD 500 million for pouring toxic chemicals -- including cyanide -- into the ocean in April 2016, and has now been ordered to pay an additional USD 25,000 on separate charges of burying harmful solid waste in the ground, according to the official Cong Ly newspaper.

A local contractor will also be fined USD 20,000 for helping to dispose of the 100 cubic metres of waste, added Cong Ly, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Court.

An official in Ha Tinh province confirmed the latest fine to AFP today, without providing further details.

The waste was buried in July 2016, and local residents reported seeing trucks ferrying the material to a farm belonging to the contractor hired to dispose of it.

Police confirmed the waste came from Formosa and launched an investigation last year. Officials would not comment on why it took more than a year to issue the nominal fines.

The toxic spill set off angry demonstrations against the company and the government in the one-party state that routinely jails its critics, including by affected fishermen who demanded greater compensation.

Several activists have been arrested and convicted for their involvement in the protests, including a 22-year-old blogger who was jailed for seven years last month.

Formosa's huge steel plant, which was under construction at the time of the disaster, was given the green light to resume operations in April after officials found it had addressed dozens of violations.

Several officials were punished or fired after the disaster, which saw beaches littered with fish, including large offshore species.

Communist Vietnam has been accused of ignoring environmental concerns on its march toward rapid development, though the issue has become a central issue for some groups who have taken up the cause on social media.

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Thousands of Islamists have rallied in two major cities in Pakistan to condemn US President Donald Trump for declaring Jerusalem Israel's capital.

Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Karachi and advocates of US-wanted Islamist Hafiz Saeed in Lahore dispersed peacefully after rallying Sunday for the Palestinian cause.

Protests have persisted in Pakistan since Trump's announcement angered Muslims across the world.

The chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, called on all Muslim nations to suspend diplomatic ties with the US until it reconsiders its Jerusalem decision.

Hafiz Saeed said that Muslims the world over should put aside any differences and unite around the cause of "liberating" Jerusalem.

Muslim-majority Pakistan has reiterated its support for the Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.

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A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader today accused French President Emmanuel Macron of being the political "apprentice" of his American counterpart, Fars agency reported.

"If France is trying to retain some respectability on the international scene, it should not be the subordinate of the Americans and it must learn not to follow in (Donald) Trump's steps," said Ali Akbar Velayati, senior foreign policy adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Today, the French president is the apprentice of Trump in Europe," he added according to Fars, a agency close to Iranian conservatives.

Macron, who has announced plans to visit Iran in 2018, has been regularly criticised by the country's conservative media over comments he made in November about its ballistic missile programme.

In an interview published on November 8 by the Emirati newspaper Al-Ittihad, the French president called for vigilance towards Tehran.

"It is important to remain firm with Iran over its regional activities and its ballistic programme," Macron was quoted as saying.

He also told the Emirati daily there was no immediate alternative to the nuclear deal with world powers -- long lambasted by Trump -- which curbs Iran's nuclear programme.

France also came under fire in Iran last month after its foreign minister sparked Tehran's ire by accusing it of "hegemonic" ambitions in the Middle East.

President Hassan Rouhani phoned Macron to complain, and said Iran did not seek to "dominate" the Middle East.

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Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)

Under the contract, Vinacomin will supply 300,000 tonnes of alumina per year for the EGA in three consecutive years as raw material for the UAE companys aluminum electrolytic plants.

This is the Vinacomins first long-term contract signed with a partner in the Middle East which is in line with the guidance of the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade on developing relations with Middle East and African countries in the 2016-2025 period.

Along with long-term contracts signed with partners from India, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and others, this deal will contribute to ensuring Vinacomins consumption of alumina in different markets across the world.

Abdulla Kalban, CEO of the EGA, said that the contract will be a good start towards the expansion of the cooperation between the EGA and Vinacomin in the future.

General Director of Vinacomin Dang Thanh Hai believed that this contract will contribute to promoting trade cooperation between Vinacomin and EGA in particular and between Vietnam and the UAE in general in the near future.

The EGA is the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas. It also has more than 40 years of experience in aluminum production with an output up to 2.4 million tonnes per year./.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that Turkey would soon be able to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, as he stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump's recognition of the city as the Israeli capital.

Erdogan has sought to lead Islamic condemnation of his US counterpart's move, calling a summit of the leaders of Muslim nations last week in Istanbul who urged the world to recognise East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel after it seized control of the area in the 1967 war, in a move never recognised by the international community.

"Because it is under occupation we can't just go there and open an embassy," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling party yesterday in the city of Karaman.

"But, God willing those days are near and... we will officially open our embassy there," he said, without giving any precise timescale.

Turkey currently has a general consulate in Jerusalem. Ankara has full diplomatic ties with Israel, and like other nations, its embassy is in Tel Aviv.

Erdogan again slammed Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there, saying it smacked of a "Zionist and evangelist logic and understanding."



He said Jews had no right to "appropriate" Jerusalem which was the "capital of Muslims".

"Please stop where you are and don't attempt any Zionist operation," he said. "If you try, then the price is going to be high."



Erdogan hailed the outcome of the December 13 summit which he said showed the "world a vote of unity".

However the meeting was overshadowed by the level of attendance from close US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who sent lower-level officials rather than leaders.

Erdogan had warned Muslims, in a speech earlier this weekend, against "internecine warfare", saying fighting with each other "only helps terror states like Israel".

Israel has reacted relatively cooly to Erdogan's repeated broadsides over the last days, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "not impressed" by statements made at the summit.

Contacted by AFP, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson declined to comment on Erdogan's latest remarks.

Protests which have been taking place almost daily in Turkey against Trump's move continued at the weekend.

In the mainly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbakir, thousands of people turned out yesterday, waving Palestinian flags and brandishing slogans like "the massacres will not stop if all Muslims are not together."



In a separate speech also yesterday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that "from now on we declare that occupied East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine", adding Turkey wanted to see a solution for Jerusalem that satisfied both sides in the conflict.

Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin -- a key foreign policy advisor of the president -- wrote in a newspaper article that Trump's move represented "a toxic mix of populism and unilateralism".

But he wrote in Daily Sabah that one positive consequence was that the issue of the Palestinians was again at the centre of global debate.

"This new momentum should now be utilised to find a fair and lasting peace," Kalin said.

Last year, Turkey and Israel ended a rift triggered by Israel's storming in 2010 of a Gaza-bound ship that left 10 Turkish activists dead and led to a downgrading of diplomatic ties.

The two sides have since stepped up cooperation, particularly over a planned gas pipeline in talks spearheaded by Erdogan's son-in-law and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak.

But Erdogan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, has kept up his verbal attacks on Israel's policies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hyderabad Police today arrested two persons, including a film casting director, for allegedly running a sex racket and rescued two women, both of whom police said are actors.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force) P Radhakishan Rao said that police raided two hotels in Panjagutta and Banjara Hills last night and apprehended Monish Kadakia (56) and D Venkat Rao (40).

Kadakia, the official said, was a casting director who has worked in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil movies and is also an event organiser in the Hindi film industry.

He said one of the women rescued hails from Mumbai and acts in Telugu movies while the other is a resident of West Bengal's North 24 Paraganas and acts in Bengali television serials.

The officer added that police had recovered Rs 55,000 in cash, three mobile phones and one car from the possession of the two accused.

He said that the two accused had been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) and a probe was underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The police arrested two activists, including a woman, of the ultra outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), during a search operation in a forest in the Maoist-affected Khunti district early today.

Following a tip-off, a police team raided the area and arrested the PLFI ultras yesterday night, Superintendent of Police Ashwini Kumar Sinha said, adding, other ultras managed to escape.

The SP said that the prime accused in the killing of a BJP leader, Bhaiyaram Munda, managed to escape.

Munda was killed early this month, he added.

Three rifles, four cartridges, one walkie talkie with charger and some PLFI documents were recovered, the SP said.

One of the three rifles recovered is believed to have been used in the killing of Munda, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a bid to attract investors ahead of the two-day Investors' Summit in Lucknow, ministers and officials of Uttar Pradesh government will hold roadshows in different cities of the country.

In this regard, a roadshow is being organised in Bengaluru on December 18, in which UP industrial development minister Satish Mahana along with other senior officials of the department are likely to participate.

An official spokesperson said that the endeavour of the UP government is to ensure that industrial units are set up in the state, which may provide employment opportunities.

"The Investors' Summit is being held on February 21 and 22, in which participants from India and abroad are expected to participate," the spokesperson said.

Apart from this, road shows will be held in Hyderabad on December 19 and in Mumbai on December 22.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Odisha government has tied up with AISECT, an organisation offering skill-based education, to provide vocational training in 44 schools.

The government will partner AISECT for implementation of a centrally-sponsored programme, Vocationalisation of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), said a senior official



As part of the collaboration, vocational training will be provided in IT, ITEs and retail sectors in the 44 government-run secondary and higher secondary schools in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Khorda and Cuttack districts, he said.

Around 1,800 students are expected to benefit from the training this year, the official said.

In 2016, AISECT had associated with Odisha Madhyamik Shiksha Mission and imparted training in IT-ITEs trade to 2,768 candidates in 42 schools and retail trade in 20 schools of Odisha, said project head of AISECT, Abhishek Gupta.

"Despite a huge demand for skilled workforce, we don't have sufficient people to fill in these vacancies. We welcome the Odisha government's initiative with NSQF. As a social enterprise, we are extremely happy to be associated with it," said Director of AISECT Siddharth Chaturvedi.

Noting that the current system is heavily tilted towards degree-based education, Chaturvedi said there is an acute shortage of skilled workforce.

"We need to create an appropriate balance between formal and vocational . NSQF is a major step in that direction," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court has pulled up the AAP government for not taking any steps to ease the massive traffic congestion on the single-lane Wazirabad bridge, which is used for commuting between north and northeast area of the city.

It asked the Delhi chief secretary to ensure that the authorities examine the problem of commuters and look into the proposal for construction of a bridge.

"It appears that despite the gravity of the situation and extreme difficulty to commuters, the Delhi government and its Public Works Department have not moved to undertake planning for providing facilities to commuters," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said.

The court said it was not open to pass directions on bridges and roads, etc, and that it was purely under the authorities concerned.

It was hearing a petition by an advocate seeking construction of a bridge or extension of the existing bridge at Wazirabad barrage, saying that lakhs of commuters are affected by it and it results in gross denial of 'right to live with dignity' to the citizens.

The court disposed of the petition saying that the decision taken shall be communicated to the petitioner advocate in four weeks and action taken thereafter.

The petition filed by advocate A Rasheed Qureshi had sought direction to the government to construct one or more bridges upstream to ease the traffic from Bhajanpura, Khajuri Khas, Sonia Vihar and other parts of north and north east Delhi.

It claimed that the single-lane bridge over river Yamuna is insufficient as lakhs of commuters are crossing it daily and it causes extreme inconvenience to them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman doctor in Jammu and Kashmir has been honoured for donating blood for more than 50 times in three decades by an organisation which promotes such efforts.

A senior medical officer at Police Hospital, Jammu, Kiran Sharma, received the award from the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology (ISBTI) this month for her extraordinary contribution in the field of voluntary blood donation movement.

ISBTI was formed in 1972 after Indo-Pak war in 1971, to motivate people for voluntary blood donation in the country.

Sharma, the only women among the 10 people who received the award, said she felt inner solace on all 53 times she had donated blood.

"I am donating blood for the past 30 years. I started in 1987 when I was a student," she told PTI.

Born in Bhaderwah area of Doda district, Sharma received the award from ISBTI during its 42nd National Conference held at Kota in Rajasthan from Dec 8-10.

She said family issues had an impact on her to work for the humanity irrespective of cast, creed, colour and religion.

I feel satisfaction in social work and had voluntarily joined several non-government organisations for the betterment of the society.

Sharma also works as a volunteer with the All India Women Conference which helps destitute, abandoned and divorced women.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japanese auto major Yamaha is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate possibility of launching electric two-wheelers in India, a top company executive said.

The company, which sells a range of bikes and scooters in the country, may also look at investing opportunities for power units and batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

"We are at present conducting a feasibility study in this area (electric two wheelers). Yamaha has an edge in this segment as we already have such products in other countries. Transferring such products to India, it is not so difficult," Yamaha Motor Research and Development India MD Yasuo Ishihara told PTI.

Through the study, the company is also planning to assess if EVs could completely replace models that are run on internal combustion engines.

"I believe that the EV products cannot be the complete replacement to the current internal combustion engines. This is the one of the biggest study points," Ishihara said.

In order to safeguard its position in the country, the company also plans to continue with the development of traditional internal combustion engines.

"We have already started our feasibility study in order to achieve this target set by the government of India but at the same time we will continue to develop more highly efficient engines in order to cater to the demands of Indian customers," Ishihara said.

When asked about company's investment plans in the EV space, he said: "Investment shall mainly be for power units and batteries. Infrastructure development in collaboration with some partners may be another area where we would look forward to make our investments".

With alarming rise in air pollution, the government is pushing for electric mobility in the country.

According to a report by government think tank Niti Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute, India's move towards 100 per cent electric vehicles fleet by 2030 could create a $300 billion domestic market for EV batteries.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - Sabih al Masri, a Palestinian billionaire and Jordan's most influential businessman, was released after several days of detention in Saudi Arabia, the latest in a series of events marking the worst crackdown on the rich and powerful in the country's modern history.

Masri, the chairman of Amman-based Arab Bank, the country's largest lender, was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after chairing meetings of companies he owns, sources said. He said on Sunday Saudi authorities had given him "all respect".

The authorities have not commented on his detention, which came after his confidants had warned him against travelling to the Saudi capital following a series of mass arrests in early November, the sources said.

Sources familiar with the case said he was questioned about his links to Saudi partners among the royals, ministers and officials who were rounded up in last month's crackdown.

His case carried echoes of that of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who announced his resignation from Riyadh, drawing accusations from Lebanese officials that he had been coerced by the Saudis. Both the Saudis and Hariri denied that, but Hariri later rescinded his resignation.

Masri's detention sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Masri's multi-billion- dollar investments in hotels and banking in Jordan are a cornerstone of the economy of the kingdom and he is by far the biggest investor in Palestinian territories.

Arab Bank shares, which account for almost a quarter of the $24 billion market capitalization of the Amman exchange, ended just 1.44 percent lower at start of weekly trade as investor fears ebbed with of his release.

Officials and businessmen had warned of the reverberations of the crisis on an aid-strapped Jordanian economy already plagued by high debts. Saudi Arabia is a major donor.

Masri has since taking the helm at Arab Bank in 2012 helped boost confidence in one of the Arab world's largest private financial institutions.

The bank, which was first established in Jerusalem in 1930, has a balance sheet of over $45 billion and has earned a reputation of resilience in the face of regional political turmoil.

Masri said on Sunday that he would be returning to Jordan after finishing business meetings in Riyadh in the next two days.

"All is well and am happy (to be released) and I was given all respect by everyone here," a Saudi citizen of Palestinian origin, told from his home in Riyadh.

A member of a prominent merchant family from Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Masri amassed a fortune by partnering with influential Saudis in a catering business to supply troops during the U.S.-led military operation to retake Kuwait from Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War.

Masri is the founder of Saudi Astra Group, which has wide interests in diversified industries ranging from agro-industry to telecommunications, construction and mining across the region.

Reasons for Masri's detention were not clear, but political sources said the Saudis might have used him to put pressure on Jordan's King Abdullah not to attend a Muslim summit last week to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The Jordanian monarch attended the Istanbul summit, however. He is a custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem and has been vocal in criticising Trump over his decision on Jerusalem.

Saudi Arabia, whose relations with the United States have warmed with Trump taking a harder line against its arch-rival Iran than his predecessor, appears to have taken a softer line on the decision on Jerusalem than in the past, according to analysts. Riyadh sent a junior minister to the Istanbul meeting.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, editing by Larry King)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Saturday urged Indian entrepreneurs to develop products and services that will solve "the problems of our very own". India must create its own success stories on the lines of global giants such as Google, Alibaba or Tencent, he said.

"When we solve India's problems, we will solve world's problems as well. We should solve the problems of our very own," Sinha said, speaking at 'India Ideas Conclave 2017', organised by India Foundation in Panaji. Indian entrepreneurs should develop products and services for domestic needs, he said.

"Because if we develop it for our people, same products and services will be used in all other places," Sinha said, adding that "if we want to be the leader of 21st century, India has to become entrepreneurial engine."

India has already proved itself in various sectors, the Union minister said. "India has the cheapest and best telecom services, motorcycles....There is a revolution happening in front of us. India today consumes more mobile data than any other country including China," Sinha said.

"We have to create our own Googles, Facebooks, Alibabas and Tencents," he said.

"We talk about `unicorn'. It is a company with market capitalisation of one billion dollars. We should not be satisfied talking about unicorns, we should talk about super unicorns with the market of ten billion dollars. We should not be satisfied with the idea of super unicorns, we should think how to build mega unicorns with the market capitalisation of hundred billion dollars," the minister said.

"If we build companies of that scale, we will have economic leadership, that's how we will give economic opportunities to all our people," Sinha said.
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
The government ignored several warnings from private companies that the complex technology required for a nationwide goods and services tax GST) to work smoothly was not ready for launch, several people who worked on the project said. Weeks before the July 1 start of India's biggest tax overhaul in decades, the government declared itself ready and chided industry experts who said more time was needed to prepare for the changes. "It's not a complicated process," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on June 20.

However, more than 10 tax and IT consultants who worked on the project said that behind the scenes the government was ignoring warnings for more testing of the complex system even as it was pushing through late changes.

While the sources said Infosys, which built the GST technological network, made "basic errors", they said government officials have not accepted any responsibility for the glitches in the GST roll out.

The government is still making changes to tax rates, filing deadlines, and other features, making it difficult to stabilise the system, they said, declining to be identified for fear of losing future government contracts.

"At that time, the powers in New Delhi were mocking industry, saying 'the government's ready, but industry's not." said the director of a financial planning firm involved in developing the GST network. "Now people are laughingly asking, 'so who was really not ready?'" he said.

The finance ministry and GSTN, the government authority managing the GST network, declined to comment on specific problems about the GST rollout or specific warnings by industry that more time was needed for testing. The GST law was debated for decades, industry had enough time to prepare, and glitches are being fixed, a finance ministry spokesman said.

Infosys said in a statement that "several stakeholder concerns" had been raised about the GST system and some of its best engineers were working to resolve all issues.

WARNINGS



The GST system was designed to replace a slew of federal and state levies, and Moody's Investors Service has said the tax would boost the economy by removing trade barriers between the country's 29 states.

However, since launch, the system has been beset by problems from a confusing tax structure with four main rates to technical glitches that make it unstable.

The sources said they had warned government officials in the run up to the launch that a key part of the GST technology, allowing users to connect to the GST network, was not working smoothly. There were other technical flaws that resulted in incorrect tax assessments, they said.

One technology officer involved in the GST rollout said his company had to deal with a "revolving door" of government requests in the run up to the launch.

The director of the financial planning firm said the government was "adamant" on introducing GST on July 1. "Obviously, it led to chaos," he said.

The disruption wrought by GST has been blamed in part for a slide in Indian economic growth to a three-year low in the April-June quarter. Growth rebounded in the following quarter.

The opposition Congress party is using the chaotic rollout of GST as a political stick to beat Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in elections in Gujarat, Modi's home state. They are set to be a test of Modi's political fortunes ahead of national elections due by 2019.

In one of the latest changes, the GST Council, a political body that decides GST tax rates, cut the tax rate on a popular Gujarati snack to 5 percent from 12 percent, which Praveen Rai, a political analyst at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said was driven by BJP "fear of an electoral backlash in state elections."

A person working for an audit firm said in one example, a test adopted by GSTN did not reflect real-world conditions. "GSTN in the month of April and May gave 100 companies an invoice to upload and see whether it was getting uploaded or not," he said.

"You can't really test the system by taking one invoice as a sample," he said. "GSTN told companies it would do more testing with a larger number of transactions. That never happened." However, Prakash Kumar, the head of GSTN, said "a phased approach was adopted" at launch and "change is a constant in large IT projects."

A top finance ministry official, who declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said Infosys failed to understand "the gravity of the situation" in building the network. "No doubt, the government didn't realise the difficulties that would be faced," he said. "But Infosys is also responsible."
A lot has been written on the alleged price markup in the treatment cost of a deceased patient diagnosed for dengue at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. Something that the hospital, part of Fortis Healthcare, refutes. Its written statement says: "Fortis Healthcare does not charge any drug or consumables above the printed MRP and there is No Violation of Drug Price Control Order."

Also, "It should also be noted that our end price to the patient is very much in line with what other private hospitals in India charge." But then, on Friday, December 15th, as we all know now, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) without either pronouncing Fortis guilty or absolving it of any wrong doing, just confined itself to saying: "NPPA shall be taking necessary follow up action as per existing law and within its jurisdiction." While, one would have to wait to see what form and fashion this takes and what the outcome would be, experts in the industry, feel it is high time some serious introspection is done by both the private healthcare providers as well as by the government.



Some points for the private healthcare providers to ponder over:

1- Price auditing and beyond: On pricing, it is perhaps time to introspect on the extent to which self-regulation can kick in on the pricing of the services they offer. Even if, within the law on MRP, can the extent of markup looked into more closely? How is the price auditing happening? What anomalies is it throwing up? How effectively is the cross-subsidisation of patient costs with multi-tiered pricing being monitored? Is there room for improvement?



2- Rationality: Is there an element of rationality that can be brought into the pricing mechanism that they follow for their patients.



3- Why: Because, if they do not so any self-introspection, price caps imposed by the regulator will come its way. Then, there is no point, private sector complaining about restrictions and checks sought either at the state level - be it in West Bengal or Karnataka or at the central level.



4- Margins already hurting, So?: Agreed, most complain that already, the margins are under pressure. In fact, Fortis in a way suggesting that if it were a profiteering entity then its financials would not be as they are, says in its note: "Looking at individual prices of any single item as a stand alone takes the margin/profit topic out of context. To understand the total profit scenario and overall business performance, one should look at the financial margins for the Fortis hospital business.

As such, it should be noted that the Fortis hospital business reported operating profit (EBITDA) over the last four published quarters of 5 to 6 per cent and a negative PAT(profit after tax) for the same period of time. That is a story that may resonate with others too - at least some of the listed entities - their last five to seven quarters - their financial results have been muted with many complaining that the ROCE (return on capital employed is less than 10 per cent) .

5- Cost structures: Now, considering that pricing is a function of capital cost, input cost, it is time the private sector starts reflecting on its cost structures, which may mean the days of fancy healthcare may get over, but not many will complain. Here, the argument from the private healthcare providers is we are charging as per the MRP so we are well within the law. Fair enough but that need not stop them from taking up a different conversation all together, on whether they can look at reducing the markup, perhaps driven but better input cost management, This, would be self-regulation and not something imposed by a pricing authority.



6, Self-regulation versus external price caps: So, the point essentially is the need to reflect inwards around the concept of self-regulation. The need for this because if that does not happen, healthcare is a politically sensitive subject and will trigger external regulation.



For government:



1- The enabler role? : It is good to talk about accessibility and affordability, why are they not becoming an enabler in facilitating a lower pricing ecosystem. What are they doing about the rising cost structures , the industry has been demanding every year that healthcare be granted an infrastructure status so that their cost of raising capital comes down with lower interest burden on the debt that they raise coupled with other benefits such as lower cost of water and electricity, all of which contributes to an overall lower cost structure . Today, the capex per bet is around 10 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore per bed depending on the hospital category , equipment cost is another area where the cost per hospital could range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore depending on the nature of equipment and with equipment like MRI machines being upwards of Rs 2 crore, there could be reduced taxes and import duties there.



2- Spending inertia: Why is the government still confined to only spending a little over 1 per cent of GDP on healthcare when there is crying need to boost the access to quality healthcare in government hospitals and primary healthcare centres. Despite these, there is still mushrooming of the private healthcare providers and one of the primary reasons we are told is the free market pricing that is still possible. But if the government does not increase its spending and takes measures that curb private sector expansion and new investments, then measures to reduce prices will not be sustainable in the long run.



3, Think healthcare agenda with health included crucially in every state planning, support government hospitals that ensures they do not just becoming the handlers of terminally ill patients sent out by the private sector.



4- Attend to the challenges of a supply constrained market of healthcare. Today, everything in healthcare - from clinicians to beds are in short supply. For the sake of argument, consider, if the government were to say, we are putting Rs 10,000 crore behind creation of healthcare infrastructure with may be supply of additional 35 to 40 hospitals from the government side with mushrooming of several nursing institutes.



5- Insurance: The list is long and if perhaps none of these works, may be some of it will be taken care of by a deepening of insurance that may cut out the share of out -of-pocket spending.
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 8:22PM

Google has always been unafraid to experiment on new, out-there ideas but the company isnt afraid to kill off ideas when it looks like it isnt working. The latest one to hit the chopping block is the companys augmented reality program called Project Tango. Its getting killed off pretty soon, too. According to the company, itll be killing off the program by March next year. This is going to be bad news for early adopters who bought phones like the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and ASUS ZenFone AR but the idea isnt fully dead.

The tech giant is concentrating on the software side of AR with ARcore, which seems to be a trend in the industry. Apple itself has ARkit, a software solution that managed to turn iOS into the biggest AR platform out there. ARcore will also be able to work on different devices without the need for expensive hardware so if Google develops this idea further, we might see it across Android. The latest implementation can be seen in AR Stickers available on the Pixel devices.

Source: GSMArena
"Offenders who are appearing in court for a first offence, and where that offence is not one of the more serious offences, are rarely required to attend programs," Mr White wrote.
"However, as soon as I was able to, I took the decision to relocate my electorate office to Gungahlin to ensure greater access to the community and lower costs on the public purse," he said.
On Saturday the website was still live but was limited to only a blank, white page after the family attempted to take it down. Before Saturday, the site had laid out policies and plans.
From there it's probably a great leap to Grease in 1978. Our first high school dance as fresh-faced 12 year olds out of primary school and Sandy and Danny were there! As the kids today would say, OMG!. It wasn't Olivia Newton John and John Travolta, but a couple of year 12 kids way too cool for school. We loved that movie. Were we Sandy or Rizzo? My favourite song was There are Worse Things (I could do) so I guess you know which one I identified. Not that I would flirt with all the guys, smile at them and bat my eyes. Not at all. But I liked Stockard Channing. And then she grew up to be First Lady.
Welcome to the last week before Christmas - we're on the downhill stretch! There's no reprieve from the hot start to summer in sight, with meteorologists predicting a "severe heatwave" this week. The mercury's tipped to reach 35 degrees, with a minimum temperature of 17 degrees, today. It will be mostly sunny with light winds.
When adjusted for population the postcode of 2607, which includes Isaacs and Mawson, had the highest percentage of people on the age pension payments but had the fourth highest percentage of Canberrans of the valid pension age when matched with Census data.
"It certainly hasn't been the main intention of it to be a revenue source but it does have the potential to become a larger revenue source as time goes on ... We're just one of many jurisdictions getting involved in international education."
"We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea," he said. "This was his goal. His actions were all around trying to raise revenue for the government of North Korea."
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.
Testing continues for the new Rolls-Royce SUV, as the latest prototype was scooped in Death Valley alongside a variety of test cars from both the British luxury brand and BMW.



Rolls first ever SUV will rival the Bentley Bentayga, and will also be a more luxurious alternative to the Range Rover SVAutobiography and Lamborghini Urus.

Although its design is still kept under wraps, we do have a pretty clear picture of what it will look like, based on recent spy shots and renderings.

The luxury SUV will share quite a few things with the new generation Phantom, including its aluminum platform. However, the high-sided all-terrain motor car, which is Rolls way of referring to it, will get a new all-wheel drive system in addition to various chassis and suspension settings, which will allow it to perform not only the tarmac, but off-road as well.

Despite being, for a long time, called the Cullinan, after the famous diamond mined in South Africa in 1905 that is the largest rough one ever found, Rolls-Royce has made it clearthat this was a working title and the production version of its SUV will bear a different name.

VIDEO
The latest Honda Civic Type R is indeed one of the best hot hatches in the market right now, but how does it fare against its much praised EP3 ancestor?



Why the EP3, you might ask? Because that was Hondas last hot hatch employing a proper independent suspension at the back, allowing the light chassis to be sophisticated enough for its naturally aspirated 200hp VTEC engine. The two generations of Type Rs that followed did a 180-degree turn on that matter as they employed a (cheaper) beam setup.

Moreover, Honda was considered to be the last frontier of naturally aspirated engines until the iconic Civic Type R turned to turbocharging  but that doesnt mean that its lost its mojo.

In fact, and since Honda used a turbo engine in the previous model, weve witnessed the Type R rising again as one of the most hardcore hot hatches in the segment.

Does this mean though that the new Civic Type R is a more inspiring drive than its naturally aspirated ancestor? Chris Harris investigates in the video that follows.

VIDEO
The launch of the Urus has, apparently, sparked a barrage of renderings, the latest of which is this Raton six-wheeler.



Emre Husmen, who penned this rendering, followed Lamborghinis practice of naming its models after fighting bulls. The Raton was a fierce Spanish bull that took the lives of three people in the arena between 2006 and 2011 and injured thirty more, earning the nickname el toro asesino, which translates to the assassin bull .

The Mouse, which is its literal translation from Spanish, has a go-anywhere look thanks to its six-wheel design, chunky all-terrain rubber, large square-shaped fenders and huge ground clearance. Apart from sketching it, Husmen said that he imagined the Raton to be powered by a turbodiesel electric hybrid powertrain that would produce in excess of 1,000 horsepower.

With the Urus being marketed as the sportiest SUV ever, theres no chance Lamborghini will ever make a 66 version. But if, for arguments sake, we assume it did, what would you rather have: this Italian super SUV, the Mercedes G-Class 66, Kahns Land Rover Defender or Henneseys Ford F-150 VelociRaptor?

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Josh Winquist

There are no reported injuries following a two-vehicle crash that badly damaged a white sedan in Vernon, Saturday afternoon.

The collision occurred on 32 Street near 33 Avenue near Vernon's downtown, reportedly after 3 p.m.

Crews were finishing clearing up the accident just before 4:30 p.m., and RCMP at the scene said no one was seriously hurt.

It's not clear what caused the crash.
Photo: Contributed Meningococcal immunization clinics will once again be held today throughout the Okanagan.

Drop-in meningococcal immunization clinics are being hosted by Interior Health for a second consecutive day on Sunday across the Okanagan.

The locations where the clinics will be hosted in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton are the same places where they were hosted on Saturday.

The Vernon Health Unit, located at 1440 14 Avenue in Vernon, will be hosting a drop-in clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Kelowna, the Community Health and Services Centre at 505 Doyle Avenue will host a clinic from noon to 4 p.m.

In Penticton, the Penticton Health Centre at 740 Carmi Avenue will be providing the clinic from noon to 4 p.m. as well.

IH is also hosting drop-in immunization clinics at the UBC Okanagan campus, on Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

People aged 15 to 19 years old, who will not have access to clinics that schools are hosting, are advised to get vaccinated at a drop-in clinic.

In a news release, IH reminded the public that people in the prescribed age group who already received a vaccination shot at their high school  as part of routine immunization for grade nine students  don't need to be vaccinated again.

Immunization clinics will also take place at many high schools from Monday to Friday.

More information on those clinics can be found here.
Photo: Google Maps A 51-year-old male was arrested in relation to a domestic assault on Saturday that Kamloops RCMP responded to, near Savona.

A 51-year-old male in Kamloops has been arrested for domestic assault and firearms offences, following an incident that occurred on Saturday.

Kamloops RCMP responded to a domestic assault in progress at a trailer on Sebiston Creek Road, about 15 kilometres northeast of Savona, just before 11 a.m.

The Southeast District emergency response team arrested a male in relation to the incident at 4:30 p.m., police said.

The male taken into custody has no fixed address.

Further details regarding the domestic assault are not yet known.

Kamloops RCMP said in a news release that they still are collecting evidence and securing the property.
Photo: City of Victoria

A new public art installation proposed for Victoria has sparked debate over the merit and interpretation of city-funded artwork.

British Columbia artist Luke Ramsey defended the inspiration and design of the sculpture that incorporates a series of colourful surfboard-type arches mimicking the silhouette of an orca at city council last week.

The $250,000 sculpture compliments an interactive sound element of First Nations drumming and singing created by the city's Indigenous artist-in-residence Lindsay Delaronde.

The art will be installed near the city's downtown waterfront, and Councillor Ben Isitt questioned the simplicity of the sculpture and its ability to reflect the Indigenous history of the land.

"Just when I look at the art, it ... doesn't feel like there's a recognition of the local Indigenous context," Isitt said. "Our artist in residence has done great work on a number of projects and I'm not convinced this meets the mark, but I'm open to being convinced."

Other councillors advocated adding a plaque to explain the meaning behind the artwork.

"Just to look at it, I couldn't relate to it as well as when the artist in residence described it and once it was described it brought on a different meaning," said Charlayne Thornton-Joe.

Ramsey said the sculpture is not intended to be an Indigenous artwork but a creation of his own reflecting the natural environment surrounding the bustling coastal city and the vessels, such as paddle boards, people use to connect with the water.

"For me it's about exploring simplicity in art and trying to convey something that has a meaning and a definition to it," he said. "To me this is paying reverence to nature and showing this creature that is coming up in an area that is full of a lot of transportation and activity. This is not necessarily a site that you go to but it goes with you it moves with the activity around it."

Councillor Marianne Alto said it's not up to the city to determine or define what is Indigenous art.

"I want to caution us to remember that the context in which we're speaking here is around art," she said. "We need to be cautious about relying on our own interpretation of what reflects Indigenous art and Indigenous history and Indigenous currency."

The design was ultimately approved by council and is expected to be completed in 2018.
Photo: Pub 340

A Vancouver concert promoter has announced a zero tolerance policy against hate speech at her shows after a man was witnessed making a Nazi salute.

Nikki Gould with Journeyman Productions says when she was alerted about the man making the gesture at a Dec. 8 heavy metal show at Pub 340, she asked him to leave the venue.

She says he ignored her request and she alerted a bartender who had security escort the man out.

The incident didn't escalate and Journeyman Productions later posted on its Facebook page that it was implementing a zero-tolerance policy for anyone making Nazi gestures or wearing Nazi or racist symbols at future shows.

Gould says a few people have commented that the rule restricts freedom of speech.

But she says people attending concerts should feel safe and be free from racist and discriminatory remarks or symbols.

"I believe we should have a stronger stance against it because sometimes it is kind of brushed over or people don't want confrontation or fights to happen and I get that, but it's not something that belongs in the community," she said.
Photo: The Canadian Press Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie

Skyrocketing rents and dwindling affordable-housing units in Vancouver are driving seniors to the brink of homelessness, forcing some to couch surf, seek roommates or even live in cars, advocates say.

While the debate over the city's housing crisis often focuses on millennials, people who work with seniors say elderly adults have lower incomes and fewer supports to withstand being displaced from their homes.

"People end up living on the streets, or living in their cars, or crashing with friends, sleeping on the couch," said Linda Forsythe, a board member of 411 Seniors Centre Society.

"That used to happen a lot with young people," she said. "They could tolerate it quite well, and sort of get on with their lives, whereas, with older people, you don't have a chance to make more money. That's the problem."

Seniors are enduring the same rent hikes as other tenants in Vancouver, but have disproportionately lower incomes and higher medical costs. A provincial grant to help elderly renters has not kept pace, and subsidized units have decreased, experts say.

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, or SAFER, is a provincial subsidy applied to rent up to a certain cap. The rent cap in the Lower Mainland is $765 a month, even though the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,223, according to the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation.

That means a senior who pays $765 a month rent and earns less than $27,000 a year can receive a subsidy of about $200 a month. But someone paying $1,500 a month in rent would receive the same amount.

Outside the Lower Mainland, such as in Victoria or Kelowna, the rent cap drops to $667.

Over the past decade, average rents have risen 45 per cent, but the cap has only gone up by nine per cent, said Isobel Mackenzie, B.C.'s seniors' advocate.

"The compounding effect presents the stark reality we have today, which is the huge gap between the SAFER cap of $765 in the Lower Mainland and the rent most people are paying," she said.

Mackenzie called on the province to increase the cap to parallel average rents and adjust it annually.

Elderly homeowners also face challenges. Mackenzie said she has asked the province to allow seniors to not only defer their property taxes but also other expenses, such as strata fees or utility costs, and to set up a borrowing fund for major repairs.

The number of seniors' subsidized housing units have decreased nearly five per cent since 2013, while wait lists have grown, she said.
Photo: Instagram

British actress Kate Winslet has been spotted in Vancouver again.

Winslet praised Vancouver at the Toronto International Film Festival in September after filming "The Mountain Between Us" in B.C. last winter.

And, earlier this month, she was snapped in a Honey's Doughnuts T-shirt.

Just this week, the Academy Award winner was spotted at the Maenam Thai restaurant in Kitsilano  said to be one of her favourites  and the restaurant shared an image of Winslet with one of the owners on its Instagram page.

Winslet is reportedly in Vancouver for another film project, although its title has not been revealed.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Chantelle Deacon

UPDATE: 4:43 p.m.

The Okanagan has been hit with some snow Sunday afternoon and it isn't expected to let up until midnight.

A snowfall warning remains in effect by Environment Canada for the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass and also Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

Ten to 15 centimetres of snow is expected tonight for the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, with the flurries ending in the morning.

A snowfall warning remains in effect for Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

The highway is expected to see 15 centimetres of snowfall overnight and into tomorrow.

Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions, states Environment Canada.

Send you winter photos to [email protected]

Original: 9:23 a.m.

A heavy snowfall warning has been issued by Environment Canada for the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass and also Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

Snowfall of 15 to 25 centimetres is expected on Sunday.

A Pacific front moving across the BC Interior is spreading snow to the region today and tonight, states Environment Canada.

The heaviest snow is expected across the North and West Columbia, Kinbasket and North Thompson regions.

The snow is expected to move southward and Arrow Lakes - Slocan Lake, Kootenay Lake, and Kootenay Pass will see heavy snowfall by Sunday night.

Snowfall is expected to taper off on Monday.

Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions, states Environment Canada.

For updates on road conditions visit this link.
Alanna Kelly

UPDATE: 2:10 p.m.

Passengers were stuck inside an Air Canada plane for three hours after the de-icing machine broke.

The aircraft departed from Kelowna International Airport just after 2 p.m. on Sunday.

It was expected to leave at 11:05 a.m. for Vancouver.

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.

Crews are scrambling to fix a broken de-icing machine, which has caused delays for Air Canada flights at Kelowna International Airport Sunday.

Frustrated passengers have been stuck inside a departing aircraft since 11:05 a.m.

It has nothing to do with baggage, the company that does the de-icing for Air Canada had a mechanical failure, said Sean Parker spokesperson for YLW.

They are working on it right now, he said.

An alternative plan is in process to de-ice the aircraft and is expected to take 30 minutes.

The truck is going to be up shortly, but we have a backup plan we are rolling out right now, said Parker.

The mechanical failure has caused delays for other Air Canada flights.

They are scrambling to get it sorted out right now, he said. It has caused an issue for Air Canada absolutely there is a bit of a snowball effect.

ORIGINAL: 12:50 p.m.

Passengers have been sitting inside an aircraft for two hours after their departing flight from Kelowna International Airport has been delayed.

Air Canada flight 1185 to Vancouver was expected to leave Kelowna at 11:05 a.m. but has not left the tarmac.

Pilot stated Kelowna operations staff shortages will result in late baggage loading delayed 40 minutes and counting, said Jim Marshall who is onboard the flight.

Marshal said it seems the airport is at a standstill.

"Things have gone from bad to worse, people are missing connections," he said.

Castanet reached out to YLW for comment but have not received a response at the time of publication.

Departing Air Canada flights 8415 and 8417, WestJet flight 3325 and Flair Airlines flight 8310 are all delayed.

For updates on flights visit this link.


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Race between Boebert, Frisch gets closer on final day of counting

The election is hovering within the threshold for an automatic recount. Here's the latest in the Colorado race between Adam Frisch and Lauren Boebert.
You are here: Business

The inaugural China-Africa Industrial Capacity Cooperation Expo, which concluded in Kenya's Nairobi on Saturday, has seen a strong interest in Sino-African industrial cooperation.





The maiden expo has attracted more than 50 Chinese firms drawn from diverse sectors to showcase their products and services. It also featured interactive sessions between Chinese and African firms keen to forge partnerships.





Adan Mohamed, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, said the Nairobi expo reinforced the critical role of China to advance industrial progress in Africa.





"The China-Africa forum happening for the first time on the African continent symbolizes the confidence China has on Africa and its desire to deepen that partnership to a higher level," Mohamed said.





At the four-day event, African officials also participated in roundtables aimed at showcasing investment opportunities in their home countries to Chinese investors.





Managing Director of Kenya Investment Authority Moses Ikiara said the expo offered a platform for both sides to explore new partnerships that can unleash mutual benefits.





"We hope African countries will be able to tap into China's strength in areas of technology, manpower and finance to develop a strong manufacturing base," Ikiara remarked.





He added that implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative will spur industrial progress in Africa while modernizing the continent's economies.





The expo has attracted delegations from 30 African countries that were keen to gain understanding of China's manufacturing prowess.





Aschalew Tadesse, Investment Promotion Team Leader at Ethiopia Investment Commission (EIC), said the expo was held at an opportune moment when African countries were keen to harness China's expertise, capital and technological edge to establish robust industrial parks.





"Chinese investments in our priority sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure and agro-processing are timely to help drive economic growth and create employment for skilled youth," said Tadesse.





Chinese investors who participated in the Nairobi expo expressed optimism about emerging opportunities in Africa.





Qiu Fan, Sales Director of Shenzhen-based Romer Environmental Protection, said Africa presents new opportunities for Chinese investors thanks to rising purchasing power occasioned by strong economic growth.





Qiu said his company, engaging in sea water desalination and borehole water purification, has received orders from Kenyan clients wishing to purchase water treatment technologies to deal with water-borne diseases.





"We have already ventured into four African countries and are confident our returns on investment will be guaranteed," Qiu told Xinhua.





"We received orders from large companies and individuals who expressed confidence in our water purifiers. There is a possibility of setting up a factory in Kenya in the near future," said Qiu.





Jiang Xuejun, chief of the Office for Asia and the Pacific at the International Trade Centre (ITC), said both China and its African partners should establish mechanisms of sharing best practices and expertise required to promote industrial growth.




The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan for $499 million to set up a regional emission-reduction and pollution-control facility as part of a support program to improve the air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.





The facility will showcase how advanced technologies, including hydrogen-based low-emission transport and geothermal-based district heating, can be adopted on a large scale by major emitting industries and enterprises, according to the ADB.





It is the third ADB loan aimed at improving air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, following a loan of $300 million in 2015 and $499.6 million in 2016.





The facility will be managed and administered by the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, China's largest State-owned enterprise focusing on energy conservation and environmental protection.





Due to the ADB assistance, the project is expected to attract nearly $1.53 billion, almost three times the original loan amount, in co-financing from the public and private sector.





By 2023, the project will train at least 200 people in the use of advanced technologies, the selection of business models for sub-projects and investment decisions in certain industries, according to the bank.





"We remain committed to helping the Chinese government improve air quality and reduce pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where a third of the country's economic growth comes from," said Lin Lu, senior energy specialist at the ADB's East Asia Department.





Despite government effort to fight pollution, frequent outbreaks of smog have become increasingly common in winter in northern China where cold weather conditions and the burning of coal combine to exacerbate the situation.





To improve air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, China has replaced dirtier coal use and penalized polluters in an effort to lower the intensity of smog.




The mother of a martyred firefighter, who lost her only son two years ago, has given birth to twins at the age of 48, reports Beijing Youth Daily.





Fang Zhiying and her husband Pang Zhiguo welcomed the pair, a boy and girl, after four attempts at IVF (in-vitro fertilization) at a hospital in the city of Wuhan in central China.





The couple decided to have another child despite their age after the death of their son Pang Ti. Pang Ti was a firefighter who died while performing his duty in the explosions at the Port of Tianjin on August 12, 2015 that killed 173 people and injured hundreds of others. He was 24.





Pang Zhiguo said they mourned the death of their son every day, and that this sadness had caused his wife's health to deteriorate. "She has been hospitalized many times over the past two years," he said.





According to Pang, they wanted a baby to bring a feeling of hope back into their lives. Due to Fang's age, they turned to IVF treatment. Fang became pregnant with the twins in May.





"It is hard to talk about my feelings," said Pang after the babies were born. "All we want now is to raise them and accompany them in life for as long as we can. We are grateful for another opportunity to be parents."





The babies are in good conditions and the mother is recovering in hospital.




You are here: China

A second prototype of China's home-built C919 passenger jet has completed its first test flight, another step forward in the country's ambitions to enter the global jet market.





The C919 plane landed at Pudong International Airport at noon in Shanghai in a flight of two hours.





A total of six prototypes will eventually conduct test flights, with engine tests to be a particular focus.





The first C919 completed its trial flight in May this year, and made its first intercity flight, from Shanghai to Xi'an, in mid-November.





The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China says the plane has dozens of customers who have placed orders and commitments for 785 jets.




Protecting human rights in the current Information Age present many new challenges that all governments must tackle right away. [File photo]





The tenth of December each year is Human Rights Day. It marks the day in 1948 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Two years later, in 1950, the UN called on all nation states to observe December 10 as "Human Rights Day."





For this year's celebration, the UN called on all nations to honor and celebrate the 50th anniversary of two important covenants: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966.





But what of human rights in the current Information Age? The reality is that technology is a tool. And, like all tools, it can be used for good or ill; it can be used skillfully or clumsily. The challenge is to use for good the technology we have the intelligence to create, but sometimes lack the wisdom to ensure it is used well.





On the one hand, technology, especially e-commerce and mobile technology, has transformed and enriched the lives of billions of people. Technology has helped to bring peace and security. It has brought more information to more people, better services, and improved standards of living.





To take one recent example in the area of human rights, millions of refugees who have lost documentation covering their medical, education and other life-related records are being assisted by software which enables digital records to be created and easily transported with the refugees no matter where they go.





Developments in e-government and monitoring progress on violations of human rights have been greatly enhanced by technology. Using big data analytics, for example, analysis can be done to identify websites and groups promoting human trafficking and other illegal activity negatively impacting human rights.





It can be used to give citizens greater and more genuine participation in policy formation. It can provide early warning of potential harm due to pollution of the environment, for example. It can -- as in the case of software platforms like the Khan Academy delivering thousands of online tutorials every day to millions of people -- bring education to anyone with an internet connection.





It can transform healthcare delivery, with drone technology used to deliver much needed medical supplies to remote regions that are otherwise inaccessible. It can coordinate relief in disaster zones.





Just as the internet crosses national borders, so too, as a result of international covenants, human rights are deemed to be "universal" and not restricted by national borders. Given human rights are not limited by national borders, technology can easily cross them as well to monitor situations, verify reports and enable communication between various groups working to protect human rights.





Big data analytics can point to areas that require investigation and provide insights into what action is required. Technology can overcome physical barriers to access by enabling human rights defenders to communicate securely and help verify reports of abuse. Microsoft, for example, is engaged in a five-year partnership with the UN to support its human rights efforts.





While it can be a force for good, technology also presents challenges. Privacy protection, for example, is under serious erosion as a result of technology advances. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), billions of devices will all be connected and communicating with one another.





While such technology can offer many benefits, there is growing concern about the risks to privacy and other human rights. Online bullying, discrimination, cyber-crime and other such nefarious activities online can negatively impact human rights.





Workers also are threatened by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) where humans are replaced by machine. While China is often blamed for taking American jobs, the evidence shows that most job losses have occurred from automation, not from cheaper labor overseas.





Big data analytics also can be a two-edged sword. Predictive policing, for example, can be used to oppress human rights as well as being used to help monitor human rights violations via government surveillance and instant communication via mass media and social media can spread fake news and disinformation.





A related challenge is the pace of technological change. It is often those who have the least resources who are most ill-equipped to cope with changes. This can lead to great disruption of families and regions. It is thus important that governments work hard to ensure that that benefits of economic development accruing as a result of technological change flow to all parts of society.





While we can all applaud the aspirations contained in covenants about human rights, it must also be realized that there must be changes within society and inside the hearts and minds of people if the change outside is to take place.





Otherwise, we are in danger of leaving certain groups of people behind and maybe even making things worse. The human rights goals in an Information Age cannot be achieved by education or knowledge alone. They require ongoing commitment, action and learning from experience as we develop the wisdom to use this new technology wisely and for the benefit of all.





Eugene Clark is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.




You are here: World

 Flash

Up to nine Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and five others injured after government forces stormed the militants' positions in Haska Mina district of the eastern Nangarhar province over the past 24 hours, provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogiani said Sunday.





According to the official, the government forces targeted the militants' positions from ground and air in Haska Mina and adjoining areas, killing nine militants on the spot and wounding five others.





Good quantity of arms and ammunition were also destroyed in the raids, the official asserted.





IS militants are yet to make comments.




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As your state representative, I address a wide range of issues on a daily basis. Throughout the district, I find property taxes to be the #1 issue for most people in HD18. I want to give you an update on property tax reform debated during this past legislative session. And, I want to set the record straight about my support of tax reform. There were two main property tax plans put forth this past session:

(1) The Senate Property Tax Plan proposed to lower the rollback rate (the maximum annual tax increase) from 8 to 4 percent, which would trigger an automatic election if that 4 percent rate was exceeded.

The 4 percent rollback gave government the arbitrary ability to raise taxes every year by 3.99 percent without repercussions or providing real justification. In fact, the senate plan would not have lowered your taxes one single cent! This proposal offered no help for taxpayers, and even knowing I would be accused of voting against tax relief (and my naysayers haven't let me down), I did not support this plan as it offered no relief, pure and simple.

(2) The House Property Tax Plan proposed to lower the rollback rate from 8 to 6 percent, with an automatic election if that 6 percent rate was exceeded, and included a "No New Revenue Tax Rate." This was the key to real property tax relief. To explain simply: If appraisals go up, which would generate more tax revenue, the "No New Revenue Tax Rate" would go down, preventing an increase in tax revenue. It is comparable to balancing a scale. Unlike the Senate plan, this plan would have prevented the arbitrary ability to raise taxes each year as we are currently experiencing. Key emphasis would be placed upon the local rate setting process and the process by which a taxing entity must outline their additional revenue needs for the next fiscal year. Prior notification must be given for a public hearing to discuss these changes and vote upon their approval. The tax rate could only thereafter be set, by dividing the agreed upon revenue need upon those taxable properties within that entities authority. This transparency ensures accountability on all levels which is non-existent under the current structure. The result: common sense tax relief.

I strongly supported the House Plan and voted for it. However, neither of the presented tax plans made it through both chambers. So, back to the drawing board.

Recently, I sat in on a panel discussion at a Texas Taxpayers & Research Association meeting that centered around Property Tax issues. Some believe we should do away with property taxes altogether.

One option is to replace the current system with an increased sales tax, but that plan brings its own unintended consequences. A few include:

1. Taxing of more goods and services which don't currently have sales taxes. This would include things such as groceries, medicine, utilities, the plumber coming out for repairs, etc.

2. It is estimated that to make the sales tax plan work, we would see an increase at nearly 20 percent.

3. Also, few areas in our district have an adequate sales tax revenue to provide for our local needs, leaving us even more reliant upon the state.

4. Many school districts in HD18 are already reliant upon Austin for funding through the "Robin Hood" system which takes taxes from property wealthy districts and sends to property poor districts. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled this system to be a severely flawed plan which needs to be addressed.

5. Likely, this type of "Robin Hood" plan would be instituted to redistribute sales tax monies, creating yet another problem.

There are many unintended consequences with each proposed solution. That is why I firmly believe the best answer is for The State of Texas to properly fund public schools with the tax dollars available and quit pushing the burden back onto local homeowners.

For Reference: In 2012, the Legislative Budget Board showed local property taxes for schools totaled almost $20.5 billion with the state allocating $17.4 billion. By 2016, local property taxes for schools hit $25.6 billion, with the state allocation totaling $19 billion. As this trend goes, it is disastrous for local taxpayers.

So, to set the record straight: Although my naysayers would have you believe I voted against property tax relief, that is wrong! The facts are: I voted against the Senate tax relief plan, which offered no real tax relief. Instead, I voted for the House plan which offered true tax reform and relief for taxpayers. I go back to the old saying: right is right and wrong is wrong. As we all know, it is one thing to say you want to address property tax reform and totally different to actually do something about it.

I made the right vote for the people of HD18 and for all taxpayers in Texas. I am committed to the people I serve, and I am committed to this issue. I will leave the political "gotcha" game for others to play.

So, the next time you are told I voted against tax relief, or that I "conspired to shut off debate, killing meaningful property tax reform efforts," you now know the truth.

As always, I welcome your input and questions. Together, we can do good things for HD18. You may reach my office at 936-628-6687 or email at district18.bailes@house.texas.gov.
Harris County Sheriffs Office

A Houston Fire Department employee has been relieved of duty on the heels of his arrest on on charges he sexually assaulted a child, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Brandon Ramirez is accused of initiating a conversation with the girl on a chat application and started sending sexually explicit photos and videos of himself to her, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Saturday following his arrest.
The Texas Department of Transportation has proposed widening a 1.5-mile section of Red Bluff Road between Texas 146 and Kirby Drive to accommodate area growth and provide another hurricane evacuation route.

It wants the public to petition the department to request a public hearing to learn more about the project and to offer comments to the agency on the $15.1 million plan.

Half of that section of the roadway is in Pasadena and the other in Seabrook. The undivided two-lane road also traverses Taylor Lake.

Red Bluff connects Seabrook to the western mainland, and the project would boost traffic flow as growth continues in the area and could be used an evacuation route during a hurricane, according to TxDOT documents presented at a 2016 open house held at Seabrook Intermediate School.

The state, in cooperation with Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Mormon, wants to convert the existing roadway to westbound lanes and construct two new lanes for eastbound traffic.

The final piece of construction would consist of adding a two-lane bridge with eastbound lanes and a 10-foot-wide trail to the south of Taylor Lake bridge, which would be converted to two westbound lanes plus a wide shoulder that could serve as a hurricane evacuation lane.

Comments from the open house indicated that some Seabrook residents are concerned that the trail section would be dangerous for joggers and bikers as designed.

Other residents suggest a sound wall should be built to protect nearby homes from the increased traffic noise.

Others said that decreasing lane width on Taylor Lake bridge from 15 feet to 11 feet to accommodate the wide shoulder poses a safety risk because of the large trucks that regularly use the bridge.

There were some in favor of the widening as long as the construction schedule were coordinated with work being done on Texas 146 to avoid disruption of traffic.

The project to expand 146 has been the major focus of TxDOT for decades, and right-of-way acquisitions began in late 2016.

The state agency has said that the thoroughfare, which serves as a hurricane evacuation route, will be better equipped to handle future emergencies once the expansion is complete.

Seabrook city officials do not include Red Bluff Road as one of the existing, recognized emergency evacuation routes on its website.

Requests for a public hearing must be submitted in writing by Jan. 10 to: TxDOT Houston District Office, Advanced Project Development, P.O. Box 1386, Houston, 77251.

Requests may also be be delivered in person to the Harris County office on the seventh floor at 1001 Preston St. Houston, 77002.

To see TxDOT's notice for the opportunity for a public hearing on the project, visit http://bit.ly/2B0GK0S.
The relation of the nation state to globalisation as well as the rise of right-wing currents in Europe were also debated in an open discussion between the French and British ambassadors

Britain and France acknowledge similarly the regional and international challenges they face, along with all Europe. Yet the two countries do not see eye to eye on the best policies to adopt in pursuit of solutions, the British and French ambassadors to Egypt expressed in a dialogue held at the American University in Cairo (AUC) in Downtown Cairo Thursday.

British Ambassador John Casson and French counterpart Stephane Romatet voiced different views on Brexit and how it is likely to affect Britain and the European project. France's pro-Europeanism is also seen differently by the two countries, the diplomats explained.

Romatet, who took the podium first, kicked off the dialogue by highlighting the main challenges facing Europe, including the rise of the far right, diminishing support for the European project, and thawing ties among countries on the "Old Continent."

"You see in the elections in Europe all European parties are systematically defeated; this signifies something," he said. "The social democratic project is in danger, the conservative parties obviously in a bad situation."

The two blocs have long been pro-European Union and now have lost ground to extremist and far-right parties, Romatet said.

What also takes a toll on Europe, he argued, is a "dismantling process" in which countries that long supported the European project are considering or have actually abandoned it, such as Poland.

On a lower level, Romatet pointed to the crisis of the nation state and federalism, citing independence drives in Spain's Catalonia this year, and Scotland's 2014 autonomy referendum that was narrowly defeated.

"There is today a lack of spirit of similarity," said the French ambassador, adding that what is also concerning is that "most of the Europhobic populist vote comes from the younger generation."

"There is something new in Europe. There is I think now a feeling that a refounding of the project is absolutely necessary. And there is a consensus even on the fact that conditions are today met in order for refounding very seriously the European project."

In this context, Romatet opined that Brexit will cause Europe to be recast without Britain, which will lose its regional influence as a result.

Casson, for his part, sounded more optimistic, saying there were different perspectives on how Brexit will unfold.

Decades ago, the UK saw nation states as too powerful and that the EU was instrumental in alleviating their abysmal effects, such as suffocating the economy. Britain today, "no longer tends to see nation states as the problem" or too powerful, but rather "too weak in the face of other forces," such as the flow of capital, jobs and people, Casson said.

Organised crime and extremism fuelled Brexit, the British ambassador said, highlighting that the UK's European treaties make the country unable to control its borders.

"There's a reaction to that, that maybe Europe wasn't the solution but was part of the problem," Casson said. The same applies to the economy and jobs, he added.

The UK government is trying to "find a new way to manage the balance we're all trying to achieve between keeping the roots of our nation states, keeping our society well rooted [...] and balancing that with being open to the world, being open to the positive side of globalisation."

"We all face this challenge, refounding, renewing our national models," Casson said, adding that Brexit "will be seen as a technical feature of this wider effort to refound nation states."

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Lebanon has set a date of May 6 next year to hold its first legislative election in nearly a decade, potentially transforming the politics of a country.

Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk signed a decree setting the date on Friday, allowing the vote to go ahead at last. The election has been postponed three times since the last vote in 2009, with politicians citing security concerns, political crisis and a dispute over the election law.

Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's coalition government, which took office a year ago, agreed on the new election law in June, but setting the date was held up while officials debated technical details and registered Lebanese citizens abroad.

Lebanon's political landscape has shifted dramatically since the last election. Hariri's pro-Western, Saudi-backed political alliance has split up. For the past year he has led a power-sharing government which includes the heavily armed, Iran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah, despised by his Saudi allies.

Hariri sparked a political crisis last month by announcing his resignation while in Riyadh and denouncing Hezbollah and Iran. He stayed abroad for two weeks before returning, and finally withdrew his resignation last week.

Lebanon has a complex electoral system designed to maintain civil peace in a country where Sunnis, Shias, Christians and Druze fought numerous civil wars since independence in 1943.

The 128-seat parliament includes 64 Christians apportioned among seven denominations, and 64 Muslims, including equal numbers of Sunnis and Shias. The country is divided into districts that each vote for multiple lawmakers according to strict religious quotas.

The president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shia Muslim, representing the three biggest groups in parliament.

The international community has repeatedly stressed the importance of Lebanon holding timely elections to restore confidence in its institutions and maintain stability.

Machnouk said Lebanese abroad would be able to vote on April 22 and 28.



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Women's groups are actively campaigning for women's rights despite what they describe as inadequate electoral laws, poor political representation and a problematic constitution

"The revolution is not 18 days, nor a year, or two. The revolution is permanent. The fact that we, women, have not reached our aspirations does not mean we should lose hope, women's rights activist Mariam Kirollos told Ahram Online.

Kirollos said that she is proud of Egyptian women who have been active during the Egyptian revolution either on the front lines, or in the field hospitals and polling stations.

However, women's political representation in 2012, whether in the Constituent Assembly or the dissolved parliament, is far from what Kirollos and other womens rights activists aspire to.

We are moving backward, said Nehad Abou El-Komsan, head of the Egyptian Centre for Womens Rights (ECWR), explaining that the current cabinet of Prime Minister Hisham Qandil after the latest reshuffle includes only one woman, which was the case 60 years ago during President Nassers time.

Abou El-Komsan added that there were four female minsters in the last cabinet of Mubaraks presidency.

The Egyptian women's status report for 2012 by ECWR also reveals the factual deterioration of womens position. Egypt ranked first among countries witnessing a decline in the political status of women, ranking 126 on women's rights this year according to the Global Gender Gap Report.

Regarding womens holding ministerial positions, Egypt ranked 95 out of 125 countries. As for women holding governor positions, Egypt ranked the lowest, with zero female governors.



Egypt also ranked first in the list of countries that recorded a decline in economic opportunities for women compared to previous years. As for the proportion of women to men in the labour force, Egypt ranked 130 out of 134 countries, as the percentage of unemployment among women is four times higher than that to men.

A problematic constitution

Women occupied seven per cent of the Constituent Assembly formed in 2012 to formulate the current constitution.

Most of its female members belonged to Islamic parties and do not speak for the majority of Egyptian women, said Mona Ezzat, member of the New Woman Foundation, adding that the only female human rights activist in the assembly, Manal El-Tibi, resigned.

Ezzat explained that different womens rights organisations presented suggestions to the Constituent Assembly regarding womens rights to be tackled in the constitution; however, their efforts went down the drain.

One of the suggestions was establishing an organisation that women can approach when encountering inequality.

The constitution instead included generic words and lacked mechanisms to protect against gender inequality and violence.

The constitution also includes problematic articles for women. Abou El-Komsan referred to Article 10, which is the only article that addresses women as a particular group and was part of the moral foundations of society chapter, stating that, the state shall provide free motherhood and childhood services and shall balance between a womans obligations toward the family and public work. The state shall provide for special care and protection for single mothers, divorced women and widows.

Abou El-Komsan explained that it implies a limitation for women as caregivers.

Also, raising children is a societal responsibility; it is not only the mothers.

Reacting to this article, Human Rights Watch said, the states role should be confined to ensuring equality and non-discrimination, without interfering with a womans choices about her life, family, and profession or to justify discrimination on that basis.

Abou El-Komsan referred to Article 36, which states that the state is committed to taking all constitutional and executive measures to ensure equality of women with men in all walks of political, cultural, economic and social life, without violation of the rules of Islamic jurisprudence."

The phrase, "rules of Islamic jurisprudence" can open the door to extremist interpretations of jurisprudence that can be hostile to women, Abou El-Komsan noted.

The dissolved parliament

Although different women's organisations and the National Council for Human Rights opted for the quota system to safeguard women's representation in the 2011/2012 parliament, the quota system was cancelled and instead it was established that "each list should include at least one woman," the ECWRs report, What Women Lost and What Egypt Lost, stated.

In the nomination phase, the political parties broke their promises about having female candidates near the top of the lists, which led to two per cent representation of women in the parliament.

Abou El-Komsan noted that four women of the eight elected in the now-dissolved parliament were affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice Party. I do not consider Brotherhood female members as representatives of Egyptian women because their first loyalty is to the Brotherhood, she stated.

Furthermore, the dissolved parliament that was dominated by members affiliated with political Islam included moves hostile to women, the first ECWR report revealed. The Freedom and Justice former parliament member Mohamed El-Omda requested the cancelation of Article 20 of the litigation procedures of the Personal Status Law, the so-called khola law.

Former Nour Party MP Hamada Soliman requested the reduction of the age of custody to nine for girls and seven for boys, instead of 15 for boys and until marriage for girls.

There is no hope for women's empowerment and equality under the current regime, Ezzat said, contemplating the future of womens rights in Egypt.

Abou El-Komsan expects weak female representation in the coming parliament, especially as the Shura Council recently rejected a proposal that would have mandated that at least one woman be included in the first half of each electoral list.

Similar to the previous elections, Abou El-Komsan expects that women will be positioned at the bottom of electoral lists.

Abou El-Komsan went on to explain that 108 countries in the world follow the quota system for women, including Sweden and India, to ensure women's representation as a way to protect women against culture ills within societies.

The whole idea of having a woman on every electoral list is just there to send a message to the Brotherhood's foreign ally that they are not against women. If they were truly keen on women's empowerment, they would have invested in developing new female cadres able to compete and win.

Ezzat also noted that the current regime is not interested in womens education or political empowerment. It serves them best if women remain uneducated so they can make use of them as an election bloc whose votes they can buy with essential goods."

Although 2012 treated Egyptian women unfairly, they responded with persistence and activism. More than 50 women's marches were organised in 2012 that either called for womens rights or other demands, the ECWR first report noted.

Women also used creative ways to defend their causes, such as cutting their hair to protest the constitution or holding cooking pans to protest the rise of prices.

On a positive note, Kirollos mentioned the increase of awareness on womens rights among women of Egypt. Egyptian women started to realise that they are not second-class citizens.

Ezzat believes that the hope for womens rights in Egypt lies in the success of the revolution; when the revolutionary forces that called for social justice lead the country.

For Kirollos, hope lies in Egyptian women and their determination. The more oppression women experience, the more they fight back.

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A 23-year-old former high school football star was shot to death overnight after a fight at a house party near Lake Houston, according to police.

Cole Harrell died after an argument turned violent around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at a home near Waterside View and Catherine Bay in Summerwood.

It was a small gathering with seven or eight friends, according to the slain man's older brother, Corbin Harrell. Though Corbin stayed home that night, his youngest brother went to the party with Cole.

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At some point, another man showed up, unhappy after receiving a call from one of the women attending the festivities, Corbin said.

The man started a dispute with four other party-goers. That escalated into a brawl, which moved outside into the backyard, where some of the men pulled out guns, according to police.

Cole Harrell tried grabbing the man's weapon, but instead it went off, killing the former high school athlete.

Corbin found out about his middle brother's death when he got a panicked middle-of-the-night call from his youngest brother.

"He was hysterical," Corbin said.

Police weren't immediately sure what happened, they told reporters at the scene.

"We're not sure if it was some kind of accidental discharge or if somebody pulled the trigger," said Houston police investigator Shaun Sylvester.

Afterward, one of the men left, then came back and turned himself in, police said. Four people were taken in to answer questions, but police did not immediately report any arrests.

No one else was wounded in the gunfire.

"Cole was loved, man," his older brother said. "He was a good kid."

He'd just finished welding school and started his first full-time job in Dayton, his brother said. He was a star wide receiver at Hargrave High School.

The Huffman native leaves behind a 5-year-old son. His grieving family has started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.

"It's not just the fact that he's gone," Corbin said late Sunday. "It's the fact that I'm not going to be able to hear that laugh."
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On a gray day with rain in the forecast, the third annual Day for Night festival opened with defiant flamboyance.

The event's aptly tagged Red Stage boasted Of Montreal early Saturday afternoon for a set that made no concessions to the weather. Ringleader Kevin Barnes showed up in a high piled blond wig and a floor-length red gown. And befitting a festival that proudly programs in a politically provocative way he strummed his guitar while some extras ran around the stage in police uniforms chasing a few guys wearing jumpsuits that represented human musculature minus the skin.

This is not an event that aims for the middle.

Mike Hadreas' Perfume Genius followed. He showed up in pleather pants and a silver shirt with flowing sleeves: part sprightly Peter Pan and part sneering Captain Hook. Hadreas' songs are raw and unnerving and he built a slowly swelling set that moved from quiet contemplative pop to darker electronic fare.

"We're going to do one more nice song," he said after "Wreath." "Then we're going to get to the nastier half."

Through it all Hadreas was impossible to ignore, writhing twisting and cavorting like Freddie Mercury only clad in a unitard of anxiety and insecurity.

Russia's provocative Pussy Riot was tailor made for such an event with an electro-splashy pop/hip-hop set that made use of barbed lyrics, sampled recordings of a prominent American elected official and feigned fellatio, as well as what was surely the cosmos' most frequent use of the first name of the group in a 40-minute concert.

Their set was joyous if a little sloppy.

The infamous Russian political collective breached international news in 2012 when its members were imprisoned for religious hatred. They stormed the stage late afternoon with a set that made you wonder if something was lost in translation.

Led by Nadya Tolokonnikova, who spent two years in prison, the group's performance was a refrain for base feminism under the notion that all life comes from the female genitalia.

Did I mention this is not an event that courts the middle?

Cardi B, the hottest pop star on the festival lineup with her song of the year candidate "Bodak Yellow," showed up on stage 45 minutes late and with a friendly smile before she said to the crowd, "I'm not going to front, we're going to do this quick 'cause I'm cold." And it was, with a set that under 20 minutes played more like a medley of her songs before performing her hit, which featured her on backing track that sometimes took the lead.

Day for Night positions itself as much a visual event as an aural one. The inside of the old Barbara Jordan Post Office proved an eerie and cavernous counterpart to the outside flair. Dimly lit almost to the point of unease the lower level was both beautifully spare and darkly upsetting. Though Light Leaks - artist Kyle McDonald's collection of disco balls hung by nets from the ceiling - projected beams like the most star lit of nights or the first moment a Star Wars vessel jumps to light speed.

Another giant display - called Liminal Scope - looked like some sort of widget out of Stargate, with three giant metal portals projecting light. A display with enormous laser spouting robotic arm type structures (Telestron VT Pro) was sufficiently compelling as to create a line for viewing.

Back outside, the sets were nudged up a few minutes in anticipation of rain. And temperatures went down with the sun, which fit James Blakes' icy electronic soul perfectly. He opened with Bill Withers' "Hope She'll Be Happier" before slipping into "Life Around Here." His guitarist struggled to keep warm, blowing into his hands between songs.

Nine Inch Nails took the stage minutes after the rain began to fall, turning out its own storm of turgid industrial rock starting with "Branches/Bones." A huge crowd had started forming hours earlier. Nobody seemed to mind the wind or the rain.
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OCEAN CITY, Md. - Phil Heasley caught the fish of his life, but the $2.8 million in tournament prize money got away.

Heasley reeled in a 6-foot white marlin last year off Maryland's coast. But in a sign of how concerned some big money tournaments are about cheating, officials made him and his crew take lie detector tests. The officials said all four men failed.

Heasley is now in a protracted court battle over the winnings and his crew's reputation, pitting their integrity against that of one of the world's most lucrative angling contests.

The white-haired CEO of a financial software company had motored with his crew into the Atlantic before sunrise on a Tuesday in August in his 68-foot fishing boat, the Kallianassa, to compete in the 2016 White Marlin Open.

About 65 miles out, they zeroed in on a fast-moving school of skipjack tuna, according to transcripts from the nine-day trial.

One of the mates quickly hooked a marlin. The captain maneuvered the boat and Heasley worked the reel.

'Running like mad'

The avid fisherman from Naples, Fla., said he fought the famously acrobatic species for about 10 minutes. The blue-finned fish - whose snout resembles a fencing rapier - was "running like mad" and leaping to dislodge the hook.

Hanging from the tournament scale in Ocean City, the white marlin turned out to be relatively scrawny, weighing in at 76.5 pounds - not far over the 70-pound qualifying weight and nearly 20 pounds lighter than the 2015 winner.

"I did not think that we had a fish that was going to win some great big amount of money," Heasley said on the witness stand.

The marlin wasn't even mounted. It went to a food bank.

But three days later, the tournament deemed it the only qualifying white marlin of the five-day open.

The total prize was $2,818,662.

The open itself paid out only $15,000. But like many anglers, Heasley had placed a big bet on himself and his crew in various "calcuttas," which are optional betting pools.

Boats can pay a total of nearly $30,000 apiece before the tournament. Whoever hooks the heaviest fish in a category and participated in the calcuttas takes home the big money.

Heasley planned to give half to the crew, a life-changing gift. But there was one more step: Heasley had to pass a lie detector test.

Posed with check

Tournaments have employed polygraphs for decades. Sometimes they're used to settle disputes.

Heasley, 68, had competed in dozens of tournaments, once winning $800,000. But this was his first White Marlin Open and his first polygraph.

The results were inconclusive. Another test was required. The unsuspecting and hung-over captain, David Morris, had to be tested too. The examiner said Morris indicated "deception" during his exam.

The men still posed with a promotional check at the award ceremony. But the actual money was being withheld, they were told, pending Heasley's second polygraph and tests for the two mates.

No one passed.

Tournament officials denied the prize. Heasley refused to sign a release of the winnings. The tournament asked a court to intervene.

At trial, Heasley's lawyers questioned the accuracy of polygraph tests, and criticized the tournament's exams.

The judge ruled against Heasley in June, writing that Heasley had agreed to the open's terms.

The judge also sided with the other anglers over the Kallianassa's fishing start time, citing discrepancies among the crew's accounts and other evidence.

The case is now on appeal. In a statement to The Associated Press, Heasley said he's fighting for the decency of the sport.

"I have continued our fight in the appellate courts," Heasley wrote, "because I am not the kind of person to lay down and let anyone run over us with lies and junk science."
WASHINGTON - A lawyer representing President Donald Trump's transition team claimed Saturday that special counsel Robert Mueller improperly obtained a trove of transition emails as part of the inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election and other matters.

The batch of emails totaling thousands of pages of communications was provided to Mueller by the federal General Services Administration, a lawyer representing the organization known as Trump for America said in a letter delivered to congressional investigators.

"This morning we sent a letter to Congress concerning the unauthorized sharing of private and transition emails with the Mueller team," lawyer Kory Langhofer said in an interview Saturday.

A spokesman for Mueller's team rejected the allegations of impropriety.

More Information Trump denies plans to fire Mueller President Donald Trump is saying he is not considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller.Trump returned to the White House from Camp David on Sunday and was asked if he was considering dismissing the man investigating whether there was collusion between the president's Republican presidential campaign and Russian officials.He answered, "No, I'm not," and did not elaborate further. Associated Press See More Collapse

"When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," said Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller's office.

The letter from Langhofer is the latest in a series of legal and public relations moves by Trump's allies to attempt to undermine Mueller's investigation and portray it as politically motivated.

Mueller's investigation is looking at whether any crimes were committed as part of what U.S. intelligence agencies say was systematic Russian meddling in the election Trump won. Trump has consistently said there was "no collusion" between his campaign and Moscow.

The letter from Langhofer, who was counsel to Trump for America, alleged that career employees of the GSA improperly provided privileged communications to investigators working for Mueller.

But some legal experts challenged Langhofer's charge that anything improper occurred.

Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who teaches white-collar crime at George Washington Law School, said it was not surprising that Mueller's team the emails. "It would be almost prosecutorial misconduct for them not to," he said. He said it was also not surprising that Mueller would ask GSA for emails sent using government accounts.
Until post-Mubarak Egypt resolves fundamental economic dilemmas, the realisation of 'social justice' - a chief demand of the Tahrir Square uprising - will remain a pipe dream

Walk down any back alley in the Egyptian capital, or even along one of Cairo's main thoroughfares, and you're likely to see scenes of shocking poverty. If the miserable grey buildings that shelter millions of impoverished souls don't get to you, the scores of street children  tirelessly weaving between cars and Chinese-made motorbikes  will.

Steady growth in Egypt's poverty head-count ratio  from 16.7 per cent in 2000 to some 22 per cent in 2010  was a major ingredient of the Tahrir Square uprising. It was not, however, the poorest segments of society that initiated the revolution that toppled the Mubarak regime almost two years ago, but rather Egyptian youth from the middle and upper classes.

"When I see the magnitude of misery that exists in our society, I can't help but feel ashamed of how lucky I am," 26-year-old engineer Alaa El-Banna, who participated in the revolution, told Ahram Online.

El-Banna works for a multinational consumer goods firm; he drives a sporty French car and spends more than LE100 every day on cigarettes and fast food. Yet he felt obliged to join the 18-day sit-in in Tahrir Square in early 2011 to demand the ouster of Mubarak, who he views as a symbol of the "rampant corruption" that has "impoverished millions of Egyptians."

The two years since the uprising, however, have not been accompanied by the basic improvements El-Banna had initially hoped for. In fact, the chronic economic problems plaguing Egypt appear to have only become worse.

Egypt's poverty rate jumped to 25 per cent in 2010/11 while unemployment levels have reached ten-year highs. The government will be forced to trim its hefty subsidies bill to curb the budget deficit while raising sales taxes on a range of goods and services.

What's more, Egypt's depreciating currency will likely prompt a surge in prices of basic foodstuffs and fuel  most of which is imported.

Under the pretext of 'realising revolutionary goals,' successive post-revolution cabinets have tried to enact policies aimed at easing Egypt's vast income disparities. But such initiatives have either not gone far enough or have been overshadowed by wider economic realities.

One example of this was the new national minimum wage intended to lift working-class Egyptians out of poverty. Public servants were granted a monthly minimum wage of LE700 (roughly $107), cut down from an earlier proposed monthly wage of LE1,200.

The government simply could not afford more, since public wages alone account for more than a quarter of Egypt's state budget.

LE700, which translates into a paltry LE23 daily, shrinks before the ever increasing cost of everyday necessities. The amount is not enough to allow a family of four to eat nutritious food all month long, given that meat  which more and more Egyptians are doing without  now costs an average of LE50 per kilo.

The inadequacy of Egypt's new minimum wage structure is probably why labour actions continue to escalate in workplaces across the country.

Private-sector workers, meanwhile, were the beneficiaries of a similar arrangement at the end of 2011, yet the lack of a clear enforcement strategy by the government  along with continued high unemployment rates  prevent average wages from growing altogether.

Moreover, Egypt's informal workers, who make up an estimated 75 per cent of total national private-sector employment, did not benefit from the new wage rates at all.

"All these debates on the minimum wage will not help improve Egyptians' living conditions," Dorothea Schmidt, senior employment expert at the International Labour Organisation, told Ahram Online in 2011.

Taxation, another tool used by governments to promote financial equality, has not been utilised much by the government over the past two years.

In 2011, the top income-tax bracket was increased to 25 per cent  from a previous 20 per cent for annual incomes above LE10 million. And last December, President Mohamed Morsi altered the highest tax bracket so that annual incomes above LE1 million (instead of LE10 million) would be taxed at a 25 per cent rate.

Morsi also announced new taxes on real estate, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

This latest bundle of tax hikes, however, also raised levies on consumer goods, some of which  such as cooking oil  are considered essential to ordinary Egyptians. Morsi quickly  and unofficially  suspended the tax hikes to avoid a popular backlash.

Last December's decisions reflect the tight spot that the government finds itself in. While it has to raise taxes to finance its ballooning public deficit, it cannot simply raise income taxes since this would take a heavy toll on Egypt's weak investment environment.

The government is therefore resorting to more regressive taxation schemes, such as sales taxes. But this, too, promises to put additional burdens on an already struggling public.

It appears that revolutionary demands for 'social justice' will likely have to be put on hold until the government sorts out its wider fiscal dilemmas.

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The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
The joint broadcast is intended to show support for Palestinians following the announcement last week that the United States recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

Egypt joined a unified Arab television broadcast on Sunday to show support for Palestine and a rejection of a US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the city as Israel's capital.

According to Al-Ahram Arabic, the unified broadcast is an initiative by Hussein Zein, the head of Egypt's National Media Authority, under the umbrella of the Arab League and in coordination with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).

The unified live broadcast runs from 12pm to 10pm on Sunday, with the participating channels  from Palestinian and Jordanian television and radio authorities  broadcasting several historical documentaries on the Arab heritage of Jerusalem.

At 10:30pm, Egypts state-run television will host a discussion by several Islamic scholars on a planned symposium in support of Jerusalem, to be held at Al-Azhar, the world's oldest seat of Sunni Islamic learning. The programme will feature phone-ins from various Arab and Muslim nations around the world.

A documentary will be broadcast showing Egypts role in supporting the Palestinian cause since the 1948 war, as well as reports on the history of Palestine, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the violations it has suffered under occupation.

Sundays combined broadcast is the latest act of opposition by Arab nations to Trump's decision on Jerusalem.

Trump's announcement sparked a wave of condemnation and protests in the Occupied Territories and around the world. Protests also took place in several Arab countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.

Egypt has decried the US decision stressing that such unilateral decisions violate international resolutions.



"Egypt is extremely concerned about the possible impact of [Trump's] decision on the stability of the region," the foreign ministry said last week.



It added that Trump's decision would not change the legal status of Jerusalem as an occupied city, referring to a number of UN Security Council resolutions regarding this issue, including resolution No.242/1967, which demands that Israel withdraw from the territories it occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem.

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BATH, Ohio - You've still got a few more chances to check out Hale Farm & Village's popular Holiday Lantern Tours. The Summit County holiday tradition continues Sunday, Dec. 17, and then wraps up with tours Dec. 19-23.

The tours, which are 90-minutes long, offer visitors the chance step back into time and experience what Christmas in the mid-1800s was like, with handheld lanterns in tow. The tours feature historic houses decorated for the holidays, costumed residents and old-time traditions such as caroling and seasonal traditions.

After the tours, visitors can partake in a Victorian-era holiday party, and sample hot cocoa and cookies. Visitors can also browse handcrafted gifts, treats and Ohio-made wine and beer for sale in the MarketPlace.

Tours start at 5:40 p.m. and depart every 20 minutes. Advance reservations are required and can be made at halereservations@wrhs.org or by calling 330-666-3711 ext. 1720. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for members and $12 for children ages 3-12. Group rates are available.

Half Farm and Village is located at 2686 Oak Hill Rd,, Bath.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio-- For tens of thousands of Ohioans applying for Social Security disability benefits, an underfunded and inadequately staffed federal system means months, and even years, of waiting to get in front of a judge and receive a decision on a claim.

More than 1 million people across the country are waiting on average more than 600 days--about 19 months-- for these hearings. In some parts of the country, the wait is longer than two years.

The Social Security Administration's problems processing disability claims stretch back decades and track closely with the funding the agency receives through the Congressional budget process. The agency has seen an 11 percent budget cut since 2010 and could see another 4 percent drop next year.

Hiring freezes, staff cuts and other cost-saving measures because of this belt-tightening have adversely impacted disabled people who are out of work and need help, experts say. Judges argue it's impossible for them to handle the current workload without more support staff.

Clevelander Ebony Calhoun, a former home health worker, is one of more than 42,000 Ohioans in the absurdly long queue.

Calhoun, 40, has lupus and had surgery on both ankles to remove pieces of bone after a staph infection. She can now only stand for short periods with the help of orthopedic shoes, she said. She lives in transitional housing and can no longer afford to pay rent she used to afford.

Her initial application with the state agency that first reviews Social Security disability cases was denied after her application in 2016, as most are. She's been waiting since May for a hearing.

In Cleveland, one of six Ohio hearing locations where cases are referred after these denials, the wait is 15 months, one of the lower wait times in the country. In Cincinnati the wait is longest at 19 1/2 months, and in Akron, applicants wait about 547 days.

A frustrating process

The wait for a hearing is really the third step in an even longer undertaking for most Ohioans applying for Social Security disability benefits, which are separate from worker's compensation. (link to Q and A). An application is first considered by a state agency in a two-step process which initially denies more than 60 percent of claims.

That can take up to a year.

For Joanne Maki of Grafton, the excruciating exercise began in September of 2015, and still hasn't ended.

Maki, 60, has chronic asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome that required two surgeries in her dominant hand, and a narrowing of her spinal canal following two car accidents. Combined, she says, the illnesses finally made it impossible for her to work full time in 2015 after 35 years of uninterrupted employment and 18 1/2 years with the same company.

She was denied in the initial two-step process and had a hearing in Cleveland in June after a relatively short 442-day wait. It took 165 days to receive the judge's decision. She was denied benefits.

In order to qualify for benefits, the judge must determine that a person's disability is severe enough to make full-time work impossible, and that the person doesn't retain enough function to do another type of job. (See Q &A). The judge in Maki's case said she was still capable of working.

Maki, who supports her disabled Vietnam veteran husband, was devastated. She's filing an appeal with Social Security's Appeals Council, which will likely take another year. Her chance of success is slight. Only 13 percent of these cases are sent back to local judges for reconsideration.

In addition to her daily pain and worry, Maki says she's had to seek treatment for depression since filing for benefits.

"It takes a toll on you, the waiting." she says. "There's the anger, the frustration. That's a big part of this whole process. I had no idea it would take as long as it has."

Maki is surviving off her 401k savings and the generosity of her family, she says.

"I feel like a burden."

Maki is lucky though, experts say: The system is so overburdened that some people waiting for benefits lose their homes and their savings. Some are so sick they die waiting.

"I have clients who are living in homeless shelters and clients living in tents in the woods," says Charles Hall, a lawyer in North Carolina who has been practicing in the Social Security disability arena for almost 40 years. "We can get those cases expedited, but it still takes a long time for them. We have far more who are barely staving off losing their homes."

Is the wait worth it? Lawyers and advocates say the payoff for the years-long ordeal is usually pretty low. The average benefit nationally is $1,173 per month, and varies based on age, income, and years worked. Those 65 and under deemed disabled are also eligible for Medicare two years after they're approved.

Not enough staff, or time, to hear complex cases

The reasons for the long wait are simple, experts say: Not enough staff, or time, to hear the complex cases that make it to a hearing.

In most states, the cases that reach a hearing stage have already been denied twice. They tend to be the less clear-cut cases, experts say, because the "easy ones" are quickly approved. They're less likely to be cases of terminal cancer, for example, than cases of asthma or fibromyalgia.

"I get more clients with multiple sclerosis than anything else right now," says Charles Hall, a North Carolina attorney practicing in disability law since 1979. Other conditions such as arthritis, back pain, chronic immune diseases and mental health illnesses are also common, lawyers say.

Still, many cases end up approved after these initial denials, either because the person gets sicker while waiting for a hearing, or because they gather better medical evidence for a judge.

The increased wait is not due to more cases. Social Security data shows that applications for disability benefits have fallen since 2009, when they were at a high due to high rates of unemployment and the economic downturn. In 2016, the agency received 2.3 million applications, about the same level as 2008, the year before the spike.

Social Security is still trying to catch up since falling behind on cases during that time of high volume, according to a regional spokesman for the agency.

There are about 1,600 administrative law judges who hear Social Security disability cases nationwide. In Cleveland, there are 18 judges, who ruled on about 6,800 cases last year and heard far more.

Still, judges are only as efficient as their support staff, says Marilyn Zahm, an administrative law judge in the agency's Buffalo office and president of the Association of Administrative Law Judges.

"A judge needs a clerk and writers to work with the judge in order to issue decisions," she says. "If the judge has the appropriate staff they can be more efficient. It's just common sense."

Zahm, who has been practicing for 23 years, says the system was functioning better about five years ago, before hiring freezes and attrition started to hollow out the offices.

"We've been starved for staff for years and years, but the most recent two years have been particularly acute," says Zahm, who as president of the national association represents other administrative law judges in labor negotiations and grievances with Social Security.

Social Security planned to ease the backlog by hiring about 800 new administrative law judges and their corresponding support staff, including law clerks, senior attorneys, paralegals and other staffers, over three years starting in 2016. That plan has since stalled due to hiring freezes. About 400 judges were hired, and no support staff. Social Security would not say if the agency has plans to hire more staff next year.

The spare staffing has put "unreasonable demands" on judges to issue decisions quickly, Zahm says.

The end result is bad for judges, who Zahm says are putting in overtime in 55-degree federal buildings on weekends in order to keep up, and for people filing claims.

"They are desperate, and they are sick. Whether or not they are eligible for benefits is beside the point. They need an answer. To make people wait this long is poor public service," she says.

What can be done?

Experts, including disability lawyers, advocates and judges, say the solution is simple: give Social Security enough operating funds to hire sufficient staff to make a dent in the backlogged cases.

"Everything else has been tried and goes pretty much nowhere," says Charles Hall, the North Carolina attorney. "Nobody wants to say it's overtly political but it is."

Funding woes ease when Democrats have control of the Congressional purse strings, he says. When the Social Security budget increased in the late 2000's, the backlog across the country fell from 2008 to 2012, when the average wait time for a disability decision fell from more than 500 days to 350 days. It was the first time the wait had been less than a year since 2003.

The odds of the agency's budget increasing soon are slim, however. The House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committee have passed funding plans that would either freeze Social Security's operating funds or cut another $400 million, which is nearly 4 percent of the agency's operating budget.

If the $400 million is cut next year, the agency's total budget will have fallen by 16 percent since 2010.

Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat and head of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy wrote in October to Senate Appropriations Committee leaders urging them to support full funding for the agency's budget.

"It's unacceptable that Ohioans with disabilities are forced to wait so long to get the benefits that help them meet their day-to-day needs," Brown says.

So if a funding boost is unlikely, are there other possible solutions to make the system more efficient?

Andrew November, a Cleveland disability lawyer who represents Maki, says one way to save time is if judges once again issued fully favorable decisions without a hearing for cases with solid evidence, a process called an "on the record" decision. Judges issued more than 54,000 of these decisions as recently as 2010, but they have since fallen out of favor due to concerns about fraud and abuse.

The rate of Social Security disability fraud is low--a fraction of one percent, according to the agency.

Zahm advocates allowing judges to issue shorter decisions on fully favorable cases. Most decisions are 20 to 25 pages long, and a shorter 5-page decision in the roughly 40 percent of favorable cases which judges issue would save about half-a-million work hours a year, she says.

Social Security told Zahm in August the agency would consider implementing the measure but has since done nothing, she says. A regional spokesman for SSA would not respond directly to a question about shortening favorable decisions, but said "we are looking at ways to streamline the decision writing process and strategies to increase productivity."

"This is a calcified bureaucracy," Zahm says.

OIG research on why productivity among administrative law judges has fallen in recent years pointed to decreased staffing ratios, requirements for more medical evidence during hearings and that more cases are being denied. Denials typically take longer than approvals to process.

Large case files may be due to a 2015 Social Security rule revision that required applicants and their lawyers to inform the agency about "all evidence" related to the person's disability. Disability advocates say the rule is confusing and leads to duplicate evidence in case files.

In Cleveland, voluminous medical records may be a big part of the problem. The city has one of the largest case file sizes in the country: 29 percent of case files contain more than 1,000 pages.

"Judges have to read all of that," says Zahm.

What happens if changes aren't made?

"At a certain point the whole thing might collapse," Zahm says. "This is a crisis."

For Joanne Maki, the entire process, from her initial online application to the judge's denial after her in-person hearing, took about 800 days. Now she'll wait, again.

Her advice to others recently disabled: "Get an attorney right away and expect a long, long wait."
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A 19-year-old Elyria man was seriously injured during a crash Sunday afternoon, according to a news release from the State Highway Patrol.

Tanner Hendrix hit his head against the windshield when his car hit a tree off Osborne Road about 12:45 p.m., the release says. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

Hendrix was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado east on Osborne Road when he drove off the ride side of the road, struck a driveway embankment, went partially airborne and struck the tree, the release says.

Hendrix was taken to Southwest General Hospital.

Authorities do not know why he drove off the side of the road. No one else was in the truck and no other vehicles were involved, the release says.

No charges have been filed.

The crash is under investigation.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Sunday's crime and courts comments section.
RITTMAN, Ohio -- Volunteers placed more than 14,000 wreaths on gravesites Saturday at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Medina County, as part of the "Wreaths Across America" campaign.

A noontime ceremony concluding the observance included the playing of taps and a gun volley. So many attended that traffic into the cemetery was backed up before 10 a.m. on Seville and Rawiga roads.

Now in its 12th year and coordinated locally by the group Wreaths for Western Reserve and veterans' service organization, "Wreaths Across America" honors veterans at 135 national cemeteries maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and 1,000 other locations.
The speaker of Egypts parliament Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session on Sunday that a draft law aimed at boycotting American products over US President Donald Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been referred to parliamentary committees for discussion.

The bill was referred to the Houses committees on economic affairs, defence and national security, Arab affairs, and foreign affairs, who will discuss the bill and prepare a report on it.

The law, drafted by MP Mohamed Abdel-Ghani and endorsed by 60 MPs as required by the constitution, seeks to impose a total boycott on the import and handling of American products in Egypt.

Abdel-Ghani, who represents East Cairos El-Zeitoun district, said the draft law comes as a natural response to Trumps decision, which parliament discussed in its morning session on Sunday.

Speaker Abdel-Aal described Trumps decision as irrational and reckless, adding that Egypts moves in the UN Security Council to invalidate the decision are honourable.

"Jerusalem will remain an Arab city," said Abdel-Aal, adding that Egypt has fought four wars for the city in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973.

Egypts moves came immediately in the aftermath of the American administrations reckless decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Abdel-Aal also praised the decision by Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II to cancel meetings with US Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Cairo this week in protest over the Jerusalem move.

On behalf of MPs, I wholeheartedly thank the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Tawadors II for their honourable and magnificent decision not to meet with the US vice president, said Abdel-Aal.

Pence is expected to visit Israel and Egypt next Wednesday and Thursday.

Most MPs, especially leftists, attacked Trumps decision.

Leftist MP Diaaeddin Dawoud said the best response to Trumps decision is to impose a total boycott on the import and handling of American products in Egypt and other Arab and Muslim countries.

This boycott is important as the language of interests is the only language Americans know and understand, said Dawoud.

Dawoud also urged Arab leaders to cut their relations with the United States and President Trump.

Please know that America will never be a partner to the Arab countries, please know that all America wants is to exploit this region for its own interests and impose its hegemony on the entire world, said Dawoud.

Abdel-Hamid Kamal, an MP affiliated with the leftist El-Tagammu Party, also urged speaker Abdel-Aal to refer a draft law on boycotting American products to the legislative and constitutional affairs committee for discussion.

A boycott of American and Israeli products would be successful only if it takes the form of a binding legislation, said Kamal.

Kamal Ahmed, a Nasserist MP from Alexandria, described the US administrations policies towards the Palestinians as aggressive."

After beginning by shutting down the PLOs office in America three weeks ago, the US administration followed by revoking a $300 million loan to the Palestinian Authority, said Ahmed.

Trump has a lot of problems in America and his decision on Jerusalem is to satisfy Washingtons Zionist circles, which have a lot of influence in American politics, said Ahmed.

MPs stood for a minute during the session as a show of respect and appreciation for the Palestinians who decided to stand firm and protest Trumps decision. A number of MPs also came to parliament wearing sashes bearing the words "Jerusalem is Arab."

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MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Labor contract negotiations and arbitration with the city's police and fire unions resulted in $48,471 in expenses this year. Add to that the total cost for human resources consulting services, and the city spent nearly $100,000 for negotiation/HR consulting legal services and outside arbitrators.

City officials reached a three-year agreement with the firefighters' union in May and with police personnel just last month. Their contracts expired Dec. 31, 2016.

"Due to protracted negotiations which resulted in three fact-finding hearings and a conciliation hearing, as well as various reviews of personnel matters, we are over budget by approximately $11,000 in this line item," Finance Director Jason Stewart wrote in a Dec. 6 memo to council about the $98,123 total expense.

At its Dec. 12 meeting, Middleburg Heights City Council received what Stewart described as a "clean-up appropriation" ordinance introduced by Mayor Gary Starr for 2017 expenses. It included an additional $276,000 required "to account for wage increases included in the approved collective bargaining agreements and administrative pay ordinances adopted earlier this year," Stewart said.

It was the HR consulting costs and legal fees that created the most concern for some council members prior to unanimous approval of the appropriations ordinance. Council President Matt Castelli told council he spoke with Starr earlier that day about the HR consultant fees and indicated council didn't want costs in that particular budget line item "lumped together ... all in one bucket."

"We would like to see that broken out so we can clearly understand what we used the HR consultant for and what those expenses are," Castelli said. "If we're going to use legal services, we just want members of city council to know that up front before we're spending money."

Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman David Bortolotto said the $98,000 in expenses is "more than I've ever seen in the 16 years I've been on council."

"I don't understand how the money was spent, and I'm trying to reconcile that," Bortolotto said, confirming with Stewart no significant labor negotiation costs are anticipated for 2018. "I just think the legal fees should be brought to us ... on finance committee. That's the way we've always done things. That was alarming to me."

The mayor expressed appreciation to Castelli and Bortolotto for sharing their concerns.

"I thank you very much for that suggestion," Starr said. "We will meet administratively ... and we'll discuss it as soon as possible."
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The cultural causeway between Cleveland and Cuba is about to get significantly wider.

Inspired by its recent hosting of Cuban choreographer Laura Alonso, Cleveland's Verb Ballets Sunday announced plans to visit the island nation next March and perform with local company ProDanza under the name Cleveland Havana Ballet.

That's not all. In an effort to solidify the relationship, Verb's directors have made arrangements for members of the public to travel to Cuba for the performances on a trip organized by the Cleveland-based group To Cuba Now.

"It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Margaret Carlson, artistic director of Verb Ballets. "Right now, it's something that's possible, so we're going to do it."

The focus of the combined company's efforts will be "Yarini," a new ballet by Ivan Alonso, son of Laura Alonso and grandson of Alicia Alonso, founder of the world-renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Performances of that work, a ballet about Cuban folk here Alberto Yarini, will take place March 16-18 at Alicia Alonso Grand Theater in Havana.

Verb will also have a chance to showcase its own work. While in Cuba, ahead of "Yarini," the company also will share a bill with ProDanza in concerts at Havana's Teatro Miramar featuring each troupe's current repertoire.

"We see this as a long-term relationship, and this as part two," Carlson explained.

Part one was a visit to Verb last March by Laura Alonso, on a trip organized by the Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion: Cuba Edition project.

For several weeks, Alonso, a member of a dance dynasty revered in Cuba, remained in residence at Verb, instilling in the troupe what Carlson described as a purer version of classical ballet engendered by Cuba's isolation and commitment to the arts. In that time with Alonso, Verb's dancers grew "immeasurably," Carlson said.

In Cuba, Carlson said, "The art of ballet has been completely dissected and put back together. They have preserved what it means to be classical.

"It's hard to find that in America anywhere other than in the really big schools. There's a lot of fusion going on, and to find those pockets of pure training is more exceptional now."

Out of that experience grew a desire by Verb to return the favor, to visit Alonso's homeland and share its art with Cuba. Only such a thing was almost unheard-of, and U.S.-Cuban relations were chilling. Wait too long, and the opportunity might pass completely. Someday, Carlson said, she'd like to see ProDanza come to Cleveland and join Verb in performances of "Yarini" here.

Enter To Cuba Now, a cultural travel agency co-founded by Cleveland lawyer Nicholas York. A specialist in travel to Cuba, York got on the stick and organized what he called a first, a trip during which Americans would be performing for and alongside Cubans.

That Verb pressed ahead with the idea, and the Cleveland Foundation supported it, is a testament to both institutions, he said, especially now, when the need for cultural exchange is greater than it's been in some time.

"I think what Verb has done is exactly what it [the Creative Fusion project] was designed to do," York said. "They're doing the hard work of building relationships and continuing to engage."

Getting an American dance company to Cuba is no easy matter. Many of the most basic elements of life and travel taken for granted by U.S. citizens simply do not exist or are not possible in Cuba.

Cubans today enjoy greater exposure to the outside world than ever, but Americans traveling there still cannot use credit cards, exchange U.S. dollars for Cuban Pesos, or rely on the Internet.

"Cuba is like no other place," Carlson said. "It's like stepping back into Spain or Portugal 400 or 500 years ago. There's a real dichotomy of greatness amidst scarcity."

"All things considered, I think we've put together a pretty smooth program," York added. "Everyone who has gone to Cuba despite the challenges has come back with a greater appreciation for the people and the culture."

One thing Verb Ballets can count on in Cuba, York said: a warm reception.

In Cuba, more than perhaps anywhere else, the arts are highly respected, and dance in particular is held in especially high esteem. Cleveland Havana Ballet may prove to be a fleeting thing, never to re-form, but the impact it makes is almost certain to last a long, long time.

"I think they'll be received with open arms," York said. "Art, it transcends. It connects people with people."
Commendably, Ohio General Assembly members of both parties are crafting legislation that addresses Ohio's unfair bail and license-suspension practices -- most recently in a bill introduced Dec. 7 that would reduce the number of defendants held in jail merely because they cannot afford bail costs. That proposal is House Bill 439, sponsored by two Republicans -- Reps. Jonathan Dever of Madeira, near Cincinnati, and Timothy Ginter of Salem, about 68 miles southeast of Cleveland.

HB 439 addresses a chronic Ohio criminal justice problem detailed by cleveland.com in the ongoing "Justice for All" series. Cleveland.com's Peter Krouse reports that the Dever-Ginter bill would require courts to use a "validated risk assessment tool" when setting bail, rather than varying informal measures, such as the nature of the crime charged.

Introduction of the bill follows lengthy advocacy for bail reform by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, after uncovering unequal treatment of defendants based on their ability to pay, with too many stuck in jail simply because they couldn't afford bail.

Toledo's Lucas County and, most recently, the Cleveland Municipal Court systems have adopted the Laura and John Arnold Foundation data-based risk-assessment tool, giving judges more insights into flight and community risks when considering whether to let someone out of jail on personal recognizance, that is, without needing to pay bail. But statewide reform is needed.

Tackling a related justice reform issue, on Wednesday, Ohio's House, in a 92-1 vote, passed Substitute House Bill 336, sponsored by Reps. John Barnes, a Cleveland Democrat, and Dave Greenspan, a Westlake Republican. (The lone "No" came from Rep. Niraj Antani, a suburban Dayton Republican.)

HB 336, Krouse has reported, "would reduce or waive fees for drivers who have had their licenses suspended for more than 18 months" via a six-month debt reduction and waiver program to be created by the state Registrar for Motor Vehicles.

The state Senate should act swiftly on this overdue measure.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission's analysis, a driver applying for reinstatement under HB 336 would have to be indigent and comply with all other court-ordered penalties. Not eligible would be drivers for whom alcohol, drugs or a deadly weapon were elements in the offense.

Also pending in the legislature is Senate Bill 160, introduced on June 1 by state Sen. Sandra Williams, a Cleveland Democrat. Among her co-sponsors is Republican Sen. Matt Huffman of Lima.

SB 160 would allow courts to require community service in lieu of a driver's license reinstatement fee should a court determine the offender cannot reasonably pay the fee.

Unfortunately, SB 160 is still in the Senate's Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. It needs to get a hearing, and a vote.

As Krouse has reported, Ohio driver's licenses can be suspended for a large number of reasons, and the suspensions can have devastating consequences for the working poor if they can't afford to pay the reinstatement fee. That situation is aggravated by current practices that can layer extra fees and penalties and additional suspensions for those who aren't able to pay -- and sometimes, in violation of the law, may try to drive to work.

HB 336 would address this issue by allowing all suspensions to be lifted if the lowest reinstatement fee is paid off. It's a wise reform. Still, HB 160, by allowing community service in lieu of monetary payment for those without means, could help prevent the accumulation of unmanageable license-suspension debt in the first place. Prompt action is merited on all three measures.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

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An Egypt military court sentenced on Sunday 14 defendants to death after they were convicted of committing a terror attack in Alexandria in 2015.

In March 2015, a small bomb exploded near Carrefour hypermarket in the El-Seyouf area of Alexandria, killing a navy corporal and injuring five other people.

The court also gave life sentences to 24 other defendants, as well as 15-year sentences for five defendants in the same case.

The decisions can be appealed.

The defendants faced charges of murder, attempted murder, and joining an outlawed group that aims to overthrow the government and obstruct state institutions from carrying out their duties.

They were also charged with attacking personal freedoms and the rights of citizens, and harming unity and social peace.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met on Sunday with Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti in Cairo for discussions on the Libyan crisis, cooperation on combatting terrorism and illegal migration, as well as the latest developments in the Regeni murder investigation.

In an official statement, the Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi highlighted the importance of agreement between the two countries on ways to settle the Libyan crisis, including backing the 2015 UN-brokered Skhirat agreement ahead of Libyan general elections in 2018.

He also discussed supporting the efforts of UN envoy Ghassan Salame on the issue, as well as the rebuilding of Libyan state institutions, including the Libyan National Army, the parliament and the government.

According to Rady, the president stressed Cairos "sincere determination" to reach final conclusions on the ongoing probe into the 2016 murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo.

This comes through high-level judicial cooperation between Egyptian and Italian prosecutions, which has accomplished positive results in the past, the statement read, adding that a meeting between officials from the two prosecutions will be held soon to discuss "positive developments" in the case.

Minniti said he appreciated the Egyptian presidents recent public statements on the Regeni case, made during the November World Youth Forum (WYF) in Sharm El-Sheikh. At the forum El-Sisi asserted the Egyptian states commitment to ascertaining the full truth of the matter.

The Italian minister stressed the depth and strength of relations between the two countries, adding that the upcoming period will witness more cooperation, especially on combating terrorism and irregular migration.

Minniti added that economic relations between the two nations would be boosted by the pumping of more Italian investments to Egypt.

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A small group of Palestinian protesters on Sunday set fire to placards printed with images of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Middle East negotiator Jason Greenblatt outside Jesus's traditional birthplace, days before their arrival in the region.

With Bethlehem's illuminated Christmas tree behind them, about 30 people stood quietly holding candles at Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, the site Christians believe marks Jesus's birthplace, before setting the placards alight.

"Bethlehem welcomes the messengers of peace, not the messengers of war", read some placards with pictures of Pence and Greenblatt as they went up in flames.

The U.S. vice president is due in the region later this week but the Palestinians have said he is not welcome and President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet him during his visit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said last week, a move the White House described as "unfortunate".

Greenblatt, who has held several rounds of discussions with Israeli and Palestinian officials during the past few months in an effort to restart peace talks that have been frozen since 2014, is also due to arrive this week.

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In today's hyper-connected world, it's not surprising that some legends transcend borders and become known across different cultures (like Santa, or Jesus, or Jackie Chan). What is surprising is that the same thing was already happening back when going to another continent was about as feasible as going to the moon. Somehow, there are incredibly specific -- and deeply weird -- myths that happen to turn up in places separated by both time and distance.

5 Evil Fanged Vaginas Are Weirdly Prolific

Across thousands of miles and hundreds of cultures, men have gazed upon the female body and thought, "I have never been more terrified." How else can you explain the legend of the fanged vagina, which has found its way across practically the entire world?

Only the details vary. In some versions, the vagina itself has teeth, while in others, there's a fish or a snake living in there and biting off any member foolish enough to come poking in. It would almost seem like empowering feminine symbolism in another context, but since most storytellers were men, the heroes of the myths were usually cunning men who had to defeat the deadly vagina to get the girl.

For example, in a myth from the Native American Zuni tribe, clever twins make fake dicks out of wood and have sex with some predatory women until "their teeth were all worn out." A slightly less mean Apache myth has the hero tricking the four deadly "vagina girls" into eating some sour berries, which puckers them right up until they can "no longer chew, but only swallow."
The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a draft resolution that would reject US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, diplomats said.

Egypt requested the vote on Sunday, a day after it presented the measure that is likely to be vetoed by the United States.

Breaking with the international consensus, Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

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WASHINGTON - After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history.

The team, based out of the DEA's Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nation's largest drug company, McKesson Corp. By 2014, investigators said they could show that the company had failed to report suspicious orders involving millions of highly addictive painkillers sent to drugstores from Sacramento, California, to Lakeland, Florida. Some of those went to corrupt pharmacies that supplied drug rings.

The investigators were ready to come down hard on the fifth-largest public corporation in America, according to a joint investigation by The Washington Post and "60 Minutes."

The DEA team - nine field divisions working with 12 U.S. attorney's offices across 11 states - wanted to revoke registrations to distribute controlled substances at some of McKesson's 30 drug warehouses. Schiller and members of his team wanted to fine the company more than $1 billion. More than anything else, they wanted to bring the first-ever criminal case against a drug distribution company, maybe even walk an executive in handcuffs out of McKesson's towering San Francisco headquarters to send a message to the rest of the industry.

"This is the best case we've ever had against a major distributor in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration," said Schiller, who recently retired as assistant special agent in charge of DEA's Denver field division after a 30-year career with the agency. "I said, 'How do we not go after the number one organization?' "

But it didn't work out that way.

Instead, top attorneys at the DEA and the Justice Department struck a deal earlier this year with the corporation and its powerful lawyers, an agreement that was far more lenient than the field division wanted, according to interviews and internal government documents. Although the agents and investigators said they had plenty of evidence and wanted criminal charges, they were unable to convince the U.S. attorney in Denver that they had enough to bring a case.

Discussions about charges never became part of the negotiations between the government lawyers in Washington and the company.

"It was insulting," Schiller said. "Morale has been broken because of it."

The result illustrates the long-standing conflict between drug investigators, who have taken an aggressive approach to a prescription opioid epidemic that killed nearly 200,000 people between 2000 and 2016, and the government attorneys who handle those cases at the DEA and the Justice Department.

None of McKesson's warehouses would lose their DEA registrations. The company, a second-time offender, had promised in 2008 to be more diligent about the diversion of its pills to the street. It ultimately agreed to temporarily suspend controlled substance shipments at four distribution centers and pay a $150 million fine.

"Within the ranks, we feel like our system was hijacked," said Helen Kaupang, a DEA investigator and supervisor for 29 years who worked on the McKesson case in Denver before retiring in September.

While the fine set a record for drug distributors, it is only about $50 million more than the compensation last year for McKesson board chairman and chief executive John Hammergren, the nation's third-highest-paid chief executive. McKesson has 76,000 employees and revenue of almost $200 billion a year, about the same as ExxonMobil.

The Justice Department declined repeated requests for comment.

"The McKesson settlement was a groundbreaking conclusion to a successful multi-district investigation into the role of a distributor's failure to detect and report suspicious orders, many of which were tied to independent and small chain pharmacy customers ordering opioid medications," the DEA said in a statement. "More importantly, McKesson accepted responsibility and accepted terms beyond the requirements of the [Controlled Substances Act]."

A senior agency official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the fine was a significant penalty, the company agreed to an independent monitor, and the case prompted McKesson and other distributors to be more diligent about reporting suspicious orders.

"We could have fined them out of existence, or indicted the company and put them out of business," the official said. "I'd rather have one of the largest drug distributors be the poster child for detection and reporting of suspicious orders."

At the time of the settlement, McKesson said it had instituted "significant changes" to its program designed to flag suspicious orders of narcotics. "We continue to significantly enhance the procedures and safeguards across our distribution network to help curtail prescription drug diversion while ensuring patient access to needed medications," Hammergren said in a statement.

The company also has said that addressing the opioid problem requires the cooperation of everyone involved - doctors, pharmacists, distributors and manufacturers.

In a recent interview, Geoffrey Hobart, McKesson's lead attorney, said that the prospect of criminal charges or a $1 billion fine against the company were never raised by government lawyers during nearly three years of negotiations.

"While I am not privy to any of the government team discussions that may have taken place behind closed doors in this particular settlement, I can tell you that the DEA investigators, the U.S. attorney's offices and others would have had plenty of opportunity to raise their views during the process," said Hobart, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Covington, one of the most influential law firms in Washington. "While individual DEA investigators and agents are entitled to their opinions, their agency may ultimately take a different view."

"If the lawyers for the government believed there was criminal conduct here, they would have told me about it," Hobart added. "That would have increased the leverage they had, and that never happened."

DEA investigators, agents and supervisors who worked on the McKesson case said the company paid little or no attention to the unusually large and frequent orders placed by pharmacies, some of them knowingly supplying drug rings.

Instead, the DEA officials said, the company raised its own self-imposed limits, known as thresholds, on orders from pharmacies and continued to ship increasing amounts of drugs in the face of numerous red flags.

"They had multiple chances to correct their behavior going back to the Internet pharmacy days. They promised everyone they were going to correct their behavior, and a year or two later, they were doing it again," said Jim Geldhof, a DEA program manager who worked on the McKesson case in Detroit before retiring in 2015 after a 43-year career. He is now advising law firms suing opioid manufacturers and distributors, including McKesson.

The DEA agents and investigators contend that lawyers stationed at the chief counsel's office in the agency's Division of Diversion Control were "intimidated" and retreated from the battle with McKesson and its legal team, which included a former top DEA official from that division.

Schiller said DEA lawyers would repeatedly ask: "Why would you go after a Fortune 50 company that's going to cause all these problems with Ivy League attorneys, when we can go after other [DEA registration holders] that are much lower, that are going to put up no fight?

"And I said, 'That's exactly why you want to go after McKesson. They're the prize. They're the ones that are going to send a message to the thousands of mom-and-pops, to other big distributors, to the manufacturers, that this is no longer acceptable.' "

- - -

In 2008, McKesson paid a $13.25 million fine for failing to report hundreds of suspicious hydrocodone orders from Internet pharmacies - even after being warned by the DEA three years earlier that it was shipping excessive amounts of the drug commonly called Vicodin. The online pharmacies took orders from customers who had obtained bogus prescriptions, resulting in criminal prosecutions.

"By failing to report suspicious orders for controlled substances that it received from rogue Internet pharmacies, the McKesson Corporation fueled the explosive prescription drug abuse problem we have in this country," then-DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement announcing the settlement.

As part of its agreement with the Justice Department, McKesson pledged to temporarily suspend distribution of narcotics from two of its 30 distribution centers and to improve its system for monitoring and reporting suspicious drug orders.

McKesson caught the attention of the DEA again in 2012, when state and local law enforcement began to investigate Platte Valley Pharmacy in Brighton, Colorado, a suburb 25 miles northeast of Denver on the banks of the Platte River. The population was 38,000.

Pharmacist Jeffrey Clawson was selling as many as 2,000 pain pills per day.

With state and local law enforcement, the DEA's Denver field division began a criminal investigation into Clawson, making undercover buys and monitoring the size of his drug purchases.

Most of the drugs came from McKesson's warehouse in Aurora, northeast of Denver, records show. Under federal law, McKesson is required to notify the DEA about any orders of unusual size, frequency or pattern and hold off on shipping the drugs until those issues are resolved.

But McKesson filled 1.6 million orders from the Aurora warehouse and reported only 16 as suspicious between June 2008 and May 2013. None of the 16 involved Platte Valley, and the company reported them only after the DEA began its investigation.

"We would have a pharmacy in a small town out in Colorado, 200 miles from Denver, that is getting the same number of pills or perhaps exceeding a pharmacy that is located next to a medical center in the city of Denver," said Kaupang, the DEA investigator who worked on the Colorado case. "There was no legitimate reason for that pharmacy in that little town in remote Colorado to be getting hundreds of thousands of pills over a several-year period. None. There was no justifiable reason.

"And yet, the pills kept coming."

Clawson ordered so much oxycodone that he repeatedly bumped up against thresholds McKesson had set for his pharmacy. The company raised those limits and sent him more, DEA agents and investigators said.

"The company would raise thresholds so pharmacies could order more pills without setting off suspicious monitoring alarms inside the company," Kaupang said. "Did they think we wouldn't look at them again? I don't know. But they almost acted that way."

Hobart, McKesson's lawyer, denied that the company raised thresholds to avoid scrutiny.

Schiller and his DEA colleagues in Denver believed they had enough information, at a minimum, to bring an administrative complaint against McKesson that could result in stiff fines and the revocation of the Aurora distribution center's registration to handle controlled substances.

In December 2012, the DEA asked attorneys at headquarters to issue an "immediate suspension order" against McKesson, an enforcement tool reserved for the most serious threats to public health and safety, Schiller and Kaupang said.

But the immediate suspension order was never approved. Schiller said lawyers at DEA headquarters told him he needed more evidence that the drugs from the warehouse were posing an immediate danger to public health and safety.

"They said, 'You don't have enough evidence to prove it's an immediate danger,' but they created the lack of immediacy because they delayed the case for nearly a year," Schiller said. "They were just looking for an excuse not to issue the order."

The senior DEA official contended that the Denver field division did not submit documents supporting the request for the immediate suspension order until February 2013. Agency lawyers in headquarters did not believe the company's threat to the public could be considered "immediate" because too much time had passed, the official said.

The investigators tried again in March 2014, this time seeking an "order to show cause" that would bring McKesson to a hearing, where the DEA could argue for the need to halt drug shipments from Aurora before an administrative law judge.

But DEA attorneys declined to approve that request, as well. Schiller said he was told that he still needed more evidence - even after he said the team submitted eight boxes of documents to the attorneys.

"It still wasn't enough," Schiller said.

The senior DEA official said that settlement negotiations with McKesson had begun and the show-cause order would have interfered with the talks.

At the same time the administrative case against McKesson was languishing, the criminal case against Clawson was moving ahead.

A Colorado grand jury had indicted him in 2013 along with 14 others on drug trafficking charges. The indictment noted that McKesson was the main supplier of Platte Valley Pharmacy and said that the company had an obligation to report suspicious orders of narcotics to the DEA.

"From 2008-2011, the percentage increase for oxycodone 30 mg orders supplied by McKesson to Platte Valley Pharmacy was approximately 1,469%," the grand jury wrote.

Clawson was convicted on drug trafficking charges and is serving a 15-year sentence. McKesson was not charged in the indictment.

- - -

As Schiller's team was examining the Aurora warehouse, he took steps to broaden the investigation beyond Colorado to determine whether McKesson was ignoring the agreement it had reached with the Justice Department in 2008 to tighten its procedures. Schiller and the Denver DEA division took the lead as eight divisions in other parts of the country began to collect information on McKesson's activity.

In all, the DEA would pursue administrative cases involving 12 McKesson distribution centers. A DEA memo outlined the investigative findings:

- "Supplied controlled substances in support of criminal diversion activities."

- "Ignored blatant diversion."

- "Pattern of raising thresholds arbitrarily."

- "Failed to review orders for suspicious activity."

- "Ignored own procedures designed to prevent diversion."

In addition to Aurora, investigators found that McKesson warehouses in Livonia, Michigan, and Washington Court House, Ohio, were supplying pharmacies that sold to criminal drug rings, according to internal government documents obtained by The Post and "60 Minutes."

As they were working on the administrative cases, Schiller and Joseph Rannazzisi, who led the DEA's diversion office during part of the McKesson case, said investigators also were compiling information in preparation for a potential criminal case against the corporation for knowingly supplying the corrupt pharmacies.

In the summer of 2015, "on two occasions, I was briefed by my staff, and talked to the Denver field division, and they believed they had more than enough to go after the corporation criminally," said Rannazzisi, who now works as a consultant to lawyers suing drug companies.

John Walsh, then the U.S. attorney in Denver, said he had discussions with Schiller and others about possible criminal charges against McKesson.

"We were not presented with a case that had adequate evidence," said Walsh, now a partner at WilmerHale, a global law firm.

Schiller said that his team had amassed "more than enough" evidence and presented it to Walsh.

"I said, 'We have everything we could possibly want on a silver platter,' " Schiller said. "We had corrupt pharmacies that were being supplied by McKesson, and they were turning a blind eye to everything that was going on."

In a recent response to The Post, a McKesson spokeswoman said, "We categorically deny any criminal intent or the violation of any criminal law in our handling of opioids, and in our discussions with the government, they never suggested otherwise."

In October 2014, Schiller requested a meeting at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. On one side of the table were DEA Chief Counsel Wendy Goggin and Clifford Lee Reeves II, the associate chief counsel. On the other side sat Schiller and his agents and investigators.

The meeting started off on a cordial note as they began to review the facts of the case.

"And then the gloves came off," Schiller said. "It was one of the most stressful conversations I've ever had in my life."

Reeves declined to comment, and the DEA declined to make Goggin available for an interview.

"They were attacking the things we did, how we did it," Schiller recalled. "Not one time did they say, 'All right, here's what else we need. It's been a great case. We know about the previous settlement.' That never came up. It was, 'We are going to settle.' "

- - -

With a settlement looming, representatives of the nine DEA division offices descended on the agency's headquarters a month later, in November 2014, to make sure that their attorneys knew they wanted take a hard line against McKesson.

"It is clear that [McKesson] does not appreciate the gravity or extent of their violations," the group wrote in an internal document obtained by The Post and "60 Minutes."

They demanded four-year "surrenders" of McKesson's DEA registrations to distribute controlled substances in Washington Court House, Livonia and Aurora, as well as two-year surrenders in Methuen, Massachusetts, and Lakeland, Florida.

The company balked. McKesson's lawyer, Hobart, called the proposed surrenders a "dealbreaker," according to an internal Justice Department memo.

McKesson insisted that its registrations be "suspended" rather than "surrendered," the memo said. A surrender would cost the company accreditations it needed for state regulatory boards, and McKesson would have to reapply for DEA registrations when the penalties expired. That would trigger a new round of inspections of company operations.

A suspension would allow each warehouse to keep its registration.

McKesson wanted something else as part of a settlement: A provision that would allow the Livonia and Washington Court House distribution centers to continue to send drugs to facilities that serve the federal prison system, Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. McKesson holds a $31 billion federal contract to supply VA centers and other sites.

But some DEA officials wanted to take a hard line with the company because it had already been sanctioned for its behavior in 2008, documents show.

"Notwithstanding, their bad acts continued and escalated to a level of egregiousness not seen before," Imelda Paredes, a DEA official working on the case, wrote in a memo on March 30, 2015. "They were neither rehabilitated nor deterred by the 2008 [agreement]."

She also noted that McKesson received an exception for VA in 2008. She said that allowing McKesson to continue to distribute narcotics was "inconsistent with the public interest."

"How then, can the Government say it is inconsistent with the public interest for McKesson to distribute to the general public; however, they are 'good enough' to serve veterans?"

McKesson and government officials argued that punishing the company would disrupt the flow of drugs and hurt veterans. But Paredes and other DEA officials said there would be no disruption if the contract was turned over to one of McKesson's competitors, Cardinal Health or AmerisourceBergen.

"Find other distributors," Paredes wrote.

The next day, Schiller wrote to Paredes, saying he had heard that the DEA and the Justice Department were on the verge of settling instead of taking the company to court.

"I have a bad feeling about this," he wrote to her on March 31, 2015.

Paredes replied that she was being overruled by lawyers in the DEA's legal office.

"I'm totally against settling, but how do we hold their feet to the fire if counsel refuses to litigate?" Paredes wrote. "Our attorneys have us over a barrel with their refusal to go to court."

Paredes, who has left the DEA, declined to comment.

Schiller's fears were justified. The same day that Schiller wrote to Paredes, Arthur Wyatt, chief of the Justice Department's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, recommended in an internal document that McKesson's registrations should be suspended but not surrendered. It was a big win for the company. Wyatt said that the assistant U.S. attorneys working on the case believed that suspensions were "satisfactory" in light of the "overall scope of the settlement."

In September 2015, McKesson and the government reached a tentative settlement. McKesson's registrations would be suspended in Aurora for three years, in Washington Courthouse for two and in Livonia for two. The company would be barred from distributing for one year one type of narcotic, hydromorphone, from its Lakeland, Florida, warehouse.

There would be no criminal charges. No administrative case. No $1 billion fine.

The case took more than a year to come to a conclusion. In January, the Justice Department announced that it had finalized a deal with McKesson that included the $150 million fine and the four warehouse suspensions. The company also agreed to increase staffing and retain an independent monitor to assess its compliance.

Schiller said he and his team were left demoralized.

"It's on the front lines of everybody's dinner table conversation, kids, adults," he said. "McKesson was at the forefront. But DEA wasn't going to go after them? We were going to settle. How do you settle? How do you say it's OK, just 'Here, write this check this time and - and close this place for a little bit, sign this piece of paper.' "

In Washington, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has begun an investigation into how drug distributors, including McKesson, sent 780 million pills over six years into West Virginia - 433 doses for every man, woman and child in the state. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has also launched an investigation into the role of drug distributors and manufacturers in the opioid epidemic.

Across the country, 41 state attorneys general have banded together to sue the opioid industry.

"One of the things we have to do is begin to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable," said Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., whose state suffers from the second-highest drug overdose rate in the nation. "Right now, when you see a fine for the McKesson company for a hundred-fifty million when they make a hundred million a week in profits, that isn't going do it."

She noted that it was state attorneys general who had won a settlement against the tobacco industry for more than $200 billion in the 1990s.

"This in many ways reminds me of the situation with Big Tobacco," Hassan said. "I think it's one of the reasons you see attorneys general around the country beginning to file lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry, to hold them accountable for the cost of this terrible epidemic."

- - -

The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Two suicide bombers stormed a packed Christian church in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding up to 56, officials said, in the latest attack claimed by Islamic State group in the country.

Police guards stationed at the church entrance and on its roof killed one of the bombers but the second attacker detonated his explosives-filled vest outside its prayer hall just after Sunday services began in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province, said Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister.

Baluchistan police chief Moazzam Jah said there were nearly 400 worshippers in the church for the pre-Christmas service. The death toll could have been much higher if the gunmen had forced their way into the sanctuary, he said.

Jah said the venue - Bethel Memorial Methodist Church - was on high alert as Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremists over the Christmas season.

"We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him," he said.

Islamic State group claimed the attack, the group's Amaq news agency said in an online statement, without providing any evidence for its claim.

Another police official, Abdur Razaq Cheema, said two other attackers escaped.

Broken wooden benches, shards of glass and musical instruments were scattered around a Christmas tree inside the prayer hall that was splashed with blood stains.

Kal Alaxander, 52, was at the church with his wife and two children when the attack happened.

"We were in services when we heard a big bang," he told Reuters. "Then there was shooting. The prayer hall's wooden door broke and fell on us ... We hid the women and children under desks."

Maryam George, 20, cried at a hospital where her younger sister Alizeh was fighting for life with two broken legs and multiple other wounds.

Pakistani Christians, who number around 2 million in a nation of more than 200 million people, have been the target of a series of attacks in recent years.

Strategic Region

Baluchistan, a strategically important region bordering Iran as well as Afghanistan, is plagued by violence by Sunni Islamist sectarian groups linked to the Taliban, al Qaeda and Islamic State group. It also has an indigenous ethnic Baloch insurgency fighting against the central government.

Middle East-based Islamic State group has created an active branch in Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years mostly by recruiting among established militants, and its followers have claimed some of Pakistan's most deadly attacks in recent years.

A suicide bomber killed 52 people and wounded over 100 at a Baluchistan Sufi shrine in November last year, in an attack claimed by Islamic State group. In February, Islamic State group attacked a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, killing 83 people.

Violence in Baluchistan has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistans southern deep-water port of Gwadar.

The church attack came a day after the third anniversary of a Pakistani Taliban attack on an army-run school that killed 134 children, one of the single deadliest attacks in the country's history.

Pakistan's army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, condemned the attack.

"Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations," he said. "We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts."

Last year's Easter Day attack in a public park that killed more than 70 people in the eastern city of Lahore was claimed by a Taliban splinter group previously associated with Islamic State group.

The United States strongly condemned "the shocking and brutal attack on innocent worshippers," U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale said in a statement.

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At least half the worlds population is unable to access essential health services and many others are forced into extreme poverty by having to pay for healthcare they cannot afford, the World Health Organization said

Some 800 million people worldwide spend at least 10 percent of their household income on healthcare for themselves or a sick child, and as many as 100 million of those are left with less than $1.90 a day to live on as a result, the WHO said.

In a joint report with the World Bank, the United Nations health agency said it was unacceptable that more than half the worlds people still dont get the most basic healthcare.



If we are serious - not just about better health outcomes but also about ending poverty - we must urgently scale up our efforts on universal health coverage, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said in a statement with the report.

Anna Marriott, health policy advisor for the international aid agency Oxfam, said the report was a damning indictment of governments efforts on health.

Healthcare, a basic human right, has become a luxury only the wealthy can afford, she said in a statement.

Behind each of these appalling statistics are people facing unimaginable suffering - parents reduced to watching their children die; children pulled out of school so they can help pay off their families health care debts; and women working themselves into the ground caring for sick family members.

The WHO and World Bank report did have some positive news: This century has seen a rise in the number of people getting services such as vaccinations, HIV/AIDS drugs, and mosquito-repelling bednets and contraception, it said.

But there are wide gaps in the availability of services in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia, the report found. In other regions, basic services such as family planning and child immunization are more available, but families are suffering financially to pay for them.

Yong Kim said this was a sign that the system is broken.

We need a fundamental shift in the way we mobilize resources for health and human capital, es

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At least four people were killed when Boko Haram fighters opened fire on a military convoy transporting civilians and food aid in northeastern Nigeria, security sources said Sunday.

Troops later killed two jihadists and recovered weapons after trailing them to nearby villages, the sources said.

"We've been informed that Boko Haram terrorists killed four people in an ambush against a civilian convoy near Gamboru," on the border with Cameroon late Saturday, Babakura Kolo, a member of a paramilitary force battling the jihadists, told AFP.

The attackers arrived in two pick-up trucks before opening fire on the vehicles.

They also managed to steal a lorry carrying food aid to thousands of people displaced by violence in Gamboru, as well as two other vehicles, a local witness said.

Boko Haram has carried out a string of suicide attacks and kidnappings in northeastern Nigeria, in recent years, particularly in Borno state, leaving at least 20,000 people dead and displacing 2.6 million since 2009.

The strategic 140-kilometre (85-mile) trade route linking the Borno state capital Maiduguri to Gamboru was reopened in July last year after it was shut by the military for two years due to incessant jihadist attacks.

Trucks carrying goods and passenger vehicles use the road under military escort but food-starved fighters still launch sporadic ambushes on convoys from their hideouts.

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Lord Bishop of Chichester

If we won't fight injustice wherever we see it, then we are not safe from suffering injustice ourselves. If a man's reputation can be destroyed in an afternoon by a secret kangaroo court, then we too can one day be propelled into a pit of everlasting shame by the same process.

If it can happen to anyone, it can happen to you. And it does happen. Accusations of long-ago sexual crime have become a sort of industry in this country. People are so horrified by them that they almost always believe them.

Because the crime is so foul, we stop thinking. To their shame, police and prosecutors use our horror to get easy convictions, when they must know that their cases are weak. The less actual evidence they have, the more they stress the disgusting nature of the alleged crime. And they forget to remind us that it is alleged, not proved.

Equally shamefully, judges do not stop these trials and juries leave their brains at the door. They convict not because they are sure the case has been proved beyond reasonable doubt, but because they are angry and revolted.

I am miserably sure there are disturbing numbers of people in British prisons now, prosecuted on such charges, who are innocent of the accusations against them. It is our fault, because we have forgotten what justice is supposed to be like, and that, if we do not guard it in our hearts, it will perish in the country.

This is why I have spent a shockingly large part of my life in the past two years trying to rescue the reputation of a dead bishop, George Bell of Chichester. I had known of him for many years and thought him a man of saintly courage.

I had also spent a very sunny part of an extraordinarily happy childhood in and around Chichester. I learned to be an Englishman, in many ways, in that beautiful, ancient city. Even so, when the Church of England publicly denounced him as a child abuser, I was astonished by the instinctive, molten fury that I then experienced. This was not just an opinion. It kept me awake at night.

Fortunately, I found allies who felt the same. At first slowly and then with gathering strength and confidence, we assembled the evidence which showed that grave wrong had been done. The Church of England, whose senior figures are astonishingly unimpressive and tricky, tried to smear us with false claims that we had attacked the complainant. But they failed, and at last grudgingly agreed to review the case.

When the review told them that they had run an incompetent, miserable kangaroo court and that they had condemned a great man on evidence too weak to hang a hamster, they sat sulkily on that report for nearly ten weeks, until they were jeered into releasing it.

Even then, when it came out on Friday, a Church which supposedly believes in penitence was still wriggling like a basket of embarrassed eels. The distinguished and impartial lawyer who conducted the review, Lord Carlile QC, made it quite plain that no court would have found George Bell guilty on the evidence (indeed, the Crown Prosecution Service would not even have brought it to court).

He concluded the Church had hung one of its greatest figures 'out to dry'. He even said 'if I had been prosecuting this case, I would have lost it', which is as near as such a person could come to saying George Bell is innocent.

And what of the Church, supposedly the guardian of moral good? The Archbishop of Canterbury petulantly persisted in claiming, despite all the evidence, that there was still a 'cloud' over George Bell's name. Lord Carlile remarked that this statement was 'less than fully adroit', which is QC-speak for something much ruder.

I will go further. Archbishop Welby had a chance to stand for moral courage against the easy, popular thing. And he did the easy, popular thing. George Bell, facing much sterner tests in much tougher times, repeatedly chose moral courage over popularity. And that is why Justin Welby is not fit to lace up George Bell's shoes, and why his pretensions to be a moral leader of this country are taken less and less seriously by thinking people.

Dickens! We need someone to save us

I never knew that Charles Dickens was in financial trouble when he wrote his single most powerful and lasting work, A Christmas Carol.

I had assumed that by then he had the wealth of a superstar. On the contrary, he felt he was failing and was beset with worries.

Cleverly done: Dan Stevens as Dickens and Christopher Plummer as Scrooge in The Man Who Invented Christmas

Meanwhile, Christmas itself was a fading festival, not much observed or associated with goodwill and charity.

This is the basis of the clever and likeable film The Man Who Invented Christmas, in which the characters in the book, born from Dickenss astonishing mind, then besiege him until he finishes it only just in time.

Watch it and then revisit the book itself. It really did change the heart of an entire nation and the job needs doing again.
The Maybot met The Terminator when Theresa May flew to the climate change summit in Paris last week  and was seated next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The action movie hero, who endured political explosions of his own when he was governor of debt-ridden California, tried to stiffen the PMs sinews just hours before her Commons defeat at the hands of the Tory Euro rebels. Shell be back!

The Maybot met The Terminator when Theresa May flew to the climate change summit in Paris last week  and was seated next to Arnold Schwarzenegger

Pro-Brexit Labour MP Kate Hoey has a simple but effective method when it comes to dealing with social media trolls. After defying Jeremy Corbyn in Wednesdays key Commons vote, Hoey was messaged by a Labour activist: Youre a disgusting human being, my stomach physically turns over when I see you or hear your voice. Says Kate: I just ignore these morons.

Arch-Remainer Andrew Adonis was addressing a group of Labour students and decided to ask them how many wanted to scrap Brexit. Every hand in the room went up  except for one, the Blairite ex-Minister says. So I turned to this guy and said, So what do I have to do to convert you? and he said, Dont even try. Im the Ukip plant. 

The always impeccably turned-out Liz Truss has finally met her match when it comes to appearing in public without a hair out of place. The Treasury Chief Secretary met Lewis, the current Dulux dog, last week (theyre pictured left) and confessed: His grooming takes six hours, even longer than mine.

Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss met Lewis, the current Dulux dog, last week (theyre pictured left) and confessed: His grooming takes six hours, even longer than mine.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson used his Christmas party to stir the pot over the simmering war between Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Gavin Private Pike Williamson over cuts at the MoD  and Mr Williamsons refusal to pay for Mr Hammonds RAF flights. Hailing the Navys new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, Bojo told diplomats sarcastically: Its usefulness can only grow once Philip and Gavin work out how to pay for the planes.

Leftie peer Shami Chakrabarti took a swipe at David Cameron over the EU migrant row, declaring: Its not the Romanians, its the Etonians that got us to where we are today. Lets hope that future public schoolboys dont face such glib prejudice based on their parents educational choices. Or Chakrabartis son, who attends Nigel Farages old school, 19,000-a-year Dulwich College, could suffer.

How thoughtful of Tory MP Alan Mak to include a festive little extra with his Christmas cards this year a copy of the ambitious backbenchers very own pamphlet on how Britain can lead a new industrial revolution. One diplomatic colleague says: If I see Alan, Ill tell him its just what I wanted. But my idea of a festive stocking filler, this aint.
When Keitha Young started feeling 'really unwell' in her second trimester of pregnancy, the 31-year-old from Auckland headed to the doctor.

And while medical professionals originally thought she was struggling with gastro, in fact Keitha had undiagnosed Crohn's disease.

Now, the soon-to-be mother and her unborn baby are fighting for their lives.

As she slowly gets on top of the disease, Keitha spoke to FEMAIL from her home, after she left the hospital.

Keitha Young (pictured), 31, from Auckland, has been battling Crohn's disease in hospital while carrying her first child

While doctors originally thought it was gastro, they later found out it was Crohn's disease and the 31-year-old (pictured) had to have her colon removed

As she slowly gets on top of the disease, Keitha spoke to FEMAIL after she returned from the hospital to her home (pictured with her partner)

According to Keitha (pictured), things were all fine and 'blissful' during the first trimester - however, she started to feel 'really unwell' during her second

According to Keitha, things were all fine and 'blissful' during the first trimester:

'In my second trimester, I became really unwell,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

What is Crohn's disease? * Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. * Signs and symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever and weight loss. * While the cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, it is believed to be due to a combination of environmental, immune, and bacterial factors in genetically susceptible individuals. * It results in a chronic inflammatory disorder, in which the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract possibly directed at microbial antigens. Advertisement

'Originally, they thought it was gastro, but it turned out to be c-diff bacteria that had got out of balance in my bowel.'

This was due to 'suppressed immunity in pregnancy' and problems with the clostridium difficile - also known as c diff - or bacteria located in the gut.

Keitha had been losing half a litre of blood per day.

'After several MRI scans, endoscopies and X rays, within five days I was admitted to emergency surgery,' she explained.

'The doctors intended to do keyhole surgery to see what was happening in my bowel, but when they got in there and saw it was so badly damaged, they had to do a full colectomy and remove my whole colon, while I was 14 weeks pregnant.'

'If they hadn't have removed it that day, I might have died.'

Keitha now has an ileostomy bag in place.

But doctors soon found the 31-year-old had been losing half a litre of blood a day (pictured in hospital) - she had to have her colon removed and now has an ileostomy bag

'If they hadn't have removed it that day, I might have died,' she admitted (pictured with her partner)

The 31-year-old - who founded the Seed Freedom Food Festival - has since been recovering in hospital, while her baby, thankfully, maintains a healthy heartbeat

'I've been in a lot of pain, but at least our baby has been okay during the whole experience and is still going strong at 25 weeks,' she said

The 31-year-old - who founded the Seed Freedom Food Festival - has since been recovering in hospital, while her baby, thankfully, maintains a healthy heartbeat:

'I've been in a lot of pain, but at least our baby has been okay during the whole experience and is still going strong at 25 weeks,' she said.

'It was hard right after the surgery. I was in hospital for 19 days, and had to re-learn how to breathe, eat and walk after the surgery.'

The next stage for both Keitha and her unborn baby is 'rest and recovery':

'My days consist of making sure that I eat well and regularly, balanced with rest and doing my physio exercises so I can walk properly and build up my strength to take care of this baby in a few months,' she said.

Keitha and her partner, Brett Young, are expecting their baby on 24 March.

Keitha and her partner, Brett Young, are expecting their baby on 24 March (pictured together in hospital)

'My days consist of making sure that I eat well and regularly, balanced with rest and doing my physio exercises so I can walk properly and build up my strength to take care of this baby in a few months,' she said

A friend of Keitha's from high school, Rose Worley, has set up a Give A Little donation page to help the family through the difficult time

'We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of our community,' she said. 'Some days, we just cried from the generosity of our friends and family,' (Keitha pictured in hospital)

A friend of Keitha's, Rose Worley, has since set up a Give A Little page, to support the family as Keitha returns to health.

At present, friends, family and strangers have raised more than $22,000:

'We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of our community,' she said. 'Some days, we just cried from the generosity of our friends and family.

'It has truly helped to take the edge off financial stress for us, as we've both been off work for the past three months and our saving plan for having a child has gone out of the door.

'We're very thankful to everyone who has gifted us this immense support.'

If you would like to donate to Keitha Young's Give A Little page, please click here.
The school nativity play is an annual event that every parent looks forward to.

But one mother has provoked a furious debate after questioning whether parents should be allowed to take photographs during the performance.

The Mumsnet user claimed the school had not asked for permission for pictures of their children to be taken, and that the issue had 'really ruined the performance' for her.

Some agreed that they would also have been angry if their school had not sought permission - while others suggested the mother was being 'selfish'.

Meanwhile, several parents on the forum said she should contact the school if she had a specific reason for not wanting her son to be photographed.

A Mumsnet user has sparked a fierce debate after questioning whether parents should be allowed to take photographs during the school nativity play (file photo)

Explaining the situation, she claimed her son's school had not sought permission for pictures of the children to be taken

Posting under the username MrsAnamCara, the Mumsnet user explained: '[There was] no mention of needing permission to take photos/videos. Nothing mentioned before the start of the actual nativity performance either.

'The performance starts and several people whip their phones out and begin taking photos and videos but not of individual children, of all of the children on stage.'

She continued: 'It really ruined the performance for me, as I don't know these people who are taking videos/photos of my child,

'I don't know where they will post them or send them to, I don't know who will see that photo or video.

Many were quick to support the mother, saying they 'wouldn't be happy with this either'

One argued keeping children safe is 'far more important than iPhone coverage of a nativity'

Others suggested the mother may have given 'blanket permission' when her son first started

Meanwhile, one mother said she was 'delighted' there was a no pictures rule at her school

'[Am[ I being unreasonable to think the school should have asked for legal written permission for all children's parents or guardians?'

Some were quick to back up the mother, suggesting they wouldn't be happy with this either'.

One wrote: 'Yanbu [You are not being unreasonable] at all. It's standard practice now in most schools to need written permission.'

Others suggested that the mother may have given 'blanket permission' for photographs of her child to be taken when he started at the school, while some said their schools asked parents not to post photographs on social media.

However, some Mumsnet users said that the mother was being 'selfish' in not wanting parents to take pictures

One questioned why 'every other parent and child should suffer' if she didn't want her child to be pictured (file photo)

Others said the mother was being unreasonable, saying that they had always been allowed to take videos and photos

Several parents said she should speak to the school if she had specific concerns, and could ask for pictures not to be shared on social media

However, others slammed the mother for being 'selfish' and asking why 'every other parent and child should suffer' if she didn't want her child to be pictured.

One wrote: 'I videoed my kid in their nativity. Unless I'm expressly told otherwise, why the f*** shouldn't I?'

Another added: 'I have no footage of my eldest in any of his school plays because of a ban of footage and photos because of someone objecting.'

One Mumsnet user meanwhile suggested that she should 'be proactive' and speak to the school if she has a safeguarding concern.
I would give up the sprouts, the chestnuts, even the little sausages and bacon of the extended family roast rather than go without generous amounts of stuffing. It is also the icing on the big fat cake that is Christmas dinner; the bit which, if I am completely honest, I prefer to the meat itself. I made these for supper but they would make an excellent stuffing, too, to be baked around the bird or, more conveniently, in a separate tin. I bought the lardo  the silky white fat that is such a treat served on rough toast with a trickle of olive oil and some crumbled rosemary  from an Italian grocers. Its not difficult to track down. Buy it in a block so you can grate it. Failing that, get it in thin slices and chop them finely. The gorgeous fat will melt and moisten the turkey meat, which has no real fat of its own.

ENOUGH FOR 4

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

500g minced turkey

2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes

60g dried breadcrumbs

150g lardo

2 tablespoons olive oil

FOR THE SAUCE

3 heaped tablespoons cranberry jelly or sauce 50ml orange juice

2 teaspoons orange zest

100g cranberries, fresh or frozen
The start of production from Zohr has been eagerly awaited since the gas field was discovered in 2015

Pumping operations began on Saturday on Egypt's super-giant Zohr gas field, bringing the country closer to achieving its goal of self-sufficiency in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Experimental production began at Zohr at an initial 350 million cubic feet per day (mcfd), an event eagerly awaited since the field was discovered by Italian energy company Eni in 2015, making Egypt the owner of the largest gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.

Experimental operation means that gas is now being pumped from the wells at Zohr field to the pipelines and transferred to the Port Said land refinery before it is linked to the national natural gas grid, petroleum ministry spokesperson Hamdy Abdel-Aziz told Ahram Online.

The date of the official opening of the project is yet to be determined, Abdel-Aziz said.

A milestone in history of gas production: Minister

Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla described Saturdays record and unprecedented pumping as a milestone in the history of international gas production in general and Egyptian gas production in particular, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

Once the first stage of the project is completed in June 2018, production will increase to 1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), meaning Egypt will have achieved self-sufficiency in LNG supply.

The second stage is due to be finalised by the end of 2019, with production reaching 2.7 bcfd, El-Molla said.

Investments for the first and second stages are estimated at over $12 billion.

Production from Zohr will contribute to turning Egypt into a regional hub for trading gas and petroleum production, ministry spokesman Abdel-Aziz said.

Zohr to save Egypt $2 billion: Ministry spokesperson

The Zohr project will lead to a decrease in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, saving Egypt $2 billion when production reaches 1 bcfd by the end of the first phase in June 2018, Abdel-Aziz said.

The production of 350 million cubic feet per day is equivalent to three LNG shipments costing $90 million, Abdel-Aziz explained.

With production costs estimated at a monthly $30 million, gas from Zohr will save a monthly $60 million, i.e. $720 million per year.

The Zohr gas field is expected to alleviate pressure on the budget and the petroleum balance of payments and save foreign currency that is spent on imports, Abdel-Aziz said.

This is in addition to increasing the allocation of money to services that help citizens.

Abdel-Aziz also told Ahram Online that trial operation began at BPs Atoll field in the past few days.

Last week, El-Molla said that Egypt aims to achieve self-sufficiency in LNG supply before the end of 2018.

Egypt was a net exporter of LNG until 2014. However, it became a net importer in recent years due to a declining output and power shortages amid political turmoil.

In October, El-Molla announced that $27.3 million would be invested in three Egyptian natural gas fields  Zohr, North Alexandria, and Nooros  during 2018.

The three gas fields are expected to raise Egypt's natural gas output by 50 percent in 2018 and 100 percent in 2020, according to the ministry.

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The Grenfell Tower fire and the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester were horrifying to hear about, but what was it like for members of the emergency services sent to deal with those devastating incidents? India Sturgis spoke to the incredible women who faced the most demanding challenges of their careers

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE 22 March

Terrorist Khalid Masood drove a 4x4 into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge killing four and injuring 50 before crashing it into railings. He then ran into a yard outside Parliament with a knife and killed a police officer. He was shot by security officers and pronounced dead at hospital.

Lesley Powls, 47, is site director at St Marys Hospital, Paddington

The news broke during an internal management meeting when one of my colleagues caught my eye and held up a phone alert. I used to work close to Westminster Bridge so it really felt poignant. I was anxious because we didnt know what wed see in terms of injuries and we were the nearest of Londons four major trauma centres to the attack. In my role, though, I have to stay calm and we have an enormous major incident protocol  175 pages  so everyone knows what to do.

The Grenfell Tower fire and the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester were horrifying but what was it like for members of the emergency services?

I was in the incident room  where I stayed for most of the day coordinating our response  when the attacker, Khalid Masood, arrived as one of the first of eight casualties we treated. However, all trauma patients are pre-allocated made-up names, such as Disney characters, by the London Ambulance Service so we have limited information about them other than their injuries. Everyone who comes through our doors is treated equally, irrespective of how they were injured or what anyone believes about them. Masood was no different.

You try to concentrate on the job, but it is emotionally challenging. I felt immense pride in the response of our staff. Those who speak multiple languages stayed to translate and help long past when they should have gone home. Im not known for being touchy-feely but when my deputy came to relieve me at 10pm, after a 15-hour shift, I gave him a large embrace.

Ambulances queue up to attend to the injured on Westminster Bridge; flowers festoon the railings of Parliament in honour of the dead

Londoners proclaim their resolve to stand strong in the wake of the attack

That night, my husband met me off the tube with another hug; hed been following the news and Id sent him messages telling him how much I love and value him. We went home together but I didnt turn on the news; I didnt want to see it. I was back at the hospital at 5am the following day.

Afterwards I said I never wanted to run a major incident like it again although, in my heart, I knew it would happen. Within weeks wed lived through the London Bridge attack and Grenfell Tower fire  and I was on hand for both.

Were all put in situations that we could never dream of managing, but when it happens, we absolutely do. It has shown me how physically and emotionally resilient both the victims of these atrocities and my brilliant colleagues are.

MANCHESTER ARENA 22 May

Twenty two people were killed and 512 injured when a nail bomb was detonated by suicide bomber Salman Abedi during the final moments of an Ariana Grande concert.

Lea Vaughan (pictured below receiving her Women of the Year award from the Duchess of Cornwall in October), 40, is a paramedic for the hazardous area response team, North West Ambulance Service

Ive worked for the ambulance service for nine years, been a logistics specialist for the armed forces and worked in refugee camps across Sierra Leone and Kosovo, but Ive never seen anything like the sight that greeted us at Manchester Arena.

Lea Vaughan pictured receiving her Women of the Year award from the Duchess of Cornwall in October

I was radioed to the scene with a colleague knowing only that there had been an explosion and there could be an active shooter, the latter of which proved incorrect. As we approached it was clear that this was far from a normal incident. Many were still leaving the building covered in blood, injured or carrying small children.

We made our way into the blast zone in the foyer, telling the walking wounded to keep going as quickly as possible. The area was deemed unsafe and armed police and sniffer dogs were searching for a secondary device. One medic was there already but, after us, no other paramedics were allowed in because it was so dangerous. I wasnt concerned for my safety at all; I knew there were seriously injured people who needed our help. Our training is so intensive that you just click into gear. I counted 26 critically injured  the most I had dealt with previously at any one time was three  and we set about triaging, working together in a circular motion clockwise from one to another as quickly as possible.

The day after the bomb, a vigil for its victims is held in Londons Trafalgar Square

Most of the injured were in their early teens. These were blast injuries, similar to those that youd get in a war zone, and we were using equipment to stem catastrophic bleeding. These arent pleasant pieces of kit at the best of times. I was honest and warned it would hurt. The bravery of those young people will stay with me for ever. Another enduring memory is of the dedication and care I saw the wounded show to each other. Two of the critically injured lying side by side, whod never met before, were comforting one another, putting pressure on each others wounds and watching for when they needed to apply extra bandages if the first bled through, as Id instructed. The strength of character and humanity they showed was unfathomable.

The police officers were also amazing, listening carefully to our instructions. They fashioned makeshift stretchers using queue barriers and noticeboards to remove those they could. The teamwork in there was remarkable.

A sea of flowers in Manchesters St Anns Square honouring the dead

Once wed removed the live patients we had the task of declaring those who hadnt made it. After an hour in the foyer we joined the throng outside where a field hospital had been set up and ambulances queued like black cabs.

At 4.30am I left but didnt sleep until Wednesday night, some 36 hours later. It took a long time to process what had happened. You try not to get emotional. I had a job to do so that was what I put all my thoughts and energy into. The hardest part was putting the names to faces as the deceased were announced and reading about their personalities. Nothing can prepare you for that after having been there with them. Its something I think about every single day and that will never leave me.

In October I was awarded a Barclays Women of the Year Award alongside other women from Manchesters emergency and medical services and also invited to Number 10 Downing Street to be thanked by Theresa May. It was overwhelming and unexpected, especially given that it was very much a team effort. Im hugely proud of how the emergency services, volunteers and patients pulled together. I dont feel like a hero. Im just someone who happened to be on duty that night. It could so easily have been one of my colleagues and they would have done just as good a job. Still, Ill be forever grateful for the part I was able to play in minimising the devastation wreaked by that cowardly act that night.

Laura Prescott, 34, is a bereavement liaison nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital

Laura Prescott, right, 34, is a bereavement liaison nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital

The morning after the attack I arrived at the hospital to talk to victims and family members. I have two small children aged nine and seven whod begged me to buy tickets to the concert but Id been too late, so found the accounts that I heard particularly hard to bear. Wed watched Olly Murs perform there only the month before. You imagine how easily it could have been you.

The ward was in organised chaos. One teenager had been badly hurt by shrapnel and was alone. Shed been with her mother at the concert, who she knew was injured too, but had no idea where she was. The girl was in shock and told me about the screams, cries and sound of ambulances shed heard. Often its not about what or how much you say to a patient  listening can be far more helpful. People forget these were mostly young girls to whom body image is so important. They were worried not just about relatives but also about how they are going to look later on.

I spent 12-hour days over the next two weeks at a local hotel where relatives of the bereaved were staying, supported by medical professionals and the police. Everyone deals with things differently. Some shared memories. Others just wanted to cry or ask Why him or her?  a question we can never answer.

LONDON BRIDGE and BOROUGH MARKET 3 June

Three men used a van to strike pedestrians at 50mph on London Bridge before carrying out further attacks using knives around Borough Market bars and restaurants. Eight people died and 48 were injured. All three attackers were shot dead by police.

Natalie Poole, below, 35, is lead anaesthetic nurse at Royal London Hospital

Like many Londoners, I was enjoying a night out with friends when not long after 10pm someone checked their phone and saw something was happening at London Bridge. Minutes later my theatre coordinator called to ask me to come in to work. I didnt have my identification badge so had to get a taxi home to collect it before heading to the Royal London in Whitechapel. The roads were either gridlocked or closed due to the attack, so two miles from the hospital I got out and walked the rest of the way.

Natalie Poole, 35, is lead anaesthetic nurse at Royal London Hospital

Police on duty at a cordon near Borough Market in the aftermath of the attack

It was strange having been off duty and knowing exactly what had been happening outside. I had to push everything to the back of my mind to treat one female patient with multiple injuries. She was in theatre until 6am and I remember looking out of the windows as the sun came up and thinking how still and peaceful the city looked, as if it was any other day. It was a surreal contrast to what had gone on that night.

Three days later I met Prince Charles when he visited our hospital. I told him Id walked miles to get here to treat people and he was amazed. My colleagues now sing The Proclaimers song Im Gonna Be (500 Miles) to me, but I would have willingly walked further.

Nicola Rudkin, below (with Prince Charles when he visited victims of the attack), 36, is matron of the adult critical care unit at Royal London Hospital

I was in bed enjoying a rare early night, scrolling through my phone before going to sleep, when I saw something terrible was happening at London Bridge. Straight away, I rang work to see if they needed me. My first week as a critical care ward nurse was during the 2005 London bombings and I knew Id rather go and not be needed than realise the scale of events too late to be able to help. Once it was clear this was a major incident I pulled on my clothes and drove to the hospital.

Nicola Rudkin, with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall when they visited victims of the attack

We saw 12 casualties, six on the critical care ward: a mixture of stab wounds and blunt force trauma from those hit by the vehicle. Everyone was focused but sombre. As there was already a matron on duty, I helped with finding beds and liaised with family and friends caught up in the horror. You go on to autopilot. Were trained to treat trauma but the hardest part is dealing with the grief. Some of those I spoke to had been with their loved ones when they were attacked but had escaped injury. There was a lot they were coming to terms with. I tried to focus on the patient, reassure them they were in a safe place, but it was unknown territory.

As dawn was breaking I went home, put on the news and cried. While we can make people better we cant always make them who they were before.

Police marksmen on London Bridge during the terror attack

The area is sealed off; messages of solidarity and hope cover a wall near London Bridge

GRENFELL TOWER 14 June

In the early hours a 24-storey block in North Kensington caught fire as flames spread from a faulty fridge-freezer on the fourth floor. More than 200 firefighters battled the blaze, which took more than 24 hours to control. At its height, fire crews could reach only the 12th floor and the rapidity with which the fire leapt through the building has been attributed to unsafe cladding and insulation. Seventy one people are believed to have died and 151 homes were destroyed.

In the early hours a 24-storey block in North Kensington caught fire as flames spread from a faulty fridge-freezer on the fourth floor

Lara Campbell, 23, is an emergency medical dispatcher with the London Ambulance Service, Waterloo

Lara Campbell, right, 23, is an emergency medical dispatcher with the London Ambulance Service, Waterloo

It was after midnight when I took one of the first calls about the fire. A woman from a nearby building said she could see flames coming from Grenfell Tower. She was calm, and it seemed small then. But within minutes calls from those inside, outside and nearby started pouring in. A colleague next to me spoke to a family trapped inside who were frantic and screaming, asking for help. I heard it all. We knew the emergency services were there so all we could do was pass on their location, reassure them and let them know help was on its way. Theres no right thing to say in that situation. I was on a night shift that evening  7pm to 7am  it was my first major incident and Id been in the role for six months. I didnt take any more calls from the public but I did pick up a call from the London Fire Brigade to say it was a 40-pump fire, which meant that 40 fire engines were needed. We just looked at each other in the control room and were, like, wow. By the early hours of the morning everyone was in shock. We just wanted the night to be over.

Dany Cotton is commissioner of the London Fire Brigade

Dany Cotton, right, is commissioner of the London Fire Brigade

Grenfell Tower was an unprecedented fire and the effects of what happened that night will stay with me for ever. Im not making any bones about the fact that Im having counselling and Im not sleeping brilliantly. In my first six months of doing this job, we had two terrorist incidents and Grenfell. Time and time again my staff stepped up. It just makes me so proud.

Anna Dobbie, below, 39, is a consultant in emergency medicine with Londons Air Ambulance

My home is a mile from Grenfell Tower and my husband works as a doctor, also with Londons Air Ambulance. We were both asleep when, at 2.36am, our phones buzzed with emergency alerts calling us into work. Flicking through social media made plain the scale of the incident.

Anna Dobbie, 39, is a consultant in emergency medicine with London's Air Ambulance

We didnt use a helicopter as you cant land at night without a helipad; instead we met a team from Royal London Hospital at a rendezvous point outside the building and set up two casualty clearing stations either side of the tower to process and triage those who were still leaving the building. It was about 3am and the sight and sound of the tower ablaze in the night sky is something Ill never forget. You couldnt take it all in. Id attended fires before but nothing like this. I usually deal with single patients, two or three at most, but the thing that struck me here was the series of families emerging together. As a mother of two children aged four and seven, it really hit a chord. They were in the initial stages of shock and absolute disbelief. It would take a long time to process what had happened.

I stayed until 10am, when I left with my husband. You couldnt fail to be affected. My coping mechanism is to talk through what Ive witnessed with my husband, which is exceptionally useful because we both know what its like to be on the frontline of a major incident.

The following day my children went to school around the corner from the tower, walking through the ash, dust and smoke. They ask questions and I dont lie, but I protect them from the finer details. They know what their parents do and I hope theyre proud.

Fiona Simpson, 27, is a senior online reporter at the London Evening Standard

A JOURNALIST'S PERSPECTIVE

Fiona Simpson, right, 27, is a senior online reporter at the London Evening Standard

I spent the morning of the Grenfell fire at the reopening of Borough Market, where the atmosphere was so happy. Around midday my boss asked me to meet my colleague at Grenfell. The building was still on fire; I could smell it as I approached. My colleague had been there since 7am; his white shirt was grey from the ash and his face red from the heat.

We were given several lines to follow by our editor. Wed heard that someone had thrown a baby out of a window, and that the alarm had been raised by Muslims on Ramadan, so we were looking for anyone who could verify that, and trying to speak to anyone whod been involved. Its hard not to get emotional in these circumstances, but you have to stand back and do what you need to do. I had to gauge carefully who wished to grieve privately and who was prepared to speak to me. Some people would talk to anyone while others were closed off or angry.

As I was leaving at about 3.30pm, I saw a fireman who looked exhausted  hed taken his helmet and protective clothes off. He said, Im knackered, Ive been here since 1am, and Im coming back at 8pm. You dont appreciate what a hard job it is until you speak to someone in that position.
Adeyemi Edun

An estate agent who was last month named in a Mail on Sunday investigation for his alleged links to suspected money laundering by a Nigerian politician known as The Madam has been arrested.

Adeyemi Edun, a London property expert who has appeared on the BBCs Homes Under The Hammer, is understood to have been detained as he arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday.

Four well-placed sources confirmed independently that Mr Edun  who has dual British-Nigerian nationality  was arrested by officers from Nigerias Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is leading the countrys drive against corruption.

Mr Edun, who is the owner of the Daniel Ford estate agency near Kings Cross, London, could not be contacted for comment. Colleagues at his London office declined to answer questions. It is understood he remained in custody on Friday, and had not been charged.

I can confirm the arrest but I am not able to give details at this stage, said Wilson Uwujaren, an EFCC spokesman.

Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, known as The Madam

Last month, The Mail on Sunday and investigative group Finance Uncovered revealed that Mr Edun had been named in US court documents as having links to an alleged money laundering scandal swirling around former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, known as The Madam.

The court papers said he had assisted various Nigerian businessmen with the purchase of 8.3million of prime London real estate intended for the use and benefit of Alison-Madueke in March 2011. He previously told The Mail on Sunday that everything [we do] is done within the ambit of regulation.

Alison-Madueke has previously denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The Government has been accused of dragging its heels over plans to encourage more people to save for retirement through a works pension.

Steve Webb, the former Pensions Minister who oversaw the introduction of auto-enrolment in late 2012, says the recommendations announced today to extend the regime to more workers are shockingly lethargic.

This pedestrian pace of reform risks creating a lost generation of people in their late 40s who will simply be unable to afford to retire, he adds.

Pressure: Pensions Minister David Gauke is told that pace of change is too slow

Webbs ire is centred on the fact that the plans outlined by David Gauke, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will not be implemented until the mid-2020s, meaning millions of workers will still not be automatically enrolled into their employers pension fund.

These excluded workers will include the low-paid, those with a number of poor paying jobs, and those under the age of 22.

A Conservative manifesto commitment to bring the self-employed into the auto-enrolment net has also been ignored, although the Government says it will look at ways in which technology can be used to encourage the countrys 4.8million army of self-employed to increase their pension saving.

Some nine million workers are now saving into a pension for the first time as a result of auto-enrolment  with their payments topped up with tax relief and an employer contribution.

Although they have the right to opt out, few do. The key proposals included in the auto-enrolment review will result in both more workers being drawn into pensions and employees saving more than currently.

The age below which workers are excluded from auto-enrolment will drop from 22 to 18, a move benefiting women in particular because it will give them more time to save  making good the periods they take time out of the workplace to have children or look after elderly parents.

Also, the slice of annual earnings (currently between 5,876 and 45,000) used to determine the amount of contribution that ends up in someones works pension fund will widen with the dropping of the lower earnings limit.

The Government says these respective measures will help introduce 900,000 young people into pensions and bring an extra 2.6billion into pension saving. Gauke says: We are committed to enabling more people to save while they are working so that they can enjoy greater financial security when they retire.

The Governments decision to delay the reforms until the mid-2020s has probably been prompted by concerns over a possible backlash from businesses which will have to pay more in pension contributions as a result. Many companies are fearful of an economic hiccup resulting from Brexit.

Neil Carberry, managing director of lobby group the Confederation of British Business, says a timeline of the mid-2020s for the new proposals is sensible and would enjoy business support.

How does auto enrolment work now?

The Government's auto-enrolment initiative has led to a resurgence in pension saving over the past few years.

Workers aged between 22 and state pension age and earning at least 10,000 a year from one job are now automatically signed up for a pension, unless they make an active move to opt out.

The total minimum auto-enrolment payment is currently 2 per cent of salary - split between contributions from individuals and employers and tax relief from the Government - although it's set to rise in stages to a total of 8 per cent in 2019 (see the table below).

Who pays what? How pension contributions stack up under auto-enrolment schemes (Source: The Pensions Advisory Service)

However, being self-employed, earning low wages, only working part-time, holding down two jobs that both pay less than 10,000, and being too old or young are among the main reasons that make people ineligible for auto enrolment into a workplace pension scheme.
The glamorous woman pictured supporting Mick Fanning on a Gold Coast beach last month can be revealed as an American model and humanitarian.

Breeana Randall was seen sunbathing as the surfing legend hit the waves at Snapper Rocks, before they were later pictured buying alcohol from a bottle shop nearby.

The 25-year-old beauty's appearance alongside Fanning, 36, in late November came almost two years after he announced his split from wife Karissa Dalton.

Relatives of Ms Randall told Daily Mail Australia it wasn't 'their place to comment' on the relationship, but admitted they were pleased for the young Californian.

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World champion surfer Mick Fanning appears to have moved on a year after splitting from his wife, having recently been pictured with Californian model Breeana Randall (pictured)

Fanning, 36, was seen alongside the 25-year-old on the Gold Coast in late- November

Ms Randall, who has done some part-time modeling work in America, studied to be a speech-language pathologist at Chapman University.

During her studies she spent time doing humanitarian work in the Philippines.

In 2016 she holidayed in Australia and was pictured cuddling koalas and kangaroos at a wildlife sanctuary last minutes from where she was recently seen with Fanning.

Fanning is currently in Hawaii competing in the Billabong Pipeline Masters, with his management also refusing to comment.

The pair's friendship comes almost two years after Fanning and Ms Dalton revealed they were divorcing.

In a statement he said their split was a mutual decision and that he had 'nothing but love and respect' for his ex-wife.

Ms Randall has completed a degree in speech-language pathology and recently spent time teaching disadvantaged and disabled youngsters in Asia

The pair's friendship comes almost two years after Fanning and Ms Dalton revealed they were divorcing

Ms Dalton and Fanning were first introduced by friends in 2004 while studying film at Bond University and doing some part-time modeling

'Karissa has stood by me since we first met in 2004... but more importantly she has helped me through some of the toughest moments in my life, especially this past year,' he wrote in February.

'There has been some speculation about our marriage coming to an end over the past six months.

'We refuted those claims because we were both committed to working things out since we separated last February.'

Ms Dalton and Fanning were first introduced by friends in 2004 while studying film at Bond University and doing some part-time modeling.

Fanning is a three-time surfing world champion, winning the ASP crown in 2007, 2009 and 2013

The part-time model visited Australia last year during which she was pictured cuddling a koala

He proposed in 2006 at the place where his brother Sean and surfer Joel Green were killed in a car crash in 1998.

The pair's divorce came just months after Fanning made international headlines for his encounter with a Great White Shark during the J-Bay Open in 2015.

He famously punched the shark as close friend Julian Wilson and lifeguards rushed to his aid.

Management for Fanning said they would be making 'no comment' while relatives of Ms Randall told Daily Mail Australia 'it was not their place to say anything'.
Phil Heasley caught the fish of his life, but the $2.8 million in tournament prize money got away.

Heasley reeled in a 6-foot white marlin last year off Maryland's coast. But in a sign of how concerned some big money tournaments are about cheating, officials made him and his crew take lie detector tests. The officials said all four men failed.

Heasley is now in a protracted court battle over the winnings and his crew's reputation, pitting their integrity against that of one of the world's most lucrative angling contests.

Jim Motsko, founder of the White Marlin Open fishing tournament, stands in his home in Ocean City, Md.

The white-haired CEO of a financial software company had motored with his crew into the Atlantic before sunrise on a Tuesday in August in his 68-foot fishing boat, the Kallianassa, to compete in the 2016 White Marlin Open.

About 65 miles out, they zeroed in on a fast-moving school of skipjack tuna, according to transcripts from the nine-day trial.

One of the mates quickly hooked a marlin. The captain maneuvered the boat and Heasley worked the reel.

The avid fisherman from Naples, Florida, said he fought the famously acrobatic species for about 10 minutes. The blue-finned fish - whose snout resembles a fencing rapier - was 'running like mad' and leaping to dislodge the hook.

Hanging from the tournament scale in Ocean City, the white marlin turned out to be relatively scrawny, weighing in at 76.5 pounds - not far over the 70-pound qualifying weight and nearly 20 pounds lighter than the 2015 winner.

Phil Heasley and his crew caught a 76.5 pounds fish during the 2016 White Marlin Open and now fighting a court battle to claim the $2.8 million prize

In this Aug. 9, 2016 photo provided by Larry Jock, Phil Heasley, second from left, poses with his catch and team at the White Marlin Open fishing tournament in Ocean City, Md

'I did not think that we had a fish that was going to win some great big amount of money,' Heasley said on the witness stand.

The marlin wasn't even mounted. It went to a food bank.

But three days later, the tournament deemed it the only qualifying white marlin of the five-day open.

The total prize was $2,818,662.

The open itself paid out only $15,000. But like many anglers, Heasley had placed a big bet on himself and his crew in various 'calcuttas,' which are optional betting pools.

Boats can pay a total of nearly $30,000 apiece before the tournament. Whoever hooks the heaviest fish in a category and participated in the calcuttas takes home the big money.

Heasley planned to give half to the crew, a life-changing gift.

But there was one more step: Heasley had to pass a lie detector test.

Tournaments have employed polygraphs for decades. Sometimes they're used to settle disputes. No accusations had been made against the Kallianassa, but polygraphs are standard at the White Marlin Open.

'I kind of call it the velvet hammer,' the contest's founder, Jim Motsko, said recently. 'You need something to keep people honest,' he said. 'Would you put up $15,000 if you didn't trust anybody?'

Heasley, 68, had competed in dozens of tournaments, once winning $800,000. But this was his first White Marlin Open and his first polygraph.

In a hotel conference room, the examiner measured his heartbeat, breathing and perspiration and asked, 'Did you commit any tournament violations?' Similar questions followed.

In this Aug. 13, 2016 photo provided by Larry Jock, Phil Heasley, second from left, and Jim Motsko, founder of the White Marlin Open fishing tournament, second from right, pose with a promotional check at a tournament award ceremony in Ocean City, Md

The results were inconclusive. Another test was required. The unsuspecting and hung-over captain, David Morris, had to be tested too. The examiner said Morris indicated 'deception' during his exam.

The men still posed with a promotional check at the award ceremony. But the actual money was being withheld, they were told, pending Heasley's second polygraph and tests for the two mates.

No one passed.

Tournament officials denied the prize. Heasley refused to sign a release of the winnings. The tournament asked a court to intervene.

Winners from other fishing categories joined in the litigation, claiming they were entitled to the money. They accused the Kallianassa of dropping its fishing lines before 8.30am, a rule violation.

This is far from the first court fight over big prize money for a big fish.

In 2010, a boat crew sued over a $900,000 prize after catching an 883-pound fish in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. The boat was disqualified because the mate who hooked the marlin lacked a fishing license. The tournament learned of the violation during a polygraph test.

The case went to North Carolina's Supreme Court before a settlement was reached in 2013.

Polygraph issues at the White Marlin Open didn't end with Heasley. Tests for two anglers 'raised concerns' this year. But in October, tournament officials determined no rules were violated. They didn't identify the boats in question.

At trial, Heasley's lawyers questioned the accuracy of polygraph tests, and criticized the tournament's exams.

The judge ruled against Heasley in June, writing that Heasley had agreed to the open's terms.

The judge also sided with the other anglers over the Kallianassa's fishing start time, citing discrepancies among the crew's accounts and other evidence.

The case is now on appeal. In a statement to The Associated Press, Heasley said he's fighting for the decency of the sport.

'I have continued our fight in the appellate courts,' Heasley wrote, 'because I am not the kind of person to lay down and let anyone run over us with lies and junk science.'
New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy, 60, is getting some pushback for posing for photos next to a cardboard cutout of Governor Chris Christie lounging on a beach last summer.

Murphy told NJ Advance Media on Friday that he was standing near the cutout at an event on Thursday night in Glen Ridge and 'couldn't resist.'

Christie said he wasn't personally bothered, but was 'disappointed' with the stunt.

'Its disappointing because weve been so open and so welcoming to him, and not playing politics at all,' Christie said on Friday, according to NorthJersey.com.

New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy is seen here posing for photos in Glen Ridge, New Jersey on Thursday, next to a cardboard cutout of Gov Chris Christie lounging on a beach last summer during a government shutdown that closed beaches and parks to the public

Christie came under intense criticism after he was photographed with his family on a beach closed to the public over the Fourth of July weekend due to a government shutdown.

Some called Murphy's action something you might expect on the campaign trail months ago, not weeks before the Democrat succeeds the Republican governor on Jan. 16.

'I think someones got to remind him that the campaign is over,' Christie said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is seen here using the beach with his family and friends at the governor's summer house at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey

The pictures were taken while Murphy was at a gala held by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, a group long critical of Christie that put up the near-life-size cutout as a prop.

When the opportunity to arose to snap what he felt was a light-hearted photo-op with the image, Murphy took it.

'It was right in front of me!' Murphy said, throwing up his arms, while on a diplomatic trip to Puerto Rico on Friday.

Murphy referred to the photos on the campaign trail, saying at multiple campaign stops, 'We will not go to the beach ourselves.'

Murphy (R) referred to the photos of Christie (L) on the beach several time while on the campaign trail, saying at multiple campaign stops, 'We will not go to the beach ourselves'

Christie said Murphy's action contradicted his repeated call to move past the nation's divisive politics.

'I just think it sends a really terrible message to people about if you say you want to bring people together and do all the rest of that, then what you should want to do is focus on the future and not be looking at the past,' Christie said.

Carl Golden, a former press secretary for other former Republican governors, called the photos of Murphy a 'remarkable lapse in judgment,' adding that it seemed at odds with his demeanor.

He said the period between an election and a new governor is never easy, especially when predecessor and successor are from different parties.

'But you have to get past that,' Golden said.

'Posing for a picture like this does absolutely nothing to get past that. That I just think is pretty tacky.'

Murphy will take over the New Jersey governor's office on Jan. 16, 2018
The family of a Canadian billionaire couple found dead in their home on Friday are angry over police and press reports pointing to a possible murder-suicide.

Investigators are awaiting the results of autopsies performed on Barry Sherman and his wife after they were found dead in their home in what police called suspicious deaths.

Toronto Police spokesman Mark Pugash said Saturday the deaths are suspicious based on what they know, but offered no other details.

The 75-year-old pharmaceutical magnate and his wife, Honey, 70, were found dead in their north Toronto mansion on Friday.

Homicide detectives told reporters gathered outside the home on Friday that there were no signs of forced entry.

Honey and Barry Sherman, Chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc., are shown at the annual United Jewish Appeal (UJA) fundraiser in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 24, 2010

However, sources working close to the investigation told the Toronto Sun that it may have been a murder-suicide.

They believe Honey could have been killed in a different location at the sprawling property on Old Colony Rd.

She was then moved to the spot where she was found with her husband.

The deaths shocked Canadian high society and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make a statement.

Homicide detectives later told reporters gathered outside the home that there were no signs of forced entry

The Shermans recently listed their luxury home situated in an affluent Toronto neighborhood for sale for nearly $5.4 million

Sherman, who would have turned 76 next month, and his wife, were well known for their generosity and gave millions to charity

Sherman founded Toronto-based Apotex Inc. in 1974 with two employees and turned it into the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company.

Canadian Business magazine recently estimated his worth at $3.65 billion, making him the 15th richest person in the country.

The Shermans recently put up their house for sale for $5.4 million.

The Sherman family issued a statement Saturday urging police to conduct a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation' into their parents' deaths and urging the media to avoid speculating on the cause of the deaths.

'Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumors regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths,' they said in a statement Saturday whose contents were reported by The Globe and Mail.

'We are shocked and think it's irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true.'

The Shermans were among Canada's most generous philanthropists.

Police tape and patrol cars surround the home of Apotex founder Barry Sherman and wife, Honey Sherman after they were found dead

A realtor showing off the house to potential buyers discovered them hanging from rails, side-by-side, next to their indoor swimming pool (above), reports suggest

Canadian Seantor Linda Frum shared a picture of her with the pair at a recent ceremony

Their deaths have stunned the country, and has prompted an outpouring of grief from prominent businessman and even a tribute from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The couple made numerous multimillion-dollar donations to hospitals, schools and charities and had buildings named in their honor.

Barry Sherman (1942-2017) Age: 75 Place of Birth: Toronto, Canada Religion: Jewish Business: Apotex Pharmaceuticals Wealth: Estimated $3.2 billion Forbes Rank: 363rd in the world, 7th in Canada Education: University of Toronto/MIT Degree: Engineering Advertisement

They also hosted Trudeau for a Liberal party fundraiser in 2015.

Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau issued a statement on Twitter.

'Sophie and I are saddened by news of the sudden passing of Barry and Honey Sherman,' Trudeau said.

'Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit.'

Apotex is a generic drugmaker with 11,000 employees world-wide, including more than 6,000 in Canada.

The company released a statement on Saturday paying tribute to its founder, praising both his philanthropic efforts and what it described as his vision for health care.

The couple recently put the house on the market for $5.4million

'Patients around the world live healthier and more fulfilled lives thanks to his life's work, and his significant impact on health care and health care sustainability will have an enduring impact for many years to come,' the statement read.

'As employees, we are proud of his tremendous accomplishments, honored to have known him, and vow to carry on with the Apotex purpose in his honor.'

Honey Sherman was a member of the board of the York University Foundation. She also served on the boards of Mount Sinai's Women's Auxiliary, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the International American Joint Distribution Committee.

But Barry Sherman was not without controversy. He faced legal action from family members alleging they had been cut out of the company over the years.

'We are at a loss of words,' neighbor Sarah Alva said. 'They are both the most wonderful people we knew and our hearts goes out to their families.'
President Trump will lay out a new U.S. national security strategy on Monday based on his 'America First' policy.

The president will, among other items, make clear that China is a competitor, two senior U.S. officials said on Saturday.

Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping while also demanding that Beijing increase pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program and to change trade practices to make them more favorable to the United States.

President Donald Trump is expected to give an 'America First' foreign policy address on Monday where he'll label China a competitor

President Trump is photographed leaving the White House on Saturday, departing for a weekend away at Camp David where he'll host a number of his cabinet members

The national security strategy, to be rolled out in a speech by Trump, should not be seen as an attempt to contain China but rather to offer a clear-eyed look at the challenges China poses, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Financial Times had first reported that Trump will accuse China of 'economic aggression,' in the speech.

The strategy, which was still being drafted, may also reverse Democratic President Barack Obama's declaration in September 2016 that climate change is a threat to security, one official said.

On Saturday, President Trump ignored a question about North Korea as he left the White House bound for a weekend at Camp David.

While Trump is readying a foreign policy speech, he mainly met with cabinet members who deal with domestic matters during the trip.

At Camp David, Trump entertained Vice President Mike Pence, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, according to the White House pool report.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Mnuchin confirmed he had dinner with the president and vice president Saturday night and previewed portions of the president's speech.

'He's excited to give the speech tomorrow,' Mnuchin said. 'And China, we are in economic competition with China, the president has said, we don't have fair trade, we have a trade deficit.'

Host Chris Wallace wondered, however, if labeling China an 'economic aggressor' could increase the chances of a trade war.

'We want to have a more balanced and fair trade relationship with China,' Mnuchin argued, saying he couldn't comment on specifics that are going to be in the speech, but countered Wallace's question by saying that the aim was to have 'reciprocal fair trade' with the country.

On Monday Trump, a Republican, will lay out his foreign policy priorities, and will emphasize his commitment to 'America First' policies.

Those include building up the U.S. military, confronting Islamist militants and realigning trade relationships to make the United States more competitive, the officials said.
An organization established for President Donald Trump's transition to the White House a year ago said on Saturday that the special counsel investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election had obtained tens of thousands of emails unlawfully.

Kory Langhofer, counsel to the transition team known as Trump for America, Inc, wrote a letter to congressional committees to say Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team had improperly received the emails from the General Services Administration, a government agency.

Career staff members at the agency 'unlawfully produced TFAs private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsels Office,' according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

It said the materials included 'tens of thousands of emails.'

Earlier on Saturday, Axios reported that Mueller's team of investigators obtained the emails, which include 'sensitive' correspondences from Jared Kushner.

An organization established for President Donald Trump's (above) transition to the White House a year ago said on Saturday that the special counsel investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election had obtained tens of thousands of emails unlawfully

According to Axios, the emails include a treasure trove of documents pertaining to 'potential appointments, gossip about the views of particular senators involved in the confirmation process, speculation about vulnerabilities of Trump nominees, strategizing about press statements, and policy planning on everything from war to taxes.'

'Mueller is using the emails to confirm things, and get new leads,' a transition source told Axios.

Trump's transition team used facilities of the GSA, which helps manage the US government bureaucracy, in the period between the Republican's November presidential election victory and his inauguration in January.

The Trump team's accusation adds to the growing friction between the president's supporters and Mueller's office as it investigates whether Russia interfered in the election and if Trump or anyone on his team colluded with Moscow.

Asked for comment, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: 'We continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expect this process to wrap up soon.'

The GSA and officials at the special counsel's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democrats say there is a wide-ranging effort by the president's allies on Capitol Hill and in some media outlets to discredit Muellers investigation.

Trump himself has loudly declared Mueller's effort a waste of time.

Earlier on Saturday, Axios reported that Mueller's team of investigators obtained the emails, which include 'sensitive' correspondences from Jared Kushner (seen above at his home in Washington, DC on Thursday)

'There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven,' Trump told reporters on Friday.

Russia denies interfering in the election.

On Friday, Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said he fears the committee's Republican majority intends to close its investigation of the topic prematurely.

Some Republicans have argued that Mueller is biased against Trump and should be fired.

The letter was sent to the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

'Mueller (seen above) is using the emails to confirm things, and get new leads,' a transition source told Axios

It asked for Congress to act immediately 'to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives.'

The letter said Mueller's office obtained the emails despite the fact that it was aware the GSA did not own or control the records. It said the special counsel's office has 'extensively used the materials in question, including portions that are susceptible to claims of privilege' without notifying the Trump for America team.

On the transition team were a number of aides who were later caught up in Mueller's investigation, such as former national security adviser Michael Flynn who pleaded guilty this month to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.

Langhofer, the Trump transition team lawyer, wrote in his letter that the GSA's transfer of materials was discovered on December 12 and 13.

The FBI had requested the materials from GSA staff last August 23, asking for copies of the emails, laptops, cell phones and other materials associated with nine members of the Trump transition team response for national security and policy matters, the letter said.

On August 30, the FBI requested the materials of four additional senior members of the Trump transition team, it said.

Langhofer argued that while such transition teams are involved in executive functions, they are considered private, nonprofit organizations whose records are private and not subject to presidential records laws.
The Pentagon set up a secret multi-million dollar program to investigate UFO sightings.

The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ran from 2007 to 2012, with a $22 million annual budget, with the mission of looking into reports of military encounters with unidentified flying objects.

The Defense Department finally acknowledged the existence of its long-secret UFO investigation program on Saturday, when officials shifted attention and funding to other priorities.

The Pentagon had a secret multi-million dollar program to investigate UFO sightings

Its initial funding came largely at the request of former Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat long known for his enthusiasm for space phenomena, the newspaper said.

The program was created by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), with the support of the late Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Republican Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Their fears were that the unexplained phenomena could be advanced weaponry or technology from foreign states such as Russia or China which could threaten the US.

'Was this China or Russia trying to do something or has some propulsion system we are not familiar with?' a former staffer told Politico.

While former career intelligence officer Luis Elizondo, who ran the initiative, stressed he wanted to take the 'voodoo' out of a 'voodoo science,' the program investigated some issues that sound like they're straight out of a science fiction movie.

They included 'wormholes' and 'warp drives' as well as interviewing pilots and military personnel who reported experiences with UFOs.

Elizondo said that many of the Navy pilots described aircraft moving and acting in a way that seemed to be beyond human beings' current capabilities.

The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ran from 2007 to 2012, with a $22 million annual budget

'We had never seen anything like it,' he said.

The former staffer said that Reid believed there could be a valid national security issue and so agreed to fund the program.

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But after a few years, and very little to show for it, Reid decided it wasn't worth continuing.

'After a while the consensus was we really couldn't find anything of substance,' he recalled. 'They produced reams of paperwork. After all of that there was really nothing there that we could find. It all pretty much dissolved from that reason aloneand the interest level was losing steam. We only did it a couple years.'

'There was really nothing there that we could justify using taxpayer money,' he added. 'We let it die a slow death. It was well spent money in the beginning.'

According to the the Pentagon, the program 'ended in the 2012 timeframe.'

Yet according to its backers, the program remains in existence and officials continue to investigate UFO episodes brought to their attention by service members, the newspaper said.

The Pentagon openly acknowledged the fate of the program in response to a Reuters query.

'The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ended in the 2012 timeframe,' Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Ochoa said in an email.

'It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change,' she said.

The program was created by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (pictured)

But the Pentagon was less clear about whether the UFO program continues to hover somewhere in the vast universe of the U.S. defense establishment.

'The DoD takes seriously all threats and potential threats to our people, our assets, and our mission and takes action whenever credible information is developed,' Ochoa said.

What is less in doubt is former senator Reid's enthusiasm for UFOs and his likely role in launching the Pentagon initiative to identify advanced aviation threats.

'If you've talked to Harry Reid for 60 seconds then it's the least surprising thing ever that he loves UFOs and got an earmark to study them,' former Reid spokeswoman Kristen Orthman said in a message on Twitter.

Or as Reid himself said in a tweet that linked to the Times' story: 'The truth is out there. Seriously.'

Elizondo has since joined former Blink 182 vocalist Tom DeLonge's company To The Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences - described as a 'public benefit corporation' that has 'mobilized a team of the most experienced, connected and passionately curious minds from the U.S. intelligence community, including the CIA, Department of Defense, who have been operating under the shadows of top-secrecy for decades.'
Egypt's Sico Technology company said on Sunday that the commercial launch of the country's first locally manufactured Smartphone has been delayed from late December to mid-January after a shipment of 15,000 batteries was stolen as it was on its way to the company's factory in Assiut.

Sico CEO Mohamed Salem said in media statements that the imported batteries for the Android Smartphones disappeared after leaving Damietta port for Assiut in Upper Egypt, without providing further details.

The company has reported the incident to police, who are is currently conducting an investigation, Salem said, adding that a new shipment of batteries would arrive within days.

Salem said that the thousands of pre-orders that have been made for the phone will be delivered by mid-January.

Sico is the first mobile phone to be manufactured in Egypt, with 58 percent of its components produced locally.

The Sico Smartphone was first unveiled at the inauguration of the 20th annual Information and Communication Technology Conference earlier this month.

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Dylann Roof, 23, was sentenced to death in January for the killing of nine African-American church-goers in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015.

Within weeks of his sentencing, former white supremacist Christian Picciolini wrote the racist murderer a letter, hoping he would show signs of remorse.

The death row inmate relied to Picciolini on April 13 in a letter written from the Charleston County detention center, according to the Post and Courier.

Picciolini has now made the disturbing response public, where Roof calls him a 'traitor' that 'took the easy way out,' and 'disgusting' for 'undermining his own race.'

Dylann Roof, 23, was sentenced to death in January for the killing of nine African-American church-goers in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015

Roof was found guilty on Dec. 15, 2016 of 33 federal charges, including hate crimes and obstruction of religious freedom, for opening firing and murdering nine people during a bible study session at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.

Picciolini said he reached out to Roof in hopes that he might be receptive to reforming his hateful ways.

But Roof wrote back to Picciolini, saying:

'You couldn't handle the mental stress that comes along with white nationalism, so you took the easy way out.

'But what is so disgusting about you is that rather than just leave white nationalism behind, you decided to devote your time to undermining your own race.'

Within weeks of Roof's (R) sentencing, former white supremacist Christian Picciolini (L) wrote the racist murderer a letter, hoping he would show signs of remorse

Picciolini is a former neo-Nazi, himself, that admits to committing acts of violence against African-Americans and Jewish people.

Now, he said he has counseled 200 racists to leave white supremacy behind, like he did, through a nonprofit he co-founded called Life After Hate.

Roof told Picciolini that his arguments for reformation did 'not hold up to even a small amount of critical thinking.'

'Do you realize that the only argument you have, the only point you make, is that it is wrong to go around with so much hate in your heart?' he wrote.

'And do you realize that this is based solely on emotion, not facts?'

Roof told Picciolini that his arguments for reformation did 'not hold up to even a small amount of critical thinking'

Picciolini now helps train police, FBI and Homeland Security to understand the white supremacist movement,

Picciolini said he spent eight years as an active white supremacist, after being drawn to hate groups online as a teenager, before realizing the error of his ways.

'The truth is, I'd never met or had a meaningful dialogue ... with anybody that I thought I hated,' Picciolini said to Scott Pelley, in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes that will air on Sunday.

'And when they took the step to try and reach me, the demonization of them that I had in my head started to crack.'

Picciolini now helps train police, FBI and Homeland Security to understand the white supremacist movement.

Roof is currently awaiting execution and being held at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind.
David Davis was last night accused of squandering almost 50,000 of public money on private military flights to attend Brexit meetings.

The Brexit Secretary has commandeered RAF jets 11 times to fly to and from Europe over the past year.

Just one of his VIP trips, shuttling between Brussels, Madrid and Rome in two days, cost taxpayers a staggering 9,000, official figures reveal.

Meanwhile, junior Ministers and top officials in his Department for Exiting the European Union have made do with far cheaper commercial airline flights or rail journeys on Eurostar.

Last night Labour MP Stephen Doughty wrote to the Cabinet Office asking if the costly jaunts had broken the ministerial code, which requires that travel be cost-effective.

He said: Of course David Daviss role requires frequent travel to European capitals, but there is no reason why he could not use cheaper commercial services.

The public voted for Brexit to save money for our public services, not blow it on Air David Davis.

It is believed that when he took up his high-profile role in July 2016, Mr Davis demanded the use of the Prime Ministers official aircraft  a converted RAF Voyager  to fly to meetings with key EU figures.

He is said to have faced opposition from senior civil servants who said they didnt see why DD should be whisked by private jet across Europe. But eventually he got his way.

Travel documents published by his department show his first three trips to Europe were on scheduled flights and Eurostar. But by December 2016, he and four officials were flying with No 32 (The Royal) Squadron from RAF Northolt in North-West London to Madrid and Seville, at a cost of 1,708, as talk swirled of war with Spain over the future of Gibraltar.

A military trip to Finland and Sweden in February cost 5,243. The next month a visit to Denmark, Germany and Slovakia cost 4,298. In April, Mr Davis and five aides went to Budapest, Rome and Warsaw in RAF planes, at a cost of 6,583.

Travel documents published by his department show his first three trips to Europe were on scheduled flights and Eurostar

A trip to Brussels in July, where he held just one hour of talks with the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, cost taxpayers 2,411  the vast majority on a private flight.

In September he returned to Brussels for the fourth round of Brexit negotiations, using an RAF plane that cost 5,207.

Including other trips to European capitals, such as Prague, Mr Daviss trips on RAF aircraft cost a total of 47,447 between July 2016 and September this year.

A spokesman for his department said last night: The Brexit negotiations are critical to the nations future and it is right that the Secretary of State has access to whatever mode of transport is most appropriate.

RAF aircraft have been used to transport senior Ministers from governments over many years because they provide security, flexibility and value for money, especially when travelling in large groups and in multi- legged trips.
Theresa May has condemned threats of violence against politicians after a series of incidents in which MPs received death threats and abuse.

The Prime Minister said there was 'no place in our politics' for intimidation and called for 'tolerance, decency and respect' for everyone.

Mrs May added: 'Threats of violence and intimidation are unacceptable.'

The Prime Minister said there was 'no place in our politics' for intimidation and called for 'tolerance, decency and respect' for everyone

Anna Soubry revealed she had received messages suggesting she should be 'hung in public'

Her comments came after Tory Brexit rebels were subjected to vicious abuse, with Anna Soubry revealing she had received messages suggesting she should be 'hung in public'.

Former business minister Ms Soubry told the Guardian her office had received threatening messages as well as posts on social media attacking her.

'I got an email from somebody yesterday saying: 'In the past, traitors were taken out and shot'. It's appalling,' she said.

Another Brexit rebel, Sarah Wollaston, said she had also been targeted, while former attorney general Dominic Grieve, the ringleader of the revolt which saw Mrs May suffer her first Commons defeat, said he had faced death threats.

A report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life stated social media was 'the most significant factor' driving harassment, abuse and intimidation of 2017 General Election candidates.

In its recommendations, the report said: 'Although social media helps to promote widespread access to ideas and engagement in debate, it also creates an intensely hostile online environment.

Diane Abbott, Shadow Home Secretary, received the most abuse

'Some have felt the need to disengage entirely from social media because of the abuse they face, and it has put off others who may wish to stand for public office. In the fast-paced and rapidly developing world of social media, the companies themselves and government must both proactively address the issue of intimidation online.

'Not enough has been done. The Committee is deeply concerned about the limited engagement of the social media companies in tackling these issues.'

The publication also found that Diane Abbott, Shadow Home Secretary, received the most abuse while black and Asian women MPs received 35 per cent more abusive tweets than white female MPs.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also face calls to disband campaign support group Momentum after MPs said they had received bullying and abuse online.

Mr Corbyn has condemned the abuse, which he said is not carried out in his name.

In July this year, Conservative MP Simon Hart urged him to take firm action to put a stop to the bullying by his activists.

He added: Rather than just putting out feeble messages online saying you condemn all this, Jeremy Corbyn needs to actually do something about it.

Mr Corbyn and the leaders of Momentum need when there is even the faintest whiff of this stuff to say You are not welcome in our party or to campaign on our behalf and wear the Labour badge if this is how youre going to behave.
A farmer has been gored to death by an 'angry' 600kg bull.

The 49-year-old Warrnambool Midfield Meat worker was attacked by the large Friesian steer at 9.30am at a property in Dunkeld, Victoria, on Friday morning, The Standard reported.

He was weighing cattle when he was mauled by the 'aggressive' animal, police said.

A farmer has been gored to death by an 'angry' 600kg bull (file picture)

'He suffered fatal injuries. The man has managed to get out of the yards and was near the loading ramp. When located he was unconscious and not breathing and was unable to be revived,' Hamilton police Sergeant David Walkley said.

The animal has been put down.

'He was still pretty angry when we arrived,' Sgt Walkey said said.

'He was that angry he was trying to crash through the fence. He was very aggressive and put down by the knackery.'

The coroner and WorkSafe are investigating.
A clampdown on foreign women who fly in to give birth for free on the NHS is proving to be a resounding success, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Since the spring all pregnant women giving birth at St Georges Hospital in Tooting, South London, have been required to prove they have lived in the UK for at least a year.

The drive  a trailblazing programme being rolled out across dozens of other hospitals  has led to a huge fall in the number of women from outside Britain attempting to obtain maternity care without paying.

The results are a boost for the Government, which has vowed to get tough on a problem which is thought to cost the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds a year

Official NHS figures indicate the number of labour ward health tourists has dropped by at least 90 per cent at St Georges, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The results are a boost for the Government, which has vowed to get tough on a problem which is thought to cost the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds a year.

But they will be embarrassing for the Left-leaning British Medical Association, which has constantly criticised the idea.

Earlier this year, former chairman Dr Mark Porter said it was hard to see how proposals to check eligibility for free hospital care will operate in practice.

Bosses at St Georges instigated the plan in February, requiring every pregnant woman to bring two pieces of paperwork  one form of identification such as a passport or driving licence, and a utility bill confirming that they had lived at a UK address for at least a year.

Managers at St Georges estimated they were losing 4.6 million a year to health tourism, of which maternity was thought to account for the biggest chunk

Officials did so after admitting the problem of expectant mums who fly in to take advantage of safe NHS maternity services was out of control  and costing their hospital dearly.

A year ago they estimated that around 900 women who gave birth at St Georges in 2015-16 should have been charged. Most have not paid up. The average birth costs the NHS at least 1,000, but that can soar if there are complications. One Nigerian mother who flew in to give birth at another London hospital, St Marys, racked up a 500,000 bill.

Managers at St Georges estimated they were losing 4.6 million a year to health tourism, of which maternity was thought to account for the biggest chunk. It is still owed 1.75 million from fly-in mothers.

They admitted the hospital was seen as an easy target, with fixers even offering paid assistance to women in Nigeria to have their babies for free there. We also told last year how EU nationals were milking the NHS for expensive cancer treatments.

Now results of a 15-week pilot showed managers only needed to charge 18 patients  suggesting word quickly spread about the crackdown. The 18  about one per cent of all mothers treated  failed to provide eligibility for free NHS care so were billed, according to an internal report.

Scaled up, it means the hospital can expect to charge about 62 overseas labour ward patients a year  less than a tenth of the previous figure. The hospital has started a scheme in neurology, while it has proved so successful it is being rolled out to the entire trust, the papers show.

A Department of Health spokesman said: We have no problem with overseas visitors using our NHS as long as they make a fair financial contribution.
Brian Matthew died in April just two months after he was replaced as head of Radio 2 show Sound Of The Sixties

Veteran DJ Brian Matthew, who presented Radio 2s Sounds Of The Sixties, left 600,000 in his will.

Matthew died aged 88 in April, two months after he stepped down from his popular Saturday morning show due to ill health.

The broadcaster, once dubbed Britains oldest DJ, fronted the show for 27 years before being replaced by Tony Blackburn.

Probate records reveal that Matthew, of Orpington, Kent, left his estate in trust for Pamela, his wife of 66 years.

Matthew started broadcasting in 1948 in Germany and trained as an actor before joining the BBC in 1954.

He was one of Radio 2s first DJs when the station launched in 1967 and he hosted Saturday Club, Thank Your Lucky Stars and Late Night Extra.

He also presented the long-running Round Midnight programme which won the 1987 Pulitzer Publishing Award.

In April 1990 he began presenting Sounds Of The Sixties, which won a Gold Sony Radio Award in 1996.

The BBC wrongly reported his death shortly before he died and had to clarify that he was seriously ill.
Jeremy Corbyn was last night accused of 'inciting' vicious Labour trolls who targeted the heavily pregnant wife of a Tory MP.

The woman was subjected to vile online abuse by a Left-wing hate mob after her husband clashed with the Labour leader in the Commons.

One fanatic told her, 'hope your baby dies' while the MP received death threats that are now being investigated by police.

Jeremy Corbyn said a Tory MP should be 'called out' after heckling him during a debate on the elderly, after which Labour ministers named him on Twitter

One of the politician's thousands of abusers on Twitter and Facebook threatened to 'spear' him while he was out jogging and film the attack. Another vowed to 'put your head on a spike'.

The Left-wing hate mob also told his wife: 'Your husband is a c***.'

The attacks on the MP's wife, who is in her mid-40s and due to give birth for the first time in the New Year, reduced her to floods of tears.

Meanwhile, the MP questioned the conduct of Mr Corbyn, 68, after their Commons encounter. The Labour leader demanded the Tory be 'called out' for heckling him over his age, with Mr Corbyn jabbing his finger in anger as he did so.

Corbyn's attack was seized on by Labour MPs who attacked the Tory on Twitter and provided his Twitter handle, setting off the social media tsunami.

The Mail on Sunday has, in agreement with the MP, chosen not to name him or his wife to protect mother and child from further abuse.

Theresa May last night called for a halt to social media abuse and other threatening behaviour in politics, by all sides.

Speaking in response to the 'hope your baby dies' attack, and menacing posts against Conservative Brexit rebels, she told The Mail on Sunday: 'Threats of violence and intimidation are unacceptable and have no place in our politics.

'Everybody should be treated with tolerance, decency and respect.'

The online abuse was sparked after the MP made a jibe at Mr Corbyn in the Commons chamber after the Labour leader attacked the Government's treatment of the elderly. The Tory MP shouted: 'That's you!'

A furious Mr Corbyn claimed the MP should be 'called out' for his 'uncaring' attitude.

After being named the MP received a barrage of vile abuse from trolls who said they hoped his unborn child died

Mr Corbyn pointed at the MP during the exchange, which was broadcast live on television, and fellow Labour MPs joined in, shouting at the Tory heckler. One Labour MP shouted: 'Ageist!'

However, the Conservative MP was not referred to by name by Mr Corbyn, was not rebuked by the Speaker, and his identity remained a mystery until Labour MPs named him on Twitter shortly afterwards.

That was the spark for a torrent of abuse from thousands of Left-wing activists. At first, the threats were targeted solely at the MP. Then his wife came under attack on her open Facebook page after the trolls discovered references to her by the MP.

Deeply distressed, she made her Facebook page private, but continued to receive abusive messages.

One abuser spotted the MP's social media posts announcing his and his wife's joy at learning they are expecting their first child, then told him on Facebook: 'Hope your baby dies.'

The politician told The Mail on Sunday: 'All I did was to make a harmless joke. It was clearly aimed at Mr Corbyn, not elderly people in need.'

And the MP turned the tables on Mr Corbyn, saying that he should be 'called out' for the 'disgusting' abuse of his wife.

'Labour, in effect, incited this. I am not saying that was the intention but if Mr Corbyn hadn't said I should be 'called out' and Labour MPs hadn't blown a bit of routine parliamentary banter out of all proportion, it wouldn't have happened.'

He blamed Momentum, the Left-wing pressure group, for escalating the abuse. He said: 'The Momentum hate mob saw it as a green light. Mr Corbyn must stop pretending he has no responsibility for this menace.

'It has been deeply upsetting and disturbing. My wife's pregnancy came as a wonderful surprise: we're both in our 40s and it is our first child.

'But it makes it all the more sensitive, because we are desperately hoping that everything goes well and it was already an emotional time for her.

'When the death threats and the message about 'hope your baby dies' came up, she spent the weekend in floods of tears. The post had a '#JC4PM' [Jeremy Corbyn for Prime Minister] hashtag on it.

'Her and the baby's health is all that matters. It is beyond belief that Mr Corbyn's supporters could act in such a sick manner. Nearly all the messages had pro-Corbyn markers on them or the Labour red rose emblem.

'What is so chilling is that this evil is co-ordinated. They found out my wife is pregnant from a recent Facebook post I did praising our local hospital when we went for a scan.

'They tracked down where I go jogging, and found my wife's Facebook page then posted abusive messages on it. When she closed it, they sent her offensive messages.'

The MP said his wife spent hours in tears after being bombarded with abuse even after she swapped her Facebook page to private

The MP, known for promoting women in politics and campaigning against drug abuse, said that within three days of being targeted by Labour MPs over his brief Commons spat with Mr Corbyn he had received thousands of abusive messages, mainly on Twitter.

They included ten violent threats, of which three were death threats. Police are investigating five of the messages.

One troll discussed how they would lie in wait when he went jogging in order to 'spear' him and 'record it on an iPhone'. Another called him a 'paedophile'.

Many of the messages came from the Labour strongholds Liverpool and Manchester.

The couple's horrific ordeal was revealed days after the official ethics watchdog said party leaders must do more to stop such abuse by groups such as Momentum.

The Committee On Standards in Public Life said that 68 per cent of Tory candidates were victims of social media abuse in the June Election, including threats of violence, sexual assault and damage to property, compared to 36 per cent of Labour candidates .

Last night, a spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: 'Jeremy has always condemned abuse and personal attacks, whether online, in the Commons chamber or in the media.'
Kristina Keneally has teased she will take up disgraced senator Sam Dastyari's seat after losing the Bennelong by-election to John Alexander.

Former premier Kristina Keneally failed to dislodge John Alexander when she fell short in the Bennelong by-election on Saturday night.

Ms Keneally secured a five per cent swing towards her but needed 10 per cent to beat Mr Alexander, who resigned amid the dual-citizenship saga which embroiled Parliament.

Labor's candidate Kristina Keneally concedes defeat against John Alexander for the seat of Bennelong at the Phoenix room at Club Ryde in Sydney

Mr Alexander resigned his seat in November after admitting he was a UK dual-citizen.

He renounced his British citizenship and recontested the seat, going head-to-head with Ms Keneally.

While she fell short of her target, the loss is not likely to have signalled the end of her career in politics.

She refused to rule out rumours she would replace Mr Dastyari in the Senate when she appeared on Sky News on Thursday.

Mr Dastyari (pictured) was forced to resign from his seat in the Senate over his relations with Chinese donor Huang Xiangmo

Mr Dastyari was forced to resign from his seat in the Senate over his relations with Chinese donor Huang Xiangmo.

Ms Keneally's move into Mr Dastyari's Senate seat would follow a war of words between the two.

She threatened Mr Dastyari with legal action if he did not withdraw comments about her relationship with disgraced powerbroker Eddie Obeid.

Ms Keneally has been grilled about her close ties with Mr Obeid - who was sentenced to five years in jail for misconduct in public office.

Labor candidate for Bennelong Kristina Keneally campaigning at Epping train station in Sydney

Ms Keneally remained upbeat about the future of the Labor Party when she conceded defeat on Saturday night.

'If this result was replicated at a general election, we would see 24-28 seats fall and, friends, that would mean a Labor government and would mean Bill Shorten as our prime minister,' she said.

Despite her confidence in the Labor party, the result put the Liberal party in a comfortable position.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull retained his one-seat majority in the lower-house.

The Bennelong by-election result also made any leadership spills unlikely.
An anti-fascist activist who died during a neo-Nazi rally in Virginia has had to have her final remains hidden after her mother, Susan Bro, 61, continues to receive threats from white nationalists.

Heather Heyer, 32, died while counter-protesting at a rally organized by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12.

Bro and other members of Heyer's family have continuously received threats from racist extremists since news of Heyer's views against racism and hate were made public knowledge, Bro told the Daily Beast.

'Its a symptom of hate in society that you should have to protect your childs grave, for Petes sake,' Bro said. 'So, Im protecting my child now.'

Scroll down for video...

Heather Heyer (R in photo), 32, who died protesting a neo-Nazi rally in Virginia, has had to have her final remains hidden after her mother, Susan Bro, 61, continues to receive threats from white nationalists

Heyer was killed after being struck by a car that was driven into a crowd in Charlottesville, where white nationalists had organized a rally around protests of the removal of a statue of a Confederate Army General.

Bro said her ashes have been interred in an undisclosed, unmarked location in order to protect the workers on site and family members while they visit her remains.

James Fields, 20, from Ohio, is accused of driving the vehicle that killed Heyer and injured dozens of others.

He has been charged with first degree murder, upgraded on Thursday from his initial charge of second-degree murder by District Judge Robert Downer, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported.

James Fields (R), 20, from Ohio, is accused of driving the vehicle that killed Heyer (L)

Fields is accused of driving his 2010 Dodge Challenger towards a crowd of protesters, then stopping, reverse, and speeding in the direction of the group of people

The difference in the charges could mean a difference between a possible life sentence for first-degree murder, and what could have been a sentence of 20-40 years in custody with the second-degree murder charge, if Fields is found guilty.

The video of Fields allegedly drive the vehicle that stuck Heyer was shown when he was informed of his increase in charges.

The video shows a man driving his 2010 Dodge Challenger towards a crowd of protesters, then stop, reverse, and then with the newly-created room to accelerate, speed in the direction of the group of people, of which Heyer was a part.

Warning: Graphic Content

Following the violence in Charlottesville, President Donald Trump did not initially condemn the white supremacists involved in the demonstration, but instead said there was wrongdoing on 'many sides.'

When the Daily Beast asked Bro if she felt Trump was at all to blame for her daughter's death, she said:

'Im starting to come to that conclusion because he definitely pushes forward a hateful agenda.

'There are family members that will possibly not have anything to do with me for saying so. Many family members are strong Trump supporters, and continue to be so despite everything they see.'

Bro is now running the Heather Heyer Foundation , still in its early stages of development, out of a small office at the Miller Law firm, where Heyer (pictured) used to work

Bro is now running the Heather Heyer Foundation, still in its early stages of development, out of a small office at the Miller Law firm, where Heyer used to work.

The organization's mission is to support the next generation of social-justice leaders.

'As long as Im doing something proactive, I can control the feelings, the emotions, a little better,' Bro said.

Judge Downer previously certified felony charges against three other participants in the Charlottesville rally, according to the Richmond-Times.

Those men are Richard Preston, 52, from Baltimore, who was captured on camera firing a gun at the rally, and Alex Jamos and Jacob Goodwin, who are charged in the battery of DeAndre Harris.

Fields' and the other men's charges will be brought before a grand jury on Monday, at which point trial dates are expected to be set.
A fourth woman has forward to accuse lawmaker Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) of inappropriate conduct while he ran for congress last year.

The Nevada Independent reported on Saturday that a 24-year-old woman claims Kihuen initiated unwanted advances towards her while she worked at a Washington DC firm that had ties with the freshman lawmaker's campaign.

The latest accusation comes after Kihuen announced that he would not seek reelection to represent Nevada's 4th congressional district in next year's race.

Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) denies all the allegations against him but says he will not seek reelection in next year's congressional race

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee on Saturday announced that it was investigating allegations that he sexually harassed multiple women.

The Nevada lawmaker denies all the allegations but said in a statement that they could be 'a distraction from a fair and thorough discussion of the issues in a reelection campaign.'

The Ethics Committee said Friday that it was aware of 'public allegations' against Kihuen, who was only elected last year.

The allegations made by the unidentified woman, who chose to remain anonymous so as not to jeopardize her career prospects, fits a pattern of behavior consistent with three other Kihuen accusers, according to The Nevada Independent.

The young woman says that Kihuen first asked her why she was single and if she lived alone. He then offered to help boost her career - a proposition she interpreted as a possible exchange of sexual favors for career advancement.

The woman said that Kihuen, who is not married, also engaged in inappropriate touching, such as rubbing her lower back and giving her a kiss on the cheek at a campaign fund-raiser.

'He was notorious. We work with [numerous members of Congress] and none of them have texted people in the office or kissed or done anything suggestive,' the woman told The Nevada Independent.

Michigan Representative John Conyers (R) and Minnesota Senator Al Franken both said they will resign following sexual harassment allegations

'He kissed me three times. He asked me if I live by myself, he asked me about my roommate, he told me he lives by himself, he asked where my apartment is, he asked me again how old I am, he asked me again if I don't have a boyfriend and then he told me I'm one of the most beautiful girls he's ever seen in D.C., and I said "that's a low bar,'" she told The Nevada Independent.

The first woman to come forward with allegations, published by BuzzFeed, said Kihuen made repeated sexual advances and touched her thigh twice without consent while she was working on his campaign team in 2016.

The House Ethics Committee is also carrying out an investigation into Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold (Pictured)

Another woman -- a Nevada lobbyist -- also said she was subjected to Kihuen's repeated advances when he was a member of the local assembly.

The third woman said she worked at the front desk at Kihuens Las Vegas condo in 2014 and 2015. The woman told Buzzfeed that during that time Kihuen would text her 'creepy and nasty' things, forcing her at one point to block his number.

Kihuen, 37, is the latest in a series of politicians brought down by harassment allegations.

Two other Democratic members of Congress have so far this year resigned or announced their intention to do so following accusations of sexual misconduct: Michigan Representative John Conyers and Minnesota Senator Al Franken.

The House Ethics Committee is also carrying out other investigations into two Republican politicians: Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold, accused of sexual harassment, and Trent Franks, who asked a female staff member to act as a surrogate for him and his wife. Franks resigned last week.

Texas Representative Joe Barton said he not seek reelection next year for his congressional seat after a naked photo of him circulated online.

And Republican Roy Moore's campaign for a US Senate seat in Alabama was delayed after allegations that he molested minors decades earlier emerged.
The Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company re-staged The Widow of the Desert dance performance at El-Gomhouriya Theatre, three years after it's debut.

The dance is based on Sunset Oasis (Wahat Al-Ghoroub), a novel by acclaimed contemporary author Bahaa Taher, and winner of many prestigious literary awards, including the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction, the Arabic Booker prize, in 2008.

Sunset Oasis takes place at the beginning of the British occupation of Egypt. The Siwa Oasis  located over 500km south-west from Cairo, close to the border with Libya  becomes a microcosm of the country and the characters epitomes of identities torn between constantly rivaling governing forces and human values and choices.

While Taher's book is written in the voice of "Mahmoud" as the protagonist, in Widow of the Desert, the director and choreographer Sally Ahmed focuses on Maleeka, a young widow or "ghoula" of the local community.

According to Siwa's practices, a ghoula has to stay at home for four months and 10 days to become cleansed of the spirit that had possessed her and brought death to her husband. The performance looks into Maleeka's innocence trapped within the harsh customs ruling the oasis of a distant desert, and rebeling against them.

The performance was held between 28 and 30 November.

Photos: Bassam Al Zoghby
Minnie Driver hit out at Matt Damon after he said being given an unwanted 'pat on the butt' is not the same as rape or child abuse

Minnie Driver has launched a withering attack on her former boyfriend Matt Damon after he spoke out on the sex scandal engulfing Hollywood.

The British actress vented her fury on Twitter after Damon said the recent wave of sexual misconduct allegations are not all equal.

He told ABC News in America: 'I believe there's a spectrum of behaviour. There's a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation.

'Both of those behaviours need to be confronted and eradicated, without question, but they shouldn't be conflated, right?'

'Good God, seriously?' Driver tweeted in response to his claim. 'There are so many men I love who do not frame the differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape as an excuse or worse  our problem. Such b*****ks.'

'It's interesting how men with all these opinions about women's differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and, as a result, systemically part of the problem,' adding that it was 'profoundly unsurprising'.

The mother-of-one said: 'You don't get to be hierarchical with abuse. And you don't get to tell women that because some guy only showed them their penis their pain isn't as great as a woman who was raped.'

Driver's career took off following the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting, written by Damon and Ben Affleck and produced by the alleged serial rapist Harvey Weinstein.

She and Damon dated for a year after that, until he dumped her on TV, telling Oprah Winfrey he was 'single'.

Last year Driver, now 47, told of her experience with sexual assault while on holiday in Greece as a 17-year-old.

She said: 'This guy elbow-grabbed me and said, 'You're going to dance with me.' I said 'No' and pulled my arm away.

'He grabbed me by the back of my hair. I tried to kick him and then he punched me.'

Damon, a father of four girls, was also attacked by actress Alyssa Milano who said: 'I have been a victim of each component of the sexual assault spectrum of which you speak. They all hurt.

'And they are all connected to a patriarchy intertwined with normalised, accepted  even welcomed  misogyny.

'We are not outraged because someone grabbed our asses We are outraged because we were made to feel this was normal. It's the micro that makes the macro.'

Both Weinstein and Affleck have been accused of sexually assaulting women, but deny the claims.

Damon has said he was aware that Weinstein was a womaniser, but added: 'This level of [alleged] criminal sexual predation is not something I ever thought was going on.'
A Queensland couple have been convicted of animal cruelty after their pet cat Oscar had his leg cut off without anaesthetic.

The Persian moggy received serious injuries after it was stuck by a car in December last year, before owner Dharme Kinsey cut off the animal's 'dead' front limb.

His partner, Amy Matthews, then callously joked to her daughter over text messages that the leg had been thrown onto a neighbour's roof and was 'looking at me'.

A Queensland couple have been convicted of animal cruelty after their pet Persian cat Oscar (pictured) had his leg amputated without anaesthetic by one of them

The couple pleaded guilty to two charges each in Bundaberg Magistrates Court for failing to look after Oscar, News Mail reports.

Details claimed the pair failed to provide medical care for his broken leg between December 10, 2016 and January 10, 2017.

While they also breached their duty of care over a period of 10 days this year when they failed to seek help to treat an infection Oscar developed following the amputation.

Oscar broke his right front leg after he was struck by the car, with the injury leaving flesh and blood exposed before Kinsey used a knife to remove it without pain relief.

Text messages from Matthews suggested the couple had worried about the RSPCA stepping in and didn't 'have money for vets'.

'There is flesh and bone exposed and (the) smell is bad,' Matthews wrote in one message.

Dharme Kinsey (right) reportedly cut off the animal's 'dead' front limb after it had been struck by a car, before his partner Amy Matthews (left) joked about it to her daughter

The text messages Matthews sent (pictured) claimed that the leg had been thrown onto a neighbours roof and was 'looking at me'

While in another she stated: 'Dad just cut cats leg off with a tommy hawk knife, didn't hurt him cause it was dead.'

Oscar was seized after RSPCA inspectors found him in a dog kennel with the exposed wound on January 10.

Matthews was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay another $1,100 in costs to the RSPCA, while Kinsey was also fined $1,000, ordered to pay $2,800 in vet fees and handed a three-month suspended jail sentence for his animal cruelty charge.

Speaking in court he said: 'I worked with race horses. I am remorseful. I considered it humane what I did. It's a one-off thing.'

The couple, who own another cat and two dogs, will have the animals seized after being banned from keeping pets until the end of 2025.
Murdered MP Jo Cox's husband has spoken about his struggle with her death and said every amazing moment he shares with his children is 'tinged with sadness.'

Brendan Cox is preparing to spend his second Christmas without his wife who was shot and stabbed to death by a Nazi sympathiser in Leeds in June 2016.

'The thing I find the hardest, the thing I wrestle with the most, is what Jo is missing out on,' he said.

Murdered MP Jo Cox's husband has spoken about his struggle with her death and said every amazing moment he shares with his children is 'tinged with sadness.'

Mr Cox said: 'The thing I find the hardest, the thing I wrestle with the most, is what Jo is missing out on.'

In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, the 41-year-old described taking his children Cuillin, six, and Lejla, four, to see Matilda The Musical.

He said: 'That moment of the kids' wide-eyed awe and wonder was beautiful to see.

'But all of those amazing moments are tinged with sadness because I love who my kids are, what they're experiencing and their joy in life, but I also know that their mother is missing out on all of it.'

Mr Cox said the shock of losing Jo insulated him and kept him bust in the first year after her death and that living without her is getting harder rather than easier.

He misses her most when he thinks about all the plans they had together.

'I don't have anybody to make that plan with any more, and that's very stark,' he said.

Asked if he had considered counselling, Mr Cox said he prefers to deal with his pain in his own head, in his own way. But he said he never felt alone because of his children.

Jo Cox had been Labour MP for Batley and Spen, the Yorkshire constituency in which she was born, for just over a year when she was killed on June 16, 2016, in the middle of the EU referendum campaign. She was 41; energetic, smiley, compassionate; a wife, and mum to children then aged five and three.

The horror of her death defies comprehension. Thomas Mair, a 52-year-old loner and Nazi sympathiser, riled by her support for refugees, shot her outside her constituency surgery then stabbed her repeatedly with a dagger, saying: 'Britain first. Britain will always come first.'

Jo's last words, to her two assistants, were typically selfless: 'Get away, let him hurt me. Don't let him hurt you.'

Brendan, 38, recalls that awful day when his life changed for ever: the call from Jo's assistant telling him she had been attacked; his race to catch the next train from the family's home in London. Then the dreadful finality of the news from Jo's sister, Kim, as the train travelled north: 'I'm sorry, Brendan. She's not made it.'

Even as he confronted the unimaginable reality of his wife's death, Brendan knew she would want him to envelop their children in love, and unite the country against the hatred that killed her.

Brendan Cox is preparing to spend his second Christmas without his wife (pictured) who was shot and stabbed to death by a Nazi sympathiser in Leeds in June 2016

Jo Cox was 41; energetic, smiley, compassionate; a wife, and mum to children then aged five and three (pictured above)

First, he had to break the news to Cuillin and Lejla, by then in the care of his parents in Reading, and still unaware of their mum's death. Overwhelmed by the dreadful enormity of the task, he first sought advice from an expert on child bereavement.

'He explained they needed to process the fact that their mum was never coming back, so I knew I mustn't soften the truth or dress it up in a mystical way that would confuse them,' he says.

'They had to understand the finality of it, but it's hard when you're very little  I find it hard myself. When I told them, it was almost unbearable to end the charmed innocence of their lives.'

A year after his wife's death in June, Mr Cox told the Daily Mail how he spent half term at his cottage on the Welsh borders with his two young children, Cuillin, six, and Lejla, four.

The absence of Jo left an aching emptiness: the previous May had been their last glorious holiday there as a complete family.

'Jo had talked about it being the happiest time of our lives,' he recalls, 'and when we went back this time we slept in a tepee, canoed and made jam and elderflower champagne as we'd always done, and it was idyllic.

Even as he confronted the unimaginable reality of his wife's death, Brendan knew she would want him to envelop their children in love, and unite the country against the hatred that killed her

Brendan, 41, described taking his children Cuillin, six, and four-year-old Lejla to see Matilda The Musical. He said: 'That moment of the kids' wide-eyed awe and wonder was beautiful to see'

'Then, when we were leaving, I watched the kids running along the riverbank holding hands, and it was a moment both of happiness and the most acute pain, because you realise what they're missing and what Jo's missing, and that's the hardest thing to bear. I cried because of how blissful the week had been, and how big her absence. There's no fixing it. It's chronic and terminal. Jo is gone for ever.

'We went to Kenya at Easter, and I remember Cuillin saying . . .' He pauses, blinks away tears and continues, 'I remember him saying he wished his mum hadn't died as she would have enjoyed it so much.'

'We talk about her all the time. She's always present and I cry with the children and cry alone. It's the permanence of her absence I still find hard to grasp. For six months after she'd died, I'd still pick up my phone and start writing a text to her.

'Today, I don't think I've stopped thinking about her for more than a minute. I feel like a walking wound, and grief hits me in vicious waves when I least expect it.

'But I'm also defiant. I'm determined my kids will live extraordinary lives full of love and adventures, as Jo would have wanted.'
How they cheered. As the tellers formally announced the Governments humiliating defeat in Wednesday nights Brexit vote, Labour MPs punched the air and broke into a spontaneous  and unparliamentary  round of applause.

Around the country the cries of triumph were echoed by the bloodied but unbroken army of Remainers. This was the turning point they had been waiting for. The moment Her Majestys Opposition and a handful of brave Tory rebels raised the prospect of stalling, and then reversing, Britains exit from the European Union.

They should have saved their breath. Those same voices will soon need to be raised again, this time in condemnation. Because Labour is about to betray the 48 per cent  or rather, Jeremy Corbyn is about to betray them.

Corbyn is not nudging Labours Brexit position along. Hes simply stringing the Remainers along. And hes doing it very successfully. Partially thats because of the sterling work Keir Starmer has been doing in his role as his leaders useful Brexit idiot

The most significant political moment of the week did not come in the House of Commons, but in a briefing delivered by the Labour leaders office to The Guardian newspaper. The paper reported on Tuesday how attempts by Shadow Ministers to firm up their partys stance on Brexit would be rebuffed  Corbyns team believe Labours General Election strategy of appealing to both Leavers and Remainers worked well and that spelling out a more specific position now would risk alienating key groups, it explained.

YOU have to admire the chutzpah of Corbyn and his apparatchiks. They are not even bothering to mask their mendacity any longer. The days of lauding the Absolute Boys supposedly inviolate principles, and his unerring ability to position himself on the right side of history, are over. Now they shamelessly flaunt their ability to triangulate on Brexit in a way that would make Tony Blair blush.

Though in truth Corbyns strategy is not built around triangulation, but upon nurturing false expectation. To spell out a clear position now would be foolish, is the line. It would unnecessarily antagonise one of the two warring Remain/Leave factions. The implication to the Remainers is that all they have to do is wait just a little bit longer, at which point their hero will sally forth and put the Brexit dragon to the sword.

But he wont. Corbyn has absolutely no intention of getting his hands dirty slaying anything.

A definitive position from Labour will be no less politically perilous if unveiled in seven or eight months time than if it were unveiled tomorrow. Corbyn is not nudging Labours Brexit position along. Hes simply stringing the Remainers along.

And hes doing it very successfully. Partially thats because of the sterling work Keir Starmer has been doing in his role as his leaders useful Brexit idiot.

Every couple of months Starmer will emerge with a new, beautifully nuanced position. That position is then lauded as a game-changer that proves Labour is dropping its policy of Brequidistance.

Right up until the moment Corbyn himself is asked to endorse his Shadow Ministers stance. At which point he demurs, and Brequidistance reasserts itself.

Corbyn is also being ably assisted by the Remain lobby itself. Their passion is matched only by their capacity for self-delusion.

They still allow themselves to believe that Corbyn is one of them, despite the evidence of the referendum, where he acted as a poorly disguised fifth columnist for the Leave campaign. Despite the haste with which he urged the Government to trigger Article 50. Despite his repeated commitment to respecting the referendum result. Despite his banning a debate and vote on Brexit at the Labour Party conference. Despite statements from lifelong friends such as Tariq Ali that he was completely opposed to the EU and would have openly campaigned to leave if he hadnt accidentally found himself leading the Labour Party.

But paradoxically  with last weeks Government defeat  the Remainers are about to be wrenched from their fools paradise. Parliament has seized back control, and a showdown is coming.

A binary vote on the deal  or non-deal  that Mrs May is about to negotiate as we enter the second stage of talks will be held. And at that point Remainers will expect Corbyn and Labour to unambiguously commit themselves to stopping Brexit in its tracks.

BUT he has no intention of doing that. Im told there is already talk within Corbyns team of seeking to table amendments to whatever deal May negotiates  thereby improving rather than wrecking Brexit.

But as the EU made clear on Friday, that option will not be on the table.

No, Luxembourg premier Xavier Bettel told reporters when asked if a deal could be renegotiated.

Downing Street officials also confirmed to me that any deal would effectively have the status of a treaty, and therefore could not be amended without the whole agreement being invalidated.

So Corbyn will fudge again, at which point the scales will finally fall from the eyes of the hardcore Remainers. And their cheers will turn into howls of rage.

But it will be too late. Corbyn has played them. He suckered them into believing a vote for him was a vote for derailing Brexit. Then he pocketed those votes, and said: Yeah, about that stopping Brexit stuff its tricky.

Wednesday night was a great moment for the Remainers. They should enjoy it while they can  because Jeremy Corbyn is about to betray them.
The Ministry of Defence cannot afford to buy the stealth fighters and warships it had planned unless it slashes a staggering 9.8 billion from its budget.

MPs have warned top brass that saving such a figure  more than a quarter of its annual 37 billion spending  would be unrealistic without drastically affecting Britain's fighting capabilities.

Our Armed Forces have already been decimated in recent years, and a planned 178 billion shopping list of new hardware would require savings that the Defence Select Committee fears are unattainable.

The Ministry of Defense has a 178billion shopping list of new hardware including F-35 stealth fighters, but has been warned it must make 'unrealistic' savings to afford all of it

The MoD plans to buy kit including F-35 Lightning fighters, at 65 million apiece, to go on its two new aircraft carriers, and replacements for eight Type 23 frigates, among many other items.

But the plans are now at risk after question marks were raised over how they would be paid for.

Last night a Tory member of the Select Committee threatened to give Theresa May an ultimatum.

Johnny Mercer, who previously served as a British Army officer in Afghanistan, told The Mail on Sunday: 'I intend to make it politically impossible for this Prime Minister to reduce spending or capability any further.

'There is no point talking about a global, assertive Britain in a post-Brexit world without funding Armed Forces capable of delivering it.

'Political influence goes hand-in-hand with military capability. We need to have a grown-up, informed debate about what we want from this nation's military and then put that against a long-term funding solution.'

The Army's full-time strength has fallen from 102,000 to 78,000 soldiers since 2012, the RAF has lost 280 aircraft since 2010, and the Navy's fleet of frigates and destroyers has been cut from 33 to 19 since 2000.

A Tory minister has said he will make it impossible for Theresa May to reduce the military's capabilities any further (pictured, a Type 23 frigate, which was due to be replaced)

The MPs' report is heavily critical of the MoD's sums, saying there was a 'lack of clarity' as to where the savings would come from.

It says: 'Additional steps should be taken to explain the source of the efficiency savings We require greater clarity as to the difference between genuine improvements and efficiency and cuts in personnel, equipment and capability.

'The affordability of the plan is now at greater risk than at any time making transparency of the utmost importance.'

Defence experts say the plunge in the value of sterling following the vote to leave the EU had added to the cost of buying equipment from international manufacturers.

A 30 billion black hole in defence spending plans has already been widely reported. The MoD is already seeking 3 billion a year in savings within a decade to plug this gap.

The MoD said last night: 'In the face of intensifying threats, our 178 billion Equipment Plan continues to deliver the cutting-edge kit to keep the UK safe.

'We are making good progress towards our efficiency target. We always look to provide the best value for money for the taxpayer, with all savings reinvested in defence.'
Police have revealed two suspects in an alleged 'gangland vendetta' murder of a man - but one is dead and the other is already in prison.

Hamad Assaad was shot 22 times in Sydney's south-west in October last year.

Two gunmen allegedly ambushed him on his driveway, at Georges Hall, as the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad conducted surveillance on his house.

Osama Hawat is accused of spying on Assaad in the days leading up to his death. He was charged with murder and participating in a criminal group and was denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old was seen with Barakat and Ahmad the day after Assaad's shooting.

Documents tendered to court by police, relied on in order to link Hawat to his alleged involvement in the murder, identified underworld figures Kemel Barakat and Ahmad Ahmad as suspects in the murder, theDaily Telegraph reported.

Barakat was shot dead in his home in May while Ahmad was arrested in connection to an international drug syndicate.

Hamad Assaad was allegedly shot 22 times in Sydney 's south-west in October last year

Underworld figures Kemel Barakat (left) and Ahmad Ahmad (right) are suspects in the murder

Osama Hawat is accused of spying on Assaad in the days leading up to his death. He was charged with murder and participate in a criminal group

Assaad's execution-style murder on October 25 was over in 10 seconds. Two gunmen allegedly told a young boy standing in the doorway of the home to go away before unleashing.

Detectives outside his Sturt Avenue house tried in vain to save Assaad, who died at the scene.

Justice Stephen Campbell told the court it was an unusual feature of the case that neither Barakat or Ahmad were charged over the murder. To date no charges have been laid against Ahmad in respect of the killing.

'One of them is dead and the other is in custody awaiting trial on other serious offences,' he said.

Assaad's execution-style murder on October 25 was over in 10 seconds. Two gunmen allegedly told a young boy standing in the doorway of the home to go away before unleashing

Wally Ahmad (pictured) was also a suspect in the case. He was gunned down outside a cafe in Sydney's west last year. Assaad was a key suspect in the shooting

Wally Ahmad, the brother of Ahmad Ahmad, was also a suspect in the case. He was gunned down outside a cafe in Sydney's west last year. Assaad was a key suspect in that shooting.

The court heard that intercepted phone calls between Hawat and his wife recorded Hawat making 'partial or implicit' admissions of involvement.

Police allege his wife dropped his mobile phone in the toilet when they raided his house. However, she claims this was because of private images.

Hawat's barrister told the court the case against his client was 'extraordinarily weak'.

'There is no evidence that we are aware of any of this or that we are involved in any meaningful way with any Middle Eastern organised crime group,' he said.

His bail was refused on grounds that if he were released people may attempt to take justice into their own hands.
A witness has described the 'horrific' moment a balcony collapsed at a Tupperware Christmas party in Melbourne, leaving two women dead and 17 more injured.

Two women, aged 37 and 59, were confirmed dead on Sunday morning after the balcony collapsed at a Balinga Court home in Doncaster East, Melbourne's northeast, about 10.30pm on Saturday.

More than 30 people were standing on the rear balcony when it collapsed and trapped some of the revellers beneath.

Neighbour Andrew Stone described the incident as 'horrific'.

'The group got up to the balcony to take a group photo, which is when it fell down,' he told the Herald Sun.

More than 30 people were standing on the timber balcony at the rear of the Balinga Court home (pictured), in Doncaster East, when it collapsed

The Doncaster East home is pictured before the tragic incident which killed two women

'People were screaming, I heard crashing.'

Mr Stone said the screams were so loud, he initially thought it was a brawl.

'People were walking around with blood on them, crying, it was devastating really,' he said.

Ambulance Victoria said it was forced to activate its major emergency response plan to appropriately deal with the incident.

There were 17 people rushed to hospital with varying injuries, and 12 more treated at the scene.

Ambulance Victoria said 10 women and seven men aged between 20 and 69-years-old sustained soft tissue injuries, fractures and lacerations and were transported to Box Hill, Austin and Maroondah hospitals.

'This is a very tragic incident for those involved and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones at this time,' State Health Commander Paul Holman said.

Victoria Police are seen outside the Doncaster East home in Melbourne on Sunday morning

Two Tupperware vehicles are seen parked outside the home the morning after the balcony collapse

Two women are dead and 17 people have been injured after a balcony collapsed during a Christmas party in Melbourne (pictured) Saturday night

Victoria Police said they believe more than 30 people were standing on the timber balcony when it collapsed

One, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene (pictured) while the other died in hospital

A distressed appearing woman is on the phone surrounded by emergency services

Photos show dozens of emergency service vehicles lining the streets of the residential area with people flooding to the road

Several people were also trapped after the balcony collapsed at about 10.30pm in Doncaster East (pictured), about 22 kilometres east of Melbourne

Police believe more than 30 people were standing on the balcony of the home when it collapsed about 10.30pm yesterday, in Balinga Court, Doncaster East

Residents speak to emergency service workers outside the home after the balcony collapse

Photos show dozens of emergency service vehicles lining the streets of the residential area with people flooding on to the road.

Furniture including a barbecue and fridge were on the balcony when it collapsed, leaving 'walking wounded' in the street.

One witness told The Herald Sun he was shocked by the tragedy.

'This is just a typical quiet Eastern suburbs neighbourhood,' he said.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police are seen taking a statement from a man outside the home in the late hours of Saturday night

Police officers take statements following the tragedy which has left two people dead

Twelve ambulances, police, SES and fire brigades all responded to the scene

Acting Superintendent Kerin Moloney said the tragedy of the collapse was 'magnified' because it was so close to Christmas.

He said the incident was so horrific personnel who attended the scene were offered counselling.

'It was a really tragic incident for all emergency services who have attended and also those who were present at the party,' he said.

'All the police that have attended have been offered peer support and also the SES and ambulance officers.'
This is the brazen moment a woman allegedly stole a cancer charity tin from a Queensland bakery.

The 53-year-old allegedly took the yellow 'duck' donation box - which was raising money for Princess Alexandra Hospital - from a Cleveland bakery on Thursday.

She was arrested after the shop's owner Ken Brown, 62, spotted her later and gave chase, with members of the public helping detain her until police arrived.

This is the moment a 53-year-old woman allegedly stole a donation box from a Queensland bakery on Thursday

Police allege the Thornlands woman stole the box after entering the Bloomfield Street store around 6.15pm, while employees where out the back.

They then claim she returned to the area around an hour later with the owner identifying her from CCTV footage before demanding the duck's return.

Mr Brown said he was 'so angry' when he saw her return and gave chase, before calling for help from passers-by, Yahoo7 reports.

A group of witnesses helped corral the woman while they awaited police, despite the woman allegedly producing 'scissors' and spitting on one of the good Samaritans.

The yellow Duck donation box, installed at the Cleveland shop, had been raising money for cancer research at Princess Alexandra Hospital

The woman was arrested after the shop's owner Ken Brown, 62, spotted her return to the area and gave chase, with members of the public (pictured) helping detain her until police arrived

Mr Brown told the publication that he had installed the donation box because the cause had been close to his heart, with the hospital having helped his daughter.

'She's got a pacemakers and defibrillator, she's 34 and she's had to go through a hell of a lot,' he said.

He has suggested the alleged offender visit the hospital and apologise to the cancer patients the money was meant to help.

'There are kids, who are two and three years old who have no hair, he said.

The 53-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of stealing, entering a premise with intent and resisting arrest.

She is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 18 next year.

Mr Brown (pictured) told the publication that he had installed the donation box because the cause had been close to his heart, with the hospital having helped his daughter
A new Cabinet rift over the EU loomed last night after Philip Hammond was accused of backing Brussels moves to delay Brexit by two years.

The Chancellor faces a showdown with Brexit cheerleaders Boris Johnson and Michael Gove tomorrow after saying the UK would have to obey rulings by European judges until 2021  two years after we are due to leave the EU.

The latest spat came after Mr Hammond said yesterday that although technically the UK would leave the EU customs union and single market when we leave the EU in March 2019, a two-year transition would replicate the status quo. Trade and immigration rules would stay the same until 2021.

China's Premier Li Keqian meets Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

Asked during a trade mission to China if Britain would still be subject to European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings between 2019 and 2021, Mr Hammond replied bluntly: In a word, yes. His comments revived the feud between Mr Hammond, who favours a so-called soft Brexit deal and Mr Johnson and Mr Gove who want a hard Brexit.

After approving the start of Phase Two of EU exit talks last week, Brussels laid down strict terms. They include abiding by ECJ rules during the transition  including any new rulings  even though Britain will no longer have a say over such judgments. The EU said Britain could not sign new trade deals with non-EU nations until after March 2021  and the prospect of a full UK-EU trade deal post 2021 is merely a political declaration and not a firm pledge.

The Cabinet divisions are expected to surface tomorrow when Theresa May holds her first discussion on the Governments vision of Britains post-Brexit end state with her war Cabinet of key Ministers. Former Brexit Minister David Jones urged Mr Johnson and Mr Gove to rein in Mr Hammond during the Cabinets Brexit discussions. Once again, the Chancellor is too ready to do Brussels bidding, he told The Mail on Sunday. Mrs May must overrule him and Brexit supporters will expect Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to rein in the Chancellor and get him to abandon his bid to overturn the referendum result.

Fellow anti-EU Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: We cannot be an EU colony until 2021.

Asked during a trade mission to China if Britain would still be subject to European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings between 2019 and 2021, Mr Hammond replied bluntly: In a word, yes.

Mr Hammond has separately clashed with Brexit Secretary David Davis over his support for a Canada-style trade agreement, which the Chancellor thinks is bonkers because it would not align Britain closely enough to the EU.

In the leaked letter written by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to Mrs May in October, they stated that during the transition period there should be no question of the UK being obliged to implement significant new EU rules.

According to one official, Mrs May could try to head off the ECJ transition revolt by insisting Britain would only obey new rules discussed before Britain leaves the EU in 2019.

During his visit to China, Mr Hammond announced that David Cameron had taken a job leading an investment initiative agreed between the UK and the country. The ex-PM will take charge of the 750 million fund to improve roads, ports and rail networks linking China with its trade partners.
The NHS has introduced a talking cup to stop hospital patients becoming dehydrated.

But the 17 beaker, which flashes lights and plays a message reminding the sick to have a drink, has renewed fears that technology is robbing patients of human contact with nurses.

Joyce Robins, of pressure group Patient Concern, said: When you are in hospital you can feel lost, deserted and alone. Patients need a careful human eye on them. No flashing cup will replace that.

Ellie van Leeuwen, 25, who invented the cup, said: It encourages engagement with nurses because if theres a flashing light, the nurse knows a patient hasnt drunk for a good period of time.

She also warned that the mug could break, leaving no sign that the patient was not drinking.

Nurses are meant to keep tabs on how much their patients are drinking, but dehydration is linked to up to 1,000 deaths a year. Last year a report found that Sean Turner, four, died after nurses left him so dehydrated that his parents found him sucking on wet wipes.

The Droplet cup has been introduced at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton as a cheap and simple solution. An informal trial indicated patients who used it drank 40 per cent more than those who did not.

Ellie van Leeuwen, 25, who invented the cup, said: It encourages engagement with nurses because if theres a flashing light, the nurse knows a patient hasnt drunk for a good period of time.

The 17 beaker, which flashes lights and plays a message reminding the sick to have a drink, has renewed fears that technology is robbing patients of human contact with nurses

She came up with the idea after her grandmother Elizabeth, 89, ended up severely dehydrated from a short stay in hospital for a hip replacement.

She recalled: She didnt want to bother anybody, so she only really drank when we came to visit her.

Dr Eileen Burns, of the British Geriatrics Society, said the cup could help older people and those with dementia who might not realise they were getting dehydrated, which can lead to kidney problems, urinary tract infections and delirium.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, added: Its always exciting to see older people at the heart of new technologies. However, they could never be a proper substitute for the human touch.

The Mail on Sunday has previously reported how nursing lecturers warned they risked losing human contact through technology such as remote pulse readers. And we revealed how the introduction of Do Not Disturb tabards, designed to let nurses complete their drugs rounds uninterrupted, had triggered concerns that patients with genuine urgent needs would be deterred from bothering staff.
Farmers are being terrorised by mystery creatures ripping open cages, killing animals and bellowing chilling howls in the night.

Some blamed a pack of wild dogs, but others insisted mythical creatures called Yowies were the culprit and were determined to find proof.

Dave Taylor, from Sunshine Coast Yowie Research, is hunting the Australian bigfoot after numerous reports from worried local residents.

Yowie hunts claim these footprints found on Saturday night are evidence yowies are terrorising farms on the Sunshine Coast

Mystery creatures are killing livestock and bellowing chilling howls in the night (earlier alleged sighting pictured)

'We have over the last few weeks had countless reports of howls, smells and other evidence... it can be a very aggressive area,' he said.

Mr Taylor and several others hunted the yowie on Saturday night between Wamuran and Woodford, west of Caboolture, and found fresh prints.

'It came from the bush, which was really thick at that point, and walked around for a few steps and disappeared,' he said.

'The initial footprint was deep in the ground like it jumped from the bush onto the track and then disappeared with no other prints anywhere.'

The group's hunt followed three guinea fowls being torn to pieces when their cage was ripped open on a strawberry farm in the area

A branch the group claims was snapped by a wandering yowie in the bush

Mr Taylor said the prints could have come from a juvenile yowie and were too broad and arched too differently to be from a human.

'We found a lot of fresh breaks in trees and a possible print as we headed back out of the track we found a branch laid across our track that wasn't there on the way in,' he said.

The group's hunt followed three guinea fowls being torn to pieces when their cage was ripped open on a strawberry farm in the area.

Neighbours reported the birds being thrown around by 'something invisible', leaving only blood and feathers behind along with a 'huge paw print'.

Another supposed sighting of a yowie from earlier this year on the Sunshine Coast

Neighbours reported the birds being thrown around by 'something invisible', leaving only blood and feathers behind along with a 'huge paw print'

Mr Taylor said two months ago several sheep were also taken and another local claimed to have seen a yowie walking around in the nearby Glasshouse Mountains.

Then two weeks ago a couple staying at the Beerburrum Motel, next to the mountains, said they heard strange howls.

'The howls were too high pitched and went on for too long to be a dog, which is what you usually hear for a yowie,' Mr Taylor said.

'You can tell the difference because the dogs sound scared when we heard them last night instead of aggressive when they bark back at them.'

Two months ago several sheep were also taken and another local claimed to have seen a yowie walking around in the nearby Glasshouse Mountains (earlier alleged sighting pictured)

Then two weeks ago a couple staying at the Beerburrum Motel, next to the mountains, said they heard strange howls

The group planned new hunts soon after what they saw on Saturday night and called on residents to contact them with any sightings

Mr Taylor said the Sunshine Coast was a yowie hotspot and they would move slowly around the bush along the coast and do a whole loop of more than 80km in about two years.

'When they come back to a location and new estates have been built it causes a lot of conflict,' he said.

The group planned new hunts soon after what they saw on Saturday night and called on residents to contact them with any sightings.

'Keep a eye on your livestock and make sure you lock your animals up including your dogs if you see something outside and not sure what it is please do not investigate,' he said.
The Government has been accused of showing 'total disrespect' to British troops who died in the Falklands War after calling the islands by their Argentinian name.

The Home Office, the NHS and tax officials at HMRC all used the incendiary name the 'Malvinas' on official websites. Furious islanders and war veterans last night forced the departments to issue apologies.

Last night Simon Weston, who suffered extensive burns in the 1982 conflict that claimed the lives of 255 British troops, told The Mail on Sunday: 'If it is a mistake, this is a very stupid and crass mistake.

Soldiers who fought in the 1982 Falklands War reacted with fury after it emerged government documents referred to the islands as Malvinas, their Argentinian name

'Any mention of the Malvinas raises the argument for the Argentinians and weakens the positions of the islanders.

'They don't deserve this and shouldn't be treated in this way. If Whitehall begin thinking using the term is acceptable, then we must put a stop to it.'

The Fit For Travel website, run by NHS Scotland to offer advice to British travellers abroad, has been using the term 'Malvinas' alongside 'the Falklands' for years.

After questions from The Mail on Sunday, the term was deleted. NHS Scotland claimed the listing was an 'error' and 'apologised for the oversight'.

HMRC used the contentious name in its Tax Credits Manual to taxpayers, while the Home Office included it in advice on getting visas to enter Britain.

Patrick Watts, a resident of the islands and former head of Falklands Radio, told The Mail on Sunday last night: 'I find this use of the word 'Malvinas' to be most worrying and inappropriate.

'It appears to be a recognition by the British Government of the long-held, spurious name given to the islands by Argentina.

'It shows total disrespect to the British Servicemen who lost their lives in 1982 and will be viewed as an insult by those British veterans.'

Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope explodes after being hit by an Argentine bomb during the conflict, in which 255 people were killed

Sukey Cameron, who represents the Falkland Islands in the UK, said her government would be making an official complaint.

She said: 'The term is the Falkland Islands. We have raised this with the Foreign Office and will continue to raise it every time this happens. They have to tell their fellow government departments.

'There is a misunderstanding that the term Malvinas is the Spanish translation of the Falklands. It's not, it's an Argentine term. The Spanish name is the Islas Falkland.'

Both the Home Office and HMRC last night apologised for their errors and promised to only use the term 'Falkland Islands' in future.

The Government has now purged any mention of the 'Malvinas' on official websites.

A spokesman said: 'The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, nor about the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination.'
Boris Johnson and Michael Gove have been warned by Brussels that their dream of breaking free from European laws and then securing a favourable trade deal with the European Union is going to be dashed by negotiators.

Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson and Environment Secretary Mr Gove used a secret letter to the Prime Minister to argue for a Singapore-style future for the UK, in which taxes and red tape are cut to attract investment.

But last night, a senior source close to the EUs negotiating team told The Mail on Sunday that the Brexiteers would have to choose and choose quickly between cutting all regulation and having a trade deal.

Boris Johnson and Michael Gove have been warned by Brussels that their dream of breaking free from European laws and then securing a favourable trade deal with the European Union is going to be dashed by negotiators

Unless you are North Korea, there is no such thing as absolute sovereignty in the modern world, the source said. Mr Gove and Mr Johnson can go whistle if they think they will be able to deregulate the UK and have a trade deal with the EU after Brexit.

The source pointed to votes last week in the European Parliament, which will have a veto on the final Brexit deal.

MEPs were overwhelmingly in favour of demanding that the UK must adhere to EU policies on tax, competition, the environment and workers rights as a condition of any trade deal.

Ukip MEP Nathan Gill said: It is quite clear that the vast majority of UK MEPs are not representing the vast majority of their voters but are instead siding with federalist Europhiles who seem to think Brexit is about making the UK a colony of the EU.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, said he would support new legislation to prevent all but essential services operating during the Christian festival

A senior bishop has called for a crackdown on internet shopping on Christmas Day after The Mail on Sunday discovered that major companies are planning massive online sales for December 25.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, said he would support new legislation to prevent all but essential services operating during the Christian festival so people are not tempted away from precious time with family and friends.

Retail giants such as Amazon, Debenhams and John Lewis are among those preparing to launch New Year internet sales as early as Christmas Eve, slashing prices by up to 66 per cent.

Experts predict many millions will go online and spend record amounts on Christmas Day, dwarfing the 2.5 million expected to attend Church of England services on one of Christianitys holiest days.

Bishop Cottrell suggested that companies should voluntarily postpone their sales.

But he added: How you shut down the internet for a day I dont know, but if anyone has an idea I would certainly back it in the House of Lords. The 24/7 way of living, with no distinction between day and night, days of the week or seasons of the year, diminishes us.

Retail giants such as Amazon, Debenhams and John Lewis are among those preparing to launch New Year internet sales as early as Christmas Eve, slashing prices by up to 66 per cent

And in further evidence of the erosion of Christianity, a survey has found that nearly a third of primary schools have dropped or watered down traditional nativity plays, partly because of fears of offending non-Christians or non-believers.

A poll of more than 200 parents by social media site Mumsnet found 28 per cent of primary schools were either holding secular Christmas shows or had updated the traditional story by adding themes such as aliens or Strictly Come Dancing.
New letters have been uncovered in which Michael Stone, pictured, claims to have been the victim of a 'deliberate fit-up' that his seen him locked up for more than 20 years

Convicted killer Michael Stone has reportedly said he would rather starve to death than confess to the murder of Lin and Megan Russell.

New letters have been uncovered in which the criminal claims to have been the victim of a 'deliberate fit-up' that his seen him locked up for more than 20 years.

It comes after Stone's lawyers claimed serial killer Levi Bellfield told a fellow prisoner that it was actually him who committed the murders.

Lin Russell, 45, and her daughters Megan, six, and Josie, nine, were tied up and attacked with a hammer in Kent in 1996 - with the older girl being the only survivor.

Stone was found guilty in 2001 largely on the strength of a disputed cell confession and has fought a protracted legal battle to clear his name.

The new letters could cause more doubts about Stone's original conviction over the killings, which he denies to this day.

According to the Mirror, he wrote: 'There is no way ever on this earth I would accept responsibility and guilt for murders that I did not commit.

'I'd starve to death before confessing to murder I never committed.'

In the letters, he also claimed to have lost privileges in prison because he refused to accept responsibility for the crimes.

Stone, now 57, also said he was the victim of a 'hate campaign' by Kent Police and demanded 'justice'.

He added: 'I have stated over and over again that my case is riddled with police corruption and 99 per cent of the evidence was fabricated. When I do eventually win my appeal there will be a big cry out what's been going on and an enormous public enquiry.

Lin Russell, 45, and her daughters Megan, six, and Josie, nine, were tied up and attacked with a hammer in Kent in 1996 - with the older girl being the only survivor.

The case has been the subject of renewed interest after serial killer Levi Bellfield is said to have confessed to the hammer murders.

Bellfield is said to have admitted the crimes to rapist Richard Baker in Frankland Prison, County Durham, where he is locked up alongside Stone.

But doubts have been cast over the apparent confession due to evidence from a police investigation in 2008.

Bellfield's ex-wife Jo Collings said she and her then-husband were at a 25th birthday party in Twickenham, southwest London at the time of the hammer murders.

Collings, who testified against her former partner during his trial, said there was 'absolutely no way' that Bellfield travelled to Kent on the day of the killings.

Bellfield also branded the allegations from Stone's lawyers the work of a 'fantasist' and 'compulsive liar'.

The alibi was revealed by Colin Sutton, the detective responsible for catching Bellfield for his numerous attacks on women in London.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield is said to have admitted the crimes to rapist Richard Baker in Frankland Prison, County Durham, where he is locked up alongside Stone

He told the Sunday Times: 'The testimony Collings gave us was that she believed Bellfield could not have committed the crime.

'She said he was at a birthday party that day. She was a witness for the prosecution in his trial and would be the very last person who would try to protect Bellfield.

'It was deemed credible enough at the time to rule him out.'

Stone's lawyers announced they had submitted a dossier of new evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which could refer the matter to the Court of Appeal, which has the power to quash convictions.

Police have dismissed the basis of his appeal.

Stone's solicitor Paul Bacon said: 'We have seen evidence of a full confession by Levi Bellfield that he has admitted the Russell murders and in the confession Bellfield describes how he came across Lin Russell and her two children.

'How he attacked them with a hammer and he explains his motivation for the killing. The confession is detailed and has a number of facts that are not in the public domain.

'We now have an independent witness who has seen Levi Bellfield close to the scene of the murders at about the time they were committed and importantly we have identified forensic material from the scene of the murders which corroborates the confession made by Levi Bellfield.

'The Russell murders by Levi Bellfield fits perfectly with his modus operandi. He is a man known to attack and murder women. His weapon of choice is a hammer.'

In a recording sent to national media this evening, Bellfield claimed the 'vile and untrue' allegations came from a conversation he had with serial rapist Richard Baker.

Bellfield, who is now known as Yusuf Rahim, said: 'It appears Mr Baker has made an allegation of a so-called cell confession.

'In my view such vile, untrue allegations don't warrant a response. They are what they are - the words of a lonely... rapist who craves the spotlight.'

He alleges Baker was 'obsessed with crime' and watched BBC documentary The Chillenden Murders before he came forward alleging Bellfield has confessed.

Bellfield is said to have told him he had spotted the Russells walking home and approached them with a hammer. Mrs Russell had begged him not to hurt her children.

According to the prisoner, Bellfield said he struck her first and then Josie; then their dog was killed followed by Megan.

Even though he wore gloves, Bellfield was reportedly worried about DNA advances, saying 'my life in jail would be over if they could prove it was me' and that it would 'tear his mother in two'.
Britain is handing aid to an organisation headed by a wealthy Chinese-born businesswoman who seeks to help Chinese manufacturers move their factories to Africa in order to exploit lower labour costs.

The revelation, based on documents leaked to The Mail on Sunday by a whistleblower, is the latest astonishing example of profligacy by the Department for International Development (DFID) as it spends its bloated 13 billion budget.

It also raises fresh concern over government dealings with aid contractors after this papers series of stories disclosing dirty tricks, tax avoidance and dodgy profiteering by fat-cat poverty barons.

The controversial deal  worth 297,020 initially with proposals for subsequent multi-million-pound projects to lure Chinese firms to Africa  was signed off in June.

Wealth boasts: Helen Hai at her show factory in Ethiopia

The cash went through another contractor to Made in Africa, a UK-registered company. Its most prominent figure is Helen Hai, a businesswoman and UN goodwill ambassador.

Three months before winning the work, she registered Made in Africa Initiative as a limited company in Hong Kong.

One outraged source close to the scheme said it was a simply bonkers use of tax revenue. British aid money meant for development in poor countries is going to friends of the Chinese government to help with Chinas trade in Africa.

China is one of the biggest investors in Africa, doubling foreign investment there last year, while British commercial spending declined sharply amid uncertainty over Brexit. There has been fury over millions in UK aid spent in such a wealthy nation.

This should be stopped immediately, said Tory MP Nigel Evans, a member of the International Development Committee.

British taxpayers money should not be used to support Chinese businesses and one of the worlds fastest-growing economies.

Pushing the programme: Former International Development Secretary Priti Patel

China has its own aid budget, which is colossal and used for its own self-interest.

The spending is part of the 100 million Invest Africa programme pushed by Priti Patel, who was International Development Secretary until she was forced to resign last month. The scheme is intended to generate business and jobs.

Hai argues that the continent can benefit from Chinese firms moving production abroad to slash rising labour costs. She set up the Made in Africa Initiative to exploit this window of opportunity.

The organisation told DFID its role was to bring together British and Chinese expertise to facilitate investments in Africa.

One draft two-year activity plan for Uganda, written for DFID in September, proposes focusing on targeted sales missions to China, with three trips there compared with just one to the UK and two more to other Asian or European nations.

It even urged British taxpayers to fund a bilingual Chinese-English guidebook for foreign investors. An indicative work schedule planned 1,500 days of consultancy work, including a study visit to China, and 125,000 for sales mission expenses.

An experienced aid industry contractor who examined the report for The Mail on Sunday estimated the total cost to DFID would be about 2 million. DFID sources said the plans have been rejected although they may be resubmitted.

The organisation submitted a similar report for DFID-funded work in Rwanda.

Shamed: Adam Smith International's gang of four, including strategy chief Peter Young (left) and director Andrew Kuhn (right), both of whom have gone

The timing is excellent to help Rwanda benefit from the opportunity to attract some of the massive expected outflow of Chinese manufacturing investments to Africa, it said.

It again suggested inward and outreach sales missions to target countries with a total of six five-day events for China, four for India but just three for the UK  plus videos and online promotional materials translated into Chinese.

Yet Ministers have defended their lavish aid spending by arguing it boosts Britain. There is a whole raft of opportunities for us to use that money in our national interest, global Britains interest, Ms Patel told MPs before her dismissal.

Hai, who is married to a successful Chinese financier and used to run a shoe factory in Ethiopia, has bragged in interviews about her wealth.

If I stop working, I dont need to worry about money, she told the state-run China Daily.

Documents seen by this paper appear to show her firm, working with colleagues at the Centre for New Structural Economics at Peking University, charges up to 3,000 a day for senior staff in Africa.

Director Amitabh Shrivastava (left) and former executive chairman, William Morrison

An invoice from Made in Africa Initiative for a two-day trip last month by Hai and a colleague totalled 101,70.71, including 3,474.04 for her flight, 962.77 for her hotel room and 2,700 on fees.

Hai declined to discuss if this was for DFID-funded work as one source suggested. DFID said it had not received the invoice.

Despite such high costs, a report into Ugandan business zones was criticised for its limited findings after being reviewed by DFID officials.

We found it particularly light on content, evidence and analysis, one told Hai two months ago.

This is the latest furore over DFIDs spending as it seeks to hit the UN target of giving away 0.7 per cent of national income in aid.

Adam Smith International, the biggest specialist aid contractor, cleared out its top staff this year after the MoS exposed its use of dirty tricks to win contracts and dupe MPs investigating profiteering in the poverty industry.

Two weeks ago the Government halted one of the firms multi-million-pound projects amid allegations that money was ending up in the pockets of jihadi groups.

Hai said her organisations mission statement was to support African countries to achieve sustainable inclusive growth.

She insisted there was no preferential treatment in her strategy towards Chinese firms, pointing to an advisory board for her Hong Kong organisation with members from 14 different countries.

A DFID spokesman said developing nations needed sustainable economic growth and investment to defeat poverty.
Boris Johnson is under pressure to veto a ban on same-sex marriage on the British overseas territory of Bermuda

Boris Johnson is under pressure to veto a ban on same-sex marriage on the British overseas territory of Bermuda.

In May, the islands Supreme Court legalised gay marriage despite opposition from conservative groups. Politicians have since reversed that ruling.

For the law to take effect, it requires the signature of British Governor John Rankin, which is normally a formality. Before the governor can withhold consent, however, he must seek approval from the Foreign Secretary.

The Mail on Sunday understands Mr Rankin is taking advice on requesting Mr Johnsons authorisation to veto the bill.

MPs last night called on the Foreign Secretary to allow the diplomat to withhold his signature. Labours Chris Bryant, a former Overseas Territories Minister, said: Bermuda seems to want to have it both ways. It wants the protection of being a British overseas territory but it doesnt want to uphold British values and principles.

A British citizen, regardless of what part of Britain theyre from, should have the same rights.

If approved, the law would make Bermuda the first country in the world to cancel gay marriage after previously allowing it.

Mr Johnsons position is fraught with difficulties. Any veto would spark uproar in self-governing Bermuda, with accusations of neo-colonialism. However, letting the new legislation go through is likely to provoke a boycott of the island, which relies heavily on tourism.

Gay islanders and human rights charities have pleaded with Mr Rankin to refuse to sign the bill  a power usually reserved for exceptional circumstances.

For the law to take effect, it requires the signature of British Governor John Rankin (pictured center), which is normally a formality. Before the governor can withhold consent, however, he must seek approval from the Foreign Secretary

Winston Godwin, a gay Bermudian who won the original court battle that allowed same-sex marriage after arguing it violated the UK Human Rights Act, called on Mr Rankin to use his powers to stop the bill.

In such a position we should always do what is right, not necessarily whats easy, he said in a statement.

This bill effectively states that you are a second-class citizen because of who you love, and creates increased division within an already very divided country and within a minority all at once.

A Foreign Office spokesman said last night: The UK Government is a proud supporter of LGBT rights and continues to support same-sex marriage. While the UK Government is disappointed with the implications of this bill, this is a matter for the Bermuda government acting within the terms of the Bermuda constitution and in accordance with international law.
Over 300 passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise contracted stomach-related illnesses at sea this past week, it was reported on Saturday.

A cruise ship carrying 5,547 guests departed Port Everglades, Florida on Monday.

The Independence of the Seas set sail for a five-night journey that was bound for Labadee and Jamaica.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told NBC News that 332 guests on board fell ill with gastrointestinal sickness likely caused by Norovirus.

Over 300 passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise contracted stomach-related illnesses at sea this past week, it was reported on Saturday

A cruise ship carrying 5,547 guests departed Port Everglades, Florida on Monday. Some of the passengers are seen disembarking the cruise on Saturday

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told NBC News that 332 guests on board fell ill with gastrointestinal sickness likely caused by Norovirus. The image above shows a sick passenger being wheeled off on a stretcher

The Independence of the Seas set sail for a five-night journey that was bound for Labadee and Jamaica

The company said that it brought in sanitation experts so that it they could implement 'enhanced sanitary procedures' that would 'minimize the risk of a recurrence.'

Initially, the company claimed that 220 passengers fell ill, according to WPLG-TV.

But passengers disputed that claim and said the number of sick guests was actually higher.

Those who were on board the five-night cruise said it was an unpleasant experience.

The company said that it brought in sanitation experts so that it they could implement 'enhanced sanitary procedures' that would 'minimize the risk of a recurrence'

'It was just terrifying - just the amount of people that were coming in at the same time with vomiting and diarrhea and just looked ghastly,' a guest, Tracy Flores, said

A blogger who writes about cruises posted an image on her Twitter account showing sanitation workers equipped with masks, body suits, gloves, and cleaning material on board the ship

The blogger tweeted from her Twitter account titled Cruise Niche that the ship delayed boarding in order to give the cleaning crew time to disinfect the area

'It was just terrifying - just the amount of people that were coming in at the same time with vomiting and diarrhea and just looked ghastly,' a guest, Tracy Flores, said.

Flores said that her son was one of those passengers who came down with a stomach virus on Wednesday.

Royal Caribbean said that its doctors on board treated the sick passengers with over-the-counter medications.

The company told CNN that it was 'taking steps like intensive sanitary procedures to minimize the risk of any further issues' and that the ship will 'undergo special additional cleaning procedures before it departs on its next cruise.'

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS? Norovirus infection can cause the sudden onset of severe vomiting and diarrhea. The virus is highly contagious and commonly spread through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or contaminated surfaces. You can also be infected through close contact with an infected person. Diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting typically begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Norovirus symptoms last one to three days, and most people recover completely without treatment. However, for some people - especially infants, older adults and people with underlying disease - vomiting and diarrhea can be severely dehydrating and require medical attention. Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

"We encouraged our guests and crew to wash their hands often, which health experts recommend as the best defense against stomach viruses, which each year affect as many as 300 million people worldwide," company spokesperson Owen Torres told CNN.

He said 'only the common cold is more prevalent.'

Passengers said that the large number of sick people was too much for the medical staff on board.

'We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help,' passenger Marsha Homuska said.

'They started running out of water and basic supplies.'

Another passenger, Victoria Nolan of Genesee, New York, said she also got sick on board the cruise, as did six of the 15 relatives that she was with.

Nolan said that Royal Caribbean initially underestimated the number of sick passengers because many did not seek treatment from the overwhelmed medical staff.

Those sick passengers chose to stay in their cabins, according to Nolan.

Nolan said that when she reached the medical area to get treatment, she turned back when she realized the wait was over four hours.

She said she saw people throwing up in the elevators as they tried to get to the doctor.

'It's not their fault that it happened, but the way they handled it after people started getting sick made it 10 times worse,' Nolan said.

Royal Caribbean said that it had taken measures to prevent further outbreaks. The ship is due to embark on another cruise this coming Thursday.

A blogger who writes about cruises posted an image on her Twitter account showing sanitation workers equipped with masks, body suits, gloves, and cleaning material on board the ship.

The blogger tweeted from her Twitter account titled Cruise Niche that the ship delayed boarding in order to give the cleaning crew time to disinfect the area.

The cost per guest on a multi-night cruise averages to about $330 per person.
The Tory MP who led the Brexit rebellion against the Government last week was involved in an astonishing bust-up with the partys Chief Whip in the wake of the shock defeat for Theresa May.

Dominic Grieve, the rebel commander, was harangued by Julian Smith and accused of betraying the party.

Mr Grieve  one of 11 Tories who on Wednesday night forced Mrs May to give the Commons a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal the Prime Minister negotiates  was indignant and defended himself against the accusations.

The row began minutes after the result of last weeks vote was announced amid uproarious scenes in the Commons. Mr Smith, who has been Chief Whip for only six weeks, stormed up to Mr Grieve and said: Youve let me down.

Mr Smith was furious that Mr Grieve had rejected a last-minute Government concession to buy-off the rebels by allowing MPs more scrutiny of the EU deal. Mr Grieve called it too little, too late.

ABRASIVE: Chief Whip Julian Smith told Dominic Grieve: 'You've let me down'

During the confrontation with the Chief Whip, Mr Grieve  a former Attorney General who since the vote has received death threats from Brexit supporters  became unusually agitated and hit back against the claims of betrayal by saying: Ive done nothing of the sort!

The row comes amid growing disquiet in Downing Street over the performance of Mr Smith, 46. He was given the job after the previous Chief Whip, Gavin Williamson, was promoted to Defence Secretary when Sir Michael Fallon lost his job over claims of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Sir Michael denies the allegations.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mrs Mays Commons aide, George Hollingbery, remonstrated with Mr Smith for requiring the Prime Minister to come to the House for unnecessary votes and said he was tiring her out.

The clash came during Mrs Mays exhausting negotiations with Brussels earlier this month, when Mr Hollingbery is understood to have told Mr Smith to stop asking Mrs May to attend Commons votes we should be winning easily.

Mr Smith had already infuriated No 10 by assuring them that Democratic Unionist Party MPs  whose votes are crucial to the minority Government  were on side during the EU negotiations, only for them embarrassingly to pull the plug at the 11th hour over the issue of the border with Ireland.

This newspaper has been told that Mr Smith is also facing a revolt within his own department after junior whips complained about his abrasive management style.

His allies protest that his promotion to Chief Whip was a hospital pass from Mr Williamson, who left the job before the most difficult votes in the Commons, and he can claim a 100 per cent success rate.

But junior whips who work for Mr Smith, gathering gossip on MPs and feeding back intelligence on voting intentions, say that they miss the steely professionalism of Mr Williamson.

A source said: He [Mr Smith] is not running a good operation. I find him oily and untrustworthy. He sucks up and kicks down. When Gavin was Chief Whip he realised that Julian was the ideal supplicant, easy to control. So when he moved into the Cabinet he basically told the PM to appoint him.

But Julian lacks even Gavins bonhomie, which is saying something, and he has been rubbing everyone up the wrong way.

Mr Smith, the Skipton and Ripon MP, worked as a headhunter before entering Parliament in 2010.

INDIGNANT: Dominic Grieve was attacked for leading the Tory rebellion on Brexit

After a spell at a comprehensive school he took his A-levels at the independent Millfield School in Somerset, followed by Birmingham University.

The row between Mr Smith and Mr Grieve is the latest in a string of Commons bust-ups revealed by this newspaper over the past month.

Labour MP Paul Farrelly squared up to a colleague in the chamber during a late-night Brexit vote, and Chancellor Philip Hammond and Mr Williamson had to be separated by the Prime Minister after a flare-up over Treasury sneers about the Defence Secretary looking like Private Pike when he met veteran Armed Forces chiefs.

Asked yesterday whether Mrs May had full confidence in Mr Smith, a No 10 spokeswoman said: Yes, of course.
Langley, pictured outside Manchester Magistrates' Court before he was sentenced for molesting two women, has been cleared of grooming a 15-year-old

Sacked Coronation Street actor Bruno Langley has admitted his nightclub sex attacks were 'dreadful, disgraceful and shocking' in a tearful interview.

The actor molested four women at a Manchester music venue last month, but was only charged with sexually assaulting two of them.

Langley - who played gay character Todd Grimshaw in the soap - wept in the dock as he avoided jail after admitting both offences.

His lawyer told the hearing: 'Something happened that night, most possibly in relation to the character he was playing.'

Instead of a jail term, the 34-year-old was ordered to complete a 12-month community order and submit to a curfew.

Now he has told the Mirror: 'I have no excuse, no one forced me to drink to such an extreme, but it is hard to explain why I would do anything as dreadful as that. It must have been awful for those women, and I am ashamed of myself. I'm truly sorry.

'I sincerely apologise to the women, from the bottom of my heart. I promise I will never do anything like that again.

'I accept my punishment because I know what I did was wrong. I'm not trying to attribute blame to anyone else other than myself.'

Langley also said it was hard to face his own family after appearing in court - and has quit alcohol in a bid to change his life.

He has also vowed to alter his behaviour so 'this will never happen again'.

Langley was accused of the crime just days after he was handed a 12-month community order for sexually molesting two women at a nightclub in Manchester when he was drunk

Langley was accompanied by his mother and sisters family as he left Manchester Magistrates Court last month

The court heard Langley was 'clearly intoxicated' when the first woman, who was out with her husband, went upstairs to collect their coats from the cloakroom.

The prosecutor said: 'As she walked back towards the stairs Mr Langley grabbed her in the crotch area over her dress.'

Prosecutor Karen Saffman, quoting the victim's statement, said: 'He grabbed me. Properly grabbed me. It was a rough grab. Lots of pressure... even though it was through a dress and tights.'

The prosecutor added: 'She was clearly in shock. She was thinking about hitting him. She said, 'Did you do that on purpose?' But he did not reply.'

A friend of Langley's then apologised, the court heard, saying: 'Oh my God, I'm really sorry'.

When the victim then went to go to the toilets she was then approached by another woman who had also been sexually assaulted by Langley.

Ms Saffman said the second woman told the first victim Langley had groped her 'boobs and her bum'.

Langley was also seen to go up to another woman, again a complete stranger, and 'grabbed her boobs and bum' and grabbed a fourth woman.

Ms Saffman said he had not been charged with offences against two of the woman but the two incidents were 'indicative of his behaviour' on the night.

Langley, who has no previous convictions, looked down at the floor of the dock, as the case was outlined.
The chairman of a FTSE 100 housebuilding company has resigned after a Mail on Sunday investigation into outrageous taxpayer-funded bonuses at the firm, including nearly 130 million paid to its chief executive.

Persimmons chairman Nicholas Wrigley stepped down on Friday along with senior director Jonathan Davie, who was in charge of the companys pay committee, amid a row over what is thought to be the most lucrative bonus scheme in UK corporate history.

More than 800 million worth of shares in Persimmon are set to be dished out to the firms executives and more than 140 of its regional managers.

Presided over booming profits: Persimmon's chief executive Jeff Fairburn is in line for an astonishing 126m payout

The Mail on Sunday revealed in November that chief executive Jeff Fairburn can cash in about 50 million worth of shares at the end of this month, while he will be able to pocket a further 80 million next year.

Wrigley, a former banker, and Davie admitted last week that they should have put a cap on the share scheme when it was introduced in 2012.

Critics have accused Persimmon of cashing in on the housing crisis and Catherine Howarth, chief executive of ShareAction, has branded Fairburns bonus utterly outrageous.

The launch of taxpayer-backed Help To Buy loans in 2013 helped Persimmons share price to soar, massively inflating the value of the bonus scheme  despite Help To Buys failure to solve the housing crisis.

Former banker Nicholas Wrigley was instrumental in drawing up the scheme, which will trigger bumper payouts worth 800million for 150 executives at the firm Persimmon from the end of this year

Pressure is mounting on Fairburn to forgo some of the bonus or give part of it to charity, but Persimmon said his plans for the bonus were a private family matter.

Fairburn, 51, left his York comprehensive at 17 to go into construction. He joined Persimmon in 1989 and rose through the ranks to become chief executive in 2013.

Others set to cash in huge cheques are finance director Mike Killoran, in line for shares worth nearly 90 million, while managing director Dave Jenkinson stands to make about 60 million.

Mechanics son who is cashing in on the property crisis

A motor racing fanatic who left school at 17, Jeff Fairburn always wanted to work with his hands.

Mike Killoran: 88.5million

The boss, whose father was a mechanic, trained as a quantity surveyor and took a building course at a college in his home city of York before working his way up from building site to boardroom.

Mr Fairburn, 51, has a reputation for modesty despite the vast bonus coming his way.

He is known to shun the Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces of other executives for a Ford Fiesta and he also once booked a family camping holiday near Silverstone to watch the British Grand Prix.

He bought the family home in Durham for 1million and sent his three children to comprehensive schools.

Mr Fairburn joined Persimmon in 1989 and four years later married wife Jayne, a treasurer for Pancreas North, a pancreatitis support group, in Sunderland.

The boss survived the financial crisis, in which Persimmon sacked 2,000 of its 50,000 staff.

Dave Jenkinson: 63.2million

He secured the top job in 2013, and has presided over booming profits and bonuses.

Mike Killoran, 56, is the finance director of Persimmon, having worked his way through jobs in manufacturing, distribution and retail before joining the housebuilder in 1996. Born in Leeds, he studied at Sheffield University and is a chartered accountant. He is a member of the risk committee at Persimmon, where colleagues speak highly of his financial skills.

Dave Jenkinson is the group managing director of Persimmon. The 50-year-old joined the companys board four years ago after previously holding various senior roles, including managing its north east business and being a regional managing director.

When being grilled in the past by MPs about why housebuilding in the UK has not hit targets, he has argued protections on Green Belt land should be rolled back so more homes could be built.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has announced he will step down temporarily following a series of unspecified allegations made against him.

Cr Doyle said the specifics of the claims had not been provided to him, however he welcomed an investigation.

It comes as councillor Tessa Sullivan resigned on Friday after alleging 'repeated sexual harassment' against herself and other women had made the workplace 'intolerable'.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle (pictured) has announced he will step down temporarily following a series of unspecified allegations made against him

In a statement, Cr Doyle said that he had been informed Sunday morning of the allegations levelled against him, calling them 'thoroughly abhorrent'

In a statement, Cr Doyle said that he had been informed Sunday morning of the allegations levelled against him, calling them 'thoroughly abhorrent'.

'I am shocked. I have not been officially informed of the specifics but find the allegations detailed to me by media outlets thoroughly abhorrent,' the statement read.

'Not only as Lord Mayor but as a father of young women, a husband, a brother, and as the head of an office made up entirely of women.

'I am frustrated that I have not been formally provided the specific allegations which have been strategically released to media which is a denial of natural justice and clearly damaging to my reputation.

'This is an incredibly distressing time for me and my family.'

Cr Doyle revealed he would be taking leave for a month while the investigation takes place but strongly stressed it did not constitute admission.

It comes as councillor Tessa Sullivan resigned on Friday after alleging 'repeated sexual harassment'

'I have decided to take leave for one month while the investigation takes place and am being legally represented in this matter,' his statement said.

'My decision to take leave must not be interpreted as any concession or admission.

'What is important now is that proper process be allowed to take place and that the rights of all involved are respectfully handled.

Melbourne City Council chief executive Ben Rimmer was reportedly made aware of the allegations of sexual harassment, indecent assault and misconduct against Cr Doyle on Friday, The Age reports.

'Considering my obligations to ensure a safe workplace, I have commissioned an independent external investigation of these matters,' he said in a statement.

Melbourne City Council chief executive Ben Rimmer was reportedly made aware of the allegations of sexual harassment, indecent assault and misconduct against Cr Doyle on Friday

'Dr Ian Freckleton QC will lead this investigation, which will examine the facts related to the allegations.

'Pending the outcome of this investigation, I will determine what further action, if any, is required and available to me.

'The investigation will be conducted in accordance with natural justice principles.'

'These allegations are very serious, and if proven would be inconsistent with the values of the city and the organisation. Therefore it is very important that these matters are thoroughly investigated.'

A statement on behalf of Ms Sullivan, issued Saturday, stated she 'had resigned after herself and other women had experienced repeated sexual harassment which had made their workplace intolerable,' it read.

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer and married mother-of-three, was elected on the same ticket as Cr Doyle and had chaired the People City portfolio.
A completely naked woman was seen running around a car park while a dozen onlookers filmed and posed for selfies.

Footage uploaded to social media showed her dancing around and flailing her arms in the Auckland suburb of Parnell.

Onlookers said she was yelling and running around for about 10 minutes on Wednesday afternoon.

A completely naked woman was seen running around a car park in Auckland for 10 minutes

As well as running in circles, the woman was filmed sitting on the ground reclining on her arms and lounging back in a deck chair.

She also posed near some of the many people who took selfies with her in the background, often raising her arms in the air.

At one point she repeated 'have a good one yeah' back to an onlooker who said the same phrase in a questioning tone.

'There was a guy trying to help her. But she got a bit too close to him. It was a sad sight to see,' a witness told the New Zealand Herald.

They said a man who appeared to know the woman eventually came and handed her his shirt, which she put on.

Footage uploaded to social media showed her appearing to dance around and flail her arms

As well as running in circles, the woman was filmed sitting on the ground reclining on her arms and lounging back in a deck chair

The numerous people who filmed the woman were criticised for doing so by commenters online.

Family First party national director Bob McCoskrie said the woman shouldn't have been filmed.

But a witness said it was to be expected that people would film such an odd situation.

'It's something you never see. You see it online, a person doing crazy things. It is insensitive videoing, but how do you help someone like that?' they said.

She also posed near some of the many people who took selfies with her in the background, often raising her arms in the air

Police eventually arrived to calm her down and take her to the station until she was in an 'appropriate condition' to be released

Auckland City Police sergeant Mark Clayton said the woman was wearing a shirt when officers arrived and calmed her down.

She was taken into custody and held at the police station until she was in an 'appropriate condition' to be released.

'Any situation that requires the assistance of emergency services, we would ask witnesses to call us immediately so we are able offer appropriate help,' he said.
An aviation empire heir has been found guilty of murdering his lover and burning her body in an incinerator.

Dellen Millard, of Toronto, Canada, killed 23-year-old Laura Babcock in 2012 after his girlfriend became increasingly jealous over their relationship, prosecutors said.

Babcock's body was never found but the court heard that Millard, and accomplice Mark Smich, destroyed her remains in an incinerator, CBC reports.

Police later discovered that a note on Smich's iPad which read: 'The b***h started off all skin and bone, Now the b***h lay on some ash stone,Last time I saw her was outside the home,And if u go swimming u can find her phone.'

Both Millard and Smich, who were also found guilty of murdering a man selling a truck and incinerating his body in 2013, were convicted of first-degree murder - which carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Aviation empire heir Dellen Millard was found guilty of first-degree murder over the death of Laura Babcock

Victims: Millard's ex-lover Laura Babcock (left), 23, was last seen alive in June 2012; his father, Wayne Millard (pictured right with Dellan as a boy), was found dead from a gunshot wound in November 2012

Babcock's body was never found but the court heard that Millard, and accomplice Mark Smich, destroyed her remains in an incinerator (pictured)

Millard is also accused of murdering his own father Wayne - whose death was initially ruled a suicide. The case is due to be heard next year.

Millard is the scion of a failed aviation company, Millardair, which was started by his grandfather, retired pilot Carl Millard, in 1954. The charter airline went out of business in 1990.

The Millards also owned an airline maintenance venture, which Wayne Millard headed from 2006 until his death in 2012.

The court heard that in 2012, Millard had a girlfriend, Christina Noudga, but was also sleeping with Babcock, an escort and drug user.

Mark Smich stood in front of the incinerator in what prosecutors say was the night Babcock's body was burned inside

Police also found more photos from that evening on Millard's phone which appeared to show bones inside The Eliminator (pictured)

Babcock and Millard's jealous girlfriend had an ongoing feud. By April that year, the drama had obviously become too much for Millard.

He texted his girlfriend: 'First I'm going to hurt her. Then I'll make her leave,' read his message. 'I will remove her from our lives.'

Millard told the court he hadn't been serious and was just trying to appease his girlfriend.

One June 30, Babcock and Millard exchanged text messages.

Two days later, Millard purchased a 32-caliber gun, according to the gun seller.

Cellphone records show that Babcock and Millard met a few days later on July 3, near the Kipling subway station.

They then moved to Millard's house - where cell records show that Smich was also in the vicinity.

It's the last time Babcock was seen alive. Her last call was made to her voicemail at 7.03pm that evening.

Prosecutors say that the following day, Smich sent a photograph of a large object wrapped in a blue tarp which they believe was the victim's body.

Tim Bosma, pictured with his wife and daughter, left his home in May 2013 in the company of two strangers who asked to test drive his pickup truck

Babcock, a University of Toronto graduate, had been a promising student but had struggled with her mental health and drug abuse before she was killed

On July 5, the incinerator arrived at his hangar at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.

A couple of weeks later, on July 23, Millard texted Smich, telling him that the 'BBQ' has 'run its warm up, it's ready for meat.'

Later that evening, a grinning Smich posed for photos in front of the incinerator. Police also found more photos from that evening on Millard's phone which appeared to show bones inside The Eliminator.

But experts were not able to confirm they were human because of the poor quality of the images.

If anyone asked about the incinerator, Millard told them he was starting a mobile pet cremation business with his veterinarian uncle, Robert Burns - who later testified they'd never even discussed such a business and calling the idea 'absurd.'

The day after the photos were taken, Smich made up the rap about the murder, and the court saw video of him rapping about burning the body and throwing Babcock's phone in a body of water.

Cops later found some of Babcock's belongings at Smich's house.

Both Smich's lawyer and Millard, who represented himself, denied killing her and say the Crown have not proved she is dead.

The court heard that in 2012, Millard had a girlfriend, Christina Noudga (pictured with him) but was also sleeping with Babcock, an escort

Smich (pictured) and Millard denied killing Babcock and say the Crown have not proved she is dead

Babcock, a University of Toronto graduate, had been a promising student but had struggled with her mental health and drug abuse before she was killed.

After falling out with her family, she bounced from place to place, with her dog for company. When she failed to find a job, she became an escort in June 2012.

Babcock's former boyfriend Shawn Lerner accused police of ignoring Babcock's missing person case because she was a mentally unstable drug user who also dabbled in the sex trade.

Following their convictions on Friday, the victim's father Clayton Babcock, welcomed the news.

'We just sat through a six-week funeral for our daughter Laura. You all know what a wonderful woman she was, as well as all the pains and struggles that she faced.

'You also know about the evil beings that took her life, and if society's lucky, we will not see them again on the streets.'

'Like any parent that loses a child, we can only move forward with the thoughts of what might have been,' he added.

Millard announced, before the verdict was read, he planned to appeal if found guilty.

In his youth, Dellen Millard attended an elite private school in Toronto, where he reportedly shocked his classmates by eating dog treats in the hallways.

On his 14th birthday, Millard made international headlines when he became the youngest person in Canada to complete solo flights in both a plane and a helicopter.

Aside of his hereditary passion for aircraft, the young aviator also owned a collection of cars, which he souped up and raced. After his father's shooting death, Millard took over the struggling family business, but it went under a short time later.

Millard was been charged with murder in the deaths of Tim Bosma, his own father and his ex-lover

But Millard still had substantial assets by the time he was arrested, with at least four valuable properties registered to his name, including his grandparents' million-dollar home in a Toronto suburb, a $1.4million apartment building, a farm and a condo in downtown Toronto, CBC reported.

Dellan Millard, sporting his signature pink Mohawk on his head, was arrested May 11, 2013, just five days after the disappearance of Tim Bosma, who had put up his Dodge Ram pickup truck for sale online.

Two men, believed to be Millard and Smich, answered the ad and arrived at Bosma's Ancaster home for a test drive. Bosma never made it back home to his wife, Sharlene, and his young daughter.

Two days after his disappearance, Tim's truck was found inside a trailer parked at his mother's home.

When police searched Millard's 45-hectare farm and discovered the missing man's badly burned body.

Trailblazer: On his 14th birthday, Millard became the youngest person in Canada to complete solo flights in both a plane and a helicopter

Boss: Wayne Millard (left), pictured in 1999 with his son, was the owner of an airline maintenance venture

Sharlene Bosma sobbed after learning of the inexplicable murder of her husband: 'I am broken because part of me is gone.

'It pains me to do so, but I must ask for your support and prayers for the hours and the weeks and the months and even the years that lie ahead for us, because this will never really be over for us.

'We know, and take some comfort in that Tim has touched so many people.'

Police believe the pair used the livestock incinerator dubbed the Eliminator to dispose of the victim's remains. Millard had no animals on his property.

In 2012, his father Wayne Millard was discovered dead in his Etobicoke home from what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the left side of his head.

The death was ruled a suicide and Mr Millard's body was cremated.
Ferry McFerryface has taken on her maiden voyage, after a naming controversy saw staff threaten to boycott the vessel.

The ferry left the wharf at Sydney's Circular Quay, destined for a spin around the Opera House on Sunday.

The magnificent vessel was one of six new Sydney Harbour ferries, named following a public vote.

The magnificent vessel was one of six new Sydney Harbour ferries, named following a public vote

The boat was at the centre of a huge rift between the NSW government and the maritime union, after they threatened to boycott the vessel because of the 'stupid' name.

The Maritime Union of Australia said the name made a mockery of Sydney public transport, and the boat itself.

'The Transport Minister is demonstrating here that he treats public transport as a joke,' Assistant Secretary Paul Garrett said in November.

'We're wondering why Sydney Harbour has to suffer a second-hand joke from the UK.'

He said staff would refuse to work on the ship.

Despite the backlash, Ferry McFerryface successfully took its first journey on Sunday, with the name painted confidently across its front.

NSW Transport officials asked the public to name the last of Sydney's new harbour ferries, with the result ferrying in the controversial name.

The boat was at the centre of a huge rift between the NSW government and the maritime union, after they threatened to boycott the vessel because of the 'stupid' name

The Maritime Union of Australia said the name made a mockery of Sydney public transport, and the boat itself

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance saw the Name Your Ferry competition as a hilarious success

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance saw the Name Your Ferry competition as a hilarious success.

'We asked Sydney to name their new ferries and we have listened. Ferry McFerryface will be the harbour's newest icon, and I hope it brings a smile to the faces of visitors and locals alike,' Mr Constance said.

The other ferries were given sentimental names like Victor Chang, Fred Hollows and Catherine Hamlin, which are already transporting passengers across the harbour.

But 'this one is for the kids' Mr Constance reiterated on Monday.

Almost unbelievably, the most popular name was actually Boaty McBoatface.

Almost unbelievably, the most popular name was actually Boaty McBoatface

'Given Boaty was already taken by another vessel, we've gone with the next most popular name nominated by Sydneysiders,' Mr Constance said.

The name 'Boaty McBoatface' comes from a public poll the Natural Environment Research Council put to the people of Britain in 2016 to name a $342 million research vessel.

While Boaty won the overwhelming majority with 124,000 votes, Science Minister Jo Johnson was not so keen on the title and decided to name it after Sir David Attenborough instead.

But Boaty lived on in the form of a yellow submarine on the Attenborough research ship - mainly because people were extremely disappointed with the decision.

The name 'Boaty McBoatface' comes from a public poll the Natural Environment Research Council put to the people of Britain in 2016 to name a $342 million research vessel

The new inner harbour ferries are being delivered as part of the NSW Government's plan to modernise and expand Sydney's ferry network.

They can hold 400 customers, have improved accessibility for people with disabilities, WiFi access, luggage and bicycle storage areas and charging stations for electronic devices.

Passengers will also be able to check in to 'Ferry McFerryface' on Facebook.
A teenager died at a drug-fuelled music festival after he tripped over the feet of several other revellers and fell on his head.

The 18-year-old was running near an entrance to the Knockout Circuz festival at Sydney Olympic Park about 10.30pm on Saturday, police said.

Security raced to help the man after seeing him suffer head injuries in the fall after tripping over a group sitting by the side of the road.

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The 18-year-old (not pictured) was running near an entrance to the festival at Sydney Olympic Park about 10.30pm on Saturday, police said

The dazed and confused teen attacked security guards after drifting in and out of consciousness, leading to them calling police.

He was restrained and taken to a medical facility and treated, then rushed to Westmead Hospital by ambulance shortly after.

His condition deteriorated and he died about 1am on Sunday, just two-and-a-half hours after the fall.

Police declared a critical incident investigation which will look into all circumstances surrounding the incident and provide a report to the coroner.

Security raced to help the man after seeing him suffer head injuries in the fall after tripping over a group sitting by the side of the road

Police declared a critical incident investigation which will look into all circumstances surrounding the incident and provide a report to the coroner

A group of women pose together on the dancefloor of the Sydney festival on Saturday

Police searched 298 people and charged 55 with drug possession, including five holding MDMA, and six cautions for supply marijuana

Knockout Circuz, an indoor 'harder styles' festival attended by about 16,900 people, was marred by dozens of drug busts.

Police searched 298 people and charged 55 with drug possession, including five holding MDMA, and six cautions for supply marijuana.

A 17-year-old girl was charged after police found 379 MDMA capsules on her, who managed to get through the gates despite the festival being over-18s only.

A 22-year-old man was found with 188 MDMA capsules, a 19-year-old woman with 90, another with 41, and a second 17-year-old girl had 40.

Three women stand together during the early part of the festival before it filled up

A woman in cat ears is dressed for Saturday's warm weather early on in the festival

A 17-year-old girl was charged after police found 379 MDMA capsules on her

Three women joke around among other revellers at the Knockout Circuz festival

The dancefloor heats up as two young women get their moves on as the music plays

The two underage girl were granted conditional bail and will face a Children's Court in January.

'It is alarming to see two 17-year-old girls with large quantities of MDMA,' a NSW police spokesman said.

Knockout Circuz was billed as the biggest indoor harder styles festival in the Southern Hemisphere with tickets costing $150.

The lineup featured 11 international artists. Daily Mail Australia contacted festival organisers Hard Style United for comment.

Knockout Circuz was billed as the biggest indoor harder styles festival in the Southern Hemisphere with tickets costing $150
This is the moment that women from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were caught in an FBI sting playing their part in a $11 million food stamps fraud scheme.

The women, wearing the old fashioned, long dress favored by members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, were caught on undercover surveillance footage, shopping at Meadowayne Dairy in Hildale, Utah.

One member handed a list over to the clerk, and used her Electronic Benefits Card, EBT.

Once her food stamps were all used up, she was seen in the video, obtained by Fox 13, leaving the store with a small bag and climbing in her car.

This is the moment that women from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were caught in an FBI sting playing their part in a $11 million food stamps fraud scheme

One of the women, wearing the old fashioned, long dress favored by members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, was caught on undercover surveillance footage, shopping at Meadowayne Dairy in Hildale, Utah (pictured left and right)

A drone followed her as she drove from the store to a Bishop's Storehouse run by the Morman sect. She was then seen giving the goods to another church member who loaded them into a shipping container.

The FBI recorded hundreds of hours worth of footage from hidden cameras smuggled into FLDS stores and drones, in the investigation and also spoke with former members.

Former polygamous sect leader Lyle Jeffs was sentenced in Utah to nearly five years in prison for running the elaborate food stamp fraud scheme - and then going on the run while awaiting trial.

US District Judge Ted Stewart said during a hearing in Salt Lake City last week, that Jeffs deserved the 57-month prison sentence, followed by three years of probation, because his behavior showed he doesn't respect US laws and puts his allegiance to his brother and the sect's imprisoned prophet, Warren Jeffs, above everything else.

Stewart said Lyle Jeffs' religious beliefs provide context for his decision to follow his brother's orders, but don't justify the fact that he 'cheated' taxpayers out of government funds.

One member paid for her items using food stamps, then was seen in the video leaving the store in a drone video

In another clip she was seen giving the goods to other church members who loaded them into a shipping container

The FBI recorded hundreds of hours worth of footage from hidden cameras smuggled into FLDS stores and drones

Lyle Jeffs, 57, is lifelong member of the Mormon offshoot group based on the Utah-Arizona border known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Members of the sect believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.

'Mr. Jeffs is an adult. He knows right from wrong,' Stewart said.

Prosecutors accused Lyle Jeffs of running a scheme to divert some $11million in food-stamp benefits to a communal storehouse and front companies. The defense disputed that figure, arguing that Jeffs had swindled under $2million, and the judge agreed with the lower estimate, reported Salt Lake Tribune.

Former members of the sect have claimed that FLDS leaders like Jeffs lived on 'shrimp and lobster' thanks to the multimillion-dollar scam, while the rest of the community starved.

Prosecutor Robert Lund asked for the maximum five-year sentence to send a message to Lyle Jeffs and other sect leaders that a 'culture of corruption' in recent years won't be tolerated.

Lyle Jeffs was also ordered to pay $1million in restitution. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit benefits fraud and failure to appear.

Former polygamous sect leader Lyle Jeffs was arrested (pictured) and sentenced in Utah to nearly five years in prison for running the elaborate food stamp fraud scheme - and then going on the run while awaiting trial

Punishment: Lyle Jeff, former leader of the polygamous sect FLDS, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly five years for carrying out an elaborate food stamp fraud scheme (pictured above in 2015)

This 2017 file booking photo provided by the Tooele County Sheriff's Office shows Lyle Jeffs. He was captured ths past summer after escaping house arrest

Jeffs spoke briefly and said he accepted responsibility for his mistakes and that he erred in not properly researching food stamp fraud laws.

Jeffs spoke briefly and said he accepted responsibility for his mistakes and that he erred in not properly researching food stamp fraud laws.

'I do, your honor, humbly and respectfully say that I acknowledge my mistakes and decision-making,' said Lyle Jeffs, his hands and ankles shackled. 'I do humbly accept my responsibly for my actions. I don't blame anyone.'

His attorney Kathryn Nester said the scheme wasn't malicious but meant to ensure everyone in the group had food to eat as part of the group's religious beliefs in communal living.

She said Lyle Jeffs has already suffered tremendously because he's been banned from the sect by his brother Warren Jeffs. That means he's lost his family, his job and his faith.

Pedophile: Lyle Jeff's brother and the sect's imprisoned prophet, Warren Jeffs (pictured), is serving a life sentence plus 20 years in Texas for sexually assaulting two girls he considered wives

'If you're looking to humble him, I think we're there,' Nester said.

Jeffs is among the eleven FLDS members and leaders charged after a raid in the border towns. Almost all of them took plea deals.

'Along with fraud and along with many areas of imposition financially on the people, there was also a lot of internal, personal family conflicts created damaging beyond repair,' said Dowayne Barlow, an ex-FLDS member who was also a witness in the case.

'I think that Lyle was a pivotal individual. The corruption of the Jeffs' in that community was unbelievable,' he added. 'Lyle could have turned the tide on that. I think everybody gets where Warren stands, that he was out of control and not personally clean or moral. Lyle perpetuated this issue.'

Lyle Jeffs was first charged in February 2016 along with 10 other members of the sect in the fraud scheme. Cases against the others ended in plea deals without prison time or dismissed charges.

Lyle Jeffs compounded his legal problems when he became a fugitive after he slipped off an ankle monitoring device in in June of that year while out on supervised release.

He was caught in South Dakota this summer after pawning two pairs of pliers while apparently living out of his pickup truck.

Pawn-shop workers tipped off the FBI, and he was arrested in a lakeside area near the South Dakota-Nebraska border. He pleaded guilty to committing fraud and failure to appear in September.

His brother Warren Jeffs is serving a life sentence plus 20 years in Texas for sexually assaulting two girls he considered wives.

Lyle Jeffs' legal wife divorced him in 2015, but he is believed to still have eight 'spiritual wives' and 60 children.

His son Thomas, who broke with the sect years ago, said outside court that he was satisfied with his father's sentence, and expressed hope that spending time behind bars would make him 'think about things.'

Other relatives of the defendant, including his brother, told Fox13Now they thought the 57-month sentence was too lenient.
A Movie World advert that shows a woman being strangled, stabbed, chained and almost decapitated, has been pulled from circulation.

The ad, a promotion for a Halloween-themed event at Warner Brothers Movie World, shows 'gory and violent' scenes reminiscent of the horror movie, Saw.

In the ad, a woman who appears to be cheating on her boyfriend, finds herself in a dream-sequence trying to escape from monsters with knives and demonic nuns.

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A Movie World advert that shows a woman being strangled, stabbed, chained and almost decapitated, has been pulled from circulation

The woman is shown being strangled by a man and chained to a wall before being dragged towards spinning blades and her ultimate decapitation.

The ad was played in cinemas before the Ads Standards Board pulled it for being unnecessarily 'gory and violent', Mumbrella reported.

One complaint said the ad 'promotes extreme violence, including sexual assault and attempted rape and murder'.

Another called for Warner Brothers to issue an apology.

Warner Brothers issued a statement denying the ad depicted scenes 'that would cause concern, distress or harm to reasonable members of the community'.

One complaint said the ad 'promotes extreme violence, including sexual assault and attempted rape and murder'

'Village Roadshow Theme Parks refutes any claim suggesting the material in the advertisement indicates the female character was raped,' it said

The Ads Standards Board concluded the Warner Brothers' ad depicted a high level of violence that did not serve to promote the theme park

'Village Roadshow Theme Parks refutes any claim suggesting the material in the advertisement indicates the female character was raped,' it went on.

The Ads Standards Board concluded the Warner Brothers' ad depicted a high level of violence that did not serve to promote the theme park.

The watchdog said the ad, which was played before MA15+ rated movie, Blade Runner, could not be justified.
An elite Sydney school have had to apologise to parents and students after a male teacher accused of sex offences against four young girls was shown in an end-of-year montage.

Simon William Phillips, 51, was arrested by detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad at a home in the inner-west of Sydney last week.

He was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with 13 counts of aggravated indecent assault  victim under authority.

Phillips was included in the slideshow alongside female students at the school's formal, disgusting parents and members of the college's community.

'We have all just had a gutful of the disrespect that has been shown to us,' one of the alleged victims' mother told Fairfax.

imon William Phillips, 51, was arrested by detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad at a home in the inner-west of Sydney last week

He was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with 13 counts of aggravated indecent assault  victim under authority

The school released a statement to parents addressing the error in judgement but confirmed Phillips was not present on the night.

'The Department of Education apologies to any parents, students and staff distressed that an image of Simon Phillips was shown by mistake during the Year 6 farewell ceremony last Wednesday,' the statement reads.

Phillips reportedly returned to teaching classes for several hours after the school learned of his allegations. Staff agreed to move one of the alleged victims to another classroom before department officials stepped in and suspended him.

'They have shown a total disregard for the feelings of the girls and their families. It has been very callous,' the mother of an alleged victim said.

'It is like we are the ones that have done something wrong. Is it any wonder that people decide not to speak up because this is the way they are treated.'

Parents were also distressed Phillips continued to work at the school despite claims of 'inappropriate conversations' with female students

Parents were also distressed Phillips continued to work at the school despite claims of 'inappropriate conversations' with female students.

Police will allege in court the man indecently assaulted four girls  aged between 11 and 12  on 13 separate occasions at school this year.

It is alleged Phillips' crimes took place at his most recent place of employment, Mowbray Public School.

Phillips has also worked at other prestigious schools, including Scots College, St Joseph's Hunters Hill and St Andrew's Cathedral school.

A search warrant was also executed at his home in Russell Lea, and detectives seized a number of items relevant to the investigation.
People dressed up as members of the Sons Of Liberty in historical garb and dumped actual tea into the Boston Harbor on Saturday.

The group dumped the tea off of a ship named the 'Beaver' during a reenactment of the night of the Boston Tea Party, on its 244th anniversary.

The ship was docked at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, Massachusetts, at the site of The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.

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People dressed up as members of the Sons Of Liberty dumped actual tea into the Boston Harbor on Saturday, during a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party, on its 244th anniversary

Both young and old alike got into the festivities, just like the original Sons of Liberty did before kicking off the Revolutionary War in 1773.

'There is nothing more Boston than the Boston Tea Party, and this event changed the history of the world forever,' Shawn Ford the Executive Director of the museum, told CBS News.

'If this event did not happen we could still be British.'

On this night 244 years ago, the Sons of Liberty dumped more than 300 crates of East India Company tea into the Boston Harbor following meetings at the Old South Meeting House.

The group on Saturday also replicated the meetings that took place.

People were dressed in blue coats and hats, with red trim

People were dressed in blue coats and hats, with red trim.

Some played instruments ans others stood on the sidelines near the meeting house.

Several people stepped up to the microphone to recite prepared lines, similar to what might have been said all those years ago.

Not everyone was dressed historically accurately, but most got into the full spirit of the event.

Some played instruments ans others stood on the sidelines near the meeting house.

Several people stepped up to the microphone to recite prepared lines, similar to what might have been said all those years ago

Several men donned procedural white wigs and ruffled shirts as they made their respective cases in front of a large audience.

There was cheering and animated discussion, as if the events were really taking place again, in real time.

Re-enactors engaged with the crowd, as well, happy to share the history with on-lookers.

Several men donned procedural white wigs and ruffled shirts as they made their respective cases in front of a large audience

There was cheering and animated discussion, as if the events were really taking place again

Re-enactors engaged with the crowd, as well, happy to share the history with on-lookers

Outside, children braved the chilly weather and carried flags during the event

Outside, children braved the chilly weather and carried flags during the event.

This act of rebellion took place to protest against taxation without representation, and the harsh response by the British government, eventually lead to the start of the American Revolution.

The tea used in the re-enactment was donated by people from across the US, and some even came from across the pond.

'We received over 200 packages, [including] envelopes [and] boxes of all sizes,' Ford said. All of that was dumped into the harbor.

Londons East India Tea company also sent hundreds of pounds of expired teas for use at the event.

In 1773, 100 colonists dumped about 90,000 pounds of tea into the harbor. That would equate to nearly $2,000,000 worth of tea, today.

This act of rebellion took place to protest against taxation without representation, and the harsh response by the British eventually lead to the start of the American Revolution
Harold Holt's grandson has dismissed the idea the former prime minister was captured by a Chinese submarine in the rough surf off Victoria's Cheviot Beach.

Robert Holt quoted his grandmother Zara to debunk the wild conspiracy theory the Liberal PM was a secret Communist agent, as he marked the 50th anniversary of Harold Holt disappearing, after going for a swim.

'Zara used to say he didn't even like Chinese food so why would he want to defect to China?,' he told Nine News on Sunday.

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Liberal PM Harold Holt was swept out to sea off Victoria's Cheviot Beach on December 17, 1967

Mr Holt went for a swim near the mouth of Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne, on December 17, 1967 and was never seen again.

The 59-year-old Liberal Party leader had been in the job for less than two years, after taking over from Sir Robert Menzies, when a heavy swell swept his body out to sea.

Robert Holt said Cheviot Beach was too shallow for such a vessel to get in.

'Every year there are people who drown in Australian waters and we never find the body,' he said.

Zara Holt (pictured with her husband Harold Holt in January 1966 a few days before he became prime minister) said the Liberal PM didn't even like Chinese food

Harold Holt's grandson Robert Holt (pictured) debunked the idea a Chinese submarine took his grandfather away

Harold Holt loved the taste of fish but he wasn't so into the taste of Chinese food, family says

'If you look at the beach here and how shallow it is, the idea that a submarine could have got in here is absolute madness.'

Robert hoped his grandfather, who held the Melbourne seat of Higgins, would be remembered for his achievements rather than the way he vanished, and the massive air search that followed.

Mr Holt began the dismantling of the White Australia policy and drove the historic referendum to ensure indigenous people were included in the census.

The former federal treasurer and PM also introduced decimal currency and the child endowment scheme, which was the first time mothers were paid a benefit for raising children.

The helicopter search for Harold Holt in 1967 was Australia's biggest ever sea search mission

Harold Holt's biological son Sam Holt lays a wreath on the 50th anniversary of his father's disappearance

Health Minister Greg Hunt (third from the right standing) and Speaker Tony Smith (fourth from the right) join a memorial ceremony for Harold Holt at Cheviot Beach on Sunday

'He was very progressive in his thinking,' Robert said at Cheviot Beach.

'So we are very keen that he is remembered for his achievements, not just the last few minutes of his passing.'

Robert and other family members attended a memorial service for Mr Holt on Sunday at Point Nepean, overlooking Cheviot Beach.

That included his biological son Sam, who Harold Holt had pretended was his adopted son because he was born when Zara was still married to her first husband James Heywood Fell.

Harold Holt's son Sam Holt remembers his father on the 50th anniversary of his disappearance

Health Minister Greg Hunt, who is the member for the local area of Flinders, and federal Speaker Tony Smith spoke at the 50th anniversary event.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull led tributes in Canberra's lower house earlier this month, calling Mr Holt's disappearance one of the most 'confounding' events in the country's history.

'He ushered in many of the reforms that we now consider so crucial, such watersheds in our evolution to the modern nation that we are today,' Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Holt also ramped up Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War, famously telling the American president Lyndon Johnson it was 'all the way with LBJ'.
This is the moment a huntsman spider completely sheds its skin in a fascinating feat of nature.

Footage of a small but terrifying huntsman shows the eight-legged creature slowly rid itself of its outer shell while clinging to a plant.

Jake Giannino captured the rare spectacle in his backyard in Healesville, Victoria, after spotting the spider starting to shed its exoskeleton.

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Footage of a small but terrifying huntsman shows the eight-legged creature (pictured) slowly rid itself of its outer shell while clinging to a plant

Jake Giannino captured the rare spectacle (pictured) in his backyard in Healesville, Victoria, after spotting the spider starting to shed its exoskeleton

The 23-year-old, who also happens to be a biologist, found the natural phenomenon to be interesting rather than spine-chilling and decided to take a time-lapse video.

'I watched the moulting process the whole way through, it was really interesting. I have kept loads of huntsman spiders but I have never been lucky enough to capture that before,' Mr Giannino told PerthNow.

'It's a once in a lifetime experience to see this, especially during the day  normally you would have to wait up all night to try and witness it.'

According to Mr Giannino, the entire process took little more than 10 minutes.

The 23-year-old, who also happens to be a biologist, found the natural phenomenon to be interesting rather than spine-chilling and decided to take a time-lapse video

According to Mr Giannino, the entire process took little more than 10 minutes.

After the huntsman emerged from his former shell, it curls up to protect its soft, jelly-like body until it hardens up again.

'When it comes out of the exoskeleton, it's body is a velvety, jelly-like consistency,' Mr Giannino added.

The arachnid-fanatic identified the spider as a badge huntsman, which is not known to have a particularly venomous bite.

No serious symptoms have ever been recorded from a bade huntsman bite - however other species of spiders in the same family can cause general symptoms including local severe pain and swelling, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Aldi Australia have stood by their own test results for a Chinese-made kitchen tap, which was found to have dangerous levels of lead.

The Easy Home spiral spring mixer kitchen taps, which were first advertised as a Special Buy in June 2016 and again this year, were found to have as much as 21 times the maximum allowable limit of lead.

But despite the new test results by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), Aldi Australia maintains the taps are safe for use.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, an Aldi spokesperson said the $79.99 taps passed Australian standards.

A $79.99 Chinese-made tap sold at Aldi has been found to contain dangerous levels of lead, new tests have revealed

'We are committed to providing our customers with safe products of the highest quality,' the statement read.

'On three separate occasions, the Spiral Spring Mixer tap has passed independent testing. This testing standard is required for the Australian WaterMark certification and is the testing method under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.'

Those who installed the device were warned not to use water run through it for drinking or cooking.

Aldi also slammed the QBCC testing as 'flawed'.

Aldi previously said the tap had passed Australian standards before being sold (stock image)

'We are disappointed that ALDI customers are being provided with inconclusive information that generates such unnecessary concern and inconvenience,' the Aldi statement said.

'The report in question is incomplete and inconclusive. The report is missing critical product and manufacturer information required to confirm the identity and origin of the product.'

The QBCC first raised concerns about the tap in July, after more than 12,000 of the taps were installed across Australia.

However, Aldi and the QBCC have agreed to partner on a 'definitive round of testing' to determine the safety of the kitchen tap.

The device has been found to give off as much as 21 times the maximum allowable amount of lead

The supermarket has also offered a refund for customers who purchased the tap.

'If customers who have purchased the ALDI Spiral Spring Mixer Tap would prefer to return the tap before the test results are known, we will provide a full refund for any returns.'

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said they expect Aldi to recall the product if the tests return negative results.

'If there is a risk that consumer goods may cause injury the ACCC expects suppliers and manufacturers to put voluntary recalls in place to protect consumers,' a ACCC spokesman said.

Many Aldi Australia customers have since come out in defense of the supermarket.

Laura Cook, from Brisbane, said her spiral spring mixer tap was given the all clear.

'I bought this tap and had the water tested shortly after the last media release in July/August, and it was all clear and safe to drink,' Ms Cook said.

The supermarket has also offered a refund for customers who purchased the tap (stock image)

Debra Balza also defended the testing commissioned by the supermarket.

'There is nothing wrong with this tap. I have tested my water and no lead found,' she said.

'I love this tap and am certainly not going to change it.'

Others were more concerned with Aldi selling specialist items, telling the supermarket giant to 'stick to food'.

'Aldi just stick to selling food and leave the specialist items to the specialist resellers,' Josh McKain said.

'There is a reason the prices on mixer taps are high with plumbing stores. They only use quality Australian standard products. Stick with selling food.'

Lead can be harmful to people of all ages, but unborn babies, infants and young children under five are at the highest risk.
A former foster child killed himself after council officials put him in the care of known paedophiles.

James McCourt, 30, ended his life at the Highpoint prison in Suffolk after being unable to live with the trauma of the abuse he'd suffered as a child from two suspected sex perverts.

His mother, Kathy Johnson, 73, claimed that council officials were 'responsible for his death'.

James McCourt, 30, ended his life at the Highpoint prison in Suffolk after being unable to live with the trauma of the abuse he'd suffered as a child from two suspected sex perverts

Kathy said they 'have blood on his hands' after discovering her son's experience in Lambeth, south London.

She added that Lambeth council were 'lying through their teeth' over their denial earlier this year that they had never employed the disgraced former teacher who was put in charge of her son's care.

The discovery was made when documents were uncovered by survivors' rights group - Shirley Oaks Survivors Association.

In 1982, James, then 11, was fostered by a teacher named John Michell - despite that four years earlier Michell had been sacked for gross misconduct after sexually assaulting three boys.

He was then sent to live with another suspected paedophile.

Official documents obtained by the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association showed that Lambeth council were aware the men were abusers, and concerns were raised by police and the NSPCC.

Michell met James at Lancaster House home near Reading, Berskhire in 1979.

The teacher took a special interest in James, who was 10-years-old at the time.

Uncovered documents show that Michell was paid thousands by Lambeth council to teach James at his home in Cornwall - even though earlier this year the council denied having ever employed the pervert.

Michell died aged 70 in 2000.

James's sister Liz McCourt, 53, said: 'If Lambeth hadn't employed these people then my brother would never have died.

'Even today they know they are culpable but they are still making people who have suffered half their lives wait for justice.'

From left: Lib Peck (Leader of Lambeth Council), Raymond Stevenson (Founder of SOSA), Shayna Donnelly (survivor), Helen Hayes MP and Chuka Umunna MP pictured in December 2016 when Shirley Oaks Survivors Association unveiled their interim report

Minutes from a 1999 Council meeting uncovered by the survivors association showed that the council knowledge of the abuse James suffered saying 'much of James' behavior is indicative of a sexually abused child.'

It said: 'there is a strong possibility abuse took place.

'There is substantial evidence Michell was a dangerous paedophile and the placement of James with him was of high risk.'

A spokesperson for the survivors group, Raymond Stevenson said: 'We are the custodians of information that has revealed some of the most heinous crimes on care children and the story of James McCourt is both typical and unique.

'Through investigating his life in care we learned each time he screamed for help there was no one there to turn to.

'That eventually led to him taking his life.

'There are people out there that know they failed him and we refuse to let his voice be silenced by lies.'

Music producer Raymond Stevenson was physically abused during his time at the Shirley Oaks home in the 70s, he later set up the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association which helps bring justice for victims of historic abuse

James moved 42 times between 16 different institutions across the country between the ages of two and 13.

He ran away 24 times over a four month period in 1983 - where he was targeted by a third paedophile.

James was serving a sentence for affray at the Highpoint prison in Suffolk when he died.

A prison report written shortly before his death said that he intended to give evidence against the paedophiles but it added he 'does not want to attend, does not want to carry on.'

James was serving a sentence for affray at the Highpoint prison in Suffolk when he died

The evidence will now be used in the nationwide inquiry into historic sexual abuse of children in the UK lead by Professor Alexis Jay, a former social worker.

The current leader of Lambeth Council has apologised for the historic abuse.

A Lambeth council spokesman said 'Terrible abuse occurred at Lambeth children's homes prior to their closure in the 1980s and 1990s.

'The current leader has made a full and genuine apology.

'Because of the harm many children suffered we have developed a redress scheme for survivors and secured 100million for compensation those who were so very badly let down by the system. The redress scheme has been extended to include children who were placed with foster parents directly from a Lambeth children's home.

'James McCourt's family would be able to apply for compensation under the Lambeth Children's Homes Redress Scheme.'
The dramatic moment a passenger ferry crashed into a yacht - leaving seven people in hospital - has been captured on camera.

Manly ferry collided with a nearby yacht in Sydney Harbour on Saturday afternoon, snapping the mast and damaging the stern on one side.

Horrified passengers watched as the yacht was completely submerged under the force of the much bigger ferry, throwing two people overboard and injuring seven others.

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Manly ferry (pictured) collided with a nearby yacht (left)in Sydney Harbour on Saturday afternoon, snapping the mast and damaging the stern on one side

Seven people were rushed to hospital after the collision involving Sydney ferry and a yacht

The yacht had been carrying 12 adults and two children at the time of impact.

One passenger suffered a chest laceration, the second was treated for a leg injury and the third was experiencing chest pain, according to a NSW Ambulance spokesman.

A 76-year-old man was also treated for chest pain, police say.

Despite the crash, the ferry continued onto Circular Quay and let passengers disembark at Wharf Three.

Freddie Gibbes, a 20-year-old witness hailing from Summer Hill, told the Daily Telegraph several people could be heard yelling as the two vessels collided.

'They were screaming "Get out of the way, stop",' Ms Gibbes said.

Sydney ferry 'The Narabeen' was travelling from Manly to Circular Quay on Saturday afternoon

One patient suffered a chest laceration, (pictured) the second was treated for a leg injury and the third was experiencing chest pain, according to a NSW Ambulance spokesman

'There was a lot of tooting from the ferry and the next thing there was a crunch and ferry went into the yacht.'

Ms Gibbes said she saw fellow passengers fall into the water and claims one woman even got caught underneath a metal pole as she struggled in the sea.

A man then reportedly dived off the yacht to save the woman who had fallen in the water.

The skipper also suffered bruising to his head and leg but remained with the yacht after it was towed to nearby Rushcutters Bay, Detective Chief Inspector Todd Cunningham said.

Police are yet to determine who was at fault, however harbour rules state that ferries have right of way and priority while sailing vessels are required to give way.

'We're still investigating the matter ... at this stage it's difficult to tell who was at fault,' he told reporters in Sydney.

'Both the master of the yacht and the ferry were breath tested with a negative result.'

Despite the crash, the ferry continued onto Circular Quay and let passengers disembark at Wharf Three

Freddie Gibbes, a 20-year-old witness hailing from Summer Hill, told the Daily Telegraph several people could be heard yelling as the two vessels collided (Manly Ferry pictured)

The Manly ferry vessel Narrabeen continued to Manly after the collision.

Those who fell overboard were not wearing life jackets.

Chief Insp Cunningham said it was an important reminder for all boating enthusiasts to make sure they had access to the right safety equipment.

'Whether you're in a recreational vessel or a commercial vessel... it's important to be aware of what's going on on the water,' he said.

'Especially Sydney Harbour, it's a busy place - both day and night.'

Emergency services assisted passengers on the yacht, two of whom had fallen into the water

It's the third incident involving a Manly ferry in just over three months.

In mid-September, the 'Ocean Wave' vessel hit Manly Wharf at low speed, leaving four or five people with minor injuries.

At the time, the company said it was not clear how the accident happened and crew would be tested for alcohol and drugs.

And at the beginning of December, a packed Manly ferry crashed into Circular Quay and two people were injured.
A 'loving' father-of-six taxi driver who was killed in a late-night horror crash in Birmingham had told his wife he was on his way home just minutes earlier.

Taxi driver Imtiaz Mohammed, 33, was killed instantly when the Audi mounted the central reservation of an underpass and landed on the wrong side of the dual carriageway.

He was his family's 'bread-winner' and had been on his last job of the night when he was involved in the fatal collision, his family said.

Speaking at home in Small Heath, Birmingham, relatives revealed he was due to quit driving within weeks and was on one of his final shifts when the tragic crash happened.

A 42-year-old man and 43-year-old woman who were passengers in the seven-seater cab also died.

Tauqeer Hussain, 26, who was in the Audi was killed along with two other men, aged 30 and 25. A 22-year-old man in the Audi is fighting for life in hospital.

Neighbours of Mr Hussain said: 'I saw him just yesterday, I can't believe it's happened. It's such an awful shame.'

Imtiaz Mohammed, 32, pictured left, died in the smash in Lee Bank Middleway, and was described by his devastated family as 'a legend'. Meanwhile, neighbours of Tauqeer Hussain, pictured right, from Small Heath, Birmingham, confirmed he was a victim

Mr Mohammed's family paid tribute to the 'loving' and 'hardworking' man following the crash

Flowers have been placed at the scene today, just over 24 hours after the horror crash

Locals who witnessed the scene told of their horror at the carnage on the dual carriageway

Mr Mohammed had been working for Castle Cars at the time of the collision and his family have spoken of the shock and devastation it has caused among the whole community.

Officers have described the collision, which happened in Edgbaston shortly after 1am on Sunday, as 'very difficult and distressing' while witnesses said the tragedy just days ahead of Christmas was the 'worst thing they had ever seen'.

Police said a total of six vehicles were caught up in the crash and harrowing images from the scene show a scene of utter carnage with crumpled vehicles, including a people carrier taxi, strewn along the main road.

Reports suggest there could have been problems with visibility and seatbelts may not have been worn in at least two cars, which police are investigating.

Mohammed's younger brother Noorshad recalled that his sibling had only spoken to wife Nargas Gul minutes before the crash at Belgrave and Lee Bank Middleway in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 32-year-old said: 'It was his last job of the night. That was the last time she spoke to him.

'He was going to come home - he rang his wife at 1am, and they were going to have something to eat.

'And then that was it. That was the last time they spoke.'

Six people were killed in the crash which happened in Birmingham in the early hours

It is thought the Audi went over the central reservation and hit a taxi driving in the opposite direction. The taxi ended up on its side. Another, smaller, car was also crushed

Anger at Facebook over video of the deceased There was anger at Facebook after a video showing the victims of the crash shortly after it happened was allowed to stay online. Footage filmed minutes after the crash which killed six people shows bodies laying in the road. But despite calls for the footage to be removed out of respect for the victims' families, Facebook said it did not 'breach community standards'. Advertisement

Nassrin Bibi, Mr Mohammed's older sister, said the family had been 'devastated' by the news, received at 5am on Sunday morning.

She said: 'It's just so tragic and devastating, and there are no words really. We are just so sad and utterly shattered.'

As she spoke, the sounds of grief - crying and shouts in anguish - could be heard from other rooms, and a steady stream of people came to pay their respects to 'jolly - always smiling' Mr Mohammed.

His cousin Noor Khan, 26, said: 'He was loved by everyone, people are crying, people are devastated, people who are not very close, family relations, people as a friend.

'I am getting three-digit numbers of phone calls asking how it happened, when the funeral is.

'His time was very small, he had a little time with everyone, but he touched everyone's heart.

'You can sit with someone for hours and be always with them - he is with you for five minutes and you start to build love for each other, friendship.

A taxi driver and his two passengers - a man and a woman - were killed in the crash

'He's not my biological brother but my dad and his mum are brother and sister. I see him as my older brother. I see his kids as my kids.

'If they feel they've lost a father and nobody is going to look after them, I'm there for them.

'They have got the family as well. Everyone is supporting each other to take care of him and his family.

'He was married, he has been with her his whole life. She loves him dearly. She is broken, she is devastated.'

He added: 'The saddest thing is he was looking to leave taxis in the next month. I'm knocking myself over the head, did he have to go out that night? He was only a taxi driver for a couple of years.'

His brother Noorshad added that Mr Mohammed doted on his children and 'spoilt them'.

'He would say, 'the only thing I live for is my wife and family',' he said.

Terrible images from the scene of the crash this morning, which has left six people dead and one man fighting for his life in hospital

The Hazardous Area Response Team of West Midlands Ambulance Service have described it as a 'significant incident' while witnesses said it was 'the worst thing they had ever seen'

Photographs from the scene yesterday show two other vehicles with crumpled bumpers

The fourth male occupant of the car from which three others perished remained critically ill in the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Some 40 firefighters were sent to the scene of the collision around 1.11am, on one of the busiest nights of the year and as temperatures plummeted.

The cab driver and his female passenger were confirmed dead at the scene while a man in the vehicle was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Three men in another car were also pronounced dead at the scene, while a fourth was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

The Hazardous Area Response Team of West Midlands Ambulance Service have described it as a 'significant incident',

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said a man and woman in the first car managed to escape with 'relatively minor injuries', and were taken to Heartlands Hospital.

He added: 'The second vehicle, a 'black cab', was on its side.

A couple in a third badly-damaged car 'astonishingly' escaped serious injury, while three other vehicles were involved in a second collision yards along the road as traffic braked to avoid the pile-up in front

The dual carriageway - called Belgrave Middleway - has a 40mph speed limit and is covered by speed cameras on each side of the approach to the underpass, but at least one of the cameras was said to be inoperative

'Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man and woman in the back were rapidly extricated.

'Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene.

'The man was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with the MERIT trauma doctor travelling with the crew. Sadly, he died at hospital.'

There were four men in the third car, the spokesman said, three of whom were confirmed dead at the scene.

The fourth was taken to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in a critical condition.

Of those travelling in the three other cars involved in the crash, a man and a woman were treated for minor injuries, one man was discharged after assessment and another said he did not require any assistance.

Police forensic tents remain up at the scene. The taxi is on its side and a black car which appears to be an Audi A3 is smashed up

The crash happened at 1.11am, on one of the busiest nights of the year as temperatures plummeted

Distressing images from the scene show a number of vehicles - including a people carrier taxi - crumpled along the road

There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which police said was 'extensive'

Lizzy Bowers, 18, is from London but was visiting friends in Birmingham when she heard the crash.

She said: 'I was in the McDonald's drive through and there were two loud bangs.

'Everyone abandoned their cars and people flocked from everywhere, even flats nearby, to come see what happened.

'There was a people carrier taxi squashed up the wall against another car, which was almost unrecognisable as a car.

'Other cars behind had bumped into each other, probably from slamming their brakes on.

'Very upsetting, emergency service arrived almost minutes after and has been cordoned off with lots of police since.

'There was another small vehicle further down that had been crashed into, but there was the taxi and the car up against the wall.

'It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed. It didn't look good at all. This close to Christmas, it is tragic.'

A number of police vehicles remain at the scene while tents are in place as investigators attempt to find out what caused the collision

Police said they are following various lines of investigation including the condition of the road when the crash happened at Belgrave and Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road, shortly after 1am on Sunday.

Superintendent Sean Phillips, from West Midlands Police, told a press conference: 'It is way too early to speculate on the causes of the accident.

'It will take some time to unpick the scene and just understand exactly what's happened. It would be unfair for me to speculate at this time.'

He confirmed the road had been gritted at 5pm the previous evening.

Asked about the speeds the vehicles were travelling at, and whether all of those involved were wearing seatbelts, Mr Phillips said those will be issues considered during the investigation.

The Ambulance Service, which sent five ambulances and three paramedics to the scene, said it was astonishing that a man and woman in the first car were able to escape with minor injuries despite 'extensive damage' to their vehicle.

Three other cars collided as they tried to avoid the scene at the entrance to the underpass.

Of those people, two were taken to Heartlands Hospital with minor injuries. The ambulance service said they dealt with 13 patients in total.

The black taxi was shunted onto its side in the force of the crash, which killed all three people inside

The accident happened in Edgbaston in Birmingham around 1am on Sunday

West Midlands Police described the circumstances of the incident as 'very difficult and upsetting', adding the road will be closed from Islington Row to Bristol Street throughout Sunday.

Two ambulances were on scene within seven minutes and in total, five ambulances, three paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team, the MERIT Trauma doctor and The Air Ambulance Service Critical Care Car were all sent to the scene.

Sgt Alan Hands from the West Midlands Police Collision Investigation Unit said: 'We are currently dealing with a very serious collision and working with partner agencies to establish what caused this collision to happen.

'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the families of those who have very sadly lost their lives this morning and those who have been injured or caught up in this incident.'

The collision happened beneath a bridge in Birmingham, with several cars smashing into one another

Police investigators remain at the scene, and have closed the usually busy road

One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: 'It is really horrific. 'When I saw the scene it reminded me of the pictures of Diana's car crash'

The crash happened at about 1.10am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road

One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: 'It is really horrific.

'When I saw the scene it reminded me of the pictures of Diana's car crash.

'A man turned up here and said the police had knocked on his door this morning and told him one of his relatives had died in the crash.

'He didn't know what had happened to the second person in the car so he was at the scene trying to find out. It must have been horrendous for him.'

The crash occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in freezing winter temperatures though it remains unclear whether this was a factor in the crash.

A local resident described how she rushed outside to try and help.

She said: 'I heard a massive bang crash looked out my window and saw a cloud just above the entrance to the tunnel.

'Instantly I knew it was a crash and I grabbed my coat and rushed out to help.

'When you saw it you knew immediately that there would be a fatality - the cars were just so mashed up, it was absolute carnage.

'The emergency services arrived almost immediately and I asked if there was anything I could do, but they said it was best just to keep clear.

'I just couldn't get it out of my mind - it was haunting.

'There was lots of vehicles that were facing the wrong way - clearly as more cars came along there had been accidents with people trying to stop in time.

'The main crash was absolutely awful, the taxi was upturned and caved in.

'I think it was just as much of a shock for the emergency services. There was lots of people just standing around in shock.

'It was horrible you feel shocked, distressed and helpless and I'm not the kind of person to run out into the street in the middle of the night, but I knew it was bad.

'It's just so sad, I really do feel for them I know at any time its bad, but it just seem so bad because its Christmas time.

'I just hope that the ones who had got out alive do recover soon and that the families are coping okay.'

Passer-by Wayne Hopkins, 64, from Hall Green shared his shock and sympathies at the horrific scene.

He said: 'People use this road as a racetrack - it's so dangerous. I can't believe this has happened - it's awful, especially as it's so close to Christmas.'

Sgt Alan Hands from the West Midlands Police Collision Investigation Unit said: 'We are currently dealing with a very serious collision and working with partner agencies to establish what caused this collision to happened'

Emergency services have said that the road, one of the busiest in the city centre, will be closed for the rest of the day while they clear the scene

Six vehicles in total were caught up in the horrific crash, with four people killed at the scene and two taken to hospital, where they passed away

Area Commander Jason Campbell of West Midlands Fire Service said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of everyone who has lost their lives.

'Our thoughts are also with the injured, some of whom are very seriously hurt.

'The first West Midlands Fire Service crews arrived in less than four minutes and were met with a complex scene, spread over some distance.

'Our firefighters' actions involved stabilising vehicles, releasing the dead and injured, as well as administering CPR and first aid.

'All of the emergency services worked together and coordinated their response in extremely challenging circumstances, doing all they possibly could to minimise the loss of life.

'We will be giving our colleagues at West Midlands Police every support possible throughout their investigation into this horrific incident.

'We would urge anyone who saw what happened to contact the police as soon as possible if they haven't already done so.'
Libyan coast guards rescued at least 270 migrants off the country's shores yesterday, a Navy official said.

The Arab and African migrants, who included women and children, were found at sea in an area between the coastal towns of Garabulli and Zliten, east of the capital, Tripoli, and were taken to a naval base.

The latest mission brings the total number of migrants rescued by Libyan coast guards to more than 450 in less than a week.

Rescuers carry a baby on to a boat after rescuing her and other migrants from the sea yesterday

A rigid hulled inflatable boat brings migrants to safety after they tried to cross the Mediterranean

A migrant on the MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship, calls out to other migrants being rescued

A rescue crew member passes a baby wearing a life jacket to fellow rescuers

'We were lost and didn't know where to direct our boat,' Omar Yusef, a Sudanese migrant said. 'We called the coast guard and a helicopter came and guided us.'

Doctors from the UN migration agency and UNHCR received them at the naval base to provide medical assistance before immigration control transferred them to a Tripoli detention centre.

Libya descended into chaos following an uprising in 2011 that toppled and later killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. It has since become a frequently used perilous route to Europe for those fleeing poverty and civil war in the region.

The influx of refugees prompted the EU to train and equip Libya's coast guard to stop boats trying to make the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossings.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants are trapped in Libyan detention centres, which often slammed by rights groups as overcrowded and unsanitary.

Migrants arrive on the MV Aquarius after being rescued by the Libyan coast guard

Libyan coast guards rescued at least 270 migrants off the country's shores

The latest mission brings the total number of migrants rescued by Libyan coast guards to more than 450 in less than a week.

Some 167,700 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea since the start of 2017

Europe's cooperation with Libyan authorities has, however, reduced the number of migrants and refugees crossing into Europe by more than half since last year.

According to the UN migration agency's latest figures, some 167,700 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea since the start of 2017, compared to at least 358,000 in 2016.

Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, among other aid and rights groups, have criticised the EU's policy, saying it primarily aims to block the Mediterranean trafficking route and leave thousands of migrants trapped in Libya at risk of horrific abuses.
Boris Johnson today broke the fragile Tory truce on Brexit with a warning Britain must leave behind EU rules or risk becoming a 'vassal state'.

The Foreign Secretary's intervention on the eve of the first Cabinet talks on what kind of Brexit trade deal to pursue exposes again the deep rift inside the Tory party.

Mr Johnson leads a faction of senior ministers who want to diverge from EU rules after Brexit despite warnings it could lead to trade barriers.

Others, including Chancellor Philip Hammond believe Britain should track a closer course to Britain's biggest market.

Theresa May must find a way to balance the competing demands, first at a crucial Brexit war cabinet tomorrow and then at an official full meeting on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister claimed today to have 'proved the doubters wrong' by unlocking trade talks at Friday's EU summit following weeks of high stakes diplomacy.

The Tory divide was exposed again on a day EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned Britain must choose between existing trade deal models and not expect anything unique.

Ahead of the final round of Commons debate on flagship Brexit laws before Christmas, Mr Johnson spoke up for 11 Tory rebels who consigned Mrs May to defeat on Wednesday night

Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead today) claimed to have proved the doubters wrong today after sealing a Brexit divorce deal and unlocking trade talks with Brussels

Mr Johnson's interview in the Sunday Times underlines the deep divide within the Cabinet over what 'end state' Britain will seek.

Brexit Secretary David Davis last week suggested Britain would seek a loose deal similar to the one agreed between the EU and Canada, with extra provisions to take account of Britain's service industry and the City of London.

But in China this week, Chancellor Mr Hammond has signalled continued support for a Norway-style arrangement where Britain closely matches the EU single market in return for free trade.

Mr Johnson said today that Britain must 'maximise the benefits of Brexit' and this means the nation must go its own way.

He cited the working time directive - which caps working hours at 48 hours a week - as an EU regulation which could be scrapped.

He said: 'The prime minister has done a fantastic job moving us forward in the negotiations.

'What we need to do is something new and ambitious, which allows zero tariffs and frictionless trade but still gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way in the future.'

Warning that Remain campaigners could justifiably ask what had been achieved if Britain simply accepted EU laws, Mr Johnson warned: 'We would have gone from a member state to a vassal state.'

Mrs May's Cabinet (pictured together after the election) will finally begin talks on what to seek in the trade talks phase of the Brexit negotiations

WHAT NEXT FOR THE BREXIT TALKS? What happened at the summit this week? On Friday, EU leaders rubber stamped a draft divorce deal to say 'sufficient progress' had been made on issues about the separation. This unlocks the crucial next phase in which a transition deal and future trade will be discussed. EU Council President Donald Tusk has announced new negotiating guidelines for the EU's negotiator, Michel Barnier. These instruct him to strike a transition deal before launching long-term trade talks. What does the EU want in the transition period? The new negotiating guidelines suggest the EU want a complete 'standstill' transition that keeps Britain inside all EU laws for a fixed period, expected to be two years and running until March 2021. This means freedom of movement will continue to apply, Britain will not be allowed to sign new trade deals and European Court rulings will still be enforced. What does Britain want? Theresa May has set out her own vision for a two year transition in which most EU rules continue to apply. She wanted full-blown trade talks to run in parallel with transition talks from January but looks set to be disappointed. Brexiteers will be furious if it is confirmed Britain is not allowed to strike trade deals during the transition period and accept new EU rules. Advertisement

He added: 'We need to raise our eyes to the horizon and ask ourselves in 10, 20, 30 years time.

'Is the world really going to be a series of mutually competitive trade blocs or are we going to be working in a system where there is freedom and free trade between countries, businesses, between individuals ... in accordance with global standards?

'That is a very exciting future.'

Mr Johnson said he was encouraged by Mr Hammond's Budget speech, in which the Chancellor touched on regulatory divergence with Brussels.

He said: 'Philip can see that we have a very original economy, very different from other European countries tech sectors, bio-science, bulk data, this is a very innovative place to be.

'We may in future wish to regulate it in a different way from the way that Brussels does.'

Mrs May used a column in the Sunday Telegraph today in an attempt to reclaim her bolstered authority after two weeks of diplomatic drama.

Mrs May said: 'Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job. In the face of those who want to talk Britain down, we are securing the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for our whole United Kingdom.

'And my message today is very clear: we will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people.'

She added: 'This is a government that is getting on with the job.

'We are proving the doubters wrong and we will stick to the task: securing the best possible Brexit and building a Britain fit for the future.'

But the Prime Minister must still find unity in her Cabinet after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (left) today demanded a dramatic divergence in UK and EU rules in defiance of Chancellor Philip Hammond (right) who wants the systems to remain closely matched

Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke struck a middle course in a Marr interview today (pictured) insisting Britain needed to maximise access to EU markets while going its own way

Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke said the final trade deal must 'maximise' access to the EU market.

REBELS RISK CORBYN GOVERNMENT, MP CLAIMS tory Brexit rebels risk putting Jeremy Corbyn in power, a prominent Eurosceptic warned as the fallout from Theresa May's first Commons defeat over Europe continued today. Backbench MP Nadine Dorries, who has said the 11 rebels should face deselection, compared the situation to wartime and claimed her colleagues had a duty to support the Prime Minister. But ex-cabinet minister Ken Clarke said it was 'idiotic' to call for a purge of Tory Europhiles and 'absurd' to say the revolt was helping the Labour leader. The former chancellor also said the current cabinet - which will discuss Brexit over the coming days - was 'deeply divided on the details' about the future trade deal it wants with the EU. 'Now we need to get on to a sensible economic future, worked out by people who are prepared to read the brief and know something about trade, investment and business in the modern, globalised, economy,' he said. Ms Dorries hit out at Mr Clarke and his fellow rebels, telling the BBC's Sunday Politics the 'real heroes' were Tories who had backed Remain but were now supporting the Government's Brexit plans. She said the rebels were pursuing a tactic of supporting measures to 'frustrate and delay Brexit'. Ms Dorries, who has voted against her leaders on a series of issues in the past, said the difference now was 'we have a Marxist government knocking on the door'. She added: 'We have got a very important job to do, we are in very dangerous times, we are in a situation that has not been seen like this since wartime. 'They had a responsibility and that responsibility was to support the Government.' Advertisement

'As the Prime Minister has rightly said, we are not looking for an EEA-type arrangement so that, essentially, it's continuity as far as the end state is concerned,' he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

'But it is also important that we maximise our access to the European markets, that is really important to the UK.'

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said the move was a 'straight-up attack' on worker's rights.

She said: 'Millions could lose their paid holidays, and be forced to work ridiculously long hours.

'The Working Time Directive gave nearly five million women paid holidays for the first time.

'No-one voted for Brexit to lose out on holidays, or to hand power over to bad bosses.

'The Prime Minister promised that our working rights would be protected after Brexit.

'Now we will see if she can keep her word, or if she is a hostage to extremists in her own cabinet.'

The Cabinet's Brexit sub-committee will meet tomorrow to begin detailed discussions on the 'end state' arrangements the Government will seek from the EU.

A full Cabinet meeting will take place on Tuesday - the first time it has had an opportunity to discuss what the deal might look like when Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.

'Now is the crunch time where we actually paint a vision for the EU of what we want,' a senior government source told the Telegraph.

'We want to set the agenda.'

Ahead of the final round of Commons debate on flagship Brexit laws before Christmas, Mr Johnson spoke up for 11 Tory rebels who consigned Mrs May to defeat on Wednesday night.

He said it was 'obscene' the group - led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve had been subject to abuse and even death threats over the revolt.

'These are honourable people,' he said.

'They are voting with their conscience.'
A private company has renewed its pledge to locate MH370 on a 'no find, no fee' basis after authorities spent $200million on a fruitless search.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) attempted to find the missing aircraft for two years after it vanished during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014.

US-based company Ocean Infinity was this week briefed by the ATSB in London after it earlier offered to take up the search for free should it be unsuccessful.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) attempted to find missing aircraft MH370 for two years. A private company has renewed its pledged to locate the wreckage on a 'no find, no fee' basis

A Boeing 777 flaperon cut down to match the one from flight MH370 found on Reunion island off the coast of Africa in 2015 is lowered into water to discover its drift characteristics

The two-day meeting involved officers of the CSIRO, the ATSB and other bodies which were involved in the original search, The Australian reported.

'We only talked about where they would search,' a CSIRO drift modelling expert told the paper, indicating the original agreement may go ahead.

Ocean Infinity's search could reportedly start in a matter of weeks.

The company struck the 'no find, no fee' deal with the Malaysian Government earlier this year and was to receive $90 million only if it located the wreckage.

It plans to use sonar scanning equipment to find aircraft, after a multinational search cost Australian, Malaysian and Chinese taxpayers $200million.

The three countries agreed to suspend the search in January after 120,000 square kilometres of seabed was combed without finding any trace of the doomed flight.

MH370 disappeared without a trace with 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 nations on board.

A multinational search cost Australian, Malaysian and Chinese taxpayers $200million. This piece of aircraft debris discovered on the island of Pemba, off the coast of Tanzania
Shamed reality TV star Chris Jacks has been found guilty of harassing his ex-girlfriend and threatening to throw acid on her.

Chris Jacks has been found guilty of harassing his ex-girlfriend and threatening to throw acid on her

The 32-year-old, who starred in Channel 4 show Mutiny, bombarded former partner Charlotte Cooper with nearly 100 calls and texts in the five days after they split.

He then turned up at her home after their five-month relationship ended and begged to be taken back - before threatening to attack her with the corrosive substance.

Air hostess Ms Cooper fell pregnant not long into the relationship but had an abortion because of the sailor's controlling and verbally abusive nature, a court heard.

Jacks, originally from Liverpool, featured in Channel 4's Mutiny earlier this year.

The show saw a crew of nine sailing 3,600 miles across the Pacific in a small wooden vessel, repeating the 1789 feat of Capt William Bligh after the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty voyage.

The 32-year-old, who starred in Channel 4 show Mutiny, bombarded former partner Charlotte Cooper with nearly 100 calls and texts in the five days after they split in Septeber and continued to harass her in October

The team was captained by former SBS adventurer Ant Middleton who shot to fame as lead instructor in the reality show SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Jacks was a divisive figure who clashed with other members of the crew and eventually left during the voyage.

The court was told in one day Jacks called the victim 57 times from nine different numbers and left 19 voicemails.

He went to Ms Cooper's home in West Drayton, London, on October 31 and shouted through the letterbox 'I don't deserve this'.

Jacks was charged with one count of harassment between October 10 and October 31.

At Uxbridge Magistrates Court he appeared in the dock wearing a black fleece jumper, black jeans and carrying a rucksack.

Jacks, originally from Liverpool, featured in Channel 4's Mutiny earlier this year. The show saw a crew of nine sailing 3,600 miles across the Pacific in a small wooden vessel. But Jacks walked away from the show after becoming notoriously unpopular for his antics

He wept in the dock after pleading guilty when magistrates suspended his 18-week prison sentence for 12 months.

Melissa Garner, prosecuting, said: 'The victim was in a relationship with the defendant which started in April this year.

'The relationship ended in September and she was then contacted by the defendant in a number of phone calls, some were recorded.

'Some were threatening about an acid attack.

Magistrates were told Jacks, who also works for a hotel in central London and is lining up a new show on the Discovery Channel, was verbally abusive during the relationship

'On October 25 he contacted her 57 times, from a number of mobile numbers.

'On October 26 he contacted her about three times to say he was coming round to her address.

'On October 30 he contacted her 36 times.'

Magistrates were told Jacks, who also works for a hotel in central London and is lining up a new show on the Discovery Channel, was verbally abusive during the relationship.

Jacks was handed a restraining order not to contact Ms Cooper directly or indirectly for five years

Ms Garner added: 'Although they did not live together she fell pregnant in August but had a termination because she was not happy with him.

'He was controlling over the relationship and verbally abusive.

'She says she had to have therapy when she was with him.

'They split up in September and since then he called from different numbers at different times of day, she didn't answer most of them but when she did she hung up on him.

'She says she changed her number twice but he kept finding it and keeps emailing her.

'She told him to stop but he kept doing it.

'On October 1 at 9pm he called again, her friend answered and he was put on speakerphone, saying about how much he loved her and how he was in a really bad place and was crying.

Charlotte Cooper said she had to have therapy while she was in a relationship with Jacks because of his controlling ways

'He was annoyed she was seeing someone else who he worked with, saying "tell me the truth, have you moved on with some else? Who is this lad, why would you do this? You're a scumbag, Watch what I'm going to do, you best be scared".

'She says he said he was going to be at her house and kept talking about an acid attack, she asked him what he meant but he would not answer.

'On October 31 he attended her home address at 11.30pm. He called through the letterbox "just let me in I want to talk, I love you, I don't deserve this".

'She called the police.'

The court heard Jacks had no previous history of similar offences but did have convictions of battery, theft for stealing a wine bottle, and possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin between 1999 and 2004.

He was a salesman but after three months jail in 2004 and decided to turn his life around.

The court heard Jacks had no previous history of similar offences but did have convictions of battery, theft and possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin between 1999 and 2004

He learned to sail and eventually completed a round Britain voyage solo.

He will be competing in the Golden Globe Race next year, sailing solo non-stop around the world.

A statement by Ms Cooper, read to the court, said: 'I believed he was threatening he was going to attack me with acid and I believed he would carry it out.

'He was unpredictable and makes me scared.

'He also contacted my father, this makes me scared to leave my home or go to sleep at night.

'I used to wake up at night and fear he was in the street outside, like he did before.

'I was scared he would be waiting for me when I came through arrivals after work.'

A statement by Ms Cooper, read to the court, said: 'I believed he was threatening he was going to attack me with acid and I believed he would carry it out. He was unpredictable and makes me scared. He also contacted my father, which made me scared to leave my home'

Chair of the bench Sandra Joseph sentenced Jacks to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for a year with 80 hours unpaid work.

Jacks, of Tavistock Place, Camden, north London, was ordered to pay 85 costs and 115 victims surcharge.

He was handed a restraining order not to contact Ms Cooper directly or indirectly for five years.

Jacks's Twitter bio describes himself as a 'sailor, hiker, angler'.

The former sales manager served three months in prison at the age of 24 for failing to complete a community order.

After he was released, he decided to 'turn his life around' and quit his job.

During the Channel 4 documentary led by former SBS member Ant Middleton which aired in March, fans called for the Scouser to be booted off the show for challenging authority.
A rape trial against a student spectacularly collapsed after texts emerged from the alleged victim in which she told a friend the sex 'wasn't against my will'.

Liam Allan, 22, was 'dragged through hell' for two years after police failed to provide messages proving his innocence to his defence team.

In the texts, the alleged victim asked for more sex after the attack was said to have taken place.

And one of the messages irrefutably cleared Mr Allan.

Sent to a female friend during a discussion on her sexual experiences with Mr Allan on September 3 2015, before she had made a complaint, the accuser said: 'It wasn't against my will or anything.'

Liam Allan spent almost two years on bail before police handed over text messages that exonerated him. He now plans to sue the police and the CPS

Liam Allan, 22, was standing trial when his lawyers discovered text messages from the alleged victim asking for more sex after the attack was said to have taken place

This is the bombshell text message that would have cleared a student accused of rape before he had to endure two years of hell

The texts held by police should have been made available to both the defence and the prosecution almost two years ago but were not due to 'sheer incompetence.'

And it has emerged Mr Allan, a psychology student at Greenwich University, is planning to sue the police and the CPS for their bungled handling of the case.

His lawyer Simone Meerabux told the Sun on Sunday: 'Mr Allan lost two years of his life because of gross negligence.

'We are considering legal action against the police and the CPS.'

Confirming he has no choice but to sue the police and CPS, Mr Allan added: I am however, happy to work with the CPS and police to help ensure things change for the better. In this case no individual is to blame; there are multiple factors.

News Mr Allan was planning to sue comes as the detective accused of failing to disclose the vital evidence in the rape trial recommended months ago that the defendant should not be charged, it was claimed last night.

Mr Allan claims the heavily criticised officer who led the investigation  Detective Constable Mark Azariah  suggested to him in February that the case against him was weak.

The startling development came as calls mounted yesterday for an independent inquiry into the scandal. There were claims that dozens of cases have collapsed in recent years because of police failings over the way they handle evidence.

Mr Allan, from Beckenham, South East London, said: I rang [Det Con Azariah] in the last week of February seeking an update. At this stage, I hadnt been charged but it was more than a year since my arrest.

REVEALED: THE DETECTIVE WHO SAT ON CRUCIAL EVIDENCE... INVESTIGATOR: Metropolitan Police officer DC Mark Azariah This is the Detective Constable who led the police investigation of an innocent student accused of rape. The Mail on Sunday has learned that he is Detective Constable Mark Azariah, 37, from the Metropolitan Polices child abuse and sexual offences command. He has worked for the Met since at least 2009. The case collapsed when it emerged in court that police had failed to disclose a series of graphic messages from the accusers phone to friends in which she discussed her fantasies of extreme sex acts, including being raped. Prosecuting barrister Jerry Hayes later revealed that he had been told by police that the phone records  which included 40,000 text and WhatsApp messages  were not disclosable because they contained very personal material; nothing capable of undermining the prosecution case or assisting the defence. Mr Hayes said: It appears the police officer in the case has not reviewed the disk, which is quite appalling. The judge demanded a review of disclosure evidence by the Met and called for an inquiry at the very highest level of the Crown Prosecution Service. The accused, Liam Allan, said magnanimously of the detective who might have cost him the best years of his life: I would like to make it clear that this man is not solely responsible for the failures of the system. He should not be used as a scapegoat. The Met said that the case was overseen by the officers line managers. DAMNING RAPE FANTASY MESSAGES September 2, 2015 To a male friend Accuser: You clearly dont love me because you keep revoking my sexual advances, have I got to drug you? September 3, 2015 Accuser: People need 3 things in life: food, water and sex. Accuser: Sometimes sex is the number 1 priority, Im really not joking to be honest I always think with my d*** lol. Accuser: You know its always nice to be sexually assaulted without breaking the law. September 3, 2015 To a female friend in an exchange discussing her sexual experiences with Mr Allan. Accuser: It wasnt against my will or anything. September 3, 2015 Accuser: Love is nice but sex is essential. In all seriousness, I am so frustrated now there is zero chance of me lasting like nine months without sex? Im struggling now. How the hell do people go months and months without doing it? October 12, 2015 To a male friend Accuser: You sexy f***er. Male friend: The chocking [choking] I find it to [too] hot, guess we can be messed up together? On same date to female friend Accuser: Well are you going to take me into the park and rape me? In the bushes. November 2015 A group WhatsApp conversation Woman friend: You guys are so sweet I feel like raping you all. Accuser: Well 18 is a special number and we love you. Woman friend: Stop because I seriously will rape you in your sleep. Accuser: I told you its fine, Id consent. Advertisement

He said the case had gone high up within the Crown Prosecution Service and the decision would be theirs.

He said he recommended in his report to the CPS that I should not face charges. He didnt expand on what he put in his report.

Two hours later  as I came out of a lecture  Mr Allan received a call to say he would be charged with six rapes and one sexual assault.

Having been given hope, my world was instantly turned upside down, he said.

Last Friday, the day after the trial collapsed, a series of messages from Mr Allans accuser were disclosed revealing her secret fantasies about being raped and choked during sex. These were in reference to another partner.

Prosecutors did not hand over the phone messages, saying they were too personal to share and not relevant.

But The Mail on Sunday can today reveal the existence of another message referring directly to her sexual experiences with Mr Allan  which cast doubt on the girls story from the outset.

It wasnt against my will or anything, she wrote in a text to a friend. It was sent before she made her complaint.

Mr Allan said: This clearly undermines her case. Why didnt we get to see this? It wasnt too personal.

The case was blown apart when other messages from the woman were found where she discussed rape fantasies with another partner

Speaking about the moment his lawyer told him the the case against him had collapsed, Mr Allen said: Simone rang me on December 7. I was bracing myself for bad news because up until then it had all been bad news.

'She had told me that the CPS had decided to drop the whole case and for a second I was speechless and then I just started screaming the whole house down. And then everyone started coming round to the house to congratulate and hug me.

Although Scotland Yard and the CPS are looking into what went wrong, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had not been asked to investigate any of the officers involved in the case.

Police sources pointed out that no investigation is carried out by one officer alone, and this case, like all investigations, was overseen by the officers line managers.

Calls are also growing for a wide-ranging, independent investigation into the disclosure system, as well as the failure of so many rape trials  which could see Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders grilled by MPs.

Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was taken to court over false rape claims, added: I hope the Justice Select Committee can hold a full inquiry into it. Lessons have to be learned

Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was taken to court over false rape claims, added: I hope the Justice Select Committee can hold a full inquiry into it. Lessons have to be learned.

Bob Neill, chairman of the Justice Select Committee, said he will raise the matter of disclosure with the Attorney-General in the Commons this week, and that his committee could investigate it further.

He added: Im not at all convinced that the DPP has got a grip on it.

Angela Rafferty, QC, chairwoman of the Criminal Bar Association, said that without the intervention of the barristers in court, Mr Allan would have suffered an appalling miscarriage of justice because of the failure of police and the CPS.

She said the failure was not an isolated incident and added that police and the CPS may have had unconsciously bias towards people who report sex offences.

Last night, the Met said it was urgently reviewing this investigation and will be working with the CPS to understand exactly what has happened in this case.

The CPS said: We will now be conducting a management review together with the Metropolitan Police to examine the way in which this case was handled.
Unless you plan to blast the ashes off into space, most of us opt for a simple burial or cremation when it comes to saying goodbye to a loved one.

But soon there could be another option in the pipeline.

A crematorium is hoping to be the first in the UK to dispose of the dead by liquefying them  and flushing the dissolved matter down the drain.

In the eco-friendly water cremation, the body is placed into a steel torpedo-like chamber where it is dissolved in an alkaline solution heated to 152C.

Rowley Regis crematorium in the West Midlands is hoping to adopt the 300,000 technique  already used in parts of the US  after being given planning permission by councillors.

Water cremation involves putting a body is put into a steel vat with an alkaline solution that accelerates the natural breakdown of the body, turning all but bones into liquid that can be poured down a drain. Pictured above, a Resomator used during for the water cremation

However, the scheme is being blocked by water company Severn Trent which is refusing to grant a trade effluent permit. Bosses at the utility say the document only covers waste disposal - not dissolved bodies.

Water UK, which represents suppliers, said the public may also find the idea of human remains going into the water system distasteful.

The process takes place in a machine known as the Resomator, which turns corpses into softened bone and a tea-coloured liquid in just over three hours. The bones are ground to powder and given to the family in an urn while the rest of the liquid  about 330 gallons  is flushed down the drain.

UK company Resomation, which builds the machines in West Yorkshire, said dozens of crematoria across the UK had shown an interest in installing the technology.

Founder Sandy Sullivan said he hoped the first water cremations would begin around late spring.

The 61-year-old biochemist told The Sunday Times: There is no technical reason why the liquid cant go down the drain. It is a very treatable organic liquid. It is sterile and there is no DNA in it. We are copying nature. The body dissolves by soil bacteria and it is a very long process. All we are doing is taking the exact same chemistry and applying heat, which speeds it up.

Dean Fisher, director of the Donated Body Program at UCLA, shows off a machine called a Resomator which completes a water cremation

The process is considered to be a new way to 'green-ify' death, as concern grows over the carbon footprint that is left by burials and standard cremations (file photo of a cemetery)

This is a third option, other than cremation and burial. However, a source at Water UK said: We are not convinced and believe the technology needs to be explored in much greater depth.

This is an absolute first in the UK. We have serious concerns about the public acceptability of this. It is the liquefied remains of the dead going into the water system. We dont think the public will like the idea.

Sandwell council in Oldbury, West Midlands said: The funeral industry is evolving and modernising and we want to offer people more choice. Water cremation is the next phase in this evolution and would give people a more environmentally-friendly option.

Resomation has sold four of the machines to the US  in Florida, Minnesota, California and Chicago. In one funeral home in Florida it is advertised online as the new flameless cremation option which gives the relative a way to honour your loved one in a way thats right for you.

Another innovation in eco-burial involves a process called Promession, or freeze-drying. Invented by a Swede, the corpse is immersed in liquid nitrogen to make it brittle. Vibrations shake the body apart and the powdered remains are then laid to rest in a shallow grave.
Demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona in support of the detained secessionist Catalan leaders last night as the region prepares for pivotal elections next week.

Hundreds of protesters carrying banners and flaming torches gathered outside the local government building in Placa de Sant Jaume where they were led through songs and chants.

Catalonia will vote on Thursday in a snap election called after Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked the regional government and dissolved the assembly in October.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona in support of the detained secessionist Catalan leaders last night

The demonstration comes less than a week before the region goes to the polls to elect a new parliament

Hundreds of protesters carrying banners and flaming torches gathered outside the local government building in Placa de Sant Jaume where they were led through songs and chants

The decision was made immediately after the Catalan parliament voted to declare unilateral independence on following a referendum deemed illegal by Madrid.

Pro- and anti-secessionist parties are still neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the vote with star candidates currently in jail or exile.

The upcoming election has also been closely scrutinised in neighbouring countries and the EU as a whole.

'We have never seen so much interest from Spain or from the world in elections of a regional nature,' Narciso Michavila, head of the GAD3 polling firm, said on Friday.

Catalans will elect 135 lawmakers in the regional parliament, which has been dominated by pro-independence parties since 2015.

All eyes are on whether the three separatist parties will maintain their absolute majority, and if they do, whether they will make another bid to break from Spain after their first attempt failed.

Crowds sing along to songs played by a guitarist at the demonstration yesterday

Pro- and anti-secessionist parties are still neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the vote with star candidates currently in jail or exile

Catalans will elect 135 lawmakers in the regional parliament, which has been dominated by pro-independence parties since 2015

After the local government was sacked its leader, Carles Puigdemont, promptly fled to Belgium knowing he would likely be charged for rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

His deputy Oriol Junqueras remained in Spain, only to be jailed pending an investigation into the same charges.

As such, their campaigning has been surreal.

At the head of a list called Together for Catalonia, Puigdemont has campaigned from afar, using video appearances and social media.

Some 45,000 supporters even travelled to Belgium to see him on December 7.

All eyes are on whether the three separatist parties will maintain their absolute majority

The Catalan government was sacked by the Prime Minister after it voted to declare independence

He claims the elections are the 'second round' of an independence referendum held on October 1 despite a court ban, in which Catalan leaders said 90 percent voted to break from Spain, although only 43 percent turned out in a vote marred by police brutality.

Junqueras, meanwhile, is behind bars but remains the chief candidate for his Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) party, which is favourite in many opinion polls.

The separatists' campaign is centred on denouncing alleged rights violations and 'repression' by the central government, but it is unclear what stance they will take if they win.

Some want to engineer another breakaway from Spain, while others say Catalonia isn't ready and needs more time.
A publicly-funded transgender lobby has called for the abolition of legal gender records and birth certificates, as well free sex change hormones available to people of any age.

Action for Trans Health (ATH) has trained hundreds of NHS staff across the country and its leader Jess Bradley, 29, was at the heart of last year's Transgender Equality Inquiry by the Government's Women and Equalities Committee.

The group has this week released a radical manifesto, which makes a number of controversial demands of the UK health system and how it treats transgender people.

Jess Bradley (pictured), 29, who is registered as the director of Action for Trans Health (ATH) on Companies House, gave oral evidence at the Government inquiry into transgender equality last year

ATH has this week released a radical manifesto, which makes a number of controversial demands of the UK health system and how it treats transgender people

Entitled the Trans Health Manifesto, it reads: 'We demand an end to birth certificates and to legal gender. Gender records should be anonymised, and only ever recorded as part of equalities monitoring.

'Birth certificates are not just a violence against trans people, they are a material to the state's oppression of 'undocumented' immigrants and asylum seekers.

'We demand hormones & blockers are made available over-the-counter and by free prescription upon request.

'We need free, universal access to safe hormones & blockers at any age, the opportunity to decide our own doses, and universally accessible information on the safety & efficacy of different regimens.'

It continues by demanding an end to NHS control over transgender patient appointments, hormones and surgery.

The statement reads: 'There will be no clinics, and no authorities. We will conduct our own research, and experiment with our own bodies.

'We will heal and grow together. We will accumulate knowledge and share it freely and accessibly.

'We demand nothing less than the total abolition of the clinic, of psychiatry, and of the medical-industrial complex.'

The manifesto was tweeted by ATH's Edinburgh branch, but has also been circulated on the group's main Twitter account.

Bradley (pictured) has been known to excuse violence and was arrested at this year's Glasgow Pride festival after protesting against gay police officers being allowed to staff the event

A statement on the central website however, claims the views of the Scottish branch are 'more explicitly anarchist' than the London one.

Bradley, who is registered as the director of ATH on Companies House, gave oral evidence at the Government inquiry last year, with the group cited seven times throughout.

The committee's report recommended updating legislation to allow people to choose their sex legally without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. That is now part of a consultation launched by the government on the Gender Recognition Bill.

She has been known to excuse violence and was arrested at this year's Glasgow Pride festival after protesting against gay police officers being allowed to staff the event.

ATH has tweeted images with messages saying 'the only 10,000 cops is 10,000 dead cops' and 'no pride in the police'.

In September it hit the headlines for a clash with Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists - (TERFS) who believe only real women are those born with female genitals - in London's Hyde Park.

It happened on the way to an event scheduled to discuss gender issues but ended in a 60-year-old grandmother being knocked off her feet and punched in the face.

Maria MacLachlan said she heard activists at the event chant 'when the TERFs attack, we fight back' and decided to pull out her camera.

When protesters saw her, she was attacked.

The Edinburgh ATH branch tweeted saying the TERF group had 'used Nazi tactics' and posted images of signs reading 'punch Nazis'.

Bradley, who was formerly known as Josh, was not at the event, but claimed her group's actions were in 'self-defence', the newspaper reports.

ATH is an NHS England consultation partner and the health service funds several of its events.

In a statement on its website posted today, the group says it 'doesn't think it useful to respond to the allegations made about us'.

It says: 'This weekend, Action for Trans Health has been targeted by the media.

'We do not think it is useful to respond in detail to the allegations made about us as we do not feel that they are made in good faith or that the points they raise offer an accurate reflection of our diverse membership's positions.'

MailOnline has contacted ATH for further comment.
Rebel Tory peers have vowed to inflict new defeats on Theresa May's flagship Brexit laws if 'bullying' whips do not back down.

Ros Altmann and Patience Wheatcroft today warned they were appalled by attacks on rebels in the Commons but would not back down in their own opposition.

Mrs May was humiliated by a shock defeat in the Commons lobbies on Wednesday night after 11 Conservative MPs joined forces with Labour and the SNP to re-write a crucial section of draft Brexit laws to guarantee a 'meaningful vote' on the final deal.

The group were harshly criticised by Brexiteers in the Commons and have been subjected to abuse and even death threats over the revolt.

Ros Altmann (left) and Patience Wheatcroft (right) today warned they were appalled by attacks on Brexit rebels in the Commons but would not back down in their opposition to draft laws

Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead today with husband Philip) faces the prospect of further defeat in the House of Lords on her flagship Brexit laws

The crucial EU (Withdrawal) Bill must survive another major test in the Commons on Wednesday night and it will be sent to the Lords at the end of January.

The Tories have no majority among peers and further defeats for the legislation may be inevitable.

Lady Altmann and Lady Wheatcroft wrote together in the Observer today that Tory critics in the Lords would not back down.

They said: 'There are many moderate Conservatives in both Houses of Parliament who are deeply concerned that some in our party are so desperate to leave the EU, with or without a deal, that they believe any cost is justified to bring Brexit.

'They maintain ''freedom is priceless'' but this extreme view does not reflect public opinion.'

The senior Tory peers said the House of Lords would have its own mind over the legislation. Peers routinely inflict defeats on Government legislation, leading to wrestles with the Commons over the final draft.

The Tories have no majority among peers (file image during an earlier Brexit debate) and further defeats for the legislation may be inevitable

Lady Altmann and Lady Wheatcroft added: 'Mindful of the monumental importance for future generations of getting Brexit right, the Lords is unlikely to be receptive to bullying over a restricted timetable or vigorous whipping to toe the party line.

'The people voted to 'take back control' but that has to mean control by parliament, not a small group with extreme views or an executive that will brook no challenge.

'It is parliament that must have the final say on whether the deal that is negotiated for breaking away from the EU ... is in the UK's best interests.'

In a signal of cross-party determination to change the legislation, Labour peer Andrew Adonis said last night it would have a 'nightmare' time in the Lords.

He said: 'We respect the fact that it passed the Commons, so won't reject the principle of withdrawal.

'Our job is to make withdrawal compatible with the government's own promises which  even with the latest changes  still aren't satisfied in respect of a 'meaningful vote' on the final terms, 'no hard border' in Ireland and the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

'We are facing the biggest conflict in the Lords since Irish Home Rule before the first world war, and the stakes are equally high.'

A group of 11 Tory rebels led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve (pictured this week during Brexit debate) have been subject to abuse since the revolt

A new amendment allowing ministers to amend Exit Day if necessary appears to have been accepted as a compromise that allows Mrs May to avoid a second Commons defeat this week

On Friday Mrs May appeared to have found a way to swerve a second defeat after a compromise with rebels.

Several Conservative MPs were threatening to vote against plans to put the Brexit date and time  11pm on March 29, 2019  into law on Wednesday night

But backbenchers tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, which will allow ministers to delay the date if needed.

Downing Street is considering the amendment, and sources told the BBC it was highly likely to be accepted. Possible rebels including Dominic Grieve, who led this week's revolt, indicated they would accept the changes.

The new amendment was tabled by four Tory MPs including Bernard Jenkin and former minister Oliver Letwin.

Senior Tory backbenchers from both the Leave and Remain factions appeared to be ready to back the compromise. Mr Grieve told the BBC that the amendment would leave him 'fairly satisfied'.

He added: 'The Government has, I think, this afternoon tabled a further amendment for next Wednesday, which very sensibly looks like it will resolve the issue that was troubling some of us. If that is the case, and I am fairly confident it is, then that issue will be satisfactorily resolved.'

Mr Jenkin, a leading Tory Brexiteer, said: 'The purpose of this amendment is to avoid needless division over matters of detail when we should be supporting the PM.
A self-described 'paedophile hunter' filmed himself knocking on the door of a man he claims arranged to meet him after he posed as a teenage boy.

The vigilante, who has not been identified, is seen at a door in Adelaide's southern suburbs on Sunday, before confronting the man who opened it about their 'chat online'.

'You're in big trouble mate, you've been grooming a 14-year-old online to come to your house today,' he's heard saying on the clip, aired by Nine News.

It takes some time for the accused man to understand who has turned up at his door - at which point he ceases denying the allegations.

'Look I am really shaking, I'm really scared... please, I'm really begging you on this one,' he is heard saying.

Police then arrive and take the 28-year-old into custody, and he is charged with procuring a child to commit an indecent act.

While this particular video resulted in a successful outcome for law enforcement and the vigilante, a spokeswoman for South Australia Police told Daily Mail Australia there was growing concern regarding self-styled 'paedophile hunters'.

A self-styled 'paedophile hunter' has filmed the confrontation between himself and a man he claims was trying to groom him online, believing he was a 14-year-old boy, that led to his arrest

'Police are concerned about videos being posted online as a result of this engagement, and the risk these may further create to all parties involved,' she said.

'While the potential for defamation should be taken into consideration with this type of behaviour, police would also strongly urge the community not to take the law into their own hands.

'Anyone who believes they have evidence of criminal behaviour should call police, not create a confrontation which, in turn, could create a risk to personal safety.'

The 28-year-old man has been released on bail and will appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court on February 9.
EU migration to Britain may not fall under a Labour Brexit deal, Diane Abbott admitted today.

The shadow home secretary said public service and business lobbies both wanted migration to continue at the current levels.

Ms Abbott said slashing immigration would leave firms, schools and hospitals in a 'terrible position'.

Net migration has plunged since the EU referendum to 230,000 a year but is still far above the Government promise to cut it to 100,000.

EU migration to Britain may not fall under a Labour Brexit deal, Diane Abbott (pictured on the BBC's Marr show today) has admitted

Net migration has plunged since the EU referendum to 230,000 a year but is still far above the Government promise to cut it to 100,000

In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr, Ms Abbott also denied she or Labour supported a second EU referendum.

She was challenged on the issue after it was revealed she wrote to constituents supporting the right of the public to have a say on the deal.

Ms Abbot said that the Government should be listening to the concerns of the public sector and their fears of a 'collapse' in the number of EU migrants moving to the UK.

She outlined that Labour's position was to have 'less bureaucracy' in order to allow easy movement for EU migrants.

She said: 'The health service they're very worried about a collapse in the number of EU migrants coming here.

'Social care would be in a terrible position, the health service, finance, education, so we will be listening as the Government should be listening to what business and the public sector says about its needs for labour.

In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr (pictured), Ms Abbott also denied she or Labour supported a second EU referendum

'At this point both business and public services like health and education are saying we do indeed need these eastern European migrants that are coming here.

'The reality is that business, the CBI, the Institute of Directors but also health, education and social care they say that they need these European migrants and we have to listen to them.'

Asked to elaborate on shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer's call for easy movement, Ms Abbot said Labour would put in place a 'fair and reasonable' system to manage migration.

She added: 'It will be relatively less bureaucratic than some of the proposals the Government have made.'

She added: 'We will have to see how this negotiation goes. It may involve a visa system, but we have to see how these negotiations the Government's undertaking go.'
A grief-stricken father spent the day holding a lonely vigil in the spot his 14-year-old son was tragically swept out to sea.

Bronson Rhodes and two of his friends disappeared in rough surf at Flynns Beach in Port Macquarie, on the NSW mid-north coast, on Saturday afternoon.

Two of the boys were rescued from the water but the Kendall teenager is still missing, presumed drowned.

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The grief-stricken father (pictured) of a missing 14-year-old boy held a lonely vigil as he watched rescuers scour the Port Macquarie beach

Bronson Rhodes (pictured) and two of his friends disappeared in rough surf at Flynns Beach in Port Macquarie, on the NSW mid-north coast, on Saturday afternoon.

Searchers scoured the coastline for Bronson and a body was sighted on the rocks, however the rescue operation was cut short due to rough conditions.

The father of the popular rugby player stayed put on the closed beach as he awaited news of his son's fate, Seven News reports.

He was forced to watch helplessly as searchers on jet-skis, boats and helicopters combed the empty stretch of coastline.

Authorities will resume the search - which is now believed to be a retrieval operation - at daybreak on Monday.

Searchers scoured the coastline (pictured) for Bronson and a body was sighted on the rocks, however the rescue operation was cut short due to rough conditions

Friends of the missing teen have paid tribute on social media, describing Bronson as a 'brave young man with a huge heart'.

'When I heard that you were gone I couldn't believe what I was hearing,' Blade Hogan, a 20-year-old friend of Bronson's older brother Bill, wrote online.

'I'm still struggling to believe it's real you were a brave young man with a huge heart and you had much respect about yourself and towards others you were very loved by many and will be dearly missed.'

Searchers pictured keeping a close eye on the rough sea as they search for the 14-year-old boy

The incident comes only two weeks after an 11-year-old boy was sucked out to sea at nearby Lighthouse Beach.

The boy's mother could only watch as her son, who was waist-deep in water, was caught in a rip on December 6 while his 17-year-old brother tried to rescue him.

The child's body is also yet to be recovered.
Two women will face court next month after allegedly breaching the perimeter of a Queensland jail, because they wanted to see what a 'real prison was like'.

The women, aged, 24 and 22, allegedly drove into a restricted car park at Brisbane Correctional Centre, near the perimeter of the jail, on December 10, where they then lingered near the fence.

They were apprehended by custodial officers at the prison complex about 7.45pm, before later confessing to police their jaunt into the jail was spurred on by an episode of Australian crime drama Wentworth, The Courier Mail reported.

Two women, 22 and 24, were arrested after they allegedly breached the perimeter of a Brisbane jail last Sunday

The pair told police they wanted to see what a 'real jail looks like' and had driven in to find out

Prison officers searched the women before handing them over to police, but reportedly found no evidence the pair were intending to smuggle or retrieve items from the fence line.

Both women were issued a notice to appear in court on charges of unlawful entry to a corrective services facility, a spokesman for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia.

They will appear in Richmond Magistrate's Court on January 15.

There was no evidence the women were attempting to smuggle anything in or out of the fence to the prison

A senior Queensland Police officer told the Courier Mail while the incident does have a funny side, the consequences to breaking in to a prison could be very severe.

'These facilities aren't tourist destinations so don't plan a day trip to one,' they said.

Wentworth follows the story of a mother who is jailed on charges of attempting to murder her husband, and her life trying to survive behind bars on remand - where an inmate is jailed before being sentenced.

The show has been running since 2013, and will air its sixth season in 2018.
Boris Johnson warned today that Russian hostility is at higher levels than any time since the Cold War as he prepares for a trip to Moscow.

Ahead of the visit he hopes will repair his battered record as Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson said it was a 'tragedy' relations had collapsed.

He admitted that it now appeared to have been a 'total illusion' that Russia was coming in from the cold during the 1990s.

Mr Johnson's visit - the first by a British Foreign Secretary in five years - and planned talks with his Kremlin counterpart Sergey Lavrov come after Theresa May dramatically escalated warnings against President Vladimir Putin's malign influence.

Mr Johnson had been due to visit Russia in the spring but the visit was cancelled by Downing Street at the last moment amid heightened tensions over Syria.

Boris Johnson (pictured in London on Thursday) warned today that Russian hostility is at higher levels than any time since the Cold War as he prepares for a trip to Moscow

Mr Johnson's visit and planned talks with his Kremlin counterpart Sergey Lavrov (pictured) come after Theresa May dramatically escalated warnings against President Vladimir Putin's malign influence

The Kremlin has been accused of interfering in elections by spreading propaganda and fake news, particularly in favour of Brexit and Donald Trump.

And Russia is accused of outright aggression through invasions of neighbouring territories and assassination of political opponents.

In an interview with the Sunday Times today, Mr Johnson said: 'Russia has not been so hostile to the UK or to western interests since the end of the Cold War.

'In the Crimea, capturing a part of sovereign European territory from someone else's country and holding it for the first time since 1945. Add their destabilising activities in the western Balkans.

'We literally have Russian fingerprints on an assassination attempt in Montenegro. Look at what they're doing with cyber-warfare, with attempted disruption of democratic processes in the UK.'

Although Mr Johnson said he had seen 'no evidence' that Russian interference had affected the outcome of the EU referendum, he said he had seen evidence of Russian 'trolling on Facebook'.

It is not the first time Mr Johnson has spoken out against Russia, having previously accused the nation of behaving 'as though there is indeed a new Cold War' during a speech in the House of Commons.

He has also attacked them for shutting down investigations into chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

The Kremlin has been accused of interfering in elections by spreading propaganda and fake news, particularly in favour of Brexit and Donald Trump (pictured at the White House on Friday)

Mr Johnson will visit Russia on Thursday to hold talks with his opposite number, Sergey Lavrov.

Despite the strained relationship, he has vowed to find a way to engage with the nation, adding Britain needed to 'collaborate' with Russia in order to defeat Islamist terrorism.

Mr Johnson has said he would be 'pushing very hard to understand' how the Russians view 'the endgame' in Syria.

Announcing his Moscow visit in October, Mr Johnson said differences between the countries made it all the more important for them to talk to one another, for the sake of national and international security.
Former model Christine Keeler was finally laid to rest at a quiet ceremony in London yesterday morning.

Forty close friends and family attended the cremation service in Kensel Green Cemetery to pay their respects to the 1960s icon.

Keeler, who was once at the centre of the Profumo affair that shook British politics, died aged 75 at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, Kent after a long battle with an obstructive lung disease.

The funeral procession in west London of Christine Keeler travels through west London yesterday morning

Keeler's coffin was placed in a Victorian hearse and pulled through London by two blinkered funeral horses

Yesterday morning her coffin was placed in a Victorian hearse and pulled through London by two blinkered funeral horses.

Attendees to her funeral listened as her son, Seymour Platt, paid tribute to his mother, describing her laugh and fair and fearless personality, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Keeler pictured at the height of her modelling career in 1964

'I never knew Christine Keeler,' he said, 'I knew her as Mum, and then as Chris.'

As the service at the West London Crematorium came to a close The Skatalites' 1967 ska song 'Christine Keeler' was played.

Keeler was thrust into the spotlight after enjoying a secret romance with Cabinet minister John Profumo in 1961 at the height of the Cold War.

Scandal engulfed the Establishment after later it emerged that the then 19-year-old Keeler had also been sleeping with Eugene Ivanov, a Soviet naval attache at the Russian Embassy in London.

It nearly toppled the Conservative government, resulting in the resignation of Profumo as well as a series of criminal trials.

Keeler is pictured in 2013 outside her home in south London

The Daily Mail front page from the day that Profumo quit the Cabinet following the affair

Keeler lived as a recluse under the name Sloane in the years following the scandal - breaking cover only a few times to talk about the affair.

She was briefly married twice - with both ending in divorce - and had two sons as well as a granddaughter.

She was cremated under the name Christine Margaret Sloane.

'The ceremony reflected what Christine had sought for so long, in that it was a warm, loving and, most importantly, a gentle farewell,' her friend Douglas Thompson told the Telegraph. 'She had a tough life and survived an emotional battering over the years. Her funeral was the antithesis of that.'
A Greens senator has annoyed even his own supporters by posting an image with the word 'Christmas' scrubbed off a banner.

Nick McKim, his media adviser Patrick Caruana and fellow Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson stood in front of a modified 'Merry Christmas' sign, with the word 'Christmas' crossed out and replaced with, 'Non-denominational seasonal festivity'.

The Greens' attempt at trolling conservative Liberal Party politicians on Facebook appears to have annoyed even their own supporters, with one supporter of the far-left party expressing his annoyance.

Senator Nick McKim (pictured left), his media adviser Patrick Caruana and fellow Tasmanian senator Peter Whish-Wilson

Even a self-described Greens voter had enough of the Greens' attempt to troll conservatives

'I'm a Green voter, an atheist and totally against all this 'religious freedom' bulls*** but can we stop with this PC crap?,' he said.

Senator McKim, a Hobart-based federal politician who had initially sought to annoy conservative Liberal senator Eric Abetz, copped a serve from Treasurer Scott Morrison.

'What a bunch of pathetic muppets,' the senior Liberal wrote on Facebook.

'The Greens are actually opposed to Christmas. For many millions of Australians Christmas is a very spiritual time of year and central to their religious faith.

'For members of parliament to treat this important religious occasion with such disrespect is as offensive as it is disappointing.'

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Greens had disrespected Christmas as a religious occasion

One critic of the Greens' mocking of Christmas was at least glad they are still a minority

Several other people also expressed their annoyance on Senator McKim's Facebook page.

'Attention seeking clowns,' one man wrote. 'Greens have nothing to add.'

He added he was glad the Greens, who have 10 per cent support in the latest Newspoll, were a minority.

In April, Senator McKim trolled conservatives by tweeting about giving 'halal-certified holiday eggs' to his staff but he left out the word Easter to promote products suitable for Muslims.

He pushed a politically-correct message about the upcoming Easter holidays, leaving out Christian phrases including 'cross'.

He had taken aim at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's call for Australians to boycott halal-certified Cadbury eggs.

Greens senator Nick McKim pictured here with 'holiday eggs' and 'seasonal fruit buns'

The left-wing senator told his Twitter followers he had served his staff halal-friendly treats

Greens senator Nick McKim has accused Pauline Hanson of jeopardising jobs in Tasmania

'Treating staff to halal-certified holiday eggs and warmed non-denominational cinnamon, flavoured, geometrically decorated seasonal fruit buns,' Senator McKim told his followers.

The Tasmanian senator's spokesman Patrick Caruana confirmed in April was a joke about political correctness but he declined to say which brand the chocolates were.

Halal certification means products are permissible for Muslims to eat under Islamic religious rules.

For Easter eggs to be considered halal they must avoid using blood, pork and alcohol.

With Muslims making up about 2.4 per cent of the Australian population, Senator Hanson said 'ordinary Australians shouldn't be paying a tax on food permissible to Muslims'.
There are fears the predicted warm and wet summer ahead will bring a spike in potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned it will be a wetter season than usual across Australia thanks to a La Nina weather system in the Pacific Ocean.

'That could give us a bumper mosquito season,' SA Health's Dr Chris Lease told Seven News.

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There are fears the predicted warm and wet summer ahead will bring a spike in potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses (stock image)

SA Health's Dr Chris Lease (pictured) warned we could be in for a 'bumper mosquito season'

There has already been an alarming increase in disease spread by the insect this year, with conditions expected to worsen as La Nina takes hold.

More than 500 cases of Ross River virus have been reported in 2017, compared to just 69 the same time last year, according the network.

The infection is spread by mosquitoes from infected animals to humans.

Murray Valley encephalitis, which can be fatal, is also a major concern, Dr Lease warned.

WHAT IS ROSS RIVER VIRUS AND HOW IS IT SPREAD? Native animals are thought to be the main animals involved in the cycle of Ross River virus infection (stock image) The infection is spread by mosquitoes from infected animals to humans. Native animals such as wallabies and kangaroos are thought to be the main animals involved in the cycle of infection. When a female mosquito feeds on the blood of an infected animal, the mosquito may become infected with the virus. The virus may then be passed on to humans or other animals when the mosquito feeds again. In large outbreaks mosquitoes may also spread the virus from infected people to other people. The symptoms of Ross River virus can include: - Fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in muscles and joints - Joint swelling and stiffness, particularly noticeable in the morning - Rash on the body, arms or legs which usually disappears after 7 to 10 days - General feeling of being unwell, tired or weak may also occur at times - Symptoms usually develop about 7-10 days after being bitten - Majority of people recover completely in a few weeks. Others may experience symptoms such as joint pain and tiredness for many months Source: SA Health/ NSW Health Department Advertisement

'About 20 per cent will die and about 40 per cent, if they do recover, will have long-term neurological problems,' he said.

There is no specific treatment for Murray Valley encephalitis or Ross River virus and no vaccine to prevent infection.

Experts advise to use repellent, wear long, loose fitting clothing - and to stop mosquitoes breeding in water pooling around your property.
President Donald Trump has defended a Republican tax-cut plan against Democratic charges that it favors the rich, saying it will be 'one of the great Christmas gifts' for the middle class with just days to go before Congress votes.

With a vote on the biggest tax rewrite in three decades set for Tuesday, Republicans were working to ensure party members were holding the line in favor of the legislation against entrenched Democratic opposition.

The plan was finalized on Friday after Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Corker pledged their support.

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Donald Trump, pictured at a rally in Florida in front of a Christmas-themed backdrop, defended the Republican tax plan over the weekend. He said: 'It's going to be one of the great Christmas gifts to middle-income people'

Three Republican senators, enough to defeat the measure in a Senate that Trump's party controls with a slim 52-48 majority, remained uncommitted: Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Mike Lee.

Passage in Congress would provide Republicans and Trump with their first major victory since he took office in January.

'It's going to be one of the great Christmas gifts to middle-income people,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday before he boarded a helicopter for meetings at Camp David.

'The Democrats have their sound bite, the standard sound bite before they even know what the bill is all about,' he added.

Trump also touted the nation's economy, predicting that it would 'start to rock' once the bill is passed.

Trump also predicted that economic growth could go from the current 3 percent to '4, 5 and maybe even 6 percent ultimately.'

The proposed package would slash the U.S. corporate tax rate to 21 percent and cut taxes for wealthy Americans.

Many economists doubt that even a sustained 4 percent growth rate is achievable.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (left), a Wisconsin Republican, and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (right) have signaled they are confident they can pass tax reform legislation before Christmas

Republicans seem to have secured the votes to pass a tax overhaul that Trump hopes to sign before Christmas.

'This is happening. Tax reform under Republican control of Washington is happening,' House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters over the weekend.

Under an agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the corporate tax would be 1 percentage point higher than the 20 percent rate earlier proposed, but still far below the current headline rate of 35 percent, a deep tax reduction that corporations have sought for years.

It is expected to add $1.46trillion to the nation's debt over a decade.

Democrats have slammed the plan as a giveaway to corporations and the rich that would drive up the federal deficit.

For months, Trump has touted the bill as a middle-class tax cut.

Studies from independent analysts and non-partisan congressional researchers have projected that corporations and the rich would benefit disproportionately.

Trump repeated on Saturday that the tax overhaul would help bring in $4trillion in foreign profits from U.S. companies.

The tax plan proposes new rules for repatriating cash held overseas.

'This is going to bring money in. As an example, we think $4trillion is going to be flowing back into the country,' he said. 'That's money that's overseas that's stuck there for years and years.'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (L), a New York Democrat,and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, say the bill is a gift to corporate interests as Democrats are unanimously opposed to the legislation

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act creates seven new tax brackets, including a 37 per cent rate  down from 39.6 per cent  for top-end wage earners.

The new rates start at 10 per cent and rise to 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 37 per cent.

The bill also lowers the top corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent, the largest such reduction in U.S. history.

It makes changes to the income levels where the tax rates would kick in, raising the top tier by about $30,000 so only those earning $500,000 or more would be in the top bracket.

A change to the deductibility of mortgage interest will limit it to the first $750,000 of new home loans.

And Americans who inherit property won't have to pay estate taxes on the first $11.2million. That's double the current exemption.

Some tax breaks that were written out of early versions of the bill are back in.

Those include a deduction for medical expenses and an exemption for graduate school tuition waivers. Americans paying off student loans will still be able to deduct the interest.

A promised $10,000 deduction for income and property taxes paid to states, counties and cities is also included  a compromise that attracted the support of lawmakers from high-tax states like New York and California.

Trump touted the nation's economy, predicting that it would 'start to rock' once the bill is passed. Pictured is a trader at the New York Stock Exchange

The bill also eliminates the tax penalty placed on Americans who don't buy medical insurance required by Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. Pictured are two people shopping for insurance under the Obama act

The bill includes an expanded child tax credit, a move calculated to win the support of last-minute holdout Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican senator.

It also eliminates the tax penalty placed on Americans who don't buy medical insurance required by Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has cautioned that this may lead to more Americans not buying insurance policies, which could then contribute to premium-hikes for those who do.

The White House said in a statement that '[b]y lowering tax rates, simplifying the rigged and burdensome tax code, and repealing the failed tax on lower- and middle-income households known as the Obamacare individual mandate, this legislation will grow our economy, raise wages, and promote economic competitiveness'.

The bill includes an expanded child tax credit, a move calculated to win the support of last-minute holdout Marco Rubio (pictured)

Democrats were predictably sour on the legislation.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein called the bill 'awful' and 'one of the most irresponsible I've seen'.

'In addition to driving up the deficit, it will increase health care premiums in the individual market by 10 percent each year, leave 13 million more Americans without health insurance and threaten to destroy a pristine section of the Alaskan wilderness.

'I'm surprised anyone can call this a tax reform bill with a straight face,' she said. 'This is nothing more than a huge tax cut for big corporations and the rich, paid for by the middle class.'

Under the plan, however, Americans claiming the standard deduction instead of itemizing will have the benefit of a deduction that's nearly doubled.

Republicans say that will result in millions of Americans filing a single-page tax return.

The final per-child tax credit will give families making up to $400,000 a year a $2,000 benefit per child.

Trump has repeatedly broken with his predecessor Barack Obama over his insistence on using the word 'Christmas' as opposed to 'holidays,' which the 44th president used.

In November, the Trump family debuted their holiday card, which wishes Americans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, instead of Happy Holidays.

Last year's card sent out by President Obama wished Americans a 'joyous holiday season'.

The card and the 'Christmas gift' comment are in keeping with Trump's campaign pledge to 'say Merry Christmas again'.

He repeated the pledge most recently in October at the Voter Values Summit when he said: 'They don't use the word "Christmas" because it's not politically correct.'
David Cameron has been given special permission to take a new job brokering talks between the UK and China, it emerged today.

The ex-PM is be vice chairman of a 750million Government-backed investment fund that aims to bolster UK-China ties in technology, healthcare and infrastructure.

The fund only holds private sector cash but it has been supported by ministers.

A Whitehall watchdog tasked with ensuring former politicians do not profit privately from their work in Government has given dispensation for Mr Cameron to liaise with current ministers - something which is usually against the rules.

David Cameron (pictured in London this week) has been given special permission to take a new job brokering talks between the UK and China, it emerged today

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) has not given permission for Mr Cameron to lobby on behalf of the UK-China Fund.

He will be allowed only to 'facilitate dialogue with the UK and Chinese governments at the invitation of the UK Government'.

Mr Cameron was close to China's President XI Jinping while in No 10, entertaining him in his Witney constituency during a high profile state visit in 2015.

His appointment will raise eyebrows as the fund will be based in Ireland in a way that could have tax advantages.

Mr Cameron pioneered tax transparency while in Government and as recently as this week gave a speech to the Transparency International UK campaign.

ACOBA drew attention to the set up but added the way it is structured and taxed 'is not within the scope of this committee'.

Mr Cameron was close to China's President XI while in No 10, entertaining him in his Witney constituency during a high profile state visit in 2015 (pictured)

The job is the biggest Mr Cameron has taken on since he resigned as Prime Minister and quit Parliament after the EU referendum last year.

He is expected to spend two to three days a month on work for the fund.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron told the Telegraph that he remained 'very proud of his work as prime minister launching the 'Golden Era' between the UK and China with President Xi.

The spokesman added: 'In an effort to build on that work out of office, he wishes to play a role in a new UK-China bilateral investment fund that will invest in innovative and sustainable growth opportunities in both the UK and China to create jobs and further boost trade links.

'Having now received official advice from Acoba, work is continuing on establishing the fund - including holding discussions with a number of financial institutions in the UK and China. There is still a lot of work to do.'

Since leaving office, the former Tory leader has worked on his memoirs, given paid speeches, and taken low profile posts with the National Citizen Service and Alzheimers Research UK.
The parents of a baby in a coma at Alder Hey Children's Hospital said they

Last week Alfie Evans's family said they were in a 'living nightmare' after the hospital applied to the High Court to switch off his life support.

It said it had exhausted all options in trying to diagnose and treat the 18-month-old's mystery brain condition.

Alfie's parents Thomas Evans and Kate James - who say they have found a hospital in Italy willing to take him - were due to appear in court on December 19.

But it is understood they will now begin a process of mediation with Alder Hey in a bid to find a way forward without legal action.

Last week Alfie Evans's family said they were in a 'living nightmare' after the hospital applied to the High Court to switch off his life support

Mr Evans said: 'Our first application to have it adjourned was knocked back, but after a further application it was agreed the court case could be adjourned and mediation put in place, which will probably be in the New Year.

'Me, Kate and Alfie can enjoy our Christmas as a family with no time bomb or schedule on Alfie.

'This does not mean court is not happening, it means we are going to have mediation to see if we can come to an agreement.

'A big massive, huge thank you to my legal team. I am so blessed to have a team like you and we can not thank you enough.'

The hospital said it had exhausted all options in trying to diagnose and treat the 18-month-old's mystery brain condition

Tens of thousands of people have formed 'Alfie's Army' over the past year to support and fundraise for the family, including many supporters of Charlie Gard's parents in their legal fight

Despite the threat of court action being lifted for now, Mr Evans said he and his partner, both 20, still felt they were not being listened to.

He said: 'Alfie hasn't got a terminal illness - he shouldn't be in that bed when there's a hospital out there that can possibly help.

'Me and Kate feel like we're being mentally tortured.'

Tens of thousands of people have formed 'Alfie's Army' over the past year to support and fundraise for the family, including many supporters of Charlie Gard's parents in their legal fight.

Charlie died aged 11 months following his family's court battle to send him to the US for treatment.

In a statement on the Alfie's Army Facebook page, Mr Evans told supporters it was 'amazing news', adding: 'We'll have a chance for a fair mediation, in which we hope we can come to mutual agreement with the hospital for releasing Alfie.

'As always, we are grateful to the nurses and staff who care about Alfie and help us do the best we can for him.'

Last week Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust said it was unable to comment on individual cases, but it was continuing to liaise with the family.

In a statement it said: 'We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for the family concerned and we continue to liaise directly with them.

'We are unable to comment on individual cases. Alder Hey is a specialist children's hospital which therefore means we treat many children with often complex, life threatening conditions. 'Unfortunately despite the best efforts of our clinicians, some of these children are sadly unable to recover from their illness.

'In such a situation, medical professionals will meet to discuss the most appropriate care plan going forward, focusing on the comfort, wellbeing and best interests of the child concerned.

'The Trust will often seek advice from specialist clinicians at other trusts. The care plan is always discussed in full with the family to aim to reach agreement between clinicians and parents about the most appropriate care.

'We also seek input from the families concerned and this may extend to include review by experts instructed by the family.

'Understandably these cases place families under great pressure. We will always seek to reach agreement with parents of the child concerned but there will be some rare situations where agreement cannot be reached and the treating team believe that continued active treatment is not in a child's best interests.

'In these cases the Trust will refer a case to the Family Division of the High Court and seek a determination as to the best interests of the child.

'In all such cases we will also invite the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service to consider the case and provide independent representation of the child.'
Millionaire philanthropist Dick Smith fears Australia's poor will rise up with start a revolution unless billionaires give away their fortune.

The electronics chain founder and adventurer businessman warns Russia's 1917 revolution that brought about communism could repeat itself in Australia.

'If we're not careful, if you end up with really wealthy people and lots of poor people, in the end the poor people will rebel,' he told Sydney radio station 2GB on Sunday night.

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Millionaire philanthropist Dick Smith fears Australia's poor could rise up and start a revolution

Dick Smith says a growing divide between the rich and poor could see mass uprisings (Occupy Sydney protesters at Hyde Park in 2011 pictured)

'You look at what happened in Russia in 1917 where they ended up with the tsar and the tsar's friends who are all equivalent billionaires.

'The pitchforks came out and we had revolution.'

The Sydney businessman, who also campaigns to drastically reduce Australia's annual immigration intake, said Australia's billionaires would be the blame if a revolution occurred.

'We have a lot of billionaires who are either incredibly selfish, greedy and irresponsible or do it secretly and why?,' he said.

'I mean they would have set an example because a lot of people are concerned.'

Martin Place's tent city in central Sydney was disbanded in August as protesters made a point about unaffordable housing

Mr Smith praised billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest for giving away $400 million to charities in the same spirit as American software genius turned philanthropist Bill Gates.

He called on property billionaire Harry Triguboff to show more generosity by joining his Fair Go foundation.

The 73-year-old entrepreneur has previously warned of high mass migration leading to a huge underclass of poor people without work, which he said could see more people radicalised or turn to terrorism.
Two Navy airman flying over the Pacific Ocean on a routine training mission claim they encountered mysterious objects that 'accelerated like nothing' they had 'ever seen' before.

Back in 2004, Navy Cmdr. David Fravor and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jim Slaight were flying about 100 miles off the coast of San Diego in each of their F/A-18F Super Hornets carrying two CATM-9s, which are dummy missiles that could not be fired, the New York Times reported.

According to Fravor, the operations officer aboard Navy cruiser U.S.S. Princeton had been communicating with the pair during their mission and said, 'Well, we've got a real-world vector for you.'

The operator said for the past two weeks the Navy cruiser had been tracking mysterious aircraft.

The objects would first appear at 80,000 feet, and then speed toward the sea before stopping at 20,000 feet and hovering.

Back in 2004, Navy Cmdr. David Fravor (pictured left with his wife) and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jim Slaight were flying about 100 miles off the coast of San Diego in each of their F/A-18F Super Hornets on a routine training mission when they encountered a mysterious object

According to Fravor, the operations officer aboard Navy cruiser U.S.S. Princeton (file above) had been communicating with the pair during their mission and instructed to investigate the object that was picked up on radar

They then either shot back up into the sky or dropped off of radar.

Fravor and Slaight were instructed to investigate the objects by the radio operator on the Navy cruiser.

The two pilots followed their instructions and as they closed in, they were alerted by the operator that they could not tell which were the objects and which were the fighter jets.

At first, Fravor nor Slaight could see anything and nothing was on their radars.

But then Fravor looked down to the sea and noticed that the waves were breaking over something below the surface, causing the sea to churn.

Hovering about 50 feet above the churn was an aircraft of some sort that was whitish, 40 feet long and oval in shape, Fravor recounted.

He described to the Times that it was jumping erratically but not moving in any specific direction.

Fravor began a circular descent in an effort to get a closer look, but the object began ascending toward him as if it were trying to meet him halfway, he explained.

He then abandoned his slow circular descent and decided to fly straight towards the object.

Fravor said at first they couldn't see anything, but then they noticed the mysterious object that was whitish, 40 feet long and oval in shape. He said that he was 'pretty weirded out' by the encounter while flying in his F/A-18F Super Hornet (file above)

But then he said it quickly flew away.

'It accelerated like nothing I've ever seen,' he told the Times before adding that he was 'pretty weirded out.'

Fravor and Slaight then spoke with operations officer on their Navy cruiser and were told to fly to a rendezvous point about 60 miles away, which is called the cap point in aviation parlance.

As they were flying, the Princeton radioed again saying that radar had picked up the strange aircraft.

'Sir, you won't believe it,' the radio operator said, 'but that thing is at your cap point.'

'We were at least 40 miles away, and in less than a minute this thing was already at our cap point,' Fravor said.

Once they arrived, the object had disappeared and the two fighter jets returned to the Nimitz.

Fravor said that he was made fun of after people aboard the ship had learned of his encounter.

Fravor's story about the mysterious object comes as the Pentagon reveals it had a secret multi-million dollar program to investigate UFO sightings

When asked by another pilot of the situation, Fravor said: 'I have no idea what I saw. It had no plumes, wings or rotors and outran our F-18s.'

He added, 'I want to fly one.'

His superiors did not investigate further.

Fravor has since retired from the Navy after deploying to the Persian Gulf providing air support to ground troops during the Iraq war.

Fravor's account of what he claims happened in November 2004 has emerged after it was revealed the Pentagon set up a secret multi-million dollar program to investigate UFO sightings.

The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ran from 2007 to 2012, with a $22 million annual budget, with the mission of looking into reports of military encounters with unidentified flying objects.

The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ran from 2007 to 2012, with a $22 million annual budget

The Defense Department finally acknowledged the existence of its long-secret UFO investigation program on Saturday, when officials shifted attention and funding to other priorities.

Its initial funding came largely at the request of former Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat long known for his enthusiasm for space phenomena, the newspaper said.

The program was created by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), with the support of the late Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Republican Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Their fears were that the unexplained phenomena could be advanced weaponry or technology from foreign states such as Russia or China which could threaten the US.

'Was this China or Russia trying to do something or has some propulsion system we are not familiar with?' a former staffer told Politico.

While former career intelligence officer Luis Elizondo, who ran the initiative, stressed he wanted to take the 'voodoo' out of a 'voodoo science,' the program investigated some issues that sound like they're straight out of a science fiction movie.

They included 'wormholes' and 'warp drives' as well as interviewing pilots and military personnel who reported experiences with UFOs.

Elizondo said that many of the Navy pilots described aircraft moving and acting in a way that seemed to be beyond human beings' current capabilities.

'We had never seen anything like it,' he said.

The former staffer said that Reid believed there could be a valid national security issue and so agreed to fund the program.

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But after a few years, and very little to show for it, Reid decided it wasn't worth continuing.

'After a while the consensus was we really couldn't find anything of substance,' he recalled. 'They produced reams of paperwork. After all of that there was really nothing there that we could find. It all pretty much dissolved from that reason aloneand the interest level was losing steam. We only did it a couple years.'

'There was really nothing there that we could justify using taxpayer money,' he added. 'We let it die a slow death. It was well spent money in the beginning.'

According to the the Pentagon, the program 'ended in the 2012 timeframe.'

Yet according to its backers, the program remains in existence and officials continue to investigate UFO episodes brought to their attention by service members, the newspaper said.

The Pentagon openly acknowledged the fate of the program in response to a Reuters query.

'The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ended in the 2012 timeframe,' Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Ochoa said in an email.

'It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change,' she said.

The program was created by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (pictured)

But the Pentagon was less clear about whether the UFO program continues to hover somewhere in the vast universe of the U.S. defense establishment.

'The DoD takes seriously all threats and potential threats to our people, our assets, and our mission and takes action whenever credible information is developed,' Ochoa said.

What is less in doubt is former senator Reid's enthusiasm for UFOs and his likely role in launching the Pentagon initiative to identify advanced aviation threats.

'If you've talked to Harry Reid for 60 seconds then it's the least surprising thing ever that he loves UFOs and got an earmark to study them,' former Reid spokeswoman Kristen Orthman said in a message on Twitter.

Or as Reid himself said in a tweet that linked to the Times' story: 'The truth is out there. Seriously.'

Elizondo has since joined former Blink 182 vocalist Tom DeLonge's company To The Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences - described as a 'public benefit corporation' that has 'mobilized a team of the most experienced, connected and passionately curious minds from the U.S. intelligence community, including the CIA, Department of Defense, who have been operating under the shadows of top-secrecy for decades.'
Residents of a small Queensland town have been left shattered after an elderly man was assaulted in his home.

Doug Dilger was cooking dinner about 7.30pm on Friday night when a masked intruder burst into his home.

The beloved 90-year-old was bashed and robbed , leaving him with severe head injuries, a broken jaw and a fractured eye socket, Nine News reported.

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Doug Dilger (pictured), 90, was beaten and robbed in his own home as he cooked dinner on Friday night

Mr Dilger crawled next door to an ambulance station, covered in his own blood, after the brutal and callous attack.

Paramedics transported the man to Bundaberg Base Hospital, and was not stabilised for another 24 hours.

His attacker has not been apprehended by police, who are searching for more information, as well as footage from dashcams and nearby CCTV.

The brutal attack, which left the man with severe head injuries and covered in blood, has left residents in Childers, a small Queensland town, shaken

Childers resident Georgie Brown told Nine the event had left the small town on edge.

'It's really shaken up the community. You don't think it happens in Childers,' she said.

Others told the program Mr Dilger was 'a gentle soul', and a 'lovely old guy'.

Mr Dilger remains in a serious condition, but doctors hope tomorrow he will be stable enough to be flown to Brisbane for emergency surgery.
Hisham Salama was charged $18,518.50 for a five-mile, 21-minute Uber ride. He has since been given a refund

A man was charged nearly $20,000 for a five-mile 21-minute Uber ride in Toronto.

Hisham Salama visited a friend at Saint Joseph's Hospital on Friday, December 8 and was charged $18,510.50 (about $14,400 in US dollars) for his ride.

'My first reaction was to just laugh,' he told Vice Canada.

But he was not laughing once he realized that the charge was pending on his credit card. Such a ride would normally cost between $12 and $20.

That night, he tried reaching Uber's customer service to no avail.

The following morning, an Uber customer service representative told him: 'I can confirm that based on the pickup and drop-off locations of the trip you took, this fare is correct.'

Salama then tweeted: '@Uber @Uber_Support what turned out to be an honest mistake is now turning into the biggest blunder of 2017. Im no longer laughing at wondering when #uber will get their act together. Can anyone help? Obviously, no 20 min fare is $18,500.'

Salama was traveling to Saint Joseph's Hospital (pictured) in Toronto, Canada on December 8

Initially, the company said that the sum was correct. Later, it recanted

Salama and other Tweeters brought attention to the issue after Uber initially said the fare was correct

After a wave of public support, Uber refunded the fare later in the day and added a $150 credit to his account.

Uber staff clamed the massive over-charge on driver error, not a technical glitch, the Canadian Press reports.

The scandal-afflicted technology company said the ride was in a traditional taxi signed up with Uber and that the driver made a mistake in entering the fare.

The company blamed the error on the driver

In a statement to Slate, the company said: 'There was an error here and it has been resolved. We have provided a full refund to this rider and apologized to him for this experience. We have safeguards in place to help prevent something like this from happening, and we are working to understand how this occurred.'

Salama later tweeted: 'Thank you to everyone who tweeted and retweeted about my magical $18,500 @Uber ride. @Uber_Support has refunded the fare and apologized. I am hopeful that I will be able to speak to someone on their leadership team about my issue and timing of resolution next week.'
An animal shelter has slammed 'irresponsible breeders' after a stray dog with the face resembling that of a bear was discovered living on the streets of Russia.

The odd-looking dog was brought into an animal shelter in Chelyabinsk in south-central Russia's Cheliabinsk Oblast region and has baffled locals who say they have 'never seen anything like it before'.

The stray dog, nicknamed Medvebaka from the Russian words for bear and dog, appears to have the body of a canine with a bear-like snout and head.

The dog was brought into an animal shelter in Chelyabinsk in south-central Russia's Cheliabinsk Oblast region and has baffled locals who say they have 'never seen anything like it before'. It appears to have the body of a dog and the face of a bear

Veterinarians said the dog is about four years old, male and could be a cross between a long-nosed and a chowchow, which could make it look like a bear

Nash Dom animal shelter released images to the public in hopes of finding animal's original owner or breeder.

Veterinarians said the dog is about four years old, male and could be a cross between a long-nosed and a chowchow, which could make it look like a bear.

The dog has a distinctive blue tongue, which is typical of the chowchow breed, which originally comes from northern, China.

But shelter volunteer Polina Kefer called the dog a 'badly made chowchow'.

'Remember those pet markets, where irresponsible breeders sell dogs pretending they are pure breed,' she told the Siberian Times.

Nash Dom animal shelter released images to the public in hopes of finding animal's original owner or breeder. Shelter volunteer Polina Kefer called the dog a 'badly made chowchow'

She added: 'Once puppies grow into something like this dog, they throw them out like a broken toy.'

Kefer said the dog is in 'serious stress' and 'fights back' when people try to socialise with it.

Volunteers tried to put the dog with a family, but he repeatedly tried to escape and showed 'no interest whatsoever in making friends'.

'We tried our best foods on him, but the dog is clearly so stressed that it might take weeks, if not months, to help him trust people again,' a volunteer said.
Police placed Battersea in lockdown this afternoon after finding a suspicious device in a car.

Officers were responding to reports of a man collapsed behind the wheel of the vehicle and when he was taken to hospital, they discovered the 'suspicious item' in his car.

Surrounding roads were closed and the area was evacuated, with people being warned to stay away from the scene from 1.40pm until around 4pm.

Photographs from the scene show a police robot being used to analyse the package in the car

Surrounding roads were closed and the area was evacuated, with people being warned to stay away from the scene

Videos and photographs from the scene show a bomb disposal robot analysing the boot of the silver estate car.

The usually-busy road was closed to all traffic and people were evacuated as police investigated the device.

Police confirmed shortly before 4.30pm the device found in the car was not deemed suspicious, and the roads were reopened.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Police were called on Sunday, 17 December shortly before 13:40 hours to a report of a man who had collapsed in behind the wheel of a car in Prince of Wales Drive junction with Albert Bridge Road.

'Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. The man [no further details] has been taken to a central London hospital.

'We await an update on his condition. Upon searching the vehicle, an item was found by officers which is being treated as suspicious.

'Cordons and road closures were put in place as a precaution.'

People took to social media this afternoon to share updates from the scene.

Videos and photographs from the scene show a bomb disposal robot analysing the boot of the silver estate car

People took to social media this afternoon to share updates from the scene

One Twitter user wrote: 'I'm away from it now. Live not far away though and can hear a lot of sirens. Just stay clear I would. Standstill traffic all along Park Road & connecting roads. Nothing going through there at all.'

According to Transport for London, bus routes 49 170 319 345 were diverted in both directions while Prince Of Wales Drive (SW11) was also closed.

Police also closed Battersea Bridge Road in both directions, Albert Bridge Road in both directions and Cambridge Road southbound - although all roads reopened around 4pm.
Britain must 'face the consequences' of its Brexit vote, EU negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured in Brussels on Friday) warned today

Britain must 'face the consequences' of its Brexit vote, EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned today.

Mr Barnier ruled out striking a unique deal for Britain in the trade talks unlocked by Theresa May at the EU summit this week.

He said Britain must choose between one of two broad models that already exist, based on how Norway and Canada work with the EU.

Norway accepts almost all EU single market rules and in return gets free access to EU markets. Canada has less access much more freedom over how it regulates business.

Theresa May will hold the first official Cabinet discussions this week on what model Britain will seek in the next phase of talks, with a deep split among top ministers.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said he wants a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal - suggesting a looser arrangement but close access for financial services.

Mr Barnier's new intervention, in an interview with Prospect magazine today, suggests Brussels will resist the idea.

He warned the 'most difficult part' of the negotiations will come in the next phase.

The chief negotiator, who works to guidelines handed down by EU leaders, said Brussels was happy to accept Britain's decision to leave the EU, its single market and customs union.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said he wants a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal - suggesting a looser arrangement but close access for financial services

The new intervention from Mr Barnier (pictured with Angela Merkel on Friday) suggests Brussels will resist the idea

Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead today) must balance competing demands inside the Cabinet as Britain draws up its negotiating position

But he warned: 'They have to realise there won't be any cherry picking.

'We won't mix up the various scenarios to create a specific one and accommodate their wishes, mixing, for instance, the advantages of the Norwegian model, member of the single market, with the simple requirements of the Canadian one.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE BREXIT TALKS? What happened at the summit this week? On Friday, EU leaders rubber stamped a draft divorce deal to say 'sufficient progress' had been made on issues about the separation. This unlocks the crucial next phase in which a transition deal and future trade will be discussed. EU Council President Donald Tusk has announced new negotiating guidelines for the EU's negotiator, Michel Barnier. These instruct him to strike a transition deal before launching long-term trade talks. What does the EU want in the transition period? The new negotiating guidelines suggest the EU want a complete 'standstill' transition that keeps Britain inside all EU laws for a fixed period, expected to be two years and running until March 2021. This means freedom of movement will continue to apply, Britain will not be allowed to sign new trade deals and European Court rulings will still be enforced. What does Britain want? Theresa May has set out her own vision for a two year transition in which most EU rules continue to apply. She wanted full-blown trade talks to run in parallel with transition talks from January but looks set to be disappointed. Brexiteers will be furious if it is confirmed Britain is not allowed to strike trade deals during the transition period and accept new EU rules. Advertisement

'No way. They have to face the consequences of their own decision.'

Best for Britain CEO Eloise Todd said: 'Today is the day that Theresa May's Red,White and Blue Brexit died.

'Barnier said no way, May and it should deeply worry everyone that the government has no plan and no clue.

'The government are deluded and hope to pull a rabbit out of the hat at the eleventh hour. Sadly people like Boris are not magicians, just clowns. So far all the government have done is kick the can down the road and avoid all the difficult decisions.

'Right now it is Mayday in Downing Street.'

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson used an interview in the Sunday Times to fire an opening salvo across the deep divide within the Cabinet over what 'end state' Britain will seek.

Mr Johnson said today that Britain must 'maximise the benefits of Brexit' and this means the nation must go its own way.

He cited the working time directive - which caps working hours at 48 hours a week - as an EU regulation which could be scrapped.

He said: 'The prime minister has done a fantastic job moving us forward in the negotiations.

'What we need to do is something new and ambitious, which allows zero tariffs and frictionless trade but still gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way in the future.'

He added: 'We need to raise our eyes to the horizon and ask ourselves in 10, 20, 30 years time.

'Is the world really going to be a series of mutually competitive trade blocs or are we going to be working in a system where there is freedom and free trade between countries, businesses, between individuals ... in accordance with global standards?

'That is a very exciting future.'

Mr Johnson said he was encouraged by Mr Hammond's Budget speech, in which the Chancellor touched on regulatory divergence with Brussels.

He said: 'Philip can see that we have a very original economy, very different from other European countries tech sectors, bioscience, bulk data, this is a very innovative place to be.

'We may in future wish to regulate it in a different way from the way that Brussels does.'
Two men had to be rescued from their car after they followed their sat nav into three feet of icy water in Leicestershire.

The pair climbed to the roof of their car after driving into the freezing water in Thurlaston on Friday just after 11pm.

Greater Hinckley Police said that the hapless pair were 'non-locals' from Birmingham who had to be rescued by a raft.

Firefighters used a raft to rescue the two men who had climbed on to the roof of their car after driving into three feet of icy water in Thurlaston, Leicestershire, on Friday night

Greater Hinckley Police said that the hapless pair were 'non-locals' from Birmingham who had followed their sat nav into the water

Posting on social media, an unnamed police officer said: 'I'm working nights tonight until 6am with PC 1150 Miller from the Greater Hinckley beat.

'We're supposed to be covering the town and the Christmas party goers..however Non - locals trying to get through Watery Gate Thurlaston.

'It was a non starter - they ended up taking refuge on the roof of their car until Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service rescued them in a raft and police and East Midlands Ambulance Service stood by.

'Both were non hyperthermic and were taken to a local warm place where they await a lift back to Birmingham.'

The post added that a 'brilliant' volunteer from Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response turned up to help with the rescue.

Greater Hinckley Police said a 'brilliant' volunteer from Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response turned up to help with the rescue. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service used a raft to help the men from their vehicle

'Luke Dhiman, from the group, slipped on some waders (rather him than me) and with our faithful (Land Rover) Defender - we towed out the car from Watery Gate while we await the recovery company,' the post said.

It added: 'The depth marker is there for a reason. You can't ignore over 1 metre of icy water. Don't just follow your sat nav.'

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, which sent crews from Hinckley, Leicester's Western stations and technical rescue from Southern fire station, used water rescue equipment to get the men to safety after they called for help from their car's roof at 11.10pm.

A fire service spokesman said: 'Please do not drive into flood water as you may not be lucky enough to drive out again. Take notice of road signs and don't take any risks. Think - don't sink.'
A property tycoon bought his own castle with 20 bedrooms and a moat for 1.8million at the tender age of 23.

Millionaire Robin MacDonald, 35, was in his early 20s when he snapped up Caverswall Castle in Staffordshire, during 2006.

The 13th century pile comes complete with a dungeon and towers and was even picked out by TV producers to be the setting of a period drama.

Millionaire Robin MacDonald, 35, was in his early 20s when he snapped up Caverswall Castle in Staffordshire, during 2006

For many in their 20s, even the idea of having enough savings for a deposit on a first home is a dream - let alone buying a country estate.

But Mr MacDonald, who made his fortune in real estate, was fortunate enough to get on the property ladder at a young age and fell in love with the castle straight away.

He said: 'I was just looking for a nice house in the country.

'My life in property had been pretty intense up to that point and the idea was to take some time out and recover a little bit.

'I was looking at RightMove one evening, properties around Wilmslow in the 1million bracket, and then a castle popped up. ''Wow! Look at that!''

'For the same price as a six-bed detached in Wilmslow I could have an historic castle in Staffordshire.'

Mr MacDonald has spent a 'fortune' on renovating the castle and has plans for it to be a hotel

He added: 'The appeal was the uniqueness. The history. I looked at a lot of Georgian manors and halls, but this was a little gem. It was a wonderful opportunity.

'I didn't want to look back in years to come and think ''I could have bought that''.

'I was a very proud young man when I got the keys.'

Under Mr MacDonald's ownership the castle has experienced extensive refurbishment, hosting weddings, in one year 125 couples tied the knot there, family holidays, yoga retreats and other events.

Mr MacDonald said: 'I bought this place and spent a fortune on restoration. It had been a cheap and cheerful B&B and it didn't look like much had been done since the 70s - avocado bathroom suites that kind of thing.

The 13th century pile comes complete with moats, walls, dungeon, and towers and was even picked out by TV producers to be the setting of a period drama

'It was in a very sad and tired state, neglected, dilapidated. I did the restoration because I wanted to live in a fabulous house.'

Mr MacDonald, who lives at Caverswall with his partner and two children, now runs a hotel at the castle.

There are also plans for it to be an upmarket venue with a restaurant and wine bar for up to 36 guests.

But his plans do not end there, he also wants permission to use the building as a film location.

However, a previous attempt hit the planning buffers.

'It was a prime-time ITV Boxing Day period drama.

ITV wanted to film a Boxing Day period drama The Making of A Lady, starring Joanna Lumley (pictured), at the castle, but the local council objected

'The Making Of A Lady, with Joanna Lumley. They wanted to use the castle for two weeks, a few actors and a few crew.

'They wanted to use the castle for two weeks, a few actors and a few crew. They gave out leaflets in the village to say who they were and what they were doing. Immediately, there were complaints to the council.

'They said if it went ahead it would be viewed as a prosecutable event. So we didn't do it. It was then that the charge was brought up against me anyway - attempted filming.

'Can you imagine the amazing positive publicity it would have brought for the area? But it happened again recently.

'The BBC turned up to do a little local news piece. It would have been a lovely positive piece looking at the heritage of the Staffordshire Moorlands. Again 'No'.

'There's only 13 habitable moated medieval castles in England. There should be pride that one of them is in this area.'
Hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the four children killed in a horrific house fire earlier this week.

Demi Pearson, 14, her sister, Lacie, seven, and their eight-year-old brother, Brandon, were killed in the suspected arson attack in Salford, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Monday.

The childrens youngest sister, Lia, three, died from her injuries on Wednesday. Their mother Michelle is still fighting for her own life in hospital.

Hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the four children killed in a horrific house fire on Sunday

Carrying pink, blue and 'You'll be missed' balloons, the mourners stopped traffic at the top of Jackson Street, where the incident took place, to pay tribute to the victims

Carrying pink, blue and 'You'll be missed' balloons, the mourners stopped traffic at the top of Jackson Street, where the incident took place, to pay tribute to the victims.

With the police cordon still in place, local residents shuffled through to peacefully lay their tributes.

Lining the pavement with tea-lights, flowers and written messages, the mourners released red lanterns and hundreds of balloons from Saint Mary's Park for the young victims.

Among the most touching additions to the vigil were the numbered balloons - 3, 7, 8 and 14 to represent the children's ages.

With the police cordon still in place, local residents shuffled through to peacefully lay their tributes

Led by Reverend Alan Kennedy, the vigil - where songs were sung and the Lords prayer recited - begun shortly after the crowds came together

Lining the pavement with tea-lights, flowers and written messages, the mourners released red lanterns and hundreds of balloons from Saint Mary's Park for the young victims

Among the most touching additions to the vigil were the numbered balloons - 3, 7, 8 and 14 to represent the children's ages

Friends of Demi wore 'We Love You Demi P' jumpers as they gave final farewells to their young friend.

Across the road in Saint Mary's Park, tea-lights that spelled out the Pearson name lit up the dark street.

Led by Reverend Alan Kennedy, the vigil - where songs were sung and the Lords prayer recited - begun shortly after the crowds came together.

Rev Kennedy, who runs the local Churches Together community group, said: 'Events like these show how the community can come together. People have come out as families here - it is nice to see all the children because, after all, the victims were children.'

After the vigil, people shared refreshments and wrote messages of remembrance in a book in a small community centre near the family home.

Zak Bolland, 23, Courtney Brierley, 20, and David Worrall, 25, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday morning charged with the murder of the four children.

The defendants are also accused of arson with intent to endanger life and the attempted murder of the children's mother, Michelle Pearson, 35, and two juveniles who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The three were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 9 and a provisional trial date was fixed for April 30.

Brandon Pearson, eight, (left) and Lacie Pearson, seven, (centre left and pictured on the right) died in the Manchester fire. Their youngest sister Lia, three (pictured in their arms, left) died later in hospital

Tragic: Teenager Demi Pearson, 14, (pictured) also died in the fire
The distraught friends of the 22-year-old woman who was mauled to death by her pit bulls while out on a walk in the woods claim that the dogs would never hurt their owner and believe foul play was involved in her death.

Bethany Lynn Stephens, 22, was found dead in a 'grisly' scene on Thursday night, two days after she was last seen heading out to walk her dogs in the woods near her Goochland, Virginia home.

Authorities said she was found by her father, John, who was searching for her in an area where she was known to take the dogs out for walks.

Stephens' friend, Barbara Norris, told NBC12 that she didn't believe the dogs would kill Stephens and that they slept in her bed at night.

'Those dogs would not attack her,' she said. 'They'd kill you with kisses.'

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Bethany Lynn Stephens, 22, was found mauled to death two days after having taken her dogs out for a walk. Her two pit bulls were found aggressively guarding her body in the woods

But Stephens' friend, Barbara Norris (above), does not believe the dogs would kill Stephens and thinks she was murdered. She said: 'Those dogs would not attack her. They'd kill you with kisses.'

Norris said that the dogs' kennels appeared to have been broken open, as if the dogs had escaped to help Stephens.

But the dogs  described as being 'very large, brindle-colored pit bull dogs'  were said to be aggressively guarding her body when Stephens' father came across them, according to Goochland County Sheriff James L. Agnew, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported.

The woman's father John (above) found her body two days after she went missing

It's believed that the dogs had been bred for fighting.

Initial medical examiner's reports indicated that Stephens, who stood 5-foot-1 and weighted 125 pounds, had defensive wounds on her hands and arms.

Her wounds, which also included puncture wounds in her skull, were consistent with having been mauled.

'The first traumatic injury to her was to her throat and face,' Agnew said, adding that, 'It appears she was taken to the ground, lost consciousness, and the dogs then mauled her to death.'

Agnew said that in his 'nearly 40 years in law enforcement, I've never seen anything quite like it.'

After discovering his daughter's body and the dogs guarding it, Stephens' father called 911.

Stephens was 5-feet-1 and 125 pounds, weighing roughly the same amount as her dogs. The brindle-colored pit bulls were said to have been bred for fighting

Stephens' friend doesn't think the dogs would have attacked her, noting they slept in the bed with her at night. The friend said it looked like the dogs had escaped their kennels to help her

It took officers more than an hour to remove the dogs from the scene. They were tranquilized and are now in animal control's custody. Authorities are likely to euthanize the pit bulls

It took the sheriff's deputies more than an hour to wrangle the dogs, which were said to weigh about as much as Stephens did.

The dogs were eventually tranquilized and removed by animal control, who are now in possession of the dogs. Agnew is likely to request that they be euthanized.

Sheriff's deputies then collected more than 60 pieces of evidence from the scene of Stephens' death, which was covered with blood and shredded pieces of her clothing.

Agnew noted that Stephens' death was not a homicide and that there were no strangulation marks on her body. The investigation is said to be ongoing.
A female British diplomat has been found dead after being strangled in Beirut and officials are investigating whether she was sexually assaulted before the attack.

Rebecca Dykes, 30, was found dead on Saturday close to the Metn expressway, in Lebanon's capital, reports Al Jadeed TV.

Police are tonight probing whether Ms Dykes, from London, had been raped before she was found dead.

Ms Dykes, a former public schoolgirl, started working for the government in 2010 and she had been at a bar in the centre of the city on Friday night before she was attacked after midnight.

Rebecca Dykes, a UK diplomat who worked at the British embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, has been found dead

Ms Dykes (pictured) started working for the government in 2010 and started working as a programme and policy manager in Lebanon since January

Police are investigating whether Ms Dykes (pictured), 30, was sexually before her body was found

It is believed she was abducted minutes after she left the bar.

Her body has reportedly been transferred to the Dahr al-Bashak Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A security source said she was discovered with a 'piece of string around her neck'.

Another official involved in the investigation said the crime did not appear to be 'politically motivated'.

The Lebanese official said her body was found 'on the side of the Emile Lahoud road', just north of Beirut.

A family spokesman said: 'We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

'We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time.'

Al Jadeed TV reports Ms Dykes had been raped and an official said investigators are probing whether she was sexually assaulted.

British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, said: 'The whole embassy is deeply shocked and saddened by this news.

'Our thoughts are with Becky's family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss.

'We are providing consular support to Becky's family and working very closely with the Lebanese local authorities who are conducting the police investigation.'

Friends said she was flying home for Christmas Saturday.

Ms Dykes joined the Department for International Development and had been working as a programme and policy manager based in Lebanon since January.

Before she moved to Beirut she worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Libya team as a policy manager. She had previously worked as an Iraq Research Analyst with the FCO.

Her body was found on Saturday close to the Metn expressway (pictured) in Lebanon's capital

Ms Dykes was working in Beirut (pictured) and her body has been found close to the busy road

The University of Manchester graduate also had a masters in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London.

She also spent four years teaching teenagers English in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the Department for International Development where she worked said: 'Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

'There is now a police investigation and the FCO (Foreign Office) is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities.'

A Foreign Office spokesman added: 'Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family.

'We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.'
American President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone again Sunday, with the Russian leader phoning Trump at Camp David.

Putin called Trump to thank him for a CIA tip that helped thwart a series of bombings in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the conversation in a tweet.

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President Trump received a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, according to the Kremlin. The White House confirmed the conversation in a tweet

Russian President Vladimir Putin, seen at his annual news conference in Moscow on Thursday, called President Trump Sunday to thank him for a CIA tip that saved Russian lives

Putin gave his annual press conference in Moscow and said the U.S. is hurting itself with investigations of election meddling

Putin expressed gratitude during the call for information provided by the CIA that allowed Russias top domestic security agency to track down and arrest a group of suspects that was planning to bomb Kazan Cathedral and other crowded sites, the Kremlin said.

The Kremlin added that Putin asked Trump to convey gratitude to the CIA and assured him that Russian law enforcement agencies would hand over any information they get about potential terror threats against the United States, as they have done in the past.

This is the second conversation the two leaders have had in less than a week.

On Thursday, Trump thanked Putin for remarks he made acknowledging 'America's strong economic performance,' the White House said.

'The two presidents also discussed working together to resolve the very dangerous situation in North Korea' according to Trump's office.

The two presidents spoke by phone following Putin's annual press conference in Moscow.

Putin said Thursday the U.S. is only hurting itself with investigations of alleged collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia, and the Kremlin leader vowed he won't allow the radical opposition at home to challenge the status quo as he seeks re-election.

At his annual news conference, Putin also mocked his most visible critic, Alexei Navalny, saying that those like the opposition leader want to drive Russia into chaos ahead of the March 18 presidential election.

Brimming with self-confidence during the nearly four-hour session, Putin reaffirmed his denial of interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

'All of it was invented by people who oppose President Trump to undermine his legitimacy,' Putin said in remarks that mirrored Trump's arguments.

'I'm puzzled by that. People who do it are inflicting damage to the country's domestic political situation, incapacitating the president and showing a lack of respect to voters who cast their ballots for him.'

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the election to help Trump, a Republican, defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump last month lashed out at those agencies' former heads, calling them 'political hacks' and arguing there were plenty of reasons to be suspicious of their findings.

Putin said Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, whose contacts with Trump's campaign are part of the probes by Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller, was only performing his routine duties.

'All of it was invented by people who oppose President Trump to undermine his legitimacy,' the Russian leader said of concerns in the U.S.

'It's a universally accepted practice when diplomatic envoys and even government officials meet candidates and their teams to discuss some issues, prospects for development, trying to get an idea what they will do if they come to power and how to respond to that,' Putin said.

'What is extraordinary about it and why should it trigger some sort of spy mania?'

Putin also praised Trump's successes, saying that global markets have demonstrated investors' confidence in his economic course.

'We can objectively see quite serious achievements even during his short time in office,' Putin said.

The Russian leader said he and Trump had spoken on a first-name basis on the sidelines of two international summits this year, and he voiced hope that Trump eventually would be able to fulfill his campaign promises to improve ties with Russia.

'I hope that he would gradually have opportunities to establish contacts with Russia,' he added.

Putin emphasized the countries need to cooperate on tackling global challenges and that Russia is ready for 'constructive' cooperation on tackling the North Korean standoff.

Putin has warned the U.S. not to use force against North Korea, adding that the consequences will be 'catastrophic.'

He emphasized that Russia opposes Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, but added the U.S. had 'provoked' the North into developing its nuclear and missile programs.

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is barred from challenging Putin in the March 18 presidential vote due to an embezzlement conviction

Putin said questions about pre-election meetings between Trump personnel and Russians shouldn't 'trigger some sort of spy mania'

Putin said Moscow was encouraged by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement about readiness for talks with Pyongyang, hailing it as a 'realistic' approach.

He pointed out, however, that the U.S. sanctions against Russia have put Moscow on a par with Iran and North Korea. He said it looks 'weird' in view of the fact that Washington expects Moscow's cooperation in tackling the North Korean crisis.

'It's beyond reason,' he said.

The Russian leader also voiced concern about the U.S. considering a pullout from key nuclear arms control pacts.

He insisted that Russia has observed the 1987 INF Treaty banning intermediate range missiles and charged that the U.S. claims of alleged Russian violations are part of a 'propaganda' campaign to pave the way for the U.S. withdrawal.

He also blamed the U.S. for violating the pact, a claim that Washington has denied.

Putin also said that Russia wants to keep the 2010 New Start Treaty, which limited the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads for each country.

The treaty is set to expire in 2021, but the parties could agree to extend it.

Putin noted that some in the U.S. want to do away with the treaty and warned that 'it would be very bad for international stability and security.'

He emphasized that Russia will 'ensure its security without entering an arms race,' noting that Moscow's military spending next year will amount to some $47 billion, compared with the Pentagon's budget of about $700 billion.

Putin speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow

Russian TV celebrity Ksenia Sobchak, who announced her own presidential bid last week, gestures while speaking to the media in Moscow on Dec. 14

Putin, who announced his bid for re-election last week, said he would run as a self-nominated candidate, keeping his distance from the main Kremlin party, United Russia, which has many members dogged by accusations of corruption.

A victory to another six-year term would put him on track to become the nation's longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Answering a question from 36-year-old celebrity TV host Ksenia Sobchak, who wants to challenge him in the election, Putin said he doesn't fear competition but emphasized that the government would thwart any attempts by radicals to destabilize Russia.

Sticking to his habit of not mentioning Navalny by name, Putin likened him to Mikheil Saakashvili, a former president of Georgia who has turned into a Ukrainian opposition leader. Saakashvili has defied the Ukrainian government with a series of recent anti-corruption protests.

Putin said his government wouldn't let 'people like Saakashvili' plunge Russia into the kind of instability that is now wracking Ukraine.

An embezzlement conviction that Navalny says is politically motivated bars him from running for president against Putin.

Navalny tweeted that Putin's statement 'confirmed that not letting me run is a deliberate political move.'

Most of the questions came from journalists from far-flung Russian provinces pushing various local projects, effectively serving as envoys for their regions.

Putin sought to burnish his image as a father of the nation who cares for the people's needs, alternating benign statements with his dry and sometimes harsh humor.

He backed his talk about the need for a strong military with a joke about a boy who swaps his father's navy dagger for a watch.

The youth is told by his father: 'It's a good watch. When bandits will come to us and kill your mother and rape your older sister, you will come out and say: 'Good evening, it's 12:30 in Moscow.''
A worker caught in a machine at a meat processing plant has died in Ohio, according to local authorities.

Samuel Martinez, 62, was killed by the machine on Saturday afternoon at the Fresh Mark plant in Canton, Ohio.

The Guatemalan national died at the scene.

Samuel Martinez, 62, was killed by a waste grinder on Saturday afternoon at the Fresh Mark plant in Canton, Ohio

According to the Stark County Coroner's Office, the man stepped into a chute and was stuck in the waste grinder.

An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

In a statement released on Saturday, Fresh Mark said that they would work with local law enforcement to figure out what caused the accident.

In a statement released on Saturday, Fresh Mark said that they would work with local law enforcement to figure out what caused the accident

'This afternoon just before 5pm, we experienced a work-related fatality at our Canton facility, they said.

'Our primary concern rests with the wellbeing of this employee's family, as well as with the safety and wellbeing of all our employees in the Canton and other Fresh Mark facilities. We are working with authorities to determine the facts regarding this incident.'

The incident marks the second of such to happen at the company.

In 2011, an employee was electrocuted while trying to plug in a fan as he was standing in water.

The company sells pork related meat under the Superior's and Sugardale brands.
The Thomas Fire continued to rage on Saturday prompting zookeepers at a California zoo to prepare for evacuation.

Santa Barbara Zoo officials closed the zoo on Saturday and video showed some of the animals being put inside crates for evacuation.

'Some animals are going into crates and being staged for possible evacuation to predetermined locations. Staff has training and transportation,' the zoo said on Facebook Saturday morning.

'We DO NOT need public assistance. Do not come to the zoo. Stay safe,' officials added.

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The Thomas Fire continued to rage on Saturday prompting zookeepers at the Santa Barbara Zoo to evacuate their animals. Photos showed keepers and staff working to funnel churro sheep (pictured) into crates for relocation to a smoke-free area

Santa Barbara Zoo officials closed the zoo on Saturday and video showed some of the animals being put inside crates (pictured) for evacauation

Zoo officials said the only animals that have been evacuated were the endangered California condors and their African cousins Ruppells griffon vultures. They were moved from the zoo on Saturday

Zoo officials said on Saturday that the only animals to have been evacuated at that point were the endangered California condors and their African cousins Ruppells griffon vultures.

Those birds were transported to the Los Angeles Zoo.

Visiting reindeer Lightning and Holiday were also taken to the Earl Warren Showgrounds on Saturday.

The Thomas Fire has become the third largest blaze California has ever seen and covers 267,500 acres - an area larger than New York City.

Many of the Zoos animals were allowed outside access on Saturday after spending several days inside. Chadwick the lion (pictured) appeared to revel in the sunshine during a break in the smoke

Officials placed a voluntary evacuation zone that affects as many as 33,000 people and extends into downtown Santa Barbara, and includes the Santa Barbara Zoo (pictured)

Officials placed a voluntary evacuation zone that affects as many as 33,000 people and extends into downtown Santa Barbara, and includes the Santa Barbara Zoo.

The inferno began December 4 in Ventura County and spread into Santa Barbara County, destroying more than 970 homes and other structures.

The new voluntary evacuation zone affects as many as 33,000 people and extends into downtown Santa Barbara, and now includes the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Photos posted to the zoo's Facebook page show Dr. Julie Barnes, keepers and staff working to funnel churro sheep into crates for relocation to a smoke-free area.

On Sunday morning, The Zoo confirmed the facility would remain closed because of 'smoky air' that is still a factor in the area.

The Thomas wildfire burns above Bella Vista Drive near Romero Canyon in this social media photo by Santa Barbara County Fire Department in Montecito, California, on December 12

An army of 8,300 firefighters, 400 fire trucks, 29 helicopters and 77 bulldozers are fighting the blaze. Two people have died since the blaze began, including a firefighter

Virginia Pesola, 70, of Santa Paula, was evacuating earlier this month when she died in a car crash. Firefighters from Kern County, California, are seen in Montecito

Firefighter Cory Iverson, 32, was the second person to died in the fire on Thursday. Iverson died while working the colossal wildfire burning in coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles. Fire crews march through a canyon in Montecito on Friday

'Conditions are changeable. We are monitoring news and official reports and continue acting to ensure the safety of our staff and animals,' zoo officials said.

'We will make decisions beyond that on a day-by-day basis, based on the safety of our campers, staff and animals,' they added.

Many of the Zoos animals were allowed outside access on Saturday after spending several days inside. Chadwick the lion appeared to revel in the sunshine during a break in the smoke.

An army of 8,300 firefighters, 400 fire trucks, 29 helicopters and 77 bulldozers are fighting the blaze.

Two people have died since the blaze began, including a firefighter.

Virginia Pesola, 70, of Santa Paula, was evacuating earlier this month when she died in a car crash.

Firefighter Cory Iverson, 32, was the second person to died in the fire on Thursday. Iverson died while working the colossal wildfire burning in coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles.
Sen. John McCain headed home to Arizona on Sunday after being briefly hospitalized for a viral infection. The Arizona senator's return home means he will miss out on the tax reform vote scheduled for this week.

On Sunday, his office released a joint statement with his doctors, explaining why he was hospitalized last week.

Dr. Mark Gilbert, Chief of Neuro-Oncology at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Cancer Institute, said McCain 'has responded well to treatment he received at Walter Reed Medical Center for a viral infection and continues to improve. An evaluation of his underlying cancer shows he is responding positively to ongoing treatment.'

Cancer patients like Sen. McCain are more susceptible to viral infections because their immune system is weakened during treatments like chemotherapy.

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Sen. John McCain will miss votes this week on the tax package, as he headed back to Arizona today

Sen. John McCain's son-in-law Ben Domenech appeared on Face the Nation and told viewers he was in 'good spirits' and 'doing well'

McCain's new son-in-law, Ben Domenech, also gave an update on the senator's condition on Face the Nation on Sunday.

'Well, John, I'm happy to say that he's doing well,' Domenech answered Face the Nation host John Dickerson, who had asked about the Republican lawmaker. 'He's in good spirits. And he's looking forward to heading back home in Arizona for the holidays.'

McCain's daughter Meghan herself has since tweeted thanking everyone for their support and assuring that her father is recovering.

'Thank you to everyone for their kind words. My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona. If youre feeling charitable this Christmas @HeadfortheCure or @NBTStweets to help find a cure for brain cancer is what I recommend.'

CBS News later reported that McCain is heading directly to Arizona and miss key votes on the Republican tax package, which will take place next week.

McCain's absence shouldn't derail the package, despite the slim GOP majority in the Senate, as Sens. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, and Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, have said they would vote in favor of the bill after, at first, suggesting they wouldn't.

McCain was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital on Wednesday due to the 'normal side effects' of his cancer treatments,' his office said.

'As ever, he remains grateful to his physicians for their excellent care, and his friends and supporters for their encouragement and good wishes,' the statement said.

Domenech married Sen. John McCain's (left) 33-year-old daughter Meghan (right) in November. She tweeted some suggestions for brain cancer charities Americans could donate to as she thanked people for their 'kind words' about her dad

In July, the 81-year-old senior senator from Arizona was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

More recently, McCain tore the Achilles tendon on his right foot, which forced him to wear a walking brace and then use a wheelchair in order to get around the U.S. Capitol.

CBS noted that some of the symptoms of glioblastoma include headache, general malaise, along with vision and speech problems.

'The truth is that, as anyone knows whose family has battled cancer or any significant disease, that oftentimes there are side effects to treatment that you have,' Domenech explained when talking about McCain's ailment today. 'The senator's been through a round of chemo and he went  and was hospitalized this week at Walter Reed.'

Domenech, who married Meghan, McCain's 33-year-old daughter in late November in Arizona, said his father-in-law was looking forward to spending the holidays in the Grand Canyon state.

As of late, Sen. John McCain has had to use a wheelchair to get around Capitol Hill after injuring his Achilles heal and being treated for cancer

'Our thanks to everyone who has been sending thoughts and prayers to the senator this week,' Domenech said. 'We greatly appreciate it. And he remains one of the toughest men on the face of the earth, as you know.'

Meghan McCain also chimed in, tweeting Sunday afternoon on Twitter about her dad.

'Thank you to everyone for their kind words,' she wrote. 'My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona.

'If youre feeling charitable this Christmas @HeadForTheCure or @NBTStweets to help find a cure for brain cancer is what I recommend,' she said.
Police in Gran Canaria have quizzed an Irishman following the discovery of his partner's body at their home on the holiday island.

Detectives rushed to the property on Sunday morning after receiving a call at 10.15am about a body lying next to the swimming pool of a property at the Tauro resort, near Mogan in the south of the island.

The unnamed man, described by sources close to the case as an Irish national, has been released without charge by police after a short quiz.

Police in Gran Canaria are hunting an Irishman following the discovery of his partner's body at their home on the holiday island. Stock image of Tauro, Gran Canaria.

The woman, a Dutch national, was pronounced dead at the scene, with locals claiming a criminal act had taken place. Detectives are awaiting the results of the post-mortem before deciding their next step.

Police sources said they were looking for her Irish partner so they could question him.

His name and age - and the cause of the victim's death - have not yet been revealed, although he is thought to be around 50.

Police have been told by neighbours that they had heard an argument at the villa, which was rented on a holiday let, shortly before the gruesome discovery.

The man police are hunting, described as a 'foreigner' by local press, is said to have fled the property before detectives arrived.

The person who made the 999 call is understood to be a friend or acquaintance of the victim.

Detectives have not yet released the name of the man they want to speak to, although he is understood to have been identified and lives in Gran Canaria like the victim even though the villa was rented. Stock of Tauro beach, Gran Canaria

Detectives have not yet released the name of the man they want to speak to, although he is understood to have been identified and lives in Gran Canaria like the victim even though the villa was rented.

A source close to the case said: 'The dead woman is Dutch and the man police are hunting is an Irish national.'

Police are understood to be treating the case as a possible homicide.
A British doctor is being considered for a $400,000-a-year mental health role at a Queensland hospital - despite his 'appalling' medical history abroad.

Dr Richard Seamark, 57, is understood to be one of the front-runners for the role of clinical director of mental health at Cairns Hospital, according to the Courier Mail.

But Dr Seamark was banned from running his company - which operated two mental health hospitals in the UK - for seven years after a government-led investigation.

The damning investigation found one of the hospitals was 'inadequate in every area inspected', publishing a scathing critique of Dr Seamark's leadership online.

British doctor Richard Seamark (pictured) is being considered for a $400,000-a-year mental health role at a Queensland hospital - despite his 'appalling' medical history abroad

In its report on the company, named Care+ Ltd, the government agency revealed one patient had been locked inside their hospital room for several weeks.

It described the incident as a 'breach of the patient's human rights'.

The hospital also failed to report serious incidents such as medicine errors and kept defibrillator pads that had expired over seven years ago.

Dr Seamark moved to Queensland last year after he was disqualified from director and his company went into voluntary liquidation.

Queensland Health told the Courier Mail the role 'had not been finalised' and claimed Dr Seamark had not yet signed a contract.

'A final decision in relation to the employment of Dr Seamark has not been made,' Cairns Hinterland HHS boss Clare Douglas told the publication.

'Dr Seamark advised the Health Service of these matters in the UK and the Health Service suspended the recruitment process to enable Dr Seamark to respond.

'He has fully co-operated with the due diligence process that Queensland Health applies to all potential employees.'
A couple, whose honeymoon was tragically cut short when their child was born prematurely and passed away, have buried their child in clothes made from his mother's wedding dress.

Jamie and Vicky Waite, from Leeds, Yorkshire, were celebrating their marriage with their three-year-old son and friends in Menorca when Vicky, who was 23 weeks pregnant, was rushed to hospital.

Nathan John was just an hour old when he died at the hospital on the island.

A couple, whose honeymoon was tragically cut short when their child was born prematurely and passed away, have buried their child in clothes made from his mother's wedding dress. Jamie and Vicky Waite, from Leeds, Yorkshire, were celebrating their marriage with their three-year-old son and friends in Menorca when Vicky, who was 23 weeks pregnant, was rushed to hospital

His heartbroken parents have only hand and footprints as a record of his short life.

The couple, who married in March, were told by Spanish doctors that as Vicky's pregnancy had not reached 24 weeks, and because Nathan lived for less than 24 hours, no birth or death certificates would be issued.

The registry office in Leeds was unable to help as Nathan was born in Menorca.

Desperate to honour Nathan's memory, Vicky and Jamie are now saving to buy him a headstone for his burial plot.

Family and friends have rallied round to help raise part of the 4,000 needed to buy the memorial stone.

Vicky said: 'We honeymooned as a family in Cala'n Forcat, Menorca. We flew out on Friday May 19 - it was just a week's break, we went with a family we are very close to.

'Four days into the holiday I woke up to bleeding and I felt very uncomfortable - this was at 9am. We called the doctor out from reception and he rushed me into hospital and said my baby was coming now and there was no time to fly me out to mainland Majorca.

'They wheeled me into a room and said they said they would give me something to help me relax - this was at 12.05pm.

Nathan John was just an hour old when he died at the hospital on the island. His heartbroken parents have only hand and footprints as a record of his short life

'The next thing I know it was 1.05pm and I was just coming round - they had put me to sleep.

'I was told my baby boy had been born and was still alive but would not live for long. My husband wasn't with me at this point, he wasn't allowed in the room.'

'Ten minutes later, the doctor came back and said my little boy had died, and asked if I wanted to see him for a minute.

'My husband came back in the room at this point and Nathan John was passed to me, wrapped in tissue. We cried as we held him; my head was all over the place and I didn't really know was happening.

'It was all very quick and I was still high as a kite from the drugs they gave me.

'Before we could even think about photos or anything they came back and took him away from us.'

The couple, who married in March, were told by Spanish doctors that as Vicky's pregnancy had not reached 24 weeks, and because Nathan lived for less than 24 hours, no birth or death certificates would be issued

Jamie and Vicky's son Jamie Luke, three, was being looked after by friends that had travelled with the honeymooners, and Vicky was told she would be kept at the hospital overnight.

At around 6pm, just six hours after Nathan's premature birth, Jamie had to leave to care for their son and Vicky was left alone in hospital.

'We just cried for hours and had to tell our family back home,' Vicky said.

'I asked if I could see Nathan again and they wouldn't let me - they said he had been moved to the mortuary already.

'It was all really hard to understand with the language barrier, the translation wasn't very good. I was left for the night then discharged the next morning.'

Vicky and Jamie, of Cottingley, returned to Leeds on May 26 - Nathan's body was flown home on June 2.

They went to the registry office in Leeds to try and secure birth/death certificates, but were told they could not be issued as Nathan was born abroad.

The grieving couple were allowed to arrange a burial for their son at Cottingley Crematorium in June - held just three days before their eldest son, Jamie Luke's third birthday.

Vicky was told aged 23 she would not be able to have children naturally and had suffered four miscarriages before falling pregnant with her eldest son, Jamie Luke, aged 33.

Vicky said: 'It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do - carrying his tiny coffin into the crematorium was heartbreaking.

'The funeral directors were great and gave us Nathan's hand and footprint as a keepsake - it's the only thing we have.

The registry office in Leeds was unable to help as Nathan was born in Menorca. Desperate to honour Nathan's memory, Vicky and Jamie are now saving to buy him a headstone for his burial plot

'I also donated my wedding dress and had it made into clothing for Nathan to be buried in.'

The couple couldn't afford a headstone. Nathan's burial plot is currently marked with a simple wooden cross with a plaque.

Jamie and Vicky are now saving for a permanent headstone to remember their little boy.

Vicky said: 'I haven't been able to do anything for my baby boy - he is not recognised in this world as existing.

'I have to do everything I can and the only thing I can give him is a plot where he rests and headstone to symbolise his importance to us.'

The couple's friends Sarah Bowker and Ben Pashley, of Manchester, wanted to help Vicky and Jamie secure the headstone for Nathan, and have started a fundraising campaign for 1,000 of the 4,000 total costs.

On the Gofundme page, they wrote: 'I know it is coming up to Christmas, but if you can share anything to help them achieve this it would make us so happy.

'The love in their home is warm and kind. They would be so grateful to you all.'

Jamie, a data cabling engineer, and Vicky, a full-time mum, want to have the headstone in place as soon as possible, but said 4,000 was a lot of money to save.

They hope to fund the rest of the money needed for the headstone with the help of the generous donations made to Sarah and Ben's campaign. So far the fundraising page has 275 of its 1,000 goal.
KISS rocker Gene Simmons is defending himself amid allegations made by a woman who claims he groped her during the grand opening of one of his restaurants in California last month.

The unidentified woman says that she was groped by Simmons during an interview part of the opening of his restaurant Rock & Brews in San Bernardino. She filed a lawsuit against him in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.

On Saturday, the 68-year-old bassist denied any wrongdoing and released a statement that reads: 'Friends, I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media.

'For the record, I did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way.

'I am conferring with my lawyers with the aim of vigorously countering these allegations. And, I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence.'

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KISS rocker Gene Simmons is defending himself amid allegations made by a woman who claims he groped her during the grand opening of one of his restaurants in California last month

The unidentified woman says that she interviewed Simmons as part of the opening of Rock & Brews in San Bernardino which he owns with Paul Stanley (right)

On Saturday, the 68-year-old bassist denied any wrongdoing and released a statement that said: 'I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence.'

Simmons and band mate Paul Stanley own Rock & Brews, which is a rock n'roll-themed restaurant chain that offers American comfort food.

At the opening of the eatery last month, Simmons reportedly sat down for an interview with the woman who claims that he reached over and grabbed her hand before placing her hand on his knee.

In her lawsuit, the woman says that this made her feel uncomfortable.

The lawsuit states, 'Defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable.'

The woman claims that Simmons made comments about how soft her hand was and that she needed to use lotion.

She then claims that Simmons reached over and flicked her throat.

Afterward, both Simmons and the interviewer posed with others for a group photo.

During the photo shoot, the woman claims Simmons also grabbed her butt.

The lawsuit also notes that the 68-year-old has had a 'troubling' tour while promoting his new book titled, On Power.

During the interview, the woman claims Simmons reached over and grabbed her hand. He then allegedly placed her hand on his knee. The interior of the Rock & Brews in San Bernardino in seen in the above stock image

The woman mentions in her lawsuit how Simmons 'earned a lifetime ban from FOX News studios for allegedly exposing his torso to staff members and shouting: 'Hey chicks, sue me!'

Her suit alleges causes of action for gender violence, battery, sexual battery, assault, negligent retention of supervision, gender discrimination and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Besides Simmons, Rock & Brews Holdings, LLC., Rock & Brews Holdings, Inc., Rock & Brews, LLC., and Rock & Brews Franchising, LLC. are also named as defendants.

The woman's attorney, Willie W. Williams, spoke with the San Bernardino Sun and said: 'My client is embarrassed and humiliated by the incident with Mr. Simmons.

'She filed suit because she wanted to make a strong statement that this behavior is unacceptable and she wants to see an end to this type of behavior.'

The lawsuit identifies the victim as a 'long-time on-air personality for a local rock station.'
About 5,000 supporters of the opposition leader in Ukraine rallied in the nation's capital on Sunday, attempting to oust the president Petro Poroshenko.

Mikheil Saakashvili's followers marched across Kiev, rallying with the former Georgian president and ex-Ukrainian governor on Independence Square to call for Poroshenko's impeachment.

'I'm offering Poroshenko to have public negotiations to discuss just one thing: his resignation and the removal of oligarchs from power,' Saakashvili told the crowd.

About 5,000 supporters of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili rallied in Ukraine's capital Sunday, attempting to oust the nation's president.Saakashvili's followers marched across Kiev, rallying with the former Georgian president and ex-Ukrainian governor on Independence Square to call for President Petro Poroshenko's impeachment

He then suggested setting up a headquarters for the protest in the October Palace, a performing arts and conference center overlooking the square.

People in the crowd shattered windows and tried to break the doors open, but police prevented them from getting inside.

City officials said hundreds of children were attending an event in the October Palace at the time.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said more than 30 police officers were injured in scuffles with some of Saakashvili's supporters, who allegedly fired tear gas and threw flares and bottles.

After the protesters' actions to enter the building failed, Saakashvili reversed course and called for peace.

Some Western diplomats in Ukraine criticized the attempt to seize the building.

'I'm offering Poroshenko to have public negotiations to discuss just one thing: his resignation and the removal of oligarchs from power,' Saakashvili told the crowd. He then suggested setting up a headquarters for the protest in the October Palace, a performing arts and conference center overlooking the square

People in the crowd shattered windows and tried to break the doors open, but police prevented them from getting inside. City officials said hundreds of children were attending an event in the October Palace at the time

Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk said on Twitter that 'attempts to seize and damage public buildings are an abuse of the right to peaceful protest.' British Ambassador Judith Gough seconded his assessment.

Saakashvili served as governor of Ukraine's Odessa region and then quit the post, accusing Poroshenko of blocking his anti-corruption efforts.

He was briefly detained this month on allegations that he colluded with Ukrainian businessmen tied to Russia to topple Poroshenko. He denies the allegations and a court released him.
Kenneth Bryant, 47, faced three counts of molestation of a juvenile in Jefferson Parish court Thursday, for forcing a girl, 16, to perform oral sex on him

A landlord in Louisiana pleaded guilty to forcing a girl, 16, to perform oral sex on him or have her family face eviction.

Kenneth Bryant, 47, faced three counts of molestation of a juvenile in Jefferson Parish court Thursday.

The Harahan, Louisiana, native was sentenced to five years in prison, three of which were suspended, and also has to register as a sex offender.

The age of consent in Louisiana is at 17 for any age.

And according to the girl's parents, the landlord followed through with his threat to evict the family once she reported the incident to police.

'He threatened her with her job. Threatened to have her fired from her job. Threatened to have us evicted,' said the girl's father to WWL on the condition of anonymity.

'Threatened to have my sons evicted if she didn't do these acts.

He added that his daughter was forced to perform the act.

Last December, the teen gave a recorded statement to the Children's Advocacy Center in New Orleans, giving a detailed account of her encounter with Bryant.

She said that he told her to take her clothes off and after she refused, forced her to perform oral sex.

The victim was said to have worked for Bryant when he was president of BFM Corporation, a large land survey management company

According to an arrest warrant, the girl was able to push Bryant off before he had a chance to do any more physical harm.

Text messages were also obtained by the Kenner Police Department showing conversations between the victim and Bryant.

The text showed that the teen was 'not wanting to have vaginal sex with him,' according to the warrant. Also mentioned was the firing of a family member because of the reporting to police.

Police records also show that the incidents occurred on three occasions: at Bryant's house, his Kenner office and a vehicle outside his job.

The victim was said to have worked for Bryant when he was president of BFM Corporation, a large land survey management company.

One of the incidents, which led police to arrest Bryant, occurred in company's Kenner headquarters.

BFM owner Ralph P Fontcuberta claimed to have fired Bryant after his first arrest and said: 'I am sorry I ever met him. I am disgusted with this.'

Bryant was arrested back in December 2016 for suspicion of second-degree rape but pleaded not guilty.

He still faces a theft charge for $1500 worth of equipment he was said to have stolen.

According to the girl's father, his family had had a decent relationship with the man, often engaging in conversation on Bryant's porch.
Ruthless exploitation of cabin crew by Ryanair is exposed today by a Daily Mail investigation.

The budget airline's stewards are being made to work unpaid for as many as five hours in a day, an undercover reporter found after spending last month as a trainee.

Under brutal conditions, they earn money only when in the air, as well as commission on in-flight sales. It means the many hours on the ground  cleaning, security checks and during flight delays  are unpaid.

The conditions apply to thousands of cabin crew hired by third-party agencies for Ryanair. Despite being promised 'great earnings potential', they typically take home about 11,000 in the first year, roughly equivalent to an 11,500 salary. Some rivals pay between 15,000 and 25,000.

The company  Europe's largest airline  made post-tax profits of 1.14billion in the six months to September and its chief executive Michael O'Leary earned a pay package of 2.8million last year.

A Ryanair cabin crew instructor (pictured) was training new recruits at one of the centres

This is an example of the accommodation that some of the new recruits stay in while they get trained

Lawyers who assessed the Mail's evidence accused Ryanair of 'staggering sharp practice'. A probe has been launched by Parliament's work and pensions and business committees.

The Mail investigation found:

Ryanair's stewards are charged more than 2,000 for training;

Recruits pay for uniforms and are charged a fee if they quit;

Every year, some agency staff must take up to three months of unpaid leave when it is quiet;

Bosses threaten to relocate them abroad if they do not sell enough during flights;

They must be available for standby days where they are paid 3.75 per hour  less than half the minimum wage.

Staff issues have led to 700,000 bookings and more than 20,000 flights being cancelled by Ryanair this winter. Its pilots last night suspended a strike over union recognition. Ryanair has said it will recognise pilots' unions for the first time. But cabin crew say they are still threatened with the sack if they strike.

The Mail reporter was taken on as a trainee by Crewlink, one of two firms that hire for the airline. Last year, it had more than 3,000 on Ryanair's books. Overall, the airline has about 8,000 stewards.

The reporter was told she would earn a 'premium' hourly rate of 14.43, plus commission of 10 per cent of in-flight sales. But the hourly rate would apply only to 'flight time', from when a plane leaves the blocks till it is parked at its destination.

Recruits were told the unpaid work would consist of at least 45 minutes before the day's first flight, time between flights, and half an hour after the final flight. An Instructor said they could work for ten hours in a day but get paid for only five.

Stewards hired directly by Ryanair get a basic gross annual salary of 9,616 with a lower hourly flight time rate. They have access to a company pension scheme and sick pay. Agency recruits can apply to be full-time staff after a year but many are kept on agency contracts for far longer. Many crew said they estimated only about 20 per cent of colleagues were on direct contracts.

The Mail's reporter was told she could top up earnings through sales. Until 2015, Ryanair stewards earned commission on what they sold as a group. Now they earn on individual sales  and are given strict targets and a raft of hard selling techniques.

Agency cabin crew face costs of least 2,150 for training and 25 per month for uniform in the first year. They are paid a 1,000 allowance in the first year, but this can be claimed back if they quit in this time. A 2017 contract seen by the Mail states that a steward would have a 175 'administration cost' taken from his salary if he left in the first 15 months.

Of seven airlines contacted, Ryanair is the only one that hires through third-party agencies which offer no basic salary.

EasyJet, British Airways, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic, FlyBe and Lufthansa hire directly and pay staff basic annual salaries from 14,069. All offer free training, except Jet2 which charges 700.

The Mail's reporter was told she must be available for standby shifts  at home, when crew are not paid but have to stay an hour from the airport; or 'airport standby', when they must be on site in uniform and can be made to clean and sell tickets.

The Hahn Training Centre (pictured) is on an isolated former airbase, with dozens of derelict barracks

The conditions at the training centre apply to thousands of cabin crew hired by third-party agencies for Ryanair (pictured)

For these eight-hour shifts, they are paid 30, or 3.75 per hour. Ryanair said this is lawful as total pay is above minimum wage when flight time and sales commission is included.

Edward Cooper, of law firm Slater and Gordon, said charging for leaving a job is 'staggering and warrants further investigation'.

Lawyer Nicholas Evans, of Fletcher Day, said Ryanair could be breaking the law if it does not record stewards' full work hours, adding: 'The evidence indicates there's a lot of sharp employment practices going on.'

Frank Field, of the work and pensions committee, said: 'The dice are loaded in favour of mega-profitable companies who are willing to shamelessly exploit workers to obtain a competitive advantage  we will be investigating these allegations further.'

Rachel Reeves, of the business, committee, said: 'These allegations suggest a company falling well short of its duty to staff.' The transport committee's Lilian Greenwood said: 'Low prices can never come at the expense of fair, safe, legal treatment for staff.'

Ryanair denied any wrongdoing. It said agency cabin crew's hourly wage for flight time covers all duty time, including on the ground, and full work hours are recorded as the law requires. It said minimum wage legislation does not cover standby duties.

The firm said it is entitled to put small numbers of personnel on unpaid leave in quieter periods and average pay for crew, including agency workers but not supervisors, is 21,140. It said recruits who stay for a year get an 'annual uniform allowance' of 396.

Crewlink declined to comment.

'Flight delayed? The rules are you're only paid for hours you're in the air'

By Sian Boyle, Investigations Reporter for the Daily Mail

In a classroom on an abandoned airbase in rural Germany, an instructor addresses 35 of Ryanair's latest recruits.

The air stewardess, who is wearing the budget airline's trademark blue and yellow uniform, is standing in front of a large white flipchart. At the top, she has written the words 'FLIGHT TIME'.

'You are only paid for the hours in the air,' she announces. 'If you have a delay and you are staying somewhere, you are not getting paid for the time on the ground.'

Miss Sowinska adds that in a ten-hour shift, the Ryanair stewards may end up getting paid for only five. This is because the work they do when not flying  including cleaning the plane, checking for explosives, boarding the passengers and filling out paperwork  will be totally unpaid.

Recruits at the training centre (pictured) queue to buy a snack at a daily bread van that visits once a day

The significance of this appears to be lost on many of the novices, who earnestly note down the instructor's words. Some of them are just 18.

Also in the room is an undercover Daily Mail reporter, posing as a recruit. She presses Miss Sowinska  why aren't they paid for so many hours of work?

The Ryanair trainer offers no explanation, simply responding: 'It's the rule.'

12 hours travelling and working  but paid for just 6 hours Here is a typical day for a steward who was based at Edinburgh Airport (all times UK). 3am  Alarm goes off. Shave  shaving the night before is banned as stubble is against policy. Breakfast of cereal, coffee, Red Bull. 3.40am  Take night bus to airport. 4.15am  Arrive. Go through security and head to portable crew room. Fill bottles with 1.5L water for shift, and make instant coffee to take in flask. Meet with team including supervisor. Briefing on safety, passenger numbers, flight times, sales targets. Board. 5.10am  Onboard security checks, customer boarding and safety demonstration. 5.45am  Take-off. Only now is the crew member effectively paid. 5.50am  In-flight service. Hand out magazines, take food orders. Chance to boost pay by selling drinks, snacks, scratch cards, perfumes. Collect litter. If flight is long enough, repeat rounds. 7.45am  Arrive at Krakow. Payment ends. Turnaround procedure. Sweep plane for suspicious items, litter, baggage. Clean toilets (in severe cases, external cleaners used). 8.10am  Boarding procedure. 8.35 am  Flight departs. Payment period begins again. In-flight service. 10.35 am  Land in Edinburgh. Payment period ends. Repeat procedures for flight to Dublin, then another back to Edinburgh. 2.40pm  Land in Edinburgh. Payment ends. Turnaround procedure. 3.20pm  Supervisor checks sales results. Staff quizzed if targets not met. Debrief on any safety issues, what could be improved. 3.35pm  Catch bus home. Clean uniform (crew get only one blazer and two pairs of trousers). 7pm  Go to bed. Advertisement

It is early November and the class of 35 has been flown to the six-week training camp by Crewlink, a third-party Irish firm used by Ryanair to hire cabin crew. In total, there are almost 300 recruits, split into eight classes.

The course is a fast-track to a career in the skies. Within hours of completing it, those who pass are flown straight to one of 84 bases across Europe. At the course attended by the Mail, trainees come from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia and the UK  and are due to be posted to British airports.

They soon discover that Ryanair's notorious cost-cutting extends to the conditions for recruits on the course.

The Hahn Training Centre in western Germany is on an isolated former airbase, with dozens of derelict barracks. The main training building consists of little more than threadbare classrooms. In the thick fog, one student describes it as looking 'like a horror film'.

Between classes, trainees queue in the cold to buy food from a bread van that visits once a day. Inside, there is one vending machine. There is also a shuttle bus so they can get food from an airport terminal a mile away.

The closest supermarket is Lidl, a 40-minute walk away along a dual carriageway. To avoid high prices at the airport, most go to Lidl in the dark after lessons.

Their accommodation is a former hotel with a boarded-up reception, dank laundry room and one kitchen for up to 230 people. The showers are often cold.

The recruits begin each day standing in front of the class while their appearance is critiqued. Women's hair must be worn in a French roll, or a bun up to 6in in diameter. Nails are checked for chips. Lipstick must match nail colour exactly. For men, facial hair must be no longer than 12mm.

If they get the job, the recruits face 'grooming discrepancy' warnings detailing any failures, such as 'messy hair'. Getting too many of these leads to dismissal.

The course is very thorough. Hours are spent on safety procedures, training on dealing with bombs, fire-fighting and first aid.

Students are failed if they do not achieve 100 per cent attendance.

For every minute a student is late to a lesson, ten minutes are added to the end of the working day for the entire class. They are often forced to stay at the centre many hours into the night.

While the job is advertised as offering 'great earnings potential' and 'great benefits', the trainees face repeated demands for cash.

As well as more than 2,000 in training fees, often deducted gradually from their wages, they pay a non-refundable 435 registration fee and 625 for their bed-only accommodation during training. They will later be billed for an airport ID and uniform, and are charged a fee if they leave the job within the first 15 months. Crewlink hires hundreds of recruits a year for Ryanair.

Some 90 per cent pass the training, but up to 30 per cent of them have their contracts terminated within the first 12 probationary months. However, they are still legally contracted to pay back their course fees and any allowances paid to them.

Punishments for not hitting sales targets By Sian Boyle and Glen Keogh for the Daily Mail Ryanair cabin crew face being reprimanded aggressively if they do not sell enough to passengers while in the air. They are threatened with being moved from their home base to elsewhere in Europe, having their shifts changed at the last minute and having their sales bonuses taken away. Crew earn 10 per cent of all sales on board before taxes. Targets can be up to an average spend of 4 per passenger. Some have been asked to sell at least a perfume, a meal deal item, a fresh food item and eight scratch cards per day. Last month, crew received threats in letters from Crewlink and Workforce International, which hire for Ryanair. Stewards were accused of 'poor performance' for missing targets. The letters added: 'This is not acceptable and it is clear you are simply not doing your job onboard.' One stewardess was told by the European bases manager that her sales were 'very concerning'. Her letter said: 'I have given serious consideration to moving you out of base.' Others were told they had 'drastically underperformed' and that Ryanair 'has no obligation to provide roster in these circumstances.' One crew member said: 'The abuse going on relating to sales is too much  they said we would have to change base or move as a punishment.' Ryanair made 1.6billion in 'ancillary revenue' last year. A guide to working at Crewlink and Workforce told crew to 'treat the airline's money like it's your own'. The Mail's undercover reporter was told: 'If you don't sell, don't complain if you don't have a sales bonus.' Sarah Foley was 18 when her Ryanair contract was ended. Her father John Foley, who runs the website Ryanair Don't Care, said the firm's treatment of cabin crew was 'disrespectful and humiliating', with 'inferior pay, benefits, and conditions' compared with other airlines. He added: 'It is unacceptable to force them to work unpaid hours considering the company's millions in profits.' A Ryanair spokesman said staff were given training to help improve their sales, but 'if they consistently and repeatedly underperform, their contracts will be terminated'. Advertisement

Asked why they persevere with the course despite the grim conditions, one 20-year-old Slovakian said: 'We've already paid enough to be here, and we have to pay it back if we quit. Besides  it is better money than in my country.'

A British girl added: 'I've been ringing [my parents] complaining and they said, 'By the sounds of it you're not having a very good time for something you want to do'.'

Others spoke of how they planned to leave Ryanair after the first year and find work with another airline. But many said quitting was too expensive.

The airline said conditions at the training centre were 'basic but acceptable' and the school was certified by the Irish Aviation Authorities for holding training courses.

It said it provided 16 (14) per night accommodation but recruits could choose to stay elsewhere. A spokesman said its grooming rules were 'fair and balanced and typical of all airlines'.
The North Korean agent accused of helping Kim Jong-Un's rogue state sell missile components is a 'softly spoken' cat-lover, according to his neighbours.

Chan Han Choi, 59, was arrested by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

Residents of Choi's suburban apartment block in Eastwood, in Sydney's north-west, said they were shocked their 'softly spoken' neighbour was arrested.

Chan Han Choi (pictured) was apprehended by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday, charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction

'He was very softly spoken It's a real shock,' Geoff Cowdroy toldThe Daily Telegraph.

Mr Cowdroy, 61, and his wife Pat lived in the Eastwood apartment for 12 years and said Choi was 'polite' and 'nice' whenever they crossed paths.

Choi lived in the Eastwood unit for about two years before his Saturday arrest, according to neighbours.

During this time, he was allegedly in contact with 'high-ranking officials' within the North Korean regime attempting to transport oil and coal, and provide military expertise.

He was also accused of selling missile componentry including software for guidance weapons.

Neighbour Paul Barnes, 55, revealed he was in the building when the federal police arrested Choi.

Choi (handcuffed by AFP) was also accused of selling missile componentry including software for guidance weapons

Mr Barnes said Choi (pictured handcuffed by AFP) appeared calm and unsurprised by the arrest as he was handcuffed

'They took him back up to his room and they spent probably the best part of half an hour here. When I left for work they were still here. You just get a sense, he looked suss to me,' he told the publication.

Mr Barnes said Choi appeared calm and unsurprised by the arrest as he was handcuffed.

Choi's closest neighbour, Traleen Yuen, said she was shocked by his arrest.

'I would never have expected this, he commented on my cat and was very normal. He was polite and quiet,' she said.

Choi was arrested, accused of breaching Australian and United Nations laws.

He is the first Australian to ever face the charges.

Police described the Eastwood man as a 'loyal agent of North Korea' who was motivated only to generate money for the government (North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un)

He was arrested after allegedly working with North Korea and assisting the hermit state buy weapons of mass destruction

Choi has been living in Australia for at least 30 years and his illegal activity is believed to have started in 2008.

The charges he is facing relate to alleged offences committed this year.

Police described the Eastwood man as a 'loyal agent of North Korea' who was motivated only to generate money for the government.

They said he generated about $500,000 for the government, but had his attempted transactions be completed they would have been worth tens of millions.

Two attempts were believed to have been made.

'This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said.

'I think at the end of the day he would sell whatever he could to make money back for the North Korean government.'

Police allege Choi has broken the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, which prohibits the supply or export of goods that 'may assist the development, production, acquisition or stockpiling of weapons capable of causing mass destruction or missiles capable of delivering such weapons.'

'This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australia soil,' Mr Gaughan said.

He faces eight years in prison if found guilty. Police are not ruling out charging the man with further offences.

They are speaking to his family and say investigations are ongoing into those individuals.

The AFP said there was no threat or risk to Australians.

A vehicle equipped with a launch tube for new medium-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 is seen during a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull congratulated intelligence officials and AFP units for the investigation.

'It is important for people to know that if they are assisting the North Korean regime, or they are thinking of assisting them, the AFP will find you and arrest you,' he told reporters in Sydney.

The UN Security Council has placed three sanctions on North Korea over the past 12 months for their increasingly powerful nuclear and missile tests.

Experts believe Kim Jong-un may be planning another series of trials for Sunday December 17 which marks the anniversary of his father's death.

Previous North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il died on that date in 2011. In the past, Pyongyang has marked such commemorations with rocket tests and military drills.

The 59-year-old from Sydney's west was apprehended by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday, charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction

Speaking while on a visit to Japan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: 'The worst possible thing that could happen would be for us all to sleepwalk into a war that might have very dramatic circumstances.'

Guterres urged sanctions need to be implemented 'by North Korea first of all, but also fully implemented by all the other countries whose role is crucial'.

He urged 'diplomatic engagement that allows for...denuclearisation (of the Korean peninsula) to take place in a peaceful way'.

'It is important for all parties to understand the urgency of finding a solution,' he told reporters at a later briefing.
A leading engineer says a backyard balcony collapse that killed two and injured 17 others should serve as a somber 'wake-up call' to other homeowners.

Two women, aged 37 and 59, died and dozens more were trapped and injured when the balcony collapsed at a home in Doncaster East, Melbourne, on Saturday night.

Engineers Australia Victorian president Chris Stoltz said the horrific Christmas party accident could be reflective of a wider problem across Australia.

'Maybe this is a wake-up call to do something. There are probably more decks being built than swimming pools,' Mr Stoltz told The Age.

More than 30 people were standing on the timber balcony at the rear of a Melbourne home (pictured), in Doncaster East, when it collapsed

Leading engineer expert Chris Stoltz said the tragedy should serve as a 'wake-up call' for other homeowners to be vigilant about their balconies and decks. Pictured above is the home before Saturday's incident, which killed two women

Mr Stoltz said he had observed an increase in decks being built, and a spike in similar structural collapses in Brisbane.

He said it would be a relatively easy fix for councils to regularly inspect properties to identify dangerous balcony or deck structures.

'It wouldn't be hard for a trained eye to identify decks at risk,' he told The Age.

Following a similar balcony collapse in 2010, which left a dozen teenagers injured, a building advisory service warned an estimated 2% of all balconies were unsafe.

The service claimed about 8,000 homes had unstable balconies across Australia.

Balcony collapses typically occur when decks that have not been used for a long period of time are subjected to heavy crowd loads.

Mr Stoltz said he had observed an increase in decks being built, and a spike in similar structural collapses (pictured above, Doncaster home before accident) in Brisbane

Victoria Police said they believe more than 30 people were standing on the timber balcony when it collapsed

Saturday night's disaster collapse occurred as 30 guests reportedly posed for a selfie during an end-of-year party for a Tupperware business.

As the revellers attempted to take the selfie the balcony caved in at the rear, sending guests tumbling to the ground metres below.

Neighbour Andrew Stone described the tragedy as 'biblical'.

'The sound of it was like nothing I've heard before, and then of course followed by the screaming,' he told Seven News.

Mr Stone added that the screams were so loud, he initially thought it was a brawl.

'People were walking around with blood on them, crying, it was devastating really,' he said.

Ambulance Victoria said it was forced to activate its major emergency response plan to appropriately deal with the incident, turning the entire suburban street into a makeshift emergency room.

There were 17 people rushed to hospital with varying injuries, and 12 more treated at the scene.

Ambulance Victoria said 10 women and seven men aged between 20 and 69-years-old sustained soft tissue injuries, fractures and lacerations and were transported to Box Hill, Austin and Maroondah hospitals.

Two women are dead and 17 people have been injured after a balcony collapsed during a Christmas party in Melbourne (pictured) Saturday night
A former dominatrix who was suspended from her job as a police officer has claimed that she was only punished because she turned down a lawyer's sexual advances.

Kristen Hyman, 31, was suspended on May 26 from the Hudson County sheriff's department in New Jersey after they learned she had previously appeared in bondage films as a dominatrix.

The department suspended Hyman without pay - just six days before her graduation ceremony - after they accused her of conduct unbecoming of a public employee.

They said she failed to disclose that she appeared in the films, which were shot between 2008 and 2012, and sometimes saw clients privately for money.

Former dominatrix, Kristen Hyman (center), 31, who was suspended from her job as a police officer has claimed that she was only punished because she turned down a lawyer's sexual advances

But in a new legal filing, Hyman's (pictured) lawyer wrote that Robert Pompliano, 70, made sexual advances toward his client. The document also claims that Pompliano tried to hold her hand and once even attempted to kiss her

But in a new legal filing that was obtained by the New York Post, Hyman's lawyer wrote that Robert Pompliano, 70, made sexual advances toward his client.

'Mr. Pompliano made a sexual advance against my client, touched her, kissed her, and she rebuffed him,' wrote lawyer Doug Anton in a motion letter to the administrative hearing officer.

'For that he has jumped all over this opportunity to get her fired.'

Pompliano is an attorney for the Hudson County Sheriff's Office. According to the Post, Hyman testified that she felt 'creeped out' by Pompliano who allegedly demanded to see and tough her legs.

The document also claims that Pompliano tried to hold her hand and once even attempted to kiss her.

According to the Post, rumors about Hyman's past started floating around the office in April.

A video of Hyman was investigated but there was no recommendation to fire Hyman was made until 'the push' came from Pompliano, according to tne newspaper.

'He took over the investigation and is trying to push her out because she rebuffed his advances,' Anton told The Post.

Anton also claimed that five other members of the Hudson County Sheriff's Department, including two female police officers, have complained 'for some time' about Pompliano's conduct.

In June, Hyman was reportedly offered a deal that would allow her to stay on as a cop if she passed a psychiatric exam.

Hyman filmed the videos from 2008 to 2012. In some she is seen kicking naked men in the testicles, slapping and insulting them and making them 'worship' her

In some clips seen by DailyMail.com, she is seen kicking naked men in the testicles, choking a man in a swimming pool (pictured), and putting her heels on the face of a man in a leather mask

Sources told the New York Post at the time that Hyman was told she could keep her job if she passed the psych exam because the department feared she might be inclined toward using excessive force.

One insider told the paper in June that the department's 'worst nightmare is if she's out there and she's really a dominatrix type and she beats the sh** out of somebody'.

Hyman is said to have put a stop to the deal, which was laid out before a scheduled court appearance.

She also refused to sign a waiver insisting she wouldn't later sue the department, the source added.

Hyman's lawyer would not reveal if the offer did or didn't exist.

Court documents show that Hyman told investigators she never appeared naked and didn't perform any sex acts in the videos.

Hyman has said that the job wasn't to satisfy a personal fetish, but rather to pay the bills

Hyman called the videos 'stupid stuff I did when I was a kid'.

In some clips seen by DailyMail.com, she is seen kicking naked men in the testicles, choking a man in a swimming pool, and putting her heels on the face of a man in a leather mask.

Sometimes she even provided her own costumes, many of which she purchased off the rack at Party City.

She said that violent acts seen in some recordings were staged and that she was merely an actress.

Hyman also noted that she didn't use her real name during her four-year career in the fetish trade and would use her latex-clad alter-ego, 'Domina Nyx Blake'.

Her lawyers argued that it was wrong to suspend her before a disciplinary hearing. The suspension was rescinded by a judge and Hyman was sworn into the academy on June 8. Her lawyers say she is on modified duty.

In an interview with the New York Post in June, Hyman said she doesn't believe she should be judged on her past and that her previous occupation shouldn't determine her capability of performing her new one.

'I'm not embarrassed because I can own up to things I've done in the past,' she said at the time.

'I don't want to be judged on what I did in the past and not who I am now,' she said.

She said the job wasn't to satisfy a personal fetish, but rather to pay the bills.

'I was struggling financially as an actress [and model],' she said. 'I had been doing regular catalogs for clothing, small stuff.'

Hyman said that 'the majority of the videos are ridiculously funny... it's super-cheesy stuff. Everything I'm doing is wink-wink'.
A video filmed in Australia may have finally proven aliens live among us.

Footage of a 'UFO' moving into the sun surfaced online this week.

The clip was uploaded to Youtube channel 'UFO invasion' with the caption: 'Planet sized UFO starts moving about and finally moves into the sun.

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Footage of a 'UFO' moving into the sun surfaced online this week

'Another smaller UFO sighted also. Rare footage from Australia.'

The three-minute video is filmed during the day with the sun in full view.

The mesmerising footage shows a glowing orb slowly moving towards the sun.

All of a sudden the orb shoots into the sun and completely disappears.

But many viewers were sceptical the video is proof aliens exist.

'It's concerning that it is only shown from one angle,' one Youtube user said.

'Would like to have seen the front and other side to come to any kind of conclusion.'
Demands have grown for a University of California regent to resign after he asked an actress at his podcast company if he could hold her breasts.

Radio mogul Norman Pattiz, 74, a member of the University of California regents and founder of the Los Angeles-based podcast network PodcastOne, has said he is undecided as to whether he will step down from his regent position.

The UC Regents, more formally known as the Regents of the University of California, is a governing board charged with overseeing the University of California system.

In October 2016, Pattiz was hosting a podcast called Juicy Scoop under the PodcastOne network, which featured actress Heather McDonald.

In audio released by McDonald, Pattiz can be heard interrupting her while she was recording an advertisement about memory foam brassieres.

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Norman Pattiz, 74 (pictured, February 2013), a member of the University of California regents and founder of the Los Angeles-based podcast network PodcastOne, has been asked to resign after he asked an actress at his podcast company if he could hold her breasts

In audio released by actress Heather McDonald (pictured, December 2017), Pattiz can be heard interrupting her while she was recording an advertisement about memory foam brassieres asking if he could hold her breasts and referred to his hands as 'memory foam'

'You're making me nervous now. Let me do one more,' McDonald is heard telling Pattiz.

'Wait a minute. Can I hold your breasts?' Pattiz asks.

'No,' McDonald says.

'Would that help?' Pattiz says, adding that his hands 'are memory foam.'

McDonald left PodcastOne shortly after the incident and released the audio one month later.

The Los Angeles Times reported that several other former PodcastOne employees had received similar comments about their bodies from Pattiz.

Ji Min Park told the newspaper that she left PodcastOne in 2016, after working there for one year, in large part due to sexually inappropriate comments from Pattiz.

According to Park, Pattiz told her she was the 'hottest Asian' and 'If I wasn't married, I'd be chasing you down a hallway right now'.

Pattiz also allegedly told Park she looked like a schoolgirl and that he had watched 'too many videos' with schoolgirls in them. She and others assumed he was talking about pornographic videos.

The Los Angeles Times reported that several other former PodcastOne employees had received similar comments about their bodies from Pattiz (pictured, November 2016)

Pattiz apologized for the remarks he made towards McDonald (pictured, December 2017) but says he is undecided as to whether or not he will leave his position

'Had this [recording] not come up, I might have considered retirement more than I'm considering it now,' Pattiz told The San Francisco Chronicle. 'I certainly don't like the idea of retiring under a cloud.'

Pattiz apologized for the remarks he made towards McDonald, explaining that he was joking, but says he is undecided as to whether or not he will leave his position.

He said: 'I haven't made that determination. If I become a distraction, I don't want that. I care too much about the university. Time will tell if I'm going to be a continuing distraction.'

California Lt Governor Gavin Newsom and two other regents have questioned whether the UC Board of Regents dealt too lightly with Pattiz, especially in light of the several emerging sexual harassment cases coming out of Hollywood, the media, and government, reported The Chronicle.

Currently, Californias Constitution gives the governor the power to appoint regents to 12-year terms, but the governor does not have the authority to remove regents.

A UC labor union has recently proposed a state amendment to give authority to the state legislature to remove a regent, The Chronicle reported.
A New York man who was sent to prison for making his girlfriend walk the streets of Harlem naked against her will is complaining that the blanket he was given in jail is 'too small.'

Jason Melo made his complaint to the New York Post on Sunday just days after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and forcing her walk the public street naked while he berated her and videotaped the incident.

During closing arguments, his defense attorney said that his client suffers from severe 'penis envy,' which drove him to take the drastic action when he discovered a picture of another man's genitalia on his girlfriend's phone.

Jason Melo, 26, was convicted of coercion in the first degree, assault in the third degree and other charges after he abused and tortured his ex-girlfriend in January 2016 for speaking to other men

Melo was found guilty of the crimes Friday by a jury in New York State Supreme Court

The 26-year-old was found guilty by a New York State Supreme Court jury of the top charge he faced, coercion in the first degree, as well as assault in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated harassment in the second degree.

While speaking to the Post about his new state-run accommodations, Melo said he was confident he would be acquitted of all charges before Friday's verdict.

'I'm surprised,' Melo told a female Post reporter, who claims the recently convicted felon 'flirted' with her during their interview.

'If I could go back to that day I wouldn't do it... I had a good job at the United Nations,' Melo said. 'I lost my daughter that I love, a woman I loved very much, a career, my future.'

The woman, whose name has been withheld, said Melo 'tortured' her for two hours before he pushed her out into the cold and pulled out his cell phone out for the extreme incident.

'He was saying many things, like I'm a whore, I could kill you right now, I'm capable of anything,' the woman told the court on Monday.

Before the self-proclaimed 'most famous cuckold' in New York was sent to prison, Melo worked as a cook at the United Nations, but was swiftly sacked following his arrest early last year.

District Attorney Cyrus Vance said following the trial that 'Jason Melo assaulted his former girlfriend, then forced her to walk naked, in the middle of winter, down a public street while their two-month-old baby was left unattended upstairs.'

'To further degrade her, he recorded the ordeal, then had the audacity to brag about his actions, sharing the video with multiple friends and even attempting to profit from it.

Melo smirked and covered his face in court as he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and forcing her walk the public street naked while he berated her and videotaped the incident

The abusive Melo posed for photographers as he awaiting his trial Friday in New York City

'This defendant has never demonstrated an ounce of remorse for his disgusting and violent conduct. I thank the survivor in this case for her incredible bravery in coming forward and testifying against her former domestic partner at trial. Thankfully, because of her courage, he is being held accountable.'

The ordeal lasted for several hours as Melo threatened to kill her after finding explicit texts from other men on her cell phone.

In the footage which was posted to Instagram and LiveLeak last January, Melo could be seen following the partner, wrapped in a bath towel, down the block while he spewed profanities at her in Spanish.

In the two-minute clip which was seen by jurors on Monday, Melo was seen pulling the towel away forcing her to stand between two parked cars in an attempt to cover her modesty.

Melo ordered her: 'Take off your towel! Co-operate b***h. Show what you are, so pretty and so great. She's a tart. Let's go. Let's go. Say hi to the camera and say why you're doing this.

The woman, whose name has been withheld said Melo, 'tortured' her for two hours before he pushed her out into the cold and pulled out his cell phone to record her

Melo pictured listening to testimony from his ex-girlfriend in court. He allegedly tried to profit off his twisted fame by trying to sell merchandise with quotes from the degrading footage

The woman, who is initially wearing a towel, is then stripped and made to walk around in the street while trying desperately to cover herself with the dust jacket from a motorcycle (right)

'Take off your towel and pay the price for the shame I feel after telling you how pretty you were and that I wanted to start a family with you, but it the meantime you were talking to seven other men.'

The woman retorts: 'But not to have sex with them.'

He then rips the towel from her, leaving her completely naked in the street, apart from a pair of boots. As she tried to hide between parked cars, he continued to hurl insults at her.

'Pay the price for your shame!' he bellowed at her. 'You're going to pay the price for being a whore. Since you're a whore, you're going to pay like a whore.

'There, on the trash, exactly,' he sneered as she stopped by some trashcans. 'Pose with your trash.'

Melo has been charged with coercion, assault, aggravated harassment, menacing, criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child

Prosecutors said Melo sent the footage to various contacts on her phone and that it was posted online and went viral

The woman eventually wrapped herself in a motorcycle cover while Melo continued to film.

She was left with bruising, swelling and pain after the violence, which she called police to inform of the following day.

Adding insult to injury, Melo later tried to sell merchandise based on the video, including t-shirts and hats bearing his quotes.

One flat-billed cap bore the phrase, 'Let's go, participa,' which Melo says in the video.

At the time of his arrest, Melo defended his actions by saying: 'I didn't hit her or anything. Even the detectives are here with me and some of them congratulated me because they see how happy she is and I didn't pull her hair or anything.
George Carey (pictured) has spoken for the first time about his treatment by Welby regarding his handling of allegations against Bishop Peter Ball

Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has attacked his successor Justin Welby for sacking him from an honorary post over the way he dealt with a high-profile sex scandal.

In a Christmas letter to friends, Lord Carey has spoken for the first time about his treatment by the Most Rev Welby regarding his handling of allegations against Bishop Peter Ball.

The 82-year-old lashed out at the unjust request for him to step down over his supposed failings 24 years ago.

Peter Ball, former bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, was released from jail in February after serving 16 months for grooming and abusing 18 vulnerable men between 1977 and 1992.

An independent inquiry criticised the Church of Englands handling of the case, finding it had colluded with Ball rather than trying to help those he harmed.

The Church, at the highest levels, had appeared to be most concerned with protecting itself, the report said.

As a result, Archbishop Welby made an unprecedented request in June of asking Lord Carey to carefully consider his position as honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Oxford.

In his letter, Lord Carey writes of the shocking insistence by the Archbishop that I should stand down from ministry for a season for mistakes he believes were made 24 years ago...his decision is quite unjust and eventually will be judged as such.

Pope Francis (left) receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (right) during an audience at the Vatican, 27 October 2017

Although written in November, the letter was sent out at the weekend. It comes at the end of a turbulent week for the Church after Archbishop Welby was criticised over how he dealt with sex allegations against George Bell.

He refused to clear the respected former bishop of Chichester, even though an independent review concluded Bishop Bells reputation had been destroyed as the Church rushed to accept claims he was a paedophile on the say-so of one accuser almost 60 years after his death.

A damning independent inquiry was later published and criticised the Church of Englands handling, finding that it had colluded with Ball rather than trying to help those he had harmed.

In particular, it found that the case had been dealt with at the highest level of the church  concluding that it had appeared to be most concerned with protecting itself.

Peter Ball, former bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, was released from jail in February after serving 16 months for grooming and abusing 18 vulnerable men between 1977 and 1992

As a result, Archbishop Welby made an unprecedented request of asking Lord Carey to carefully consider his position honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Oxford in June.

In the letter, he writes: Less desirable has been the shocking insistence by the Archbishop that I should stand down from ministry for a season for mistakes he believes were made 24 years ago when Bishop Peter Ball abused young potential priests.

His decision is quite unjust and eventually will be judged as such.

He added: Just as well, then, that we are surrounded by a large and wonderful family who give us great support and pleasure.

Though it was written in November, the letter  titled Greetings from The Careys 2017 - was only sent out this weekend.

It comes at the end of a turbulent week for the church after Archbishop Welby also came under fire for how he dealt with sex allegations against George Bell.

He refused to clear the respected former bishop of Chichester, despite being cleared by an independent review which concluded that his reputation had been destroyed.

Last week, it concluded that the Church had rushed to judgment in besmirching the respected Bishop of being a paedophile on the say-so of one accuser almost 60 years after his death.

Archbishop Welby faced calls to apologies after a statement put out following the report apologies for only the failures of the process and for reiterating that Bell had been accused of great wickedness

A spokesman for Lord Carey refused to comment on the criticism, according to The Telegraph.

However, last year he wrote a letter to Bishop Bells niece that said he was frankly appalled by the way the Church authorities have treated his memory.

In the letter, Lord Carey also explained to recipients why the family did not send a festive missive last year.

It said: Mark, our son, had just been falsely accused of historic charges of abuse dating back nearly 40 years to when he himself was a young teenager.

It was always ridiculous but it was a very painful and difficult time.

It said that it was a cruel, brutal and humiliating experience for his son, who has now been exonerated and is Vicar of Christ Church, Bridlington.
Presenter Sarah Montague is interrupting her radio silence over Christmas to return to the Today programme for one day only  after being promised she can co-host with Prince Harry.

Sarah, 51, has been off the early morning Radio 4 show for several weeks as she battles BBC bosses over the massive pay gap between her and male colleagues.

But I can reveal that Harrys festive visit to Broadcasting House in London will mark her temporary return.

Sarah Montague has agreed to host Prince Harry's edition of Today broadcast over Christmas

Intriguingly, Sarah has been chosen for the show over veteran John Humphrys, 74, and Mishal Husain, who interviewed Harry and Meghan Markle after their engagement was announced.

Radio 4 staffers are whispering that Sarah got the gig as something of an olive branch from bosses after she discovered that Humphrys earns about 650,000 a year compared to her 150,000.

Sarah has since received a 25 per cent pay rise but is still set to quit Today, swapping places with Martha Kearney, host of the lunchtime World At One news programme.

In July I broke the news that Harry had been to Broadcasting House for meetings with the Radio 4 team, with a view to being a guest editor and presenter at Christmas. At the time staffers joked that he was coming in for work experience.

Harrys fiance Meghan will undoubtedly get the Prince to pass on words of encouragement to Sarah over her pay battle as she too is an outspoken champion of womens equality.

Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes are expected to get engaged this Christmas

However, Harry will avoid the issue on the show, with a spokesman for Kensington Palace saying: Prince Harry is grateful to have Todays considerable reach to shine a spotlight on a number of issues that are close to his heart. He is working closely with Todays team to produce segments on a range of topics, including youth violence, conservation and mental health.

The special Royal edition of Today will be broadcast between Christmas and New Year.

In the hit drama Victoria, Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes are used to all the trappings of royalty.

But for Christmas the loved-up couple, who play Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, will be in less opulent surroundings  a three-bedroom semi in Blackpool.

Im told pair will be staying with Jennas mum at her 140,000 home in the town.

Friends are speculating that the couple will announce their engagement over Christmas.

Look out for a tiny square box, Jenna!
A word of warning to Lily Allens eclectic mix of famous friends, including grime rappers, posh socialites and pop stars she has penned an autobiography and has spilled every bean it is possible to spill, according to my spies in the publishing world.

Unlike many celebrities, Lily turned down the offer of having a ghost writer help her with the work  and the result is, I am told, a ranty word vomit spread over hundreds of pages.

But given the content, her publishers are happy for an editor to spend months sifting through Lilys ramblings in time for the books scheduled release next autumn.

If Lilys no-holds-barred posts on Twitter are anything to go by, I expect her numerous enemies will be quaking in their boots!

Lily Allen, pictured, has written her own autobiography without the help of a ghost writer

Allen, pictured, has 'spilled the beans' according to insiders who have seen her planned work

Im sorry to report that Jo Wood is single again after splitting once more from on-off boyfriend Paul Scarborough.

The pair met when builder Paul renovated Jos 3 million North London townhouse in 2012.

While Jo has found it difficult to find lasting love, her former husband  Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood  has remarried and is the proud father of one-year-old twin girls.

If you thought taking the kids for a day out was expensive, spare a thought for Victoria and David Beckham  they shelled out thousands to hire the Natural History Museum ice rink for their brood last week.

Victoria was perhaps too posh to skate, so David, sons Romeo and Cruz, and daughter Harper had the 342-capacity venue to themselves.

No one was willing to reveal the exact cost, but 342 tickets would have set the Beckhams back almost 5,000.
She gained widespread critical acclaim and an Academy Award for portraying a rape survivor in 1988 film The Accused.

But in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine, Jodie Foster refused to weigh in on the Harvey Weinstein scandal that's currently rocking Hollywood.

'I don't feel like anyone needs another soundbite from me,' the 55-year-old said.

'People don't need another soundbite from me': Jodie Foster, 55, refused to weigh in on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, in The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine, but praised the narratives of 'amazing, well-spoken, honest women'

The actress said she had never worked with Weinstein herself and praised the narratives of 'amazing, well-spoken, honest women.'

'I can certainly speak to women's issues; there isn't a woman I've met that hasn't had some sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual context in their workplace or other places.

The Panic Room actress went on to say that instead of talking about the lewd acts, she has become inspired by the women who have come forward.

'I never worked with Harvey Weinstein. I don't feel like anyone needs another soundbite from me about the scandal,' the actor and director candidly told Stellar

Narratives: Jodie went on to say that instead of talking about the lewd acts, she has become inspired by the women who have come forward: 'I don't want to talk about gross guys in bathrobes; what has been of interest to me is narratives of amazing, well-spoken, honest women. It's given people, if they're interested, a real richness of what the female experience is'

'I don't want to talk about gross guys in bathrobes; what has been of interest to me is narratives of amazing, well-spoken, honest women. It's given people, if they're interested, a real richness of what the female experience is.'

Numerous celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench and Kate Winslet have slammed film producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein.

Harvey, 65, was fired in October from his own film studio, three days after a bombshell New York Times report alleged that he had preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.

Recognition: The mother-of-two gained widespread critical acclaim and an Academy Award, for portraying a rape survivor in 1988 film The Accused

Claims: Harvey Weinstein, 65, was fired in October from his own film studio, three days after a bombshell New York Times report alleged that he had preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry

Weinstein's accusers - who include celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd - say the tycoon had promised to help advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours.

Italian star Asia Argento also accused Weinstein of raping her in 1997 at a party hosted by Miramax at the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in an article published by the New Yorker.

Shocking reports: Weinstein's accusers - who include Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd - say the tycoon had promised to advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours
She just finished filming her romantic comedy Second Act in New York.

And Vanessa Hudgens looked all smile as she arrived back home at the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, with her boyfriend Austin Butler.

The actress, 29, and her handsome counterpart were also joined by Vanessa's adorable dog Darla.

Upon arrival: Vanessa Hudgens looked all smile as she arrived back home at the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, with her boyfriend Austin Butler

Vanessa stepped out in denim jeans, a brown baggy brown hoodie, black combat boots, and a trendy paper-boy hat.

The High School Musical actress was seen carrying her black faux-fur coat over her arm, along with a gift-shop plastic bag, and her dog's leash.

Since she had her hands full, Vanessa also slung her designer handbag across her torso while walking through the terminal.

The raven-haired beauty kept her short tresses down and wore a minimal amount of make-up for her flight.

In the terminal: The actress, 29, and her handsome counterpart were also joined by Vanessa's adorable dog Darla

Puppy love: Vanessa stepped out in denim jeans, a brown baggy brown hoodie, black combat boots, and a trendy paper-boy hat

Austin followed in his girlfriend's fashionable footsteps by sporting black jeans, an olive green shirt, and a dark brown leather jacket.

The Carrie Diaries actor brushed his dark locks out of his face, while shielding his eyes behind black stylish sunglasses.

The 26-year-old was seen carrying a backpack behind him, while also holding on tightly to Vanessa's furry friend's carrier.

Blind for love: Since she had her hands full, Vanessa also slung her designer handbag across her torso while walking through the terminal

Looking good: Austin followed in his girlfriend's fashionable footsteps by sporting black jeans, an olive green shirt, and a dark brown leather jacket

Putting her fashionable foot forward: The 26-year-old was seen carrying a backpack behind him, while also holding on tightly to Vanessa's furry friend's carrier

Just the day before, Vanessa posted a sweet video of herself with her co-star Jennifer Lopez.

The two beauties cuddled up next to each other as they announced they were sad but thrilled they finished filming their movie Second Act.

Second Act is an upcoming romantic comedy that will see Lopez take on the character of Maya, a big-box store employee who reinvents her life and her lifestyle in the hope of proving to Madison Avenue that street smarts can be as valuable as a college degree.

The film will be released in theaters 2018.

That's a wrap: Just the day before, Vanessa posted a sweet video of herself with her co-star Jennifer Lopez
Amy Smart is speaking up on her husband's behalf.

The 41-year-old California native on Saturday posted a detailed message to Instagram defending her spouse, HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse, after a makeup artist named Kailey Kaminsky told The Hollywood Reporter that Oosterhouse had coerced her into performing oral sex on him when they worked together nine years ago.

Smart posted the message - which reinforced her husband's claim that the relationship was a consensual one - along with a shot of herself posed with Oosterhouse and their 11-month-old daughter, Flora.

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Stand by your man: Amy Smart, 41, posted a detailed message to Instagram on Saturday defending her spouse, HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse, after a makeup artist accused him of past sexual misconduct. The couple posed with their daughter Flora

The Just Friends performer doubled down on Oosterhouse's claim that his sexual interactions with Kaminsky were '100 [percent] mutual and consensual.'

She wrote, 'When you are in a CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP, then you need to take responsibility for engaging in that and not play victim.'

Smart said 'there are plenty of relationships' she would have 'different choices about' in hindsight, but she'll live with the decisions she made at the time, for better or worse.

'We need to take responsibility,' she wrote, 'and learn from our mistakes and choices.'

Breaking her silence: Kailey Kaminsky (pictured) says she was pressured by Oosterhouse into giving him oral sex while working as a makeup artist on his show Carter Can

In defense: Oosterhouse says his relationship with Kaminsky was consensual, and the only intimate relationship he's had with a crew member in his professional career. He was pictured last year in Burbank

The Varsity Blues star said that while the exposure of powerful men accused of sexual harassment and misconduct is 'vital and important' to the culture, the story about Oosterhouse 'is now taking it too far and boundaries are being crossed.

'The article is very damaging and cruel to one of the most kindest, loving, non-aggressive men I have the privilege of knowing,' Smart wrote, 'and I am so sorry for these salacious words being thrown around, they are extremely hurtful.'

Amy, who's been seen this year in films such as The Keeping Hours and Love at First Glance, called out journalists reporting on the ongoing spate of sexual harassment and misconduct scandals aimed at prominent men - which this week included Oosterhouse and celeb chef Mario Batali, as well as additional allegations against previously-accused stars Dustin Hoffman and Russell Simmons.

'This type of reporting needs to stop, its so damaging for personal lives and careers and just not fair,' Smart wrote. 'Enough is enough, this is a plea to the writers, outlets and media  [more] due diligence needs to be done before crafting headlines and stories.

'Have discernment when you tell a story and please consider the source and story before just printing anything to get readers and viewers.'

Issuing caution: Smart, pictured in October in LA, warned journalists not to report 'anything to get readers and viewers'

Happy couple: The duo, pictured in LA in September, married in 2011

Smart wasn't completely opposed to aspects of the ongoing #MeToo movement as she said that 'its so wonderful and needed to have women coming forward to break their silence,' and that 'a lot of the stories are horrific and need to be brought to light.'

She said that women need to realize how empowered they are, and 'learn ways to take care of ourselves so we dont find ourselves saying yes when we really need to say no.'

Kaminsky, who worked as a makeup artist on Oosterhouse's show, Carter Can, said she believed her employment would be in jeopardy if she did not acquiesce to his sexual requests.

Kaminsky, who identifies as lesbian, told The Hollywood Reporter she eventually caved into his requests after his incessant propositioning, adding, 'At that point I was a nervous wreck.

'I was so worn down from his advances, so I did: that day, on that occasion. It was the first time. Then thereafter it was most every time we would shoot -10 to 15 times he put me in this position.'

Warm words: Smart called her husband 'the most kindest, loving, non-aggressive [man she's had] the privilege of knowing.' The tandem was snapped in LA in September

Oosterhouse said that the relationship was consensual.

He told THR in a statement 'I had an intimate relationship with Kailey 9 years ago and it was 100% mutual and consensual. In no way did I ever feel, nor was it ever indicated to me, that Kailey was uncomfortable during our intimate relationship. I would have never done anything that I was not sure was mutually agreeable.

'The reality is that I knew it was consensual because she initiated it the first time and many of the 15 or so times we had relations thereafter. We were together outside of work and I considered her a friend.'

He continued: 'And as for the fact that she identifies as a lesbian - I didn't know that -all I knew was that she was in a sexual relationship with another guy who worked on the show.

'It's upsetting that she now feels this way, I only wish her the best and truly hope that she can move forward,' Oosterhouse's statement concluded.

Retort: Amy said of her husband's accuser, 'When you are in a CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP, then you need to take responsibility for engaging in that and not play victim.' The two were snapped last year in Idaho

Kaminsky described the first alleged incident where she gave in, and says after that it became a regular request by Oosterhouse.

They were in Los Angeles in a vehicle together, en route to a project site.

She said, 'He pulled off the road and said, ''Do you enjoy your job?'' I said I did and in fact would like to work more, handling more of his personal appearances outside the show. He said, ''Well, I can help you with that. But you need to do something for me.'''

That is when the make-up artist said she believed her job was on the line.

She said after that, the asks would often take the form of non-verbal cues while they were alone on the job.

'It was eye contact; he would look at me and look down,' she said, adding the alleged exchange was not reciprocal and the interactions became increasingly degrading as they continued.

Kaminsky claims 'when he would assault me, he insisted on finishing on my face - every time - knowing that I had to go back out and work. I asked him about that. He said, 'It's just what I wanted to do.''

Oosterhouse told the publication he had never been intimate with any crew or executives in his professional career, aside from Kaminsky.

She adds that after the alleged incidents she went into a depression for which she was hospitalized for. Kaminsky says she's no longer a professional makeup artist.

She adds: 'He took away the joy that I got from doing makeup,' she says. 'I just had no confidence.'
They have reportedly been living separate lives ever since he returned from Australia following the end of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.

Now Ant McPartlin's marriage to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong has been hit by more drama as she has allegedly told friends their marriage is 'definitely over'.

The revelation comes after Ant asked best friend Declan Donnelly to pick up beloved pooch Hurley from their family home in London on Saturday, instead of picking the dog up himself - seen in pictures obtained by The Mirror.

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Is it over? w Ant McPartlin's marriage to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong has been hit by more drama as she has allegedly told friends their marriage is 'definitely over'

Sources close to the couple told The Sun that Strictly make-up expert Lisa is considering calling the divorce lawyers, with one source revealing: 'She has told several friends the marriage is over.'

Another source claimed: 'She has told several friends their marriage is definitely over and that she is considering meeting lawyers to discuss things.

'But on other days she has been more confident they can fix things. She desperately wants it to work out.'

The news follows Ant's notable absence from picking up pooch Hurley on Saturday, leaving TV sidekick Dec to retrieve him.

Stepping in: Ant McPartlin's best friend Declan Donnelly is reportedly 'acting as a go-between', while Ant and Lisa's beloved pooch is said to be the main point of contact

Sources near the London home told The Mirror that Dec is 'acting as a go-between', while the beloved pooch is the main point of contact for the couple.

Ant has been living away from make-up artist Lisa since he returned from Oz, renting a house a few streets away.

The source continued: 'Dec has been acting as go-between and has been helping Ant a lot.

'He brought Hurley round to the flat for Ant as he settles in to his new place. Normally Ant goes to pick up the dog himself but this time he didn't.'

MailOnline has contacted both Ant and Lisa's representatives for comment.

Puppy love: The news follows Ant's notable absence from picking up pooch Hurley on Saturday, leaving TV sidekick Dec to retrieve him (Dec pictured earlier this month)

The pair have been living separately as Ant battled his addiction issues, with Lisa focusing on her job as head make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing.

The sighting comes after rumours he will spend Christmas with his wife, 'even if it is their last'.

According to sources close to Ant, he is keen to spend another festive season with his wife of eleven years, even if it is their last one.

'She's said they will see each other over Christmas,' a source told Heat.'Lisa would rather stay friendly than be resentful. She doesn't want to ruin what they had  this isn't a blame game.

'Ant wants to spend this Christmas with Lisa as her husband  even if this could be the last time,' they added.

Living apart: The pair have been living separately as Ant battled his addiction issues, with Lisa focusing on her job as head make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing (pictured in May)

Last month Lisa finally broke her silence on reports of marital woes with Ant following his battles with addiction.

She took to Twitter to hit back at the long-running reports that the duo have separated, as she penned on the microblogging site: 'I'm not estranged thank you'.

She added that she hadn't been to Australia for 10 years so it wasn't a surprise that she hadn't joined Ant in the jungle.

Going strong? Last month Lisa finally broke her silence on reports of marital woes with Ant following his battles with addiction, saying she was 'not estranged'

Ant's return to I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! had been hotly-anticipated following his addiction battle.

The star had addressed his rehab stint in the opening episode, with co-host Dec telling 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.
She's a four-time Grammy winner who has sold an estimated 100 million albums.

And veteran singer Olivia Newton-John expressed her warmth and understanding for young pop stars following in her footsteps on Sunday, namely Taylor Swift.

In an interview with Weekend Sunrise the 69-year-oldsaid she was empathetic with stars in this era as 'everybody is involved in your business'.

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Empathetic: Olivia Newton-John expressed her warmth and understanding for young pop stars like Taylor Swift following in her footsteps on Friday, during an interview with Sunrise

The performer, in the midst of promoting the new deluxe edition of her Christmas album with John Farnham, reflected on her decades-long profession.

'I'm grateful for my career. I feel so, so lucky to have the success I've had. It started way back and I'm still working, so that's good!' she enthused.

The mother of one spoke openly when asked how she compared her 'golden era of music' to today's social media-driven landscape for younger acts like Taylor Swift.

'I'm grateful for my career. I feel so, so lucky to have the success I've had. It started way back and I'm still working, so that's good!' she enthused

'I think it's difficult for people like Taylor. Everything she does, everything she says, is recorded and people are commenting on it,' she offered.

'I kind of see the internet and social media like, in the old days you'd be over the back fence talking to someone, around the hills hoist or something,' she explained.

'But now it's like, everybody is involved in your business. That must be very difficult for someone young. She's handled it very well actually,' she continued.

'I think it's difficult for people like Taylor. Everything she does, everything she says, is recorded and people are commenting on it,' she offered

'But now it's like, everybody is involved in your business. That must be very difficult for someone young. She's handled it very well actually,' she continued

During the interview, the breast cancer survivor declared she was 'pain free' and that her current bout with the condition was improving.

'I just finished a tour on the weekend, so I've been working again. And I have no pain and life is wonderful,' she told the breakfast show.

Olivia also revealed she intends to take a couple of months off at the start of 2018, before getting back on tour.
Jessica Alba is due to welcome her third child (a son) before Christmas, and she showcased her substantial bump during a family outing to a West Hollywood salad cafe on Saturday.

The expecting 36-year-old - who relies on stylist duo Emily Current & Meritt Elliott - donned a clingy navy midi-dress beneath a chambray maxi-shirt and slip-on sneakers.

The Golden Globe nominee definitely had that pregnancy glow about her for the meal, wearing minimal make-up and her brunette locks down.

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Xmas miracle: Jessica Alba is due to welcome her third child (a son) before Christmas, and she showcased her bump during a family outing to a West Hollywood salad cafe on Saturday

Jessica then headed to Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts with her friends, mother Cathy, husband Cash Warren, as well as their daughters - Honor, 9; and Haven, 6.

The biracial, married couple of nine years originally met on the set of Fantastic Four way back in 2004.

Alba's street sighting came three days after she revealed that she sees a therapist, despite how blessed things might seem in her life from the outside on social media.

'I have a therapist that I go to, to deal with stuff when I'm going through tough times,' the Honest Company boss admitted on Amy Jo Martin's podcast Why Not Now? on Wednesday.

Maternity: The expecting 36-year-old - who relies on stylist duo Emily Current & Meritt Elliott - donned a clingy navy midi-dress beneath a chambray maxi-shirt and slip-on sneakers

Cracking a smile: The Golden Globe nominee definitely had that pregnancy glow about her for the meal, wearing minimal make-up and her brunette locks down

Seeing a play? Jessica then headed to Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts with her friends, mother Cathy, husband Cash Warren, as well as their daughters - Honor, 9; and Haven, 6

'When I'm going through tough times': Alba's street sighting came three days after she revealed that she sees a therapist, despite how blessed things might seem in her life from the outside on social media

'I don't think that, you know, the world is educated enough to deal with what I'm going through on a personal level when it comes to certain challenges. Some people really like reaching out to the world and sharing all of their business and their hardships, and that's fine.

'I think there's all kinds of people. That's what makes the world interesting. We're not all the same and we're not robots. So, just for me, personally, like, I don't need to share my dirt with people. Like, people know enough about me.'

The Pomona-born beauty - who boasts 26.5M followers - continued: 'Is it all sunshine and rainbows? Hell no! But it would be naive of anyone to just think that my life was just handed to me and I just woke up and it all was this. I definitely grew up with hardships and it's that chip on my shoulder that made me successful.'

The Honest Company boss admitted on Amy Jo Martin's podcast Why Not Now? on Wednesday: 'Is it all sunshine and rainbows? Hell no! ... I don't need to share my dirt with people. Like, people know enough about me'

The Pomona-born beauty - who boasts 26.5M followers - continued: 'It would be naive of anyone to just think that my life was just handed to me and I just woke up and it all was this. I definitely grew up with hardships and it's that chip on my shoulder that made me successful'

Jessica currently plays Beth Flowers - 'a small town reporter with big town dreams' - in David E. Talbert's crime comedy El Camino Christmas, now streaming on Netflix.

'I did a role in El Camino Christmas, but unless I was in control, [going back to acting] would feel weird,' Alba said in the January edition of Good Housekeeping.

'If I could develop a film or a series for Netflix, that would be cool. I still have my Dark Angel fans, and Hollywood is finally allowing women to star more in action franchises, which is a passion of mine.'
He has shown his unpredictable behaviour for over a decade on BBC's Eastenders.

And Max Branning will continue to shock as he is set to seek revenge on fellow Albert Square residents Ian Beale and Phil Mitchell in the upcoming Christmas episodes.

Played by actor Jake Wood, the soap star describes the intense scenes as 'one of the best and most iconic Christmas episodes ever'.

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Danger: Max Branning will continue to display his unbalanced persona as he is set to seek revenge on fellow Albert Square residents Ian Beale and Phil Mitchell, while his on-screen daughters leave the show in the upcoming Christmas episodes

Speaking to The Sun, the 45-year-old actor discussed his character's plot: 'Max goes on a murderous, psychotic bender  but its just another day at work, really.'

He also touched upon his work-life balance: 'The hardest thing about it is the workload. When you are in the middle of a really big storyline its just incredibly long hours, and that can be very draining.'

'Im quite happy to switch off and leave Max at work - as soon as I drive out of that place Im just dad again, and I want to be back at home with the kids.'

The Westminster native is the father to his two children, Amber, 12, and son Buster, 9.

Twisted: Speaking to The Sun, the 45-year-old discussed his character's plot: 'Max goes on a murderous, psychotic bender  but its just another day at work, really'

Intense: Speaking on work-life balance, he said: 'The hardest thing about it is the workload. When you are in the middle of a really big storyline its just incredibly long hours, and that can be very draining.'

'As soon as I drive out of that place Im just dad again': The Westminster native is the father to his two children, Amber, 12, and son Buster, 9

Max's shocking Christmas plot occurs as he hits rock bottom after daughters Lauren and Abi Branning exit the Square for good.



The on-screen sisters - played by Jacqueline Jossa and Lorna Fitzgerald - are set to leave the long-running British soap this Christmas.

Jacqueline, who's been on the soap for seven years, has joked that her time with the soap will never end as she feels like she's married a 'young Adam Woodyatt' in her husband Dan Osborne.

On-screen family: The Branning sisters - played by Jacqueline Jossa and Lorna Fitzgerald - are set to leave the long-running British soap this Christmas

The 25-year-old actress told Radio Times that Dan, who she married earlier this year, wants Lego for Christmas, a similarity to Adam, who plays Ian Beale on the soap.

In a festive shoot for the publication's Christmas Issue, Jacqueline can be seen in a stunning forest green gown alongside co-stars Jake Wood and Lorna Fitzgerald, as they decorate a Christmas tree in the shadow of the Queen Vic.

Bosses have remained tight-lipped on how the daughters of Max Branning leave the BBC soap.
It's a hairy situation for the Stranger Things cast as awards season sets in.

Actor Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington on the Netflix series, said in an Instagram comment earlier this week that he'll have his head shaved by the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, if his castmate David Harbour snags a Golden Globe next month for his portrayal of Police Chief Jim Hopper on the hit show.

The nominations for the Golden Globe were announced earlier this week, with Harbour getting the nod in the category for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

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Endangered mane? Stranger Things' Joe Keery, 25, (L) said on Instagram he'll have his head shaved by the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, if castmate David Harbour, 42, (R) snags a Golden Globe next month

Harbour, 42, subsequently took to Instagram to express his graciousness over the prestigious accolade, writing, 'I tip my hat to you @goldenglobes for the nomination. My Christmas present came early this year. You got me feeling all the holiday feels.'

Keery, 25, responded to Harbour that 'if you win David the Duffers get to shave my head,' referring to the program's twin showrunners.

In the category, Harbour is pitted against actors Alfred Molina (Feud), Alexander Skarsgard (Big Little Lies), David Thewlis (Fargo) and Christian Slater (Mr. Robot).

Harbour, who also received an Emmy nomination this year for his role as the lawman on the smash-hit show, said the Duffers breathed new life into his acting career, as he was contemplating retirement after NBC canceled his show State of Affairs in May of 2015.

Gracious: Harbour took to social media with an appreciative statement after he was nominated for a Golden Globe

Barbers-to-be? Keery said showrunners Matt (L) and Ross Duffer would be shaving his head if Harbour got the gold. The brothers were snapped in LA last month

'I got the Stranger Things script like a week before' the cancellation, he told the Los Angeles Times this past June. 'I really had this moment where Im like, "Im done."

'My neuroses is very sophisticated: I was like, "I am done. Hollywood is done with David Harbour. They are finished."'

Harbour said he was skeptical even when 'these North Carolina Duffer brother dudes sent me the script' and said 'they were really interested in' him.

Comeback kid: Harbour, pictured in LA in August, said he was debating quitting acting prior to auditioning for Stranger Things

Toast of Tinseltown: The brothers were snapped last month in Hollywood

'I was like, "This is a lead in Netflix, theres no way Im going to get it. This is amazing. Theres no way." And the script was so beautiful, well-written, sweet, fun and exciting,' he said.

Harbour, who's been seen in films such as Brokeback Mountain, The Green Hornet and Suicide Squad, said things turned around seamlessly following his audition for the program. He revealed to the newspaper: 'I went in, read one scene and signed on very early.'

We'll see if Keery's mane is endangered when the Golden Globes air on NBC on Sunday, January 7, with Seth Meyers hosting.
He's just won the famed glitterball trophy with partner Katya Jones, fending off stiff competition from Alexandra Burke, Gemma Atkinson and Debbie McGee.

And now Strictly Come Dancing champ Joe McFadden, 42, will have more reasons to smile as he's set to receive a hefty paycheck from the BBC hit show.

The soap actor will reportedly get a whopping 100,000 for winning the coveted Strictly title, while other contestants may only see 25,000 for their efforts.

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Happy: Strictly Come Dancing champ Joe McFadden, 42, will have more reasons to smile as he's set to receive a hefty paycheck from the BBC hit show

According to The Mirror, the basic standard rate for all contestants entering the show is 25,000, which rises to 40,000 if they make it to the end of October.

The hefty sum will then rise by another 20,000 should they make the quarterfinals, taking the total to 60,000

The winner walks away from the competition with an extra 40,000 on top for winning the overall title, finishing the BBC show with 100,000.

Beaming: The soap actor will reportedly get a whopping 100,000 for winning the coveted Strictly title, while other contestants may only see 25,000 for their efforts

Danced his heart out: Joe scored 39 for both his Viennese Waltz and his showdance, and a perfect 40 for his Charleston, placing him second on the leaderboard based on judges' scores, behind Alexandra Burke

Joe made history as he became the oldest contestant and the first Scottish competitor to win the show. He took the age record from 2009 winner, presenter Chris Hollins, who was 38 when he was won.

He scored 39 for both his Viennese Waltz and his showdance, and a perfect 40 for his Charleston, placing him second on the leaderboard based on judges' scores, behind Alexandra Burke.

Some of the professional dancers may not be happy to hear about Joe's earnings post-Strictly.

Stunning: The former X Factor winner became emotional as she reflected on her 'tough journey' to get to the glittering Grand Final on Saturday night, after performing a dazzling jive to Tina Turner's Proud Mary

The pro-dancers reportedly get a base rate of 30,000 per series, while show veterans, such as Anton Du Beke may earn slightly more.

In 2012, the dancers were said to be unhappy with their pay rise of 500, while the judges got to take home an extra 20,000.

New Zealand dancer Brendan Cole told Now Magazine at the time that the pay he receives from Strictly just about covers his bills.

'I don't even own my house. I can't afford it. I rent where I live,'.

The judges are set to earn even more than the contestants, as reports suggest Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood are paid around 110,000 per series.

Thrilling final: Former magician's assistant Debbie McGee, 59, and her partner Giovanni Pernice also failed to scoop the trophy. Debbie declared that she had 'loved every minute' after her defeat

Strike a pose: Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson appeared overwhelmed with emotion, confessing: 'It just hit me that its the last one. This experience is going to stay with me forever, its just been incredible'

It was an emotional night for the remaining contestants, who faced commiserations after Joe was crowned the winner.

Smiling graciously, former stage performer Debbie McGee, 59, declared that she had 'loved every minute', while Alexandra Burke added: 'It's been an amazing journey and I'm so happy for Joe,' and Gemma offered her congratulations to the winners.

The former X Factor winner became emotional as she reflected on her 'tough journey' to get to the glittering Grand Final on Saturday night, after performing a dazzling jive to Tina Turner's Proud Mary.

Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson appeared overwhelmed with emotion, confessing: 'It just hit me that its the last one. This experience is going to stay with me forever, its just been incredible'
Nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford took a barefoot, sandy stroll in her 'backyard' aka Malibu beach for a video celebrating LA's 70F-degree winter weather.

The 51-year-old mother-of-two - who boasts 6.1M social media followers - captioned her Instagram: 'December in Malibu. No jacket necessary!'

Toting a straw sun hat beneath overcast clouds, the Illinois-born beauty was dressed in a cozy white V-neck sweater, blue skinny jeans, and sunglasses.

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Life's a beach! Nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford took a barefoot, sandy stroll in her 'backyard' aka Malibu beach for a video celebrating LA's 70F-degree winter weather

Cindy (born Cynthia) was frolicking on the same stretch of sand where she and her family recently shot a campaign for Swiss luxury watchmaker, Omega SA, with famed lensman Peter Lindbergh.

Meanwhile, Crawford's mini-me daughter Kaia Gerber Insta-storied her hang session with Australian heartthrob Jordan Kale Barrett, who climbed a tree.

Both the nepotistically-privileged 16-year-old and the hunky 21-year-old blond are represented by IMG Models, and they were first spotted together on September 11 in Manhattan.

The canoodling session came immediately after The Sun reported that the Malibu High School junior was romancing Fenton Merkell, the 17-year-old son of former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer.

The 51-year-old mother-of-two - who boasts 6.1M social media followers - captioned her Instagram: 'December in Malibu. No jacket necessary!'

Evergreen: Toting a straw sun hat beneath overcast clouds, the Illinois-born beauty was dressed in a cozy white V-neck sweater, blue skinny jeans, and sunglasses

Picturesque: Cindy (born Cynthia) was frolicking on the same stretch of sand where she and her family shot a campaign for Swiss luxury watchmaker, Omega SA, with Peter Lindbergh

Kaia - who boasts 2.6M social media followers - also shared a 3D snap of herself in ski goggles captioned: 'Slopes.'

Gerber recently modeled for Versace and Chanel Metiers d'Art after scoring her California driver's license on September 5.

'I'm so happy for Kaia and tell her there are no beauty secrets,' Cindy told People last week.

'But she needs to remember to take off her makeup before she goes to bed each night. I also tell her not to over tweeze her eyebrows because they won't necessarily grow back.'

'Ninja!' Meanwhile, Crawford's mini-me daughter Kaia Gerber Insta-storied her hang session with Australian heartthrob Jordan Kale Barrett, who climbed a tree

Paper party: Both the nepotistically-privileged 16-year-old and the hunky 21- year-old blond are represented by IMG Models, and they were first spotted together on September 11

Nay? The canoodling session came after The Sun reported that the Malibu High School junior was romancing Fenton Merkell, the 17-year-old son of former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer

The Northwestern University drop-out and her second husband Rande Gerber plan on celebrating Christmas with Kaia and their 18-year-old son Presley at a 'resort for five days.'

'Last year, we were with Rande's family. This year it is mine, and I am so excited that all of the cousins will be together,' the George Michael: Freedom star revealed.

'We used to take everyone to our house in Mexico and stay a little longer. But now the kids are growing up and prefer to spend New Year's Eve with their friends and not with us!'

Kaia - who boasts 2.6M social media followers - also shared a 3D snap of herself in ski goggles captioned: 'Slopes'
She first shot to fame on the modelling talent show The Face Australia.

But all eyes were on the sensational body of model Chantal Monaghan as she took to Miami Beach on Saturday.

Despite the mild temperatures, the Brisbane-raised beauty put on a sizzling display in a red G-string bikini.

The Face and the body! After shooting to stardom on The Face Australia, Brisbane-raised model Chantal Monaghan showed off her flawless physique on Miami on Saturday

That's cheeky! Chantal put on a sizzling display in a red g-string bikini

In September, 21-year-old Chantal missed out on a coveted spot walking for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

But she showed the famed lingerie label just what they missed out on as she splashed about in the shallows with a pal.

Flaunting her incredibly fit physique, the brunette babe proved there wasn't an inch to pinch as she showcased her toned torso.

And while the waves at the beach may have been flat, the same couldn't be said for the star's posterior, which looked positively peachy in the skimpy swimsuit.

Bottoms up! While the waves at the beach may have been flat, the same couldn't be said for the star's posterior, which looked positively peachy in the skimpy swimsuit

Phwoar! The brunette babe didn't have an inch to pinch as she showcased her toned torso

The identity of Chantal's beach companion remains unclear, but the mystery brunette also left little to the imagination in a white bikini.

While her bikini bottoms were a touch more generous with their amount of fabric, the gal pal still gave fellow beach-goers an eyeful of her delectable derriere.

It appeared the sea temperature was somewhat frigid, but the twosome were anything but, as the friends kept close together as they waded into the water.

Double trouble! Chantal's friend put on an equally stunning display as she joined the model for a quick dip

Miami Heat! The two genetically blessed beauties no doubt had beach goers doing a double take

Hot property: Chantal told The Courier-Mail that she has snapped up a New York apartment.

Chantal, whose father is Nigerian, has become an in-demand catwalk star in recent years, having walked the runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Giorgio Armani.

Mentored by iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell, the up-and-comer recently told The Courier-Mail that she has snapped up a New York apartment.

In October, the looker's career continued to hit new highs, as she landed an exclusive campaign with high end brand Tom Ford.
She is best known for her role as Poussey Washington in the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.

And Samira Wiley cut an elegant figure in a pastel floral dress alongside her wife Lauren Morelli at the NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday.

The actress, 30, made sure to show off her perky assets by sporting a plunging neckline while at the event.

Floral fancy! Samira Wiley cut an elegant figure in a pastel floral dress alongside her wife Lauren Morelli at the NAACP Image Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday

Samira teamed her elegant dress with strapping gray suede heels.

The Handmaid's Tale actress finished off her look with glam make-up.

Her wife Lauren looked gorgeous in a black-and-blue midi dress that featured a ruffle across her shoulder.

The OITNB producer wore her short blonde hair off to the side, while sporting rosy cheeks and a pink pout.

Happy couple: The actress, 30, made sure to show off her perky assets by sporting a plunging neckline while at the event

Elegant: Samira teamed her elegant dress with strapping gray suede heels

Also at the event was The Real talk show's Adrienne Houghton, who stepped out in a formfitting black dress.

The former Disney star kept her dark locks in a stylish up-do, which showcased her golden complexion and dangling gold earrings.

Adrienne- who dated Rob Kardashian in 2008- teamed her ensemble with pointed-toe glossy black heels.

Hourglass figure: Also at the event was The Real talk show's Adrienne Houghton, who stepped out in a formfitting black dress

Back in black: The former Disney star kept her dark locks in a stylish up-do, which showcased her golden complexion and dangling gold earrings

Class Act: Producer Sol Aponte and Director Jennia Aponte attend the 49th NAACP Image Awards Nominee Luncheon

Real girls: Adrienne's co-host Jeannie Mai joined the Latina-beauty at the NAACP Image Awards

At the table: The TV personality slash stylist flaunted her toned tummy in a flowing beige suit, which she paired with a revealing white bra

Fashionista: The California-born beauty wore her hair in a low ponytail and added a sophisticated flare with beige-framed glasses

Adrienne's co-host Jeannie Mai joined the Latina-beauty at the NAACP Image Awards.

The TV personality slash stylist flaunted her toned tummy in a flowing beige suit, which she paired with a revealing white bra.

The California-born beauty wore her hair in a low ponytail and added a sophisticated flare with beige-framed glasses.

Taking the plunge! Niecy Nash showed off her generous cleavage in a royal blue midi dress

Rising stars! Also at the event was Blackish star Marsai Martin and This Is Us actor Lonnie Chavis

Pretty as a petal: Yvette Nicole Brown covered up in a long black floral ensemble

Niecy Nash showed off her generous cleavage in a royal blue midi dress, while Yvette Nicole Brown covered up in a long black floral ensemble.

Also at the event was Blackish star Marsai Martin and This Is Us actor Lonnie Chavis.

The NAACP Image Awards recognizes outstanding people of color in film, TV, music, and literature.
Dancing With The Stars pro Kym Johnson announced that she and husband Robert Herjavec were expecting twins earlier this week.

And it seems like the 41-year-old Australian dancer has wanted this for a while.

According to a source for a People report on Saturday: 'Kym has wanted to be a mom for a long time. Theyre both so happy.'

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Coming soon: Dancing With The Stars pro Kym Johnson announced that she and husband Robert Herjavec were expecting twins earlier this week

Two babies on board: Kym, 41, showed off her bigger bump in a clingy black dress as she attended a spa session in Beverly Hills last Saturday

As the talented dancer married the 55-year-old entrepreneur last year after appearing on the ABC reality competition show in 2015, the two have certainly moved on fast.

A source explained to the weekly: 'This has been a roller coaster for them the last few years  meeting, falling in love, getting married and now starting a family.'

This comes after the DWTS pro shared her first baby bump selfie on Thursday.

The Australian dancer and her husband Robert Herjavec confirmed Tuesday that they are expecting twins.

Kym posted to Instagram a photo she took in her bathroom mirror showing her facing the camera wearing only black underwear.

'I've popped quite a bit more now': This comes after Kym shared her first baby bump selfie on Thursday. It turns out it's a throwback snap to when she was 18 weeks pregnant with her twins

In her caption, she pointed out that it's actually a throwback snap to her 'first baby bump pic at 18 weeks', adding: 'I've popped quite a bit more now.'

And photos of her taken last weekend show that her bump has indeed progressed.

Kym was seen heading to a spa session in Beverly Hills on Saturday wearing a clingy black dress that revealed her blossoming belly.

On Tuesday, she and her Shark Tank star husband told People that there are having two babies,

'We waited so long that we decided to double up!' the excited couple told the magazine. 'We are very grateful for the blessing of twins.'

Doubling up: Kym and her Shark Tank star husband Robert confirmed to People Tuesday that they are having two bundles of joy, as they are pictured together in September

Kym broke the news of her pregnancy by posting her sonogram to Instagram.

The image until now had been thought to show just one baby.

The couple met and fell in love while partnering each other on the ABC reality competition in 2015 and tied the knot in 2016.

Robert, 55, already has three children from his first marriage.

Aww! The Australian dancer, who wed Robert in 2016, broke the news of her pregnancy by posting her sonogram to Instagram on Monday

Kym soared to stardom after first appearing on DWTS in 2006 as a pro dancer before eventually turning into a judge.

She has also appeared on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars.

Robert is currently an investor alongside Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John, Lori Greiner, and Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank.

Kym and Robert tied the knot in Los Angeles in July 2016 and, speaking of life as a newlywed, the dancer gushed to Us last year: 'Its been amazing.'

'Its been the most incredible summer of my life,' she added.
She's been on a whirlwind promotional trip in Australia, to promote the sixth season of Vanderpump Rules on hayu.

And during a chat with Daily Mail Australia last week, Stassi Schroeder praised her former boss Lisa Vanderpump's business acumen.

'She's got such a brilliant mind. I wouldn't be surprised if she found a way to become President of the United States.'

'I wouldn't be surprised if she became President': Reality star Stassi Schroeder (L), 29, praised her former boss Lisa Vanderpump's (R) 'brilliant mind'

Lisa, 57, acted as Stassi's boss during earlier seasons of the show, where the blonde beauty worked as a waitress.

However, after a short time away from the series, Stassi returned in January last year, this time not as an employee.

Speaking of their relationship, the Los Angeles-based star told Daily Mail Australia: 'When I first came back it took a while. I think it took like a good two years to get into a former relationship that was right for both of us.

On-screen: Lisa, 57, acted as Stassi's boss during earlier seasons of the show, where the blonde beauty worked as a waitress. However, after a short time away from the series, Stassi returned in January last year, this time not as an employee

Candid comments: Speaking of their relationship, the Los Angeles-based star told Daily Mail Australia: 'When I first came back it took a while. I think it took like a good two years to get into a former relationship that was right for both of us'

'Lisa was my boss and I'm coming back, it can't be the same dynamic, but we have to find something that works. We're at a really good place now, and in this season you'll see me working with her.

Crediting her business acumen, Stassi went on to say of the restaurateur: 'She's got such a brilliant mind. I wouldn't be surprised if she found a way to become President of the United States.'

Stassi also opened up on entering the dating world, following her highly-publicised split from Patrick Meagher.

The reality star was brutally dumped by her beau, on their fourth anniversary.

She's impressed: Now in a 'good place' with Lisa, Stassi credited her business acumen, saying of the restaurateur: 'She's got such a brilliant mind. I wouldn't be surprised if she found a way to become President of the United States'

Former flame: Stassi also opened up on entering the dating world, following her highly-publicised split from Patrick Meagher. The reality star was brutally dumped by her beau, on their fourth anniversary

Having to re-watch their relationship on TV, Stassi told Daily Mail Australia: 'I've had to toughen up, so I'll be fine. I've been dating, I'm really enjoying myself.

'I'm 29 and I want to try and stay out of a relationship. At least make it to 30 without being in a relationship. I need to re-figure myself out because I was in an on-again, off-again relationship for four years.'

Vanderpump Rules is now streaming on hayu, the same day as the U.S. with a new episode airing every Tuesday.

Back in the dating game: Having to re-watch their relationship on TV, Stassi told Daily Mail Australia: 'I've had to toughen up, so I'll be fine. I've been dating, I'm really enjoying myself'
She's a working mother with two toddlers.

But Mila Kunis took a moment to herself with a stop at Disney On Ice: Follow Your Heart at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The 34-year-old actress looked comfortable in a slouchy red sweatshirt and jeans as she posed alongside Mickey Mouse at the star-studded affair.

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Darling: Mila Kunis took a moment to herself with a stop at Disney On Ice: Follow Your Heart at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night

Kunis seemed to be enjoying her night out as she laughed next to the famous mouse wearing a retro-inspired red Wonder Woman sweatshirt.

She rocked skintight blue jeans hemmed above her ankles to show off a pair of black and white trainers.

The Bad Moms actress wore her short chocolate brown hair parted toward the side with minimal makeup on her fresh face.

Happy! The 34-year-old actress looked comfortable in a slouchy red sweatshirt and jeans as she posed alongside Mickey Mouse at the star-studded affair

Lovely: Armie Hammer brought along wife Elizabeth Chambers and the couples' two children, nearly one-year-old son Ford Douglas Armand and three-year-old daughter Harper

Armie Hammer brought along his adoring wife Elizabeth Chambers and the couples' two children, nearly one-year-old son Ford Douglas Armand and three-year-old daughter Harper.

Lacey Chabert held onto her one-year-old daughter Julia Mimi Bella Nehdar as the little girl carried a Finding Dory stuffed animal.

Christina Aguilera got into the holiday spirit alongside Matthew Rutler and three-year-old daughter Summer Rain.

The Voice judge donned a Balenciaga sweater, tight black pants and bright red knee-high boots, while Summer opted for a similar color palette.

Mickey! Lacey Chabert held onto her one-year-old daughter Julia Mimi Bella Nehdar as the little girl carried a Finding Dory stuffed animal.

Family! Christina Aguilera got into the holiday spirit alongside Matthew Rutler and three-year-old daughter Summer Rain

Vanessa Lachey carried daughter Brooklyn in her arms as the pair sported matching black-and-white outfits.

Her five-year-old son Camden stretched out his legs to jump into the photograph with his mother.

Julian Form-Brewster was unimpressed sitting in his mother Jordana Brewster's arms as she stood by Mickey in jeans and a chic maroon velour blazer.

Cheese: Vanessa Lachey carried daughter Brooklyn in her arms as the pair sported matching black-and-white outfits
She's a movie star and a UN ambassador - but most importantly, a mom.

And Angelina Jolie wore the latter hat Saturday in snowy New York City, as she brought four of her six children - Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and twins Knox and Vivienne, nine - to a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in Manhattan. (Her teenage sons with ex Brad Pitt, Maddox, 16, and Pax, 13, were not along for the trip to the cinema.)

The 42-year-old actress-director lived up to her fashionista image, donning a wintry ensemble of a textured wrap dress with a tan belt with heeled black boots.

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Fab family: Angelina Jolie, 42, was a vision of glamour as she walked with four of her kids (L-R) Knox, nine, Shiloh, 11, Vivienne, nine, and Zahara, 12, in Manhattan on Saturday en route to catch a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The Maleficent beauty accessorized with black sunglasses with a black leather handbag with metallic buttons. She was impeccably made up with her dark brown locks slightly parted to the left as she walked with her quartet of kids, who were bundled up amid the frosty conditions.

Zahara kept warm in an ash grey zip-up sweatshirt with moss green cargo pants and black Nike trainers, with her hair pulled back.

Shiloh matched her sister, as she also wore an ash grey zip-up over a white top with brown khaki cargo pants and black sneakers, seemingly drawing the hoodie over her face as photographers approached.

Knox smiled in a padded blue zip-up vest over a blue sweatshirt with brown khaki cargo pants and black boots, while his twin sister Vivienne wore a seaweed green hooded sweatshirt with patterns with camouflage pants and blue sneakers.

Captivating: Angelina looked every bit the A-lister with luxe sunglasses, jewelry and earrings

Tis' the season: The Girl, Interrupted Oscar-winner made sure her children were properly dressed for the snowy day in the Big Apple

Mindful: Angelina was at the back of the pack as her children carefully walked in the snow

The family seemed to be in a great mood as they made their way through the city.

They were coming off a big night in the Big Apple Friday, where they visited Cipriani Wall Street for the 2017 United Nations Correspondents Association Awards, where Angelina accepted the honors for 2017 UNCA Global Citizen of the Year.

The Academy Award-winning actress, accepting her honors, said that people have an obligation to envision themselves 'in the struggles of others,' and fight 'their fight for human rights and freedom as your fight,' according to People.

Helping hand: The international star drew looks from onlookers as she helped guide Vivienne

Big honors: Angelina on Friday was awarded with the 2017 UNCA Global Citizen of the Year by the United Nations

Life lessons: Jolie said that she imparts humanitarianism to her children

Jolie said that she instills the lessons that guide her ambassadorship into her children.

'When people of any race or of any religion are being persecuted and killed we cannot do less than we are capable of doing,' she told the crowd at the swanky Gotham eatery. 'This is what I want my own children to know and value and what I have learned from them.

'Children have an understanding and a truth. They can instinctively feel right from wrong. They are not led by strategy they are led by morality.'

Bundled up: The children wore warm sweaters and pants on the icy day in Manhattan

City life: The family walked past a bike route en route to the theater

She thanked her kids and said she was beaming with pride over who they're 'growing up to be and for the hope that gives me for the future.'

Jolie has not just contributed on an international level, but in a big way in her own industry, as she emerged two months ago to reveal that she was one of the many women producer Harvey Weinstein made unwelcome sexual advances toward, in a hotel room when she was 23 and promoting the 1998 rom-com Playing By Heart.

Silence-breaker: Angelina made headlines in October when she added her name to the list of women alleging sexual misconduct from producer Harvey Weinstein, citing an uncomfortable run-in that occurred nearly two decades back to The New York Times

Wise decision: Angelina said that following the experience, she vowed 'never to work with [Weinstein] again and warn others when they did' of her opinion

Powerful voice: The A-list star said that behavior like Weinstein's 'towards women in any field,' and in 'any country is unacceptable'

'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did,' she told The New York Times. 'This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.'

Weinstein has been accused by a total of 84 women of sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse; his rep has said that 'any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by' the producer.
Selma Blair stepped out with significantly lighter, wavy locks while walking her two rescue dogs in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Hairstylist Keith London appears to have been gradually lightening the 45-year-old Grammy nominee's signature raven locks, but it's unclear whether the makeover is for a specific role.

The Eva Hesse actress looked cozy in her maroon knit sweater, baggy blue jeans, and a $100 pair of b&w Vans x Karl Lagerfeld slip-on sneakers.

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Winter makeover: Selma Blair stepped out with significantly lighter, wavy locks while walking her two rescue dogs in Los Angeles on Saturday

Blair (born Beitner) later shared a snap of the Pit Bull mix Cappuccino 'Cappy' Houston she adopted in September and the one-eyed Chihuahua mix Buster she adopted on December 4.

After accusing James Toback of sexual assault, Selma tweeted support for her Mothers and Daughters co-star Mira Sorvino on Friday following her Harvey Weinstein harassment.

'I am heartsick as well. For you. For us,' the University of Michigan grad - who boasts 581K followers - wrote.

'And I am full of respect for you too. You are here. You endure. You rise. Always. The injustice. The casual destruction by these men in power.'

For an upcoming role? Hairstylist Keith London appears to have been gradually lightening the 45-year-old Grammy nominee's signature raven locks

The Eva Hesse actress looked cozy in her maroon knit sweater, baggy blue jeans, and a $100 pair of b&w Vans x Karl Lagerfeld slip-on sneakers

'Goodnight!' Blair (born Beitner) later shared a snap of the Pit Bull mix Cappy she adopted in September and the one-eyed Chihuahua mix Buster she adopted on December 4

The 50-year-old Oscar winner 'burst out crying' after reading an interview with Peter Jackson where he confirmed she and Ashley Judd were blacklisted by the disgraced 65-year-old movie mogul.

The American Crime Story actress is the proud mother of six-year-old son Arthur with her ex-partner, fashion designer Jason Bleick.

As for her silver fox beau Ron Carlson, the Daytime Emmy-nominated producer was busy Saturday visiting his old haunts in San Francisco.

'I am full of respect for you too': After accusing James Toback of sexual assault, Selma tweeted support for her Mothers and Daughters co-star Mira Sorvino on Friday following her Harvey Weinstein harassment

'I suspected': The 50-year-old Oscar winner 'burst out crying' after reading an interview with Peter Jackson where he confirmed she was blacklisted by the 65-year-old movie mogul

'Holiday cheer!' The American Crime Story actress is the proud mother of six-year-old son Arthur with her ex-partner, fashion designer Jason Bleick

'Been coming here since 94': As for Selma's silver fox beau Ron Carlson, the Daytime Emmy-nominated producer was busy Saturday visiting his old haunts in San Francisco

On September 21, the Cruel Intentions alum shared a BTS snap from the set of Paramount Network's Heathers - premiering next year - in which she plays Heath Duke's stripper mother Jade.

The 10-episode reboot of Michael Lehmann's 1988 cliquey cult classic also stars Shannen Doherty, Jasmine Mathews, Brendan Scannell, Melanie Field, Grace Victoria Cox, and James Scully.

But first fans can catch Selma as Kendall Ryan in Brian Taylor's mass hysteria horror-thriller Mom and Dad - hitting US theaters January 19 - alongside Nicolas Cage.

Premiering next year! On September 21, the Cruel Intentions alum shared a snap from the set of Paramount Network's Heathers, in which she plays Heath Duke's stripper mother Jade

Shannen Doherty returns too! The 10-episode reboot of Michael Lehmann's 1988 cliquey cult classic also stars (from L-R) Jasmine Mathews, Brendan Scannell, Melanie Field, Grace Victoria Cox, and James Scully
The blonde bombshell has recently dyed her hair brunette.

And it appears the change in colour has helped Lara Worthington look more like the rest of her family members - or more specifically her grandmother Norma.

The pair posed for a sweet photo together on Saturday to celebrate Sharon Bingle's birthday and many of the comments where taken aback at how alike they were.

They could be sisters! Lara Worthington poses for a photo with her look-a-like grandmother Norma for her mother's birthday

'Wow they look so similar! Lots of the same features,' one person wrote.

Sharon replied cheekily: 'Yes, soo similar!'

The 30-year-old model flashed her pearly whites for the happy snap with minimal makeup showcasing her flawless skin and bright blue eyes.

Twins! Norma looked at the camera with the same expression, her own bright blue eyes mimicking her granddaughters

Norma looked at the camera with the same expression, her own bright blue eyes mimicking her granddaughters.

The wife of actor Sam Worthington first shared a sneak peek of her hair transformation from blonde to brunette in an Instagram Story posted last Saturday.

Lara could be seen having her mane attended to by stylist Travis Balcke, who dyed her signature blonde locks a new shade.

It's all in the genes! Lara and her mother Sharon also flaunt a similar look

Kisses! The wife of actor Sam Worthington returned home to Queensland for her mother's birthday this week

In the initial footage, Travis was seen mixing the hair dye in a small bowl.

'What colour is it?' the New York City-based star eagerly questioned him.

'Orange!' the creative director happily replied.

The next video showcased Travis applying the amber-coloured mixture onto Lara's scalp, while she asked followers to vote with the poll question: 'Hair Question: Orange Or Red'.

Sibling love: Lara and her brother Josh looked more alike as kids than they do now

The model then filmed Travis washing the dye out of her hair as she leaned her head under the basin, tagging it with the cheeky phrase, 'Gives good massage'.

While the colour appeared to be an orangey bronde tone at the basin it soon morphed back into her signature Bingle Bob Blonde, making it seem as though it was only a rinse.

She was spotted a day after the family function with noticeably lighter hair.
She's tipped to be the next big thing who'll soon star in a reboot of the Australian classic Romper Stomper.

But it all started with a 'dodgy modelling contract,' for 23-year-old rising star Lily Sullivan, when she turned up to an open audition near her Brisbane home three years ago.

Having been successful at the audition, the brunette sat down to read the fine print only to find there was nothing 'dodgy,' about it, instead she had landed her first break.

'A dodgy modelling contract': Actress Lily Sullivan describes how she thought her break was a bust

'All of a sudden, I'm up the road on a film set with Toni Collette, Liev Schreiber, Anthony LaPaglia and Rebecca Gibney,' the actress said of her 2012 film Mental.

'It was ridiculous.'

The breakout part would see her nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for best young actor, and would also lead to television roles in Rake, and her upcoming roles in a reboot of Picnic at Hanging Rock and Romper Stomper.

First film: The actress was cast in Mental in 2012 alongside acclaimed actress Toni Collette

Earlier this month, the talented actress hit out at critics of the re-make of the 1992 cult classic who said the film glorifies racism and violence.

'People saying you don't want to glorify neo-Nazis on screen just have to go out to the surrounding suburbs, which they never do, and see these people congregate,' she said of the series, which will centre on anti-Muslim radicals.

Star turn: The actress will soon appear in a remake of the film Romper Stomper produced by streaming service Stan

The actress added she hoped the confronting nature of the film would cause audiences to take a closer look at themselves and ideally 'get better.'

In the 90s, Romper Stomper shone a light on Melbourne's neo-Nazi subculture, thrusting Russell Crowe into fame in the process.

While Russell didn't return as ultra right wing skinhead Hando for the remake, several of his former co-stars reprised their roles.

Rising Star: Lily Sullivan's career is tipped to explode next year, with the actress starring in reboots of Romper Stomper and Picnic at Hanging Rock

Jacqueline McKenzie, who played Hando's naive love interest Gabe and Dan Wylie, who took the role of one of Hando's underlings, Cackles, came back for the series.

The young actress took a more philosophical attitude towards the timing and importance of the reboots.

'Work started imitating life...But we weren't making another piece of art to escape into, the show wants to make us look extremism in the face,' she said in a Newscorp interview.

'Everyone keeps asking why we are revisiting these iconic Australian films, but we need to see how little progression we have made. The issue in the original Romper Stomper has just been manifested and sold to us differently in 2017; Picnic At Hanging Rock is all about women being silenced and forced to be something they're not.'
She's married to one of Hollywood's hottest actors Chris Hemsworth and is often seen gracing the red carpet.

But it was a change of pace for 41-year-old Elsa Pataky when she braved sub-zero temperatures while hitting the ski slopes with friends on Sunday.

Posting to her Insta-story, the Madrid-born actress couldn't contain her excitement while posting from the picturesque snowfields.

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Frozen: Actress Elsa Pataky, 41, has posted images of herself enjoying a ski trip with friends

'Snow time -8c,' in one of her posts, with snow adorning the balcony and railings of her hotel.

The multi-talented actress then posted another two, one showing her laying in bed captioned 'Ski time Yuhuiii!!'

A third post saw the actress in high spirits as she waved to friends, saying "woohoo," and "yeehee, we are in the snow."

Excited: In the set of images, the actress excitedly waves to friends

The actress rugged up for the snowfields, wearing a blue reflective helmet and light purple fur-lined jacket.

The outing was a rare one without her husband Chris and their three children, twin sons Tristan and Sasha, 3, and daughter India-Rose, 5.

Getaway: The actress posted excitedly from the resort

This month, the Spanish actress cut a relaxed figure before the rush of the Christmas holidays.

The glamorous actress went fishing with her twin boys close to their home in Byron Bay with the trio managing to reel one in.

In the short clip, Elsa wrote "catch for the night!!" with her young three-year-old boy clearly impressed with his mother's new found skills.

Elsa and her hunky husband reside in the New South Wales north cost town of Byron Bay, with her family moving from Malibu in 2015.

The actress has previously credited the laid-back lifestyle of Byron Bay as the key to keeping her young family grounded.

She told The Daily Telegraph: 'We have lived in Byron for three years ... It is paradise for kids.'

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and after a 10-month romance tied the knot in Sumba, Indonesia in December of that year.
She is known for her envy-inducing figure, as one of the top models in the industry.

And Bella Hadid was not afraid to show it off once again on Saturday, as she fronted the Penshoppe 2017 Holiday campaign.

The brunette beauty, 21, displayed her famously busty frame in a simple plunging bodysuit and jeans combo, as she smouldered for cameras in the stunning shoot.

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Model material: Bella Hadid showed off her envy-inducing figure as she fronted the Penshoppe 2017 Holiday campaign on Saturday

The model was truly stunning as she embarked on the casual shoot, in a simple black leotard and distressed jeans.

The top plunged into a deep V at the chest to give a flash of her cleavage, before tightly clinging to her slim frame all the way down.

Highlighting her figure further, the brunette paired the bodysuit with casual blue jeans and a sleek satin jacket, which fell all the way to her ankle.

Low-key glamour: The model was truly stunning as she embarked on the casual shoot, in a simple black leotard and distressed jeans

She slicked her hair away from her face and opted for minimal, glowing make-up, to maintain the low-key feel and let her natural beauty shine through, as she posed effortlessly for cameras.

Filipino retailer Penshoppe often enlists big names to front their campaigns - with Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Bella's sister Gigi all posing for the brand in recent years.

The campaign rounds off a hugely successful year for Bella, who has also just fronted Vogue Italia, and starred in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Saucy: The top plunged into a deep V at the chest to give a flash of her cleavage, before tightly clinging to her slim frame all the way down

Striking: She slicked her hair away from her face and opted for minimal, glowing make-up, to let her natural beauty shine through, as she posed effortlessly for cameras

The beauty has been throwing herself into work recently, amid claims she still holds a candle for her ex-boyfriend The Weeknd.

A source told US Weekly magazine the pair had remained on friendly terms after their split in November 2016, and have been in touch almost non-stop.

The insider said: '[They] have been talking, texting and FaceTiming each other pretty consistently.'

Strength to strength: The campaign rounds off a hugely successful year for Bella, who has also just fronted Vogue Italia, and starred in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (above)

Good genes: Penshoppe often enlists big names to front their campaigns - with Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Bella's sister Gigi (above) all posing for the brand in recent years

'Bella really missed him. She's happy with where things are and he is too. They are still totally in love.'

Bella and the Weeknd - whose real name is Abel Tesfaye - first started dating in May 2015 but their romance was short lived as they split that December.

However, there was clearly still chemistry there as they decided to give their romance another go before calling it quits for good in November last year.

He then embarked on romance with actress Selena Gomez - but was spotted leaving Bella's home in NYC shortly after they parted ways last month.
He's known for voicing controversial opinions on Sunrise's morning program.

But it wasn't until today that David 'Kochie' Koch was talked about for sporting a slightly controversial dress sense during his hosting gig on Carols in the Domain.

The 61-year-old wore an outlandish red and green floral suit jacket for the grand affair, which stood in stark contrast to his co-host Mark Beretta's traditional white tuxedo.

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Talk about an eyesore! David Koch rocks an eccentric $16,500 jacket to host Carols in the Domain... but not everyone is a fan

What came as even more of a surprise was its price: The jacket was designed by iconic Aussie menswear label Joe Bananas and retails for a staggering $16,500.

Kochie took to Facebook to call out the brand for dressing him.

'For those who are interested Joe Bananas, whose jacket Im wearing, is an Australian business which has been going 30 years.

'Its such a great success story in a really tough industry,' he wrote alongside a photo of him standing in Sydney's Domain.

What do you think? Many of his social media fans were quick to bolster the journalist with praise for his wares

'Their secret is to be creative and unique. Their clothes are like a piece of art.'

Many of his social media fans were quick to bolster the journalist with praise for his wares.

'Great to see you wear something colourful instead of the boring black and white suits,' one person wrote.

'Good advertising for an Aussie company hope they get a few orders from tonight Kochie,' another added.

Some people liked it! 'Good advertising for an Aussie company hope they get a few orders from tonight Kochie,' another added

Others were less complimentary: 'Alan Jones has a competitor in the ugly jacket stakes,' one commenter said

But not everyone was so wrapped up by the festive outfit.

'Alan Jones has a competitor in the ugly jacket stakes,' one commenter said.

'Sorry Kochie. Your jacket reminds me of Christmas wrapping papers,' said another.

The media personality's wife Libby attended the carols with their extended family, including their grandchild of just 18 months, to witness Kochie host the carols for the fourth year running.
She recently eyed up $500,000 worth of jewelley as she took a shopping expedition to Paspaley pearls.

And on Sunday, Samantha Armytage flashed her latest purchase at the Carols in the Domain held in Sydney.

The 41-year-old was seen wearing the $68,000 Paspaley peals she was seen trying on the week prior.

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Now that's something to sing about! Samantha Armytage wears $68,000 earrings to Carols in the Domain

Bling, bling! The 41-year-old was seen wearing the $68,000 Paspaley peals she was seen trying on the week prior

The blonde teamed her earrings with a stunning halter neck Rebecca Valance dress.

She wore her hair tied back into a chic bun and kept her makeup subtle to let the jewels do the talking.

Ahead of the event, Sam was seen trying on a similar matching set of Paspaley necklace and earrings worth $388,000 and $68,000 respectively.

Christmas present to yourself? Sunrise host Samantha Armytage tries on $500,000 worth of glitzy jewellery ahead of festive season

Samantha wrote: All I want for Christmas is you...'

The blonde also tried on a necklace with a single pearl.

She captioned the picture shared to her Instagram stories: 'There are no words for how much I worship the pearl.'

She captioned the picture shared to her Instagram stories: 'There are no words for how much I worship the pearl.'

Meanwhile, Samantha recently admitted that Christmas is a time when she feels she wants to 'punch everyone in the face'.

'It's the time of year when you're supposed to be joyful and grateful and all I want to do is punch everyone in the face,' the 41-year-old wrote in Stellar magazine.

She admitted to feeling very scatterbrained as she frantically tries to organise the fairy lights, Christmas feast and colour scheme in the next week.

'I am mentally arranging bodies in my house. No, not Charles Manson-style, I havent killed anyone (yet). Im trying to work out where the multitudes will sleep,' she said in a frantic manner.

Some of her top cheeky tips for getting through December 25 virtually unscathed included lowering expectations, learning to delegate jobs and not worrying if the Christmas ham has an infestation of flies on it by the end of the day.

'I haven't killed anyone (yet)': Sunrise host Samantha Armytage reveals Christmas makes her want to 'punch everyone in the face'

Oh, and her final most important word of wisdom involved beverages, adding: 'Drink lots. Alcohol is a (short-term) pain eraser.'

While Samantha has her hands full getting ready for Christmas she certainly has plenty to celebrate this year.

Her breakfast show Sunrise came out on top again in the ratings, beating out rival Nine's Today.

Busy: She admitted to feeling very scatterbrained as she frantically tries to organise the fairy lights, Christmas feast and colour scheme in the next week (with Julia Morris)
She is finally going to get her happy ever after as she prepares to give birth to her first child with her boyfriend Dane Goodson.

And Casey Batchelor showed pregnancy suited her down to the ground when she dressed for a dinner date at Sheesh restaurant in Chigwell, Essex on Saturday.

The Celebrity Big Brother housemate, 33, showed off her blossoming baby bump in a form-fitting sapphire blue dress which caressed every inch of her pregnancy curves.

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Pregnant star: Casey Batchelor showed off her blossoming baby bump and her 'out of control' cleavage in a form-fitting dress as she headed out to dinner at Sheesh in Chigwell on Saturday

Reality star Casey embraced her maternal instincts as she rested her hand affectionately on the top of her growing stomach.

The television sensation ensured all eyes remained well and truly on her figure as she accessorised with a simple clutch and open-toe sandals which didn't detract away from the vivid colour of her garment.

Casey wore her raven locks in voluminous curls and she opted for a slick of nude lipstick to leave the focus on her dramatic strokes of eye make-up.

Busty: Despite having a breast reduction in 2014 to bring her 32GG bust down to a 32EE, the Essex born beauty put on an incredibly busty display in the bodycon dress

Despite having a breast reduction in 2014 to bring her 32GG bust down to a 32EE, the Essex born beauty put on an incredibly busty display in the bodycon dress.

The personality revealed her gravity-defying assets have gone up to an FF-cup since she discovered the happy news she was pregnant.

She divulged further to Closer magazine in November: 'My boobs are out of control, they have grown from an FF-cup and Im already in maternity bras. Theyll probably come out further than my belly at this rate.'

Mum-to-be: Reality star Casey embraced her maternal instincts as she rested her hand affectionately on the top of her growing stomach

How to accessorise: The television sensation ensured all eyes remained well and truly on her figure as she accessorised with a simple clutch and open-toe sandals which didn't detract away from the vivid colour of her garment

In recent months, the mum-to-be was excited to announce she was going to welcome her first child in the new year.

Of the future, she added telling Closer magazine: 'Ive always wanted children, so I thought Id get a donor and do it on my own  Id accepted that was how life would be. Then I met Dane.'

The expectant mum is now 'happy' to discuss the details of her romance which she had kept under wraps for the past year.

Casey confessed: 'Im so happy, it was worth the wait. Ive kissed a few frogs but Ive finally found my prince. He is perfect and I couldnt ask for more. Ive found my soulmate.
Her turbulent relationship with Chris Hughes has appeared to take yet another turn for the worse after a video emerged of him 'kissing' a mystery girl.

And Olivia Attwood proved to be dancing her troubles away, as she was seen partying away with her Love Island co-stars in a series of sexy Instagram clips on Saturday night.

Letting her hair down, the reality star - who was without beau Chris - could be seen putting on a seriously busty display as she shimmied with Amber Davies and Georgia Harrison at the bash.

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Letting loose: Olivia Attwood danced her romance woes away, as she was seen partying away with her Love Island co-stars in a series of sexy Instagram clips on Saturday night.

Olivia looked to be having the time of her life at her friend Shelby Tribble's bash in the living room.

She looked every the blonde bombshell in a perilously plunging top which put focus on her eye-popping assets.

Forgetting the tension in her relationship with Chris, Olivia looked in her element as she indulged in the evening with her close pals.

Olivia's relationship with Chris has had a turbulent few weeks after a video emerged of him appearing to 'kiss' a mystery girl.

Troubles: The Love Island star's turbulent relationship with Chris Hughes has appeared to take yet another turn for the worse after a video emerged of him 'kissing' a mystery girl

Letting her hair down: The reality star - who was without beau Chris - could be seen putting on a busty display as she shimmied with her pals at the bash

The Surrey beauty admitted she did briefly 'take a break' away from her relationship following the scandal before vowing to give him a second chance, warning him that this is his 'last shot' to make their romance work.

Taking to her column with new! magazine, Olivia addressed the incident that saw Chris with his arms wrapped around another party-goer during a night out.

She penned: 'Obviously I was taking some time out from my relationship with Chris to work out what was going on in my head.

'Basically I wanted to to take a minute to assess what had actually gone on, because it's really hard when these things happen.'

While the duo have rekindled their romance, Olivia revealed she had her reservations about continuing her relationship with Chris, following his behaviour.

Fun: Olivia looked to be having the time of her life at her friend Shelby Tribble's bash in the living room

Sexy: She looked every the blonde bombshell in a perilously plunging top which put focus on her eye-popping assets

Standing by her man, she added: 'He said he didn't kiss anyone so... I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt - this is his last shot.'

Olivia's comments come after the couple have been putting on a defiant display in the wake of their romance woes.

Chris had publicly apologised to his co-star love on Twitter, admitting he 'couldn't remember' what happened, after the video, obtained by The Sun, emerged online.

Insisting that 'nothing' untoward would've happened as he would never have wanted things to escalate, Chris made a candid statement on the social media site.

He said: 'I put my arms around a stranger which I should never have done, and I still dont know why but its a lesson learnt not to be a drunk t**t.

Loving life: Forgetting the tension in her relationship with Chris, Olivia looked in her element as she indulged in the evening with her close pals

Drama: Olivia's relationship with Chris has had a turbulent few weeks after a video emerged of him appearing to 'kiss' a mystery girl

'All of us do things we shouldnt one time of another and do stupid s**t, but nothing escalated as it never would. Sometimes takes an incident to sharpen up in life. Just being a drunk d**k.'

Olivia didn't seem convinced by his admission, however, tweeting then deleting afterwards: 'Boys get away with murder,' as well as 'lol' in another post that was swiftly removed.

An eagle-eyed follower spotted her response and tweeted: 'If it was her that did it she would get loads of stick but cos it's 'innocent' baby faced chris he gets away with it.

'If my man had his hands round another woman's waist like that I'd be on the warpath. He's not what he makes out he is.' (sic)

Replying to the fan before quickly deleting her response, Olivia tweeted: 'Oh Hun it would be a full blown witch hunt. boys get away with murder'.

Having her say: While the duo have rekindled their romance, Olivia revealed she had her reservations about continuing her relationship with Chris, following his behaviour

Back on: The drama between the couple has since all blown over, however, with Chris revealing shortly after the footage surfaced online that he and Olivia are 'all good'

The drama between the couple has since all blown over, however, with Chris revealing shortly after the footage surfaced online that he and Olivia are 'all good'.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he had said: 'We're good. We met earlier and we're all good.'

Romance blossomed between Olivia and Chris on the third series of Love Island, this summer. Their on/off relationship had been at the centre of the series, with the duo going onto pursue their love affair once the show had wrapped.

Since returning to home soil, the duo have been plagued by 'split' claims, but have continuously defied the rumours they have been subjected to.

Their loved-up display comes after their co-stars Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies announced they have ended their relationship, just months after being crowned the winners of Love Island.
She is known for dressing up to the nines on a night out, as one of the glamorous girls on TOWIE.

But Lauren Pope was almost unrecognisable on Saturday, as she slipped into a playful 'Parisian Barbie' costume for a birthday party in London.

The reality star, 35, certainly commanded attention in a glittering silver jumpsuit, paired with a pastel pink wig and matching beret, as she headed to celebrity hot spot Patch East for a night on the tiles.

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Who's that girl? Lauren Pope was almost unrecognisable on Saturday, as she slipped into a playful 'Parisian Barbie' costume for a birthday party in London

Lauren was worlds away from her usual self in the candy-coloured wig, which she co-ordinated with a hot pink beret and dazzling purple eye make-up.

However, the TOWIE star still proved her usually chic sense of style in a glittering silver jumpsuit, formed entirely of silver sequins and gems.

The one-piece pulled into a cowl neckline, to tease at her cleavage, before cutting completely open at the back to flash plenty of smooth, bronzed skin to all.

Tres chic: The reality star, 35, certainly commanded attention in a glittering silver jumpsuit, paired with a pastel pink wig and matching beret, as she headed to Patch East to party

Think pink: Lauren was worlds away from her usual self in the candy-coloured wig, which she co-ordinated with a hot pink beret and dazzling purple eye make-up

Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then skimmed her long and slender legs to the floor, where it met metallic snakeskin gladiator heels.

Keeping all eyes on her striking look, Lauren simply accessorised with a pale pink jacket, to co-ordinate her bold head piece.

She tied her look together with vibrant pink and purple eyeshadow and a soft pink lip in glamorous finishing touches, as she headed into the club.

Sterling effort: However, the TOWIE star still proved her usually chic sense of style in a glittering silver jumpsuit, formed entirely of silver sequins and gems

Raunchy: The one-piece pulled into a cowl neckline, to tease at her cleavage, before cutting completely open at the back to flash plenty of smooth, bronzed skin to all

Slender: Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then skimmed her long and slender legs to the floor, where it met metallic snakeskin gladiator heels

Clearly proud of her look, Lauren later took to Instagram to share a sizzling selfie which she captioned: 'Parisian Barbie at your service...'

The former TOWIE star was heading to the swanky London hot spot with the girls of Little Mix, to celebrate Jade Thirlwall's birthday.

The reality star appeared to be in good spirits during the girls' night out, despite recently sparking rumours she had reconciled with her ex Jon Clark.

Co-ordination is key: Keeping all eyes on her striking look, Lauren simply accessorised with a pale pink jacket, to match her bold head piece

Finishing touches: She tied her look together with vibrant pink and purple eyeshadow and a soft pink lip in glamorous finishing touches, as she headed into the club

Birthday queen: The former TOWIE star was heading to the swanky London hot spot with the girls of Little Mix, to celebrate Jade Thirlwall's birthday (above)

Glamorous: Her band mates Leigh-Anne Pinnock (L) and Jesy Nelson (R) also attended the bash, in equally sizzling ensembles

She allegedly refused to take him back after his split from Love Island's Chloe Crowhurst - who he reunited with after parting ways with Lauren.

Ahead of TOWIE's upcoming Christmas Special, Lauren told The Sun: 'Me and Jon are a rollercoaster  it changes all the time.

'Obviously we filmed together and we were talking again. I don't want to spoil the Christmas special, but it will unravel on there.'
The Kardashians love to decorate for Christmas.

And though the holiday is still a week away, the family has already shared several images from their mega-mansions on social media.

Kim Kardashian uploaded several shots from mother Kris Jenner's Hidden Hills, California home this week, following a parade of clips shared by Kourtney, Khloe and Kylie.

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Sparkle time: Kim Kardashian shared a look at some Christmas joy in her home this weekend

So fancy: At first they looked like decorations, then on closer inspection it could be seen that they were purses that she used as decorations

The clan: Here, from left to right, is Khloe, Kourtney, Kim, Kris and Kylie in 2015

Kim shared a look at several Christmas sparkly items.

At first they looked like decorations, then on closer inspection it could be seen that they were purses that she used as decorations.

Then it was on to Kris' house. Kim gave a look at the large Nutcracker outside her mom's mansion where much of Keeping Up With The Kardashians is filmed.

Elaborate: Then it was on to Kris' house. Kim gave a look at the large Nutcracker outside her mom's mansion where much of Keeping Up With The Kardashians is filmed

Don't mess with Kris: There were at least four life-sized nutcrackers that looked to stand guard at the door

There were at least four life-sized nutcrackers that looked to stand guard at the door.

Also around the entrance were Poinsettias and colorful lights.

It looked more like a store or building than a residential home as everything was oversized and there was so much of it in a show of wealth.

Opulent: Next Kim gave a look inside the large house with a black and white tiled foyer. There was a giant polar bear in red that sat on the floor between two trees that had red bulbs

Fit for a queen: Every year Kris goes all out with the decorations; she says it's to make Christmas fun for her grandchildren

Done up right: The the foreground was a tree with green and blue lights. And there was garland on the staircase

The trio: Khloe, Kourtney and Kim seen side by side in 2014 at an Oscar party

Next Kim gave a look inside the large house with a black and white tiled foyer.

There was a giant polar bear in red that sat on the floor between two trees that had red bulbs.

The the foreground was a tree with green and blue lights. And there was garland on the staircase.

Festive: Next Kourtney took fans inside her Calabasas mansion. The 38-year-old ex of Scott Disick posed in a red-and-white pajama top with her hair up and a filter on her Snapchat

See the elf? The star then took the camera into the bathrooms of the kids' as she showed off where the Elf On The Shelf was

More: Then it was on to the next bathroom where the Elf had a candy cane decoration tied to him. On the mirror it said: 'Happy Birthday Mason!' Mason turned eight on December 14

Next Kourtney took fans inside her Calabasas mansion.

The 38-year-old ex of Scott Disick posed in a red-and-white pajama top with her hair up and a filter on her Snapchat.

The star then took the camera into the bathrooms of the kids' as she showed off where the Elf On The Shelf was.

Ky: Earlier this month Kylie Jenner, 20 - who is reportedly pregnant with her first child - showed off her massive Christmas tree inside her Hidden Hills home

Pretty in pink: The tree looked to be about 12 feet tall and was dusted with fake snow. There were oversized pink balls on the tree with pink gold ones too. The color is fitting as she is reportedly expecting a daughter

He sat on the faucet in one bathroom with Hi Penelope written on the mirror in lipstick.

Penelope is her daughter, aged four.

Then it was on to the next bathroom where the Elf had a candy cane decoration tied to him. On the mirror it said: 'Happy Birthday Mason!' Mason turned eight on December 14.

Fun lady: Khloe also got in on the action of the Christmas spirit when in Cleveland

Fresh: Khloe also shared a look at this white reindeer at her house

Its head moves! Here the animal is seen with his head pointed down; her tree had large gold bulbs and her packages were silver

Big time: The 33-year-old showed off her big tree with white lights

She likes it all gold and silver: Her decorations were all shine and mostly balls

More fun: She also had smaller trees in gold with garland

Earlier this month Kylie Jenner, 20 - who is reportedly pregnant with her first child - showed off her massive Christmas tree inside her Hidden Hills home.

The tree looked to be about 12 feet tall and was dusted with fake snow.

There were oversized pink balls on the tree with pink gold ones too. The color is fitting as she is reportedly expecting a daughter.

Khloe also got in on the action of the Christmas spirit when in Cleveland.

She shared a look at her Christmas tree and all the decorations she was using which appeared to be all gold.

The beauty, 33, is reportedly pregnant with her first child with beau Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
She is one of the world's biggest supermodels, with a career spanning more than 30 years in the fashion industry.

And Kate Moss, 43, looked every inch the style icon as she left her London home with her boyfriend Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 30, on Sunday.

Clad in a tailored grey coat and black trilby hat, the model looked in high spirits as she cradled her new puppy in her arms.

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Loved-up: Kate Moss, 43, looked every inch the style icon as she cradled her new puppy as she left her London home with her boyfriend Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 30, on Sunday

Kate played the doting dog owner to the pup, who sported a head collar and blue bandage, having recently undergone an operation.

She wrapped up warm for the outing, complementing her outerwear with a light grey jumper and camel tailored trousers.

The fashion icon clutched onto her adorable pooch in one arm while holding on to what appeared to be a bag of grass trimmings in the other.

She opted for a minimal make-up look for the outing and styled her long blonde tresses in a sleek down do.

Chic: She wrapped up warm for the outing, complementing her coat with a light grey jumper and camel tailored trousers

Sweet: Kate played the doting dog owner as she comforted the pup, who sported a head collar and blue bandage, having recently undergone an operation

Kate beamed with joy as her chivalrous boyfriend held the gate open for her as she left her home and made her way to her black Range Rover.

Her new addition is not the only dog Kate has, as she shares a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross named Archie with her ex-husband Jamie Hince, whom she split from in 2015.

And the pooch was present for the family day out as he trotted out of in front of Count Nikolai von Bismarck as he carried a large dog crate to the car.

Her toyboy lover cut a dapper appearance in a navy blue coat and polka dot shirt.

Kate embarked on a romance with the German aristocrat in late 2015, following her split from The Kills rocker husband Jamie.

Smart: Her toyboy lover cut a dapper appearance in a navy blue coat and polka dot shirt as he carried a dog crate to the car

Adorable: Kate's other dog Archie was present for the family day out as he trotted out of in front of Count Nikolai von Bismarck

Stylish: Clad in a tailored grey coat and black trilby hat, the model looked in high spirits as she cradled her new puppy in her arms

They settled their divorce the following year, but reports had surfaced at the time suggesting the couple were locked in a custody battle over the dog, with both wanting ownership.

Kate had previously spoken out about her love for Archie and admitted that becoming a dog owner had changed her style.

She confessed to Daily Star back in 2013: 'I'm more day [wear] now. I've got a dog, he's eight months. So I've got a dog, and the dog's making me more day.

'It's a nightmare. You can't do a dog in a heel. I'm having to rethink everything. You can't walk a dog in a heel. You look ridiculous.'

The perfect gentleman: Kate beamed with joy as her chilvarous boyfriend held the gate open for her as she left her home and made her way to her Range Rover estate

British model Kate was famously discovered at New Yorks JFK airport when she was 14 by Sarah Doukas, founder of Storm Models management.

At just 17, the model landed her first huge assignment in the industry for Calvin Klein underwear with actor Mark Wahlberg. Speaking to The Telegraph, she recalled how her mum told her she wasn't 'photogenic' before she embarked on her stellar modelling career.

Quipping about how she has gone on to prove her wrong, she enthused: 'And my Mum always said I wasn't photogenic. Well, hello. 'She was like: "Kate, do you really think you can be a model?"'

Family life: The German aristocrat was laden with boxes as he staggered to the car

As well as taking the modelling industry by storm, Kate is the doting mother to her 15-year-old daughter.

The mother-of-one gave birth to Lila Grace in 2002, amid her romance with Dazed & Confused magazine's co-founder Jefferson Hack.

And mother like daughter, Lila secured her first modelling success as the face of the Braid Bar at the tender age of 14.

Kate went onto marry her ex, The Kills guitarist, Jamie in a romantic ceremony in Gloucestershire in 2011, but the couple split four years later.

She is now going strong with her new younger beau.

Hands full: The fashion icon clutched onto her adorable pooch in one arm while holding on to what appeared to be a bag of grass trimmings in the other

Romance: Kate embarked on a romance with the German aristocrat in late 2015, following her split from The Kills rocker husband Jamie
The Challenge stars Cheyenne Floyd and Cory Wharton have announced they have a nine-month-old daughter together.

The reality stars both revealed on social media that they are parents to Ryder as they shared a heart-melting family photo of their smiling little girl, sitting on her father's shoulders.

'I've been off of social media for a while now... for many reasons. Most importantly God has given me the biggest blessing in my life, my daughter Ryder K Wharton,' Cory captioned the photo on Saturday.

'I look forward to co-parenting with you': The Challenge stars Cheyenne Floyd and Cory Wharton have announced they have a nine-month-old daughter together on Saturday

'I want to say thank you Cheyenne for being such an amazing mother. I look forward to co-parenting with you and giving Ryder all the love in the world. I can't wait to watch you grow up and be there for you every step of the way, love you Moochie !!!'

Cheyenne shared the same photo, along with a gushing caption, calling Cory 'an amazing father.'

'Cory is nothing short of an amazing father,' she raved. 'We are so blessed to be raising mooch as co parents together and I couldn't have asked for a better father for my princess. Our daughter is the best of both of us.'

Cheyenne welcomed baby Ryder nine months ago, though never revealed the identity of the father until Saturday.

Baby love: Cheyenne welcomed baby Ryder nine months ago, though never revealed the identity of the father until Saturday (pictured November 2017)

She announced her child's birth with a sweet photo of Ryder, slumbering in her crib.

'26 hours of labor on 4/7/17 my Queen was born 7lbs 14oz 21 1/2 inches of perfectness,' she captioned the photo.

The proud mother has been sharing photos of her little girl on social media, and even created an Instagram account for her.

That's her girl! The reality star held her daughter during a visit to the pumpkin patch in October

Cheyenne appeared on the MTV reality series The Challenge in 2016, a year after starring on the same network's dating show, Are You The One?

Cory's been on The Challenge since 2015, and also starred on the Real World in 2014.

He has some acting credits as well, with a role in the upcoming adventure comedy University: The Third.

Claim to fame: Cory's been on The Challenge since 2015, and also starred on the Real World in 2014 (pictured on The Challenge)
She's the Bachelor season three star who recently burst back into the spotlight by coming out as bisexual.

And now Heather Maltman, 31, has revealed another secret - she loves to eat until she's REALLY full.

On Sunday, the brunette shared a side-on picture of herself that showed a little burgeoning belly bump.

That's a surprise! The Bachelor's Heather Maltman teases she has a baby bump... but all is not what it seems

The star gave the picture a hilarious tweak by adding an emoji of a burrito and drawing a pink arrow from it to point to her tummy.

Heather wore a figure-hugging blue dress, which featured a crossover halter neck, for the lighthearted post.

Looking slim and trim, she teamed the frock with a pair of red heels that had black detail on the toes and a pair of on-trend tassle earrings in a matching hue.

Figure-hugging: Heather wore a figure-hugging blue dress, which featured a crossover halter neck, for the lighthearted post

Some of heather's 54,000+ Instagram followers left comments to show their support and admiration for her.

'You dont look pregnant, just a normal girl with a few curves, who eats & breathes', wrote one, while another offered 'Thanks for being real..... you look amazing'.

Others chimed in with their own jokes and one fan wrote: 'It's sitting so high, must be a girl burrito.'

Heather has kept a low profile since her ill-fated hosting gig on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! last year.

Remember me? Heather starred on The Bachelor Season Three

But the Bachelor-reject-turned-radio-star surprised fans by coming out as bisexual in the wake of Australia's same-sex marriage vote.

The Sea FM host shared a throwback photo of herself and TV scriptwriter Renee Broome as fresh-faced teenagers.

'This lady was my first, and to this day only girlfriend I've ever had,' she wrote in the caption.
He hosted Carols In The Domain alongside his Sunrise co-stars, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta on Sunday night.

But David 'Kochie' Koch, 61, is now being blamed for the explosion of a piece of technical equipment mid-way through the iconic event.

A fireball, sparks and smoke were seen erupting from the machine shocking tens of thousands of concertgoers.

Up in smoke! On Sunday night, David Koch took to the stage at Carols In The Domain, before a piece of technical equipment erupted into flames, sending the 61-year-old Sunrise star fleeing in a panic

Klutzy Kochie: Despite the eruption shocking concertgoers, it was all a part of the producers' plans- designed to cast Kochie as a klutz

However, the festive spectators need not have been alarmed, with the explosion planned by the Carols In The Domain producers.

The malfunctioning machine was Kochie's 'Santa Tracker'- with the eruption of the elaborate GPS system meant to poke fun at the Sunrise compere for being a klutz.

After unveiling the apparatus with great fanfare, Kochie took to the stage with performer Todd McKenny and slew of female dancers for a song-and-dance about the elaborate gadget.

There it is! Kochie's Santa Tracker was unveiled by performer Todd McKenny, just moments before it malfunctioned

'It's Kochie's Santa Tracker, Santa's on his way, you'll see no powerful Santa Tracker, Kochie saves the day,' Todd sang before the machine suddenly erupted into flames.

Following the eruption, sirens sounded and Kochie bolted from the centre of the stage, no doubt hoping the subsequent sparks from the big bang didn't damage his $16,500 blazer.

Fleeing in fright: Kochie bolted from the centre of the stage, no doubt hoping the subsequent sparks from the big bang didn't damage his $16,500 blazer

The Sunrise team thought it was all in good fun as they reminisced about the event on Monday morning's edition of their program.

'I actually think someone's hair did catch on fire when that machine blew up,' Samantha giggled after a replay of the event was screened for Sunrise viewers.

'I've never seen you move that quick,' Mark Beretta howled with laughter, as a slow-mo of Kochie fleeing the explosion was played.

'You're quite a good actor though,' Sam told Kochie, praising his feigned shock and surprise at the planned eruption.

'I've never seen you move that quick!' Mark Beretta ribbed Kochie after his Santa Tracker exploded
Today's birthday, December 16: American actor Benjamin Bratt (1963 - ).

Actor Benjamin Bratt gained fame for playing NYPD detective Reynaldo Curtis on the US crime drama series Law and Order.

Bratt was born in San Francisco in 1963 and is the grandson of Broadway actor George Bratt and the son of a Peruvian Quechua Indian woman. As a child, he went with his mother and siblings to participate in the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz.

Bratt graduated with honours from a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of California in 1986. He then attended the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco but left the master's program to begin his professional acting career at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

The young actor's first taste of television came in the 1987 TV movie Juarez before he joined NBC's short-lived television drama Nasty Boys in 1989.

Soon after, Bratt was cast in his debut film role in 1990's Bright Angel, followed by Chains of Gold in 1991.

But it wasn't until 1994 that the actor gained Hollywood's attention in the films The River Wild, where he portrayed a Native American ranger, and in Clear and Present Danger, playing a field officer.

A year later he was cast in Law and Order. He remained on the series until 1999 and in that same year was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Bratt's most popular film appearances include Blood In Blood Out in 1993, Traffic in 2000, and Miss Congeniality in 2001. He has also voiced characters in the films Despicable Me 2 and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

The actor's recent television appearances include playing drug addict William Banks in The Cleaner, Dr Jake Reilly in Private Practice, and talent manager Jahil Rivera in Star.

Proud of his Indigenous American heritage, Bratt is also an active supporter of the American Indian College Fund.

He dated actress Julia Roberts for four years but is now married to actress Talisa Soto, with whom he has two children.
An American child predator has been convicted in a New York court of luring a 16-year-old Australian girl to the US "to satisfy his own sordid desires".

Sean Price, 39, faces life in prison after a Brooklyn jury found him guilty on four counts, including attempted sexual exploitation of a child and foreign transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Price began an online relationship with the girl, who lived in Australia, in 2016 and by January 2017, they were communicating daily on Facebook.

Prosecutors said much of the discussion involved Price's desire to engage in sex with the girl despite knowing her age, and finding a way for her to travel to New York without authorities or her parents finding out.

"So you coming to papa?" Price wrote in one message.

Price and the girl discussed getting a fake passport, he offered to pose as her father to get her through airport security in the US, and in another chat message said "they would soon be laughing at her parents".

After months of planning, Price wired the girl $US900 for the plane ticket. She landed in Los Angeles in March where Price was waiting for her. They drove 4500km across the US in a rental car to New York.

NYPD officers raided Price's mother's home in Queens four weeks later and recovered the girl and returned her to Australia.

Price admitted in a post-arrest statement he engaged in sexual activity with the girl during their cross-country trip and while they were living in Queens.

"Price lured a teenage girl across the globe to satisfy his own sordid desires, taking advantage of her youth and preying on her vulnerability," US Homeland Security Investigations special agent-in-charge Angel Melendez said.

US authorities thanked the NSW Police Force and Australian Federal Police for their assistance in the investigation.
A woman in her 40s has been stabbed, robbed and sexually assaulted by an armed man who broke into her northern NSW home in the middle of the night.

The 43-year-old woman was alone in her Lismore home on Little Keen Street, when she woke at 4am on Saturday to find an unknown man inside, police said.

The man threatened her with a knife before he sexually assaulted her with the woman's screams alerting neighbours.

Police are searching for the man, aged in his late teens to early 20s with an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance.
It's been a tough year for Malcolm Turnbull but with two by-election wins under his belt, his colleagues believe he has secured his prime ministership heading into a potential 2019 election.

Liberal John Alexander retained his Bennelong seat on Saturday, defeating former Labor premier Kristina Keneally, and restoring the government's one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

Just weeks earlier Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was returned to his seat of New England, with the two outcomes putting to rest the citizenship crisis for now.

"Labor invited the people of Bennelong to send a message to Malcolm Turnbull, and the message they sent was please continue doing the job you're doing," government frontbencher Paul Fletcher told ABC television on Sunday.

Senior Labor frontbencher Tony Burke said Mr Fletcher and others in the coalition appeared to have received no message at all from the Bennelong voters, which saw a swing of more than five per cent against the government.

Such a swing would be big enough to throw them out of office in a general election.

"If ... they say to the people - we haven't heard anything from you, the only message we're hearing is that you love us - then they're unlikely to shift where the public is currently at," Mr Burke told ABC television.

He said the next general election would be hard but he was buoyed by the fact one in eight people who voted Liberal in Bennelong a year ago switched to Labor on Saturday.

"Certainly there are enough people willing to change their votes that with the right work and the right policy, we can get there," he said.

Labor colleague Ed Husic agreed that it was a very big result for his party and if replicated in the next election, a safe Liberal seat like Kooyong which is held by Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg would be reduced to a marginal seat.

"To have these type of swings in safe Liberal seats, there will be a lot of nervous eye twitches and collar-pulling into 2018," Mr Husic told Sky News.

Junior federal minister Craig Laundy believes the government must now focus on the economy.

"Next year becomes a knock them down, drag them out discussion about the economy ... I'll take that fight every day of the week and twice on Sunday," Mr Laundy told Sky News on Sunday.

He said the economy is enjoying strong employment growth, and as company profits grow that will also flow to employees' wages.

"I think the message is starting to cut through but I think we still have a lot of work to do selling that message," he said.

He expects the government will go full-term into 2019.

Asked if Mr Turnbull's leadership was secure for the term, Mr Laundy simply said: "Yes."
Two 17-year-old girls have been caught allegedly carrying MDMA capsules, one of them with nearly 380 capsules, at a Sydney music festival.

Police searched about 300 festivalgoers during Knockout Circuz 2017 at Olympic Park on Saturday in which nearly 17,000 people attended.

A total of 69 charges were laid mostly for possession of a prohibited drug.

Five people, aged from 17 to 22, were caught allegedly with MDMA capsules. The two teenage girls who were granted conditional bail will face a Children's Court in January.

"It is alarming to see two 17-year-old girls with large quantities of MDMA," a NSW Police spokesman said on Sunday.
An old titan of the Sydney to Hobart is back in the race a record 46 years after taking line honours, with Kialoa II continuing her latest owners' campaign to visit the scenes of her former glories.

It's the longest gap in the event's history for a former line honours champion's return to the race.

Built in 1964, the 73-foot yacht Kialoa II took line honours in 1971 and recorded high placings in most of the world's other great ocean races.

This year, new owners Paddy and Keith Broughton have already taken the boat back to the famed Fastnet race, in which it finished second across the line in 1969.

"The overall plan is to do the old ocean classics that Jim Kilroy did," Paddy Broughton told AAP.

"He raced her in the Sydney Hobart race in 1971, he did a couple of Fastnet Races, he also did a number of Transpac races, and a number of Newport Bermudas, so our objective is to do all of those four classics."

The boat sailed the vast crossing to Australia following the Fastnet, in which she finished 134th overall out of more than 300.

Kilroy donated Kialoa II to the United States coastguard service and the boat passed through three other owners before being bought by the Broughtons.

"She probably hasn't raced since the 1980s and you could tell really because she was very much in cruising mode," Broughton said.

"Not a vast amount had been changed, but the sailing systems and the running rigging was all pretty ordinary, let's say.

"You are trying to get old photographs and talk to old crew members about how the old girl was put together, but then add to that more modern thinking in terms of lines and blocks and winches.

"Because a lot of the modern stuff is perhaps inappropriate for a boat like Kialoa, but then again there's a lot of stuff that's safer and better designed.

"I know Jim Kilroy would have used that, so we feel that we should too."

It will carry a huge moustache decal on both sides of the boom as part of her partnership and fundraising campaign for Movember.

Among the current crew is famed navigator Lindsay May, who in 2016 achieved a record tally of sailing the race 44 straight years.
Kristina Keneally would be treated with respect if she were to fill the Senate vacancy created by Sam Dastyari's resignation, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

There's speculation the former NSW premier will take the seat after she lost the tough Bennelong by-election on Saturday, despite a two-party preferred swing of around five per cent swing to Labor.

Ms Keneally refused during the last week of the campaign to rule out an interest in replacing Senator Dastyari who announced his resignation last Tuesday.

"I am here running as a candidate for Bennelong, the only thing I've been offered by Bill Shorten is to be Labor's candidate for Bennelong," she said.

Senator Dastyari announced last week he would not return to Canberra nest year amid intense scrutiny of his involvement with a Chinese businessman who has made donations to both major political parties.

Others have said Ms Keneally would be a great asset for Labor in Canberra.

Mr Turnbull said the coalition would work respectfully with Ms Keneally like any other senator, which is how the government gets its legislation through.

"If the Labor party choose to send Kristina Keneally to Canberra, she will get the same respect as every Senator does," he told reporters at a Sunday press conference in Bennelong.

"Mutual respect - there should be more of it."

Ms Keneally early on Sunday morning thanked voters and campaign volunteers on social media, but did not appear publicly.

The casual vacancy created by Senator Dastyari's resignation will be filled by the Labor party, but has to be ratified by a sitting of the NSW parliament which won't happen until next year.
Josh Hazlewood believes Australia are dominating the tale of the tails this Ashes series, saying his opposite numbers "didn't want to be out there" in England's first innings at the WACA.

Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have peppered the tourists' tailenders with bouncers throughout the five-Test series.

The ploy has been quite successful. England were in the box seat to post an imposing first-innings total in the ongoing third Test after centuries from Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, then lost 6-35.

There were similar collapses from England's tail at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval.

In sharp contrast, Australia's tail has wagged consistently. Cummins has outscored England opener Alastair Cook in the series.

"We've made their tail feel very uncomfortable. We saw on day two they didn't want to be out there," Hazlewood said on Sunday night.

"We'll obviously keep continuing to do that and hopefully have the same results."

Hazlewood added the chin music could become even more effective with every Test.

"Obviously with Mitchell Johnson four years ago - it kept snowballing as the series went on," the right-armer said.

Stuart Broad has looked particularly uncomfortable, with former Australia opener Chris Rogers branding his batting in Perth "abysmal" and "lacking courage".

England's No.11 batsman Jimmy Anderson asked the umpire in Brisbane whether the hosts' bowling was dangerous during the first Test - a point that Ian Chappell also raised in commentary at the WACA on Friday.

Cummins admitted on day three he's loving the sight of England's tailenders squirming amid the many collapses they've suffered.

"That's the thing I love about watching fast bowling. You can be the greatest batsman in the world but you still have to face a 150 km/h bouncer," Cummins told ABC radio.

"Seeing their tail jump around, I think that sends a pretty strong message to the rest of their change room.

"Seeing them jump around, it feels like we're on top."

ENGLAND'S INNINGS-ENDING COLLAPSES THIS SERIES

* 6-56 & 4-10 at the Gabba

* 3-19 & 7-64 at Adelaide Oval

* 6-35 at the WACA.
England's kingpins keep falling.

But the tourists reject suggestions the batting failures of captain Joe Root and Alastair Cook are sucking spirit from their camp.

Root is averaging 29.33 this Ashes series; his predecessor Cook a meagre 13.83.

But English first-drop James Vince denies the barren returns are destabilising the team.

"I don't think so," Vince said on Sunday.

"The other guys around the team like myself just sort of look at them and expect them to score runs - it's not going to happen for them all the time."

While Root has posted two half-centuries this series, Cook is a shadow of his former self - just 83 runs with a top score of 37 in six digs.

Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood said plans to cut down England's tall poppies were working perfectly.

"We have obviously put importance ... on those couple of wickets," Hazlewood said.

"That obviously applies a bit more pressure to that middle order ... it just adds that bit of pressure to those guys who are more inexperienced.

"So (we have) really stuck to our plans on Root and Cook and I think we have done quite well against them."

Hazlewood snared Cook's wicket on Sunday with superb one-handed caught-and-bowled.

And he believed Cook's ongoing troubles were because of Australia's plans and also the 150-Test veteran's poor form.

"A bit of both. We have obviously got our plans to him but a couple of times we have got him out different ways," Hazlewood said.

"It's just a matter of keeping him quiet and building that pressure and keep building those dots (balls) on him and applying the pressure that way."

Cook's strike rate this series is a sluggish 38.60 while the usually free-flowing Root is striking at a pedestrian 53.33.
Labor leads the coalition on a two-party preferred vote by 53 per cent to 47, representing a national swing against the government of three per cent, the last Newspoll for the year shows.

The poll of 1669 voters across the country, conducted exclusively for The Australian, shows the coalition has made no ground in the past two weeks with Labor maintaining a one point primary vote lead of 37.

The poll conducted over the weekend shows the major parties have not shifted since the last poll held between November 30 and December 3.

The Greens remained steady on 10 per cent while One Nation dropped a further point to seven per cent.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull maintained his narrow lead over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, lifting two points to 41 per cent while the opposition leader lifted a point to 34 per cent.
Marine crews will continue their search for the body of a teenage boy who went missing in rough surf off Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast.

The 14-year-old boy was swimming with two mates outside the flagged area at Flynns Beach when they got into difficulty on Saturday.

A search for the teen turned into a retrieval operation on Sunday after his body was sighted.

Police, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will resume the search at first light on Monday.

It's the second presumed drowning in the area in the past two weeks.

An 11-year-old ACT boy was caught in a rip in rough conditions at the nearby unpatrolled Lighthouse Beach on December 6.

His body hasn't been recovered.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has called sexual assault allegations levelled at him as "abhorrent" and has vowed to clear his name.

On Sunday Mr Doyle announced he would step down from the role following claims of sexual and indecent assault.

"(I) find the allegations detailed to me by media outlets thoroughly abhorrent, not only as Lord Mayor but as a father of young women, a husband, a brother and as the head of an office made up entirely of women," he said in a statement.

"I welcome the investigation and will co-operate fully to clear my name."

The move came after fellow City of Melbourne councillor Tessa Sullivan quit on Friday citing sexual assault.

In statement issued by the council Ms Sullivan resigned "after herself and other women had experienced repeated sexual harassment which had made their workplace intolerable."

City of Melbourne chief executive Ben Rimmer said serious allegations, included sexual harassment, indecent assault and misconduct, were levelled against the mayor.

"Considering my obligations to ensure a safe workplace, I have commissioned an independent external investigation of these matters by Ian Freckleton QC," Mr Rimmer said.

Mr Doyle, 64, was elected Lord Mayor in November 2008 and is Melbourne's longest-serving mayor.

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer who is married with three young children, was elected to council in November 2016.

Her council portfolios had included disability, homelessness, city safety, affordable housing and aged care.
A buoyant Malcolm Turnbull is ending a tumultuous year on a high, with more good news expected in the mid-year budget update.

He goes into the final week before Christmas with renewed vigour after a good couple of weeks, which also included Barnaby Joyce's thumping by-election win, the passing of the same-sex marriage bill in the final sitting week of parliament for the year and the scalp of Labor senator Sam Dastyari.

And on Monday Treasurer Scott Morrison is expected to reveal a further improvement in the budget bottom line, helped by a revenue windfall from an ever-strengthening labour market.

The prime minister's relief at John Alexander's win in the crucial Bennelong by-election on Saturday was clear.

It wasn't just because it restored the government's majority, but steadied his leadership under fire from harder conservatives.

They aren't going to go away, but the swing against Mr Alexander wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Mr Turnbull says he's heard the message from the voters.

"We hear, and we hear with humility, that the message is from the people of Bennelong to get on with the job, get on and deliver," the prime minister told reporters on Sunday.

"We have got a lot of work in progress."

Some of that work includes reshuffling his front bench to include new Nationals deputy Bridget McKenzie and replace Scott Ryan who is now Senate President.

Manager of government business Christopher Pyne said on Saturday night it was a win for Mr Alexander and win for Mr Turnbull.

"Malcolm Turnbull has ended the year on an incredible high," he told Sky News.

"Bill Shorten starts next year facing a potential four by-elections because he didn't get his house in order," he said referring to the dual citizenship issue now possibly affecting Labor MPs.
Deputy Queensland Premier Jackie Trad will perform her first official duty as the state's new treasurer when she unveils the government's mid-year budget update.

Ms Trad will unveil the government's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook on Monday, giving an update on the state's bottom line.

The government in June forecast a $146 million surplus for the 2017-18 financial year after posting a massive $2.8 billion surplus for the previous year, due to an unexpected increase in mining royalties.

The MYEFO will include four new taxes announced by Labor before the November 25 election, including a "Robin Hood" property tax aimed at properties worth more than $10 million.

Ms Trad on Sunday defended the 2.5 per cent property tax against suggestions it would hurt land values and crimp jobs growth, saying it would only affect 850 landowners.

Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said the new tax would have a much bigger impact than Labor had let on.

"The Labor government has made out that this will have a minimal impact on a small number of people, that is simply not true," he told reporters in Brisbane.

"There will be outcomes and consequences, which will lead to, we believe increased rents for small businesses, it could affect farmers and it definitely will certainly impact business confidence, which means it will have an impact on jobs."
Western Australia's budget deficit is predicted to remain steady according to Treasurer Ben Wyatt as he prepares to deliver the state's mid-year economic review.

His comments come as the McGowan government announced widely criticised cuts to education last week worth $64 million, axing the School of the Air, 170 jobs and slashing funding for gifted and talented entry programs.

Mr Wyatt said there would be "no dramatic change" to the 2017/18 budget deficit but predicted it would be slightly higher than the September budget estimate of $2.3 billion.

WA's total net debt is predicted to hit $43 billion by 2020/21.

"Basically, the pattern is still the same," he told The Sunday Times.

He said there were "small changes" such as the sale of Westralia Square for $300 million by the WA Insurance Commission, which may make forward projections slightly lower.

Mr Wyatt said the government would keep to its promise not to sell Western Power, adding the state could see off everything it owned and still not pay down its debt.

Former Premier Colin Barnett told reporters on Friday there was "no way" Mr Wyatt would be able to return the budget to surplus without an increase to WA's GST share.

And Mr Wyatt seems to agree.

"You are never going to get it down to zero, not while I'm treasurer."

Opposition Leader Mike Nahan has been critical of the government over its priorities and again called for it to redirect funding from election promises to frontline services.

"We need a new prison, but they are prioritising other things that are not needed now, and they are cutting frontline services," he told reporters on Sunday.

"Last week education, week before mental health, and now undergoing corrective services. Their priorities are wrong and they have to stop blaming the previous government."

The treasurer will hand down the mid-year review on Wednesday.
A 26-year-old man has been charged over the death of a man whose body was found at his north Queensland home.

Police and emergency services were called to the home in the Mount Isa suburb of Happy Valley just before 4am on Sunday and found the 40-year-old man unconscious.

Paramedics attempted to revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 26-year-old man has been charged with unlawful striking causing death and is due to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
Australian healthcare professionals have drafted a blueprint they say will revolutionise a system that is fragmented and deliver value-based care.

The blueprint, called "Healthy people, healthy systems", makes four recommendations the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association says will take the politics and finger-pointing out of reform.

The first recommendation is to set up an independent national health authority that reports directly to the Council of Australian Governments or the COAG Health Council. This would allow for a nationally unified and regionally controlled health system, AHHA chief executive Alison Verhoeven said in a statement.

The others are requiring all government-funded health providers to provide data on patient outcomes to help gauge performance, creating a national health workforce strategy that looks at roles and responsibilities rather than location, and maintaining Commonwealth funding for public hospitals but with a mixed funding formula.

'Over the past nine months Australian health leaders mapped out how to transform our healthcare system into a fit for purpose 21st century system that will meet the needs and expectations of Australians," Ms Verhoeven said.

"Healthy people, healthy systems is a solid blueprint with a range of short, medium and long-term recommendations on how to reorientate our healthcare system to focus on patient outcomes and value rather than vested interests."
The sign on the little white and blue painted school says it's committed to bringing up students to love Islam, to be disciplined and to develop the country honestly.

"Sulthan Mohamed is dedicated...to obey the school's and country's rules and regulations." Below, a smaller, chirpier plaque reads, "Smile, it's Sunnah!"

I hope the children aren't too hot to smile, because it's a struggle for me. Despite the heat, women waft through the island's empty, dusty streets like heavy black ghosts in their traditional Islamic dress. I figure they're used to it.

If I'd been dropped into this place from the air, I'd think I'd landed in the Middle East. But I'm around 3000km away from there, on a tiny island in the Indian Ocean that's simultaneously a conservative Islamic stronghold and a decadent paradise for wealthy foreigners.

I wonder what these villagers on the tiny Maldivian island of Dhevvadhoo think of the nearby luxurious island resorts that welcome close to one million holiday seekers every year, and account for around 30 per cent of the country's per capita GDP.

"A lot of people work in tourism and we are very happy to work in those resorts," says Mohamed Jaleel Moosa, our guest service agent at the stunning Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort nearby, who is showing us around the island.

"We get decent pay and food and accommodation is arranged by the company and they cover our medical expenses too."

Dhevvadhoo is Sunday-quiet on this Monday lunchtime. Giggling young kids play on the streets during school's lunch break, their white uniforms neat and pristine, while others walk along with black-clad women under umbrellas for shade.

There are hardly any youths of university age here (many go to the Maldivian capital Male or overseas to study) and there are few men of working age - they're mostly either working in the resorts or fishing, both of which can require them to be away for weeks at a time.

The Maldives is a country that has relied on the ocean since ancient times, when it was famous for its dried fish, ambergris and its cowrie shells, which were used as currency across the Indian Ocean. These days, fishing for export may account for around 10 per cent of GDP but the country's picture-perfect oceans remain its riches.

Dhevvadhoo's dusty streets are long and straight and at the end of each one is ocean. It's perfect. And allows any sea breeze to blow through the island.

It's hard to gaze at this turquoise wonder and not jump in. If I lived here I imagine waking to a blissful ocean dip and cooling off in the water at the end of the day. But Jaleel tells me the locals barely swim.

"They usually only swim at weekends," he says. "In their clothes. They must stay covered."

Tradition on local Maldivian islands has deep roots. We wonder past a mosque outside of which intricate Islamic carvings on stone graves hundreds of years old have crumbled away. Walls of ancient grey coral here also crumble. They're the old houses, too shameful to live in now we've learned that coral must stay in the sea.

Modern Dhevvadhoo is a happy, colourful place, where everyone has time for a chat. Wire frames holding rope-net seats are placed along the streets, in case locals care to rest in the shade of a Panama berry tree. Cooking seems to be a slow, repetitive ritual - "mostly we have tuna, coconut and rice for three meals," says Jaleel. Sweet smells waft out of doorways, where on the doorsteps clear plastic bottles of coloured water - bright green, red or blue - aim to reflect light at night and scares cats away.

Many of the houses are resplendent in pink, blue or yellow pastels, but the shine is taken off when it's revealed the colours denote the inhabitants' political leanings. "Does this cause tensions among the neighbours?" I ask Jaleel. He chuckles. "Sometimes".

Political turbulence in the Maldives infiltrated foreign news in 2017 when demonstrations in Male became violent. The country is currently in the grip of a strategic power play, with the relatively hardline President Abdulla Yameen accused of reversing years of democratic progress.

Jaleel seems reluctant to criticise his president and when I ask about how strict his country is, he shrugs.

"Maldivian life is simple and traditional. There are certain rules we need to follow and from the beginning we are very disciplined by our parents," he says, as I remember the school's strict slogans.

But times here are changing, he says. For example, young people like him are not having arranged marriages, but are marrying though love. And most only take one wife these days ("two is too expensive!" he laughs). And with alcohol prohibited and a lack of pub culture to bring young people together, many are relying on dating apps to find love. I wonder how this would work on islands like these - everyone on it you would know; those elsewhere are across the ocean.

In today's world, geography doesn't halt progress. Even on this remote, southern tip of the Maldives, kids cycle along with the latest iPhones in hand. The ramshackle food shops are stuffed with western brands.

Most striking is a graffiti wall just 100 metres along from Sulthan Mohamed School. While nearby students are taught to respect the rules of Sunnah, a quote on the wall urges us to "think outside the box!" And beside the compulsory yin and yang and ganja leaf symbols, a Jimi Hendrix quote reads clear: "you have to go and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven".

We wander down to a desert island beach where an old man in his lungi, shirt and hat is trying his luck with a rod on the shoreline. I consider how lucky he is to see his life wind down somewhere this beautiful. But it's never that simple. Strewn across the beach is rubbish - the island's waste management is very poorly organised, Jaleel tells me.

Dhevvadhoo may be an Islamic fortress but life and the outside world drift around it and wash into it as bottles and jars on the white sand, and as dating apps and romantic opportunity through the island's towering satellite pole.

And with two very different kinds of waves lapping at this peaceful island citadel, I wonder, will they erode the walls?

IF YOU GO

GETTING THERE: Singapore Airlines flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to the Maldivian capital of Male via Singapore. A 55-minute domestic flight will then take you from Male to Kaadedhdoo Airport in the country's south. Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is a 30-minute speed boat ride away.

STAYING AND PLAYING THERE: Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is on a private island in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atol in the remote south of the country, 340km from Male. The resort offers a variety of accommodation options, from Beach Villas (from $A925 per night) to Lagoon Villas and Overwater Villas. All villa types have their own private pool. Outrigger offers a variety of activities and excursions, including day trips to local islands with your own personal guide who has connections with some of the islands' residents.

The writer was a guest of Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps have threatened to commit suicide should they be forced back to Myanmar.

That's one of the messages from a report Oxfam released on Monday after they interviewed 208 refugees.

The aid group has water and sanitation projects and is distributing food and supplies in the camps near Cox's Bazar.

More than 647,000-odd Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since a military crackdown in late August.

Villagers were massacred, their homes slashed and burned, women gang-raped and babies deliberately thrown on fires and burnt alive.

The Bangladesh and Myanmar governments reached a deal in late November to start returning people within two months.

"If we are forced to go back we will set ourselves on fire," refugee Sanjida Sajjad told Oxfam.

A 65-year-old grandfather, Nur Alum, was also adamant it wasn't safe to return to his country, where Rohingya people are denied citizenship and face discrimination at the hands of a Buddhist majority.

"Returning us by force - it would be better to throw us in a creek and bury us," he told the aid group.

Women refugees told Oxfam they were worried about a lack of lighting at the camps, and are scared to go to the toilet because the latrine shelters can't be locked.

There's also a shortage of adequate clothing, so some women stay hidden in their tents all day.

Oxfam Australia chief executive Helen Szoke said the humanitarian crisis was at a tipping point.

She pointed out the United Nations appeal for money for aid over the next three months was $365 million short.

The Turnbull government has chipped in $30 million.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.

Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS
A Catholic priest in Queensland has told his congregation the church is a flawed institution, and Australian archbishops must fight for change to stop sexual abuse.

Father Peter Schultz used his homily on Sunday to personally apologise to anyone who'd suffered abuse, which he said was the fault of the church hierarchy.

"We are a flawed institution and we have to own that fact," he told followers at St Thomas More's Church in South Toowoomba, just a few days after the royal commission into institutional abuse handed down its final report.
Rahul Gandhi was elected unopposed as president of the main opposition Congress to take over from his mother who has been at the helm since 1998 following the assassination of her husband Rajiv

India's Rahul Gandhi took over Saturday as president of the main opposition Congress, becoming the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to head the party that has ruled the country for much of its independent history.

Fireworks erupted over the party headquarters in New Delhi drowning out the voice of his mother Sonia Gandhi as she handed over the reins of power to her 47-year-old son.

Rahul, wearing a long flowing white kurta, smiled and waved from the dais adorned with posters of his late grandmother and father, former prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.

Slogans of "long live Rahul" were shouted as hundreds of supporters danced to drum beats and burst firecrackers.

Gandhi was elected unopposed to take over from his mother who has been at the helm since 1998 following the assassination of her husband Rajiv. She helped the Congress win the general elections in 2004 and 2009.

But the party was swept out of office by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right wing Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014 and is now in a fight to win back support before a national election which must be held by 2019.

Rahul has been party vice-president since 2013 and led its campaign for the 2014 election.

He was strongly criticised for what was Congress' worst-ever showing as it lost power to Modi.

Since then, the party has lost polls in many states to the BJP, exposing Rahul to further criticism.

On Saturday Sonia was handed a memento by former prime minister Manmohan Singh as a token of appreciation for her "astute leadership" over the years.
R Bindu also said the quality of education in Kerala had not dipped contrary to the opposition's claims.
Analysts say Sonia Ghandi saw herself as torch-bearer for the dynasty that has given India three Congress prime ministers

Sonia Gandhi stepped down as head of India's opposition Congress party Saturday after an extraordinary odyssey that transformed her from a shy housewife into the country's most powerful politician and a torchbearer for the iconic Gandhi-Nehru dynasty.

The Italian-born Gandhi, 71, was thrust into the cauldron of Indian politics after marrying Rajiv Gandhi, scion of India's political first family, in February 1968.

One of three daughters of an Italian building contractor, she arrived in India as a mini-skirt-wearing bride and converted into a sari-clad daughter-in-law, giving up her Italian citizenship for Indian nationality.

Her years in the Gandhi household when her strong-willed, autocratic mother-in-law Indira was prime minister gave her a ringside seat to India's turbulent history.

It was Sonia who cradled Indira Gandhi as she lay dying after being shot by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

She said she "fought like a tigress" to prevent Rajiv, a commercial pilot, from entering politics after his brother Sanjay -- Indira's first political heir -- died piloting a small plane.

After Indira's assassination, Sonia feared politics might mean a violent death for her husband too, a vision that materialised when Rajiv was killed by a Tamil suicide bomber on the campaign trail in 1991.

She then led a reclusive existence for six years, raising her two children.

- Sense of duty -

But in 1998, she accepted the entreaties of Congress leaders to join the political fray and give the party a Gandhi figurehead. A year later she was elected to parliament.

In a rare television interview last year she said she had changed her mind "because of a certain duty that I felt towards my mother-in-law and my husband".

Such is the family's aura that many party supporters cannot conceive of a future without a Gandhi in charge

"I saw them struggle, work day and night to uphold certain values, certain principles," she said. "When it came to my call, I felt that I was being cowardly not to respond to them."

Having been raised in a Roman Catholic family near Turin, she once confessed that before meeting her husband she had "only a vague idea India existed somewhere in the world".

The pair met in Cambridge when Sonia was studying English at a language school and Rajiv was a mechanical engineering student at Trinity College. She said it was "love at first sight".

Sonia overcame stagefright to propel Congress to a surprise electoral win over the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in May 2004.

She barnstormed the country, addressing huge rallies who shouted "Sonia Gandhi zindabad" -- "Long Live Sonia Gandhi".

Speaking in Hindi, reading from a Roman text, she told audiences that her heart was "buried in the soil of this country".

- 'Inspirational story' -

Poised to make history as India's first-foreign born leader, but with Hindu rightwingers threatening mass protests and vowing to hound the "foreigner" out of office, she quietly declined the job of prime minister.

She was dubbed "Saint Sonia" by Indian media for giving up leadership of the world's largest democracy, an act that only enhanced the family mystique.

But as Congress party president, she remained at the heart of decision-making.

Her heavily guarded bungalow at Number 10 Janpath in the Indian capital became as vital an address to visit as the prime minister's sprawling Race Course Road residence.

Her biographer Rasheed Kidwai said it had been "an inspirational and exceptional success story".

"She understood India very well. She was successful in blunting allegations of being an outsider and history will judge her very well on that count," he said.

Sonia delivered a second, bigger victory for Congress in 2009, but the term was marred by massive corruption scandals, including a telecoms graft case that cost the country up to $40 billion.

There were also worries about Gandhi's health -- in 2011 she had surgery in the United States for an undisclosed illness thought to be cancer.

Three years later Congress suffered its worst ever election defeat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP after a campaign fronted by Sonia's son Rahul, whose political career she has tirelessly promoted.

Analysts say Sonia saw herself as torchbearer for the dynasty that has given India three Congress prime ministers -- its first Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv -- since independence from Britain in 1947.

Such is the family's aura that many party supporters cannot conceive of a future without a Gandhi in charge, even though critics decry the need for its continuation.

"If you have a family whose earlier generations have been in politics it gives you a head start," she once said.

"But India is a democracy ... You may have an advantage at the beginning, but you have to work hard to prove yourself."
Iraqi Christian students line up at the Latin patriarchate school in the Marka district of the Jordanian capital Amman

Inside a church in Jordan, a displaced Iraqi Christian mother dreams of a brighter future for her children far from the war-torn country they were forced to flee.

She is among thousands of Iraqi Christians from the northern town of Bartalla to have sought refuge in neighbouring Jordan after running for their lives from jihadists.

"We've lost everything. Our houses have been pillaged and destroyed. There's nothing left over there to make it worth returning," said Walaa Louis, 40.

When the Islamic State group swept across northern Iraq in 2014 they told Christians to convert, pay tax, leave or die. Tens of thousands chose to flee.

Baghdad has announced final victory over the extremist group, but Louis says she will not return to a country where she does not feel safe.

She, her husband and three children -- now aged 16, 15 and eight -- fled Bartalla in August 2014, trekking for hours in the dead of night to the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Arbil.

They endured months of struggle in Arbil, including sleeping rough in parks or inside churches.

Iraqi forces retook Bartalla from IS earlier this year, but when Louis returned to her hometown in August she found nothing but a home in cinders.

She and her husband decided to head to Jordan, where they filed with the UN refugee agency for resettlement "in any safe country" to ensure her children's future.

But as Christmas approaches, Louis said her family has received no financial aid and their money is running out.

"We've spent everything we had," said Louis, who suffers from a heart condition.

"I can't even see a doctor or buy Christmas presents for my children," she said.

For now, her youngest son is among some 200 children aged 6 to 14 attending night classes at the Marka Latin Church in the Jordanian capital Amman.

- 'Right to life' -

They are taught by volunteer Iraqi teachers, and receive books, clothes and meals for free.

The night classes are all in English, the school's head Sanaa Baki said, as the parents of most Iraqi students have applied for resettlement abroad.

She hopes the language skills will help the children better settle in foreign schools if these requests are granted.

Some 10,000 Iraqi Christian refugees live in Jordan, according to Father Rifaat Badr, who heads a Catholic research centre.

Many of them dream of new lives in Europe, Canada, Australia or in the United States.

The church's priest, Khalil Jaar, believes education is also key to the children remembering where they come from.

"The saying goes, 'If you want to destroy a people, erase their history and make their children ignorant'," he said.

"We need to work to ensure all these children are given their right to education and to life."

This month, France's ambassador to Jordan, David Bertolotti, visited the church to announce a 120,000 euro ($140,000) donation for the night classes to continue until the end of the school year.

Under a large Christmas tree, children with wooden crosses dangling around their necks sang the Iraqi national anthem at the top of their lungs.

Ban Benyamin Yussef, a mother-of-four, was among the parents present.

An Iraqi Christian student sits in front of a a mural in a playground at a school in the Jordanian capital Amman

"After Daesh members plundered, destroyed and burned our home and my husband's grocery shop, we decided to pack our bags and seek refuge in Jordan, hoping to start a new life," the 43-year-old said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

It was the last leg of a journey fleeing harassment across Iraq.

"When sectarian violence flared in 2006, we received death threats and fled Baghdad for Mosul", a city in northern Iraq, she said.

Threatened there too, they escaped to a small village north of the city -- until IS arrived in 2014.

But even now that Iraqi forces have claimed victory over the jihadists, Yussef and her family have no intention of returning to Iraq.

"We can't go back. Our towns have been destroyed. We've lost everything."
New York City police stand on a corner in Times Square a day after a man prematurely detonated a suicide bomb at the nearby Port Authority Bus Terminal on December 12, 2017

Returning fighters from the vanquished Islamic State group pose a grave danger to Europe and the United States, but the primary extremist threat comes from people living and radicalized inside their country, US terror experts say.

Even if they have no battleground experience, those who decide to undertake solo attacks, like the two recently in New York, in the name of the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda are almost impossible to detect in advance.

"In France, the US, or elsewhere, there certainly won't be any more large attacks planned from abroad like those of November 13, 2015 in Paris," said Marc Sageman, a former CIA agent and terror expert, referring to the multipronged IS operation that left 130 dead.

"Ever since then, attackers here or in Europe have not been guided by IS but acted on their own, imagining themselves to be soldiers of an imagined Islamic community which they want to defend or avenge."

Neither Akayed Ullah, the Bangladeshi immigrant who tried to blow up a New York subway station last week, mainly wounding himself, nor Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek who mowed down people on a New York bike path on October 31, killing 8, had any evident contact with Islamic State jihadists aside from watching their propaganda videos.

Experts say that kind of self-radicalized attacker, completely unknown to authorities, is the main threat countries face today.

- Safe haven in a bedroom -

Floral tributes are seen in Parliament Square in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 24, 2017, two days after the March 22 attack on the British parliament and Westminster Bridge

While returning IS fighters are definitely a threat, "it's not a primary concern," said Albert Ford of the New America think tank.

"The attacks in this country were made by people who were in the country for years. The real danger is with these not very sophisticated but deadly attacks that we saw lately in New York."

According to New America data, 85 percent of the 415 people accused of Islamist-related crimes in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks have been American citizens. Of them, 207 were born in the United States.

They also were not known to law enforcement: only one fourth had a police record.

"None of the deadly jihadist attacks in the United States since 2014 had a known operational connection to ISIS or its networks," a New America report says, using another acronym for the Islamic State group.

On both sides of the Atlantic, homegrown attacks "are obviously the most dangerous," echoed Thomas Sanderson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Transnational Threats Project.

"Of the 19 last major attacks in Europe, 17 did not have a direct foreign factor element to it."

Homegrown attackers stay under the radar, giving little away that would alert police, Sanderson noted.

"Their safe haven is their bedrooms. They can prepare at home, they don't need the footprint of a camp anywhere," he said.

- Overseas threat from IS remains -

A court sketch made on October 13, 2017 in a Paris courthouse shows Abdelkader Merah gesturing during his trial for complicity in the series of shootings committed by his brother Mohamed in Toulouse and Montauban in 2012

At the same time, experts say, the threat from IS in Syria and Iraq has not disappeared even if the group has been expelled from nearly all of the territory it held.

For those who survive, according to former US undersecretary of defense for intelligence Michael Vickers,the war isn't over.

"Defeating insurgencies always takes time. It ranges from ten years to multi decades. And this one is a global insurgency, with expanded space and expanded time," he said.

Indeed, the Islamic State group planned for battlefield losses and has a strategy for surviving, noted Bruce Hoffman, a Georgetown University national security expert.

"Two or three years before the Paris attacks, ISIS put in place an external operations network. This network extends beyond Europe," he noted.

"The traction of that strategy was demonstrated last May when a bomb attack was committed in Manchester, England, against a concert venue. That attack was operated by an ISIS cell operating out of Benghazi, Libya."

And the returnees, even if they stand a much higher chance of being spotted by police than self-radicalized homegrown attackers, are still part of that network, added Sanderson.

Even if returnees' numbers have been low, he said, "the returning fighters present a massive potential problem because of the skills and the credibility and the motivation."
Workers look on as United Airlines Flight 747 preapres to take off from San Francisco International Airport for its final flight to Honolulu, Hawaii -- one of the last before United retires its entire Boeing 747 fleet

The Boeing 747, the original jumbo jet that was the favorite American presidents and key to affordable mass market air travel in the United States, will pass into aviation history this week.

Nearly 50 years after the its debut, the 747 will take its final commercial flight with an American carrier Tuesday on Delta Air Lines' Seoul-to-Detroit route.

It "made flying available for everyone," said Boeing chief company historian Michael Lombardi said of the iconic jet. "The 747 gave wings to the world."

Aerospace consultant Michel Merluzeau said the plane changed travel. "All of a sudden, you could go from Singapore to London in less than 24 hours. It made everything more accessible."

Delta's sendoff for the storied aircraft includes special flights on Wednesday for employees and top customers. Ticket prices for these "farewell tour" flights have soared owing to demand from nostalgic consumers.

Model of an Air France Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet interior with passengers in September, 1966

The 747 will still be in the skies for Lufthansa, British Airways and Korean Air Lines.

And Boeing also will still build the jet as a freight carrier and for a few unique clients, including the US president, who has used a specially-outfitted 747 as Air Force One since 1990.

But the American aerospace giant has been shifting to more fuel-efficient models for commercial travel.

- Original 'jumbo jet' -

"The 747 was a major milestone in the history of flight," said Bob Van der Linden, curator of the aeronautics department at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

"It's big, very comfortable, beautiful, it has a staircase on it," Van der Linden added. "It's a symbol of economic power."

Nicknamed the original "jumbo jet" because of the huge hump, the plane is able to carry upwards of 600 passengers.

Boeing will still build the 747 as a freight carrier and for select clients, including the US president, who has used a specially-outfitted 747 as Air Force One since 1990

Its origins date to the early 1960s when Boeing's then chief Bill Allen was approached by Juan Trippe, head of now-defunct Pan Am Airlines, to build a bigger plane to address the growing problem of airport crowding.

Boeing originally considered a double-decker aircraft, but the companies concluded that it would be difficult to evacuate passengers in case of an emergency, opting instead for a twin-aisle "wide body" design.

The next challenge, Lombardi said, was to commit enough resources to the program at a time when Boeing already was building other aircraft such as the 707 and the new 727, while also working on the Apollo space program.

Lacking construction capacity to manufacturer the new behemoth, Boeing built a new assembly plant in the northwestern state of Washington state.

"There is always a calculated risk launching a new commercial plane," Lombardi said. "The customer was interested and the leader here at Boeing saw that there was a future for this plane."

Since its debut in February 1969, more than 1,500 of the 747s have been delivered, and 500 are still in service, according to Flightglobal Ascend.

A Boeing 747 during one of its first flights on February 19, 1969

As it began to phase out the 747, Boeing has downsized its aircraft. The 777, introduced in 1995, is smaller, seating up to 550 and requires less fuel because of its two engines.

"Frankly we really don't see much demand for really big airplanes," Randy Tinseth, Boeing vice president of marketing, said in June.

"There will be just a handful moving forward. Things we do for VIPs, things we do for the president, military operations, but we don't see a significant demand for passenger 747s."
The Baoding municipality has a "zero coal" designation, but the transition to gas has been difficult

With temperatures dipping below freezing in a northern Chinese village, a group of parka-clad women tried to stay warm as they played mahjong around a small gas stove in a grocery store.

Many in China have been shivering more than usual this winter as authorities have curbed coal heating to fight pollution and the switch to natural gas has been plagued by shortages.

In northern Hebei province, even a hospital and schools have struggled to heat their frigid facilities, prompting some teachers to hold classes outdoors in the sunshine.

"Of course we miss the coal," said a woman surnamed Qin, who had invited neighbours into her grocery store in Niezhuang village -- about 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Beijing -- to play mahjong, a traditional Chinese game.

Gas power is "completely unpredictable," Qin said. "One moment we have it, the next moment there's none. And then it's freezing."

The environment ministry has imposed tough anti-pollution targets on 28 cities around Beijing. At least three million homes must switch from coal to gas or electric heating.

In Niezhuang, all the coal stoves have been destroyed, according to Qin. Some of their dismantled pieces lay scattered in people's backyards.

"Coal was nice because it allowed us to stay warm and save money," the store owner said.

Sales of the fossil fuel traditionally used in the Chinese countryside was banned in this district of Hebei in the summer.

Niezhuang is part of the Baoding municipality, one of 18 districts in Hebei with a "zero coal" designation, but the transition to gas has been difficult.

Thin yellow pipes now snake along the walls of the homes in the village, spanning alleyways and shifting in the wind. They are marked by a sign: "Caution: Gas Pipes."

The gas pipes came into operation in November.

The heating is inconsistent, villagers said, and the bills costly. According to Qin, a family must spend at least 5,000 yuan ($750) over the winter -- compared with 2,000 yuan ($300) for coal -- not including the subsidised price of the gas heater that must be purchased.

- 'Incredibly dirty' -

In some villages to the north of Baoding, households were cut off from coal without even being connected to gas heating, Caixin magazine reported.

Officials have been under pressure to deliver results in the fight against smog, which has become a health hazard across swathes of China

"There was a clear lack of communication and planning," Greenpeace energy campaigner Huang Wei told AFP, noting that authorities had months to prepare for the winter.

One local government waited until October, right before the cold weather started, to begin the bidding process for the installation of a gas pipeline, Huang said.

Officials have been under pressure to deliver results in the fight against smog, which has become a health hazard across swathes of China.

"The year-end evaluation of many local officials is now closely related to the environment and air quality. So this year, the coal-to-gas (policy) has been carried out more intensely," IHS Market analyst Zhou Xizhou said.

In Baoding, long one of the most polluted industrial cities in the country, a resident surnamed Wang beamed up at the blue sky and said he did not miss the coal.

"It was incredibly dirty and polluting," he said from the courtyard of his home where has been receiving gas since last year.

- 'Ice boxes' -

But the surge in gas demand has challenged suppliers.

On November 28, Hebei warned that up to 20 percent of its gas needs were not met and that supply was being rationed.

Even a hospital and schools have struggled to heat their frigid facilities

In Wang's neighbourhood, residential complexes and the Hebei University-affiliated hospital went virtually unheated.

The hospital, which serves 3,000 patients, received only about 13 percent of the gas needed to function, the facility said.

The university faced a similar situation, as dormitories were transformed into "ice boxes" for two weeks, one student said.

Schools in Baoding's suburbs were also left without heating as they lacked an alternative to coal burners.

In response to the uproar, the environment ministry reauthorised coal in areas not equipped with alternative heating in early December.

But more challenges loom with Chinese gas terminals saturated, hindering imports as the country's storage capacity is limited, said Zhou, the analyst.

"It's hard for the system to manage seasonal peaks," Zhou said.

Meanwhile people like Sun, a farmer in Hebei, are left with gas bills that are three times higher than coal, making it "unbearable for ordinary folks".

Even in the name of blue skies, Sun said, "sacrifice is difficult".
South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is now in line to succeed President Jacob Zuma

South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa was narrowly elected head of the ruling ANC party Monday, winning a bruising race that exposed deep rifts within the organisation that led the fight against apartheid.

Thousands of raucous Ramaphosa supporters sang and chanted in the conference hall as rival backers of defeated candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma appeared dejected.

Ramaphosa won 2,440 votes to Dlamini-Zuma's 2,261.

"We declare comrade Cyril Ramaphosa the new president of the African National Congress," an official told party delegates in Johannesburg.

The victory puts Ramaphosa in line to succeed President Jacob Zuma, whose reign has been plagued by corruption scandals, economic slowdown and growing anger at the once-omnipotent party.

The vote was a long and acrimonious process. Delegates who had travelled from around South Africa cast their ballots after repeated delays caused by disputes over who was entitled to vote.

President Zuma was seen as backing his former wife Dlamini-Zuma, allegedly to secure protection from prosecution on graft charges after he leaves office.

But his loyalists did win senior positions in the vote, including David Mabuza as party deputy chief, meaning Ramaphosa is likely to face strong internal opposition to his pro-business reform agenda.

"I hope you will cooperate with the new leadership," Baleka Mbete, party chairwoman, told delegates.

- Falling public support -

President Zuma stepped down as party chief at the conference but could remain as head of state until the 2019 election.

The ANC, which has ruled since 1994 when Nelson Mandela won the first multi-racial vote, faces a struggle to retain its grip on power in the next election due to falling public support.

"The party will decide if Zuma goes (before the 2019 election)," Mzwandile Mkhwanazi, a delegate from KwaZulu-Natal province, told AFP.

"Ramaphosa's victory is good for the country. We need a stable country, a president able to fight corruption. We think he is up to the task."

The rand currency pared earlier gains and was 2.8 percent stronger against the dollar on Monday evening in Johannesburg.

Ramaphosa, 65, is a former trade unionist leader who led talks to end white-minority rule in the early 1990s and then became a multi-millionaire businessman before returning to politics.

He is often accused of failing to confront Zuma while serving as his deputy since 2014.

The vote was a long and acrimonous process

Dlamini-Zuma was head of the African Union commission until earlier this year and a former interior, foreign affairs and health minister.

She had four children with Zuma before divorcing in 1998.

- 'Rebuild party image' -

"I believe Ramaphosa will work to bring back the principles of liberal politics in the party," Amanda Gouws, politics professor at Stellenbosch University, told AFP.

"The outcome of the vote was not easy to call. What is at stake here is unity -- the new leaders need to forge unity and rebuild the image of the party."

Allegations swirled of delegates being targeted with bribes, but ANC spokesman Khusela Sangoni told reporters that the process had proceeded "smoothly".

"I'm bowing out very happy because I think... I made my contribution," President Zuma, 75, said on Monday as he walked through the vast conference centre hosting the five-day event.

South African President Jacob Zuma's loyalists won senior positions in the vote, meaning Ramaphosa is likely to face strong internal opposition to his pro-business reform agenda

Soaring unemployment and state corruption have fuelled frustration at the ANC among millions of poor black South Africans who face dire housing, inadequate education and continuing racial inequality.

Party veteran Zikalala Snuki told AFP: "It's democracy. We are happy that we managed to elect the top leadership.

"We have Ramaphosa, who may be able to steer the ship in the right direction."

The opposition Democratic Alliance party said that the ANC was "held together only by the glue of patronage and corruption, and Cyril Ramaphosa is just a new face to the same old ANC."
Kai Markus gave up a successful business to run the ancient Silk Road from Hamburg to Shanghai

The world today is enough to make some people want to get up and just run to the ends of the Earth, so that's what Kai Markus decided to do.

Troubled by what he sees as growing bigotry and division in the world, the German management consultant gave up a successful business to run the ancient Silk Road from Hamburg to Shanghai in a Quixotic quest to show that we are all one.

Nine months, eight countries, 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles) and two fractured heel bones later, Markus hobbled across a symbolic finish line in Shanghai on Saturday with a feeling of mission accomplished.

"OK, the world is turning crazy, you have to do something," the 45-year-old said.

"If I want to talk about prejudice, I'm nobody, who will listen to me? So I thought about what I could do to wake up some people."

Others have driven or biked overland from China to Europe. But Markus, whose wife is Chinese, could find no one who had run the route from sea to sea.

"Why not connect Europe and China along the Silk Road, which is in all people's minds at the moment?" he said, referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping's promotion of a revived east-west trade and cultural corridor.

But Markus -- who won't specify his politics to avoid riling sponsors -- is not a runner, and he got far more than he bargained for on an odyssey chronicled via Instagram, Facebook and his website runmysilkroad.com.

- Road blocks -

Markus set out in March followed by friend Victor Neubauer, who drove a black 1984 Volkswagen Beetle towing a camper-van stuffed with protein powder, thousands of nutritional supplement pills and other supplies.

He ran in a freezing Russian spring and 52-Celsius heat (125 Fahrenheit) in China's Taklamakan Desert, through painful shin splints and stomach ailments, and four dozen pairs of running shoes.

A freak stumble while running in China's central Hubei province broke both of Markus' heel bones

Markus once ran through the night in a Chinese sandstorm when there was no accommodation available, and he nearly turned back several times when unforeseen costs or suspicious border officials blocked the way.

"They check more because we came in with a fancy car and a stupid idea," he said.

The first time he heard his now 18-month-old son say "Daddy" was on a bittersweet video call.

Halfway through China, their faithful Beetle's exhausted engine finally died. The car's corpse will be shipped back home.

Then, in late September, a freak stumble while running in China's central Hubei province broke both of Markus' heel bones. The incident made Chinese state news broadcasts, sent some sponsors fleeing and seemed like the end.

"But that's not my style, and Victor, that's also not his style," said Markus, who spends most of his time in a recovery wheelchair.

- Soldiering on -

With Neubauer gamely stepping in to run, they continued with a mix of running and other transportation, but only after the mulish Markus insisted on having his foot surgery in China, resisting family pressure to return home because he felt it would betray the spirit of his "culture bridge" run.

The generosity of strangers kept Markus going, like the poor Belarus couple that slept on their sofa so the Germans could have their beds.

Markus received countless offers of accommodation, meals, supplies during his journey

"No German would do that," Markus said.

There were the imposing Russian police who pounded on their door one night, only so they could lead them to a safer parking spot for their camper van.

There were countless offers of accommodation, meals, supplies, and many eager conversations with locals about the world.

Pictures from March show Markus with far more pepper in his now salt-and-pepper hair, but he has no regrets.

"Most importantly, (the run) brings us closer together. In a world like we have now, I think we need many, many more projects to bring people together instead of (separating) them," he said.
Indonesians protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel

Tens of thousands of Indonesians protested Sunday against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the latest show of support for the Palestinians in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

The rally was organised by the top Islamic authority the Indonesian Ulema Council and supported by the government as well as several other Islamic organisations.

Police said 80,000 protesters gathered at the National Monument, a tower that looms over central Jakarta, waving the Palestine flag and banners reading "Free Palestine" as they chanted "God is greatest!"

"This is my solidarity as a Muslim to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine... the Al-Aqsa mosque, a historical mosque for Muslims, is there (in Jerusalem)," said Hermawati, from the nearby city of Bogor, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Dressed mostly in white, the demonstrators urged the US to change its decision.

Indonesia's religious affairs minister and Jakarta's governor were among those at the protest site just a few metres from the US embassy, which was cordoned off behind coils of razor wire.

"Isn't it the government's job to work on the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians? And the government has tried its best so Palestine can achieve its rights and independence," Religious Affairs minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the crowd.

Indonesia has condemned President Donald Trump's decision, with President Joko Widodo joining other world Islamic leaders last Wednesday in an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

The leaders urged world powers to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of the "State of Palestine" and declared Trump's decision "null and void legally".

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution which would find that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed.

The status of Jerusalem, a city considered holy by Christians, Jews and Muslims, is a sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state.
A toxic dump last year from a Formosa steel plant sparked one of Vietnam's worst environmental catastrophes

A Taiwanese steel firm behind a toxic spill that killed tonnes of fish in central Vietnam last year was fined for a second time for illegally burying "harmful" waste, official sources said Sunday.

The deadly dump from Formosa's $11 billion steel plant in Ha Tinh province sparked one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes, decimating livelihoods along swathes of coastline and prompting months of rare protests in the authoritarian country.

The firm was initially fined $500 million for pouring toxic chemicals -- including cyanide -- into the ocean in April 2016, and has now been ordered to pay an additional $25,000 on separate charges of burying harmful solid waste in the ground, according to the official Cong Ly newspaper.

A local contractor will also be fined $20,000 for helping to dispose of the 100 cubic metres of waste, added Cong Ly, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Court.

An official in Ha Tinh province confirmed the latest fine to AFP on Sunday, without providing further details.

The waste was buried in July 2016, and local residents reported seeing trucks ferrying the material to a farm belonging to the contractor hired to dispose of it.

Police confirmed the waste came from Formosa and launched an investigation last year. Officials would not comment on why it took more than a year to issue the nominal fines.

The toxic spill set off angry demonstrations against the company and the government in the one-party state that routinely jails its critics, including by affected fishermen who demanded greater compensation.

Several activists have been arrested and convicted for their involvement in the protests, including a 22-year-old blogger who was jailed for seven years last month.

Formosa's huge steel plant, which was under construction at the time of the disaster, was given the green light to resume operations in April after officials found it had addressed dozens of violations.

Several officials were punished or fired after the disaster, which saw beaches littered with fish, including large offshore species.

Communist Vietnam has been accused of ignoring environmental concerns on its march toward rapid development, though the issue has become a central issue for some groups who have taken up the cause on social media.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak tore across the major islands of Samar and Leyte on Saturday, toppling power lines in 39 towns or cities and damaging roads and bridges

Landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Kai-Tak have killed 26 people and 23 more are missing in the eastern Philippines, authorities said Sunday.

The deaths were reported in the small island province of Biliran, a day after the storm pounded the east of the archipelago nation.

Kai-Tak tore across the major islands of Samar and Leyte on Saturday, toppling power lines in 39 towns or cities and damaging roads and bridges, the national disaster agency said.

Some 87,700 people were forced from their homes in the region. But the previous death toll had stood at just three.

Sofronio Dacillo, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, told AFP the deaths occurred in four towns in Biliran at the weekend.

"Rocks as big as cars fell on concrete houses after three days of continuous, heavy rain," chief inspector Lilibeth Morillo, Biliran police information officer, told AFP as she described a landslide in the mountainous district of Lucsoon.

"There were six families living there but they did not evacuate," she said, adding seven bodies were recovered in the area.

Gerardo Espina, governor of the island province just east of Leyte, gave the same overall death toll of 26 in an interview on ABS-CBN television. He said 23 people were missing.

The national disaster risk reduction agency could not immediately confirm if the 26 deaths included the initial three fatalities it announced on Saturday.

Kai-Tak weakened on Sunday afternoon, with gusts of up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) an hour, and was downgraded to a tropical depression, state weather forecasters said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he would soon fly to the storm-hit areas.

"There is so much destruction there. There are places where the bridge was destroyed and I would like to see for myself what government can do better," Duterte said in a speech.

- Thousands stranded -

Disaster officials warned that more floods and landslides were possible and said 15,500 passengers were stranded because ferry services remained suspended in parts of the region.

The storm forced some 87,700 people from their homes in the region

"I've been stranded for three days, sleeping in the bus, and I just want to get home to my family for Christmas," Eliaquin Pilapil, a 55-year-old farmer, told AFP from a port in the town of Matnog in the eastern province of Sorsogon.

The Christmas holidays are a busy travel season in the mainly Catholic Philippines, with people heading home to the provinces.

The nation is battered by about 20 major storms each year.

Samar and Leyte bore the brunt in 2013 of Super Typhoon Haiyan which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing.

In the Leyte city of Tacloban, Saturday's storm brought flash floods of up to 1.5 metres (five feet) and strong winds that left the city without power and water, according to its disaster office chief.

"The storm moved so slowly that it brought so much rain to our city. The floods resulted from four days of rain," Ildebrando Bernadas, head of Tacloban's disaster risk reduction office, told AFP.

Bernadas said 82 percent of Tacloban's districts were flooded.

The storm also damaged farms and crops, bringing more misery to people who had been recovering from Haiyan's destruction.

"We had a phobia from (Haiyan) which destroyed our coconut trees. We planted lettuce and eggplant but the new storm took them away too. It's devastating," Remedios Serato, a 78-year-old farmer in Leyte, told AFP.

strs-ajm/mtp
Israeli employees of Teva, the world's biggest manufacturer of generic drugs, hold placards during a protest in the centre of Jerusalem on December 17, 2017, against plans by the pharmaceutical giant to shed employees

Flights at Israel's main airport were suspended for several hours on Sunday as part of a strike against plans by pharmaceutical giant Teva to shed employees.

The four-hour halt hit international routes at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv from 0600 GMT, but Israeli army radio said services started returning to normal in the early afternoon.

The strike was part of a wave of "solidarity" industrial action called by the Jewish state's powerful Histadrut union, and intended to also target ports, banks, ministries, and other sectors.

Teva, the world's largest producer of generic drugs, will make 1,750 employees redundant in Israel as part of plans to slash 14,000 jobs globally over two years, according to Histadrut head Avi Nissenkorn.

The cuts would amount to more than a quarter of the Israeli drugmaker's global workforce of over 55,000, of which fewer than 7,000 work in Israel.

As part of the protest action, Teva employees also demonstrated at company locations around the country, Histadrut said.

Travellers wait during a strike over cuts at pharmaceutical giant Teva at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on December 17, 2017

Several hundred irate workers gathered outside the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before chanting "this is war, war, war" as they marched through the streets.

They briefly blocked a main road in Jerusalem before heading to the Teva factory, which has been occupied in protest.

At a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that he is going to meet with Teva's Danish boss Kare Schultz during the coming week.

A statement from his office said Netanyahu was aiming to "reduce the damage to workers, do everything possible to avoid the closure of the factory in Jerusalem, and ensure Teva remained an Israeli firm".

Teva has been saddled with debt after its $40 billion acquisition of the generics arm of rival Allergan last year.

The acquisition has been accompanied by low prices for generics, particularly in the United States, a major market.

Teva expects to save $3 billion by the end of 2019 with the two-year restructuring plan.

According to Histadrut, Teva has received $6.2 billion in tax reductions since 2006.
Iranian women wearing face masks wait at a bus stop in Tehran on December 17, 2017 after choking pollution blanketed the capital

Iran shut schools around Tehran Sunday and cancelled sporting events as thick smog blanketed the capital despite curbs on road traffic and industrial activity.

The authorities shuttered primary schools in the province of Tehran, home to 14 million residents, before ordering them to remain closed on Monday.

All sports competitions set for Monday were also cancelled, as restrictions on road traffic were stepped up, including a ban on trucks.

Airborne concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) hit 185 microgrammes per cubic metre in the south of Tehran and 174 in its centre on Sunday morning, local authorities said.

That is far above the World Health Organization recommended maximum of 25 microgrammes per m3 over a 24-hour period.

The microscopic particles lodge deep in the lungs and are harmful to human health.

"Tehran is suffocating (but) hundreds of thousands of cars are built each year," said Hossein, a man in his sixties who did not give his surname.

"They're building in the mountains, they're destroying our forests. We don't want any more oil, we don't want any more petrol," he added.

Every year, Iran's sprawling capital suffers some of the worst pollution in the world when cool temperatures cause an effect known as "temperature inversion".

The phenomenon creates a layer of warm air above the city that traps pollution from its more than eight million cars and motorbikes.

- 'Not doing anything' -

Authorities also ordered mines and cement factories to close, and called on the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with heart problems to stay indoors.

Residents who ventured out wore face masks while others chose to remain at home.

Ali Ebrahimian, a retiree, told AFP he only stepped outside to sort out "an urgent matter".

Fatemeh Assadi, a woman in her sixties, accused the authorities of failing to prevent the pollution.

A general view shows the Milad telecommunications tower in the distant behind a blanket of smog as winter's heavy pollution has hit new highs in Tehran, on December 17, 2017

"The government's not doing anything," she said.

Iran is expected to produce 1.5 million new vehicles by the end of this Persian year which ends in March, according to official figures, in a country where some 20 million cars and trucks are already on the roads.

In October, Tehran mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi said he wanted to develop public transport and help reduce traffic in the capital, which lies at between 1,400 and 1,800 metres above sea level.

But he warned that a solution would take time.

In the northwestern cities of Tabriz and Urmia, schools remained closed for the second day straight on Sunday, official news agency IRNA said.

While atmospheric pollution in Iran is not as severe as in India or China, it endangers the health of its residents.

In 2014, almost 400 people were hospitalised with heart and respiratory problems caused by pollution in Tehran. Nearly 1,500 others required treatment.

The health ministry estimated that pollution in 2012 contributed to the premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran and about 80,000 across the country.
A Pakistani security official helps an injured man after suicide bombers attacked a Methodist Church during a Sunday service in Quetta

At least five people were killed and 21 injured when two suicide bombers attacked a church in Pakistan during a service Sunday, just over a week before Christmas, police said.

Two women were among the dead at a Methodist church in the restive southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah, adding that five of the injured were in serious condition.

Oficials said police intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church's main door where he blew himself up.

"Police were quick to react and stop the attackers from entering into the main hall," Jah told AFP.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but attendance had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas.

"God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," tweeted the home minister.

TV footage showed shattered pews and broken musical instruments littered across blood-smeared floors.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people and have long faced discrimination -- sidelined into lowly paid jobs and sometimes the target of trumped-up blasphemy charges.

Along with other religious minorities, the community has also been hit by Islamic militants over the years.

In 2016 Lahore suffered one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks during the Easter season -- a suicide bomb in a park that killed more than 70 people including many children.

The bombing was later claimed by the Jamaat ul Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Police and troops have been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan for over a decade.

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is the largest of the country's four provinces but its roughly seven million inhabitants have long argued they do not get a fair share of its vast gas and mineral wealth.

Efforts to promote peace and development have reduced the violence considerably in recent years.

The push includes ongoing work on a mammoth Chinese infrastructure project -- the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- which will provide Beijing with a modern-day Silk Road to the Arabian Sea through Balochistan's deep-sea port of Gwadar.
Israelis protest against government corruption on December 9, 2017 in Tel Aviv

A former Israeli minister on Sunday started serving a 15-month jail sentence for fraud and breach of trust, judicial sources said.

Stas Misezhnikov, who was tourism minister from 2009 to 2013, was sentenced to prison in October for handing one million shekels ($280,000) in financial support to a student festival while securing a job at the event for a woman with whom he had an intimate relationship.

Misezhnikov starts serving time as public pressure increases to demand legal action against "corrupt" officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself faces two separate graft probes.

Misezhnikov is a member of Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party.

In August, Yisrael Beitenu secretary general Faina Kirshenbaum, who was deputy interior minister from 2013 to 2015, was charged with corruption, breach of trust, fraud and money laundering.

On Saturday, thousands of Israelis protested for a third week running in Tel Aviv to demand legal action against "corrupt" people in the government and their resignation.

The demonstration came a day after Netanyahu was questioned for the seventh time since January 2 in a corruption probe.

In one investigation, the prime minister is suspected of illegally receiving gifts from wealthy personalities including Australian billionaire James Packer and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

In a second case, police suspect Netanyahu sought a secret pact for favourable coverage with the publisher of the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

The alleged scheme, not believed to have been finalised, would have seen him receive favourable coverage in return for helping curb Yediot's competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel Hayom.

The 68-year-old premier has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and says he is the target of a smear campaign by political opponents.
Officials said security forces intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church's main door where he blew himself up

A suicide bomb attack on a Pakistan church claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least eight people and wounded 30 during a service on Sunday, just over a week before Christmas.

Two women were among the dead at a Methodist church in the restive southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, said provincial Home Secretary Akbar Harifal.

Several of the wounded were in serious condition, police added.

Officials said police intercepted and shot dead one attacker outside the church before he could detonate his bomb. But the second managed to reach the church's main door, where he blew himself up.

"Police were quick to react and stop the attackers from entering into the main hall," provincial police chief Moazzam Jah told AFP.

Each attacker was carrying 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of explosive plus grenades, said civil defence official Aslam Tareen.

IS, in a brief statement on its Amaq news agency, claimed responsibility.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but the congregation had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas.

"God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," tweeted the home minister.

An AFP reporter at the scene saw shattered pews, shoes and broken musical instruments littered across the blood-smeared floor of the church.

- 'Devastated'-

Liaqat Masih, a member of the congregation, said he was heartbroken by the violence and feared for his life as the firefight erupted between one attacker and police, who were later reinforced by paramilitaries and regular troops.

"I am devastated to see many of our dear ones dead and wounded today here in front of me," said Masih, 35.

Hours after the attack reports surfaced that a total of four attackers had been involved, with two escaping.

Senior police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema said investigators were analysing CCTV footage to check the claim and had launched a search for any further suspects.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people and have long faced discrimination -- sidelined into lowly paid jobs and sometimes the target of trumped-up blasphemy charges.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but the congregation had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas

Along with other religious minorities, the community has also been hit by Islamic militants over the years.

Following the latest attack, dozens of Christians protested in the northwestern city of Peshawar and called on officials to protect religious minorities.

In 2013 82 people were killed when suicide bombers targeted a church in the city.

And last year Lahore suffered one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks during the Easter season -- a suicide bomb in a park that killed more than 70 people including many children.

The bombing was later claimed by the Jamaat ul Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Police and troops have been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan for more than a decade.

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is the largest of the country's four provinces but its roughly seven million people have long argued they do not get a fair share of its vast gas and mineral wealth.

Efforts to promote peace and development have reduced the violence considerably in recent years.

The push includes continuing work on a mammoth Chinese infrastructure project -- the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- which will provide Beijing with a modern-day Silk Road to the Arabian Sea through Balochistan's deep-sea port of Gwadar.
Police in Gabon have arrested dozens of people working at a market in Libreville in connection with a knife attack in which two Danish nationals were wounded

Police in Gabon arrested dozens of people Sunday over a knife attack that wounded two Danish nationals working for National Geographic, apparently in retribution for "US attacks against Muslims," officials said.

The men detained were mostly traders and sellers in the popular market in Libreville where the attack occurred Saturday -- and all are from west Africa.

An official said they were taken to police headquarters, where they are due to be questioned.

"Operations are ongoing," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told AFP. "We are not commenting at this stage."

National Geographic confirmed that the targets of the attack were working for the organisation.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm the reports that the two Danish nationals horrifically attacked in Gabon are members of the National Geographic family," it said in a statement.

"We are in direct contact with the victims and the Danish production company with whom they were on assignment, and our main objective is to support their recovery and safe return to Denmark."

Police said the assailant is a 53-year-old Nigerien man who, according to witnesses, shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) during the attack.

The man, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, said in his first statements that he "acted in retaliation for US attacks against Muslims and America's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital," Defence Minister Etienne Massard said.

Residents said the man was from the Muslim Hausa/Fulani community and sold smoked meat from a cart in the city and in the market.

"We are still gathering information," Bilie By Nze said.

The market in Libreville, popular with tourists, was shut down after the incident and remained closed on Sunday, with security forces manning the gates.

Authorities have said the attack appeared to be politically motivated, but have not publicly classified it as terrorism.

Gabon, a small French-speaking former colony with 1.8 million inhabitants, has so far been spared the Islamist-inspired attacks that have taken place in some neighbouring countries.
Protests which have been taking place almost daily in Turkey against Trump's move continued at the weekend

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope on Sunday that Turkey would soon be able to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, as he stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump's recognition of the city as the Israeli capital.

Erdogan has sought to lead Islamic condemnation of his US counterpart's move, calling a summit of the leaders of Muslim nations last week in Istanbul who urged the world to recognise East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel after it seized control of the area in the 1967 war, in a move never recognised by the international community.

"Because it is under occupation we can't just go there and open an embassy," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling party in the city of Karaman.

"But, God willing those days are near and... we will officially open our embassy there," he said, without giving any precise timescale.

Turkey currently has a general consulate in Jerusalem. Ankara has full diplomatic ties with Israel, and like other nations, its embassy is in Tel Aviv.

Erdogan again slammed Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there, saying it smacked of a "Zionist and evangelist logic and understanding."

He said Jews had no right to "appropriate" Jerusalem which was the "capital of Muslims".

"Please stop where you are and don't attempt any Zionist operation," he said. "If you try, then the price is going to be high."

- 'Only helps terror states' -

Erdogan hailed the outcome of the December 13 summit which he said showed the "world a vote of unity".

However the meeting was overshadowed by the level of attendance from close US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who sent lower-level officials rather than leaders.

Erdogan had warned Muslims, in a speech earlier this weekend, against "internecine warfare", saying fighting with each other "only helps terror states like Israel".

Israel has reacted relatively cooly to Erdogan's repeated broadsides over the last days, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "not impressed" by statements made at the summit.

Contacted by AFP, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson declined to comment on Erdogan's latest remarks.

- 'New momentum' -

Protests which have been taking place almost daily in Turkey against Trump's move continued at the weekend.

In the mainly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbakir, thousands of people turned out Sunday, waving Palestinian flags and brandishing slogans like "the massacres will not stop if all Muslims are not together."

In a separate speech also Sunday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that "from now on we declare that occupied East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine", adding Turkey wanted to see a solution for Jerusalem that satisfied both sides in the conflict.

Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin -- a key foreign policy advisor of the president -- wrote in a newspaper article that Trump's move represented "a toxic mix of populism and unilateralism".

But he wrote in Daily Sabah that one positive consequence was that the issue of the Palestinians was again at the centre of global debate.

"This new momentum should now be utilised to find a fair and lasting peace," Kalin said.

Last year, Turkey and Israel ended a rift triggered by Israel's storming in 2010 of a Gaza-bound ship that left 10 Turkish activists dead and led to a downgrading of diplomatic ties.

The two sides have since stepped up cooperation, particularly over a planned gas pipeline in talks spearheaded by Erdogan's son-in-law and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak.

But Erdogan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, has kept up his verbal attacks on Israel's policies.
Yemen received only 61 percent of the aid it needed in 2017, according to the UN

A Saudi-led air strike has killed at least three civilians in Yemen's Marib province, a local official said on Sunday, but a rebel news agency gave a higher death toll.

The local official, speaking from Marib east of Sanaa, said the civilians were in a vehicle in the Hreib Karameesh district when it was hit overnight by the air strike.

The Saba news agency linked to the Shiite Huthi rebels said that 10 women in a civilian convoy were hit in the strike.

According to Saba, three air strikes hit the convoy as it was returning from a wedding party.

A Saudi-led coalition has been waging an air campaign against the Huthis since March 2015, in an attempt to shore up the internationally recognised government of Abedrabbo Mansur Hadi.

More than 8,750 people have been killed in the conflict since the intervention in the impoverished Arab Peninsula country, where more than 2,000 people have also died of cholera this year.

Humanitarian aid groups have urged all sides to show restraint, and the UN has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with seven million people on the brink of famine.

On Sunday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Yemen needed around $2.3 billion in aid in 2017 but that "only 61 percent" was met.
A picture taken on December 17, 2017 shows New Year wishes written on cards hanging on a Christmas tree in a coffee shop in the Syrian capital Damascus, with the one in the centre reading in Arabic: "Peace, happiness, success in 2018 and in all years

In a cozy Damascus coffee shop, university student Solaf Hammoud scribbles a heartfelt New Year wish on a yellow card then hangs it on a twinkling Christmas tree.

Instead of tinsel and baubles, the Christmas tree is decorated with a simple string of lights and dozens of coloured squares bearing the hopes and prayers of Damascenes, war-weary after nearly seven years of conflict.

"I hope all my displaced friends come back as soon as possible," reads Hammoud's invocation.

The 25-year-old says she does not have many new wishes this year but would really like is to start her own media programme and study in Paris.

"All my childhood dreams are still in my head," says Hammoud, her long, dark hair draped over a white knitted sweater.

"Every year I stand in front of the tree and wish for them again. Maybe they'll come true one day, but the most important thing is that we still have hope -- that we keep trying until they come true."

Although Syria is predominantly a Muslim country, many Syrians celebrate Christmas.

The candle-lit Zeriab coffee shop is teeming with young Syrians, sipping warm drinks and chatting while a soft, jazzy tune plays in the background.

As new customers walk in, they marvel at the tree and snap a few pictures, before writing their own wishes on red and pink strips of paper.

"I want to travel. That's it," reads one, and another says: "I wish I could find the girl that's on my mind."

But others include the painful prayers of a generation exhausted by war, including many young men hoping to evade Syria's compulsory two-year military service.

"God, postpone army service. Oh, God, oh God."

- 'Holidays stopped for everyone' -

"Our wishes have gotten very weird -- we wish not to get hurt, or that we leave the house and come back safe," says Mohammad Sharaf, 22.

"Someone else might wish he could just stay home and not have to leave... or keep studying at university without any problems."

Although it has been spared the massive destruction wrought on other Syrian cities, Damascus still faces regular rocket and mortar attacks by rebel fighters entrenched in its outskirts.

More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011, and over five million people have fled abroad as refugees.

For Raghad Jarmqani, hopes for the safety of her loved ones have become more than just wishes.

"These are things we ask for every day: that nothing happens to (those we know), that the mortars stop and the war ends... These are prayers now, not wishes," says the 29-year old housewife.

Her husband Bernard Jumaa owns Zeriab and says he started the Christmas tree tradition three years after the start of Syria's conflict.

"The holidays stopped here for everyone," the 39-year-old recalls, saying he eventually decided to try bringing Christmas cheer back to Damascus by decorating his cafe.

"But we all wished the war would end and things would go back to the way they were before. This is how we got the idea that our Christmas tree becomes a wishing tree."

Customers often jot down wishes about getting married, seeing long-lost loved ones, or waking up to find that the last seven years in Syria were just a bad dream.

Jumaa even receives wishes from outside Syria: "Those that left want to come back and those that are still here wish they could leave."

His own invocations have remained the same over the years, he tells AFP.

"My wish, every year and every moment, is for the bloodshed to stop, for me to blink and hear there's a final ceasefire in Syria," says Jumaa.

"As long as the war continues, I'll put up this tree -- because the smallest thing someone can do in the shadow of war is to wish, to imagine."
The son of Gaza restaurant owner Salim Rabaa imitates North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, depicted in a discount poster at the door of the premises

A Gaza Strip restaurant is offering mouth-watering discounts to any North Koreans who might be passing by in gratitude for Pyongyang condemning the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

But restaurateur Salim Rabaa is unlikely to have to honour his generous pledge.

"80 percent off for Korean customers in appreciation of the role of Korean leader Kim (Jong-Un) in our Palestinian cause," a sign on the Rabaa Restaurant in the Jabalia refugee camp reads.

There are currently no North Koreans in the besieged coastal Palestinian territory, nor do any Palestinian residents hold the citizenship, according to the Gaza interior ministry.

But Kim has won admirers for his vocal criticism of Israel and his jibes about the controversial American policy shift on Jerusalem.

US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 he would recognise the disputed city as Israel's capital and move his embassy there.

Kim responded by calling Trump a "dotard" and slamming his decision as a "reckless, wicked act".

Israel seized control of the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day war and later declared the entire city its undivided capital.

The Palestinians view the east side as the capital of their future state.

To enter Israel to visit Jerusalem, Gazans have to apply for hard-to-get permits from the Jewish state, which has blockaded the strip for a decade.

Rabaa said his idea had stirred debate on social media and elsewhere, while also attracting customers.

He said the "symbolic" discount offer was an expression of thanks "for Kims support of the Palestinian cause and his rejection of Trump's decision".

"I know there are no Koreans here in the Gaza Strip, but this is the least I can offer," he said.

Several pictures of Kim adorn the walls of the small restaurant.

Rabaa's initiative was a key topic of conversation among his customers.

"I love Kim because he stands up as a man and a hero against America," said one diner.

"I came to see the Koreans, if they are in Jabalia," joked another.
A giant portrait of Tunisian protester Mohamed Bouazizi hangs in the central town of Sidi Bouzid on December 17, 2013, as the city marked the 3rd anniversary of the start of the revolution

Demonstrators in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid on Sunday marked seven years since a street vendor set himself on fire in a move that touched off the Arab Spring uprisings.

Stallholder Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight on December 17, 2010 in a deadly protest over unemployment and police harassment that spiralled into the overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Tensions were running high as unemployed protesters and activists marched through the streets angry over the lack of jobs and opportunities that continue to plague Sidi Bouzid.

Some 40 members of radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir were detained for trying to hold an unsanctioned rally and unfurling banners critical of the authorities, security sources said.

On Saturday evening, security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators after they blocked some roads with tyres in the symbolic cradle of the revolution.

The mood was sombre at an official event to mark the occasion on Sunday, with allegations from organisers that the authorities were trying to downplay the key date in Tunisia's recent history.

The protests that began in Sidi Bouzid unleashed a wave of revolt that continues to reverberate around the Middle East.

Tunisia has emerged from the upheavals as the one relative success story and has been praised for its steps towards democracy, but it is still dogged by political and economic turbulence.
British actress Daisy Ridley (L) and US actor Mark Hamill (R) of Star Wars pose on the red carpet for the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" at the Royal Albert Hall in London on December 12, 2017

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" netted an estimated $220 million in North America on its opening weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations, a figure bettered only by 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

It was followed in second place by computer-animated comedy "Ferdinand" which took $13 million on what was also its debut weekend.

The latest instalment in the hugely popular sci-fi saga was widely expected to cash in on 12 months of relentless hype with one of the biggest domestic opening weekends.

It has won early critical acclaim even as movie-goers have been more circumspect, earning it a tepid 57 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to 93 percent among professional reviewers.

Last weekend's number one "Coco," a colorful Pixar movie set in Mexico, was beat out to third place with $10 million.

Feel-good film "Wonder" starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay slid to fourth, taking $5.4 million while "Justice League" fell to fifth with $4.2 million.

Rounding out the top ten were:

"Daddy's Home 2" ($3.8 million)

"Thor: Ragnarok" ($2.9 million)

"The Disaster Artist" ($2.6 million)

"Murder On The Orient Express" ($2.5 million)

"Lady Bird" ($2.1 million)
Raneem el-Welily of Egypt (L) plays a backhand to Laura Massaro of Great Britian in the final match of the Dubai PSA World Series Finals squash tournament in Dubai, May 28, 2016

Egypt's Raneem El Welily ended a three-year wait for atonement when she won the world title by upsetting her compatriot Nour El Sherbini 3-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 in Sunday's final.

World number two Welily made up for the loss of four match points against Nicol David in the 2014 final in front of her home crowd in Cairo by beating Sherbini, who had been in fine form and was looking to become the first Egyptian to win three successive world squash titles.

Sherbini took the first game and looked likely to take a two-game lead when she took five out of six points and saved a game ball to reach parity at 10-10 in the second game.

But Welily drew leve on games and completed the turnaround by winning the next two to take the title.

"After the first game I began to hit the ball more accurately, not as quick a pace and not as strong, but this still made a huge difference," she said.

"I was able to get in front of Nour and then move her to the front and back again as often as possible."

It was when Welily started to get the feel of the conditions that she showed just how talented a shot-maker she is -- deft with the drop shots, sharp-eyed with the cut-off volleys, and slick-wristed with the disguised drives.

She won the two points from 10-10 in the second game with a lovely forehand drive winner and a brilliant retrieve which lured Sherbini into angling the ball down off a side wall.

In the third game, Welily soon built a 7-3 lead and in the fourth a 6-2 lead, neither of which Sherbini was able to peg back.

It was several minutes before Welily could make her on court speech because of prolonged tears.

But eventually she named all those who had helped her, including husband Tarek Momen who she claimed "is good enough to win the world title too".

Egypt were already certain of winning both titles for the second successive time - with the Elshorbagy brothers, Mohamed and Marwan, contesting the men's final later on Sunday.

It is also the first time that Egypt has simultaneously held both the men's and women's world team titles.

No country has completed such a quartet of world titles before.
Breaking with international consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation

The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a draft resolution that would reject US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, diplomats said.

Egypt requested the vote Sunday, a day after it presented the measure that is likely to be vetoed by the United States.

Breaking with international consensus, Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it said.

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure but that most, if not all, of the 14 other members are expected to back the draft resolution.

Ukraine, a US ally at the council, however raised concerns about the decision to quickly move to a vote and requested additional time, a council diplomat said.

The council will hold a closed-door meeting Monday to discuss the draft resolution ahead of the vote, diplomats said.

- No embassies in Jerusalem -

The draft resolution calls on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead.

It demands that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that Turkey would soon be able to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, as he again denounced Trump's recognition of the city as the Israeli capital.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

The Palestinians had sought a toughly-worded draft resolution that would have directly called on the US administration to scrap its decision, but the final version was softened to draw maximum support.

Backed by Muslim countries, the Palestinians are expected to turn to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution rejecting the US decision, if, as expected, the measure is vetoed by the United States at the council.

On Saturday, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon "strongly condemned" the draft, dismissing it as an attempt by the Palestinians "to reinvent history."

"No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel," Danon said in a statement.

Aside from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented at the council, which requires nine votes for adoption.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced violence after President Joseph Kabila (seen in September 2017), who refused to step down after his final term last December, pushed back a new vote until December 2018

The UN's chief peacekeeper held talks Sunday with Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, stressing the need for greater security and new elections after 14 peacekeepers were killed in the violence-wracked east of the country.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Friday visited the city of Goma to see around 30 peacekeepers wounded in the attack on their base in North Kivu province on December 7.

A source with the UN's MONUSCO force in the country told AFP that Kabila and Lacroix discussed the attack -- the worst in the force's history -- as well as the security situation in the restive, landlocked nation.

Lacroix said the violence in eastern DR Congo was "a collective problem that needs to be tackled collectively".

"Cooperation with neighbouring countries is also very important," Lacroix was quoted as saying on UN radio.

DR Congo's huge eastern region has long been plagued by violence, but fighting between government soldiers and militia groups, as well as inter-ethnic clashes, has increased significantly this year.

North Kivu province, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, has seen a particular surge in killings and kidnappings between rival ethnic groups.

Since October 2014, the hardline ADF -- or Allied Democratic Forces -- has been accused by Kinshasa and the UN of killing more than 700 people in the Beni region, where last week's attack also took place.

The country has also faced violence after Kabila, who refused to step down after his final term last December, pushed back a new vote until December 2018.

"The process is the responsibility of the Congolese premier," Lacroix said. "We've indicated our willingness to work to support the process."
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during the Herzliya Conference in Herzliya, Israel on June 22, 2017

Israeli political leaders on Sunday agreed to submit a draft bill to parliament enabling capital punishment for "terrorists", Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party said in a statement.

Although the statement's wording was not explicit, the bill is aimed at Palestinian militants, in line with Lieberman's past pledges.

"Today the death penalty bill for terrorists has finally been approved by the coalition leaders' forum," the Hebrew-language announcement said, referring to the heads of the six political parties which comprise the governing coalition.

"The legislation should be very simple and very clear -- a terrorist who comes to kill innocent civilians will be sentenced to death," it said.

The statement quoted Lieberman as saying that if passed into law the bill would be a powerful deterrent and a counterweight to Palestinian assailants' hopes that after a spell in jail they could be freed in a political deal or prisoner exchange.

In the most recent such deal, Israel in 2011 released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held captive in the Gaza Strip for five years.

"We must not allow terrorists to know that after a murder they have committed, they will sit in prison, enjoy (comfortable) conditions and may be released in the future," Lieberman wrote.

The statement did not set a date for the bill to be put before parliament.

It would need to pass four readings before becoming law, and could then risk being struck down by the Supreme Court.

Israeli military law in the occupied West Bank allows for the death penalty, but rarely delivers a death sentence and never carries it out, Haaretz newspaper says.

The law within the borders of the Jewish state carries a death penalty for crimes against humanity and treason, but was last used when Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was convicted in 1961 and hanged a year later.
US Senator John McCain, pictured speaking in October 2017, will reportedly miss a key vote on Republican efforts to cut taxes

US Senator John McCain will miss a key vote on the Republican tax bill because of a viral infection, further narrowing the already-thin margin of support for the controversial plan.

The veteran Republican lawmaker, 81, will not return to Washington until January, his office said Sunday.

With McCain absent, the Republicans -- who have a 52-48 majority in the Senate -- can only afford one defection to pass the tax bill, with a vote expected in the coming days.

No Democrats or independents support the legislation in the Senate. It is expected to comfortably pass the House of Representatives.

The bill, which would slash corporate and individual taxes, has been criticized as primarily benefiting the wealthy.

It is President Donald Trump's last shot at a major legislative accomplishment in his first year in office.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, was diagnosed in July with a brain tumor known as a glioblastoma, after doctors found a blood clot over his left eye during a routine checkup.

The lawmaker "continues to improve" after receiving treatment for his viral infection, said his doctor Mark Gilbert.

"An evaluation of his underlying cancer shows he is responding positively to ongoing treatment," Gilbert added.

McCain's daughter Meghan said the celebrated Vietnam War veteran would be spending the holidays with family.

"My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona," she wrote on Twitter.

McCain's office said the senator will get physical therapy and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic.

"He is grateful for the excellent care he continues to receive, and appreciates the outpouring of support from people all over the country," it added.

"He looks forward to returning to Washington in January."

McCain has been critical of Trump and cast a crucial "no" vote on the president's effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, helping to save the Obama-era health care law.

Trump said he spoke with McCain's wife Cindy, and wished them well.

"I understand he'll come if we ever needed his vote, which hopefully we won't," Trump said after returning to the White House following a stay at the Camp David presidential retreat.

"He's going through very tough time, there's no question about it. But he will come back if we need his vote."
ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkey's president says Muslim nations will ask the United Nations for an "annulment" of President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the initiative would start at the U.N. Security Council and if it's "vetoed there, we will work within the U.N. General Assembly for the annulment of this unjust and lawless decision."

Erdogan spoke to a rally in the central province of Konya via teleconference on Friday.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, waves to supporters during a rally in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Erdogan said Muslim nations will ask the United Nations for an "annulment" of U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Trump's Dec. 6 decision on recognising Jerusalem. (Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)

His comments followed Wednesday's summit of Muslim and Arab nations - the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation - which declared east Jerusalem the capital of occupied Palestine and urged the world to recognize the state of Palestine.

Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Trump's Dec. 6 decision on recognizing Jerusalem.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures to supporters during a rally in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Erdogan said Muslim nations will ask the United Nations for an "annulment" of U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Trump's Dec. 6 decision on recognising Jerusalem. (Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, following the closing news conference after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Extraordinary Summit in Istanbul, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Muslim nations of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and appear set to counter it with a declaration of east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. (Yasin Bulbul/Pool Photo via AP)
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Marriott International's plans to open a new $600 million headquarters in suburban Maryland has been approved by a local planning board.

WTOP-FM reports that the Montgomery County Planning Board had approved the world's largest hotel company's plans to build near the Bethesda Metro station.

Marriott announced last year it would be staying in Montgomery after the county and Maryland offered the company a $60 million incentive package. The company also considered Washington and Northern Virginia.

The company hopes to break ground next year and move its 3,500 employees to the new location by 2022.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina has dismissed the head of its navy as part of the investigation into the disappearance of a submarine with 44 crew members aboard last month.

State news agency Telam said Saturday that Defense Minister Oscar Aguad had requested Adm. Marcelo Srur step down while authorities look into what happened to the ARA San Juan, which disappeared Nov. 15.

An internal navy investigation led to the suspension of two commanders this week.

FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the Argentina Navy shows an ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric vessel, near Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Navy's spokesman said Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, that U.S and Russian ships carrying remotely operated vehicles capable of deep seafloor searches are joining other vessels hunting for an Argentine submarine that went missing in the South Atlantic 19 days ago. (Argentina Navy via AP File)

Authorities say an explosion occurred near the time and place where the sub disappeared in the South Atlantic. The navy is no longer looking for survivors although a multinational operation continues to search for the vessel.

It was sailing from the southernmost port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata when it went missing.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Muslim clerics called for a boycott of American products Sunday in Indonesia's largest protest against President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Wearing white robes and carrying banners reading "Indonesia unites for Palestine" and "Save our Palestine," an estimated 80,000 people rallied in the capital of the world's largest Muslim nation in the 10th straight day of protests.

Anwar Abbas, a top cleric from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American products until Trump revoked his move.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital at Monas, the national monument, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

"Don't rely on their products," he said, as the crowd including men, women and children responded by waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouting "boycott!"

Previous anti-American protests have unsuccessfully lobbied for a boycott of U.S. goods.

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the protesters marched peacefully about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the National Monument Park to the U.S. Embassy. Some local media reported the number of the demonstrators was double the police estimate.

About 20,000 security forces were deployed to secure the rally.

In the petition, the clerics urged Trump to immediately revoke his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital because it has hurt international justice, violated human rights of the Palestinians and undermined peace efforts.

It also demanded nations not follow the U.S. in moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and urged the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss Trump's declaration.

The chairman of the clerics council, Ma'ruf Amin, said "let's fight together with the government and the world for the freedom of Palestine through political, diplomatic and economic ways."

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has strongly condemned Trump's move as a violation of U.N. resolutions.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and has long been a strong supporter of Palestinian aspirations for a statehood.

Trump's announcement overturned decades of U.S. policy, and a longstanding international consensus, that the fate of Jerusalem be decided as a part of a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians. Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city's eastern sector form the core of their conflict, and Trump's announcement was seen as siding with the Israelis.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital at Monas, the national monument, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Protesters shout slogans during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital at Monas, the national monument, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Protesters hold Indonesian and Palestinian flags during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital at Monas, the national monument, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Protesters hold up a Palestinian flag during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital at Monas, the national monument, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Screening devices that detect suicide vests like the one that exploded in a New York City subway tunnel are being tested in a Los Angeles transit station, but U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday the Transportation Security Administration should speed up plans to deploy the technology nationally.

"The fact that we have this new, potentially life-saving technology at our fingertips - an ability to detect concealed explosives worn by cowards looking to do us harm - demands the federal government put both the testing and the perfecting of this technology on the fast-track," Schumer said. "We not only want these devices in America's busiest cities, like New York, but we need them here."

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority is partnering with TSA to test devices known as stand-off explosive detection units, which do a full-body screening of passengers walking through a station without slowing them down. If an explosive device is detected, it triggers an alarm. The operator, a transit employee, sees a camera image of the passenger on a computer screen, but no anatomical details.

In this undated photo provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a pair of stand-off explosion detection units are deployed in The Metro in Los Angeles. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, wants the Transportation Security Administration to speed up plans to equip transit hubs with the screening devices that can detect suicide vests like the one that exploded in a New York City subway tunnel on Dec. 11, 2017. Schumer says stand-off explosive detection units are urgently needed in New York City and other busy transit areas. (LA Metro/Dave Sotero via AP)

"Along with industry partners, we are committed to identifying, testing and deploying technology that addresses threats to transportation across the spectrum," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.

QinetiQ SPO-NX screening devices were tested this week in one of Los Angeles' busiest stations, the 7th Street Metro downtown. The technology, under development since 2004, was also tested in Union Station in Washington before Thanksgiving and was used at a New Jersey Transit station during the 2014 Super Bowl, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.

Schumer called on the TSA to formally test the devices in New York City.

The machines, which resemble white television cameras on tripods, don't detect explosive vapors but instead scan for metallic and non-metallic objects on a person's body. Unlike airport screening devices, the equipment projects scanning waves at a person from a distance rather than having the person walk through a scanner.

The would-be suicide bomber in New York City during the morning commute on Monday injured himself when he set off a crude pipe bomb strapped to his chest. Officials said the Bangladeshi immigrant was indoctrinated into terrorism through internet videos.

"There's a global pattern that seems to be emerging involving suicide bombers and explosives in soft spaces," said Alex Wiggins, who runs the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's law enforcement division. "We want to be prudent and stay ahead of the threat."

The technology is still in the test phase and isn't ready for a widespread national rollout because it's still being evaluated to determine, among other things, how effective it is at detecting bombs and how often it gives false alarms, TSA spokesman Michael England said.

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AP writer Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this story.

In this undated photo provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, stand-off explosion detection units, left, are deployed in a corridor at The Metro in Los Angeles. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, wants the Transportation Security Administration to speed up plans to equip transit hubs with the screening devices that can detect suicide vests like the one that exploded in a New York City subway tunnel on Dec. 11, 2017. Schumer says that the devices are urgently needed in New York City and other busy transit areas. (LA Metro/Dave Sotero via AP)
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - Two suicide bombers struck a church in Pakistan on Sunday, killing nine people and wounding more than 50 others, authorities said, in the first attack on a church claimed by the country's Islamic State group affiliate.

Hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas when the bombers appeared in the city of Quetta and clashed with security forces. One assailant was killed at the church entrance. The other made it inside, said Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the southwestern Baluchistan province.

Baluchistan Police Chief Moazzam Ansari praised the response of security forces guarding the church, saying the attacker who made it inside was wounded and unable to reach the main building.

A volunteer rescues a child while others removing a body following the suicide attack on a church in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

"Otherwise the loss of lives could have been much higher," he told reporters.

Quetta Police Chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said a search was underway for two suspected accomplices who escaped.

Local television showed ambulances and security patrols racing to the scene as women and children were being led out of the church's main gate.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack on their Aamaq news agency, saying two "plungers" from their group had stormed the church, without providing further details.

It was the first time the Islamic State group has claimed an attack on a church in Pakistan, though Muslim extremists have claimed church attacks in the past. The deadliest example was in September 2013, when twin suicide bomb blasts killed 85 people in a Peshawar church. In March 2015, two suicide bombers attacked two churches in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 15 people.

Fifty-seven people were wounded in the latest attack, including seven who were listed in critical condition, according to Wasim Baig, a spokesman for Quetta's main hospital.

A young girl in a white dress sobbed as she recounted the attack to Geo television, saying many people around her were wounded.

Aqil Anjum, who was shot in his right arm, told The Associated Press he heard a blast in the middle of the service, followed by heavy gunfire.

"It was chaos. Bullets were hitting people inside the closed hall," he said.

Dozens of Christians gathered outside a nearby hospital to protest the lack of security. Pakistan's president and other senior officials condemned the attack.

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Associated Press Writer Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan contributed to this report.

A rescue worker comforts a man mourning beside the lifeless body of a family member, killed in the suicide attack on a church, at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

A Pakistani walks in the main hall of a church following a suicide attack in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services at the church ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

A paramilitary soldier and volunteers rescue an injured women following a suicide attack on a church in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

A police officer shouts as children are rescued following a suicide attack on a church in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

A man helps an injured woman and a child following an attack on a church in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

A man helps a woman injured in the suicide attack on a church, at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Two suicide bombers attacked the church when hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
MAKHACHKALA, Russia (AP) - Russia's top domestic security agency says three suspected militants have been killed in a raid in the country's North Caucasus.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said its operatives acted on a tip and surrounded a house in the village of Gubden in the province of Dagestan where the suspects were hiding. They stormed the house early Sunday, killing the suspects who offered resistance.

Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim region between Chechnya and the Caspian Sea. Following two separatist wars in neighboring Chechnya, an Islamist insurgency spread to Dagestan where shootouts between the militants and police are common.
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) - A man stabbed two Danish journalists in Gabon's capital, declaring it was in retaliation for U.S. attacks against Muslims and leaving one reporter in serious condition, Gabon's defense minister said.

The attack Saturday occurred while the journalists were shopping at an artisanal market, a site popular with tourists. It is the first of its kind in this West African country where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully.

The stabbing was carried out in Libreville by a 53-year-old Niger national who screamed "Allah Akbar," said Gabonese Minister of Defense Etienne Massard Makaga. The attacker, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, was immediately arrested.

When questioned by the police, he said he acted "in retaliation for the attacks of the United States against the Muslims and the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Makaga.

"Everything will be done to ensure that the author and his possible accomplices are punished with the utmost rigor that the law allows," said the minister who denounced "an act abominable, cowardly and ignoble." Makaga said such acts are contrary to the Gabonese way of living together and "detrimental to social peace."

The journalists, one male and one female reportedly working for National Geographic, were rushed to a hospital.

The man was operated on and is currently in intensive care, said government spokesman Alain Claude Bilie By Nze.

Oil-rich Gabon is known for its wildlife, including most of Africa's remaining forest elephants, which are being heavily targeted by traffickers.

Gabon is ruled by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has been in power for nearly half a century.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Clad in traditional Chinese, Western and Sri Lankan costumes, 50 Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital on Sunday to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.

The ceremony in Colombo was attended by Sri Lankan politicians and diplomats from both nations. A number of Chinese nationals attended as well.

Soon after the couples arrived in decorated cars, the ceremony began with traditional Sri Lankan drummers and dancers blowing conch shells as a symbol of auspiciousness and performing a welcome dance.

Chinese couples attend a mass wedding ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Fifty Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

The couples exchanged rings and had their fingers tied together and water poured over them in Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition as a sign of unity and purity, as schoolgirls chanted a blessing hymn.

Sri Lankan government ministers handed the couples certificates of marriage and posed for photographs with them.

China has invested heavily in infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and a large number of Chinese tourists visit the South Asian island nation every year.

Chinese couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Fifty Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A Chinese couple arrive to take part in a mass wedding ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Fifty Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A Chinese bride poses for a photograph with a Sri Lankan flower girl during a mass wedding ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Fifty Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on wildfires burning in Southern California (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

While crews got a break from slightly calmer winds on the lines of the enormous blaze threatening Santa Barbara County, much of the rest of Southern California was buffeted by powerful gusts that increased the wildfire risk across the region.

A firefighter takes a cell phone picture during a wildfire Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Montecito, Calif. The so-called Thomas Fire is now the third-largest in California history. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

The National Weather Service forecast red flag conditions for extreme fire danger through Sunday evening for Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Trees came down after wind gusts topped 70 mph (113 kph) in mountain areas and 50 mph (80 kph) along the coast.

With winds threatening to bring down power lines and spark more wildfires, Southern California Edison is considering turning off electricity to some parts of Malibu. Utility spokesman Paul Griffo says the coastal city is particularly vulnerable if strong Santa Ana winds continue to batter the area.

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10:35 a.m.

A five-county funeral procession has begun for a firefighter killed while battling the colossal wildfire that's still threatening homes in Southern California.

An autopsy found Cory Iverson died from burns and smoke inhalation.

Firefighters and police stood at attention as Iverson's body left the medical examiner's office in Ventura County shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday. The procession will wind through Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties. Iverson's body is bound for a funeral home in San Diego, where the 32-year-old was stationed.

The state fire engineer was killed Thursday at the so-called Thomas fire. The blaze is also blamed for the death of a 70-year-old woman who died in a car crash on an evacuation route.

The fire has burned more than 700 homes and currently threatens communities in Santa Barbara County.

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8:30 a.m.

One of the largest wildfires in California history is now 40 percent contained but flames still threaten coastal communities as dry, gusty winds are predicted to continue.

Winds calmed overnight but seaside communities in Santa Barbara counties were warned again Sunday that they're still at risk if unpredictable gusts whip up once more.

Some 8,000 firefighters are deployed to the so-called Thomas Fire, which has burned for nearly two weeks and still threatens 18,000 homes. Parts of the city of Santa Barbara and the hillside enclaves of Montecito and Carpinteria remain under evacuation orders. However in neighboring Ventura County, where the fire started, officials lifted some evacuation orders early Sunday.

A funeral procession is planned Sunday for Cory Iverson, the 32-year-old firefighter killed Thursday while battling the flames.

In this image taken from video provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a wind driven spot fire burns on the west side below Gibraltar Road as smoke from a wildfire fills the air in Santa Barbara, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. The Thomas Fire is now the third-largest in California history. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, flames advance towards a large fire break near homes along Gibraltar Road north of Santa Barbara, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, smoke from a wildfire drifts towards Santa Barbara Airport in the distance in Santa Barbara, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. The Thomas Fire is now the third-largest in California history. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

In this image from video provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a wind speed indicator held by a U.S. Forest Service fire fighter on Gibraltar Road at the W. Fork of Cold Spring Trail, shows just how fast and varied the speed of the wind is blowing down canyon. In this video it varied from 10-33 mph in Santa Barbara, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Wind gusts of up to 52 mph have been recorded in the area using a hand held weather device. The Office of Emergency Services announced the orders Saturday as Santa Ana winds pushed the fire close to the community. The mandatory evacuation zone is now 17 miles long and up to 5 miles wide, extending from coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles to the ocean. Winds in the foothill area are hitting around 30 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

Flames burn toward a home during a wildfire Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara Zoo, bird keeper Ashley Darling checks on a lesser Sulphur crested cockatoo named "Reggie" in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Thr zoo, which is near the mandatory evacuation zone, announced it was putting some animals in crates to prepare for possible evacuation. Workers began putting vultures, California condors and some smaller animals into crates and kennels in case the fire approached. (Dean Noble/Santa Barbara Zoo via AP)

Firefighters from Kern County, Calif., work to put out hot spots during a wildfire Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Firefighters from Kern County, Calif., work to put out hot spots during a wildfire Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, says the city is helping to provide extra security following a threat on the life of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka said Newark police were notified by U.S. Capitol police about the threat against the former mayor and his family.

Members of the police division's executive protection unit have been assigned to provide security at the Democratic senator's home in Newark.

Baraka said city police are working with Capitol police to ensure that the senator "is able to carry out his duties." He said the security detail will have no impact on police services.

No information was provided about the nature of the reported threat.
ATLANTA (AP) - Minutes after its midnight deadline to get the electricity back on at the world's busiest airport, Georgia Power announced early Monday that power had been fully restored to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush.

A sudden power outage caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility brought the airport to a standstill.

Georgia Power said on its Twitter page that "Power has been restored on all concourses. 5,000+ meals are being delivered to passengers. Trains will be operational soon."

Long lines form at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a power outage, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Passengers at the airport were left in the dark when the lights went out at around 1 p.m. The outage halted all outgoing flights, and arriving planes were held on the ground at their point of departure. International flights were being diverted, officials said.

Mayor Kasim Reed tweeted Sunday night that all passengers had been safely deplaned.

The City of Atlanta said on its Twitter page that it would provide shuttle service to the Georgia Convention Center for travelers in need of a place to stay and Chick-fil-A would be provided.

Delta passenger Emilia Duca, 32, was on her way to Wisconsin from Bogota, Colombia, when she got stuck in Atlanta. She said police made passengers who were in the baggage-claim area move to a higher floor. She said restaurants and shops were closed. Vending machines weren't working.

"A lot of people are arriving, and no one is going out. No one is saying anything official. We are stuck here," she said. "It's a nightmare."

Adding to the nightmare are what some passengers said was a lack of information from airport officials and help from first responders to get the disabled and the elderly through the airport without the use of escalators and elevators.

"They had these elderly people, handicapped people lined up in wheelchairs, said stranded passenger Rutia Curry. "The people were helpless, they can't get down the stairs, it was just a nightmare."

Passenger James Beatty said there was no real method for evacuation.

"I mean there was 40 or 50 people per the terminal area that were confined to wheelchairs and some that couldn't get through the airport very well, some of them actually couldn't walk and there was no plan at all to get them out of here without any power."

Beatty said passengers carried those who used wheelchairs down stairs.

Delta, with its biggest hub operation in Atlanta, will be hardest hit. By evening, Delta had already cancelled almost 900 Sunday flights and another 300 on Monday, nearly all of them in Atlanta, according to tracking service FlightAware.com.

Delta customers flying to or from Atlanta can make a one-time change to travel plans without incurring a $200 change fee. The airline also encouraged travelers not to pick up their bags on Monday because of anticipated congestion at the airport.

Robert Mann, an aviation consultant and former American Airlines executive, said it likely will be Tuesday before Delta's operations in Atlanta return to normal, and for passengers "it could be most of the week" because there aren't many open seats on other flights in the last week before Christmas.

"Tomorrow is going to be a long and difficult day for everybody," Mann said.

One bit of good news, according to Mann: Delta has more spare planes and available crews in Atlanta than anywhere else, which will help it to recover.

Still, when flights at Atlanta were grounded for most of one day last spring, it took Delta five days - and about 4,000 cancelled flights - before it fully recovered.

Like Sunday's outage, that April storm hit Delta's largest hub at a busy travel time when there weren't many empty seats to accommodate customers from cancelled flights. At the time, CEO Ed Bastian vowed that Delta would make "significant improvements" to its system for scheduling and tracking aircraft crews to recover more quickly from disruptions.

Other airlines also canceled flights for the rest of Sunday. American Airlines canceled 24 departures and an equal number of arrivals, said spokesman Ross Feinstein. The airline also diverted three planes that were headed to Atlanta when the outage struck, sending them instead to Dallas, Nashville and back to Philadelphia.

The FAA said it would staff the airport control tower throughout the night so that it can handle flights once they resume. The FAA said the tower could operate normally but flights were affected because airport equipment in the terminals was not working.

According to a Georgia Power statement, a fire in an underground electrical facility may have been responsible for the outage. The cause of the fire was not known.

"No personnel or passengers were in danger at any time," the statement said.

No areas outside of the airport were affected by the power loss. The utility said that there are "many redundant systems in place" to ensure the power supply to the airport and that such outages at the airport "are very rare."

That wasn't enough to comfort Jeff Smith, 46, of Pittsburgh, who ended up stuck in a plane on the tarmac for three hours after it landed.

"This is the worst experience I've ever had at an airport," he said.

Sara Melillo, who was traveling to Pittsburgh from Kenya, where she lives with her husband, Greg Presto, to spend Christmas with his family were stuck on the tarmac for six hours. The couple had made stops in Nairobi and Amsterdam and landed shortly after the lights went out in Atlanta.

She said the pilot didn't have a lot of information for the travelers but the plane had air conditioning and attendants offered water and juice a few times. She described the Delta terminal as "big chaos" with not enough customer service for the hundreds of people trying to find a flight to their next destination and a place to sleep for the night.

With her new boarding pass handwritten and her bags still stuck on a plane, Melillo was hopeful that she and her husband would be able to get a flight in the morning to Pittsburgh, she said as she waited for an Uber to take them to a hotel.

Airport workers were distributing bottled water, and Dunkin' Donuts was giving out doughnuts.

Officer Lisa Bender of the Atlanta Police Department said officers were at the airport to help with crowd control and managing traffic around the airport.

At Southwest Airlines, about 70 Atlanta departures out of 120 scheduled for Sunday were cancelled, an airline spokesman said in an email. United Airlines and JetBlue Airways were among carriers reporting delays or cancellations.

Mozell Smith, 58, of Atlanta arrived at the airport hours after the electricity went off. He was headed to Las Vegas with a sister and a friend.

"This is terrible. I wish someone would've given us a heads-up before we got to the airport," he said. "I wish there would have been better communication."

American Airlines reported only a handful of diversions and cancellations because the carrier does not use Atlanta as a hub, airline spokeswoman Alexis Aran Coello.

Hartsfield-Jackson, which serves 104 million passengers a year, is the world's busiest airport, a distinction it has held since 1998.

The airport serves an average of 275,000 passengers daily, according to its website. Nearly 2,500 planes arrive and depart each day.

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This story corrects Mozell Smith's age to 58.

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AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas, Texas, contributed to the story.

Passengers wait for the lights to come back on at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday afternoon. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Passengers wait for the lights to come back on at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Fanny Suarez, left, waits in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Isabelle Jacobs waits for her flight to New York in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday afternoon. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Passengers wait for the lights to come back on at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Passengers wait in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Long lines form at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a power outage, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

FILE- This May 9, 2016, file photo, shows an air traffic control tower at their gates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

A traveler waits in dark at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Passengers sit around a generator taking turns charging their phones at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A traveler sleeps on a baggage carousel at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Passengers wait after the lights went out at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Sen. John McCain is returning home to Arizona after being hospitalized for the side effects of his brain cancer treatment and likely will miss a crucial vote on the GOP tax package, President Donald Trump said Sunday.

Trump told reporters he had spoken to McCain's wife, Cindy, after her husband had spent about a week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

"They've headed back, but I understand he'll come if we ever needed his vote, which hopefully we won't," Trump said after returning to the White House from Camp David. "But the word is that John will come back if we need his vote. And it's too bad. He's going through a very tough time, there's no question about it. But he will come back if we need his vote."

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2017 file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door session where Republican senators met on the GOP effort to overhaul the tax code, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump says McCain is returning home to Arizona after being hospitalized over the side effects from his brain cancer treatment. The 81-year-old McCain has been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Now in his sixth Senate term, McCain, 81, underwent surgery in mid-July to remove a 2-inch (51-millimeter) blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. A statement issued last Wednesday by the senator's office said he was at Walter Reed receiving treatment for the "normal side effects of his ongoing cancer therapy."

His daughter Meghan McCain tweeted Sunday: "My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona."

Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate, and McCain and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., missed votes last week. The 80-year-old Cochran had a non-melanoma lesion removed from his nose earlier this week. He is expected to vote this coming week on the tax bill.

Republicans secured the support of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker last Friday for the tax measure, and they are poised to pass the bill by a narrow margin in the face of unified Democratic opposition. As a backstop, Vice President Mike Pence would be available to break a tie.

A vote is expected in the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday. If approved, the measure would head to Trump for his signature on what will be his first major legislative accomplishment since taking office 11 months ago.

After his summer surgery, McCain rebounded quickly, returning to Washington and entering the Senate on July 25 to a standing ovation from his colleagues.

In a dramatic turn, he cast a deciding vote against the Republican health care bill - a move that drew the wrath of Trump and conservatives. McCain's vote scuttled the seven-year effort by the GOP to dismantle much of President Barack Obama's health care law.

But McCain's condition has appeared to worsen in recent weeks. He suffered a minor tear in his right Achilles tendon, forcing him to wear a walking brace. McCain eventually began using a wheelchair, with members of his staff pushing him where he needed to go.

As a Navy pilot, McCain lived through a July 1967 fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. The following October, his plane was shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi. He spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. McCain also has survived several bouts with melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer.
British Airways has slumped to third from bottom in an annual survey of short-haul airlines.

The carrier achieved a customer score of just 52% in research by consumer group Which?, down from 67% in 2016.

In a year when BA ended free catering for economy passengers on short-haul flights, the airline was given just two stars for its food and drink.

(PA Graphics)

The same poor rating was given for seat comfort and value for money.

Ryanair came in joint last place with Vueling  owned by BAs parent company IAG  with a customer score of 45%.

BA was also rated the third worst long-haul carrier, behind the likes of TUI Airways and Thomas Cook for the first time.

Its customer score dropped from 60% in 2016 to 50%.

Ryanair came in joint last place with Vueling with a customer score of 45% (Danny Lawson/PA)

Some 75,000 BA passengers had their flights cancelled following an IT failure during a bank holiday weekend in May.

United Airlines was ranked the worst long-haul airline (39%) followed by American Airlines (46%).

Neither airline scored more than two stars for anything other than cabin environment.

Which? travel editor Rory Boland said: Passengers are telling us that there are many different ways to be a great airline but providing great service at an acceptable price is a must have.

BAs poor customer satisfaction shows it clearly needs to step up its game in a year that has been beset with problems.

From the food and drink on offer, to the poor value for money of the journey itself, the airline has a lot of work to do to improve the experience that passengers associate with the airline.

Singapore Airlines was ranked number one for long-haul flights for the second year running (Steve Parsons/PA)

The research was based on responses from 11,625 passengers who had flown from the UK.

Customer scores are a combination of overall satisfaction and the likelihood of recommending the airline to a friend.

A BA spokesman said: British Airways is a premium airline committed to customer choice.

We offer customers the biggest network from Londons most central airports, a loyalty programme with huge benefits and the best punctuality record of the three big short-haul operators from the capital.

We also give our growing numbers of customers a wide choice of fares and services.

Top spot in the short-haul table went to Aurigny Air Services (80%), with the Channel Islands carrier gaining four stars from passengers for its boarding process, cabin environment and customer service.

Singapore Airlines (88%) was ranked number one for long-haul flights for the second year running and received full marks in several categories.
The massive wildfire California has been battling since early December has ballooned into the third-largest in the states history, burning a record amount of acreage, officials said.

Steve Concialdi, of Orange County Fire Authority, said the Thomas Fire, which started on December 4 in Santa Paula, has burned 259,000 acres, exceeding the devastating Rim Fire of 2013 by 2,000 acres.

As of this morning, were at 259,000 acres and still growing, Mr Concialdi said.

The fires rage in Santa Barbara (Mike Eliason/AP)

The region has had red flag  or hot, dry and windy  conditions for an unprecedented 13 consecutive days.

Over the weekend winds across northern CA may reach 30-40 MPH. Wildfires can strike anywhere at any time. Sign up for alerts through your Local Office of Emergency Services & to prepare download the CAL FIRE Ready for Wildfire APP. Remain alert & aware of fire conditions. pic.twitter.com/I5l9bGcVlc  CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 16, 2017

The National Weather Service said the conditions would last at least until Saturday evening, with winds gusting to 40mph in the Santa Barbara County mountains where the fire is burning.

Everything about the fire was massive, from a footprint larger than many cities to the sheer scale of destruction that cremated entire neighbourhoods or the legions attacking it: about 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters that were dropping thousands of gallons of water on fires and hot spots.

Firefighting costs were approaching 89 million dollars (66 million).

The Thomas Fire surging through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has already burned more than 1,000 buildings, including well over 750 homes.

Another 18,000 buildings are still in jeopardy, including mansions in the wealthy enclave of Montecito.

Some 315 fire engines are stationed in and around homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara, along with hand crews armed with equipment like chainsaws and drop torches. Another 200 fire engines are on standby.

Mr Concialdi said authorities are hoping to have the blaze contained by January 7.

Santa Barbara has had only a tiny amount of rain since October 1, the start of the new water year, and is more than 3in below normal to date.

Another focus of firefighting was on the eastern flank in canyons where a state firefighter was killed on Thursday near the agricultural town of Fillmore.

With dry conditions expected and no rain in the forecast the time is NOW to put together your emergency supply kit. Remember the 6 Ps when preparing, keep your kit in an easily accessible location or in your car, and keep your cars gas tank full. More: https://t.co/gIN3kS6vHF pic.twitter.com/JHaqpQAdhs  CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 15, 2017

Officials have released no details on the death of 32-year-old Cory Iverson, but it was a stunning blow to those fighting the flames.

When that happened, this fire hit a whole new level because all the firefighters know that could have been them, Mr Concialdi said. When you lose a fellow brother, that hits all of us and our families extremely hard.
Russia has not been so hostile to the UK and the West since the end of the Cold War, Boris Johnson has said, as he prepares to meet his counterpart in Moscow.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Foreign Secretary accused Russia of destabilising the West through invasions, killings and attempts to interfere in western elections.

He described the falling out as a tragedy, and said his hopes at the end of the Cold War that relations might improve now seemed like a total illusion.

Boris Johnson accused Russia of destabilising the West (Chris J Ratcliffe/PA)

He told the paper: Russia has not been so hostile to the UK or to western interests since the end of the Cold War.

"UK will not let Russias actions stop us working to seek justice for victims & prevent use of chemical weapons"



: https://t.co/Kc1FFuMPsn pic.twitter.com/xUE4wShzdF  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) October 24, 2017

In the Crimea, capturing a part of sovereign European territory from someone elses country and holding it for the first time since 1945. Add their destabilising activities in the western Balkans.

We literally have Russian fingerprints on an assassination attempt in Montenegro. Look at what theyre doing with cyber-warfare, with attempted disruption of democratic processes in the UK.

Although Mr Johnson said he had seen no evidence that Russian interference had affected the outcome of the EU referendum, he said he had seen evidence of Russian trolling on Facebook.

It is not the first time Mr Johnson has spoken out against Russia, having previously accused the nation of behaving as though there is indeed a new Cold War during a speech in the House of Commons.

He has also attacked them for shutting down investigations into chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

According to the Times, the Foreign Secretary will visit Russia on Thursday to hold talks with his opposite number, Sergey Lavrov.

Despite the strained relationship, he has vowed to find a way to engage with the nation, adding Britain needed to collaborate with Russia in order to defeat Islamist terrorism.

He told the paper he would be pushing very hard to understand how the Russians view the endgame in Syria.

Announcing his Moscow visit in October, Mr Johnson said differences between the countries made it all the more important for them to talk to one another, for the sake of national and international security.
Senior Labour figures have clashed over whether there should be a second referendum on Britains membership of the European Union.

Deputy leader Tom Watson was seemingly at odds with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott on the need for a second poll.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Lives Pienaars Politics Mr Watson said you shouldnt rule anything out when engaged in complex negotiations.

Tom Watson said nothing should be ruled out (PA)

His comments came after shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told BBC Ones The Andrew Marr Show that the Labour Party doesnt support a second referendum.

Shadow Home Secretary @HackneyAbbott says Labour's position on Brexit is putting jobs and the economy first #marr pic.twitter.com/3tEi3WT20c  The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) December 17, 2017

Mr Watson said: Weve not said we want a second referendum, what we actually want is a negotiated settlement.

The point about the vote this week was we dont want power to be taken away from unelected bureaucrats in Brussels, as the debate went in the referendum, to be given to the executive or unelected bureaucrats in Whitehall. We want Parliament to have a say on it.

When pushed on whether Labour would rule out a second referendum he said: When youre in complex negotiations on behalf of the nation you shouldnt rule anything out.

What I am trying to say to you, I dont think it is likely at all, it would be more likely that we try and renegotiate the deal should Parliament reject it.

"A close alignment with the European Union is necessary. No one disputes that" says Shadow International Trade Sec @BarryGardiner #Paterson pic.twitter.com/bnqAc7IVhs  Sophy Ridge on Sunday & The Take (@RidgeOnSunday) December 17, 2017

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said that Labour would honour the referendum result.

He said: The Labour Party has not said that we will have a second referendum. We will honour the referendum result, but we last week got a final vote for Parliament on the deal.

That is the democratic guarantee that now is there because of Labour Members of Parliament and 11 Conservatives joining with us.

Mr Gardiner said after Brexit the UK had to remain closely aligned with our major trading partner  the EU  which could mean continued membership of the single market.

He told Sky News Sunday with Niall Paterson: We havent swept either the single market or a customs union off the table. We have said we are not fixated on the structures, what we want are the benefits.

.@RichardBurgon says Labour are open minded about an ongoing role for the ECJ to oversee a trade deal, after the transition period #bbcsp pic.twitter.com/KStuO5YcUX  BBC Daily Politics and Sunday Politics (@daily_politics) December 17, 2017

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said: Labour isnt calling for a second referendum.

He told BBCs Sunday Politics: It could be the case that Theresa May caves in and starts to ask for another referendum, I very much doubt she will do that. We are not in government, many of these things are hypotheticals.

But I can say very clearly: we are not arguing for a second referendum.
Reigning champions Juventus stormed back into second place in the Serie A table, while AC Milans imploding season took another turn for the worse.

A day after Napoli removed Inter Milan from first place with their confident victory at Torino, Massimiliano Allegris Bianconeri went to Bologna and won 3-0 to also leapfrog the Nerazzurri.

Blaise Matuidi grabs his first goal for Juventus as the Serie A champions close the gap at the top to one point. #UCL pic.twitter.com/ecqaA0X24W  UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 17, 2017

Miralem Pjanic fired Juve ahead with a sumptuous free-kick before the half-hour mark. The Bosnian then turned provider for Mario Mandzukic, who hooked home at the far post.

Miralem Pjanic fired Juve ahead with a sumptuous free-kick (Steven Paston/EMPICS)

After the break, Blaise Matuidi confirmed the outcome with a screamer into the bottom corner, bringing Juve to within a point of Napoli heading into the last round of fixtures before Christmas.

Earlier on Sunday Gennaro Gattusos 10-man Milan, already languishing down in seventh, were thrashed 3-0 at lowly Hellas Verona.

The team stacked with 230 million euros worth of new players could only draw with previously pointless Benevento at the beginning of December and this week UEFA said it was monitoring the clubs activities ahead of a potential Financial Fair Play investigation.

One bright point had been Milans progression past Verona in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, but in a twist of fate Hellas subjected the Rossoneri to defeat by the same scoreline.

| Coach Gattuso addressed the media after the final whistle of #VeronaMilan. This is how he commented on his team's performance: https://t.co/mrkqmaTpe5 pic.twitter.com/TXovGx6P5w  AC Milan (@acmilan) December 17, 2017

Antonio Caracciolos header from a Romulo corner gave the Gialloblu the upper hand and on-loan Juve teenager Moise Kean gave them further food for thought with his precise finish.

Daniel Bessa took the comeback off the table and Susos late dismissal added insult to injury.

Verona briefly left the relegation zone thanks to that result, but Crotone dumped them back into 18th place when they beat Chievo 1-0 with a solitary first-half strike from Ante Budimir.

Matteo Politano hit a post and saw his penalty attempt saved before substitute Alessandro Matri came through at the death for Sassuolo in a 1-0 triumph at Sampdoria.

Elsewhere, Fiorentinas battle to escape mid-table obscurity continues after they were held to a goalless draw in Tuscany by Genoa.

Beneventos wait for a first top-flight win went on as Sergio Floccaris second-half brace helped SPAL come from behind to win 2-1.

Michele Cremonesis 59th-minute own goal had given the basement boys hope of pulling off a landmark victory, but Floccari struck in the 64th and 74th minutes to condemn Benevento to another defeat.

Fifth-placed Lazio twice came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Atalanta.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savics quick-fire brace brought the visitors level at 2-2 at half-time after goals from Mattia Caldara and Josip Ilicic had put Atalanta in command.

Ilicic scored his second from the penalty spot after 50 minutes, but Luis Alberto earned Lazio a point in the 79th minute.
Lebanese police are investigating whether a British embassy worker strangled and dumped by the side of a motorway was sexually assaulted.

Rebecca Dykess family said they have been left devastated following her death in Beirut early on Saturday morning, while embassy staff are said to be shocked.

The victim, believed to have been aged 30, was strangled with a rope and found dead by the side of a road in the east of the capital, police said.

The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news. My thoughts are with Beckys family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. We're providing consular support to her family & working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.  Hugo Shorter (@HugoShorter) December 17, 2017

Authorities looking into her exact cause of death are investigating whether Ms Dykes, who had been due to fly home for Christmas, was sexually assaulted.

A family spokesman said: We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time.

Ms Dykes was working as a programme and policy manager with the Department for International Development and as policy manager with the Libya team at the Foreign Office (FCO), according to her LinkedIn page.

She had previously worked as an Iraq Research Analyst with the FCO.

(FCO/PA)

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter said: The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news.

My thoughts are with Beckys family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. Were providing consular support to her family & working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.

Ms Dykes, a University of Manchester graduate, also had a masters in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London.

She was a former pupil of Malvern Girls College and Rugby School and had spent time at a Chinese International School.

A Department for International Development spokesman said: Our thoughts are with Beckys family and friends at this very upsetting time.

There is now a police investigation and the FCO is providing consular support to Beckys family and working with the local authorities.

The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities.

Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
FRANKFURT, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Family-owned German logistics firm Zeitfracht is studying the books of Austrian airline Niki with view to buying some of its assets, a spokesman for Zeitfracht said on Saturday.

Niki, a unit of Air Berlin, filed for insolvency on Wednesday.

Zeitfracht and maintenance group Nayak are jointly interested in some assets, including Niki crews, in order to expand Zeitfracht's newly-bought subsidiary WDL Aviation, the spokesman said.

They were also interested in Niki Technik, he said.

This adds to the list of interested parties.

Former motor racing driver Niki Lauda, who founded the Niki airline in 2003, British holiday group Thomas Cook and Irish low cost carrier Ryanair have also expressed an interest in its assets.

Zeitfracht and Nayak have already bought Air Berlin's cargo marketing platform Leisure Cargo and maintenance units.

Niki's insolvency came after Germany's Lufthansa scrapped plans to buy Niki, grounding the airline's fleet and stranding thousands of passengers.

Administrators for parent company Air Berlin have since been working to find a new buyer for Niki's assets, which include valuable take off and landing slots in airports such as Duesseldorf, Munich and Vienna.

They are under pressure to clinch a deal before Niki loses its airport slots, which could be in a matter of days, depending on the outcome of talks between the Austrian transport ministry and the airport coordinator.

Lufthansa abandoned plans to buy Niki due to the European Commission's competition concerns. (Reporting by Kerstin Doerr, Writing by Victoria Bryan and Vera Eckert; Editing by Mark Potter)
By Haejin Choi

SEOUL, Dec 17 (Reuters) - South Korea's foreign minister will visit Japan this week to meet her Japanese counterpart, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, with Seoul and Tokyo seeking to boost cooperation over the handling of North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. The need to confront the threat posed by North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear tests comes despite lingering tension over the issue of sexual slavery during Japan's wartime occupation of Korea.

Kang Kyung-wha will arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday and meet Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono during her two-day visit, her first trip to Japan as South Korea's top diplomat, the foreign ministry in Seoul said in a statement.

"The two ministers will exchange views on issues of common interests focusing on bilateral relations and North Korea-related issues, including its nuclear programme," the ministry statement said.

South Korea and Japan are seeking to improve security cooperation over North Korea, but there have been conflicting signals over whether they can resolve a feud over "comfort women" who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels.

Ties have been frozen over the issue, with South Korean President Moon Jae-in has promising to renegotiate an unpopular 2015 pact signed with Japan.

Under that pact, Japan apologised again to former comfort women and promised 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) for a fund to help them. The two governments agreed the issue would be "irreversibly resolved" if both fulfilled their obligations. ($1 = 112.5700 yen) (Reporting by Haejin Choi; Editing by Paul Tait)
By Mai Nguyen and Anshuman Daga

Ho CHI MINH CITY/SINGAPORE, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Vietnam is set to auction an up to $5 billion stake in top brewer Sabeco on Monday, with Thai Beverage the only potential bidder to have expressed interest in a majority stake.

The keenly anticipated sale of the state-owned maker of Bia Saigon gained momentum in recent months after being hampered for years by political resistance, fickle policy-making and complications over valuations.

The government has set a minimum sale price of 320,000 dong or $14.10 a share for Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp (Sabeco), whose shares have nearly trebled to 309,200 dong since its listing a year ago.

Thai Beverage, through a partly-owned Vietnam unit, is the only company which has expressed interest in owning more than 25 percent of the company, which has roughly 40 percent of the beer-loving Vietnamese market.

So far no formal bid had been made.

Vietnam's young population and booming economy should make Sabeco an attractive asset for global brewers hoping to expand in Southeast Asia, but a high minimum bid price and foreign ownership limits appear to have turned off potential buyers.

Sabeco's foreign ownership is capped at 49 percent. With 10 percent already in foreign hands, that leaves only 39 percent on the table for overseas buyers at Monday's auction. Local bidders can bid for a majority stake of up to 54 percent. Heinken holds a 5 percent stake.

"There's a disconnect between what the government wants to achieve and how international brewers view this auction," said one person familiar with the matter.

"In a normal auction, bidders are fully aware of what stake they'll end up owning and bid for it accordingly," said the person, who was not authorised to speak to the media.

Unlike similar sales in developed markets, where investors are whittled down over several rounds and offers can be adjusted, Sabeco bidders need to submit a single offer for a specific number of shares in a sealed envelope in one round.

Thai Bev, controlled by tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, was keen to acquire Sabeco as part of a strategy to expand outside its home market, sources told Reuters. The company had already lined up bank guarantees to support the bid by its Vietnam unit, sources said.

There was no immediate response from Thai Bev to a query from Reuters.

Reuters previously reported that the auction was drawing the interest of brewing groups such as Anheuser-Busch InBev , Kirin Holdings, Asahi Group Holdings and San Miguel, but there is no clear sign of whether they have participated in the auction so far.

The government's minimum price for the 54 percent stake on offer valued Sabeco at about 36 times core earnings, more than double the trading multiples of around 15 for some global peers, according to Reuters data.

Vietnam's trade ministry is expected to announce the bidding result on Monday afternoon. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen and Anshuman Daga; Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng in BANGKOK; Editing by Stephen Coates)
LIBREVILLE, Dec 17 (Reuters) - An attacker wielding a knife and crying "Allahu Akbar" has wounded two Danish journalists in Gabon's capital Libreville, the Gabonese defence minister said.

The two reporters for the National Geographic channel were in a popular market for tourist souvenirs on Saturday, when a Nigerien national living in Gabon lunged at them with the knife, Defence Minister Etienne Kabinda Makaga said in a statement on Gabonese television.

After his arrest, the 53-year-old suspect, who has lived in Gabon for two decades, told authorities he was carrying out a revenge attack against America for recognising Israel's capital as Jerusalem, Makaga said, giving no further explanation.

"A judicial investigation was immediately opened at the public prosecutor's office of Libreville to establish if the acts of the aggressor were isolated or a conspiracy," Makaga said.

Oil-rich Gabon has a small Muslim population consisting mostly of foreign workers, although the precise number is not known. It is not normally considered a high risk country for jihadist violence. (Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Gareth Jones)
HAVANA, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Cuban President Raul Castro and the head of Russian oil company Rosneft met in Havana on Saturday, the latest sign the two countries are readying a major energy agreement.

State-controlled media on Sunday ran a photograph of Castro and Igor Sechin sitting with notebooks at a table with Economy Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, after the latter two had held what was termed in a brief caption "a working meeting".

Castro usually appears with visitors only in protocol photographs. There was no further information.

Castro and Sechin have known each other for decades.

Cuba struggled with blackouts and fuel shortages after the fall of its benefactor, the Soviet Union. The rise of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's late president, ended that crisis at the turn of the century, and Cuba came to rely on Venezuela for about 70 percent of its fuel needs.

But socialist Venezuelas subsidised shipments have fallen by at least 40 percent since 2014. Cuba is looking for new suppliers to help mitigate electricity and fuel rationing to state companies.

Rosneft, Russia's state-run oil company, began shipping some fuel in May to Cuba even as the United States under Donald Trump began reversing a fragile detente begun by former U.S. President Barack Obama. They were the first significant Russian fuel deliveries since the early 1990s.

Rosneft, in October, said it was considering increasing oil shipments to Cuba and improving refining capacity on the island after Sechin met with Cuban Energy Minister Alfedo Lopez in Moscow.

According to Jorge Pinon, an oil expert at the University of Texas at Austin, the Cuba deal this year was equivalent to around 1,865,000 barrels and valued at $105 million at current prices.

In comparison, Russia reported it shipped oil products to Cuba from 2010 through 2015 valued at $11.3 million.

Cuba consumes 140,000 barrels per day of oil products. (Reporting by Marc Frank, editing by Larry King)
LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Iran on Sunday criticised French President Emmanuel Macron over his tough stance toward Tehran and said Paris would soon lose its international credibility if it "blindly follows" U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tensions between Iran and France have risen in recent months after Macron said Tehran should be less aggressive in the Middle East, citing in particular its involvement in Syria's civil war.

Macron, unlike Trump, has reaffirmed his country's commitment to the deal Iran signed in 2015 with world powers under which it curbed its disputed nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of most international sanctions.

However, he has been critical of Iran's ballistic missile tests and wants to raise the possibility of new sanctions over the programme, which Tehran calls solely defensive in nature.

"To sustain its international credibility, France should not blindly follow the Americans ... The French president is now acting as Trump's lapdog," Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Velayati also criticised U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who last week presented pieces of what she said were parts of an Iranian missile supplied to the Tehran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen. She described the objects as conclusive evidence that Tehran was violating U.N. resolutions.

"This claim shows she lacks basic scientific knowledge and decency. She is like her boss (Trump) as he also says baseless, ridiculous things. Iran has not supplied Yemen with any missile," Velayati said.

"FINGERPRINTS"?

Tasnim news agency quoted the spokesman for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Ramezan Sharif, as saying on Sunday that "they show a cylinder and say Iran's fingerprints are all over it, while everyone knows that Yemen acquired some missile capabilities from the Soviet Union and North Korea in the past".

France took a cautious stance on Haley's report. "The United Nations secretariat has not, at this stage, drawn any conclusions. France continues to examine the information at its disposal," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Alexandre Giorgini said on Friday.

Saudi Arabia, who has long accused Iran of smuggling missiles to the Houthis and has intervened against them in Yemen's war to try to restore its internationally recognised government, welcomed Haley's report.

Iran has one of the Middle Easts biggest missile programmes and some of its precision-guided missiles have the range to strike its arch-regional enemy Israel.

Israel has also called for world powers to take punitive steps against Iran over its missile ambitions.

An Israeli cabinet minister said last month that Israel has had covert contacts with Saudi Arabia amid common concerns over Iran.

Velayati said on Sunday that reported meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials were no threat to Iran as both countries were "weak and insignificant."

Last month, the Revolutionary Guards warned Europe that if it threatens Tehran, the Guards will increase the range of missiles to above 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles). (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; editing by Mark Heinrich)
he Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a recent visit to India called on the British Government to apologize for the massacre in Amritsar by the British troops. Reportedly some 379 Sikhs were killed by the troops in a site known as Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar in 1919.

It is wrong that successive British governments have fallen short of delivering a formal apology to the families of those who were killed the Mayor who represents opposition Labour party urged the Conservative government. I am clear that the government should now apologize, especially as we reach the centenary of the massacre he added.

While an apology is certainly be welcoming it would be better if Britain could also extend an apology for other crimes in India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, South Africa and the rest of the world.

Of course one may argue that since the colonial rulers have also made some positive contributions to the colonies such as infrastructure development one should forgive and move on. This could have been considered if Britain really regrets its crimes, attempted compensating the victims at least in a nominal way and admitted that the empire was built by what was plundered from the colonies over tens of thousands of civilian deaths.



However, instead of that what we have been witnessing is that a large percentage of the British population still gloating over the fact that they could bring one fifth of the world population and quarter of the land on earth under their control.

A poll carried out last year by UK-based YouGov has found that 44% of the British population is still proud of their colonial history. Only 21% had regretted it while another 23% was not sure of their opinion.

Commenting on colonialism former British Prime Minister David Cameron was once quoted as saying I think there is an enormous amount to be proud of in what the British Empire did and was responsible for. But of course there were bad events as well as good events. The bad events we should learn from and the good events we should celebrate.



Amritsar massacre for which the London Mayor now demands an apology is only a tiny drop in the ocean of the British crimes as a colonial ruler. For instance the Bengali famine created by the British Empire killed three million Indians. Instead of an apology Winston Churchill charged I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion. The famine was their own fault for breeding like rabbits.

The India-Pakistan partition created by the British saw another one to two million people being killed while moving from east to west and vice versa of the subcontinent.

Everyone knows that it is the British concentration camps in Africa that inspired Hitler to have similar ones in the World War II. Hundreds of thousands died in Kenya, South Africa and rest of the continent due to the British cruelty. One also knows how British engaged in slave trade and built Liverpool and Bristol with the money earned though these means. Over a period of two and half centuries millions of innocent Africans were packed into vessels like cattle and sent off to Europe and Americas. It is said some 25% of these slaves died during the journey itself.



In our very own Ceylon, the British turned the then most populated and prosperous region, the Uva-Wellassa to the most sparsely populated and impoverished region in the 1817-1818 period. Nearly 10,000 people were killed, hundreds of thousands were displaced. The rulers also set hundreds of thousands of paddy fields on fire. Wellasa which got its name from being the land with vast paddy fields, wel-laksha, was the granary of the Kandyan Kingdom. As a result its destruction created a famine in the Kandyan Kingdom.

Slaughter every man, woman and child Governor Robert Brownrigg had reportedly ordered his troops.



The degree of the damage was such even after two centuries this region is yet to come back to normalcy. It was during the last decade thanks to a massive development drive that it became somewhat populated. Still to-date Uva-Wellassa is yet to regain the agricultural glory it was once known for.

One also knows how killing of elephants almost became a past time among the British hunters here. The most notorious of them was Samuel Baker who had reportedly killed 11 elephants before his breakfast in a day, and some 104 within three days. One Major Rogers had killed 1300 elephants while a Major Skinner and Captain Gallwey had killed 700 elephants each. There were many more other hunters.

It is high time that someone invited the London Mayor to Sri Lanka and detailed him of the British atrocities here as we observe the 200th anniversary of the Uva Wellassa massacre. It is high time that someone demanded an apology on behalf of the innocent civilians and the elephants as it seems our own politicians are keeping mum on this.
Last month Prime Ministers of Iran and Iraq announced with great pride the defeat of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. In a span of three years ISIL left a trail of bloodshed, devastation and a fragile region prime for more instability and chaos to come. Despite the defeat of ISIL in 2017 it may not be a critical year in global political history.

Yet for all who experienced and lived in 2017, political developments of this year may act as a precursor to an infinity war yet to come. When it will take place is up in the air what is absolutely clear is Iran may have to bear the brunt of the onslaught.

Donald Trump



This analysis does not stem from a point of view of Iranian victimhood or a narrative that puts Iran on a moral high ground, instead it is located in a series of developments that took place in 2017 which is clearly setting into motion an array of strategic calibrations from a multitude of nations from United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia to Iran which clearly signals an impeding conflict.

Last Week, on December 14, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley took to the stage with a massive picture of a missile casing, that was retrieved from debris of a projectiles that were intercepted over Saudi Arabia targeting King Khalid airport, allegedly fired by Houti rebels in Yemen. She started the press conference by saying It is really important that you be here today, because we have a story to tell, and the story is a very important one. And it is not just important for the United States, it is important for the entire international community.

The United States has mastered statecraft by manoeuvres, they had created global bogeymen and convinced many other nations to follow them in punishing such bogeymen. While there are debates about whether America was a hegemony, its narratives backed by hard power resources and spread through soft power circuits were convincing and made a great impact in a way US projected and realized its power globally.

"The US has mastered statecraft by manoeuvres, they had created global bogeymen and convinced many other nations to follow them in punishing such bogeymen"



Ambassador Haleys argument was that Iran remains the most potent threat to the Middle East and global security. The most powerful line in her press briefing was, The fight against Iranian aggression is the worlds fight. The Iranians immediately responded by arguing that the United States was using the missile story to deflect attention and backlash from Donald Trump administrations decision to declare and accept Jerusalem as Israels capital. The statement Haleys made seems to be a build-up to something much bigger in time to come.

Four key developments of 2017 need to be revisited and analysed in a coherent context. Firstly, Donald Trumps inaugural visit to a foreign country as President of the United States was to Saudi Arabia. In his visit in front of 50 leaders of Arab States he said all nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran. The American administration followed Trumps rhetoric with more tangible forms of challenging Iran, especially flooding Saudi Arabia with sophisticated arms sales to be used in the war against Iranian backed Houtis in Yemen. As the year comes closer to an end Yemen conflict has been listed the worst humanitarian crisis of 2017 by the United Nations.

Secondly, the Saudi-Qatari diplomatic rift coming to its seventh month, seems to be more than a diplomatic crisis between two Arab nations. It is a clear strategic move by the Saudi regime to prevent Iran establishing and consolidating any working relationship with Arab nations, especially the ones that are prosperous and moderate.

The story that hit international headlines last week was that of the Trump administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Trump did pledge that the American embassy would be moved to Jerusalem, which may not occur sometime soon. While this unprecedented move does seriously jeopardizes the Palestinian peace deal which has been the focus of the debate among analysts and scholars.

Nikki Haley

"Saudi Arabia sees Iran as its clearest adversary in regional dominance as it is actively engaged in countering Iran utilizing all possible means. Less has been discussed about the new cooling of relations between Saudi and Israel"



The Jerusalem gambit seems much more than what analysts argue, it seems a more calculated strategic move by Trump to appease Israel into following the United States or helping it to suppress Iran. Thus Americas Jerusalem move is more about Iran than Palestine which is the third development that adds up to the strategic containment and possible offensive preparations that seem to be targeting Iran.

This column did focus a few weeks back on the new Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his future ambitions as the first Third Generation Saudi King. While it is very clear that Saudi Arabia sees Iran as its clearest adversary in regional dominance as it is actively engaged in countering Iran utilizing all possible means. Less has been discussed about the new cooling of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Israelis have already invited the Mohammed Bin Salem to visit Israel, this is unprecedented given the bitter Israeli Arab rivalries.

If taken in isolation all these four developments do have relevant geo-political contexts but analysing them in a continuum or putting them into a matrix and to observe correlations one can argue that there is a momentum to contain or even harass Iran. In response, unlike Iraq in the aftermath of the Kuwaiti invasion or 9/11, Iran seems to have done its homework and is displaying prowess to counter such moves.

Despite this coordinated efforts of containment, Iran strategically and intellectually comprehends how the united States engage in foreign interventions politically and militarily. Iran remains one of the few countries that has successfully for decades managed to mitigate both American and Israeli efforts to undermine its regimes through various espionage campaigns. Iran has even managed to out-manoeuvre American influence in battle theatres in Syria and negate Israeli threats by purchasing sophisticated air defence systems

from Russia.

Iran seems to have extensively done its homework on success of China and Russia where both countries have invested significantly in developing sophisticated arsenal of long to medium and hypersonic missile systems and simultaneously mastering missile defence. Writing in a recent op-ed piece on New York Times, Iranian Minister of foreign affairs Javed Zarif claims, We have honed missiles as an effective means of deterrence. And our conscious decision to focus on precision rather than range has afforded us the capability to strike back with pinpoint accuracy.

Any war with Iran led by a United States alliance may lead to devastations in global scale, not just in the context of destruction and human deaths it will tear up regional groupings, split the Islamic world and create energy crises that will have far reaching consequences on global stability and growth.

Mohammed bin Salman

"The story that hit world headlines last week was that of the Trump administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Trump did pledge that the American embassy would be moved to Jerusalem"



Yet by 2018 Trump administration will be a year into power, the domestic political chaos and fractitude that is gripping the United States seems yet to have slowed or mitigated. Trump administration will seek a foreign intervention that may create a massive distraction at home, while American public is dealing with the repercussions of the global war terror, the warlike nature in the American psyche still remains. The column is not attempting to pass judgment it is merely trying to explore a possibility of another war that may lead to the total dismantling of the current global order.

While there is no serious conversation about this coming war in Sri Lanka, what we should understand is that Iran , Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey and Israel, will start funding and creating projects, forums even in countries like Sri Lanka to advance their geo-political interests and solidify the ideologies that are driving such pursuits.

What comes after ISIL will not be a war terror, war on terrorism cannot define or create new global architectures, a regional war with a global reach has that potential. Currently Sri Lankas main foreign policy challenge has been dealing with China, India and the United States, yet some of our internal political challenges seem to be stemming from battles for dominance in the Islamic world.



The writer is the Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS)
The Joint Opposition said it had decided to hold a discussion with the Governor of the Central Bank on matters related to finance of the country.

JO Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena said this decision was taken mainly in connection with two matters revealed in the Parliament last week.

Hidden debts of the Government and repayment of loans and foreign investment in Treasury Bonds will be discussed as revealed in Parliament, he said.

The impending economic crisis during next year will also be highlighted in our discussion, he said.

The JO also expects to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) Representative responsible for arranging loan facilities for Sri Lanka, he said. (Dayaseeli Liyanage)
How do we respond to the recent railway union strike? Was it about higher salaries and administrative grades of railway workers? Or, was it a disruption of public transport? I argue that such strikes prod us to think about workers rights in a democracy.

The railway strike was not an aberration. Over the last couple of years, we have witnessed an increasing number of agitations and protests - student unions opposing privatisation of education, plantation workers struggling for higher wages and telecom workers demanding permanent employment are some of those major mobilisations.

The accusation that all these strikes and protests are politically engineered attempts to topple the Government by the remnants of the Rajapaksa regime do not hold much water given their widespread and different character. Rather, these waves of strikes and protests reflect the failure of economic policies to speak to their basic concerns and their deteriorating economic life.



Trade unions

Historically in Sri Lanka, as in most other countries, trade unions have been important for ensuring decent wages and working conditions. In addition to fighting for workers rights in the capitalist system, which is dependent on exploiting workers, trade unions are often central to the defence of democratic rights.

Drawing from our own history, trade unions were at the forefront of the anti-colonial struggle. Ensuring that the government does not infringe upon freedoms of expression and association is a key, recurring challenge in democracies and often, trade unions are central to asserting these rights.

Given that the power of the trade unions movement depends on its organisational strength, it is important to consider the obstacles that have emerged in the recent decades. Laws that stipulate how a trade union can be formed to have tightened, the Labour Department responsible for trade unions functions more like an employers department and the division of workers into permanent workers and contract or commonly called manpower workers has led to unprecedented insecurity and precariousness of workers, inhibiting them from participating in trade union activity. It is in such a stifling environment that trade unions try to organise workers and negotiate with employers.

"The JO has been crassly opportunistic and only concerned about cheap shots at the Govt. The formal opposition TNA has been virtually asleep on economic issues and mainly toed the Govt line when it comes to workers concerns"



The persistent attack by employers and the state on workers pose a major challenge to unions, leaving unions with few options, including strike action as the last resort. Strikes are a disruption, and are intended to halt economic activities, when employers and the state are unwilling to negotiate with the trade unions. However, strikes are a risky course of action for trade unions and their worker membership, because the failure of such escalated and collective action can also cost the workers their jobs.

When strikes are launched, the government in turn responds by delegitimising and, when possible, crushing trade unions. The government drags decision-making, and meanwhile threatens workers with dismissal, all this backed dutifully by an anti-union media propaganda, until public sentiment turns against the workers.

Therefore, the mobilisations and pronouncements on both sides of the divide, with the trade unions and the Government in the case of the railway strike, become an ideological battle to win the support of the public.

In this context, the trade union movement as a whole needs to recognise its shortcomings. Whether in the West or in Sri Lanka, trade unions have excluded women and other marginalised groups in their organising work and leadership.

Therefore, trade unions have to broaden themselves to take up the concerns of working women, informal workers and rural peoples livelihoods. Furthermore, if trade unions are to reclaim their democratic vision and role, they must reject outright nationalism and majoritarianism, which are the bane of any just society.



State confrontation

The recent strikes in Sri Lanka have taken on the character of a confrontation with the state. This is a consequence of moves to privatise state-owned enterprises. There is considerable pressure from institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank to privatise state-owned enterprises, and state policies are now overtly seeking privatisation.

The background to the railway strike are also moves towards the partial or complete privatisation of such state-owned enterprises. The irony of the gazette notification making railways an essential service during the strike, begs the question as to why any government would consider privatising an essential service?

Furthermore, the Government and its elite propagandists claim strikes inconvenience  transport as with the railway strike  the working people in particular, even as they seek to privatise state services resulting in much higher costs to the public. Such contradictions reflect the hypocrisy and lack of vision on the part of the Government in addressing both workers concerns and services to the public.

"Given that the power of the trade unions movement depends on its organisational strength, it is important to consider the obstacles that emerged in the recent decades"



Such contradictions are also seen in moves of some unions. While the GMOA over the last two years is seeking to position itself as a champion of trade union rights, it remains committed to the private practice of its doctors through channelling in large private hospitals and work in private clinics. The growth of the private healthcare industry through such means is continuing to undermine free healthcare to the public.

There is another reason for the increasing number of strikes and protests in recent times in relation to state policies. It is not just the problematic stance of the Government, there has also been little effective advocacy much less alternatives from opposition forces in Parliament. The Joint Opposition has been crassly opportunistic and only concerned about cheap shots at the Government. The formal opposition TNA has been virtually asleep on economic issues and mainly toed the Government line when it comes to workers concerns.

Thus, a lack of meaningful debate and airing of issues and alternatives have meant trade unions and peoples movements have no choice but to escalate their problems through strikes and protests. They try to gain the attention of the public as means of engaging the Government. In this context, the Government sometimes resorts to violence including teargas and police or even military action to break the protests.



Capitalist exploitation

While the recent strikes in our country are mainly seen as a confrontation among trade unions and the Government, the long history of strikes globally points to a less apparent and powerful underlying process of conflict between capital and labour.

One of the most profound works on the history of labour and trade unions in recent times is Beverly Silvers Forces of Labour: Workers Movements and Globalization since 1870 (Cambridge University Press 2003). Silver and a large research team working for close to two decades looked at data spanning over a century from 1870 to 1996 on the frequency of labour unrest, defined as strikes, demonstrations, factory occupations, food riots etc., in 168 countries.

What they found is that with increasing exploitation of capital in different parts of the world at different time periods, labour unrest also increased. Their conclusion points to the contradictions and conflicts between capital and labour as central to frequency of strikes.

"When strikes are launched, the government in turn responds by delegitimising and, where possible, crushing trade unions. The government drags decision-making, and meanwhile threatens workers with dismissal"



Such international research on workers struggles should also be instructive for us to understand our context in Sri Lanka. That would mean understanding strikes not just as political manoeuvres or confrontation with the state, but as the historical outcome of increasing exploitation, precarious employment and dispossession, which characterise the social and economic life of our people.

In other words, no matter how much the elite and sections of the middle class, moan and groan about the disruption to public life by strikes, unless we are willing to find and invest in equitable and socially just economic alternatives, such labour unrest is likely to continue. The major task before trade unions and those committed to social justice is to channel labour unrest towards economic democracy.
An Anti-Venom Serum for snake reptile bites will soon see the day, from the Centre of Tropical Medicine based at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Peradeniya.

The Director of the Centre Professor S.A.M. Kularatne, Senior Professor and Chair of Medicine said that he and a team had been working on this aspect for some years and that it was possible before long, to bring out an Anti-Venom Serum produced locally against the snake bites and stings of the reptiles in this country.

At the second International Conference on Tropical Medicine held over the weekend (December 8 and 9) there were a number of presentations, two of which covered the subject of snake bites.

Technical Director of Serum and Vaccine Centre in the District of Pune, India said that millions of people suffer from snake bites and also scorpion stings.

"Technical Director of Serum and Vaccine Centre in the District of Pune, India said that millions of people suffer from snake bites and also scorpion stings."



Every year in the world majority of the victims require anti venom treatment to prevent death, amputation or severe neurological disorders.

The process of producing anti venom is technically challenging. It is very important to delicately balance the productivity with the health of the donor animals.

Production of anti venom rising animals is becoming objectionable and the search for alternative methods of production, such as the use of egg yolk, mono-colonial antibodies as well as herbal anti-venoms are been investigated, he said.

Dr. Anjana Silva from Rajarata University Medical Faculty is also studying anti-venoms.

The Keynote Address was delivered at this second Congress on the theme Global Alliance to combat Tropical Disease by Professor J.S.M. Pieris of the University of Hong Kong, Chair Professor on Virology.

He delivered his address titled Emerging Respiratory Viral Infections: From Influenza to MERS.

Professor Pieris said that novel emerging infectious diseases continue to arise in the 21st century posting unexpected threats.

While outbreaks such as Ebola and Zika have attracted much recent attention, respiratory epidemics are unique in the rapidity with which they spread across geographical boundaries, potentially leading to major social, economic and political as well as human health impact

Two respiratory viral infections of current concern are influenza and MERS. Influenza A (H3N2) and ( H1N1) and B Viruses cause repeated seasonal outbreaks though mutation in the virus surface proteins that allow emergence of variant viruses that evade pre- existing population immunity.

Seasonal influenza epidemics are estimated to infect ten to twenty percent of global population causing three to five million severe cases of Influenza disease and 0.3 - 0.67 million deaths (Largely to the elderly) every year.

Professor Pieris said that such outbreaks occur in most parts of the world, no region being exempt. Groups at risk of increased morbidity and mortality include young children and the elderly, pregnant women , those with underlying heart, lung ,kidney , liver or endocrine ( e.g. Diabetes ) diseases.

Antivirus therapy or high risk patients can reduce morbidity and mortality and vaccination can protect against infection and disease. Pandemic influenza arises from influenza in animals and occurs at less predictable intervals but can cause height morbidity and mortality.

Another study presented at this Congress was on Hantavirus Infection and Chronic Kidney Disease by Ms Kumilo Yoshimatsu, from the Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University, said that Hantaviruses cause a rodent borne Zootomic disease, Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome ( HFRS), chronic kidney disease ( CKD) is recognized as a major public health problem worldwide.

A high prevalence in Chronic Kidney Disease in cases has been noted in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka since 1990s,without known risk factors .

This disease, Dr. Yosshimatsu said is known as CKD or Chronic Kidney disease of Unknown Aetiology.

She said it has been reported that significant high seroprevalence of Hantavirus among CKD patients from Sri Lanka. (Seroprevalence is the number of persons in a population who test positive for a specific disease based on serology (blood serum) specimens; often presented as a percent of the total specimens tested or as a proportion per 100,000 persons tested.)

In her study, she says that it further examined the relationship between Hantavirus infection and CKDu by examination of Hantavirus seroptyping and seroprevalence in a new endemic area.

Dr. Yoshimatsu says that a total of 131 sera from CKDu patients and 200 serum samples were obtained from a CKDu endemic area, Girandurukotte, in the Badulla District.

Similarly 19 serum samples from CKDu patients and 50 control sera were collected from Wigamuwa, a sporadic endemic site in the Matale District. A total of 481 control sera were obtained from a known - endemic area of Matale district. Serum antibody level were screened by direct immuno-fluorescent antibody assay against Seoul, Thailand and Puumala virus antigens.

She says that Seroprevalence among CKDu patients (47.3%. 47%.4%) as higher than those among the control area ( 13.5 %-18% in Girandurukotte Wilgamuwa respectively.

Dr. Yoshimatsu concluded that to clarify the relationship between Hantavirus and Chronic Kidney Disease further extensive investigations in humans and rats are necessary.

Fourteen Research findings were presented.

Among the others who addressed the Congress were Professor R. Mudyanse, Professor S.A.M. Kularatne. Deputy Vice Chancellor Lakshman Wijeweera and Vice Chancellor Upul B. Dissanayake and Dr. Susiji Wickramasinghe.
The man who set the ball rolling for the Independence of the country has been forgotten though he had paid twice for his bold stand.

He was the first to be sentenced to the fort of Jaffna for two years hard labour. That was two hundred and one years ago, on December 7, 1816- two years before the famous rebellion.

This fact has been forgotten by many.

The man was none other than Sri Wickramrajasinghes Udagabada Nilame Madugalle - the Dissava of Wellassa.

The British on March 4, 1815, re-appointed him as the Udagabada Nilame with the Title of Dissava of Wellassa as he was reputed and a highly respected warrior and the best swordsman in the Kandyan Kingdom.

Though there are various schools of thought, yet there has been no one to pinpoint, why Keppetipla Maha Dissava left his position at the uprising at Paranagama and fled to Anuradhapura, where he surrendered to the British.

I met Professor Vimalananda Tennakoon, at Kelaniya, surrounded with his film strips brought from the British archives, but he himself was questioning as to why he left delegating his leadership to Madugalle.

This has so far not been answered, though there are various schools of thought.

However, Madugalle was sentenced by an ad-hoc inquiry headed by Sir John DOyly.

This was spearheaded by Millewa Dissave and Ekeelligoda when they told DOyly that Madugalle was organizing a conspiracy to oust the British from Kandyan soil.

"The British also feared Madugalle, as a great warrior and a brilliant swordsman. Keppetipola Maha Dissava was a respected man."



It was said that Madugalle Dissava had gone to the Kovil at Bintenna to seek the blessings of God Kataragama to pray that the British be got rid of from the Kandyan Territory.

The second was that Madugalle Dissava had tried to spirit away the Icon of the Kandyan people, the Sacred Tooth Relic and that the Mahanayake of Malwatte had known about it.

On these two flimsy tales, Madugalle was summoned to the Magul Maduwa or the Audience Hall for an inquiry of a board composed of Kandyan Nilames and Army officers to hear what has to be said by Madugalle Dissava.

He accepted the first charge that he did send some persons to the Kovil at Binntenna to seek the help of the God for some valuables lost in his household, but denied that mission was for the purpose of sending the British away from the country.

The second charge was denied and he said he did not seek the blessings of the Mahanayake of Malwatte to remove the sacred relic from where it was placed.

DOyly was no fool and knew the ways of the Nilames, from the time of his days at Matara, where he was friendly with Koratota Thera and from where he was spying on the Kandy realm.

So, without his taking the total blame, he summoned the Nilames to conduct the inquiry, headed by him and with the aid of some officers of the Artillery.

DOyly questioned the Chiefs as to the punishment, should the suspect be found guilty.

Their answer was death and the confiscation of property. With this Madugalle Dissave was summoned and when Madugalle Dissava came before a stunned committee, he was served with those two charges.

The Nilames had doubts of his appearing before the Committee, but when he did, they thought of making a quick rift, if not they knew what would befall them.

He did accept the charge of the incident of sending people to the Kovil at Bintenna but denied a hand in suggesting the removal of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

"Without his taking the total blame, he summoned the Nilames to conduct the inquiry, headed by him and with the aid of some officers "

DOyly immediately summoned the Maha Gabada Nilame Madugalle and Venerable Ihalagama Ratnapala Thera before the Committee. On the second charge, which was denied by Madugalle DOyly sent the newly appointed Maha Gabada Nilame and Kodditukkukara Lekam to Malwatte Vihara to bring a written statement from the Mahanayake of Malwatte as for the veracity of the statement made by Madugalle Dissave. The Mahanayake of Malwatte denied his involvement and said that the Nilame suggested but had advised him to be cautious of such a move.

Armed with this document, DOyly moved the committee to make a judgment, which they did by announcing that Madugalle Dissava was guilty. The decision was then transferred to Colombo for the decision of Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg. He made an order that Madugalle Dissava - the Udagabada Nilame be sentenced two years to the Fort of Jaffna.

The British also feared Madugalle, as a great warrior and a brilliant swordsman. Keppetipola Maha Dissava was a respected man.



Udagabada Nilame now stripped off of his Titles and was sent to Colombo in a Palanquin and guarded. After the delivery of the sentence by Brownrigg, the Nilame was sent to Jaffna Fort through Negombo and Wattala.

The position Udagabada Nilame was filled by Dehigama Hannabaddea Nilame as Udagabada Nilame. Madugalles lands were confiscated. But the order of the Governor had specifically stated that his relatives would not be penalised as some of them were in the service of the British.

Though Madugalle Dissava was sentenced to two years, yet with the Birthday celebrations of Prince Regent who was to become George the Fourth, Madugalle was given a pardon. Madugalle came back and resided in Dumbara, his native village. While, at Dumbara he waited for a rebellion, which he thought would come some day and it did.

This was the time when a pretender was loitering around the Kandyan Realm calling himself a relative of the last King of Kandy.



But Madugalle waited for the rebellion to enter the Dumbara territory and then joined forces. But, he had a taste of Kandyan conspiracy around the Nilames.

Keppetipola led the rebellion with the murder of Government Agent Wilson and the arrival of Keppetipola Maha Dissava to quell the rebellion as ordered by the British and then Keppetipola joining the rebellion. Keppetipola later fled, leaving Madugalle to lead, but he could not go far with the rebels deserting the field, due to the addition of armed mercenary of the British drawn from India.

So in 1816, it was Madugalle who was tried for Treason by the British and the first to be tried on that charge. So he was convicted twice, in 1816 and 1818. After he was beheaded on the Banks of Bogambara wewa, his wife was sent to Kalutara and his four children and mother were sent to Colombo. They, in turn, held office in the Kandyan Kingdom

The widow of Madugalle married Kotuwegedera Lekam and thus ended the saga of Madugalle Dissave, the best swordsman of the Kandyan Kingdom.
President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he would make an official request from Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw the temporary ban on Sri Lanka tea imports.

The Russian Federation on Thursday announced that tea imports from Sri Lanka had been banned due to the detection of a single specimen of the agricultural pest, the beetle Trogoderma Granarium in the packaging material of a consignment of tea shipped from Sri Lanka.
Island wide raids would be conducted from January 2018 by the officials of the Health and Indigenous Medicine Ministry backed by Police to nab 30,000 quacks in the country, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

The quacks have become a menace and contribute to health-related mishaps with pseudo-medical practitioners on the rise, Minister Senaratne said.

All qualified doctors, who are engaged in private practice, must ensure to get their registration at the Private Health Services Regulatory Council (PMSRC) to prevent any inconvenience, when officials visit private medical centers and clinics, he said.

We have information that nearly 30,000 individuals without any medical qualification are practicing medicine, masquerading as doctors. Statistics indicate that there are about 30,000 such persons and many of them practice in rural areas. We are also aware that a large number of illegal abortions are performed by those quacks putting the life of women at risk. A majority of abortion- related deaths are taking place after an abortion performed by a quack, he said.

He said public cooperation was extremely important to apprehend quacks as those impersonators could not practice as qualified doctors if the public try to identify them and complained to the PMSRC. (Sandun A Jayasekera)
Sri Lanka hosted 50 young Chinese couples as they entered into wedlock in a glittering wedding ceremony held at the Town-hall Grounds today, further boosting the tourist potential Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world and promoting it as an ideal destination for couples to enjoy that very special day in their lives.

The colourful event that showcased our nations rich culture, the hospitality and friendship shown to another friendly country was an opportunity to grow

Sri Lanka-China religious, trade and cultural ties going back thousands of years.

The Royal Wedding Ceremony was held according to traditional Sri Lankan customs with the beating of Magul Bera, Jayamangala Gatha and also the exchanging of wedding rings.

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka speaking at the occasion said the mass wedding ceremony is sure to strengthen the cultural, religious and trade links between China and Sri Lanka further and act as major boost to tourism as well.

I want to thank these young couples for choosing Sri Lanka as the destination to have one of the most important events of their lives. No one can provide you with a scenic as well as romantic destination that captures the rich cultural diversity of a country quite like Sri Lanka, Minister Ranawaka added.

Ministers Ranawaka was joined by Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and John Amaratunga gave away marriage certificates to the 50 couples.

Ministers Arjuna Ranatunga, Wijith Vijayamuni Soyza, Sri Lanka ambassador in Beijing, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku and the Chinese ambassador in Colombo were present at the ceremony. Pix by Nisal Baduge. (Sandun A Jayasekera)
Mumbai: Veteran actor Rekha said Smita Patil was a far better actor than her, and she has no qualms accepting that.

Rekha, who received the Smita Patil Memorial Award here on Saturday night, said she will always consider Patil as her younger sister.

"I am here to receive this award which signifies the excellence of her craft, her acting, dancing abilities or her ability to be fearless in front of the camera or the way she could lift those beautiful eyes of hers and make a statement without saying a word. All of this is not why I have received this award," Rekha said.

"She was way more brilliant as an actress, which I got to know 30 years ago when I saw her films. She is a far better actor than me or anybody else. She was, is and will always remain my choti si pyaari behen (younger sister)," she added.

Patil's son, actor Prateik Babbar and noted music composer Anandji Virji Shah were also present at the ceremony.

Addressing Babbar, Rekha said, "Prateik, I know you have not spent time with her in the worldly sense, but you've spent nine months with her which are very integral, very pure and important. You were the purest form of creation by God...

"In moments of doubts, you can call me. I shall try to be someone, who is a part of her. I always felt a connection with her. Pratiek is a living example that she is right here with us," she added.
The bullet was pulled out without making a single incision on his face (Photo: YouTube)

Surviving after being shot in the face is miraculous but can leave a person with life altering injuries. While having a bullet lodged in the face can be painful, removing it also comes with its own share of risks.

23-year-old Tanveer Ansari was shot after being robbed, but the bullet didnt kill him although it blinded him in the left eye. While the 3-cm bullet was stuck in his face, many surgeons refused to perform an operation to remove it due to risks involved in the procedure.

Eventually doctors from Mumbais JJ Hospital decided to go ahead with the process as scans revealed that the bullet was lodged near the left eye. This enabled them to pull out the bullet through the nostril without making a single incision on Ansaris face.

They used modified endoscopy where surgical instruments are inserted in the body by being attached to an inspection tube. Similar operations have been used to remove gallstones and tumours.

Meanwhile Tanveer is recovering from his injuries although it isnt known if he will regain vision in his left eye.
An Indian woman has been refused a UK visa in order to be with her Scottish husband because her English is "too good", the Daily Mail reported.

22-year-old Alexandria Rintoul is hoping to be with her husband Bobby in St Andrews, Fife. She is also pregnant with their first child.

According to the report, despite passing the mandatory International English Language Testing System (IELTS) she has been denied entry into the country.

Her 33-year-old husband is worried that she will be too pregnant too fly or already give birth by the time this is all sorted out.

"We were ready to start our life together here. It would be our first Christmas in our new house and her first in Scotland," he told the Daily Mail. Adding, "It was her dream and it's been taken away over such a trivial issue."

In a Facebook post, Alexandria wrote: "I'm supposed to be spending money on my baby, my house, my new family and here I am paying bills for this money sucking visa refused because they arent satisfied I come from a country that speaks English...WHAT? Hahaha where do these PEOPLE go to SCHOOL?"

North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins is trying to help the couple. "This is a very difficult time for Mr Rintoul and his family and I have made repeated calls to the UK Visa and Immigration service but, like many of my colleagues, am frustrated by the lack of communication by that department and the impact this has on constituents who are rightly worried about their loved ones," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

Adding, "Too often I am finding constituents who have been left in an incredibly difficult position by a system that makes life unnecessarily stressful for people."
KOCHI: A 15-member gang suspected to be from North India struck terror in Kochi for the second day in succession on Saturday night. The robbers broke into a house at SMP Road at Tripunithura, attacked its inmates and decamped with 50 sovereigns of gold and Rs 20,000 in cash, four mobile phones and ATM and credit cards. Ananthakumar, 49, of the house, who was attacked with an iron rod, suffered head injuries and was admitted to a private hospital.

His mother Swarnamma, 72, children Deepak, Roopak and wife Shari, 46, were tied up and kept in separate rooms. The neighbours came to know of the incident after Roopak, the younger child of Ananathakumar, managed to untie himself around 4 in the morning and raised an alarm. Abhilash George and Akhil Thomas reached the spot and informed the police. The police presume that the gangsters stuck the house around 2 a.m. On Friday night, a gang had forced their way into a house near Pulleppady and decamped with five sovereigns of gold after keeping the two inmates hostage at knife point.

The house at Tripunithura is located less than 100 metres from the railway track. City police commissioner M.P. Dinesh and other senior officials, forensic experts and dog squad visited the spot. Mr Dinesh told reporters that the special squad formed to crack the two incidents will be expanded and the culprits, suspected to be from North India, will be nabbed soon.

SPC Loknath Behera orders special probe into break-ins

State police chief Loknath Behera has announced that special investigation team will be formed to probe into the two incidents of robbery in Kochi in the past two days. The matter has been discussed with Kochi range IG P. Vijayan and the necessary steps will be initiated, he said. Although the DGP has announced the formation of a special investigation, senior police officials in the city are on tenterhooks following the successive robberies. The police is now investigating on the assumption that the same gang was behind the two incidents. The modus operandi was similar in the both the incidents, they said.

In both cases, the gang entered the houses after bending the steel rods of the windows. Police also feel that while a section of the gang entered the house others waited outside to monitor the situation. Police is worried over the propensity of the gang members to use violence against the inmates after entering the house. Police also feels that the gang has struck after gathering information about the area in a thorough manner. City police commissioner M.P. Dinesh said that preliminary investigations have suggested that the gang members spoke in Hindi as well as in broken Malayalam.
Karan smashed her head with a stone to destroy evidence and dumped her in a forest about 500 metres from her home. (Representational image)

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): A four-year-old tribal girl in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly raped by a man, who smashed her head with a stone to make it difficult to identify her and dumped her body in a forest, police said.

Karan, 25, who lived next door in Manawar, about 325 km from Bhopal, lured the girl to a deserted place where he sexually assaulted her, police said.

Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh said that after raping the girl, Karan smashed her head with a stone to destroy evidence and dumped her in a forest about 500 metres from her home, Singh said.

"We found her body in the forest and after investigation, we rounded up Karan who confessed to the crime," added Singh.

The body has been sent for postmortem to Indore and further investigations are underway, he said.
DMK working president MK Stalin said Tamil Nadu witnessed large-scale distribution of money to garner votes for the December 21 bypoll. (Photo: PTI/File)

Chennai: The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu on Sunday told the Election Commission of India that the ruling AIADMK party distributed over Rs 100 crores to the voters for the byelection to RK Nagar constituency.

DMK working president MK Stalin said Tamil Nadu witnessed large-scale distribution of money to garner votes for the December 21 bypoll.

He also requested the poll panel to disqualify AIADMK candidate E Madhusudhanan.

"Take appropriate and necessary action against AIADMK and the erring officials and to ensure free and fair election in RK Nagar Assembly Constituency," his letter read.

Earlier on Saturday, a local AIADMK functionary, N Anbukarasu was 'caught' by rival DMK men with money which they alleged was 'cash-for-votes'.

AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan dismissed the DMK charge as a lie.

"The members of the rival faction chief TTV Dhinakaran and the opposition DMK wore AIADMK dhoties and carried the party symbol, two-leaves, while distributing money to project as if AIADMK people are involved in this kind of activities in order to withhold the present byelection, he said in complaint to the election officials.

"These rivals are forcefully getting hold of our party people and voluntarily and forcibly thrusting money into their pockets and creating a scene in front of the general public and the election officials to target our party and by doing this, they have been planning to distribute money to the voters, Madhusudanan said.

In April, the EC had cancelled the bypoll to Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency following reports that money was used to influence voters.

Bypoll for the RK Nagar constituency was necessary after the seat fell vacant following the death of former chief minister J Jayalithaa in December last year.
HYDERABAD: While most laws in the country are excellent but poorly enforced, the law against child marriage by itself is flawed, says Justice R. Ramasubramanian of the Hyderabad High Court. The law states that child marriages are voidable and not void when discovered, which is what the Karnataka government is pushing for. However, the harmful consequence of the word void is that the groom and the bride will receive no rehabilitation. M. Jagadeeshwar, the secretary of Women and child welfare department while speaking about the Preve-ntion of Child Marriages at a press conference in Telangana state commented that boys are not victims of child marriage, so they do not need rescue. This met with criticism from those who run residential schools who said that a boy also has rights and we need more rescue centres for male children as well.

Rescue centres should not encourage alienation by separating boys and girls at a young age, said the principal of a Hyderabad-based school. M. Jagadeeshwar further said, The problem with curbing of child marriages, which happen in almost every district of Hyderabad, is the lack of rehabilitation centres. In most cases, the victims are handed back to their parents who take them to distant places and get them married elsewhere. All the child institutions in the state are bound by law to keep the victims with them or else they will lose their registration.

Residential school autho-rities who attended the programme were asked to call the parents who got their children married during the assembly. The women and child welfare commission authorities said that the commission is planning to turn Sakhi centres into 24/7 rescue centres and will also scale up infrastructure in rehabilitation centres. Similarly, the number of departments involved in registering a complaint about a child marriage from the police to the welfare department will be merged to cut short the prolonged process and make it a single-window system.

Tripurana Venkataratnam, chairperson of the State Women's Commission also emphasised the lack of awareness among government officials such as district registrars and municipal commissioners. She also said, Although it is a law to compulsorily register every marriage in the state, many district collectors are unaware that it is their duty to do so. Municipal commissioners also fail to verify these marriages. Owing to these difficulties, a web portal is being designed by the commission where marriages can be registered online.

Shikha Goel, CID IGP, Telangana, said, We will be red flagging the passports of all minor girls in districts that are ridden by child marriages. It is surprising the number of middle men involved in this racket. Over 25 women were involved in the racket of child brides being taken to Oman. To book these middle men, we are planning on geo tagging broker services.

Shelter homes in Telangana not so rosy:

Hyderabad: Inaugurating a one-day seminar on human trafficking at Dr MCHRD Institute in the city on Saturday, Supreme Court Judge L. Nageswara Rao, criticised the conditions in rescue homes meant to shelter women who are victims of human trafficking. He said that when 32 women broke down the doors of a rescue home in Hyderabad in 2012 and ran away, it indicates what sort of conditions prevail in these homes. The situation will improve only when the state government takes interest and creates a conducive atmosphere for the victims to live in the rescue home without fear, Justice Rao pointed out.

He said victims of trafficking have rights, that a more humane attitude must be inculcated, and that laws in force for the protection of the victims must be amended to suit the current situation. Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the Hyderabad High Court said that human trafficking, particularly of women and children, is high in both Telugu states; every year 1.2 million children are trafficked across the world. The government should thoroughly verify the antecedents and financial position of those running rescue homes before granting them licences, he said.
Chennai: Deprecating rising sex crimes against women and girl child, the Madras high court has asked the central and Tamil Nadu governments to explore the possibility of providing gadgets to women to prevent sexual violence against them. In spite of stringent laws, sexual assaults on women continue unabated.

The offences have to be analysed and examined on psychological, sociological angles also in an effort to prevent and bring down the offences in the patriarchal society. Gender sensitisation has to start from family level for gender equality, said Justice N. Kirubakaran of the Madras high court while rejecting the bail applications of two accused Andrews and Prabhu, arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 60-year-old mentally retarded woman at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district.

Hey, Bharatha Matha !! Look how your daughters are being molested, sexually assaulted and murdered by some of the devilish creatures roaming in your land.

The said culprits could neither be termed human beings nor as animals, as even animals are noble in their own way , observed Justice Kirubakaran while rejecting the bail applications of two accused Andrews and Prabhu, arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 60 year old mentally retarded lady at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district.

Narrating 5 cases of rape of children and women, in some cases murder also occurred in 2017, the judge said these cases reported in the media are only to show that the horrific and gruesome crimes are occurring unabated putting a question mark over the safety of women in India, in spite of many stringent laws.

It is shocking and disheartening to learn that even toddlers are raped. In February 2017, a seven-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Mugalivakkam, Chennai by a youth, the judge added.

The judge said, Sexual assault is a violation of privacy, dignity, honour causing a permanent scar and continuous agony in the mind of the hapless victim. Everyone has right over her/his body and no one has right to infringe upon the same, without the consent of the person. In sexual assault, the victim's body in spite of her resistance/opposition, is vitiated by the perpetration by force, intimidation etc..

A physiotherapy college student Nirbhaya was gang-raped on December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in New Delhi and she later succumbed to the injuries.

Her sacrifice compelled the Central government to appoint Justice Verma Committee, whose recommendations led to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 amending IPC by introducing new sections 376-A, 376-B, 376-C and 376-D and adding sections 354-A, 354-B, 354-C and 354-D of IPC, Indian Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code. In spite of the above stringent laws, sexual assault on women continues unabated, the judge added.

The judge said, Indian society is a conservative one and the country has leapt forward economically and sociologically in this electronic era. However, sadly, sexual violence against women and children are increasing day by day alarmingly.

Pointing out the details of a number of crimes and rapes from the year 2005 to 2016 furnished by the NCRB, the judge said as crimes against women and girl children were shockingly rising every year, especially, sex crimes, most urgent measures have to be taken. Then, the judge posed the 25 queries to the Central and state governments.
According to Nageshwar Rao, Inspector North Zone Task Force, the team got information from the local police. (Photo: Representational/File)

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Police on Sunday arrested two people for allegedly running a sex racket after a raid on two hotels last night. Police said that two women have been rescued during the operation.

According to Task Force (North Zone) Inspector K Nageshwar Rao, police raided two hotels in Panjagutta and Banjara Hills last night and apprehended Monish K and Venkatesh, the alleged organisers of this racket.

He said that the two women, one from Mumbai and the other from Kolkata, rescued are actors.

The two men have been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA)and further investigations were underway, the official said.
Naik fled from India after some terrorists allegedly involved in the Dhaka cafe attack claimed that they were inspired by his speeches. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Interpol has cancelled the red corner notice on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) president and preacher Zakir Naik, who is being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"Interpol has cancelled red corner notice on Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, have cited political and religious bias among other reasons," a spokesperson of Naik said.

The NIA's request for red corner notice against Naik was not accepted by the Interpol as the chargesheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol. Now, the NIA will submit a fresh request to the Interpol as a chargesheet has already been filed in the concerned NIA court in Mumbai.

The Islamic preacher is facing charges of incitement of terror activities, hate speeches among youth and money-laundering.

Naik fled from India after some terrorists allegedly involved in the Dhaka cafe attack claimed that they were inspired by his speeches.

Last year, the National Investigation Agency's Mumbai branch had registered a case against Naik under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after the Union Home Ministry had declared his Mumbai based IRF as an unlawful association.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month had said that the inter-departmental consultations were on for the extradition of Naik from Malaysia.
Bengaluru: State Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday strongly condemned those observing the death anniversary of Ajmal Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist who was caught during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and later hanged to death. The Governor said, "Those observing Kasab's death anniversary should be shot dead." He also called for setting up of special courts for speedy disposal cases against terrorists and other anti-nationals.

During a discussion organised on the topic 'National Security Our Priority', Mr Vala said, "It took so many years to award death sentence of Kasab, who took away the lives of many innocent people. With special courts those who indulge in anti-national activities should be punished immediately." He further added that hanging of traitors should not be published in any newspaper. Apart from special courts, he demanded special laws for speedy disposal of cases. "We should not be soft on terrorists," he added.
Hyderabad: The Telangana state government is seriously considering categorisation of Scheduled Tribes (ST) in order to break the impasse between Adivasis and Lambadas and to ensure equitable opportunities in education and employment to all tribals.

The Adivasis are alleging that Lambadas are cornering ST reservation benefits and are demanding that the government remove Lambadas from the list.

The government is worried that removing Lambadas from the ST list would complicate matters, and is seriously considering categorising the STs to create sub-caste groups based on social and economic status and extend reservations to all sections accordingly.

KCR to call quota meet after World Telugu Conference

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will convene a meeting with ST public representatives and community leaders after the World Telugu Conference ends this week and put the categorisation proposal before them. The government wants to appoint a commission of inquiry to recommend categorisation of STs with a time-frame of six months.

At present, there are five categories of BCs in the state (A,B,C,D,E) and the 29 per cent reservation quota is distributed among them. There is a long pending demand for categorisation of Scheduled Caste (SC) too and the TS Assembly has passed a resolution to this effect and sent it to the Centre for approval, where it has been pending for a long time. ST categorisation too will need approval of the Centre. The government wants to complete all the formalities on ST categorisation and send it to the Centre, so that it can tell the tribal communities that it is pending with New Delhi. Mr Rao discussed these issues with ministers Jogu Ramanna, A Indrakaran Reddy, and A. Chandulal at a meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Saturday.

Sources in the Chief Ministers Office said that Mr Rao would convene a meeting of ST representatives of all political parties as well community leaders to decide how to go about resolving the reservations tussle between Adivasis and Lambadas. There are about 35 castes within Scheduled Tribes. Adivasis allege that only the Lambadas, who migrated from other states to undivided Andhra Pradesh earlier, and now into Telangana state just so that they could avail of the reservation benefits, were cornering a major share of the quota and depriving other castes.

They argue that Lam-badas in other states are categorised as BCs or OBCs and it is to get ST status that they are migrating to Telangana. They have demanded that the government not issue Lambadas ST caste certificates. STs have 6 per cent quota in Telangana. The state Assembly passed an Act this year increasing the quota to 10 per cent, but the Centres approval is awaited since the overall quota limit has crossed the 50 per cent mandated by the Supreme Court.
Residents of Arihant Majestic Towers (AMT) at Koyambedu hold placards, protesting against Tasmac outlet right outside the apartment premises. Founder and chairman of Exnora International M.B. Nirmal, who is also the resident of AMT, also seen.

Chennai: Nearly 100 residents of Arihant Majestic Towers at Koyambedu protested for the removal of a Tasmac outlet located right next to their premises on Saturday.

The Tasmac shop was closed after Supreme Court's order. However, it reopened after the state government obtained ordinance and said the outlets can function on city roads. But now, the liquor shop is being expanded and is touching the wall of our flats. Moreover, they are planning on constructing an additional floor to run an open bar,rued N. Thiru, president, Arihant Majestic Towers Flat Owners Association.

The flats were constructed nearly 17 years ago and it houses 312 families. The residents said they have been facing the issue for nearly four years and the construction of an additional floor added to their woes of tippler menace.

One of the residents said, An ATM is located right next to the Tasmac shop. The tipplers already high after a couple of drinks and badly in need of money for their next drink could snatch the purse of somebody coming out of the ATM or even opt for extreme measures.

Members of residents association have requested Chennai corporation and CMDA to intervene at the initial stage by demolishing the construction. CMDA had directed the Chennai corporation to take enforcement action on constructions, they said.

When contacted, D. Dhanasekaran, general secretary of the AITUC-affiliated Tamil Nadu TASMAC Employees Union said there is no law prohibiting the construction of TASMAC outlets near residential complexes.
Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Limited on Saturday donated Rs 5 crore to Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund in view of the losses due to the cyclone Ockhi. The cheque for the amount was handed over to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function at CIAL at Nedumbassery by CIAL director and Farm Minister V. S. Sunil Kumar. This follows CIAL director board meet, chaired by Pinarayi Vijayan, took a decision in this regard.

The director board also decided to contribute Rs 4.41 crore to speed up the inland waterway development project being jointly undertaken by CIAL and the state government. The director board also gave the green signal to enter into an agreement with Ghana to help the African nation power its three airports with solar energy by setting up solar plants. CIAL will give technical support in this regard. Managing Director V. J. Kurien was entrusted with the task of taking up the works in this regard. CIAL is the first airport to be fully powered by solar energy and several countries have evinced interest in its model.
Bengaluru: In what could be described as last ditch effort to play an emotional card, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Saturday declared that 2018 assembly polls could most likely be his last election, as he was contesting to checkmate the BJP from coming back to power.Most likely the forthcoming assembly election will be the last election for me, Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters at Raichuru. However, he quickly added in a same breath that he would remain active in politics, but not contest assembly polls.

Earlier during the 2013 assembly polls, Mr Siddaramaiah had said that it was his last election. Conceding that he had during the 2013 polls stated it would be his last election, the Chief Minister said he was contesting to stop BJP from getting back to power. Looking at elections and the political system, I had felt it is enough, but looking at communal politics by BJP, I felt I should stand for election. Also, the high command said that I should contest, he said.

I have the responsibility to see to that BJP does not come back to power, so Im contesting, he added. The Congress has announced Siddaramaiah would be the party's face during the 2018 Assembly polls, and is yet to decide on the CM candidate. Stating that he would contest from Chamundeshwari constituency, Siddaramaiah said there are 20 constituencies other than that or Varuna from where he could contest and win. Chamundeshwari is the constituency that gave me political strength and rebirth, so I felt I should end from there, he said.

Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Mr Siddaramaiah got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won from the constituency five times and seen defeat twice. Mr Siddaramaiah represents Varuna in Mysuru after it came into existence in 2008 following the reorganisation of constituencies. Speculations are rife that the CM is keen on fielding his son Yatindra from Varuna.
The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat 'model of development'. (Photo: PTI/File)

Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat 'model of development'.

The much-awaited results of the keenly fought elections will be announced on Monday when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amidst tight security.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each others.

Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani - in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led an counter protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani

raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

The influential Patidar community, which accounts for around 12 per cent of the state's population, could prove to be the 'X factor' in the polls in which Patel pledged support to the Congress and appealed to people to "uproot the BJP"

this time.

As the campaign was nearing its end, "Vikas" (development) took a back seat, and caste and religious issues received prominence.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters

launched the campaign "Vikas Gando Thayo Che" (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat".

An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on December 14, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 per cent.

In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 per cent voting was recorded.

The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered.

In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.

According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 per cent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 per cent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are Tapi (78.56 per cent), Banaskantha (75.15) and Sabarkantha (74.97).

The districts which saw a low turnout are Amreli (61.29), Bhavnagar (61.56) and Porbandar (61.86).

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 per cent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 per cent and 70 per cent. Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 per cent.
Hubballi: Battered by drought for years, farmers of Nargund have decided to confront state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, when he leads his partys Parivarthana Yatra into the town next week, for his failure to find his promised solution to the Mahadayi river dispute before December 15. The angry farmers plan to hold a bandh in Navalgund on the issue before barging into the BJP rally in Hubballi on December 21 to register their protest. They have threatened to commit suicide in front of the BJP office and homes of its leaders.

Mr Yeddyurappa had last month promised farmers of Nargund that he would return to the town in a month after getting Goa to allow Karnataka to execute its Kalasa Banduri project and bring an end to the Mahadayi river dispute between the two states. But the deadline set by the BJP leader ended on December 15 with no solution in sight , angering the farmers. At the meeting in Nargund on Saturday the farmers decided to wear black badges when Mr Yeddyurappa arrives in the town on December 20 and to go to Bengaluru on December 23 to protest before the office of the BJP there.

Both Congress and BJP leaders are trying to suppress the Mahadayi movement by inducting the protesters into their parties and offering them several inducements ahead of elections. We are chalking out a strategy against the Yatre as BJP leaders have failed to meet their deadline to resolve the issue. Karnataka will witness another agitation like the farmers rebellion of 1980 in Nargund if parties continue to be indifferent to our plight, said farmer leader Veeresh Sobaradmath.
Hubballi: Taking the wind out of the sails of the BJP, which has claimed that Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member, Yogesh Gouda was killed by loyalists of Mines and Geology Minister, Vinay Kulkarni, the late BJP leaders wife, Mallamma, announced on Saturday that she was joining the Congress.

In a complete turnaround, Mallamma has also lodged a complaint with the Karnataka State Womens Commission against her father-in-law, brother-in-law and a few BJP leaders, who had stood by her in her fight to demand action against her husbands killers. Mallamma had gone missing since Thursday night amidst rumours that she was abducted by Congress leaders. Her in-laws had alleged that Mr Kulkarni was forcing her to join the Congress. But Mallamma suddenly appeared before the media in Bengaluru on Saturday and rubbished all speculation that she was kidnapped by Congressmen and alleged that her in-laws and and some BJP leaders were harassing her.

Accusing them of politicising the death of her husband, she demanded protection. The reports of Congress leaders abducting me are false as I was in hospital being treated for some health issues. I am joining the Congress of my own free will as I am confident that CM Siddaramaiah will provide me justice by nabbing the killers of my husband. No one has pressured me. I am a well qualified woman and can take my own decisions. I will return to my village only after meeting the CM and joining the Congress as he is like a father figure from our Kuruba community, Mallamma said. Reacting to her volte face, BJP leader Jagadish Shettar and Yogesh Goudas brother, Gurunath accused Congress leaders of forcing Mallamma to join their party. Mr Shettar also demanded a CBI investigation into Yogesh Gouda's murder.
Kottayam: The Kerala Congress (M) will announce its decision on aligning with any political front soon. Party chairman K.M. Mani, who stated this at a press conference here on Saturday, also expressed his 'soft corner' towards Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his matter-of-fact style of speaking. Briefing reporters on the delegates' meet of the party at hotel Aida, Mr Mani said that the party would place a charter of demands before the front ahead of joining it.

These include the granting of title deeds for those who hold possession rights for the land, declaring cyclone Ockhi as a national disaster, formation of a fisheries ministry at the centre, bringing the tribal community under the ambit of the agriculture sector and steps for their welfare. More thrust should be given to the animal husbandry department to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production and the storage of paddy grains should be made more effective, he said.

Replying to reporters' queries, he paid compliments to Mr Pinarayai Vijayan saying that he was not outspoken like others and spoke with restraint. "However, that does not mean that we will not criticise him," Mr Mani added. The delegates' meet held in the morning discussed the future political course of the party. Mr Mani, however, refused to reveal it. Working chairman P.J. Joseph, deputy chairman C.F. Thomas, vice-chairman Jose K. Mani MP among others were present at the press meet.
The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat 'model of development'. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: The stage is set for the crucial Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election verdict as counting of votes begins on Monday morning amid tight security.

Even though most exit polls favour the BJP in both states, the Congress is confident of ending the BJPs 22-year rule in Gujarat and breaking the trend in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh where each Assembly election sees the Opposition coming to power.

Poll pundits feel that the verdict will also set the tone for the big electoral battle of 2019 as these Assembly elections are seen as a test between Prime Minister Narendra Modis magic and new Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's leadership.

Mr Gandhi, who assumed charge as Congress president on Saturday, campaigned for almost two months in Gujarat and gave the BJP its toughest fight in Mr Modis home state.

Counting of votes for 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat and 68 seats in Himachal will begin at 8 am and clear trends are likely to emerge by noon.

Papertrail to be used for first time

These are the first Assembly elections in both states with 100 per cent VVPAT or paper trail coverage. VVPAT machines from one polling booth in each of the constituencies will be tallied with EVM results.

On Sunday, more than 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the re-polling held at six polling booths in four Assembly constituencies of Gujarat, said officials.

In Gujarat, counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the states 33 districts amid tight security. The poll campaign saw the BJP focus on issues like Mr Gandhis temple visits, the alleged Pakistani interference in the polls and suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars controversial remarks against the PM. The Congress questioned the ruling partys development model as Mr Gandhi attacked Mr Modi and the BJP for not talking about the future of Gujarat and skipping key problems faced by people.

On the eve of the counting, Congress general secretary in charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot said, We are confident of victory in Gujarat. The manner in which Rahul Gandhi spearheaded the campaign and used issue-based politics, he put the BJP on the mat forcing them to resort to non-issues for public sympathy, The election saw the Congress stitching a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and dalit leaders  Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani  in its bid to unseat the BJP after over two decades. A day before the verdict, Mr Patel also accused the BJP of trying to use engineers to hack into the EVMs.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign Vikas Gando Thayo Chhe (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of I am development, I am Gujarat.

The total voter turnout this time saw a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered. In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the polls held on December 9 and 14.

In Himachal Pradesh, where counting of votes will take place at 42 centres, chief minister Virbhadra Singh of the Congress sounded confident that his party will achieve the target of Mission Repeat and the tall claims made by the BJP would be proved wrong.
Bengaluru: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday turned the heat on the Karnataka Congress government and CM Siddaramaiah blaming them for trying to divide society on communal lines.

Addressing the party's Parivartana Rally here, organised to expose the misdeeds of the Congress government ahead of the Assembly polls next year, Mr Singh accused the Congress government of letting law and order slip out of hand. He even claimed that the government was shielding the killers of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh and teenager Paresh Mesta (found murdered in Honnavar earlier this month). What is this state government doing in these murder cases? I want to assure people of Karnataka that when our government is formed, well probe these deaths from all angles and the culprits will be punished. We won't spare anyone, he said.

Accusing the Congress of dividing society, he said when there was a controversy pertaining to the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary. "There are many other historic figures whose birthdays could have been celebrated such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and renowned engineer Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide society," he alleged.

Referring to the reservations for minorities, Mr Singh claimed that the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there is no such provision in the Constitution. "Reservation based on religion is a deception, the Constitution does not allow it," he said.

With Assembly elections in Karnataka a few months away, the Union Home Minister appealed to Bengalureans to support the formation of a BJP government under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa. "We want to empower Karnataka, and this will be possible when in a few months, a BJP government is formed here," he said.

State BJP state president B. S. Yeddyurappa too slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly speaking about PM Narendra Modi in a derogatory manner. "You (Siddaramaiah) are only a 'bachcha' (kid) in front of Prime Minister Modi. When the whole world is admiring Modi, who are you to talk about him in an insulting manner," Mr Yeddyurappa thundered.
Tibet and the Dalai Lama have recently been in the news. Does this mean that the Tibet issue is moving towards a solution? Probably not! On November 23, the Dalai Lama affirmed in Kolkata: Tibet does not seek independence from China but wants greater development. While saying that China must respect the Tibetan culture and heritage, he added: The past is past. We will have to look into the future. We want to stay with China. We want more development.

Development did not come up when the Tibetan spiritual leader met former US President Barack Obama on December 1; they discussed compassion and altruism, according to an aide. The Dalai Lama said that the meeting with Obama was very good, I think we are really two old trusted friends. The two leaders discussed promoting peace in todays world torn by strife and violence. On his return to Dharamsala, the Tibetan monk announced that he may not travel abroad in future due to fatigue. He has nominated two official emissaries, President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay and former Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche to act as his envoys.

A few days later, the Dalai Lama was again in the news, he gave an unusually long interview to a leading national daily. Apart from mentioning the Tibetan tradition and its closeness to Indias belief system and their relevance today, he commented, We need material development. And many Chinese are showing genuine appreciation of Tibetans spiritual knowledge. Eventually in the future, with Buddhism, we could control China. Yes, this is possible! He then added: The Chinese government must respect Tibetan culture and language. One time, Chinese narrow-minded officials deliberately tried to eliminate Tibetan language and script  this is impossible to do. Tibetans too have an ancient culture thats difficult to eliminate. What is meant by more development for Tibet? For the Tibetans, it would probably translate into more Han Chinese migrating to Tibet in order to build and maintain new roads, airports, railway lines and cities. But it could mean a problem for India as all these developments will have a dual use, civil and military.

On July 1, 2016, China Military Online reported that a joint meeting on the development of military-civilian integration (known as dual-use) of airports was held in Beijing. On the agenda was the Interim Provisions of Operation Security at Dual-use Airports by the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). According to the PLA website, it is based on win-win principles for both the military and civil administration. The new arran-gement integrates the development of military-civilian airport resou-rces between the PLAAF and civil aviation. The article further expla-ined: Its main purpose was to establish a complementary management mechanism with smooth coordination and shared resources to gradually form a support capability that guarantees flight safety at peace times and meets combat needs at wartimes.

Soon after, Lhasa Gongkar airport became one the two first integrated airports in China. And this led to the National Peoples Congress passing a new law dealing with national defence transport. The legislation covers the use of infrastructure for defence and civilian purposes. Xinhua reported: The new law regulates planning, construction, management and use of resources in transportation sectors such as railways, roads, waterways, aviation, pipelines and mail services, for national defence.

After the recent incident at the tri-junction between Sikkim, Tibet and Bhutan, more development facilitating the rapid deployment of troops and airborne Special Forces on the plateau, China could be tempted to enter into a conflict with India. The day the Dalai Lama met Obama, a Chinese website mentioned the road to Metok, the last Tibetan village before the Yarlung Tsangpo enters India in Arunachal Pradesh and becomes the Siang. The Chinese article says Metok was an isolated island due to lack of transportation: The situation was unchanged until October 31, 2013 when Zhamo Road was completed [since then] the road mileage has been increasing rapidly.

Metok administration is upgrading the road. It will take a lot of money to upgrade an existing road so close to the Indian border; undoubtedly, such development will bring more silt to the Brahmaputra and the PLA closer to Indias border. In a related issue, former Ambassador Phunchok Stobdan commented in a news website: Within this rapidly-unfolding scenario, the Dalai Lama appears to have sent Samdong on a discreet visit to Kunming [in Chinas Yunnan province]. Samdongs visit, starting from mid-November, must have been facilitated by no less than the newly-appointed head of the United Front Work Department overseas Tibetan affairs You Quan. Mr Quan, who formerly served as party secretary of Fujian, is a close associate of President Xi.

Though Samdhongs visit has not been confirmed, it is doubtful that the Tibetans would sign a deal with an authoritarian Chinese regime; it is, however, worrisome for India. If the Dalai Lama returns to Tibet, will the Tibetans take Beijings side on for the disputed borders, particularly in Ladakh and Uttarakhand (in the case of Tawang, the Dalai Lama has made it clear time and again, that it is Indian territory)?

Another development is the nomFination of a Tibetan General Thubten Thinley to the Communist Partys 19th Congress. His job is to recruit Tibetans in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). For China, it makes sense to enroll more Tibetans in the PLA and post them on the Indian borders. Local Tibetans are tempted by the enrollment as it brings decent revenues to the poorer sections of society. The Dalai Lama told the newspaper: China needs India, India needs China There is no other way except to live peacefully and help each other. Now, this might be true in theory, but the Doklam incident has taught us that there is a gap between the theory and the practice. India needs to be watchful of Beijings next move on the Tibet issue.
With Rahul Gandhi taking charge as Congress president, senior leaders, who have worked closely with Mrs Sonia Gandhi during her 19-year tenure as party chief, are feeling insecure about their role in the new set-up. Consequently, Sonia loyalists were not happy when it was suggested that a farewell dinner be hosted for her over the weekend. The proposal met with resistance on the plea that Mrs Gandhi was not retiring from politics and that her involvement in party affairs will not come to a halt since she continues to be the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and head of the Congress Parliamentary Party. In addition, she will remain a member of the Congress Working Committee, the partys highest decision-making body. Though they are putting up a brave face, saying the generational change was long overdue, the partys old guard is hoping that Mrs Gandhi will continue her engagement with the party in some form or the other so that she is available to hear them in case they have a grievance. It is, therefore, being suggested that Mrs Gandhi be designated Congress patron in recognition of her contribution as party president.

The rivalry between Sachin Pilot and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is an open secret. Though Mr Pilot is heading Rajasthan Congress and working hard to put the Vasundhara Raje government on the mat, party circles maintain that Mr Gehlot will eventually emerge as the chief ministerial candidate if Congress wins in next years Assembly elections. Mr Gehlots adversaries, therefore, heaved a sigh of relief when the Congress leadership told him to take charge of the Gujarat Assembly polls as this meant he would be away from his home state. Convinced that the party stood little chance in Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state, Gehlot-baiters have been a worried lot following reports that the Congress is giving a tough fight to BJP. They are hoping the Congress does not fare well in Gujarat because the former chief ministers stock in the party will skyrocket in case of a victory. while in Gujarat, Mr Gehlot has not only gained proximity to Mr Gandhi but has also deployed party workers from Rajasthan as observers in all the districts in the state to keep them in good humour. Clearly, he has his eyes set on Rajasthan.

As pragmatists, industrialists are known to keep their options open as far as political parties are concerned. But in 2014, an unhappy corporate sector turned its back on the Congress and threw its lot with the BJP. But, of late, the mood appears to have changed. Though the Congress is not seen as a likely winner in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the corporate sector has, nevertheless, decided to touch base with the grand old party once again. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited Congress president Rahul Gandhi to deliver the valedictory address at its annual meeting some months ago. Now, a couple of leading industrialists, known to be close to the Modi government, have sought appointment with him. This is a throwback to the pre-2004 period when a number of leading industrialists had called on Mrs Sonia Gandhi on the eve of the Lok Sabha election results. In fact, the thaw had set in two years earlier in 2002 when the CII invited her for the opening session of its annual meeting. Mrs had then used the occasion to take a dig at her political opponents. When the leader of the Opposition is invited by the countrys leading industrialists to start off their annual get-together, it is natural to speculate  now, what could be the motive; what sort of political winds are blowing and in what direction, she had remarked.
After a prolonged hue and cry and threats of being nullified, Parliaments Winter Session has begun from December 15 and will run till January 5, 2018. Indias Parliament holds three sessions every year. The Budget Session, being the longest one, is held towards the beginning of the year, then the Monsoon Session in July-August and finally the Winter Session in November-December. Constitutionally, Article 85 only mandates that there should not be a gap of more than six months between any two parliamentary sessions. Usually the Winter Sessions begin in November and is held till December each year, but in 2003, 2008 and 2013, due to elections in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram, the session did not begin in November but after the last polling day. In 2008, the Winter Session did start early in October, but was halted between October 24 and December 9 due to elections. The NDA was in government in 2003, while in both 2008 and 2013 it was the UPA.

This disparity in parliamentary proceedings can be attributed to state elections. It is therefore necessary to improve the ratio between governance and campaigning at both the national and state levels. Parliamentary sessions will be inevitably delayed unless reforms in both the electoral schedule and the Lok Sabha are implemented. The constant juggling of roles in politicians lives renders them unable to perform their duties and obligations in a cogent manner. The finance minister saying that the government would ensure a regular Winter Session but would not want it to clash with the December 9-18 Gujarat Assembly elections is a testimony to the fact that ceaseless election cycles in our country cause havoc in governance. The recent Gujarat Assembly elections saw senior leaders of major political parties engrossed in it, leaving them unable to perform many vital constitutional duties. Continual elections are not only a distraction from governance but also prevent the Opposition parties from effectively playing their role in Parliament. This continuum adds to uncertainty in parliamentary proceedings, leading to delays in matters of urgency.

The functioning of the country is impacted by the functioning of its legislature. A declining trend has been observed in the sitting days of Parliament. The Lok Sabha met for an average of 130 days in a year during the 1950s, and these were further reduced to 70 days in the 2000s. The National Commission to Review Working of the Constitution recommended that the Lok Sabha should have 120 sittings in a year, and the Rajya Sabha to have 100 sittings, but despite that, this year we will have the shortest Winter Session in 20 years. There is no fixed legislative calendar in place for India unlike Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, where parliaments are in session throughout the year. Every year begins in these countries with the formalisation of a sittings calendar, and other legislative allied businesses are programmed in accordingly. In 1955, similar efforts were tried in India too, with the Lok Sabha recommending a calendar of sittings, but in vain. Having Parliament sit on known dates would enable proper planning and policy work.

Some State Legislative Assemblies have tried addressing this disparity by specifying a minimum number of working days in their procedural rules. The Odisha Assembly has a mandatory provision specifying the number of days it would meet. Uttar Pradesh too has a provision to ensure best efforts for working out meetings for a specified number of days. There seems to be a growing consensus within the country on holding simultaneous elections. These include credible institutions and individuals. After the 1999 Law Commission recommendation and the parliamentary standing committee report on simultaneous elections, the Niti Aayog has suggested that for the purpose of easing the political and technical issues of holding simultaneous elections in one go, that these could be considered in two phases. Phase 1 thus could be in sync with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls  in April-May 2019; while Phase 2 could be held midway in the new Lok Sabhas term, approximately 30 months after Phase 1  say around October-November 2021.

The idea of one nation, two elections, with state elections bunched around either the national election or a mid-term cycle, would tackle many hurdles in an efficient manner. It would be cost-effective, avoid interruption in the delivery of essential services and would nevertheless provide broad public opinion to the Central government of the day without unnecessary distractions attributed to state elections. It will enable improvement in Indias abysmally low ratio of governance and campaigning due to ceaseless elections. Globally, a similar structure is observed in South Africa, with national and provincial elections held simultaneously for five years, and municipal elections are held two years later. Sweden too holds elections to its national legislature, provincial legislatures and municipal bodies on a fixed date  the second Sunday in September  for four years. (The last one took place on September 14, 2014 and the forthcoming one is due on September 9, 2018.) And the United States too has a two-cycle election calendar, much like what has been mentioned here.

The issue of continual elections and the lack of legislative calendar are ample justification for reforming the Lok Sabha and electoral rules. Other contentious issues such as the legislative agenda being determined by consensus in the business advisory committee (BAC), which is not transparent, the lack of number-based rules for initiating motions, and the paucity of time to MPs for preparing  that is, gaps between the notice of legislative agenda, circulation of papers and debate  all need immediate ratification. Private members bills are denied adequate time as well as, by convention, since the early 1970s have not been passed. These ailments need a cure sooner, rather than later, in order to save the legislative setup of our country and to reaffirm the belief and conviction of citizens in our vibrant democracy and its efficacy between elections.
The circumstances in which Rahul Gandhi has taken over as president of the 132-year-old Congress are vastly different from the ones in which his mother Sonia Gandhi had assumed charge as head of the Congress 19 years ago.

The circumstances in which Rahul Gandhi has taken over as president of the 132-year-old Congress are vastly different from the ones in which his mother Sonia Gandhi had assumed charge as head of the Congress 19 years ago. Mrs Gandhi had taken the baton from Sitaram Kesri. She had been begged to do so by the party cadres in order that hope may be rekindled  and it was. Under Mrs Gandhis stewardship, the Congress defeated the BJP, led by Atal Behari Vajpayee, in 2004, denying the vastly popular PM a second consecutive term as head of the first NDA government.

During the time when Mrs Gandhi was party president, the Congress-led UPA ran the government at the Centre for two consecutive terms with Dr Manmohan Singh as PM. Thats an enviable record. And then came the fall against the challenger Narendra Modi. The Congress returned with worst-ever figures for the Lok Sabha in 2014  a mere 44 seats.

As the new party chief, it falls on Mr Gandhi to change this shallow equation, in 2019, between the two principal national parties. The BJP, under Mr Modi, appears way ahead of the Congress, no matter who its leader is. Also, Mr Gandhis arrival on the scene is apt to elicit a laugh in the BJP, not just because a dedicated BJP technical army was tasked to use social media to call him scornful names and those stuck.

Here is a man who, as Congress vice-president leading the partys poll campaigns, has lost many state elections, one after the other, since the last Lok Sabha poll. Few stop to ponder that this might have been the most likely scenario under any other leader too as the Congress is on a downhill trajectory, especially after 10 years in power on the trot.

The exit polls for the just-concluded Gujarat Assembly election vastly favour a winning run for the BJP. No matter what the result, one cannot deny that the poll campaign crafted by Mr Gandhi did give the seemingly invincible Mr Modi and his companions a very hard time. Everyone acknowledges this, including the BJP top brass. The BJP did Mr Gandhi a favour by paying him extraordinary attention during the campaign.

The Congress president appears to have at last found his feet as a leader. On Friday, Mrs Gandhi commented that her role now was to retire, possibly suggesting that she might not even contest the next Lok Sabha poll. The Congress Party is thus for Mr Gandhi to shape, whether he loses Gujarat big time, as some exit polls suggest, runs close to Mr Modi, or takes the state away from him. The Congress chief will have to pay attention to democratising and extending the party organisation and reinvent the Congress ideology for the times we live in.
Ray Moores defeat in the deeply conservative Republican fortress of Alabama is a significant blow to Donald Trump. The US President had thrown all his weight behind a scandal-plagued candidate, not only endorsing Mr Moore vigorously but also campaigning for him. Democratic candidate Doug Jones victory will reduce the Republican majority in the US Senate to 51-47 (with two Independents). Whatever this means about how the GOP will run its legislative business, the unexpected result is being celebrated joyously around America and the world by all progressive elements. Mr Moore, accused of a variety of offences, including being a child molester, was seen as a morally-depraved leader who even shamelessly declared he felt the US was at its best in the age of slavery.

Mr Moores defeat is important as it may help establish the fact that in todays America, overwhelmed by disclosures and confessions of the rich and famous from Hollywood and Capitol Hill, accusations of sexually predatory behaviour, even from the distant past, cant be dismissed with blanket denials of the kind Mr Trump employs  for himself and for the likes of Mr Moore. When dealing with charges regarding Mr Trumps own behaviour with various women, the White House had said the people had voted on it in the presidential election, implying that the vote should be seen as the ultimate judge of everything, including the personal morality of winners. Mr Trumps ability to attract voters is also being stretched now, that may throw a somewhat different light on the crucial congressional elections coming up next year.
The speech of a new Congress president  possibly more than that of any other political formation in the country, including the current ruling party  has to be many things, but above all it has to speak of a larger purpose. This is because, unlike other parties, it is the Congress that has historically woven into its tapestry every diversity of the country and sought to propel the admixture in the direction of modernity and national advance. Rahul Gandhis maiden address on Saturday, as he assumed charge as Congress president, had as its distinguishing feature a political combativeness in relation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the central ideology of the BJP. This was doubtless needed. But more was also needed.

Mr Gandhi, however, gave the impression that he was coming off the campaign trail in Gujarat and had not entirely left campaigning behind. (Ironically, Mr Modi too was emphasising his campaign style in the Northeast, criticising the Congress and the UPA in season and out of season as is his wont, and speaking airily of his recent seaplane ride on the last day of campaigning in Ahmedabad, linking this to the nations infrastructure development!) The Congress is sitting in the Opposition, and has never been as disadvantageously placed as now in all the years since Independence. In Mr Modi, Mr Gandhi also faces the most difficult adversary imaginable. This was precisely the time for the Congress president to appeal to the country as a whole on the range of issues that deeply concern the people  away from the slogans that pass for policy under the current ruling establishment.

Mr Gandhi missed that opportunity when he formally took charge on the lawns of the AICC headquarters. He needed to undertake a sweep of the nuances of todays reality, and not confine himself to making a distinction between the Congress and the BJP. His speech needed the stamp of a state of the nation address that takes in the economy, social life, international relations and the future of the country as he sees it. A Congress presidents speech when the party is in power is, in a sense, much easier to craft as the direction of the partys work and thinking dovetails into government policy, and offers the government a blueprint of policy with the stamp of political approval. But when in Opposition, the party president is truly tested. He or she must unite the party factions, deepen the party organisationally, seek to extend it even in areas where it has been rebuffed, and must offer a magisterial sweep of the lie of the land so that the country can gain a sense of confidence in the party and in its presidents ability to take it forward.
The position of joint director at NCERT, the second in command in the hierarchy, has traditionally been earmarked for academicians. The government now wants to change it. This could be the reason why the post has been vacant for a year now. Initially, the HRD ministry had sought applications for the post through an advertisement in January. Nothing more was heard on the issue until the ministry issued another advertisement on November 15, with a few changes.

In the past, the position was given to academicians with at least five years experience in professor grade. The new advertisement indicates that the government wishes to allot the post to a bureaucrat. The ministry has now sought applications from willing and eligible officers who have been empanelled to hold joint secretary or equivalent posts at the Centre. It appears that academicians loss is babus gain.

Women officers to the fore

With the appointment of Ratna Prabha as the new chief secretary, Karnataka now has women officers heading the administration as well as the police force. Just last month chief minister Siddaramaiah had named senior IPS officer Neelamani N. Raju as the police chief, a first for the state. Sources say that with Karnataka Assembly elections approaching, the government did not want to ruffle feathers in the bureaucracy. There had been a hue and cry last year when. Ms Prabha lost out to her 1981-batchmate Subhash Khuntia for the chief secretarys post. The chief minister had been accused by the Opposition of overlooking Ms Prabha and appointing the low-profile Khuntia, who was in Delhi in the Central government since 2012. This time Mr Siddaramaiah seemingly chose to play safe by not disturbing the seniority status, even though Ms Prabha will have a tenure of four months before the state elections. She is the third woman chief secretary of the state.

Govt tweaks rules for security posts

In order to induct two senior police officers in the elite Special Protection Group (SPG), the Centre has had to temporarily upgrade two posts of deputy inspector general (DIG) to inspector general (IG). The IPS officers are Alok Sharma of the 1991 batch and S. Suresh of the 1995 batch, both currently with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Mr Sharma belongs to Uttar Pradesh cadre whereas Mr Suresh is a Kerala cadre IPS officer.

The SPG are charged with protecting Indias Prime Minister, former PMs and their families. This lateral shift entailed upgrading the two DIG posts to IG level for two years or until further orders. The question is whether this induction is a one-off thing or whether the government will tweak rules as and when it needs to bring in certain police officers babus to particular positions in the security establishment.
Rahul Gandhi is the sixth person from his family to be president of the Indian National Congress. The first was Motilal Nehru, who was followed by his son Jawaharlal, and then came Indira, Rajiv and Sonia. Motilal Nehru became president in 1919 and so next year it will be a century since the Nehru-Gandhis have held the post. Of course, others have also held the presidency in the middle, but after Motilals son took the office a decade after him the idea of Indias first political dynasty was already being formed. Initially the Congress presidency was only held by an individual for one year, but I think it was after Jawaharlal became Prime Minister that he held on to the post for longer periods.

With Indiras ascendancy the tradition set in of a more or less permanent party presidency by one individual. Sonias term, which was 20 years, was the longest in the partys history. It will also go down as the period in which the Congress transformed in the way Indians viewed it. Many younger readers may be surprised to know that the Congress was seen as a Hindu party for most of its history. Its leadership included deeply conservative figures who are today associated with the BJP but were actually from the Congress, like the founder of Banaras Hindu University, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Muslim League of Jinnah felt that Indias minorities could not get justice under the Congress and that is what led to the division of India.

It is to Sonias credit that she brought the party away from this image to the extent that today many see it as anti-Hindu, which of course it is not. Her 20 years as the party president saw one of the most interesting periods in Indias history. The Congress after Rajivs death was headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao, an enigmatic and intelligent political figure who had to rule in the shadow of Sonia. In those years, she was a private figure, even more so than today. So rarely was she seen and so rarely did she speak that her every gesture was subjected to interpretation by newspapers. People were convinced, rightly or wrongly, that though she had no position and no real connection with the government, that she was the locus of power in the country.

If the Congress had a chance to become a non-dynastic party, this was the time when its senior leadership could have done the job. However, the trauma of the Babri movement and the violence it brought in our society and our politics, made the Congress insecure and the party turned to the family. When Sonia actually did attempt to take the leadership, she could do so easily, brushing aside the incumbent leader Sitaram Kesri. She had always worn saris, but now made it a uniform. Discerning Indians will notice that she picked them and wore them with an elegance that is unusual in our politics. She started to speak only in Hindi. She was ridiculed for her speeches which were written in Roman Hindi (i.e., in the English alphabet) as a newspaper photo revealed. But a later photograph showed that she was now reading them in Devanagari, and later she dispensed with reading altogether. She was not a charismatic public speaker, and she did not pretend to be.

She had two outstanding moments in public life. The first in 2004, when she declined to become Prime Minister though she was constitutionally qualified to do so. Sushma Swaraj threatened to tonsure her head if this happened, insisting that Sonia was a foreigner. Sonia was attacked for having taken some time in giving up her European citizenship. To me this is strange. In this nation of green card-lovers, how many of us give up our US and European citizenships out of a burning patriotic love? I dont know any such Indian. This was a woman who went the other way, but still was attacked. Akshay Kumar gave up his Indian citizenship for Canadian but can still appear on television pushing patriotism.

The second thing Sonia did was to bring in Manmohan Singh, who had earlier under Narasimha Rao introduced the theme of economic reform. His two terms, which are today remembered wrongly mostly for corruption, were truly transformative. The Right to Information Act and NREGA and other humane laws gave the government a left and socialist image. However, as Dr Singh has pointed out, his 10 years in power in a coalition where his actions were restricted, produced an average rate of GDP growth which this government for all its bombast cannot match. Her last general election produced the Congress worst result, but history will view Sonia positively for her character and her achievements.
The Indian and Chinese special representatives, national security adviser Ajit Doval and state councillor Yang Jiechi, will have the 20th round of talks, ostensibly to discuss the border issue on December 20 and 21 in New Delhi. There is now a monotonous regularity in this, and no resolution seems to be in sight, let alone be discussed. There was a time when with a little bit of give and take this contentious and now protracted problem appeared to be solvable. In 1960 Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai had suggested something akin to a status quo as a permanent solution. This was repeated in 1982 by Chairman Deng Xiaoping to Indias ambassador in Beijing G. Parthasarathy. Once again it was offered during Rajiv Gandhis tenure as Prime Minister to the then Indian ambassador A.P. Venkateswaran and senior adviser to then Chinese PM Zhao Ziyang. But when Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing in 1988, both countries decided to keep a permanent solution aside and focus on the immediate doables. All along India felt the internal political situation will not allow the government of the day the room to go with it.

What is commonly referred to as the border dispute between India and China has now manifested itself into two distinct disputes. The first is the dispute over two large and separated tracts of territories. One is Aksai Chin, a virtually uninhabited high-altitude desert expanse of about 37,000 sq km. The other is what is now the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a diversely populated hill region with a population of around 1.4 million people spread out over 84,000 sq km, which China claims as Southern Tibet. Aksai Chin lies between the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Chinas Xinjiang province, both regions that are also riven by separatist conflicts. Arunachal Pradesh borders Tibet, which also has a separation conflict with China. India claims these borders were agreed upon by British India, and independent or semi-independent authorities in Xinjiang and Tibet in the early days of the last century. China doesnt agree with these. Both countries agree that these are legacies of history and cannot be solved in the immediate or near term, and are best left to the future to be resolved. But what causes the frequent frictions between the two is that they do not have agreed Lines of Actual Control (LAC) to separate the jurisdictions under the control of the armies of the two countries. The perceptions of the LAC differ at many places. At some places it might be by just a few metres, elsewhere by tens of kilometres.

To minimise the inflammability caused by the active patrolling of the security personnel of both sides, the two countries have a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement that sets out norms of behaviour for both. The important things being that nothing of a permanent nature will be built on these disputed areas, and that the patrols take all precautions not to confront each other. Which simply means that if they come face to face, they will both withdraw. The corollary to this is that the patrols will not tail each other. The agreement also requires local commanders to frequently meet and exchange views and sort out local differences across the table. Despite the adverse geographical and climatic conditions, and the overarching tensions between Asias biggest economies, the troops on the ground are able to show surprising bonhomie and friendliness. But periodically, either due to misunderstanding or local-level posturing by either side, there are frictions that threaten to erupt into a conflict with use of arms. But it has not happened since 1967, when the two armies fought a fierce localised battle in the Sikkim sector, quite close to where the recent Doklam dispute took place.

The two countries have been engaged in frequent talks at various levels since 1981. After Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis visit to Beijing in 1988, both countries had agreed to set up a task force to find a solution to the border issue. Chairman Deng welcoming his young friend suggested that they forget the past as they stood in the centre of the cavernous Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital and the handshake lasted three long minutes. For three long decades since then, the two countries have been meeting to discuss the border issue, but so far we have seen unwillingness by both sides to forget the past. Since 2003 these talks were elevated to a high-level political dialogue between special representatives, in Indias case the national security adviser and in Chinas case an official at the level of state councillor. The first meeting at this level took place between Indian NSA Brajesh Mishra and Chinese state councillor Dai Bing Guo.

We are now having the 20th round of this dialogue between Indias NSA Ajit Doval and Chinas state councillor Yang Jiechi. A former Indian NSA once told me that the talks are high in style and hospitality, with the Indian side trying hard to match the Chinese, but there has been little traction. This is because of the versions of the claims that have been internalised and now form public opinion in both countries. Both nations are gripped by strong nationalism bordering on jingoism, which makes give and take, so vital in the resolution of such vexatious disputes, extremely difficult. But the Border Management and Cooperation Agreement is a major outcome of these talks and that has by and large worked. The next logical step of these talks should be to agree on an LAC. But unfortunately even that is now being weighed down by aggressive nationalism driven by the social media which equates giving up with national loss of face. This is something increasingly very important to both countries. We will not be seen giving up anything, even our obduracy and historical short-sightedness. Both countries are now very different then what they were in the last century. Both India and China are relatively prosperous and militarily powerful. The rise of a new nationalism has also led to a hardening of hearts. Neither now seems capable of giving or taking. So Ajit Doval and Yang Jiechi will meet later this week, but both sides will not be giving away anything and we will have to wait for another time for that.
80,000 protesters gathered at the National Monument, waving the Palestine flag and banners reading 'Free Palestine' as they chanted 'God is greatest!', says police. (Photo: AFP)

Jakarta: Tens of thousands of Indonesians protested on Sunday against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the latest show of support for the Palestinians in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

The rally was organised by the top Islamic authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council and supported by the government as well as several other Islamic organisations.

Police said 80,000 protesters gathered at the National Monument, a tower that looms over central Jakarta, waving the Palestine flag and banners reading "Free Palestine" as they chanted "God is greatest!"

"This is my solidarity as a Muslim to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine... the Al-Aqsa mosque, a historical mosque for Muslims, is there (in Jerusalem)," said Hermawati, from the nearby city of Bogor, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Dressed mostly in white, the demonstrators urged the US to change its decision.

Indonesia's religious affairs minister and Jakarta's governor were among those at the protest site just a few metres from the US embassy, which was cordoned off behind coils of razor wire.

"Isn't it the government's job to work on the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians? And the government has tried its best so Palestine can achieve its rights and independence," Religious Affairs minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the crowd.

Indonesia has condemned President Donald Trump's decision, with President Joko Widodo joining other world Islamic leaders last Wednesday in an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

The leaders urged world powers to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of the "State of Palestine" and declared Trump's decision "null and void legally".

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution which would find that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed.

The status of Jerusalem, a city considered holy by Christians, Jews and Muslims, is a sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state.
The Australian Federal Police say the 59-year-old naturalized Australian used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction. (Photo: File/Representational)

Sydney: A Sydney man has been charged with acting as an agent for North Korea in Australia by allegedly attempting to broker sales for Pyongyang including components used in ballistic missiles.

The Australian Federal Police say the 59-year-old naturalized Australian used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

Police say the man was generating tens of millions of dollars for Pyongyang by arranging the sale of missiles, componentry and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and was trying to arrange the transfer of coal from the country to Indonesia and Vietnam.

He's the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
The driver of second vehicle, a black cab, could not be saved as he was confirmed dead at scene. (Photo: PTI)

London: At least six people were killed on Sunday after several vehicles crashed in Birmingham in the UK, according to officials.

The crash happened at about 1.10am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway at the junction of Bristol Road in London.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which was extensive."

In the first car, there were a man and a woman. The vehicle had suffered very extensive damage but astonishingly, despite the damage, the pair had managed to get out and had suffered relatively minor injuries. They were taken to Heartlands Hospital by ambulance for further assessment.

"The second vehicle, a 'black cab' was on its side. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man and woman in the back were rapidly extricated," the spokesman said.

"Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene. The man was taken to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries," he said.

There were four men in the third car. Three of them were declared dead at the scene. The fourth person is said to be in a critical condition.

Sergeant Alan Hands, from West Midlands Police's collision investigation unit, said: "We are currently dealing with a very serious collision and working with partner agencies to establish what caused this collision to happen.

The driver of the second vehicle, a black cab, could not be saved as he was confirmed dead at scene.
Many flights set to depart on Sunday morning were rescheduled to leave earlier so only seven flights were cancelled due to the strike, say the sources. (Photo: AFP/ Representational)

Jerusalem: Flights at Israel's main airport were suspended on Sunday as part of a strike against plans by pharmaceutical giant Teva to shed employees, airport sources said.

Air traffic at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv came to a halt at 0600 GMT after the Jewish state's powerful Histadrut trade union called for the strike which was set to last for four hours.

Many flights set to depart on Sunday morning were rescheduled to leave earlier so only seven flights were cancelled due to the strike, the sources said.

Teva will make 1,750 employees redundant in Israel as part of plans to slash 14,000 jobs globally over two years, according to Histadrut head Avi Nissenkorn.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world's largest producer of generic drugs, has said its reductions would be across-the-board and in all its locations.

The cuts would amount to more than a quarter of the Israeli drugmaker's global workforce of over 55,000, of which fewer than 7,000 work in Israel.

The "solidarity" strike was also set to include ports, banks, ministries, and other sectors, Histadrut said.

Protests were expected on Sunday in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offices in Jerusalem.

The premier is expected to meet Teva's chief executive Kare Schultz next week to try to convince him to reduce the number of layoffs, his office has said.

Teva has been saddled with debt after its USD 40 billion acquisition of the generics arm of rival Allergan in 2016.

The acquisition has been accompanied by low prices for generics, particularly in the United States, a major market.

Teva expects to save USD 3 billion by the end of 2019 with the two-year restructuring plan.

According to Histadrut, Teva has received USD 6.2 billion in tax reductions since 2006.
Former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan's Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage. (File photo)

Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife were being processed.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted on Saturday.

Pakistan Today has reported that the FO, on Thursday, issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.

The Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan will also be allowed to accompany Jadhav's family during the meeting.

The Pakistan Government had decided to allow Jadhav to meet his wife and mother on December 25, Geo News reported citing Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, as saying.

Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan's Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India's intelligence agency  the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan this year in April.

However, the ICJ on May 18, 2017, stayed the hanging after India approached it against the death sentence.

India has appealed to the court to impose emergency measures for Jadhav's execution to be suspended until the legal battle in Hague concludes, while also accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide him with consular access and for being in breach of international human rights law.

To this end, India's and Pakistan's written responses have been submitted to registrar Philippe Couvreur of the ICJ.
Officially three million people were killed during the nine-month-long war in one of the most heinous acts of genocide by Pakistani troops. (Photo: AP)

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Saturday honoured 27 Indian war veterans as it celebrated 'Victory Day' marking its emergence as an independent nation following the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

A 31-gun salute marked the occasion while President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the National Memorial at suburban Savar in a pre-dawn ceremony with army bugles playing the 'Last Post' while thousands followed them as the nation paid homage to the 1971 martyrs and heroes.

Mr Hamid later joined as the chief guest a parade of armed forces and other state-owned organisations at a ceremony, also attended by the premier at the National Parade Square in the capital.

The 1971 war veterans of both Bangladesh and India once again got together to celebrate the victory.

Twenty-seven 1971 war veterans from India and four serving officers arrived in Dhaka on December 14 to join the celebrations on invitation of the Bangladesh government.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq hosted a reception for them also attended by some Russian military veterans who aided Bangladesh in demining its coastline after the war.

Read: Muhajir Congress calls for Paks unconditional apology for 1971 B'desh genocide

Retired Lieutenant General Jai Bhagwan Singh Yadava, who took part in the 1965 war against Pakistan and the 1971 Liberation War, led the Indian delegation.

"The delegation will also pay homage to Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial museum, and 1971 martyrs placing wreaths at 'Shikha Anirban' (Flame Eternal) at Dhaka cantonment and visit some of the battle sites of Liberation War," an official familiar with the visit said.

An Indian High Commission statement said reciprocal visits by Bangladeshi freedom fighters (FFs) and Indian war veterans on Victory Day started in 2005 and over 300 Bangladeshis and 150 Indians have joined celebrations in Kolkata and Dhaka respectively since then.

As part of the celebrations streets and buildings in the capital and other major cities were illuminated overnight.

The war in 1971 began after the sudden crackdown at midnight on March 25 that year in erstwhile East Pakistan by Pakistani troops and ended on December 16 as Pakistan conceded defeat and unconditionally surrendered in Dhaka to the allied forces comprising Bengali freedom fighters and the Indian Army.

Officially three million people were killed during the nine-month-long war in one of the most heinous acts of genocide by Pakistani troops.
No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past. (Photo: AP)

Karachi/Islamabad: Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service Sunday in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least nine people and wounding 44 others including children and women.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church.

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added. Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that eight people were killed while 44 others injured, including children and women.

He said that nine injured are in critical condition.

According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about the number of attackers.

Ansari said that three militants were involved. He said one was killed by police and the second was able to detonate explosives. He said there are reports that a third militant fled from the scene and police was searching for him.

Earlier, DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Pakistans Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.
The global terrorist carries a bounty of 10 million USD (approx. Rs 66 crore) and continues to exercise a lot of influence in religious circles. (Photo: AFP/File)

Lahore: The 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, wants to liberate Kashmir to avenge the defeat of Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

We will avenge creation of Bangladesh by liberating Kashmir, the global terrorist said while addressing a gathering in Lahore on Saturday.

Saeeds remark comes as India and Bangladesh are celebrating December 16 as Vijay Diwas and Victory Day, respectively.

The 1971 war is heralded as one of the most convincing victories of the annals of the military history. It culminated with the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), with almost 1,00,000 being taken prisoners of war (PoWs), and the conclusion of Bangladesh Liberation War.

The Jamat-ud-Dawa chief, who is a wanted terrorist by India and the United States for his alleged role in masterminding the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives, had recently announced that he would contest the general election in 2018.

The global terrorist carries a bounty of 10 million USD (approx. Rs 66 crore) and continues to exercise a lot of influence in religious circles. He has recently been released from house arrest after a Pakistani court cited lack of evidence against him in Mumbai attack case.
Two astronauts, from the US and Italy, and a Russian cosmonaut today landed in Kazakhstan after almost five months on the International Space Station, footage from the Russian space agency showed.



American Randy Bresnik, Paolo Nespoli of Italy and Sergey Ryazanskiy of Russia landed on the Kazakh steppe at 2.37pm local time in a Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft.

Over 139 days in space the three men "have supported hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science aboard humanity's only microgravity laboratory," NASA said in an earlier statement.

Bresnik took part in several spacewalks to fix a robotic arm that latches onto incoming spaceships packed with supplies, while all three men were involved in a live video chat with Pope Francis from the space station.

On Sunday Scott Tingle of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will blast off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome to replace the returning astronauts and cosmonaut.

The space travelers will join three other crew members currently on the ISS.

In October Russia's space agency said a manned Soyuz rocket had suffered a partial loss of pressure as it returned to Earth from the ISS in April this year.

The incident did not put the lives of the crew in danger, Roscosmos said, but it was the latest in the string of glitches to hit the country's space programme, which this month extended to a failed satellite launch.

NASA stopped its own manned launches to the ISS in 2011 but recently moved to increase its crew complement aboard the ISS as the Russians cut theirs in a cost-saving measure announced last year.

The ISS laboratory, a rare example of American and Russian international cooperation, has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour (17,000 miles per hour) since 1998.
The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution affirming that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed, in response to the US decision to recognize the city as Israel's capital.



Egypt circulated the draft text on Saturday, and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the international consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it said.

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon "strongly condemned" the draft, dismissing it as an attempt by the Palestinians "to reinvent history."

"No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel," Danon said in a statement.

The draft resolution calls on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead.

It demands that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

The Palestinians had sought a toughly-worded draft resolution that would have directly called on the US administration to scrap its decision.

But some US allies on the council such as Britain, France, Egypt, Japan and Ukraine were reluctant to be too hard-hitting and insisted that the proposed measure should reaffirm the position enshrined in current resolutions, diplomats said.

Backed by Muslim countries, the Palestinians are expected to turn to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution rejecting the US decision, if, as expected, the measure is vetoed by the United States at the council.

Aside from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented at the council, which requires nine votes for adoption.

cml/mdl
The IMA has strongly opposed the draft Bill that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with a new body, claiming it will cripple the medical profession.



The draft National Medical Commission bill was yesterday approved by the Cabinet.

It provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission.

Indian Medical Association president Dr K K Agarwal appealed to the prime minister to revise the draft bill in the larger interest of the medical profession.

According to the IMA, the NMC will "cripple" the functioning of the medical profession by making it completely answerable to the bureaucracy and non-medical administrators.

"Regulators need to have autonomy and be independent of the administrators. The National Medical Commission will be a regulator appointed by the administrators under their direct control," Aggarwal said.

It abolishes the Medical Council of India and "possibly" the section 15 of IMC Act, which says that the basic qualification to practise modern medicine is MBBS, he claimed.

"It takes away the voting right of every doctor in India to elect their medical council. Medical Council of India is a representative body of the medical profession in India. Any registered medical practitioner in the country can contest the election and every qualified doctor can vote.

"Abolishing a democratic institution and replacing it by a body in which majority are nominated by the government is certainly a retrograde step," Aggarwal said.

He further said that the draft Bill in its current form allows the private medical colleges to charge at will, nullifying whatever solace the NEET brought.

The government can fix the fee for only 40 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges, Aggarwal said.

Also, it inducts non-medical people into the highest body of medical governance changing its perspective and character forever and introduces schedule IV to allow AYUSH graduates to get registration in modern medicine.

"IMA appeals to the prime minister to recall the Bill and rectify these anomalies. Parliament has a larger role to protect the interest of the medical profession of the country," he said.

According to the draft bill, the commission will have government nominated chairman and members, and the board members will be selected by a search committee under the Cabinet Secretary.

There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the commission.

The draft bill also proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practising licences, the official said.

As per the provisions of the draft bill, no permission would be needed to add new seats or to start postgraduate courses. PTI PLB DIP
An Ahmedabad court today concluded the hearing on a petition filed by news portal The Wire against a gag order in connection with a civil defamation suit filed by Jay Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah.



Additional Senior Civil Judge B K Dasondi said the order may be passed on December 23.

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had rejected the news portal's petition challenging the gag order and asked it to approach the court which had passed the order.

The high court also asked the lower court to decide The Wire's plea before December 26.

The lower court had issued an injunction while hearing the Rs 100-crore civil defamation suit filed by Jay Shah against seven respondents over an article published by the news portal.

It prohibited The Wire from publishing, broadcasting or printing anything on the basis of the article in question till the suit was disposed of.

Meanwhile, in a criminal defamation suit filed by Jay Shah over the same article, a magistrate's court allowed exemption applications of Rohini Singh, the author of the article, and another respondent, allowing them to remain absent during today's hearing.

Additional Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi adjourned the proceedings to January 9.

Rohini Singh, founding editors of The Wire Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and representative of the Foundation for Independent Journalism, a non-profit company that publishes 'The Wire', are the respondents in two cases.

Jay Shah dragged the news portal to court over the article by Rohini Singh which claimed that the turnover of his firm grew exponentially after the BJP came to power in 2014.
A taxi driver was killed allegedly by the army during an ambush in north Kashmir's frontier Kupwara district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.



While the family of the slain driver, Asif Iqbal, said he was shot without warning when he came out of the house to ferry some patients to a hospital, the army said he was killed in cross-fire. Earlier, police had said that it was a case of mistaken identity.



As he (Iqbal) came few yards from his house, the army fired at him, leaving him in a pool of blood. He succumbed en route to Srinagar at Sopore, the family members of the deceased told reporters.



However, Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that army had laid an ambush in the village late last night after information about the presence of militants. "At around 2255 hours, ambush party observed the suspicious movement of three persons near nallah in Thindpura village. The individuals were challenged by troops, however, they did not respond," he said.



Thereafter, Col Kalia said, militants, opened fire towards army ambush party, which was retaliated to. "In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal was killed due to a Gunshot wound," he said and added investigations are in progress.



Earlier, senior superintendent police (SSP) Kupwara Shamsheer Hussain while terming the killing a case of mistaken identity, had said, "The sumo driver was asked to stop but he didnt and was then shot by the army."



Police have lodged an FIR and investigation has been started. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family, a police spokesperson said.



Reports said the killing triggered massive clashes in the area with people demanding that a murder case is registered against the army. Authorities sealed all the entry points to prevent people from marching towards Kralpora area.



Reports said the security forces fired dozens of tear smoke shells to chase the protesting villagers. The clashes were going on until last reports poured in. Meanwhile, in wake of the killing authorities have blocked internet services in the frontier Kupwara district.


Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as "patriotic", former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan's "safety and security", according to a media report.



The 74-year-old retired general, who is in self-exile in Dubai, had last month said that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah.

"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," the ARY News channel quoted him as saying.

Musharraf said the two groups have large public support and good people and no one could object if they formed a political party.

The LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed, while the JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

JuD chief Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack, had last month unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

The former military ruler further said that so far the two groups have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection.

Musharraf had last month announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharraf's Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, then toppled prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan for nine years, is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan. He unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.

He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharif's control anymore".
HYDERABAD: A native of the Karimnagar district of Telangana was hit and killed by a light train in San Jose, California, USA on Thursday.



Forty-four-year old Krishna Erravelli is a resident of Albany, Ohio, who had come to San Jose on official work.

According to the Santa Clara county coroner's office, the train, bound for Alum Rock, hit him around 5.30 pm near North First Street and Component Drive.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority spokesperson Linh Hoang said Krishna was the second man to have been killed by a light-rail train in the recent days.

Krishna succumbed to his injuries even as paramedics rushed him to the hospital. Krishna is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Krishna's family back in Telangana are trying to bring his body back to his native place to perform last rites.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said several passengers in the train suffered minor injuries when the train stopped abruptly.

Buses were deployed to move passengers between stations and regular service resumed around 6.15 pm.

On Tuesday, a 78-year-old man was hit and killed by a train near the Mineta San Jose International Airport. The sheriff's office is investigating both collisions, local newspapers said.
The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known tomorrow as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal Pradesh where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have contested all 68 seats.



The hill state witnessed a record 75.28 centres turnout and pollsters have predicted a BJP victory.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for counting which would start simultaneously in all 68 constituencies at 42 counting centres.

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Chief Minister Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of GST and demonetisation.

The BSP contested 42 seats followed by the CPI(M) 14, the Swabhiman party and the Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.

Out of 67 sitting MLAs, 60 MLAS, nine cabinet ministers, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, Deputy Speaker, Jagat Singh Negi and eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) contested the poll along with a dozen former ministers.

Himachal has a tradition of change in government after every election and going by the trend, this time it is the turn of the BJP which is upbeat after exit poll results.

There are 25 Congress, 28 BJP and four independent MLAs in the outgoing house while one seat was lying vacant after the death of former minister Karan Singh from Banjar.

Sitting Rajya Sabha member Viplov Thakur(Congress), former Lok Sabha members, Chander Kumar(Congress and Dr Rajan Shushant (Independent) and former Rajya Sabha member Kripal Parmar(BJP) are also among key contestants.

While the BJP is confident of winning the polls with a comfortable majority, the Congress has rejected the exit-polls and claimed that it was all set to repeat.

The BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged defeat in 1993. The BJP formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.

2,820 counting staff has been deployed for tomorrow's exercise which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro observers.

Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpender Rajput said three-tier security arrangements have been made at all counting centres.

He said wire mesh barricading has been done at counting centres and there was a separate entry passage for counting staff and counting agents.

Videography and CCTV coverage will be done in all counting centres.
More than a 1,000 Naga rebels were arrested by security forces since the banned NSCN-K attacked an army convoy and killed 18 soldiers in Manipur two years ago, officials said.



As many as 531 underground cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang and 542 overground workers were arrested in Manipur and Nagaland following intensive operations which began after the June 4, 2015, attack on army personnel.

"The operations are continuing even now and security forces have been able to restrict the NSCN-K's movement to a great extent," a home ministry official said.

This is the first time in a decade that such a large number of Naga militants were arrested in just two years, the official claimed.

In the last two years, the security forces also killed 34 NSCN-K militants and recovered 571 sophisticated arms from the arrested underground and overground cadres of the group.

After the 2015 attack, the army had carried out a surgical strike on the camps of NSCN-K, killing some militants and destroying camps.

Security forces also arrested 37 militants belonging to NSCN-Isak Muivah, 26 militants belonging to NSCN-Khole Konyak and four from NSCN-Reformation, the official said.

While the NSCN-K had abrogated the ceasefire agreement on March 27, 2015, the other three insurgent groups have been maintaining the ceasefire agreement, which they signed with the central government a few years ago.

On December 8, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said the violence perpetrated by insurgent groups in the Northeast has come done significantly - by 75% to 80%.

He also said the central government is committed to doing its best to fulfil the aspirations of the Naga people for a brighter future but ruled out the integration of the Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

Expectations for lasting peace have gone up in Nagaland, which has been hit by decades of insurgency after the Centre and NSCN-Isak Muivah signed a framework agreement in 2015.

Earlier this month, President Ram Nath Kovind had said Nagaland was at the threshold of making history, as the final agreement on the Naga political issue would soon be arrived at and lasting peace achieved.

On September 19, Nagaland Governor P B Acharya had said the vexed Naga issue would be in the next few months.
In a setback to the Maharashtra government, the Bombay High Court has struck down certain provisions of the 'Bombay Denatured Spirit Rules' by which the state wanted to regulate the possession, use, sale, import and export of denatured spirit and ethanol.

The state government had recently introduced new rules by which it could regulate the possession, use, sale, import, export of denatured spirit and impose duty fees on it. It said the rules were aimed at ensuring that the denatured spirit was not diluted and misused for consumption as 'hooch'.

Several companies which manufacture denatured spirit and ethanol had approached the high court, challenging the new rules.

The companies claim that they have already acquired a licence from the state under the rules for manufacturing the denatured spirit.

According to the petitioners, the companies manufacture ethanol by the re-distillation process of denatured spirit, which is in-turn used as ad-mixture in motor spirit.

They claimed that the state government only has the power to levy duty on alcoholic beverages for human consumption, including regulating the rectified spirit, which can be diverted for potable purposes.

The state government's role to regulate and control comes to an end the moment the rectified spirit becomes denatured, the petitions said.

During the arguments on the petitions, government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani had earlier said that denatured spirit was capable of being re-natured.

The rules prohibit any person from altering or attempting to alter the denatured spirit by dilution with water or any method with the intention that such spirit may be used for human consumption as an intoxicating liquor, he said.

Vagyani pointed out that there have been several cases which have resulted in casualties after people consumed denatured spirit as 'hooch', and since there was no control or regulation overuse and sale of denatured spirit, the state government has enacted the rules.

On December 13, a division bench of Justices A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla, in its ruling on the petitions, had struck down rules 23 to 62 of the Bombay Denatured Spirit Rules as "ultra vires and unconstitutional".

"There shall be no license required under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act for sale, purchase, transport, possession, storage, dehydration, import and export of denatured spirit," the high court said.

The court noted that the power of the government in the case of rectified spirit supplied for industrial purposes is only to see and ensure that the spirit is not diverted or misused for potable purposes.

"The state can make necessary regulations requiring the industry to submit periodical statements of raw material and the finished product (rectified spirits) and is entitled to verify their correctness," the court added.
Vibration sensors to detect rash driving on highways, games for the propagation of health knowledge, an app to establish a link between farmers and retailers, were among the innovative products designed by engineering students at the 'Smart India Hackathon' here.



The projects, including an e-toll, that provides fast and secure electronic payment, were among the 57 selected ones which were declared winners of the six-hour non-stop digital product development competition 'Smart India Hackathon' conducted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

"Over 42,000 engineering students from across the country participated in the hackathon which was one of the largest such exercises in the world. Fifty-seven projects on problem areas suggested by various ministries, including the Ministry of Road and Transport, Defence, Steel, Science and Technology, Civil Aviation and ISRO, among others," an HRD Ministry official said.

In order to engage the youth in coming up with digital solutions to common problems, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the aegis of the HRD Ministry, launched this hackathon in April.

Twenty-nine departments under various ministries presented 598 problem statements for which they do not have digital solutions and due to which there has been inefficiency, revenue loss and corruption.

The HRD Ministry has already rolled out applications for the second edition of the hackathon.

The 'Smart India Hackathon' is a non-stop digital product development competition, where problems are posed to technology students for innovative solutions.

"It harnesses creativity and expertise of students, sparks institute-level hackathons, builds a funnel for 'Startup India' campaign, crowd-sourced solutions for improving governance and quality of life and provides an opportunity to citizens to provide innovative solutions to India's daunting problems," the official said.
Some leaders of the BJP-led NDA have pitched for an all India judicial service on the lines of the civil services and sought a discussion on the matter in Parliament.



The issue, which involves the demand for reservation in the judiciary for Dalits and backward classes, was raised in the meeting of top NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, on Friday, the first day of the Winter Session, highly-placed sources said.

A senior BJP leader told PTI that the matter was raised in the meeting by some members, who sought a discussion on the issue in Parliament.

They said there should be all India judicial service like the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Police Service, he said on the condition of anonymity.

The sources, however, declined to name the leaders who raised the issue at the meeting.

A large section of politicians, especially those drawn from disadvantaged classes, has been vocal over the issue, citing the minuscule presence of these communities, especially Dalits and STs, in the higher judiciary.

The matter was in the limelight recently after President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his concern at a public event over "unacceptably low" presence of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the higher judiciary.

Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha had demanded recently that gates of the higher judiciary be opened for women and disadvantaged classes, claiming that most high court and Supreme Court judges have come from 250-300 families. "Not only for Dalits and backward castes, the door is closed even for people from general castes. Members of over 250-300 families have been becoming judges in high courts and the Supreme Court since Independence. Doors are closed for all others. They must be opened," he had said at a public meeting to mark the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

Dalit members of Parliament have long been raising the issue and saying that an all India judicial service will pave the way for reservation for the traditionally deprived sections of society in higher judiciary.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed the state government for its failure to solve the Gauri Lankesh murder case and accused it of not maintaining law and order in the state, especially Bengaluru.



"Social activist Gauri Lankesh was killed...BJP workers Rudresh Goudar and Paresh Mesta were killed...What the government is doing here?.. No concrete step was taken to bring the killers to book," he said, addressing the second leg of BJP's Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru is the IT capital of the country. But the Congress government has failed to ensure safety of people. "I assure you that a thorough probe will be conducted into the Gauri murder case and the culprits will be punished if the BJP is voted to power in the next election...All goons will be sent to jail," he said.

The Union minister accused the Siddaramaiah government of dividing society on caste and communal lines and sought to know why it chose to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, ignoring many other great personalities. "It is an effort to polarise society. Why the government is not celebrating Kittur Rani Chennamma Jayanti? Why not celebrate Kempe Gowda Jayanti?...Why not celebrate Jayanti of Sir M Visvesvaraya?" he sought to know.
Claiming threat to her life, Mallamma Yogeshgouda Goudar, the wife of the slain BJP zilla panchayat member Yogeshgouda Goudar from Dharwad, on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Women, against her family members and local leaders.



Charging that the BJP was playing politics over her husband's death, Mallamma has accused that she was harassed by her brother-in-law Gurunath Goudar and BJP workers Amrut Desai and Basavaraj Koravar.

Stating that the trio had tried to grab her husband's property, she has also claimed that the three were monitoring her day to day movements and were imposing restrictions on her. She has stated that her children's lives was at risk, as the trio had warned her of dire consequences.

It is rumoured that Mallamma is joining the Congress, which has irked the BJP leaders, who have linked the name of Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni's name to Goudar's murder.

The BJP, which has demanded Kulkarni's resignation, is apprehensive that Mallamma's induction into the Congress, would hurt the party's prospects.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said that all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.



The bill seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

At a state-level convention of women's self-help groups (SHGs) here , Naidu said, "Women are given reservation in local government bodies. Efforts are on for women's reservation in Parliament. I personally support it (Women Reservation Bill)."

He said, "I hope all political parties reach a consensus so that women can be given reservation in state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This issue should not be given a political hue," he added.

Naidu said that when women were given reservation in panchayats, many had claimed that it was the woman's husband who was actually ruling.

"However, a change is being witnessed. Women would soon learn to fight for their rights," he said, noting there should be change in the law as well in the mindset.

Stressing that women's empowerment could create a new India, he said the focus should be on the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" programme.

He also said that there should be no discrimination between a son and a daughter and that ancestral or family property should be equally distributed.

"Our country is known as Bharat Mata. In our ancient scriptures, we find that education minister was goddess Saraswati, defence minister was Durga Devi and finance minister was Laxmi Devi," he said, adding that something went wrong during the colonial rule.

Stating that women showed their abilities when given an opportunity, he gave the example of India having women as defence minister, foreign minister and Lok Sabha Speaker.

Naidu also took potshots at those who opposed the Centre's Jan-Dhan Yojana, saying that after November 2016, the people learnt its importance.

"Many people urged their domestic helps, drivers to stash money, hidden in bedrooms and bathrooms, in Jan-Dhan bank accounts. The money reached the banks," he said.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several sops for women's SHGs.

He said these groups would be exempted from stamp duty on loan documentation as well as get a three per cent rebate on interest.

Chouhan said that the state government would open markets for them in all cities and also rent space in major shopping malls to provide selling space for these SHGs.

He said that federations comprising a group of SHGs could seek loans of upto Rs 5 crore backed by the government's guarantee.

Praising their work, Chouhan said that soaps produced by these SHGs were better than the ones made by noted international brands.

The convention is being attended by SHGs from across the state.
CPI (Maoist) leader Kobad Ghandy was arrested by Jharkhand Police from Hyderabad in connection with two Maoist violence cases, a senior police officer said here on Sunday.



Ghandy wanted by the Bokaro Police in two pending cases was brought here on Saturday night. He was arrested two days back in Hyderabad, police said.

"We have arrested Kobad Ghandy, a Politburo Member of the naxal outfit, from Hyderabad in connection with two pending cases against him," said Bokaro, Superintendent of Police, Karthik S.

One of the cases was registered at Bokaro Thermal Power station (BTPS) Police station and the other at Nawadih police station in mid 2000, Karthik said.

Ghandy was the reported mastermind in both the cases, the SP said adding that in one of the case six jawans were killed in an attack launched by the Maoists on a Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) camp in Bokaro under BTPS police station.

Ghandy held a meeting with the naxals in Bokaro district ahead of the attack on CISF camp, Karthik said

In the second case 15 people were killed in a landmine blast triggered by the naxals under Nawadih police station of the district in 2006-07, he said.
A Class XII boy in Bihar's Rohtas district was killed apparently for exposing a love affair of one of his classmates.



The body of 17-year-old Sahil Kumar was recovered by police from Jagdeo Chowk under Tilhauti police station, around 180 km from the state capital.

Sahil was the only son of Saraswati Devi and Shambhu Singh, who works for a textile company in Ahmedabad.

The matter came to light after Sahil's body was recovered by Tilhauti police. "His identity could be ascertained from the school identity card recovered from his pocket," said Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station, Vishwajeet Kumar.

Sahil's family members claimed he was killed for exposing the love affair of his classmate with a girl student.

In an FIR lodged with the police, Sahil's kin claimed that the boy had spotted his friend with the girl in a compromising position on December 7. He was then warned by another friend to not expose the affair.

"A case has been registered in this connection. We are trying to apprehend the two suspects, who are said to be absconding," said the SHO.
Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will know who will rule them for the next five years by Monday afternoon, when counting of votes concludes after a months-long campaign.



The results, which will forecast the fortunes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi 15 months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, will have a huge impact on national politics.



It would set the tone for upcoming Assembly elections in other states, including the one in Karnataka, while it will also indicate whether Modi would go ahead with the plan to advancing the Lok Sabha elections by 6-7 months, as some speculate.



The counting of votes will begin at 8 am in both states.



Exit polls have predicted comfortable wins for the BJP in the two states, meaning it will retain power in Gujarat and dethrone the Congress in Himachal.



All eyes will be on Gujarat, where both Modi and Gandhi - who took over as the Congress chief on Saturday - campaigned vigorously.



The campaign saw Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah targeting the Congress on issues such as Ram temple and alleging that Congress leaders used Pakistan to influence polls, while Rahul attacked Modi for not talking about development.



At least eight exit polls have predicted a clear victory for the BJP by winning 99-146 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly.



Analysts, however, said the Congress is likely to fare better than what the pollsters have predicted - they had said it would only be between 36 and 82 seats.



Saurashtra, where traders were upset with the BJP over demonetisation and GST, and North Gujarat, where its MLAs were facing anti-incumbency, would be watched keenly as performance in these regions would seal its fate.



For the Congress, an impressive show would increase people's confidence in Rahul, besides boosting the Opposition prospects of taking on the BJP.



The result will also show whether Congress' rainbow coalition of Patidars, OBCs and Dalits and its reliance on the three youth icons, Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mevani, worked in its favour.



It is also to be seen whether Rahul's strategy to visit temples, which had invited criticism that the party was indulging in soft Hindutva, worked for him.



An adverse result for the Congress could mean that it gets alienated from secular and Left parties, who already have silently expressed reservations.



However, an impressive show would obviously benefit the efforts to stitch an umbrella Opposition coalition for the Lok Sabha polls.
The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) have approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking amendments in laws that make owners responsible for the negligence of guards.



"Private security sector currently employs 70 lakh private security guards and supervisors working in 22,000 private security agencies. It is one of the largest private sector employers in India. Private security sector growing at 22% and it is one of largest corporate tax contributor.

"But still, it is neglected. We urge the Prime Minister to pro-actively consider our demand and save the sector which could prove crucial for the success of Skill India and also in generating jobs," CAPSI chairperson Kunwar Vikram Singh said in a letter to the PM.

He said an amendment is needed in the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act in consultation with the security agencies. "Owners cannot be held accountable for the negligence of guards/supervisors. Need a fairer law and not a draconian law which today prevails," he said.

Another demand raised by the CAPSI was ensuring a fair tender process by the government and public sector units.

The CAPSI has also demanded that the GST should be made on reverse charge basis so that service taker is made to pay the GST and not the service providers.

"It is necessary has private security agencies work on a 3-month credit system and current GST regime is hurting them financially," Singh said.

He also raised the issue in the presence of Union Ministers V K Singh and Jual Oram, who attended the annual conference of CAPSI and the Association of Private Detectives and Investigators, here on Saturday.
Buoyed by the victory in the recently concluded urban local bodies elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has now set his eyes on the forthcoming Sikandara assembly by-election.

The assembly seat in Kanpur Dehat district fell vacant due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Mathura Prasad Pal.

Although the BJP nominee had secured over 87,000 votes and trounced his nearest BSP nominee by over 38,000 votes, the saffron party is not taking any chances.

Both Adityanath and his deputy Dinesh Sharma addressed election meetings in the constituency for the party candidate Ajit Pal Singh. The two leaders promised to ensure all-round development of the constituency in their speeches.

Since the BSP has chosen not to field its candidate in the by-poll, Samajwadi Party (SP) nominee Seema Sachan hopes to give a tough fight to the BJP. The SP had finished third in the 2017 assembly election on the seat.

"The absence of the BSP gives us a chance this time.....our nominee can scrape through if we can prevent split of the opposition votes," said a senior SP leader here on Sunday.

However, the presence of the Congress has put a dampener to the hopes of the SP. The Congress and SP had contested the 2017 assembly polls as allies and both received severe drubbing.

The SP leaders said the Congress should not have fielded its candidate. "It would also have been a test of the possible grand alliance in the next Lok Sabha polls in 2019," said an SP leader.

The by-poll is slated for December 21.
The Karni Sena, a Rajput outfit, on Sunday threatened to convert the release date of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie Padmavati into a black day and called for formation of a pre-Censor Board to prevent twisting historical facts in films.



Speaking to reporters in Meerut, Karni Sena founder Lokendra Singh Kalvi said the Rajput community would not allow the release of Padmavati under any circumstances.

"We have reports that the movie may be released in February. We will not allow its screening. Its release date will be converted into a black day," Kalvi threatened.

He said that he would seek a ban on the film throughout the country. "If need be we will take our agitation to Delhi," he added.

Kalvi said the producer and director of the film should throw its reels into fire. "It would be better if the reels of the movie were thrown into jawala of jauhar (a reference to suicide by Rani Padmini and other women by jumping into the pyres to avoid being captured by the Muslim invaders)," Kalvi said.
With more routes set to be operational under UDAN, the Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to face a paucity of funds in providing viability gap funding to participating airlines, according to a senior official.



To connect unserved and under-served aerodromes, as well as make flying more affordable, the ministry has launched UDAN, and as many as 128 routes connecting 70 airports were awarded in the first round of bidding.

A total of 141 initial proposals have been received from various players in the second round of bidding, the results of which are expected to be announced this month.

As participating airlines are extended Viability Gap Funding (VGF), the ministry feels that amount that will be available towards it might not be sufficient once more players start operating UDAN flights.

The ministry contributes 80% of the VGF amount, while the remaining comes from the state governments concerned and in the case of North Eastern states and Union Territories, the sharing ratio is 90:10.

A senior ministry official said funds available for providing VGF might not be enough as more routes become operational under UDAN.

Towards VGF, the ministry is levying Rs 5,000 per flight on key routes and proceeds from this route is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore annually. So far, the ministry has garnered around Rs 70 crore by way of levy for the VGF.

In the coming year, all the airports in the first round would be operational.
Close on the heels of the first successful firing of Brahmos cruise missile from a Su-30MKI aircraft, the Indian Air Force has set up a target of arming 40 more fighter jets with the weapon in two-three years.



Equipping the first two combat jets with the supersonic missile took several years as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered the first aircraft on February 19, 2015 after a 12-month cycle and the second aircraft took another 10 months.

The IAF officials hope that since the HAL has gathered enough experience with the first two fighters, arming the rest by 2020 will not be a problem.

The work has begun to jerry-rig four more operational Su-30MKI because the remaining 36 aircraft would be the new jets that the HAL is contracted to deliver to the IAF.

India purchased 272 Su-30 MKI from Russia for the IAF, out of which 236 jets have been delivered to the IAF by the HAL. The public sector aviation major targets to complete the entire delivery by 2019-20.

Between 1996 and 2010, New Delhi and Moscow signed four agreements to purchase 272 Sukhoi in four batches. While the first 50 aircraft came from Russia, the rest were to be manufactured at the HAL.

Missile range

The Brahmos to be fitted on to the Su-30MKI will have a range of more than 400 km.

After India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, the range of the Brahmos missile was upgraded to nearly 450 km from its earlier version of 290 km. The MTCR barred countries to transfer missiles of more than 300-km range to another nation.

Currently, nine naval warships - Kolkata class, Teg class and Ranvir class - are fitted with the 290-km version of Brahmos. Ditto for the army, which has two regiments of Brahmos.

But the second bunch of the naval warships - Delhi class, Talwar class and Shivalik class - will get the long-range Brahmos when they go for mid-life upgrade. The IAF will have only the longer-range missile.
A Catholic priest and a Bajrang Dal activist have been arrested from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Sunday, three days after suspected workers of the right-wing group reportedly beat up priests and seminarians over forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity.



Father M George was arrested for forced religious conversion under the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, 1968. Vikas Gupta, the Bajrang Dal activist, was arrested in connection with setting a vehicle on fire on December 14. Both were arrested on Saturday, a police officer said.

Suspected Bajrang Dal activists had reportedly beaten up a group of Christians, including 10 priests, and set their car on fire outside the Civil Lines police station over alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

Father George and five others were booked on the complaint of a local, Dharmendra Dohar, who claimed he was lured with money to convert to Christianity, V D Pandey, Superintendent of Police, said.

He said Gupta was arrested on the complaint of Father George Joseph, who was among the 10 priests and who alleged that a group of activists burned down their car.

Father M Rony, social work director of Satna Diocese, had said that a group of young men stormed into the venue of a pre-Christmas function at Bhoomkar village, about 15 km from the district headquarters, on Thursday night and created a ruckus, alleging religious conversion.

The function was organised by the Syro-Malabar Church of Northern India for children.

After receiving a complaint, police had taken 32 brothers (trainee priests) and two priests, Father Rony had said. "When they reached the police station, they were beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists on the station campus. Four other priests who rushed to the police station were also thrashed and their car set on fire," he had claimed.

Denying allegations of conversion, Father Rony said the diocese has been running a seminary at Barakala village in Satna district for 20 years and not a single person has been converted to Christianity.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has slammed the state government for failing to catch the killers of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh and accused it of not maintaining the law and order in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru.



"Social activist Gauri Lankesh was killed. BJP workers Rudresh Goudar and Paresh Mesta were killed. What is the government doing here? No concrete action was taken to bring the culprits to book," he said at the BJP's Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra at Murugeshpalya, off Old Airport Road, on Sunday.

Bengaluru is the IT capital of the country, but the Congress government has failed to ensure people's safety, he added. "I promise a thorough probe into the murder of Gauri Lankesh if the BJP is voted to power," he said.

The BJP leader also accused the Siddaramaiah government of "dividing society on caste and communal lines" and took objection to the celebration of Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary.

"It's an attempt to polarise society. Why is the government not celebrating the Kittur Rani Chennamma Jayanti? Why not celebrate the Kempegowda Jayanti?... Why not celebrate the Jayanti of Sir M Visvesvaraya," he asked.

Singh called the Congress government "most corrupt", saying it made Lokayukta, the anti-corruption watchdog, "powerless". and set up the Anti Corruption Bureau to shield the corrupt. "The Congress government is involved in the steel flyover scam, the Rs 300-crore laptop scam and the garbage scam. The Congress is the only party that is capable of making money even in the garbage," he suggested.

According to Singh, two distressed farmers commit suicide in Karnataka every day on average. The government has done nothing to rescue them. To make matters worse, it is recklessly borrowing money, disrupting the state's economy. The per capita debt in Karnataka is Rs 38,000. This government has no right to continue in power, he added.

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said the countdown for the Siddaramaiah government had begun and that the BJP led by B S Yeddyurappa would form the government after the polls.
Think long and hard before you take that perfect selfie on an adventure trip. Most insurance companies are not going to entertain your accident claims.

General insurance companies that offer accidental death benefits, including health insurance, are concerned about the "selfie-crazed youth" who go to any extent to take photos.

Youth posing in front of an exotic waterfall during a trek or an uphill cliffhanger are unaware of the impending danger: they can get seriously injured, maimed or worse still, die. And to top that, insurance companies will not compensate them or their families.

Rajiv Kumar, MD & CEO, Universal Sompo General Insurance, said insurance policies usually did not cover accidental injuries or deaths sustained by the insured while posing for selfies as a result of gross negligence or reckless act. The company hasn't yet reported any claims over selfie deaths, he added.

A spokesperson for another insurer said most companies did not pay for deaths occurring during adventure sports.

According to him, deaths occurring while taking selfies is considered "negligence" on the part of the victim.

Even if the insurance company considers paying the accidental death benefits, the family will have to provide records such as a copy of the FIR and postmortem report. The company will then investigate the circumstances under which the person died, he added.

ICICI Lombard states on its website: "Though no official statistics are available on selfie deaths, there have been at least 54 deaths in India while taking selfies." The company has refused to pay claims if the insured died while taking a selfie.

The customer care of Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd said the firm would not consider the death caused while taking a selfie as an accident. The company would investigate such claims before making any payments.

No IRDAI regulation

In July 2016, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) announced a new set of health insurance regulations, but it has not yet issued any guidelines on selfie deaths.
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A man who waited 10 years in the Houston County Jail for a trial before being sentenced to life for felony murder is now requesting a post-conviction acquittal or new trial.

The defense attorneys for Kharon Torchec Davis filed a motion for judgment of an acquittal or a new trial on Oct. 25. A hearing on the motion is set for Dec. 19.

In the motion, the defense argued the State of Alabama failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and failed to elicit sufficient corroboration of accomplice testimony for a conviction.

Davis defense attorneys believe the conviction in this case violates due process guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Davis was originally charged with capital murder in the 2007 death of Pete Reaves at Rolling Hills Apartments. A jury found Davis guilty of felony murder on Sept. 22. He was sentenced to life in prison. Davis current sentence does leave him eligible for parole and Davis has already served about 10 years and four months in prison.

The case received nationwide attention after being delayed multiple times. Some believed Davis was a victim of the system while others believed he was primarily responsible for the delays due to his desire for new attorneys on more than one occasion.

According to court documents on Oct. 26, the court entered an order setting Davis motion for a new trial on Dec. 19 at 9 a.m., in Judge Kevin Moultons courtroom.
Cross-border payments startup Airwallex has received a US$6 million investment from VC firm Square Peg, bringing its total Series A capital raise to US$19 million

The Melbourne-based fintech company previously closed its Series A funding round in May, having raised a combined US$13 million from Mastercard, Sequoia Capital China and the worlds fourth largest internet company, Tencent Holdings. The top-up Series A investment from Square Peg comes in the wake of Airwallexs debut on the coveted Fintech100 list last month. Prior to 2017, Airwallex had secured US$3 million in pre-Series A funding from Gobi Partners.

In conversation with Dynamic Business, Co-founder and CEO Jack Zhang explained why Square Peg is a great cultural fit for Airwallex. He also discussed his plans for the additional Series A funding and the vision that has fuelled his startups success.

DB: How did the deal with Square Peg come about?

Zhang: We werent actively seeking additional funding for Airwallex; rather, an opportunity to partner with Square Peg  one of the biggest and best VCs in the Australian market  presented itself and it was just too good to pass up. It followed a coffee catch up with Ben (Hensman, investor, Square Peg). We talked shop and he was impressed by the mechanics behind our business. Of course, Square Pegs proven track record of fostering growth in start-ups from the early days into multi-million dollar global businesses speaks for itself. From there, the conversations moved into how our two operations could partner. The announcement of the funding is the final result of that. As a start-up, were always open to additional investment with the right partners. We have big plans and its funding that will assist us in rolling those out.

DB: How will you be investing the additional funding?

Zhang: First, some context  the problem that Airwallex is solving is a large scale, global problem. We see that cross-border payments, which are so integral to so many businesses, are currently a hindrance to doing good business and also to profit. Theres an almost endless runway of opportunity particularly in the Asian corridor that has traditionally been neglected by providers when it comes to servicing FX and payments needs. So, the additional investment from Square Peg will further our expansion, enabling us to enter more markets faster, which is essential to offering a truly global payment solution.

DB: What makes Square Peg a good fit for Airwallex?

Zhang: We have a great cultural fit because their mission is very aligned to our vision  you couldnt make it up. Square Peg are driven by a passion for technology and its potential to change our world and thats exactly what we believe with Airwallex by making international payments as simple, fast and affordable as domestic payments, well inspire growth and success for global businesses. Plus, they related not only to our presence in China but our commitment to our home region.

Theyre excited to be part of the company thats solving the problem were solving, and they can see from the pedigree of the Airwallex team  including our backgrounds in banking and finance across various institutions  that we have the expertise to actually deliver. From their perspective, they see great potential in our scalability and this is where theyll come to the table  to assist in unlocking that growth more quickly than wed possibly be able to otherwise through their own understanding of the space.

DB: How do you account for the startups success this year?

Zhang: I think a great deal of our success is due to the business vision, and its that vision that has enabled us to reach our first set of key milestones and goals. We set ourselves a range of goals including the likes of funding, who wed like to partner with, and the direction we want to take the business in. Were very lucky that with big name early investors on board, its becoming increasingly obvious to others in the payments space that what were doing  and what were trying to achieve  is not only relevant, but necessary.

Ive been quoted as saying that payments have been stuck in the Stone Age, and I stand by that. Were living, working, shopping, and transacting in the internet era so why should our international business payments not be seamless as well? Airwallex works relentlessly to deliver best-in-class technology in ways and places that may have been deemed too hard in the past. Its these types successes that we really pride ourselves on.

Breaking into the Fintech100 was a great acknowledgement of what weve achieved in only two years. Its a brilliant to see so many fantastic fin-techs solving real business and consumer problems  we felt honoured to be in such good company.

Related: Airwallexs CEO reveals how his fintech start-up earned a vote of confidence worth US$16m, Australia has ten Fintechs inside the top 100, LaunchVic snapshot reveals $790 million has been raised by 385 startups over five years and The Chinese market dances to the beat of its own drum: how SME exporters can succeed.
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(Photo: REUTERS / Mohsin Raza)Members of the Pakistani Christian community hold placards during a protest rally in Lahore to condemn Sunday's suicide attack on a church in Peshawar, September 24, 2013. A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the 130-year-old Anglican church in Pakistan after Sunday mass, killing at least 78 people in the deadliest attack on Christians in the predominantly Muslim country.

Two suicide bombers killed nine people and wounded more than 50 in a Sunday attack on a church in the Pakistan city of Quetta just over a week before Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus worldwide.

Two women were among the dead at Quetta's Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in the southwestern in Balochistan province, said provincial Home Secretary Akbar Harifal, Agence France-Presse reported.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit condemned the attack.

"We condemn this tragic disregard for human life at a time when people were gathered to worship as a community. We will not allow this devastating act weaken our faith, our unity, and our common work for peace and justice in the world," he said in a statement.

Several of the wounded were in serious condition, police said in the Dec. 17 attack which Islamic State claimed it had carried out, Reuters reported citing a statement on Amaq news agency.

Officials said police intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church's main door, where he blew himself up.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but the congregation had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas.

"God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," tweeted the home minister.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percemt of Pakistan's 200 million people and have long faced discrimination - sidelined into lowly paid jobs and sometimes face false accusations under the country's draconian blasphemy charges.

One of the attackers was reported to have then detonated his suicide vest at the church's main door after receiving bullet injuries. Another was shot dead near the church's entrance by security forces, the police chief said, the Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported.

The director general of civil defense said late in the afternoon that the two attackers were believed to have been aged between 16 and 20 years of age.

He said the attackers had strapped 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of explosives to their bodies. One successfully detonated his explosive vest, while the other was defused.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.
According to this new information the Russians have known about alien civilizations for several decades, to many this comes as no surprise,...
Tiffany Haddishs ex-husband has surfaced just days after her book exposed his alleged physical abuse against her that ended with her miscarrying a child.

He has denied any claims that he hurt the comedienne.

Tiffany Haddish's Ex-Husband Speaks

William Stewart spoke with The Ryan Cameron Morning Show on Atlantas V-103 and refuted Haddish's side of the story that she told in The Last Black Unicorn. While it has been described as a memoir, Stewart said many of the stories in it are untrue.

He first began and said he tied the knot with Haddish and her issues, not the Hollywood lifestyle. Haddish rose to a new level of fame with the release of the successful Girls Trip movie this summer.

I have never beat or hit or called a woman a MF or B while having a disagreement ever in my life, said Stewart. I never caused a miscarriage, I have documents to prove this.

He then revealed that Haddish told him about the book a few weeks ago and warned him that he would be extremely upset. He went on to say he didnt want to tear down the brand that he helped build, but still wanted people to know what really went down as far as he is concerned.

He also said he has been looking for a lawyer but hopes it wont get to the point where he will have to air out the dirty laundry of his own. He said that both he and Haddish are convinced they can come to terms on how to move forward amicably.

Tiffany Haddish Uncovers Life Of Abuse

In her book, Haddish detailed moments in which Stewart allegedly abused her terribly. She said it got to the point that she went to a local police station. When she realized it was closed, she called the police and told her they need to put her behind bars before she murders Stewart. Officers arrived at her location and observed that she had bad bruises, cuts and scrapes all over her body.

They proceeded to call the ambulance and Stewart was taken into custody. She revealed that she suffered a miscarriage the following day. She had no idea that she was even with child.

Also in the memoir, Haddish opened up about her childhood, not learning how to truly read until she was in high school, and being a victim of molestation in foster care.

Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest on your favorite celebrities.
Bravo has released a new teaser of what fans can expect from the upcoming episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Based on the footage, the drama will continue as the womens love lives come to the forefront.

Cynthia Bailey Gets Real With Kenya Moore

The sneak peek kicked off with Cynthia Bailey updating Kenya Moore on what happened after Moore left the ladies in San Francisco during the previous episode. Moore missed out on the women blasting her and questioning whether her surprise marriage to Marc Daly was actually real.

However, Baileys issue was more of dealing with why Moore didnt invite Bailey to her big day. Moore and Daly tied the knot in a secret ceremony.

While Moore and Bailey are great friends on and off camera, the latter found out about the wedding the same way everyone else did  on the Internet. Bailey kept it real with Moore and said she honestly believed she should have been a part of the wedding.

Moores love life isnt the only one that has been a focus this season. Williams also tried to find love in the promo. She ended up walking out of a blind date with a man, though, after she realized he looked much different than she thought or possibly even desired.

Cynthia Bailey's Love Life In The Hot Seat

While Bailey confronted Moore about her wedding, she also had to let her ex-husband, Peter Thomas, know that she was seeing someone else. Bailey filed for divorce from Thomas this year.

Viewers met Baileys new beau, Will, earlier this season. Now, it looks like Thomas will have to get acquainted with him too. But first, Baileys friend and co-star Kandi Burruss wanted to have a conversation with Will.

The ladies, Will, and Burruss husband Todd Tucker enjoyed a boat ride in the sneak peek. Burruss had a few questions for Will as she challenged his motives and intentions with Bailey.

She pointed out that he had been seen on a dating segment of Steve Harveys daytime talk show, possibly indicating that he wants to become a star of his own. Things got even more awkward when Bailey pointed out that Will was dating other people and Will agreed.

As for Sheree Whitfield, she was still updating her friends about her new boyfriend who is currently serving time in prison. She even received a collect call from the man, Tyrone, on camera.

Check out the teaser below and tune in to the full episode on Bravo every Sunday at 8 p.m. eastern or 7 p.m. central time.

Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest on your favorite celebrities.
Kourtney Kardashian reportedly doesn't want her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, Sofia Richie, around when she and her family celebrate the upcoming holidays.

As Scott Disick, 34, continues to enjoy his relationship with his 19-year-old model girlfriend, Kardashian has reportedly laid down the law when it comes to her family and her children and does not want Richie nearby.

Kourtney made it clear to Scott that his girlfriend Sofia is not allowed at any family holiday events, a source close to Disick told Hollywood Life on Dec. 15. Kourtney has several issues with Scott dating Sofia and does not like it at all."

According to the report, Kardashian, 38, has banned the teenager from meeting her and Disick's three kids despite how serious the couple reportedly is. As the insider explained, Kardashian is also attempting to stop Disick from bringing his girlfriend to her family's annual Kardashian Christmas party.

"Kourtney wants to maintain family tradition and she does not think Sofia fits into that ideal, the insider said.

The insider went on to reveal that Disick is upset about how his ex-girlfriend has been behaving and feels she has too harshly judged his new romance. He also reportedly feels as if Kardashian is attempting to control who he spends his time with.

Scott wants to spend the holidays with his children AND with his girlfriend, so he is pretty pissed about Kourtney banning Sofia from the holiday season. Scott feels like Kourtney is ruining his holidays with her jealous, petty ban of Sofia, the insider added.

Kardashian and Disick share three children, including sons Mason, 8, and Reign, 3, and daughter Penelope, 5. Prior to their 2015 split, the former couple dated on and off for nearly 10 years.

While Kardashian is reportedly doing her best to keep Richie away from her children, she allegedly hasn't done the same thing to her new boyfriend, 24-year-old boxer and model Younes Bendjima. In fact, according to a new report, Kardashian recently introduced Bendjima to her children.

Understandably, Disick was not happy to learn what Kardashian had done and feels she is being hypocritical toward his own relationship.

To see more of Kourtney Kardashian, Scott Disick, and their family, including Mason, Penelope, and Reign, don't miss new episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians season 14 when the show returns to the E! Network on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m.
Miley Cyrus may have her hands full with final episodes of The Voice Season 13 but that hasn't stopped her from getting ready for Christmas.

As the 13th season of The Voice comes to an end later this month, Cyrus is getting ready to celebrate the holidays with her fiance, Liam Hemsworth and is already pondering what gifts she should surprise him with.

Miley has a hard time buying Liam gifts because hes a pretty simple guy, hes not into material stuff at all, an insider revealed to Hollywood Life on Dec. 16. One thing I know she is getting him is a new surfboard, when it comes to anything to do with surfing and Liam you cant go wrong.

Miley is very excited about the holidays, Liams back home from shooting his movie and theyre getting some much-needed quality time together," the source continued. "The holidays are extra special for Miley and Liam because it was this time two years ago that they got back together so its kind of an unofficial anniversary for them.

Cyrus and Hemsworth met one another on the set of The Last Song in 2010 and quickly sparked a romance as they acted as each other's love interest in the film. Two years later, the couple became engaged and Cyrus was seen sporting a stunning diamond ring in the months that followed. Then, in late 2013, after a controversial performance at the MTV Video Music Awards with Robin Thicke, the couple's engagement was confirmed to be over.

Cyrus and Hemsworth's relationship came to an end amid a number of sexually-charged moments that came around the time of the release of her Bangerz album. Then, for two years, the couple dated other people. As fans may recall, Cyrus was linked to several famous faces, including Benji Madden, Jared Leto, and model Stella Maxwell while Hemsworth was rumored to have dated the likes of Nina Dobrev and January Jones.

While Cyrus and Hemsworth spent plenty of time with other people, they ultimately made their way back to one another in late 2015 and in early 2016, their engagement was said to be back on. Since then, the couple has faced numerous rumors regarding their plans to get married and their potential plans for kids. They've even faced claims of being married already.
On Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, police arrested a 58-year-old Uber driver Abdoulie Jagne in Atlanta, Georgia for raping a teen passenger.

The Details Of The Case

The Gwinnett County Police Department states the 16-year-old girl went to a local bar this past Monday with her friends. After becoming intoxicated, the teen's friends called an Uber for her so that she could get home safely.

When Jagne dropped the high-school student off at her destination, neighbors say the teen banged on everyone's door, screaming for help. Neighbors say they promptly called 911 and when the police arrived they found the teen with her pants around her ankles. Upon their arrival, the teen told them she was raped by the Uber driver.

Background Information On The Rapist

According to their investigation, Jagne is from College Park, Georgia and has been working with Uber for two months. In a statement about the heinous crime, Uber says the company's thoughts are with the teen and her family.

"Whats reported here is horrifying beyond words. Our thoughts are with the rider and her family during this time.

The teen was evaluated at a hospital law enforcement took her to and they have charged Jagne with the crime but are looking to file more charges against him. They can only do so if more women speak out about his violent behavior.

Uber confirms Jagne has been permanently deleted from the app and the data from the teen's ride corroborates with her story. It took Jagne much longer to get to the teen's destination than it normally should, therefore, matching the timeline of her assault.
You need to give PTE and get 65 each in each module.. Along with that submit the transcripts and passing certificate of BCOM and MBA and syllabus book for both to CPA Australia. This can be submitted online from their website. You can also submit work experience documents if you want to claim points for it too.



After that CPA will decide which papers you nees to give for Foundation. I feel you will be asked to sit fot FAR and Business Law, although you may have studied both but CPA will still ask you to appear again.
Hi Joppa and Team,

I am writing with regards to the above title.



I am here to thank Joppa and others who helped me for EEA(PR).

I got my PR just after 2 months.

I did apply under permanent ceased activity due to permanent disability.



Process:

Sent my application on 25th September.

BPR 4th October

ILR card issued date 4th December.

Special delivery came 11th December.



But I am confused as in the letter from home office they stated that:

Your permanent residence deemed on 25th of March and issue date of card may be different from this.

You can apply for naturalisation after 1 year from this date.



I am wondering when can I apply for naturalisation according to letter date or issue date on card?





Thank you Joppa and Team
Hi all you lovely people,I work for a private auditing firm which is opening a new office in Toronto, I am moving to work there for long term after working in the Delhi office for 5 years.Brief about me: 27 years, male, single, adventure seeker, straightOffice location in Toronto : Downtown of courseSalary : 70,000 per yearWhy information above: So you can help me answer to these questions below?1. Should I buy winter ear when I arrive in Toronto or buy before hand?2. What are the best and economical places/websites/stores to buy winter wear in Toronto3. Which are the affordable hip places/neighbourhoods for singles in Toronto to live in3.1 : What is a decent amount for a 4 piece bath, one room apartment in/near downtown3.2 : How should I go about finding a place, how did you guys do it4. I have a driving licence in India, will it be valid in Toronto/Canada, I have it since 2008 and driving since then?5. What are the good ways/sites/activities to meet people in Toronto and make friends, specially girls?6. Where do Indian live in Toronto?7. Which cellular service provider should I go for?8. Can I buy/lease a car just after arriving as I will not have a credit history initially?9. What are the fun activities people indulge in on weekends/weekdays?Thanks for your patience while reading above, I have plethora of questions coming to my mind as I am sooo excited to this new journey in life and I hope you would kindly help me out.eace: and Thanks a lot!Ankit
Hello,



I'm relocating to Dubai soon and recently found out where my accommodation is. I want to know what it's like to live in the Millennium T*wers on the high floors. Quality construction? Any maintenance issues? Quiet? Safe and secure? I would appreciate any input. Thank you.
Rebaqshratz said: Interesting feed back on the web site... Divorce is what is needed with protection of the children (financial) and the spouse. Right now only the rich can afford to get an annulment no matter how egregious the behavior of the offending spouse. Many abandon wives are left to raise their children with no help from the run off husbands. No protection for the females when the hubby needs to prove he is a man's man. Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Too many skate free from obligations to spouses and children. Problems is where we are living. This is a country that can't (or won't) even enforce traffic laws on the roads-they use speed bumps and fences in place of "qualified" police forces to do the job.Under most circumstances divorce is not the answer. At the same time, when a marriage has gone far enough off the track that there is no hope of making it work or last then there needs to be a viable way to end it so that both parties can move forward with life.That's where a basic divorce would be worth having in the Philippines. But to think that alimony and or child support enforcement is feasible here is folly. Divorce settlement hearings in this country would clog up these pre-industrial society level courts until the next millennium. Even then, the offending party (or should I say victim :behindsofa: ) simply moves to another island as do murders and rapists now and live out their lives without being found.So hopefully the churches and government will come to terms with this and institute a quick, low cost, no fault divorce so that people can escape bad or even dangerous marriages and enjoy life with someone else.-Afterthought- This will probably work only until the economy is good enough that people take out life insurance policies on their spouses. Then look out!!!
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In a training room at the Center for the Intrepid, Kelsey Ward worked to move her right arm, a weight strapped around her wrist and hand over her chin.

Next, she did pushups. Every movement brought pain.

Ahhhhhh! cried Ward, 23, of Schertz. Sooooo hard!

Wards arm was severed near the shoulder last year in a car wreck and surgically reattached at Brooke Army Medical Center in the states first successful replant procedure.

Most people in Wards situation lose their limbs. In the past half-century or so, only 82 above-the-elbow arm replants had been performed worldwide before her operation April 20, 2016, and shes among the most promising of those cases. She not only has her arm back, but is making steady progress almost 20 months after the wreck.

Two of three major nerves in Wards arm are working, and the third  the radial nerve  is expected to come back. How far Ward can go is anyones guess, but a complete recovery is possible.

Now Playing: In April of 2016, Kelsey Ward, 22, was involved in a car accident where her right arm was severed above the elbow. After an extensive surgery her arm was reattached and she is now in rehab therapy to strengthen and regain the use of her arm. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Most of them dont make it, said her primary physician, Army Lt. Col. Joseph Alderete. Most of them are an attempted replant, and after the first 72 hours, either overwhelming infection or the vascular connection fails. Of the successful replants in the past, as many as 25 percent elect a late amputation.

Receiving care from BAMC under the same secretary of defense waiver used to allow Gov. Greg Abbott to be treated in the hospitals famed burn center in 2016 for an accidental scalding, her case is helping military doctors learn more about how to care for troops who suffer traumatic wounds in wartime.

Alderete, BAMCs chief of orthopedic oncology who was on call the night Ward was brought in, said her ongoing rehabilitation has taught us so much about medical recovery post-replant, and noted that some advances are relatively new.

Reliable nerve grafting without harvesting nerves from the leg, for example, has become a reality only in the past decade.

She has motor function in the small muscles of the hand, which previously was considered, in replant science, impossible, he said. Shell likely have some deficit, but the way Kelsey goes, Ill bet whatever deficit she has, you or I would not notice.

This girl is on fire

Sitting at home recently with her three rescue dogs, Nova, Berneice and Daisy, and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig shes named Amy Swinehouse, Ward held an adaptive writing device in her right hand.

Using a pen is the kind of thing most people take for granted, but being able to grip anything is a big deal for her. It means she can use her right arm to drive a car, pick up blocks and move them, sweep and mop the floor, pick up a plate in the kitchen, hold a treasured stuffed Santa doll from her childhood as she used to and put up the Christmas tree.

Wards arm, which was crushed in the wreck, isnt pretty. Her son, Marcus, 5, described it as looking like snake skin  with long thin grafts that were taken from both legs. Muscle and veins were harvested from other parts of her body. Sometimes, when she puts a finger on her reconstructed arm, its as if she is touching her back.

As strange as that may seem, her arm is beginning to work as it once did. Nerve cells that once were destroyed are growing back.

This girl is on fire, Ward wrote.

Ward still has things she cant do. One day she may be able to tie the shoelaces of Marcus and her daughter, Mia, 4, and maybe even braid her daughters hair.

She dreams of that.

But she also cant work. Paying the rent out of savings and child support, Ward tried working in a call center, but couldnt use her right hand to type. She also did a stint at a dog hotel, only to find she needed both arms for kennel work.

Ward is seeking Social Security disability benefits. She has a hearing on Tuesday. In the meantime, she spends hours every day trying to use her right arm only. Thats a process, but there is reason to hope for better days ahead.

Recently, we have discovered that my radial nerve, which is the last one to return, is actually there so I can straighten my wrist now, which will be good. When I want to grab things later, Ill have a straight wrist, Ward said, noting that BAMC has scratched plans to do tendon transfers because her nerves not only are responding, but shes also able to feel hot and cold all the way to her fingers.

Were going up on the two-year mark and theyve never seen anything like it, she added.

After a dozen risky follow-up operations and grueling physical therapy, Ward said she still only has 50 percent use of her arm.

Occupational therapist Christopher Ebner tells her and other patients at the Center for the Intrepid that shell need a lot of patience and persistence, and a little humor.

Therapy and rehabilitation can take months or years, and Ward has a long road ahead of her, he said.

But, he added, For most patients, it is not necessarily about returning to 'normal' or the way things used to be. Instead, it is about finding their new normal, which is the case with Kelsey and her recovery.

In new territory

The surgical team headed by Alderete didnt have a detailed road map when Ward arrived at the hospitals Level 1 trauma center, which provides emergency care to civilians and military personnel alike. He wasnt even sure Ward was a replant candidate.

Her arm was severed about 8 inches above the elbow after Wards 1999 Cadillac DeVille smashed into a guardrail at Loop 1604 and OConnor Road near Rolling Oaks Mall.

The guardrail pierced a passenger window. Police found the car upside down in a drainage ditch.

When I exited, I was exiting too fast, Ward said. I lost control of the car and the guardrail wrapped around me and came through, and cut my arm, almost cut me in - a good thing it didnt go any further.

First responders found Ward unconscious. She had lost half her blood. They applied a tourniquet, preserved the limb in ice, and sent word of their actions to Alderete, a veteran of three tours in Afghanistan  along with several photos of her arm.

Ward was one of 4,100 trauma patients treated in BAMCs ER in 2016. Doctors typically have no options in a case like hers. The wound usually is too mangled for any chance of a replant. Fewer than 5 percent of above-the-elbow amputations hold out the possibility for a successful replant.

One look at the image told Alderete that Ward might be the exception. And BAMC had a wealth of experience dealing with wartime amputees and saving the worst-injured among them. Still, no one there ever had tried anything like this.

A study in the Netherlands found that 68 percent of 301 arm replants were from the elbow down. Only 82 above-the-elbow replants had been done since they were first tried in the 1960s.

One thing that hurt the chances of saving Kelseys arm was the fact that limbs severed above the elbow tend to not regenerate nerves.

Alderete didnt know the history, but said Kelsey Ward was much like the blast victims hed treated in war, with a spot of luck  the bone in her shoulder hadnt been crushed.

That was critical, so he called on a team of five specialists trained in some of the nations elite universities, including Harvard Medical School-Massachusetts General Hospital.

They included two vascular surgeons, a hand surgeon, an on-call back-up hand surgeon and a plastic surgeon.

The team members spent the rest of the night reconnecting arteries, bone and muscle. They later grafted crucial nerves. Where they couldnt reattach nerve, muscle and skin, the doctors took it from some other part of her body, including her legs and back.

Dont freak out

When Ward awoke after the first operation, which ran around 12 hours, Alderete broke the news.

So the doc came up to me and hes like, Kelsey, youve cut your arm off. Dont freak out, but we put it back on. And Im like, OK, and I checked my teeth and wiggled my toes and I was like, Well, I guess it wasnt that bad, Ward recalled.

He looked at me so shocked and I was like, Well, Ive got all of my teeth, so none of them broke, thats a plus, she laughed. And my toes are moving, so Im going to walk again, and I was like, So were good.

Surgery was the easy part of the journey.

Much of Wards progress has been rooted in physical therapy sessions. One day last spring, Ward moved a pair of hand pedals designed to help build arm and upper-body strength. Her legs dangled above the floor while she moved the hand crank counterclockwise. Ten minutes later, shed broken a sweat.

Its very hard, she told Ebner, 39, the Army veteran who has guided her occupational therapy sessions since May 2016.

Good job, he replied. Thats all I have for you today.

Rehabilitation can be a frustrating slog, especially because using limbs comes naturally until an accident or illness limits movement. Pain can come with a twitch of the arm, hand or leg. Ward calls rehab the hardest thing shes done, and brightens when the matter of how difficult it is comes up in a conversation.

People generally dont ask her about that.

Anger would come every day. Anger is every day, she conceded. Thats how frustrating it is. Theres always something that you cant do the way you used to.

Rehab has been one part of a long climb back, but there have been other battles  one to get off prescription painkillers, and the other depression.

When Ward decided she wanted to drive again, she had to stop using OxyContin, a highly addictive narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain. Some days, she went cold turkey while on others she took half the usual dosage. Six weeks passed before she weaned herself off the drug. But one other major problem loomed.

Ward didnt want to get out of bed. Diagnosed with depression, she got a new prescription.

So typically Im a very happy-go-lucky person and I live for my kids. Everything I do is for them. Everyone knows that. And I started taking this drug and Day 11, I had my first meltdown, and it was a silly meltdown. My boyfriend didnt do something right in the kitchen and it was just a bad meltdown, like, You dont care about me!, Youre not doing things right! she said.

Just crazy things, so he told me he thinks the medicine was affecting me. So 10 days after the 11, I had my first suicidal thought and you just debate whether people are going to care if youre gone, you write down pros and cons, people that will be affected by it, what youre leaving behind, what youre making better. Its bad. It was so bad. Drugs can twist things up sometimes.

Ward told her doctor she had suicidal thoughts and was in bed even more than she had been before starting the prescription. He gave her a new drug to counteract the first one, but things worsened.

Thats when she got off all the pills.

I just knew I wasnt myself because never in my life had I thought that leaving my kids behind was even an option, Ward said.

Christmas crazy

Things are better now. She loves the holidays, saying, Ive always been Christmas crazy, and has a tree in the dining room, the stuffed Santa on her couch and a festive holiday scene outside her home.

The holidays are a magical time for the kids, a chance for family to draw closer, to share a smile with strangers and go to church on Christmas Day.

Yet if the holidays always were a big deal, something has changed for Kelsey Ward.

Christmas, she said, was probably the only time I was not selfish.

Since her one-year wreckaversary, Ward has regularly visited Haven for Hopes Prospects Courtyard, an outdoor sleeping area for the homeless. There, she distributes clothes, blankets, toothbrushes and other basics its residents might need. The contrast between their lives and her own troubles offers perspective.

A lot of the time, I get really frustrated and mad when I cant do something and Im like, Why me, dude? Why? I was never the person to get into this wreck and cut off my arm  like, why do I have to go through so much? And then Id see other people and Im like, I really dont have it bad.

If tying my kids shoes is the hardest thing on my list right now, then Im fine. Stop complaining, you know?  They all go 21/2 days, they sleep outside without a blanket, she said of the homeless at the courtyard. I mean, Im blessed. Im beyond blessed. I should not be complaining at all.

sigc@express-news.net
AUSTIN  When Republican voters in the 27th Congressional District head to the polls for Marchs primary, some are likely to be surprised to see the name of retiring Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, on their ballot.

Farenthold announced last week his plans to step down from his seat at the end of his term, after being entangled in a series of sexual misconduct allegations. But the move comes three days after the filing deadline for the Republican Party primary in Texas, meaning that removing Farentholds name from the ballot is unlikely.

The Texas Election Code states that candidates can remove their name from the ballot through the day after filing ends, which was Dec. 11.

Farenthold missed that deadline by two days, so hes still going to be on the ballot, said Sam Taylor, spokesman for the Texas Secretary of States Office.

There is a provision in the election code that allows other candidates to challenge another candidates status on the ballot, but only for incorrectly filling out a filing application, Taylor said. Farenthold cannot be removed on the grounds of his impending retirement or sexual misconduct allegations, Taylor said.

The code specifically says it would have to be a form content or procedure on the candidates application, and its limited to that, Taylor said. The challenge has to specify how the application doesnt comply.

The deadline for such a challenge to Farentholds status is Jan. 19, as mail-in ballots are sent on Jan. 20.

At least six Republicans are vying for Farentholds seat. Unless something changes, Farentholds name will be on the ballot alongside them despite his impending retirement.

Since taking office in 2011, he settled a sexual harassment claim filed by his former communications director for $84,000, though he denied the accusations. More recently, after accusations from other aides that he ran a hostile workplace, he admitted that he allowed a workplace culture to take root in my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional.

Corpus Christi is the biggest city in the the 27th district, but it extends west to near Lockhart and north to Bay City.
AUSTIN  How do you get noticed in a field of 10 mostly unknown candidates for governor with just two months before voting begins?

Thats a question the record-sized Democratic Party field was asking last week as the longshot race to unseat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott officially launched. The Democrats may have little name recognition and campaign cash, but they have big aspirations to turn the Texas Governors Mansion blue next year for the first time since 1995.

As one Austin campaign consultant described it: Its like being in a family with 10 kids who are all seeking their parents attention at the same time. The ones with the loudest voices will get noticed.

But for someone like Mike Collier, a retired accountant and Democrat from Kingwood who is challenging well-known and well-funded Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the path to victory in the November 2018 general election  and just surviving the March primaries  will require more than just being loud.

Texas is a big old state and, as a practical matter, theres only so much you can do with shoe leather to win. You have to raise money, he said. noting that he began fundraising soon after he launched his campaign last May, as he started campaigning across Texas.

There is no substitute for money. I have a Rolodex, and I have been talking to donors for months.

To be sure: Getting elected governor in Texas is no cheap proposition, with estimates of how much it takes to win a contested primary starting at $10 million and a contested general election at well over $40 million, based on recent campaigns.

Abbott spent $49 million to win his 2014 campaign against well-known Democrat Wendy Davis, who he walloped by more than 20 points.

Lesser-known candidates generally raise less money, and provide less of a challenge for a better-known rival. In primaries, generally the candidates with the most campaign bucks get the most votes statewide  unless they have built name ID with voters by campaigning for a long time.

Dallas businessman Jeffrey Payne, who announced last summer and has been touring Texas ever since speaking to mostly Democratic and younger-voter groups, said he planned to put up to $2.5 million of his own money into his race. So far, he has not had to ante up.

Hardy Haberman, his campaign spokesman, said that rather than raise big money to mount a traditional TV ad campaign, Payne will rely mostly on outdoor and social media to reach non-traditional voter groups that will carry him to a hoped-for primary victory.

Other Democratic challengers have said they have similar strategies to get their message out across Texas, with relatively little campaign money in the bank so far and essentially just two months left before primary voting begins.

Andrew White, a Houston entrepreneur and son of the late former Gov. Mark White, said he expects to raise $3 million to $4 million to win the primary, and may need several times that much to beat Abbott in the general election.

Im looking at this campaign like its a startup said White, who has started several successful ventures in his career. Ive got to get out and hustle  I think the money will come.

Republican political consultant Jordan Berry, who advised U.S. Rep. Brian Babin in his successful 2014 victory from a field of 12 GOP primary candidates, said money will be the key.

Babin, a Woodville dentist and former mayor who had some name ID, focused his early campaign efforts on raising money, while others knocked on doors and did less fundraising. Babin then used his campaign funds to get his message out through ads  and then won the primary and a runoff, the latter by nearly 58 percent.

In these races with a lot of candidates, people are fighting for everyones attention and trying to get name ID, Berry said. Sitting by a phone and raising money is a better way to go, because if you have money you can get your name out there.

Austin consultants on both sides of the political aisle predict that the path to the Governors Mansion for a Democrat could be even more difficult this year  the popular Abbott has well over $40 million in his campaign war chest and national Democrats will be looking to raise money in Texas to help them recapture Congress.

And then, Texas is still overwhelmingly Republican and will likely stay so in the November election, the consultants insist, even though Democratic Party officials predict the state will be surprised by a blue wave in the general election.

Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who jumped into the race a week ago, might have the best understanding of how to get noticed in a field of 10 candidates, as the youngest of eight children growing up in San Antonio.

Over the coming months, she looks forward to listening to everyday Texans and talking about the issues that keep them up at night, her campaign spokesman Keifer Odell said in an email. Through modern campaign tools, old-school retail politics and grass-roots organizing, we plan to earn the Democratic nomination for governor. We are reaching out to voters in every single corner of our state.

As for what Abbott thinks about the 10 Democrats challenging him, he quipped to a reporter last week: I think you intimidate me more.

His campaign said he has nothing to say about any of them.
Earlier this year, Hurricane Harvey left more than 12 million people in Texas and Louisiana without homes.

 Ryan Sitton on Nov. 7th, 2017, in a guest editorial in Drilling Contractor

A Texas officials guest editorial, shared on his campaign website, made us wonder about the whopping impact of Hurricane Harvey.

Ryan Sitton, a Houston Republican on the Texas Railroad Commission, opened his article on the Drilling Contractor site: Earlier this year, Hurricane Harvey left more than 12 million people in Texas and Louisiana without homes. The devastation of this storm was more far-reaching than anyone imagined.

That many people left homeless? That breaks out to an improbable 38 percent of the states combined populations.

We sought Sittons elaboration; a state aide, Katie McKee, said that shed typed the 12 million figure when she intended to write 1 million. McKee said that wed brought the error to Sittons attention and a correction would be sought. Before we completed this fact-check, the version of his editorial on his campaign site had been amended to say 1 million; Drilling Contractors post still said 12 million.

McKee told us Sitton intended to say the hurricane left more than 1 million people without homes, per a Sept. 8 CNN news story stating that after Harvey swirled over Southeast Texas for several days, the storm and subsequent flooding left more than 70 people dead and ravaged nearly 300 miles of the Texas coast and parts of Louisiana, flooding homes and displacing more than a million people.

That story doesnt say how CNN got to its million-plus figure. For our part, we fruitlessly hunted other news and official accounts estimating the number of Texas and Louisiana residents left homeless.

On Sept. 22, 2017, FEMA summed up Harveys punch: More than 19 trillion gallons of rainwater fell on parts of Texas, causing widespread, catastrophic flooding. Nearly 80,000 homes had at least 18 inches of floodwater, 23,000 of those with more than 5 feet.

That release further said: Nearly 780,000 Texans evacuated their homes. In the days after the storm, more than 42,000 Texans were housed temporarily in 692 shelters. Local, state and federal first responders rescued 122,331 people and 5,234 pets. Also, the release said: The volume of applications for disaster assistance was one of the highest in FEMA history. To date, 792,000 households have applied for assistance. (That figure was approaching 900,000 as of early December.)

So, per FEMA, nearly 780,000 Texas residents evacuated homes.

Might that mean that many people were left without homes?

A FEMA spokeswoman, Deanna Frazier, initially told us that the agency had no data on those left homeless as a result of the hurricane. Frazier otherwise said the 792,000 figure in FEMAs release reflected the number of Texas households that had filed requests by late September 2017 to receive grants for rental assistance, home repair, personal property replacement or direct housing (manufactured housing units or travel trailers).

Meantime, we noticed a Texas General Land Office press release, issued in December, quoting the Texas land commissioner, George P. Bush, saying, Hurricane Harvey affected nearly 50,000 square miles of Texas and damaged or destroyed more than a million homes.

By email, Bush spokeswoman Brittany Eck attributed Bushs more than a million homes to an earlier estimate of damaged or destroyed homes made by Gordon Wells, a research associate with the University of Texas Center for Space Research. Eck advised that when Harvey came ashore, Wells was embedded with the GLO for hurricane response at the State Operations Center run by the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Wells told us he didnt have an estimate of Texas residents left without homes by Harvey.

But Wells said he estimated the extent of Harvey-caused flooding initially by geo-locating homes for which 338,829 flood insurance claims had been filed by early October 2017.

Wells said that far more homes were hit, however, considering that some 80-plus percent of homeowners and renters lacked flood coverage. If the figure of 339,829 affected structures represents the insured population of homeowners, Wells wrote, then the total number of impacted structures in the region would rise by a factor of five to nearly 1.7 million, including a large number with only minor water damage, Wells said. This is higher than my original estimate of 1 to 1.1 million affected structures estimated from the insurance data available in early September.

Sharon Karr, a Louisiana-based FEMA spokeswoman, said the federal government issued a major disaster declaration in October for 20 of the states Harvey-affected parishes. We noticed that Louisianas request for the disaster declaration said 312 residences in the state were impacted by the hurricane, including 19 destroyed residences and 48 with major damage.

Our ruling

Sitton wrote: Earlier this year, Hurricane Harvey left more than 12 million people in Texas and Louisiana without homes.

This figure, attributed to a typo, is improbably high. We also didnt spot an authoritative alternate count, though it seems reasonable to say  based on requests for help through FEMA and a state experts review rooted in flood insurance claims  that more than a million Texas residents sustained home damage. It looks to us as if the hurricane left far fewer Louisianans without homes.

We rate Sittons published claim False.
A whole new slew of cons will be coming together to execute one of the biggest heists New York will ever see next year, and Warner Bros. is inviting fans of the Oceans series to meet the new guys, with a brilliant new poster showcasing the eight female members of the cast. Check it out below!

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter make up the eight criminals in the film, with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gary Ross sat in the directors chair.

Ross also wrote the films script alongside Olivia Milch, with Steven Soderbergh and Jon Kilik producing. Bullock is an executive producer on the film, with Michael Tadross, Susan Ekins, Diana Alvarez and Bruce Berman. Milch co-produces, with filming taking place in and around New York City.

Bullock takes on the role of Danny Oceans estranged sister Debbie in the flick, who attempts to pull off a crime like none other at New York Citys celebrity event; the annual Met Gala. First though, she has to put together the perfect crew, and doing that may prove to be trickier than she first anticipated.

Every con has its pros, promises the poster. Whether or not theyll be good enough to pull off one of the most daring and monumental heists in history however remains to be seen

Oceans 8 is set for release in cinemas across the UK in 2018.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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US based National Retail Federation (NRF) has welcomed the decision of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to reverse an extreme ruling in Specialty Healthcare that allowed union leaders to gerrymander workplaces through micro-unions. The decision comes close on the heels of the ruling to overturn the expansive joint-employer standard.

The Obama-era boards move to validate micro-unions created division in workplaces, undermined retail operations and limited opportunities for hardworking employees for the sole purpose of empowering Big Labor. Its clear this NLRB is serious about restoring common sense to the rules governing Americas workplaces, NRF senior vice president for Government Relations David French said.

The retail sector is the largest private sector employer in the US, employing 42 million people. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the US economy.

US based National Retail Federation (NRF) has welcomed the decision of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to reverse an extreme ruling in 'Specialty Healthcare' that allowed union leaders to gerrymander workplaces through micro-unions. The decision comes close on the heels of the ruling to overturn the expansive joint-employer standard.#

NRF is the worlds largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Titled The future is urban, the Theme Park at Heimtextil during January 9-12, 2018, will give visitors a multi-sensory experience. With an elaborate installation, Messe Frankfurt will convey the megatrend of urbanisation in a targeted manner and make the practical aspects tangible. The trade fair special also offers projects by international first movers.Our trend area has long since become the showpiece of Heimtextil. It presents the colour and material trends of the coming season and shows real future prospects for our industry: from textile innovations for interior design to progressive production processes, says Olaf Schmidt, vice president, Textiles and Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. In addition to the impressive trend show, the trade fair special also offers interactive room situations and current projects by international first movers.

Titled The future is urban, the Theme Park at Heimtextil during January 9-12, 2018, will give visitors a multi-sensory experience. With an elaborate installation, Messe Frankfurt will convey the megatrend of urbanisation in a targeted manner and make the practical aspects tangible. The trade fair special also offers projects by international first movers.#

The London-based design studio FranklinTill is responsible for the concept of the Theme Park and the accompanying trend book. The basis for this was drawn up by the Heimtextil Trendtable during which international design studios from seven countries developed a common vision for the interior design.Inspired by the idea of urban life, the Colour Trend Rooms form the heart of the installation. Similar to a flat, visitors walk through five individually designed rooms in which they experience the styles Relax/Recharge, Perfect Imperfection, Soft Minimal, Adapt+Assemble and Urban Oasis in their purest form. In this environment, visitors can see the unfolding of four overarching lifestyle trends in typical urban locations and situations such as workplaces and production facilities, relaxation zones and social meeting places.The limited living space available in the world's megacities presents interior design with well-known but also very special challenges. The Micro Home pavilion will present an exclusive solution to this by London's Studiomama label. The inventors of the 13m2 house use every corner of the minimal living space. Thanks to the superb multi functionality of the cleverly designed furnishings, the interior can be easily converted and thus offers all the essential functions of a flat with normal proportions. The subtle colour scheme of Soft Minimal provides the necessary visual freedom.In the "Green Work Space", plants humidify and filter the air within the working environment. Lush green tones from the Urban Oasis colour scheme have a healing effect and create places of retreat. The design orientation Relax/Recharge restores the energy balance with the help of colour. Monochrome red has a calming effect, while blue invigorates the senses. In the Colour Experience pavilion, visitors will find a protected space where they can enjoy a film-based work of art and try out its positive effect.In the course of urbanisation, the volume of waste is increasing significantly. Designers and producers are therefore increasingly looking for ways out of the throwaway society. Interesting solutions are offered by for example, Jorge Penades, who recycles leather leftovers in his designs and Pinatex, a label that produces innovative natural textiles from pineapple leaf fibres. The Remade Materials pavilion invites visitors to take a close look at new materials.Global developments such as digitalisation are fundamentally changing the relationship between manufacturer and consumer. This is already evident today in the maker movement, something that has also had a lasting influence on textile production. The Theme Park provides two current examples of this: in the studio, Lola Lely and Bristol Weavers Mill dye and process fabrics in a traditional manner. The results will grow over the course of the trade fair to form an overall work of art thanks to the participation of Heimtextil visitors. With the striking indigo and natural tones as well as the deliberately imperfect designs, the project is part of the Perfect Imperfection design trend. At the same time, the Dutch label Post Couture is showing how fashion can work as a DIY kit in the Fab Lab. An innovative connection system makes sewing superfluous and deliberately draws attention to the DIY making process. The strong red, blue, green and yellow tones of the Adapt+Assemble design trend highlight this effect.The Conference Space is directly connected to the Theme Park. It offers high-calibre specialist lectures on the Heimtextil 2018/19 trends free of charge on all days of the trade fair. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
More than 200 exhibitors will showcase promotional textiles and related products at PSI 2018 - the leading European trade show of the promotional products industry during January 9-11, 2018 in Dusseldorf. Only logos, slogans and pictures turn textiles into promotional textiles. The show will highlight the emerging trends in shirts, caps and scarves.Completing the offerings for visitors will be an extensive supporting programme and new special areas.The centrepiece of the PSI Shows textile selection will be the Textile Area where exhibitors such as TRIUSO, ApparelScout, Wille, Aglika Trade, Printfield, Dogibear Promotions, ABER Textil+Design and Sport Bockmann will showcase their assortments. Visitors interested in getting some initial guidance regarding the textile selection at the promotional products show can use the fold-out hall map, the trade show catalogue and the website to embark on the Textile Discovery Tour, which will be offered for the first time. It will lead them to various exhibitors and to the most important programme highlights for a comprehensive overview.Besides current industry highlights, future trends  several of which are stimulating the market at the same time right now  will also play a key role at the exhibition stands. Fortunately, were seeing increasing demand for fairly produced and traded products, says textiles expert Stefan Roller-Afalg, director of the Academy for Textile Finishing, a partner of the PSI textile programme. A rethinking of sustainability is taking place, accompanied by a very strong trend towards higher-quality products. He also sees growing demand for products produced in Germany and Europe, as well as increasing automation of processes, from purchasing and finishing to logistics.Finishing will play a particularly significant role at PSI in 2018. For three days, visitors can stop at five stations, hosted with the support of 15 industry partners, to get comprehensive information on the topic. Featuring live demonstrations, the new Best Practice Islands will serve to explain how motifs and writing end up on textiles. On the Screen Printing Island, for example, Maprom and Hebbecker will demonstrate the individual steps of this particular finishing process. ZSK Stickmaschinen, Melco International, Madeira Stickgarne and Mannel Textile Kennzeichnungen will be on the Embroidery Best Practice Island to show how an embroidery machine works, what roles are played by yarns and software, and how individual motifs are added to textile products. Cameo Laser and Trotec will be on hand as points of contact at the Laser Marking station, demonstrating the various steps of the laser process and the advantages delivered by this finishing option compared to classic methods.

Questions revolving around Transfer Printing will be answered on the fourth Best Practice Island by Mimaki Deutschland, SEF France, IVM SignTex, Poli-Tape Klebefolien and Lotus Transfer Press Solutions. Specifically, theyll show how the processing of flocking and flex materials works and explain the use of plotters and print and cut technologies as well as sublimation processes for photorealistic print motifs. Thanks to digital printing, even individual items and small print runs can be produced now. At the fifth Best Practice Island, Kornit Europe will bring visitors up to speed on modern ink jet printers and, together with Promidata, show them how digital printing enables mass customisation.



Not a tree but a shrub is what supplies cotton, the versatile material used in so many ways in the textile industry. PSI 2018 visitors can go on the new Walk of Cotton to learn how its manufactured, what qualities it offers and what its production journey looks like from seedling to finished T-shirt. Arranged as a cotton learning path that invites visitors to touch and understand exhibits, it elucidates all sorts of details concerning the natural fibre. Next to facts and figures on global cotton production, the area will feature an overview of products and applications, plus detailed information on cultivation, harvesting and processing. In addition, lectures and workshops hosted by experts at the Best Practice Forum  right in the area of the Walk of Cotton  will illuminate the entire cotton supply chain. Topics highlighted will include agricultural cultivation methods and environmental protection, aspects of socially responsible behaviour and fair working conditions, and fair pay. Speakers will include Matthias Schlatmann from the Bremen Cotton Exchange, Lina Pfeifer from Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Birgit Jussen from Quality Matters and Heike Hess from the International Association of the Natural Textile Industry.

There will be a PSI Catwalk which will deliver pure action. Unlike a conventional catwalk, this stage isnt about elegantly putting one foot in front of the other but about dancing, singing and top-notch choreographic performances  a programme highlight that captures the imagination of throngs of visitors each and every year. (SV)

More than 200 exhibitors will showcase promotional textiles and related products at PSI 2018 - the leading European trade show of the promotional products industry during January 9-11, 2018 in Dusseldorf. Only logos, slogans and pictures turn textiles into promotional textiles. The show will highlight the emerging trends in shirts, caps and scarves.#

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - CSX Corp. (CSX) said Saturday that its President and Chief Executive Officer Hunter Harrison, 73, died today in Wellington, Fla., due to unexpectedly severe complications from a recent illness. Edward Kelly III, Chairman of the CSX Board of Directors, said, 'With the passing of Hunter Harrison, CSX has suffered a major loss. Notwithstanding that loss, the Board is confident that Jim Foote, as acting Chief Executive Officer, and the rest of the CSX team will capitalize on the changes that Hunter has made. The Board will continue to consider in a deliberative way how best to maximize CSX's performance over the long term.' Harrison joined the Jacksonville, Fla., railway in March of this year as CEO after he ignited a shareholder revolt by joining forces with a Wall Street activist to replace CSX's long-serving boss and some directors. On Thursday, CSX said that its Chief Executive Officer and President, Hunter Harrison, was on medical leave due to unexpected complications from a recent illness. So, the company appointed COO James Foote as acting CEO of the Company. Separately, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP, CP.TO) said On Saturday that it mourns loss of legendary railroader and former CEO, Hunter Harrison. CP President and CEO, Keith Creel said, 'Words cannot begin to describe this tremendous loss. On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire CP family, our thoughts and prayers go out to Jeannie and all of Hunter's family, friends and colleagues across the industry....Personally, today I lost a friend and a mentor. I spent most of the last 25 years working closely with Hunter. Over that time, he taught me how to railroad but more than that, he taught me how to be a leader.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE (dpa-AFX) - Thales (THLEF.PK) and Gemalto (GTOFF.PK) said that they have reached an agreement on a recommended all-cash offer for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Gemalto, for a price of 51 euros per share cum dividend. The offer price represents a premium of 57% over the closing price as of 8 December 2017. The offer reportedly values Gemalto at 4.8 billion euros.



The Gemalto Board has decided to unanimously support the transaction and recommend that Gemalto's shareholders accept the offer and vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the offer at the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting. Furthermore, all members of Gemalto's Board who hold shares for their own account have committed to tender all those shares into the offer.



Thales will be able to finance the offer through its available cash resources and through new debt arrangements. In connection with the offer, Thales has secured a 4.0 billion fully committed credit agreement.



Thales does not anticipate any reduction in Gemalto's workforce as a consequence of this transaction.



Thales has committed to preserve employment in Gemalto's French activities until at least the end of 2019. Thales recruited 6,000 people worldwide in 2017, and will actively pursue its human capital investments in the future.



Thales estimates that the combination will generate run-rate pre-tax cost synergies of 100 million euros to 150 million euros by 2021, as well as meaningful revenue synergies.



The transaction will generate mid to high teens adjusted EPS accretion, pre synergies, as of the first year post closing. The acquisition's return on capital employed (including synergies) will exceed Thales's cost of capital within 3 years following the closing of the acquisition.



Thales and Gemalto may terminate the Merger Agreement if a third-party offeror makes an offer which, in the opinion of the Gemalto Board, taking into account certainty, timing, financing, strategic fit, consequences for employees and other non-financial aspects of Thales's offer, is substantially more beneficial than Thales's offer and exceeds the offer price by 9% at least.



In the event of a Superior Offer, Gemalto shall give Thales the opportunity to match such offer, in which case the Merger Agreement may not be terminated by Gemalto. Gemalto has agreed in the Merger Agreement to customary non-solicitation undertakings.



On termination of the Merger Agreement by Thales on account of a material breach by Gemalto or in the event of a third-party offer at a higher price, Gemalto will pay a termination fee of 60 million euros to Thales.



The transaction is expected to close shortly after Thales has secured all customary regulatory approvals and clearances, which is expected for the second half of 2018. Thales's and Gemalto's works councils will be informed shortly.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Chandigarh: Controversial Bigg Boss Season 11 contestant Arshi Khan could be headed for legal trouble, with a court in Punjab's Jalandhar city issuing an arrest warrant against her.

However, there is a question mark over she being actually arrested from the Bigg Boss reality show house sets as her publicist, according to reports, claimed to have obtained a stay order on the arrest warrant till 15 January next year, the day of the Bigg Boss 11 finale.

Court sources in Jalandhar said the arrest warrant issued against Khan had not been cancelled. The court had directed the police to enter the Bigg Boss house and arrest Khan from there.

The court of a judicial magistrate in Jalandhar issued the arrest warrant against Arshi Khan for failing to appear before the court for the past three months. The case against Khan was filed by a Jalandhar-based lawyer who said that she had violated the law and sentiments of people by painting the flags of India and Pakistan on her semi-nude body. Khan's counsel contended before the court that she (Khan) was locked up inside the Bigg Boss house set since 1 October and hence she could not appear before the court.

Sources in the Punjab Police said that they may have to wait till 15 January before taking any action against Khan.

"We will go by the directions of the court in this regard," a Punjab Police officer in Jalandhar said.
Merriam-Webster announced this week that feminism is the word of 2017. Editors at the dictionary explained that feminism was one of the top searched words in 2017 and saw an increase of 70 per cent over 2016.

This is not surprising. There are multiple reasons why the noun became ubiquitous this year. We started 2017 with the Womens March that originated in the US but was joined by women across the world. And, are ending the year with the Silence Breakers being named Times Person of the Year. Feminism continued to be a topic of conversation with the release of pop culture phenomena like Wonder Woman and The Handmaids Tale. The #MeToo movement, in recent months, has had women coming forward with their stories of sexual misconduct and assault.

2017 has been a big year for feminism the world over and its own way, Bollywood has contributed to the conversation  both onscreen and off.

Let us start with onscreen. This year we had stories that revolved around a sultry late-night Radio Jockey (Tumhari Sulu), an ass-kicking undercover agent (Naam Shabana) and a young school girl spreading her wings while giving her mother strength to walk out of an abusive marriage (Secret Superstar). Whether her characters were faced with the lack of toilets (Toilet  Ek Prem Katha) or erectile dysfunction (Shubh Mangal Saavdhan), Bhumi Padnekar this year played extraordinary ordinary women.

Swara Bhaskars Anaarkali of Aarah is unapologetically saucy and razor-sharp. A year after we saw Amitabh Bachchan as Deepak Sehgal snarl out the words, no means no in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhurys Pink, Anaarkali teaches a powerful male sexual predator the all-important concept of consent. While exploring the lives of four ordinary women in Bhopal, Alankrita Shrivastavas Lipstick Under My Burkha navigates sensitive areas like sexuality of older women, female desire, marital rape and religious subjugation.

Off screen, too, our leading ladies were done with playing nice.

During the promotion for her role in Baywatch in May, Priyanka Chopra made an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, an American daytime talk show. Not-so-subtly, the host brought up Priyankas friendship with Meghan Markle, describing the Suits actress as Prince Harrys girlfriend. The Quantico actress was quick to point out that Meghan is a lot more than just someones girlfriend. Also, Meghan Markle, actressSuitsher achievement, mmm-hmm, just saying, said Priyanka, cocking an eyebrow.

Closer home, during the promotions of Tumhari Sulu, Vidya Balan schooled a reporter who tried to body-shame her. The actress was asked if she plans to lose weight so she could be cast in just women-centric films? A visibly confused Vidya asked him the connection between the two things. So, he explained, for glamorous roles. Vidya laughed and said, I am very happy with the kind of work I am doing but it would be really great if you people could change your mindset. Ironically, this interaction happened at an event to honour women of worth.

Kangana Ranaut stood up to her bullies; over and over again. If Merriam-Webster had to pick a word of the year only for Bollywood, nepotism would have won hands down. And, it all started on the infamous episode of Koffee With Karan where Kangana decided to tell Karan Johar what she thinks about him to his face and on his turf. This has been an eventful year for Kangana. Apart from the spat with Karan, the actress did a bare-all interview with Rajat Sharma on Aap Ki Adalat about her relationship with Hrithik Roshan and there was the falling-out over credit with screen-writer Apurva Asrani. Regardless of who she took on, the Simran actress refused to cow down.

Sonam Kapoor continued to fight patriarchy in her own corner. Recently at the We The Women event hosted by Barkha Dutt, Sonam spoke about the glaring gender wage gap in Bollywood and revealed how she rejected a film because the money being paid was shit. I made a call and said, this is very disrespectful. There was shock on the other side. I told them, you put me in a position after being 10 years in the industry; after giving the most profitable film Neerja a year ago; so, please tell me why is it that this is what you have decided to give me.

Without naming the film, Sonam revealed that the producers said they did not have enough money as their last film with a star had failed. I told them to move on and get someone else as frankly it was very disheartening, she told Barkha.

Deepika Padukone might have had a tough year with the Padmavati controversy but the actress set a record of sorts with her remuneration for the film. It has been reported that she has taken home a whopping Rs 13 crores while her co-stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor earned somewhere in the vicinity of Rs 10 crores respectively. This is probably for the first time in Indian cinema that a leading lady has been paid more than her male counterparts.

Since people tend to be curious (and very often confused) about the definition of feminism, according to Merriam-Webster, feminism means the theory of the political economic and social equality of the sexes and organized activities on the behalf of womens rights and interests. In India, our movies and movie stars are a huge part of discussions about feminism and we continue to take small strides towards equality year on year.

And now, onto 2018.
Mumbai: Actors Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt says that they have "no idea" about Karan Johar's upcoming project Shiddat.

Post Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Karan has been trying to make another magnum opus titled Shiddat and according to reports, he has apparently brought Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi onboard for the film.

However both Alia and Varun denied the reports saying they have no idea of any such film. "Which movie? Who told you that? We don't know any such movie exists," said Varun when asked about the film on the sidelines of Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2017 in Mumbai on Friday.

Alia Bhatt, who has worked with Varun in Student of The Year, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, added: "Who told you that? I don't know about such movie."

It is being said that Varun and Aditya will be seen playing brothers with a tense relationship. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi will be portraying the characters of their parents. The film is set in India-Pakistan partition period. The film is written by Gulab Gullati and Abhishek Varman.

Varun and Alia's debut movie Student of the Year completed five years and the Judwaa 2 star believes that Alia has received more critical acclaim since then."When our first film Student of the Year got released, at that time, we didn't receive critical acclaim but after that Alia received so much critical acclaim and I received love from common audience and kids," said Varun.

On the work front, he is busy wrapping Shoojit Sircar's October and Yash Raj Films' Sui Dhaaga. Alia has her kitty filled with Raazi, Gully Boy and Brahmastra.

(Also read: Varun Dhawan's movie choices reflect: Nepotism doesn't pay, it's talent that shines)
There are filmmakers with cult followings everywhere. But the cult that David Fincher has cemented over time stands apart for its main attraction-machinations of serial killers, murderers and twisted crime. Not one with a long filmography, and with an interesting smattering of subjects, Fincher remains Hollywoods authority on the serial killer.

So his return to the genre, as an executive producer for Mindhunter, the Netflix series, got his cult (and movie goers) interested. The series does not disappoint  it is this years best drama on the streaming platform, and perhaps one of the best on the small screen overall.

Mindhunter is a return to the roots process for Fincher and the team of writers that he ran. While Australian screenwriter Joe Penhall is credited as creator, Finchers trademark is visible throughout the show. It is a style sheet that is truly original and remains difficult to ape, for without the finesse of Fincher, his narrative techniques and filmmaking would come across as caricatures.

Fincher is best known for three films  Se7en, Fight Club and The Social Network. His serial killer and twisted murderer/criminal study extend to Panic Room, the English adaptation of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the runaway hit, Gone Girl. His signature storytelling has evolved ever since he made the shocker  Se7en, starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Gywneth Paltrow.

A grey-green color scheme, brooding long shots, key characters framed in the dark (in this case, Kevin Spacey), a sense of foreboding meshed into the story, and a down beat ending, were all there in this film. Most importantly, it is treatment of grotesque killings staying imprinted in ones memory. All it deals with, essentially, are the mind games that well meaning, good cops have to battle when they are faced with a depraved, cold serial killer.

It would not be entirely incorrect to say that Hollywood had not evolved from the guignol form while dealing with twisted murderers till then. A touch of madness, and hyperbolic behavior would mark out the serial killer, or murderer, and things would end badly for them. Finchers killer was systematic, smart and committed. He/she is low key, conniving and hungry to get noticed at the right time.

Fincher took a step forward with another signature touch  the socially inept individual as protagonist, with Fight Club. While Fincher still says that his film is horribly misunderstood (he mentioned this again at a recent press junket in London), the moderate hit and cult film still boggles your mind with the uncomfortable interspersing of its protagonist and antagonist. Fight Club has been called out for moral ambiguity, diffused relationships and disturbing hand-to-hand violent combat. In its own way, it revised the set norm of a protagonist  weird, unable to fit in and yet, one with a shocking personal story. This touch continued with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network; and is also visible in the personality of Amazing Amy in Gone Girl.

With Mindhunter, David Fincher comes full circle  in calling out the serial killer by examining the original framework that defined this category of criminality. The Netflix series is based on a book, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Reportedly, Charlize Theron had handed the book over to Fincher to make it into a movie some years ago. He took his time to get around to it, and Penhall claims to have already written out the entire script. But it is Fincher's ability to build a fascinating story around drab technique and boring, painstaking research that makes the series stands out.

Jonathon Gross and Holt McCallany play the FBI agents setting up the Behaviorial Science Unit in the post Hoover era; with involvement of a psychology professor, Dr Carr (Anna Torv). Their basic research material are interviews with the first sequence killers in prison. Despite the gross, blood-curdling details of these conversations, the series is laced with everyday humor. An episode that begins with FBI agent Ford has to explain deviant behavior to young school kids in a sanitized manner is hilarious, such touches bring relief in this taut, clinical drama. The lives of these agents make for understated humane issues and stories. Deciphering the serial killers mind (or sequence killer, as it was known then) becomes a fascinating process of deconstructing ultra egotistic, methodical, arrogant criminals. Clinical and visually sparse, Mindhunter literally builds pathways for the viewer to enter the labyrinthine mind spaces of twisted killers and makes such crime seem all the more deplorable.

David Fincher is the first major Hollywood director to move to Netflix with House of Cards. One wonders if such a TV series were to be made here in India, context would be so different. Would exploring the mind spaces of those men who have committed heinous sexual crimes in Gurgaon, Haryana, New Delhi, Bihar and UP lead to similar pathological analysis? Arent power and control at the heart of such brutality and misogyny? Much as one wonders what would emerge, perhaps it would be best to hope for a David Fincher to take notice and interpret twisted killers/ criminals here at home. For true crime still remains an elusive genre on the Indian screen.
There is a serious gochi in the world of international film awards, and it has to do with the English language. The UK's gift of the English language has united a significant part of the world through a common tongue, including a linguistically diverse nation like India.

Ironically, the English language is a big stumbling block when it comes to the UK submitting its entry for Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. This is because to be eligible for this Oscar, the feature film must be produced outside the US, and be predominantly a non-English film.

So the UK is unable to submit its regular English language films, and has submitted to the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film category films made not only in Welsh and Irish but also in Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Bemba, French, Afrikaans, Dari, Pashto, Filipino, Turkish, Persian and Urdu.

In fact, this year, Sarmad Masud's My Pure Land, shot in Pakistan, in the Urdu language, was sent as the UK's entry for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Masud, who is of Pakistani origin, is British and was born in Nottingham. It is an emphatic sign of the globalisation of cinema. If Taiwan-born Ang Lee can direct Sense and Sensibility, that most English of films, and James Ivory-Ismail Merchant (American and Indian respectively) can direct Howard's End (1992) and Remains of the Day (1993), My Pure Land's Oscar entry is only further vindication of the steady globalisation of cinema.

Based on a true story, My Pure Land is about a young rural teenager in Sindh, Pakistan, who fights armed goons who try to grab her home and land. Land grab is common in Pakistan and there are 1 million land dispute cases pending in its courts. "Originally I had wanted to make a film on police corruption in Pakistan like Cop Land, but I read about the real life Nazo Dharejo, who had defended her home with guns against armed bandits. I was impressed by her courage and strength and had to tell her story," Masud tells me at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival, where his film is playing.

"Her father was very liberal and progressive, raising his daughters to feel like equals to his son. I wanted people to connect with the universal qualities of the story, so I avoided location landmarks or period markers, because the story is timeless. I also avoided masala and the dialogue was truthful. I'm proud of the iconography of a lead girl without a head scarf. In the last scene, she's looking at the camera with such strength, as if saying, 'I'm not going anywhere.' If that image stays with you, that's good enough for me," he says.

Masud's My Pure Land in Urdu is not the sole film in an Asian language submitted by the UK for this Oscar category. There have been two British Oscar submissions, Paul Turner's Hedd Wyn (1993) and Paul Morrison's Solomon and Gaenor (1999)  both in Welsh  that won Oscar nominations. Beyond those, one could say that Asian cinema in the UK is benefiting from the UK's inability to submit local English language films. A significant number of the UK's submissions for the Oscar for best foreign language film  five features  have been in Asian languages. These include films in Dari, Pashto, Tagalog, Turkish, Farsi and Urdu. They are Havana Marking's Afghan Star (Dari, Pashto, 2009), Sean Ellis' Metro Manila (Tagalog, 2013), Nihat Seven's Little Happiness (Turkish, 2014), Babak Anvari's Under the Shadow (Farsi, 2016) and Sarmad Masud's My Pure Land (Urdu, 2017). In fact, Hansal Mehta had remade Metro Manila as City Lights in Hindi, starring starring Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa in 2014.

Things have not always been smooth in the category of Best Foreign Language Film Oscars, since Vittorio de Sica first won this award for Bicycle Thieves in 1949. There was a furore when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disqualified Asif Kapadia's The Warrior, starring Irrfan Khan, shot in India, in Hindi, when the UK submitted it as its Oscar entry in 2002, because the film was neither shot in the UK, nor made "in a language indigenous to the United Kingdom." These eligibility rules were changed in 2005, which opened the floodgates, so to speak.

Certainly at the Oscars  like elsewhere, other than merit of the films, other factors, including politics, come into play. There were controversies as Oscar members debated the nation status of films submitted from Afghanistan, Palestine and Hong Kong, depending on the international relations of the USA with those nations and America's political views. So when we howl in protest at decisions by, say, the National Film Awards or the Indian Panorama jury, it is worth remembering that even the Oscars are not immune from controversy.
Miss Iraq Sarah Idan's family has been forced to flee Iraq post multiple death threats after Idan posted a photograph on her Instagram account in which she is seen posing with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant.

Bikini-clad photos of Idan also sparked massive outrage and was touted as another reason behind the death threats, according to The Jewish Chronicle.

Confirming the news, Idan took to her Twitter profile and talked about how she was not "the first, nor the last person to face prosecution over a matter of personal freedom. Millions of Iraqi women live in fear."

Im not the first nor the last person to face prosecution over a matter of personal freedom. Millions of Iraqi women live in fear. #freeiraqiwomen https://t.co/Vt0YjFbyf4  Sarai (Sarah Idan) (@grrrciara) December 15, 2017

The two contestants met at Miss Universe 2017 in Tokyo last month and posed for pictures together. "Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel #missuniverse" read Idan's caption on her photograph with Gandelsma.

"The two of those things together (the selfie with Miss Israel and the bikini photos) caused a mess for her back home where people made threats against her and her family, that if she didnt return home and take down the photos, they would remove her (Miss Iraq) title, that they would kill her. Out of fear, they (Idan's family) left Iraq at least until the situation calms down. She did it to so that people can understand that its possible to live together. In order for people to see that we can connect, in the end, we are both human beings (sic), said Gandelsman, according to a Times of Israel report.

Idan had previously taken to her Instagram account and defended the photograph (in an Arabic post) which stated "I want to stress that the purpose of the picture was only to express hope and desire for peace between the two countries. Posting this does not mean that I am supporting the Israeli government and does not mean that I accept any of their policies toward the Arab world," according to an India Today report.

Miss Israel (Gandelsman) went on to add that her and Miss Iraq (Idan) are still in touch and that the two women share a special bond.
Editor's note: In a prolific career spanning nearly four decades, Satyajit Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. His films have received worldwide critical acclaim and won him several awards, honours and recognition  both in India and elsewhere. In this column starting 25 June 2017, we discuss and dissect the films of Satyajit Ray (whose 96th birth anniversary was this May), in a bid to understand what really makes him one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century.

After completing his graduation in Economics from Presidency College in Kolkata, Satyajit Ray went to Shantiniketan in 1940, to study painting at the Visva-Bharati University founded by Rabindranath Tagore. It was at Shantiniketan that Ray met the eminent artist Benode Behari Mukherjee, who was a member of the faculty there. Benode Behari was severely myopic in one eye and blind in the other (he became completely blind a few years later, following an unsuccessful cataract operation), but despite his physical handicap, he was an artist par excellence, who continued to produce one remarkable work of art after another. Ray was deeply impacted and inspired by Benode Beharis art, and many years later, as a tribute to his teacher, he made a documentary film on the latters life and works, aptly titled The Inner Eye.

With a running time of 20 minutes, and starring the artist himself, this documentary opens with Benode Behari Mukherjee planning the design of a five feet high and 60 feet wide wall in a newly developed building in Shantiniketan, with the help of 20 murals, which in turn are in the form of coloured tiles manufactured in the district of Purulia. Only a fraction of the daunting task is an enormous and complex jigsaw puzzle, which the artist, now completely blind in both eyes, is seen descending upon with great zest, groping around to locate the pieces and their outlines, and placing them in their proper positions in the puzzle  not once wincing in despair at the daunting task that lay ahead. In his own baritone voice and impeccable diction, Satyajit Ray goes on to narrate Benode Beharis family background, and how, at a very early age, he showed great promise in sketching and drawing. At the age of 12, Benode Behari attended Patha Bhavan  the school in Shantiniketan, and at the age of 15, he shifted to Kala Bhavan, as a student of the art wing of Shantiniketan, where he received tutelage under the great artist Nandalal Bose.

Very early on during his learning years, Benode Behari had decided that he had no interest in mythology  which used to be a staple subject of most budding artists of the time. Instead, he turned his attention to his surroundings  drawing the arid and desolate landscapes of the countryside outside the Shantiniketan campus, along with the lives of the Santhals who inhabited them. Ray goes on to explain that although drawing flora was not a problem for Benode Behari, but how, thanks to the artists weak eyesight, drawing small animals and birds was possible only when they were not in a state of motion. Through a series of sketches, drawings and paintings of his early student life, we get a glimpse of the remarkable new talent that had just appeared in the horizon of the Indian art scene.

We further learn from the film that upon his return from a rather rewarding trip to Japan, where he learned a lot from the works of such great masters of Oriental art as Tawaraya Sotatsu and Toba Sojo, Benode Behari was assigned to paint a fresco for one of the dormitories of Kala Bhavan. Inspired by an Egyptian fresco he had seen earlier, in which a lovely pond occupied the centre of the artwork, Benode Behari put a pond in the centre of his fresco too, but went on to pack twenty years of his loving and unhurried observations of the countryside, all depicted around that very pond. Needless to say, the resulting work of art was a telling study of the rural way of life in Bengal.

Ray goes on to talk about some of the other works of Benode Behari in the years that followed, including a fresco on the wall of China Bhavan in Shantiniketan, where a more austere composition of life on campus replaces the free-flowing lyricism of the pond fresco. In yet another fresco  which Satyajit Ray goes on to describe as the only example of a truly epic conception in twentieth century Indian art  the artist plans, researches and executes an elaborate depiction of the lives of the saints and mystics of medieval India, covering three walls of a large hall. With shades of influences from various disparate art forms from all over the world, and yet all of them coming together as a synthesized, cohesive and organic whole, it is virtually impossible to believe that the entire fresco was painted directly on the walls, without any preliminary tracing whatsoever  a feat that only reveals the remarkable confidence that an artist of Benode Beharis stature had in his own capabilities. While talking to Ray about the masterpiece, Benode Behari says, in his trademark wit  Ive taken only those elements which seemed pre-Renaissance to me. And whether its Byzantine, or Jain, or Pot, or Paata  a historian may differentiate between these forms, but how does it matter to an artist like you or me, tell me? If you put a folk figure next to a Jain one, whose daddy is going to chide you for that?

In the years that followed, Benode Behari moved around a bit  first to Nepal, where he was offered the job of curatorship at the National Museum in Kathmandu, then to Rajasthan on a teaching assignment, and finally to Mussoorie, where he started his own school. It was during this final period that Benode Behari Mukherji lost his remaining eyesight forever. However, he continued to paint, draw, sketch, illustrate and create murals for the rest of his life.

Satyajit Rays deep reverence for the artist is evident as much from the fact that he set out to make the film with no financial backing whatsoever, as from the tone of his narration. Sparsely does Ray mention Benode Beharis handicap, choosing to show the richness and uniqueness of his art instead. The underlying tone of the film is not one of pity, not even of sympathy. It is one of deep awe and respect. In changing the mood of the film from heavy to witty, the music from light and peppy during the Kathmandu scenes to the hopeful and optimistic through the recital of Raag Asavari during the films final scene, Ray himself paints a beautiful picture of the life of a remarkable man  a devoted artist, a born fighter and, in more ways than one, a great philosopher. All of this is revealed not only through Benode Behari Mukherjees art, but also in the final shot of the film, when Ray signs off with a quote from the man himself  Blindness is a new feeling, a new experience, a new state of being.

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.
Los Angeles: More superheroes films, including X-Men and Fantastic Four, have been added in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following Disney's acquisition of Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced that the company has reached a deal with Fox, buying select assets of the latter for $52.4 billion in stock, reports aceshowbiz.com.

He said: "We're also looking forward to expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe to include X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool."

The Disney-Fox deal is a huge move as Marvel can finally reclaim many of the characters it lost in the 1990s after it licensed them out to prevent bankruptcy.

The respective characters from the X-Men and Fantastic Four universes will now join the MCU, which has already teamed The Avengers with Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and Spider-Man.

Iger also spoke on the future of Deadpool, the R-rated Marvel franchise at Fox.

"It (Deadpool) clearly has been and will be Marvel branded. But we think there might be an opportunity for a Marvel-R brand for something like . As long as we let the audiences know what's coming, we think we can manage that fine," said Iger.

In addition, Disney has announced a plan to launch two streaming services by 2019.

The company will now have the power to challenge streaming giants like Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook.
Pune: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley Sunday called for radical reforms in the judicial and education systems of the country, saying they were long overdue.

He also said the youth needed to be adequately trained so that they became the future leaders in all walks of life.

"Radical reforms are needed in our judicial and educational systems. Reforms have been very belated in these two areas," Jaitley said, speaking at the 14th convocation

ceremony of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune.

Without elaborating on the kind of reforms needed, he said every effort must be made to ensure that the millions of youth in the country were trained well, so that they became the future leaders in all walks of life.

Jaitley advised the graduating students to prepare and train themselves to be eligible to serve those countries which were facing a crisis by way of population de-growth.

"This is the best way to utilise our demographic dividend," he said, adding that the government alone could not create enough jobs.

In this context, Jaitley said the private sector needed to do more to train people and make them skilled and added, "Otherwise, our demographic dividend can become a liability."

Jaitley was, in fact, responding to the criticism and concern expressed by Symbiosis chancellor SB Mujumdar over a recent Supreme Court order, asking the University Grants Commission (UGC) not to allow any private institute to market itself as a university.

In an order passed in early November, the apex court had directed the UGC to restrain all the deemed universities from using the word "university" in their names.

Pointing towards the economic reforms of 1991, that had lifted the economy to its current heights, Jaitley said putting curbs had never worked in any sector and would not work going forward.

"If the survival of the fittest is the rule, it has never been so true as it is today," he said and urged the students to identify their key strengths and become the leaders of tomorrow as there was enough space for everyone to excel.

In his address, noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj, who was awarded an honorary DLitt degree by the institute, said there was a reason why industrialists and businessmen were hated by the public in general and the poor in particular.

This was because the income inequalities had been on a steady rise, he said.

The Bajaj group patriarch said this attitude was prevalent, despite the businessmen and industrialists being the highest taxpayers, creating wealth and generating jobs.

He warned that if the inequalities were not looked at and arrested, "our country will not be far from the violent public protests seen elsewhere in the world".

"We should not continue to test the patience of the tens of millions of our poor people," Bajaj said.

Jaitley conferred doctoral, post-graduate and graduate degrees and diplomas to 3,450 students of 17 streams
More than 100 shops were gutted in a fire which broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh on Sunday, ANI reported.

#Visuals from #MadhyaPradesh: Fire fighting operations underway at the shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh where a fire broke out gutting 100 shops. 20 fire tenders and an Army vehicle at the spot. pic.twitter.com/93qCDkaZED

No injuries or casualties have been reported.

Around 20 fire tenders have arrived on the spot and are taking stock of the situation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, ANI reported.

According to India Today, army vehicles and jawans reached the shopping complex and joined the firefighters in the operation.
By Vipul Vivek

On 30 November, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit where he defended his term so far by listing out the steps he had taken towards a systemic overhaul.

FactChecker.in checked Modis claims and found nine of his 16 claims to be true and three false. The validity of two claims was unclear owing to lack of data and two were partly true.

Claim 1: The poor who used to be turned away from the bank have their own bank accounts today. Jan Dhan account holders also get a Rupay debit card. In our country of 125 crore (1.25 billion), there are over 30 crore (300 million) such people.

Fact: True. As of 29 November, 2017, 307 million accounts were opened and 231 million Rupay debit cards have been issued under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (Prime Ministers Peoples Wealth Scheme), a no-minimum-balance account targeted at the unbanked, according to government data.

Claim 2: Since the Ujala (brightness) scheme was launched, 28 crore (280 million) LED bulbs have been sold. These bulbs have helped people save an estimated Rs 14,000 crore.

Fact: True. As on 6 December, 2017, the distribution of 278.2 million LED bulbs  which consume 80% less power than incandescent bulbs  resulted in Rs 14,450 crore savings a year, according to government data.

Claim 3: Take neem-coated urea. Under the earlier government, 35 percent coating was allowed when everybody knew that 35 percent neem-coated urea was of little benefit. If you wanted to stop urea diversion to factories, 100 percent neem coating was imperative. But that did not happen. This government decided on 100% neem-coated urea. Brothers and sisters, this did not only stop diversion of urea but increased its efficiency as well. A farmer can now do with less urea per unit land. Not only that, a farms yield has gone up despite using less urea.

Fact: True. Coating all urea produced in a plant with neem was made mandatory in 2015, and neem-coated ureaa fertiliser that increases soil fertility due to the large amounts of nitrogen it containsimproved soil health, cut costs of plant protection chemicals and raised yields by 6-17 percent for various crops, according to this reply to the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) on 28 August, 2017.

Claim 4: e-Nam, that is, electronic National Agriculture Market, has brought online over 450 mandis across the country.

Fact: True. The e-Nam has now enrolled 470 mandis (government agriculture produce markets), according to government data. Launched on 14 April, 2016, to create a single market for agricultural commodities by bringing mandis on a common platform, the e-Nams target is to have 585 mandis online by March 2018, according to this government release.

Claim 5: Bamboo was not considered a tree under one of the previous governments law too. (The Modi government amended the Indian Forest Act to omit bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of trees, Financial Express reported on 23 November, 2017. Some experts criticised the move as a half-measure (click here, here and here). Modi hit out at his critics saying the previous government had made a similar change under another law.)

Fact: True. Section 2 (i) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which received the assent of the President on the 29 December, 2006, reclassified bamboo as non-timber, that is, not tree.

On 17 January, 2011, then environment minister Jairam Ramesh in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had reiterated that position, the Times of India reported on 21 January, 2011. On 21 March, 2011, Ramesh wrote to then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, reminding him of the change in bamboos status.

Claim 6: The black money that supported the parallel economy has been brought into the formal economy after demonetisation. Mining the data revealed by demonetisation led to the discovery that 400-500 firms were operating from the same address and a lot of firms had opened two thousand bank accounts each. So far, 2.25 lakh (225,000) such companies have been de-registered. The directors of these companies can no more become a director in any other company.

Fact: True. About 99 percent of banned notes came back into the system after demonetisation (the decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes from 9 November, 2016, to purportedly end corruption, black money, fake currency and terrorism, according to Modis speech on 8 November, 2017), the Wire reportedon 30 August, 2017. However, this was against what the Modi government said demonetisation would achieve: render invalid about a third of notes by value (as that would not be returned to banks) and hence push that black money out of the system, Deccan Chronicle had reported on 18 November, 2016.

As many as 2,25,000 companies have been deregistered and 3,09,000 directors disqualified, the Hindu Business Line reported on 30 November, 2017.

Claim 7: We have developed a government e-Marketplace, GeM. All government tenders and purchases go through GeM. People in cottage industries and small handicrafts as well as who make things at home can sell to the government through GeM.

Fact: True. All central government procurement is now done through GeM, according to this reply to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) on 2 August, 2017. Launched on 9 August, 2016, for buying and selling of goods and services by the central government or nationalised companies, the marketplace has filters for identifying sales by small scale industries, according to this official release on 23 January, 2017.

Claim 8: In the last three years of the previous government, 12 thousand megawatt of renewable energy were added in total. Under this governments three years, over 22 thousand megawatt renewable energy has been added to the power grid.

Fact: True. In its three years, the present government has added 25,552 MW of renewable energy against 13,237 MW under the previous governments last three years.

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Central Electricity Authority

Claim 9: Compared with the last government, growth in cargo handling in the shipping industry has gone from negative to over 11 percent under this governments three years.

Fact: True. Cargo handling shrunk in the last three years of the UPA government by less than a per cent but increased 11.5 percent in three years of the Modi government, according to data from Indian Ports Association.

Source: Indian Ports Association; *Tentative figures

Claim 10: Aadhaar has helped weed crores of fictitious beneficiaries.

Fact: False. While the prime minister did not reveal which schemes he had in mind, evidence shows Aadhaar, the 12-digit biometric identity, has not helped in weeding out fake beneficiaries.

As many as 74,000 unique consumer identities for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy were linked to only 37,000 Aadhaar numbers as of August 2015, and 9,60,000 ineligible consumers received Rs 49.21 crore subsidy under the Direct Benefits Transfer for LPG, according to Comptroller and Auditor General, Indias official auditor, IndiaSpend reported on 31 October, 2017.

Only 4 percent of the 9.4 million Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee job cards that the government deleted were fake, according to a reply to a Right to Information application by economist Jean Dreze, Hindustan Times reported on 8 October, 2017.

Claim 11: In the last three years of the previous government, capital expenditure was about Rs 1.49 lakh crore. Under this governments three years, capital expenditure was about Rs 2.64 lakh crore.

Fact: False. Capital expenditure (only central expenditure)that is, spending on assets such as roads or to reduce borrowings, as opposed to spending on administration such as salariesunder the Modi governments three years was Rs 6.9 lakh crore as against Rs 5.15 lakh crore under the Manmohan Singh governments last three years, according to budget data.

Source: Union Budgets FY2012-17

Claim 12: Big and sustainable changes do not develop on their own, they require systemic overhaul. It is because of such an overhaul that the country moved from 142 to 100 on the Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Fact: False. While India did move up 42 places to 100 in 2018 from 142 in 2015 on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business ranking, a measure of business-friendliness, the ranks are not comparable because of frequent revisions in parameters.

In recent years, Doing Business introduced improvements to all of its indicator sets, according to the World Bank. Year-to-year changes in the number of economies, number of indicators and methodology affect the comparability of prior years.

Claim 13: Where the last government built 11 kilometre of national highways a day, over 22 kilometre a day are being built now. In the last three years of the previous government, 80,000 km of roads were made in villages, in our governments three years 1.2 lakh kilometre have been built.

Fact: Partly true. In 2016-17, 22 kilometre of national highways were built a day, IndiaSpend reported on 25 May, 2017. However, at its peak, the previous government built 15.7 kilometre a day in 2012-13, the Financial Express reported on 7 March, 2016.

The Modi government built 120,000 kilometre rural roads between 2014-15 and 2016-17 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Ministers Rural Roads Scheme) as against 86,770 kilometre built under the Singh government between 2011-12 and 2013-14, according to official data.

Source: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System

Claim 14: In the last three years of the previous government, 1,100 kilometre of railway tracks were built and 2,500 kilometre of railway lines electrified. Under this governments three years, over 2,100 kilometre have been built and 4,300 km electrified.

Fact: Partly true. The Modi government built 2,100 kilometre of railway tracks in its three years against 1,677 kilometre built in the Singh governments last three years, according to government data (click here, here and here).

Source: Indian Railways 1 & 2, Press Information Bureau

While the Singh government electrified 2,667 kilometre of railway lines in its last three years, 5,118 kilometre were electrified under Modi governments three years, according to official data.

Source: Rajya Sabha reply, Lok Sabha reply 1 & 2; *Cumulative figure for FY2012-13

Claim 15: The Ujjwala (Light Up) scheme has transformed the lives, for once and all, of over 3 crore (30 million) women in Indias villages.

Fact: Unclear. As of November 2017, 30.56 million LPG connections were given to women from below poverty line households under the scheme, according to government data. There is no break-up available of how many of these were rural connections.

Claim 16: Brothers and sisters, Im not sure how many of you sitting in this hall will be able to relate to this, but the poor in India today pay less than what you pay as parking tip to get life insurance. Only a rupee a month for accident insurance and 90p a day in premium for life insurance. Over 15 crore (150 million) poor are now part of these schemes. About Rs 1,800 crore has been settled in claims by the poor through these schemes.

Fact: Unclear. The premia for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (Prime Ministers Accident Insurance Scheme) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (Prime Ministers Light of Life Scheme) are Rs 12 a year (that is, a rupee a month) and Rs 330 a year (about 90p a day), respectively.

The cumulative gross enrolment under these schemes was 124.8 million as of April 2017, according to this reply to the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) on August 4, 2017. While enrolment has gone up since then, according to weekly performance data, there are no data on how many of these beneficiaries were poor or how much claims settled so far.

For full coverage of Union Budget 2018, click here.

(The author is an analyst with IndiaSpend)

Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit/FactChecker.in is fact-checking initiative, scrutinising for veracity and context statements made by individuals and organisations in public life.
Jaipur: Medical and health services were crippled in state-run government hospitals and district community centres across Rajasthan as around 10,000 doctors went on mass casual leave on Saturday to press their demands, including raise in allowances and cancellation of cases against protesting doctors.

The BJP government had invoked the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) on Thursday for three months from Sunday as the state government doctors had warned to go on indefinite strike from 18 December in support of their demands. However, on Friday, the government started random arrest of doctors from different districts.

To protest the harsh act of the government, the doctors went on mass casual leave on Saturday and have gone underground, with their phones switched off.

Doctors across the state boycotted work from early Saturday morning.

Earlier, the government, to prevent the doctors from going on strike, had issued an official notification warning them against going on mass leave or staging protests, or striking work.

The mass casual leave hit work in hospitals, primary health centres, community health centres, district and referral hospitals and medical college hospitals across the state.

Serpentine queues of patients could be seen at district primary centres and district hospitals as there was no one to tend to the patients.

Even emergency services were not available for patients.

Sources confirmed that those arrested also included the doctors association patron and president from Alwar. A total of five doctors were arrested from Sawai Madhopur, four doctors from Gangapur City, three doctors from Jalaur, two doctors from Jodhpur, besides others, taking the total count to 20.

Meanwhile, none of the officials from the medical and health departments were available for comment. Even the phone of the health minister Kalicharan Saraf remained unreachable while filing this report.

The doctors are demanding hazardous service allowance, increase in rural allowance and single shift hospitals. Health officials said most of the demands had already been met and the remaining ones were in the pipeline.

The doctors are also demanding the cancellation of the transfers of 12 doctors as well as of cases registered against the protesting doctors during their stir last month.
New Delhi: The IMA has strongly opposed the draft bill that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with a new body, claiming it will cripple the medical profession.

The draft National Medical Commission Bill was on Friday approved by the Cabinet.

It provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of

medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr KK Agarwal appealed to the prime minister to revise the draft bill in the larger interest of the medical profession.

According to the IMA, the NMC will "cripple" the functioning of the medical profession by making it completely answerable to the bureaucracy and non-medical administrators.

"Regulators need to have an autonomy and be independent of the administrators. The National Medical Commission will be a regulator appointed by the administrators under their direct control," Agarwal said.

It abolishes the Medical Council of India and "possibly" Section 15 of the IMC Act, which says that the basic qualification to practise modern medicine is MBBS, he claimed.

"It takes away the voting right of every doctor in India to elect their medical council. The Medical Council of India is a representative body of the medical profession in India. Any registered medical practitioner in the country can contest the election and every qualified doctor can vote.

"Abolishing a democratic institution and replacing it by a body in which majority are nominated by the government is certainly a retrograde step," Agarwal said.

He further said that the draft bill, in its current form allows the private medical colleges to charge at will, nullifying whatever solace the NEET brought.

The government can fix the fee for only 40 percent of the seats in private medical colleges, he said.

Also, it inducts non-medical people into the highest body of medical governance changing its perspective and character forever and introduces schedule IV to allow the AYUSH graduates to get registration in modern medicine.

"The IMA appeals to the prime minister to recall the bill and rectify these anomalies. Parliament has a larger role to protect the interest of the medical profession of the country," Agarwal said.

According to the draft bill, the commission will have government-nominated chairman and members, and the board members will be selected by a search committee under the Cabinet Secretary.

There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the commission.

The draft bill also proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practising licences, the official said.

As per the provisions of the draft bill, no permission would be needed to add new seats or to start post-graduate courses.
Srinagar: A civilian was killed allegedly in army firing during an ambush in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, police said on Sunday.

Asif Iqbal, a driver by profession, was injured in firing by Indian Army personnel during an ambush at Thandipora area of Kupwara on Saturday night, a police official said.

He said the forces had laid an ambush in the area following intelligence inputs about the movement of militants.

Iqbal was rushed to a hospital at Kralpora where from he was referred to a hospital here, but he succumbed on the way, the official said.

He said further details are awaited.

Army officials were not available for a comment.
Srinagar: Protests erupted on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district after a civilian driver was killed during an Army ambush the previous day, a police official said.

The victim, Asif Iqbal, was injured when an Army ambush party fired at a vehicle in Thandipora village on Saturday evening following reports about the presence of militants in the area.

"He was hospitalised but succumbed to critical injuries," the official added.

The protests erupted after residents of Batpora village clashed with the security forces. The forces used tear smoke to disperse the protesters. Internet has been suspended across Kupwara.
Thiruvananthapuram: Even as Kerala has sought Rs 1,843 crore from the Centre to compensate for the damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi, the state government is awaiting a nod for making a presentation to the prime minister during his Tuesday visit.

According to state government sources, no permission to make the presentation to Narendra Modi, during his visit here for a few hours on 19 December, on the cyclone and its aftermath has been forthcoming despite a few attempts vis-a-vis the Prime Minister's Office.

Modi will arrives in the state capital around 1.30 pm on Tuesday and fly to Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, before returning to Thiruvananthapuram around 4 pm Before going back to Delhi, the prime minister is likely to visit one or two worst affected coastal villages in Kerala.

The Kerala government plans to make the presentation at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.

Cyclone Ockhi struck the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on 30 November.

The death toll due to the cyclone has risen to 72 after one more body of a fisherman was recovered off Kozhikode coast on Sunday. While the Kerala government figures talked of 255 missing, the Latin Church diocese here put the figure at more than 300.

In all, 40 bodies lying in various state hospitals are yet to be identified, even as all arrangements have been made for conducting DNA tests.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a meeting with fishing boat owners and fishermen's groups, wherein boat owners were urged to deploy 200 boats to help in search operations for the missing men.

Search operations will henceforth be extended from Kochi coast to Goa since more bodies were recovered from the area in the past five days.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday said the visa applications of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother had been received and were being "processed", days after it again rejected India's plea for consular access to the death row prisoner.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed in a tweet that Jadhav's family had applied for visas.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds," Faisal tweeted.

Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed.  Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) December 16, 2017

He further said the applications were "being processed" but did not give any time line for approval of visas.

On Wednesday, Pakistan had rejected India's plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its "spy".

In its counter-memorial submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan said the provision of such an access under the Vienna Convention is only for legitimate visitors and not for spies, a media report said.

Pakistan said that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April, following which India moved the ICJ in May. The ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on 3 March last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Earlier, Pakistan had agreed to facilitate a meeting of Jadhav with his mother and wife in Islamabad on 25 December. It also agreed to India's demand that they be accompanied by an official of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

On Thursday, Pakistan directed its High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.
Five young men from Delhi who flew into Goa for a bachelor party recently discovered that banks and cellphone companies aren't the only ones demanding Aadhaar details, according to a report in The Times of India.

According to the report, when the group landed in Goa, checked into a hotel, called up a contact and enquired about hiring five women, the individual on the other end promised to revert soon.

When the contact called back, he demanded a picture of their Aadhaar card through WhatsApp.

According to the report, pimps in Goa have been attempting to verify the customers' details to ensure they are not police decoys.

"Even after so many checks, the number of girls demanded will not be delivered. Pimps refrain from supplying many girls at once because if 5-10 of them are caught in one police raid, their entire earning collapses," a police officer was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Rameswaram: A 37-year-old Sri Lankan fisherman, found struggling in mid-sea after straying into Indian waters, was rescued by Indian fishermen on Sunday and handed over to the Tamil Nadu Marine Coastal Group Police in Rameswaram.

Police said Maria Dasan from Pesalai in Mannar district was caught in the rough sea and strayed into Indian waters in his boat off the coast. He was struggling in the sea when the fishermen rescued him.

Another Lankan fisherman Andan, who was in another boat was missing, police said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy damaged the wind screen of more than 10 Indian fishing boats by pelting stones near Katchativu.

Police said more than 850 fishing boats from Mandapam and Rameswaram were fishing near Katchativu when the Lankan Naval patrol personnel in 10 boats attacked them with stones.
New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday hit out at Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and said he was not the "real" head of the state executive, a post held by the chief minister who was "cowering" in fear of the Centre.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said he was "amused" by a release issued by the Raj Bhavan that the governor was the head of the state executive as per the Constitution and has complete power to obtain any information connected with the administration of the state and to visit various parts of the state without any restrictions.

Amused by TN Governor's statement. Governor is only the 'titular' head of the Executive, not the 'real' head. Since the real head, the Chief Minister, is cowering in fear of the central government, the TN Governor is exceeding his authority.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 17, 2017

The former union finance and home minister said, "To be worthy of the office he holds, the Tamil Nadu chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami) should instruct district administrations to refuse to participate in meetings called by the governor".

In a statement, Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said he would continue to interact with the common people and officials during his visits to various districts in the coming months.

The Raj Bhavan, in its release, rubbished the allegation that the governor was "interfering at the behest of the Centre (in administration)".

"This is a bald allegation unsupported by any facts. This allegation deserves to be ignored," it said.

The release said the people who were ignorant of the Constitution or those prejudiced against the office of the governor should desist from making comments that are illegal in nature.

It extensively quoted the constitutional provisions on the powers of the governor as the head of the state executive.

"The governor is acting entirely in public interest and for the welfare of the common people, for motivating the administration at the district level," the release said.

Noting that the office of the governor is a constitutional office, it said it "deserved respect and honour".

"Attempting to disrespect the constitutional office will be deemed to be illegal and singularly unworthy of democratic appreciation," it added.
Bhopal: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday called on all states to back a bill that gives women reservation in state legislatures and both houses of Parliament.

The Women's Reservation Bill, that seeks to provide women 33 percent reservation, will help empower women, he said.

Naidu, who arrived here earlier in the day to take part in a state-level convention of women's self-help groups (SHGs), said: "Women are not helpless anymore, they are strong, and daughters are not a burden but a boon. They are performing their duties in various fields."

Citing the examples of some of the women in top positions in the government, he said: "The country's Defence Minister is Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister is Sushma Swaraj and Speaker of the Lok Sabha is Sumitra Mahajan, all women. In fact, women's contribution to the freedom struggle is also immense."

Naidu said empowering women has brought about a massive change in the way society works but added that there is a need to change old attitudes.

Madhya Pradesh has made history in this regard and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's move to help the SHGs get bank loans is commendable, he said. Stressing that women are respected in India, he said that is the reason it's called Bharat Mata.

If women are given an opportunity to get ahead in life, they can bring a massive change to society and can protect their rights themselves, he said, adding that a 50 percent quota for women in government jobs and local government bodies will be good for society.

Addressing the event, the chief minister said the SGH federation will be allowed to run the take-home ration manufacturing factory. And markets will be set up in big cities to sell their products.

Chouhan also said the state government will stand guarantee for loans up to Rs 5 crore taken by the federation.

Earlier in the day, Naidu was received at the airport by Chouhan, his wife and other ministers. The chief minister ceremonially welcomed the vice-president by draping an 'ang vastra' around his shoulders and put a khadi cotton garland around his neck.

Earlier, accusing Chouhan of failing to fulfil promises made in the earlier conventions, the Congress has asked him to provide details about the implementation.
populism

/ppjlz()m/

noun

support for the concerns of ordinary people.

It is clear that your populism identifies with the folks on the bottom of the ladder

the quality of appealing to or being aimed at ordinary people.

Art museums did not gain bigger audiences through a new populism

***

A seemingly harmless word, the context in which the word populism appears in most modern-day discourse or current news reports is usually a negative one. Youre very likely to see it paired with words like rise, growing, fears, threat.

As a political ideology, populism is defined as an approach that seeks to disrupt the existing social order by solidifying and mobilising the animosity of the commoner or the people against privileged elites and the establishment. Contemporary events such as the 2014 general elections in India, Donald Trumps US presidency and the Brexit referendum have all been ascribed to the rise of populism across the world. How really does populism work, and why has it come to have such negative implications?

Akeel Bilgrami, the Sidney Morgenbesser Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University in New York and a philosopher of language and the mind, is in a unique position to answer that question. Bilgrami frequently examines contemporary phenomena at the intersections of society, culture, politics and economics, and on a recent visit to Mumbai, delivered a lecture at Jnanapravaha that dissected populism. The objective of the talk was to understand how populism had come to acquire a pejorative connotation, and Bilgramis view is that the incessant punditry of journalists is part of the problem, because it has led to a misleading, ideologically subjective interpretation of the term.

Various types of populism exist; Bilgrami, however, points out that (largely) there are two distinctions  pro-globalisation (prevalent in India, Turkey) vs anti-globalisation (as seen in the US, UK and certain parts of Europe), and right-wing populism (ultra-nationalists in Germany) vs left-wing populism (Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders ideologies).

He also introduced the idea of faulty inferences, by examining what populism means for the citizens of a country. He used the example of a working professional in the UK who may think about the humane policies enacted after World War II and wonder which supernational identity  in this case the nation  is capable of effecting such changes. Bilgrami terms such questions as being shrewd. "But the same citizen may question the presence of immigrants in their nation, citing the reason that they are taking away their jobs or causing a breakdown of their culture. This is a conclusion which has no logic; it is a faulty inference," he explained.

Bilgrami cautions that it is important not to blame citizens in such circumstances, because the political class is responsible for the way people think. This, he says, is the reason why Barack Obama was perceived favourably when he was up against John McCain for the presidency  despite having a less-than-favourable policy for immigrants. "This is why African American voters picked Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders, despite the fact that the latters policies would have worked more in their favour," he says.

As an illustration, Bilgrami cites Edward Luces report in the Financial Times which compared Barack Obama and Donald Trumps inaugural ceremonies: why was the Trump event described as channeling rage and Obamas deemed hopeful and a memory of Americas golden past? "What Luce did not point out is that Obama did not fulfill the peoples hopes over his two terms, which is why there was rage when Trump was elected," he explains. The rage people felt during Trump's win is the same that was channelled during Brexit, and Bilgrami adds that it is possible to understand who felt this rage when they are differentiated from those who supported Hillary Clinton.

Of how populism functions within democracies, Bilgrami said that it opposes elected representatives who surrender power to upper class, un-elected representatives, such as bankers and financiers, or as Mahatma Gandhi described them  oligarchies of expertise. Bilgrami cited Manmohan Singh (among other politicians) as an example of such elected representatives.

Capital flight is another term Bilgrami introduced in his lecture, referring to how changes made in the 70s created a manic mobility of capital across economies, which meant that no real progress of policy could be pursued. In the absence of international solidarity whereby workers could move towards capital, he said that there was a desire to partially de-link from the global economy and globalisation.

About India specifically, Bilgrami says that populism is fuelled by the middle class which has grown considerably. Using Gramscis definition of hegemony (according to which the ruling class convinces all other classes that its interests are the interests of everyone else), he explained that Narendra Modis government is authoritarian despite being hegemonic. "If a government has convinced the people that its policies are for the greater good, it should not have to enforce them in an authoritarian manner. The Modi government's authoritarianism is compulsive and pathological," he opines.

The acceptance of demonetisation on the part of the citizens is an indirect sign of a hegemonic state, according to Bilgrami. Ordinary people were made to suffer and stand in lines, and demonetisation had a bad effect on the economy. One would have imagined that the anger and resentment would have shown in the Uttar Pradesh elections, but it didnt, Bilgrami says. To understand the Modi governments authoritarianism, Bilgrami says one needs to understand the role that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) plays. India is the only populist democracy in the world which has a paramilitary, ideological body like the RSS, and the idea that the Bhartiya Janata Party can disconnect from it is not possible  this has a lot to do with authoritarianism. Much of the authoritarianism gets shunted off as the citizens feeling that Our people are in power, he adds.

Bilgrami also illustrated the limitations of liberalism using the example of the two opposing attitudes towards climate change: on the one hand, there are deniers such as Trump and many in the Republican party, who refuse to acknowledge that it is an environmental problem, and on the other hand are people who acknowledge the magnitude of the issue but fail to accept that the end of destructive capitalist practices is the only way to solve the problem. How are these two approaches any different? Bilgrami wonders.

Unlike the case of Brexit and the opinion that immigrants steal jobs, which is a faulty inference, he feels that people arent making the right inference when it comes to climate change. He attributes this to the lack of conceptual resources and vocabulary, which have simply been left out of public knowledge; people do not have the words to think of a possible solution. He is of the opinion that a drive for profit has prevented us from solving the problem of global warming. The press too has played a role in creating this lack of conceptual understanding and with their (as Bilgrami puts it) pervasive cheer leading for governments. At this point, concludes Bilgrami, the end of capitalism seems more difficult than the end of the world.
New Delhi: Buoyed by Rahul Gandhi's spirited campaign in Gujarat, the Congress said on Sunday that the exit poll results will be reversed and it would emerge victorious in the state.

Upbeat on the eve of the election results, Congress leaders on Sunday hailed Gandhi's Gujarat campaign as a "winner", saying his issue-based strategy would bring positive results for the party on Monday, when counting will take place.

"We are confident of victory in Gujarat. The manner in which Rahul Gandhi spearheaded the campaign and used issue-based politics, he put the BJP on the mat forcing them to resort to non-issues for public sympathy," Congress general secretary in charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot told PTI.

Gehlot, the former Rajasthan chief minister who was sent to Gujarat to lift party's morale ahead of the high stakes election, appeared confident of a Congress win in the state.

Asked whether the Gujarat election result would be the first test of Gandhi, who assumed charge as Congress president this Saturday, Gehlot said, "It is not the issue of whether he is on test or not. The issue is the way he came in and assumed leadership of the Gujarat campaign forcing state government's accountability and cornering the prime minister (Narendra Modi) and BJP chief on development issues."

"They had no answers to Rahul Gandhi's questions and were forced to rake Gujarati pride. In this lay Rahul Gandhi's victory. He has already proved himself," he said.

The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 22 years. Gandhi single-handedly steered the Congress campaign in the state this time around.

Another Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia, former Congress legislature party leader in Gujarat, said the state was sure to "fall in Rahul Gandhi's lap" after the aggressive and successful development-based canvassing he launched.

"The BJP was so cornered by Rahul Gandhi's insistence on answers about Gujarat's development or lack of it that the prime minister and BJP President Amit Shah had no option but to peddle non-issues. Gujarat is sure to land in Congress kitty after Rahul Gandhi's spirited show there," he said.

Modhwadia noted that all exit poll results predicting a BJP win will stand reversed when actual results come on Monday.

Gandhi worked on new political strategies in Gujarat to take on the BJP in prime minister Modi's home state, including visiting a series of temples in an apparent attempt to project the Congress in a soft Hindutva mould.

Another strategy was the understanding it reached with dominant and emerging caste leaders in Gujarat, including Hardik Patel of the Patidars, Jignesh Mewani of the Dalits and Alpesh Thakor of the OBCs.

Results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are being widely considered as the first test of Gandhi, the new Congress president.

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New Delhi: As Sonia Gandhi handed over the charge of Congress president to her son Rahul Gandhi on a chilly Saturday morning amidst fanfare and celebrations laced with mixed emotions, nothing could have been a more picture-perfect moment than the one in which he kissed his mother on her forehead.

The handing over of the mantle of the leadership of the 132-year-old party took place at a ceremony on the lawns of the Congress Headquarters where Central Election Authority president Mullapally Ramachandran presented the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony watched by Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other top leaders of the party.

The moment Sonia Gandhi completed her last speech addressed to the party workers as party president and walked up to her chair, an emotional Rahul Gandhi came forward greeted her mother with a kiss on her forehead. She returned the gesture with a pat on his back. She also congratulated him gave her best wishes and blessings for the future endeavours.

Though Sonia Gandhi's speech in Hindi was punctuated by loud fireworks set off by enthusiastic party workers, forcing her to pause several times and also briefly lose her cool, the atmosphere outside the party headquarters had a feel of a carnival.

Outside the 24, Akbar Road, Congress Headquarters, a group of colourfully dressed artistes played drums and danced to bhangra tunes with party supporters, including men and women, shaking a leg or two and waving Rahul Gandhi's pictures and Congress flags.

There were other groups of artists from Hyderabad and Rajasthan performing folk dances of their regions.

Party workers from across the country thronged to the Congress office in different regional costumes, either to congratulate Rahul Gandhi or to get a glimpse of their furture leader. They distributed sweets, burst crackers, took selfies on their mobile phones, shouted slogans and gave a hard time to the security personnel.

The crowd on Akbar Road kept swelling as the day progressed, so much so that many senior Congress leaders had a tough time entering the party office. While many managed to struggle their way into the party headquaters, others had to either leave or be content listening to their leaders from outside.

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit admitted that she was in tears listening to Sonia Gandhi's speech which was laced with emotion and a sense of fulfillment.

"I have mixed emotions today. @OfficeOfRG (Rahul Gandhi) reinforced the hope that Congress and its values are in safe hands. Hearing Sonia Gandhi speak brought tears to my eyes. She went through so much in her life and yet never lost her poise," Dikshit tweeted.

I have mixed emotions today. @OfficeOfRG reinforced the hope that @INCIndia and its values are in safe hands. Hearing #SoniaGandhi speak brought tears to my eyes. She went through so much in her life and yet never lost her poise #ThankYouSoniaGandhi #CongressPresidentRahulGandhi  Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) December 16, 2017

As Sonia Gandhi made way for her son on Saturday, the party leaders gave a standing ovation after her speech and felicitated her with a citation and a shawl.

As the ceremony came to an end, Priyanka Gandhi, on his brother taking over the mantle of party president, said: "He has a tough road ahead...and I think he is the man for it. He is brave enough..."
Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday called for a law that would bar the prime minister and chief ministers from participating in election rallies.

In an article in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', he said comments were made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "jumping into muck", adding that the Centre had become a "factory of elections".

"There were comments made on the prime minister during the Gujarat polls. All this happened as the prime minister himself jumped into the muck. It should stop now. There should be a law in place to stop the PM and chief ministers from participating in election rallies," Raut said.

"The parliament is the supreme constitutional institution in the country where new laws are made in every session. Now everybody should show the willingness to make a law to bar the prime minister and chief ministers from holding election rallies," he said.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Raut said the government's coffers were looted most by the Congress, but those who raised a voice against this were in power on Sunday.

However, the loot of the government's coffers has not stopped, he commented.

"Government money and machinery is being used for election rallies when a prime minister or a chief minister campaigns. We will now have to demand that this money should be recovered from the party, be it of Manmohan Singh or Narendra Modi," he said.

The Sena leader said when a prime minister or a chief minister goes for an election rally, they do not go on a personal visit but have their supportive machinery with them.

"Modi held 40-45 rallies in Gujarat for which he used government aircraft and helicopters. Being a prime minister, he spent crores of rupees of government money for election campaigning. His predecessors did not do anything different. The Centre has become a factory of elections," Raut said.

He said after Gujarat, assembly polls in Karnataka will be announced in three months time, and in another six months, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will go to polls.

"Fighting polls and winning them with any possible means has become the only concern for the government. The only way to stop all this is to have the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, or the prime minister and the chief ministers are kept away from campaigning. Or they should resign from their posts and then campaign for their party," Raut said.

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Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat 'model of development'.

The much-awaited results of the keenly fought elections will be announced on Monday when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amidst tight security.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each others.

Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders  Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani  in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led an counter protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

The influential Patidar community, which accounts for around 12 percent of the state's population, could prove to be the 'X factor' in the polls in which Patel pledged support to the Congress and appealed to people to "uproot the BJP" this time.

As the campaign was nearing its end, "vikas" (development) took a back seat, and caste and religious issues received prominence.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign "Vikas Gando Thayo Che" (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat".

An average 68.41 percent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on 14 December, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 percent.

In the first phase of polls held on 9 December for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 percent voting was recorded.

The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 percent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 percent polling was registered.

In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on 9 and 14 December.

According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 percent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 percent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are  Tapi (78.56 percent), Banaskantha (75.15) and Sabarkantha (74.97). The districts which saw a low turnout are  Amreli (61.29), Bhavnagar (61.56) and Porbandar (61.86).

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 percent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 percent and 70 percent.

Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 percent.

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday expressed his strong disagreement with all the forecasts by various exit polls, predicting comfortable to huge victory margins, for ally Bharatiya Janata Party in the Gujarat assembly elections.

"There is a huge difference between the prevailing political atmosphere and the forecasts of these exit polls. They are not agreeable to us," he said at his residence 'Matoshree' this evening.

Thackeray said though the exit polls have projected a clear win for the BJP in Gujarat, the final outcome of the elections will be revealed on vote count day, Monday, "and everyone will have to accept the peoples' verdict".

Thackeray's reaction came after a majority of exit polls conducted after the two-phased Gujarat elections on 9 and 14 December were out on Thursday, virtually prophesying a landslide comeback for the ruling BJP which is power in that state since past 22 years.

Thackeray also expressed his heartiest congratulations to Rahul Gandhi for his ascension as the new Congress Party President on Saturday.

He has worked very hard for the Gujarat elections and I hope he can live up to the trust of his party cadres," he said expressing his best wishes to the Congress chief.
Votes will be counted on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly election in what some are considering a prestige battle between Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Votes will be counted at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts.

Voting ended in 93 Assembly seats in North and Central Gujarat in the second and final phase of polling on 14 December amid reports of malfunctioning EVMs, clashes among party members and accusations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the Opposition for over two decades. The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls also as Modi came to power in 2014 based on the Gujarat Model.

Candidates

As many as 1,703 candidates filed their nominations for the 89 constituencies which was covered in the first phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat on 9 December.

Prominent candidates who contested in the first phase included Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani (Rajkot West), senior BJP leader Dilip Sanghani (Dhari) and senior Congress leader Paresh Dhanani. While the BJP put up 11 candidates who were defeated in the previous election, five are Congress defectors and five more are making their debut at the polls. Among these candidates, 16 are Patidars, seemingly to counter the Hardik Patel factor.

There is also Dilip Sanghani, once a close confidant of Modi. He has been fielded from Lathi constituency in Saurashtra after dropping sitting rebel MLA Nalin Kotadia. Sanghani lost to Congress young and aspiring chief ministerial candidate Paresh Dhanani from the nearby Amreli constituency.

The Congress's first list of 77 candidates named sitting MLA Indranil Rajyaguru of Rajkot East seat as prime contender against Rupani from Rajkot West seat. However, after the first list was released, PAAS members expressed anger and began protesting in many parts of the state, claiming they were not given proper representation.

Campaigning

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each other. Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'neech' remarks. Rahul meanwhile, attacked Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and ignoring key issues being faced by the people.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leadersHardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevaniin its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led a counter-protest against the inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

As the campaign neared its end, "vikas" (development) took a back seat, and caste and religious issues received prominence.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign Vikas Gando Thayo Che (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat".

Turnout

An average 68.41 percent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on 14 December, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 percent.

In the first phase of polls held on 9 December for 89 seats in Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 percent voting was recorded.

The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 percent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 percent polling was registered.

In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on 9 and 14 December.

According to the Election Commission )(EC) data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 percent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 percent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are: Tapi (78.56%) Banaskantha (75.15%) and Sabarkantha (74.97%). The districts which saw a low turnout are: Amreli (61.29%), Bhavnagar (61.56%) and Porbandar (61.86%).

Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 percent.

In the second phase, while Sabarkantha district recorded the highest voter turnout of 56 percent, the lowest polling of 41.23 percent was recorded in Chotta Udaipur district.

War of words

During the second phase, the BJP and the Congress were locked in a war of words after Modi voted in Ahmedabad and then went around the area, flashing his finger with the voter mark. A total of 44 complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct were received by the Gujarat CEC on Thursday.

After casting the vote at Nishan High School, Modi showed his inked finger to thousands of supporters who had gathered outside the school in Ranip locality of Sabarmati constituency, amid chants of "Modi, Modi". He walked a certain distance to greet the people standing on both sides of the road outside the polling booth. Later, he stood on the foot-board of his car and waved to the crowd.

However, the Congress alleged that Modi's roadshow was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and accused the Election Commission of bias. While the polling was largely peaceful, two incidents of clashes were reported in Mehsana and Vadodara districts, police officials said.

The EC received complaints from five places that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were connecting to external devices via Bluetooth, but after inquiry, it was found that there was "no substance" to the complaints, poll officials said.

Complaints of EVMs being connected with external devices via Bluetooth were received from Patan, Kheda, Mehsana districts, Ghatlodia in Ahmedabad district and Godhra in Panchamahal district. Voting was also temporarily stopped in Chhaniyana village as voters alleged EVM rigging.

The EC also ordered re-polling on Sunday in six booths of the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

With inputs from PTI

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The Election Commission has withdrawn the show cause notice it filed against Rahul Gandhi for giving a TV interview after campaigning for Gujarat polls had officially ended, PTI reported.

Acting on a complaint by BJP, the Election Commission issued a notice to Rahul on Wednesday for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by giving an interview to GSTV even after the campaign for Gujarat polls had formally ended.

The panel filed an FIR against Gujarati channels for airing the interview after the end of the election campaign. However, it said no FIR has been lodged against Rahul for prima facie violating the election laws.

Briefing media about the voter turnout in the second phase on Thursday, senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said "No FIR has been lodged against Rahul Gandhi. Only a notice has been issued to which he has to respond in five days."

The withdrawal of the notice came before Rahul was expected to send a response.

Regarding the reason for lifting this show cause notice, Election Commission of India said, "Commission is of considered view that due to multi-fold expansion of and electronic media, the extant MCC, Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and other related provisions require revisiting to cater to the requirements and challenges of the present and emerging situations."

The commission also decided to set up a panel to suggest amendments to a provision in the election law barring campaigning 48 hours ahead of polling, following complaints that it has failed to keep pace with information technology.

In an order issued on Sunday night, the poll body said the proposed committee will have members from the poll panel, the information and broadcasting, law and IT ministries, in addition to those from the National Broadcasters Associations (NBA) and the Press Council of India (PCI).

The Congress has claimed that little has been happening to all its complaints against the BJP while things moved quickly when it came to grievances against others in the fray.

Counting of votes for the Gujarat election will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, which is considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for Rahul.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the Opposition for over two decades. The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls.

With inputs from agencies

Click here for live updates of Gujarat Assembly Election Results 2017

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Shimla: The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known on Monday as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal Pradesh where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have contested all 68 seats

The hill state witnessed a record 75.28 percent turnout and pollsters have predicted a BJP victory.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for counting which would start simultaneously in all 68 constituencies at 42 counting centres.

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Chief Minister Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of GST and demonetisation.

The BSP contested 42 seats followed by the CPM 14, the Swabhiman party and the Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI (3).

Out of 67 sitting MLAs, 60 MLAS, nine cabinet ministers, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, deputy speaker, Jagat Singh Negi and eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) contested the poll along with a dozen former ministers.

Himachal has a tradition of change in government after every elections and going by the trend, this time it is the turn of the BJP which is upbeat after exit poll results.

There are 25 Congress, 28 BJP and four independent MLAs in the outgoing house while one seat was lying vacant after death of former minister Karan Singh from Banjar.

Sitting Rajya Sabha member Viplov Thakur(Congress), former Lok Sabha members, Chander Kumar (Congress) and Dr Rajan Shushant (Independent) and former Rajya Sabha member Kripal Parmar (BJP) are also among key contestants.

While the BJP is confident of winning the polls with a comfortable majority, the Congress has rejected the exit-polls and claimed that it was all set to repeat.

The BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged defeat in 1993. The BJP formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.

2,820 counting staff has been deployed for Monday's exercise which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro observers.

Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpender Rajput said three-tier security arrangements have been made at all counting centres.

He said wire mesh barricading has been done at counting centres and there was a separate entry passage for counting staff and counting agents.

Videography and CCTV coverage will be done in all counting centres.
The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known Monday as votes are set to be counted in the Himachal Pradesh election. In a state where BJP and Congress have been going back and forth for all 68 seats, 50 lakh voters will give one of the parties a mandate.

The BJP is looking to wrest power from the ruling Congress. Himachal Pradesh, traditionally, has a history of strong anti-incumbency. For the past five terms, Himachal has seen power shift between Congress and BJP governments. The hill state witnessed a record 75.28 percent turnout and pollsters predicted a BJP victory. The BJP seems upbeat looking at the results of exit polls.

In this year's Assembly election, Virbhadra Singh, 10 ministers, eight chief parliamentary secretaries, deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those who have thrown their hat in the ring.

The Congress led by Singh and the BJP led by Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPM at 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI three. The full list of candidates can be found here.

Chief ministerial candidates

While Congress fielded Virbhadra Singh, the BJP announced former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as the saffron party's face. The BJP made the announcement a few days before voting took place, breaking a party tradition of not revealing the name of the chief ministerial choice before counting of votes was over.

Dhumal is a senior party leader and a two-time chief minister of the hill state. Against the backdrop of widespread speculation that the party would consider the idea of projecting Union minister JP Nadda as its chief ministerial candidate, Dhumal's name was announced by his son, BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who claimed his father's name had been agreed upon well in advance.

Dhumal was chief minister from 2007 to 2013 before being deposed by Virbhadra Singh. He contested from Hamirpur in 2012, but this time he is contesting from Sujanpur constituency where women outnumber men by over 2, 200 voters. He said safety and security would be his main priorities.

The 83-year-old Singh has been chief minister six times. When announcing his candidacy, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "Virbhadra Singh ji, you became chief minister six times and I assure that you would become chief minister for the seventh time also. The entire Congress party stands behind you."

Addressing the the same rally, Singh said his government ensured uniform development without any other consideration and said development would be the main election plank of the party in the Assembly polls.

The state went to the polls on 9 November. The Congress and BJP traded barbs over issues ranging from corruption to the menace of the mining mafia.

Corruption

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation.

On his maiden trip to Himachal Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah stepped up the party's campaign in the state, claiming that Singh would go down in history as an "example for corruption", who dented the state's clean image and has also "destroyed" his family and aides.

Countering BJP's attacks, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "Mere allegations of corruption against a leader by the Opposition doesnt make someone corrupt. Many BJP leaders have serious corruption charges against them. How about Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, whose sons name had come up in the Panama Papers or the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? Have they ordered any probe against them?"

Mafia menace

Addressing rallies in the hill state before polling, Shah said the menace of various mafias in the state has slowed down development. "Himachal has become a land of the mafia with forest mafia, mining mafia, drug mafia, transfer mafia, liquor mafia and land mafia flourishing in the state," he alleged in Dalhousie and Jwali.

BJP leader Dhumal also said the new government would strive hard to end "mafia raj" in the state and restore the confidence of the people in the administration.

Development

Rahul told a rally in Mandi that the Himachal model of development was far superior to the Gujarat Model. He said that the state government in Shimla was ahead in development indicators as compared to the Gujarat government for the past five years.

Shah responded to Rahul's claims of development, saying the present government was "neither competent nor capable" of ensuring development in Himachal Pradesh. The high voter turnout left both the BJP and Congress claiming victory was imminent.

With inputs from agencies
Shimla: With less than 24 hours to go before the counting of votes begins in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, both ruling Congress and opposition BJP are claiming victory.

While the Congress dismissed the exit poll results, which predicted a BJP victory, the saffron party expressed confidence that their performance would better projections.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who returned to Shimla after 18 days, dismissed the exit poll results, saying he could well read the mood of the people of the state and the actual results would be opposite to the exit poll projections.

"I am confident that 'mission repeat' would be achieved and tall claims made by the BJP would be proved wrong," he told reporters.

Singh said he visited every nook and corner of the state during the election campaign and has no doubt the Congress was in a strong position.

"The Congress would certainly win for the government."

On the other hand, former chief minister and senior BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal was highly optimistic and said the results would be same as projected in the exit polls.

Talking to reporters at his Samirpur residence, Dhumal said the Congress party was upset with the exit polls and was making vague statements. "In fact, the BJP would win more seats than projected in exit-polls," he said.

Dhumal was declared the chief ministerial face of the BJP towards the end of the campaign.
New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that youths will respond to new party President Rahul Gandhi's call for an "alternative narrative" based on equal opportunity and jobs for the youth in the country.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi's inaugural speech as the Congress chief during the day, Chidambaram said his party's idea of the nation is different from that of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday replaced his mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress party's new President and launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "taking us back to the mediaeval times".

"Rahul Gandhi's inaugural speech laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward to the people," Chidambaram tweeted.

"The Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty.

"Our recall of India's history is different from the BJP's. Our idea of India is different from the BJP's. Rahul Gandhi called upon India's youths to defend our idea of India, and I am sure that the young will respond," he added.

On Saturday, Gandhi said that though the politics belongs to the people it is today not being used for them.

"It is not being used to uplift people, but to crush them," Gandhi said.

Gandhi said that many countrymen were "disillusioned by politics of our time as politics is devoid of kindness and truth".
Congress claimed a sweeping victory in the Punjab civic polls on Sunday, clinching a majority of seats in the Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala municipal corporations.

The margin of victory prompted Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to say that this win was a "clear vindication of the government's policies" and a "defeat for the Opposition's propaganda."

He tweeted:

My heartfelt thanks to people of Punjab for turning out in huge numbers to support the Congress in MC, Nagar Panchayat & Council elections. The sweeping victory for @INCPunjab is a clear vindication of our policies and a defeat of the Oppositions false propaganda.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 17, 2017

"Election results have been very good, we are very pleased. You can't get a better result than this. Out of three corporations, we have swept polls and won all of them," Singh told ANI. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also celebrated the results, calling it " the third victory in our captain's turban." "This is the first victory that Rahul Gandhi has tasted as Congress president," Sidhu said to ANI.

#PunjabCivicPolls Congress workers celebrate as the party leads in Amritsar Municipal Corporation election, Navjot Singh Sidhu says "this is the first victory that Rahul Gandhi has tasted as Congress President, third victory in our Captain's turban" pic.twitter.com/fHEBKF2WXd  ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats on Sunday, amid tight security. The civic polls were contested by the Congress, the SAD-BJP and the AAP.

While the polls in the state remained largely peaceful, the Opposition SAD-BJP cried foul, accusing the ruling party of misusing official machinery in its favour.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused Congress of conducting "organised booth capturing" during polling, ANI reported.

Our candidates & polling agents were thrown out of booths, media persons were beaten & booth was captured at every place. For the 1st time, state EC & govt became one & captured EVMs. We are going to High Court against this criminal conspiracy: SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal pic.twitter.com/B8monP2UgD

"It was organised booth capturing. We told Election Commission that they are not letting our candidates file nominations. 20 percent candidates weren't able to file nominations, some nominations were rejected and some candidates were arrested but state EC did nothing." Badal said, according to the ANI report. Badal said that he will approach the high court demanding a countermand of the Patiala corporation elections. A SAD-BJP delegation also submitted a memorandum to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu in Chandigarh to protest against booth capturing.

Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal called the civic poll process "utterly uncivilised" and called it a "huge blow to democracy in Punjab." "This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement.

The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress. In response, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said the Aam Aadmi Party had lost its ground completely in Punjab, as in the rest of the country.

With inputs from agencies
Chandigarh: Ruling Congress on Sunday swept the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala while the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery.

The Congress virtually swept the wards in the three important corporations as results were out by late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp.

The results come as a boost for the Amarinder Singh led government in the state. The opposition alliance, however, alleged gross poll code violations and demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation elections.

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats on Sunday, amid tight security arrangements.

Among the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 percent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 percent while the voting percentage in the municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 percent.

In Patiala, the Congress won 58 wards while the opposition failed to open an account. In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by 8 which went to BJP and four to their ally SAD.

In Amritsar, Congress won 69 while 12 went to the SAD-BJP alliance.

The voting started at 8 am and continued till 4 pm, a spokesman of the state election commission said in Chandigarh.

Tight security arrangements were made to ensure fair and free polling, which by and large remained peaceful barring a stray incident, officials said.

The main political outfits in the state: ruling Congress, SAD-BJP and AAP, were contesting the polls on their party symbols.

A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel were deployed at the polling stations. The Election Commission had ordered videography of 103 hyper-sensitive wards.

Polling was held for 222 wards out of the 225 wards of the three municipal corporations and 327 wards of the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

In 90 wards, the candidates had earlier won unopposed, Of these, three were in the Patiala Municipal Corporation and 87 in municipal councils and the nagar panchayats.

Nearly 900 candidates were in the fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations  Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar.

The civic polls in the state were held nine months after the state assembly elections after which the Congress stormed to power in the state.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda."

Meanwhile, SAD-BJP demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation elections.

A SAD-BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu in Chandigarh and also sat on a dharna outside his office.

The SAD-BJP leaders claimed they had vidoegraphic evidence of alleged blatant rigging and violence in Patiala.

Former minister and SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, who led the SAD-BJP delegation, said, "the Congress had murdered democracy in the state by using the police force to commit atrocities on Akali-BJP cadre".

Cheema said that even former SAD mayor from Patiala, Amarinder Singh Bajaj, was manhandled.

He alleged that in Mullanpur Dakha a SAD candidate's mother was attacked and injured by Congress supporters.

"Similarly SAD polling agents were attacked by Congressmen in Sahnewal who barged into their booths with a group of outsiders. In Ghanour, when Akali-BJP supporters protested casting of fake votes they were thrashed..," he alleged adding the SAD-BJP would now take recourse to democratic protests as well as legal remedy.

BJP demanded a repoll in Patiala, Ghagga and some wards in Mullanpur Dakha and Jalandhar, alleging the violation of model code and misuse of machinery by the ruling Congress.

Former chief minister Parkash Badal described the entire process of the civic poll as "utterly uncivilised" and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab.

"This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement in Chandigarh.

The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls, "despite the efforts by the Akalis to scuttle the poll process through threats, violence and rumour mongering in some areas."

He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had lost its ground completely in Punjab, as in the rest of the country.
Voting for three municipal corporations and 32 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab began on Sunday, officials from the State Election Commission, said in Chandigarh. The polling began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm. The results will be declared on Sunday evening.

The contest is among the ruling Congress, main Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP)alliance. Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning for the municipal elections, which ended on Friday.

The voting is being held for three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Patiala, and 32 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

Voting for #CivicPolls begins in Punjab, visuals from Amritsar. Polls being held in 3 municipal corporation - Amritsar, Jalandhar & Patiala and 32 municipal councils & Nagar Panchayats in the state. pic.twitter.com/cMCel39URF  ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

As per reports, Jalandhar city recorded a total voter turnout of nearly 30 percent till 12 pm. Amritsar and Patiala, on the other hand, recorded a voter turnout of 25 percent till noon. According to Tribune, the state has recorded an overall voter turnout of 53 percent. State minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife were among the leaders who voted in Amritsar. Speaking to reporters, he said that a win in the local body polls will be a gift to Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "The party will gift a victory to Rahul in Punjab civic body polls for becoming the national president of AICC," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

Punjab: Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu cast their votes at ward No 9's polling station 5 in Amritsar Civic Polls | ANI pic.twitter.com/gj1x8svAPl  News18 (@CNNnews18) December 17, 2017

According to Tribune, there have been several reports of voter intimidation and booth capturing in Patiala, the traditional hometown of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

The election for the municipal corporation of Punjab's largest city, Ludhiana, was not being held as the electoral rolls were not updated.

As many as 925 candidates are in fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations. A total of 413 candidates are in the fray in 85 wards of Amritsar where 769,153 voters will exercise their franchise. In Jalandhar, 305 candidates are contesting from 80 wards. In Patiala, election will be held in 57 wards in which 260,664 voters will be exercising their franchise.

Candidates in 90 wards have won unopposed, a State Election Commission spokesman said.

There are 873 polling stations and 1,938 polling booths across the state. Several polling stations across Punjab have been termed 'sensitive' by the State Election Commission.

This would be for the first time that voters will have the 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) option in civic body polls in the state.

According to a report in The Times of India, in Amritsar, 290 of the total 366 polling stations have been placed in the 'sensitive' and 'very sensitive' bracket, whereas, in Jalandhar, 344 out of the 554 polling stations have been declared 'sensitive'.

The State Election Commission has ordered videography in all the polling stations which have been declared very sensitive.

A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel have been assigned for poll duty. To avoid any law and order problem, 4,000 police personnel have been deployed across Amritsar, while 2,800 policemen have been placed across Jalandhar, Hindustan Times reported.

An additional police force will be deployed once the counting is over, the report added.

The SAD-BJP and AAP had accused Congress of misusing its power in the run-up to the municipal polls.

A day before the elections, SAD accused the Congress government in the state of harassing SAD-BJP candidates.

In a statement, SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that 15 party leaders in Khemkaran have been summoned by the Patti sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to report at 9 am on Sunday even though it is a Sunday as well as the polling day.

The SDM has chosen the day to affect polling prospects of SAD candidates, he claimed.

"Similarly our candidate Gurmit Kaur from ward number 59 has been detained by the Civil Line police in Patiala in some old case," Cheema said.

"Apart from this our candidates from ward number 8, 38 and 23 from municipal corporation Patiala are being harassed and threatened by the police to stay away from the election. Similar complaints are coming from many other places," he claimed.

He urged the state election commissioner to take serious note of these incidents.

This is the first big election in the state after the Congress government, led by Amarinder, came to power after the Assembly polls in March.

The Congress won 77 out of 117 seats in the Assembly. The AAP finished second with 20 seats.

With inputs from agencies
Rahul Gandhi is finally firm in the saddle as the president of the countrys 132-year old political party.

With this, the leadership issue in the Indian National Congress is now settled. Rahuls aggressive campaigning in Gujarat election revealed that the party is getting its messaging right. However, the most important aspect is to revive the organisation, particularly at the grassroots level, if Congress aspires to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP head on in the Assembly elections in 2018 and the General Election to Lok Sabha in 2019.

In his first address to a huge gathering at the lawns of AICC headquarters after becoming the Congress president, Rahul on Saturday identified BJP as the biggest enemy.

"Congress took India to the 21st century, but the prime minister (Modi) is taking us backwards, to medieval times, where people are being butchered because of who they are, beaten for what they believe in and killed for what they eat," Rahul said, while attacking Modi and the BJP government.

Immediate challenges

The newly elected Congress president in his speech gave hints on what he wants to do and how he wants to see the party as its chief.

"I want to re-build Congress from 'grand old party' to 'grand old young party... My responsibility is to safeguard every Congress worker who conveys the message of the partys ideology in every village," Rahul emphasised.

To make the party grand old young, Rahul has to use young and energetic workers as foot soldiers while topping it with the experience of the old guard.

After the Central Election Authority of the Congress party officially gave 'certificate of election' to Rahul at the Congress headquarters on Saturday, Firstpost spoke with a host of Congress leaders to find out the immediate challenges before the newly elected president and how they see Rahul in the new role.

"Its a generational change. Rahul will do much better as party president by bringing new vigour and energy and combining it with the experience of the old guard. Over the years, he has also learnt the tricks of politics," says BK Hariprasad, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member.

Joined Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge communications, AICC, "Unlike BJP, we in Congress dont retire our veteran leaders; rather use their experience in policy-making. Under Rahuls leadership, Congress is ready to face all kinds of challenges  from corruption to communalism. Well work towards nation building by focussing on the poor, youth, women and the marginalised sections of the society."

The toughest challenge from BJP that Congress faced during consecutive elections was at the grassroots level. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates have always acted as the backbone for BJP in connecting with the masses by strengthening the party's reach at the grassroots level. Whereas, Congress in the past had strong connections at the grassroots level with the help of its front organisations like Seva Dal, which has been missing for a long time.

"Both cant be compared because Congress didnt nurture Seva Dal on the lines of the RSS. Instead of following the communal path, Seva Dal is based on Gandhian principles. However, Congress party is present in all the villages of this country and the need of the hour is to strengthen itself at the grassroots level," adds Hariprasad.

Besides connecting to the grassroots, Congress has to revive its other front organisations like students wing NSUI, Youth Congress and the Mahila Congress.

Senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, "There cant be any doubt on Rahul's capabilities as (party) president because as Congress vice-president, he led the party from the front whether on the issue of land acquisition bill or the Goods and Services Tax. Weve seen how aggressively he campaigned in Gujarat. Even as the vice-president, he initiated changes in NSUI, Youth Congress, and the Mahila Congress. And, now his efforts would be to revive these front organisations of Congress and strengthen them by forming new teams of workers."

Apart from restructuring the party at the top, Rahul has a daunting task of building strong leadership in the states and prepare for elections next year in the four big states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. The challenge is to contain the infighting and project a strong leadership.

At present, Congress is in power in only five states.

Ajay Singh, Leader of Opposition, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly pointed out, "Considering the state elections in 2018, the time has come to strengthen the party cadre in respective states, especially in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. With Rahul as the president, now it will definitely infuse a new energy among party workers to take challenges ahead by building cohesive teams in the states."

Added Ashok Gehlot, former Rajasthan chief minister and also in-charge of Gujarat, Now under Gandhis leadership, new plans will be made for the states, in order to strengthen them.

What do political analysts say?

Political analysts are of the opinion that Rahul needs to develop his new team, new policies, a new imagination of diversity and a new narrative for young India.

MD Nalapat, political analyst and professor of geopolitics, Manipal University, says, "Indira Gandhi changed the old team in the party after coming to power in 1969 and 1978. Similarly, Rahul needs a new team and a new way of functioning with an eye on the 21st century. He has to be futuristic and bring modernisation for a new India. The names of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and his father Rajiv Gandhi wont help and he has to de-link himself from the policies, politics and the personnel of Sonia Gandhi. Rahul has to make an appeal that hes the future and develop his own kind of policies and politics."

Shiv Visvanathan, social observer, and professor at OP Jindal Global University observed in his article, Rahul needs a new imagination  a new imagination of diversity, which in many ways was the silent term of the long years of planning. Congress must carry into the BJP ranks a battle for a new idea of (the Indian) culture where diversity is retained and where plurality goes beyond the minoritarian imagination.

For Rahul to succeed, experts feel that he needs a dollop of good luck, which can come if Modi fails to deliver on his promises.

"What Rahul now needs is luck. Modis bad luck in terms of poor handling of socio-political, geopolitical, economic, national security, external and domestic issues, will automatically act as an advantage for Rahul. The 2019 General Election to Lok Sabha will be defining for him against Modi, Nalapat added.
Bengaluru: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of trying to "divide" the society and lashed out at it on the law-and-order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Addressing a public meeting in Bengaluru as part of the BJP's ongoing statewide "Parivarthan Yatra", organised to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, due early next year, he said the Congress regime believed in spreading enmity between different communities.

"Rudresh, Kuttappa and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta were murdered in cold blood. Even Gauri Lankesh was killed. If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated," Singh said.

RSS activist Rudresh was hacked to death here early this year and a similar fate awaited local Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader DS Kuttappa in Kodagu district in November, 2015.

Veteran journalist Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside her residence here in September, leading to a national outrage.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week.

The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mesta's death, for which the BJP has blamed the "jihadi elements".

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

"There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide the Indian society," he added.

Singh said the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there was no such provision in the Constitution.

"Reservation based on religion is a deception with the people of the state. The Constitution does not allow it," he added.

The Union minister said the country was scaling new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Despite the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, various international economic organisations have projected a high economic growth rate for the country. They have even recommended such economic reforms," he added.

Regarding border security and internal peace, Singh said the way the Doka La stand-off with China was resolved showed that India was a strong country.

"Even China realises that India is not the same anymore," he added.

Singh said the country had taken the terrorists in Kashmir head-on and curbed their activities substantially.

Karnataka's growth would be rapid if the BJP was voted to power in the state, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa too slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly talking about Modi in a derogatory manner.

"You (Siddaramaiah) are only a 'bachcha' (kid) in front of prime minister Modi. When the whole world is admiring Modi, who are you to talk about him in an insulting way," the former chief minister said.
Agartala: Anybody living in India is a Hindu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday, asserting that the meaning of Hindutva is to unite all communities.

Hindutva is different from Hinduism, he told a public function at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan in the heart of Tripura's capital.

"The Muslims in India are also Hindus," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak said.

Bhagwat, who is on a five-day tour of Tripura since Friday to review the organisational work of the RSS in the north-eastern region, said, "We have no enmity with anyone. We want the welfare of all. To unite all is the meaning of Hindutva."

Maintaining that India is a land of Hindus, he said "tortured" Hindus from across the world come to the country and get shelter.

The RSS supremo said, "Hindus believe in truth, but the world respects strength. There is strength in the organisation. Being organised is the natural law."

Referring to the Partition, he said parts of India got separated in 1947, leading to the weakening of the spirit of Hindutva and a decline of the "Hindu Samaj".

"India was united for so long. There was unity among the Hindus," Bhagwat said.

Highlighting the rich heritage of the country, he said, "A perturbed and confused world is looking at India for a new world order that can accommodate the materialist as well as the idealist."

He urged the Hindus to get organised and trained at RSS "shakhas" (daily meetings), saying these were the only places where one could prepare for nation-building and self-development.

The "sanatan dharma" wants to work together with everybody on board, Bhagwat said.

The Left Front-ruled Tripura is scheduled to go to polls early next year and the BJP is making a serious bid to increase its footprint in the north-east. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have BJP governments.
Patna: BJP member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday congratulated Rahul Gandhi on becoming the new Congress president and wished well for the future of India's oldest political party.

"Today is the day of rise of most natural and deserving Rahul Gandhi as president of the oldest and respected party of India. Let us all congratulate him in true national spirit. In the larger interest of democracy, I also wish 'Long live the Indian National Congress," the actor turned politician, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Patna Saheb seat in Bihar, said in a tweet.

His stand come amid digs by top BJP leaders at Rahul Gandhi on his becoming the Congress chief.

In the past, the yesteryear Bollywood actor has expressed views on several issues that are against the BJP's official line.

On Wednesday, taking on his own party, Sinha had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah as to who would take the blame if the BJP lost the Gujarat Assembly election.

"If we are victorious, we know you shall get full credit... But if we are not, then who will take the rap? There's an old saying  'Taali kaptaan ko, to gaali bhi kaptaan ko (If the credit goes to the captain then so does the blame). Hope, wish and pray we get only taalis (claps) in Gujarat elections. Jai Hind!" Sinha tweeted.

Sinha, who has been increasingly critical of the BJP leadership, had referred to Modi and Shah as the "one-man show and two-man army".

He had asked them to return to Delhi from Gujarat, where the second and final phase of voting to elect a new Assembly took place on Thursday.

"Humble appeal to our one-man show and two-man army. Please return 'home' to Delhi if we've exhausted all our tricks, tantrums, wrong statements and tall promises."
The one unique aspect of Sonia Gandhi as Congress president was that she did not have a caste. It is an attribute none of her predecessors post-Independence can claim. She wasnt a Brahmin although she had been married to one. A person is born into a caste; he and she cant acquire one regardless of their marriage, eminence or everydayness.

This profound truth of Indian society placed Sonia beyond caste, which constitutes the nucleus of support of every Indian politician. Given that she was born a Christian, her religion couldnt also be used to configure her political personality in a predominantly Hindu country. Sonias challenge was to overcome her caste and religion deficits to build for herself a political personality that would make her acceptable to people and benefit the Congress as well.

On top of it, her foreign origin was a handicap in a country which had won its Independence after decades of mounting a non-violent movement against the British. When Sonia took over the moribund Congress in 1998, her foreign origin sparked off a series of cracks. None as biting as the one which predicted that a foreigner (AO Hume) established the Indian National Congress, a foreigner (Sonia) will preside over its liquidation.

Yet six years later, in 2004, Sonia led her party to a triumph in the General Elections to Lok Sabha, largely because she stitched an alliance with a slew of regional outfits, even pragmatically accepting her party to become a junior partner to some, for instance in Bihar. Pragmatically too, she chose not to become the prime minister, a post which many, including her allies, were egging her to take.

Not required to shoulder the responsibility of governance, Sonia took to constructing a political personality for herself that transcended caste and religion, and precisely what the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution had hoped for.

She rooted her political personality in the modern notions of citizenry, batting for rights that members of the modern nation-state expect. It is said she overcame the reluctance of the "brains" inside her party to have the government of Manmohan Singh pass the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The RTI Act symbolised the idea of providing a participatory role to citizens in a democracy. The NREGA reiterated the idea that the poor required the special attention of the State and could not be left to the markets mercy. An idea that was gradually lapsing into obsolescence as India was all set to adopt the dominant development paradigm of "growth for growths sake".

The RTI and NREGA triggered a slew of rights-based legislations such as the Forest Rights Act, Right to Education Act, National Food Security Act, etc. It brought about a qualitative change in the political discourse and trained the spotlight on the "wretched of the earth", so to speak.

These rights-based legislations enabled Sonia to acquire a new political personality  that of a leader who believed in the idea of building a welfare state, who wished to reach out to people on the basis of nurturing and preserving their interests, not merely on their caste and religious identities. After more than a decade of the bruising politics of Mandal and Mandir, during which the rise and fall of Sensex also became a national obsession, the politics of interest acquired a new significance.

This shouldnt make us think that Sonia possessed a revolutionary zeal. Her concern for the poor belonged to the European capitalist tradition which introduced welfare measures to check the expansion of communism. Perhaps her concern for the poor can also be linked the notion of charity among Catholic Christians, in whose faith and custom she was brought up.

Sonias idea of welfare state enabled her to evolve a political identity that enabled Congress to overcome the deficit of caste at a crucial stage in its history. In the 10 years before she became president in 1998, Congress had lost its upper caste base to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because of its Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Its worries were further compounded because the partys Muslim supporters were alienated from Congress. They blamed then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, a Congress veteran, for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Then again, its once solid phalanx of Dalit voters found the radicalism of Bahujan Samaj Partys Kanshi Ram more alluring than the politics of cooption and gradualism of Congress.

It was just the moment for the Congress president to reconfigure the party's social base. Almost all leaders bring their caste brethren into the parties they lead. Then there are other social groups welded to the leaders caste group. However, Sonia couldnt offer an identifiable caste nucleus for building a social alliance. Nor could then prime minister Manmohan Singh  a Sikhs appeal to Hindu social groups is inherently limited.

It was indeed no mean achievement for Congress to win the 2009 General Elections to Lok Sabha despite its social base not crystallising into votes. The party overcame this hurdle because of the rights-based Acts, which earned it the gratitude and votes of the poor, a category which transcended caste and religion, as did Sonias own political personality. No less significant was the economic boom witnessed during the five years of Singhs rule. He helped the party win the temporary support of the middle class.

From this perspective, Sonia revived Congress, spawning hope among its supporters that it could recover its earlier vivacity. Their hopes were dashed as one scam after another surfaced to erode the credibility of Congress. Both Gandhi and Singh were mute witnesses to it, unable to arrest the partys plunging popularity.

The blame was decidedly not Singhs. He headed a coalition which Gandhi had cobbled together. The post of the prime minister was assigned to him; he didnt win it on his own. He was responsible for governance. Sonia oversaw the politics of the coalition. It was mostly ministers belonging to the coalition partners of Congress who were accused of malfeasance. Sonia should have asked the coalition partners to shape up or ship out  or face a midterm poll.

Sonia did not exercise these options because of her political compulsions. She knew Congress wasnt in fine fettle to fight the elections on its own and that the party was dependent on its partners in the coalition to be counted as a serious contender to power. Sonia did not think it was in the interest of Congress to eject them from the government. She allowed the interest of the party to supersede over that of governance.

The Congress paid dearly for it, plunging to its poorest performance ever in the 2014 General Election to Lok Sabha and delaying the anointing of her son, Rahul Gandhi, as the party president. Though Congress continues to lag far behind BJP, Sonia couldnt have but retired at this juncture.

This is not because she is old or ill, but largely because Congress seems to have belatedly understood that it cannot but engage with Hinduism and the anxieties of the Hindus.

Sonias Christian identity curbs her entry into the religious realm and articulate, in explicit terms, the choice before the Hindus, whether they wish to retain their eclecticism or become dogmatic and narrow-minded. Sonia couldnt have, for instance, visited a slew of temples in Gujarat as Rahul has over the last two months.

From this perspective, Sonias political personality transcending caste and religion has a limited appeal. Sadly because that is precisely what the founding fathers had conceived of the modern Indian identity.
New Delhi: Former Union minister P Chidambaram has said that the Congress will create an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity and jobs for the youth under the leadership of new party chief Rahul Gandhi.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said Gandhi's inaugural speech on Saturday laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward before the people.

"The Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty," he said.

Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 16, 2017

The senior Congress leader said that his party's recall of India's history was different from the BJP's. "Our idea of India is different from the BJP's. Mr Rahul Gandhi called upon India's youth to defend our idea of India, and I am sure the young will respond," Chidambaram tweeted.

Mr Rahul Gandhi's inaugural speech today laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward before the people.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 16, 2017

In his first speech to party workers after his formal takeover on Saturday, Gandhi set the tone of its future course and how the party would take on its arch-rival BJP, saying the Congress was for inclusive politics and that it respects all Indians that extends even to the ruling party.

His party, the new Congress president said, brought India into the 21st century and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking India back to the medieval times.
tech2 News Staff

Google's war against fake news has been raging for almost a year now following the ranking of several misleading articles on Google's search results around December 2016. As part of its ongoing mission to keep misleading news at a distance, Google has updated its News guidelines to keep away readers from websites which are dishonest about their country of origin.

As reported by Engadget, a spokeswoman for Google in conversation with Bloomberg explained away the move as a matter of adapting to the "constantly changing web". The spokeswoman also stated that the move was to ensure that people "understand and see where their news online is coming from."

Google and other social media giants have been under a lot of pressure from US lawmakers to strengthen their news-filtering methods. The urgency to do so was felt after revelations of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections, where the Russians allegedly targeted sections of people with socially divisive ads and misleading information.

A subhead dealing with misrepresentation under Google's updated Google News index guidelines reads, "Sites included in Google News must not misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about their ownership or primary purpose. This includes, but isnt limited to, sites that misrepresent or conceal their country of origin or are directed at users in another country under false premises."

The move could be of considerable help to people who read news on Google, in knowing the publication's country of origin and understanding whether the website itself could be deceptive in nature.
tech2 News Staff

Microsoft has been bundling a third-party password manager with new installation files of its Windows 10 operating system. A security researcher has now discovered that the third-party software comes with a critical security bug.

As per a report by Engadget, it was Google's Project Zero researcher Tavis Ormandy who discovered the flaw and disclosed it to Microsoft. The flaw was essentially a browser plugin bug that could enable malicious websites to steal passwords. To demonstrate how easy it is to steal passwords with the plugin installed, Ormandy linked to a working demo of the bug stealing a user's Twitter password.

Ormandy explained in his disclosure post, "I've heard of Keeper, I remember filing a bug a while ago about how they were injecting privileged UI into pages. I checked and they're doing the same thing again with this version. Nevertheless, this is a complete compromise of Keeper security, allowing any website to steal any password."

A Microsoft spokesperson responded to ArsTechnica in a report stating the Keeper team had come up with a patch that fixes the problem, 24-hours after Ormandy had brought the bug to its notice. Microsoft attempted to reassure its users by stating that the bug should not be any consequence if the software is up to date, but did not respond to why it failed to catch the bug in its security tests before it was bundled with Windows 10.
Reuters

The United States has denied suggestions it undermined an investigation into a massive data breach at the Italian cybersecurity firm Hacking Team, saying it did everything it could to help in the case.

A Milan magistrate last week recommended shelving an investigation into six people who were suspected of orchestrating the 2015 data theft.

A senior judicial source criticized US officials for not handing over a computer belonging to a key suspect, saying it might have contained information vital to the probe.

But in a comment emailed to Reuters, the US Department of Justice in Washington denied the United States was to blame for the case floundering.

The United States assisted Italy to the greatest extent possible and the relevant Italian authorities know that, a US Department of Justice spokesperson wrote.

Magistrates opened their investigation in July 2015 after hackers downloaded 400 gigabytes of data from the firm, which makes software that allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tap into the phones and computers of suspects.

Much of the data later showed up on the WikiLeaks website.

The company said at the time it believed former employees had stolen vital code that gave them access to its systems. It also speculated that a foreign government might have been behind the hacking.

The Italian probe led magistrates to a suspect living in Nashville, Tennessee. US authorities raided his house and took the man in for questioning, however a senior judicial source in Milan, with direct knowledge of the case, said his computer was never sent to Italy for technical assessment.

We could not carry out the checks on the computer to see if it contained the evidence that we were looking for because the United States did not give it to us. We did not receive an explanation for this decision, the source said.
Kandahar: An Afghan woman was killed and four civilians wounded when a suicide car bomb struck a NATO-led coalition forces' convoy in Kandahar city on Sunday, an official said.

The blast occurred around 2 pm local time in Police District 5 of Kandahar city, capital of southern province of Kandahar, along a road which connects the city to the international airport, the official, who did not want to be named, told Xinhua news agency.

"The initial information found a woman was killed and four civilians were wounded by the blast. But no foreigner from the convoy was hurt as they were sitting in bomb proof vehicles," he said.

"We heard a huge blast when a convoy of international forces was passing our neighbourhood. The whole place has now been sealed off, and no one knows what happened to residents near the blast site," witness Ahmad told Xinhua.

Several vehicles and nearby houses were also damaged by the blast, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.

More than 2,640 civilians were killed and over 5,370 others injured in conflict-related incidents in first nine months of the year in Afghanistan, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country.
Kabul: An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents have attacked checkpoints in the southern Helmand province, killing 11 police.

Omar Zwak, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said Afghan forces eventually repelled the attack early Sunday in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

He said the insurgents also suffered casualties, without providing figures.

The Taliban, who have a strong and growing presence in Helmand, claimed the attack.

The insurgents launch near-daily attacks across the country, mainly targeting security forces.
Sydney: A Sydney-based "loyal agent of North Korea" has been charged with trying to sell missile parts and technology on the black market to raise money for Pyongyang in breach of international sanctions, Australian police said Sunday.

The 59-year-old naturalised Australian citizen of Korean descent, named in local media as Chan Han Choi, was attempting to broker illicit deals that could have generated "tens of millions of dollars" for North Korea, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

Choi was involved in discussions to set up a ballistic missile production facility and the supply of missile construction plans in addition to components, software and the transfer of technical expertise from Pyongyang, police alleged.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters the case was "like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil", alleging that the man was in contact with high-ranking North Korean officials.

"This man is a loyal agent of North Korea, believing he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose."

The alleged agent's plans did not involve other governments or officials, police said. Authorities did not reveal which individuals or entities the man was allegedly trying to trade with.

North Korea is under tough United Nations sanctions aimed at choking off revenue to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

"This is a very important arrest, the charges laid are of the greatest nature," prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.

"North Korea is a dangerous, reckless, criminal regime threatening the peace of the region. It supports itself by breaching UN sanctions.

"It is vitally important that all nations ... enforce those sanctions because the more economic pressure that can be brought on North Korea, the sooner that regime will be brought to its senses."

Choi, who has lived in Australia for three decades, allegedly used encrypted communication services to facilitate the attempted trades, which included the transfer of coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Choi was refused bail on Sunday after being arrested in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood on Saturday. He faces a total of six charges, with maximum penalties of up to 10 years in jail.

Police starting looking into his activities earlier this year after a tip-off from a "foreign law enforcement partner", Gaughan said without giving further details.

Police would not rule out further charges and were probing other attempted commodity trades involving oil and gemstones, as well as investigating Choi's activities as far back as 2008.

This is the first time charges have been laid for breaches under Canberra's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and for violating UN sanctions against North Korea in Australia.

Global anxiety about North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's authoritarian government has steadily risen this year, with Washington calling on other UN members to cut ties with Pyongyang in order to squeeze the secretive regime.
Indore: Controversial writer Taslima Nasreen says the condition of religious minorities is much better in India than in neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The exiled Bangaldeshi author alleged that atrocities are committed against Hindus and Buddhists in Bangladesh.

"Though I have never been to Pakistan, but have read that members of religious minorities there are being converted and persecuted," the 55-year-old writer told PTI in an interview.

The author was in the city for the Indore Literature Festival on 15 December.

She said, "The condition of religious minorities is much better in India as compared to these two nations. The Constitution of India is same for all."

"However, I am not saying that minority communities do not have any problem in India," said Nasreen, who had fled Bangladesh in the early 1990s after right wing Muslim outfits issued death threats to her.

"I am a citizen of Europe but India appears to be home to me. I am thankful to the Indian government to have given me permission to stay here. I want to work for the betterment of the Indian society," the writer of the much-acclaimed book Lajja (Shame) said.

On her write-up in an online magazine over the killing of a Muslim labourer in Rajasthan, Nasreen denied that she had equated the Hindu community with terror group Islamic State after the incident.

"It is totally wrong to say that I, in my article, equated the entire Hindu community with (Islamic State). I had mentioned one particular incident (about the posting of video on social media of the killing of a Muslim labourer). I am quite upset with these false allegations," she said.

She alleged that some people were distorting a part of her article and intentionally fanning bitterness and hatred against her on social media.

Hailing Indian laws and their implementation, she noted that the accused in the Rajasthan killing incident was arrested and sent to jail.

A 48-year-old Muslim labourer, from West Bengal, was hacked and burnt to death in Rajasthan's Rajsamand earlier this month.

Nasreen, meanwhile, alleged that in Bangladesh, the people who committed excesses on minorities were roaming free.

"The society and the environ you love, you want to see it free from violence and bitterness. That is why I write indiscriminately against extremists of every religion," the writer said.

Advocating a common civil code across the world, Nasreen said due to religion-based laws, women were facing harassment and discrimination.
Muzaffarabad: Several hundred metres underground, thousands of labourers grind away day and night on a mammoth hydroelectric project in contested Kashmir, where India and Pakistan are racing to tap the subcontinent's diminishing freshwater supplies.

The arch rivals have been building duelling power plants along the banks of the turquoise Neelum River for years.

The two projects, located on opposite sides of the Line of Control  the de facto border in Kashmir  are now close to completion, fuelling tensions between the neighbours with Pakistan particularly worried their downstream project will be deprived of much-needed water by India.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir is at the heart of a 70-year conflict between the nuclear-armed foes, with both sides laying claim to the conflict-riven territory.

The rivalry on the Neelum is underlined by both countries' unquenchable need for freshwater, as their surging populations and developing economies continue to stress already diminished waters tables.

This situation represents a serious challenge to Pakistan's food security and long-term growth, its central bank recently warned in a report.

The geography of the wider region only exacerbates the problem.

The Indus River  into which the waters of the Neelum ultimately flow  is one of the longest on the continent, cutting through ultra-sensitive borders in the region.

It rises in Tibet, crosses Kashmir and waters 65 percent of Pakistan's territory, including the vast, fertile plains of Punjab province  the country's bread basket  before flowing into the Indian Ocean.

The Indus Water Treaty, painfully ratified in 1960 under the auspices of the World Bank, theoretically regulates water allocation between the countries and is considered a rare diplomatic success story amid a bitter history.

It provides India with access to three eastern rivers (the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Pakistan with three in the west (the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum), while setting the conditions for water usage.

Underground cathedral

As a tributary of the Jhelum River, the Neelum theoretically falls into Pakistan's sphere, which launched the Neelum-Jhelum power plant project a quarter of a century ago to counter the legal, but competing Kishanganga project in Indian Kashmir.

At the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum, the gigantic underground cathedral of concrete and steel is near completion -- the four generators are in place, waiting for the transformers and the network to be connected.

More than 6,000 Pakistani and Chinese workers busy themselves in the 28 kilometres (17 miles) of underground tunnels or in the power station itself, buried under 400 metres of rock in the heart of the Himalayas.

After completion, the dam is expected to churn out 969 MW of electricity by mid-2018.

"It is a fantastic feeling to see the outcome of such a historic project," enthused Arif Shah, an engineer working on the site for eight years.

"We hope to finish our hydroelectric plant before the Indians," he smiles, while acknowledging that the real pressure comes from Islamabad, which has promised to end the debilitating power cuts nationwide ahead of the the 2018 elections.

On the Indian side, the Kishanganga power station is also in its final phase, but has delayed its late 2017 completion date, according to an official, in part because of ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley.

Water and blood

Pakistan has filed cases at the World Bank against India and the Neelum dam, which it says will unfairly restrict the amount of water headed downstream.

According to the plant's director Nayyar Aluddin, the production of electricity could shrink by 10-13 percent because of the Indian project.

But the hydroelectric projects on the Neelum River are only one of several points of friction between the two countries as the Indus Treaty faces increasingly pressing disputes.

Beyond the technical bickering, Islamabad is especially afraid of India cutting into its precious water supplies during strategic agricultural seasons that are key to feeding the country's 207 million residents.

The possibility of hitting Pakistan's food supply is regularly amped up by both Indian and Pakistani media, stretching perennially taut relations.

India's prime minister Narendra Modi hinted at such reprisals following an attack in Indian Kashmir blamed on Pakistani insurgents in September 2016.

"Blood and water can't flow together," he said.

However, a blockade of any significant magnitude is not really technically feasible, while neither party has seriously sought to challenge the Treaty of the Indus.

"The disputes over the barrages are mostly symptoms of poor bilateral relationships," said Gareth Price, a researcher at Chatham House.

The problem is that the rival countries conceive water as a zero-sum game  if one taps the resource, it means they are lost to the other.

But Islamabad must do its part, wrote Neil Buhne, UN coordinator in Pakistan, in an op-ed calling for the country to diversify "its water resources" while reigning in inefficiencies that wastes water.
Karachi/Islamabad: At least eight worshippers were killed and 20 others injured on Sunday in a suicide bombing at a church in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochisan province.

Around four militants attacked the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in the provincial capital, when the Sunday service was going on, according to police.

Balochistan home minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two attackers were involved.

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said that two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police. He said the fleeing militants were chased by police and killed.

He said that four worshippers were killed and 20 others injured in the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Pakistan interior minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.
Karachi: Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as "patriotic", former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan's "safety and security", according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general, who is on self-exile in Dubai, had said in November that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah.

"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," the ARY News quoted him as saying.

Musharraf said the two groups have large public support and good people and no one could object if they formed a political party.

The LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed, while the JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

JuD chief Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack, had last month unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

The former military ruler further said that so far the two groups have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection.

Musharraf had in November announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharraf's Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, then toppled prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan for nine years, is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan. He unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.

He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharif's control anymore".
Washington: Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian contacts with US president Donald Trump's campaign has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, according to several people familiar with Trump's transition organization.

But the investigators did not directly request the records from Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration, a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to those familiar with the Trump transition organization.

The tens of thousands of emails in question pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials. Many of the emails that Mueller's investigators have now include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top government posts, said those familiar with the transition. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the records' sensitivity.

On Saturday, Kory Langhofer, general counsel for the transition group, sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing that the GSA had improperly provided the transition records to Mueller's investigators. In the letter to the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and the Senate Homeland Security committees, Langhofer contends that the disclosure by GSA was "unauthorized," and it considers the documents private and privileged and not government property.

Langhofer also said that a GSA official appointed by Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's attorneys. According to Langhofer, the assurance was made by then-GSA General Counsel Richard Beckler, who was hospitalized in August and has since died. A copy of the letter was viewed by the AP.

But late Saturday, another GSA official present for the conversation told Buzzfeed News that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails to Mueller's team. The GSA has provided office space and other aid to presidential transitions in recent years and typically houses electronic transition records in its computer system.

GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt told Buzzfeed that Beckler didn't make a commitment to the transition team that requests from law enforcement for materials would be routed through transition lawyers.

Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the agency wouldn't hold back records from law enforcement. Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on the government servers are subject to monitoring and auditing, he told Buzzfeed, and there's no expectation of privacy.

The documents were provided to Mueller's team by the GSA in September in response to requests from the FBI, but the transition wasn't informed at the time, according to people familiar with the transition organization. Officials with Trump for America learned last Wednesday that GSA officials had turned over the cache of emails to Mueller's team.

Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now cooperating with Mueller's investigation. Flynn was fired by Trump in February for misleading senior administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

It's unclear how revelatory the email accounts maintained by the GSA will be for Mueller. Several high-level Trump advisers sometimes used other email accounts to communicate about transition issues between Election Day and the inauguration.

Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, and Flynn attorney, Robert Kelner, declined to comment. Jay Sekulow, an attorney on Trump's personal legal team, referred questions to the transition group. Spokespeople for GSA didn't immediately respond to AP's emailed requests for comment.

The media site Axios first reported on the transfer of the emails to Mueller's team.
Coxs Bazar: The influx of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh could fuel terrorism and drugs, Bangladesh information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has warned.

In an interview with Firstpost Inu said, For the past ten years we have been looking into these matters. The jihadi elements have been segregated and isolated and so far, they have not been able to do anything in the camps. There are sporadic incidents here and there, but we are very serious about this. However, this time, with the refugees, the drugs and terror problems may arise. The whole administration is on alert."

Around a million Rohingya are estimated to be be living in Bangladesh after being uprooted from their homes in Myanmar following a series of crackdowns in Rakhine State by the military beginning in 1978. The current wave, is the sixth and largest exodus, with over six lakh Rohingya seeking refuge.

According to sources, networks facilitating organised crime such as human trafficking and drugs have only multiplied in the coastal district of Coxs Bazar where most of the refugees are being rehabilitated in camps. Some rebel cadres of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are also reportedly hiding at a few camps in Teknaf, which borders Myanmar.

It is not very difficult to lure a section of the refugees into this rackets. It is a question of survival for many of them and they are willing to take the risks and work for a little money, said a retired government official.

In the past few weeks, several local organisations in Coxs Bazar have also expressed concern and asked the government to ensure early repatriation of the migrants to Myanmar.

Haq, however, was confident that terrorism and organised crime would not be allowed to flourish in these Chittagong districts. There are stray cases of people leaving the camps. Our counter-intelligence is extremely efficient in tackling the terrorist network within Bangladesh. We can identify who is an ARSA cadre and who is not.

The minister has made a case for a tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Myanmar and the United Nations for ensuring that the Rohingya are allowed to return to Myanmar. He added that the Rohingya must be rehabilitated, given citizenship and those responsible for the killings must be brought to book and prosecuted. Kofi Annans recommendations, he said, could be the base for restoring normalcy in Myanmars Rakhine State.

However, many observers are skeptical about Rohingya returning although an agreement was signed between the two neighbours last month. There were many migrants at the camps in Kutupalong and Nayapara in Coxs Bazar who expressed doubts about going home.

Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing categorically stated the Rohingya must fulfill the criteria laid in the citizenship law in 1982 and that they must be accepted by the local communities in Rakhine. The Rohingya, however, do not find mention in the list of ethnic communities that have been compiled by the Myanmar government.

It seems that the Bangladesh government is aware of the complexities involved in the repatriation process, which is why an island named Bhasan Char has already been selected as a place to where the refugees could be shifted with a rehabilitation plan.

We will wait for one year for the repatriation," Haq said. "And if that does not happen, then they (Rohingya) would be transferred to the island where they will be better off and remain segregated.

Rajeev Bhattacharyya is a senior journalist in Guwahati and author of Rendezvous With Rebels: Journey to Meet Indias Most Wanted Men
While Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is currently spearheading an anti-corruption probe and wealth accumulation at home that saw more than 200 princes and dozens of former ministers being detained, reports have emerged that the crown prince is the owner of a $300 million chateau near Versailles, France.

According to an exclusive report by The New York Times, Chateau Louis XIV landscaped in a 57-acre park in Louveciennes, near Versailles, was sold anonymously in 2015, with Forbes magazine calling it the "world's most expensive home".

The report states that the chateau's ownership is meticulously hidden through various shell companies in France and Luxembourg, all of which are owned by Eight Investment Company, a Saudi firm led by the head of Prince Mohammed's personal foundation. Sources close to the Saudi royal family said the purchase was for the crown prince.

The Eight Investment Company came to light when Paradise Papers, records leaked from a Bermuda law firm Appleby, broke news. The company also backed Prince Mohammed's 440-foot yacht purchase in 2015.

A Leonardo da Vinci painting "Salvador Mundi" sold for a record $450 million in November, is reported to have been acquired by an obscure Saudi prince, close to Crown Prince Mohammed, as per the report. The revelation that Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud was the buyer, was according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. He is a friend and associate of the country's 32-year-old Crown Prince.

While Saudi Arabia recently lifted a ban on cinemas after 35 years as part of reforms under the crown prince, the new revelations could do much damage to his anti-corruption probe.

Al-Arabiya had earlier reported that the anti-graft committee under the crown prince was looking into devastating and deadly floods that overwhelmed parts of the city of Jiddah in 2009 and investigating the Saudi government's response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus that has killed several hundred people in the past few years.

The government said that the anti-corruption committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed has the right to issue arrest warrants, impose travel restrictions and freeze bank accounts. It can also trace funds, prevent the transfer of funds or the liquidation of assets and take other precautionary measures until cases are referred to the judiciary.

Prince Mohammed's rise to power began in 2013 when he was named the head of the Crown Prince's Court, with the rank of a minister. He capped his rapid rise to power in June this year by replacing his elder cousin Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, widely known as MbN, as crown prince.

Prince Mohammed's crackdown on corruption is just the latest in a wave of frenetic changes in the kingdom over the past two-and-a-half years. He said he's determined to remodel his conservative country into a modern state no longer dependent on oil.

With inputs from agencies
Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday observed the third anniversary of Peshawar school massacre in which at least 150 people, mostly students, were killed with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi terming it a "black day" and vowing to eliminate militancy from the country.

Taliban militants stormed military-run Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern city of Peshawar on 16 December, 2014, killing at least 150 people, mostly children.

"The memory of the APS victims would continues to disturb us. This day would keep recalling us as how many innocent souls we had sacrificed to purge our homeland of terrorists," Abbasi said in his message on the anniversary.

He said the day would be remembered as a "black day in the history of Pakistan when barbaric elements targeted the innocent children of a Peshawar school".

Abbasi urged the nation to make a pledge to build a democratic society with zero tolerance for violence and extremism in name of religion, sect, ethnicity or race.

"The Pakistani nation has rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism, more than any other nation in the world," he said.

The APS tragedy had led to the historic national unity and promoted the nation to make a firm resolve for unanimously launching a decisive action against terrorists, Abbasi said.

He said the Pakistani security forces had defeated terrorists under the National Action Plan (NAP).

"The blood of the innocent people has come to fruition making the Pakistani nation the only nation across the world that had defeated the terrorists," he claimed.

Abbasi said it was also the day to "renew our national resolve against terrorism and keep extremists away from our ranks".

"The entire Pakistani nation pays tribute to its innocent martyrs, Pakistan Army, police and security forces and makes a pledge to take this struggle to its logical end," he said.

President Mamnoon Hussain said the incident was not only a "national tragedy but an eye opener to renew the national pledge against extremism and terrorism".

He said the country had witnessed the efforts put forth by the security forces to eliminate terrorism.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in his message said that the "great sacrifice of innocent beloved children & their brave families remains unforgettable".

"It symbolises our undeterred resolve in love of our motherland. Your sacrifice has not gone in vain, we owe this improving peace to you," he said.
Karachi: Thousands of Islamists have rallied in two major cities in Pakistan to condemn US president Donald Trump for declaring Jerusalem Israel's capital.

Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Karachi and advocates of US-wanted Islamist Hafiz Saeed in Lahore dispersed peacefully after rallying Sunday for the Palestinian cause.

Protests have persisted in Pakistan since Trump's announcement angered Muslims across the world.

The chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, called on all Muslim nations to suspend diplomatic ties with the US until it reconsiders its Jerusalem decision.

Hafiz Saeed said that Muslims the world over should put aside any differences and unite around the cause of "liberating" Jerusalem.

Muslim-majority Pakistan has reiterated its support for the Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.
United Nations: The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would affirm that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded, in response to the US decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital.

Egypt circulated the draft text on Sunday and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the international consensus, US president Donald Trump announced in December that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem", without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

It affirms that "any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded."

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

The United States found itself isolated at the Security Council last week when all 14 other members including allies Britain, France and Italy condemned its decision.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

In 1980, the council adopted a resolution stating that "all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying power, which purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal validity."

The United States abstained in that vote, allowing the measure to pass.
Washington: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday he does not see the need for a stepped-up military posture against Iran, the day after a top diplomat said evidence shows Tehran is supporting Huthi rebels in Yemen.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday presented missile fragments and other military gear that she said came from Iran and had been used against US ally Saudi Arabia.

When asked if he thought such evidence warranted an emboldened or expanded military response from the US, Mattis said: "Not militarily, no."

"It's the reason Ambassador Haley was there and not one of our generals," he told Pentagon reporters.

"This is a diplomatically-led effort to expose to the world what Iran is up to."

Mattis lambasted Iran for its support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, "despite the murder of his own people on the industrial scale," and of its support for Lebanese group Hezbollah.

What Iran is "doing right now is illegal, is contributing to the deaths of innocent people," Mattis said.

"To expose what they are doing is healthy for the international community for their awareness of what's going on there."

Haley on Wednesday said a missile fired on 4 November from Yemen toward Riyadh airport had been made in Iran.
IRAs have helped millions of Americans set manage trillions of dollars in retirement savings. Smart taxpayers take full advantage of IRAs during their careers in order to maximize their savings and reap the valuable benefit of tax deferral and either up-front deductions for traditional IRA contributions or tax-free withdrawals from Roth IRAs. Yet in order to make sure you get the most out of your IRA, there are a few facts about these retirement accounts you need to know. By keeping the following three things in mind, you'll better understand the true power of your IRA and what you need to do to make sure it works as hard as it can for you.

1. Some IRAs require you to take withdrawals, but others don't

Congress knew when it enacted the laws that created IRAs that some taxpayers would want to take advantage of their tax advantages for as long as they possibly could. That's why the rules for traditional IRAs included provisions that forced retirement savers to start taking withdrawals from their accounts after they retired. Required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs must begin the year you reach age 70 1/2, and the amount you have to withdraw is calculated based on the value of the IRA and your life expectancy as calculated using IRS tables. Fail to do so, and you'll owe the IRS a whopping 50% penalty on what you should have taken out.

Roth IRAs, however, have no RMD provisions. Lawmakers were less worried about Roth IRAs because they used after-tax money, and withdrawals in retirement generate no tax revenue for the government. Those who prefer to control when they will take money out of their IRAs should look closely at Roths in order to avoid having to deal with required minimum distribution rules.

2. You can convert an IRA to a Roth even if you can't contribute to a Roth directly

Not everyone can open a Roth IRA. When they were first created, there were income limits that applied both to contributing to Roths and to converting assets from other types of retirement accounts to Roths. The net impact was to lock out high-income taxpayers from ever getting access to these valuable tax-free retirement accounts.

In 2010, Congress eliminated the income limits for Roth conversions. That opened the door for all taxpayers to have Roth IRAs, but because lawmakers kept the Roth contribution income limits in place, the only choice that high-income taxpayers had was to convert an existing IRA. Converting a Roth has immediate tax consequences, but for many retirees, the up-front tax cost can be worth it in order to reap the benefits going forward.

3. Naming an IRA beneficiary is crucial

One thing that many retirees neglect to do is to choose a beneficiary for their IRAs. Unlike regular investment assets that pass to heirs according to the provisions of your will, an IRA beneficiary designation is necessary in order to make sure that the people you want to inherit your IRA will get the maximum tax benefits possible.

If you fail to name an IRA beneficiary, then the assets will go to your estate. That might sound like exactly what you'd want, but if your executor takes withdrawals from the IRA to fund bequests, then it can generate immediate taxable income for the estate or its heirs. That can take away the right that many heirs would otherwise have to stretch out their distributions over the course of their lives. Meanwhile, some IRA owners name beneficiaries but then fail to change them after major life events like marriage, divorce, or the birth of children or grandchildren. That can lead to bigger problems, especially if you thought that changing your will was good enough to cover all your assets. Take a moment to check your beneficiary designations on your IRAs and make sure they're the people you truly want to get your retirement money after your death.

Be smart about IRAs

IRAs are valuable tools, but you have to use them correctly. If you keep the three things above in mind, you'll be in a better position to enjoy your retirement.

The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

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NBC paid thousands of dollars to an assistant producer on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" nearly two decades ago after she brought a sexual harassment complaint against the longtime host, The Daily Caller reported Saturday.

The website, citing two sources, reported that NBC paid the woman $40,000 to settle her claim against Matthews in 1999. An NBC spokesperson told The Daily Caller the network paid a smaller, unspecified amount as part of a severance package.

The woman complained to executives that Matthews, now 71, had made inappropriate comments to her and made inappropriate jokes about her to others.

An MSNBC spokesman told The Daily Caller that Matthews had been slapped with a formal reprimand at the time the woman made her complaint. The website reported that the network decided that the complaints were "inappropriate and juvenile," but were not intended as propositions.

Matthews has hosted "Hardball" on MSNBC since 1997. He also hosted the syndicated "Chris Matthews Show" between 2002 and 2013 and has authored eight books, most recently a biography of Robert Kennedy.

Click for more from The Daily Caller.
During the holiday season, people are known be extra-generous. But a waitress in Virginia mustve cemented her spot on the nice list this year because she received a $1,010 tip from an anonymous group, the Tip Bombers, Fox 5 DC reported.

Liz Heron, who works at Jimmys Old Town Tavern in Herndon, told the outlet that she received the big tip on a $125 lunch check on Friday. The cash was reportedly left by the Tip Bombers, a group of individuals who, every holiday season, pool their money to leave a massive gratuity for their server at a randomly chosen restaurant, the outlet said.

MASSIVE BRAWL BREAKS OUT AT MCDONALDS IN MICHIGAN

According to the groups Twitter account, it has been spreading cheer to waiters and waitresses by Tip Bombing since 2003.

I dont even know what to say Im so happy.  Waitress Liz Heron

And thats exactly what happened to Heron, who got an 808 percent tip, the group said on its website.

The waitress told Fox 5 DC that she was overwhelmed by the gesture. I dont even know what to say, she said. Im so happy.

OVER 400 SUBWAY FRANCISE OWNERS PROTEST $5 FOOTLONG RETURN

Heron reportedly lost everything she had, including four pets, in a house fire in 2015. The money, she told Fox 5 DC, will help her rebuild, as shes recently moved back into her home.

It gives me hope for humanity, Heron said. There are still people with huge hearts out there, and that means so much.

She reportedly gave a portion of the money to a co-worker. Some of it will also be donated while the rest will be used to buy some presents, Fox 5 DC said.
Over the last week, celebrity chef Mario Batali has been accused of sexual harassment by several former employees and contemporaries in the restaurant industry. And since those allegations came to light, the celebrity chef has been removed from the television show The Chew, as well as been asked to step down from day to day operations at his restaurants.

Now, the restauranteur has issued another apology, this time via an emailed statement to his newsletter subscribers  but fans aren't exactly pleased.

MARIO BATALI'S UPCOMING FOOD NETWORK SERIES PUT 'ON HOLD' AMID ALLEGATIONS

In the emailed statement, Batali started by acknowledging his past behavior.

As many of you know, this week there has been some news coverage about some of my past behavior, he wrote. I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team. My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility. Sharing the joys of Italian food, tradition and hospitality with all of you, each week, is an honor and privilege. Without the support of all of you  my fans  I would never have a forum in which to expound on this.

The apology seems to end with a sincere pledge, I will work every day to regain your respect and trust. mb

However, after the signature, Batali added an awkward post script that has left the internet confused and upset.

ps. in case youre searching for a holiday-inspired breakfast, these Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls are a fan favorite, he wrote with a link for the recipe.

Twitter was quick to pounce on the strange apology, calling it meaningless and tone-deaf.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Mario Batali's apology to the people who might stop spending money on his brand including a cinnamon bun recipe was worse than tone deaf. It was insulting to his victims, one person tweeted.

Another user found the recipe inclusion so bizarre that he thought it was a gag by the Onion  a satirical news site.

One woman even fixed the apology by crossing out the cinnamon roll recipe and replacing the word victims over those he apologized to.
Piers Morgan is going to hate this!

A new photoshoot in Italian Vogue signals that the trend of scantily clad models posing suggestively with pasta wont be coming to an end anytime soon.

In one shot from the racy spread, Bella Hadid and Taylor Hill can be seen decked out in nothing but heels, diamonds and  spaghetti.

The sexy snap comes on the heels of a video Emily Ratajkowski shot for this years Love magazine Advent calendar, in which the lingerie-clad model rolls around in the Italian cuisine staple.

The clip set off the loud-mouthed Morgan, who couldnt stop tweeting about the model writhing around in pasta.

This is Emily Ratajkowski promoting feminism. Somewhere, Emmeline Pankhurst just vomited, Morgan wrote, posting a composite of sultry screencaps from the video. The tweet followed a tense discussion with model Nicola McClean on Good Morning Britain in which he called Ratajkowski a global bimbo.

The model seemed unimpressed by Morgans latest attempt at stirring up outrage online.

Lol never said my love video was a feminist statement, she tweeted. But now its worth saying that telling women what to do with their bodies & sexuality is actually just classic sexism. I can have opinions about feminism & also do sexy photo shoots k thanks.

That same week, as The Cut points out, photographer Ellen von Unwerth posted a pic of Caroline Vreeland and Doina Ciobanu posing with the pasta.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is accused of acting in complete disregard for the law and must be removed. And so, too, must his entire team.

There is devastating new evidence to suggest that Mueller and his staff of lawyers improperly, if not illegally, obtained tens of thousands of private documents belonging to President-elect Trump's Presidential Transition Team (PTT). The material includes emails, laptops and cell phones used by 13 PTT members.

Critically, a "significant volume of privileged material" was taken by Mueller, according to the Trump transition lawyer, and then used by the special counsel team in its investigation. Mueller's staff apparently admits this egregious violation, which the law strictly forbids.

Under the law, the only remedy is Mueller's dismissal from the case.

The Records Are Private

The Presidential Transition Act states that all records of transition operations are private and confidential.

On November 16, 2016, roughly ten days after Trump was elected president, the Chief Records Officer of the U.S. Government sent a letter to all federal agencies reminding them that "the materials that PTT members create or receive are not Federal or Presidential records, but are considered private materials."

Yet Mueller seems to have ignored the law. Without a warrant or subpoena, his team of lawyers brazenly demanded these private records from the General Services Administration (GSA) which held custody of the materials. The GSA does this as a service to all incoming presidents out of courtesy, but it neither owns the documents nor is authorized to release them to anyone under any circumstances because they are deemed entirely private.

If true, Mueller's conduct is not only unethical and improper, it constitutes lawlessness. On this basis, he must be removed and replaced.

Counsel for the Trump Transition Team has sent a letter to Congress alleging the Fourth Amendment was violated in "failing to obtain a warrant for the search or seizure of private property in which the owner has a reasonable expectation of privacy (Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 489)."

Mueller might contest the claim of an unlawful seizure because the GSA willingly handed over the documents, but this disregards the fact that the GSA broke the law and Mueller surely knew it when he pressured the agency to do so.

Privileged Material

The most serious charge against Mueller is that he obtained, reviewed and used material that is privileged.

For months, Mueller allegedly failed to disclose to the transition team that he acquired these privileged documents. Under the law, he and his lawyers are not entitled to possess or read any of them. Even worse, the transition team says it warned the special counsel six months ago that it had no right to access the records without gaining permission from the PTT.

Courts have clearly stated what prosecutors are supposed to do under these circumstances: "An attorney who receives privileged documents has an ethical duty to cease review of the documents, notify the privilege holder, and return the documents." (Arnold, 2004 U.S. Dist. Lexis 19381, at 30.)

Did Mueller do this? Apparently not. He never notified PTT when his staff of lawyers encountered the privileged documents and he compounded his violation of the law by possessing and accessing them for months.

Only the owner of such materials can waive the privileged that protects them. Since the GSA does not, under the law, own the records, only the transition team can make such a waiver. It did not.

Hence, if any illegally obtained documents have been used in the Trump-Russia case, then the results are tainted and invalid. This is a well-established principle of law.

Mueller Must Be Removed

The use by Mueller of even one privileged document can, and must, result in his disqualification from the case.

Courts have frequently used their supervisory authority to disqualify prosecutors for obtaining materials protected by the attorney-client privilege. (In re Grand Jury Proceedings John Doe #462, 757 F.2d600 Granger v Peyton, 379 F.2d 709, Arnold v. Cargill Inc., No. 01-2086, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19381.)

Statutory law also demands Mueller's removal. Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. 2635.501, government employees, including prosecutors, are directed to "take appropriate steps to avoid an appearance of loss of impartiality in the performance of his or her official duties."

The lawyer for the Trump transition team states that the special counsel's office admitted in a telephone conversation on Friday that it failed to use an "ethical wall" or "taint team" to segregate any privileged records. This is often done to keep them isolated from lawyers and investigators involved in the case.

Yet, Mueller did not adopt such precautionary measures. Instead, he apparently allowed his team to utilize the documents while questioning witnesses in the Trump-Russia case.

If true, Mueller's conduct is not only unethical and improper, it constitutes lawlessness. On this basis, he must be removed and replaced.

Given the insular nature of the special counsel operation, it is reasonable to conclude that all the lawyers and investigators likely accessed the privileged documents. Therefore, not just Mueller, but his entire team must be dismissed. This would include Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who oversees the case.

Either Congress should take aggressive action or the Presidential Transition Team (now Trump for America, Inc.) must petition a federal judge to order their removal.

The integrity of the special counsel probe has been deeply compromised by numerous allegations of corrupt acts. In its current composition, it seems beyond repair.

The original version of this column incorrectly cited a case called "Taylor." The correct case name is "Arnold." A revised citation appears above. Additionally, the Finn case was incorrectly quoted. Additional cases have been cited in support for clarification.
Come the holidays, millions of periodic worshipers return to church inspired to reconnect with their faith and to regain spiritual grounding.

However, in these tumultuous times faith can seem elusive amid a world left weary by politicized religion, divisive rhetoric, terrorism, skepticism, and an ever-growing distrust of leaders, icons and institutions.

Yet, it is often in the darkest most disorienting moments that faith can be rediscovered, and truly embraced. And it may  or may not  come from time spent in a house of worship.

I think the best way to rekindle faith is to be in places where faith can find us. Im not simply writing to invite you to a mosque or synagogue or church. Im inviting you to places where people of faith gather and participate in the movement of progression and inclusion we are working hard to achieve.

We urge people of faith and good will to take solace and comfort in the fact that there is a strong current of inclusion, unity, acceptance and celebration of faith among the faithful in the places we gather.

We as a community of faithful have made significant strides to counteract negative forces of division and hate with inclusion and belonging and are working together for a time of unity.

You may know that Lutherans are completing a year of grand celebrations surrounding the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. What I am hoping is that in the coming years we will move from that historic grounding we have commemorated toward greater cooperation with people of faith in ecumenical and inter-religious movements.

There is a great commitment among leaders of various communities of faith to engage progressive advances at the grassroots level, to promote tolerance, and to encourage people to flourish in a new and needed age of community. The amazing strides between Lutherans and Roman Catholics point to this.

There is a strong desire and willingness to work on welcoming all people in a spirit of generous hospitality. As a Lutheran I can say that many of my tribe are engaged in ministry with the LGBTQ communities. In our own Synod here in Metropolitan New York, we are working to address the systemic racism which is Americas original sin. We are strongly speaking out in opposition to the anti-Semitism and Islamophobia all around us. We are engaged with faithful people in our own country and around the world in addressing the abuses of power we see every day. We find our faith and inspiration through these initiatives and we welcome all to join us in this progression.

There are also remarkable efforts at offering Gods welcome to immigrants and asylum-seekers and refugees, though we certainly look for more such opportunities in the face of governmental resistance. We will work actively to participate in inclusive welcome, as our Lord Jesus was himself a refugee.

There are local congregations in which people of faith are welcoming people of all races and nations, one of the great gifts of the amazing communities in which we live.

We urge people of faith and good will to take solace and comfort in the fact that there is a strong current of inclusion, unity, acceptance and celebration of faith among the faithful in the places we gather  houses of worship, communities.

This is the message we as spiritual leaders want to convey to people of faith  especially now in the most holy time of year and in a time where our collective faith has been tested by so much societal malice.

There is a growing movement in communities of faith that are addressing this age of terror and division head on and are working together for peace. There are many positive changes in spiritual communities and very specific initiatives we are implementing to instill unity, respect and inclusion.

The call to action is to partake in these changes. Rediscover your faith by working as an active participant with us in the community to welcome the stranger without fear - but with the same kind of faith that our ancestors experienced when they reached these shores and were welcomed by the first nations people.

This is a time where there is a renewed and invigorated commitment to practicing a faith that is intimately connected with peace on earth, the gift of wholeness that is truly the meaning of shalom.

There is hope and positive change for the common good is in play. We urge you to take an active role in the momentum we are creating in the community as people of faith.

And while we do not have all the answers, of course, we are faithful in responding to the terror all around, knowing that God is with us and guiding us into a new day of faith when war and hardship and suffering and oppression will be no more.
America's public school systems are going bankrupt, as they pour money they don't have into programs that enrich employees at the expense of students.

The Los Angeles Unified School District could face an estimated $422 million budget shortfall in 2019. Baltimore's schools are $130 million in the hole. Illinois officials recently failed to make a scheduled payment to K-12 schools for the first time in history.

These districts and many others across the nation are strapped for cash due to grotesque financial mismanagement. School systems continue to lavish employees with benefits packages that defy reason  even though such spending is unsustainable and diverts resources away from students.

State and federal lawmakers shouldn't continue to throw money towards broken school systems. Instead, they should offer school-choice programs that empower students to escape dysfunctional districts.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is a case study in misplaced priorities. Given the district's impending funding crunch in the 2019-20 academic year, one would expect it to be focused on advancing its educational mission  and thoughtful about how it spends money.

But time and again, the demands of unionized school employees have trumped the interests of students.

Last summer, the Los Angeles Board of Education agreed to provide health benefits to 4,200 part-time workers, including playground aides and teachers' assistants. The Service Employees International Union, Local 99  one of the city's most politically influential unions  represents these workers. These perks will cost $16 million annually and will almost certainly require cuts to classroom funding.

Such profligate giveaways are hardly unusual in Los Angeles. In 2007, for instance, the district extended health benefits to cafeteria workers, an action that created a cafeteria budget deficit.

Similarly, Chicago's school board prioritizes employees over students. Between 2001 and 2015, the district's contributions towards teachers' pensions rose an astounding 618 percent. Over that same period, spending on textbooks fell by more than a third while spending on classroom supplies dropped by 60 percent.

Chicago's problems will no doubt continue. Nearly half of the newly allocated $450 million for Chicago Public Schools will go to teacher pensions next year.

The same pattern is evident in Baltimore. The city provides teachers with generous contracts that include perks like full-time day care. To help pay for these benefits, Baltimore City Schools recently implemented funding cuts totaling roughly $150 per pupil. And the city still faces a $100 million unfunded pension liability for school workers.

These examples of fiscal mismanagement aren't isolated to major cities. Excessive spending on employee benefits is a systemic problem in public school districts in most states.

Look to Georgia. The state already spends almost $2,000 less per student than the national average. Meanwhile, the rate of government contributions to Georgia's teacher pensions has doubled since 2012. Georgia allocated an additional $223 million to its teacher pension system earlier this year.

Also consider Connecticut. It is estimated that the cost of teacher pensions will increase by roughly 365 percent over the next 14 years. Given that the state recently proposed cuts in funding for over 130 districts, funneling more cash into benefits plans  when per-student spending is bound to decrease  demonstrates the misplaced priorities of policymakers.

California's teacher and school-employee pension systems are another money pit. Two in three districts are on track to face massive budget deficits due to generous pension deals. Some districts' pension contributions rose 250 percent from 2006 to 2016.

As one San Jose school district employee lamented: "If this path continues, there's no way we can provide services to students."

The list goes on. The epic fiscal mismanagement displayed by public school systems across the country results from the lack of competition to the government's near monopoly on K-12 education. In such a situation, special interests, not students, wield power.

What to do?

Parents and students should be empowered with school-choice tools, such as education savings accounts, tax credits and vouchers to escape mismanaged school systems and provide incentive for those systems to improve.


Exclusive A lawyer for the Trump presidential transition team is accusing Special Counsel Robert Muellers office of inappropriately obtaining transition documents as part of its Russia probe, including confidential attorney-client communications, privileged communications and thousands of emails without their knowledge.

In a letter obtained by Fox News and sent to House and Senate committees on Saturday, the transition teams attorney alleges unlawful conduct by the career staff at the General Services Administration (GSA) in handing over transition documents to the special counsels office.

Kory Langhofer, the counsel to Trump for America (TFA), argues the GSA did not own or control the records in question and the release of documents could be a violation of the Fourth Amendment  which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Langhofer wrote in Saturday's letter that the GSA handed over tens of thousands of emails to Mueller's probe without "any notice" to the transition.

The attorney said they discovered the unauthorized disclosures by the GSA on Dec. 12 and 13 and raised concerns with the special counsels office. The Associated Press reported that the GSA turned over a flash drive containing tens of thousands of records on Sept. 1 after receiving requests from Mueller's office in late August.

Those records included emails sent and received by 13 senior Trump transition officials. Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now cooperating with Mueller's investigation.

We understand that the special counsels office has subsequently made extensive use of the materials it obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims," Langhofer wrote. He added that some of the records obtained by the special counsels office from the GSA have been leaked to the press by unknown persons.

The transition attorney said the special counsel's office also received laptops, cell phones and at least one iPad from the GSA.

Trump for America is the nonprofit organization that facilitated the transition between former President Barack Obama to President Trump.

The GSA, an agency of the United States government, provided the transition team with office space and hosted its email servers.

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, Peter Carr, spokesman for the special counsels office, told Fox News.

In an interview with BuzzFeed News Saturday evening, GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt denied Langhofer's claim that then-GSA General Counsel Richard Beckler had promised that any requests for transition team records would be "routed to legal counsel for [Trump for America]."

"Beckler never made that commitment," said Loewentritt, who added that transition team members were warned that information "would not be held back in any law enforcement" investigation and that "no expectation of privacy can be assumed." (Longhofer's letter notes that Beckler "was hospitalized and incapacitated in August." He died the following month.)

Loewentritt also told BuzzFeed that the GSA suggested that Mueller's team issue a warrant or subpoena for the transition team materials, but the special prosecutor's office decided a letter requesting the materials would suffice.

We continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expect this process to wrap up soon, Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said Saturday.

In his letter, Langhofer argued the GSA's actions impair the ability of future presidential transition teams to candidly discuss policy and internal matters that benefit the country as a whole."

Langhofer requests in the letter that Congress act immediately to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives.

The letter was sent to the Senate Homeland Security and House Oversight Committees.

The committees did not immediately return a request for comment.

Fox News Joseph Weber and Jennifer Bowman contributed to this report, along with The Associated Press.
A regional director has resigned from California's Democratic Party following accusations of rape and inappropriate behavior.

Craig Cheslog, 46, allegedly acted in an inappropriate and sexually aggressive manner toward a fellow party member after an executive board meeting Nov. 18, according to a letter sent Nov. 29 by Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman and other leaders to the party's secretary, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The level to which this activity advanced made a number of those in attendance uncomfortable, read the letter, which called for Cheslog to step down, the paper reported.

In addition, another member reported that "Mr. Cheslog raped her at a CDP executive board meeting the previous year," according to the letter. She was not named in the letter.

Maddy Dean later revealed herself to the Times as being the woman who reported Cheslog of rape. She wrote in a Facebook post that she came forward to protect others, so this has always been about more than just me.

Young people deserve an inclusive and safe environment in which to engage in politics. We deserve transparency during these investigations in our workplaces. We deserve to be heard, not silenced, by those who decide our futures, she added.

Following the allegations, Cheslog wrote to party secretary Jenny Bach that he was resigning so he wouldnt become a distraction for the party, adding that he was confident he would ultimately be exonerated, the Times reported.

Chelsog has since been fired from his job at the nonprofit organization, Common Sense Media, and has resigned from a school district's board of trustees, the paper reported.

Ironically, the alleged inappropriate behavior took place during a weekend in which preventing sexual harassment was a main topic of discussion, the Times reported.

Carolyn Phinney, a former party member, claimed in her October resignation letter that Cheslog and other party leaders forced her out after she stopped offering support for Cheslog, the East Bay Times reported.

Editor's note: This story, published Dec. 21, corrects a previous version that appeared Dec. 17, which cited incorrect information from the East Bay Times. That paper later explained that its original story incorrectly identified Maddie Dean as a 23-year-old woman against whom Craig Cheslog was allegedly seen acting in a sexually aggressive manner. But that woman has not been identified. Dean accused Cheslog of sexually assaulting her in San Diego last year, the Times clarified.
Congress is slated for a busy week that includes expected final votes in both chambers on its sweeping tax-reform bill, testimony from two key figures in the Trump Russia probe and a perilous vote to keep the government from shutting down after Friday.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News Sunday he cannot rule out a possible government shutdown later this week if Congress deadlocks on another temporary spending bill, but thinks thats unlikely.

Mnuchin also says he expects lawmakers will understand the need to reach bipartisan agreement on another short-term funding extension to avoid "sending government workers home for Christmas."

Congress in early December passed a two-week stopgap bill that keeps the government running through this Friday. That measure bought time for negotiations on Republicans' signature tax bill, but GOP talks with Democrats haven't been going as smoothly on the budget.

Lingering budget issues include disaster aid, children's health and the potential addition of subsidies for low-income people participating in ObamaCare.

To be sure, shuttering the federal government would be a political nightmare for either party, especially ahead of next years congressional elections. And members of Congress have avoided that situation since the highly unpopular shutdown in 2013 -- largely over ObamaCare funding.

The GOP-controlled Congress last week agreed on a final tax-reform plan that would reduce the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent while adding across-the-board cuts to individual taxpayers -- adding an estimated $1.46 trillion to the deficit over a decade.

The House is expected to vote Tuesday and pass the measure without problems. The Senate vote slated to follow is less certain, considering Republicans need 51 votes with just a 52-48 majority.

The situation appeared more complicated Sunday after President Trump confirmed GOP Sen. John McCain has returned to Arizona. McCain had been recovering at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland for side effects of his brain cancer therapy.

Trump said Sunday night that he spoke with the McCain's wife, Cindy, and that the senator could return to Capitol Hill "if we need his vote." The president also said the senator and his family are "going through a very hard time."

Before members depart for Christmas break, the Senate Intelligence Committee is expected to hear closed-door testimony Monday from Bruce Ohr, the former associate deputy attorney general who was demoted at the Justice Department following revelations about undisclosed meetings he had with officials from Fusion GPS.

Fusion GPS is the company that commissioned the anti-Trump dossier containing salacious allegations about then-candidate Donald Trump. Ohrs wife, Nellie, worked at Fusion GPS during the summer and fall of 2016, specifically on Trump-related issues.

On Tuesday, Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe is set to appear before the House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors, after his previously scheduled appearance was scrapped due to what Justice Department officials called a last-minute "scheduling error."

McCabe is expected to face questions about Peter Strzoks role in the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Strzok, a former deputy to the assistant director at the FBI, was removed from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's staff after Mueller learned Strzok had exchanged anti-Trump texts with a colleague and mistress.

Muellers team is investigating whether Trump associates colluded with Moscow to influence the outcome of the 2016 White House race.

House investigators have said they regard Strzok as a key figure in the chain of events that occurred when the bureau received the dossier, which launched a counterintelligence investigation into possible Russian meddling in the election.

Fox News Catherine Herridge, James Rosen, Jake Gibson, Sam Chamberlain and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Republican Sen. John McCain has returned home to Arizona, where he plans to stay until January, after he was hospitalized over side effects from treatment of brain cancer, the senator's office announced Sunday.

The trip means McCain almost certainly will miss a crucial vote on the GOP-backed tax reform package this week. Still, Fox News is told that Republicans believe they still have enough votes to advance the package -- as early as Tuesday night -- even if McCain is out.

President Trump told reporters at the White House Sunday afternoon that he spoke to McCains wife, Cindy.

I did speak to Cindy McCain, and I wished her well, I wished John well. Theyve headed back, but I understand hell come if we ever needed his vote  which hopefully we wont, Trump told reporters. But the word is that John will come back if we ever needed his vote. And its too bad, hes going through a very tough time, no question about it, but he will come back if we need his vote.

Senator McCain has returned to Arizona and will undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. He is grateful for the excellent care he continues to receive, and appreciates the outpouring of support from people all over the country. He looks forward to returning to Washington in January, McCain's office announced.

The House and Senate are scheduled to vote this week on the sweeping tax reform plan, which Trump has supported. House and Senate negotiators agreed Friday on a compromise bill that offers a substantial tax cut for corporations and across-the-board cuts for individuals, with final votes in the respective chambers expected this week, Fox News previously reported.

The 81-year-old McCain had been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland.

Now in his sixth Senate term, McCain underwent surgery in mid-July to remove a 2-inch blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with glioblastoma.

McCain rebounded quickly, but his condition has appeared to worsen in recent weeks. He suffered a minor tear in his right Achilles tendon, forcing him to wear a walking brace. McCain eventually began using a wheelchair, and members of his staff pushed him where he needed to go.

A statement issued last Wednesday by the senators office said he was at Walter Reed receiving treatment for the normal side effects of his ongoing cancer therapy.

His daughter Meghan McCain tweeted Sunday: My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin predicted Sunday that the GOP-led Congress this week will pass its sweeping tax-reform bill, calling the plan terrific and its passage a historic moment for the country.

I have no doubt, Mnuchin told Fox News Sunday. This is a terrific bill thats going to get to the president to sign.  People said we couldn't do it. We will do it. And I can't be more excited for the president to sign it.

The House and Senate passing a compromise version of their separate bills this week would be a big moment for President Trump, who is still looking for a major legislative win. And it would significantly help congressional Republicans looking for a platform going into next years midterm elections after failing to deliver on 2016 campaign promises to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

Trump pushed congressional Republicans since they took up the tax overhaul plan earlier this fall to pass the measure by Christmas.

The timing allows the tax cuts for corporations and individual taxpayers to begin in 2018 and show up on spring 2019 filings -- enough time for Trump to tout the potential benefits to voters in an expected 2020 re-election bid.

The House is expected to pass the bill on Tuesday with no problems. However, Republicans will need 51 yes votes in the Senate to pass the bill, while having just a 52-48 majority.

Republican congressional leaders and Trump administration officials say they have the votes, but their majority drops to 51-49 in early January when Alabama Senate-elect Doug Jones, a Democrat, is seated in the Senate.

This is going to be one of the greatest Christmas gifts to the middle-class people, Trump said Saturday before departing from the White House for a weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat.

The bill is the largest tax-code overhaul in roughly three decades.

Mnuchin on Sunday also disputed Congress Joint Committee on Taxation report that the bill will add $1 trillion to the federal deficit, arguing the nonpartisan groups projected numbers on economic growth as a result of the tax cuts are just too low.

He also defended against criticism that he and other Washington Republicans misled taxpayers early in the bill-crafting process that they could file their returns on an IRS form the size of a postcard.

Over 90 percent of Americans are going to fill out their taxes on that postcard or on a virtual tax, Mnuchin told Fox News. They will take the standard deduction and that's what they'll file with.
President Trump said Sunday night that he has no plans to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, dispelling a "rumor" that he intends to get rid of Mueller in an apparent attempt to end the Justice Departments Russia collusion probe.

No, I dont, Trump told reporters who asked upon his return from presidential retreat Camp David whether he intends to fire Mueller.

The latest speculation started after Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said in a local TV interview Friday that the rumor on the Hill was Trump was going to fire Mueller at the end of this week, after members leave Washington for Christmas break.

Mueller was appointed earlier this year as a Justice Department special counsel to determine whether Trump associates colluded with Moscow to influence the outcome of the 2016 White House race.

Trump's brief denial followed legal counsel Ty Cobb saying earlier this weekend that Mueller will remain as special counsel.

Mueller will not be fired, Cobb told Fox News on Saturday.

The federal investigation and others in Congress have indeed been a drag on the Trump administrations first-year political agenda, which had led to speculation that Trump wants to fire Mueller to conclude the probe.

Speier also suggested in the interview that firing Mueller would cause a constitutional crisis and trigger an impeachment effort.

Fox News' Alex Pappas contributed to this report.
Egypt reopened on Saturday an ancient library that's filled with a treasure trove of centuries-old religious and historical manuscripts at St. Catherine Monastery in South Sinai.

The ceremony at the UNESCO World Heritage site, attended by Egyptian and Western officials, comes after three years of restoration on the east side of the library that houses the world's second-largest collection of early codices and manuscripts outside of the Vatican, Monk Damyanos, the monastery's archibishop, told the Associated Press.

"The library is now open to the public and scholars," Tony Kazamias, an adviser to the archbishop, said, adding that restoration work is still underway.

The Associated Press reports that the ancient library holds around 3,300 manuscripts of mainly Christian texts in Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Georgian and Slavonic among other languages. It also contains thousands of books and scrolls dating to the 4th century.

During the library's renovation, archaeologists apparently found some of Hippocrates' centuries-old medical recipes. The ancient Greek physician is widely regarded as the "father of Western medicine."

THE VATICAN ISSUES NEW RULES FOR RELICS IN SAINT-MAKING PROCESS

"The most valuable manuscript in the library is the Codex Sinaiticus, (which) dates back to the 4th century," the Rev. Justin, an American monk working as the monastery's librarian, told the AP. "This is the most precious manuscript in the world," referring to the ancient, handwritten copy of the New Testament.

The library also held some ancient paintings which are currently on display in the monastery's museum.

"There are beautiful paintings in the manuscripts. When you turn the (pages) there is a flash of gold and colors. It is a living work of art," said Justin.

The officials also inaugurated the Mosaic of the Transfiguration situated in the eastern apse of the monastery's great basilica. Its mosaic covers 46 square meters and features a rich chromatic range of glass paste, glass, stone, gold and silver tesserae. Jesus Christ is depicted in its center between the prophets Elias and Moses. The 6th century mosaic was created at the behest of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who also requested building the monastery.

St. Catherine's, where the monastery is located, is an area revered by followers of the Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Like the Old City of Jerusalem, it has become a popular destination and an attraction not only for pilgrims, but also tourists from the world over.

The 6th century monastery, one of the oldest in the Christian Orthodox religion, is home to a small number of monks who observe prayers and daily rituals unchanged for centuries. Its well-preserved walls and buildings are of great significance to the studies Byzantine architecture. It's situated at the foot of Mount Sinai, also known as Jebel Musa or Mount Horeb, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Royal Caribbean said Saturday that 220 people on board one of its Caribbean cruise ships fell ill with a stomach virus during its voyage.

A passenger told WSVN that people began to show symptoms on Wednesday, two days after the Independence of the Seas departed from Port Everglades, Florida.

We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help. They started running out of water and basic supplies."  Marsha Homuska, a passenger

Royal Caribbean said those affected were treated with over-the-counter medication provided by the ship's doctors. The cruise line also encouraged passengers and crew members to wash their hands frequently in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Independence of the Seas returned to Port Everglades on Saturday morning after a five-day trip. Disembarking passengers claimed the number of cases overwhelmed the medical staff.

"We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help," Marsha Homuska told WPLG. "They started running out of water and basic supplies."

Another passenger, Victoria Nolan, told WPLG that victims were vomiting in the ship's elevators as they tried to get to the doctor. Nolan added that she gave up trying to get to the medical area after she was told the wait would be more than four hours.

Royal Caribbean said the cases represented less than 5 percent of the 5,547 people aboard.
"He's not a pet. He's a family member."  Ashley McCall

Police in New Hampshire are searching for the person who allegedly assaulted an Iraq War veteran and stole her service dog on Thursday, Fox 25 Boston reported.

Ashley McCall told the outlet that a stranger took her dog, Jax, as the pair were getting into her car near her apartment in Concord. The man reportedly approached her and asked about the dog allegedly pushing her to the ground and making off with Jax, abandoning his leash and service vest.

"And he reaches for my door and he pulls it open so I shut it back and as I do that he takes me and slams me to the ground and then takes Jax and gets into this silver Ford Focus and leaves and starts speeding off," McCall told Fox 25 Boston.

The loss left McCall both "extremely sad" and "amazed at the lengths people will go to," she told Fox News in a text on Saturday night.

"He is a provider of unconditional love," she said in another text. "Jax helps calm me when anxious. Could really use him now."

WWII VET DANCES TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY

The owner of a neighboring florist shop, who was nearby at the time, told the outlet that hed noticed the same car in the lot all day. But when he asked for an explanation, the answer he got "didnt make sense.

The owner, Fred Keach, said the explanation, about waiting for someone, didn't add up at a time when cellphone access makes checking on a person's whereabouts so simple, and so "from the beginning it looked like there was some ambush that was about to happen at some point."

WORLD WAR II VETERAN GIVEN BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT BY STRANGER AT GROCERY STORE

After the dog was stolen, Keach reportedly called the police.

McCaul told Fox 25 Boston that Jax, who helps her with anxiety and depression, is a family member, and she wants him back home where he belongs.

"Ultimately, we just want the dog back, McCall said. He's a family member. He's not a pet. He's a family member."
Strong winds drove one of the biggest wildfires in California's history toward Santa Barbara and the nearby wealthy enclave of Montecito Saturday, prompting residents to flee as authorities issued new evacuation orders.

The 404-square-mile Thomas Fire was moving rapidly westward and crested Montecito Peak, just north of Montecito. Known for its star power, the enclave boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities.

"It is right above the homes," fire spokesman Jude Olivas told the Associated Press.

Mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighboring Summerland came as winds that had eased a day earlier roared back at around 30 mph, with gusts to about 60 mph. Firefighters stood by yellow fire trucks with hoses unspooled, ready to protect the historic San Ysidro Ranch as heavy smoke rose from the coastal hills, blotting out the blue skies.

A portion of Santa Barbara also was under mandatory evacuation. The city's zoo was under voluntary evacuation, and workers there began putting some animals into crates and kennels as a precaution.

In downtown Santa Barbara, Maya Schoop-Rutten, owner of Chocolate Maya, said she saw through the window of her chocolate shop smoke suddenly appear after strong winds blew through.

"It was absolutely incredible," she said. "There was a huge mushroom of smoke that happened in just a matter of a few minutes."

Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered, as they have been on and off for more than 10 days as the varying winds pushed the flames and smoke back and forth.

"It's a ghost town. Everything is shut down," Schoop-Rutten said. "It's very, very eerie."

The northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101, coming up the coast from Los Angeles, were closed for a few hours south of Santa Barbara, with cars stopped on the freeway.

Pierre Henry, owner of the Bree'osh Bakery in Montecito, said he got a text to evacuate Saturday morning as the fire approached homes. He estimated the fire was about a mile away.

"The worst was the smoke," Henry said. "You couldn't breathe at all and it became worse when the wind started. All the ashes and the dust on the street were in the air. It was very, very frightening."

The city, according to Henry, became devoid of people except for firefighters and as many as 50 firefighter trucks.

"We left everything," Henry said. "There is nobody in Montecito. Just firefighters."

The morning passed with no homes damaged or destroyed as firefighters dealt with "extreme and erratic" fire behavior, Olivas said.

Schoop-Rutten said the fire is taking an economic toll, even if it doesn't invade the city.

"It's tragic for businesses at this time of the year because this is when we make the money," she said. "Imagine all the restaurants, all the Christmas parties have been cancelled. People lost a ton of revenue in the past few days."

There was a spot of good news down the coast. Emergency officials announced that the same fire that was burning about 25 miles southeast of Montecito was 40 percent contained. Evacuation orders for the city of Ventura were lifted.

As the northerly "sundowner" wind was driving the fire south and west, firefighters were left to hope for them to calm back down.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told a news conference. "And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations."

For the 13th straight day, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry, windy conditions.

The fire is now the third-largest in California history. It has burned more than 700 homes and killed a state firefighter.

Cory Iverson, 32, died Thursday from burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced Saturday by the Ventura County medical examiner's office. Details of his death were not released.

Since the fire began on Dec. 4, about 95,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation zone near Santa Barbara on Saturday was 17 miles long and up to five miles wide and the new expansion encompassed about 3,300 people.

The Santa Barbara Zoo, which is near the mandatory evacuation zone, announced it was putting some animals in crates to prepare for possible evacuation. The zoo has about 150 species of animals, including a pair of Amur leopards, a critically endangered species. Workers began putting vultures, California condors and some smaller animals into crates and kennels in case the fire approached.

"Everything is fine right now. The wind has shifted in our favor," spokesman Dean Noble said. "However, we just don't want to get caught by something unexpected."

Other zoos are ready to accept the evacuated animals, he said. The Fresno zoo has an incubator available for a baby giant anteater, and the San Diego zoo is prepared to accept the Amur leopards and other cats, Noble said.

Everything about the fire has been massive, from the sheer scale of destruction that cremated entire neighborhoods to the legions attacking it: about 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters.

The cause remains under investigation. So far, firefighting costs have surpassed $100 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thousands of volunteers traveled to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday to help with an annual holiday wreath laying.

Despite fears that the cemetery would not reach its annual goal, this years large crowd placed more than 245,000 wreaths at gravesites of U.S. service members, WTOP-FM reported.

As the wreaths were placed, the names of the fallen service members were read aloud.

There are 25 funerals at the Arlington National Cemetery every day, so the need grows every year, said Bree Kingsbury with Wreaths Across America. That one wreath is really a symbol of honor and respect for each fallen service member.

"There are 25 funerals at the Arlington National Cemetery every day, so the need grows every year. That one wreath is really a symbol of honor and respect for each fallen service member."  Bree Kingsbury, Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit that also places wreaths at more than 1,500 other cemeteries across the country.

The Wreaths Across America caravan traveled earlier this month from Columbia Falls, Maine, where the wreaths were made. The caravan went through several states before arriving in Arlington, Va.

The Arlington event has been going on for 26 years, honoring the men and women who've served in the U.S. armed forces.

This year's grand marshals are Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Roger Donlon and his wife, Norma Donlon.

The tradition began when Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington Cemetery. A total of 1.2 million wreaths will be placed on markers across the country in 1,238 locations.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Two Washington state police officers were shot multiple times Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire on them, officials said.

The two Bremerton police officers approached an SUV at 1:16 a.m. in Lions Park and attempted to talk to the driver, who they believed violated a domestic-violence protective order, The Seattle Times reported. Bremerton is about 14 miles west of Seattle.

The driver, identified as a 53-year-old man, fired numerous shots at the officers, police tweeted.

One officer was struck with at least two rounds in the abdomen and the other officer was struck in the waist, Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan said.

The officers fired back and struck the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The officers were hospitalized. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
Three people and a dog were killed  and another dog survived  when a plane crashed in Indiana on Saturday, authorities said.

A single-engine Cessna that was heading to Frederick, Md., from Kansas City, Mo., crashed into a wooded area just after 9 p.m. near Oldenburg in Franklin County, Indiana police said in a news release. Authorities believe the plane caught fire after it crashed.

Three people and a dog were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names have not been released pending family notification.

Another dog survived the crash and was found at a nearby residence. The dog was taken to the veterinarian and treated for its injuries.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims families, Indiana state police public information officer Sgt. Stephen Wheeles tweeted.

Its unclear what caused the plane crash. Indiana State Police and the Federal Aviation Association are investigating the incident.
A military hero with no known family was honored Saturday by several hundred strangers at a church in Indianapolis in a show of support.

Glenn Shelton, 68, died Nov. 26 and earned a Purple Heart while serving with the Marines during the Vietnam War, according to his obituary.

Shelton had no known family and is formerly of Louisville, Ky., according to Indiana Funeral Care. It's unknown how he got to Indiana.

Indiana Funeral Care organized Saturdays funeral service by spreading the word on social media, which grew so popular the ceremony had to be moved to a bigger venue.

"We don't know anything about him, so its just rewarding that they can still find time to come out and pay their respects," Sara Thompson, Indiana Funeral Care General Manager, told FOX59.

"Glenn might have been abandoned in life, but he will not be abandoned in death," she added.

Those who attended the ceremony event also received a dog tag with Sheltons name engraved.

Its just absolutely wonderful, Russell Pryor, commander for the VFW District 11, told FOX59. It shows me that no matter when you served, who you served with or where you served, were here to support you.

Shelton was later buried at Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison, located about 48 miles northeast of Louisville, according to Indiana Funeral Care.

Besides the hundreds who attended the ceremony Saturday to pay their respects, Shelton's online obituary also contained comments from people thanking him for his service and paying their respects.

"Thank you for your service Mr. Shelton," Kathy Garza-Behr wrote. "You wont be alone anymore, everyone in heaven is family. Rest easy."
An Oklahoma woman was reunited with her wedding ring after her husband accidentally dropped it into a Salvation Army kettle while donating some coins.

The woman told FOX23 on Friday the debacle began when she gave her husband her wedding ring before she went into the operating room for surgery. Her husband placed it in his pocket, but didnt realize he included the ring in the handful of coins he threw into a donation kettle in Tulsa.

"I had outpatient surgery at St. John's and I forgot to take [the rings] off. So at the last minute, I gave them to him and he put them in his pocket," the wife said.

WWII VET DANCES TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY

The husband didnt realize the wedding ring was gone until he got home. The woman quickly called the Salvation Army of Metro Tulsa and asked if they found the ring in their kettles, which were locked until the money was counted at the warehouse the next morning.

"So we count the kettles the next morning, find her ring, gave it to her and she gave us a $100 donation," Captain Ken Chapman, of the Salvation Army of Metro Tulsa, told FOX23.

The woman said she hasnt taken off her wedding ring since it was returned.

Chapman said the Salvation Army finds a slew of weird things once they open the kettles to count the money donated.
Miami-Dade police were offering a $23,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the shooting death of a 2-year-old boy.

The child was believed to have been struck by a stray bullet during a gunfight, the Miami Herald reported, citing police reports.

Carnelle Williams-Thomas was playing in the courtyard of his familys public housing apartment complex in Southwest Miami-Dade when he was shot, the Herald reported.

Miami-Dade police say the boy was lying on the ground with a gunshot wound when officers arrived. An helicopter took the child to a hospital where he died of his injuries.

Residents of the apartment complex said Friday that shootings are nothing new and they blamed improper management for the recurring incidents. Surveillance cameras on the property have reportedly been ineffective because of theft or vandalism.

A Miami lawyer who is suing the county on behalf of a man who was shot at the apartment complex three years ago described it as, the wild, wild West.

The boy was the second recent shooting fatality in the city. Recently, Alicia Roundtree, 43, was hit with gunfire on her way home from work, in what police called a random shooting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
One of the biggest wildfires in California's history sparked new evacuation orders Saturday in Santa Barbara County, as powerful Santa Ana Winds brought damaging gusts across the region early Sunday that threatened to fan the flames.

Nearly 8,500 firefighters continue to battle the Thomas Fire in Southern California, which has burned since Dec. 4 and killed one firefighter, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and threatened 18,000 more. The blaze has scorched 269,500 acres so far, an area larger than New York City and roughly the size of the Hawaiian island of Maui.

It is a beast, Santa Barbara County Fire Department Division Chief Martin Johnson said at a news conference. But we will kill it.

The fire is now the third-largest in California history, and continued to move rapidly westward. On Sunday, television news footage showed at least one structure burned on property in the wealthy enclave of Montecito. Known for its star power, Montecito boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities.

"It is a beast"  Santa Barbara County Fire Department Division Chief Martin Johnson

Winfrey expressed her dismay on her Twitter account.

"Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters," Winfrey tweeted.

"God bless every firefighter and their families. fighting 3 weeks straight. still going. Imagine their exhaustion," she wrote Sunday morning, while replying in another tweet, "Evacuated 10 days ago. Smoke was so bad for breathing. Dogs are in Palo Alto."

"Strong #SantaAnaWinds will cause blowing dust/ash from recent fires as well as the potential for power outages and strong crosswinds on some area highway," The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office tweeted.

Montecito residents piled into cars and sped off on Saturday, turning downtown Santa Barbara into what one resident called "a ghost town."

There were mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighboring Summerland came as firefighters sprayed water onto hot spots sparked by wind-blown embers.

Montecito resident Darren Caesar told the Los Angeles Times his wife, and two of his three daughters were planning to evacuate.

Look at how many firefighting assets they have. I know what theyre doing. I trust that they can do everything they can to protect the structures, he told the newspaper. But its the wind. Nobody can fight the wind.

SANTA ANA WINDS: WHAT ARE THEY?

The blaze, located about 100 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, is now 40 percent contained despite hot Santa Ana winds that have kept firefighters busy trying to catch up with embers continuing to help its spread.

Despite the new evacuation orders, there was a spot of good news down the coast. Emergency officials announced evacuation orders for the city of Ventura were lifted, as the fire has shifted.

As the northerly "sundowner" wind was driving the fire south and west, firefighters could only hope it would calm down.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told a news conference. "And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations."

THOMAS FIRE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JOINS LIST OF DESTRUCTIVE BLAZES IN THE STATE

The firefighter who was killed, Cory Iverson, 32, died of burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced Saturday.

Since the fire began on Dec. 4, about 95,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation zone near Santa Barbara on Saturday was 17 miles long and up to 5 miles wide and the new expansion encompassed about 3,300 people.

The cause remains under investigation. So far, firefighting costs have surpassed $100 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Texas man was sentenced to 52 years in prison on Friday after he admitted to decapitating his wife in front of her children.

David Dauzat, 24, pleaded guilty to the 2016 death of his wife, Natasha Dauzat, 21, who was found with dozens of stab wounds. Dauzat agreed to the plea deal after Natashas family requested it to prevent the children from reliving the horrifying incident if the case went to trial, KWTX reported.

They didnt want to put the children through a trial and have them relive those memories, McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Michael Jarrett said.

Police went to the couples mobile home in Bellmead, a town just northwest of Waco, in August 2016 after a concerned relative requested a welfare check. Police officers spoke to David and Natasha Dauzat outside their trailer, who appeared calm and expressed their curiosity why the police were there.

But two hours later, the relative called police again, saying he received a call from David Dauzat who told him he killed his girlfriend, according to KWTX.

Police found Dauzat with blood on his clothing at the trailer. Dauzat had beheaded his wife while the two children, ages 1 and 2, were in the trailer. He then placed her head in the freezer.

The children were not injured in the incident.

Police said the woman died from sharp-force injuries, including decapitation.

Dauzat must serve at least 26 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
A Wisconsin man convicted of beating his 2-month-old daughter -- breaking more than 20 of the infants bones and causing bleeding in her brain -- has been sentenced to six months behind bars.

The jail term for Richard A. Root, 21, of Oshkosh, was part of seven years of probation for child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, the Oshkosh Northwestern reported.

Winnebago County Circuit Judge Thomas Gritton also ordered Root to avoid alcohol and drugs, keep a steady job or attend school full time, and undergo counseling, the newspaper reported.

Root had pleaded no contest to neglecting the child, Fox 11 reported.

When the crime occurred in March, emergency room staff at Aurora Medical Center found the baby had nine broken ribs and several other serious injuries, the station reported.

A criminal complaint said the baby also had a broken arm and a broken leg, according to Fox 11.

The complaint also said Root shook the baby because she was crying. Root also told police that he knelt on top of one of the babys legs while changing her diaper, the station reported.

Root told police he snapped because of stress and a lack of sleep, the station reported.
A worker at a meat processing plant in Ohio died Saturday after he got his leg caught in a waste grinder, officials said.

The Stark County Coroners Office said 62-year-old Samuel Martinez stepped into a chute and got caught in a waste grinder at the Fresh Mark plant in Canton, located about 60 miles south of Cleveland.

Canton Police told FOX 8 Cleveland the incident happened shortly after 5 p.m.

Authorities said the Guatemalan national died at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, according to FOX 8.

According to its website, Fresh Mark, Inc., has been producing American-made bacon, ham, hot dogs and deli meats for nearly 100 years. The company serves grocery stores, restaurants, and food service companies in the United States and internationally.

Fresh Mark said in a statement Saturday that company officials are working with authorities to determine what happened.

In 2011, worker at the plant was electrocuted when he tried to plug in a fan while standing in water.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Australian police have arrested a Sydney man accused of acting as an agent for North Korea by allegedly attempting to broker sales for Pyongyang including components used in ballistic missiles.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australia soil," Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters Sunday morning. "This is black market 101."

The suspect has been identified as a 59-year-old naturalized Australian citizen who was born in South Korea. He was arrested Saturday and charged over two transactions that were unsuccessful.

"But we estimate that if these trades were successful, we're talking tens of millions of dollars," Gaughan said.

Police allege the man was generating tens of millions of dollars for the Pyongyang regime by arranging the sale of missiles, components and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and was trying to arrange the transfer of coal from the country to Indonesia and Vietnam.

"This man was acting as a loyal agent for North Korea who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose," Gaughan said. "I think at the end of the day he would sell whatever he could to make money back for the North Korean government."

Gaughan added that there was no evidence any weapons or components passed through Australia and said the governments of Indonesia and Vietnam -- or authorities in those countries -- were not involved.



"Were alleging all the activity occurred offshore," Gaughan said.

The suspect is the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence. However, Gaughan said the investigation was ongoing and more charges were expected.

Police started investigating the man after a tip-off from another international agency on another matter, Gaughan said, adding that the man's activities also involved commodities including oil and gemstones.

Despite international sanctions, cash-strapped North Korea last month test-fired its most powerful missile that may be able to target the U.S. mainland.

Click for more from News.com.au.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Argentina fired the head of its navy Saturday in the first disciplinary action after one of its submarines vanished with 44 crew members aboard last month.

The firing of Navy Admiral Marcelo Srur by Defense Minister Oscar Aguad came as authorities continue to investigate what happened to the ARA San Juan, which disappeared Nov. 15 after reporting a fire on board.

It was decided to remove him, a government spokesman told Reuters.

An internal navy investigation into the incident also led to the suspension of two commanders this week.

The navy has said the vessel's captain reported water entered the snorkel and caused one of the submarine's batteries to short circuit on Nov. 15.

The captain later communicated by satellite phone that the problem had been contained, the navy said. Some hours later, an explosion was detected near the time and place where the San Juan was last heard from.

RESCUE MISSION FOR ARGENTINE SUBMARINE CREW ENDS, SEARCH FOR SUB CONTINUES

The navy is no longer looking for survivors, although a multinational operation, including Russian and U.S. ships, continues to search for the vessel. The Argentina Navy said bad weather conditions were complicating search efforts Sunday, as British and Argentinian vessels continue to sweep the seabed with sonar in hopes of finding the sub, state news agency Telam reported.

The ARA San Juan was sailing from the southernmost port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata when it vanished.

Relatives of the missing crew claimed the government had put their loved ones in harm's way because the vessel is more than 30 years old. The German-built TR-1700 class submarine was commissioned in the 1980s and was most recently refitted between 2008 and 2014. It was built by a subsidiary of Germany's ThyssenKrupp that is no longer operational.

ARGENTINA SUBMARINE CHASED BY BRITISH HELICOPTER BEFORE VANISHING, SAILOR'S SISTER CLAIMS

One of the doomed vessel's sailors told his sister in a "strange" message that was one of the last sent from the sub that it was being chased by a British helicopter and Chilean ship shortly before disappearing.

The sister's account, made public Wednesday, was immediately blasted by Argentinian military officials as "completely untrue." But Jessica Medina, whose brother Roberto Daniel Medina served aboard the sub, told Argentina's La Gaceta newspaper in an exclusive interview that she received the message on WhatsApp just days before the vessel vanished Nov. 15.

"It was that weird message in which he told us he was looking for a British helicopter and a Chilean ship, but unfortunately we did not continue with that conversation; he stayed there. That was the last message," she said. In his messages, the sister said her brother told her the ARA San Juan was sailing close to the Falklands -- referred to as Malvinas by Argentina -- on Nov 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Canadian billionaire and his wife whose bodies turned up in their Toronto mansion, in what police called "suspicious" deaths, died from ligature neck compression, Toronto law enforcement said Sunday, a development suggesting the couple was strangled.

Pharmaceuticals billionaire Barry Sherman, 75, founder of Apotex Inc., and his 70-year-old wife, Honey, were found dead in their north Toronto mansion on Friday.

Multiple Canadian media outlets reported that police initially were investigating the deaths as a possible murder-suicide, citing unidentified police sources. The bodies were found hanging from a railing on the edge of a basement swimming pool, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun, and CTV News reported, all citing police sources.

Investigators were working on the theory that Sherman killed his wife at some place in the mansion, hanged her body and then hanged himself at the pools edge. The Shermans recently put up their house for sale for $6.9 million ($5.4 million in U.S. dollars).

The immediate family in a statement released Saturday by Apotex admonished law enforcement sources for telling members of the media the deaths were from a murder-suicide before autopsy results were released, and slammed reports of a possible murder-suicide as irresponsible."

"Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumors regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths," the statement said.

"We are shocked and think it's irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true," the statement continued. "We urge the Toronto Police Service to conduct a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation, and urge the media to refrain from further reporting as to the cause of these tragic deaths until the investigation is completed."

POLICE INVESTIGATING CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE, WIFE'S DEATH AS POSSIBLE MURDER-SUICIDE, REPORTS SAY

Toronto Police said Saturday there were no signs of forced entry at the home, and there was no outstanding suspect they were going after. Law enforcement sources told the Toronto Sun authorities did not immediately find a suicide note, and a review of the home's video surveillance system is under way.

Sarah Alvi, who lives across the street from the Sherman home and has known the couple for four years told The Globe and Mail they were the "best neighbors."

"It's heartbreaking. It's shocking," Alvi said. "Knowing who they were, it wouldn't come to your mind at all."

The power couple were known particularly in Torontos Jewish community as two who took the greatest pleasure and enjoyment from helping others, friends told the Toronto Sun.

Conservative Canadian Sen. Linda Frum told the newspaper on Saturday she felt devastated, tremendous sadness and some anger when she found out the news about the couple's death.

These were two people who loved life and who enriched the lives of everyone who came into contact with them, she told the paper, adding that Honey was so full of humor, kindness and loving concern for everyone.

Sherman founded Toronto-based Apotex Inc. in 1974 with two employees and turned it into the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company. Canadian Business magazine recently estimated his worth at $4.77 billion ($3.65 billion U.S.), making him the 15th richest person in the country.

The Shermans were among Canada's most generous philanthropists. The couple made numerous multimillion-dollar donations to hospitals, schools and charities and had buildings named in their honor.

They also hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a Liberal Party fundraiser in 2015. Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau issued a statement on Twitter.

"Sophie and I are saddened by news of the sudden passing of Barry and Honey Sherman," Trudeau said. "Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit."

Apotex is a generic drug maker with 11,000 employees worldwide, including more than 6,000 in Canada. The company released a statement on Saturday paying tribute to its founder, praising both his philanthropic efforts and what it described as his vision for health care.

"Patients around the world live healthier and more fulfilled lives thanks to his life's work, and his significant impact on health care and health care sustainability will have an enduring impact for many years to come," the statement read. "As employees, we are proud of his tremendous accomplishments, honored to have known him, and vow to carry on with the Apotex purpose in his honor."

Honey Sherman was a member of the board of the York University Foundation. She also served on the boards of Mount Sinai's Women's Auxiliary, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the International American Joint Distribution Committee.

But Barry Sherman was not without controversy. He faced legal action from family members alleging they had been cut out of the company over the years.

Several people also told the Toronto Sun he made many enemies since he created Canadas largest generic pharmaceutical company in 1973.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A diplomat working at the British Embassy in Lebanon was found dead Saturday by the side of a road, reportedly strangled.

Rebecca Dykes body was found Saturday on the side of a highway east of Beirut, Lebanons capital, the BBC reported Sunday. Dykes, believed to be 30, was strangled, senior police sources told the news site. Local media Al Jadeed TV said Dykes was raped, though authorities said they are investigating whether she was sexually assaulted.

A forensic official also told The Associated Press that Dykes was strangled with a rope.

Dykes reportedly met friends and colleagues at a bar in central Beirut the night before she was killed, the Telegraph reported. She left the bar just after midnight.

Dykes had been living in Beirut since January while working as the Department for International Developments program and police manager, according to the BBC.

Friends said she was flying home for Christmas Saturday.

"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We request that the media respect our privacy, Dykes family said in a statement.

A spokesman for U.K.s Department for International Development said an investigation into the death is being conducted.

"Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family," the spokesman told the BBC. "We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter said in a statement that the whole embassy was deeply shocked and saddened by this news.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More than 30 people are dead and 89,000 are in shelters because of a slow-moving, fierce storm that caused major flooding and landslides in central Philippines, officials said Sunday.

Twenty-three people were missing mostly because of landslides caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Kai-Tak, which weakened into a tropical depression and moved southwestward on Sunday, according to local officials and police.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is working to confirm the reported deaths caused by the storm. Thousands of Christmas holiday travelers also were stranded because of canceled interisland flights and ferries.

MAGNITUDE 6.0 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES ECUADOR COAST

Kai-tak, known locally as Urduja, has remained almost stationary over the eastern section of the central Philippines in recent days  drenching island provinces, setting off landslides and floods and knocking out power in some areas.

President Rodrigo Duterte said he would visit the storm-hit region.

About 20 typhoons and storms  mostly from the Pacific  lash the Philippines each year, making the poor country of more than 100 million people one of the most disaster-prone in the world.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.
A jury in Canada found two men guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a woman whose body was burned inside an animal incinerator that was called the eliminator.

Jurors in Ontario Superior Court needed less than four days to render a verdict in the bizarre case, finding Dellen Millard, 32, and Mark Smich, 30, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Laura Babcock, reports CBC News.

The victims family and several jurors reportedly cried as the verdict was read.

Millard, the heir to a storied aviation company, owned a fleet of cars parked at an airport hangar  including a maroon, boat-sized Cadillac. He hosted pool parties where women outnumbered men by a 2-to-1 ratio and also owned a range of high-end properties.

Smich and Millard, already serving sentences in the murder of Tim Bosma, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment without a chance of parole for 25 years in Babcocks death.

Millards former mechanic, Shane Schlatman, purchased one incinerator on behalf of the convicted killer, while a second incinerator was homemade. Schlatman testified that he saw ash and something that looked like bones inside of the machine that prosecutors claim was used to burn Babcocks body after she was killed.

I could smell a funny smell. Like rotting. Not nice. There was stuff inside of it, he told the jury, reports CBC News.

Millard also faces a trial in March 2018 in the 2012 death of his father, Wayne Millard, which was initially deemed a suicide.

Babcock, who graduated with a degree in English and drama from the University of Toronto, was last seen in early July 2012 and her remains were never recovered.

During the trial, some 65 handwritten letters that Millard sent to his girlfriend at the time, Christian Noudga, were discovered by police and seen as a key piece of evidence.

In one letter, Millard reportedly talked about the night Laura disappeared saying she overdosed in his basement after doing cocaine with Smich. Millard later wrote Noudga, that was just brainstorming. Forget it.

Prosecutors claimed that Millards motive for the murder was his promise to undo a love triangle. Jurors learned that Noudga and Babcock  who had briefly dated Millard  feuded over text messages.

CBC News reports that in April 2012, Millard wrote Noudga about Babcock, first I'm going to hurt her. Then I'll make her leave. I will remove her from our lives.

Defense attorneys for both men claimed that since Babcocks body was never found, there is no way to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that shes even dead.

However, prosecutors presented evidence showing that Babcock and Millard texted and talked on the phone 110 times in the days before she disappeared.
A group of Palestinian protesters set fire to placards bearing images of Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday outside Jesuss traditional birthplace, days before his arrival in the region.

About 30 people stood quietly holding candles at Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, the site Christians believe marks the birthplace of Jesus, before setting the placards on fire, Reuters reported.

Bethlehem welcomes the messengers of peace, not the messengers of war, read some placards with pictures of Pence and Middle East negotiator Jason Greenblatt as they went up in flames.

Pence is due in the region later this week but the Palestinians have said he is not welcome and President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet him during his visit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said last week.

The White House described Abbass decision as unfortunate.

TURKEYS ERDOGAN: MUSLIM NATIONS TO GO TO UN OVER JERUSALEM

Greenblatt, who has held several rounds of discussions with Israeli and Palestinian officials during the past few months to restart peace talks that have been frozen since 2014, also arrives this week.

Violent protests have been held almost daily in the Palestinian territories over President Donald Trumps Dec. 6 announcement in which he broke with decades of international norms on Jerusalem by saying he was recognizing it as Israels capital.

Militants increasingly have fired rockets at Israel since Trumps announcement and two were reportedly launched on Sunday. In other Muslim countries, such as Indonesia and Tunisia, people have taken to the streets to voice their frustration with Trumps decision.

Most of the international community considers East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it in a 1967 war, to be occupied territory, and have said the status of the city should be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Israel, however, welcomed Trumps announcement as recognizing political reality and biblical Jewish roots in Jerusalem.
Two suicide bombers attacked a church in Pakistan where hundreds of worshippers were attending service ahead of Christmas, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens of others, officials said.

One of the suicide bombers was shot dead outside Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, but the other assailant made it to the church's entrance hall as Sunday services opened, said Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the southwestern Baluchistan province. The gunman  who didnt gain access to the main building  opened fire at the churchgoers before detonating his explosive vest.

There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldnt get inside the services, provincial police chief Moazzam Jah told Reuters. We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him, he said.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack on their Aamaq news agency, saying two "plungers" from their group had stormed the church, without providing further details.

The death toll in the deadly attack rose to nine people, including two women, by Sunday afternoon. Five women and two children were among the 57 people hurt. Seven people were listed in critical condition, said Wasim Baig, a spokesman for Quetta's main hospital.

Aqil Anjum, who was shot in his right arm, told The Associated Press he heard a blast in the middle of the service, followed by heavy gunfire.

"It was chaos. Bullets were hitting people inside the closed hall, Anjum said.

Authorities were hunting for two suspected accomplices who escaped the scene, Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said.

The church was placed on high alert for a possible attack because Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremists during Christmas time, Reuters reported.

Baluchistan Police Chief Moazzam Ansari credited the security forces guarding the church for taking down one of the attackers.

"Otherwise the loss of lives could have been much higher," he told reporters.

It was the first time the Islamic State group has claimed an attack on a church in Pakistan, though Muslim extremists have claimed church attacks in the past. The deadliest example was in September 2013, when twin suicide bomb blasts killed 85 people in a Peshawar church. In March 2015, two suicide bombers attacked two churches in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 15 people.

Pakistan's president and other senior officials condemned the attack.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, one of four U.S. soldiers killed Oct. 4 in Niger when ambushed by Islamic extremists, was neither captured nor executed at close range, two senior U.S. defense officials confirmed to Fox News on Sunday.

A military investigation into Johnsons death has concluded, one official said, and that the report  which is due out next month  is much more comprehensive, and looked at the entire operation, not just Johnsons death.

Johnson, 25, was killed by enemy rifle and machine gun fire during the attack in which both American and Nigerien troops in a military convoy were ambushed by roughly 50 Islamic extremists.

Early reports regarding Johnsons death suggested the sergeant was captured alive and possibly killed at close range. Johnson, according to an Associated Press report out Sunday, died in a hail of gunfire, hit as many as 18 times as he took cover in thick brush, fighting to the end after fleeing militants who had just killed three comrades.

Officials told The Associated Press that a medical investigation concluded Johnson was hit by fire from M-4 rifles and Soviet-made heavy machine guns.

His body was found two days after the attack, which left four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops dead, as well as two U.S. and eight Nigerien troops wounded.

The bodies of two Green Berets killed in the ambush were located on the day of the attack, while Johnsons remains were not. This led to questions about whether Johnson was killed in the attack and his remains werent found, or if he was taken away by the enemy.

Johnson was laid to rest in Florida on Oct. 21. Weeks later on Nov. 12, a joint U.S. Africa Command military investigation discovered additional human remains that positively were identified as those of Johnson.

The three other Americans killed were Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia.

Fox News Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
#Pentagon N. Korean missile launches destabilize region: Pentagon North Korean missile launches continue to destabilize the region, a Pentagon spokesperson reiterated Thursday, soon after Pyongyang resumed its ballistic missile testing. North ...
A woman in Denmark was ordered to serve six years in prison for paying a hitman in bitcoin in a failed plot to murder her boyfriend.

The 58-year-old Italian woman arranged the killing in March by transferring 4.1 bitcoin, then worth around $4,000, to the hitmans virtual wallet, Reuters reported.

A court near Copenhagen handed down the sentence Friday. She will be expelled from Denmark, where she has lived for 30 years, after she serves her sentence.

The intended victim attended the proceeding and he spoke to the woman after she was sentenced, Reuters reported. She was not named.

Danish public TV station Dr.dk reported that the 58-year-old woman found the hired killer on a darknet website called Crime Bay that purported to be run by Chechen mobsters.

She was accused of uploading her boyfriends name, residence and phot to the hitman, according to the station.
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center is one of only six hospitals in Virginia and 109 nationwide to receive a 2017 Top Hospital award from The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit hospital watchdog organization.

The award highlights American hospitals providing the highest quality of care to their patients, said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

Hospitals fill out a survey that looks at many areas of performance, such as preventing infections, reducing cesarean sections, use of technology to ensure safer care and leadership practices and policies. The award isnt given to a set number of facilities but to all hospitals that meet the standards, according to Leapfrog.

Of the 109 awards presented, 45 went to general hospitals. Spotsylvania Regional was included in that category along with Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital of Richmond and Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.

Another 36 facilities earned awards as top teaching hospitals. No Virginia hospitals were in this group.

There were 18 rural hospitals recognized, including Russell County Medical Center and Smyth County Community Hospital, both in Virginia.

No Virginia hospitals made Leapfrogs list of 10 top childrens hospitals.

Michael Clark, chief executive officer of Spotsylvania Regional, said the recognition sets us apart as a hospital that is consistently focused on patient excellence, safety and quality in the Fredericksburg region. He also said the most recent award came on the heels of receiving an A grade for patient safety for seven consecutive ratings.

Binder said it takes leadership, teamwork and absolute dedication to patients to achieve a Top Hospital award.

Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center opened in June 2010 and is part of HCA Virginia. According to a press release from the facility, it is a $188 million hospital with 133 beds on a 75-acre campus. More than 600 staff members work at the hospital, which pays about $1.5 million in taxes annually to Spotsylvania County.
For two Decembers, Chuck Corbin drove to Arlington National Cemetery, his tractor-trailer loaded down with 4,500 wreaths made from balsam firs and smelling of Christmas.

Once they were there, his wife, Nancy, plucked them from piles six-feet deep, handing them to volunteers who decorated the graves of veterans. She told them to pause as they approached each slab of chiseled granite, to say the name written there, and in that way, the Corbins work was never impersonal.

But when Nancys father, Ira McQuinn, a 24-year Army veteran whod fought in Vietnam, died suddenly in July at age 81, she knew this years Wreaths Across America would take on a deeper meaning.

He was buried in Section 29 of Quantico National Cemetery, and the Corbins, who live in Stafford County, decided that this December they would donate their truck and time to be close to him.

In ceremonies at Arlington, Quantico and cemeteries around the country on Saturday, tens of thousands of volunteers placed more than 100,000 handmade wreaths tied with red ribbons on the graves of veterans.

Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization, grew out of a deed 25 Decembers ago by the owner of a wreath-making company in Maine named Morrill Worcester, who had a surplus of wreaths that year and a childhood memory of a visit to Arlington.

Worcester quietly arranged for the wreaths to be placed on graves in Arlington, in sections where visitors rarely went anymore. The project went on quietly for more than a dozen years, until a photo of those deep-green wreaths tied with red bows and set against stones in snow made the rounds online.

National interest was born, according to the organization, and the project has grown every year since.

Hundreds of cars snaked into Quantico on Saturday, where traffic backed up for more than an hour just before the noon ceremony. Some volunteers were here out of a sense of duty and service and patriotism: Boy and Girl Scout troops, members of Junior ROTCs and the Civil Air Patrol.

Some came from a few miles away. Some, like Ronnie and Terri Allen of Delaware and David and Leslie Engelhard of North Carolina, drove here from out of state.

Theyd all grown up in Woodbridge, the children of veterans who became veterans and spouses of veterans and return to Quantico every year to tend to the plots of those they once knew.

Chuck Corbin, the truck driver, had steered his tractor-trailer into the cemetery the night before under escort. On Saturday, he and his wife and four generations of their family were back to hand out wreaths and explain the groups mission, which Nancy Corbin had printed on her shirt: Remember, honor, teach.

They went to McQuinns grave first, four generations of his family gathering to place a single wreath plucked from 500 cases of them.

Any stranger he came across, he would talk to without any reservation, Nancy Corbin said, and when McQuinn was asked about his service, he joked that there was no other branch than the Army.

She turned to a Brownie troop from Woodbridge, its members holding out their arms for crowns of green.

As you approach a gravesite, Nancy Corbin told them, recognize them. Take a moment to reflect.

Wreaths Across America has adopted a saying. A person dies twice, it goes. Once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken.

Across the road, in another section, Matt Hostutler of Bristow explained to his 7-year-old son, Luke, what Korea was like as they stood over the stone of a veteran whod served there. He told him about the mountains and the brutal cold of that country, and he looked down at the date of his death1985and remarked that hed lived a long time after.

One row up, Hostutlers daughter, 10-year-old Mya, knelt over grave after grave, clasping her hands in prayer and bowing her head. And then she whispered to them, telling them how amazing it was that theyd fought for their country, that she couldnt imagine it, that theyd served as individuals but also been a part of something bigger.

She told them that what theyd done had been worth it.

It worked, Mya said over the grave of a World War II veteran who was born and died in a century she never lived in. What you did, it worked.
Thermometers will register above normal readings this week in Frederickburg.

The overall weather pattern has shifted back to a warmer than average regime for Fredericksburg and vicinity. As a result the week before Christmas will bring afternoon temperatures mostly in the 50s (and even low 60s) instead of the typical upper 40s. What isnt in the weeks forecast is much in the way of precipitation which isnt good news for the growing aridity.

The graphic shows the most recent Drought Monitor map for Virginia. Almost 95% of the state is dryer than normal with 16% - tan shading - falling into the moderate drought category. This may be alleviated by the next pattern change (more on that in a moment).

Meanwhile today (Sunday) will feature clear morning skies but clouds will be on the increase by early afternoon. A surface front hovering near the Mason-Dixon line plus the approach of an upper level short wave with usher in the clouds. There is a potential for light rain late this afternoon but with the air as dry as it is the showers may well evaporate before reaching the ground.

Given the increasing cloudiness todays temperatures will top out in the low 50s. Tomorrow, however, will be mostly sunny and afternoon temperatures will soar into the upper 50s. And Tuesday looks like thermometers may bust the 60 degree mark!

As for the next pattern change models are indicating another Arctic air intrusion into the U.S. beginning next weekend. This evolution looks like the cold air will dive straight south through Texas into Mexico at first. Then it will take its time oozing eastward toward the Mid-Atlantic, warming a bit before it gets to Fredericksburg.

The exact timing of the cold air arrival and what looks to become a wetter pattern for Fredericksburg is still very uncertain. Suffice it to say that the week of Christmas  a busy travel time  could be a bit dicey weather-wise. By the end of this work week the numerical models and thus human forecasters will have a better handle on timing and placement of any potential winter weather.

Meanwhile enjoy the warmth this week!!
THE BIGGEST challenge facing Gov.-elect Ralph Northam and the new General Assembly next year is Virginias underwhelming economic performance over the past several years. Without robust economic growth and the revenue it generates, many new initiativesincluding transportation improvementswill remain on the wish list for lack of funding.

In a 160-page report released last month, Old Dominion Universitys Center for Economic Analysis and Policy warned that not only is economic growth in Virginia overall stuck in neutral, there is also a distinct possibility that many metro areas may be shifting into reverse.

Output gains are anemic and lag the United States, ODUs third annual State of the Commonwealth Report pointed out. More Virginians are in the labor force, gainfully employed and enjoying larger paychecks. However, when Virginia is compared to neighboring states and the nation, its economic performance is mediocre.

While the compound annual growth rateCAGRof the U.S. as a whole was 2.1 percent between 2010 and 2016, following the Great Recession, Virginias was only 0.7 percent, according to ODU economics professor Bob McNab and president emeritus James V. Koch.

Virginia continued to struggle to produce economic growth across all its metropolitan regions, their report noted. In fact, at 2 percent, Richmond was the only metropolitan area in the commonwealth to come close to the national CAGR.

Even Northern Virginia only grew at a tepid 1.2 percent rate, while the economies of Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Staunton contracted during the same time period.

The report predicts that the commonwealth will end 2017 with a 1.8 percent growth rate, which is an improvement, but still below Virginias historical averageand well below the U.S. economy.

Positive, and in some cases strong, employment growth suggests that economic activity picked up in 2017 inside several of Virginias metro areas, the report pointed out. But even this good news is tempered by the fact that in most of Virginias metropolitan areas, wage growth slowed in 2017. That is alarming as wages should be rising as we approach full employment.

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that job growth in each of Virginias large metropolitan areas slowed this year when compared with 2016, the ODU report found. While Northern Virginia and Richmond continued to add jobs, albeit at a slower pace, job growth stalled in Hampton Roads. Because these three metro areas contain 73 percent of all jobs in the commonwealth, slow job growth regionally translated into slow growth for the state.

George Mason Universitys Center for Regional Analysis also found that Richmond was the only Virginia metro area to have consistently positive economic growth over the past five years. In contrast, the cities and towns along the Interstate 81 corridor saw the largest declinesafter posting gains of nearly 3 percent between 2014 and 2015.

Virginias regional economies, except for Richmond, appear to be decelerating, the ODU report concluded. Another worrisome statistic: Although taxable sales in Virginia grew between 2014 and 2017, suggesting a growing economy, they have still not recovered to their pre-Great Recession levels.

The ODU report calls for concerted political action to alleviate burdensome regulations, promote long-term investment and improve regional cooperation, admitting that this is hardly a new recommendation, but one we need to repeat until the commonwealth climbs out of its current rut.

Its obvious theres a problem when the Virginia economy is growing at less than 2 percent, while the national economy is chugging away at 3.3 percent.

With the divisive 2017 gubernatorial election behind us, its incumbent upon the governor-elect and members of the General Assembly from both parties to put their political differences aside and do whatever it takes to shift Virginias economy from neutral to a higher gear.

In a 160-page report released last month, Old Dominion Universitys Center for Economic Analysis and Policy warned that, Not only is economic growth in Virginia overall stuck in neutral, there is also a distinct possibility that many metro areas may be shifting into reverse.
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With conference season in full swing the buzzword bingo cards are fervently being marked.

For those not familiar with buzzword bingo, its a game you play with a handful of other conference delegates where you all choose five or 10 key phrases you predict that you will hear during the presentations  the winner being the first to tick off all their list.

It is usually considered bad form to leap up shouting full house, but it has been known.

See also: Time to tread carefully over political volcano

In contrast one of the most memorable speeches I ever heard at a conference was about 10 years ago by a US secretary of state for Agriculture.

As he strode into the hall he was flanked by an entourage of security heavies who stayed close-by during the speech, slightly unnerving the audience under their watchful glare.

The bulges under their jackets werent just muscles. No one was going to leap up and shout full house during that speech.

Guy Smith comes from a mixed family farm on the north-east Essex coast comes from a mixed family farm on the north-east Essex coast

But what I really liked about this USDA man was the way he talked up the importance of farmers and the achievements of agriculture.

One line I particularly liked was his observation that the hard work of one farmer meant 99 non-farmers didnt have to worry about ever going hungry.

Compare and contrast

Im not easily sucked in by cheap praise from politicians, but I remember thinking: This guy really is on the side of the farmer. What brought this into even sharper context was that, after the USDA man had left the podium, we had his Defra equivalent.

In contrast, she gave a speech that seemed to concentrate on the environmental problems farming needed to face up to and how the CAP was a bad policy.

It was enough to make you feel like emigrating. And now, 10 years later, I find myself in conference halls listening to Michael Gove. Ill say no more on that.

Surely, if ever there was a time in Britain to build positive bridges between government and the farming industry it is now.

For a generation, our government department has been a delivery arm and regulator for policy devised in Brussels.

Often that policy was shaped in spite of the views of the British government, rather than because of them.

Consequently, the CAP was often viewed in London as an alien policy to be delivered without much enthusiasm or ownership.

But now is a moment for change that must be seized on by all sides. Clearly it would be naive to expect Defra to forgo all its regulatory roles, but surely now is the time it can also become our industrys champion.

From now on agricultural policy will be written in the UK, for the UK. It is a chance for all sides to own that policy and be part of the same vision.

Central to that should be how we feed our nation with wholesome food, produced primarily from our own resources, while giving a fair return to the farmer.

Meeting our needs

The nightmare alternative is how, as a result of Brexit, we can meet most of our food needs by scouring the world for the cheapest food produced to the cheapest standards.

We desperately need a department that properly understands agriculture. We need a department peopled by staff who have actually been out onto farms.

Above all, we need a department that engenders a sense of trust among farmers.

Lets be clear, this is a two-way street. If government reaches out the hand of partnership to the farming community, then we must be prepared to forget the past and grasp it.
On The Water: You might need a bigger boat for Transpac 2023
bohlah at 17-12-2017 08:20 AM (4 years ago) (m)

As another 228 Libya returnees arrived Benin-City, last Wednesday, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II has thrown his weight behind the fight against human trafficking.

As another 228 Libya returnees arrived Benin-City, last Wednesday, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II has thrown his weight behind the fight against human trafficking.

Oba Ewuare II, who spoke during the inauguration of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs by Governor Godwin Obaseki, condemned the act and expressed disappointment at the Nigerian Embassy in Libya and the Libyan government for their inability to tackle the crisis.



The monarch regretted that it was particularly frustrating that it took a report by the Cable News Network (CNN) for government and other stakeholders to respond to the crisis.



The crisis, he said, could have been better managed if relevant authorities had lived up to their responsibilities, saying they allowed it to fester instead.



He commended the governor for his efforts to resettle the Libya returnees through skills acquisition programmes.



Obaseki, who also spoke at the occasion, described the situation in Libya as sad and unacceptable and assured that his administration would continue to partner the traditional council in the areas of law, order and security, stemming the tide of illegal migration, environmental sanitation, registration of Edo citizens and the mobilisation of indigenes and residents to participate in government policies and programmes, settlement of land disputes, agriculture, amongst others. Of the 228 latest returnees, 39 were women, six of whom were pregnant; four were children while others were men.



Sunday Vanguard spoke with a couple, Mr and Mrs Kingslay, who claimed to have watched as 59 Nigerians were shot dead, 19-year-old Precious, who had a baby in Libyan prison, and Blessing who had no training in nursing but providence pushed her to midwife the delivery of five children inside the prison. Their stories:



Mr Kingsley said he decided to embark on the journey to Europe via Libya with his wife. Though they were unable to get to their destination, which is Italy, God gave them a baby girl in Libya



Oba Ewuare II, who spoke during the inauguration of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs by Governor Godwin Obaseki, condemned the act and expressed disappointment at the Nigerian Embassy in Libya and the Libyan government for their inability to tackle the crisis.The monarch regretted that it was particularly frustrating that it took a report by the Cable News Network (CNN) for government and other stakeholders to respond to the crisis.The crisis, he said, could have been better managed if relevant authorities had lived up to their responsibilities, saying they allowed it to fester instead.He commended the governor for his efforts to resettle the Libya returnees through skills acquisition programmes.Obaseki, who also spoke at the occasion, described the situation in Libya as sad and unacceptable and assured that his administration would continue to partner the traditional council in the areas of law, order and security, stemming the tide of illegal migration, environmental sanitation, registration of Edo citizens and the mobilisation of indigenes and residents to participate in government policies and programmes, settlement of land disputes, agriculture, amongst others. Of the 228 latest returnees, 39 were women, six of whom were pregnant; four were children while others were men.Sunday Vanguard spoke with a couple, Mr and Mrs Kingslay, who claimed to have watched as 59 Nigerians were shot dead, 19-year-old Precious, who had a baby in Libyan prison, and Blessing who had no training in nursing but providence pushed her to midwife the delivery of five children inside the prison. Their stories:Mr Kingsley said he decided to embark on the journey to Europe via Libya with his wife. Though they were unable to get to their destination, which is Italy, God gave them a baby girl in Libya Quote I travelled with my wife through Kano. From Kano we went to Alghadez, Saba, Tripoli and Sabescerine. When we got to Tripoli, I paid N1million to somebody for myself and my wife for the Mediterranean Sea crossing to Italy but we ended staying there for over one year there. And to make matters worse, there was no money because there was no work. I always called my brother in Nigeria to help us with some to eat. That country is a disaster; they enjoy killing blacks, especially Nigerians. About 59 Nigerians were shot dead in my presence. One of my friends was shot on the leg and the leg was amputated. They pushed me and my wife into the boat to cross the sea but Libyan militia arrested us and took us to prison. I called my brother in Nigeria who sent money to us. I gave the militia the money and we were released from prison. We waited for our man to come and push us again across the sea but while we were waiting, the militia boys came again and started shooting. People started running and I could not escape with my wife carrying our baby, so we surrendered and they took us to prison. Some people, who tried to run away, were shot dead. We spent two weeks in the prison and it was there that we registered and they returned us to Nigeria. And what these Libya people always did was that whenever the United Nations people came, they will quickly take out some Nigerians and hide them in another prison, so that they will not register them and take them home. They do this because they want to be using those people to collect money from families in Nigeria. And in that prison they dont feed you. And they will beat the hell out of you whenever you fail to bring money from you relations. That place is hell on earth.



Kingsleys wife: We saw many dead bodies in the desert



Were you not scared traveling with you husband to Libya?



No I left everything to God. I became pregnant when I got there. We passed through the desert and saw many dead bodies on the ground. When I was pregnant, I never went to see any doctor or nurse because there was nobody to help you. But I thank God that on the day of delivery, it was very successful. One woman who had experience in delivering babies helped me.



I am happy I returned alive because many people died, some came back with ailments or broken hand or leg but I thank God I came back alive with my family.



I am happy to be back home. But I will never advise anybody to go to Libya. It is not a place that anyone should go. They shoot gun every minute and they had no value for life. : We saw many dead bodies in the desertNo I left everything to God. I became pregnant when I got there. We passed through the desert and saw many dead bodies on the ground. When I was pregnant, I never went to see any doctor or nurse because there was nobody to help you. But I thank God that on the day of delivery, it was very successful. One woman who had experience in delivering babies helped me.I am happy I returned alive because many people died, some came back with ailments or broken hand or leg but I thank God I came back alive with my family.I am happy to be back home. But I will never advise anybody to go to Libya. It is not a place that anyone should go. They shoot gun every minute and they had no value for life.

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 17-12-2017 08:20 AM (4 years ago) | Addicted Hero
The new JV will be known as Renault-Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co., Ltd. with manufacturing operations in the Dadong District of Shenyang. The Chinese LCV market is reaching upwards of 3 million units annually.

Groupe Renault and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited have signed a contract for the formation of a joint venture to manufacture and sell light commercial vehicles (LCV) under the Jinbei, Renault and Huasong brands with the goal of achieving 150,000 sales annually by 2022 and an acceleration of electrifying powertrains.

To form the JV, Groupe Renault is purchasing a 49% equity interest in Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automobile Co., Ltd. (SBJ). SBJ is being restructured into a JV beneficially owned 51% by Brilliance and 49% by Groupe Renault. The parties signed a framework cooperation agreement to pursue the formation of the joint venture in July of this year.

Thierry Aubry has been named CEO of the JV. Aubrys background includes retail, manufacturing and distribution experience in China and France.

Groupe Renault has been investing and expanding in China for four years now. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance gives us access to a wide array of technologies, with more than 50 billion euros in R&D investment over the next six years, part of which will enable Renault-Brilliance-Jinbei Automotive Company to develop products tailored to the Chinese market. We see China not only as the biggest car market worldwide, but also as a trend setter for the auto industry. Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Groupe Renault

Groupe Renault is part of the worlds largest automotive group with its Alliance including Nissan and Mitsubishi. Brilliance has made significant investment in the Jinbei brand, which has been the No.1 minibus brand in China for more than a decade with an expertise in entry-cost MPVs and with leading market share in medium vans at 31 percent.

Brilliance and Groupe Renault are joining hands to build a world-class model for the development of LCVs. It will change the map of the Chinese and even global LCV market. Both companies will build the joint venture into a world-renowned leader in three areascommercial vehicles, new energy commercial vehicles and customized commercial vehicles. This win-win partnership will create huge economic and social benefits, accelerating the development of automotive industry in Liaoning Province and China. Qi Yumin, Chairman of Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Company Limited

The JV provides a platform for the partners to bring complementary strengths together with Brilliance delivering an existing dealer network of 220, project engineering capability and manufacturing capacity. As demand in China increases for Europe-style vans and LCVs that meet higher safety, emissions and energy-efficiency standards, Renault brings expertise in new technologies, core engineering capability and business management expertise. The JVs first focus will be to try to invigorate the Jinbei brand and then to manufacture Renault LCVs in China by 2020.
NEW YORK  Small-business owners are awaiting details of a reported Republican deal in principle on a tax overhaul, the details of which could come soon.

The deal, which would reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of the tax bill, may answer the question of which business owners will pay lower taxes, and how much of a break theyll get. Both bills have raised the possibility that many owners, including professionals like accountants and consultants, wouldnt see a tax cut.

But gains were expected for companies like builders and manufacturers; both versions of the tax bill would raise the deduction that lets many kinds of equipment purchases be written off right away.

Top GOP aides said Wednesday the final House-Senate compromise is on track to be unveiled this week.

Before the news of a reported deal, lawmakers appeared in general agreement on some broad themes. Issues where there were significant differences included the tax rates for all types of companies and the size of deductions for equipment, property and interest charges. How much companies will pay in tax starting in 2018 will depend on fine points, technicalities and exemptions, tax experts say.

The devils always in the details and its not there yet, says Edward Reitmeyer, a certified public accountant with Marcum LLP in Philadelphia.

Five things small-business owners should know about the two versions of the legislation:

Pass-through income

Perhaps the biggest consideration is over the tax rate for the vast majority of businesses  those that are sole proprietorships, partnerships and the companies structured for tax purposes as S corporations. These companies are called pass-throughs since revenue and expenses are accounted for on separate tax forms and then passed through to the owners personal 1040 returns and are taxed at individual rates. They differ from most large, well-known businesses structured as C corporations, which pay their taxes at corporate rates.

The House version generally provides for the business income of the pass-through companies to be taxed at a maximum of 25 percent, compared to the current top personal income tax bracket of 39.6 percent. The Senate bill provides for 23 percent of a pass-through owners business income to be tax-exempt, with the rest taxed at individual rates.

Both bills have limitations. Among them: Business owners who provide professional services, including lawyers, accountants and consultants, could see themselves at least partially excluded from the tax breaks aimed at helping pass-throughs. Some lawmakers view these professionals, particularly if they dont have employees, as high earners who shouldnt get the same breaks as owners of very small companies.

But its questionable how many pass-through owners would see a change in their taxes, according to Joe Rosenberg, a tax researcher with the Urban Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. He says 85 to 90 percent of pass-throughs are already taxed at a 25 percent rate or less.

Corporate taxes

As for the companies that pay their taxes at corporate rates, both bills set a 20 percent rate, down from the current 35 percent. The Senate bill, however, delays the implementation of the lower rate until 2019. C corporations include all of the Fortune 500 and other publicly traded companies. However, small businesses can also be C corporations.

Owners of pass-through companies who wont get any tax breaks might decide to change their business structure to a C corporation, Reitmeyer says.

That is something that has to be looked at for everyone going forward, he says.

Business tax deductions

The deduction that lets companies write off many types of equipment purchases up front rather than depreciate them over a period of years would increase under both bills from its current level of $510,000.

The House version would raise the Section 179 deduction (named for a portion of the tax code) to $5 million, while the Senate bill raises it to $1 million. Companies most likely to benefit from the higher limits are those like construction, farming and manufacturing businesses that invest in large or expensive machinery and vehicles.

Depreciation rules that govern larger equipment and property purchases would also change. Currently, many investments in equipment or real estate must be depreciated over a period ranging from 2.5 years to decades, depending on what kind of property it is. Both bills allow for full up-front deductions of purchases each year for the next five years. The Senate version provides for a gradual phase-out of the full deduction over the following four years.

Both bills reduce the deductibility of business interest expenses to 30 percent of a companys taxable income. That may be an unwelcome change as under the current law, interest is completely deductible. The House version allows companies with up to $25 million in revenue to keep the full deduction. The Senate version ends the full deduction for companies with more than $15 million in revenue. Landlords, however, will be able to continue fully deducting their mortgage interest.

Alternative

minimum tax

Another key area of dispute is whether to repeal the alternative minimum tax, or AMT. The tax requires high-earning individuals and corporations to compute their tax liability in two different ways and pay whichever amount is higher. Some Republican lawmakers said retaining it would limit companies ability to take advantage of some tax credits, such as for research and development.

The Senate bill keeps the AMT for corporations. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., suggested this week that its possible that the AMT will be repealed in the final tax bill.

Even if the AMT survives, some business owners may escape it in the future, Reitmeyer says, noting that the current bills call for an end to the individual deduction for state and local income taxes.

The No. 1 item that puts our clients into the AMT is the state and local tax deduction, he says.

Accounting methods

Both bills would simplify financial record-keeping for many small businesses that have inventory, making the cash method of accounting available to them.

Under cash accounting, a company records income when its received and expenses when theyre paid. Under the more complex method of accrual accounting, income and expenses are booked when they are owed, not when theyre received or paid.

Generally, manufacturers and other companies that have inventory are required to use the accrual method, but current law exempts businesses with average annual revenue of $5 million or less. The House bill would raise that exemption to $25 million, while the Senate version would set it at $15 million.
Are you still working on your holiday shopping list? Gift-buying can be challenging, especially for the young people in your life. Children today often receive so many toys and electronic gadgets, so we would like to recommend a book as the perfect gift for a child of any age. Members of our Youth Services staff have read many recent titles and would like to recommend some of the best choices for you.

Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Lights, Camera, Middle School! by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. 2017, 197 pages (ages 8-12)

Babymouses first chapter book, Lights, Camera, Middle School!, is sure to win her new fans as well as thrill those who have adored the 20 graphic novels featuring her adventures. This entertaining story uses a format similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, blending chapter-book text with comic-style illustrations. This will be a great choice for readers who enjoy tales of friendship.

Young readers will laugh out loud as Babymouse and her friends start middle school, join the film club, and set out to make an epic movie. The next book in the series will be released in July.

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers. 2017, 104 pages (ages 9-13)

Did you ever notice that Lady Libertys right foot is not standing flat? Her heel is up. Shes on the move! This movement is at the heart of Her Right Foot, an absolutely beautiful examination of not just the monument itself but also the reason and meaning behind it. A neat introduction to nonfiction, the story examines the physical parts of the statue, its history and then, ultimately, the hope she embodies for all of us. This gently flowing book is powerful, thought-provoking and full of fascinating facts as the tale of the construction of the statue unfolds. The gorgeous, ink-and-collage-style illustrations depict some of the cool features of the statue and the diversity of the people the Statue of Liberty welcomes and represents. Recommended for middle grades  but it would make a beautiful gift for adults as well.

Little Kids First Big Book of Things that Go by Karen de Seve. 2017, 128 pages (ages 4-8)

This recent book about transportation from National Geographic Kids is an ideal non-fiction gift for young children. Preschoolers will enjoy the many photo-illustrations. The large font and short chapters are good for a shared read-aloud between parent and child. Elementary students can read the text on their own and will be fascinated by the history of travel  from early bicycles with oversized wheels to Segways, from the Wright Brothers to drones. Did you know that the first U.S. car race covered 54 miles and took almost eight hours to finish? Be sure to check out other interesting titles from National Geographic Kids.

Love the World by Todd Parr. 2017, 32 pages (ages 3-6)

If you havent read Todd Parr, you definitely should. His bright and colorful books are meant for young children, but his inspiring words are an encouragement for everyone. This titles positive message, Love yourself, love the world is especially relevant today. Young readers will love his illustrations of diverse characters with a variety of skin tones and hair colors represented, including blue, purple and green! Characters of different abilities are included as well. Author/illustrator Parr closes the book with a personal note to the reader. His other works are highly recommended as well, especially Be Who You Are (2016) and Its Okay to Make Mistakes (2014).

Motor Goose: Rhymes That Go! by Rebecca Colby. 2017, 32 pages (ages 2-6)

While reading a favorite book over and over again could seem boring to an adult, repetitive reading actually offers a slew of benefits for a new reader and pre-reader (vocabulary, word recognition, comprehension, confidence ... the list goes on) This is a good thing if you pick up the delightful Motor Goose: Rhymes That Go! because it will certainly become a nightly request. But fear not! While this clever book is ideal for tots, adults will also enjoy the truly funny plays on Mother Goose standards reworked to feature vehicles of all sorts. London Bus is Driving Round, Bumpty Dumpty, Beep Beep Black Jeep, Twinkle, Twinkle, UFO and more all feature fun, playful illustrations, with lots of detail for kids to inspect. Older children also will enjoy comparing the original rhymes with the new versions and getting acquainted with less-familiar ones.

Under Earth, Under Water by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski. 2016, 112 pages (ages 7-10)

For the second- to fifth-grader (or precocious younger child) in your life who loves poring over detailed illustrations and learning about everything from obscure sea creatures to the workings of a thermal power station, Under Earth, Under Water is the book for them. An oversized, exquisitely designed, two-sided book, one half covers the wonders and human innovations under water while the other half goes into detail about life and resources underground. There is a little to be learned about a great many topics, so expect this book to spark the need for a trip to the library to learn more about the Dumbo octopus or the Terracotta Army of Xian, China.

Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer. 2017, 238 pages (ages 12-18)

Fans of Meyers Lunar Chronicles will love this recent addition, which continues the adventures of the android Iko, Cinders comical sidekick in previous novels. For those who havent read the previous books, this title is presented in graphic novel format and works well as a standalone, but will definitely spark a readers interest in the series. This futuristic tale follows Iko as she battles wolf-hybrid soldiers and strives to maintain peace between Earth and Luna. Perfect for readers who love adventure and a bit of romance, Volume 2 will be released early in 2018.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. 2017, 318 pages (ages 9-12)

As fans of her award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan know, Applegate has an extraordinary gift for tackling serious situations with warmth, compassion and a unique perspective that draws children in and engages their imagination. The plot of Wishtree concerns a neighborhood where a newly arrived family is the target of an ugly incident. What sets the book apart is Red, the 216-year-old red oak tree that serves as both witness to the event and narrator of the book. Hearing this moving story about kindness and friendship from the point of view of the neighborhood trees and animals will captivate young readers.

The Worlds Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson. 2017, 351 pages (ages 8-12)

After Toby Montroses parents disappeared at sea, he was passed from one relative to the next until arriving at the home of his last relative Uncle Gabriel. In an effort to keep his uncles dwindling detective business afloat, Toby enters a murder mystery contest to win a cash prize and the title The Worlds Greatest Detective. When the pretend murder becomes real, Toby and his friend Ivy must use all they have learned from Inspector Websters Detection Correspondence Course to solve the mystery and save the day. This humorous, smart read will delight fourth- through seventh-grade mystery lovers, especially fans of Blue Balliett and Trenton Lee Stewart.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary will not premiere at the Sundance Film Festival as planned.

The remaining partners in his production company said Friday that they removed "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" from the Sundance slate in light of Spurlock's confessions of sexual misconduct this week.

Warrior Poets partners Jeremy Chilnick and Matthew Galkin said in a statement that "this is not the appropriate time" for the film to premiere.

YouTube Red, which was to distribute the film, also had a change of heart. YouTube said Friday it would not release the film, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Producers of another documentary set to premiere at Sundance next month also said Friday they were distancing themselves from Spurlock.

"In light of Morgan's recent revelations, we agreed to end his association with 'The Devil We Know,'" producer Kristin Lazure said in a statement. She said she hoped to keep the focus on the film, which explores the effects of toxic chemical pollution.

Spurlock said Wednesday in a lengthy online post that he was accused of rape while in college and settled a sexual harassment case with a female assistant at his office eight years ago. He said he would immediately step down from the production company he co-founded.

Representatives for Spurlock did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
I needed a reminder of what Abraham Lincoln called the better angels of our nature, the American good stuff somewhere deep down in our hearts and souls still. Abdul Rasheed brought it.

He rolled into Winston-Salem the other day, bearing the legacy of a 20th-century Tar Heel hero whose lessons are sorely needed now.

Weve got all this conflict and fear and chaos, Rasheed told a group of Winston-Salem Journal leaders. If we continue to go as were going, it threatens our democracy. Weve just got to figure out a way to come back together.

Amen.

Rasheed is the executive director of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, a Raleigh-based group that nurtures leaders of divergent political stripes to find common ground and work for basics in their communities, such as good public education, health care and public safety. Its named for former UNC system President Bill Friday, a lawyer and a World War II Navy veteran renowned for his ability to bring varied people together for beneficial causes. Friday, who died five years ago at age 92, stood up strong for causes including academic freedom, integration and affordable higher education.

As Rasheed has noted, Friday once said: The greatest need in our state and country is for a generation of leaders with moral principles and ethical standards  with an unshakable commitment to courage and fairness with grace and courtesy and decency.

Rasheed, who came to know Friday through their mutual friend George Esser, said that Friday was a giant.

Rasheed is ideally suited to carry on Fridays work. Born Humphrey Cobb (his mother was a Humphrey Bogart fan), he grew up in modest means in Henderson, where he still lives. In his 30s, he changed his name to Abdul Rasheed, a reflection of his search for his African roots and the Islam he was studying at the time. Now, he identifies himself as more spiritual than religious, a man with a solid knowledge of his roots, where hes going and where he wants our state to go.

He is 68 and was just recovering from prostate cancer when he was tapped to lead the Friday Fellowship about a year ago. By then, Rasheed had made his name in other ventures, most notably, as the head of the N.C. Community Development Initiative. He successfully led in programs including economic development and housing.

In his new post, he is trying to ramp up and expand the work of the fellowship that started in 1994, building on past efforts. He realizes that wont be easy. Weve allowed ourselves to get trapped in our silos, he said.

Back in the early 1960s, with Friday and others at the helm, our state led the Old South to the New South. North Carolina rocked, rightly leading the South in integration that was often peaceful as other states degenerated into violence. From the 1970s and into the 1990s, Democratic leaders worked with Republican ones, such as Govs. Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin, to move our state to the fore.

Now, our state and the rest of the country are once again divided on issues of race and class.

Both major parties have moved away from the center, where things get done. Blacks of modest means and whites of modest means feel left behind by the economic recovery, even as some of our politicians play up their differences and divide them.

Rasheed strides into that climate trying to build union. He said he has a conservative side  he was raised on the values of hard work and accountability  and a liberal side: I want everyone to have equal opportunity.

He said the fellowships enhanced work will emphasize the human values we all share: respect, accountability, equity, transparency, patience and civility.

If we start with these values, then we can make our Constitution work for everybody, he said.

Rasheed is leading in programs to encourage the 200 existing Friday fellows and the ones to come to work in their communities on projects that those communities determine to be worthwhile. Personal relationships are key, he suggests, not impersonal communication on email and Facebook.

Its just a little harder for me to say youre a bad person when I know you as a person, he said.

These programs, he suggested, will involve the brand of listening for which Bill Friday was known.

It will require dreaming as well. Im dreaming now, Rasheed said.

He has transformed dreams into action in his past work, building on the values that built our country, and, on our best days, unite us. Such work is harder now, but it must continue. Those values abide.
REIDSVILLE  Throughout his career, longtime Eden attorney Joe Maddrey has given much of himself to his country, his colleagues, his profession and his community.

On Dec. 7, attorneys from six counties were on hand when Maddrey received the prestigious John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award from the N.C. Bar Association.

State Bar President John Silverstein said Maddrey was a most deserving recipient of the only award the association bestows each year.

Joes career spans 50 years and has been built upon eminence, distinction and excellence as he served his community, giving himself tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence in all that he does, Silverstein said.

Maddrey praised his partners and staff, saying the attorneys could not survive without the staff looking after him.

Maddrey said he has no intentions of retiring.

I just enjoy the heck out of practicing, he said. It is just a pleasure to go into the office.

Quoting the oft-heard idiom Law is a jealous mistress, Maddrey said he didnt understand it until he started practicing law.

I would not be receiving this reward today if it were not for (my wife) Libby, he said.

The couple has established a scholarship at Rockingham Community College.

Throughout his remarks, Maddrey expressed the need for attorneys to continue pro bono work in their communities.

Pro bono is not a project with us, he said. It is neighbor helping neighbor. Let us never become weary of doing good. We as lawyers have this high honor and great responsibility to bring about justice for people  especially in todays time. Justice is what we are all about.

Maddrey graduated from Wake Forest University in 1964 with a degree in history and political science and received his law degree from Wake Forest Law School in 1967. He delayed starting his career to serve in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. After his discharge, Maddrey joined N.C. Secretary of State Thad Eures office.

In 1972, Maddrey moved to Eden, where his career would blossom and the community would gain from his presence, said Matt Smith, a partner in Maddrey Etringer Smith Holowell & Toney.

Silverstein quoted from letters of recommendation from several of Maddreys associates.

Joe is a true believer that a hallmark of our profession is self-regulation, and that if we are lucky enough to hang a license to practice law on our walls, we must pursue the highest standards for ourselves and for the public, Smith wrote.

After two terms in the late 1980s and early 1990s as state bar councilor for Judicial District 17A, Maddrey was on the State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission for six years.

In Eden, Maddrey devoted time to many boards and organizations, including president of the Eden Chamber of Commerce and Morehead Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and on the Hospice of Rockingham County board. For more than three decades, Maddrey taught Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Eden. He also did free legal work for the chamber, Habitat for Humanity and many churches and nonprofits in the county.

He is always willing to take a call from anyone needing legal advice and most often never charges, Smith said.

At the beginning of his practice, Maddrey became a certified specialist in residential real estate, his knowledge and expertise making him a leader in the state often called by other attorneys to provide opinions and expert testimony in property cases.

In his 19-year association with Maddrey, Smith said, Maddrey has taught me how to be effectively involved in the community and to help Eden and Rockingham County.

The idea of a small-town lawyer is something more than just appearing in court or closing real estate, Sith said. It is being part of the community and using the education, gifts and talents of being an attorney to make your corner of the world just a little bit better.

Seth Woodall, a partner for 13 years, wrote about growing up in Eden and being intertwined with the presence of Joe  (who) gives 100 percent of himself to whatever the cause.

Each time Woodall sought Maddreys advice, he stopped what he was doing to give me his undivided attention  (and) guided me through whatever the issue with poise and dignity.

Over the years, Maddrey has served as an advisor to untold numbers of lawyers, judges and individuals within our community, Woodall said. Even now, Maddrey remains the go-to guy for any and all ethical standard issues.

Before becoming a superior court judge, Ed Wilson worked 10 years with Maddrey  some of the best years of my life.

He is one of two or three attorneys in the county I talk to when an issue regarding professionalism arises either with one attorney or with the bar in general to hear his opinion on, Wilson said.

And I always trust his judgment.

Small towns all over North Carolina have been led by lawyers for hundreds of years, in every leadership position, Wilson said.

Unfortunately, fewer men and women of Joes caliber are choosing to come to rural North Carolina, he said.

But for those who do choose to come, Joe Maddrey has and will continue to serve as the example of the kind of lawyer and person all of us should strive to be.
Beverlee Fatse Dacey is proud of who she is and where she came from.

A banner-waving baby boomer and the granddaughter of two immigrant entrepreneurs, Dacey is president of Amodex, a Bridgeport manufacturing company founded by her parents, A. Peter and Sylvia Fatse, in 1958. The company makes an ink and stain remover product and includes six people: Dacey, her husband, and their four children  two sets of twins.

History will say the baby boomer generation was amazing. History will say we are the last generation that grew up with a lot of creative sparkle, she said from a small conference room in Amodexs building on State Street. Thats a skill that has served us well. We definitely dont just coast. We become significant players.

I see myself as part of a bigger whole with my peers, she said.

She backs up that claim by volunteering as a board member of the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund and the New Haven Manufacturers Association. With the CMIF, Dacey takes pride in representing small manufacturers throughout the state.

Its not about me, but what I can do to make things better for others, she said. Its exciting to be on this board and be the voice for the little business. Its challenging and rewarding.

Dacey is not shy about being the voice for anything she believes in. Though small in stature, she once stood up to a Romanian policeman when she was overseas on a Fulbright scholarship. Romania was a communist country at the time.

He was just trying to intimidate me and I knew it. Its a moment Ill never forget, she said. I didnt know about freedom until I went to a place that didnt have it. Now, to me, its not a concept, its a feeling. Its taken for granted here.

Her son, Peter, chuckles to himself when he hears his mother calmly assert herself as the company president when a supplier calls and insists on talking to someone in charge.

I know whats going on when I hear her say: Youre talking to her,  Peter said. I just shake my head.

A woman in manufacturing

Having people question whether she should be in manufacturing because of her gender started long before the phone calls to Amodex  and the original source was much more significant.

Although she had a knack for the business, her father expected one of his two sons to take over Amodex.

He felt manufacturing was not a womens profession. He said he wished I was a boy because Id be perfect for it. I told myself: Oh, youre going to eat those words, she said. But he didnt have a succession plan. He thought he was going to live forever.

Her mother, on the other hand, was less traditional and encouraged Dacey to do whatever she wanted.

Not that Dacey set out to become president of a small manufacturing firm. After graduating from Wheaton College, earning a masters degree from the University of Chicago and taking her trip to Romania, Dacey worked as an academic administrator at colleges including Tufts and Mount Holyoke. She continues to have a passion for learning and educating others.

She and her husband, Gowan, lived in Boston when they had their children. Wanting her twins to grow up around family, the Daceys moved back to Fairfield County and settled in Easton, where Beverlees parents lived.

Into a maelstrom

Her fathers cancer diagnosis in early 2005 put the future of the business in question as the family dealt with the inevitable loss of its patriarch. He considered selling the business and worried how his wife would be cared for.

Then, as the family grappled with those emotions, the unthinkable happened.

In April, mom was killed by a drunk driver in Southport, Dacey said. Life went into a maelstrom, to say the least. We had to shift and think of how we would take care of my father. He was beyond grief-stricken.

Beverlee Dacey, too, was in shock as she tried to cope with the death of her mother and take seriously the prospect of taking over the family business.

I lost my cheerleader. I had someone to guide me and help me through my challenges. I have to do that alone now, she said. I was her only daughter and we were super close.

In her typical fashion, though, she looked for the positives in the situation.

I found a depth of courage and faith I didnt know I had. I use it every day so maybe thats something I had to have. It took a long time, she said. I developed a much different attitude toward others in regards to sympathy and empathy. You never know whats going on in peoples lives.

Everyone has hardship, she said. Its not an exclusive club.

The crossroads

Dacey realized she did not have a lot of time to think about taking over Amodex. There was much to consider in terms of lifestyle, finances and legacy. She had two children in college and two in private school. She called a family meeting.

We had to be all-in as a family, she said. We all agreed, so I took over.

In the process of taking over, she won over an important supporter. Before he died, my dad said: Youre going to make it,  Dacey said.

Amodex had $67,000 in sales the first year Dacey took over.

I had to hold my nose and hope we didnt belly flop, she said. We had to get through the recession and we had to grow.

With new contracts with stores such as Lowes, along with exports to countries around the world has Amodex pushing $1 million in annual sales.

Amodex was named the Connecticut Family-Owned Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration for 2017.

The growth and accolades may be partially credited to the timeless nature of the product and the strong foundation built by Daceys parents, but its also about the companys president.

Shes a dynamo, Peter said. Shes dynamic in everything she does. She has endless energy. She pursues things and thats what you need as an entrepreneur.

True to history;

true to Bridgeport

Dacey feels a strong connection to her ancestors, who come from the Balkan Mountains area. One of her grandfathers opened a shoe shine business and the other opened a barber shop upon coming to the U.S.

Her father dropped out of high school at age 17 to serve in World War II. Education was important to him and he later graduated from high school and college  educating his children would be a top priority of his later in life. He worked for an office supply company before founding the company that would eventually be called Amodex.

Theres something about that entrepreneurial spirit, she said. Its in our DNA.

When Dacey purchased the old police precinct building on State Street a year and half ago and moved the business there, she brought with her all the old photographs of her ancestors and the various jobs they had. One photo shows a group of men taking a break from their factory job in Rhode Island. Many of the men did not have shoes on their feet.

Its not something youd see today, but talk about guts, she said.

The photographs are framed and hung in the conference room.

They remind us as we sit in our nice heated office that we wouldnt be here if they didnt do what they did, she said. Im very proud of the companys history.

If not for those photos, Amodex may have left Bridgeport  Daceys birthplace and the city in which her father founded the company  for a less expensive business climate, Dacey said.

If we all bail (on Bridgeport), how is it ever going to come back? she said. Ive always felt a connection to Bridgeport and we decided to be committed to it. Business is not all about making money. Its what you do with it.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
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GREENWICH  Lieutenant Mark Zuccerella did not mince words: The Greenwich Police Department wont report undocumented immigrants who have not committed a crime.

The statement was not exactly radical; it followed guidelines outlined in a state law that took effect in 2014.

Still, audience members at an immigration panel hosted by the First Selectmans Diversity Advisory Committee expressed their surprise and demanded clarification. The fact that undocumented immigrants could contact police without fearing detention was news to them.

We dont ask people for their status, Zuccerella reiterated.

The misconception can make it hard for police to to do their jobs, Zuccerella said during the discussion Thursday evening at the YWCA Greenwich.

For example, he said police need victims of domestic abuse to feel they can report their perpetrators, without fearing detention or deportation.

(Ironically, one of the few ways for an undocumented immigrant to obtain legal status is through a U visa, which protects those suffering from mental or physical abuse and was created in 2000 to encourage victims to cooperate with law enforcement.)

Even in the education system, Zuccerella has watched as parents avoided involvement in their childrens schools because they were afraid of the ramifications.

This fear  we have to find a way to get the facts out there, he said.

Police departments are not the only agencies that have noted immigrants hesitating to get help. During the panel discussion, Catalina Horak said in neighboring Stamford, parents are choosing not to register their children for free or reduced-price lunches because theyre afraid of giving out their information.

As executive director of Building One Community, one of the areas leading immigration nonprofits, Horak has a better pulse on the local immigrant population than most. Because of recent surges in anti-immigrant sentiment around the country, she said, undocumented residents are retreating into the shadows instead of accessing much-needed resources.

People are really afraid of sharing their stories and their immigration status, and theyre afraid of going to agencies where they dont know people, Horak explained.

Approximately 60,000 of Americas 11 million undocumented immigrants live in Fairfield County. A good number of those individuals arent benefiting from programs that could help not only them but also their kids, many of whom are U.S. citizens, Horak said.

Meanwhile, employers in the area who are aware of their workers immigration status are taking advantage of that knowledge. Horak sees people every day who have been denied wages; their bosses threaten to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they complain.

In those situations, the police can advise immigrants on how to pursue legal action, panelists said. But that requires that the individual in question puts faith in law enforcement.

After talking about the effects of recent events on the undocumented population, panelists took time to dispel a common myth about immigrants: that it is easy to attain legal status once theyre here. For the majority of undocumented people Horak sees at Building One Community, there is no possible roadmap to citizenship.

As attorney Philip E. Berns explained, many immigrants come to the country legally and then overstay their visas, which is a civil offense. And even those who cross the U.S.-Mexican border illegally are only charged with a misdemeanor upon their first entry  one of the lowest criminal convictions on the books.

Despite that, there are very few pathways to legalization once people have violated the law to get here.

Thats partly because immigration legislation in the United States contradicts itself in cruel ways, Berns said. For example, immigrants are supposed to return to their homes if they want to apply for a green card. But another law states that if someone has spent over a year here without documentation, he or she must wait at least a decade upon leaving the country to try for legal status.

For Alex Arevalo, who works with immigrants through Catholic Charities, the topic is personal. Arevalo left a bloody El Salvador when he was 15, after his father forced him to follow a coyote across the border.

At the YWCA, he handed a passport photo of teenaged Alex around the room and asked if anyone could fault the innocent boy staring back at them for committing a misdemeanor against his will.

For over a decade, Arevalo lived undocumented in the United States, unsure of what questions to ask or what counsel to follow.

In 2012, he finally gained citizenship; now, he provides information to people going through the same hardships he once experienced.

For decades now, millions of people have been waiting for immigration reform on a year-to-year basis, he said.

He knows, because he was one of them.

The one thing undocumented immigrants want more than anything is to get legalized, Berns said. Legalizing is the key to opening up a life.
GREENWICH  While student sanctions are declining overall, in Greenwich, students of color are expelled and suspended at disproportionately high rates compared to their white peers, data shows.

Hispanic students received 51 percent of total suspensions and expulsions district-wide in 2015-16, the most recent year for which data is available, according to town school officials, although they are only 20 percent of the student body. Likewise, that same year, black students received 16 percent of total suspensions and expulsions, although they make up less than 3 percent of all students.

The trend of more discipline for students of color is reflected across the state, according to data released by the Connecticut Department of Education this month.

Black males make up 13 percent of the male student population but account for 26 percent of expulsions. Hispanic females make up 24 percent of the female student population but account for 38 percent of female expulsions. Black females account for 12.8 percent of the female student population but 34.3 percent of female students expelled.

It is unfortunate but undeniable that the face of expulsion is youth of color, said Marisa Masolo Halm, an attorney with the Center for Childrens Advocacy, who works primarily to defend the educational rights of children.

I dont have the answer, Allan Taylor, chairman of the state Board of Education, said. Is a societal problem part of it?

More Information Minority students disproportionately expelled and suspended More Hispanic students were suspended or expelled in 2015-16 than any other group, although they make up only 20 percent of the student body. Greenwich Public Schools indicated that 2015-16 data is the most recent information available regarding race and sanctions. Number of suspensions or expulsions Percent of total incidents Percent of student body American Indian 0% 0.12% Asian 1 0.70% 8.27% Black 23 16.08% 2.90% Hispanic 73 51.05% 20.43% White 42 29.37% 64.40% Two or more races 4 2.80% 3.83% See More Collapse

Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell was also reluctant to lay blame, saying it was important for the state to know the what behind expulsions even when it doesnt know the why.

We are really looking for guidance from the board, Wentzell said.

A closer look

A student is expelled when he or she is excluded from school for more than 10 consecutive days in a school year. In Connecticut public schools last year, the average expulsion lasted 115 days.

In 2016-17, there were 750 expulsions in the state, compared with 954 in 2012-13.

One-fifth of the expulsions occurred in the states neediest school districts, with most in the largest cities: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk and Stamford. Four out of five students expelled were high school students. Elementary students accounted for less than 2 percent.

Greenwich expelled seven high school students in 2015-16, according to state data, the same number it expelled in 2012-13, although the number dropped in intervening school years to less than five students. The average expulsion lasted 181 days in 2015-16. No middle or elementary students were expelled from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

State law requires expulsion hearings when a student is found with drugs or weapons. Those categories account for half of all suspensions.

In most other cases, however, expulsion is a discretionary punishment meted out for fights, theft, disruptive behavior, threatening behavior and policy violations.

Greenwich data doesnt specify which behaviors led to a suspension versus an expulsion in a given year. In 2015-16, some 99 students were suspended or expelled in a total of 143 incidents, according to Greenwich Public Schools.

Some 34 Greenwich students were suspended or expelled for insubordination, 18 students for fighting, 17 for a physical altercation, 15 students for possessing or using drugs or alcohol and 9 for bringing a weapon to school. Other offenses that led to discipline included theft, inappropriate behavior, bullying and skipping class.

Erik Clemons, a state Board of Education member from New Haven, said hed like to know how many minorities are expelled for exhibiting threatening behavior.

If race is really threaded throughout this conversation, maybe race should be a data point, Clemons said.

Three Greewich students were suspended or expelled for threats or intimidation in 2015-16, down from 18 the year prior and 12 the year before that. These numbers are not disaggregated by race, however. One student was suspended or expelled for using a racial slur in 2015-16.

School to school

State and local data shows that Greenwich schools with higher percentages of students of color also have more student sanctions. At Greenwichs elementary and middle schools that receive federal Title I funding, the problem is the worst.

For the past five years, Western Middle School has had more in-school suspensions than Central or Eastern Middle schools combined. Last year, Western had at least three times the number of in-school suspensions that Central or Eastern had; Western posted 20 in-school suspensions, Central, six and Eastern, five or fewer.

Western also has 53 percent students of color, whereas 38 percent of Centrals students are of color and less than 30 percent of Easterns are.

At the elementary school level, the trend continues. New Lebanon, Hamilton Avenue and Julian Curtiss School  all with over 54 percent minority students  are the elementary schools that tend to have the most suspensions.

In 2016-17, Hamilton Avenue was the only elementary school to have more than five students given in-school or out-of-school suspensions; it had seven out-of-school suspensions, according to state data.

In 2015-16, Hamilton Avenue had five suspensions, New Lebanon seven and Julian Curtiss nine, according to Greenwich Public Schools (their numbers are not divided into in-school, out-of-school and bus suspensions). The year before that, New Lebanon took the top spot for highest elementary suspensions (8), followed by Glenville (5) and then Hamilton Avenue (4) and Julian Curtiss (3). In 2013-14, New Lebanon and Hamilton Avenue tied for most with seven, followed by North Street (6) and Julian Curtiss and Glenville (2).

Meanwhile, Parkway School, the whitest in the district, has reported zero suspensions each of the past five years, according to state numbers. Riverside, also with few students of color, reported zero suspensions each of the past five years to the state, although Greenwich numbers shows one suspension in 2013-14.

Across the district we have implemented a social/emotional program called Second Step to support students and teachers. It will promote school success, self-regulation, decrease problem behaviors and support a safe and secure climate, said Kim Eves, communicatios director for Greenwich Public Schools. Julian Curtiss and New Lebanon School have participated and implemented a PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports) Program to continuously improve social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students. Hamilton Avenue will begin their training in PBIS next year. All schools in the district are participating in this formal training but because it involves time out of the building, it is being done over a period of time.

The consequences

Kathryn Meyer, another attorney for the Center for Childrens Advocacy, has had many clients affected by expulsion. One, she said, was a Fairfield County high school student expelled last year for having an emotional outburst triggered by a mental-health issue.

Instead of getting her immediate help, the 16-year-old was led from the school in handcuffs and then expelled, Meyer said.

She so wanted to be in school and graduate on time, and both the student and her mother felt race played a role in the expulsion, Meyer said.

The mother was overwhelmed, Meyer said, and didnt understand the process or her rights.

She felt she let the situation get away from her, Meyer said.

Appealing an expulsion is next to impossible, since an expelled student has no right of appeal to court, Meyer said. Instead, the advocate petitioned for an early readmission, which was granted. The student, a junior, missed only a couple of months of school.

It was a positive result, Meyer said. I wish it could have happened earlier.

Students who are expelled run a greater risk of academic failure, dropping out and ending up in the juvenile justice system.

In Connecticut, 46 percent of expelled students get homework assignments, 14 percent get tutoring and 23 percent are put into an alternative education setting. Nearly one in 10 gets nothing.

A new state law requires the state Board of Education to develop guidelines for educating expelled students, including the kind of instruction and number of hours to be provided. It is a work in progress.

Beyond providing guidance once students are expelled, Wentzell said, more work needs to be done to prevent expulsions.

Expulsion is the most extreme use of exclusionary discipline possible, Wentzell said. It really is the modern-day equivalent of the Greeks method of disciplining by ostracizing. ... It is the opposite of what we are trying to do.

The alternatives

In Bridgeport, where expulsions have risen for the past three years to 90 in 2016-17, four schools are in a pilot program to work on restorative justice  the practice of working to repair a wrong rather than simply punish.

Done right, it should lower expulsions, said Kate Rivera, a social justice advocate and former Bridgeport Board of Education member.

Meyer agrees. She does training for Bridgeport administrators.

In Shelton, where, like Greenwich, there were seven expulsions last year, Superintendent of Schools Chris Clouet said the number might have been higher if not for a Youth Services Board that helps adjudicate student disciplinary issues.

Clouet called it Sheltons form of restorative justice.

In Greenwich, students who are arrested for a first-time misdemeanor  and might be expelled from school  are referred to the Juvenile Review Board, a group of representatives from the school district, Police Department, Department of Human Services and Kids in Crisis. The teens and professionals create a contract for restistution which may include letters of apology, community service, involvement in positive youth development programs or counseling. If they successfully complete the program, their charges are dropped and they can return to school.

Its been a very successful program with little to no recidivism, said Alan Barry, commissioner of the Department of Human Services. Some 20 students are referred to JRB per year, he said.

In New Haven  highlighted by the state as a city that seems to be getting it right  there is restorative justice fueled by a $300,000 grant, said Kermit Carolina, supervisor of youth development and engagement.

All expulsions in the district must go through Carolina. Few make it.

This is very personal work for me as a black man, as a father to two black boys and someone who has mentored young black boys for over three decades, Carolina said.

In five years, New Haven has seen its annual school expulsion rate plummet from 86 to 17.

emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
When its time to spend some quality time with your kids, there is only so much Cocomelon that one man can take. You have to get out of the house and get some fresh air or some socialization for your...
Increase in Snorkel deaths in Hawaii needs to be addressed by the state of Hawaii Legislature

Dear Editor, December 14, 2017

Here is my experience with snorkel death in Hawaii:

"I heard a commotion on the beach. I rushed to help a daughter giving her father CPR who had drowned snorkeling. I aided with CPR until the life guards arrived. He later died. It was devastating to the family; how will they remember Hawaii?"

We have a responsibility to educate our tourists and prevent their deaths. Do you think Snorkel Bob or others will do it on their own?

Snorkeling is the leading cause of tourist drownings in Hawaii. According to the State Department of Health, 169 peoplealmost all tourists--were killed in snorkeling accidents between 2007-2016. Three have died in just the last few weeks. It hurts tourism for the news that if you come to Hawaii you may die. Snorkel rental companies often provide no warnings, and no safety gearthey do not even ask if you can swim. We need legislation to make all snorkel rentals and suppliers train their customers on the dangers!

Snorkel rental companies and the State of Hawaii are being targeted for a major wrongful death lawsuit by the Turbin Law group.

To save tourist lives and taxpayer settlement dollars, legislators should write a law to prevent snorkel shops from renting to non-swimmers and require ocean safety education of their renters.

Sincerely,

Ron Tubbs
Defense Department to Investigate Chinese Aid to Former US Territories in Micronesia

by Our Correspondent

The $700 billion 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Trump in mid December, calls on the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate the growing role of China in former US territories in the Pacific. That is a recognition both of the islands importance to US global strategy, as well as the latest indicator that Americas decades long relationship with its former dependencies is a partnership under stress.

Strung across the Western Pacific, todays Republic of Palau (ROP), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) were liberated from the Japanese in the Pacific War and governed by the US as a UN authorized trust territory until the early 1980s. Since that time, these sovereign nations have enjoyed a unique status of Free Association, with the US, which provides for their defense as well as sending US bilateral aid that sustains public sector driven economies in the isolated, under-resourced, islands and atolls. Locals can, and in large numbers do, enlist in the US military.

The Compacts of Free Association (COFA) also provide easy entry for islanders coming to study, work, or simply live in the US. Their eligible non-citizen status affords them most rights, privileges -and even entitlements- otherwise reserved for native born Americans.

Because of their strategic location at the crossroads of the Pacific, the islands have a history of foreign rule, changing from Spanish to German to Japanese to US hands over the first five decades of the twentieth century. Today they are a defining feature of the Chinese Second Island Chain strategic concept of area denial, just as they once comprised the outer ring of imperial Japans similar pre-war Line of Advantage.

While DOD planners have long sought to control, or at least deny others access to, the islands, in practice US development policies have been criticized by Congressional watchdogs as wasteful, shortsighted, and ineffective. US funding, small compared to US foreign aid provided to other nations -but massive when tallied on a per-person basis for the tiny islands- mostly consists of block grants overseen by the Office of Insular Affairs at the US Department of the Interior.

Critics maintain the monies dont always build local capacity, but rather tend to foster dependency by sustaining public services (and jobs) year-to-year. That has lead to frustration, even resentment, on both sides. Increasing aid and investment by the Chinese, on the other hand, is given with few obvious strings attached, and framed as a way for islanders to trade in U.S. government handouts, which are scheduled to end in 2023 [for Micronesia and the Marshalls,] for the wide-open promise of Chinese-style capitalism. The massive increase in migrants from these Freely Associated States (FAS) to Guam and Hawaii are seen as an indicator of the lack of educational, employment, and healthcare opportunities throughout the FAS.

Congress and the Administration are to be commended, said Neil Mellen, founder of Habele, a US educational nonprofit operating across Micronesia. America is best served when her allies support comes from a position of strength, sovereignty, and real partnership, rather than mere dependency. Careful examination of our nations track record in the post-war Pacific, as well as the increasingly caustic role played by others, is long overdue.

---30---

DOD Budget Sec 1259D -- "Study and assessment of United States security and foreign policy interests in the Freely Associated States of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia."
iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Multiple Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities were found to have problems with basic detainee rights, humane treatment and health and safety, according to a report released this week by the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security.



The violations varied from facility to facility, but included underutilized language services, lack of respect and professionalism, potentially unsafe and unhealthy detention conditions and, at one facility, all detainees were strip-searched when they entered.



"Overall, the problems we identified undermine the protection of detainees rights, their humane treatment, and the provision of a safe and healthy environment," reads the report.



The watchdog made unannounced visits to six faculties used to house ICE detainees and based its findings on observations, interviews with detainees and staff, and a review of documents.



The inspector general found "significant issues" at four of the five facilities, which raised concerns about the treatment and care of ICE detainees. Only the Laredo Processing Center "modeled quality operations," during inspections.



One of the facilities was reviewed earlier this year in a "management alert," which is used to inform senior DHS leadership when the IG believes there is an "immediate and serious" threat of waste, fraud and abuse.



After that report was issued in March, the sheriffs office that runs the facility, said that all of the concerns alleged by the inspector general "have been addressed."



This new report focuses on five additional facilities.



At one detention center, staff misclassified some detainees with high-risk criminal convictions and housed them with low-risk detainees. At others, language assistance was not always provided to detainees, even though its required. And detainees at some facilities reported long waits for medical care, including instances of detainees with painful conditions, such as infected teeth and a knee injury, waiting days for medical intervention, reported the IG.



According to ICE, the agency ensures that detention facilities comply with detention standards through an aggressive inspections program.



For example, the custody management division schedules and oversees formal facility inspections, the majority of which are conducted by a third-party contractor.



Facilities that receive a less than acceptable rating must be scheduled for a follow-up inspection within six months, according to ICE.



If a facility receives two consecutive final ratings of less than acceptable, ICE must discontinue use of the facility.



Based on multi-layered, rigorous inspections and oversight programs, ICE is confident in conditions and high standards of care at its detention facilities. To ensure the safety and well-being of those in our custody, we work regularly with contracted consultants and a variety of external stakeholders to review and improve detention conditions at ICE facilities. As such, ICE concurs with the IGs recommendation to further enhance compliance monitoring as part of our already robust inspections program, said a spokesperson for ICE in a statement.



This report comes at a time when apprehensions at the southwest border are at all-time lows, but immigration arrests by ICE throughout the U.S. are up 30 percent over last year  a three-year high.



Immigration enforcement has been a top priority for the Trump administration and its been largely carried out by the agents and immigration officers at ICE.



ICE detainees are held in civil, not criminal, custody, which is not supposed to be punitive.



Based on hotline tips, open-source reporting and professional judgment, the inspectors made unannounced visits to: Hudson County Jail, Laredo Processing Center, Otero County Processing Center, Santa Ana City Jail, Stewart Detention Center, and Theo Lacy Facility.



These locations are state and local facilities operating under an agreement with ICE to hold only ICE detainees. Some of the facilities also house non-ICE inmates.



At the Santa Ana City Jail, staff confirmed detainee reports of personnel strip searching all detainees upon admission, which they did not document in detainee files as required, according to the inspector general.



ICE discontinued its contract with the Santa Ana City Jail in early 2017 and will no longer house detainees in this facility, according to the report.



The Santa Ana City Jail did not respond to a phone call requesting comment on the report.



CoreCivic, a private company which manages two of the centers that were inspected, provides its detainees with access to services such as medical vaccinations, legal assistance and even educational opportunities, according to a spokesperson for the company.



"We were pleased that the OIG found no issues with our Laredo Processing Center, which the report said modeled quality operations.' We believe the issues identified at Stewart Detention Center can be quickly and effectively remedied," CoreCivic spokesman Jonathan Burns said in a statement to ABC News.



ICE concurred with all of the inspector general recommendations and has begun corrective action to address the findings, according to the report.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
BRISTOL, Va.  When Charles Henry Johnson moved from Richmond to the small-but-booming railroad town of Bristol in 1890, he became the minister of a little wooden church started by 39 freed slaves.

A few pastors had come through since the Anglo-African Church, as it was called, was organized 25 years earlier, but Johnson stuck.

He transformed the church, which, according to a news report from more than 75 years ago, had been in the midst of some confusion. It quickly became the hub of Bristols black community and, just two years after Johnson arrived, outgrew the small building. A new location birthed a name, which stuck, too: Lee Street Baptist.

It must have had at least 700 members. You dont have 700 black people in Bristol now, current Lee Street Baptist pastor Dr. W.A. Johnson, of no relation, told the Bristol Herald Courier from the churchs current location on West Mary Street. [It had] a bigger sanctuary than this church. [Charles] Johnson was the one who put it on the map.

My aunt would say that you could hear him up and down Main Street in Bristol when he was preaching, Jeh Vincent Johnson, the grandson of Charles Henry, told the Herald Courier.

In their book about Johnsons son, Charles Spurgeon Johnson  who left Bristol to become a prominent sociologist, a pioneer in the field of race relations and the first black president of Nashvilles Fisk University  Patrick J. Gilpin and Marybeth Gasman describe Charles Henry as a young and energetic minister. He transformed the rowdy railroad camp of Bristol into an orderly and thriving community, they wrote. But charisma wasnt all that set him apart.

In the late 1800s, it was rare for a black man to have a car or college education. Charles Henry, who graduated from Virginia Union University with high honors, had both.

He was a high-caliber fellow, Dr. Johnson said. He was educated. You didnt have much of that anywhere in the South in 1890 [after] just 30 years of freedom. He was one of the pioneers.

Jeh Vincent said his grandfather started a dynasty of college graduates uninterrupted for three generations. All of his children went to college, all of his grandchildren went to college, and most of them had secondary degrees as well.

I like to brag about the fact that he was known to have been the first African-American man to own an automobile in all of southwestern Virginia, he added. People came all the way from Tennessee to see his church. On a rainy day, he would take them home in his big car. He was known around town for that.

Johnson was said to have ended lynching  mob killings of black people  in Bristol, too. His confrontation of a mob, Gilpin and Gasman wrote, didnt save that victim but did prevent a repeat of the injustice.

He remained the pastor of Lee Street Baptist until his death in 1932. Seven years later, affordable housing near Moore Street  where Johnson lived  was named Johnson Court in honor of his contributions to the community. In an article about the housing project, Johnson was called one of the citys most valuable citizens.

While Dr. Johnson credits Charles Henry for improving the community and setting the church on a high-caliber path, hes leaving a similar legacy. Dr. Johnson became the pastor in 1961, also after graduating from Virginia Union in Richmond, which he described as one of the finest black universities in the South.

I didnt come here to stay. I was top of my class, he said. I wanted to make it big. You cant make it big here, so I decided I would get advanced degrees and move on.

Dr. Johnson enrolled in the University of Chicago and commuted there every winter. It was 600 miles  13 hours one way. We didnt have the interstate then, he said. Still, he completed his doctorate.

But like Charles Henry, Dr. Johnson made an impact on the community soon after he arrived. Since 1962, Lee Street Baptist has acquired 23 houses, condominiums and lots, which were used to build not just a new church in 1965, but community and child care centers as well.

I started building here, buying land, developing programs. I just got engulfed in this, he said. [Then] my wife died. I had teenage daughters. Well, you cant go anywhere. I was stuck.

I wasnt going to just start dying, he added with a laugh. Since you cant get away, [you] do things.

In addition to working to improve the conditions of the local community, Johnson started a TV ministry and has traveled to 20 countries preaching and planting churches.

As was the case with Charles Henry, Dr. Johnsons high level of education is rare in Bristol.

Now, he says, its because the community overall is shrinking, with blacks, especially, leaving over the years. While African-Americans were 30 percent of the Bristol population in 1890, according to U.S. Census data, the percentage is in the single digits now.

The jobs are not here, the culture is not here, the social life is not here. Were hurting as a community, Dr. Johnson said. The C.H. Johnsons are gone.

Lee Street Baptist does its best to ease that hurt. Somebody here before you leave will be coming by for help, for food, for lights, for groceries, Dr. Johnson said. We do a lot of work. We feed a lot of people.
Apart from hosting and possible maintenance costs, there are not exactly downsides to having your own website. Even if its just a personal blog it can always become more useful down the line, if you utilize it in the right manner. In other words, more
Lekhan Rajak, a Class 4 student at the government primary school in Samanpur Jadho village, hardly skips classes anymore.

The nine-year-old believes that his knowledge of subjects like mathematics and science has improved vastly in the last two months, mostly due to new methods implemented by teachers at the school. Its a claim that even Sagar district officials acknowledge.

This is not about just one child, said Arun Dubey, block academic coordinator of the school education department. The knowledge level of most students at this primary school is better than that of the average middle-school student. They are also aware of general knowledge and current affairs.

The situation, however, was quite different till a while ago  when teaching in the school was a run-of-the-mill affair. For one, Rajak and his friends were hardly as regular when it came to attending classes.

The winds of change first began blowing when three teachers at the school  Shivraj Patel, Brijesh Lodhi and Rahul Tiwari adopted a string of remedial measures to address the lack of interest among student s and the resultant high dropout rate a few months ago. First, they began educating students through video clippings sent through their smartphones. Upon realising that they were more receptive to visual learning techniques than traditional methods, they pooled in funds to replace the class blackboard with a 36-inch LED television and books with e-learning videos.

The transformation that followed took everybody by surprise.

We had an annual dropout rate of 20-25% for several years now, and attendance stood at an average of 40-50%. However, the introduction of technology in the school curriculum has changed all that, school headmaster Shivraj Patel told Hindustan Times.

The students also testified to the newfound enthusiasm in their midst for education. When they used to teach us about plants, body parts and planets from textbooks, I did not go to school as often. I used to find these subjects boring. But now that they show me lifelike images of the same things on the television screen, I feel like learning more about them, said Anjali Chaubey, a Class 5 student.

Although it is still too early to provide concrete figures in support of the academic revolution at the school, everybody  from students, teachers and villagers to district administration officers  testifies to the change in environment at the school.

So, what was the investment involved? The three teachers shelled out Rs 20,000 each to purchase the television set, a 64-GB data card, a mobile phone and a laptop USB connector to transform the regular classroom into a smart one. We knew that government aid would take time coming, and it would be long before we were able to improve the conditions here. So we decided to pool some funds ourselves. We are happy that our efforts have borne fruit, and an increasing number of students are interested in attending classes now, said Tiwari.

Students are allowed to utilise the smart classroom for an hour every day. Their time before the television is mostly spent learning general knowledge. We have prepared notes and downloaded interesting images from the Internet to make power point presentations on occasions when videos are not available due to technical problems. We have also obtained the e-syllabus till Class 5 from the school education department, said Lodhi.

The innovative teaching method has impressed parents and villagers alike.

It was finding it difficult even to purchase books for my son, but he is now getting a hi-tech education that defies imagination. Even we adults head to school for some high-tech education in our free time, said Hetam Singh Dangi, the father of a Class 3 student.

Dubey also expressed amazement at the improvement in education standards at the institution. A Class 5 student of the school can now easily answer a science question meant for a Class 8 student! he exclaimed.

Minister of state for school education Deepak Joshi described the teachers initiative as a praiseworthy one. We will see if this model can be replicated in select schools of other districts as a pilot project, he said.

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BJP Member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday congratulated Rahul Gandhi on becoming the new Congress president and wished well for the future of Indias oldest political party.

Today is the day of rise of most natural and deserving Rahul Gandhi as President of the oldest and respected party of India. Let us all congratulate him in true national spirit. In the larger interest of democracy, I also wish Long live the Indian National Congress, the actor turned politician, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Patna Saheb seat in Bihar, said in a tweet.

Today is also the rising day of the most natural & deserving Rahul Gandhi @OfficeOfRG as President of the oldest & respected party of India, the INC. Let's all also congratulate him in true national spirit. In the larger interest of democracy I also wish Long live INC. Jai Hind!  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) December 16, 2017

His stand comes amid digs by top BJP leaders at Rahul Gandhi on his becoming the Congress chief.

In the past, the yesteryear Bollywood actor has expressed views on several issues that are against the BJPs official line.

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Actor Riteish Deshmukh, described by the Bollywood fraternity as one of the most genuine, warmest and craziest of the lot, turned 39 on Sunday. A successful actor and producer, he is looking forward to shoot Total Dhamaal.

December 7, 2018. The date is fixed. Excited to shoot the third part of this mad mad film Total Dhamaal. Looking forward to working with my friend Ajay Devgn again and thrilled to be working with Madhuri Dixitji and Anil Kapoor sir for the first time. Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi, my partners, Riteish tweeted.

Total Dhamaal is the third film in the comedy entertainer franchise Dhamaal. It will be directed by Indra Kumar. My sixth film with director Indra Kumar and producer Ashok Thakeria (Induji and Ashokji). They are like family to me. The third part of the Dhamaal series is even more mad than the previous ones, added the actor.

Anil is also excited about teaming up with Riteish. He plays a villain and a comedian on-screen with equal mastery, but most importantly, he is one of the warmest and kindest people I know! Its no wonder that he wins hearts on and off-screen! Happy Birthday Riteish. Looking forward to working with you. Its going to be a Total Dhamaal, he tweeted.

Words of praise came in abundance for Riteish, who began his Bollywood innings with Tujhe Meri Kasam, which also starred his now wife Genelia DSouza. Genelia sent out a romantic message for her husband, with whom she has two children. Thank you for being my everything... For making life about loving you... You will forever be my always, she wrote.

Happy Birthday @Riteishd ... Thank you for being my everything.. For making Life about Loving you.. YOU WILL FOREVER BE MY ALWAYS pic.twitter.com/p5RreUcXi1  Genelia Deshmukh (@geneliad) December 17, 2017

Heres what other celebrities tweeted:

Suniel Shetty: Riiittttzzzz... Another year stronger... another year better... another year sweeter... another year merrier... Wish you a very Happy Birthday. Loads of love.

Shraddha Kapoor: Wish all your dreams come true. Keep smiling.

Vishal Dadlani: Wish you many more successes, both as actor and producer. Big love, Dada.

Tusshar Kapoor: Happy birthday fellow partner in pioneering certain crimes, superkool crimes! Many Many more to come!

Athiya Shetty: Happiest birthday to one of the kindest souls, Riteish Deshmukh. I hope you have the bestest one ever!

My 6th film with Director Indra Kumar & Producer Ashok Thakeria (Indu ji & Ashok ji). They are like family to me. 3rd part of the Dhamaal series is even more mad than the previous ones. #TotalDhamaal.  Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 16, 2017

Sophie Choudry: Happy birthday to one of the sweetest, most well brought up, genuine, witty, talented human beings you will ever meet!! Have an amazing year Riteish... Big hug.

Aftab Shivdasani: Happy birthday to the craziest yet nicest guy I know, Riteish. Have a great one brother. May this year be filled with lots of happiness and success for you!

Dia Mirza: Happy birthday to the nicest, warmest, kindest friend Riteish! May you have the best day and an even better year ahead. Receive in abundance all that love you give so generously.
Put everything aside and listen to this one  Anushka Sharma and Virat Kolhi have chosen an unusual suspect as their honeymoon destination. Not French Riviera, not Maldives and certainly not the Gold Coast in Australia. The newest couple in the Indian celebrity-dom is holidaying in arctic Finland, according to a report in India Today.

After Rome, the couple left for Finland, where they are spending their nights watching the Northern Lights. The famous duo is in Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, which is also official hometown of Santa Claus, adds the report.

In heaven, literally  A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on Dec 15, 2017 at 12:25am PST

The report further says that media in Finland reporting from Lapland said that the Virat and Anushka honeymoon in Rovaniemi was organised by the Luxury Action company, which specialises in private and luxury travel, tailor-made experiences in the Arctic and Nordic regions.

Whats more, on the beanie Virat has on in the picture shared by Anushka, the words Luxury Action is written. Need more proof?

The report goes on to describe how a Finnish website mentioned that the popularity of Lapland soared moments after Anushkas honeymoon photo made it to Instagram.

Anushka and Virat had a dream-like wedding in one of the most expensive properties in the world called Borgo Finocchieto, a restored 13th century Tuscan property in Italy.

The wedding was the best kept secret of the country, till the day when Anushka and her family were photographed leaving for Italy at the Mumbai airport.

Lucknow girl Devika Narain designed the celebrity wedding along with her husband Joseph Radhik, of the Stories by Joseph Radhik fame, the designated photographer for the wedding.

Devika Narains father Pradeep, said it was Devikas wedding planning company  Devika Narain and Company that designed Kohli and Sharmas wedding. Weve been keeping a secret for a couple of months now and all of it has come to life today, in a beautiful Tuscan village, where Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma officially got married, said a Facebook post on Devikas companys profile.

Celebrated fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee was the brain behind Anushkas pale pink lehenga, which had beautiful Renaissance embroidery in vintage English colours. Her jewellery was from his Sabyasachi Heritage Jewelry collection which was handcrafted with syndicate uncut diamonds, pale pink spinel and baroque Japanese cultured pearls.

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Commerce and Industry minister Suresh Prabhu said this was probably the first time in recent history that India was not being blamed for the collapse of talks at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

We came here with an open mind but things did not move because of the adamant attitude of some members, Prabhu told reporters here.

The talks at the 11th ministerial conference of the WTO collapsed with the US going back on the commitment made by it along with other member countries to find a permanent solution to the public food stockpile issue.

Following the breakdown of talks, there was no ministerial declaration at the end of the conference, though chair and Argentinean minister Susana Malcorra made a statement highlighting the developments.

This is (for the) first time that India is not being blamed...we are definitely not going back as villains, Prabhu said, adding the country has not lost anything but gained a lot, especially in terms of the goodwill of the developing nations.

At previous ministerial meetings, India was often blamed for adopting an uncompromising and stern attitude which thwarted attempts of member nations to reach consensus on key issues.

The minister said that during the course of the 11th ministerial conference, he had over two dozen bilateral meetings during which he explained the position of India as well the developing nations on different issues.

Observing that trade negotiations are always difficult, the minister said we knew that nothing was going to happen because of the way the US administrating was moving... questioning the efficiency of the global trading system.

As regards the food security issue, the minister said that India was keen to have a permanent solution which ought to have been better than the Peace Clause and led the battle for it.

However, talks reached a dead end after Assistant US Trade Representative Sharon Bomer Lauritsen in a small group meeting said that permanent solution to the food stockholding issue was not acceptable to America.

The minister said that US objections were not directed against India but some other country, probably China.

Under the global trade norms, a WTO member countrys food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

Apprehending that full implementation of food security programme may result in breach of the WTO cap, India has been seeking amendments in the formula to calculate the food subsidy cap.

As an interim measure, the WTO members at the Bali ministerial meeting in December 2013 had agreed to put in place a mechanism popularly called the Peace Clause and had committed to negotiate an agreement for permanent solution at the 11th ministerial meeting at Buenos Aires.

However, as no agreement was reached at MC 11, Peace Clause will continue and also the existing mandate to find a permanent solution.

During the ministerial, Prabhu said, India continued to press for reduction of farm subsidies by the developed countries and resisted inclusion of new issues on the negotiating table lest it should dilute the commitment to complete the existing agenda.

The minister further said there is life after Buenos Aires and the WTO will continue to thrive as a transparent multilateral trading organisation for the good of the world.

India to host meeting of some WTO members in February

Prabhu said India will call a meeting of some WTO members in February to muster support for food security and other issues.

We are planning a meeting of WTO members in February, the minister said, adding it would be like a mini-ministerial meeting.

Although the contours of the meeting would be worked out later, he said the aim was to bring like-minded nations together and explain to them the countrys position as well as concerns over issues of common interest.
The year 2017 shall end at an unprecedented high for the armed forces. Going by the latest trends, the lingering shortage of officers may as well be history in the near future.

Shivansh Joshi, a 17-year-old boy from Ramnagar in Uttarakhand, backed out of an engineering course at NIT Tiruchirappalli to join National Defence Academy (NDA). Barnana, the son of a labourer earning 100 daily, shunned a white collar job abroad to serve the nation. Chandrakant, son of a botany professor, worked his way through NDA and Indian Military Academy (IMA) to join the elite special forces, hoping to lead yet another surgical strike. Barnana passed out with a silver medal and Chandrakant earned the Sword of Honour and a gold medal.

Back home, flourishing lawyer Baljinder Bholy and history lecturer Jatinder Kaur succumbed to the obsession of their son, Gursahib, to join NDA despite a lucrative legal heritage and academic guide. Hordes of youngsters are clamouring to get admission into Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Institute and Mai Bhago Institute. Who knows, Punjab might regain its erstwhile status of Sword Arm of the Nation. Ironically, Shivansh, Barnana, Chandrakant, Gursahib and a majority of others do not belong to a martial background; they want to opt for a career that does not conform to a dynastic mindset, all just to don the uniform.

The first International Military Literature Festival (IMLF) that was held last week could not come at a better time. The flagship event was aimed at showcasing the might and marvel of the nations military in all its elegance. Most importantly, to my mind, it highly impacted young minds.

I can say with conviction that the occasion was a winner, hands down. Over 1,200 schoolchildren had an experience of a lifetime. Ruchi, a Class-10 student, said, Sir, I am in a dilemma whether to join the service or become an army wife. I suppose one is better than the other and I shall give a shot at both of them.

Kuldip, my cabbie who drove me to the venue, was exuberant. With tears in his eyes, he said, Sir, my father was in the Sikh regiment. He always instilled discipline and honesty in us. I can say with confidence that I am one of the few drivers with a consistent five-star rating in my company. I salute the armed forces for what I am today. I want my children to carry on the legacy of my soldier father.

Even intellectually, IMLF was groundbreaking. Apart from recounting the rich war history, a right mix of modern challenges spiced up the fest. I was on a panel on social media with two women. One was a brave army wife, who recounted how she was trolled by certain communal elements on social media due to her religious status, and the other was a student activist, who was widely criticised for airing her views on the interpretation of her soldier fathers martyrdom. Both had a common stance, Such well-rounded literary festivals will spread wisdom, especially among a handful of misguided citizens, as to what the Indian military is all about. We pardon them because they know not!
Earlier this year, a Muslim woman from Meerut, Amreen Begum, uttered the words talaq, talaq, talaq after her husband abandoned her and her two small children. She knew that he would utter those fateful words shortly after he fled, so she pre-empted him. Many in the clergy and other organisations meant to represent Muslims were aghast. Amreen should have gone through a conventional process of divorce, many felt.

So it was heartening to hear the chairman of the national commission for minorities, Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, saying that a law is important to create fear among those following instant triple talaq, though, perhaps, fear is not quite the word I would have used. The Cabinet has now passed the triple talaq bill. Under this draft law, a man attempting to divorce his wife through instant triple talaq might find himself in prison for three years and having to pay a fine. The draft Muslim Women Protection on Rights on Marriage Bill has gone to the state governments for their views.

With each step, the possibility that this practice will soon be phased out is growing. Earlier, the Supreme Court threw its weight behind this by saying clearly that personal law cannot take precedence over a persons fundamental rights. There is considered legal opinion that talaq is not such an inextricable part of Islam that it must be given constitutional protection; on the contrary, it is a deeply flawed and anti-woman practice. No law which can be used at will by a man, which has the potential of destroying the life of a woman and her children, can be considered an intrinsic part of any religion which preaches tolerance and compassion.

But the truth is that it is not just the law or social activists who have driven the fight against triple talaq. It has been Muslim women themselves. They have openly challenged the orthodoxy and refused to accept that the All India Muslim Personal Law Boards regressive clergy has any overriding right to tell them how to run their lives, or indeed be subservient to men to the extent of allowing them to strip them of all dignity .

But I dont want to confine the argument to womens rights versus male domination and callousness. What most debates and articles fail to highlight is that many Muslim men are very much on the side of women in the matter of gender rights, among which instant triple talaq is a main one. Muslim womens rights collectives have long been campaigning against the practices of triple talaq, polygamy and nikaah-halala in India. Representatives of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) recently called for Muslim men to actively organise for gender just reform and against practices like triple talaq.

Last year, hundreds of Muslim men responded to a call from the BMMA asking for support for their cause. The statement they issued read, We, the undersigned, believe that gender equality and justice are human rights issues which must be as much a matter of concern for men as for women. If anything, it is more so mens obligation to cry a halt to patriarchy, particularly when it is sought to be perpetuated in the name of God. We, therefore, fully support the campaign launched by the BMMA and other Muslim organisations and individuals for the abolition, and declaration as illegal, of triple talaq (instant divorce) and nikaah-halala as being practised in India.

According to a BMMA survey last year, 92% Muslim women want triple talaq to be abolished. Of course, many from the community dismissed this as a plot to surreptitiously impose a uniform civil code on Muslims. But there is nothing anti-Muslim about seeking gender justice. The fact that the men who lent their voice to the cause of Muslim women included Resul Pookutty, Shafaat Khan and Feroz Abbas Khan among others really helped.

The message is quite clear. Triple talaq should not be seen through a religious prism. It is an attempt to perpetuate patriarchy under the guise of upholding Islamic injunctions. As long as it is portrayed as a purely religious matter, many are loath to wade into the debate. But with Muslim women themselves coming out along with men to push the boundaries of the debate in the direction of rights, the tone and tenor has changed.

If the draft law goes through, this will be more power to the elbow of those fighting for change. Triple talaq has long been abolished in many Islamic countries. India has some catching up to do.

lalita.panicker@hindustantimes.com

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Reading the reports of Prime Minister Narendra Modis speeches in Gujarat, my mind went back to the first general elections of 1951-2, and the speeches made by the prime minister at the time. Memories of Partition were still fresh; the wounds caused by riots and the flight of refugees still raw. Leading the campaign for his Congress party, Jawaharlal Nehru could have sought to consolidate a Hindu vote-bank by stoking a fear of minorities. Instead, he did the very opposite, asking Indians to cast aside chauvinism and prejudice and vote as citizens with a shared political and moral purpose.

Nehru began his election campaign in the town of Ludhiana, very close to the border with Pakistan, and where so much violence on religious lines had so recently occurred. His first speech set the tone for what was to follow. In Ludhiana, Nehru committed himself and his party to an all-out war against communalism. As one newspaper reported, the prime minister condemned the communal bodies which in the name of Hindu and Sikh culture were spreading the virus of communalism as the Muslim League once did. These sinister communal elements, he said, would if they ever came to power bring ruin and death to the country. Nehru, here clearly inspired by Rabindranath Tagore, asked the wounded, insecure Punjabis not to retreat into a shell of paranoia but instead keep the windows of [their] mind open and let in fresh breeze from all corners of the world.

The prime ministers next major speech was made in Delhis Ramlila Maidan. The place was significant; so also the date, October 2, 1951, the birth anniversary of Nehrus other great mentor, Mahatma Gandhi. In this speech the prime minister made a remarkable personal commitment. If any person raises his hand to strike down another on the ground of religion, he said, I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, both at the head of the government and from outside.

Narendra Modi was reared in a very different political tradition from Jawaharlal Nehru. This was manifest in past assembly elections in Gujarat, where he spoke darkly of the designs of Mian Musharraf and of Indian Muslim families allegedly practising a reproductive policy of hum panch, hamare pachees. However, once he moved from Gujarat to the national stage, Modi discarded sectarian rhetoric. Though he would not  could not  go so far as to pledge to fight, until his last breath, violence committed in the name of religion, in the general elections of 2014, Modi rested his case on the inclusive slogan of Sab ka saath, Sab ka vikas.

However, in this most recent campaign for the Gujarat assembly, Narendra Modi has reverted to type. While in the first phase of the campaign he focused on vilifying his political opponents, in the latter phase he has targeted Pakistan, and Indian Muslims as well. He cast innuendos on a respected former vice-president, an obscure Indian citizen from Kashmir, and a senior Congress leader, singling out their shared religion as a basis for claiming that they were part of a wider conspiracy to defeat him. As the Indian Express put it, the prime minister had thus lent the immense weight of his office to a shameful politics of stereotyping that holds all of Indias Muslims to be pro-Pakistan and guilty.

Ironically, in his own campaign in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi has radically departed from the path that Jawaharlal Nehru had laid down for his party and his nation. His repeated visits to temples (26, by one count), his public declaration of his Shiv bhakti, and the claim that he proudly wears a sacred thread (denied by scripture and tradition to OBCs as well as to Dalits) were a naked, indeed shameless, attempt to ingratiate himself with majoritarian tendencies. Nehru would have been appalled.

While the Gujarat campaign was on, the latest in a series of horrific hate crimes occurred in the state of Rajasthan. The prime minister was characteristically silent on the matter; but so, too, was his principal political opponent. To win Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi is apparently prepared to acquiesce in the making of Gujarat into a place where minorities must live in sufferance and not have the equal rights assured them by the Constitution. Therefore, he cannot speak up for Indian Muslims when they are persecuted and killed merely on account of their religion.

Nehrus own unflinching commitment to religious pluralism and inter-faith harmony came from that other Gandhi, Mohandas. I have already quoted his speech at the Ramlila Maidan on October 2, 1951; on a previous Gandhi Jayanti, in 1949, Nehru had written to chief ministers that we cannot copy the methods or the ideals of Pakistan. They have declared themselves openly to be an Islamic State believing in the two-nation theory. We reject the theory and call ourselves a secular State giving full protection to all religions. We have to live up to our ideals and declarations. More especially on this day, Gandhi Jayanti, it is for us to remember what Gandhiji taught us and what he died for.

Narendra Modi is from Mahatma Gandhis home state. Although he occasionally praises Gandhi, in his politics there is little trace of any influence. Like the Mahatma, Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Congress. Yet his understanding and appreciation of the greatest modern Indian is as limited as Modis. Whether at the head of government or outside it, our politicians are not prepared to challenge the rising tide of Hindutva majoritarianism. But perhaps the aam aadmi and aam aurat can still remember, and still act upon, what Gandhiji taught us and what he died for.

Ramachandra Guhas books include Gandhi Before India

The views expressed are personal

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When you are invited to a school function as a guest of honour, you are not supposed to tell them that you are not fit for it. You are supposed to smile and be grateful. And, even if you tell them, they will smile at you and consider it mere modesty, fit for the occasion.

That kind of thing happened to me this week. The school is in Mohali, and the principal graciously thought that I was worthy of being invited, particularly after she attended the launch of my first book  which, by the way, is called The Big Small Town, a collection of my articles written for this column, and is available on Amazon, just sayin!

Back to the school function. The last time I was at one, properly, was 17 years ago, when I was dressed like a clown and trying to copy Shiamak Dawars choreography as a backup dancer. And the last time I got anywhere near the front row was when we tried to plant some firecrackers under the chief guests chair but got caught and were suspended for a week. This was different. Or was it?

I checked under my chair. It was all clear. On the stage, there were kids in clown-like dresses, dancing to film songs. I should have been cringing at it. But I was enjoying it. And, trust me, it was not just nostalgia.

Here in a grassy patch of Mohali, there was something at play beyond mere dancing and acting. This whole show was to show us how we were, how we have been, and how we should be. Let me explain.

It began with a hymn by the tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh  Deh Shiva bar Mohe  and it was not sung merely by Sikhs. I didnt notice this until the next performance. That was Shiv Vandana. I must admit that I was expecting a prayer (vandana), and not a dance performance to a medley of songs that included the title song of Ajay Devgns Shivaay. But thats not the point. The point is that this was not some Hindu ritual alone.

But, wasnt it always like this in our schools? Well, pardon me for being cynical and noticing religion, but the contrast was too stark a day after religious extremists celebrated murder at a Rajasthan court where the murderer  who had videoed and flaunted the brutal killing in the name of saving religion  was to be presented.

Here, in Mohali, the children were busy talking of issues that no longer find a place in our politics of hatred. In a skit on farmer suicides, there was the essential articulation of the agricultural distress, but also a pragmatic reference to loans taken for fancy weddings under social pressure to show off.

Nuance and reason were alive and kicking.

More so, when the migrant labourer was not reduced to a caricature or a footnote, but was made part of the family and shown as much a victim as the landowner. Much better than anything you would watch on TV or WhatsApp for eons.

In another skit that talked frankly about a dhongi baba, or a fake fakir, it was enlightening to watch little kids reduce this whole business to the joke that it is. Whos laughing now?

In yet another act, a prime character was played by a tall fellow who was visibly more confident than the others. The principal, when asked, told me that he is on a full scholarship and that his mother is a housemaid. This was blasphemy. How dare they admit such kids alongside those who are picked and dropped in Audis and Jeeps! But, well, maybe this school was different. Or was it?

If any doubt lingered, the next performance blew it away. It was gatka, the traditional Sikh martial art, and there were kids of all sizes displaying their skills with sticks and swords. I was told they were not all Sikhs. And that the school made it a point to keep religious activities secular.

What does that mean? What was this place? How could it be so different from the world outside? Or are we just too cynical, exaggerating a situation in which the politics of exclusion wants to redefine a culture of compassion? In theory, culture should define politics, and not the other way around. Its hard to yet be sure if we are in dire straits, but I do hope you were all there at this function, to know how we were, to learn how we ought to be.

aarishc@gmail.com

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Many legislators of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress have opposed e-tenders for contracts worth less than Rs.25 lakh, saying the plan will hit Uttarakhands small contractors hard.

Works worth above Rs 25 lakh are awarded through e-tenders in the state. Following the Centres footsteps, the state government decided in August to go for e-tendering of all development works, even of less than Rs 25 lakh, to ensure transparency.

Thousands of small contractors will fail to get works if the government goes ahead with e-tendering, said Umesh Sharma Kau, BJP legislator from Dehradun district. The works carried out with MLA funds involve small amounts, say Rs 1-2 lakh. The contractors engaged in these works get a source of income to support their families as there are a few options for livelihood in the state, Kau, who switched to the BJP from the Congress last year, told HT.

Cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat held a meeting with legislators last week on behalf of the chief minister, and told officials to hold the e-tendering process for the time being. Ritu Khanduri, a first-time BJP legislator and daughter of former chief minister BC Khanduri, said she was not against the idea of e-tendering but was interested in knowing the procedure for the same.

The idea did not find favour with Gopal Rawat, BJP legislator from Gangotri. Ruling party legislators got support from the Congress camp.

Manoj Rawat, Congress MLA from Kedarnath, said small and local contractors had played a pivotal role in opening the Kedarnath valley after the 2013 deluge.

How can authorities ignore the role of small contractors? Moreover, the works awarded to big contractors are ultimately executed by these so-called small contractors. Rawat told HT.

In Rudraprayag district alone, 10,000 local contractors are registered, said Shatrughan Negi, president of the contractors association. He demanded that works up to Rs 1.25 crore be awarded through manual tenders as it was the practice before July this year.

E-tendering is open to participants whose annual turnovers run into crores. The locals fail to meet the criterion and therefore are left out, Negi said.

The flip side is that with the state government deciding to increase MLA funds to Rs 3.75 crore, the legislators will have more say in sanctioning works in their constituencies. Such works are usually done by the party workers and its a win-win situation for both, said Indresh Mailhuri, a senior Left leader. Several party workers double up as contractors. They earn and share benefits, he alleged.

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A Pakistani national, who was earlier acquitted by a lower court, has been arrested again on the directions of the Uttarakhand High Court, police said on Sunday.

Abdi Ali alias Asad Ali, a resident of Hajarala village near Lahore, was first arrested on January 27, 2010 on charges of spying.

Senior superintendent of police VK Krishna Kumar said Abid was held during Maha Kumbh fair in Haridwar after sensitive documents and maps related with Roorkee and Haridwar cantonment, railway station, bus station and Har-Ki-Pauri core mela zone were found from his possession.

A case was registered against Abid under Official Secrets Act for spying and dispatching secrets through electronic mail and courier, Kumar said. Jagdish, who owned a tailoring shop in Gang Nahar, was also arrested for assisting Abid.

After three years of legal battle, Abid was acquitted by the additional district judge court in July 2013. The Uttarakhand government then moved the high court against lower court decision. Hearing the case on Friday, the high court expressed surprise over the lower courts decision to release Abid and ordered his re-arrest.

Abid was arrested on Saturday from Roorkee and all the requisite documents have been taken by police and their verification is being done, said Kumar.

A father of three children, Abid married a local woman in 2009, and started working as a carpenter and flex board installer.
The Uttarakhand government has sent a proposal to the Centre for starting two direct bus services from Delhi and Dehradun to Nepal, an official said on Friday.

There is a demand to increase more direct bus service to the Himalayan country, following which we have sent a proposal to the Union ministry of road transport and highways, said state transport minister Yashpal Arya.

Since the matter deals with India and Nepal governments, the Union external affairs ministry will be taking up the issue, he told Hindustan Times.

There are three buses plying from Delhi to Kathmandu, of these two are of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation and one of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) that plies from Delhis Anand Vihar to Mahendranagar in Nepal via Dehradun, said a senior UTC official.

With no direct bus service connecting the hill state to Nepal, the people in Uttarakhand, until now are dependent on the bus service from Delhi to the Himalayan country, said Deepak Jain, general manager (operations) at the UTC.

We want the tourists from Delhi and Dehradun to reach Nepal safely as the international border is porous, it is advisable for people to travel by public transport, he said.

There are a lot of people from Nepal who reside in Uttarakhand and the government wants to give them this facility.

There is daily bus service with a capacity of 25 passengers that plies between the state and Mahendranagar, the nearest bus terminus in Nepal, about 5km from the international border, sources in the state transport department said.

But, that does not solve the purpose as more than 200 passengers travel across the border every day, some of them said.

The India-Nepal border in Uttarakhand is porous and travelling to and fro for people residing along the border in Tanakpur, Banbasa and Gharighot in Champawat district or Melaghat in US Nagar, is not an issue, they said.

It is the flow of tourists that the state government wishes to streamline by providing more transport options.

Member of Parliament from Nainital, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who has been advocating starting the direct bus service between the state and Nepal, said: The Bhartiya Janata Party government in state had been working on this issue since June and are hopeful of receiving a nod from the Centre soon.

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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday threatened to hold state-wide demonstrations from Monday against the state government if it does not withdraw its order declaring 14 Hindu festivals, including Dussehra and Diwali, as restricted holidays.

The organisation will submit memorandums to Governor KK Paul and President Ramnath Kovind on Monday in connection with the issue.

The Trivendra Singh Rawat government on December 15 issued an order declaring 14 Hindu festivals as restricted holidays. Out of the 14 festivals, half-a-dozen are major Hindu festivals like Dussehra, Karwa-chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj and Chath puja.

We will submit memorandums to the governor and the president of India urging them to prevail upon the state government to withdraw its order declaring 14 Hindu festivals as restricted holidays, said VHP state unit secretary Sanjay, who goes by his first name.

Announcing such major Hindu festivals as restricted holidays is clearly against the Hindu sentiment, Sanjay said warning that if the controversial order was not withdrawn the Hindu society would stop voting the ruling BJP in the coming elections.

It will automatically stop, Sanjay said when asked if the volunteers of the VHP and other Hindu nationalist organisations too would stop supporting the BJP in the coming polls.

The BJP government, however, ruled out the possibility of withdrawing its controversial order. There is no question of withdrawing the order because it has only declared some (Hindu) festivals as restricted holidays, said the chief ministers media in-charge Darshan Singh Rawat.

That clearly means (state government) employees have been given a choice whether they wish to join duty or celebrate festivals during those restricted holidays, he said.

Darshan Singh said the order in question aimed to strengthen the work culture in the state government. As of now, out of 365 days in a year, there are more than 150 gazetted holidays, which definitely have an adverse impact on the governance, he said.

VHP leader Sanjay, however, warned that if the BJP government did not withdraw its order, his group would hold state-wide anti-government demonstrations.

If there is no reaction forthcoming from the state government we (VHP) will hold state-wide demonstrations from Monday, he said.

Sanjay further said all nationalist organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), would participate in the anti-government demonstrations.

We will not only hold state-wide demonstrations but also burn effigies of the state government, he said dubbing the governments move as anti-Hindu.

Sanjay also ruled out the possibility of VHP leaders holding talks with the CM on the issue of his governments controversial order.

That is not our job. Our job pertains to society, Sanjay said. Supposing we visit his (CM) office and he refuses to talk to us, so why should we take such an undue initiative? he said.

Sanjay said even the Congress did not dare to put the Hindu religious festivals in the category of restricted holidays.

I dont know, he said when asked what he thought the chief minister, a former RSS pracharak, wished to achieve by issuing such an order.

Darshan Singh, however, said the issue would be resolved by holding talks with VHP leaders.

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A withering money plant in an empty pint bottle of beer is the only new addition to 65-year-old Rambais tiny two-room set in Ravidas Camp ever since her husband died early this year. She has placed the plant near the entrance, the only source of light in her dingy house.

I bought the plant for Rs 10 after a neighbour told me it would bring back my son, Mukesh, Rambai told HT in a feeble voice.

The frail woman continues to live in hope even five years after her two sons, Mukesh and Ram, were held and convicted with four others for gang-raping and killing a physiotherapist in a bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012  incident that shook Delhi, sparked outrage across India and triggered a slew of changes in rape laws.

But the money plant has brought little change in terms of luck or money for Rambai. Mukesh, the occasional driver and cleaner of the bus on which the gang rape happened, is on the death row. Rambai barely has any money even to visit him in Tihar Jail. Her older son, Ram - the driver of that bus - had earlier committed suicide in Tihar Jail in 2013, forcing her to believe he was guilty.

Rambai, who was initially boycotted by the locals, continues to live in Ravidas Camp, a slum in south Delhis RK Puram Sector 3.

Apart from her two sons, the slum was home to two other of the four rapists  gym instructor Vinay Sharma and fruit seller Pawan Gupta. The four mens families continue to live in hope; some of them also in denial.

Once in two months, I manage to arrange Rs 250-300 for auto fare to visit Mukesh. But when we meet, we barely speak. We both are living in pain. So we just look at each other and cry. Jail people dont even let me take food for him anymore, said Rambai.

Still refusing to believe Mukeshs role in the crime, Rambai spends most of her day and night sleeping in a tiny, dingy room that does not even have a bulb. Do you bring some news about Mukesh? Has the court said something? Will he be released? Rambai asked this reporter.

After the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of the four adult rapists, their fate now hangs with the Indian President. Mukeshs lawyer recently appealed for a review of the sentence but the Delhi Police sought its rejection even as the Supreme Court reserved its order on the petition. The other two have also filed review petitions. The minor in the case has already released from the juvenile home after serving his sentence and is currently living an anonymous life.

Rambai, meanwhile, has been struggling for money and mostly remains confined to her room ever since her husband died earlier this year, neighbours said. Aware that she is not in the health to work anymore, the slums residents have arranged Rs 1,000 as monthly pension for her.

But Rambai wants someone who can be beside her in her loneliness. If I die, no one will even know for days. I should have given birth to a girl, who would never have got into trouble. The other two families have their daughters looking after them, said Rambai.

The other two families Rambai was referring to were of Vinay and Pawan, two other convicts, who lived in separate homes, a few metres away, in the same slum.

Unlike Rambai, the families of Vinay and Pawan have been trying to move on in their lives even though they regularly visit their wards in jail and continue to hope for a change. The duos sisters have been pillars for their ageing parents.

When Vinays younger brother Raj, a class 11 student, and older sister, Manju, found it difficult to move on, they convinced their parents to get their tiny residence coloured. The house was painted in a bright blue colour a year ago, but the family was unable to get going. So Raj decided to cook frequently for his family. My classmates say cooking helps in keeping life moving, Raj added.

Unlike his father who found it difficult to retain his housekeeping job at the airport in the initial months of Vinays involvement in the crime, Raj had found support in his school friends.

Rajs friends knew about Vinays character. They knew Raj was different, so they accepted him without getting judgemental. Why should everyone in the family suffer because of one person? said Manju. The family does not defend Vinay anymore, but they live in hope that he would be forgiven and released.

In the same narrow by lane, Pawans family drew the curtains on getting to know that a journalist was at their doorstep. You have done us a lot of good. Now please leave. We have guests at home. We are trying to move on, a woman sarcastically said from inside.

The media never quoted us correctly. They would cook up statements after speaking to us. No one cared that our elderly parents were suffering for no fault of theirs. Do grown-up children listen to their parents anymore? Pawans older sister later explained the familys anger.

I know how it is going to end up for Pawan and others. But I keep comforting my parents that everything would be fine one day. My mother is disabled in her leg and is hopeful of Pawans return. I dont have the courage to tell them the reality, said Pawans sister who would not reveal her name.

Initially boycotted by other residents of the slum, the three families have now been accepted by the society. Ideally, we should have barred them from this slum at the very beginning. That would have saved our slum the shame that is part of our history now. But since they have stayed on, we have accepted them. We invite them for every wedding, each function, said Bihari Lal, the president of the Residents Welfare Association.
Amreen, 18, was quite edgy as she entered the New Usmanpur police station on a balmy September morning with her uncle, a motorbike mechanic. She was dressed in a salwar kurta, her rough, tangled hair hanging loose. She was led up the stairs to the second floor past an interrogation room with armed policemen in uniform standing guard outside.

Her heart was beating fast.

Within minutes, she found herself sitting before a woman, a counsellor, who calmed her down and talked to her like a friend wanting to know her interests, her hobbies  and what she wanted to do with life.

It was the first time in life someone asked her these questions. It was for the first time she felt there were choices to make in life.

Three months on, the police station is her favourite place  her training school where she goes to learn make-up art.

Here I also learnt to talk, to look and feel good about myself, says Amreen, who is nattily turned out in a brown jacket and leggings, her eyes wearing kohl. We are in the classroom on the first floor of the police station. It looks more like a salon: there is a large mirror with two upholstered chairs in front of it; there are hairstyle posters on the wall, and glass shelves with an assortment of cosmetics.

Amreen is one of the 120 local youngsters for whom the New Usmanpur police station has been a training institute for the past three months. They come every morning and evening in two shifts to attend classes in grooming, computer data entry, make-up and mobile repair.

The New Usman Pur police station in New Delhi. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The courses are part of YUVA Delhis Police youth engagement programme that focuses on skill development and getting jobs for the underprivileged youth under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The courses are presently being conducted in eight police stations of Delhi.

For many youngsters like Amreen, their tryst with the police station has been quite a transformative journey: an opportunity to step out of homes alone for the first time, to learn how to dress well and speak. Neha Jaiswal, another 18-year-old attending the course, says it is also an opportunity to learn how to interact with boys.  It has made me more confident.

There are five boys in Nehas class, which is dominated by girls. One of them is Md Aftab, who was convinced to come to the police station by a beat constable. The constable, he says, informed the local community the police station was conducting skill development courses that would help the youth get jobs. He immediately agreed but his only problem was the venue. Police station is not the place you ever want to go. But the constable convinced me and my family that the police station can also be a place of learning, he says.

Interestingly, Rohit Verma, who is attending the computer course, says it was his curiosity to see the police station from the inside that inspired him to join the course. Every time I would go upstairs, I would look left at the interrogation room, where there always a few new offenders. It had made me realise that it is a great place to come as student, but not as a criminal, says Verma 20, a BA third-year student through correspondence. I am happy that I have acquired many new computer skills here that will help me get a job.

The police have roped in companies working in the area of skill development to impart training. The Usmanpur police station has four trainers and one counsellor.

The police decide who gets admission in its skill development centres across the city. Pooja Singh, the counsellor at the New Usmanpur police station, says she talks to selected youngsters and advises them on the choice of the course according to their aptitude. They come from poor backgrounds. They all treat it as an opportunity to learn a skill and get a job. They all believe they can make it, she says. But sometimes, their expectations are high. One of the students expected a salary of Rs 20 lakh a year after he completed the courses.

It is 2.30 pm and a fresh batch has arrived for the evening classes. Raj Kumar Saha, the Station House Officer (SHO), drops in for an informal interaction with the students. He has joined recently and has not met them before. You need not fear police. The police are your friend and we want that you learn something here, which helps you to do well in life, says Saha, addressing the students like the principal of a school. In his uniform, he looks incongruous in the surrounds of a make-up art class.

He asks the students, especially the girls, to be careful when they return in the evening. The area is full of chain-snatchers and drunkards, he says. He asks them to take down his mobile number and everyone opens their dairies. You should feel free to dial anytime in case there is a problem.

For 120 local youngsters, the New Usmanpur police station has been a training institute for the past three months. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Saha is not exaggerating. Just outside the police station is a failed hotel, which has now become a hub of liquor shops. Drunken men roaming about the place is quite a common sight. It is a heavy police station, and policing is a daily challenge here. These students are our responsibility, Saha says, sitting in his cabin. On one of the walls is a chart that lists the crimes in the police stations jurisdiction. The number of chain-snatchings has come down to 110 from 171 last year, but rape cases have increased to 25 from 16 last year.

Recently, Usmanpur, a raffish, crime-prone area with garbage dumps and multi-storey box-like houses rising all around, was in the news for a string of killings, including the brutal murder of a 22-year-old student, which led to a riot-like situation, and the murder of 23-year-old by motorcycle-borne men captured on camera.

Special commissioner of police (traffic) and chief spokesperson, Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak, says that Yuva is part of their community policing programme. The idea behind it, he says, is to connect with the youth in slum clusters, resettlement colonies and other areas with high rates of juvenile crime.

We found that a lot of youngsters involved in the crime were school drop-outs. There is a lack of parenting, education, and social control in these areas, he says. Our initiative aims to counter these circumstances and wean them away from crime.

Sanjay Beniwal, Special CP (Womens Safety and Modernisation), who is managing the programme, says: We wanted to talk to the youth and empower them. Many youngsters we have trained have already got jobs. Earlier, the police station was a place where people came only when they were in distress. We also want to change this image, he says.

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Chapped, cracked and dry lips are the worst things about winter. Our lips lose moisture much faster than other parts of the body as there are no sweat or oil glands beneath the surface. In winter, keeping the skin of the lips soft and smooth can present a problem due to lack of moisture and the effect of lip make-up, said beauty expert Shahnaz Husain. But, before you move to expensive beauty salons for time consuming expert treatment, some home remedies like intake of sufficient quantity of fluids in form of soups, green tea, seasonal fruits, oil nourishment and intake of clean water can provide sufficient hydration and moisture to the body to get smooth lips in winters, she added.

Husain further said that nutritional deficiencies can also lead to dry and chapped lips. Vitamins A, C and B2 are important for the lips. She recommends eating foods like citrus fruits, ripe papaya, tomatoes, carrots, green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole-grains, oats, and milk products. Use glossy lipsticks and lip balms. Avoid soap and powder on lips. Remove lipstick with a cleansing cream or gel. Apply almond oil or cream at night and leave on, she added.

Coconut oil has been valued for its nourishing and moisturising ability. (iStock)

Husain recommends the usage of argan and coconut oil to nourish the skin on the lips. Argon oil is actually native to Morocco, where it has been traditionally used for food purposes, as well as to treat skin and scalp problems. Today, it is being increasingly used to make cosmetics like moisturisers, creams, lotions, face packs, hair oils, hair conditioners, etc. Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E. Since it contains Vitamin E and antioxidants, it helps to delay the visible ageing sign and even rejuvenate the skin. It protects the youthful properties of the skin, like elasticity and resilience.

As it is easily absorbed by the skin, it can be ideal for care of the lips. The fatty acids also nourish and soften the skin. The oil was used for medicinal purposes to cure skin problems and also heal and soothe burns. It nourishes the skin and improves skin texture. Coconut oil has also been valued for its nourishing and moisturising ability. It has a great skin softening ability and helps to make the skin soft and smooth. It may be applied on the lips and is also said to protect the skin from the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun.

It is said to protect the skin better than cream. It also helps to heal cracks on the lips. In fact, it can be used to remove make-up from the face, including the lips. Coconut oil may be applied on the lips and left on overnight. Or, it can be left on for 15 minutes and wiped off with moist cotton wool. The advantage is that unlike other preparations that may contain synthetic ingredients, coconut oil can be safely applied on the lips and even ingested. Another advantage is that unlike other oils, coconut oil does not become rancid, Husain said.

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Strap: Eye on 2037: Residents state overcrowding and absence of routes as reasons for not using buses

So why dont you travel by buses in Gurgaon, a city that is infamous for its gridlocks and congestion? A survey conducted by the civic agencies had 27% respondents citing no route and 18% terming crowding as the reasons for giving buses the miss.

Respondents said they are ready to shift to public transport, provided there are proper routes and enough buses.

Currently, almost 51% travel to work using private mode of transport, followed by autorickshaws which account for 22% passenger traffic. The survey states that these auto commuters can be the potential divertible commuters if the bus system is improved.

The surveyImplementation of City Bus Service Project in GurugramBus Route Planning and Rationalizationwas commissioned in May by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG). It was carried out by the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS).

The survey focussed on the year 2037 and proposed a total of 37 bus routes to cover the Gurgaon metropolitan area. Presently, the city has 22 bus routes on which 18 government buses and four private buses are plying.

The survey has pegged the population in metropolitan areas at 2,17,9187 by the year 2037 and has used household survey, user opinion survey, boarding and alighting survey, workplace survey, passenger count on para-transit operators and on-board passenger counts to arrive at its results.

Read I Gurgaon bus service by March 2018, says MCG commissioner

The survey was aimed at developing a bus route planning and rationalization system, taking into consideration the movement patterns of passengers in the city, demand levels, service level benchmarks, need for various types of services, land-use integration, multimodal integration, overlap services and efficiency of existing operations.

The report was submitted in early December and has been released for public feedback and suggestions.

The vision to make a sustainable public transport available for the city is being implemented by the government and it will be visible on ground soon when new low-floor buses will ply on city roads from March next year, MCG additional commissioner Dr Narhari Bangar said.

Even as the government proposes to launch the bus service by March-end, the residents are skeptical about that happening as many feel that government projects are usually delayed.

The GMDAs plan to ply 500 low-floor buses is welcome but we doubt it would be implemented effectively. City roads are in a bad shape and there are no bus stands. The lack of coordination among departments will be another factor that can make its implementation difficult, Sudhir Bharadwaj, president of Sector 56 residents welfare association, said.

Government functionaries said the roll-out is well-planned and the Haryana government had formed the Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) towards this end.

We plan to roll out 20 to 25 buses by the end of February or early March. Thereafter, every successive week, more buses will be added to take the fleet to 100 in the first phase. Electric buses will also be added to the fleet, Anand Mohan Sharan, chief executive officer of GMDA, said.

A total of about 500 buses are proposed to be deployed in Gurgaon in five phases. The GMCBL plans to select different operators for each phase. In each of the first two phases, 100 buses are proposed to be deployed, an official spokesperson said.

Aside from the number of buses, experts suggest, the city needs buses of different sizes on different routes.

Dr Sewa Ram, transport expert, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, said, The government should launch small-size buses, besides low-floor big buses. The government should accordingly ply these buses on trunk roads, primary roads and secondary roads. On all these roads, success of plan would depend on the frequency with which the buses shuttle.

This need for different size of buses is also reflected in the travel pattern of commuters, 33% of whom have either their origin or destination outside Gurgaon. While Delhi accounts for 29.5% commuter traffic, the remaining 67% trips are within the Gurgaon metropolitan area.

Within Gurgaon, HUDA City Centre emerged as a key boarding and alighting point for passengers.

About 16.3% bus users board from the HUDA City Centre bus stop, followed by 7.3% at Mahaveer Chowk and 7.2% boarding from the Gurgaon bus stand.

Similarly, the alighting patterns of passengers show highest demand, by 8% passengers, for buses to terminate at the HUDA City Centre, followed by 4.8% passenger traffic at Gurgaon bus stand, and Mahaveer Chowk with 4.5 %.

With Metro spreading fast across Gurgaon, commuters response showed need for buses to run on short routes, with more than 60% respondents emphasizing need for medium-length routes of 3 to 5km.

An effective public transport solution is a must in a city and Gurgaon requires is with utmost urgency. We hope the bus service will help improve the air quality and reduce congestion on city roads, Sarika Panda, manager, Cities and Transport, World Resources Institute (WRI), India, said.
Women commuters returning late at night said they feel unsafe using the citys subways, as they are dimly lit and criminals prowl such spaces after sundown. They said that the subways on the Gurgaon expressway are dark and suffer from lack of maintenance by the authorities.

There are three subways on the expressway, including the defunct Sirhaul toll plaza connecting Udyog Vihar to another side of the road towards Gurgaon. Commuters said that the two subways near Rajiv Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk also leave a lot to be desired in terms of safety.

Women commuters said that with the subways poorly lit and unsafe, they have no option but to cross the expressway and are forced to take a longer route either towards Delhi and take a U-turn below the flyover from Rajokri, Delhi to return to Gurgaon. The only other option is shared cabs, which, according to women commuters, arent a safe bet after sundown. They claimed there are frequent incidents of eve-teasing in shared cabs and most go unreported.

Women said that the subways are not managed and maintained by the authorities and they are left with no option but to cross the road to avoid the subway near the Sirhaul toll plaza, towards Udyog Vihar.

The subways are dimly lit, poorly maintained and almost always unmanned. It not safe to use them after sundown. Drunk men often prowl the subways and never miss a chance to pass lewd comments at women, Sunita Mishra, an employee of a firm in Udyog Vihar who commutes to work from DLF Phase 3, said.

The subways are never cleaned. Over the last one year, I havent seen anyone cleaning the subway (near the Sirhaul toll). It is difficult to navigate the subway due to the unbearable stench from the garbage that the space is littered with. Men often relieve themselves inside subways and despite being aware that women use such spaces, they dont mend their ways, Usha Kumari, an employee at an export firm, said.

I still remember how two men in a drunken state followed me and my colleague till Rajokri. I had to call my husband to pick us up, as they kept on passing lewd comments at us, Geeta Kaushik, a daily commuter and a resident of Rajokri Airforce station, said.

Read I Gurgaons Rajiv Chowk underpasses to be built in three phases

Many women said they were at the receiving end of similar incidents while using subways on their way home from work during late evenings and added that many such incidents are not reported to the police.

A Gurgaon police official said the area comes within the jurisdiction of Kapashera, Delhi and a PCR van is deployed there at most times. However, he said that in light of safety concerns, they will arrange a PCR van from the Udyog Vihar police station to patrol such spaces at night.

Our team is deployed on the stretch and even women personnel are posted. Regular patrolling is done as well. We will also deploy a team at subways to check hooligans and miscreants. Should a woman face harassment while walking on the subway, they should get in touch with us without delay. Well take prompt action, Arjun Dev, station house officer, Udyog Vihar police station, said.

Ashok Kumar Sharma, project director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said, We will get the subways inspected on Monday and ensure they are cleaned and well maintained.

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Due to paucity of time, the present Law Commission of India is unlikely to provide a definite answer to whether a law or a scheme should be enacted to compensate those who have been wrongly prosecuted or incarcerated for a criminal offence.

The tenure of the 21st LCI headed by Justice BS Chauhan ends on August 31, 2018, and its already besieged with other references. The commission has submitted eleven reports since its formation last year.

The panel is currently finalising its report on whether to legalise betting in sports, referred to it by the Supreme Court in July last year.

After that, the panel will get down to preparing a report on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a top official in the LCI said.

The UCC reference was sent to it by the Union government in June last year. The then law minister DV Sadananda Gowda had written to the panel asking whether the time is ripe for enforcing a common civil code in the country.

At present the constitution allows different religious communities to apply their own personal laws in matters pertaining to marriage, divorce and inheritance.

We might not be able to take up any more references. While we will begin examining the issue, but it is unlikely that we will be able to finish it, the official said on compensating those wrongly jailed.

The Delhi high court had earlier this month asked the commission to examine the matter.

Commission officials say they will be able to take up the reference only next year.

There is an urgent need, therefore, for a legal (preferably legislative) framework for providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of wrongful prosecution and incarceration, a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta said while referring the matter to the law panel.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has also referred a petition to the LCI on according minority status to Hindus in states where the community does not form a majority.

Hindus are in minorities in Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Punjab.

The panel, however, will not take up the matter as it does not accept direct references.

The reference will have to come through the legal affairs department, a senior official explained.

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Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday pitched for reserving 33% of jobs in all state government departments, barring forest, for the women.

The BJP leader has made similar announcements in the past, most recently in September.

His latest came at an event for the members of the self-help groups (SHGs) held at Jamboree ground, where he once again kept the forest department out of the reservation purview, arguing that such roles take officers on the field and hence cannot be made available for women.

The programme was attended by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu among others.

Official sources said the states police force, too, had requested the CM to keep the department out of the reservation ambit as here too personnel have to be out on the field. But the CM insisted that women could be accommodated in official roles, sources added. Women will be appointed on 33% posts in police department. When they hold guns, they wont hesitate in showering bullets on criminals. He added that 50% posts of teachers will also be reserved for the women.

Naidu, too, advocated reservation for women in government jobs, saying India had granted equality to women immediately after Independence and long before other countries did so.

Chouhan said women were doing better than men in various fields and were running the government better than men. He said markets will be established in all big cities to sell products made by SHGs. The products made by the self-help groups were better than those manufactured by multinational companies and advertised by film stars, the chief minister added. He announced creation of federation of SHGs and loans to such federations up to ~5 crore to produce take home ration.

People understood importance of bank accounts on Nov 8

Naidu said people who made fun of Jan Dhan Yojna accounts understood its importance on November 8 (2016, when demonetisation was announced).

People asked their drivers, cooks and domestic helps if they could deposit their money in their accounts for some time, he said, and took to explain the rationale behind the move.

Mai samjhta hun sarkar ka uddeshya yahi tha ki poora paisa bank me pahunch jana chahiye, jo paisa bedroom me tha, bathroom me tha, pillow ke neeche tha, bed ke andar tha, wo paisa bahar aa ke bank me pahunch gaya. Bank me pahunchte pahunchate pata, pita aur pati (owners name and addresses) ke saath pahunch gaya, he said.
Bhopal

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday targeted the BJP-led central and Madhya Pradesh governments over their policies, decisions and lies that have ruined the life of farmers in the state and elsewhere.

Addressing a gathering of farmers at his jan akrosh rally in Ashok Nagar districts Piparai in Mungaoli state assembly, the former Union minister said both demonetisation and the goods and services tax (GST) made the lives of farmers miserable.

Bypolls are expected to be held in Mungaoli and Kolaras constituencies this month or early January.

Notebandi (note ban) caused a disaster. It was to help those who converted their black money into white. More than 125 people were killed across the country. And here in Madhya Pradesh farmers faced bullets from the police, the MP from Guna constituency said.

He also targeted chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for rolling out a scheme, Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, that hardly benefitted the farmers.

Scindia accused the CM of making false promises to the farmers and seeking to send out a message that he (Scindia) had done nothing for the development of the constituency.

He said it was his initiatives that brought a central school, several trains, model school, roads, electrification under the Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme and several other development works to the region.

Scindia called upon the people to give a befitting reply with votebandi to the BJP for its notebandi, GST and other anti-people policies and decisions and false promises of the BJP.

Attacking the state government on law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia said incidents of crime against women were on the rise.

He alleged that the CM never took care of Mungaoli in his 12-year rule but now his ministers are visiting the constituency ahead of the upcoming bypoll. But people were wise enough to see their design, he said.

He also termed the BJPs love for Dalits as only a sham. They visited Dalit houses to have meals with them but when a Dalit principal called his MP (Scindia) to his college, he was transferred by the government. Similarly, the state home minister (Bhoopendra Singh) had his meal on a silver plate while the Dalit MLA sitting next to him was seen having his meal on a plate made of leaves, he said.

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The Narendra Modi government is working on a plan to increase the pension it provides to people over the age of 60, widows, and disabled persons, all from so-called Below Poverty Line (BPL) households from the current Rs 200-1,000 a month to around Rs 1,600, with some of the increase coming from the states.

The pensions are all part of the National Social Assistance Programme, on which the Central government spent around Rs 9,300 crore in 2014-15; around 31 million people from poor households benefited from the schemes that year. The Union rural development ministry wants the Centres share to be at least Rs 1,000 a month in each case according to Amarjeet Sinha, the Union rural development secretary.

That represents a significant increase from the Rs 200 a month the Centre currently pays as pension to people between the ages of 60 and 79, widows between the ages of 40 and 59 (they become eligible for old age pension thereafter), and disabled persons under the age of 59 (they too become eligible for old age pension thereafter).

In the first case, the Centre doesnt mandate a contribution from states, although many states do add something to the amount. In the second and third cases, it mandates an equal contribution from the states. We may go for a matching grant in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the states, added Sinha.

The rural development ministry is in talks with the finance ministry on the proposal.

States currently provide top-up doles to the Centres contribution. While some states like Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have substantially increased allocation in a bid to provide a respectable pension, in many states the pension amount remains miserably low.

In early 2017, the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi increased the pension for people between the ages of 60-69 to Rs 2,000, and to widows and disabled persons to Rs 2,500 per month.

There have been several protests in the past demanding an increase in the pensions. When Jairam Ramesh was the Union minister for rural development, he had described the stingy scheme as an insult to dignity.

The Centre also may go for identification of the beneficiaries through the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census data, which helped the government identify genuine beneficiaries in schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (which aims to provide subsidized cooking gas cylinders to beneficiaries) and Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna (which aims to provide housing).

The states currently draw up the list of beneficiaries, and the Centre will not find it easy to prune this list given the sensitive nature of Centre-state relations. The list of BPL beneficiaries should remain decentralized. The states have always argued that the Centres faulty BPL list leaves behind millions of genuine needy people, said senior Trinamool MP and former union minister Saugata Ray.

Currently, there are around 31 million NSAP beneficiaries of which only half have linked their accounts with Aadhaar.

In addition to the pension schemes, NSAP also provides 10 kg of free food grain to beneficiaries every month under the Annapurna scheme and provides Rs 200,000 as a one-time assistance, in case of death of the main wage earner of the family.

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The BJP claimed victory in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat with the Narendra Modi-led party leading by a comfortable margins in his home state.

Although early trends indicated a neck-and-neck race in Gujarat with the Congress, which mounted a tough challenge in Gujarat on the back of a spirited campaign by its newly elected president Rahul Gandhi, the BJP pulled back some of that momentum.

Map | Gujarat assembly election results 2017

The majority mark in the 182-seat Gujarat assembly is 92.

But despite a BJP victory, the Gujarat elections have a mixed message for Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel.

In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP has made a comeback by nearly doubling its lead over the Congress.

Map | Himachal Pradesh assembly election results 2017

Despite impending defeat, Rahul Gandhi may well have emerged as a leader in this round of elections and succeeded in ending the perception that he was both reluctant and incompetent.

The counting of votes in both states started at 8am. The Election Commission of India will announce the final results on its website eci.nic.in by the evening.

Here are the highlights on Gujarat and Himachal election results:

9pm: Counting of Gujarat votes ends. Tally stands as follows:

BJP  99 (49.1% vote share)

Congress  77 (41.1% vote share)

NCP  1 (0.6% vote share)

Bharatiya Tribal Party  1 (0.7% vote share)

Independents  3 (4.3% vote share)

6.50pm: So many conspiracies were hatched in Gujarat by Congress, misinformation was being spread. People cannot bear if anyone makes fun of vikas: PM Narendra Modi

6.45pm: For me, Gujarat polls are a matter of double happiness. I am so happy that after I left the state, my colleagues there continued the good work, says PM Modi

6.41pm: BJP won all the seats it contested in 1989 Lok Sabha polls. We won most of the seats we contested in 1990. In 1995, in 1998, in 2002, in 2007 and in 2012 we won. We won most seats in Lok Sabha polls too: PM

6.40pm: Gujarat election results are historic. In this day and age, for a party to keep winning for so long: PM Narendra Modi.

6.38pm: The results in Himachal Pradesh show that if you dont do development and are embroiled in all wrong acts then after 5 years people will not accept you, says PM Modi.

6.37pm: People of Himachal Pradesh have given a positive vote... for development, says PM Modi.

6.35pm: Election results prove the country is ready for reforms, says PM Modi

6.35pm: During UP elections it was said BJP would lose due to GST effect in urban areas, same was said in Gujarat elections and local body polls in Maharashtra: PM Narendra Modi

6.33pm: I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. They chose the path of development, says PM Modi.

6.323pm: Prime minister Narendra Modi addresses party workers at the BJP headquarters.

6.31pm: The Congress spread casteism and took the campaign to a low. Despite that, the BJP won in Gujarat and this shows the peoples faith in Narendra Modi, says BJP chief Amit Shah.

6.30pm: BJP has not lost a single election in Gujarat since Narendra Modi became CM in 1990, says BJP chief Amit Shah.

6.29pm: BJP president Amit Shah and other leaders felicitate PM Narendra Modi at BJP HQ in Delhi as party celebrates Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh win.

6.25pm: Congress accepts peoples verdict in assembly elections, fought anger with dignity, says Rahul Gandhi. Read full story here

6.20pm: Election Commission was approached for counting at two booths in different constituencies. The EC has given instructions to conduct counting through VVPAT in those two particular booths: BB Swain, chief electoral officer of Gujarat.

6.16pm:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP HQ in Delhi, received by BJP President Amit Shah #ElectionResults2017 pic.twitter.com/CgQaiyA4qo  ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

6.14pm: Rajdeep Sardesai writes on why the Congress appeal for change didnt work in urban Gujarat. Read here

6.10pm: How the Gujarat election results are the first tremors of a youthquake. Read here

5.53pm: The BJPs vote share in Gujarat this time, at 49.1%, has slumped sharply since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when it clocked nearly 60%, but when compared to the 2012 assembly polls  48%  it shows a marginal rise.

The Congress vote share has improved significantly  to 41.4%  up from the 33% in 2014 and higher than around 39% in the 2012 polls.

5.45pm: CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy says: Narendra Modi may become more dictatorial. It is not a positive sign for Indian democracy.

5.38pm: 5 reasons why Gujarat election results went BJPs way. Read here

5.33pm: BJP loses Unjha constituency to the Congress that includes Prime Minister Narendra Modis hometown of Vadnagar. Congress Asha Patel beats outgoing BJP MLA Patel Narayanbhai Lalludas by a margin of over 19,500 votes in the traditional stronghold of the Patidar community.

5.27pm: Results declared in 39 seats of Himachal Pradesh on Election Commission website: BJP 23; Congress 14.

5.26pm: Results declared in 159 seats of Gujarat on Election Commission website: BJP 84; Congress+ 74.

5.25pm: Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu tweets: Congratulations BJP on winning the elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Wishing them all the best for their forthcoming tenure in governance.

5.24pm: Development has won, says PM Narendra Modi. Read here

5.23pm: What derailed the Congress in Himachal Pradesh. Read here

5.18pm: Its a symbol of peoples confidence in Congress. Thankful that they made me victorious. We have never stepped back from serving people in and we will always serve them, says Rajinder Rana, Congress candidate who won in Sujanpur against BJPs Prem Kumar Dhumal.

5.10pm: The Congress relied on caste-based politics in Gujarat, says Vijay Rupani.

5.06pm: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says its moral defeat for BJP in Gujarat.

5.03pm: I would like to give credit for this victory to the people of Gujarat. I also assure people that in the coming five years, the BJP will work towards what the people of the state want, says Vijay Rupani.

5.01pm: Congratulations to people of Gujarat, BJP and Gujarat BJP karyakartas on winning the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. This victory reiterates pan India trust of people in the development agenda and policies of our government led by PM Narendra Mod, tweets Arun Jaitley.

4.56pm: Congress Vikramaditya Singh, leading from Shimla Rural, says: Ill always stand with government, whichever party it might be of and serve the people. As a son I am sad we couldnt make it possible for him (Virbhadra Singh) to become the CM the seventh time. Well analyse our drawbacks.

4.53pm: BJPs Saurabh Patel wins from Botad.

4.52pm: True to its secular, liberal core, Congress refused to polarise the electorate, recognising that the politically beneficial is not always beneficial for the nation, writes Congress Rajasthan chief Sachin Pilot. Read here

4.50pm: Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJPs CM candidate in Himachal Pradesh, who lost from Sujanpur, says: Personal loss is not of much importance.The gain that victory has brought to state BJP is important. Thankful to people for voting for BJP. In politics, sometimes one wins, sometimes one loses. I was not expecting to lose, I will do an analysis.

4.45pm: Results declared in 141 seats of Gujarat on Election Commission website: BJP 72; Congress+ 69.

4.35pm: We won comfortably, increased our vote share. It was not a close contest at all: Amit Shah

4.32pm: Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweets: My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congresss greatest strength is its decency and courage.

4.28pm: The ECs responsibility is to protect democracy in this country, says Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

4.27pm: Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweets: The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me.

4.25pm: We have given such a fight to the BJP in Himachal that their CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal has lost, says Sushil Kumar Shinde.

4.23pm: Congress takes a dig at Narendra Modis 56-inch chest remark:

4.18pm: We are confident that BJP will form government in Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Karnataka next: Amit Shah

4.16pm: Attempts were made to lower the discourse of debate. But people reposed their faith in BJP, says party chief Amit Shah.

4.15pm: The 2/3rd lead in Himachal Pradesh shows that people there want to join PM Narendra Modi in the journey to development: BJP chief Amit Shah.

4.12pm: On the site of the EC, the Congress and its allies have won over 84 seats so far. Two Independents who won support Congress+ and so does NCP so the Congress+ tally is 84, says Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

4.10pm: Congress Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot says: BJP in the home state of PM Modiji and Amit Shahji is struggling to cross even 100.

4.09pm: BJP chief Amit Shah at press conference says: Country is getting rid of casteism dynasty and politics of appeasement. Democracy is entering new era.

4.07pm: Congress campaign under the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi has led to a moral victory for our party in Gujarat: Congress Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

4.06pm: Congress had a very good campaign in Gujarat, Rahul jis campaign reminded us of Indiraji: Congress Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

4.05pm: The points that Rahul Gandhi raised, the BJP could not provide any answers, says Congress Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

4.04pm: Results declared in 114 seats of Gujarat on Elelction Commission website: BJP 58; Congress+ 55.

4.02pm: The victory in and Himachal shows people have once again accepted PM Modi, his and the Gujarat model. Theyve voted for development and against the corrupt Congress. Itll have positive impact in Karnataka, says BS Yeddyurappa, Karnataka BJP president.

3.56pm: I accept the victory of the BJP. I, being the CM, take full responsibility of our performance here. I hope Vikramaditya (Singh) keeps winning in future, like he won today, says Virbhadra Singh.

3.55pm: Shares reversed earlier losses to end higher on Monday as the Narendra Modi-led BJP appeared to win elections in his home state of Gujarat. The BSE Sensex rose 0.41% to 33,601.68, while the broader NSE Nifty ended 0.54% higher at 10,388.75.

3.51pm: Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh is a victory of PM Narendra Modis development agenda and against the politics of casteism and appeasement, says BJP chief Amit Shah.

3.50pm: The key takeaway (of Gujarat assembly elections) is its not (going to be) a cakewalk for the BJP any more in 2019, says Telangana Rashtra Samiti floor leader in Lok Sabha, AP Jithender Reddy.

3.44pm: What does the Gujarat 2017 result mean for BJPs future election narrative. Read here

3.42pm: Results declared on Election Commission website now--BJP: 46 (leading 53); Congress+: 47 (leading 33)

3.33pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets: I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly.

3.31pm: Election results in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh indicate a strong support for politics of good governance and development. I salute the hardworking BJP Karyakartas in these states for their hardwork which has led to these impressive victories, tweets Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3.30pm: Development won, Gujarat won, tweets Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3.28pm: Results declared on Election Commission website now--BJP: 45 (leading 55); Congress+: 41 (leading 39)

3.25pm: BJP chief Amit Shah arrives at BJP headquarters.

3.23pm: Congress Virbhadra Singh wins from Arki, Himachal Pradesh.

3.22pm: In most seats in Saurashtra, Patidars have won, says Hardik Patel.

3.15pm: Hardik Patel says: I want to congratulate the BJP -- they won by tampering with the EVMs.

3.12pm: There has been tampering in EVMs in Surat,Rajkot and Ahmedabad, hence the gap is very less wherever tampering happened. EVMs are hackable: Hardik Patel

3.10pm:

"I express my gratitude to the people of Vadgam for all their support. Now I will raise the voice of Gujarat's discriminated sections in the assembly," says #JigneshMevani who is leading by 19696 votes from Vadgam #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/IsInhayZ4M  ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

3.02pm: The four key elements of the Gujarat campaign that Congress got right. Read here

2.58pm: Gujarat election result trends right now (leads+wins): BJP: 98; Congress+: 81; Others: 2

2.56pm: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut praises Congress president Rahul Gandhi for leading his party without bothering about the results, says results show the people are not happy with the BJP in Gujarat. Read here

2.49pm: Congress set to win Godhra, Parmar Rajendrasinh Balwantsinh leads BJPs CK Raolji by 8,000-odd votes.

2.46pm: The divisive campaign for Gujarat marks a low watershed in the lives of its five million Muslims, writes activist-author Harsh Mander. Read here

2.41pm: Gujarat minister Chimanbhai Sapariya trailing from Jamjodhpur to Congresss Chiragbhai Kalariya.

2.34pm: Results declared on Election Commission website now--BJP: 27 (leading 70); Congress+: 21 (leading 61)

2.18pm: How assembly election results 2017 will boost Narendra Modis reforms agenda | india-news | Hindustan Times. Read here

2.11pm: Results declared on Election Commission website now--BJP: 17 (leading 84); Congress+: 16 (leading 63)

2.07pm: What the Gujarat election result means for the Indian economy, businesses and markets. Read here

2.03pm: In his opening innings he scored zero, says Goa CM Manohar Parrikar on Rahul Gandhi.

2.01pm: How the second phase of Gujarat polls saved the day for BJP in prestige battle. Read here

1.57pm: Results declared on Election Commission website now--BJP: 13 (leading 88); Congress+: 14 (leading 65)

1.49pm: Home minister Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi outside Parliament: Abhi toh kuch nahi bolunga kyunki woh haal hi mein adhyaksh bane hain lekin sar mundwate hi ole pade.

1.44pm: Results on Election Commission website now--BJP: 13 (leading 89); Congress+: 11 (leading 67)

1.30pm: BJP fends off challenge for Patidar vote from Hardik and Congress, shows Election Commission data. Read here

1.27pm: Results on Election Commission website now--BJP: 10 (leading 91); Congress+: 8 (leading 79)

1.25pm:

The 13 winners declared so far in Gujarat are mostly wealthy (9 are crorepatis), and none face criminal cases! Also, all of them are men.https://t.co/yta5gaKSA7#GujaratElection2017 #GujaratVerdict via @htTweets pic.twitter.com/tPd50Aqr7t  Harry Stevens (@Harry_Stevens) December 18, 2017

1.22pm: Former chief election commissioner HS BRahma says: I firmly believe that our EVMs, VVPATs cannot be tampered with. This matter should be closed once and for all as it is tried and tested. EVM is a standalone machine, question of hacking doesnt arise. Read here

1.18pm: Trends on Election Commission website now--BJP: 102 (won 8); Congress+: 78 (won 5)

1.15pm: Gujarat deputy CM Nitinbhai Patel says: Ultimately, the BJP is going to register victory. It is leading almost everywhere now.

1.05pm: Congress leaders on Monday said the partys improved electoral performance in Gujarat was the result of their new chief Rahul Gandhis effective leadership.

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath says: Every election has its own message. Gujarat has been the BJPs bastion. It is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress tally has gone up there, while the BJPs numbers have fallen. This is the start of Rahul Gandhis political story.

Congress has done brilliantly. Our strength has increased. Morally, it has been a brilliant intervention of Rahul Gandhi, says Congress leader Renuka Chowdary.

12.59pm: Trends on Election Commission website now--BJP: 102 (won 6, leading 96); Congress+: 78 (won 2)

12.54pm: Congress president reaches Parliament, says Im satisfied.

Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament. pic.twitter.com/HvZLCGPqCh  ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

12.49pm: Trends on Election Commission website right now--BJP: 101 (won 5, leading 96); Congress+: 79 (won 1)

12.48pm: OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who recently joined the Congress, has won from Radhanpur.

12.46pm: Gujarat 2017 is an interesting study in terms of election results: The winner has won, but the loser hasnt lost, writes professor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Read here

12.45pm: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya says: We will analyse the tough fight in Gujarat. Read here

12.40pm: BJP minister Smriti Irani says: It is a matter of happiness for us, this is the victory of development. It is the victory of every booth workers hard work and the people who trusted development.

12.38pm: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says: The Congress is leading on some 75 seats which is good. This is twice better than the last elections. What if we could not reach the destination, the journey has been good. And the final tally may even be better than this.

12.31pm: People have rejected divisive politics of Congress, this win is due to the dynamic leadership of BJP and the hard work of BJP workers, says Yogi Adityanath,UP CM

12.05pm: Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, fighting as an Independent, wins from Vadgam.

12pm: Congress Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot says: Rahul Gandhi put up a nice campaign; results a win for Congress. Read here

11.52am: Congress Kunwarji Bavaliya wins from Jasdan.

11.48am: Trends in Himachal Pradesh elections now--BJP: 41; Congress: 21.

11.46am: CPMs Rakesh Singha wins from Theog assembly segment in Himachal Pradesh.

11.40am: Dilip Sanghani of BJP loses from Dhari.

11.32am: The BJPs candidate from Surats Katargam, Vinu Moradiya, wins. Patidar leader Hardik Patels rallies were earlier reported to be successful in the area.

11.31am: Trends in Gujarat elections now--BJP: 103; Congress+: 76

11.28am: BJPs Babu Bokriya defeats Arjun Modhwadia in Porbandar.

11.22am: Congress wins Kasumpti seat in Himachal Pradesh with its candidate Anirudh Singh defeating BJPs Vijay Jyoti by a margin of 9,397 votes.

11.21am: How Narendra Modi played his cards to bring BJP back to power. Read here

11.16am: Trends for Gujarat election results now--BJP: 101; Congress+: 78.

etaba Jadeja (Gondal) and minister Jayesh Radadia (Jetpur) win.

11.10am: How did the fight between the Congress and the BJP get so close? Read here

11am: Independent candidate Jignesh Mevani leading by 10,785 in Vadgam.

10.51am: BJPs Vijay Rupani wins from Rajkot West.

10.48am: Trends show the Congress making inroads into the BJPs strongholds in urban Gujarat while holding on to its pocket boroughs in the rural regions of the western state. Read full story here

10.41am: Home minister Rajnath Singh says: We will form governments in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh with clear majority.

10.40am: Trends in Gujarat right now-- BJP: 97; Congress+: 74.

10.37am: How Patidar leader Hardik Patel made Gujarat a close contest. Read here

10.31am: Ultimately BJP is going to register victory, contrary to early trends BJP is leading almost everywhere now, BJPs Nitinbhai Patel who is currently trailing by over 2,000 votes from Mahesana.

10.29am:

In Gujarat, though, both @INCIndia & @BJP4India seem to be gaining and losing ground in equal measure. Seeing some big spikes for Congress in Saurashtra and Kutch though. BJP has some big spikes in Central Guj.https://t.co/yta5gaKSA7 pic.twitter.com/R3cXGOySf1  Harry Stevens (@Harry_Stevens) December 18, 2017

10.24am: Trends on Gujarat elections results right now-- BJP: 101; Congress: 79.

10.10am: Key candidates in Himachal Pradesh

--BJPs CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal trailing by 1,709 votes from Sujanpur.

-- Congress veteran and six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh leading from Arki.

--Virbhadra Singhs son Vikramaditya Singh leading from Shimla Rural.

10.03am: Sensex falls as much as 867 points after Gujarat poll results show close contest.

10am: Himachal BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt tells IANS: We have crossed the half-way mark. This clearly indicates we are going to form the government in the state.

9.53am: Congress Shaktisinh Gohil trailing by 1,355 votes from Kutchs Mandvi.

9.51am: The mood of the people of Gujarat will lead Congress to victory, cant comment much on initial trends; let the final results come says state party in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

9.48am: Vijay Rupani leading by 7,600 votes from Rajkot West, at the end of counting in round 3.

9.46am: Trends for Himachal Pradesh right now-- BJP: 41, Congress: 25.

9.45am: Arjun Modhwadia of Congress is leading from Porbandar seat.

9.43am: Hindustan Times brings you real-time updates and analysis of the Gujarat assembly election results. See results broken down by party, coalition, gender, margin of victory, and more.

9.41am:BJPs Vijay Rupani is leading from Rajkot West.

9.40am: Congress Virbhadra Singh leading from Arki.

9.31am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP at 94, Congress at 82.

9.30am: BJPs Himachal Pradesh CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal trailing by 540 votes from Sujanpur.

9.27am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show Congress at 90 edges past BJP at 87.

9.25am: Key candidates:

BJPs Vijaty Rupani, Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel trailing

Congress Arjun Modhwadia trailing

9.24am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP at 86, Congress at 84.

9.18am: Sensex down over 700 points.

9.17am: Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza says: People have got sick and tired of the 22 years of BJP misrule in Gujarat. The Gujarat model which the BJP touted so proudly to take power nationally is not clicking in Gujarat... We are confident we will form the government.

9.15am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP and Congress neck and neck in Gujarat with 75 seats each. Follow live coverage of Gujarat vote count here

In Himachal Pradesh, its BJP at 34, with the Congress at 19. Follow live coverage of Himachal Pradesh vote count here

9.02am: Key candidates:

--Vijay Rupani trailing from Rajkot West.

--Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani leading from Vadgam seat.

--Virbhadra Singhs son Vikramaditya leading from Shimla rural.

--Raghavji Patel of BJP is trailing in Jamnagar Rural

8.59am: BJPs Anil Kumar Shrma is leading from Mandi.

8.56am: OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who recently joined the Congress, is now leading from the Radhanpur seat.

8.50am: Trends show BJP ahead in Himachal Pradesh, its 16 against Congress 10 seats.

8.49am: Trends show BJP leading in 90 seats in Gujarat, the halfway mark in the assembly is 92.

8.44am: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain says, We are going to form a government in Gujarat. People have voted for us on development issue.

8.43am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP leading in 84 seats in Gujarat against Congress 52. In Himachal Pradesh, its BJP at 6, with the Congress at 3.

8.42am: Congress Gujarat chief Shaktisinh Gohil is leading from Mandvi.

8.32am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP leading in 65 seats in Gujarat against Congress 44. In Himachal Pradesh, its BJP at 6, with the Congress at 4.

8.31am: OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who joined the Congress recently, is trailing from the Radhanpur seat.

8.26am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP leading in 45 seats in Gujarat against Congress 27. In Himachal Pradesh, its BJP at 4, with the Congress at 2.

8.24am: Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is leading in Vadgam seat.

8.24am: Gujarat incumbent Vijay Rupani is leading in Rajkot West.

8.22am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP leading in 25 seats in Gujarat against Congress 8. In Himachal Pradesh, its BJP at 3, with the Congress at 2.

8.20am: Chief election commissioner AK Joti tells ANI: Questions being raised about EVMs have already been answered by us in the media. VVPATs were there in every polling stations in Gujarat, which enabled voters to see whom they voted for, so issues being raised arent right. I assure that EVMS cannot be tampered with.

8.12am: Postal ballots de-sealed by officials at a counting centre in Shimlas Sanjauli, as counting of votes begins in Himachal Pradesh.

8.11am: Trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP leading in 8 seats in Gujarat against Congress 4. In Himachal Pradesh, the two parties are tied at 1 each.

8.04am: Officials at a counting centre in Ahmedabads Gujarat College open ballot boxes as counting of votes begins.

8.02am:

7.56am: In 2012, BJP was voted to power for a fifth straight time, winning in 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61.

7.55am: The Congress swept Himchal Pradesh in 2012, winning 36 of the 68 seats.

7.40am:

#GujaratElection2017 Counting of votes for all the 182 assembly seats of the state to begin at 8 AM, Visuals from a counting center in #Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/GAqY4QlfSC  ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

7.19am: A day before declaration of results in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, the Election Commission withdrew a showcause notice issued to Congress president Rahul Gandhi for violating the code of conduct by giving an interview to a TV channel in the run-up to the second phase of voting in Gujarat. Read the full story here

7.15am: A total of 977 candidates were in the fray in the first phase of elections, while in the second phase, 851 candidates fought.

6.50am: Gujarat is a prestige election for Narendra Modi, while for newly-elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi, a favourable outcome there may mark the beginning of a process of political resurgence. Whichever way it goes, there are five factors that will have strongly influenced the result. Read the full story here

6.41am: Himachal is a battle between two veterans  Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal. If the BJP wins, it will be a resuscitation for Dhumal, for whom its a battle for survival after the defeat in 2012. Since then, he has been almost marginalised within the party. For incumbent Singh, pushing to stay at the helm for the seventh time, the polls could help establish son Vikramaditya Singh, who is fighting his maiden elections.

6.35am: After a bitter and intense campaign, the BJP and the Congress await the outcome of assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on Monday. Counting of votes will begin at 8am. Heres what the results in Gujarat and Himachal will mean for BJP and Congress.

6.30am: Election Commission data for Gujarat shows the number of people who voted in the just-concluded polls was nearly 84 lakh less than those who exercised their franchise in 2012  from 3.8 crore five years ago to 2.96 crore this time.

Welcome to the Hindustan Times live coverage of the assembly election results for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh voted separately over the past two months with the formers two-phase polls ending on Thursday to close a bitter campaign. Results for both states will be announced by Monday evening.
The navy is preparing a fresh case for buying new multi-role helicopters (MRH) after failed attempts to fill a key area of deficiency in its capabilities, a senior navy officer said.

The MRH is expected to be the future mainstay of the navys anti-submarine, anti-ship warfare and airborne early-warning capabilities that have seen a worrying and persistent deterioration over the last decade.

The new push for 24 MRH worth over Rs 10,000 crore is aimed at replacing the Sea King 42/42A helicopters that were retired almost around two decades ago.

The replacement is overdue. It was around 15 years ago that the navy moved a case to get new MRH. Its a very crucial operational requirement, said vice admiral (retd) Shekhar Sinha, a naval aviator and former Western Naval Command chief.

The Sea King 42/42A models came with aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Bought from the UK, the Viraat was commissioned as the navys second carrier in 1987 and retired last year.

The navy came very close to hammering out a deal for 16 Sikorsky S-70B Seahawks a year ago, but the negotiations fell through, forcing the project to return to the drawing board. The takeover of Sikorsky Aircraft by Lockheed Martin affected price negotiations as the defence ministrys commercial negotiation committee had to deal with a new management, navy sources said.

Shortage of MRH has forced the navy to ration its helicopter resources. The navy has to beg, borrow and steal to keep the show going, Sinha said.

It is unclear at this stage what course the navy will take to purchase the new helicopters  whether it will go in for a government-to-government (G2G) deal or float a global tender.

Sources said the US administration has offered the S-70B Seahawk to India under a G2G deal, also known as the foreign military sales programme.

A G2G deal is a contract between two governments that does away with the need to float a tender. Such transactions may be complicated in their conception and execution but are more transparent to financial scrutiny.

Apart from MRH, the navy needs to invest thousands of crores to buy naval utility helicopters (NUH) and naval multi-role helicopters (NMRH).

The navy requires 111 NUH to replace its outdated fleet of French-designed Chetak choppers. A fresh effort to buy these ship-borne utility helicopters got underway in October, with the defence ministry according its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to a Rs 21,738-crore programme to replace the Chetaks.

The AoN is only the first step towards buying a weapon or platform in a complex acquisition procedure that can sometimes take up to a decade to translate into a final contract.

I dont think AoN is a big deal. There are several programmes that were granted AoN years ago but we are nowhere close to buying those weapons and systems, said another senior navy officer on condition of anonymity.

Whats worrying is that the majority of Indias 140 warships are operating without integral utility helicopters. These five-tonne class choppers are used for several purposes, including search and rescue operations, medical evacuation, anti-piracy and anti-terrorism operations, communication duties, humanitarian assistance and surveillance.

The US, European and Russian suppliers are expected to compete for the NUH programme by stitching up alliances with Indian firms under the governments strategic partnership model.

Sixteen of the choppers will be bought in flyaway condition from a foreign military contractor, and the remaining 95 will be locally built in partnership with an Indian firm.

Up in the air Navy pushing case to buy new multi-role helicopters (MRH) worth more than Rs 10,000 crore The fresh push for 24 MRH is aimed at replacing Sea King 42/42A helicopters that were retired almost two decades ago Navy plans to induct 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) to replace French-designed Chetaks at a cost of Rs 21,738 crore If India were to clinch the NUH deal today, the last of the 111 twin-engine choppers will still take 13 years to arrive The majority of Indias 140 warships are operating without integral utility helicopters Plans to buy 123 naval multi-role choppers still on the drawing board

The navy had released two requests for information for 123 NMRH and 111 NUH this August, seeking details to build the helicopters in the country.

Naval helicopters come with special modifications such as foldable blades for shipboard storage, wheeled landing gear and airframe resistant to salt water corrosion.

Building capability can take years and if decisions are not taken on time, the military suffers. If India were to clinch the NUH deal today, the last of the 111 twin-engine choppers will still take 13 years to arrive.

An older plan to import 56 NUH was scrapped as the government wanted to pursue the programme under the Make in India banner. Besides, the navy had modified its requirements.

Similarly, a previous NMRH tender for 126 helicopters was withdrawn to power the Make in India plan. The NMRH project is expected to move forward under the strategic partnership model at a later juncture. The NMRH mission range covers anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, electronic warfare and carrying marine commandos  roles performed by the navys Sea King 42B/42C variants.

Naval helicopter programmes have to be accelerated to overcome shortcomings and keep the force mission ready, said BS Randhawa, a retired vice admiral.

Remember submarine and surface activity, including Chinese presence, has risen sharply in the Indian Ocean region, Randhawa said.

If a warship is not armed with choppers, its a serious capability gap. These choppers are a potent part of a vessel in terms of extending its range and overall capabilities for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, a top navy officer said.

The navy also operates a mix of 20 Russian-made Kamov-28 and Kamov-31 helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare respectively. The Kamov-28 fleet is undergoing a midlife upgrade at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore.
Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy has alleged in a press statement that the Centre plans to keep him imprisoned until death.

The statement followed his re-arrest from Telangana by the Jharkhand police in connection with a 2007 case on Saturday, barely three days after his release from prison on bail. Ghandy has spent over eight years at various jails across the country.

It is clear that police methods are being used to kill me legally, given that I am 71 years old and in very poor health. They did not bother about this case for seven years, but arrested me for it immediately on release to keep me in jail as an undertrial indefinitely, the statement issued on Saturday evening read.

Ghandy, who was educated at Doon School and St Xaviers College in Mumbai, joined Maoist politics in the late 1960s. He was a politburo member of the banned CPI(Maoist) at the time of his arrest from New Delhi in October 2009. Ghandy was released from the Vishakhapatnam central prison on December 13.

I was attending proceedings at the Achempet court (near Hyderabad) on December 16, 2017, when the Jharkhand police arrested and took me to Ranchi, Ghandy wrote, adding that most of his co-accused have already been acquitted and the rest are out on bail.

The rebel leader said he would hold the government responsible if his health deteriorated in prison. Given that I have been acquitted in all cases, and most have been acquitted in this case, and my age and health condition, I demand my immediate release (sic), he added.

Ghandy claimed that doctors recommended one month of complete rest during a medical check-up at a Hyderabad hospital immediately after his release. Sources said he had anticipated the arrest, given how the police seemed reluctant to produce him before a court in connection with this case during his imprisonment and had prepared the statement well in advance.

The FIR has been pending since 2010, and there was no response even though both I and the Cherlapalli jail authorities wrote to the judicial magistrate first class courts at Bokaro and Tenughat twice in this regard. The first letter was written over one year ago on November 2, 2016. When there was no response to this, a reminder was sent by me and the jail authorities on March 9, 2017. Still, there was no response.

This claim was echoed by N Venugopal Rao, a Hyderabad-based associate of Ghandy.

He was anticipating a re-arrest. Immediately after his release, even the Gujarat police came down to Vishakhapatnam jail to tell the jail super that Ghandy had a case pending in Gujarat. That was when the team from Jharkhand  accompanied by the Telangana State Intelligence Bureau  came down, arrested him and flew him to Jharkhand, said Rao.

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The results of the countrys most eagerly awaited elections in recent times  the Gujarat assembly polls  will be out on Monday.

It is a prestige election for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign from the front.

PM Modi took on the Congresss new president Rahul Gandhi, who managed to stitch together a coalition-of-sorts with three young leaders representing communities angry with the BJP, which made the battle that much more interesting.

Whoever wins Gujarat elections, these five factors will have strongly influenced its outcome.

Modis mass appeal: Gujarat is the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose popularity remains formidable. His appeal is expected to transcend caste considerations, a factor the opposition Congress is banking on, but BJP strategists believe Gujarati voters will not let him down in an election where his prestige is at stake.

Patidar agitation: Gujarat has witnessed violent agitations by politically and economically dominant Patidars for reservation in government jobs and education over the past two years. They constitute about 12% of the states population, and could influence results in about a third of the states 182 assembly constituencies. Despite being traditional BJP loyalists, a section of Patidars led by Hardik Patel seem to have shifted its loyalties to the Congress in this election.

Read | Gujarat election result on Monday, counting of votes in 37 centres amid tight security

GST & demonetisation: The Congress sought to politically encash on the perceived resentment among the trading community and small businessmen over the rollout of the goods and services tax (GST) as well as last years demonetisation initiative. BJP strategists, however, believe that the party was able to mollify them. They dont think this resentment will translate into votes for the opposition party.

Anti-incumbency: After 22 years in power, the BJP is facing the problem of anti-incumbency in the state, although the period was marked by high growth. The Congress has sought to puncture the Gujarat model of development by citing unemployment, agrarian crisis and the states poor performance on human development indicators.

Read | Gujarat elections 2017: A tale of two organisational models in Indian politics

Gujarats asmita and Congress patriotism: The BJP made the most of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars the prime minister as a neech aadmi an as an affront to Gujarats asmita or pride. The saffron party also sought to put a question mark on the Congress leaders patriotism, alleging that the Gujarat elections were discussed at a meeting between former prime minister Manmohan Singh and the former Pakistani foreign minister and high commissioner at Aiyars house. It led to acrimonious exchanges between the two parties in the run-up to the elections.
Ahead of the counting of votes in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on Monday, the top brass of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were in a huddle to discuss possible scenarios the declaration of results would deliver in the politically crucial home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Most exit polls have predicted a comfortable victory for the BJP in the elections for 182-member Gujarat assembly but the Congress insists that the result will be surprising for pollsters.

In Gujarat, the BJP wound up its election office in a swanky mall on the outskirts of Gandhinagar and held a meeting of all its candidates and polling agents.

As Congress leaders alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), chief minister Vijay Rupani termed it a signal of their impending defeat. Rupani had earlier said that the BJP will win 150 seats, the target set by party president Amit Shah.

In Delhi, the BJP started preparations for celebrations by stocking crackers and preparing sweets for distribution among party workers on Monday. Shah also held a meeting with office-bearers on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi met party leaders involved in the election campaign to seek their assessment, especially in view of the exit polls that predicted a big win for the ruling BJP.

There was unanimity among the Congress leaders that their party will get between 105 and 110 seats and form the next government in the state.

Sources privy to the meeting said some leaders expressed concern over the buzz on the ground about the alleged tampering with the EVMs, and insisted that if the Congress gets anything below 80 seats, the party should aggressively push for the use of ballot papers in all future polls.

Sources said Gandhi, who led the Congress campaign from the front, wanted to know why there was a mismatch between the exit poll projections and the partys internal assessment. He was told that the pollsters predictions could be used as an alibi by the BJP to tamper with EVMs.

Riding piggy-back on the face of Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel and dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, besides inducting Other Backward Class (OBC) leader Alpesh Thakor into its fold, the Congress is for the first time fancying its chances in the western state after 22 years. Chhabildas Mehta was the last Congress CM in 1995.

The Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ellisbridge locality of Ahmedabad was also abuzz with action as the Congress held an assessment meeting where all its candidates were in attendance.

We will win more than 120 seats. The BJP will bite the dust like it did in Delhi and Bihar elections, Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki said, rebuffing exit polls that have predicted a comfortable win for the BJP.

Amid a flurry of activities at the rival camps, Patidar leader Hardik Patel  chose to spend Sunday at Somnath temple in coastal Prabhas Patan town in Gir Somnath district. But his spiritual day out did not prevent him from keeping up his incessant attack on the BJP for tampering with EVMs.

In a series of tweets, Patel claimed that the EVMs were hacked. If human bodies created by God can be tampered with then why can there be no tampering with man-made EVMs!! If ATMs can be hacked into, then why not EVMs, he tweeted on Sunday afternoon.

Hours before, in another tweet, he claimed that EVMs will be hacked into by an Ahmedabad-based firm. An Ahmedabad-based company is preparing to hack into 5,000 EVMs through its source code using 140 software engineers, tweeted the Patidar quota crusader, whose outfit Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) backed the Congress in the polls.

He went on to claim that if EVMs would not be tampered with, then the BJP will not get more than 82 seats.

At many places, the Congress is reported to have stationed its workers to keep a watch on strong rooms to ensure that no unauthorised person enters. BJP has also deputed workers to keep an eye on the 33 counting centres across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP returned to power with a win in 44 constituencies as the results of the Himachal Pradesh elections showed the ouster of Congress party.

The counting of votes for the 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh began at 8am. The Election Commission of India announced the final votes counted for the 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh election on Monday night.

People in the hill state have, in recent times, alternated between the Congress and the BJP in assembly elections every five years.

There are 68 seats in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, elections to which were held on November 9. A party needed 35 seats to be able to form a government.

Click here to see Himachal Pradesh election results broken down by party, coalition, gender, margin of victory, and more.

Here are highlights of the Himachal Pradesh election results:

11:40pm: Results in the Sujanpur constituency, from where BJPs chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is contesting, were the last to be declared. Dhumal lost by 1919 votes to his once-protege Rajinder Rana who contested on a Congress ticket.

11:38pm: Election Commission declares results for all seats. Tally stands as follows:

BJP  44 (48.8% vote share)

Congress  21 (41.7% vote share)

CPI(M)  1 (1.5% vote share)

Independents  2 (6.3% vote share)

9:12pm: Counting in its last stages as results for three seats left to be declared. BJP wins 44 seats while Congress may yet bag two more.

9:04pm: BJP increases its vote share to 48.8% with seat tally at 43.

8:46pm: Results on five seats left to be declared. Of 68, BJP holds 42 seats.

8:25pm: As counting continues, BJP gains more. Tally at 40 seats with lead in four others.

8:10pm: BJP bagged 38 seats with a lead in six constituencies. Congress gains one more to reach 19 seats.

7:58pm: BJP gains two more seats, crosses the 35-seat mark required to form government.

7:43pm: Union minister JP Nadda says defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Tomar will go to Himachal Pradesh to discuss about the party leadership in the state.

7:30pm: BJP gains, taking its seat tally to 34 with a lead in 10 constituencies. Congress also increases its share with 18 seats and a lead in three.

7:15pm: Congress tweets out a positive message to supporters, with its eyes on next years elections. The Congress Party extends a huge thank you to the people of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat for having faith in us and giving us their vote. Our congratulations to the Bharatiya Janta Party. However we arent taking off our gloves just yet; see you on the campaign trail in 2018!

7pm: Counting in 16 constituencies left, including Sujanpur from where BJPs chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is contesting.

6:38pm: People in Himachal Pradesh gave a positive vote. It shows that people will not accept you after five years if you are embroiled in wrongdoing, says Modi.

6:33pm: Modi says Himachal and Gujarat have chosen the path of vikas (development).

6:31pm: Supporters chant Modi, Modi as he begins speaking.

6:27pm: Amit Shah says with these victories, the party moves forward to achieving PM Modis 2022 vision for a better developed India.

6:25pm: PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters in New Delhi for celebrations. Party chief Amit Shah weclomes him.

6pm: Counting still in progress for 21 constituencies. BJP is leading in 14 of these.

5:48pm: BJP set to form government as counting of votes gives party 48.6% vote percentage so far. Congress comes in second with 41.9%.

5:15pm: Congress Rajinder Rana defeats BJPs Prem Kumar Dhumal in Sujanpur. Its a symbol of peoples confidence in Congress. Thankful that they made me victorious. We have never stepped back from serving people in Sujanpur and we will always serve them, says Rana.

4:56pm: Vikramaditya Singh, son of chief minister Virbhadra Singh, is set to win Shimla rural. Ill always stand with government, whichever party it might be of, and serve people. As a son I am sad we couldnt make it possible for him (Virbhadra Singh) to become the CM a seventh time. Well analyse our drawbacks in meeting, ANI quoted him as saying.

4:55pm: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan says party is sad about Prem Kumar Dhumals loss but are happy that people of Himachal Pradesh voted for BJP.

4:51pm: Counting continues in Himachal Pradesh. However, BJP is the clear victor.

4:44pm: BJPs Prem Kumar Dhumal, who lost in Sujanpur, says verdict was unexpected but looks ahead. Personal loss is not of much importance.The gain that victory has brought to state BJP is important... In politics, sometimes one wins, sometimes one losses. I was not expecting to lose, I will do an analysis, ANI quotes Dhumal as saying.

4:29pm: Rahul Gandhi commends party workers for fighting with dignity. My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congresss greatest strength is its decency and courage, he tweets.

4:25pm: Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulates new governments. The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me, he tweets.

4:23pm: The 2/3rd lead in Himachal Pradesh shows that people want to join PM Modi in the journey to development, says BJP chief Shah.

4:21pm: Happy that our fight against corruption in the state has yielded results, says Amit Shah.

4:17pm: We are confident that when we go into 2019 elections under the leadership of PM Modi, we will once again get peoples support and Modis aim for the youth in 2022 will become a reality, says Shah.

4:15pm: Amit Shah says the BJPs vote share in the state has increased by 10% from the last time.

4:10pm: Amit Shah thanks the people of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat for another opportunity to serve them.

4:08pm: BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal loses to Congress Rajinder Rana in Sujanpur with a close to 3000 vote margin.

4:07pm: Amit Shah begins press conference. Congratulates BJP for its victory in both states.

3:55pm: Congress Virbhadra Singh wins in Arki with 34499 votes as party loses. I accept the victory of BJP. I, being the CM, take full responsibility of our performance here. I hope (son) Vikramaditya keeps winning in future, like he won today, ANI quoted Singh as saying.

3:32pm: I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly, Modi tweets.

3:30pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates BJP for its lead in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Election results in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh indicate a strong support for politics of good governance and development. I salute the hardworking BJP Karyakartas in these states for their hardwork which has led to these impressive victories, Modi says on Twitter.

3:20pm: BJP president Amit Shah arrives at the party head quarters to address media.

3:11pm: One more seat added to BJPs kitty. Congress falls to 18.

2:54pm: BJP strengthens its hold in the state, leads in 45 constituencies. Congress slumps to 19 while the Others camp remains constant at 4.

2:45pm: 8 seats of Himachal Pradesh have been declared by the Election Commission so far: 5 to BJP, 2 to Congress and 1 for CPI(M).

2:30pm: A look at the results so far

2:04pm: Goa chief minister and former defence minister in the Modi government, Manohar Parrikar, says about Rahul Gandhi: In his opening innings, he scored zero.

1:57pm: Union home minister Rajnath Singh flashes victory sign outside Parliament while defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman says BJPs performance was undoubtedly, a major victory.

Read | Gujarat election results: How second phase saved the day for BJP in prestige battle

1:55pm: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath comments on BJPs victory, saying: Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh results are a lesson to those who forget political courtesy and indulge in unparliamentary language. Those raising question mark on the Prime Minister will now have to accept his leadership.

1:50pm: CPI-M hails victory of its candidate Rakesh Singha from Theog. This victory is all the more significant as it comes in the background of a highly polarised election between two major parties, a statement read.

This victory reflects the faith the people of Theog have reposed in the CPI-M to protect their rights and work for peoples interests in the Himachal Pradesh assembly.

1:40pm: JNU student leader Shehla Rashid responds to election results, congratulates Congress Rahul Gandhi for putting up a good fight.

1:20pm: As some Congress supporters protest against alleged EVM tampering, former chief election commissioner of India, HS Brahma, tells ANI: I firmly believe that our EVMs, VVPATs cannot be tampered with. This matter should be closed once and for all as it is tried and tested. EVM is a standalone machine, the question of hacking doesnt arise.

1:10pm: Narinder Bragta, of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is the likely winner in Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency, where the brutal rape and murder of a Class 10 girl ignited protests over law and order issue against the Virbhadra Singh government.

1:05pm: BJP candidate from Shimla, Suresh Bhardwaj, celebrates his victory with supporters in Himachal Pradesh.

1pm: It is a matter of happiness for us, this is the victory of development, says Union minister Smriti Irani when asked about Congress giving a tough fight in 2017 assembly elections. Jo jeeta wohi sikandar. It is victory of every booth workers hard work and the people who trusted development.

12:48pm: BJPs CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is now trailing by nearly 2,800 votes in Sujanpur.

12:35pm: Rahul Gandhi arrives in Parliament for the winter session.

12:32pm: Congress president Rahul Gandhi leaves his residence in New Delhi. The 2017 assembly elections were widely considered a test for the newly-elected president who took charge as party chief on November 16.

12:30pm: Three seats have been declared by Election Commission -- 2 in favour of BJP and 1 for Congress.

12:25pm: About 0.9% or 25,282 opted for None of the Above (NOTA) option in Himachal Pradesh in the 2017 assembly elections.

12:10pm: BJP is now ahead in 42 seats, Indian National Congress in 22, and others in 4.

12pm: Although BJP is set to form a government in Himachal, its CM candidate is losing in Sujanpur by a margin of over 2000 seats. The candidate leading is Congress Rajinder Rana with 12, 187 votes recorded so far.

11:50am: Counting of votes underway, BJP ahead in 44 seats while Congress takes 22 and other contenders, including CPM, bag 4.

11:45am: CPMs Rakesh Singha wins from Theog assembly seat.

11:35am: BJP workers celebrate in Himachal Pradesh as the party readies to make a government in the state currently led by Congress.

11:25am: Election Commission officially declares first seat in Himachal Pradesh elections 2017 for Congress candidate Anirudh Singh from the Kasumpti constituency. Singh defeated Vijay Jyoti by a margin of 9,397 votes.

Anirudh Singh is a crorepati with a graduate degree, and he has no criminal cases against him.

11:20am: Numbers for all 68 seats of Himachal Pradesh are in. Trends show BJP tally is 44, Congress 21 and Other parties/Independents at 03.

11am: Independent Hoshiyar Singh wins, defeats BJP heavyweight Ravinder Ravi and Congress MP Viplove Thakur.

10:55am: Updates figures show BJP leads in 42 seats, Congress bags 23 and others, 3.

10:52am: Bikram Singh Jaryal, of the Bhartiya Janata Party, is leading by a significant margin of 30% over Congress Kuldeep Singh Pathania in Bhattiyat.

10:50am: A confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Parliament. Flashes a victory sign.

10:47am: Stock markets stabilise after a crash earlier as trends showed the BJP having an upper hand in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.

10:45am: BJPs chief minister candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal reduces margin of loss to 1000. Rajinder Rana, of Indian National Congress, leads from Sujanpur with 6770 votes and Dhumal stands at 5711.

10:41am: BJP is leading in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Will form government with a clear majority, says Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

10:25am: I am sure that in the end Congress will be victorious and form government in the state says Congress youth leader and CMs son Vikramaditya Singh.

Trends show BJP is ahead by a comfortable margin of victory. Vote percentage share, however, in 60 seats is approximately 50% for BJP and 42% for Congress, according to Election Commission data.

10:23am: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy says the party will convincingly win in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. ... We are winning the majority, there is no doubt about that. BJP will win majority in both the states and that in itself is a big victory, Swamy tells ANI in New Delhi.

10:20am: BJPs tally reduced by 1 seat, to 40. Congress remains at 25 and other parties gain in one constituency. Independents are leading in two constituencies while the CPI(M) is ahead in one.

10:15am: BJPs CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal trailing by 1,709 votes from Sujanpur although the party is set for a comeback in the state.

10am: Incumbent urban development minister Sudhir Sharma trails in Dharamshala.

9:55am: CM Virbhadra Singh is ahead by 1,162 votes in Arki, Election Commission results show.

9:50am: As trends emerge for all seats, BJP extends its lead in 41 seats and Congress plays catch-up at 25. Other parties have recorded leads in just 2 seats of the hill state.

9:40am: Incumbent CM Virbhadra Singh is ahead in Arki, Himachal Pradesh.

Virbhadra, 83, first became Himachal Pradesh chief minister in 1983. He faces a tough election but has a record for emerging stronger every time he is in trouble. However, his image has been hurt because of allegations of corruption and crimes in the state like the rape and murder of a 16-year old school student near Shimla.

9:35am: Current tally according to trends: BJP -- 34, Congress -- 19, Others -- 5

9:31am: Health minister Kaul Singh trails from Darang.

Follow HT for Live coverage on assembly election 2017 results

9:30am: BJPs chief minister candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is trailing by 540 votes from Sujanpur.

Dhumal, 73, was elected as a Lok Sabha member for the first time in 1989 and has been BJPs face in Himachal for two decades.

9:20am: Amid close battle between Congress and BJP is Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, Sensex falls by 600.51 points, currently at 32,862.46.

Nifty at 10,134.35

9:16am: Rural development minister Anil Sharma is now trailing in Mandi.

Rajesh Thakur, from BJP, is ahead in Gagret.

9:15am: Sudhir Sharma of Congress is trailing in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

9:07am: BJPs Ramlal Markandey leads in Lahaul. Inder Singh from the party is also leading in Balh.

9:05am: Chief minister Virbhadra Singhs son and state youth Congress president, Vikrmaditya Singh, leads in Shimla Rural in first round of counting.

9am: As more seats are counted, BJP marches ahead in 18 seats and Congress trails at 11, according to early trends.

8:55am: BJPs candidates Anil Sharma (Mandi) and Satpal Singh Satti (from Una) are leading.

8:50am: Congress makes headway, bringing down BJPs lead to 6 seats.

Live tally: BJP  16

Congress  10

Others  2

8:46am: BJP ahead in 15 seats while Congress trails at 8. Other parties make their presence known in 2 constituencies.

The Congress and the BJP contested in all the 68 constituencies. Most exit polls have indicated the BJPs return to power with an absolute majority.

Read | Why BJP changed strategy, chose Prem Kumar Dhumal as its CM candidate for Himachal Pradesh

8:40am: Two more seats go to other parties as early trends show from 11 constituencies where counting is underway.

8:38am: EVMs have been opened at a counting centre in Kasumpati, Shimla, as counting of votes continues.

8:30am: BJP doubles its lead to 6-3 against Congress. Other contenders havent yet registered a seat.

8:25am: Congress is trailing by 2 seats, according to Rajya Sabha TV. BJP now has 4 seats.

8:23am: Among 5 seats, BJP is now leading by one. Scores stand at 3-2 in favour of BJP.

8:16am: Early trends on Rajya Sabha TV show BJP is leading 2-1 to Congress from 3 out of 68 seats.

Meanwhile, votes are also being counted in Gujarat. Follow Gujarat election results Live here.

8:12am: Postal ballots are de-sealed by officials at a counting centre in Shimlas Sanjauli.

8:10am: Tally remains 0-0 for BJP and Congress as counting of votes begins.

8am: Counting of votes begins in Himachal Pradesh.

7:55am: Supporters perform a hawan outside Congress president Rahul Gandhis residence in New Delhi ahead of counting of votes.

7:40am: With 20 minutes to go before counting of votes begins in Himachal Pradesh, take a look at the key candidates in the polls. Click here

7:35am: Kotkhai rape case a major poll issue: After the heinous rape and murder of a Class 10 girl, the region fumed with anger and several protests were held across the district. The first protest broke out in Theog, followed by a chain of protests in Kotkhai, Shimla and other parts of districts. But when it came to come out and elect a government, fewer women than men came out to vote in some areas of the state.

In terms of candidates contesting the polls, the last time fewer women ran for the Himachal Pradesh assembly was 19 years ago  only 19 women out of 338 are battling for a spot this year.

7:30am: Both the BJP and Congress say they are confident of winning elections in the Himachal.

7am: A total of 2,820 counting staff has been deployed for Mondays exercise which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro observers.

6:45am: Counting of votes will begin at 8am in the hill state, that witnessed a record 75.28% turnout. Adequate security arrangements have been made for counting, which would start simultaneously in all 68 constituencies at 42 counting centres.

Exit poll predictions

Exit polls released earlier this week said the BJP would oust the Congress and regain power in Himachal Pradesh.

The Times Now-VMR and Zee News-Axis exit polls predicted that the BJP would win 51 of the total 68 assembly seats in the state. The Aaj Tak-Axis exit poll gave 47-55 seats to the saffron party, 13-20 to the Congress and 0-2 to others. Among other exit polls, the News X survey predicted that the BJP would win 42-50 seats and the Congress, 18-24.

Breaking down the numbers:

Apart from BJP and Congress, the BSP contested 42 seats followed by the CPI(M) 14, the Swabhiman Party and the Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.

Out of 67 sitting MLAs, 60 MLAS, nine cabinet ministers, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, deputy speaker, Jagat Singh Negi and eight chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) contested the poll along with a dozen former ministers.
What do Rambo, Singham, Krish and Max have in common? Theyre among the 20-member Himachal Police dog squad, all named after Hollywood and Bollywood characters.

The dog squad, set up in 1957, is now in the process of being shifted from the Police Lines at Bharari, 3 km from Shimla, to an upgraded kennel facility at the Himachal Pradesh Armed Police Battalion, Junga, 24 km from here. The shifting of the squad, which was at Chaura Maidan before it being stationed in Bharari, will be complete in a month.

The Himachal Pradesh Police has one of the countrys oldest dog squads. The squad, comprising sniffers and trackers, has helped crack important and complicated cases. The dogs are trained in tracking murders and thefts besides sniffing out narcotics and explosives, says state director general of police Somesh Goyal.

The squad has a sanctioned strength of 40. A proposal has been sent to the government to buy more dogs, says Goyal.

PEDIGREE AND TEMPERAMENT

The squad comprises German Shepherds, Labradors, Retrievers, Doberman and Cocker Spaniels.

Two German Shepherds are deployed at Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lamas high-security residence at McLeodganj in Dharamshala.

It takes six months to a year to train a dog. These breeds are preferred because of their tracking ability, short coat and adaptibility. Only pedigree dogs registered with the Kennel Club of India with a suitable temperament are selected, says the dog trainer, requesting anonymity.

He says the dogs will get to stay in spacious, modern kennels at Junga.

The squad is headed by an inspector rank officer, while each dog is handled by a personnel of the rank of head constable or constable.

TRACK RECORD

German Shepherd Hero, who was imported from Ireland for 250 pounds, was the first member of the states dog squad in 1957.

It was due to the efforts of the then lieutenant governor of Himachal Pradesh (1955-63), Raja Bajrang Bahadur Singh Bhadri, that a dozen canines were recruited in the squad.

Interestingly, its been a tradition to name members in the squad after film characters. So the German Shepherd trained in sniffing out narcotics is Rambo, while another two-year-old Alsatian known for his tracking skills is Singham. It was Singham who tracked down the body of missing youth Kedar Singh in Solan district last year. Kedar was missing for more than a week. Another dog, Max, is credited with recovering 2.8 kg of charas in Kullu and has Krish, another sniffer, for company. They are all two to three years old.

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Jammu and Kashmir does not acknowledge Hindus as a minority in the state as it goes by the Centres national list of minorities, according to an affidavit filed by the PDP-BJP coalition government in the Supreme Court last week.

The state government told the top court that benefits of Central schemes would only be extended to meritorious and needy members of those communities that are notified by the Centre, suggesting that members of the Hindu committee would not be eligible.

The J&K affidavit referred to a Central government notification of 1993 that lists Muslims as a minority. The other minority groups, as per the document, are Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians. In 2014, the Jain community was added to this list.

The benefits flowing out of the scheme prepared by the Central government are targeted to the needy and meritorious beneficiaries of the minority community as notified by the Centre for Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Punjab and Lakshwadeep, the affidavit said.

In case the notified minority is the majority in a state, the benefits are to be earmarked to other notified minorities for the purpose of fixing physical and financial targets, the affidavit added.

The state government was responding to a petition in the top court that asked for Hindus to be declared a minority community in Jammu and Kashmir and seven other states.

J&K is the lone Muslim-majority state in India, where 79.8% of the 1.2 billion people are Hindus. According to the 2011 Census, the state has over 8.5 million Muslims, which is 68.31% of its total population of 12.5 million. Hindus account for 28.43% of the population at 3.56 million.

The state government said that the national commission for minorities act extends to the whole of India, except J&K. Therefore, the government said, it was not bound to identify minorities within the state. The affidavit said the law does not govern how Central government schemes should be implemented.

The petition, filed by Jammu-based advocate Ankur Sharma, also pleads for setting up of a minorities commission in the state in accordance with the top courts 15-year-old directive.

The state government said it will consider and examine the need and feasibility of establishing a state minorities commission. It would be done at the relevant time and as and when need arises based on critical study of social backwardness of minorities spread across various regions of the state.

After Sharmas public interest litigation, the Central government in March constituted a committee headed by the secretary of the minority affairs ministry to examine issues related to minorities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Supreme Court will hear the case again next January.
The Indian Air Forces mid-air refuelling capabilities will take a hit next year when its Russia-procured Ilyushin-78 tankers go for an overhaul, leaving the air force with little option as two attempts to buy new tankers have failed.

The IAF operates a modest fleet of six IL-78 aircraft bought from Russia in 2003-04 at a cost of Rs 132 crore each to expand the strategic reach of its fighter jets. Riddled with problems, only two or three planes from the tanker squadron are available for missions at any given time.

Used for refuelling jets mid-air to keep them airborne longer, the IL-78 tankers overhaul  in phases  will involve upgrading the engines of the aircraft to allow them to take off from shorter runways.

No doubt we will have even fewer refuellers to exploit during the refit. This happens in the lifetime of every fleet. Its unavoidable, said Air Chief Marshal Fali Major, a retired IAF chief. The air forces midair refuelling crisis is partly a result of failed attempts to strengthen its capabilities with new tankers.

Two tenders to buy refuellers in the last 10 years came to naught due to commercial complications. European Airbus 330 MRTT was the frontrunner in both tanker contests in which the Russian IL-78 also took part.

India is expected to float a new global tender for six or more tankers next year to stay prepared to counter China in the eastern sector, the sources said. The purchase could be worth as much as Rs 13,000 crore.

The finance ministry had raised objections over the price during the last tender.

Building military strength doesnt come cheap. You cant put a price on enhanced operational capability. Tankers are an essential requirement and the government needs to prioritise the purchase, said Air Marshal Vinod Patni (retd), head of Centre for Air Power Studies and a former IAF vice chief.

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, also a retired IAF chief, stressed that the tankers allow fighter planes to carry more weapons and less fuel when taking off from high altitude bases.

American, Russian, European and Israeli military contractors are tracking the air forces tanker programme. US defence major Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries Bedek Aviation Group are expected to be new entrants in the tanker competition.

A recent comprehensive audit of the tanker fleet revealed that the IAFs runways were too short for its IL-78 tanker fleet, their refuelling pods were dogged by failures and the aircrafts overall airworthiness was questionable.

In a report tabled in Parliament in August, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) also found that there werent enough hangars for the IL-78 refuellers, tanking them up on the ground posed problems and there were no dedicated refuelling corridors in the skies.

The aircraft requires a runway length of 11,480 feet to 15,022 feet to carry full fuel loads, but the 10 airfields identified by the IAF for tanker operations have runways measuring less than 10,000 feet.

The national auditor also raised questions about the reliability of the fleet. The report found that the serviceability of the IL-78 fleet stood at 49% during the 2010-16 period, compared to a desired 70%, and also that less than half the fleet was mission-ready at any given time.

The serviceability of aerial refuelling pods  hoses used to transfer fuel  was also found to be poor due to frequent failures, inadequate repair facilities and poor maintenance support from the manufacturer.

The air force doesnt have enough hydrant refueling systems (HRS) to tank up the refuellers swiftly and efficiently on the ground.

The HRS facility or underground tanks was available only in two of the 10 airbases identified for IL-78 operations in 2007, the report found.

It also revealed that the IAF had not obtained approval for creating 12 dedicated corridors for midair refuelling so that commercial traffic is not disrupted and only one hangar had been constructed for the six refuellers.
Former Union minister P Chidambaram has said that the Congress will create an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity and jobs for the youth under the leadership of new party chief Rahul Gandhi.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said Gandhis inaugural speech on Sunday laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward before the people.

The Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty, he said.

The senior Congress leader said that his partys recall of Indias history was different from the BJPs.

Our idea of India is different from the BJPs. Mr Rahul Gandhi called upon Indias youth to defend our idea of India, and I am sure the young will respond, Chidambaram tweeted.

In his first speech to party workers after his formal takeover on Sunday, Gandhi set the tone of its future course and how the party would take on its arch-rival BJP, saying the Congress was for inclusive politics and that it respects all Indians that extends even to the ruling party.

His party, the new Congress president said, brought India into the 21st century and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking India back to the medieval times.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram hit out at Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and said he was not the real head of the state executive, a post held by the chief minister who was cowering in fear of the Centre.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said he was amused by a release issued by the Raj Bhavan that the governor was the head of the state executive as per the Constitution and has complete power to obtain any information connected with the administration of the state and to visit various parts of the state without any restrictions.

The governor is only the titular head of the executive, not the real head. Since the real head, the chief minister, is cowering in fear of the central government, the TN Governor is exceeding his authority, he said.

The former Union Finance and Home minister said, To be worthy of the office he holds, the Tamil Nadu chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami) should instruct district administrations to refuse to participate in meetings called by the governor.

In a statement, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Sunday said he would continue to interact with the common people and officials during his visits to various districts in the coming months.

The Raj Bhavan, in its release, rubbished the allegation that the governor was interfering at the behest of the Centre (in administration).

This is a bald allegation unsupported by any facts. This allegation deserves to be ignored, it said.

The release said the people who were ignorant of the Constitution or those prejudiced against the office of the governor should desist from making comments that are illegal in nature.

It extensively quoted the constitutional provisions on the powers of the governor as the head of the state executive.
Hospitals have to set up approval committees for considering cases of passive euthanasia, and any distortion of facts before such panels may lead to a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore, a redrafted bill states.

The panels will decide on applications of Living will, a written document that allows patients to explicitly state their desire against life-prolonging measures when recovery is not possible from a terminal condition.

The redrafted bill also provides for palliative care to patients even if they have opted for passive euthanasia, which is the withdrawal of medical treatment and life support system of a terminally-ill patient.

The Management of Patients with Terminal Illness- Withdrawal of Medical Life Support Bill states that all super-speciality hospitals should have approval committees on passive euthanasia which will decide on the applications for the execution of a living will.

It also calls for imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore in case of misrepresentation of facts or placing forged documents before the approval committees, provisions of the redrafted bill state.

A senior health ministry official clarified that the redrafted bill does not encourage active euthanasia.

All provisions of the bill only support passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia involves giving the right to patients to withhold medical treatment or life support system in the face of an irreversible terminal illness, while active euthanasia is the acceleration of death using injections or overdose of drugs, he said.

The bill provides for palliative care which means while the medication or medical care will be withdrawn, the family or the hospital staff will continue to take care of the patients in terms of providing nursing care to give relief from pain, physical stress and maintaining cleanliness among others, the official explained.

The redrafted bill terms death from passive euthanasia a natural death.

It also has provisions for the protection of competent patients (those who can take decisions on their future treatment), medical practitioners and care givers, who will not be considered guilty for the act of passive euthanasia.

The bill also provides for unanimous consent of near relatives to apply for withholding or withdrawing of medical treatment of incompetent terminally ill patient, the official said.

The draft Bill which was earlier called Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients [Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners]) Bill was put in the public domain in May last year and comments and suggestion were sought from various stakeholders.

Around 70 per cent of the people supported passive euthanasia while giving their suggestions, the official added.

The Centre, in October, submitted a draft bill to the the Supreme Court, which said there should be adequate safeguards, while the implementation of a living will would be subject to a medical board which would certify if the patients comatose state was irreversible.

The apex court has reserved its order on a public interest plea over the issue filed by an NGO, Common Cause.

The apex court had recognised passive euthanasia in 2011 in Aruna Shanbaugs case by which it had permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from patients not in a position to make an informed decision.

Shanbaug, a former Mumbai nurse, was in a coma for 42 years after a sexual assault and declared dead in 2015.

The Supreme Court in its judgment in 2011 laid down comprehensive guidelines on passive euthanasia and said the process should be followed all over the country until a law was enacted in this regard.
More than 1,000 Naga rebels were arrested by security forces since the banned NSCN-K attacked an Army convoy and killed 18 soldiers in Manipur two years ago, officials said.

As many as 531 underground cadres of NSCN-K and 542 overground workers were arrested in Manipur and Nagaland following intensive operations which began after the June 4, 2015 attack on the Army personnel.

The operations are continuing even now and security forces have been able to restrict the NSCN-Ks movement to a great extent, a home ministry official said.

This was for the first time in a decade that such a large number of Naga militants were arrested in just two years, the official claimed.

During the last two years, the security forces also killed 34 NSCN-K militants and recovered 571 sophisticated arms from arrested underground and overground cadres of the group.

After the June 2015 attack, the Indian Army had carried out a surgical strike on the camps of NSCN-K, killing some militants and destroying the camps.

Security forces also arrested 37 militants belonging to NSCN-IM, 26 militants belonging to NSCN-KN and four others from NSCN-R, the official said.

While the NSCN-K had abrogated the ceasefire agreement on March 27, 2015, the other three Naga insurgent groups have been maintaining the ceasefire agreement which they had signed with the central government a few years ago.

On December 8, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said the violence perpetrated by insurgent groups in the Northeast has come done significantly -- by 75 to 80%.

He also said the central government is committed to do its best to fulfil the aspirations of the Naga people for a brighter future but ruled out integration of the Naga- inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

Expectations for lasting peace have gone up in Nagaland, which has been hit by decades of insurgency, after the Centre and the NSCN-IM signed a framework agreement in 2015.

Early this month, President Ram Nath Kovind had said Nagaland was at the threshold of making history as the final agreement on the Naga political issue would soon be arrived at and a lasting peace achieved.

On September 19, Nagaland Governor PB Acharya said the vexed Naga issue would be solved within the next few months.
Protests erupted on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district against the killing of a civilian driver allegedly by the Army, but the military said the man died in cross-fire between security forces and militants.

Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the Army placed an ambush in Thandipora village on Saturday night after being tipped off about the presence of militants.

At around 10.55 p.m., the military observed suspicious movement of three persons which prompted the security forces to open fire, leading to a gunfight, the officer said.

In the cross-fire, a person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, a taxi driver, was killed due to a gunshot wound, he added.

But villagers alleged that Bhat succumbed to injuries he sustained when an Army patrol fired at a vehicle.

As people took to the streets shouting slogans on Sunday, security forces used tear smoke to disperse them. Internet was suspended across Kupwara district.

Magisterial enquiry ordered

The Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing.

We have ordered an inquiry into the incident and additional district magistrate (assistant commissioner, revenue) Mohammad Abdullah Malik, has been appointed as the head of the inquiry committee, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Khalid Jehangir, told PTI.

The inquiry will be completed in three weeks, he added.
The roars of Lightning and Cowboy will soon be heard in the Mukundra Hills tiger reserve, where they are being shifted from Ranthambore in what will be Indias first relocation of big cats to decongest a wildlife habitat.

Tigers have been relocated in India to repopulate dying reserves  Sariska (Rajasthan) in 2004 and Panna (Madhya Pradesh) in 2010  but never before has territorial infighting due to congestion been the reason for a move.

In the last few years, the forest department has recorded at least eight incidents of territorial cat fights in Rajasthans Ranthambore, which has Indias third-highest tiger density after the Kaziranga National Park in Assam and the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, with an estimated 60 tigers in 392 sq kms.

The idea is to provide a safe place to the tigers because Ranthambores core area is now cramped, said deputy conservator of forests, Kota, S R Yadav. Ranthambore field director YK Sahu added that the relocation, which will be effected in about two months, will help ease territorial pressure and allow greater genetic diversity.

Lightning and Cowboy the names given by local tourist guides to the tigers  lost to more powerful mates in territorial fights in Rathambore and were pushed out to the periphery of the forest.

Tigers mark their territory, which is normally 5-10 sq kms, and move out only when physically beaten by a stronger cat. Surviving outside the core area, which doesnt have enough prey, is hard. Lightning and Cowboy have poor hunting skills, and a new habitat is their best option.

Lightning, T-83 in official records, is the granddaughter of Machli, Ranthambores most famous tigress. She died in 2016.

Indias tiger population rose from 1,444 in 2006 to 2,226 in 2014.

A senior scientist at Wildlife Institute of India, YV Jhala said it was good idea to assist the tigers to settle in Mukundra, which has been a traditional home for Ranthambores tigers.

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Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Womens Reservation Bill.

The bill seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

At a state-level convention of womens self-help groups (SHGs) here , Naidu said, Women are given reservation in local government bodies. Efforts are on for womens reservation in Parliament. I personally support it (Women Reservation Bill).

He said, I hope all political parties reach a consensus so that women can be given reservation in state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This issue should not be given a political hue, he added.

Naidu said that when women were given reservation in panchayats, many had claimed that it was the womans husband who was actually ruling.

However, a change is being witnessed. Women would soon learn to fight for their rights, he said, noting there should be change in the law as well in the mindset.

Stressing that womens empowerment could create a new India, he said the focus should be on the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme.

He also said that there should be no discrimination between a son and a daughter and that ancestral or family property should be equally distributed.

Our country is known as Bharat Mata. In our ancient scriptures, we find that education minister was goddess Saraswati, defence minister was Durga Devi and finance minister was Laxmi Devi, he said, adding that something went wrong during the colonial rule.

Stating that women showed their abilities when given an opportunity, he gave the example of India having women as defence minister, foreign minister and Lok Sabha Speaker.

Naidu also took potshots at those who opposed the Centres Jan-Dhan Yojana, saying that after November 2016, the people learnt its importance.

Many people urged their domestic helps, drivers to stash money, hidden in bedrooms and bathrooms, in Jan-Dhan bank accounts. The money reached the banks, he said.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several sops for womens SHGs.

He said these groups would be exempted from stamp duty on loan documentation as well as get a three per cent rebate on interest.

Chouhan said that the state government would open markets for them in all cities and also rent space in major shopping malls to provide selling space for these SHGs.

He said that federations comprising a group of SHGs could seek loans of upto Rs 5 crore backed by the governments guarantee.

Praising their work, Chouhan said that soaps produced by these SHGs were better than the ones made by noted international brands.

The convention is being attended by SHGs from across the state.
A 44-year-old man from Telanganas Karimnagar district died after being hit by a speeding light train in San Jose, California, his family members and officials said.

Krishna Erravelli was hit by a light train when he was crossing the road near the intersection of North First and Rosemary streets in San Jose in the evening of December 12, said a spokesperson of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

Paramedics rushed Erravelli to a hospital, but he succumbed to injuries. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The train that struck the pedestrian was shut down and about 100 passengers were removed and transferred onto another train, spokesperson Brandi Childress said.

A resident of Albany in Ohio, Erravelli had come to San Jose on official work three weeks ago.

Krishnas family in Karimnagar said they were making all efforts to bring his body to their native place for the last rites.

Further details are awaited.

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After a long and gruelling campaign, Indias two biggest parties, BJP and Congress, await the outcome of assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on Monday.

The BJP will interpret a favourable outcome as reinforcing its political dominance and affirmation of PM Narendra Modis popularity. A win in both states will give the party power in 19 Indian states. For the Congress, a favourable outcome may mark the beginning of a process of political resurgence and provide the right morale-boosting start to Rahul Gandhis party presidency.

BJPs general secretary in charge of Gujarat, Bhupender Yadav, told Hindustan Times the verdict will reflect the victory of governance and performance over nepotism and casteism, while Congress leader in charge of communications, Randeep Surjewala, said that whatever the outcome, the election reflected that PM Narendra Modis model of politics was getting decimated.

The campaign

In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress government, led by the veteran Virbhadra Singh, battled charges of corruption, a patchy governance record, and history with the state witnessing a change in guard every five years. The BJP, mid-way in the campaign, declared senior leader Prem Kumar Dhumal as its CM face. All exit polls have predicted a clean BJP sweep.

But the real political battle has been in Gujarat, where BJP - led by CM Vijay Rupani - was seeking a sixth consecutive win in elections. The partys social coalition had fractured and economic policies - particularly GST - came under flak. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally led from the front, addressing dozens of rallies in his home state - defending the record of vikas in Gujarat, focusing on his drive against corruption at the centre, making an emotional pitch about his Gujarati roots, and towards the end of the campaign, infusing it with the rhetoric of Hindutva and nationalism.

The newly elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi led the challenge, stitched alliances with particular caste leaders, particularly Hardik Patel, and focused on anti-incumbency - particularly joblessness and agrarian distress.

Pointing to the highlights of the campaign, Congress Surjewala told HT, For us, the highlight was an unnerved PM and a frustrated BJP refusing to bring up issues of Gujarat. Diversion and distraction was key to their campaign. And finally, it was the connect and affection Congress President Rahul Gandhi got from ordinary Gujaratis.

BJP saw it differently. Yadav said, This election was fundamentally against nepotism and casteism. It showed that only slogans will not work; programmes for removal of poverty and development will prevail. The highlight was Modijis appeal, BJPs performance oriented politics, and our organisational strength.

The implications

While exit polls have predicted a BJP win, both parties continued to project confidence over the weekend.

An upset win for the Congress in Gujarat will not only mark the revival of the party - which has continued to decline post its 2014 debacle - but also open up political possibilities, boost opposition morale and weaken PM Modi in the run up to crucial state elections in 2018 and the general elections in 2019.

And Congress knows the high stakes. Surjewala said, Every election is important for each party. But whatever the outcome, the election has shown PM is mortally afraid of a resurgent Congress. Targeting Rahul Gandhi with all their might betrays BJPs nervousness.

Bhupender Yadav, however, laughs off Congress claim. Even if after losing Gujarat and Himachal, Congress want to believe it is resurgent and live in denial, so be it. They are living in their world of wonder and delusion. It is good for us. This claim of resurgence has no basis and the result will show it.

The party, buoyed by both its internal assessments and exit polls, believes it will retain the PMs home bastion comfortably and show BJP remains Indias dominant and most popular party.

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The Wi-Fi service at a college in Surat was suspended after the Congress candidate from the Kamrej Assembly seat complained of possible hacking and tampering with the electronic voting machines (EVMs), used in the recently held Gujarat Assembly polls, kept on its campus.

Following a complaint by Congress nominee Ashok Jariwala, the Wi-Fi service was suspended on the campus of the Gandhi Engineering College, situated in the Athwa Lines locality here.

We detected that a Wi-Fi network was available near the strong room (in the college), after which we asked the collector to take action, Jariwala said.

He said they had made a similar complaint two days back, after which the collector had ordered the suspension of the Wi-Fi service on the campus.

But we found it active again today. We cannot take a chance as there is a possibility of hacking and tampering with the EVMs, said Jariwala.

Following the complaint, Surat Collector and District Election Officer Mahendra Patel ordered the college authorities to suspend the Wi-Fi service on their campus.

The complainant feared a possibility of tampering with the EVMs stored inside the strong room, using Wi-Fi, Patel said.

The Wi-Fi service they are talking about is of the college and meant for students, and we understand that there is no possibility of EVM tampering using it. However, to dispel their doubt, we have ordered its suspension, the collector said.

The EVMs from six Assembly constituencies -- Olpad, Mandvi, Mahuva, Vyara, Kamrej and Mangrol -- are kept in the strong room of the college.

Following the exit poll results shown by the news channels, which predicted a majority to the ruling BJP in the recently-held election, several opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, Patidar quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, had raised the issue of a possibility of EVM hacking.

Hardik Patel on Sunday said on Twitter that if a human body, made by god, could be tampered with, then why not an EVM, which is made by humans? If ATMs can be hacked, why not an EVM!!! (sic), he asked.

          

                  EVM        !! ATM      EVM   !!!  Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 17, 2017

He also alleged that there had been attempts to hack EVMs using its source code in the Patidar-dominated and tribal areas of the state.

Patel had also claimed in a tweet on Saturday that 150 software engineers of an Ahmedabad-based company were preparing to hack 5,000 EVMs.
A man in cyan-blue jacket bent to touch the feet of Asaram Bapu outside a court in Rajasthans Jodhpur on Saturday.

Asaram Bapu later told reporters present in the court that the man was Surendra Nath Bhargava, former chief justice of Sikkim High Court.

The self-styled spiritual leader, who is facing rape charges, has been in the Jodhpur central jail since August 31, 2013, after he was arrested on the charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Manai village near Jodhpur.

Asaram Bapu was produced in two separate courts and when he was getting into the court of metropolitan magistrate No. 3, which is hearing a case under the Information Technology Act, Bhargava walked towards him and touched his feet.

The I-T Act case pertains to a caricature of a judge hearing the sexual assault case. The caricature was allegedly made by a follower of Bapu and circulated on social media platform.

Despite being in a high position, Bhargava came for my darshan, Asaram Bapu told reporters.

Asked about his presence in the city, Bhargava said he came to Jodhpur to attend a private function. I happen to be here. Socha chalo Bapu aaye hain to darshan kar lein (I thought since Bapu is here so lets have his darshan).

He said he knows the spiritual guru since 1983-84. After I became a judge Bapu ke darshan durlabh ho gaye (Bapus darshan became rare), he said, adding that the judiciary will deliver justice in Bapus case.

Nyaypalika jo karegi wo nyay hoga (what the judiciary does will be justice).
The University of Rajasthan (RU) postponing its semester examinations scheduled on December 22-27 on a day the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) announced its state level meeting in Jaipur on December 24-26 has given opposition an opportunity to point fingers at the universitys decision.

ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Saturday held a press conference to announce that its three-day state level meeting will begin from December 24. The same day the RU issued a notice stating that the semester examinations scheduled from December 22 to December 27 have been postponed due to inevitable reasons.

National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, alleged that there is no doubt that the RU semester examinations of postgraduate and professional courses, which began on December 15, have been postponed due to the ABVP meeting.

The vice chancellor is their [ABVP-RSS] man. The ABVP members met him with the demand and he conceded. He could have shown some spine and turned it down. This undue disruption could have been prevented, said Dron Yadav, national office-bearer of NSUI and a final year student of LLM at the university.

However, the university denies the charge. The postponement has nothing to do with ABVP meeting. Some students had come to us requesting that the semester exam dates be changed as they were clashing with entrance exam dates of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said VK Gupta, controller of exams, RU.

When pointed out that JNU will hold its entrance examinations on December 27, 28, 29 and 30, Gupta said that the students mentioned other entrance examinations too. One entrance exam is on December 24, he said. We have also received representation for postponement of exams scheduled on December 28 and 29. Plus, there were some technical issues too regarding the admit cards, he added.

The university examination committee decided to postpone exams from December 22-27 and the fresh schedule will be declared on Monday, the controller of examinations said.

ABVPs RU unit president Hushyar Meena said that they (the organisation leaders) had met the vice chancellor earlier to seek more gap days between examinations so that students could get more time to prepare. This postponement will bring some respite at least, said Meena, denying that there was any connection between the postponement of examinations and the organisations state level meeting.

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The civic authorities in Barmer have stumbled upon a mini scam of sorts where a number of beneficiaries allegedly have siphoned off the money they were granted for constructing toilets at their houses. This comes when just two weeks are left for the December 31 deadline for making Barmer city open defecation free (ODF).

It all began more than a year ago when Barmer municipal council authorities identified 1,904 people, who did not have toilets at their home. The civic authorities asked them to apply for grants under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or the Clean India Mission, a flagship scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, with the aim to make India free of open defecation by October 2, 2019.

Under the scheme, the civic body sanctions Rs 8,000  in two installments of Rs 4,000  to motivate beneficiaries to construct toilets at their houses.

Official data available shows that of the total 1,904 people who had no toilets at their houses, the first installment of Rs 4,000 was released to 1,504. The fund could not be released for the remaining 400 as civic authorities could not verify their applications, officials said.

Later, the beneficiaries were asked to apply for the second installment after submitting the utilisation details of the first installment. Only 806 of the 1,504 beneficiaries approached the civic authorities, officials said.

On scrutiny, the authorities found that the remaining 698 beneficiaries have not constructed toilets at their houses having allegedly siphoned off the amount released to them as the first installment.

Executive engineer at municipal council Deepak Gupta said they have issued notices to the defaulters asking them to start constructing the toilets at the earliest.

We have issued three notices the 698 beneficiaries who received the first installment but they are yet to respond, he said. The civic authorities have now decided to lodge FIRs against such defaulters as they have misused government money.

A final notice will be issued before initiating legal proceedings, Gupta said.

It is still a long way to go before Rajasthan could be declared open defecation free. HT had earlier reported that as on the third anniversary of the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Only 6% of Rajasthans cities had been declared ODF, while in the rural areas only 67% of the gram panchayats could secure the tag. In terms of toilets in rural households, the state stands at 10th position in India.

In last three years, 11 cities were declared ODF, while in rural areas, 6,597 gram panchayat and 27,720 villages self declared ODF.
A 28-year-old village head and son of former MLA was shot dead by four men outside his residence in posh Hazratganj area of Lucknow on Saturday night.

Vaibhav Tiwari is the son of Prem Prakash Tiwari, a former Samajwadi Party MLA from Domariyaganj who is now with the BJP.

Vaibhav had come out his home at Kasmanda Apartments to talk to some friends when the assailants, who are believed to be former acquaintances, arrived in an SUV and shot him.

One of the bullets hit Vaibhav on his chest, and he was rushed to Lohia Hospital where he was declared dead.

Of the four assailants, police claimed to have identified two, Suraj Shukla and Vikram Singh.

Singh, a Narhi resident, is a history sheeter, police said. However, the cops were clueless about the motive of the killing.

The incident happened barely 300 metres from the Uttar Pradesh Legislature building and the state BJP office.

Vaibhav reportedly had love marriage with a non-Brahmin girl, a local BJP leader said.

He was the gram pradhan (village head) of Domariyaganj and was dealing in real estate. He was also a contractor.

(With inputs from PTI)
The police arrested two men on Saturday for the alleged murder of a serial chain snatcher from Kalyan, while three of their accomplices are on the run.

The victim, who has been identified as Riyaz Shabir Shaikh, 35, was a history sheeter and used to do odd jobs.

On Friday, Riyaz got into an argument with Sajid Sayyed Hamid, 30, and Irfan Jamaluddin Shaikh, 22, after he parked his vehicle in front of their shop at Tilak Nagar, Dombivli. A case was filed, but the argument was resolved amicably.

On Saturday, Riyaz was passing by the area, and got into an argument with them once again.

According to the police, Riyaz took out a pistol and fired a shot. Irfan, Sajid and their three friends then started beating up Riyaz.

During the brawl, one of them allegedly stabbed Riyaz with a knife. Following Riyazs death, his family members ransacked the shop, which was undergoing renovation.

S Dhumal, senior police inspector, Tilaknagar police station, said, Riyaz is a serial chain snatcher and has many cases against him.

The police have identified the other three accused in the case, but wish to keep it confidential so as to not compromise the investigation

.

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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reiterated that the loan waiver scheme for farmers would continue till the amount is credited to the bank accounts of all farmers.

Laying the foundation stones for one major and eight small irrigation projects at Nandura in Buldhana district, the chief minister said his government was committed to the welfare of farmers and their overall development.

Ridiculing the ongoing campaign by the Opposition, Fadnavis said the previous Congress-NCP government had given a loan waiver of Rs1,500crore to Vidarbha in 2008, while his government has given a whopping Rs15,700crore.

The Congress-NCP government started a few irrigation projects in the region, but they didnt give the required funds for their completion, he alleged, adding his government would ensure all projects are completed within the deadline.

The state government is spending around Rs20,000crore on pending and new irrigation projects in Vidarbha. We sent a proposal for financial assistance to the Centre a couple of months ago. The union minister for water resources, Nitin Gadkari, accepted it instantly, he said.

Fadnavis and Gadkari also laid the foundation stones of eight minor projects in Akola district on Sunday. The estimated cost of these projects is Rs8,000 crore. The chief minister said the projects would bring about a change in the agriculture sector as the farmers can cultivate both kharif and rabi crops a year.

Fadnavis and Gadkari also set a record by laying the foundation stones of as many as 20 irrigation projects in the state on Sunday, besides some multi-crore road schemes in the region.

SENA ACTIVISTS HELD

At least a dozen Shiv Sena activists were detained at Nandura in Buldhana district for showing black flags to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis

The Sena activists were demanding compensation for bollworm-hit cotton growers in the area

The activists also tried to disrupt a public meeting that Fadnavis and Gadkari were to address.
Citing obscenity, the polices social service branch raided a bar in Samtanagar, Kandivli on Saturday night and rescued 25 women and 14 minor girls. We recovered cash worth Rs49,000 and musical instruments, said a police officer.

The police registered a case under the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016. The act was introduced to protect the dignity of women performing dance. The objective of such norms, the government said, was to prevent obscene dancing in hotels, restaurants and bars, thereby protecting the dignity and safety of women working there.

The Maharashtra government had banned dance bars in 2005, rendering an estimated 150,000 people, half of whom were dancers, jobless. The Bombay high court struck down the order in 2006, but the state challenged it in the Supreme Court, which allowed a stay on grant of licences.

The Apex Court upheld the high court ruling in 2013 before finally lifting the ban in October 2015. The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Dance Bar Regulation Bill on April 13 last year. It included 26 conditions bar owners needed to comply with to get licences. However, dance bar owners had petitioned the Supreme Court, protesting some of the provisions.

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The Nashik police and Uttar Pradesh special task force (STF) officials suspect that some of the guns from the cache that was stolen may have reached Maharashtra and even Mumbai via train.

Police are on the hunt for two accomplices, who they suspect entered the state using a different mode of transportation.

Three people, including two Mumbai residents, had robbed an arms shop in Uttar Pradesh and were arrested in Nashik on Friday. Officials said they have recovered 44 of 48 guns stolen. They said five people were seen in a stolen Bolero at Pillikothi in UPs Banda district at the time of the robbery. They had tied up a watchman before robbing a company called Punjab Armoury.

The gang stole pistols, revolvers, rifles and double-barrel guns from the shop, which had a government contract to collect firearms from people before elections. The Nashik police seized 4,136 live cartridges from Salman Ammanulla Khan, 19; Badudin Juman Badshah alias Sumit alias Suka, 27; and Nagesh Bansode, 23.

The STF and local crime branch officers said one of the accused had alighted from the Bolero carrying some of the arms. They suspect he left for Maharashtra via train while the other four continued their journey to Mumbai via Kanpur.

The accused had stopped at a petrol pump near Malegaon to refuel the vehicle at 7.15pm on Thursday. The petrol pump owner told us the vehicle had four passengers. However, when we intercepted the vehicle, there were just three passengers. The fourth passenger might have alighted at Malegaon, said Ashok Karpe, senior police inspector, local crime branch, Nashik Rural.

The LCB had sent a team to Malegaon on Saturday evening to retrieve CCTV camera footage of the petrol pump to find out more about the fourth passenger. Police have also begun collating Salmans and Sukas call data records to find out if they were in contact with the two other suspects and the mastermind behind the robbery.

The STF officers are also looking for information about the accused who alighted first.
The Thane sessions court fined a painter Rs5,000 on Saturday for giving a minor girl a flying kiss seven years ago. If the convict, Mandar Arun Jagtap, 27, is unable to pay the fine, he will be sent to jail for five days, said the court.

Jagtap is a resident of Vartak Nagar in Thane, said police. On June 8, 2010, he stalked a 16-year-old girl, who was going to school, and made the gesture at her.

He then fled. The Class 9 student went home and told her parents what had happened. They approached the Vartak Nagar police, who filed a case.

We had filed a case and arrested Jagtap, after which he was released on bail. We filed a charge sheet, gathered evidence and recorded the statements of eyewitnesses.He would jump the hearings out of fear and so the case kept getting delayed, said Abhijit Bhujbal,investigating police officer.

This is the first time a fine has been imposed on a person convicted of such a crime. The order will serve as an example and deter people who think they will not be punished for such behaviour. We expect crimes of such a nature to decrease following this, said Sunil Lokhande, deputy commissioner of police from zone 5..

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Nine workers of a chemical plant were injured after a major fire engulfed it at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai on Sunday evening.

Sources said the fire started owing to a reactor blast. However, officials are yet to confirm the cause. Nearly 30 workers were in the factory  located at plot no D-16 near Balmer Laurie company in the MIDC industrial area  when the fire broke out.

Officials were trying to douse the flames at the time of going to press. Nine fire engines of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), MIDC Turbhe and MIDC Taloja were sent to the spot. According to an official from the NMMC fire department, it will take time to control the fire considering its intensity.

The Emergency Response Station at Pawane MIDC received the fire call at 4:40pm.

Nine fire engines and three water tankers from Vashi, Nerul, Turbhe and Pawane ERS have reached the factory, said an official of the MIDC fire department. He told HT that the chemical factory had been gutted. There were reactors on the third and fourth floors of the four-storey building and there is possibility it was completely destroyed in the fire, said the official.

Nine workers have been admitted to the NMMC hospital in Vashi. They are now out of danger, said an officer from Turbhe MIDC police station.

Factory representatives were not available for a comment.

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Tired of complaining to the civic body over absence of reflective white strips on speed breakers in Kurla, local residents and youngsters decided to take matters in their own hands after a senior journalist died last week . In one night, they painted most of the speed breakers around the area where the accident occurred.

According to locals, the invisible speed breaker had led to the death of senior journalist Prashant Tripathi on Wednesday night. Tripathi had taken an auto rickshaw from his Vakola residence to got to Kurla railway station. He was supposed to catch a train from there for Vashi.

A day after the incident, local residents, on Thursday, wrote to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations L ward office (Kurla) asking them to immediately paint the speed breakers. When civic officials did not respond for three days, youngsters painted the speed breakers.

Raj Prajapati, a 16-year-old Kurla resident, said, Instead of waiting for authorities to take action, we collected money from some local residents and contributed from our pocket money to fund this. We covered six speed breakers that fall under our vicinity and will paint more in the nearby areas.

Residents alleged that the L ward office has seldom responded to their issues that they have highlighted in the past. Bhagwan Singh, a Kurla activist, said the New Mill road in Kurla (West) is the most congested lane with regular encroachments, illegal hawking and vehicular parking. Despite several complaints to the ward office, no action has been taken so far, he added.

Singh said that Kausar Shaikh, driver of the auto rickshaw in which Tripathi was seated, was driving rashly and rammed into another rickshaw coming from the opposite direction. Shaikh could not see the breaker and speeded up, that led to him losing control over the vehicle. The BMC should promptly take action to avoid such accidents in the future, said the Kurla activist.
Every year, the Thespo festival at Prithvi Theatre brings talented young theatre groups from across the country onto one stage. This year, the 19th edition brings together plays from Lucknow, Delhi, Ahmednagar and Mumbai  in Hindustani, Awadhi, Marathi and Hindi.

Weve selected these four for the one-hour slots from a total of 141 applications, says Toral Shah, director of Thespo 19. Each has a unique theme and subject.

Lucknow-based Karooj Theatre Groups Main Mera Baaja Aur Woh, directed by Shashank Dwivedi, is a quirky take on father-son rivalry. An electrician in a village hears a voice on the radio and believes it to be that of his estranged wife; matters get even more complicated when his son falls in love with the voice too.

Nirmiti Rangmanch from Ahmednagar is presenting Khataara, about a farmers life and his villages development. The play questions the value we humans attach to material possessions, says director Amol Salve.

Delhi-based Manoj Yadavs Hindustani play, Mrig Trishna, is about a eunuch named Noori dealing with rejection from society at large.

Im Noori. Everything she goes through on the stage, is my storyIve been angry with society for a long time, and this play is a culmination of that story, Yadav says.

Trikon Ka Chautha Kon?, directed by Mumbai-based Atul Somkuvar, is about an author facing charges of plagiarism.

The seven-day festival (December 18 to 24) will also see a string of workshops conducted by theatre veterans, live music performances in the evenings and smaller, fringe theatre performances.

Its just a great way for youngsters to get a glimpse of serious theatre  and interact with each other, says Shah. After all, how often do budding actors get a chance to perform on the same platform as veterans like Naseeruddin Shah?

WHAT: Thespo theatre festival

WHEN: December 18 to 24

WHERE: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu

Tickets are available online, prices start at Rs 200
Residents of Devkundi-Jambulpada hamlet in Vasai, Palghar district, four kilometres from the twin cities of Mira Road and Bhayander celebrated when their village was lit with electricity for the first time since independence.

While a resort located metres away from the hamlet has boasted of power for the past 15 years, the village received power only a few weeks ago, after Vasai-based social activist Sushant Patil took up the issue with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in November 2016.

Patil is part of Bhumiputra Rozgar Haqq Sarakshan Samiti (a tribal welfare outfit of local unemployed youths).

The chief minister immediately ordered energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to look into the matter and provide electricity to the village. However, bureaucratic wrangles delayed the same, but we did not give up, Patil said.

Power is being supplied to the village under the Deendayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (Rural Electrification scheme) of the central government.

Bawankule asked for the village details and I readily provided the same, Patil said.

On Bawankules instructions, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) visited and surveyed the hamlet and within a few days, they installed nine electricity poles.

We have provided electricity under Pandit Deendayal Gram Jyoti Yojana (Rural Electrification scheme). We have also provided free electronic power meters, LED bulbs to each household coupled with free wiring, as per orders, said a MSEDCL official from Vasai.

However, he refused to comment on the delay of providing power to the villagers.

Devkundi-Jambulpada is surrounded by thick forests and has a population of just 100 people, who are majorly katkaris (farm labourers) working in nearby paddy fields.

The villagers had been living in fear of leopard attacks as there was no power and students used the dim light of lanterns for their studies.

Many villagers had migrated to Mira and Bhayander in search of livelihood as our village did not have any power. We will now try to bring them back since we have electricity, Patil said.

The villagers were glad to see their homes lit with LED bulbs and also performed pujas in their homes.

We have sent a letter of gratitude to MSEDCL for bringing power to the village 70 years after independence, Patil said
Members of various parents associations on Sunday held a protest march to highlight alleged ambiguities in the draft of the Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Regulation of Fees) Bill 2017.

The parents marched from Lohiya Nagar to the district headquarters where they raised slogans and also discussed various issues pertaining to the proposed draft.

The parents bodies said that they had held three meetings with state officials and several ministers in Lucknow and a 24-point agenda was discussed. However, they said that none of their points were incorporated in the draft.

It has been our demand for audit of accounts of the schools. There is no such provision in the draft bill. In the draft, the schools can decide the fee hike and will later approach a zonal fee monitoring committee for approval, Neeraj Bhatnagar, spokesperson of All India Parents Association, said.

According to the draft, schools charging Rs20,000 or more as annual fee will fall under the ambit of the regulation.

Bhatnagar added that theres ambiguity on whether Rs20,000 is the limit of just the tuition fee or other charges are also included in this figure. Further, there is also an ambiguity on how the Rs20,000-limit was fixed. We want to know the criterion. We will start uploading our objections from Monday and each objection should be addressed before the regulation comes into force, he said.

The department of secondary education has released the draft bill on its website for feedback from various stakeholders till December 22.

Vice-president of Ghaziabad parents association Anil Singh said, The draft has a provision of admission fee, minimum of Rs25,000, each time a child progresses to class VI, IX and XI of the same school. Why should we pay admission fee three times for re-admission in the same school? Further, the maximum limit is also not defined which may lead schools to charge hefty amounts.

Singh added that parents object to the commissioner, and not the court, resolving all disputes.

The draft says the matter will be taken to the commissioner who can further send it for legal recourse. This is depriving the parents of their right to seek legal recourse. The draft has many points which are still not clear and the protest was to urge parents to send as many suggestions as necessary before the draft is finalised, he said.

The draft bill was introduced on December 8 to regulate private school fees from the coming academic session. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered regulation of fees charged by schools immediately after taking over the reins of the state on March 19, 2017.
Police have lodged a case of cheating into the alleged irregularities in the restoration of 139 plots at the Swarn Jayanti Puram housing scheme. Several GDA officers, who served from 2005 to 2007 when 139 plots of Swarn Jayanti Puram housing scheme were restored, are under scanner for their role in the scam.

The FIR is lodged under IPC section for cheating. During investigation, police may add more sections and names will also come to light. The authority, in its complaint, has not mentioned any names but these will emerge once probe is initiated, Atish Kumar Singh, circle officer (city II), said.

This is the first action that has been taken in the case after councillor Rajendra Tyagi filed a PIL in 2011 in the Allahabad high court. The high court had directed inquiry into the role of officials and other staff members involved.

The FIR was filed as the authority is required to file a report before the high court on the next date of hearing, December 19.

Police said that to conduct a detailed probe, a special investigation team would be required as police do not have officials to probe economic offences.

The irregularities involve loss to state exchequer, evasion of stamp duty and also alleged malpractices during plot restoration. Councilor Tyagi in his petition had contended that officers and staff were in connivance with private persons and violated norms of restoration.

According to the legal department officers of GDA, the irregularities allegedly caused a loss of nearly Rs3.69 crore and also a stamp duty evasion of nearly Rs30 lakh.

The complaint to police mentions the violation of norms, the loss caused and request to probe the role of authoritys former officers. Apart from the police complaint, we have also filed 118 civil suits at Ghaziabad court for cancellation of sale deeds of the restored plots in question. The rest suits will be filed by Monday, authoritys legal officer Rajendra Tyagi said.

The high court had also directed action against the officers and staff concerned, he added.

Prior to the FIR, the GDA had sent names of several officers to the state administration for a detailed inquiry. These included the then-GDA vice-chairman DP Singh, then-officer-on-special-duty (OSD) RP Pandey, then-secretary RC Mishra, then-OSD Heera Lal and then-under secretary Late Anil Rana. OSD RP Pandey was promoted to IAS and is presently posted as the district magistrate of Hamirpur.

For Swarn Jayanti Puram housing scheme, nearly 1,583 plots were offered during 1998 to 2003. During 2005 to 2007, restoration of 139 cancelled plots was taken up by then GDA officers.

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With recent news that doctors in California edited the genes of a patient with Hunters syndrome in what was described as the worlds first experimental attempt at changing faulty genetic material in a human, genome editing is fast moving from the labs to clinics and companies.

India too is readying for genome editing  a technique in which scientists use molecular scissors to snip a faulty gene and repair it or replace with a correct one. This opens up possibilities for its use in plant and animal breeding; medicine, public health, and development biology at the practical level; and designer babies and lean or even micro pigs as pets at the exotic. Private companies have entered the fray for its commercial potential to treat inherited genetic disorders, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

But scientists worldwide have also begun to grapple with emerging ethics, regulation, biosafety and biosecurity implications of the technology; and are struggling to draw the fine line between not impeding basic science research and defining what are societally-acceptable applications. The co-creator of gene editing, Jennifer Doudna from University of Berkeley, told a recent conference of science journalists in the US that she did not anticipate the rapidity with which it would spread. Then she had a nightmare  that Hitler wanted to use it  which is when she started looking at the thorny ethical and regulatory issues.

It is unclear whether and how much Indian science policy analysts and academies are addressing the grey areas of technical and socio-political implications of gene editing technologies. Discussions, if any, seem confined to closed scientific circles, and are yet to spill into public discourse. Indian research institutions also need to create the required framework for ethically responsible research.

Most geneticists see it as an extension of previous genetic modification technologies  and posing, at most, issues of technology. The department of biotechnologys (DBT) 1989 guidelines foresaw genome editing as part of a range of genetic modification technologies. That said, Indias track record in allaying fears over GM crops is not exemplary, nor are its science academies proactive on policy issues. Despite its claims that regulation was in place when GM cotton was first approved for release in India in 2002, GM cotton was reportedly illegally sown in Gujarat even before its approval. Indias own GM mustard may have its merits, but some biotechnologists arguments that it should be released because that Indians are, anyway, consuming imported oil from GM canola and rapeseed does not pass muster.

Indian regulators also need to address the capacity of the Indian regulatory system, given the concerns that genome editing could misfire, impacting unintended organisms, or altering the genome of bona-fide targets in unintended ways. There is also potential for misuse by private companies with access to genetic data. There are worries too that citizen scientists and DIY (do it yourself) groups may tinker with the technology.

There are thorny ethical issues  while most support its use in non-reproductive cells (so that changes are limited to one specific organism), there is disagreement over its use in human embryos, and on germline cells which means changes can be passed on to generations.

A 2016 US National Intelligence report described it as a potential dual use technology that could be misused by some groups in biowarfare. The report did not specify how or why it is a national security threat, but subsequent reports by other agencies described how gene editing could be misused to manipulate human pathogens, make vaccines ineffective, create neurotoxins or release drug-resistant microbes as part of bio warfare.

Of particular concern are gene drives or selection of genes for specific traits, which changes the dynamics of inheritance by favouring one set of genes, and alter ecological balances.

Even as Indian biotechnologists embark on the research, it would be wise to learn from the GM cotton experience and initiate a broader dialogue and foster public trust and understanding. As with all emerging technologies that interface science with society, there is no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

TV Padma is a science journalist based in New Delhi

The views expressed are personal
Just after her birth, jaundice had seeped into Sanjana Nagpals brain and she suffered a permanent speech and hearing impairment. Irrespective of the things going on around me, my silence gives me more creativity. In some way, I am able to connect with nature more deeply, says Sanjana, a 22-year-old painter from the Delhi College of Art.

Her passion for painting originated in a childhood gone amiss and she turned a professional artist later. She has bagged 45 awards and certificates in her budding career. Her work of aqua mystique, Life Under Water, was on display as part of an exhibition Celebrating the Transit at Punjab Kala Bhawan. The painting charms with rich and enigmatic colours seeping into water. Lily pads are rounded rainbows and light illuminates but half the pond. The artist is deft; a parallel grace and vigour of movement liberates fish stilled in paint.

The painting, Life Under Water. (VIKRAM JIT SINGH)

Sanjanas silence is seamless, from her impairment to nature to fish to muteness of drying paint. The silence of nature draws me... the way nature communicates with anyone without words... So, I try to paint different aspects of nature. The innocence of fish attracts me... they just run away with a little disturbance, Sanjana told this writer.

Sanjanas partial exclusion resonates in life under blue drops. In water, there are lots of things going on, but still a fish is lonely. In the same way, there are many things going on around me, but sometimes I feel I am alone in a crowd.

However, the sense of doom that defines humanitys destructive engagement with nature does not impair this artists positivity: There are a few people who have time to connect with nature and those who do, express it in different ways like planting trees, keeping surroundings clean or painting. But I feel, now, that humans have become aware of nature and everyone is doing their bit.

THE SCORPIONS TALE

Military history is incomplete without anecdotes and tales of battling humans, though these may not even find a footnote in academias tomes. UT administrator VP Singh Badnore, who conceived the Military Literature Festival, is a storehouse of military history and anecdotes with his Mertiya Rathore lineage tracing to the renowned warrior, Jaimal, brother of Meerabai, who led the battle against Akbars forces in the 1567 battle of Chittor.

A casual mention of scorpions and Badnore, who is also a pucca wildlifer, comes out with the sting from a soldiering tale. In the old days, the army was mystified by the phenomenon of men sleeping in tents being bitten frequently by scorpions. They discovered that paraffin lamps were placed too close to the tents. The lamps and dripping oil attracted insects which lured scorpions. Some scorpions wandered into tents and bit the sleeping soldiers. After that, lamps were placed at a safe distance from the tents and bites abated, Badnore told this writer.

Talk about Chandigarhs green cover and Badnores mind leaps back to soldiers who ate trees! He recalled that during World War I, the princely states sent soldiers and cavalry to battle the Germans in Europe. Jodhpur sent Sir Pratap Singh, who led his regiments at the grand old age of 70. The Jodhpur regiments took up their battle lines and broke tree branches in the morning for their daily datun (teeth-cleaning twigs). They were, anyway, armed with fierce looks and bore a reputation of being excellent fighters. German soldiers glimpsed the morning chewing through field-glasses and nervously reported back to their officers that it would be very difficult to fight soldiers who ate trees for breakfast! quipped Badnore.

DIVING CHAMPS

The regions birding community has reason to cheer this winter courtesy those dainty divers, the grebes. On Thursday, six Slavonian or horned grebes were observed at the famous Dighal wetland in Jhajjar, Haryana, by Rakesh Ahlawat of the Nature Conservation Foundation. Authentic records from India of this migratory grebe are very rare and include two from Harike in February 2001 by Anand Prasad. Grebes are birds that dive, and then seem to disappear forever like the Loch Ness monster!

A vulnerable species, the Slavonian grebe is difficult to differentiate from its migratory cousin, the black-necked grebe, when both are in the non-breeding or winter plumage. A fair comparison in the field of the two very similar grebes is on offer this winter. As luck would have it, a single black-necked grebe landed at the Sukhna lake recently, the first record for the species in the inter-state capital region spanning a 50-km radius from Chandigarh.

Now please dont ask what features differentiate the two grebes as it would consume most of my column space!

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A Bihar court has awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment to a widow from a poor family after police recovered more than 25 kgs of mauha  a substance used to make liquor banned under the prohibition law  from her.

The court of Munger additional district judge Tribhuwan Nath also fined Rs 1 lakh from Mala Devi (45), a below poverty line resident of Chhoti Munderi village in Munger district, and ruled that she would have to spend another six months in jail if she failed to pay the fine.

Police had recovered 10 litres of fresh mahua juice and around 15 kg of fermented mahua juice from her residence last year.

Highlights Under Prohibition Law In the first conviction under the law, two brothers from Jehanabad, Mastan Manjhi and Painter Manjhi, both daily wagers, given 5 year-jail term with fine of Rs 1 lakh each on July 10 In the fastest trial, 8 poor tribals were sentenced to 5 years jail and Rs 1 lakh fine each by a special court of Banka on December 2, just three weeks after they were arrested for consuming alcohol Altogether 149 police officers, besides 87 police personnel, were suspended and are facing departmental proceedings for violation of the law 27 policemen have been dismissed from service

Munger superintendent of police (SP) Ashish Bharti said Mala Devi had managed to escape following a raid on August 3, 2016. She was nabbed on January 11 this year with more mahua.

Possession of Mahua  considered sacred among tribals for its medicinal values but used to make alcohol  is a punishable offence in Bihar under the new excise law, which came into force on April 5, 2016.

Another case, lodged against her with Kharagpur police station under the prohibition law, is being heard in a court.

Under the prohibition law, police have carried out over 97,000 raids and over 85,000 cases have been lodged, although barely 3,000-odd violators are in prison.

Few days back, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and leader of opposition Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav raised questions over the efficacy of the prohibition law, saying it was doing more harm to the poor as the supply of Indian made foreign liquor continued unabated across the state.

While Manjhi demanded breath analyser test on IAS officers suggesting they had access to liquor, Tejaswhi said police stations in bordering areas were being sold off to facilitate easy access to liquor, despite the ban, and making for a flourishing parallel economy.

Additional director general (headquarters) Sanjiv Kumar Singhal said till date, 31 people, including a woman, had been convicted in 19 cases.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which emerged as a distant opposition after making tall claims in the assembly polls early this year, ended the year too with disappointment. It could not win any seat in the municipal corporations of Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala. Yet, the partys leaders are happy that their candidates were in fray despite it being known that the ruling party, Congress in this case, is preferred in civic polls.

AAP leaders said the party has started making leaders at mohalla level and actually got into the contest now. It had become the principal opposition after the Vidhan Sabha poll results in March, winning 20 seats of 117. In the civic polls, it contested 149 wards of 225 in the three corporations. The party supported some independent candidates in the 29 municipal councils and notified area committees, but the results were far from impressive.

State unit president Bhagwant Mann said he is glad that 149 candidates came forward to contest despite threats from the ruling party. In the future, the party will contest block samiti, zila parishad and gram panchayat polls too. It is shameful that Congress cadres resorted to violence and rigging in CMs home town Patiala. Was he not confident that people would vote for them? asked Mann. He said the Congress government now cant make excuses for not carrying development, as they have their men from top to bottom.

Comparing the AAP performance with the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann said, We are a five-year-old party and have performed better than a 97-year-old party. Referring to Goraya and Cheema, AAP state co-president Aman Arora said, In a number of municipal councils, candidates supported by us have won or are on second position... You cant fight the might of the government, especially when it is bent upon manipulating the entire poll process.

(Story has been updated)

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A 21-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide on Sunday by setting herself on fire at her house in Sarhali village, 25km from Amritsar.

Reportedly, the victim, Pooranpreet Kaur, was depressed as her visa to go abroad got rejected. However, the country for which she had applied and the visa information was not available with the police.

In her complaint to Sarhali police, the girls mother, Rajwinder Kaur, said her daughter had completed senior secondary education and had also cleared the IELTS exam a few months back. She said her daughter had applied for a visa to go abroad on the basis of her IELTS score but her file was rejected a few days ago.

Poonampreet was depressed since then and on Sunday afternoon, she was alone at her home when took the extreme step, the mother said.

She said, Some of our neighbours heard her cries, doused out the fire and rushed her to Sarhali civil hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

Station house officer (SHO) of Sarhali police station, Kawalpreet Singh, said on the complaint of the deceaseds mother, they had filed the proceedings under Section 174 (police to enquire and report on suicide) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in this regard.

We have sent the body to Tarn Taran civil hospital for postmortem, he added.

Senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Nirmal Singh of Tarn Taran civil hospital said, We got the corpse at 3.30 pm and the postmortem will be conducted on Monday at Tarn Taran mortuary house.

However, director of state health department Dr Rajiv Bhalla had ordered all civil surgeons in the state in October this year, that only forensic teams will conduct postmortems in murder and suicide cases. Now, there is no forensic expert in Tarn Taran and the doctors here send the bodies to Amritsar government medical college.

The SMO however said, We are not sending the dead bodies to Amritsar as the doctors of the medical college are refusing to take corpses for conducting postmortems there.
As the states ruling party Congress swept the municipal elections in Punjab on Sunday, Patiala stood out at as an example. The chief ministers home town saw violence amid allegations of rigging, and the party won all 59 seats for which results were declared. Repoll at one booth in one ward of the municipal corporation was postponed due to an electronic voting machine (EVM) being vandalised by a former councillor of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

In all, elections were held to three municipal corporations, also including Jalandhar and Amritsar, besides 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. In three councils, Congress had emerged unopposed anyway.

In these polls held nine months after the assembly polls, Congress won majority of the wards across the state, dislodging the SAD-BJP combine in the three marquee corporations that the alliance had ruled during its reign in the state.

In Jalandhar, Congress won 66 of 80 seats, and in Amritsar it won 71 of 80; and there the polling was largely peaceful. The SADs saving grace was Begowal nagar panchayat in Kapurthala where it won the majority, while in five municipal bodies, independents had most seats.

In Patiala, alleged booth-capturing prompted the SAD-BJP to declare boycott around 1 pm, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), reduced to a non-player, had already packed up and left.

The SAD demanded dismissal of state election commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu for his partisan role. SAD-BJP leaders led by MP Prem Singh Chandumajra staged a dharna outside the residence of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, in a statement issued by the party, described the process of civic polls as utterly uncivilised and said, This day will be remembered as a Black Sunday for democracy in Punjab.

A delegation of the SAD-BJP alliance staged a dharna outside the office of the state election commission in Chandigarh too, led by former minister Daljit Singh Cheema who even claimed they have submitted videos as proof.

Those allegedly thrashed by Congress supporters in Patiala included former mayor Amarinder Bajaj. Some mediapersons were threatened too when they were trying to capture live pictures of goons inside the polling stations.

AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi, too, demanded a repoll.

The SAD-BJP further alleged that violence against their supporters was widespread, and in Mullanpur Dakha a SAD candidates mother was attacked by Congress workers led by MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu. In Ghanaur, when Akali-BJP supporters protested casting of fake votes, they were thrashed by Congress workers. What can we expect from a puppet body like this (SEC) which is playing into the hands of Congress leaders? said Cheema.

Patiala, meanwhile, witnessed the highest turnout among corporations at 62.2%, up from 60& last time; followed by Jalandhar at 57.2% and Amritsar at 51%, both of which saw 63% in 2012. Councils and nagar panchayats stayed between 60-86%.

Congress got majority in the smaller municipal bodies too, winning 267 of the 414 wards.

A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 cops were deployed at the polling stations.

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Vehicle thieves have had a field day in the city this year, as on an average two vehicles have been stolen daily.

Till December 15, about 800 vehicles (both two- and four-wheelers) were stolen from different parts of the city. Police have recovered 170 of these vehicles with the arrest of 105 thieves.

On December 15 itself, three cases were registered  two of car theft and one of a scooter.

Jitender Singh of Sector 15 complained that his Maruti Esteem car was stolen from outside his house. Krishan Kumar of Sector 30 made a similar complaint. Harbhajan Singh of Pinjore, who was visiting a bank in Sector 17, found his TVS Jupiter scooter parked near HDFC Bank stolen.

Stolen two-wheelers used for snatching

Sources in the police said there is a direct correlation between incidence of snatching and vehicle lifting. They said around 50 stolen two-wheelers were seized from snatchers in 117 cases.

We have arrested chain snatchers who have been lifting vehicles to use them to target people. After the crime, they park the vehicles in isolated areas, said UT deputy superintendent of police (DSP, crime) Pawan Kumar.

Meanwhile, figures show a consistent rise in the number of vehicle thefts, with the south division registering most of the cases this year. While about 800 vehicles have been stolen so far this year, 616 were stolen in 2016 and 601 in 2015.

Investigations have revealed that more two-wheelers were stolen as compared to four-wheelers, said Kumar.

Keeping in view the spurt in cases, the UT police have initiated a drive to impound two-wheelers that are left unlocked by their owners. Sources said most vehicles that were stolen were not locked by their owners. The owners have to visit the sub-divisional magistrates office to get their impounded vehicles released.

Tabs to keep a tab

To facilitate detection of vehicle thieves at nakas, the UT police have provided tablets to all station house officers (SHOs). Police have found that in many cases thieves put fake numbers on stolen vehicles to drive around without being caught.

The tablets are loaded with a software with the help of which the cops can gets details of vehicle  its type, make and model  by keying in the registration number.

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Its been a fabulous year for Nani, who is basking in the back-to-back success of Nenu Local and Ninnu Kori. He hopes to end 2017 with a bang as he awaits the release of MCA (Middle Class Abbayi), slated for release on December 21. At the films pre-release event in Warangal on Saturday evening, he opened up about the film and thanked all those who made it possible.

Directed by debutant Venu Sriram, the film was entirely shot in Warangal. Im touched by the love you people have showered upon this Middle Class Abbayi, Nani said referring to himself. Today, I feel every Middle Class Abbayi has become a hero. We shot the entire film in Warangal, away from home, but I never felt homesick thanks to you people. The support I got from the people of this town and from the police department while shooting made MCA very special. Thanks to all the fans from Warangal to whom Ill always be indebted.

Nani heaped praise on his co-stars Sai Pallavi and Vijay Varma of Pink and Monsoon Shootout fame. Pallavi and I thoroughly enjoyed working together. Shes become my favorite co-star. Vijay, who plays the villain, is a very good performer. Weve become great friends off-screen, Nani said, emphasizing that the film celebrates middle class lifestyle and aspiration. When Venu narrated the script, I could visualize myself in the character because I come from a middle class background. Venu, too, comes from a similar background and I strongly feel the story will resonate and connect with every middle class youngster, he added.

Sai Pallavi, who forayed into Telugu filmdom with runaway hit Fidaa earlier this year, used the occasion to thank everyone associated with the project. Director Venu worked really hard for the film and I pray that he succeeds, she said.

The film also stars Bhumika Chawla in a crucial role and Pallavi was all praise for her. There was so much I learnt from Bhumika madam. Shes a great actor and a good human being. I hope she continues to do more films. I also thank my producers Raju and Sirish for keeping me comfortable throughout the course of the shoot. Finally, I need thank the fans for accepting me as their daughter.

The film has been produced by Dil Raju and its the sixth outing in his banner this year. Were hoping to score a double hat-trick. No other banner has produced and released so many films in a single year and has been successful.

Talking about MCA, Raju thanked all those people who helped him shoot smoothly in Warangal. Both Nani and Pallavi agreed to be part of MCA while they were shooting for their last films. Both of them are natural performers and Im sure audiences will love to see them on screen.

Raju called Pallavi as one of the pillars of the film. While Nani is the hero, I truly believe Pallavi has a crucial part to play too. Shes one of the pillars along with Bhumika and Vijay. Every household will have a sister-in-law. MCA explores the relationship between a sister-in-law, her husband and her brother-in-law. Everybody who has seen the film has been in awe of Bhumikas performance. I feel this will be a very strong comeback for her.

At the ticket window, MCA will lock horns with Akhils Hello, which releases a day after the former hits the screens. At a press meet last week in Hyderabad, Dil Raju said that two big films can release together and have a good run. I dont think therell be any competition between MCA and Hello. I believe both the films can do well. If theatres can accommodate 4-5 films releasing during Sankranti festival every year, I dont think therell be any problems to have two films release together during any week. I saw the visuals of Hello, and they look very rich. I wish both the films succeed.

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Actor Nandamuri Balakrishnas next major release is Jai Simha, which has been helmed by Tamil director KS Ravi Kumar. The shoot of the project has been wrapped up with the completion of the latest schedule in Dubai, according to reliable sources from the films unit. The team canned two songs -- on the female leads Nayanthara and Natasha Doshi - in the Dubai schedule. Originally, rumoured to be titled Karna, the makers confirmed the title in October with the first look poster.

Close up of this  .. she looks beautiful in these Sangeetha Boochra earrings for #JaiSimha song shoot #Nayanthara #Dubai #Manogna pic.twitter.com/bKTgLNBZ5Y  Neerajaa Kona (@NeerajaKona) December 14, 2017

Tipped to be an out-and-out commercial entertainer set against the backdrop of Rayalaseema politics, Jai Simha has been produced by C Kalyan. The project happens to be Balakrishnas 102nd film and it reunites him with Nayanthara for the third time after blockbusters such as Simhaa and Sri Rama Rajyam. While he was seen in a full-length mass-appealing avatar in his last outing Paisa Vasool, his role in this film has been kept a mystery.

This film marks Balakrishnas first time collaboration with Ravi Kumar, who has been planning a film with the former for a long time. Apparently, Ravi Kumar had planned to remake some of his own Tamil hits with Balakrishna; however, things never fell in place.

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Two Danish nationals were wounded Saturday in a knife attack in Gabons capital apparently committed in retribution for US attacks against Muslims, a rare assault in a Central African nation that has escaped Islamist violence.

The two men, who were working for the National Geographic channel, were stabbed while shopping in a market popular with tourists, said defence minister Etienne Massard, adding that the attack appeared to be politically motivated.

According to the first testimonies at the scene, the assailant, a 53-year-old Nigerien man, shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest) during the attack. He was arrested on the spot, said Massard.

The man, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, in his first statements said he acted in retaliation for US attacks against Muslims and Americas recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

The two victims were sent to a hospital in the capital Libreville, one in a serious condition, government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told AFP.

The Danish foreign ministry confirmed two nationals had been wounded in Gabon without giving any further details.

Massard said the government was treating the attack as an isolated act and said an investigation had been launched.

Following this cowardly and despicable act, the government wishes to assure the people that Gabon will not become a theatre for attacks against our way of life, he said in a televised address.

Everything will be done to ensure that the perpetrator and any accomplices are punished to the full extent of the law.

Gabon, a small French-speaking former colony with 1.8 million inhabitants, has so far been spared the Islamist-inspired attacks that have taken place in some neighbouring countries.
A second prototype of the Chinas indigenously-built passenger aircraft today successfully completed its maiden test flight, media reports said.

The prototype of the C919 plane took off from Shanghais Pudong International airport this morning for the test flight.

With this, the country has moved a step closer to its ambition to penetrate the global passenger jet market, estimated to be worth USD 2 trillion over the next 20 years.

The test flight lasted for around two hours during which performance of the planes major systems and equipments like taking-off and landing, navigation and communication, speed acceleration and deceleration were tested, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The first prototype of C919 narrow-body aircraft, which will compete with single-aisle planes of Boeings 737 and the Airbus A320, made its maiden flight in May. Its first intercity test flight was conducted last month.

With main focus on engine tests, the aircraft manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China plans to produce six such planes for flight testing and plans to carry out more than 1,000 tests.

With a standard range of 4,075 km, the C919 jet is comparable to the updated Airbus 320 and Boeings new generation 737, it said.

China which currently uses Boeing and Airbus planes for passenger use wants to produce its own passenger jets in future.

With the successful maiden test flight, the aircraft will move into an airworthiness certification phase, which its manufacturer are aiming to obtain from Chinese regulators as well as Europes aviation safety regulator.
A Gaza Strip restaurant is offering mouth-watering discounts to any North Koreans who might be passing by in gratitude for Pyongyang condemning the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

But restaurateur Salim Rabaa is unlikely to have to honour his generous pledge.

80 per cent off for Korean customers in appreciation of the role of Korean leader Kim (Jong-Un) in our Palestinian cause, a sign on the Rabaa Restaurant in the Jabalia refugee camp reads.

There are currently no North Koreans in the besieged coastal Palestinian territory, nor do any Palestinian residents hold the citizenship, according to the Gaza interior ministry.

But Kim has won admirers for his vocal criticism of Israel and his jibes about the controversial American policy shift on Jerusalem.

US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 he would recognise the disputed city as Israels capital and move his embassy there.

Kim responded by calling Trump a dotard and slamming his decision as a reckless, wicked act.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day war and later declared the entire city its undivided capital.

The Palestinians view the east side as the capital of their future state.

To enter Israel to visit Jerusalem, Gazans have to apply for hard-to-get permits from the Jewish state, which has blockaded the strip for a decade.

Rabaa said his idea had stirred debate on social media and elsewhere, while also attracting customers.

He said the symbolic discount offer was an expression of thanks for Kims support of the Palestinian cause and his rejection of Trumps decision.

I know there are no Koreans here in the Gaza Strip, but this is the least I can offer, he said.

Several pictures of Kim adorn the walls of the small restaurant.

Rabaas initiative was a key topic of conversation among his customers.

I love Kim because he stands up as a man and a hero against America, said one diner.

I came to see the Koreans, if they are in Jabalia, joked another.
Forget mistletoe, Christmas is not Christmas in Italy without a slice of panettone -- and festivities kicked off in Milan today with free slices of the biggest Italian candied cake in the world.

Weighing in at 140 kilogrammes, the two-metre (over six foot) high marvel was sliced up into 1,200 pieces for sweet- toothed tourists and locals at the Victor Emmanuel II shopping gallery near the citys Gothic cathedral.

A baker decorates a giant "Panettone" on December 17, 2017 in the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery in Milan. (AFP)

Panettone is the Christmas dessert par excellence. Fashions may change, but panettone remains an unshakable tradition, Angelo Bernasconi, owner of the San Gregorio patisserie behind the giant dome-shaped delight, told AFP.

The Milanese factory makes the traditional cake with its candied fruits and raisins not just for Italy but around the world, with some 200 of the golden buns headed to a New York caterer alone each week.

Policemen in high uniform pose next to a giant "Panettone" on December 17, 2017 in the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery in Milan. (AFP Photo)

In the run-up to Christmas we never stop, says Bernasconis partner Savino Moretti, who is retired but comes twice a week to pass on his 50 years of experience to the pastry team.

The pair, aged 67 and 68, say the secret to their success lies in the mother dough, which they inherited along with the shop from the master baker, who made it -- so legend has it -- by adding a dash of horse urine to the mix for acidity.

It takes 36 hours to turn out a panettone, with raisins and candied peel added to the mix of water, sugar, flour, eggs, butter and vanilla. Once baked, the cakes are hung upside down for 10 hours to allow the butter to drop.

The giant version had to be cooked in a special oven and was baked a lot longer and more slowly, Bernasconi says.

It tastes good, but a little different from usual. Its a little dry, otherwise it would collapse, he added.

According to the Italian agricultural association Coldiretti, three quarters of Italians will have a slice of panettone at some point over the Christmas holidays -- perhaps with a dollop of mascarpone cream or washed down with a sweet liqueur.

The Panettone, a typical brioche of Christmas in the Lombardy region, is traditionally stuffed with raisins, candied fruits and citrus zest. (AFP Photo)
Tens of thousands of Muslims marched from the main mosque in Indonesias capital to a square in Jakarta on Sunday to protest against US President Donald Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

It was the biggest protest in Indonesia since Trumps controversial move earlier this month to reverse decades of US policy. Police estimated the number attending the rally, organised by various Muslim groups, at about 80,000.

The protest was peaceful but rows of police behind coils of barbed wire held back the crowd outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta. A police spokesman said 20,000 police and members of the military were deployed to ensure security.

We urge all countries to reject the unilateral and illegal decision of President Donald Trump to make Jerusalem Israels capital, Anwar Abbas, the secretary general of the Indonesian Ulema Council, told the crowd.

We call on all Indonesian people to boycott US and Israel products in this country if Trump does not revoked his action, Abbas said, reading from a petition due to be handed to the US ambassador in Indonesia.

Many of the protesters were clad in white and waved Palestinian flags and held up placards, some reading: Peace, love and free Palestine.

There have been a series of protests in Indonesia over the issue, including some where hardliners burned US and Israeli flags.

The status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, is one of the biggest barriers to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Jerusalems eastern sector was captured by Israel in a 1967war and annexed in a move not recognised internationally.

Palestinians claim East Jerusalem for the capital of an independent state that they seek, while Israel maintains that all of Jerusalem is its capital.
Nepals prime minister-in-waiting K P Sharma Oli on Sunday blamed a section of the Indian media for creating rift with reports of Indian government not cooperating with the Left alliance, which swept the recently-concluded federal and provincial elections.

In his first press conference since the victory, the leader of the Left Alliance urged critics to look into Indias official statement on the elections and to stop making false stories saying New Delhi will not cooperate with the new government.

Some elements are trying to create rift between India and the Left alliance, the CPN-UML chairman said, the same elements are trying to stop foreign investment in Nepal, propping up the fear of communist regime.

India has already welcomed the elections, victory of left alliance and congratulated us. India also assured to support us but some Indian media are trying to create rift between us, said Oli, who addressed the media along with alliance partner CPN (Maoist Center)s chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal  Prachanda.

The communists, who won majority in both federal and provincial parliaments, will form governments in the centre and in at least six out of seven provinces.

On December 14, external affairs ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar had said India welcomed the elections in Nepal.

We congratulate the government and the people of Nepal. India has age old unique, time tested ties of friendship with the country. We look forward to working with the next democratically elected government in Nepal to advance our close and multifaceted partnership across all sectors and to support Nepal in its pursuit of peace, stability, economic prosperity and all round development, the spokesperson had said.

While quoting the Indian statement, Oli said some people are running behind foreign policy and saying that India would pursue policy of non-cooperation to the incoming government.

We will pursue independent foreign policy and will maintain good relations with neighbours as well as donor agencies which is also clearly mentioned in our manifesto, he added.

Referring to the hue and cry about the possible flight of capital after leftist government takes power, Oli urged critics to wait for at least three months.

After the infamous blockade in Nepal-India border in 2015 September, Oli emerged as a vocal critic of New Delhis policy towards Nepal while shifting focus to Beijing and seeking various projects including transit facilities.

Oli has since been labelled as pro-China.

Nepal, surrounded by India on three sides, has been dependent on Indian ports for transit facilities.

At the press conference, Prachanda did not mention anything about the foreign policy to be opted by the next government.

Both leaders urged Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to resign and pave the way for them to form the new government at the earliest.

Due to dispute over the composition of the Upper House among the political parties, it is still not clear when Deuba will hand over the reins.
Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognise it as the capital of Palestine.

It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of a future state they seek to be in East Jerusalem, which Israel took in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognised internationally.

The Muslim nation summit was a response to U.S. President Donald Trumps Dec. 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. His move broke with decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that the citys status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkeys consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador.

God willing, the day is close when officially, with Gods permission, we will open our embassy there, Erdogan said.

Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islams third holiest shrine as well as Judaisms Western Wall - both in the eastern sector - and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkeys, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalems unresolved status.

A communique issued after Wednesdays summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including U.S. allies, said they considered Trumps move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role as sponsor of peace in the Middle East.
A South Korean-born Sydney man was charged Sunday with acting as an economic agent for North Korea in Australia by allegedly attempting to broker sales worth tens of millions of dollars for Pyongyang that included components used in ballistic missiles.

The Australian Federal Police said 59-year-old naturalized Australian Chan Han Choi used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction. His actions contravened both United Nations and Australian sanctions against North Korea, police said.

Police said the man was acting to generate income for Pyongyang by arranging the sale of computer software used for guiding ballistic missiles as well as expertise from North Korea to other international entities. Police didnt elaborate.

Choi is facing six charges related to brokering the sale of missile componentry and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and attempting to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Choi didnt appear or apply for bail in a Sydney court Sunday, and bail was formally refused.

Federal police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said the governments of Indonesia and Vietnam  or authorities in those countries  were not involved in the coal transfer attempt.

Choi is the first person charged under Australias Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and could face a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

Gaughan said the charges related to his alleged activity over the past year, but that allegations dated back to 2008.

Despite international sanctions, cash-strapped North Korea last month test-fired its most powerful missile that may be able to target the US mainland.

Gaughan said Choi was arrested Saturday and charged over two transactions that were unsuccessful. But we estimate that if these trades were successful, were talking tens of millions of dollars, he told reporters.

Gaughan said investigations were continuing and that more charges could be filed against Choi.

The AFP are saying this man was a loyal agent of North Korea, believing he was acting to serve some high patriotic purpose, Gaughan said.

Police started investigating Choi after a tip-off from another international agency on another matter, he said.

I know these charges sound alarming, but we are not suggesting that there are any weapons or missile componentry that came to Australian soil, he said. Were alleging all of the activity occurred offshore.

Chois activities also involved commodities including oil and gemstones.

This is black market 101. Its the same with the coal and oil and gemstones  its all about making money for North Korea, he said, adding the case was like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil.

Any individual who attempts to fly in the face of sanctions cannot and will not go unnoticed in Australia, he said.
Taliban insurgents attacked checkpoints in the southern Helmand province early Sunday, killing 11 police, an official said.

Omar Zwak, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said Afghan forces eventually repelled the attack in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. He said the insurgents also suffered casualties, without providing figures.

The Taliban, who have a strong and growing presence in Helmand, claimed the attack. The insurgents launch near-daily attacks across the country, mainly targeting security forces.

In the southern Kandahar province, a suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign forces, killing an Afghan woman and wounding five other civilian bystanders, said Gen. Abdul Raziq, the Kandahar police chief. He said he did not know if any foreign forces were killed or wounded.

U.S. Navy Capt. Tom Gresback, a spokesman for the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Resolute Support, confirmed the attack in a statement, saying there were no casualties among the international forces. We can confirm a suicide bomber attempted an attack on a patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan earlier today. However, there were no fatalities or injuries sustained by coalition forces. The attacker has died as a result of the detonation, Gresbacks statement said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Kandahar, but Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks against both the Afghan and coalition forces across the country.
At least nine people were killed and 15 injured when heavily-armed terrorists struck a church in Pakistans restive Quetta city on Sunday.

The attack during the midday service at Bethel Memorial Methodist Church was a targeted assault on the minority Christian community just a week before Christmas.

Quetta police chief Moazam Ansari said 400 worshippers were present when the gunmen attempted to storm into the church. He said policemen assigned to the churchs security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

An eyewitness present inside the church said the attackers scuffled with the buildings guard when their attempt to enter the main hall undetected failed.

When the gunmen shot the guard, police officials posted around the church noticed something was amiss and opened fire at the attackers.

A man carries a boy as he walks out after gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan on December 17, 2017. (Reuters)

Balochistan home minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the assault. One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives, he said.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack. The terror groups Amaq News Agency posted a statement online, saying attackers had stormed the church in Quetta but provided no evidence for the claim.

Policemen guide people after gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan on December 17, 2017. (Reuters)

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Sources in the Balochistan government said Methodist schools and churches recently received threats from the Sajjan group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The threats were also received in Karachi and Lahore, resulting in missionary schools cancelling their examinations and taking an early winter break.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6% of Pakistans population 200 million people.

(With inputs from Agencies)
It started as a sinus infection in the winter of 2013. As miserable as it had left her feeling, Sowmya Subramanian was not prepared for what came next: A paralytic attack to the left side of her body, possibly triggered by an excess dose of an antibiotic medicines, confined her to bed and rendered her unfit to carry on professionally as an IT analyst.

Though her employer was willing to wait for her to recover fully, Subramanian felt compelled to leave, and with that, she lost her H-1B visa and became a dependent on her husband Jagdeesh Subramanians H-1B. She was now on H-4, as H-1B spouse visas are called, and focussed on her recovery.

Till 2015, H-4 was just that: a dependent visa that did not allow its holder to work in the US. The Obama administration changed it that year, allowing spouses of those H-1B visa holders who are in queue for permanent residency or Green Card, to work against an Employment Authorisation Document known as H-4 EAD.

Subramanian has been working since  from home in Kansas, in her case, as she has not yet recovered fully and can still feel no sensation in her toes  like thousands of H-1B spouses, an estimated 80% of whom are said to be from India, and the rest from China and the Philippines.

President Donald Trumps administration plans to withdraw that regulation sometime next year, as part of a package of incremental measures initiated to tighten H-1B rules, such as raising the bar for defining highly skilled, with the larger goal of protecting American jobs for Americans.

Unless Subramanian, an IT analyst, finds an employer to hire her on H-1B, she will be without work authorisation when the Trump administration drops the guillotine. If something were to happen to my husband or if he were to be fired we are done, she said in an interview.

Surviving on a single income, the couple are convinced, will be impossible. We have a house mortgage, cars and other financial commitments, said Subramanian, the husband, who has been here on H-1B for 17 years and in line, waiting, for his Green Card.

According to some estimates, that wait could last as long as 70 years for an Indian, given the growing backlog under the present system of per-country limits on permanent residencies. The H-4 spouse EAD was meant to be a band aid to allow spouses to supplement family income as they waited for permanent residency.

Due to the per-country limits, Microsofts legal head Brad Smith and other critics have said, people from India and China, with populations of over 1 billion people, are subject to the same limits of Green Card allotments each yearonly 9,800as Liechtenstein, whose total population is less than 40,000 people.

There are three stages in the Green Card application process: a labour certification to be obtained by the employer; filing I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker; and then filing I-485 application to Register Permanent Residence. H-4 EAD helps Indians and others stuck between the second and third stages.

The Obama administration launched the H-4 EAD rule through an executive order in February 2015.

And in November, Anuj Dhamija, an IT programme manager in Connecticut, gave up his own H-1B and switched to H-4 EAD, as a dependent on the H-1B visa of his wife, a physician waiting for her Green Card.

The plan was to continue working with his then employer, a discount retail giant, and start a business, to which he would shift entirely over time, Dhamija said.

H-1B employment conditions are severely restrictive  its slavery in some sense  and makes switching jobs for better pay nearly impossible.

H-4 EAD was a golden opportunity for Dhamija to make that switch. He entered into a franchise arrangement with a home improvement business in the affordable luxury category and he was on his way. Orders began trickling in after he participated in an exhibition.

Also around this time, Donald Trump, the New York billionaire who was not taken seriously initially, began gaining a grip on the Republican party nomination, dispatching his rivals, among them Jeb Bush, the third from the family of two presidents, and all the others subsequently.

We knew things would change drastically if Mr Trump got elected, Dhamija said, in a nod to the then candidates well-known hawkish positions on both legal and illegal immigration. But who knew he would win. And if we had any idea this could have happen, I would never have switched.

Dhamija has rolled back his plans for the business, and informed the franchiser recently he will be pulling out. Prospects of losing work authorisation have also made the family consider ways to cut costs and make do with single income  we will have to end day care of our two children.

Returning to India is not an option for either Dhamija or Subramanian. We have been here since we started working, said Jagdeesh Subramanian. I have never worked in India, and not sure how it will turn out.

But Canada, across the border, is an option. And both families have begun the application process to be able to have somewhere to go if and when the administration killed the H-4 EAD programme. Dhamija has considered seeking an intra-company transfer there. Nothing official, but an option.

Other options include US Congress passing a legislation, that has long enjoyed bipartisan support, removing the country-wise cap on Green Cards, which makes the wait for Indians as long as 70 years. The bill has more than 300 sponsors but the chances of it being brought to a vote was dim given the political climate.

The other is legal recourse. Dhamija is an intervenor, along with Sudarshana Sengupta, a biomedical researcher who has worked and published at Harvard and the University of Chicago and is also on H-4 EAD, in a case brought against the Obama regulation by Save Jobs USA, a group of IT workers displaced by H-1B visa holders.

Thats a parallel process that may or may not have any bearing on Trumps decision to rescind the Obama-era regulation, as the Subramanians and Dhamija, and Immigration Voice, an advocacy group that has led the fight to remove country-wise caps on permanent residencies, weigh their options.
The British government will spend 50 million pounds more to boost intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and pay for armed officers patrolling the streets as part of its counter-terrorism efforts.

The rise follows warnings from police and security services of a step change in the threat from Islamist terrorism this year, following a series of attacks across the UK.

Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd have struck a deal to raise the Home Office budget from 707 million pounds (USD 941 million) to 757 million pounds (USD 1 billion) next year.

Rudd is believed to have secured the extra funding after days of quiet diplomacy with the Chancellor.

The extra funds sanctioned for the Home Office will boost intelligence and surveillance capabilities and pay for armed officers patrolling city centres.

This represents our commitment to backing the brave counter-terrorism forces with the resources they need to keep people safe, Rudd told The Sun today.

MI5 spies had revealed recently that the security services have managed to thwart nine terrorist attacks on home soil since March, when a vehicle-bound terrorist struck at the UK Parliament complex, killing four people.

That attack was followed by a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in May and a vehicle and knife rampage on the streets of London in June in terror attacks claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group.

The ruling Conservative party was criticised by Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the general election in June for cutting the number of police officers on streets.

Since 2015, the UK government has increased counter- terror spending by 30 per cent, which includes more armed officers plus an extra 500 million pounds for the Special Air Service, intelligence service MI5 and the Government Communications Headquarters - the intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing information to the government and armed forces.
The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded after US President Donald Trump recognized the city as Israels capital.

The one-page Egyptian-drafted text, which was circulated to the 15-member council on Saturday and seen by Reuters, does not specifically mention the United States or Trump. Diplomats say it has broad support but will likely be vetoed by Washington.

The council could vote early next week, diplomats said. A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass.

Trump abruptly reversed decades of US policy this month when he recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, generating outrage from Palestinians. Trump also plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

After the decision, Arab foreign ministers agreed to seek a UN Security Council resolution. While the draft is unlikely to be adopted, it would further isolate Trump over the Jerusalem issue.

The US mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the draft. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trumps decision as the just and right thing to do.

The draft UN resolution affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

It calls upon all countries to refrain establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.

Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there.

No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said in a statement.

Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the citys eastern sector, which Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognized internationally.

The draft council resolution demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted in December last year underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.

That resolution was approved with 14 votes in favour and an abstention by former US President Barack Obamas administration.
"I'm Laura Mayo, and I am the senior minister of Covenant Church: an ecumenical, liberal, Baptist congregation."

As soon as the word Baptist escaped my lips, she was giving me a hard look. When the naming got to her she said, "Nafisa Munshi from the Muslim American Society Mosque."

After everyone else gave voice to name and religious context, she, looking right at me, said: "I live in Katy. There are a lot of Baptists there. Christians talk a lot about this Jesus and his love and then these same people, the same people are evil to me. You see my hijab. Just this week at Target a man saw me walking into the store and waited on me. As I came inside the doors he began to yell at me calling me trash and filth, telling me to leave. He spat at me. Is this the love of your Jesus?"

I wanted to break eye contact in my shame - my shame that anyone would treat her so cruelly - that her perception of Christians, of Baptists, of me, was people who talk about love and then spit on Muslims. I wanted to close my eyes - to shut out the horror of her words, her experiences. Instead, I held her gaze and apologized. I said how sad I am that anyone would be so cruel. I said she was right, that Jesus did teach love and that I couldn't understand how people who claimed to follow him could be so dehumanizing. I said I was sad, and I was sorry, and that I wanted her to be safe and to feel welcome.

The conversation around the circle took off from there: Jews, Muslims and Christians all offering ideas and suggestions about our duty to humanity, our call as people of faith to welcome, include and care; ways we can stop violence, tools for educating, ideas around role-play to practice being with someone who is being verbally or physically attacked.

The day continued with brainstorming about helping our city embrace our tremendous diversity. There were many ideas and lots of learning and listening expressed at Interfaith Ministries that day. I found though that the words and experiences of Nafisa were the most instructive for me.

I wonder if such mistreatment, such hatred, such violence would happen, especially in this time of year, if we had a more realistic image of Jesus. I don't know that it would solve everything if the man who attacked Nafisa had noticed that she looks more like Jesus' mother Mary than his wife likely does, that her young son looks more like Jesus than his child does. If we put a dark-skinned Mary, Joseph and Jesus on our Christmas cards and coffee cups, in our manger scenes, would it change anything?

Children in our culture imagine God as an old white man, an image that reigns unchecked unless it is countered with other God images. Similarly, the vast majority of the renderings of Jesus show him as white: our paintings, our movies, our stained glass.

In all likelihood, if you close your eyes and picture Jesus, you'll imagine a white man. Without conscious intention or awareness, many of us have become disciples of a white Jesus. Not only is white Jesus inaccurate, he also distorts our connections to the stories of Jesus and the stories of people of color.

Scholars and theologians debate about just how dark Jesus of Nazareth's skin was: Princeton biblical scholar James Charlesworth notes Jesus was "most likely dark brown and sun-tanned" (James Charlesworth, The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide). Theologian James Cone wrote: "The 'raceless' American Christ has a light skin, wavy brown hair, and sometimes - wonder of wonders - blue eyes. For whites to find him with big lips and kinky hair is as offensive as it was for the Pharisees to find him partying with tax collectors. But whether whites want to hear it or not, Christ is black, baby, with all of the features which are so detestable to white society" (J.H. Cone, "The White Church and Black Power").

While shades of brown are debated, it is clear that Jesus was not white. The earliest depictions of an adult Jesus showed him with a brown complexion. But by the sixth century, some Byzantine artists started picturing Jesus with white skin, a beard and hair parted down the middle. This image became the standard.

In the colonial period, Western Europe exported its image of a white Christ worldwide, and white Jesus often shaped the way Christians understood Jesus' ministry and mission. Some 19th-century Christians, eager to justify the cruelties of slavery, went out of their way to present Jesus as white. By negating his true identity as a dark-skinned, oppressed minority, slaveholders were better able to justify the master-slave hierarchy and forget Jesus' ministry to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18). (Information about artistic renderings of Jesus from Christena Cleveland, "Why Jesus' Skin Color Matters.")

We've white-washed Jesus. We've taken what might have been a way to expand our understanding of those with significant differences, those more like Jesus than we are and we've thrown them out, replacing them with a light brown haired, blue-eyed lie.

We didn't stop at white-washing, though. Not only was Jesus not white, he was also, as a Jew, part of a religious and ethnic minority in the Roman empire. Jews were marginalized by Romans, Greeks and other non-Jewish groups in many imperial cities. As an infant, Jesus was the target of ruler-sanctioned violence, and fled to Egypt as a refugee. He fled because of his gender. He was a boy and the lives of the boys under age 2 were threatened by the empire. Jesus was a dark-skinned religious minority refugee who fled persecution because of his gender.

The story as it's recorded in the Bible also comes with a significant amount of sexual scandal. In the genealogy that begins the Gospel of Matthew and leads directly to the Christmas story, Tamar appears - Tamar, the one who disguised herself as a prostitute in order to conceive a child with Judah. Then, there's Rahab, another prostitute. Ruth, who seduced her way into marriage and security appears, as does a reference to King David's murderous, lust-fueled plot.

Jesus in our popular imagery - the light-haired, blue-eyed, untainted, popular evangelist - bears almost no resemblance to the stories about Jesus in the Bible. What we find in our sacred stories is a dark-skinned, dark-eyed, dark-haired Middle Eastern child born amid sexual scandal, ostracized for his family's religion, persecuted because of his gender, friend to tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners and other outcasts, who is from Nazareth. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

How would Nafisa experience Christians if those Christians saw a manger scene on every corner with dark-skinned refugees, surrounded by sexual scandal? If, as we sang "Silent Night" we remember that Jesus and his parents fled from the Middle East to Africa in order to escape persecution for Jesus' gender, could we really say hate-filled words about trans people - could people advance cruel and unfair treatment for trans people in the name of Christ? Could they do it, if they thought of Jesus as one who knows what it is to be persecuted for his gender, to flee for his life because of it?

Those who decry the Black Lives Matter movement, could they miss the point so completely by shouting back all lives matter if they truly saw Jesus? Could they hate people for no reason beyond their skin tone, if they knew we follow a black Christ?

"She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus - savior: He will save the people from their sins. What if the sins Jesus saves us from don't have anything to do with gender identity, sexual preferences, race or class  or actually what if they have everything to do with these distinctions. What if Jesus embodies the groups that so often are marginalized and oppressed: embodies religious minority, embodies dark skin, embodies poverty, embodies sexual scandal, is persecuted for his gender? What if we are to be saved from our sins of racism, classism, Islamophobia? What if we are being saved from our mistreatment of those we experience as other?

If this is the salvation Jesus offers, come, Jesus, come this Christmas, come into our lives and our churches and our city and our world - save us.

Amen

SERMON
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It seems like Christian Siriano has been around forever - though he's only 32.

In 2008, the fashion designer from Maryland became the youngest winner of "Project Runway" (Season 4) and went on to become one of the show's most successful alums, launching his namesake label that same year.

Siriano also is a red-carpet favorite with celebrities from Sarah Jessica Parker to Rihanna.

He recently was in Houston to show his collection of glamorous dresses and gowns at Elizabeth Anthony in Uptown Park and to sign copies of his new book, "Dresses to Dream About" (Rizzoli, $40).

Siriano talked with the Houston Chronicle about the lessons he's learned in the fashion business over the past decade, why designing for all sizes is a priority and what he does for fun.

Q: You've been around for a long time, but you're still young. How does it feel?

A: In February, I celebrate 10 years in the business. I've learned so much over the years. I've learned about the customers as they grow and how to adapt to them. I've learn to do the things that work for me, even if people judge and don't agree with it. I push that aside and do my own thing. I'm a pretty decisive designer. I think that's really helped in my career, and it's why I'm still here.

Q: You're one of a few top designers who design for women of all sizes. Why is this important to you?

A: I think it's very strange to not have clothes for women of every size. At the end of the day, we're in the business to sell clothes. I just think it's weird to not champion people who have a different shape and size. These are our customers. I can't imagine not having clothes for these women.

Q: At New York Fashion Week in September, you even featured women of different sizes on the runway.

A: We've done that for the past four seasons now. I love doing it because I think the customers, again, can see themselves in the clothes a little bit more. It's important to show that people are different and that everyone should feel beautiful in their clothes.

Q: Do you think you might be influencing other designers to expand their collections for all sizes?

A: I hope so. I hope they get the clue.

Q: Your new book, "Dressed to Dream About," is a celebration of beautiful dresses. Why did you want to do it?

A: I wanted to showcase my work over the past 10 years and show what goes into making clothes because it's so much work. People sometimes think clothes just show up in a store. I wanted to show the process, from a sketch on a piece of paper to a real, beautiful thing that people live their life in.

Q: There have been many "Project Runway" designers who have come and gone. What's your secret to success?

A: My biggest thing is you just have to work hard. You have to be obsessed with it because it's a really tough business. You also have to make sure your clothes fit people. Fit is the most important thing. It's easy to get a customer one time, but to succeed you have to get them coming back season after season.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: Fun? Hmm, I guess I'm allowed fun. I go dancing.

Q: Do you really?

A: I really love dancing and love hanging with my friends. We throw a lot of house parties, which is always fun. Otherwise, I like to chill and do nothing. I like to watch TV and eat good food.

Q: What's the one thing that would surprise people to know about you, like, do you have a bunch of tattoos?

A: I mean, I do have two sleeves full of tattoos. But most of the people know that because I wear T-shirts a lot. But other than that, hmm. I'm a great ice skater.

Q: Really?

A: I'm an amazing skater. I'm Nancy Kerrigan. I used to ice skate a lot. I just love it.

Q: Do you live in New York?

A: Yes, and I have a house in Connecticut, too.

Q: Do you have pets?

A: Two dogs, Topper and Bear. They're Chiweenies (Chihuahua-dachshunds). They're so cute, and they're so lovable.

Q: When did you get married?

A: Like a year and a half ago, but Brad (Walsh) and I been together for almost 10 years. He's a musician. He just released an album a few months ago, so we've been very busy with releases, the book and album. He photographed my entire book; every single photo was taken by him. We collaborated, and he did such a beautiful job. I mean, the photos are so stunning.

Q: What else have you collaborated on?

A: He does the music for my show every season. And then our life collaboration.

Q: What would he say about you?

A: Oh, God, I don't know. Who knows? I'm bossy.

Q: You've dressed so many celebrities. Is there anyone you want to dress whom you haven't yet?

A: I had dreams of so many people, and they've all come true. But I haven't dressed Cate Blanchett. Angelina (Jolie) was on my list, and I dressed her this year. It has been a good year.

Q: How did you end up creating a line of press-on nails?

A: They just came out for the holidays. It started from New York Fashion Week. The models backstage had really horrible nails from other shows and things. We needed to find something quick. So I worked with this company, and we were able to do it so fast. That's why these nails are awesome. Literally, you put them on, and then you take them off.

Q: What else do you have in the works?

A: We're doing a beauty collaboration with e.l.f. Cosmetics, which is really exciting. We're doing some beautiful palettes. It'll all coming out in January. Then we're opening a new store in New York. That's my big project. That'll take up all next year. I had a store downtown (in New York). We just closed it so we can open a new big one. It'll have other brands involved that I curate.

Q: What do you do for the holidays?

A: Christmas is always with the family at my mom's house in Maryland. We usually go there and do it big. I definitely spoil the family, for sure. They get lots of gifts.

Q: What would be the best gift to get you?

A: Oh, I don't even want anything. I have so much stuff. I'm an interior lover, so I do like pillows, tapestries and cool things from other countries. I'm also a big antique lover, so my mom has bought me different pieces.

Q: What brings you joy?

A: I think just making people feel great in clothes. It's the best thing. Seeing women on the street. Someone sent me a picture from the subway the other day of two different women carrying my bag. That's so great. I like people that live their life in my clothes and feel good in them. I think that's the best thing.
The other day, while walking my dog, I had an awkward realization: I think Texas will turn blue in 2018.

That's not a prediction, exactly; the primaries will be held in March, so as it stands, we don't even know who all the Democratic candidates for statewide office will be.

Furthermore, I could easily be wrong, and there's plenty of reason to think I will be. We all know the drill: Texas is a red state. The last time Democrats won statewide office was in 1994. In 2014, Republicans swept the top-of-the-ticket races by a 20-point margin. Although Democrats have outperformed expectations in other red states recently, the idea that they might win statewide in Texas next year no doubt strikes many of you as crazy.

With that said, stranger things have happened. In 1995, Donald Trump was a spokesman for Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza. Today he has access to America's nuclear arsenal.

And if you think about it, it really wouldn't be that strange if Democrats won statewide in Texas next year. We all know they will do so eventually. And when they do, their victory will seem inevitable in retrospect. Texas is a young, diverse, urbanized and outward-looking state. Historians of the future - assuming humankind has a future, and one in which historians are valued as something other than a protein source - will probably wonder why we stayed red so long.

This is a question that I've fielded a number of times since I began writing about Texas politics in 2007. And I've always argued that a key part of the explanation is that Republican leaders like Rick Perry and David Dewhurst, who helmed the state for more than a decade as governor and lieutenant governor, demonstrated both decency and competence.

Those guys aren't in office anymore, though. In 2014 Texans elected a new batch of Republican leaders, some of whom should have read the book I wrote about the state, which had been published the year before and included an entire chapter predicting the scenario now at hand.

Texas Republicans have proven that demographics aren't destiny, but success has made them complacent. On social media, they exhort voters to "#KeepTexasRed." Offline, though, Texas Republicans have been doing their best to turn Texas blue.

Monday was the filing deadline for Texas' 2018 elections, so as of this week, we know that Democrats are in a position to capitalize on the opportunity. They have a full slate of candidates for the statewide offices, as well as every congressional district and most seats in the Legislature. Few of them are well-known at this point. But many of them are impressively well-qualified, and all of them are Democrats running in Texas in 2018.

So let's consider what might happen in the gubernatorial race, as an example. The strongest contenders for the Democratic nomination are Lupe Valdez, the longtime sheriff of Dallas County, and Andrew White, a Houston-based businessman who told me that he started thinking about running for office after losing his father, former Gov. Mark White, in August. Either would enter the general election as a genuine underdog. The incumbent, Greg Abbott, has a 60 percent approval rating and more than $40 million in his war chest; the odds are that he will win.

Unusual moment

But Abbott's not going to win by a 20-point margin, as he did in 2014. Many Texans remain sorely disappointed by his failure to deliver on the bathroom bill. And it's theoretically possible that Democrats could beat him regardless. He won roughly 2.7 million votes last time around. In 2016 3.9 million Texans voted for Hillary Clinton. That was a presidential election year, of course, and turnout usually drops off for midterms.

But this is obviously an unusual moment in American politics. After more than a year of talking to Texans on both sides of the aisle, I think Texas Democrats can expect to see higher turnout next year than they did in 2014, regardless of what they do.

I suspect they can also expect to win a higher percentage of the votes cast by women, Latinos and business leaders than usual, simply by virtue of the fact that they are Democrats, which means they are not members of the party whose leaders have shown blatant contempt for all three groups.

Plus, as noted, Texas Democrats are actually trying this time around. Although many of the candidates I've spoken with believe they can win, they all know that victory is hardly guaranteed. It should be a good year for Texas Democrats; even Republicans expect they'll pick up some seats in Congress and the Legislature. But they're still Democrats, and Texas is a red state.

In talking to Texas Democrats who've decided to run anyway, I've heard a couple of recurring points: Texas had problems, even before Trump was elected president of the United States. They felt like they had to do something. Someone had to step up to the plate.

Ridiculous thinking?

I asked Todd Litton, a Democrat running in Texas' 2nd Congressional District, about the issues he plans to focus on during the course of the campaign.

"Common sense and common decency," he said.

Litton was being entirely serious. I was momentarily puzzled, then we both laughed.

Is it ridiculous to think that Texas will turn blue in 2018? Perhaps. But it would definitely be ridiculous to dismiss the possibility out of hand, or to act as if Republican voters in Texas should be willing to abandon any concerns or principles that may have drawn them to the party in the first place to "#KeepTexasRed."

And although I do think Texas will turn blue in 2018, that's just a feeling, or hunch. But I know that it might not. I also know that if I am wrong, legions of strangers on the internet will derive some kind of pleasure from telling me so, and that I will find that annoying. The thing is, I live in Texas. I have friends and family on both sides of the aisle. I care about them, and I listen to what they have to say.

If the leaders of the state are doing so, they will be able to see what I can see these days. Many of the Texans they work for are scared or sad - or both. And many of the Texans they still work for don't care what color the state is; they just want change.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen.

You know Martin Luther invented the Christmas tree, and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized it.

You know the Christmas holiday has strayed from its religious roots and observances.

But, author Judith Flanders says, "Anything you think you know about Christmas is wrong.

"No, Prince Albert didn't bring the Christmas tree to England. No, the Dutch did not invent Santa Claus. No, Santa Claus' red suit did not come from Coca-Cola. You could just go on and on forever."

Flanders dispels myths and misunderstandings about Christmas in her new book, "Christmas: A Biography."

She is a scholar of 19th-century history who previously has written about everyday life in Charles Dickens' London and about Victorian domestic life. She says the holiday was a "natural" topic for her. "The 19th century was a period where a lot of things we understand Christmas to be today crystallized."

Here's what she learned about a few familiar traditions.

Religious holiday ... but not

More than half of all Americans - and 71 percent of white evangelical Christians - believe that the religious aspects of the holiday, the Christian celebration of Christ's birth in Bethlehem, are emphasized less than they were in the past, according to a poll released this week by Pew Research Center.

But from the very beginning, Flanders says, "we have a holiday that has always been about eating and drinking."

Since the 19th century, the focus of Christmas consumption has been on purchasing and giving gifts, she says. But there are warnings against excesses within decades of the bishop of Rome setting the date of Christmas on Dec. 25, according to the historian.

"We have the archbishop of Constantinople warning his flocks against feasting to excess and too much dancing on the day," she says.

"We know historically nobody takes time to warn people against things they are not doing. You only see warnings about things that are happening. So we know that within 30 years of the day of the bishop of Rome's announcement, we had a day that was pretty much given over to feasting, to excess and dancing. So it's always been that."

Santa Claus is coming to town

For centuries, Christmas has been part Christian celebration of Christ's birth and part cultural celebration revolving around Santa Claus and giving gifts, she says.

The story of Santa Claus is popularly thought to have originated in the life of St. Nicholas. The fourth-century bishop of Myra famously threw three sacks of gold through a nobleman's window to provide dowries to his daughters, according to a 1260 compilation of the lives of the saints called "The Golden Legend." By the 16th century, the story goes, he was traveling the Netherlands on the eve of his feast day in December, bringing gifts to good children and lumps of coal to others.

But St. Nicholas may not have been a real person. He wasn't mentioned until hundreds of years after he would have lived, according to Flanders. And it's unlikely Dutch immigrants brought the jolly old elf with them to America. The official church of the North American Dutch colony was the Protestant Reformed Church, which didn't recognize the saints or their feast days, she writes.

Flanders says Santa Claus actually arrived in America in "an elaborate confection made up by the writers and historians who were around the circle of Washington Irving." He included Santa in his 1809 satirical work, "A History of New York." One writer in that circle was Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote "The Night Before Christmas."

"It was really only as Christmas became more domestic, more about children, in the 19th century that presents became more of a thing," Flanders says.

Pinterest-perfect celebrations

Christmas trees are another holiday tradition with a popular backstory that likely isn't true.

One telling goes that Protestant Reformer Martin Luther was so inspired by the beauty of starlight twinkling in the branches of evergreen trees, he brought one home to his family and decorated it with glowing candles. The only problem with that story, Flanders says, is that Luther lived "several hundred kilometers from Christmas tree country."

Even so, the first Christmas trees did come from German-speaking countries in the Middle Ages. Catholics would perform outdoor plays for the Feast of Adam and Eve on Christmas Eve, and without any apple trees to stand in for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would hang apples from evergreens. The plays, recalling the original sinners on the eve of the birth of the savior, passed out of fashion, but the trees stuck around, she says.

O' Christmas tree

The first known decorated tree to move indoors was in a home in Strasbourg in 1605, according to the historian. Christmas trees reached Luther's Wittenberg more than 100 years later and came to the United States with German immigrants.

There were mentions of Christmas trees among German immigrants in Britain, too, but the first account of a tree that can be dated belonged to German-born Queen Charlotte in 1800.

In 1848, an engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert gathered around a decorated tree with their children appeared in a London newspaper. Then a popular American magazine, Godey's Lady's Book, used the photo but erased Victoria's crown and Albert's sash. The magazine titled the image "The Christmas Tree." Thus, the image gave middle-class households something to aspire to on both sides of the Atlantic.

"In every town, there were copies of this magazine with this picture, which was basically saying what Martha Stewart does today: 'This is what your Christmas should look like,'" Flanders says.

"Just like today, we know without a staff of 17 and three photographers and a couple of fluffers, no one is going to produce a Christmas that looks like Martha Stewart's. But it doesn't stop us from trying it, the same way this picture. People would've known this is not what living rooms look like, but it wouldn't stop them from trying."
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The cost of Hurricane Harvey's wrath to the Texas prison system has crossed the $8 million mark, with damage more widespread than initially reported.

Five units evacuated, at least 25 more lost power and some suffered roof damage, including the facility in Rosharon, where the Ramsey Unit alone needed more than $600,000 in repairs.

The rising waters of the Brazos River forced the relocation of nearly 7,000 prisoners and parolees, requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to shell out close to $2.7 million in overtime pay to move prisoners.

"Hurricane Harvey was a terrible natural disaster which presented the agency with a monumental challenge," TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier wrote in an employee newsletter after the storm. "Only through the Herculean effort of our employees was success made possible."

But three months later, there's still dispute about what really happened during the storm, with the National Lawyers Guild taking preliminary steps toward a lawsuit after some inmates described brutal conditions, as others - including TDCJ - offered less dire accounts.

A former union leader rebuffed prisoner reports of flooding inside the units but still alleged the same staffing shortages the department denied in September.

"There could have been a mass escape," said Lance Lowry, then-president of the Texas Correctional Employees union in Huntsville. "A number of things could have gone wrong."

Rising to the challenge

The day before Harvey made landfall, TDCJ started staging transport buses and staff in Huntsville and Beeville in anticipation of possible evacuations. Prisoners in Garza East and West, Torres and Ferguson units made sandbags, according to a TDCJ cost survey report obtained through an open records request.

To move thousands of prisoners with such scant notice, TDCJ called in most of its transport fleet and packed prisoners onto 77 buses and other transport vans. They shipped emergency supplies, bottled water, ice and sandbags to impacted areas.

Early on, the department evacuated Stringfellow, Terrell and Ramsey prisons, and days later they cleared out the Jester III and Vance units as well.

The department also moved more than 5,700 heads of cattle, 629 swine and 54 horses to higher ground. Crops weren't as easy to save, however, and the agribusiness division ended up losing some $500,000 in cotton alone, roughly 40 percent of the year's yield. Another 300 acres of unharvested corn and other vegetables were also ruined by floodwaters.

A tractor in Navasota, water heaters in Beeville and a cotton gin in Brazoria County also fell prey to the storm.

Even though Harvey dumped far more rain than Hurricane Rita, it netted less damage to the prison system, according to TDCJ spokesman Jason Clark. The 2005 storm caused around $10 million in damages, primarily at the Stiles Unit in Beaumont.

Harvey totaled just over $800,000 in facility damages, primarily at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, where the maintenance shop required more than $400,000 in repairs. Garza East and West in Beeville had some minor roof damages, while Luther Unit in Navasota sustained minor ceiling damage. Terrell Unit in Rosharon lost two transformers to the storm, while the North Houston parole building needed roof and ceiling repairs along with tile replacements for the flooded floor.

Aside from damaged buildings, other associated costs of the Category 4 storm included more than $750,000 for food, $127,000 for equipment rentals and around $110,000 in gas needed to evacuate prisoners.

A broad category of "other operating expenses" totaled more than $4.2 million, which Clark said included $1.7 million in estimated losses from future crop production as well as damage to fences, bridges and roads.

Flood of complaints

The costs of the storm could continue to rise, however, if any of the slew of inmate claims coalesce into credible legal cases. Although complaints of waterlogged cells and no water for inmates first surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, a growing number of similar claims have since flooded activist and legal groups tracking the post-storm conditions.

Because prisoners have to exhaust the internal grievance process before filing suit, it could be months before most Harvey-related litigation starts hitting federal docket, but the National Lawyers Guild's Prisoners Legal Advocacy Network said it's gathering complaints for possible legal action.

"I've heard from so many prisoners in Texas," said PLAN attorney Stanley Holdorf. "I've never seen this volume of letters from inmates."

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008, more than 130 Beaumont-area prisoners filed suits alleging that they should have been evacuated and that the post-storm living conditions violated their civil rights. Most of the suits appear to have been dismissed, according to Holdorf, who attributed it primarily to the lack of legal representation.

In September, the advocacy network posted online a strongly worded letter to TDCJ outlining inmate complaints. The stark claims include everything from mail service disruptions to lack of food to inmates living in their own waste without water in the Beaumont-area facilities that did not evacuate.

In addition to the more than 100 inmate letters collected by the NLG, the Austin Anarchist Black Cross has also fielded a slew of prisoner complaints, offering a similar stream of allegations.

"A striking pattern was the lack of water distribution in Stiles Unit," said Marissa Levy with the Austin-based collective. "Some reported getting two water bottles a day. We even got reports of some people saying it was so bad they were vomiting."

The reports came in response to roughly 100 surveys the activist group sent out to prisoners from Beaumont to Huntsville to Rosharon. About 30 responded.

"Absolutely NO sanitary drinking water until after about the 4th day," Stiles Unit inmate David Schmidt wrote. "No shower whatsoever until several days went by."

Inmates "rarely" had access to the portable toilets brought in to manage the crisis, he said.

"We had to urinate and defecate in our toilet with no way to flush it," another prisoner at the Beaumont unit alleged.

Although some reported water flooding and pooling in their cells, others denied it.

"No flooding in my cell or unit to my knowledge," one Stiles prisoner wrote.

Looking ahead

Clark challenged the prisoners' claims, pointing out that many of those who responded didn't live on the ground floor where flooding would have occurred. Previously, Clark pushed back against claims about food and water shortages and insufficient toilet access.

"The allegations are completely false," he said at the time, adding that the department brought in 5,000- and 6,000-gallon water tankers and roughly 270,000 bottles of water to address the crisis.

Lowry, the former union chief, concurred with Clark's statements debunking unit flooding.

"I visited the Stiles Unit shortly afterward," he said. "There may have been some leaky roofs and stuff like that, but actual floodwaters getting inside - that didn't happen."

Even so, Lowry said, prisoners should have been moved, given the unpredictable nature of storms and storm surge.

"The big cover-up is they didn't have the staff to move them," he said. In early September, Lowry told the Chronicle that several hundred officers were unable to make it into work at Beaumont-area facilities during the storm because of road flooding. A few absences, Lowry said, can create a dire situation at units that are already understaffed; Gist, Stiles and LeBlanc units all have at least 21 percent vacancy rates for correctional officers, according to October TDCJ data.

Right after the storm, Clark said Lowry's estimate on the number of absences seemed inflated, pointing out that TDCJ shipped in more than 90 officers from across the state to help out. But Lowry insisted, citing Google Earth images showing nearly empty parking lots during the storm.

"We definitely need a better contingency plan in the future," he said. "We're playing Russian roulette. It's just a matter of time till we have the right combination of events and have a catastrophe."
AUSTIN -- How do you get noticed in a field of 10 mostly unknown candidates for governor with just two months before voting begins?

That's a question the record-size Democratic Party field was asking Tuesday as the long-shot race to unseat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott officially launched. The Democrats may have little name ID and campaign cash, but they have big aspirations to turn the Texas Governor's Mansion blue next year for the fist time since 1995.

As one Austin campaign consultant described it: "It's like being in a family with 10 kids who are all seeking their parents' attention at the same time. The ones with the loudest voices will get noticed."

But for someone like Mike Collier, a retired accountant from Kingwood who is challenging well-known and well-funded Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the path to victory in the November 2018 general election - and just surviving the March primaries - will require more than just being loud.

"Texas is a big old state and, as a practical matter, there's only so much you can do with shoe leather to win. You have to raise money," he said, noting that he began fundraising soon after he launched his campaign last May, as he started campaigning.

"There is no substitute for money. I have a Rolodex, and I have been talking to donors for months."

To be sure: Getting elected governor in Texas is no cheap proposition, with estimates of how much it takes to win a contested primary starting at $10 million and a contested general election at well over $40 million, based on recent campaigns.

Abbott spent $49 million to win his 2014 campaign against well-known Democrat Wendy Davis, whom he walloped by more than 20 points.

Lesser-known candidates generally raise less money and provide less of a challenge for a better-known rival, but in primaries generally the candidates with the most campaign bucks get the most votes statewide - unless they have built name ID with voters by campaigning for a long time.

Dallas businessman Jeffrey Payne, who announced last summer and has been touring Texas ever since speaking to mostly Democratic and younger-voter groups, said he planned to put to $2.5 million of his own money into his race - but so far he has not had to ante up on his own.

Hardy Haberman, his campaign spokesman, said that rather than raise big money to mount a traditional TV ad campaign, Payne will rely mostly on outdoor and social media to reach "non-traditional voter groups" that will carry him to a hoped-for primary victory.

Other Democratic challengers have said they have similar strategies to get their message out across Texas, with relatively little campaign money in the bank so far and essentially just two months left before primary voting begins.

'Get out and hustle'

Andrew White, a Houston entrepreneur and son of the late former Gov. Mark White, said he expects to raise $3 million to $4 million to win the primary and may need several times that much to beat Abbott in the general election.

"I'm looking at this campaign like it's a start-up," said White, who has started several successful ventures in his career. "I've got to get out and hustle.  I think the money will come."

Republican political consultant Jordan Berry, who advised U.S. Rep. Brian Babin in his successful 2014 victory from a field of 12 GOP primary candidates, said money will be the key.

Babin, a Woodville dentist and former mayor who had some name ID, focused his early campaign efforts on raising money, while others knocked on doors and did less fundraising. Babin then used his campaign funds to get his message out through ads - and then won the primary and a runoff, the latter with nearly 58 percent of the vote.

"In these races with a lot of candidates, people are fighting for everyone's attention and trying to get name ID," Berry said. "Sitting by a phone and raising money is a better way to go, because if you have money you can get your name out there."

Austin consultants on both sides of the political aisle predict that the path to the Governor's Mansion for a Democrat could be even more difficult this year, because the popular Abbott has well over $40 million in his campaign war chest and national Democrats will be looking to raise money in Texas to help them recapture Congress.

And then, Texas is still overwhelmingly Republican and will likely say so in the November election, the consultants insist, even though Democratic Party officials predict the state will be surprised by a blue wave in the general election.

Ready to listen

Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who jumped into the race a week ago, might have the best understanding of how to get noticed in a field of 10 candidates, as the youngest of eight children growing up in San Antonio.

"Over the coming months, she looks forward to listening to everyday Texans and talking about the issues that keep them up at night," her campaign spokesman Kiefer Odell said in an email. "Through modern campaign tools, old-school retail politics, and grassroots organizing, we plan to earn the Democratic nomination for governor. We are reaching out to voters in every single corner of our state."

As for what Abbott thinks about the 10 Democrats challenging him, he quipped to a reporter Tuesday: "I think you intimidate me more."

His campaign said he has nothing to say about any of them.
WASHINGTON - National Religious Broadcasters, a group of Christian media outlets, has unveiled a new initiative to counter what it sees as the suppression of Christian and conservative views online.

The internet freedom initiative aims to call attention to Google, Facebook, Apple and other tech companies' "stifling" of free speech, NRB President & CEO Jerry A. Johnson said at a recent news conference and panel discussion on the topic.

"It is unacceptable for these titans to discriminate against users just because their viewpoints are not congruent with ideas popular in Silicon Valley," Johnson said.

The initiative includes a website to document instances of suppressed online speech.

As part of the initiative, NRB has sent letters to Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter to press the issue and has called on Congress to address the matter publicly.

Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter did not respond for comment on the initiative and the NRB's accusations.

The initiative is supported by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said tech giants effectively "muzzle conservatives" for supporting Christian values online.

Also joining in the news conference: Robert McDowell, a former commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission; Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition; and Craig Strazzeri, chief marketing officer for PragerU, a conservative nonprofit that posts videos online.

"It was a little over a year and a half ago that we discovered that 15 PragerU videos at the time were being restricted," Strazzeri said. "There's now nearly 40 videos being restricted out of our 250. It's a big portion of our library."

A suit was filed against Google in October accusing YouTube - which is owned by Google - of censorship. Google responded to the suit, saying it had not engaged in censorship but allows users to use "Restricted Mode" to filter out videos that may include sensitive or mature content.
WASHINGTON - The largest Catholic church in North America is now complete.

After 100 years of construction, thousands of worshippers recently witnessed the blessing of 24 tons of Venetian glass that embellish the dome of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Called the "Trinity Dome," the glass mosaic is the final architectural element of the church, a shrine to Mary which sits next to the Catholic University of America and is visited by nearly 1 million people a year.

A 10-minute procession of cardinals, bishops and priests preceded the two-hour ceremony and Mass to mark the dedication of the dome.

Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, who celebrated the Mass. called the basilica a "modern-day masterpiece." Faith, he said, was the reason why so many people, for so many years, sacrificed to finish the church.

"Mary believed that nothing is impossible with God," Wuerl said in his homily. "She is the supreme model of what it means to believe."

The Trinity Dome is one of the largest mosaic installations of its kind in the world, composed of more than 14 million pieces of glass. It depicts the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, a procession of saints and angels, the four evangelists and the Nicene Creed. It also includes stained-glass windows dedicated to the many donors to the dome.

The church for years has had scaffolding in the central nave to support work on the dome. Carol Wyble, a Catholic University graduate, once climbed it to watch her husband James, a mechanical engineer, work to bring things to a finish.

"It was quite a process," said Wyble, who invited friends from New Hampshire to join in celebrating the newly completed basilica.

The dedication took place on Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which celebrates the belief that the conception of the Virgin Mary was free from original sin. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the merits of Jesus kept Mary's soul "immaculate." The feast is a public holiday in many countries.

Pope Francis, who visited the basilica in 2015, sent a letter marking the dedication in which he expressed hope that all who look at the depiction of Mary in the dome may "with new vigor and new ardor of charity, show forth special love for the Church of Christ and the Gospel, even in our own age."

Wuerl recalled that as a student in the 1960s he came to the basilica and all the walls except for one were simply brick.

"I thought it was magnificent then," said Wuerl who was overcome with emotion during the procession. "Joy and thanks to God. I'm so joyful."

Lawrence "Larry" Boesch of Potomac, Md., did not have to travel far to attend the Mass and dedication. A member of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization, he said he has watched the church grow since 1957. "It's a place to come back to," he said.

Others came from much farther to see the completed church.

Eric Gianforcaro, a religious studies major and senior at Cabrini University in Pennsylvania, said he has come many times before but he wanted to see Mother Cabrini depicted in the dome.

Chinyere Odoemene came from New Jersey with her sister-in-law who was visiting from Nigeria. Odoemene's brother, a priest, brought her to the church in the 1990s, to help her heal from the loss of her husband. She said she returns as often as she can.

With the Washington basilica completed, the Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, designed by the world famous architect Antoni Gaudi, is now the largest unfinished Roman Catholic church.

Next up for the basilica? Preparations already have begun for the upcoming 2020 celebration of the 100th anniversary of the placing of its foundation stone.
For decades, the tax code has been filled with rewards for homeownership. Tax breaks encourage people to get into first homes and to trade up as they get older, building a national mindset that you're never quite middle class until you've qualified for a mortgage.

It amounts to a vast social engineering project that assumes society is better off with owners instead of renters. But the tax bill making its way toward final passage is upending that premise.

The bill will increase many homeowners' monthly housing costs by scaling back deductions that allow them to reduce mortgage interest and property taxes. And by roughly doubling the standard deduction, it reduces the incentive to buy homes by making far fewer homeowners eligible for preferential tax treatment.

Today, a little under half of U.S. homes are worth enough to justify itemizing mortgage interest and property taxes. Under the tax legislation, that figure would fall to close to 14 percent, according to an analysis of the plan by the online real estate marketplace Zillow.

The Republican plan, in short, is tinkering with subsidies so entrenched in the social fabric that they have become entitlements in all but name.

"It suggests a limit in the federal government's willingness to subsidize ownership," said Edward Glaeser, an economist at Harvard. "It's also a reflection of just how expensive housing has become, and how it feels problematic to be using the tax code to support people buying houses that are this expensive or, even worse, to be encouraging housing prices to rise further."

Both parties have long championed homeownership as a way to help people build wealth and keep neighborhoods more stable. But economists like Glaeser have been critical of the resulting subsidies.

In their view, the government has made homeownership and its financing artificially cheap through the tax code and mortgage backers like Fannie Mae. As a result, people are encouraged to take on more debt than they might otherwise - to buy bigger homes and second homes, and to plow the equity they accrue into renovations and personal spending.

This distorts the economy in a number of ways. For starters, it's unfair: Since the benefits of these deductions get bigger with larger and more expensive homes, the bulk of the benefits accrue to wealthier homeowners in pricier markets. This alters the landscape by encouraging more single-family homes and suburban sprawl. That, in turn, prompts the government to spend more on roads and infrastructure and makes housing a bigger portion of the economy than it would be in the absence of federal help.

Construction, though, is one of the least productive industries. By funneling more of the national debt and savings into construction, the government is hindering sectors, like education and manufacturing, that have a bigger economic payoff.

All this has made homeowner subsidies, in particular the mortgage interest deduction, one of the rare tax breaks with critics across the political spectrum. Matthew Desmond, a Princeton sociologist who studies how eviction wreaks havoc on the lives on the poor, has documented how the deduction became the "engine of American inequality" because it favors higher-income homeowners.

Edward J. Pinto, co-director of the conservative American Enterprise Institute's Center for Housing Markets and Finance, has described the interest deduction and other homeowner subsidies as a wasteful giveaway that inflates home prices and encourages people to borrow excessively.

"My basic view is if you subsidize something you'll get more of it, and as a country we've been subsidizing debt," he said.

Jeff Neubauer is already thinking more conservatively. Neubauer, 34, who helps manage his family's electrical contracting business and lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is looking to trade up from his two-bedroom condominium to a larger home in the $800,000-to-$900,000 range. Now, he is worried that the cost of ownership will be much higher and rather play it safe until the effects of the bill are clearer.

"It makes me want to not spend as much money," he said.

The bill does retain significant subsidies, allowing homebuyers to deduct interest on mortgages as high as $750,000 - accounting for the vast majority - and up to $10,000 total in property taxes and state and local income taxes. But real estate agents have portrayed the changes as a full-blown attack on their industry.

"The final tax reform bill released punishes homeowners and weakens home-ownership," the California Association of Realtors said in a statement issued on Friday, "and in fact, it looks at homeowners and the housing market as nothing more than a piggy bank."
What should happen to Jesus Contreras? He's the 23-year-old paramedic Chronicle readers met last month in a profile by reporter Olivia Tallet. When Hurricane Harvey besieged Houston, Contreras worked for six days and nights in a row without returning home as a member of the Montgomery County Hospital District's ambulance staff.

"It was hard work, constant, barely sleeping and standing in the water for days rescuing people," Contreras told Tallet. "But I felt I was doing what I had to do, helping families in peril, as I believe others would do for my family."

So, what do we do with a young man like Contreras? Do we salute his compassion? Honor his courage and steadfastness? Or do we send federal immigration officers banging on his apartment door in the dark of night with orders to deport him to a land he barely remembers?

Contreras is a Dreamer, one of approximately 800,000 young people brought to this country as children by parents without documentation. As he related to Tallet, he arrived in Houston with his eyes closed, at age 6, sleeping in a bus on his mother's lap.

They were fleeing their home in Nuevo Laredo from his now-deceased father, who was involved in the drug world in a city overwhelmed by organized crime. What he initially thought would be a vacation with his mother and several relatives, all living in a trailer north of Houston, became a new life in America, the only life he knows.

Contreras grew up here, excelled here, is building a life here. But now, he and every other Dreamer is in limbo. They're at the mercy of dithering lawmakers who refuse to act on legislation to protect them. Despite overwhelming public support for Dreamers, despite bipartisan support in Congress, they wait, their future uncertain.

When President Donald Trump announced in September that he was canceling the Obama-era program that had protected Dreamers from deportation, he gave Congress until March 2018 to come up with a legislative solution. Every day that passes not only makes it more difficult for Dreamers to get on with their lives but also makes it easier for obstructionists in Congress to prevail.

Democrats had considered attaching DACA legislation to the year-end spending bill but ultimately decided against that approach. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and other Republicans have introduced measures that would link DACA legislation to tighter border security, including some kind of border wall. Those measures are going nowhere.

Last week, 34 House Republicans wrote to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., endorsing what they called a "permanent legislative solution." U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., has introduced a bill that would set Dreamers on a 10-year path to citizenship. A Senate bill sponsored by three Republicans would create a 15-year plan.

Ryan maintains there's no hurry; lawmakers have until March to get the issue resolved, he says. Presumably Ryan didn't check with Jesus Contreras and his fellow Dreamers, young men and women who would like to know they can take jobs, serve in the military, enroll in school without the cloud of uncertainty hanging over their lives.

Why wait, Speaker Ryan? Why wait? With the days dwindling down it's time to do the right thing.
As we write this, five U.S. citizens and a permanent U.S resident who held top positions at Houston-based, Venezuelan-owned refiner Citgo sit in a Caracas jail awaiting a trial for which the outcome looks to be a foregone conclusion.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is close to being a tin-pot dictator if he isn't one already, has all but pronounced them guilty and flatly rejected what he said was a request by the U.S. government to release the men, who are also Venezuelans.

"These people were born in Venezuela, they are Venezuelan and they will be tried for being corrupt, for being thieves and for being traitors to the nation," he said on national television, apparently not too concerned about prejudicing the court.

"They're properly behind bars, and they should go to the worst prison in Venezuela."

Considering all that Maduro has done since succeeding the late Hugo Chavez in 2013, including a massive power grab earlier this year that basically shoved aside the duly-elected, opposition-controlled National Assembly, it's hard to bet against him getting what he wants.

But we view it as imperative that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson take a strong stand on this as a matter of upholding international law and protecting American citizens.

Whether Maduro likes it or not, five of these men are full-blown Americans as well as Venezuelans, and he has to respect all their rights. Those should have begun with consular visits by U.S. diplomats that the Trump administration requested under the Vienna Convention but have yet to be granted.

We strongly believe the United States has to put its foot down hard on this issue and not allow these men to be subjected to a kangaroo court and possible long jail sentences. Trump previously imposed economic sanctions against Venezuela that have hindered the government's international dealings. Perhaps it's time to impose more.

The Citgo executives, who include acting president Jose Angel Pereira and five company vice presidents, are accused of trying to restructure $4 billion in company debt in a deal with private U.S. and European companies that Venezuelan state prosecutor Tarek William Saab said put Citgo at risk. Citgo, though based in Texas, is owned by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA.

We have no idea if the accusations are legitimate or not, but we don't have great faith in Maduro, who seems constantly on the lookout for people besides himself to blame for the disastrous state of Venezuela. Under his and Chavez's policies, the country has become an economic basket case, despite sitting atop the world's largest oil reserves.

If a legal case is to be made, it should be done in international courts where the rule of law, not political power, prevails.

We're ashamed to say that in Texas this is a "do as we say, not as we do" proposition because our state has thumbed its nose at this notion in past capital murder cases with Mexican defendants. But we would have been better served if the U.S. government had intervened forcefully. So would Venezuela if, by some miracle and unlike Texas, it listens to reason.
WASHINGTON - A household appliance will be the next stepping stone on America's path to restored greatness. The government is poised to punish many Americans, in the name of protecting a few of them, because, in the government's opinion, too many of them are choosing to buy foreign-made washing machines for no better reason than that the buyers think they are better. If you are wondering why the government is squandering its dwindling prestige by having opinions about such things, you have not been paying attention to Whirlpool's demonstration that it is more adept at manipulating Washington than it is at making washing machines.

In 2006, when Whirlpool was paying $1.7 billion to buy its largest competitor, Maytag, federal regulators fretted that this would give the company too much market power. Whirlpool said: Fear not, competition from foreign manufacturers such as South Korea's Samsung and LG will keep us sharp and benefit American consumers. Now, however, Whirlpool, weary of competition, has persuaded the U.S. International Trade Commission to rule that Samsung and LG should be reproached for what, 11 years ago, Whirlpool said it welcomed: competition.

The U.S. market for washing machines has grown 35 percent in just five years. Whirlpool's share of this market, although not the 70 percent it was in 2006, is still more than Samsung's and LG's combined 35 percent. In this happy circumstance, Whirlpool is profitable. It would, however, like to be more so, and it will be if the president accedes to the commission's unanimous recommendation and imposes a "tariff-rate quota."

This is a tax, paid by American consumers, on imports that exceed a certain quantity that, in the government's opinion (formed with the assistance of domestic manufacturers), is excessive.

The tariff/tax, which is designed to limit the choices of, and increase the prices paid by, American consumers would be 50 percent on all imported machines, after the first 1.2 million. U.S. customers caused the importation of about 3 million Samsung and LG washers in 2016.

Back in the day, Henry Ford said people could have the Model T in any color they wanted, as long as they wanted black. General Motors' ascent was helped by offering color choices. Until recently, purchasers of washing machines had to want white ones. And ones that loaded in the top, and signaled the end of a cycle with buzzers. Then came imports in various colors, that loaded in the front, had chimes instead of buzzers, and other features.

Competition increased, and so did Whirlpool's reliance on the government, which in 2012 imposed duties on washing machines imported from South Korea and Mexico. Samsung and LG responded rationally, by what protectionists stigmatize as "country hopping," moving some production to China, then Vietnam and Thailand. And now to the United States. Samsung and LG have announced plans to become domestic manufacturers. Samsung will open a manufacturing plant, with approximately 1,000 employees, in Newberry, South Carolina. LG's plant will be near Clarksville, Tennessee.

Before Whirlpool became dependent on government, it depended on Sears, which in the 1920s threw a financial lifeline to a struggling appliance manufacturer, Upton Machine Co., that became Whirlpool. According to The Wall Street Journal, as recently as 2002, when Sears sold 40 percent of the major appliances bought in America, sales through Sears generated about a fifth of Whirlpool's revenues.

In October, Sears announced that it would stop selling Whirlpool brand products because Whirlpool is powerful enough to make pricing demands that "would have prohibited us from" selling those products "at a reasonable price."

Sears is not what it was just 15 years ago, and is a shadow of what it was in the 1960s when its sales were almost 1 percent of U.S. GDP. Sears has been prostrated not by perfidious foreigners but by America's efficient "big box" retailers (Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy, Lowe's, etc.) and by Amazon. The real villains, however, are American consumers, with their persnickety search for high quality and low prices.

The president has until February to exercise his vast discretion regarding things like washing machine imports. If you are wondering how presidents came to have such discretion to impose taxation on American consumers, you have not been paying attention to Congress' creation, by improperly delegated powers, of the imperial presidency.

Will's email address is georgewill@washpost.com.
Many people may think it was Anita Hill's testimony at confirmation hearings on Clarence Thomas' 1991 nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court that first brought workplace sexual harassment to light. In fact, it was just over 40 years ago that this currently red-hot issue first gained wide media attention.

In October 1977, Working Women United Institute co-sponsored a sexual harassment speak out with Ms. magazine in New York City in which more than 100 women shared heart-wrenching stories of unwanted sexually fraught interactions on the job. Soon after, Ms. featured a cover story on sexual harassment, and Redbook, Ladies' Home Journal, McCall's, the "Phil Donahue Show" and "Good Morning America" followed with their own stories.

This sudden interest in sexual harassment didn't just happen. It came after two years of grass-roots organizing that began with the case of Cornell University employee Carmita Wood, who was denied unemployment benefits after a professor's repeated sexual advances forced her out of her job. Three women in the univeristy's human affairs department, Lin Farley, Susan Meyer and Karen Sauvigne, investigated and found Wood's experience was no aberration, but a widespread social problem.

The groundswell of activism that followed led to real change. Most fundamentally, the courts ruled that sexual harassment fell under the domain of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. But these laws did not alleviate problems in all types of employment, nor did they correct the cultural tendency to forgive the accused and question the accuser.

I saw that for myself at age 12 in junior high school. My social studies teacher, Mr. Emory, who often replayed the previous night's news, had us watch Hill recount to the judiciary committee Thomas' repeated come-ons and vulgar comments and inappropriate behavior.

Up to that point, I had no reason to think my way through life would be any different than my male classmates'. Watching the Thomas nomination play out, I was no longer so sure. The experience turned me into a feminist and set me on a path to becoming a women's historian.

Women clearly were outraged at how committee members questioned Hill's morality while sneering at the notion that Thomas had acted as crudely as Hill described. For one thing, in the year after the hearings, sexual harassment complaints filed with the EEOC surged to 10,532 from 6,883 in the 12 months prior.

The nation took notice, too. Corporations and universities introduced sensitivity training. Congress passed laws making employers liable for damages up to $300,000 for workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment.

A year after Hill's testimony, a record 20 women ran for U.S. Senate, and four were elected, bringing the total to six. The gain was large enough that some journalists dubbed 1992 the "Year of the Woman." Unfortunately, it was too small to actually create meaningful policy changes for women.

Political analysts now are looking to the next election as another potential "Year of the Woman." Be that as it may, it should not fall solely to women in Congress to reset the baseline for acceptable workplace behavior.

This current wave of intolerance for men whose lewd behavior, unwanted touching, forced kisses and even sexual assault make work unbearable for women can be a watershed moment for a new generation of young people. We have a responsibility as parents, educators, community members, employers and constituents to make sure that we move past our current shock to sustained action. The first thing to do is to require simple, basic decency in all of our elected leaders, regardless of party.

In 1972, when the National Women's Political Caucus made its debut on the national scene, an aide of President Richard Nixon quipped that the women at its first conference looked like a burlesque show. Nixon was highly amused at this comparison. He should not have been. Men, up to and including those occupying the White House, should not assume women's issues are jokes or that treating women badly is a man's birthright.

Sexual harassment in the 21st century is a product of the patriarchal foundation upon which our nation's democracy was formed. Greater acknowledgment of this persistent feature of our political institutions and our culture is the necessary first step toward a solution.

Sexual harassment should be a nonpartisan issue that ought to matter as much to men as to women. So it's troubling that, according to a recent Quorum poll, more women than men, and more Democrats than Republicans on Capitol Hill have shown an interest in talking about and legislating anti-harassment policies. A wider understanding that sexual harassment has less to do with sex and more to do with a basic right to work and be in public free of the threat of sexual violence or ridicule could help balance out the gendered and political response to this issue.

We must work to turn this this national #MeToo firestorm into a sustained swell of engagement moving into the elections of 2018 and 2020. In the voting booth, we can pledge to vote out "creep list" offenders. It is my hope as we look toward the centennial of women gaining the vote in 1920 that this will be among our commemorative acts.

Zarnow is an assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of Houston and a specialist on women in politics, law and the media.
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These days, it seems like every city is trying to implement smart initiatives. Take Singapore for example, now known for the most extensive effort to collect data on citizens daily living habits/routines ever attempted by a municipality. Even Bill Gates has pumped millions of dollars into helping Phoenix in their smart city efforts.

But what do we mean when we talk about a smart city? Is it the better use of resources within the city center, or the fact that all resources being wasted would eventually be overcome? Eventually, we can all agree to disagree, as there is a perception most people have in their mind with regards to the functionality and the phenomenon we know as the smart city.

Since development has been rapid, it is difficult to keep an eye on all that is happening. Industries have started adapting the Internet of Things (IoT) and wish to implement it in a broader level to increase efficiency. But regardless of whats transpired to-date in all industries, one thing that does not escape the eye is M2ocitys rollout in France.

To talk over this matter, I got in touch with the man behind these technicalities: Xavier Diab, IT director at M2ocity. Readers who are not yet familiar with M2ocity should know that the company is Frances biggest telecom operator for the Internet of Things (IoT). A result of a merger between water supplier Veolia and operator Orange, M2ocity has emerged as a leading protagonist in the market for IoT in France.

Drivers for Merger

Veolia water and Orange gave birth to m2ocity in 2011, bringing both companies services together in the form of a smart metering entity. M2ocity has expanded its range from France to other areas of the world. Veolia water, which had a strong presence across France, initiated the union with Orange, fostering hopes that both the companies could improve their quality of customer service by safeguarding resources and optimizing performance at scale

The merger between Veolia water and Orange has come a long way from where it started, as M2ocity now stands at a crucial position in the drive towards a smart city.

One of my first questions to M2ocitys Xavier Diab was about the drivers behind the merger into M2ocity, Frances biggest telecom operator for IoT and applications. Xavier responded that water was and is a vital resource for inhabitants living in all major cities and metropolitan centers around the world. Since water resources are very important, it is imperative that all stakeholders involved take steps to preserve and manage it in a smart way.

Although we know about the importance of water as a commodity, we havent taken concrete steps to address its preservation. In France alone, around 343 billion gallons (1,300 billion liters) of all portable water goes to waste due to leaks in hydraulic systems across French cities. The extent of the waste can be equated to 25% of the countrys total water being lost due to minor leaks across the region. These leaks come at a cost to both consumers and operators.

M2ocity, being the biggest player in the French telecom market, hopes to implement a three point initiative for better waste management. The initiative includes smart city networks, smart objects, and energy efficiency, which end up forming the smart city itself.

Challenges

M2ocitys aim to create a smart city was met by numerous challenges. Some of the challenges they faced can be listed in the following ways:

Water Leakages: As mentioned above, water leakage was a big hindrance in the fulfillment of the smart city project. Water leakages are usually comprised of end point leakages, underground leakages (the most complicated ones), and above ground leakages.

As mentioned above, water leakage was a big hindrance in the fulfillment of the smart city project. Water leakages are usually comprised of end point leakages, underground leakages (the most complicated ones), and above ground leakages. Data Collection: Along their way, M2ocity realized that data collection for IoT is not as easy as it sounds. Since there is are standards available in the market, it is difficult to collect data in a seamless way. The availability of different formats means that collectors often face a conundrum of what to collect, how to monitor, and what to use.

Along their way, M2ocity realized that data collection for IoT is not as easy as it sounds. Since there is are standards available in the market, it is difficult to collect data in a seamless way. The availability of different formats means that collectors often face a conundrum of what to collect, how to monitor, and what to use. Too Much Data: While the implications of collecting data also proved to be problematic, the high scale of data present offers another challenge. As I have highlighted in previous articles, AI or IoT can only be successful if the data is cleansed.. The challenges in delivering data with the added responsibility to rationalize and cleanse data makes for an interesting challenge that can only be addressed through the use of seamless methods that make the process flawless. While the size of the data brings challenges to the collection and setting a metric for the compilation of data, there are also numerous implications when it comes to visualizing/displaying the data . The visualization of such high quantities of data requires both performance and architectural capabilities. For M2ocity to display these proficiencies, it was imperative that it got in touch with a data integration firm that had both better standardized devices and formats.

The Solution

When asked about the solution to the problem, Xavier responded:

For M2ocity, that data integration entity was Talend, which offered the flexibility and reliability they were looking for. M2ocitys data needs were diverse and required the best of Talend to process the information in a way that would be suitable for both M2ocity and its customers. Talends format, collection intervals, and scalability fit perfectly with what M2ocity required.

Xavier elaborated on the companys selection criteria, noting it had numerous vendors from which it had to choose. However, despite other vendor bids, the offer from Talend beat out competing solutions for its ability to keep pace with rapidly evolving business needs, an easy-to-use interface, and a reasonable pricing model that was in-line with their budget.

Results

It has been over 7 years both firms went into an agreement, and the ride has been nothing short of incredibly successful. Some of the results Xavier pointed to as metrics of the projects success include:

More than 2.3 million smart sensors have been installed across 3,000 cities.

The system manages around 20 million messages of data from clients per day.

There are around 140 million messages collected and displayed every week.

We collect all types of datawater, temperature, electricity, pollution, noise data, etc.and analyze them to develop innovative public services in smart cities.

Xavier Diab

The future for the IoT and better data integration is indeed bright, and M2ocity wants to expand its services into lighting, safety, security, and temperature.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-smart-city-iot-big-data-ronald-van-loon-1/?
Imperial Valley News Center

California Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for $1M Adult Adoption Immigration Fraud Scheme

Sacramento, California - Helaman Hansen, 65, of Elk Grove, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. for operating an elaborate adult-adoption fraud scheme that targeted undocumented aliens, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Judge England also ordered Hansen to pay $576,264 in restitution.

On May 9, 2017, after an 11-day trial, a federal jury found Hansen guilty of 12 counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private financial gain.

U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: The sentence today acknowledges the vast number of people victimized by the defendant. He preyed upon hundreds of people who wanted to find a pathway to American citizenship and exploited their hopes and dreams for his own financial gain. The defendants lies and false promises caused many to part with substantial amounts of money, and in some instances, a lifetimes worth of savings. I want to thank our federal partners at ICEs Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI for their hard work in bringing the defendant justice.

Todays decision should send a clear message to anyone who chooses to take advantage of innocent victims who are only trying to make a better life for themselves, said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. HSI continues to work closely with our law enforcement partners to seek out and arrest opportunistic swindlers who misrepresent our nations immigration laws for their own personal gain.

The FBI is committed to identifying and investigating fraud, especially when such crimes prey upon the most vulnerable people in our community. Legitimate pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants exist but adult adoption is not one of them. Unfortunately, Hansen knowingly accepted funds for adult adoption processes despite being informed that such would not aid his victims with obtaining citizenship, said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Sacramento Field Office.

According to evidence presented at trial, between October 2012 and January 2016, Hansen and others used various entities such as Americans Helping America (AHA) to sell memberships in what he called a Migration Program. A central feature of the program was the fraudulent claim that immigrant adults could achieve U.S. citizenship by being legally adopted by an American citizen and completing a list of additional tasks. At first, memberships were sold for an annual fee of $150, but that fee grew and eventually was as high as $10,000.

Although some victims completed the adoption stage of the Migration Program, not one person obtained citizenship. As early as October 2012, Hansen had been informed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that aliens adopted after their 16th birthday could not obtain citizenship in the manner Hansen was promoting. Despite that notification, Hansen and others acting at his direction induced approximately 500 victims to pay more than $1 million to join the fraudulent program.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andre M. Espinosa and Katherine T. Lydon prosecuted the case.
Former Bookkeeper and Associate Plead Guilty to Embezzling More Than $1 M from Fresno Business

Fresno, California - Fresno residents Brandi Marshall, 41, and Daniel Barrios Jr., 37, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money in connection with their embezzlement of money from a Fresno business, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Marshall was employed as the companys bookkeeper between October 2014 and March 2016 and was responsible for, among other things, receiving and depositing checks from customers to pay their invoices. During that time, she and Barrios misappropriated more than 100 checks and fraudulently deposited them into Barrioss personal bank account. Marshall and Barrios used money derived from the fraudulently deposited checks for personal purchases, including more than $35,000 to purchase and accessorize a 2016 Ford Mustang GT, and more than $25,000 to purchase a 2012 Dodge Challenger. Marshall created fictitious entries in the companys computer accounting application to attempt to conceal the embezzlement. Together, Marshall and Barrios embezzled more than $1 million dollars.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.

Marshall and Barrios are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on March 12, 2018, and March 19, 2018, respectively. They face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and an additional 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine for conspiracy to launder money. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Coordinated Federal And State Law Enforcement Operation Results In The Arrest Of More Than 35 Bakersfield Gang Members And Associates

Bakersfield, California - Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bakersfield Police Department, the United States Attorneys Office, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, and the Kern County District Attorneys Office announced the result of a multi-agency operation in Bakersfield that resulted in the arrest of more than 35 members and associates of the West Side Crips (WSC), a local criminal street gang on federal and state charges including burglary, illegal gun possession, drug sales, and murder. State and federal law enforcement teams also executed more than 30 residential search warrants.

The arrests are a result of a 10-month investigation that began in March 2017. Federal agents drafted a 200-page affidavit in support of federal complaints and search warrants that details several WSC members alleged crimes. The alleged crimes presented in the federal and state cases include weapons violations, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, money laundering, methamphetamine sales, crack cocaine sales, opiate sales, attempted murder and murder. The affidavit also details WSC members plan to shoot into a crowd of approximately 200 people, including rival gang members, at a local park in early October 2017. Their plan was thwarted by law enforcement as a result of this investigation. A listing of the individuals arrested and the specific charges they face is attached to this release. The charges brought today are allegations - all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: This operation is another example of how my office has worked closely with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent criminal street gangs and their associates. As part of our Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, we are committed to collaborating with these partners to hold accountable those who make our communities unsafe.

Bakersfield Police Chief Lyle Martin stated, This gang has victimized our city through a system of murder and intimidation. We are using the resources of our city, county, state and federal authorities to stop senseless acts of gun violence that are traumatizing and killing our citys children. This is the enforcement piece to the departments community-wide approach to addressing gang violence. 

Violent gangs threaten the safety and well-being of entire communities, blighting the neighborhoods they dwell in and placing lives of innocent bystanders at risk,  said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle gangs to protect the public. We also rely on our community relationships in the effort to remove violent gangs from neighborhoods to ensure our region and families have an opportunity to thrive.

My office remains dedicated to working with all law enforcement agencies to successfully solve and prosecute the perpetrators of these violent crimes,  said Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green.

"This violent gang has killed innocent people and escalated violence in our Bakersfield neighborhoods. Today's successful takedown shows that when local, state and federal law enforcement authorities work together to combat violence, we can improve our communities. We are committed to making our neighborhoods safer by prosecuting street gangs to the fullest extent of the law," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Bakersfield Police Department, and Kern County District Attorneys Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Angela Scott and Vincenza Rabenn are prosecuting the case.

More than 300 law enforcement personnel from over 20 law enforcement agencies participated in todays operation. In addition to the investigating agencies the following agencies participated in todays arrests and searches: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Marshals Service, U.S. National Guard, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms, Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force (FMTF), Merced Area Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team (MAGNET), Madera Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET), Tulare Area Regional Gang Enforcement Team (TARGET), Kern County Probation Department, Kern County Sheriffs Department, Kings County Sheriffs Office, Tulare County Sheriffs Office, and Coalinga Police Department.

Federal defendants are as follows and are all residents of Bakersfield:

Tommie Thomas, 35, distribution of methamphetamine; William Thomas, 35, distribution of crack cocaine; Danny Willis, 33, felon in possession of a firearm; Gary Pierson, 36, felon in possession of a firearm; Ladaireus Jones, 24, felon in possession of a firearm; Bernard Warren, 18, felon in possession of a firearm; Manuel Cruz III, 37, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; Luis Fernandez, 26, distribution of methamphetamine; Myron Dewberry, 44, felon in possession of a firearm; and Bryshanique Allen, 21, money laundering.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nations drug supply.

The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Point Arena Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor

Sacramento, California - Tion Makeise Foster, 22, of Point Arena, pleaded guilty Wednesday to sex trafficking of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Foster and co-defendant Monica Merlin Morales, 26, also of Point Arena, transported a 16year-old female victim to various places in the Eastern District of California and the San Francisco Bay Area in August 2016 so that she could engage in commercial sex acts for their financial benefit. They allegedly conspired to traffic her again in November and December that same year.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Yuba County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith is prosecuting the case.

Foster is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on April 18, 2018. Foster faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Charges are pending against Morales. The charges against her are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Turlock Resident Indicted for Aiming Laser Pointer at Sheriff and Emergency Medical Helicopters

Fresno, California - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Roger Shane John, 31, of Turlock, charging him with aiming the beam of a laser pointer at two helicopters, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on the evening of October 22, 2017, John allegedly struck a Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department helicopter, Air 101, five to six times with a powerful green laser, causing visual interference and disrupting an air support response to a domestic violence call. Around the same time, and in the general vicinity of the strikes to Air 101, John struck CalStar 12, an emergency medical helicopter, three to four times. Both aircraft were flying in close proximity to the Modesto Airport at the time of the laser strikes. The laser strikes occurred within the FAA-designated laser-free zone, which encompasses all flight operations at 2,000 feet and below.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department, and Modesto Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

John is scheduled for an arraignment on the indictment on December 15, 2017, in federal court in Fresno.

If convicted, John faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Chico Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Minor

Sacramento, California - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment Thursday against Christopher Lawrence, 23, of Chico, charging him with the sex trafficking of a child by force and coercion, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between July and October 2017, Lawrence recruited a 17year-old girl, and by force and coercion, caused her to engage in commercial sex acts in various cities within the Eastern District of California.

According to the criminal complaint, on October 12, 2017, law enforcement agents found the victim in a Chico hotel during a multi-agency operation targeting child sex trafficking. Lawrence allegedly forced her to have sex with men in various cities, including Sacramento, Yuba City, Gridley, Oroville, Chico, Corning, Redding, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, and in the Bay Area. Lawrence allegedly supplied the victim with drugs and physically assaulted her.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jill Thomas, Nirav Desai, and Amanda Beck are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Lawrence faces a minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
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Harvard University professors constantly read and assign texts to their students. So they know a good book when they see one.

With that in mind, Business Insider asked professors at Harvard to share the single book they think every student should read in 2018.

The professors include Nobel laureates, scientists, economists, and Pulitzer Prize winners. The books they chose were as diverse as their professional backgrounds.

Read on to see what professors from Harvard think you should read next year.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The book has been described as the 'best novel ever written' Shutterstock/TippaPatt

"I'm re-reading Anna Karenina. There is no better novel I know about how women (and I don't mean just Anna)  elite, intelligent, educated  are ignored, oppressed, and have little legal recourse. Women are the caregivers, the empathetic. They hold society together and provide salvation even as the priests take the credit.

"Tolstoy's novel is as relevant today as it ever was. As a sideline, one also learns about technical change in agriculture and how to incentivise labourers to adopt it. And there is more  It is clearly the best novel ever written and worth another close read from us all."

- Claudia Goldin, economic historian and a labour economist, author of the forthcoming Women Working Longer: Increased Employment at Older Ages

The Internationalists by Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro

The Internationalists by the legal scholars Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro, explain a phenomenon you probably didnt even know existed  the decline of interstate war and conquest  with a historical event you probably think is ridiculous: the Kellogg-Briand Paris Peace Pact of 1928, which declared war illegal.

"But in their gripping and evidence-rich book, they make a plausible case. And like The Clash of Civilizations and The End of History, the book presents a sweeping vision of the international scene, making sense of many developments in the news and recent history."

- Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of ten books, including the forthcoming Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

The work received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction Shutterstock/Pressmaster

"I suggest Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy."

- Stephen Greenblatt, English professor, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve

The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith

"Every economics student knows The Wealth of Nations, but this earlier book presents a far richer and nuanced view of human nature than its more famous successor."

- Eric Maskin, economist, 2007 Nobel laureate, and author of "The Arrow Impossibility Theorem"

Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Joseph Aoun

Robot-Proof by Joseph Aoun

- EJ Corey, organic chemist, 1990 Nobel laureate, and author of Molecules and Medicine

 May tackles new Brexit Rebellion

 Philip Hammond and Mark Carney are in China to secure 1 billion of trade deals

 Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2017. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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Steve McQueen is set to lead a project which will create a lasting memorial for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

The artist and director behind films including the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave will begin work this week, using a helicopter to film the ruins of the building in Kensington, west London.

The new artwork is being funded by McQueen, who comes from a council estate close to the site of the disaster, and will eventually go on display in a London museum, the Sunday Times reports.

Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Show all 31 1 /31 Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Jeremy Corbyn hugs a woman after the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Prince Harry leaving after the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures A woman appears emotional as she leaves the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Jeremy Corbyn consoles a mourner AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners carry pictures of victims of the fire and white roses as they leave St Paul's cathedral AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners carry white roses as they leave St Paul's cathedral after attending a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Jeremy Corbyn consoles a relative of a victim AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners leave after attending the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Labour opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn embraces a mourner AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures People hold photos and flowers as they leave after the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners hold up photos of victims as they leave St Paul's cathedral after attending a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures People hold photos and flowers as they leave after the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Service members carry a Grenfell banner Rex Features Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures People at the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May attends the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Marcus Mumford, Adele and Carey Mulligan attending the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Attendees hold a banner at the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Prince Harry, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duchess of Cornwall and The Prince of Wales attend the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures The Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott arrive at St Paul's Cathedral REUTERS Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Members of the public gather outside St Paul's Cathedral ahead of the Grenfell Tower national memorial service Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners arrive at St Paul's cathedral for a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Firefighters arriving for the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners arrive at St Paul's cathedral for a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners arrive at St Paul's cathedral for a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures People arrive for the Grenfell Tower Memorial Service Rex Features Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners arrive at St Paul's cathedral for a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Former footballer Les Ferdinand (right) arriving for the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service at St Paul's Cathedral PA Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Police officers arrive at St Paul's Cathedral for a memorial service in honour of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire REUTERS Grenfell Tower memorial service: in pictures Mourners arrive at St Paul's cathedral for a Grenfell Tower National Memorial service AFP/Getty Images

This is to record this moment in the communitys history and make a lasting memorial to the tragedy, an official website, intended to explain the project to survivors, said.

This would be done with respect to those who lost their lives and the wider community. The aim is that it lives on in the mind of the nation and the world long after the covering has gone up.

Grenfell Tower is currently being covered by a white plastic screen to prevent more psychological trauma to those affected. Officials hope the building will be fully covered by the end of March 2018.

71 people died from the fire in June 2017. Six months on from the fire, four out of five families made homeless are still searching for permanent accommodation, while almost half face Christmas in a hotel. Two days after the disaster, the Prime Minister promised families would be rehoused within three weeks.

Survivors and local residents were joined by members of the royal family and senior politicians last week for a national service to mark the six-month anniversary of the fire at St Pauls Cathedral in London.

There was no official representative at the service from Kensington council, which has been heavily criticised for its handling of the crisis.

McQueens project will not go on display for at least two years  while the police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire and an independent public inquiry take place.
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Its estimated that 620,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Burmas Rakhine State in the last three months. Many say they were doing their morning prayers or cooking food when their villages were attacked and they fled, often with only the clothes they were wearing.

Many of those who have made the long and dangerous journey are women and children, often travelling alone as their husbands had been killed in the recent attacks on Rohingya villages or had been taken away many months or even years before, in earlier crackdowns. Refugees recount travelling through deserted Rohingya villages on their flight to the border, surviving by eating the food left behind by fleeing villagers.

Last week the governments of Bangladesh and Burma signed a deal to return the Rohingya to Rakhine. But many worry that they will face further reprisals if they return, and there was no mention of what would happen to those who refused to go back. For now, they continue to wait patiently.

Dowling met people as they crossed the border to safety, and witnessed the sprawling refugee camps around Coxs Bazar to see the aid response in action.

Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Show all 15 1 /15 Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Badiul Alam, 52, appointed as the manager of one grouping of refugees, shows the rifle-butt injury he sustained during his flight from Myanmar Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Abdur Rahim, 50, fled Myanmar with his family of seven. It took a month for them to walk to Bangladesh, carrying all their possessions on their shoulders. They havent yet found a place to put down their belongings after a gruelling journey Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Various refugee camps  Kutupalong, Balukhali and Moinerghona  have merged into one vast sprawl spread over many muddy hills that just a few months ago were a rolling green nature reserve Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps A Red Cross aid-worker supervises an aid distribution point on the edge of the Moinerghona camp, saying they have never known refugees anywhere in the world stand so patiently in line in such heat to be registered and receive aid without any tension or anger Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Last week the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal to return the Rohingya to Rakhine. But many worry that they will face further reprisals if they return, and there was no mention of what would happen to those who refused to go back Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps A quiet calm pervades the camps. Is it relief at being free from fear, or do feelings about the horrors witnessed remain suppressed? Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps The aid response is focused on providing food, water and shelter for people who fled with nothing Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps The effort is now well-organised and trucks delivering supplies move up and down the main road between Coxs Bazar and Teknaf all day long Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Only men are in the aid queue, as separate queues are often set up for men and women. Sixty-five-year-old Nur Ahmed wears his ID card which shows he has been formally registered to receive aid Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Ajmin Ara, 70, wanders around disorientated. She has lost her entire family and fled to Bangladesh alone; she is painfully thin/skeletal and very weak, but is receiving medical care from a small clinic set up to the side of the aid queue Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Its estimated that 620,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmars Rakhine State in the last three months. Many say they were doing their morning prayers or cooking food when their villages were attacked and they fled, often with only the clothes they were wearing Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Nur Asha, 47, sits quietly in the crowd until she can no longer restrain herself and her story comes out in a torrent: how she fled with her son when the military attacked her village but doesnt know where her other relatives are, how throats were slashed, how children were thrown into fires, how rice paddy fields were filled with bodies left for the dogs to eat Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Mohammed Sayed, 24, fled Myanmar about a month ago with his parents, wife and sister after their home was burnt down and many people in their village were killed Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Children flock around the queue and one boy has made a hat from an empty medicine package to shield himself from the heat, but other boys playing nearby tease him and knock it off his head and soon it is ripped to pieces Hope in Bangladeshs Rohingya camps Children who have fled with nothing make toy cars from empty bottles and kites from plastic bags. Despite the horrors they will have witnessed, children still laugh and play for the camera

To find out how you can support DECs Emergency Appeal for people fleeing Myanmar visit dec.org.uk
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Lambeths Florentine restaurant and bar introduces Londons largest truffle burger.

Located a stones throw from the buzzing Southbank, Florentine has foraged hard this season to dig up Italys most sought-after commodity - the black truffle, bringing to the table a selection of show stopping dishes including the biggest gastronomic beef burger, both in size and taste.

Created by Head Chef Ryan Matheson, the burger is made with truffles carefully sourced from Umbria, Italy.

The 55 gigantic 2 kg Herculean Truffle Burger is definitely made for sharing. It will feed four to six people.

Herculean Truffle Burger

Made from 100 per cent local British beef from Derby, the patty is sandwiched in between a 600 g homemade brioche bun.

They have also thrown in slices of locally cured bacon, Portobello mushrooms, beef tomatoes, Montgomery cheese, homemade truffle mayonnaise with lashings of freshly grated truffle, homemade chips, dips and sweet potato fries.

Florentine, 6 Hercules Rd, Lambeth, SE1 7DU.
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A councils plan to offer an eco-friendly alternative to cremation by liquefying the dead has hit a blockage after water companies refused permission for flushing the remains down the drain.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the west Midlands has approved the installation of a 300,000 Resomator for water cremations at its Rowley Regis crematorium.

The process, known as alkaline hydrolysis, uses chemicals, heat, and pressure to dissolve bodies to bone in less than three hours and uses significantly less energy than cremation.

Recommended Funeral directors seek greener burials in the UK by dissolving bodies

Manufacturers say this is simply a sped-up version of the decomposition that takes place with a burial and the liquid remnants are tested and filtered before being flushed into the water supply.

However Severn Trent Water has refused the crematoriums request for a trade effluent permit which would be necessary for disposing of body remnants into the water supply, The Sunday Times reports.

The water sector is now waiting on guidance from the Ministry of Justice and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before to set out how alkaline hydrolysis remains should be disposed of.

However these burials are already taking place in several countries, including Australia and the USA.

Canadian company AquaGreen said last year it had completed more than 200 water cremations in its first year of business.

The solution is filtered twice before being put flushed into the Ontario water supply and the company said the process is: 100 per cent green.

In Sandwell the council is working with UK company, Resomation, which produces the pressurised resomator chambers where bodies are first weighed to calculate the chemical mix needed to dissolve the body.

The tank is then filled with a highly alkaline solution and heated to 152C to dissolve the body.

This leaves behind teeth, bones and any foreign objects  such as artificial hips or fillings - which are rinsed and sorted before the bones are ground and returned in an urn.

 Funeral directors strive to bring eco-friendly burials to the UK by dissolving bodies

This compares to the temperatures of up to 1150C used in cremation, with each body taking up to 70 minutes to be reduced to ash.

A report by the UK Burial and Cremation Education Trust says each cremation produces four times as much CO 2 as a burial, and also contributes to mercury pollution from vaporised fillings.

Sandwell Council said it wants to harness the environmental benefits of this process and when the approval process and will be the first water crematorium in the country when final approval is given.

A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: "The funeral industry is evolving and modernising and we want to offer people more choice.

"Water cremation is the next phase in this evolution and would give people an option that is more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation.

"We are working closely with Resomation UK, Water UK and other regulatory bodies to explore all options for the introduction of this new process.

Once approved, Rowley Regis Crematorium in Sandwell will be the first in the UK to offer a water cremation."

We commit this body to the deep: Burials at sea declining as 'old salts' die off Show all 2 1 /2 We commit this body to the deep: Burials at sea declining as 'old salts' die off We commit this body to the deep: Burials at sea declining as 'old salts' die off burials-sea.jpg We commit this body to the deep: Burials at sea declining as 'old salts' die off burials-sea-afp1.jpg Alamy

A Severn Trent spokesperson told The Independent: "In the absence of guidance from government on this matter, and without an industry standard or a thorough appraisal of public opinion, Severn Trent has refused to accept a discharge from this process to our sewers.

A source at Water UK, the trade body representing regional water suppliers, told The Sunday Times: This is an absolute first in the UK, we have serious concerns about the public acceptability of this.

"It is the liquefied remains of the dead going into the water system. We dont think the public will like the idea.

The Independent has approached Water UK for comment but none had arrived at the time of publication.
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Professor Heinz Wolff, a bioengineering pioneer and TV presenter, has died aged 89.

The renowned inventor and social reformer suffered heart failure on 15 December, his family said in a statement released through Brunel University London.

Wolff was a former adviser to the European Space Agency and presented BBC2s long-running science show The Great Egg Race from 1977 to 1986, with his trademark bow tie, German accent and energetic persona endearing him to viewers.

He came to Britain as a an 11-year-old Jewish refugee, with his father and other relatives, from Berlin in September 1939, on the day the Second World War broke out.

He attended school in Oxford before working in haematology at the citys Radcliffe Infirmary, where he invented a machine for counting patients blood cells, and graduated from University College London with a first-class degree in physiology and physics.

Much of his early career was spent in bioengineering, a discipline he established and named, which seeks to solve real-world problems using scientific concepts.

Wolff founded the Brunel Institute for Bioengineering in 1983 after 30 years working for the Medical Research Council. He later became an emeritus professor, working on a time-backing scheme which aimed to solve societal issues connected to the elderly population.

Working with Heinz was like being at the centre of an ideas factory, said Dr Gabriella Spinelli, his colleague on the scheme. He was fiercely curious and always had new avenues to explore.

Colleagues at Brunel also recalled his penchant for practical jokes, including arriving at his 80th birthday party celebrations on a scooter propelled by fire extinguishers.

Close friend Professor Ian Sutherland, who took over directorship of the institute when Wolff retired in 1995, said: Heinz was a most inventive and inspirational leader.

There was nothing he loved more than having a team of people around him devising completely new ways of doing things.

olff arrived at his 80th birthday celebrations on a scooter propelled by fire extinguishers (Brunel University London)

Sporting a bow tie and tufts of hair above the ears, Wolff became known to British television audiences in the 1970s and 1980s on the The Great Egg Race, which encouraged teams to invent useful objects out of limited resources.

His on-screen career began in 1966 on Panorama with Richard Dimbleby, where he produced a radio pill that could measure pressure, temperature and acidity in the gut.

Speaking in 2016, he recalled: Richard swallowed one and when I gently poked him, the radio receiver squealed appropriately. The BBC had faith in me because I didnt need a script and I was comfortable talking in front of a camera lens.

Alongside his regular television appearances, Wolffs scientific endeavours would continue to flourish.

He was made an honorary member of the European Space Agency in 1975. His research into how human beings could survive in hostile environments culminated in his co-founding of Project Juno which, in 1991, led to Dr Helen Sharman becoming the first British astronaut and the 15th woman in space, when she spent eight days in orbit on the Russian Mir space station.

Wolff had honorary doctorates from several universities, as well as fellowships of the Biological Engineering Society, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Institute of Biology, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Arts.

He was awarded the Edinburgh Medal for outstanding contribution by a scientist to society in 1992.

Wolff was also a strong supporter of local charities, including over 25 years as a trustee and then as Life President of the Hillingdon Partnership Trust.

Professor Julia Buckingham, vice-chancellor and president of Brunel University London, said: Heinzs remarkable intellect, ideas and enthusiasm combined to make him the sparkling scientist we will so fondly remember.

He was a wonderful friend and supporter to staff and to students  and an inspiration to all of us.

Wolff was married to Joan until her death in 2014, and had two sons and four grandchildren.
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SNP MP Mhairi Black has told a magazine that Alex Salmond tried to give her some style help once she was elected to Westminster.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP claimed that the former leader of the party suggested that she let then SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh take her on a shopping trip.

Ms Black, who was first elected to Parliament at the age of 20 in 2015, told Holyrood magazine of a sit-down she had with former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond following her election.

She said: "It was fine, really, he was just giving me tips here and there and then he says, 'I'm sure Taz will take you out to go shopping or something at some point and you'll find your own style'.

"He then said that the last time he'd had this conversation it was with a young woman called Nicola Sturgeon.

"I thought, 'oh, very good' and I just left the awkward silence hanging when he asked me if I wanted him to arrange it with Taz. I'm like, 'I am never going to be told how to dress, especially by a man."'

Ms Black also revealed she has not had what the magazine described as a real one-on-one conversation with Ms Sturgeon, the current SNP leader and First Minister, and she called for the party to do more to support newly-elected politicians.

The MP told Holyrood editor Mandy Rhodes she hopes future candidates entering Parliament have a different experience from the one she had.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 November 2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement PA 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 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She said: "There should be more care ... there you go. I know I'm doing that thing again, where I'm maybe minimising it because it's myself I'm talking about and I don't want to make out I was really needy or anything but I think that's an area where the party does need a kick up the backside, especially given the kind of caring ethos that we like to preach in the party."

The interview with Holyrood magazine is expected to be published in full on Monday.

PA
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Boris Johnson has increased cabinet tensions ahead of a crunch meeting this week after warning that the UK could become a vassal state if it accepts EU plans for Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary said he wanted a liberal Brexit in which the UK could reject new EU rules after 29 March 2019.

But on Saturday, Chancellor Philip Hammond said the UK would pursue a two-year transition phase that would effectively replicate the status quo.

A special Brexit war Cabinet will meet on Monday to hammer out what relationship the UK should have with the EU in the long term, with a full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Johnson said said any deal must give Britain that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way.

He said if the UK was forced to mirror EU laws, many people would say, What is the point of what you have achieved? because we would have gone from a member state to a vassal state.

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

Mr Johnson said Ms May had done a fantastic job securing the green light on Friday from EU leaders to move Brexit talks onto the future trade deal.

But in a move that led to concern in Tory ranks over the future relationship with Brussels, Britain has already agreed to match EU rules on areas that affect the Good Friday Agreement in a bid to ensure the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland remains open.

The Cabinet is reportedly split between those who want to keep tightly to EU rules, like Mr Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, and those who want to push further away.

But Mr Johnson said even Mr Hammond would want some level of divergence - pointing to the recent Budget and the Chancellor's desire to boost the UK tech sector.

It was very notable in the Budget speech that the Chancellor majored on the idea of future regulatory divergence, Mr Johnson said.

Philip can see that we have a very original economy... we may in future wish to regulate it in a different way from the way that Brussels does.

 Brexit: Philip Hammond signals 'status quo' will remain two years after withdrawal

Environment Secretary Michael Gove and others will begin a push tomorrow for the UK to abandon the EU working time directive - which protects employees from working more than 48 hours in a week.

Speaking while on a trade mission in China, Mr Hammond was asked whether firms should expect a transition deal that would see the UK stay in the single market, customs union and subject to the European Court of Justice.

He answered: In a word, yes.

He explained: What they should expect as a result of the agreement weve reached this week with the European Union is a transition, or implementation period, which will start at the end of March 2019, during which we will no longer be members of the European Union.

 Brexit: Donald Tusk warns Theresa May the hardest part of negotiations is yet to come

We wont technically or legally be in the customs union or in the single market, but were committed as a result of the agreement weve made this week to creating an environment which will effectively replicate the current status quo, so that businesses can carry on trading with their commercial partners across the EU as they do now.

Borders will operate as they do now and financial services businesses will be able to carry on conducting their business across borders as they do now.

The EUs guidelines for the next phase of Brexit talks were set out in Brussels on Friday, after leaders of the 27 other member states agreed to move on to the second stage of the process covering a transitional period and early talks on future trade.

It makes clear that during the transition the EU expects the UK to observe all of its rules  including freedom of movement  and accept the jurisdiction of the ECJ.

Asked about the terms on Friday, the Prime Minister said the British public has voted to leave the UK and that was what would happen.
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Russias hostility towards the UK and the West has not been as bad since the Cold War, Boris Johnson has claimed.

The Foreign Secretary accused Moscow of trying to destabilise the West with a campaign of invasions, killings and attempts to undermine democratic elections.

Mr Johnson described the current situation of hostility as a tragedy.

This comes ahead of his planned visit to Russia this week, and talks with his counterpart, the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow.

He said at the end of the Cold War he had hopes that relations would improve, but that this now seemed like a total illusion.

Russia has not been so hostile to the UK or to western interests since the end of the Cold War," he told The Sunday Times.

In the Crimea, capturing a part of sovereign European territory from someone else's country and holding it for the first time since 1945. Add their destabilising activities in the western Balkans.

We literally have Russian fingerprints on an assassination attempt in Montenegro. Look at what they're doing with cyber-warfare, with attempted disruption of democratic processes in the UK.

He said that although he had seen no evidence Russian influence affected the outcome of the EU referendum, he had seen evidence of Russian trolling on Facebook.

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 is not the first time Mr Johnson has criticised Russia. During a speech in the House of Commons, he accused the country of behaving as though there is indeed a new Cold War.

But despite his criticism of the post-Soviet state, the Foreign Secretary has vowed to find a way to work with them, adding that Britain needed to collaborate with Russia to find a way of defeating Islamist terrorism.

He said he would be pushing very hard to understand the Russians view of the endgame in Syria.
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Ex-Cabinet minister Michael Heseltine has said those Tories who are pushing for a hard Brexit have betrayed the achievements of Conservative governments going back to the 1950s.

Writing exclusively for The Independent , the former deputy prime minister levelled his attack against Brexiteers whom he said had been on the fringe of his party for years.

Lord Heseltine also threw his support behind Conservative MPs who are pushing to reshape Theresa Mays Brexit plans, urging them not to give up and praising their integrity for standing up for things he said Tory leaders had been promoting for decades.

In his piece he wrote: Those who are now pushing for a harder Brexit were on the margins of our party.

They were always there, but they are the ones who have betrayed the achievements of Conservative governments from the 1950s onwards.

His piece comes amid a fraught debate on the Conservative benches over Ms Mays plans, with the Prime Minister being pushed to a Commons defeat last week by Tory MPs trying ensure the economy is less damaged by withdrawal.

But the backlash in the wake of the vote against them has been severe, with MP Nadine Dorries demanding they be deselected and several rebels having received death threats.

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

Lord Heseltine went on: I would say to my Conservative colleagues who are not content with the way things are, the same ones who have the integrity to go on saying the same things Conservative governments have said for decades  remember the history of the last 50 years.

Every time the Labour party won an election, we set out to oppose the things we disapproved of.

We were always right, we usually won and we changed the course of history, challenged the irreversibility of socialism, which was the prevailing ethos of the 1940s and 50s. That victory has been one of the most enduring and successful features of post-war politics, because we didnt give in and didnt give up. There is an important message there.

 Brexit: Philip Hammond signals 'status quo' will remain two years after withdrawal

A special Brexit war Cabinet will meet on Monday to hammer out what relationship the UK should have with the EU in the long term, with a full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Ms May appears to have avoided a second bruising defeat in the Commons this week by compromising on her demand to have the Brexit date written onto the face of the Bill.
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The European Unions chief Brexit negotiator has said no way to Theresa May securing a bespoke trade deal with Brussels.

Michel Barnier said the EU is not prepared to come up with a makeshift trade deal for the UK that knits together all the best bits of existing models.

In an interview with Prospect magazine, conducted before EU leaders agreed to move on to the second stage of Brexit talks covering trade and transition, Mr Barnier warned the most difficult part of negotiations was now starting.

 Brexit: Philip Hammond signals 'status quo' will remain two years after withdrawal

Ms May has insisted that in the long term, the UK does not want a Norway-style relationship with the EU, which retains access to the single market at the cost of accepting its regulations, but also that the UK desires closer ties than a Canadian-style trade deal would allow.

But Mr Barnier said: They have to realise there wont be any cherry picking.

We wont mix up the various scenarios to create a specific one and accommodate their wishes, mixing, for instance, the advantages of the Norwegian model, member of the single market, with the simple requirements of the Canadian one.

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

No way. They have to face the consequences of their own decision.

He explained that the clock was ticking on negotiations and that it is up to the UK to set out what it wants.

Mr Barnier added: The most difficult part remains to be done. It is also probably the most interesting. But the British have to understand it cannot be business as usual.

 Brexit: Donald Tusk warns Theresa May the hardest part of negotiations is yet to come

His comments emerged as Ms May and senior ministers prepared to formally consider the future shape of the UKs relationship with the European Union in meetings on Monday and Tuesday.

The Prime Minister claimed her Government was proving the doubters wrong after EU leaders agreed on Friday to move on to phase two.

Mrs May said talks would now begin on an implementation period immediately after the formal date of Brexit  but backbench Tory Eurosceptics have already issued warnings that they will not accept arrangements which closely resemble continued EU membership during the transition to a new relationship.
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The UK must urgently address how it plans to maintain sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Syria and other countries post-Brexit or risk losing influence in the world, a report has warned.

The EU Select Committee found the Governments planned approach to sanctions after leaving the European Union was untested and needed to be reconsidered.

It found sanctions were most effective when implemented on a multilateral basis and urged the Government to consider staying aligned with the EU27s sanction regime.

Recommended South Korea imposes strong new sanctions on North Korea

Official data shows the UK has sanctions of sorts against more than two dozen countries around the world, sometimes under the auspices of the UN, EU or other international partners.

But the committees report said: The influence of the UK on the sanctions policy of its international partners will depend on the extent to which it is able to retain its authority and leadership on key foreign policy dossiers after Brexit.

Further consideration of the impact of leaving the EU on the UKs ability to pursue and achieve its foreign policy objectives will be urgently required.

Setting out how the UK could choose to impose sanctions after Brexit, the committee noted that Norway and Switzerland align themselves with the EU regime.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 November 2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement PA 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 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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 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Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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But while this would preserve the current unity, it would require the UK to implement decisions taken by the remaining 27 EU members without any say over the design of the sanctions.

Following the US approach of informal engagement with the EU on sanctions could be valuable but it is no substitute for the influence that can be exercised through formal inclusion in EU meetings.

The Governments preferred approach is an unprecedented UK-EU partnership on sanctions, it said.

Their report went on: The UK has some leverage in that it currently plays a leading role in developing EU sanctions policy, is most active in proposing individuals and entities to be listed, and is home to the largest international financial centre in the bloc.

But we note that the Governments approach is untested and it is not yet clear what its proposed arrangements would involve.

Future co-operation could also be limited by the UKs new legal framework for sanctions and its post-Brexit position outside the EUs single market and customs union.

More broadly, the extent to which the UK and the EU co-operate on sanctions will depend on their future relationship in the wider foreign policy arena. This needs urgent consideration.
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Theresa May has vowed that her plans for Brexit will not be derailed as senior ministers prepared to formally consider the future shape of the UKs relationship with the European Union.

The Prime Minister claimed her Government is proving the doubters wrong after EU leaders agreed to move on to the next phase of the Brexit negotiations.

Ms May said talks would now begin on an implementation period immediately after the formal date of Brexit  but backbench Tory Eurosceptics have already issued warnings that they will not accept arrangements which closely resemble continued EU membership during the transition to a new relationship.

Boris Johnson called for the Prime Minister to strike a deal with Brussels that would allow the UK to ditch EU laws, warning that being unable to diverge from the blocs regulations would leave the UK a vassal state.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Ms May hit out at anti-Brexit campaigners who want to talk Britain down.

She said: Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job.

In the face of those who want to talk Britain down, we are securing the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for our whole United Kingdom.

And my message today is very clear: we will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people.

The Cabinet will thrash outs its stance on a post-Brexit trade deal over the coming days, with Ms May under pressure from Brussels to provide clarity on the UKs desired end state for the relationship it wants with the EU.

The Brexit war cabinet  a sub-committee of senior ministers chaired by Mrs May  will meet on Monday, with a meeting of the full Cabinet scheduled for Tuesday.

Ms May said: Brexit allows us to seize the exciting opportunities outside the EU  with Britain in control of our borders, and setting our own laws  while building the new European economic and security relationship that I have proposed.

So we will approach these discussions with ambition and creativity.

Mr Johnson used a Sunday Times interview to set out his vision for a UK-EU trade deal that would maximise the benefits of Brexit by allowing Britain the freedom to diverge from Brussels laws.

He called for a deal that gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way.

The Prime Minister said she made agreeing an implementation period a priority to allow businesses and families the time they need to adapt to a new relationship with the EU.

I very much welcome the desire of the European Union to agree the precise terms of this period as soon as possible, she said.

The EUs negotiating guidelines make clear that the bloc expects the UK to observe all of its rules  including on freedom of movement  and accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) during this time.

It also set up a potential clash with London over the Prime Ministers hopes of negotiating early trade agreements with countries outside the EU, stating firmly that the UK will stay in the single market and customs union during transition and will continue to comply with EU trade policy, which bars deals by individual states.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said a transition deal would replicate the status quo and that, although technically the UK would not be in the customs union or single market, it would effectively keep the same rules during an implementation period until the terms of a new deal can be put in place.

Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is welcomed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Reuters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU President Jean-Claude Juncker greeting Theresa May at the EU Commission in Brussels PA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May poses for a picture with European Council President Donald Tusk REUTERS Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker walks behind British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker address a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a press conference with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis (L) and Michel Barnier (2-L), the European Chief Negotiator of the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 enter the room by the emergency exit to attend British Prime Minister Theresa May press briefing on Brexit Negotiations in Brussels. EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (L), Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (2-L), European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (2-R) and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) in a meeting on Friday morning AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a media conference at the Europa building in Brussels AP

But he faced a backlash from prominent Brexiteers for his comments  even though the Prime Minister has already suggested in her Florence speech that the framework for the implementation period would be the existing structure of EU rules and regulations.

Former Brexit minister David Jones condemned the Chancellor, claiming he appears only too ready to do Brussels bidding by signalling acceptance of the EUs position.

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith accused Mr Hammond of undermining Ms May, while prominent backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said the EUs position would reduce the UK to the status of a colony.

Ms May has also been warned she will face a string of defeats in the House of Lords over Brexit unless she adopts a more conciliatory approach to peers as they consider legislation on the UKs withdrawal.

Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann and fellow Tory Baroness Wheatcroft said there had been appalling insults aimed at Brexit rebels in the Commons and warned: The Lords is unlikely to be receptive to bullying over a restricted timetable or vigorous whipping to toe the party line.

PA
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Liam Fox is under fire over 1m-plus plans to appoint new trade commissioners around the world, on gold-plated packages normally handed to the UKs ambassadors.

The roles offer 120,000 salaries  akin to the pay for the most glittering ambassador jobs in France, Russia, Japan and at the United Nations  as well as lucrative home travel costs and private education for any children.

With the official title of Her Britannic Majestys Trade Commissioners, they will be charged with ensuring that post-Brexit Britain becomes a global champion of free trade, in charge of its own independent trade policy.

But Mr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has been accused of quietly replicating the long-established roles of the existing ambassadors, with the taxpayer picking up the hefty bill.

Labour branded the move a very expensive power grab, while the Liberal Democrats said it smacks of Liam Fox desperately seeking to be seen to be doing something, while his department treads water.

Under EU rules, the UK is unable to negotiate and sign trade deals with non-EU countries while remaining in the blocs customs union.

Brussels is now insisting the UK must stay in the EU during the two-year transition period Theresa May hopes to secure from 2019, raising doubts about the job the commissioners will perform.

Nevertheless, the Department for International Trade (DIT) is advertising for nine such roles, with interviews planned for February and March.

They will cover; Africa, Asia-Pacific, China, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and South Asia.

The adverts offer a salary of up to 120,000, setting out how the appointments are subject to standard arrangements for those based overseas.

Those allowances include diplomatic service compensation allowances, travel package including transfer and flexible annual leave journeys for officer and dependants, cost of living allowance, child education allowance if relevant, and overseas transfer grant.

The salaries alone tot up to more than 1m, and the department did not dispute that overall bill could top 1.5m once travel home and private school fees are added on.

Barry Gardiner, Labours Shadow International Trade Secretary, said expanding global trade was essential, but added: Many will wonder how these new trade commissioners are supposed to relate to the work of the Foreign Office, whose embassies have been doing this work for many years with on the ground expertise.

At a cost of well over a million pounds a year, this group of commissioners might be thought to be no more than a very expensive power grab by Liam Fox.

Tom Brake, the Lib Dem Brexit spokesman, said: However generous the package  from the salary to the boarding school fees  or the calibre of the commissioners, what impact will the commissioner for Africa or Europe be able to make on trade in a whole continent?

Liam Fox would have done better to rely on our network of well-renowned ambassadors who are already tasked with promoting trade.

And Peter Kyle, a Labour MP and supporter of the pro-EU Open Britain group, said: We are paying the price for Liam Foxs vanity.

Public money is being wasted when we wont be able to sign any new trade deals for years to come. And they will never be able to replace our trade with the EU, where nearly half our exports currently go.

Foreign Office statistics show that the UKs ambassadors in Paris, Moscow, Tokyo and elsewhere are paid either 120,000 or 125,000. Only Washingtons (180,000) receives more.

But DIT rejected the charge, insisting the ambassadors provide leadership and coordination for cross-Government activity, rather than simply focusing on trade.

A spokesman said: This allegation completely misunderstands the new and distinctive role of HM Trade Commissioners, who will provide overall leadership on trade for entire regions as the UK develops its own independent trade policy.

As we leave the EU, we need a new approach to trade and investment promotion, putting exports at the heart of UK growth, while seeking inward and outward investment to promote UK prosperity  this requires a new, senior, commercial cadre to lead our trade work overseas.

Unlike existing ambassadors, their work will include developing and delivering a regional trade plan in key global markets, which sets out DITs priorities across export and investment promotion, trade finance and trade policy.

Mr Fox, an arch Brexiteer, has been the Cabinets leading champion of the UK having the ability to sign it own trade deals, promising a rapid and lucrative agreement with the US.

But that drive had already run into trouble even before the new Brussels guidelines, which are likely to prevent the UK signing its own trade deals until at least 2021.

Mr Fox lost a Cabinet battle over lowering UK food standards, after an outcry over opening the door to chlorine-soaked chickens and hormone-pumped beef from the US.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, sided with critics who warned a race to the bottom could spell disaster for British farmers and animal protection.

Mr Fox also admitted Britain would have to seek to cut-and-paste existing EU trade deals with other countries because it lacks the capacity for fresh negotiations in the short term.

And he abandoned a long-standing Government target to double UK exports to 1 trillion by 2020, saying the ambition was no longer achievable.
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The man who masterminded Leaves victory in the referendum campaign has accused zombie remainers of a trying to overturn Brexit.

Writing exclusively for The Independent, Matthew Elliott said people calling for a second referendum were hiding what he called a shoddy plot behind their high sounding motives.

The campaigner who led the Vote Leave drive to pull Britain out of the European Union, argued that a second referendum would incentivise the EU to give the UK a more punitive deal.

It comes as other leading political figures began a debate over whether the country needs another say on Brexit once the terms of the final deal are known.

Mr Elliott said: But just before the UK slips out the Brussels door, the zombie Remain campaign has come back seeking one last roll of the electoral dice. They are calling for a second referendum, on the final Brexit deal, or as the Liberal Democrats sanctimoniously put it, a first referendum on the facts.

Lets be clear: whatever their high-sounding motives, this is nothing more than a shoddy plot to reverse Brexit, the majority decision of the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a free and fair vote.

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

As we now progress to the all-important second phase of the Brexit negotiations, the promise of another referendum at the end of the process would incentivise the EU to give us as punitive a deal as possible, if the option of returning to the status quo were on the table. Given that we know how much Brussels laments and fears the departure of its second biggest net contributor, this belies the true motivations of those calling for another vote.

Writing for The Independent on Sunday, Lib Dem leader Vince Cable backed the case for a further vote and attacked the Governments handling of Brexit, pointing to concessions made by the Theresa May to Brussels and the Prime Ministers weak majority which saw her lose a vote in the Commons four days ago.

He said: Momentum is now behind a referendum and support will grow on the back of more weeks like this. Ive said in the past there was a 20 to 25 per cent chance that Brexit wont happen. I am optimistic that the odds are now moving further in our favour.

It will be a long process to get to the point when the Government concedes a referendum must happen. Eventually, though, a poll to get them out of a mess of their creation  an Exit from Botched Brexit  could prove too tempting to ignore.

Brexit has been described as a car crash. We are only at the start of the skid, but we finally have hope that the slide can be stopped before the car hits the wall.
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Theresa May has condemned threats of violence against politicians after a series of incidents in which MPs received death threats and abuse.

The Prime Minister said there is no place in our politics for intimidation and called for tolerance, decency and respect.

Her comments came after Tory Brexit rebels were subjected to vicious abuse after they supported an amendment to the EU Withdrawal bill, with Anna Soubry revealing she had received messages suggesting she should be hanged in public for treason.

They follow the publication of a report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life which said social media was the most significant factor driving harassment, abuse and intimidation of 2017 General Election candidates.

Ms May said: Threats of violence and intimidation are unacceptable and have no place in our politics. Everybody should be treated with tolerance, decency and respect.

Ms Soubry told the Guardian: I got an email from somebody yesterday saying: In the past, traitors were taken out and shot. Its appalling.

Another Brexit rebel, Sarah Wollaston, said she had also been targeted, while former attorney general Dominic Grieve, the ringleader of the revolt which saw Mrs May suffer her first Commons defeat, said he had faced death threats.

Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is welcomed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Reuters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU President Jean-Claude Juncker greeting Theresa May at the EU Commission in Brussels PA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May poses for a picture with European Council President Donald Tusk REUTERS Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker walks behind British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker address a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a press conference with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis (L) and Michel Barnier (2-L), the European Chief Negotiator of the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 enter the room by the emergency exit to attend British Prime Minister Theresa May press briefing on Brexit Negotiations in Brussels. EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (L), Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (2-L), European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (2-R) and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) in a meeting on Friday morning AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a media conference at the Europa building in Brussels AP

The Mail on Sunday reports that left-wing activists targeted the heavily pregnant wife of an unnamed Tory MP after he challenged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons.

One told her hope your baby dies while a Facebook used said he would spear the MP while he was out jogging and another vowed to put your head on a spike.

The increasingly bitter atmosphere around British politics has led the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to call for a Christmas truce  like the ceasefire in the First World War.

If we go back 103 years, we find Christmas 1914 there was a ceasefire. It would be very good to have a ceasefire from insult and the use of pejorative terms about people at this time, he told the BBC.
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Abu Hamza, the hate preacher serving a life sentence in an American prison, has launched an appeal to return to jail in the UK.

The former imam of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London has complained about the inhuman and degrading conditions at ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado, which he argued were a breach of his human rights.

The 59-year-old Egyptian cleric was jailed in the UK in 2006 after being found guilty of inciting violence.

In 2012, he was extradited to the US and found guilty of 11 terror offences.

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Court documents submitted under his real name, Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, state he is confined within a cell-sized cage during the hour of recreation time he is given each day, according to The Sunday Times.

It also said his cell is unsuitable for the double-amputee, who is blind in one eye, adding: The stumps in both arms are subject to regular outbreaks of infection, which have been increasing in severity.

The 242-page appeal said when he was fighting extradition while in Belmarsh maximum security prison, Hamza was seen by a doctor or nurse up to five times a week and could mix with other inmates.

His lawyers argue his treatment at ADX Florence breaches article 3 of the Human Rights Act, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Michael Bachrach, one of his appeal lawyers, told the paper: He would go back to Belmarsh in a second if he could.

Mr Bachrach, who is a specialist on terrorism cases, added: We strongly believe that the conditions of his confinement violate the expectations of the European Convention on Human Rights and the promises that were made by the US government to the [British and European] courts as part of the extradition process.
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A raging California wildfire powered by fierce winds has grown into the third largest in the state's history, turning neighbourhoods into ghost towns through forced evacuations and showering ash on some areas like heavy snow.

High winds and dry conditions were expected to remain through the weekend to power the so-called Thomas Fire in Southern California, which has destroyed more than 1,000 structures, threatened 18,000 others, and killed one person since erupting on 4 December

The blaze has burned more than 267,500 acres of land, outsizing New York City's 195,000 acres.

"It is a beast," Santa Barbara County Fire Department Division Chief Martin Johnson told a news conference. "But we will kill it."

Nearly 8,500 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters were battling the fire, which was 40 per cent contained on Saturday evening. It has become the seventh most destructive in state history, officials said.

A new evacuation order was issued for parts of Santa Barbara County on Saturday as high winds whipped the fire through bone-dry terrain.

Residents fled from the wealthy town of Montecito, just outside the coastal city of Santa Barbara, as smoke billowed from nearby canyons and choked the air, hindering aircraft dropping flame retardant.

The enclave is home to the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and other celebrities.

"Still praying for our little town," Winfrey tweeted. "Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters." It was not clear if the former talk show host was in Montecito at the time.

The evacuation orders for Montecito and neighbouring Summerland came as winds that had eased a day earlier roared back at 30mph with gusts of up to 60mph.

A portion of Santa Barbara was also under mandatory evacuation. At the city's zoo, workers began putting some animals into crates and kennels to prepare them to move if required.

In downtown Santa Barbara, Maya Schoop-Rutten, said she saw smoke suddenly appear through the window of her chocolate shop after strong winds blew through.

"It was absolutely incredible," she said. "There was a huge mushroom of smoke that happened in just a matter of a few minutes."

Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered.

"It's a ghost town. Everything is shut down," Ms Schoop-Rutten said. "It's very, very eerie."

The wildfire has forced many schools to close for days, shut roads, and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes. It was also responsible for poor air quality throughout Southern California.

Flames advance near homes north of Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara County Fire Department)

An evacuation order for the city of Ventura, which was hit hard in the first days of the fire, was lifted on Saturday morning.

"Our backyard, it's like a rain of ash. I don't even want to step back there," said Janet Harrington, 56, an artist, writer, and lifelong resident of the city.

Her son Ryan added: "I can count 10 people who lost their homes. My best friend from high school, his mom's house burned down."

The total cost of fighting the fire had come to more than $110 million (82.5 million) by Saturday evening, as flames blazing over steep hills lit up the night skies.

The 13 days of shifting winds and evacuations have also taken their toll on a weary population.

Paul Pineda, who lives in Fillmore, about 55 miles north-west of Los Angeles and on the eastern flank of the fire, said he will flee if the blaze gets too close.

Fire burns around electricity pylons in Coyote Canyon near Montecito, California (REUTERS)

This year has been unprecedented for California in terms of structures lost and the size of the wildfires, officials said. Five of 20 most destructive fires in recorded history ravaged the state in 2017, according to Cal Fire.

The vast landscape charred by the blaze, centered fewer than 100 miles (160 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, reached 267,500 acres (108,253 hectares) late on Saturday. The largest wildfire in state history was the 2003 Cedar blaze in San Diego County that consumed 273,246 acres and caused 15 deaths.

The hot Santa Ana winds have propelled the fire's expansion, at times sending embers far ahead of its main flank. They were forecast to gust at up to 50mph (80kph) on Sunday with critical fire conditions remaining through Monday, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Firefighter Cory Iverson, 32, died on Thursday while battling the flames near the Ventura County community of Fillmore. Cal Fire said Mr Iverson, the blaze's first fatality, left behind a pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter.

He died of smoke inhalation and burns, the Ventura County Medical Examiner's office said.
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Experts from the health community have expressed their alarm at reports that officials from Donald Trumps administration are forbidding officials at Americas top public health agency from using a list of seven words or phrases  including fetus and transgender.

Officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are said to have been instructed not to use certain words or phrases in official budget documents in the Trump administration.

The full list includes diversity, entitlement, fetus, transgender, vulnerable, evidence-based and science-based, The Washington Post reported.

The paper stated alternative phrases were offered, with CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes replacing science-based or evidence-based.

Health leaders have expressed concern over the list.

Dr Sandro Galea, dean of Boston Universitys School of Public Health, said these things matter because the words that we use ultimately describe what we care about and what we think are priorities.

She added: If you are saying you cannot use words like transgender and diversity, its a clear statement that you cannot pay attention to these issues. Everybody in the public health community recognises that there is a slowly growing timidity by colleagues whose budgets are dependent on the federal government.

I have a deep sympathy for the predicament that they are in.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Rush Holt, chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, issued a statement saying: Heres a word thats still allowed: ridiculous.

In a statement US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, spokesman Matt Lloyd said: The assertion that HHS has banned words is a complete mischaracterisation of discussions regarding the budget formulation process.

HHS will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. HHS also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former Surgeon General, told The New York Times: Whether this is a directive from above is not clear, he said. But for CDC or any agency to be censored or passively made to feel they have to self-censor to avoid retribution  thats dangerous and not acceptable. The purpose of science is to search for truth, and when science is censored the truth is censored.

Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Center for Science and Democracy, based at the Union of Concerned Scientists, also told the newspaper that the fact that the agency began controlling what scientists can say to reporters a few months ago doesnt suggest they want to be open and honest with the public.

Following reports of the list of banned words, CDC Director Dr Brenda Fitzgerald said in an email to employees: I want to assure you that CDC remains committed to our public health mission as a science- and evidence-based institution.

As part of our commitment to provide for the common defense of the country against health threats, science is and will remain the foundation of our work.

AP
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Information provided by the CIA helped to prevent a series of terrorist bombings in St Petersburg, Russia.

Vladimir Putin phoned Donald Trump to thank him for the tip-off, the Kremlin said.

The information allowed Russian security services track down and detain a group of suspects who were planning bomb attack on the Kazansky Cathedral and other sites in Russia's second-biggest city.

The Kremlin said the Russian President asked his US counterpart to convey his gratitude to the CIA.

He also said Russian security agencies would continue to hand over any information they get about potential terror threats against the United States.

Russia's FSB security service said seven people were arrested and a significant amount of explosives and weapons seized.

The cell was said to be planning to carry out a suicide attack on Saturday, 16 December.

The conversation was the second phone call between the two leaders since Thursday, when the Mr Trump thanked Mr Putin for his remarks "acknowledging America's strong economic performance," according to the White House.

During the first call, they also discussed ways to work together to address North Korea's nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, the White House said.

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

Russian TV stations ran footage of FSB operatives outside an apartment building detaining a suspect, who was later shown confessing that he was told to prepare homemade bombs rigged with shrapnel.

The reports included footage of a metal container, which the suspects used as a laboratory for making explosives, according to the FSB.

Another video showed operatives breaking the doors and raiding an apartment used by other suspects.

Last week, the FSB said it also arrested several Isis-linked suspects in Moscow, where they allegedly were plotting a series of suicide bombings over New Year's.

In April, a suicide bombing in the St Petersburg's subway left 16 dead and wounded more than 50.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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The Democrat who defeated Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate election does not think Donald Trump should resign as President despite sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Doug Jones, who won a surprise victory against front runner Mr Moore on Tuesday, said the allegations against Mr Trump were made before the election and he believes the country needs to move on and not get distracted by those issues.

The President has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women who have come forward with their testimonies. The White House refutes all the allegations and maintains the women are lying.

During an appearance on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Mr Jones was asked whether he would join Senate colleagues, such as Cory Booker of New Jersey, in calling for the president's resignation.

He replied: Where I am on that right now is that those allegations were made before the election. And so people had an opportunity to judge before that election. I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues.

He added: Lets get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now, and I dont think the President ought to resign at this point. Well see how things go but certainly those allegations are not new and he was elected with those allegations at front centre.

In October last year footage emerged of a 2005 conversation in which Mr Trump bragged to a television host about using his fame to make sexual advances and was heard saying he felt able to grab them by the pussy.

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

Before his election victory Mr Trump said he would sue his accusers after the election but that has never transpired and more women have since come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Mr Jones won the election in Alabama against controversial candidate Mr Moore who has been accused of sexually abusing teenage girls.

In his acceptance speech, Doug Jones said: Alabama has been at a crossroads. We have been at crossroads in the past. And unfortunately we have usually taken the wrong fork. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, you took the right road.
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Terrorist manuals showing jihadis how to build the same type of bomb used in last week's New York subway attack remain online amid warnings of further attacks.

Google's algorithms could lead extremists to the material, which was still available through search results more than 48 hours after The Independent alerted the tech giant.

Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old Isis supporter, detonated his crude device in a subway passage during last Monday mornings rush hour.

In a document submitted to court, investigators said he used instructions found online to construct a pipe bomb, which he then wore attached to his body as a suicide vest.

The device, built in Ullahs Brooklyn flat within a week before the explosion, used readily available household items such as batteries and screws  intended to inflict maximum damage as shrapnel.

The components are hallmarks of bomb-making instructions originally issued by al-Qaeda, which have been linked to previous atrocities including the Boston bombings and Parsons Green attack.

The most notorious guide, which The Independent has chosen not to name, can be found in full via a defunct news website by conducting a simple Google search.

Issued inside an English-language propaganda magazine in 2010, the instructions create a bomb identical to that used by Ullah.

 Port Authority CCTV footage appears to show moment bomb went off during New York rush hour

The document is just one of numerous explosives manuals that can be found easily via Google, while Amazon was recently found to be suggesting bomb components to shoppers.

Another easily available al-Qaeda handbook  available through an international news website  contains more detailed manuals on a range of explosives.

A PDF document, telling jihadis how to manufacture poisons and chemical agents, appears as the first Google result when its name is searched.

Recommended Isis launches propaganda drive as it faces defeat in Syria and Iraq

Isis has also issued its own guidance on making explosives  although its English-language propaganda has largely focused on inciting low-tech attacks using knives and vehicles, which authorities are less likely to detect.

Ullah, a Bangladeshi national, declared his allegiance to the terrorist group in an online post on the morning of his attack, telling police after his arrest: I did it for the Islamic State.

Investigators said his radicalisation began in 2014  the year the group declared its so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria. He reportedly viewed propaganda online, including a video instructing those unable to travel to Isis territories to carry out attacks at home.

Nikita Malik, a senior research fellow at think tank the Henry Jackson Society, said there were also a remarkable amount of videos showing how to make rudimentary explosives on YouTube.

Its appalling that we can find on Google bomb-making guides, chemical handbooks and beheading photos, she told The Independent.

Part of a terrorist manual that remains online; one of many Islamist documents containing bomb-making instructions

There are tonnes of bomb-making guides coming up. The reason theyre not getting removed is that theres no clear legislation on who is responsible for disseminating terrorist material.

The act is a criminal offence in the UK, but only individuals have so far been prosecuted, rather than internet companies or publishers.

Ms Malik took particular aim at Google, calling on the giant to eliminate dangerous pages from its search results or make them harder to find.

The algorithms are failing because theyre helping people find very dangerous material, she warned.

We have these very strict ethical codes in the real world, but online is completely different.

The UKs Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit has removed hundreds of thousands of videos, images and posts, but relies on the cooperation of internet service providers to help with take-down notices.

In a test conducted by The Independent, a generic search relating to explosives did not immediately bring up a guide, but resulted in a related search leading to a specific terrorist group's manual that remains online.

The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism has also been increasing efforts to detect and remove extremist material hosted by Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube, but it remains difficult to take down material posted elsewhere.

Websites hosted in foreign countries may fall outside national law, while Isis and other terrorist groups swiftly re-upload removed websites under new addresses in an ongoing game of whack-a-mole.

Explosion in New York City Show all 14 1 /14 Explosion in New York City Explosion in New York City A fire truck arrives after a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Port Authority Police watch as people evacuate after a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Port Authority Police watch as people evacuate after a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City FBI and police respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal o AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City A fire truck arrives after a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City An armoured police truck occupies the street outside of the New York Port Authority in New York City, U.S. REUTERS Explosion in New York City Port Authority Police watch as people evacuate after a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images Explosion in New York City Police and other first responders respond to a reported explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal AFP/Getty Images

Terrorists have also been turning to encrypted email and messaging services, including Telegram, in attempts to distribute material without being traced by intelligence agencies.

Security services have warned the majority of terror attacks being mounted in the UK come from home-grown extremists being radicalised online, rather than from Islamists with experience or training from abroad.

Nine plots have been foiled so far this year, according to MI5. There have nevertheless been 36 killed and hundreds injured by attackers in Manchester, Westminster, London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green.

As Isiss propaganda machine slows thanks to territorial losses and crackdowns, police say bomb-making guides and propaganda magazines are increasingly being sourced through media and research websites.

Mark Rowley, the head of national counter-terror policing, told a conference last month that online radicalisation and planning was one of the most acute challenges we face.

Half of the material were worried about online is on websites run by mainstream news organisations or academic institutions, he said.

I dont think theres yet been an appreciation of the significance of what theyre doing.

He cited the example of a major British newspaper that had published Isiss instructions on committing lorry attacks, adding: The challenges arent simply for social media companies to wrestle with.

His concerns were echoed by authorities in the US, who cautioned that bombing attempts like that in New York can now happen anywhere.

The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, said: Anyone can go on the internet and download garbage and vileness on how to put together an amateur level explosive device, and that is the reality that we live in.

A Google spokesperson said: We promptly remove terrorist content that is reported to us, in compliance with UK law, while being careful when the webpages in question are produced by journalists, academics, and anti-terrorist advocates and lawfully report on or catalogue acts of terrorism.
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A family has blasted the media for its coverage of the deaths of their parents, Canadian billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife Honey.

Police are treating the deaths of the Shermans, whose bodies were found hanging in their Toronto home on Friday, as suspicious but are not searching for any suspects.

Citing police sources, Canadian media has said the case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.

But the couples family is disputing these reports.

Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths, family members said in a statement.

They went on to call for a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation and told the media to stop reporting on the cause of the deaths until the investigation was completed.

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

One of Canada's richest men and a prominent philanthropist, Mr Sherman was the founder and chairman of pharmaceutical company Apotex, which sells generic medicines around the globe.

Mrs Sherman had been part of the boards for several hospitals, charities and Jewish organisations. The couple had four children.

The Toronto Sun reported that first responders found the couple hanging from a railing that surrounds a lap pool inside the house.

Police say they are waiting on the results of post-mortem exams before deciding what to do next.

Several Canadian newspapers have reported that they were told investigators were working on the assumption that Mr Sherman had killed his wife before killing himself.
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Robert Mueller has obtained thousands of emails from 12 accounts linked to Donald Trump's transition team.

The special counsel investigating alleged collusion with Russia is using the cache to confirm existing information and open up new leads, according to Axios.

The messages are said to have covered everything from potential appointments to policy planning. Some reportedly came from Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law, who is now a White House advisor.

Kory Langhofer, a lawyer who represented Mr Trumps campaign and worked for the President-elects transition team, has claimed the messages were obtained through unlawful means.

In a letter to the House and Senate oversight committees, Mr Kanghofer wrote that Mr Muellers team had unlawfully obtained the documents from the General Services Administration (GSA).

Career staff members at the agency unlawfully produced [Trump for Americas] private materials, including privileged communications, to the special counsels office, according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. It said the materials included tens of thousands of emails.

The transition team communicated via GSA email addresses in the period between Mr Trumps election in November and his inauguration in January.

Mr Mueller is a former director of the FBI and a seasoned prosecutor.

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 Langhofer asked Congress to act immediately to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, according to reports.

The transition team attorney confirmed to The Independent that these reports were accurate, but declined to provide a copy of his letter. Mr Langhofer also declined to say why he believed the disclosure had been unlawful.

The special counsels office declined to comment to The Independent.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration would continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expects this process to wrap up soon.

 Trump-Russia investigation: who has been charged in the Mueller probe

Mr Mueller is investigating allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in its bid for the White House. He has so far charged four former campaign officials with crimes ranging from tax fraud to lying to the FBI. Two officials  former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos  have pleaded guilty.

Mr Trump has dismissed the special counsels investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt. There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven, he told reporters on Friday. Russia denies interfering in the election.

His legal team has suggested appointing a second special counsel to investigate Mr Mueller and his team for what they see as conflicts of interest. One of the Presidents attorneys, Ty Cobb, told the Washington Post he believes Mr Muellers investigation of the White House will be over by the end of the year.

Mr Trumps personal lawyers are slated to meet with Mr Mueller as early as next week, according to CNN.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Rex Tillerson has edged away from an earlier offer to negotiate with North Korea, saying talks cannot commence until Pyongyang dials back its belligerence.

A sustained cessation of North Koreas threatening behaviour must precede negotiations, the US Secretary of State told the United Nations Security Council, adding that North Korea must earn its way back to the table.

The Trump administration faced a barrage of questions about its North Korea policy after Mr Tillerson said earlier this week that America was ready to talk with the isolated state without preconditions.

Officials quickly rebuffed that idea. A National Security Council official told Reuters that now is not the time for talks, and State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that North Korea would need to commit to de-nuclearisation as a precondition to talks.

Pyongyang has shown no sign of doing so, touting its military advances as a safeguard against the world.

We are not seeing any evidence that they are ready to sit down and have those kinds of conversations, Ms Nauert said, adding that Mr Tillerson was not creating any new policy and was on the same page" as the White House.

North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Show all 13 1 /13 North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Pyongyang residents react after the news of the successful launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Images North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un signing an order to test-fire the newly developed inter-continental ballistic missile KRT via AP Video North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch A news broadcast displays Kim Jong Un's signed document AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch People cheer as they watch the news broadcast announcing Kim Jong Un's order to test-fire the new inter-continental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Images North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Residents react after the document signing AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Pyongyang residents celebrate Kim Jong Un's announcement AFP/Getty North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Cheering Pyongyang residents react AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch To counter North Korea's missile test, South Korea fired missiles into the East Sea The Defence Ministry/Yonhap via REUTERS North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The Hyunmu-2 missiles firing during the drill South Korean Defense Ministry vi North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The exercise was carried out in an attempt to counter Kim Jong Un's order South Korea Defense Ministry via AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The South Korean army continue to carry out military exercises AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Where K-9 self-propelled howitzers were taking part in a drill Rex Features North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch US soldiers are also present in the border city of Paju AFP/Getty Images

When somebody is shooting off ballistic missiles, when someone is conducting advanced nuclear tests, theyre not showing any kind of interest or seriousness about wanting to sit down too talk, she added.

Diplomatic penalties have so far failed to deter North Koreas military ambitions.

The country has continued to test ballistic missiles and menace Western allies, saying after its most recent launch that it has the capability to strike the continental United States, even as the UN has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions.
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A man accused of brokering missile deals with North Korea has been arrested by Australian police.

Chan Han Choi, 59, has been charged with brokering sales and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

The Australia Federal Police alleged Mr Choi was acting as an economic agent for the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea and was therefore in breach of United Nations and Australian sanctions.

This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose," said assistant commissioner Neil Gaughan. This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil.

He added that Mr Choi, a naturalised Australian citizen of Korean descent, had been in touch with high-ranking North Korean officials but no missile components had ever actually reached Australia.

He faces a total of six charges, two under an act preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, two for contravening a UN sanction law, and two for contravening Australias own sanctions laws.

Mr Choi, who has been living in Australia for more than 30 years, faces up to 18 years in jail if he is convicted.

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

Police said he had been identified as a person of interest earlier this year and the force launched Operation Byahaut in response.

This is black market 101, AC Gaughan said. We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea.

North Korea has been subject to a new round of strict United Nations sanctions this year after defying international pressure and continuing with its missile and nuclear programmes.

In November Pyongyang said it had successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach any part of the US mainland.
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Two suicide bombers stormed a Christian church in south-western Pakistan, killing at least eight people and wounding up to 42 others before being stopped by police guards.

The gunmen, who were wearing vests filled with explosives, attacked the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened.

Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for Baluchistan province, said hundreds of worshippers were attending the church ahead of Christmas. He said one attacker was killed at the entrance to the church, while the other set off his payload inside.

A policeman guides a family away after after gunmen attacked the church (Reuter/Naseer Ahmed) (REUTERS/Naseer Ahmed)

Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah.

There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldnt get inside the services, Mr Jah said. We killed one of them, and the other one blew himself up after police wounded him.

Baluchistan police chief Moazzam Ansari confirmed the death toll.

Pakistani security personnel take position after suicide bombers attacked a Methodist church during a Sunday service in Quetta, Pakistan (Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty) (BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Ansari praised the response of security forces guarding the church, saying the attacker who made it inside was wounded and unable to reach the main building. Otherwise the loss of lives could have been much higher, he told reporters.

Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said a search is underway for two suspected accomplices who escaped.

Mr Jah said the church had guards because Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremist groups

Isis claimed responsibility for the attack via their Aamaq propaganda agency, saying two members had stormed the church, without providing evidence for the claim.

Pakistani security personnel advance after suicide bombers attacked a Methodist church during a Sunday service in Quett (Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty)

Local television showed ambulances and security patrols racing to the scene, while women and children were being led out of the churchs main gate.

Hospitals officials said two women were among the dead while another five women and two children were among the wounded.

Aqil Anjum, who was shot in his right arm, said he heard a blast in the middle of the service, followed by heavy gunfire. It was chaos. Bullets were hitting people inside the closed hall.

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

Dozens of Christians gathered outside a nearby hospital to protest against the lack of security.

Pakistans president and other senior officials condemned the attack.

Attack of terrorists on Zarghoon road church in Quetta is condemned. Pakistans resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts, Mohammad Faisal, a spokesman for Pakistans ministry of foreign affairs, said.

Baluchistan has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas and mineral-rich regions resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination.

The Taliban, Sunni Islamist militants and sectarian groups linked to al-Qaeda and Isis also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan.

Pakistan has launched several military offensives over the last decade against the Islamist militants who want to install their own harsh brand of religion. Although beaten and dispersed, the militants have shown resilience to launch spectacular attacks.

Earlier this month, three Taliban suicide bombers attacked an agriculture college in northwestern Peshawar city, killing eight students and a guard.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Police in Lebanon are investigating the death of a young British diplomat, whose body was reported to have been found near an expressway in Beirut.

Rebecca Dykes, 30, had been part of the Foreign Offices London-based Libya team, before working as a programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development (DFID) in the Lebanese capital.

Ms Dykes, who is from London, was reportedly last seen at a city centre bar in Gemmayzeh late on Friday evening.

It is unclear whether she was accompanied when she left. Her body was found near the Metn Expressway on Saturday, and taken to the Dahr al-Bashak Hospital for post mortem.

According to Lebanese officials, the inquiry is looking at the possibility that Ms Dykes was sexually assaulted before being strangled. However, there has been no official confirmation as to the cause of death.

Ms Dykes was due to fly back to London this weekend for Christmas. A spokesman for her family said: We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

DFID said in a statement: Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

There is now a police investigation and the FCO is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities.

British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, said in a statement: The whole embassy is deeply shocked and saddened by this news.

Our thoughts are with Becky's family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss.

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

A Foreign Office spokesman in London added: Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family.

We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
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A diplomat working at the British embassy in Beirut has been found murdered, police say.

Her body was found dumped on the side of the Metn highway on Saturday.

Senior police sources in the Lebanese capital told the BBC she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

It is believed that the 30-year-old, who was working for the Department for International Development, was killed after meeting friends and colleagues at bar on Friday night.

She was last seen at a bar in the Gemmayzeh area of central Beirut and reportedly left alone shortly after midnight.

It is thought she was then abducted and killed before her body was dumped several miles away, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Ms Dykes' family issued a statement saying they were "devastated" by her death.

They said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

"We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time."

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

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office confirmed Ms Dykes' death and said they were providing support to the family.

She said: "Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family. We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

A Department for International Development spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

"There is now a police investigation and the FCO (Foreign Office) is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities."
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Turkey will open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognise it as the capital of Palestine.

God willing, the day is close when officially, with Gods permission, we will open our embassy there, he said in a speech, while maintaining his fierce criticism of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital.

The Turkish leader has been one of the loudest voices in a global chorus of condemnation over Donald Trumps announcement  that the US would break with decades of established foreign policy by relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv.

Mr Erdogan spoke about plans for a Turkish embassy in Jerusalem during a speech to his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman.

It come after Muslim world leaders this week called for the area to be recognised as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

The draft, declaration by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was issued following an extraordinary meeting of the 57-state group to hammer out a unified response to Mr Trumps decision.

Turkeys foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said earlier this week that Turkey would open an embassy in East Jerusalem once the world recognised an independent Palestine.

It is not clear how Turkey would carry out the embassy move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 in a move that has never been recognised internationally. Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital, and the citys status remains a major stumbling block in peace talks.

Foreign embassies in Israel, including that of Turkey, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalems unresolved status.

 Donald Trump officially recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Mr Trump shocked even some of his countys closest allies on 6 December by following though with a campaign promise to formally recognise the city  considered holy by Islam, Judaism and Christianity  as Israels undivided capital.

Many world leaders voiced fears the controversial move would spark renewed violence in the region and wider Muslim world.

Protests have been held across the globe and four Palestinians killed in violent clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza.

With their decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, the United States has become a partner in this bloodshed, President Erdogan said earlier this week.

He had previously described Mr Trumps decision as a red line for Muslims, and threatened to break off diplomatic relations with the US.

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded.

It is thought to have broad support, but would likely be vetoed by the US.
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Afterwards, I wrote to thank the man who had instructed me to step off a 15-storey building in central London.

Dave Talbot responded swiftly: Hopefully our relaxed manner helps people 'over the edge.

Usually, Dave is to be found scaling vertical rock faces on implausibly high mountains. But for rest and relaxation he organises charity abseils from the tops of tall structures.

By organise, I mean telling a sequence of presumably rational people to overcome their reluctance to tussle with gravity, to step into thin air and dangle from a rope as they edge down the side of a skyscraper. As a means of raising funds for charities, its slightly more challenging than carol singing.

The reason Dave spent a quiet few minutes persuading me to believe him rather than my own intuition was because the charity abseil has now spread to tourism. I was enjoying, if that is the correct word, a preview of the worlds first bed, breakfast and abseil package. It has gone on sale at the St Giles hotel in central London. On Tuesday, guests who have signed up for the package (costing a very reasonable 118.50 for two on Monday night), will enjoy bed and breakfast followed by belaying by Dave Talbot.

The hotel will pay 30 per person, more than half the room charge, to the Hotels with Heart charity, which is collecting funds for Londons homeless. The St Giles is also meeting the considerable cost of setting up an abseiling operation.

Modern buildings are no problem, Dave Talbot tells me as we survey London, because they have constant force anchors. These are metal fixtures on roofs which can bear ridiculously heavy weights. Good news for window cleaners. Its also handy for anyone who needs to secure ropes to ensure the safety of guests who are finding a new way to leave a hotel.

From the moment you emerge onto the roof, wearing an unflattering harness, everything is devised to keep you safe: you are hooked on to a safety line and have time to appreciate a fresh view of the capital from a very central vantage point. The St Giles is around the corner from Tottenham Court Road. Centrepoint dwarfs the London Eye, while the dome of the British Museum looks like a plumped-up cushion.

When your turn comes to move to the edge, the adrenalin combined with everything you can see convinces you that your adventure at the extreme end of the hospitality industry is unlikely to end well. No plumped up cushions below.

Dave invites you to his perch: a small ledge that presumably is standard Himalayan fare on K2. But for normal people in central London, it would be vastly improved in its appeal if it were four, rather than 164 feet, above the street.

You are attached to the rope that will be your best friend for at least the next five minutes. Thanks to a remarkably effective system that invokes the principles of friction, you can control your descent with no more than thumb pressure. But on the basis that it is possibly the first time you have willingly descended from a great height, Dave has a separate safety rope over which he has sole control, belaying you at no more than an appropriate pace.

Time to go over the edge. All you need do is shuffle backwards so that only the soles of your feet are on the ledge, then lean back in the general direction of oblivion.

The fact that, having done this, you are still aloft and alive vindicates your trust in Dave. So your work begins: plodding down the side of a 1970s monolith while mastering the fine art of friction. Braver souls may pause and look around, but I was studying the brutal concrete exterior as my feet bounced against it.

The St Giles Hotel began life four decades ago as the YMCA  part of a huge development that includes central Londons largest gym. While it was fun to stay at the YMCA, it wasnt fun for the charitys finance director, and the "Y" sold off the hostel to hotel investors.

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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 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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

While they wait for brutalism to come back into fashion, the hotel's chief executive, Abigail Tan-Giroud, is devising ways to generate goodwill and good business. This package enables us to offer our guest a unique way to view London, as well as drive awareness and give immediate relief to those fortunate, she says.

For the abseiler, the only way is down. Traffic noise has never been so welcome: you know you are getting close to the end of the ordeal, sorry, experience.

But about 30 feet from the ground, just as you are getting some sort of rhythm into your vertical walking, the wall disappears and you find yourself dangling in an overhang. So this is what mountaineers mean by "touching the void". Fortunately you can continue to make progress using the friction device, and Daves ground controller, Robyn, helps you shakily onto the pavement.

Going to the ledge and beyond are the first steps to an urban adventure that will certainly thrill you, possibly persuade you to reassess your limits, and happily help others.
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Ever since it was founded in 1985, Ryanair has had some unusual employment practices. Its first aircraft, a 15-seat Brazilian-made propeller plane, was so small that only cabin crew under 5ft 3in were considered eligible.

Now that it has become Europes biggest low-cost airline, Ryanair engages pilots in non-standard contracts, according to the British Airline Pilots Association.

BALPAs general secretary, Brian Strutton, says: Many pilots who fly for Ryanair are not in fact employed by them but are agency workers, supplied through several different third-, or even fourth-party companies.

The airline says: Like any group of workers, Ryanairs very well paid pilots are free to join unions. But until now, the airline has declined to engage with them, preferring to deal with an Employee Representative Committee at each of its bases.

At breakfast time on Friday, an industrial relations revolution occurred. The airlines controversial chief executive, perhaps wearing his favourite Christmas jumper, announced: We will now deal with our pilots through recognised national union structures.

Michael Santa OLeary was responding to strike calls by flight crew in various parts of Europe  notably a stoppage planned for Wednesday by some pilots based in Dublin and elsewhere.

Christmas flights are very important to our customers and we wish to remove any worry or concern that they may be disrupted by pilot industrial action next week, he said.

If the best way to achieve this is to talk to our pilots through a recognised union process, then we are prepared to do so.

This being Ryanair, terms and conditions apply. Only unions in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal are being considered at present. And the airline is demanding that they each establish committees of Ryanair pilots, saying: Ryanair will not engage with pilots who fly for competitor airlines.

Recommended Ryanair launches 130 new routes despite staff shortages

So what lies behind a U-turn as dramatic as those performed by some British Airways jets flying to Heathrow last Sunday (when passengers from Basel and Berlin flew halfway to London then returned whence they had come because BA had run out of room at its main base)?

I sense that Peter Bellew, Ryanairs newly returned chief operations officer, has had a quiet word. He was always well regarded by flight crew, and has great respect for them.

You will recall that, in September, Ryanair abruptly cancelled 20,000 flights after some botched pilot rostering. With pilots aware of their increased industrial muscle, there have been growing demands for the airline to recognise trade unions  culminating in strike threats for 20 December, the last Wednesday before Christmas.

Ryanairs sudden reversal is partly informed by the short-term impact on profitability, losing valuable revenue at what should be one of the most lucrative times of the year. The fare for the one-hour hop from Edinburgh to Dublin next Wednesday morning, which could have been hit by the strike, is 205.

Next, there is serious concern about the reputational effect of more cancellations. After the bonfire of the schedules in September, anything that unsettles prospective passengers is damaging in an industry that depends so much on confidence.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 November 2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement PA 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

But more important still, as Peter Bellew knows, is the need to build trust with the people who keep the planes in the air. No reminder is ever needed that flying is vulnerable to all manner of disruption, but the cancellations to, from and within Italy because of strikes there on Friday afternoon provided one anyway.

Not a moment too soon, Ryanair seems to have accepted it is no longer the cheeky challenger. If any industry needs more peace and goodwill, it is aviation.
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The worlds ultimate cul-de-sac is the European highway E69. It is the northernmost road that is part of a bigger route system. While there are roads closer to the North Pole, notably in Svalbard, the difference with the E69 is that if you wished to, you could drive here from the southern tip of mainland Spain.

However, it's easier to choose a different approach, whether the Hurtigruten ship or a Widere plane to Honningsvag. One of several contenders in these parts for the title of northernmost city in the world, it is actually a pleasant fishing village in the south-east of the island of Magerya.

Reindeer herders

Get to know the Sami culture of northern Norway (Visitnorway.com)

The isle is part of Norways northernmost county, Finnmark, which is home to a significant community of Sami people, nomadic reindeer herders who have roamed the far north for millennia.

On a two-dimensional map, the shape of the island of Magerya bears a pleasing resemblance to antlers. In the raw reality of three dimensions, the landscape comprises brooding hills rising from the ink-black ocean.

Recommended How to get a real taste of northern Norway

This being Norway, there is a good, reliable bus service that will take you along the E69 as it swerves through this austere magnificence. All through the year, bus 211 departs from outside the tourist office in Honningsvag at 11.45am. Forty-five minutes later, it arrives at Europes dramatic northern climax.

Nordkapp, or North Cape, is not technically the northernmost point - a lonely peninsula a few miles west holds that honour. But its a startlingly beautiful location that has been inspirationally embellished to allow you to appreciate fully the experience.

Latitude and altitude

North Cape Hall (Alamy)

Along with extreme latitude comes a large helping of altitude: the bus drops you close to the edge of a 1,000-foot cliff. The earth ends abruptly, crumbling into a seething Barents Sea that seems intent on claiming more land. The elemental majesties of earth, wind and water revel in their power. And, depending on when you visit, fire may be supplied by a sun peeking above the horizon, illuminating a massive metal globe on a concrete plinth and a collection of tall bronze discs resembling giant medals that reward your sense of adventure.

At the far north of Europe there is always plenty of weather around, and with this in mind an interior has been created. The impressive North Cape Hall (admission included in your bus fare) includes an exhibition, a restaurant and a cinema. More intriguingly, a tunnel has been hewn into the rock, leading down to the cliff face, complete with a chapel.

When you visit, you may find you are sharing the company of a surprising number of people from Thailand. The King of Siam put North Cape on the map when he visited in 1907, and his countrymen have made it something of a pilgrimage destination, despite Bangkok being 5,000 miles away. London is just 1,500 miles  or rather longer if you drive.

Midnight mission

An alternative to a day visit is the Midnight Expedition to the North Cape, where you join a snowmobile expedition, arriving at the North Cape just before midnight for hot soup, before spending the night in the North Cape Hall  waking for a local breakfast, and exploring the location before the rest of us arrive.

For more inspiration go to North Cape and to book your break to Norway, visit visitnorway.com

To view more articles in the series click here
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Brexit came close to unravelling amid misunderstanding, confusion and farce this month. David Daviss ordeal before the Commons Brexit select committee, with embarrassment over the stalling divorce negotiations and Irish border, captured the mood.

But the Prime Minister has managed to get through to the second stage of talks, which will focus on a trade agreement between the UK and the EU. In other words, the hard part.

Next week, Parliament will debate the Liberal Democrats amendment to the EU withdrawal bill. This calls for the public to have a vote on any Brexit deal, with an option of an Exit from Brexit if they dont like what the Conservatives secure.

And this months problems casts doubt on the Conservatives ability to secure a palatable deal.

In that Brexit committee, Davis made two big admissions. The first: that the 58 sectoral Brexit assessments werent assessments at all. Those who have seen them  under a procedure rivalling access to the Crown Jewels  say they are descriptions of the sectors, not assessments of impact, and contain nothing unavailable on Wikipedia.

The second, more serious, point was that the decision to leave the customs union was taken by the Cabinet without any quantitative assessment of impact.

This doesnt surprise me. Whenever I try to engage Brexiteers with technical issues which face supply chain industries, whose components cross borders, along with practical problems surrounding border certification and rules of origin, eyes glaze over.

 Austrian prime minister Christian Kern: Brexit should be reversed

I suspect Brexiteers still dont grasp how a customs union works for countries inside the customs union but outside the EU (like Turkey), and the barriers created for those outside.

It is now clear that problems like the Irish border stem from a decision shortly after the referendum to take Britain out of both the single market and customs union. We could have had a Brexit which keeps us in the single market (like Norway) or the customs union (like Turkey and smaller territories like the Channel Islands which are seeking to avoid trade friction). But the Government, under pressure from Brexit hardliners, chose not to compromise.

The result? The island of Ireland will see a divergence in regulation and products standard which will inevitably flow from departure from the single market; the necessity for border checks to stop unregulated migration from the Republic into the North; and the need for checks to ensure cross-border goods traffic pays UK rather than EU duties (a serious problem for mixed cargoes).

All this is hard to reconcile with the formal conditions of the Good Friday Agreement and with the political imperative for any Irish government  supported by the rest of the EU  to demonstrate that there is no hard border.

Minsters understood this imperative and agreed to avoid regulatory divergence. But, foolishly, they didnt square it with the DUP. It is a constitutional outrage that a party with 1 per cent of the vote in the UK and unrepresentative of the Remain majority in the North should be the Ulster tail wagging the British dog.

But the DUP can reasonably claim that its position was clear from the outset; as was the Irish governments and the European Commissions. To have a negotiated compromise disowned at the last minute reveals serious incompetence on the UK side. But it all stems from the political constraints imposed by the hard-Brexit route chosen by the Conservative Government (and supported, lest we forget, by Labour). The first stage deal reached by the Prime Minister simply kicks the Irish border issue into the long grass.

The Davis admissions, on top of the Conservatives embarrassing failure to square their DUP partners over the future of the Irish border, comes as public opinion is turning.

A Survation poll shows that one in two voters now back the Liberal Democrat policy of a referendum on the deal the Conservatives finally obtain. That is a 16-point lead on those who are against giving the people having a say on the final deal.

Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is welcomed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Reuters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU President Jean-Claude Juncker greeting Theresa May at the EU Commission in Brussels PA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May poses for a picture with European Council President Donald Tusk REUTERS Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker walks behind British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker address a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a press conference with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis (L) and Michel Barnier (2-L), the European Chief Negotiator of the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 enter the room by the emergency exit to attend British Prime Minister Theresa May press briefing on Brexit Negotiations in Brussels. EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (L), Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (2-L), European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (2-R) and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) in a meeting on Friday morning AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a media conference at the Europa building in Brussels AP

For months, Brexiteers have told us that most people, even Remainers, simply want to get on with leaving. As recently as the general election, they were probably right.

The public has, however, become increasingly disenchanted by the Conservatives strategic, tactical and presentational incompetence in these negotiations. Their lack of a coherent plan has undermined a reputation for adept international diplomacy that took centuries to build.

A year into preliminary talks, the EU has essentially got what it wanted in terms of citizens rights and secured a hefty divorce settlement of 40bn-50bn. There is, as yet, nothing to show for British efforts.

Momentum is now behind a referendum and support will grow on the back of more weeks like this. Ive said in the past there was a 20 to 25 per cent chance that Brexit wont happen. I am optimistic that the odds are now moving further in our favour.

It will be a long process to get to the point when the Government concedes a referendum must happen. Eventually, though, a poll to get them out of a mess of their creation  an Exit from Botched Brexit  could prove too tempting to ignore.

Brexit has been described as a car crash. We are only at the start of the skid, but we finally have hope that the slide can be stopped before the car hits the wall.
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Today, International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers, impels us to reflect. We should reflect not only on the enduring levels of violence targeted at sex workers but also on the societal stigma and discrimination that gives rise to this violence. We should reflect on how negative attitudes towards sex workers operate as a barrier to the reporting of violence, allowing victimisation to go unchallenged and offenders to act with impunity.

The 17 December has been observed annually for this purpose since 2003. The Day was founded to commemorate the sex workers murdered by the Green River serial killer in the US. Since then, it has become a day for sex workers and their allies to remember those who have lost their lives. And it serves to renew our commitment to the on-going struggle for sex workers rights: the right to work safely, legally, and without judgement.

At least 180 sex workers have been murdered in the UK since 1990, and between 45 and 75 per cent of sex workers globally experience violence during their lifetime. This reminds us why this day is needed.

Migrant sex workers in the UK are particularly vulnerable to victimisation. There has, for example, been a reported increase in the number of migrant sex workers murdered since 2010. And although xenophobic hate crime is reported to have increased since the Referendum, migrant sex workers immigration status can prevent them from reporting victimisation and accessing support.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 November 2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement PA 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 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In a joint-project between the University of Salford and University of Leicester, we analysed 2,056 crime reports submitted over a two-year period to UK National Ugly Mugs (NUM). This pioneering non-profit organisation works to improve sex worker safety and facilitate access to justice.

Our findings indicate that of all the different types of crime reported to NUM, violence is the most common. Street sex workers are the most likely group to report violence, followed by those working in indoor establishments such as brothels, saunas or parlous. It is street sex workers who are also the most likely to report rape or attempted rape to NUM. While independent escorts are the least likely group to report violence, theyre the most likely to report stalking and harassment.

Yet it is clear that sex workers are often reluctant to report their victimisation to the police. Only two in 10 sex workers reporting crime to NUM said that they were willing to engage directly with the police. This figure increases to nine out of 10 sex workers when NUM acts as an intermediary to share anonymous intelligence with the police.

However, it is neither the type nor severity of the crime that makes sex workers more or less willing to report to the police. Instead, it seems that street sex workers are generally more likely than other types of sex workers, particularly independent escorts, to engage with the police. This is surprising given that street sex workers are criminalised in the UK. This may be because street sex workers are more likely to have pre-existing relationships with support projects that can help them to make official reports. Independent escorts may be discouraged from reporting victimisation for fear of being outed, not being believed or being judged by officers.

But the violence sex workers are subjected to, and their limited access to justice, is not inevitable. It is enabled by social attitudes that position sex workers as second-class citizens. It is enabled by dangerous laws: laws which prevent sex workers from working together legally; laws which drive street sex workers to work in unoccupied spaces; and laws which prevent sex workers from engaging with the police for fear of their own arrest, the arrest of their clients and/or co-workers.

As the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution leads its latest inquiry, this time into so-called pop-up brothels, it is essential that it avoids the moral debates that too-often surround the sex industry. Sex workers safety must come first.

And so today, we all must stand in solidarity with sex workers everywhere who have experienced violence as part of their work. We must stand with sex workers to demand justice, and to demand laws that work to protect, rather than criminalise, them. Everyone has the right to make a living without fear of harassment, assault, rape or murder. But our solidarity must not end today. Instead, this years International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers must become a turning point: the point from which sex workers are granted the same rights we all expect in our workplaces.

Dr Laura Connelly is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Salford
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As I returned to London on the morning of 24 June last year, after the official declaration of the referendum result in Manchester, it finally began to sink in: the British people really had made that momentous and historic decision to vote to Leave the European Union.

It was a once-in-a-generation decision, coming 41 years after the last chance the British people had been given to register their view on the (then nascent) European project in 1975  before I was even born.

Indeed, you have to be aged over 60 today to have been able to cast a ballot in that first referendum on our relationship with Europe  a reminder that the vote on 23 June 2016 was arguably the real second referendum. And the decision to Leave was not one that the British people took lightly. With many voting for the first time in years  and some for the first time ever  the Vote Leave campaign secured the biggest ever mandate in British electoral history, with 17,410,742 backing our proposition that it was time to take back control of our laws, money, borders and trade policy.

But just before the UK slips out the Brussels door, the zombie Remain campaign has come back seeking one last roll of the electoral dice. They are calling for a second referendum, on the final Brexit deal, or as the Liberal Democrats sanctimoniously put it, a first referendum on the facts.

Lets be clear: whatever their high-sounding motives, this is nothing more than a shoddy plot to reverse Brexit, the majority decision of the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a free and fair vote.

As we now progress to the all-important second phase of the Brexit negotiations, the promise of another referendum at the end of the process would incentivise the EU to give us as punitive a deal as possible, if the option of returning to the status quo were on the table. Given that we know how much Brussels laments and fears the departure of its second biggest net contributor, this belies the true motivations of those calling for another vote.

But fundamentally, the referendum was neither consultative nor advisory. Remember how the Government spent more than 9m of our money on leaflets and websites telling us why we should vote Remain? Amongst that propaganda was an important line: This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide. In other words, it was make-your-mind-up time.

Yet now the refrain of some of those recalcitrant Remainers demanding another referendum is that we somehow didnt know what we were voting for last year. They incredulously claim that coming out of the EUs single market and customs union was not on the ballot paper. But as that infamous government propaganda stated: If we move outside the single market we would have to negotiate a new relationship with the EU. You dont say! Leading figures from both Leave and Remain camps such as David Cameron, George Osborne, Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and even Nick Clegg all said in terms during the campaign that a vote to Leave would mean leaving the EUs single market.

Likewise, escaping the shackles of the protectionist racket that is the EUs customs union was evident throughout the campaign. The months we spent calling for the freedom to negotiate our own trade deals around the world would have been entirely academic were we not leaving the customs union, since our membership of it explicitly prevents us from doing so.

There is in fact a supreme irony in the Remain-backing cognoscenti suggesting that having failed to understand what we were voting for in last years referendum, the very same device is required for us to change our decision.

In the past, the EU has felt it appropriate to instruct other nations which have voted the wrong way in previous referendums to vote again, as they did to Denmark over their rejection of Maastricht and then Ireland when they voted down the treaties of Nice and Lisbon.

But having made our decision to leave the EU, the British will not be bullied into changing our mind by a Brussels elite whose true ambition of a United States of Europe is becoming clearer by the week  a move which itself suggests they have learnt nothing from the increasing hostility to European integration shown at the ballot box across the EU these last couple of years.

Matthew Elliott (@matthew_elliott) was chief executive of Vote Leave and is editor-at-large of BrexitCentral
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The situation which the country faces today is a very different one from that which existed when the referendum was held in June 2016.

For me, the essential first step afterwards was that the Brexiteers were put in charge of the negotiations, which they have been.

They patently made a Horlicks of running the show, to the extent that the Prime Minister has had to take away the senior civil servant in the Brexit department and take over the negotiations herself. Even so, the realities of sovereignty in the modern age are becoming clearer. Britain is not in a position to impose its will on the 27 members of the European Union. People can see all that now.

The world that is unfolding has nothing of the promise that was made during the referendum campaign. The notorious 350m a week for the health service that would come from leaving the EU has vanished. It was simply was not credible at the time, but it did persuade a lot of people.

They can also see that there is a deeply divided country in which the younger part of the population is pitched against the older part, and I believe a lot of elderly people have come round to the view that they made a mistake voting the way they did in the referendum.

Then there is the economic situation  frozen living standards are the underlying cause of the Brexit phenomenon, and there is no evidence that Brexit is going to do anything other than worsen that situation. In fact, the latest forecasts indicate a very difficult time ahead for British households and that will change peoples minds on Brexit.

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

My feeling is that even some of the national press that were supporters of withdrawal are becoming more open minded. Ultimately, its all a matter of public opinion and if that changes the Labour party will shift its position, more than it has already, and the pressure to rethink will become harder to resist.

The key to any further change is that Parliament must be sovereign, and we now seem to be moving to a position where the Government is accepting that. I think that is absolutely essential  that it is Parliament that should have the ultimate decision-making power in what happens.

Brexiteers will say the 2016 referendum result is irreversible, but all this stuff about the sanctity of the decision simply does not stand.

Nicola Sturgeon was quite up front after the Scottish independence referendum to say she wanted another one. Nigel Farage said before he won the referendum that if he lost it he would need a second one. As long as Parliament is sovereign and bears the ultimate decision-making power, there is room for change.

I would say to my Conservative colleagues who are not content with the way things are, the same ones who have the integrity to go on saying the same things Conservative governments have said for decades  remember the history of the last 50 years. Every time the Labour party won an election, we set out to oppose the things we disapproved of.

 Michael Heseltine says Brexit won't happen

We were always right, we usually won and we changed the course of history, challenging the irreversibility of socialism, which was the prevailing ethos of the 1940s and 50s. That victory has been one of the most enduring and successful features of post-war politics, because we didnt give in and didnt give up. There is an important message there.

Those who are now pushing for a harder Brexit were on the margins of our party. They were always there, but they are the ones who have betrayed the achievements of Conservative governments from the 1950s onwards.

Being in Europe is about the ability to influence the world in which we live. To preserve the peace of our continent and the strength, by coordination, to compete with the giant forces of the United States, China and India that will be the drivers of tomorrow.

Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is welcomed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Reuters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU President Jean-Claude Juncker greeting Theresa May at the EU Commission in Brussels PA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May poses for a picture with European Council President Donald Tusk REUTERS Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker walks behind British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker address a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a press conference with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis (L) and Michel Barnier (2-L), the European Chief Negotiator of the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 enter the room by the emergency exit to attend British Prime Minister Theresa May press briefing on Brexit Negotiations in Brussels. EPA Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (L), Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (2-L), European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (2-R) and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) in a meeting on Friday morning AFP/Getty Images Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters Brexit bonhomie as May finally seals agreement with EU leaders European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a media conference at the Europa building in Brussels AP

The fact that we have achieved a period of political stability  we have got rid of the communists, we have got rid of the fascists, we have parliamentary democracy across the continent  is largely down to Europe and our participation in it, and as a result, we have become an iconic centre of attractiveness. Huge numbers of people look to us in the context of political, legal, economic and cultural achievement.

But to exclude ourselves from the councils of Europe is in defiance of what every Conservative government sought to achieve in my lifetime.

The fact is, that from Churchills great post-war speeches, to the vision of MacMillan and the tenacity of Ted Heath, to the consolidating processes of Margaret Thatcher and John Major  it was the Conservatives who led and achieved our membership of Europe, in the early days in the teeth of significant Labour opposition.

The reason why the Conservatives did it, is because they believed it was in the essential self-interest of this country to be a leading European power.

Lord Heseltine is Conservative former Deputy Prime Minister and a prominent Remainer
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I voted Leave to call the establishments bluff. To test that we are, indeed, a free and democratic country. To confirm that I was able to say no to the European Union. After all, as Salman Rushdie once wrote, the freedom to reject is the only freedom.

We know that the majority of Brexiteers voted to retain and reinstate the UK as a sovereign state, whether it be for control over our laws or our borders. In fact most of the reasons why people voted to Leave, as cited in the the Lord Ashcroft polls at the time, were summarised in points that contained words like decisions, control and choice. People voted for the freedom to have the ability to say no.

Despite this, the British peoples decision to put the EU behind us and to take responsibility for the future of our country is met by continuing doubt and harassment from those urging for a second referendum. Even the utterance of a second referendum insults the very concept of our precious democratic system, and its undermining should outrage us all. It is an open attack on our individual freedoms  to say no, and have the establishment take us seriously.

 Brexit: Theresa May agrees breakthrough Irish border deal with EU leaders

The call for a second referendum harkens back to the Lisbon Treaty shambles in 2008-9, where the Irish were forced to consecutively vote until the establishment got the answer they had intended. This democratic charade didnt happen the once, but another two times in fact. Denmark was ordered to vote again on the Maastricht Treaty, and Ireland again on the Nice Treaty. In all cases, the will of the people was ignored to favour our technocratic masters. The EU, in this case, is like a sore loser refusing to accept its loss.

Curiously, it wasnt just Eurosceptics that have jumped at the idea of a second vote  our very own Nick Clegg has called for a referendum on Britains membership of the EU to end this crazy debate. Quite amusingly, Clegg also exploited the language of a democrat in his 2009 campaign flyers Give the people a say and It is VITAL that you, and the British people have a say in a REAL referendum. No mention of a series of referendums then the hypocrisy of it all!

Clegg was happy to adorn himself in the borrowed robes of democracy then. Today, when tested, theyre slipping from the heavy burden of their meaning, as he weakly squalls: A second referendum.

Not only is the second referendum nag a slight annoyance to ordinary voting folk, who by now are fed up of ballot posting, but the democrats incessant tugging at the dress of the demos to change their minds is highlighting them as people who do not trust the demos. It demonstrates a complete disobedience to their rightful masters  the people. I suppose it must be tempting for a passionate Remainer to call for a second referendum, but I ask anyone who feels this way to think carefully about what you are endorsing.

This weeks vote on Amendment seven showed that certain MPs are determined to betray their constituents. By doing so, they are denying us our right to choose, to favour their own personal preferences. The truth is, if they cant have it their way and remain, they will attempt to make Brexit a messy conflict for the rest of us  and that is something we must not abide.

The dismemberment of democracy, triggered by the picking and choosing of election results, starts a dangerous precedent that will permit your own demise if your desires fall foul of the EUs plans. You are endorsing, without sounding too dramatic, the dismantling of the very basis of our Western civilisation. Your decision lies before you: it is either democracy, the power of the people, or technocracy, control by a few. Unless you are lucky enough to be included in that privileged minority, your consultation will not be sought by the latter. Bearing that in mind, would you risk losing your ability to refuse, in favour of the mercy of the few? I wouldnt.

By all means, I would suggest that a second referendum could be permitted  in 40 years time, the same length of time it took for the 2016 referendum to occur. But as a nation, we have voted Leave. And we must persevere on the decision of the Leave vote, to uphold the very notion of our freedom to say no. It is our civic duty as a free and democratic people to do so. Democrats, grasp your vote. It is the last defence that we as citizens of democratic states possess to protect ourselves from those who would wish to go against our interests. Value it, or we will surrender ourselves to the tyranny of mercy and servitude.

Lucy Harris is the coordinator of Leavers of London
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The year 2017 was the year of skirting round the core issues of Brexit: 2018 will be the year when Brexit hits reality.

The public may be bored with the subject now, and feeling resigned to a poor outcome, but in 12 months time, when the deadline is imminent and minds are concentrated, I do not think the mood will be so relaxed.

In the referendum, Leave campaigners pledged no more free movement of people, control of our borders and laws and, most famously of all, our money back  350m a week extra for the NHS no less.

It seems a joke now. Theresa May has agreed new future EU payments by Britain of around 40bn (an underestimate in the view of some). There is little mention of controlling migration anymore  indeed our problem may be that too few want to come to work. May has signed up to a role for the European Court long after we leave the EU because Britain will not be ready to separate for years to come.

The biggest betrayal will come over the economy in the long term.

David Davis promised the exact same benefits in trade after Brexit. Liam Fox said negotiating new trade deals would be the easiest thing in history. May says we can be sure of a deep and ambitious future relationship between Britain and the EU.

She may want it but she is going the wrong way about getting it.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

If she has learned anything from the last year it must be that the EU holds more cards than we do and that what we are undertaking is not so much a negotiation as a series of choices by us from the limited menu offered by the EU. So much for the Brexiters refrain that they need us as much as we need them.

Because of its market size the EU has vastly greater bargaining power. It has more options and therefore greater ability to say no when it wants to reject something.

This means one very large piece of reality when the talks move on to future trade: the deal we are offered will be one constructed on the EUs terms, on the basis of their rules and standards and will take account of the trade agreements they have with their many other international partners.

Britain will not be offered preferential, bespoke treatment if this means the EU having to reinvent its rulebook to accommodate us and if, according to World Trade Organisation rules, anything the EU offers Britain has to be offered to everyone else with whom it already has agreements.

Officials in Berlin and Paris have told me that they expect to come under domestic pressure from a variety of their home industries to make a deal that safeguards existing cross border trade with Britain. But they are not going to do this at the expense of the rules that will sustain Europes internal market in the long term.

To get a trade deal which preserves the trade benefits we have now, May will have to agree to remain firmly within the EUs regulatory orbit and adhere strictly to its customs rules. This will come at a price because if we leave the EU we will have no further say over the agreement of those rules.

 Brexit: Donald Tusk warns Theresa May the hardest part of negotiations is yet to come

In these circumstances, Britain would be faced with an invidious choice: prioritise our trade and economic interests but do so on Europes terms or put our autonomy above everything else and face losing market share in Europe and jobs and living standards at home.

This is not the choice people thought they were signing up for when they voted to Leave in the referendum.

The Tories manifesto pledged that after Brexit we would be in Europe but not run by Europe. We are now heading for a very different outcome  out of Europe but run by Europe. This is literally the inverse of take back control.

Ms May believes she can still achieve the best of both worlds by creating a new model agreement that gives Britain the trade it wants in Europe but allows us to diverge from EU rules when we wish.

 Tory rebellion leads to defeat of Government over Brexit amendment

She is dancing on the head of a pin that does not exist. The most we would be offered in these circumstances is something similar to the goods trade agreement that Canada has with the EU.

This would be an abject outcome for Britain given that over 80 per cent of our economy and a huge proportion of our trade is in services not goods. It would be the final proof, if more is needed, that the case for leaving the EU was sold on a lie.

Those of us who oppose Brexit need to hammer this home relentlessly.

Our job is to persuade Leave voters not that they were duped but that the Brexit being created is the opposite of the one offered, one that even Nigel Farage is describing as a national humiliation.

It is right the British people are given the option to renew their consent for Brexit, either in a new referendum or a general election. We should not leave the EU until we know what we are leaving to and the British people should have the opportunity to endorse the final outcome.

Brexit is not some natural phenomenon we are consigned to live with regardless. If we are to have control as a nation then we must insist on the democratic right to change our minds if that is the publics wish.

Lord Mandelson is a former EU trade commissioner and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
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A Former Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, who defected from Labour Party and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, and others who decamped from the PDP were received at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital by the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu on Saturday.

Tinubu told journalists that the APC possessed the capacity to accommodate all the bigwigs and successfully manage all the challenges that would come with it.

We have a stainless kitchen and we can accommodate as many cooks as possible and because we will have a variety of menu in the political kitchen of planning this future, he said.

We love those big wigs and we can accommodate them all. It is in the same forest that you find a hippo that you find an elephant and you will find a rabbit. In political platforms, you must look for the addition not the minus.

Mr. Alao-Akala, who served as governor from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had moved to the Labour Party shortly before the 2015 general elections.

Other defectors who were received on Saturday include former deputy governor of the state and former Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Government, Ayodele Adigun; and the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of PDP to the House of Representatives. Segun Odebunmi.

Rauf Olaniyan, Ayoola Makanjuola, and Rasaq Gbadegesin were also received into the party along with their supporters.

Those who were at the Mapo Hall to receive the defectors were Mr. Tinubu, Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and his counterpart from Osun and Ondo States, Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Akeredolu.

Segun Oni, a former governor of Ekiti State and Deputy National Chairman (South West), as well as Pius Akinyelure, National Vice Chairman (South West) were also part of the reception.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
It appears the #titheagainstpovertychallenge led by OAP Daddy Freeze is getting more and more supporters with each day  One man has offered to help three people with the sum of N100,000 each this holiday season  He made this known via his Instagram page A couple of days ago, controversial OAP Daddy Freeze took to his social media pages to announce that he has launched what he calls the #titheagainstpovertychallenge. With this challenge, he aims to encourage people to channel their tithes into more fruitful ventures like helping to lift someone out of poverty. So far, a number of people have signified their interest in taking part in the challenge including popular Nigerian musician Davido who made this known via his account.

Now, one man has gone a step further by offering to give out N300, 000 to three people who need the funds this season. See his post below: #titheagainstpovertychallenge #TAPCHALLENGE . I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE. 300K FOR #3 . HAPPY CHRISTMAS FOR THE HOOD . MUCH LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE . #Istandwithfreeze . This is a good call to all able individuals around the world, lets come together and help the less privileged. So much attention on tithes and offerings, its time to do it for the culture, lets do this for the world. Please do not criticize the mouthpiece @daddyfreeze , he is a good man, doing what most people cannot do or say in order to avoid criticism.

source: Naij.com
The Nigerian Law School graduate who was denied access to the venue of the bar ceremony earlier this week says her demand remains the need to grant approval for the use of hijab among Muslim law graduates.

Firdaus Amasa, a graduate of the University of Ilorin, had been denied access to the ceremony after insisting on wearing hijab during the ceremony.

Ms. Amasa was specifically refused entry into the hall for insisting to wear the wig on top of her hijab  a headscarf.

The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with Nigerians divided on her decision and that of the authorities of the law school.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Ms. Amasa maintained that she remained resolute in her convictions to set a precedent for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the ceremony.

My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony). 

When asked whether she was aware of rules and regulations that guide against the use of Hijab at the ceremony, she said there was none, stressing that it was merely based on conventions.

There is nothing like that (laws preventing the use of Hijab), she told newsmen, When you ask them too, they tell you it is convention; that that is how it is done and it has to remain like that.

Asked what motivated her to take the decision, she explained that she wanted to change the narrative and give Muslim sisters the rights to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution.

I knew that was what was going to happen, she said of the consequences of her decision. She, however, said she remained resolute in her convictions to speak for the recognition of rights of female Muslim law graduates.

She explained further that the Law School has not said anything on the case, adding that the support from the Muslim community has been impressive.

My demand is that Hijab should be approved, she affirmed.

Meanwhile, Tawakalitu Amasa, a younger sister to Ms. Amasa, also called on Nigerians irrespective of religious leanings to support the cause.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
A Nigerian lady identified as Ifeoma Vivian Emeka, has taken to social media to admonish ladies to burn their weavons and wigs.

According to Vivian, they are demonic and can lead to hell.

The lady, via Facebook, shared a picture of some of the hair extensions she burnt and advised her fellow ladies to stop fixing braids.

She wrote;

I JUST BURNT ALL MY WEAVONS,WIGS ..PLEASE IF YOU ARE A GIRL BURN YOUR WEAVONS AND WIGS IT IS DEMONIC AND CAN LEAD YOU TO HELL PLEASE DO IT NOW . EVERY WOMAN IF POSSIBLE STOP BRAIDING OR FIXING

See more pictures below;

-Gistreel
Governor of Nevada , Brian Sandoval, says he and his wife, Kathleen, have decided to separate and plan to divorce after 27 years of marriage.

The two-term Republican said in a statement released Friday that demands of public life are hard on a marriage and ours has been affected in a way neither of us had envisioned or expected.

The statement says the Sandovals remain committed to their three children and ask that their familys privacy be respected during this difficult time.

The Sandovals were married in 1990. They have two adult children and a teenager.

A Reno native, Brian Sandoval was first elected governor in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.

He served in the Nevada Assembly, as state attorney general and as a federal judge before becoming governor.

Source: (Yahoo News)
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose sent birthday messages to President Muhammadu Buhari on his 75th birthday, he urged the president to quit politics given his age and fragile health condition.

The governor spoke at a session with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.

Mr. Fayose said the president had served the nation to be best of his ability in spite of his age, saying he required the prayers of all Nigerians.

This is to congratulate Mr President as he clocks 75. I want to thank God for his life and pray for good health in the service of our nation and that he continues to age with grace, he said.

I wish him the best. He represents us all and we owe him prayers and co-operation where necessary, just as we also need to criticise him too where necessary.

Mr. Fayose said he congratulated President Buhari, not minding the political differences between them.

He however stated the President should consider his advice of quitting politics at this stage of his public service.

I am not a fan of an old man and this is not personal and peculiar to President Buhari, he said.

We need an agile president come 2019. We need somebody that is experienced and agile.

He shouldnt contest and the decision is his and his party. But that is not going to stop me and my party from taking over from him and his party come 2019.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
An influential group in the oil industry says it is set to begin its strike from Monday, a week after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN threatened to embark on a strike.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, said on Friday it had no option than to call its members on strike after negotiations with the government over some labour issues stalled.

The group had earlier issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to intervene over allegations of anti-workers practices perpetrated against some of its members in Neconde Energy Limited, an indigenous oil company.

The umbrella body of senior workers in the oil and gas industry had accused the management of Neconde Energy of wrongful termination of the employment of some of its workers who belong to PENGASSAN.

Following the ultimatum, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, had offered to broker a truce between the union and Neconde Energy Limited.

However, the union in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES late on Friday by its spokesperson, Fortune Obi, said the peace meeting called by the Minister during the week ended in a stalemate without a positive resolution of the crisis.

Following the failure of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to settle the rift between this body (PENGASSAN) and Neconde, the management of PENGASSAN has agreed to start the strike on Monday night (December 18th, 2017), Mr. Obi said in the statement.

Mr. Obi said the strike scheduled to commence midnight on Monday would be preceded by an emergency Central Working Committee meeting of PENGASSAN in the morning.

The union said it has already notified its members nationwide to be on standby for the final instructions to shutdown operations if nothing is done by the relevant authorities to avert the planned strike by midnight on Monday.

PENGASSANs Lagos Zonal Chairman, Abel Agarin, in a communique in support of the strike, warned against any act of victimisation against any of its members who would participate in the exercise.

The unions position has always been that the termination of employment of some workers by Neconde was unlawful, as it was not in line with equity, good conscience and industrial relations, best practices and extant labour laws, Mr. Agarin noted.

If the strike is allowed to proceed as planned, it will worsen the fuel supply situation nationwide.

Most parts of the country, including big cities like the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and others, have been struggling to recover from the impact of the crisis on businesses, as normalcy is gradually being restored in fuel supply.

The impact of another disruption in fuel supply will be well felt as Nigerians prepare for Christmas celebrations.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
The photo of the lawyer, Tolu Oloyede who physically asaulted her 15-year-old maid, Abigail Opebiyi at their home located at Number 5, El Shaddai Crescent, near Unique Estate in Baruwa, Ipaja area last week was released by the Lagos State Police Command.

The attack left Abigail with a deep gash on her forehead, bruised upper limbs (hands) and injury marks all over her body.

The Commissioner of police, Lagos state command, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the officer in charge of Gender Section of the state command, Sp. Adejoke Cole (Mrs) to diligently investigate the case and take the girl to the hospital for proper medicare.

Tolu would be given the opportunity to defend her actions in a law court on Monday 18/12/2017.
A Nigerian Lady, identified as Mrs. Abaniwonda Modupe Kofowoola was reportedly found dead on board Emirates Airlines when it landed at Lagos Airport.

According to reports from SR, Kofoworola was found dead onboard the airline when it landed at the Lagos Airport. She was with the passport number: A07562816 until her death on the aircraft.

The flight EK783 (DXB) with the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) at 15:55hrs, but, arrived at 15:50 hrs with the corpse of Mrs. Kofoworola.

Immediately on arrival, the airline crew notified the medical team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who immediately swung into action, but the deceased was confirmed dead by Dr. Akanwo of FAAN Medical at 16:35hrs.

Immediately she was confirmed dead, FAAN officials together with the staff of the airline at the Lagos Airport evacuated her body from the aircraft, loaded her in a FAAN ambulance and moved her to the general hospital in Ikeja.

As at the time of filing this report, the cause of her death could not be ascertained.

The source said:

No one knows the exact time the woman died onboard the airplane, but immediately the aircraft landed, the crew called our attention to the incident and we had to inform FAAN officials.

This is not the first time a Nigerian would be dying onboard Emirates coming into Nigeria.

It would be recalled that in July, the President of Lions Club in Nigeria, Mr. Dada Isaac Olusola on arrival slumped and died at the Lagos Airport few minutes after arriving at the airport.

The deceased, who was in the company of his wife and Lions Club members had arrived the country aboard the airline from the United States of America.

The plane had a stopover in Dubai before connecting Lagos. The team had gone to the US for a conference, relating to Lions Club.

Olusola was with the passport number: A04501199 as at the time of his death. He had arrived the country on flight EK783 (DXB) at 15:55 hours.

-SR
The Nigerian troops engaged in the Lafiya Dole counter insurgency operation in the North-east said troops on Saturday arrested 407 persons who are either Boko Haram fighters or members of their families hiding on the islands of the Lake Chad.

The arrests were made following a sustained air and ground coordinated offensive targeting locations of the insurgents around the various islands.

The arrest turns out to be biggest harvest of Boko Haram fighters by the military in recent times.

The arrested persons comprised 167 active Boko Haram fighters, 67 women and 173 children who were confirmed wives and kids of the insurgents.

The military said many of the insurgents were also killed during the coordinated raids on the island.

This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Onyema Nwachukwu.

Mr. Nwachukwu, a colonel, who is Deputy Director Army Public Relations, said 57 insurgents were arrested during a seperate operation on another location in the troubled sub-region.

He said within the past weeks, 15 other insurgents had surrendered to Nigeria troops.

Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go to families and relations of troops as well as civilians who paid the supreme price in the encounters and callous suicide bomb and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks by the terrorists.

While troops continue relentlessly in the ongoing offensive to decisively rid the north east hinterlands of insurgents, members of the public are implored to be more security conscious and vigilant in their homes, communities, places of worship , markets and other places of business to identify strange persons as well as any suspicious activity and promptly report same to security agencies. They are also urged to remember to Say something, if you see something, the statement added.

Source: ( Premium Times )
The Police have arrested at least eight persons following the clash on Thursday between the police and illegal miners in Taraba State.

One death has also been confirmed while a police officer has been declared missing.

It was earlier reported the incident with many people feared dead and others injured. The clash occurred in Mayo-Sina near Nguroje in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba.

The police spokesperson in the state, David Misal, who confirmed the incident and the arrests, also said one policeman was still missing.

Mr. Misal said the police had on Monday directed the illegal miners to vacate the site within 48 hours but that the miners did not comply.

On Thursday when units of Mobile Police arrived the site to enforce the directive, they were attacked by the miners, an action that cost the life of one person with several others injured and receiving treatment in Gembu General Hospital and other hospitals in the area.

Several efforts were made in the past to disperse the illegal miners from the Mayo-Sina mining site but all to no avail as the miners kept deaf ears and resisted, the police spokesperson said later on Friday.

Mr. Misal said the mining site was also suspected to be a breeding ground for criminals.

Some residents of the area said the bulk of the unskilled workers were indigenes of Sardauna LGA, with others coming from neighbouring states and West African countries like Niger.

Commenting on the development, the member representing Nguroje constituency in the State House of Assembly, Bashir Bape, said a joint task force from the federal ministry of mines had asked the illegal miners to vacate the site but they refused.

Police were deployed and the illegal miners were forced to disperse from the site on Thursday evening after a clash with the security operatives, he told PREMIUM TIMES.

Though I cant say the exact figures of the casualty, lives were feared lost and some persons who were injured are receiving treatment at the Gembu General Hospital, Mr. Bape said.

The lawmaker dispelled immediate rumours following the clash that it involved farmers and herders, pointing out that it was purely an illegal mining issue.

By Friday evening, the mining site had become calm as the illegal miners were moving out en-masse.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Gidado Idris, as a big loss to the nation.

The former SGF died on Friday night in Abuja at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

Mr. Idris, who hailed from Zaria in Kaduna State, was appointed SGF in 1993 and retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigerias independence.

The president, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Saturday, expressed sadness at the passing on of Mr. Idris.

He said being a highly experienced and quintessential technocrat who traversed the different stages of the political evolution of the country, Gidados wise counsel will surely be missed.

The president added that the deceased, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of his public career as SGF, served several civilian and military administrations meritoriously as federal permanent secretary.

He said Mr. Gidado left inspiring imprints.

He, therefore, enjoined current and upcoming civil and public servants to emulate the cherished values of hard work, discipline, professionalism and integrity which the late distinguished nationalist embodied.

He commiserated with the family and associates of the deceased and prayed that God would comfort them.

Mr. Idris was buried Saturday at Gudu Cemetery in FCT amid tears and prayers from families and the Muslim community.

The burial, which was concluded at around 3 p.m., was attended by the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, among others.

Source: (NAN)
Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday in Lagos during an event to celebrate the 50th birthday of ace broadcaster and journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, said the Nigerians media must reinvent itself if it must overcome, the crisis of confidence, decline in readership, technological disruption and other challenges it is grappling with.

We are at the beginning of an explosion of media contents and technological innovations, he said while noting that the Nigerian media has not responded well to these changes and innovations.

Mr Osinbajo said the Nigerian media is not immune to some of the problems holding the country back as corruption has poisoned the trust the people used to have in the media.

Nigerian contemporary press is caught up in a crisis of confidence. The faith in the media is at all time low because faith in all things in the country is at all-time low. The crisis of corruption is systemic and every institution is infected. Justice can be bought so also headlines can be bought.

The combine sales of the major print newspapers are less than that of Daily Times 40 years ago, he said.

Mr. Osinbajo wondered why the media, as the custodian of our collective memory has not archived the happening in the country from at least the return to democratic rule in 1999. He said rather than blame it on poor finance, the blame should be placed on the absence of vision.

He said media owners should come up with a sustainable business model that can pay journalists well while noting that a poorly paid journalist should not be expected to ethical.

Comparing the media with the judiciary, the vice president said: wherever you find a judiciary that is poorly paid, you will find a judiciary that is compromised. Same applies to the media

He also called the press to question on the performance of its watchdog role as enshrined in the countrys constitution when it has failed to put its house in order first saying that a media house which has not paid its journalists for months should not question a state government which also owes civil servants.

Mr Osinbajo made the observation while delivering the keynote address of the event, titled: A Conversation on Media Renewal in Nigeria.

The event also included the launch of a book titled: 50 voices and the presentation of scholarships to 50 undergraduate students from Nigerian universities.

50 Voices is a compendium of some of the most notable interviews from Ms Ahmeds now defunct popular talk show, Straight Talk with Kadaria.

The Chairman of Channels Television, John Momoh, who delivered the opening address said the world today is inundated with information overload but rather than beaten down by the chaos, Nigerian journalists should see the chaos as the antecedent of opportunities.

During the event, former colleagues, friends and family members spent time to pour loads of accolades on Ms. Ahmed. The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, where Ms Ahmed worked for a while, Wale Babalakin, said Ms. Ahmed was one of the most passionate persons he has worked with.

She did her role so well that I have never reminded her of an assignment or corrected whatever she had done, he said.

I look forward to a Nigeria where Kadaria will gain the status and reputation of Oprah Winfrey, he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of NN24, Tony Dara, said Ms. Ahmed was a quintessential journalists, She is the best we have and a shiny light to those who want to be journalists in Nigeria.

During a question and answer session, Ms. Ahmed, who started her career in journalism with the BBC, took time to explain her work ethics and how she managed to rise to the very top of her profession.

Working for the BBC is also like going back to school, she said.

Ms. Ahmed, who was the Managing Editor of defunct Next Newspapers, also took the time to advocate for better welfare for journalists. She suggested that instead of castigating journalists for demanding and accepting financial gratification from politicians and people they write about, we should rather strive to make sure that journalists are well paid.

Once you have financial independence, your journalism can be well founded. In my case, I can say no because I have a huge safety net. It is easier to have ethics when you can pay your childrens school fees.

So, what we need, rather than just preaching to journalists, is to provide the means that allow them to be independent, she said.

Source : ( Premium Times )
Sultan of Sokoto and President  Generation of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Mohammad Saad Abubakar has decried the raging controversy over Hijab.

According to the Sultan, Hijab simply means decent dressing for Muslim women and part and parcel of Islam.

Abubakar, who spoke in Lagos on Saturday during the fifth National Convention of Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) with the theme, Public Trust and Accountability, said he could not decipher why the issue of Hijab would be so controversial to the extent that female Muslims who adorn Hijab would be molested.

He spoke against the backdrop of the raging controversy over the denial of a University of Ilorin law student, Miss Amasa Firdaus from being called to bar last week for refusing to remove her Hijab worn under her wig.

Represented by a member of NSCIA and Wazirin of Katsina, Prof. Sanni Abubakar Lugga, the Sultan said Hijab is not only a mode of dressing in Islam only but it is also an accepted mode of dressing in Christianity and Judaism.

He stressed that Muslims are peace- loving and they should be allowed to practise their religion as stipulated by Allah and as contained in the traditions of Prophet Mohammad.

He said,

His eminence wonders while Hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing, decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? The Hijab is just an Arabic word. In English it means decent dressing.

His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of dressing. It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public.

Secondly, in Nigerian constitution it is absolutely clear. Why should Nigerian Muslims be molested and even denied their own right? The Appeal Court ruling in Ilorin is there, the Appeal Court in Lagos and also the High Court all delivered judgement in favour of Hijab.

Justice Alooma, the former CJN, Justice Bukalchuwa and other Senior Justices in Nigeria wear their Hijab and then the wig on top of it. The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), the Highest body in the judiciary has not said, no, they should stop which means the Nigerian constitution allows the Hijab, the Nigerian Courts through these three judgements have allowed the Hijab and the NJC through these senior judges has allowed the Hijab.

Why will a legal school refuse our sisters induction into the judiciary simply because she is wearing Hijab? Is the law school saying they are above the NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, they are above these three senior courts?

Source; Daily Trust
Against the general belief across the globe that the Catholic Church is one of the richest churches in the world, Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso has said it was a wrong impression.

Bishop Ndagoso said if the Catholic is so rich as many people are claiming, its leaders would have owned private jets all over the country like other church leaders are doing.

According to Sunday Sun, he pointed out that many people, including some Catholic faithful, even went to the extent of believing that the Pope has a mint where he prints American dollars and distributes to catholic dioceses around the world. The cleric who spoke at a dinner cum formal commissioning ceremony of a newly built multi-purpose secretariat for Kaduna Diocese, said the Catholic leadership is prudent at managing meagre resources.

He said some people even have the erroneous impression that the head of the Catholic church, Pope has a mint from where he distributes dollars to dioceses all over the world.

Bishop Ndagoso restated that the catholic leadership does not engage in wasteful spending, but proper management of its resources to the envy of the world.

Many people in our country, including Catholics, are under the wrong impression that the Catholic Church is very rich. If we are rich we would have bought fleets of jets like any other church, but we are not.

Some even think that the Pope has a mint in the Vatican where he prints American dollars and the Euro which he distributes to catholic dioceses around the world. If anything, what makes our church look rich is the ability to properly manage scarce resources with prudence and transparency.

This is why with so little, the church has always pursued goals that benefit humanity in general regardless of creed and social status through schools, hospitals and other social services. It is for the same reason that as a church we always aspire to work in close collaboration with the state and its agencies that seek to improve the human condition like I said at the ground breaking ceremony of this project eight and half years ago. Be that as it may, I wish to reiterate that our hands of collaboration are stretched out to the government, civil society groups and non government organisations for the common good of our people, especially in the areas of the provision of qualitative and functional education, health care and social services.

In this vein, I wish to appeal to Kaduna State government to borrow a leaf from other state governments especially those in the southern and Middle Belt of our country and return our schools that were taken away from us without compensation as a matter of justice so that the church and the state can resume collaboration in the common service of our people. Bishop Ndagoso said.

-Sunday Sun
Update 6.11pm:A man with a knife walked into the police service's office at an Amsterdam airport and threatened staff with a knife, military police say.

Officers at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands shot the man in the leg and arrested him before transporting him to hospital.

The incident is not being treated as an extremist attack, spokesman Stan Verberkt said.

He said "the circumstances are telling us that it has nothing to do with terrorism".

The incident forced a brief evacuation of parts of the busy airport just outside Amsterdam.

It was not clear what effect the security situation was having on flights but parts of the airport behind the check-in area were not evacuated.

AP

Update 5.30pm: Military police said the events are not being treated as a terror incident.

Earlier: The airport's main plaza was and remains evacuated after military police shot the man, who had a knife.

Schiphol Plaza, which houses shops, bars and restaurants, was evacuated but not the parts of the airport behind the check-in area and security checks, airport spokeswoman Roos van der Ven said.

Military police have shot a man after he threatened to use a knife at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

The Marechaussee police service said the "situation is safe" and the suspect has been detained and removed from the scene.

Schiphol, just outside Amsterdam, is one of Europe's busiest airports.
Placards by the group spoke of 3,000 homeless children in Ireland and the need to house local people first.

The protest began directly opposite the Holy Cross Mercy primary school before moving to Linden House, a former guesthouse which has hosted asylum seekers in the past.

A Garda from the nearby garda station was on duty at the entrance.

At the gates of the house local councillor Donal Grady addressed the gathering to rounds of applause, before handing in a petition, stating the concerns, signed by those protesting.

Firstly to make clear we believe that people from war torn areas like Iraq and Syria should be accepted in our country, Mr Grady read before outlining concerns about the lack of consultation with the community.

We have no knowledge of the vetting procedures these people have been through and they are being housed across the road from a local school, he said.

"The town had a large number of homeless and they should be looked after first," he continued.

Angry voices in the group which gathered outside Linden House referred to the fact some of the men who arrived on Friday were carrying iPhone sixes; and a lot of them smoked.

Others shouted about the Irish people paying for the accommodation.

What fire officer signed off on safety for that house for 55 people, a mother of three who identified herself as Karen asked.

Pat Sullivan, who is involved with the jarveys in Killarney, asked why the Department of Justice had hidden the fact they were re-opening what was a vacant and derelict building.

Work took place at night under lights, two local women said. Most people said they objected to the lack of notice to anybody in Killarney by the Department of Justice.

Its not healthy having fifty five men with nothing to do all day, another parent said.

Meanwhile three of the men who arrived at Linden House spoke briefly to the media.

Others remained inside but opened the door to where a Christmas tree stood to accept the letter of protest.

A 25-year-old man from Albania told this remoprters he had been in Ireland with four years, in Galway and the west waiting for his application to be processed.

Give me work and I dont stay here, the man said. The accommodation in Killarney was "very good," he said, when asked about the standard of the building which had been vacant.

It was the first time he had come across such a protest and he asked not to be identified in photographs. A second man also from Albania said he had been in Ireland with two months.

A 48-year-old man from India said he was from the Punjab and was seeking asylum because of the war there, he had been housed first in Donegal and was in Ireland two months.

There was a brief angry confrontation between one woman and the Albanian man when she asked him where his family was; others remarked how the asylum seekers had brilliant English however, Cllr Grady moved the woman away.

Meanwhile, Mr Grady, who organised the protest, had previously called for the building, which is privately owned, to be leased by the council and used for local homeless persons.

Killarney already hosted 120 asylum seekers in two State owned properties, he explained.

We have people coming in and we dont know the first thing about them. Killarney has its own problems. I can pick out 40 people in this town who wont have any warmth tonight, he said.

We stress it is not that we dont wish refugees to be accommodated in Killarney but we believe it should be done under consultation with the local community and when we are in a position to help the nationwide plan after we have accommodate local families who have been either homeless or years on the housing list, Mr Grady said on Saturday.

The Department of Justice said it is expected that the applicants arriving in Killarney will be from different countries.

There has been an increase in applications for international protection in Ireland. The latest figures (as of end November 2017) suggest that 2,620 persons applied for international protection this year compared with 1,982 in the same period last year."

There has been strong criticism of the Department of Justice by public representatives because of lack of consultation with locals or with the county council and other bodies.

Michael Healy-Rae received confirmation earlier this week of the arrival of the refugees. He said he has been inundated with calls from locals concerned about pressure on the housing lists and about the proximity to local primary schools.

We have questions that need answering. Surely someone in the Department of Justice could have contacted the county council, Mr Healy-Rae said.

His brother Danny raised the matter in the Dail.
KERNERSVILLE  Danny Jefferson of Kernersville got his first job in the funeral industry at the age of 16, washing cars and putting up tents at Lowe Funeral Home in Burlington.

He was already working in a mill but wanted another after-school job.

Part of the reason for that is Im legally deaf, and I didnt want a job where I needed to be around people, said Jefferson. Washing cars and mowing the grass was a very good thing for me.

But Jefferson said he overcame his struggles of being born legally deaf and progressed through the funeral industry.

As hearing aids evolved, he was able to afford to get two  one in each ear  in the early 1980s.

When I did that, everything changed, Jefferson said. I was able to hear the world, and I wasnt in my own shell.

Today, at 61, Jefferson is the location manager for Pierce-Jefferson Funeral & Cremation Service in Kernersville and recently was named Funeral Director of the Year by American Funeral Director, a national magazine. His story is featured in a December cover story in the magazine.

The award

Jefferson was honored for his commitment to funeral service, to the families he serves and to the community of Kernersville, according to American Funeral Directors December cover story about him.

We had several really impressive entries, but our screening panel agreed that one candidate stood out from the rest, said Thomas A. Parmalee, executive director of Kates-Boylston Publications, publishers of American Funeral Director. Danny Jefferson is moving funeral service forward, embracing change and technology when it helps improve service and rediscovering old traditions when modern trends call for it.

Allison Sullivan, publisher of Kates-Boylston Publications, added, Its clear Danny Jefferson has earned the respect and admiration of his professional colleagues and of those in his community.

Jefferson was selected from a wide field of nominees submitted by funeral professionals around the country.

Jefferson said he was helped along the way by so many people, including his team at Pierce-Jefferson and various mentors and friends.

There are so many people that are absolutely deserving of winning this award, he said. So many friends of mine that are in the (funeral) business that certainly helped me to get where I am.

Danny Jefferson

A native of Burlington, Jefferson moved to Kernersville in 2004. He is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and has been in the funeral industry for 45 years.

He has served on various boards, including as chairman of the Korners Folly Foundation Board and Board of Care Net Counseling Center in Kernersville, and as a board member of The Shepherds Center of Kernersville, the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce and the Natural Science Center in Greensboro. He is currently a member of the Kernersville YMCA and the Korners Folly Foundation boards. He is also district director for the N.C. Funeral Directors Association.

Jefferson has also done a little modeling as well as stand-up comedy. His life is chronicled in a book entitled From Hear to Forever, which he wrote with Raymond Reid. The book was published in 2014 by Alabaster Book Publishing.

According to his book, Jefferson embalmed in 1985, the bodies of John and Jim Lynch, the sons of Susie Newsom of Winston-Salem and her ex-husband, Tom Lynch.

Suspected serial killer Frederick R. Fritz Klenner Jr. and Newsom are blamed for killing Lynchs parents, grandmother and her former mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Klenner and Lynch died when one of them detonated a bomb in their van during a police chase. But before the couple died in June 1985, authorities suspect that they gave Lynchs two sons, who were also in the van, cyanide and then shot them. The killings were the subject of a best-selling book, Bitter Blood,  which later became a movie.

Jefferson and his wife, Rosette, have four children and three grandsons.

Pierce-Jefferson

Pierce-Jeffersons main building was built in the mid-1800s. Back then it was known as the Plunket Place and was Kernersvilles first school house.

The big, white house at the corner of Cherry and Mountain streets has had different additions over the years, including stately columns, a chapel and a left wing.

The house has also been under different ownership. The house became the Linville Funeral Home in 1930 then later was the Ragland Funeral Home. Jack Pierce bought the business in 1965 then sold it to the Hanes-Lineberry Group in 1981.

On Dec. 1, 2004, Jefferson and Pierce purchased it back. After Pierce died in 2005, Pierce-Jefferson became part of Foundation Partners Group LLC, a private company based in Orlando, Fla., on April 1, 2016.

Inside the main Pierce-Jefferson building are various rooms to serve families. One of those rooms is the ShareLife experience room, a multi-purpose room that uses video themes on HD widescreen, music/sound effects and scents in remembering the life of loved ones.

Its sight, scent and sound, Jefferson said. If someone loved the beach, for instance, I could put the beach in there. I could have a beach smell. Ive got 12 speakers with a lot of bass so you can kind of feel the waves crashing.

During a visitation in the ShareLife room, Pierce-Jefferson once used a mesquite barbecue scent to bring back memories for a family that held an annual barbecue gathering.

Its extremely subtle, Jefferson said of the scents. You dont know its there.

The room can also be used for other events.

Depending on the situation  whether its a a funeral or a community event  we can change the screen to whatever we need it to be, Jefferson said.

In addition to the main Pierce-Jefferson house, there are three other buildings on the property  a crematory, a full-service florist and The Jefferson House.

Jefferson said that The Jefferson House is set up to be a separate place on the property for families to go and gather for small intimate affairs with their families in a relaxed atmosphere. It is a multi-purpose building that has been the site for various events, including weddings, bridal showers, family reunions, birthday parties and meetings.

What I try to do is make it a life experience instead of a death experience, Jefferson said of offerings at Pierce-Jefferson.

It just makes it so much better for people to remember their loved ones in a good way rather than in a sad way.

He added, What Ive done, and have apparently been recognized for it, is stepping outside the box and making sure that everything that we do is not pigeon-holed.

He said that the families who walk into Pierce-Jefferson make all the decisions, not him.

We find out what their needs are, and we do everything we can to meet them, Jefferson said. If they have family coming in from New Jersey, we help arrange hotel rooms here in town.
Large signs, written in Spanish and English and posted near the elevators in a main entrance at the Forsyth Hall of Justice issue a first warning.

And if somebody somehow misses those  perhaps because his (or her) head was buried in text messages or watching a cat video  none-too-subtle reminders about the policy are issued by bailiffs, employed by the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office, in voices more than loud enough to be heard.

Turn your cellphones off. Not on vibrate. All the way off. And put them away. Thank you.

Even with all that, people still leave them on. Phones ring, and their owners wiggle and scramble to silence them. Even then, bailiffs will glower but generally give scofflaws one final chance.

So it takes a special blend of chutzpah, stubbornness and plain stupidity to get called out for using a cellphone  its camera function specifically  in court while it is in session.

And one 20-year-old woman, scoring high in all three categories, is learning that the hard way after being sentenced to five days in jail after being found in contempt of court for using her phone to go on Facebook Live and curse a judge in the process.

Smooth.

Act of contrition

on paper

The excellent adventure of 20-year-old Tresen Malika Joe started Nov. 6 during a court hearing for a relative, Daquahn Roberts, who is charged with a raft of offenses including first-degree murder, armed robbery and assault.

According to court records, Joe was using her phone in court to video and post to Facebook  a definite no-no.

The posting, which lists the names Brazy Kono and Treshen Joe, isnt the work of a criminal mastermind. Putting your name on such a thing is the first clue. Announcing ones intentions is the second.

Ima go live  they aint said (bad word) yet

An image, captured for posterity and placed in Joes file, spells out the rest. (Worse word) the lawyer. (Same bad word) the judge. (Same bad word a third time) the DA. #FREETHEGUY

Well now. Tell us how you really feel.

The rest of the story is predictable. The phone was taken, and the evidence preserved.

Joe was charged with contempt of court and given an order to show cause. Loosely translated, that means she had some splaining to do and needed to come up with one whale of an apology if she hoped to avoid being a guest of the sheriff in the county jail.

She was ordered to return to court and appear before Judge David Hall of Forsyth Superior Court. She showed up on time Monday and again on Wednesday when the case was continued.

As youd suspect, the young woman seemed contrite (on paper at least) and, most likely, very concerned that she might wind up in jail.

Funny how the specter of a man in a black robe, with the power to order such a thing with the stroke of a pen, can elicit such a response. Especially after he reviewed a screen shot  States Exhibit Number 2  that contained such hashtags and phrases as #(really bad word) 12 #free the guy and (the same really bad word) the judge.

The moral of the story

The young womans apology, handwritten on a sheet of single spaced notebook paper, wasnt bad.

Dear People of the Superior Court,

I want to sincerely apologize for my careless activities recording while court was in session. I had no right to do that. There is really no excuse for it but I am still learning and growing. Even though I am an adult, I made a child decision. It was a mistake that showed me that is it time to grow up.

Now that I have learned more about my wrongdoing and now (sic) breaking the law can result in very serious consequences, I know from now on to never make that mistake ever again.

Sadly for Joe, the apology and the letter was too little, too late. Her court file, which runs to more than 10 pages, spelled out her punishment: 60 days, suspended, but with five days active time in jail.

She was also ordered to pay court costs, a fine, fees to cover her time behind bars and a little something for her court-appointed legal help  $605 total.

With the jail time, thats a real kick in the pants to a 20-year-old who filled out an affidavit claiming zero in assets or income.

The moral of the story is this: Dont (really bad word) with someone who can chuck you in jail with the stroke of a pen.

And nobody can say she wasnt warned. Its right there on the wall written in Spanish and English.
Magazine ranks WFUs program 15th in nation

The Wake Forest University School of Business ranks No. 15 among the nations top business programs in Poets & Quants recently released ranking of the best undergraduate business programs in 2017.

According to the publication, the ranking was determined through three equally weighted categories: admissions standards that measure the quality of the incoming students; alumni perspective on their educational experience; and employment data that includes internships, employment within three months of graduation and salary.

Nationally, the school was ranked third in quality of teaching, fifth for internships with 98 percent of undergraduates securing at least one, and 13th in preparation for the real world, achieving accolades for these academic markers, WFU said in a statement.

Our results are a testament to the hard work that our faculty and staff have invested in helping our students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective day one post-graduation and excel early in their careers, said Pat Dickson, associate dean for the undergraduate business program at Wake Forest.

WSSU nursing program recognized

An online publication has ranked Winston-Salem State Universitys nursing program among the best in the nation.

WSSU nursing ranks eighth on NurseJournal.orgs Americas Best Nursing Schools for 2018 East Coast rankings, the second highest among North Carolina colleges and universities, WSSU said in a news release. The publication also ranked WSSU 15th in the nation, the highest of any North Carolina-based college or university, in its ranking of 500 online nursing programs.

NurseJournal.org says the rankings are based on quality, affordability, convenience, satisfaction and value. The 2018 rankings were released on Dec. 5.

WSSU has one of the largest and most comprehensive RN-BSN nursing programs in North Carolina, including a traditional in-person, a fully online option, and a new learner-paced competency-based model that launches in January.

Miss WSSU competing for Ebony contest

Miss Winston-Salem State University Jordan Reaves is one of 75 HBCU campus queens competing for a spot in Ebony magazines 2017-18 HBCU Campus Queens Contest.

Reaves, the 78th Miss WSSU, is a senior business administration major from Southern Pines. Online voting for the contest opened on Dec. 4 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 20. The top 10 queens based on the online vote will be featured in the pages of Ebony magazine. Reaves says her platform is Its Time to Get L.I.T., which stands for Leaving a Legacy, Inspiring Our Future Generations and Transcending Dreams into a Reality.

Heggins urges graduates to show up

There is a popular religious phrase and song that goes, show up and show out.

Newly elected Mayor Al Heggins of Salisbury urged students to show up during her remarks at Livingstone Colleges winter commencement, held Friday at Varick Auditorium.

I decided to show up, Heggins said. I decided to show up for military duty. I decided to show up even in junior and high school when I was on student council. I decided to show up when I went to college. And I want to thank you and everyone in this audience for showing up because you showed up to vote.

Heggins won the most votes in the race for Salisbury City Council in November, becoming the first African-American female elected to council. On Dec. 5, she was elected by the new City Council as mayor, making history again.

Livingstone College was among her first speaking engagements since the historic win.

Showing up is very important, she told the graduates. Today, you have shown how you have showed up. Because you showed up for your classes, you showed up for orientation  and now you are showing up today for your graduation. So today begins your new season.

WFU student named RA of the month

The N.C. Association of Residence Halls named Wake Forest University resident adviser Kishan Patel North Carolinas Resident Adviser of the Month for October, WFU said in a statement.

The Wake Forest Chapter of the National Resident Hall Honorary nominated Patel, a junior majoring in health and exercise science. The association chooses winners each month based on submissions from universities across the state. Patel will be recognized at the NCARH Annual Conference in February at Meredith College.

WFU professor wins teaching award

Lynn Neal, an associate professor of the study of religions and the chairwoman of the department, was honored with the Award for Excellence in Teaching from the American Academy of Religion. The award recognizes the importance of teaching and honors outstanding teaching accomplishments in the field.

Neal joined the Wake Forest faculty in 2006.

WFU campus kitchen wins award

The Campus Kitchen at Wake Forest University received an NC Rising Star Award for their work as a sponsor site for the U.S. Department of Agricultures summer food service program, WFU said.

The award recognizes new sponsors that ran a superior first year of operation with a menu that promoted a healthy lifestyle. In its first year as a sponsor, the kitchen prepared 2,288 meals over six weeks for local elementary school students in conjunction with the Freedom School at the Anna Julia Cooper Center.
Correspondent of the week

APRIL REAVES, Winston-Salem

Greatly relieved

Even though the election happened in another state, I was, like so many, intensely focused on the race between Democrat Doug Jones and GOP rebel Roy Moore. And I was greatly relieved that Jones won and Moore, with his prejudiced attitudes and record of scorn for the law, lost (Jones wins in stunning upset, Dec. 13).

While many are being congratulated and thanked for their support, Id like to point out that surely one factor in the decision was the Alabama conservatives who found Moore to be a step (or 10) too far. Their notion of basic decency prevented them from voting for a candidate who not only fell short personally, but fell short in his commitment to serve all the people of Alabama and, if elected, of the United States.

Alabama made the right choice. Perhaps its true that there is more that joins us than that separates us.

DR. MICHAEL SUMMER, Lewisville

Always the case

I agree with the writer of the Dec. 8 letter Privatization myth regarding the apparent greed of Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions executives and the failure of the process of contracting out services, with the exception of his main point that this is somehow the fault of conservative policies. The Cardinal executives made their decisions without regard to politics. They were not asked to be greedy by conservatives.

This always happens when the government contracts out health-care services with taxpayer money, and has been going on for years, regardless of the current legislative majority. Another even larger example is the Medicare Advantage plans, but in that case with federal government funding. They are immensely profitable. Why do you think they are so aggressively advertised?

When a third-party contractor is paid to manage a patients health care, the contractors goal is not to take care of patients, no matter what its current slogan claims. Its goal is, in its basic essence, to keep as much of the money as possible.

Insurance companies have the identical goal, with a different source of funds: premiums. In their isolation, this is how corporate executives view health care: just another money-making venture, the mechanism does not matter.

Greed is a trait not unique to health-care executives, just particularly well-developed and well-funded in their case.

***

DANIEL MONROE, Clemmons

A false solution

It seems the Journal has fallen for the same false solution that some of our elected officials and school system administrators have (Enhancing our schools, Dec 10). That is, if teachers would only work harder, students would do better. If only we collected more data and tested more, teachers could somehow overcome students economic disadvantages or poor motivation, or parent indifference. Yes, we must be miracle workers.

Lets not address what students and parents can do better. Lets not worry about what might motivate teachers to want to work harder, such as better pay or better working conditions. So many young adults want to be teachers we dont need to worry about that.

***

MACK FERGUSON, Winston-Salem

Playing politics

Republicans found a perfect wedge issue in abortion. As long as they oppose it, steadfastly, with no concern for nuance or real-life consequences, they have a vast body of voters who will always mark R on their ballots  with the possible exception of some in Alabama last week.

Conservatives sometimes criticize the Democratic Party for taking black voters for granted. But the GOP surely takes anti-abortion voters for granted, too. Republican legislators pin down that vote and then they can do anything they want, including cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The Republican tax reform bill will cause great harm, encouraging corporations to send more jobs overseas and shifting the tax burden away from the rich and down to the middle class. Republicans can hurt the very people who vote for them because the abortion issue keeps their votes locked up.

I cant help but wonder how this balance would shift if the Democrats opposed abortion and the Republicans gave it even partial support.

The Republican-led Senate has let authorization for the CHIP program, which provides health insurance to some nine million children in America, expire. They seem to be holding it as a bargaining chip (no pun intended) to use against Democrats if they need some Democratic votes.

The Republicans are playing politics with the lives of these children. That doesnt seem very pro-life to me.

Maybe its time conservatives reassessed their loyalties.

Please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and are limited to 250 words. For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/opinion/submit_a_letter.
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There are options for Farm Service Agency loan customers during financial stress. If you are a borrower who is unable to make payments on a loan, contact your local FSA Farm Loan Manager to learn about the options available to you.

Farmers and ranchers also can access assistance through other entities in Nebraska that offer services during financially challenging times. The Rural Response Hotline provides referral and support services for farmers, ranchers and rural residents and their families. The number to call is (800) 464-0258.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture manages the Negotiations Program, which offers mediation services for agricultural borrowers, creditors and USDA program participants. Through this program, participants also can access free one-on-one education on agricultural financial and legal matters. For information, call (800) 446-4071.
About 800 dictionaries were distributed to third-graders in Kearney Public, Amherst, Elm Creek, Gibbon, Pleasanton, Ravenna, Shelton, Zion Lutheran and Faith Christian schools. Each student receives his or her own dictionary, published especially for third-grade students, to keep.

The Dictionary Project began in 2006 when Rotary Internationals then-President Bill Boyd asked all Rotary Clubs worldwide to focus on literacy that year. Since then, more than 7,100 dictionaries have been presented to third-grade students in Kearney and Buffalo County, according to a news release from Kearney Dawn Rotary.
Like so many classic Western anti-heroes before him, he rolled (literally) into town with a singular goal in mind: cleaning up the streets, which had become a gritty hotbed of harassment, vandalism, break-ins and grift.

The only difference was that he was a slow-moving, 400-pound robot with a penchant for snapping hundreds of photos a minute without peoples permission, and this was San Franciscos Mission District in 2017.

What could go wrong? Quite a bit, as it turns out.

In the past month, his first on the job, K-9  a 5-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide K5 Autonomous Data Machine that can be rented for $6 an hour from Silicon Valley startup Knightscope  was battered with barbecue sauce, allegedly smeared with feces, covered by a tarp and nearly toppled by an attacker.

As if those incidents werent bad enough, K-9 was also accused of discriminating against homeless people who had taken up refuge on the sidewalks he was assigned to patrol. It was those troubling allegations, which went viral this week, that sparked public outrage and prompted K-9s employers  the San Francisco chapter of the animal rescue group SPCA  to pull the plug on their newly minted robot security pilot program.

Effective immediately, the San Francisco SPCA has suspended its security robot pilot program, Jennifer Scarlett, the organizations president, wrote in a statement emailed to The Washington Post on Thursday. We piloted the robot program in an effort to improve the security around our campus and to create a safe atmosphere for staff, volunteers, clients and animals. Clearly, it backfired.

SPCA officials said the robot was hired to patrol the parking lot and sidewalk outside the animal shelter after the building had been broken into twice and employees had become fed up with harassment and catcalls. The robot, they said, would be able to snap photos, record security footage, and then notify shelter employees or police during an emergency.

The backlash began after an animal shelter spokeswoman, in an interview with the San Francisco Business Times this week, seemed to suggest that the robot was an effective tool for eliminating the homeless encampments outside the SPCA, leading to a sudden reduction in crime. SPCA officials now say they didnt mean to imply that they wanted to be rid of the homeless and have pointed out that they partner with several local organizations to provide veterinary care for homeless pet owners.

Nevertheless, a public outcry, complete with calls for the robots destruction, quickly ensued. A flurry of attention-grabbing headlines implied that the robot was specifically employed to target the homeless.

Robot wages war on the homeless, a particularly inflammatory Newsweek headline read.

In recent days, SPCA officials said, theyve received hundreds of messages encouraging people to seek retribution against the animal shelter through violence and vandalism. So far, officials said, the facility has experienced two acts of vandalism.

The SF SPCA was exploring the use of a robot to prevent additional burglaries at our facility and to deter other crimes that frequently occur on our campus  like car break-ins, harassment, vandalism, and graffiti  not to disrupt homeless people, Scarletts statement said. We regret that our words were ill-chosen. They did not properly convey the pilot programs intent and they inaccurately reflected our values.

We are a nonprofit that is extremely sensitive to the issues of homelessness, the statement added.

In a statement emailed to The Post, Knightscope referred to accusations that its robot was hired to target homeless people as sensationalized reports.

The SCPA has the right to protect its property, employees and visitors, and Knightscope is dedicated to helping them achieve this goal, the statement said. The SPCA has reported fewer car break-ins and overall improved safety and quality of the surrounding area.

K-9 is not the first Knightscope machine to have a short-lived security career. In July, a K5 robot patrolling Washington Harbour ended up in a fountain, its cone-shaped body halfway submerged in a scene reminiscent of a violent crime.

Images of that robot circulated widely on social media, and, eventually, a memorial with flowers and letters was set up to mourn the short-lived career of Steve, as the machine came to be known.

Knightscope called Steves demise an isolated event before delivering his replacement, an identical K5 known as Rosie.
In this Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 photo, Christopher Partee poses in his home in Memphis, Tenn. Partee, a forklift operator, lost his job after agreeing to serve as corroborating witness in a sexual harassment complaint by a coworker against their supervisor. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)
Indian women knitting socks for Fazl Socks, a social enterprise started by Kelowna couple Mike Gunn and Vanessa Tse that raises money for orphanages in North India and provides fair wages to the women who make the socks.
It's strange that North America suddenly finds itself caught up in this whirlwind of sexual harassment. I am quite sure that many of the cases are legit, but I would hazard a guess that there is also some opportunism at play here as well. As usual the media is going to run with all the dirty laundry they can find. Especially the larger networks, like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox.



I don't buy all the FAKE NEWS propaganda, but there is a very clear cycle happening in the 24 hour news business. Right now, sexual harassment, #me too, and tainted politicians sells advertising products. People are tuning in to see who Roy Moore molested or who Harvey Weinstein threatened to black list if they didn't give him a bit of service on the casting couch.



Heck, we're talking about it on this forum.



Prior to this, the big draw was cop shootings. Isn't it amazing how many cops were allegedly shooting innocent people when the media had it's camera eye focused so steadfastly on them? Or school shootings and lock downs. When that was the media's focus, there also seemed to be an epidemic of school shootings?



Does anyone remember the SARS panic in Toronto? That was the horrible disease that was killing healthcare workers and it was linked to China. What was interesting about that, was the 24 hour news cycle went nuts with the story. Especially CNN and Fox. Worldwide 774 people died as a result of SARS, the line share of deaths were in China and Hong Kong, but there were 44 deaths in Canada and a number of people under quarantine. The United States had 27 cases of SARS, but zero deaths.



Talking heads were screaming at the top of their lungs about closing the border. Talking heads like, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and any other opinion (Left or Right) you could find behind a radio microphone. This was fueled by CNN showing hundreds of people in China and Hong Kong wearing face masks while equating it to Toronto's Chinatown. It was insane.



While I don't buy into the FAKE NEWS mantra, I do know that organizations like CNN, Fox and MSNBC have come by this reputation because they are geared more to sensationalism than presenting the boring facts. Sensational sells soap and cars and pickles and any other commodity that pays to be advertised.



When I hear President Trump say, "That's fake news." I shake my head, because even though the mainstream media networks can be pretty over the top, the President himself is a part of the problem. Through social media he sends out tweets that are so unbelievably kooky that I sometimes wonder if we are living in a real-life rendition of a dystopian Roger Corman film like: Death Race 2000. What I find equally hard to believe are the people who lap all this crap up. And I'm not just talking about Trump. I'm talking about all of it. CNN, MSNBC, Hillary Clinton's reasons for losing...



Anyway, I thought I'd spread a bit of Christmas cheer and ask anyone on the forum what they think about the above subject.



Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? Observations?
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, live lobsters are packed and weighed for overseas shipment at the Maine Lobster Outlet in York, Maine. A trade deal between Canada and the European Union, which gets rid of tariffs on Canadian lobster exports, could have a negative affect for the U.S. at Christmastime 2017. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is photographed at her office in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, December 15, 2017. Skyrocketing rents and dwindling affordable-housing units in Vancouver are driving seniors to the brink of homelessness, forcing some to couch surf, seek roommates or even live in cars, advocates say. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Abhishek Gupta holds a workshop on artificial intelligence at Concordia University in Montreal on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Various computer scientists, researchers, lawyers and other techies have recently been attending bi-monthly meetings in Montreal to discuss life's big questions - as they relate to our increasingly intelligent machines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
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U.S. astronaut Scott Tingle, above, and Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, crew members of the mission to the International Space Station, ISS, wave near the rocket prior to the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
A Chinese bride poses for a photograph with a Sri Lankan flower girl during a mass wedding ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Fifty Chinese couples were married at a mass ceremony in Sri Lanka's capital to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to promote the island nation as a tourist destination.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2011 file photo, film producer Harvey Weinstein poses for a photo in New York. For two months now, as accusations of sexual misconduct have piled up against Weinstein, the disgraced mogul has responded over and over again with the same words: "Any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein." Consent is quite likely to be a central issue in a potential legal case against Weinstein and others accused of sexual assault in the current so-called Aureckoning.Au (AP Photo/John Carucci, File)
FREMONT  Addy Thomas made a name for herself at Weeping Water High School with a long list of positive accomplishments.

She added a college honor to her growing resume this week during a ceremony at Midland University.

Thomas was named to the 2018 edition of the Whos Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges publication. She was one of 20 Midland students who were selected to appear in the annual directory.

At Midland University, our mission is to inspire people to learn and lead in the world with purpose, Midland University President Jody Horner said. The outstanding students who make the Whos Who list have proven they are leaders, and they have tremendous potential. We are extremely proud of each Midland student who was nominated. This is an honor reserved for those whose commitment to excellence is evident in the classroom and throughout the community.

Thomas graduated from Weeping Water in 2014. She was an Honor Roll student at WWHS and participated in softball, wrestling, track and field, choir, all-school musicals, cheerleading, Future Business Leaders of America and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Thomas has earned multiple Deans List awards during her Midland academic career. She is majoring in natural science composite at the school.

Campus nominating committees and editors of the Whos Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges based their selections in part on academic achievements. Students had to own a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.85 to be considered for nomination.

Committee members and editors also looked at community service, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for future success. Thomas and the other Midland nominees joined students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several other countries around the world in the publication.
In the world of American hotels, a majority of such properties are not owned by the people whose names are on them. Rather, a local entrepreneur will sink his or her savings into the construction of such a building, and will then search for an attractive name to place upon it.

Most of these entrepreneurs will choose Hilton, Holiday Inn, St. Regis or Sheraton. And many recent projects have chosen Trump, which requires them to pay a licensing fee to the Trump Organization. In fact, it is hard to find a Trump hotel thats actually owned by the company.

However, there is now increasing evidence that the owners of some Trump hotels, who pay a licensing fee for the name, are having second thoughts about whether to retain that identification. And this could happen regardless of the political climate: If a Democrat were president and had his name on the marquee of a hotel, it is almost certain that many Republicans would refuse to stay in it.

Recently, Travel Weekly magazine  perhaps the most popular of all the weekly travel publications  made the discovery that a large portion of the American population (undoubtedly Democrats) is unhappy with the prospect of staying at a hotel called Trump.

According to that publication, three large hotels within the past several months  the Trump Soho in downtown Manhattan, the Trump Toronto and the Trump Panama  have either reached an agreement with the Trump Organization to remove the name Trump from their hotels name or are seriously considering doing so, and many have already reached such an agreement. To deflag their hotel apparently will cost them millions of dollars  but they are willing to pay that sum.

The reason? The apparent dislike by a portion of the public of the Trump name, to such an extent that they will refuse to stay in a hotel bearing that name. According to Travel Weeklys report, bookings at some Trump hotels are down by a hefty percentage. One of the hotels is considering use of the name St. Regis instead. About the only places where the Trump name is almost universally admired, it claims, are the Southern states, like Mississippi.

It might be helpful to pose a question to our readers: Would you have any hesitation about staying in a hotel named Trump?

Arthur Frommer is the pioneering founder of the Frommers Travel Guide book series. He co-hosts the radio program, The Travel Show, with his travel correspondent daughter Pauline Frommer. Find more destinations online and read Arthur Frommers blog at frommers.com.
SOMERS  The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is 6,097 miles from Egypt. But at Parkside, Helena Biehn, of Brighton, took her first step to get there.

Biehn, 23, an archaeology major, walked across the stage Saturday with 326 other graduates at Parksides 2017 Winter Commencement. Her dream is to someday participate in an archaeological dig in Egypt.

The path fellow student Jessica Diaz set out on as a political science major at Parkside leads to law school. Diaz, who moved to Kenosha from Mexico when she was 6, dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.

My plan has always been to go to law school, Diaz, 33, said. We need to make sure our immigrant community is not living in fear of their family being separated.

Like 60 percent of Parkside graduates, both Biehn and Diaz are the first in their families to earn a university degree. And, like a mother watching her baby take its first steps, Chancellor Deborah Ford beamed with pride as she watched members of the class of 2017 accept their diplomas.

Inspired to succeed

Diaz said her desire to become involved with student government at Parkside stems from how obvious it is that Ford loves the campus and the students.

Her leadership role has really inspired me, Diaz said. She cares about the students.

A mother of two, ages 5 and 14, Diaz started college late in life.

It took me 10 years to go back to school, she said, adding it was her employer at Cabanes Law Office in Racine who encouraged her to pursue a law degree.

Balancing work, kids and school has not been easy, she said. So, in addition to thanking her employer for encouragement and Ford for inspiration, she thanked political science professor Simon Akindes for helping her persevere.

When I would say, This is hard. I dont know if I can do it, he would just pick me up and remind me my kids are watching, Diaz said.

Finding her path

Biehn also said people helped her along her journey to commencement. Sue Kaminski, her fifth-grade teacher at Providence Catholic School, is the reason she wants to be an archaeologist.

I have always looked up to her, Biehn said, adding Kaminski is now retired and doing some digging herself.

At Parkside, professor Robert Sasso gave her direction, she said.

He has been my mentor, she said. He helped me determine where I want to go in life.

For now, she is going to stay here and get a little bit of adulting done. But a trip to Egypt is in her five-year plan.

Words of wisdom

Before sending the class of 2017 onto the next leg of its journey, George Mehaffy, both an honorary doctorate recipient and commencement speaker Saturday, offered the graduates four ideas that might turn the opportunity for success into the likelihood for success.

Say yes, show up, work hard, and be nice, Mehaffy, the vice president of Academic Leadership and Change for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, said.

I dont mean show up simply in the sense of arriving, Mehaffy said. I mean show up with every bit of your capacity and commitment.

He added that working hard will always make you an essential part of any organization or team.

He said the graduates should be proud of their accomplishment because only 33 percent of adults in the United States have earned a baccalaureate.
Two special elections this week in conservative strongholds  one in western Iowa, another in Americas deep South  have given Iowa Democrats more reason to be excited about the 2018 elections.

As politicos and prognosticators continue to wonder whether a blue wave looms in next years elections, Iowa Democrats this week received a double shot of evidence to bolster their hopes.

Although at least one of those election results comes with a caveat.

In a closely watched and highly contested special election for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, the Democrat Doug Jones upset Republican Roy Moore, becoming the first Democrat in 25 years elected to represent Alabama in the Senate.

Jones victory has Democrats soaring and believing it is yet another signal that their party is poised to make great gains in the 2018 elections, that voters are rejecting Republican policies and the actions and statements of GOP President Donald Trump.

Democrats feel they are starting to stack success. They won contested gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and now won a Senate seat in a deep red state.

But the latest victory, just like those in Virginia and New Jersey, comes with a disclaimer.

Moore was supported by the national party and Trump, so Democrats see their victory as a rejection of Trump and national GOP policies. While that may be true to a certain extent, Moore also was a fatally flawed candidate: He has been accused by multiple women of having an inappropriate romantic relationship with them when they were underage.

While Democrats were able to motivate and turn out voters, its also true that Moore did not solidify full support of Alabama Republicans. Nearly 23,000 write-in votes were cast, according to data on the Alabama Secretary of State website. That number is larger than the margin by which Jones defeated Moore.

So while Democrats are justified in celebrating their success in Alabama, the quality of Moores candidacy clearly impacted this race. The result may not necessarily be a predictor of election results to come.

Iowa Democrats also this week were excited by a special election for a seat in the Iowa Senate, even though the partys candidate lost to the Republican.

In northwest Iowa, Republican Jim Carlin defeated Democrat Todd Wendt. But it was the margin that encouraged Iowa Democrats: in a Senate district were Republican active voters outnumber Democrats by 22.6 percentage points and Trump won in 2016 by 41 points, the GOP candidate in this weeks special election won by just 9.1 points.

While we came up short (in the special election), Democrats made considerable gains and demonstrated that we can and will fight for every district, every county, and every precinct in Iowa and elect more representatives who will put people first and respect Iowa values, Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price said in a statement.

Whether these actual and moral victories portend big things for Democrats in 2018, as has been written here before, remains to be seen. But as the success begins to stack, Democrats grow more hopeful that a blue wave is rolling in.

Trump's approval in Iowa drops

A new Iowa Poll, published this past week by the Des Moines Register, shows Trumps job approval numbers slipping.

Sixty percent of Iowans said the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 60 percent disapprove of Trumps job performance, according to poll results published by the Register.

Those are big numbers in a state that Trump won in 2016.

And Trumps approval numbers are getting worse. From the Iowa Poll in July to the new poll published this past week, Trumps job approval in Iowa went from 43 percent to 35 percent, and disapproval went from 52 percent to 60 percent, the Register reported.

The new poll also contained one number that had to be concerning for Republicans in Iowas Congressional delegation: 40 percent of Iowans said they would prefer to elect a Democrat to Congress vs. 34 percent who said they would prefer a Republican. Those numbers surely grabbed the attention of campaign staff in Iowas 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, which historically have been competitive.
DUBAI, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Egypt has asked banks for proposals to arrange U.S. dollar-denominated Eurobonds, banking sources said.

The request was made last week, the sources said, but provided no further details.

The finance ministry was not immediately available for comment, but Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy said in October that Egypt would issue a dollar-denominated Eurobond between January and February 2018, to be followed by a euro-denominated debt sale later in the year.

Egypt issued $7 billion in international bonds this year, through a $4 billion trade in January, and a re-opening of the same bond in May. BNP Paribas, Citigroup, JP Morgan and Natixis arranged the issues.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Gareth Jones)
WELLINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Growth in New Zealand's services sector sped up in November, snapping a two-month losing streak, a survey showed on Monday.

The Bank of New Zealand-Business NZ's seasonally adjusted performance of services index (PSI) rose to 56.4 from 55.6 the previous month.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity.

"Positive signs were widespread across the PSI with expansionary readings seen in the unadjusted results across all industries, regions, sub components, and firm sizes," said Doug Steele, BNZ economist, in a statement accompanying the release.

Last week, a companion survey (PMI) showed manufacturing activity rose to 57.7 in November from 57.3. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield, editing by David Evans)
(Adds details on recent divestments, background)

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group said on Monday it would buy back up to A$1.5 billion ($1.15 billion) of its shares on-market as it aims to return surplus capital to shareholders after recent streamlining of its business through divestments.

"ANZ's strong capital position combined with the progress made in simplifying our business means we are now in a position to commence returning surplus capital to shareholders," ANZ's Chief Financial Officer Michelle Jablko said in a statement.

ANZ added that the purchase of shares may begin next month.

In the same statement, ANZ also said it had completed the sale of its 20 percent stake in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank , that was announced in January this year.

Last week ANZ struck a deal with Zurich Insurance to sell its insurance arm for A$2.85 billion. The sale came amid a rush of divestments by Australia's biggest banks, under pressure from more stringent capital requirements to slim down.

The bank added that the divestment of its non-core businesses, including its life insurance business, "should provide ANZ with flexibility to consider further capital management initiatives in the future". ($1 = 1.3074 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rushil Dutta in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft and David Evans)
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In Missouri, a renter is not excused from honoring a lease simply because he or she didn't read it or doesn't understand it. (Pixabay)
Korea Development Bank Vice President Baek In-gyun, right, with Yeongdeungpo-gu Office chief Jo Gil-hyeong at the district office on Dec. 14, after donating 30 million won for charity work in the district. / Courtesy of Korea Development Bank

The Korea Development Bank (KDB) has been committed to charitable work in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul since its agreement for social contribution with the district office in July 2012.



On Dec. 14, the bank donated 30 million won ($27,500) to a charity program run by the district office at an event attended by KDB Vice President Baek In-gyun and Yeongdeungpo-gu Office chief Jo Gil-hyeong.



The fund will be used to help pay medical costs, tuition fees and living expenses for citizens struggling financially, the disabled and other vulnerable people in the district, the bank says.



The money was raised during the KDB's annual year-end charity fund-raising event. This year, bank employees collected 83 million won and the bank added 250 million won to raise 330 million won.



The money will be used for the KDB's philanthropy work across the country by the end of this year.



The KDB also partnered the elderly welfare center in Yeongdeungpo in 2006 and its employees have been doing volunteer work for senior citizens living alone in the district.



Along with supporting the disadvantaged, the team has been clearing invasive plants from the two Bamseom islets in the Han River in Seoul.



The team also has been doing volunteer work and providing donations to 10 welfare facilities in the country.



Last year, members of the bank's painting club and 30 volunteers painted murals on walls in Moonrae-dong.



"As a state-led financial institution, the KDB will spare no efforts to give back to vulnerable neighbors," a KDB official said.



Along with the partnership with Yeongdeungpo-gu, the KDB has been helping underprivileged neighbors through its KDB Daddy Long Legs program.



Earlier this year, the bank donated 10 million won to the operator of an after-school tutoring program in Seoul.



The bank selected the Daddy Long Legs School, which operates the after-school class in Seongbuk-gu, as the eighth beneficiary of its philanthropy program, and gave the funds to support it. The after-school class has been providing free tutoring to children from single-parent and other underprivileged families since 2012.



The KDB's Daddy Long Legs program was proposed by previous KDB Chairman Lee Dong-geol to help people neglected by the government's welfare plans or companies' corporate social responsibility activities.

So far, the bank has selected eight beneficiaries and donated a total of 90 million won.



(advertorial)






French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio speaks during a press conference on Dec. 14 at the Korean Publishers Association in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Yonhap





Many faces of Seoul



By Yun Suh-young



French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, otherwise known as J.M.G. Le Clezio, who has won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature, recently published his first novel on Seoul called "Bitna: Under the Sky of Seoul."



In a press conference in Seoul, Thursday, the author said he had always wanted to write a book about Seoul, but had been wondering what to write about.



"I had been traveling to Korea regularly for 10 years and wanted to write something about the city. I thought a travelogue would not be the best option so I decided to write a novel. This novel is based on many real-life stories I heard from people in Seoul during my stay here," the author said.



"One of them is of a North Korean policeman who crossed the border to the South when he was young. His mother carried a pair of doves with her when they defected and said the doves will one day fly back to their homeland. This story says a lot about hope represented by the doves which are a symbol of peace."



In the book, 19-year-old female protagonist Bitna tells five different stories to Salome, a woman on her deathbed. In those stories, Bitna takes readers to various locations in Seoul. They are locations that Le Clezio himself had been to.



"I like to move around the city on my own on the bus, taxi or metro. All I need is a map. It's easier with the metro whereas the bus is more complicated. I like every district of Seoul. It feels like there are several cities inside this city," he said.



"Writing a book about Seoul was an important event in my life. It's a great adventure to write about a country, a city that I don't know well. But even to Bitna, who comes from Jeolla Province, Seoul is new. This is a story of how the love for a city, for life, and for people are formed through various stories told by Bitna. Some are fiction and some are real."



What fascinates the author about Seoul is that it is different every time he comes.



"Seoul is a remarkable city where various stories can be told. It's constantly moving and changing. When you come back, so many things have changed, which is why director Park Chan-wook said he can never leave the city. But also tradition and modernity coexists here. Korea is a small country but full of culture, history and tradition. I especially love its food."



The Korean version of the book was published on Dec. 14 by local publisher Seoul Selection and the English version will be out this Wednesday by Seoul Selection U.S.A., the publisher's American branch. In March, the original French version of the book "Bitna: Sous le Ciel de Seoul" will be published by French publisher Stock and plans are underway to publish translations in Spanish, Italian and other languages.



The English version is translated by Brother Anthony of Taize, who is professor emeritus at Sogang University and is known for his numerous translation works between English and Korean. This time, he translated from French to English. The Korean version of the book was translated by Song Ki-jung a professor at the Ewha Womans University's French Department.



Le Clezio is well-acquainted with Korea as a frequent visitor to the country since his first visit in 2001. He was also a visiting professor at Ewha Womans University for a year in 2007.



His curiosity for the culture may lead to another novel on Seoul or Korea in the future.



"What fascinated me was one day I went out at around 6 a.m. in Sinchon, the college neighborhood, and I saw elderly people picking up trash from the mess young people created from partying the night before. I wanted to write a story about this. Also the fortunetellers and taxi drivers fascinate me too. If I have a chance to write another book, it will be about them."




By Ko Dong-hwan





The Supreme Court in South Korea has backed a Liberian girl's request for refugee status, acknowledging her fear that she would be forced to have a circumcision in her home country.







The court on Sunday overturned a lower court ruling dismissing the immigration status of the girl, 15, and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for retrial.







The girl, born in a refugee camp in Ghana, came to South Korea with her mother in March 2012 and petitioned for refugee status. The Korea Immigration Service rejected the petition on the grounds there did not seem to be any risk of her being persecuted in Liberia. The girl filed a suit against the immigration service, saying she would be forced to have a circumcision if she went back.







Before her file reached the Supreme Court, lower courts kept denying her refugee status, saying that circumcision in Liberia was "a matter of private crime" and that the Liberian government should be capable of providing protection.







But the Supreme Court overturned the rulings, defining circumcision as a form of persecution. The court said the girl feared "an act of culture, tradition and religion that entails extreme pain to a female body" that violated human dignity.







"The lower courts didn't check before deciding on rulings how often female circumcision has been forcibly conducted in Liberia and whether there were any local efforts in the African country to curb the act in question," the Supreme Court said.


The conservative Liberty Korea Party deprived four lawmakers of chief positions of their electoral districts, Sunday. They are, from left, Reps. Suh Chung-won, Yoo Ki-june, Bae Duk-kwang and Um Yong-soo. / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young



Hong Joon-pyo, chairman of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), has tightened his grip on the country's largest conservative party by removing those loyal to former President Park Geun-hye from top party positions.



Four lawmakers  Suh Chung-won, Yoo Ki-june, Bae Duk-kwang and Um Yong-soo  lost their roles as chiefs of their electoral districts, Sunday. Rep. Suh is regarded as a de facto chief of the Park loyalist faction, while the others are close to her.



The position is in charge of managing party members of each electoral district. Competitions to clinch the leadership of electoral districts are keen, as having the post is the easiest way to ensure the National Assembly seats and to expand their influence in the region. So incumbent lawmakers usually hold the post, and if the party does not have a lawmaker in an electoral district, a leading candidate takes the post.



The position is especially important now because they will have to lead the local election slated June next year.



By Sunday's announcement, 62 out of 214 electoral districts nationwide are likely filled with potential candidates close to Hong. Other than the four lawmakers, 58 people without Assembly seats lost their titles. Among them were are Kwon Young-se, former ambassador to China under former President Park; Kim Hee-jung, former gender equality and family minister under Park; and Ryu Yeo-hae, a Supreme Council member of the LKP and a vocal advocate of Park.



The LKP chief said the party conducted assessment without political consideration, but speculation is rampant Hong is gearing up to consolidate his leadership. "The party conducted the evaluation for a good outcome in the upcoming local election. The decision was made based on a fair assessment," Hong said on Facebook.



Hong has openly denounced the Park loyalists as a "tumor" and called for "renovation" of the LKP. "The LKP cannot survive without breaking up with the pro-Park faction," Hong said at a party event on Dec. 5.



The anti-Park drive has accelerated after Rep. Kim Sung-tae, aligned with Hong, was picked as LKP floor leader last week. Kim was among 33 lawmakers who launched the minor conservative Bareun Party earlier this year after splintering off from the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the LKP, in protest of the Park loyalists' dominance.



A chain of legal motions against Park loyalists is also threatening their grounds in the LKP. On Dec. 10, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, who served as a finance minister in the Park government, for his alleged acceptance of bribes from the National Intelligence Service (NIS).



Another Park loyalist, Rep. Kim Jae-won, Park's former senior presidential secretary for political affairs, is accused of carrying out an opinion survey funded by the NIS. He underwent 15 hours of interrogation by the prosecution last month.



Reps. Won Yoo-chul and Lee Woo-hyun were quizzed by the prosecution for allegedly receiving bribes, while Rep. Yeom Dong-yeol also faces investigation over alleged unfair hiring practices at the casino resort, Kangwon Land.


It is hard to expect active Chinese role over NK



President Moon Jae-in wrapped up his four-day state visit to China Saturday. His summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has certainly provided an impetus to mend ties between the two countries, which have been strained over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery in South Korea.



However, President Moon realized how difficult it is to expect China to play a more active role in prodding North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development program. He had planned to ask President Xi to stop China from supplying oil to North Korea. This plan came after Pyongyang test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-15, which is believed to be capable of striking the U.S. mainland, last month.



Following the missile launch, the Donald Trump administration has called for tougher measures against the North, including a total oil embargo. But Beijing has turned a deaf ear to the call. It only reaffirmed it will work within the framework of the U.N. Security Council's sanctions against the North, opposing any country taking separate action against the recalcitrant state.



Regrettably, President Moon could not even mention anything about a potential Chinese oil supply ban on North Korea during his meeting with Xi. This indicated Beijing is not only against the ban but also against discussing such a crucial issue with Seoul. Of course, the Xi government has already made it clear the North Korean nuclear crisis is a matter between Washington and Pyongyang.



In this regard, the summit has dealt a setback to President Moon's policy of taking the initiative in solving the North Korean issue. Right after his inauguration in May, Moon came up with this policy, stressing the South should play a "driver's role" in achieving a nuclear-free peninsula and a peace in Northeast Asia.



No one can deny that his diplomatic initiative has limitations. Seoul has long relied on its ally, the U.S., for its defense and security, while it depends economically on China  South Korea's largest trading partner. However, liberal President Moon is trying to pursue a "balanced" diplomacy to reduce the excessive reliance on a specific country and have better relations with other stakeholders on the peninsula.



Now, Moon has to admit he failed to pitch his diplomatic initiative during his summit with Xi. He ran the risk of savoring the diplomatic "humiliation" of poor treatment only to prevent a war on the peninsula, amid growing calls among U.S. policymakers for military options against the North.



President Moon might call his summitry "pragmatic diplomacy," given that he and Xi reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the North's nuclear issue. But he should face criticism that such a reaffirmation is nothing but rhetoric without concrete action.


By Tong Kim



In Beijing last Thursday, President Xi Jinping of China and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea agreed on four important principles: not to tolerate war on the Korean Peninsula, to support a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, to achieve denuclearization through dialogue and negotiations, and to improve inter-Korean relations towards the end of denuclearization.



Opposition to war and the desire for denuclearization of North Korea are the universal goals shared by all peace-loving people. The Sino-South Korean opposition to war should not be construed as a constraint on the efficacy of U.S. policy options that include military action to curb the North Korean nuclear and missile programs.



On Dec. 12 in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson outlined a comprehensive, revealing description of U.S. policy on North Korea, in which he said  without approval of President Trump  that Washington is ready to talk to Pyongyang without the preconditions it had long attached to any dialogue. He said: "We're ready to talk anytime North Korea would like to talk, and we're ready to have the first meeting without preconditions. Let's just meet and let's  we can talk about the weather if you want. We can talk about whether it's going to be a square table or a round table if that's what you're excited aboutAnd then we can begin to lay out a map, a roadmap of what we might be willing to work towards. I don't think  it's not realistic to say we're only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your program."



Only a couple of weeks earlier, Tillerson survived a widely reported plan that Trump was going to replace him with a more hawkish figure, CIA Director Mike Pompeo. In September, Trump tweeted Tillerson was "wasting time in trying to negotiate with North Korea." This time, Trump did not directly discredit his top diplomat.



But National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, who on Dec. 3 said "the potential of war with North Korea is increasing every day," made the following comment a day after Tillerson offered an open door to dialogue with the North:

"I know  talks are not an end in and of themselves, and when he (Tillerson) said there will be no preconditions, what that means is, we're not going to relieve any pressure on North Korea or give in to any demands they might make for payoffs.  Denuclearization is the only viable objective and if we all focus on that, we have a strong chance for success."



Shortly after Tillerson's remarks, a White House spokesperson said, "President Trump's policy has not changed. We are open to the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, with the aim of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. But North Korea must first refrain from any further provocations and take sincere and meaningful actions toward denuclearization."



Tillerson was right when he said if he fails in diplomacy, Secretary of Defense James Mattis would take over. He also warned the North that the military would not fail on North Korea. He was talking along the same classic theory that General Douglas MacArthur expressed at a congressional hearing in 1951: If diplomacy fails, the military comes in.

The problem is that Tillerson does not seem to have the full confidence and support of President Trump.



Undercutting of the top diplomat or divergent voices by the president or by his White House staff is not helpful to carry out a successful foreign policy. Trump should support Tillerson's diplomacy until "the first bomb drops."



In Pyongyang last week, Kim Jong-un celebrated the North's most recent ICBM test-launch, ordering his rocket scientists to work harder to increase their nuclear arsenal. In the meantime. the regime's legislature chief Kim Yong-nam and their ambassador to the United Nations signaled that the DPRK would be interested in talks if it is recognized as a nuclear weapons state, a proposition unacceptable to the U.S. and its allies.



If the North's nuclear weapons were defensive, a deterrent against a nuclear strike by the U.S., the regime in Pyongyang would not have to push further advancement of the North's nuclear arsenal. Their deterrent should be enough. Kim Jong-un proclaimed that the DPRK realized the historic cause of a nuclear force with the successful launch of their most advanced ICBM on Nov. 29.



Maybe this is the right time to begin dialogue with North Korea. What's your take?



Tong Kim (tong.kim8@yahoo.com) is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Korean-American Studies.


Last year Los Angeles got a Bobs Burgers pop-up restaurant, complete with punny burger names, and the rest of the world could only look on in envy. Now New York will get a try, because chef Alvin Cailan of Los Angeles famed Eggslut will bring his Bobs Burgers pop-up to Soho starting on Monday, December 18.

The Bobs Burgers pop-up will take place at New Yorks Chefs Club Counter from December 18 through 24. Every day there will be a new gourmet burger with a punny name, like the Dark Side of the Shroom burger or the Hit Me with Your Best Shallot burger.

Each burger will cost $20 and come with French fries, a Bobs Burgers keychain, and a sticker. Proceeds from the pop-up will go to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Every day during the pop-up the restaurant will open at 11:30 a.m., and it will sell the burgers until theyve run out. When Cailan first started selling Eggsluts cult-favorite breakfast sandwiches at Chefs Club Counter in April, the sandwiches reportedly sold out by 9:30 a.m., so any Bobs Burgers fans who want to try one should probably try to arrive early.

The full Bobs Burgers pop-up menu is as follows:

Monday, December 18: Baby You Can Chive My Car Burger with sour cream and mustard spread, chives, and fried pickles.

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Tuesday, December 19: Dont You Four Cheddar bout Me Burger with lettuce, bacon, onion, and four kinds of Cheddar cheese.

Wednesday, December 20: Foot Feta-ish Burger/Never Been Feta with feta, arugula, mayo and mustard.

Thursday, December 21: Dark Side of the Shroom Burger with shiitake, pineapple, and teriyaki sauce.

Friday, December 22: Hit Me with Your Best Shallot Burger with caramelized shallots, goat cheese spread, and arugula.

Saturday, December 23: Were Here, Were Gruyere, Get Used to it Burger with sweet pickles, caramelized onion, Gruyere, and an Au Jus-Dipped Bun.

Sunday, December 24: Bet it all on Black Garlic Burger with mozzarella, spinach, and black garlic spread.

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Low-cost senior housing is set to go up along the Sheldon Street offramp of the 5 Freeway in Sun Valley. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Its the type of project Los Angeles desperately needs in a housing crisis: low-cost apartments for seniors, all of them veterans, many of them homeless.

Theres just one downside. Wedged next to an offramp, the four-story building will stand 200 feet from the 5 Freeway.

State officials have for years warned against building homes within 500 feet of freeways, where people suffer higher rates of asthma, heart disease, cancer and other health problems linked to car and truck pollution. Yet theyre helping build the 96-unit complex, providing $11.1 million in climate change funds from Californias cap-and-trade program.

The Sun Valley Senior Veterans Apartments is one of at least 10 affordable housing projects within 500 feet of a freeway awarded a total of $65 million in cap-and-trade money since 2015, a Times review of records found. Those developments will place hundreds of apartments for homeless people, veterans and families near freeways in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and the Central Valley, some less than 100 feet from traffic.

Californias support for those projects shows how policies created to cut greenhouse gases and ease the housing crunch are also putting some of the states neediest residents at risk from traffic pollution. It's one way public dollars are helping finance a surge in residential development near freeways, where Los Angeles and other California cities have permitted thousands of new homes in recent years.

How close do you live to the freeway? 

State officials acknowledge that some cap-and-trade money, collected from companies that buy permits to emit greenhouse gases, will put residents near elevated levels of pollution. But they say dense housing near bus and rail lines is crucial to meeting Californias climate goals, by getting cars off the road.

Even in places with poor air quality, they argue, residents health will improve from walking and biking more. And they say the dangers from living near freeways can be reduced with anti-pollution design features recommended this year by state air regulators, including sound walls, vegetation barriers and high-efficiency air filters that remove some of the harmful particles from vehicle exhaust.

When those strategies are employed, the environmental and public health benefits of these projects far outweigh the negatives, said Ken Alex, a senior advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown who chairs the Strategic Growth Council, the agency that distributes cap-and-trade funds to affordable housing developers.

Developers of the Sun Valley Senior Veterans Apartments say the project will have features to deal with nearby freeway pollution: a sound wall, dozens of trees and high-efficiency air filters to screen out pollutants. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Californias decision to subsidize low-income housing near freeways alarms some health scientists, who point to years of studies that link roadway pollution with a growing list of illnesses  and billions in healthcare costs. They say air filters and other mitigation measures are not enough to protect residents, especially children, whose lungs could be damaged for life, and seniors, who could die early from heart attacks.

I see the economic incentives for doing this, said Beate Ritz, an environmental epidemiologist at UCLA who has studied the health effects of traffic pollution for more than two decades. But its kind of stupid, because we all know we will pay for it with long-term health effects. Somebody has to pay for the costs of diabetes, of cognitive decline or strokes. This is just creating a huge amount of costs for society in the long run.

Construction is expected to start within weeks on the Sun Valley project, capping a decade of debate that pitted the need for more housing against the health of people who would live there. Proponents say those apartments will be far superior to life on the street, with higher-rated air filters and a buffer  dozens of trees, a sound wall and a parking lot  separating residents from pollution.

A plan for a 96-unit affordable housing project in Sun Valley is opposed by a trio of local veterans: Gary Aggas, 70; Garry Fordyce, 70; and Mike OGara, 78. All three say the building will put seniors and veterans too close to freeway pollution. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Despite those measures, some locals argue the freeway is simply too close.

These vets are going to be sucking in these diesel fumes. Its going to shorten their lives, said Mike OGara, who lives eight blocks away and is a veteran of the U.S. Naval Air Forces. What a hell of a great reward for serving their country.

Unpleasant choices

The Sun Valley project offers a window into the unpleasant choices faced by politicians, real estate developers and nonprofit groups as they struggle to counter rising rents and a surge in homelessness, which grew 23% this year across Los Angeles County, to nearly 58,000 people.

Los Angeles, a city crisscrossed by freeways, is embarking on a $1.2-billion plan aimed at financing 10,000 homes for homeless people. Land next to those corridors  often cheaper and less likely to spur outcry from neighborhood groups  will be tempting to build on.

If policymakers put low-cost housing next to freeways, they will place some of their poorest constituents in locations where pollution can be five to 10 times higher, saddling them with the health consequences. But if they prohibit new construction in those areas, they could make things tougher for people trying to get off, or stay off, the streets.

Of the roughly 2,000 affordable housing units approved in Los Angeles in 2016, 1 in 4 was within 1,000 feet of a freeway, according to figures from the Department of City Planning. Officials are weighing whether to build homeless housing on at least nine city-owned properties within 500 feet of freeways  including one thats less than 200 feet from the sprawling 110-105 freeway interchange.

Housing advocates argue that homeless Angelenos are already living near freeways. In L.A.'s Sun Valley neighborhood, Joe Carmelo has a campsite along the 5 Freeway, not far from the site of the planned senior veteran apartments. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Housing advocates point to studies that link homelessness to early deaths from drug use, respiratory disorders and other health problems. Homeless individuals are also less likely to obtain access to healthcare, mental health services and substance abuse counseling than those who have shelter, said Mike Alvidrez, chief executive of Skid Row Housing Trust, which has built 1,800 units of housing since 1989  including one building next to the 10 Freeway.

We know that people die sooner if they dont get off the street and into housing. We just know that, he said. So if you have a solution that going to prolong someones life  irrespective of whether its the worst place you could put it, next to a freeway or next to two freeways  if you dont have another option, thats what you do.

Across the region, homeless people are already living near freeways  in tents tucked along sound walls, in campsites obscured by shrubbery. Jason McKenney, 34, said he has spent some nights in North Hollywood Park, which runs along the 170 Freeway.

Jason McKenney, right, said he has spent some nights in a park near the 170 Freeway in North Hollywood. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Sitting under a tree nursing an injured leg, the onetime construction worker said he would have no qualms about moving into a building next to a freeway, if it had cheap rents and counseling for substance abuse.

I would jump at that chance, he said.

Apartments near transit

With climate change now a top priority, California has embraced policies to cut carbon emissions by packing dense housing near jobs and transit. State leaders have set aside nearly $700 million from the cap-and-trade program to finance transit-oriented developments and infrastructure.

The planned Sun Valley development is on a noisy stretch of Laurel Canyon Boulevard with high-speed traffic and few walkable businesses. But because its near a bus stop, the project was eligible for cap-and-trade funds.

To boost transit use near the senior housing complex, a portion of those funds will go toward free bus and rail passes for the tenants, as well as new crosswalks, sidewalks and wheelchair ramps.

Like many projects that have received cap-and-trade money, the project is in a location that already endures a heavy pollution burden, which helped it qualify for state funds. The application for cap-and-trade money acknowledged the neighborhood has high rates of asthma.

The planned Sun Valley Senior Veterans Apartments was eligible for state funding, in part, because it will go up near a bus stop. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Some in the neighborhood, such as 75-year-old Joan Winget, see the freeway as a serious health threat. Diagnosed with emphysema in 2012, Winget has lived more than 20 years in a mobile home park right next to the senior housing site.

The retired property manager smoked cigarettes until 1979, and her health issues are linked at least in part to that habit. But she worries her medical problems have been exacerbated by pollution from the nearby 5-170 freeway interchange, whose swooping ramps can be seen from the propertys driveway.

Each day, about 200,000 vehicles on the 5 pass her home. To protect herself, Winget keeps her doors and windows closed 24/7 and the air conditioning running around the clock. She misses the days when she let a breeze blow through her home late at night.

I hate it, she said. I love fresh air. I like getting outside. I dont like being stuck in the house all the time. I might not be getting the greatest air in here, but its worse outside.

Joan Winget, 75, stands inside her home next to the 5 Freeway in Sun Valley. In an effort to protect herself from car and truck pollution, she keeps her air conditioner on, and her windows closed, around the clock. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Regulators say decades of tough clean-air rules have slashed tailpipe emissions, reducing risks to people near freeways. But some scientists warn those health improvements will be undercut by the states push to concentrate high-density housing near transit hubs, which often sit near major roadways.

A 2016 study projected state climate policies would increase the number of preventable deaths from heart disease in Southern California by placing more people near traffic pollution. Establishing buffers between homes and heavy traffic, in contrast, would decrease heart disease deaths, especially among the elderly, according to the study by researchers from USC, the California Department of Public Health and several other institutions.

The state Air Resources Board  which since 2005 has recommended municipalities avoid siting homes within 500 feet of freeways  oversees the spending of billions of dollars in cap-and-trade funds by a dozen state agencies. But the board does not select the affordable housing projects that get the money. Those decisions rest with the Strategic Growth Council, a committee appointed by the governor and state lawmakers.

Records show the Strategic Growth Council voted unanimously to award funds for apartments next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles, housing along Highway 99 in Turlock and a 135-unit building in San Jose thats just 25 feet from Highway 87, a location a state analysis ranks in the 95th percentile for diesel emissions.

State cap-and-trade funds are being used to finance two affordable housing developments going up next to the 110 Freeway in L.A.'s Harbor Gateway neighborhood. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

At least one member of the panel, Manuel Pastor, said he was unaware he had voted for housing so close to freeways.

Pastor, who directs USCs Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and has written on the health implications of building near roadway pollution, said the issue never came up when the projects were being considered.

Your pointing out the exact location of these projects is the first time it has come to my attention, said Pastor, an appointee of State Senate leader Kevin de Leon. I have not until now asked for a map of where these things are.

Poor planning and bad zoning

The push to build homes on the Sun Valley site began more than a decade ago, just as Los Angeles city officials were starting to reckon with the health risks posed by freeway-adjacent development.

Initially, the zoning for the site allowed for just three homes. The City Council hiked that number to 26 in 2008, at the request of the propertys owners. Three years later, the same developers asked the city to increase the number again, taking it to 96.

The planned Sun Valley site will be wedged between a mobile home park and the Sheldon Street off-ramp. It will stand about 200 feet from Interstate 5. (Jon Schleuss / Los Angeles Times)

Each step of the way, there were warnings about freeway pollution  first from planning commissioners, then neighbors, and finally the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Early on, one mayoral appointee called it an example of poor planning and bad zoning.

But the developers had a champion in U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas, who represented the area.

Cardenas and two of his allies, then-State Sen. Alex Padilla and then-Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, urged city leaders in 2013 to allow a 96-unit elder care facility to go up on the site. All three have received a steady stream of political contributions from developers, architects and others who worked on the Sun Valley development  at least $70,350 over the last 15 years, a Times review of donations found.

The elder care project was approved, and in 2015, the owners sold it for $3.5 million, more than three times the amount paid in 2006, when only three homes could be built on the site.

Neither Cardenas nor Bocanegra would comment for this story. Padilla, now Californias secretary of state, said he supported the project because it offered affordable living options for senior citizens.

Businessman David Spiegel, one of the projects developers at the time, said he followed the citys rules. There are hundreds of thousands of units that have been and are currently being built on the freeway, he said, so any impacts must be acceptable to city, state and federal agencies.

Sealing windows shut

The property was purchased by the East L.A. Community Corp., a nonprofit housing developer with experience putting low-income housing next to freeways. ELACC, as the group is known, had already built 33 apartments for homeless veterans along the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights. At that location, windows facing the freeway are sealed shut and the air conditioning system has higher-rated filters.

Isela Gracian, the nonprofit groups president, said many of L.A.s low-income neighborhoods were carved up by freeways decades ago. That, she said, makes it difficult to find properties far from car and truck pollution.

Backers of the Sun Valley project say many of L.A.'s low-income neighborhoods are carved up by freeways, making it difficult to find affordable housing sites away from freeway pollution. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Not every piece of land is available to us, she said. Whoever currently owns the land has to be willing and open to selling the property. Its not like we can walk the streets and say, This is a better location  lets swap the project and move it over here. 

Still, one agency in Los Angeles County has managed to avoid putting its money into projects along freeways.

The countys Community Development Commission, which provides tens of millions of dollars in low-interest loans to affordable housing developers each year, decided in 2008 that it would not allow its money to finance projects within 500 feet of a freeway.

Kathy Thomas, who heads the agency, said that decision was made in response to warnings about the health hazards of traffic pollution from the Air Resources Board and other regulators. Yet even with that limitation, the commission finances hundreds of units of housing each year  and receives more requests for money than it has to lend, she said.

We have not had any difficulty finding projects, Thomas said in an email. Our freeway buffer requirement is well-known among developers and we really dont get any pushback.

Thomas said it would be negligent for her agency to knowingly put low-cost housing next to freeways and undermine the countys work in reducing the cost burden of frequent users on the healthcare system.

Some officials want similar conditions on the spending of cap-and-trade funds.

Dean Florez, a former state senator who sits on the Air Resources Board, said California should stop using cap-and-trade money for housing near freeways. Those projects, he said, will endanger peoples lungs for decades.

The Strategic Growth Council is moving ahead without such restrictions as it accepts applications for another $255 million in affordable housing funds.

Agency officials will score projects by proximity to transit, greenhouse gas reductions, walkability and other criteria. One thing they wont measure is how close the projects are to freeway pollution.

Times staff writers Doug Smith and Jon Schleuss contributed to this report.

tony.barboza@latimes.com

Twitter: @TonyBarboza

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @DavidZahniser

UPDATES:

Dec. 18, 9:50 a.m.: This article incorrectly says Kathy Thomas heads Los Angeles Countys Community Development Commission. She heads the agencys Economic and Housing Development Division.
From his small cell on Californias death row, Scott Pinholster swore he could prove his innocence. The proof, he said, was in the dried blood on a work boot and a pink towel recovered from his home years ago.

The condemned inmate insisted that modern DNA testing  nonexistent when he was convicted of a double murder in 1984  would show the blood belonged to him, not the victims, as the prosecution argued at his trial.

But a recent search for the items has led to a disturbing discovery that could throw the case into jeopardy: The Los Angeles County courts mistakenly destroyed the evidence.

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A judge must now determine what, if anything, should be done to remedy the high-stakes error.

Pinholsters attorney has asked for a hearing on how the destruction happened and says he will eventually ask for a new trial. Prosecutors, however, argue that a killers life shouldnt be spared simply because of an innocent mistake by court staff.

One of the jurors who voted to send Pinholster to death row more than three decades ago was shocked to hear that the man convicted of fatally stabbing and beating two men might get a second chance.

Oh my God! said the juror, who spoke on condition of anonymity, when recently contacted by The Times. Hes liable to get off then?

Pinholster is one of 744 people awaiting execution in California  the largest death row population in the country. Although the state hasnt put anyone to death since 2006, that could soon change, as voters passed a measure last year to speed up the process. Of the states condemned inmates, about 20 have exhausted their appeals, putting them at the front of the line. Among them is Pinholster.

California law requires that courts keep evidence until after a death row inmate is executed or dies behind bars  a safeguard put in place to preserve evidence for future testing. Mary Hearn, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Superior Court, said the courts procedure for destroying evidence, which was updated last year, now requires that staff first contact Californias Supreme Court to confirm a death row inmate has died. The court, Hearn said, began a review of its procedure before learning of Pinholsters case.

Hearn said Pinholster, 58, is the only known example of evidence destruction in a case of a living death row inmate convicted in L.A. County. But a small number of cases around the country have raised similar legal problems.

On the eve of an execution in 2005, Virginias governor reduced a condemned death row inmates sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole after learning that a court clerk had destroyed evidence in his murder case despite being warned by subordinates not to do so. Two years later, a man on death row in Oklahoma was released from prison after a judge ruled that a police lab analyst had intentionally destroyed hair evidence that could have pointed to the inmates innocence.

Elisabeth Semel, a UC Berkeley law professor who directs the schools clinic that defends condemned inmates facing execution, said destruction of physical evidence cripples the ability to examine an inmates innocence claim.

If the very evidence you need is gone  how do you make justice happen for these individuals? she said, describing the scenario as terribly, terribly devastating.

The importance of such tests was highlighted last month when Gov. Jerry Brown pardoned a prisoner who spent 39 years behind bars for the 1978 killing of a young woman and her 4-year-old son in Simi Valley. After the prisoner, Craig Coley, exhausted his appeals years ago, a judge authorized the destruction of the crime-scene evidence. But a cold-case detective recently found the evidence and when tested, it helped clear Coley of the murders.

For Pinholster, prosecutors point to a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes it difficult for prisoners to reverse convictions or reduce sentences unless they can show that evidence was destroyed in bad faith. In Pinholsters case, prosecutors argue, the destruction was the result of at most negligence, incompetency, recklessness, but not bad faith.

At his trial, a prosecutor argued that the blood on the boot and towel found in the defendants Van Nuys apartment belonged to at least one of the two victims  Thomas Johnson, 25, and Robert Beckett, 29. The men were stabbed and beaten to death at the Tarzana home of a marijuana dealer on Jan. 9, 1982.

The states key witness, Art Corona, told police that he, Pinholster and a third man, Paul Brown, were all armed with buck knives when they barreled into the home looking to steal drugs and cash. Minutes later, Corona said, the two victims showed up. Pinholster attacked the men with a knife, his fists and his feet, Corona said, adding that Brown also stabbed one of the men.

Their loot: $23 and a quarter-ounce of pot.

Pinholster said he had stolen drugs from the home a few hours before the killings but never harmed anyone. When he took the stand, he seemed to revel in his criminal record. Asked for his occupation, he smirked and responded, a crook, according to court documents. He also boasted to jurors of having committed hundreds of robberies, but insisted hed always carried guns, not knives.

He was absolutely guilty. No question.  One of the jurors who decided Scott Pinholster should be executed for a double murder

A Sheriffs Department criminalist told jurors that hed tested the right work boot and towel collected from Pinholsters home and found they came back positive for human blood, but technology at the time couldnt narrow down whose blood it was. The prosecutor suggested that Pinholster had stepped in a pool of blood at the Tarzana home and used the towel to wipe off the murder weapon.

Neither Pinholster nor his attorney argued at trial that the blood was from him  an omission the district attorneys office said undercuts his current claim. His new attorney said Pinholster was never asked during the trial who the blood belonged to.

Contacted recently, another juror who asked to be identified only as a 76-year-old woman said she was confident in the verdict.

He was absolutely guilty, she said. No question.

Even after three decades, she said, she can conjure a haunting memory of an image painted at trial by the prosecutor  Pinholster, wearing boots, kicking in the skull of one of the victims.

After his conviction, state courts rejected appeals from Pinholster, but a federal judge overturned the death sentence in 2003, ruling that his trial counsel had failed to tell jurors about the extent of Pinholsters mental health problems. In 2011, however, the U.S. Supreme Court restored Pinholsters death sentence.

Hes been very discouraged, said Sean Kennedy, Pinholsters current lawyer.

But months after having his death penalty restored, the inmate got good news. A judge had finally approved his request to have DNA testing done on the towel and boot. Pinholster contends that the bloodstains came from his repeated intravenous use of heroin.

A Los Angeles police officer was assigned to scour an LAPD storage room for the items in case the court had returned them after the trial. The search came up empty, so officers checked inside another police storage facility. Still nothing. As the hunt stretched into a fourth year, Kennedy grew suspicious. Finally, a prosecutor stepped in to help speed up the process.

And that, Kennedy said, with a shake of his head, is when they finally fessed up.

Court documents from January 1998 show that People vs. Pinholster was mistakenly listed among more than a dozen cases deemed eligible for evidence destruction. The trial exhibits, records show, were destroyed that summer. Two top Los Angeles County Superior Court officials signed the destruction order  Judge John Reid and Ty Colgrove, an administrator who helped run the courts criminal operations. Both men have since retired.

Reached for comment, Colgrove said he didnt recall the case, as hed signed hundreds of destruction orders over the years, but added that he relied on lower-level employees to properly sort through the cases.

Its almost like the judiciary is facilitating wrongful executions.  Attorney Sean Kennedy on the L.A. courts destruction of evidence in a death penalty case

Hearn, the court spokeswoman, said Reid could not comment, as he still sometimes fills in on the bench. In a recently signed declaration, Reid wrote that if hed known the evidence from a capital case was going to be destroyed, he would not have signed the order.

Kennedy, an associate clinical professor at Loyola Law School whose work on Pinholsters case carried over from his days as the federal public defender for the Central District of California, bristled at the rationale.

Its almost like the judiciary is facilitating wrongful executions, he said.

Life on death row has worn on Pinholster. Last year, as California voters weighed two options  speeding up executions or banning the death penalty  Pinholster was quoted in a Times article, expressing apathy.

After 30 years, he said, you dont care one way or the other.

But theres still some hope for his exoneration, Kennedy said, pointing to trial exhibit 29  a pair of bloodstained jeans also recovered from Pinholsters home years ago. While court employees have said they presume the jeans are lost or destroyed, they havent found any documents showing they were, in fact, discarded.

Kennedy has asked for a special hearing so he can question the court officials who approved the destruction. A judge is expected to rule on that request early next year.

For Michael Kumar, the former marijuana dealer who lived at the home where the killings took place, the mention of Pinholster brings a rush of memories. Although hed been out of town the weekend of the murders, the pain is still raw over the loss of Johnson, his best friend  a gentle giant who loved to play classical piano. When asked about the possibility of a new trial, Kumar sighed.

Its preposterous to me. Its completely a joke if this guy says hes innocent, said Kumar, 58, who now sells parts for and restores classic cars. Im not going to say he doesnt have the right, because Im not sure what the technicalities are, but its just that  a technicality.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber
A multi-county funeral procession was held Sunday for Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, a San Diego area resident who was killed in the Thomas fire.

The procession began at 10 a.m. and traveled south on the 101 Freeway through Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties. It continued on Interstate 15 in San Diego County before arriving at El Camino Memorial Park about 2:15 p.m.

People stood on freeway overpasses along the route saluting, waving American flags and snapping pictures as the procession passed.

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Iverson, 32, died Thursday while fighting the fire, which is now burning in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and continuing to threaten homes and prompt evacuations. The 270,000-acre Thomas fire is now the third largest fire in California history. As of Sunday, it was 45% contained.

Iverson was with a five-engine strike team from San Diego and engaged in a very active part of the fire just outside of Fillmore in Ventura County when he was fatally injured, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He was outside his truck at the time.

Iverson had been with Cal Fire since 2009 and worked at a station in Dulzura.

All 17 of the firefighters on Iversons strike team were pulled off the fire lines. They had been at the Thomas fire since Dec. 5.

Cal Fire San Diego Chief Tony Mecham said at a media briefing last week that this incident has shaken our organization to the core. He said he learned of Iversons death Thursday morning when he took the call that no fire chief ever wants to receive.

It just stunningly took my breath away, Mecham said.

He said he spent the day with Iversons family, who he said just spoke about Why Cory? Hes just such a great guy.

Iversons uncle is a retired firefighter with Cal Fire and had worked with current Cal Fire San Diego spokesman Jon Heggie at the fire station in Rainbow. It was during that turn that Heggie met Iverson, who was in his late teens at the time and already eager to become a firefighter.

Heggie said he watched Iverson work his way up to becoming a firefighter, and that you could see the passion that he had at an early age about the fire service.

My heart shattered when I learned what happened to him, Heggie said. I can only imagine the pain his wife and his family are going through, and all of us in the fire service are feeling it for them.

California Gov. Jerry Brown issued a statement on Iversons death last week, saying his bravery and years of committed service to the people of California will never be forgotten.

The governor ordered all Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff.

Iverson leaves behind a pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter.

Donations continue to pour in to help the family. A GoFundMe account, For Ashley Iverson and her girls, was at nearly $300,000 by Saturday afternoon. Donations can also be made through the Benevolent Fund benefiting Iverson and his family.

A memorial for Iverson is planned for 10 a.m. Dec. 23 at the Rock Church, 2277 Rosecrans St. in Point Loma.

People watch from an overpass in Burbank as a procession for fallen Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, 32, passes through en route to San Diego. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times )

Burbank firefighters salute as the funeral procession travels through Burbank on its way to San Diego. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times )

A procession for fallen firefighter Cory Iverson makes its way up the Conejo Grade in Camarillo on Sunday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

A procession with the body of Cory Iverson, who died while fighting the Thomas Fire is returning him to San Diego https://t.co/RKi8gYNuwt  Jeff Haring (@JeffHaring) December 17, 2017

A procession in Fillmore, CA for a firefighter killed in the Thomas fire.: https://t.co/SOshRRZDah via @YouTube  Bangla Tv (@azadarc12) December 15, 2017

Davis and Hernandez write for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
As winds died down across the region Sunday afternoon, Southern California Edison managed to avoid cutting off power to parts of Malibu as a precautionary measure aimed at preventing more wildfires, an official said.

The company was considering shutting down some circuits in the coastal city as strong Santa Ana winds battered the region early Sunday, said Paul Griffo, an Edison spokesman. There were other areas where the utility was considering turning off power, but Griffo declined to name them.

Santa Ana winds reached up to 65 mph earlier in the day in the Malibu Hills and about 60 mph in the Newhall Pass, according to the National Weather Service. But by mid-afternoon winds across the region had died down significantly.

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Electrical utilities are a leading cause of wildfires across the state. State regulators have levied tens of millions of dollars in fines against power companies for sparking past blazes, and the deadly Northern California fires have been linked to exploding transformers and sparking electrical wires that were reported at the start of the blazes.

Experts say shutting down the power grid in times of extreme winds is a rarely used but effective tactic to prevent wildfires. Until last week, Southern California Edison hadnt shut down power in response to wind conditions for more than a decade, Griffo said.

But that changed after the fires in Californias wine country in October damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes and killed more than 40 people. The company shut off electricity Dec. 7 to Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains, Griffo said. And San Diego Gas & Electric Co. took similar action last week in rural San Diego County before fires broke out  but there was some criticism of the move because firefighters couldnt operate electric water pumps.

Red flag warnings remain in effect until 8 p.m. for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, according to the National Weather Service, which also reported that the Santa Ana winds will likely cause downed trees and powerlines. Strong winds have been fueling the massive Thomas fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties that has scorched 269,000 acres and is now the third-largest wildfire in California history.

In west L.A. County, Edison reported that more than 2,000 customers has lost power Sunday morning, an official said. The cause has yet to be determined.

On Sunday morning, wind gusts topped 70 mph in some mountain areas and 50 mph along the coast, said Kathy Hoxsie, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Malibu Hills recorded a 64-mph peak wind on Sunday morning, she said.

Winds are expected to calm down Monday and Tuesday to 10 to 20 mph, which will look tranquil compared with the weekend gusts, Hoxsie said. Increased humidity levels and low winds are expected to help firefighters focus on defense work such as bulldozing fire lines and dropping fire retardant.

But it will be a short respite, as strong winds and low humidity are expected to return Wednesday in Santa Barbara County and Thursday in Ventura County, Hoxsie said.

Adam.Elmahrek@latimes.com

Twitter: @adamelmahrek

ben.poston@latimes.com

Twitter: @bposton

UPDATES:

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new information about power outages.

This article was originally posted at 1:30 p.m.
Raging Santa Ana winds helped clear smoke from the massive Thomas fire out of Ventura County on Sunday, but health officials cautioned residents that non-smoky conditions dont mean the air is safe to breathe.

The winds will cause dust particulate to stir up, resulting in air quality that is at times unhealthy, according to an advisory from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

The cities of Ojai, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Camarillo all recorded unhealthy air quality ratings as of early afternoon Sunday, according to the air pollution districts website.

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Health officials caution anyone in areas impacted with smoke and dust to avoid vigorous outdoor activities. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors, officials said.

People living in those areas are encouraged to run air conditioners and close all windows and doors to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Officials suggest seeking alternate shelter if this is not an option.

As of early Sunday afternoon, the air quality was rated moderate for the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, according to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District.

The air quality index across Los Angeles County registered as moderate early afternoon Sunday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

ben.poston@latimes.com

Follow @bposton on Twitter.
For more than a decade, they came from across New York City and around the world to leave their mark at the place they called 5Pointz.

Armed with cans of spray paint, they left bubble-lettered tags, outlined buxom cartoon women and undertook elaborate murals of a green Mother Earth and of a white-haired Dos Equis man on the walls of several interconnected warehouses in Queens.

To the creators  and the man who allowed them to paint  this wasnt some random graffiti hurriedly slapped on a subway car. They viewed themselves as artists, and in time 5Pointz became a tourist destination.

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Some of the works lasted just a day, others a year or more  part of a dynamic installation that occupied the better part of a city block. Much of it was visible from the windows of the elevated No. 7 train to Manhattan.

A man shovels snow by the warehouses that were known as 5Pointz in January 2011. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press )

The building complex has since been torn down, but the images that once covered its walls are at the heart of a legal battle that asks whether graffiti, or temporary aerosol art, should be recognized as art worthy of protection under federal law.

The fact that graffiti art is even being talked about as something that might have recognized stature shows you how far graffiti art has come in the art world, said Kate Lucas, an attorney at Grossman LLP who has followed the case closely but is not a participant.

Today, major brands draw inspiration from graffiti for advertisements; galleries and auction houses exhibit it; and artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey enjoy celebrity status. A store in Soho sells premium aerosol paint for $15 a can.

But in 1970s and 1980s New York, graffiti mostly conjured images of fly-by-night hoodlums who illegally bombed tunnels, bridges and subway cars with their tags, using paint they stole from hardware stores or applicators jerry-built from deodorant sticks fitted with alcohol, carbon paper and dish sponges.

In the 1990s, graffiti was a favored target of New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton, who embraced the broken windows theory of policing, which held that aggressively prosecuting low-level crimes, like vandalism, could prevent bigger crimes.

But that was also the decade when real estate developer Gerald Wolkoff first allowed artists to paint over the walls of a warehouse building complex he owned in Long Island City. The collaboration, initially known as the Phun Phactory, began with Pat DeLillo, whose prior job, ironically, was removing illegal graffiti. With Wolkoffs permission, DeLillo invited local graffiti artists to paint on the buildings.

In 2002, Jonathan Cohen, an artist known by the tag Meres One, took over and created the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, or simply 5Pointz, a reference to the citys five boroughs. Wolkoff left it to Cohen to vet artists, allocate space and decide how long each work lasted, on three conditions: no pornography, no politics and no religion.

I ran a pretty tight ship enforcing the rules and cleaning up any illegal tags on nearby businesses, Cohen said in an interview.

He did a wonderful job, Wolkoff said by phone from his office on Long Island. I loved what they did.

Over the next decade, about 11,000 paintings came and went. The site attracted not only graffiti writers, as the artists call themselves, from all over the world, but also hip-hop musicians and breakers, as well as tourists.

5pointz became a destination spot because it tacitly offered an authentic New York City experience, said Gregory Snyder, a sociologist at Baruch College and author of Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New Yorks Urban Underground.

While graffiti was also permitted at a few other locations in the city, Snyder said, 5Pointz was unique in its scale.

But as the surrounding neighborhood of Long Island City transformed from an industrial waterfront with a quiet residential community and thriving arts scene into a hip, desirable area for residents fleeing Manhattan rents, Wolkoff made plans to demolish the warehouses and replace them with two residential towers.

New development rises in Long Island City, N.Y., at the former site of warehouses that were turned into an outdoor graffiti gallery. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

In 2013, Cohen and 16 other artists filed suit, hoping to stop Wolkoff from destroying their art along with the buildings.

Judge Frederic Block of New Yorks Eastern District granted a temporary restraining order but later lifted it, prompting Wolkoff to immediately cover the artwork in white paint in November 2013.

It was the worst funeral Ive ever been to, Cohen said of visiting the site afterward. It was like a bunch of zombies walking around.

Cohen and his fellow artists renewed their suit, arguing that Wolkoff had destroyed their work in a gratuitous, willful and wanton manner. Now they were seeking a declaration from the court that Wolkoff violated the law and unspecified damages for their financial losses and emotional and reputational injuries.

Wolkoff says he did nothing wrong. Every artist that sued me whitewashed the one before them. For 20 years, they each whitewashed over each other, he said. When I whitewashed, they sued me.

In 2014, he tore the buildings down.

The lawsuit hinges on a federal law called the the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990.

A subsection of copyright law, the act grants visual artists the right to claim or disclaim a work and to protect their work from mutilation or distortion that would harm their honor or reputation. And if the art is of recognized stature, the act can be invoked to prevent their work from being destroyed.

The law, however, does not define recognized stature, and it has been relatively untested in the courts, said Philippa Loengard, who teaches art law at Columbia Law School and was not involved in the case.

You can look at it in a variety of ways, Loengard said. First of all, what is recognized stature? Who has to recognize the stature? Is each work individually a piece of recognized stature, or was 5Pointz as a whole of recognized stature?

The trial, which began in October and lasted three weeks, centered in part on those questions. The plaintiffs attorney, Eric Baum, argued that the works did rise to the standard and that their creators were entitled to receive 90 days written notice of Wolkoffs intentions and the opportunity to remove or preserve their work.

Wolkoffs attorney, David Ebert, argued that the plaintiffs had known for years that the buildings were going to come down and that by painting over one anothers works, they had regularly done the same thing as Wolkoff.

Jonathan Cohen, with some of his signature paintings, ran the outdoor 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center with the blessing of the buildings owner. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

Last month a jury decided in favor of the artists, finding that Wolkoff did unlawfully destroy graffiti art at 5Pointz, including Cohens signature paintings of anthropomorphized light bulbs and the murals of Mother Earth and the Dos Equis man.

But in a quirk of federal procedure, the jurys finding is only a recommendation. The judge will consider the evidence and testimony independently and make a final determination, likely next year.

If he upholds the verdict, it could have important implications.

It shines a different kind of light on graffiti as a whole, said James Espino, the owner of Scrap Yard, a SoHo art supply store for street artists. Its not just graffiti as vandalism. Its art.

But Loengard said any such victory would be short-lived.

Its going to be a Pyrrhic victory, she said. These individual artists may be compensated, but what is going to be the long-term effect [is] buildings dont allow public art because they dont want to face damages.

While the case drags on, two skyscrapers that will provide approximately 1,100 rental units continue to shoot up at the old 5Pointz site. A handful of paintings on warehouses across the street are all that remain of the buildings previous identity  and the name, which will apply to the new buildings.

Wolkoff said he plans to invite artists to paint again, this time under written agreements.

The invitation, he said, will extend to those who sued him.

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

Twitter: @AgrawalNina

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She was born in the segregated South, and over 98 years outlived those old ways, three husbands and many friends in Baltimore. In the end, few remained to visit Hazel Reed-Oden.

There was a devoted handyman. A nurse. A pastor. Happenstance brought Reed-Oden her final friend: the Baltimore police detective who sat in the back of the church on a recent Tuesday, dabbing her eyes.

Det. Wendy Morton was patrolling northeast Baltimore on the April day the lonely widow called 911 because she couldnt see. Mortons routine stop led to regular visits with honey doughnuts, to midnight phone calls for girl talks, to dances around the house at which a great-grandmother showed a 35-year-old how to shimmy to Marvin Gaye.

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Their friendship ended as quickly as it bloomed, leaving a lingering sweetness. The widow they called Ms. Hazel broke her hip and died Dec. 3.

I want to acknowledge Officer Wendy, the Rev. Denise Sanders, pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in North Baltimore, said at the funeral Dec. 12. She brought joy to Sister Hazel.

The congregation turned and applauded. Morton cried in the back pew.

Elsewhere in Baltimore, fliers protest police, graffiti threatens cops, mistrust builds of a department wracked by scandal. But here was a small gathering cheering an officer.

Morton, however, isnt the typical cop. A single mom with red-tinged hair and Wonder Woman on her bracelet, she enjoys Dominican cigars and professional wrestling  her favorite: flashy Ric Flair.

Bam Jr., shes called by fellow officers and old friends in northwest Baltimore, where she grew up. She swam the butterfly for Western High School, attended Coppin State University, and joined the force 14 years ago  a rookie brimming with energy, she said, as she hurriedly chased one call after another.

Since then, she has learned to slow down. Policing, she learned, might mean heating a cup of tea for an elderly woman going blind. Ms. Hazel took two tea bags and plenty of sugar.

The 98-year-old called 911 last April.

My lights are so dim, I cant even eat, Ms. Hazel said. What happened?

Your lights? the dispatcher asked.

Yeah. My lights have gone down, so I cant even see.

All right, maam. Whos home with you?

Just me.

The dispatcher connected her to Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., but Ms. Hazel called back.

I dont have any lights, she said. I cant see whats going on.

Do you know what happened to your power?

No, I woke up to put some food in the microwave and its just like, whoa.

OK. Ill enter another call for someone to respond.

Morton was on her way.

Ms. Hazel waited in the modest 1950s home where she lived alone. Always self-reliant, she sewed pleated skirts for her daughters and canned sweet Seckel pears for winter.

She was born in rural Virginia in April 1919, the year Congress sent the 19th Amendment to the states for ratification. It would grant women the right to vote.

Ms. Hazel left the South as a girl, but never forgot the scald of segregation. Her children, she promised, would be second to no one.

Her daughter, Tonya Gaston, lives in New York.

My mother said, Dont you say maam to nobody or step back for nobody, Gaston said.

Ms. Hazel became the first black school crossing guard in Baltimore, Gaston said. She also worked 35 years as a substitute teacher for Baltimore City Schools. Later, she adventured in Paris, Italy, France. Her travel photos filled albums as thick as phone books, each picture notated with the dates, names and descriptions she wrote on her typewriter: Here she is on a sun-washed Hawaiian beach; there, atop the Great Wall of China.

By her late 90s, Ms. Hazel was losing her vision and hearing. Her memory slipped, but just sometimes. Her wit remained as quick as the whack from her cane for those who sat in the pew reserved for ushers.

That was Ms. Hazel: Deeply devout, sometimes ornery. Dont be late with her ride to church.

She outlived three brothers, three husbands, one son and one daughter. Two daughters survive her.

All she wanted was somebody to talk to, Morton said.

The detective returned again and again to ensure Ms. Hazel hadnt walked off or left the front door open. Not crime fighting, but policing just the same.

Sometimes you got to take off that gun and badge, Morton said.

With her eyesight dimming, Ms. Hazel would gently rub Mortons hands. Soon the officer was visiting after her shifts to comb the widows gray hair and warm her salmon cakes (Ms. Hazel struggled to see the microwave buttons). Ms. Hazel might call Morton at midnight to chat about the old Johnny Carson shows she adored. Together, they browsed the travel photos, gossiped late, danced.

She would always say that was her girl, said Gloria Davis, Ms. Hazels afternoon nurse.

Morton sometimes visited with her 7-year-old daughter, Zakayah, who peppered Ms. Hazel with questions about segregation, civil rights and Martin Luther King Jr.

Ms. Hazel told the girl that she watched her family get hosed down by white police in Virginia.

She said, I thought the hoses were just for fire, Morton said.

Mortons own mother, Barbara Morton, died four years ago. It felt like she was with her again, she said.

Ms. Hazel would walk at night, not disoriented but unafraid and sleepless. So Morton parked her police car outside the house while writing reports, just to keep watch.

Sanders, the pastor, said the brief friendship eased a weariness Ms. Hazel felt for life.

It just brought joy in a gloomy kind of place, Sanders said. She was lonesome.

Then Ms. Hazel broke her hip on Halloween. She began to ask: How far to Virginia? She wished to be buried near her beloved childhood home outside Richmond.

The widow made her funeral plans and paid for everything. Then she stopped eating and drinking.

At her funeral, her face was peaceful in death. She lay in her polished casket, dressed in white, a purple scarf around her neck. She was tiny with age.

The funeral pamphlets called it a victory service. Everyone said it: Here was a woman unbeaten by age or hardship.

The congregation applauded her nurse and devoted handyman. They clapped for Morton, too. The detective smiled and raised her hand.

Then she stuffed away her tissues, wet with tears, and slipped outside to await the next dispatch.

Prudente writes for the Baltimore Sun.
With a mandate from President Trump to hire 5,000 new Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection awarded a $297-million contract to a private company to help recruit and hire the new agents and other workers.

The contract with a division of Accenture, an international professional services corporation with $35 billion in revenues in 2017, comes at a time when the Border Patrol is struggling to meet minimum staffing levels mandated by Congress and is losing more agents per year than it hires.

It also represents one of the larger expenditures so far in the Trump administrations now nearly-year-long drive to increase border security.

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In October, work on eight prototype border walls was completed in Otay Mesa near the U.S.-Mexico border  a project for which Customs and Border Protection officials set aside $20 million in the spring.

The contract with Accenture, which is up to five years, is far greater  both in its initial year and long-term payout. The company will be paid $42.6 million in the first year alone, federal contracting records show.

The scope of work in the contract requires the company to manage the full life cycle of the hiring process from job posting to processing new hires. The company, the agency said in an email response to questions, will augment the agencys existing internal hiring programs.

It also calls for a hard-hitting, targeted recruitment campaign consisting of promoting [Customs and Border Protection] law enforcement careers and opportunities and a public education campaign about customs and Border Patrol jobs.

Accenture will be paid to assist hiring 5,000 Border Patrol agents, as well as 2,000 customs officers and 500 agents for the Office of Air and Marine Operations. The award was made on Nov. 17, with Accenture being selected above four other bidders, federal contract records show.

To skeptics of the hiring push, the Accenture contract makes little sense.

Theyre spending almost $40,000 per hire, said Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington. Just off the bat that seems like a pretty desperate move.

If the contract runs its full five years and is fully paid out, the agency will spend $39,600 per hire. Thats just below the $39,738 starting pay for a customs officer.

In its statement, Customs and Border Protection said the cost estimates are erroneous. The total contract amount includes one-time start-up costs for recruiting measures and other steps to attract applicants.

The agency said the contract was in response to its well-documented hiring woes. It said several factors, such as changing generational values, the statewide legalization of marijuana and a growing distrust of law enforcement have made hiring more difficult.

In fact the agency said in the bid documents for the contract that it has to recruit 133 applicants to fill just a single Border Patrol agent position.

Not unlike other major companies and organizations, we are expanding our recruiting and hiring efforts to find better, more effective ways to recruit, hire and retain frontline personnel, the statement said.

Congress requires a force of 21,370 agents, but a report recently said that as of May there were only 19,500 agents. Compounding the problem is retention: Between 2013 and 2016, an average of 523 agents were hired, while 904 left.

The need for the hiring deal stems from a Jan. 25 executive order signed by Trump, which ordered Customs and Border Protection to increase its ranks by 5,000 agents.

The agency is the largest federal law enforcement agency with more than 40,000 officers and agents in both Border Patrol and customs. Congress has yet to appropriate funds for the new hires though legislation to do so is pending.

Critics have been wary of that hiring goal, noting its costs. They also point out that the last time the agency added to the force with a hiring surge in the mid-2000s, standards were lowered. That move probably contributed to an increase in corruption and misconduct cases that tarred the agency.

In response Congress required all new hires to pass lie detector tests, but the requirement contributed to the hiring shortfall. About 65% of all applicants failed the test, the Associated Press reported this year.

Now there is a bill in Congress that would eliminate the lie detector tests for certain applicants  members of the armed services, veterans with security clearances and law enforcement personnel who had passed a lie detector test or had a background investigation in the preceding three years.

The bill is still pending. Its one example of how the agency has embraced the ambitious hiring goal  and taken steps to widen the applicant pool from which it can hire.

Another step: The contract includes a provision for reinstatement of former Border Patrol agents.

Nowrasteh said the Accenture deal could be beneficial because the companys expertise may allow it to draw from a different pool of potential hires than Customs and Border Protection has in the past.

But he questioned whether so many agents are even needed. He noted that the number of apprehensions of unauthorized immigrants across the southwest border has fallen to record low numbers. There were 1.2 million apprehensions in 2001, and this year just 310,000  the lowest level in 46 years.

There are currently too many Border Patrol agents, given how low the flow of unauthorized immigrants across the border is, he said.

In November, the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security issued a report that said the agency could not provide enough data to justify hiring that many more agents.

This is not the first time the government has hired Accenture to help meet its hiring goals. In 2016 the company won a $290-million, five-year contract to help the Transportation Security Agency hire 8,000 to 10,000 additional workers per year.

A company spokeswoman said it was confident it could help Customs and Border Protection hit its hiring goals.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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In digital-drunk Seattle these days, everythings rising  rents, buildings, eyeballs, salaries, stock holdings. Even the Space Needle, a Worlds Fair antiquity from the hippie era, is getting a posh face lift.

Downtown, a phalanx of cranes towers over construction sites. And one recent morning, not long after sunrise, the sky bled from pink to blue, with the Olympic Mountains peaking above a thick layer of fog that sat low by Puget Sound, creating the illusion that one could swan dive into a pillow of clouds.

But Jason Wang never sees all this; he has fired up the burners around 5 a.m. in a basement cafeteria for the last 47 years, his exposure to the outside world limited to the ankles and wingtips that whip by his sidewalk-level windows. No clouds, no cranes  just bread, broth, meaty concoctions and an infallible internal ticker that tells him exactly how far along he needs to be to prep for up to 600 meals during a frantic four-hour window of midday sustenance.

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Wangs parents opened Bakemans Restaurant in 1970, when he was 18 and fresh out of Lincoln High School. He worked alongside them from the get-go, and eventually inherited the operation. Now 66, hes ready to retire, and was hoping to pass the luncheonette down to his two sons. But after a year of shadowing Dad at work, they werent interested.

I figured the two of them could hire another cook, but they just feel like they dont want to work that hard, said Wang, whos shuttering his still-successful business simply because hes reached an age where it feels right to do so. Its just too much.

So, on Dec. 22, Bakemans will serve its last turkey sandwich. Or maybe meatloaf  the two have run neck-and-neck in an ongoing popularity contest that stretches back to when the Kingdome was a sapling, not an imploded mass of concrete rubble. And for Seattleites of a certain age, Bakemans passing will be no less significant than the spectacular detonation of that enormous gray pigeon-poop magnet.

It will be missed, as well, by city residents of more recent vintage. Cathie Hamilton, from Manhattan, moved to Seattle in 2005 after a stint in San Francisco. She plans on sticking around for the foreseeable future, in spite of the fact that she finds it difficult to make friends in this infamously frosty city.

Seattleites are a really different breed, Hamilton said while consuming a $5 turkey and cranberry sandwich (Wang makes everything in-house, even the bread) as Wang hounded nearby customers into ordering more quickly. It really is the Seattle Freeze.

But at Bakemans, she feels like shes back home in New York, and finds Wangs in-your-face manner a welcome antidote to Seattles pervasive ponderousness and passive-aggression.

To make the line go faster, you need to order faster, Wang explained. People ask too many questions. If you dont like how we do things, go somewhere else and eat. One customer who came in every day always asked what kind of soup we had. I told my employees to tell him to read the sign. He told me he wanted them to tell him. I told him to go somewhere else, but he still came in every day. You tell people not to come back, they still come back.

Michael Moss is one of those people. Hes been coming back for the past 20-plus years, and paradoxically describes the wiry, hyperactive Wang as surly but gentle.

Turkey sandwiches used to be Moss go-to order; now hes a meatloaf man. He sat alone, grinning conspicuously as Wang told an entire line of insufficiently decisive customers: No thinking. Just start talking. Dont wait for me to ask.

This is the type of place chefs would love, Moss said. Its just homemade; youre in someones kitchen. He makes everything except for the [saltine] crackers.

He also doesnt waste money on decor, instead letting Bakemans bring you right back to the sterile, brightly lit school lunchroom of your adolescence.

To reach the front door you descend a short flight of stairs, then walk a bit farther down upon entering. You check out the menu on the wall and decide what to order. (If youre a regular, you already know  and have known for years.)

Bakemans is not a mere sandwich dispensary. For just $8.50, Wang serves plate lunches like lamb shank and pot roast with potatoes, gravy and veggies that could be sold for three times as much at a trendier joint.

Thats just something special I do for the customer, he said, noting that he hasnt raised the rate on these entrees since 1995. I dont want to overcharge people. I want people to say, This is the best price.

It takes a while for a Bakemans novice to realize that the best way to deal with Wang is to throw whatever mud hes slinging right back in his face. More often than not, hell crack up and maybe even hold up the line for some playful verbal sparring.

Whatever shells Wangs customers are hiding beneath when they walk in, he takes a sledgehammer to. Its the culinary equivalent of getting handed a microphone in front of a roomful of strangers and being forced to sing an REO Speedwagon ballad you barely know the words to.

Moss says some of Wangs employees are genuinely surly, but once they survive what must surely be a taxing probationary period (its not unusual to witness Wang bringing one of his charges to the brink of tears), their skills are so specifically synched to Bakemans breakneck operation that Wang has overlooked even the most egregious transgressions to retain them.

I treat them like my kids, said Wang, whos gone so far as to keep employees whove stolen from his till or failed to pay him back on thousand-dollar car loans.

Once Bakemans closes, Wang plans a three-week trip to Hawaii, and a handful of regulars who snowbird in Arizona have offered him a place to stay should he venture to the desert. But Moss doesnt think Wangs the retiring type, a notion seconded by Wang himself.

I did a two-week trip one time and got a little bored, Wang said. I dont know how to relax.

Herein, Wang concedes that if he finds the right situation and a smaller location, Bakemans may be reincarnated. Such a venue has to be downtown, he said, adding, A lot of people only have half an hour. I want people to get their food fast and get in and out. We charge less and we need the volume.

Ah, the volume  if Wang feels its getting threatened, well, hell threaten you. This is what happened on that cloud-pillow morning shortly after the 10 a.m. opening bell: A regular was interrupting Wangs ace sandwich assembler with a nonstop flow of conversation  What will you do when this place closes? Will you move back to Atlanta?  compelling Wang to bluntly, yet (somewhat) politely, tell him to shut up.

The regular calmly gathered his belongings, sweetly exclaiming, Love you, Jason, on his way out.

Seely is a special correspondent.

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To the editor: Oh, my gosh, another attempt to explain why Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election, and yet the real explanation is so easy. (Matt Lauer and other misbehaving media men may be misogynists, but that isnt why Clinton lost, Opinion, Dec. 15)

Clinton lost because of the heavily funded and well-directed effort by several anti-Clinton PACs to discredit her.

So many people, including Democrats, tell me that Clinton has flaws, but when challenged cannot come up with anything specific. I mean like, well you know, text messages and like that, Ive heard.

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The PACs, with names like Never Hillary, won the election for President Trump.

Martin A. Brower, Corona del Mar

..

To the editor: Great piece by Cathy Young. I hope this letter makes it to print and the Los Angeles Times stops devoting much of its space to readers still suffering PTSD over the election results.

Young left out one main point why Clinton lost: She and Bill Clinton became fabulously wealthy running a charity. Had the Democrats run a better candidate like Joe Biden, Al Gore or John Kerry, surely Trump would have lost.

Paul Zimmelman, Marina del Rey

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
California has a possible solution to the problem of banks being unwilling to handle money from the states multibillion-dollar legal marijuana industry, one that officials say would be the first system of its kind in the nation.

Talks are underway between the state, banks and federal regulators on a plan to allow banks to serve a marijuana market that is expected to grow to $7 billion annually by 2020 in California. Starting Jan. 1, it will be legal to grow and sell marijuana for recreational and medical uses.

State officials say without banks taking pot money, thousands of cannabis businesses will be storing and transporting billions of dollars in cash for paying employees, suppliers and state and local taxes, which could result in robberies and violence.

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We know there is a concern with having so much cash flowing around on the street in transactions for what is now a state legal product, said Peter Williams, deputy secretary and general counsel for the state Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. The administration is looking for a solution to the problem. We are all concerned about the public safety issue here, and we think this is an idea to help mitigate that problem.

For those who use, it could eventually mean buying with a major credit card. At the moment, purchases are generally made in cash. For those who live near pot shops, the banking system could mean fewer robberies and less violence in the neighborhood because large amounts of cash will no longer be sitting in shops or driven to tax offices.

The issue has implications beyond California. Twenty-nine states have legalized the possession and sale of marijuana for medical uses, and eight of those have approved cannabis for recreational purposes. Several other states are expected to have marijuana legalization measures on the ballot next year.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law so federally regulated banks have refrained from handling industry proceeds.

Officials in Gov. Jerry Browns administration have quietly met with representatives of 65 banks and credit unions over the past few weeks about creating a network of financial institutions that would accept funds from pot businesses in a way that would guarantee federal banking regulators that the cannabis industry money is subjected to special tracking, oversight and transparency.

The green banking proposal: To designate one bank as a central correspondent bank that would hold accounts from other banks that are doing business with marijuana firms.

When a pot retailer wants to pay a distributor for a crop, the transaction would go from the retailers bank through the central correspondent bank, which would instantly clear payment through the distributors bank.

Setting up a special clearinghouse for marijuana money would allow the state to provide a second level of compliance oversight by assigning examiners to make sure special restrictions set by the federal government are followed, suspicious activity reports are filed and the number and scope of transactions through the central bank are tracked.

We think that adds to the transparency of our system that will also be looked upon favorably to the federal government, Williams said.

Some banks have expressed interest in participating, he said. The state will now await decisions by the boards of directors of banks that are willing to voluntarily participate in such a network. It will be up to those banks to design the network with contracts.

It would not take legislation, Williams said.

Coverage of California politics 

Similar central correspondent bank arrangements exist to help the credit union industry, according to Russ Heimerich, a spokesman for the state Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

Brown is not the only official concerned about the lack of banking for the cannabis industry. Last month, a task force created by California Treasurer John Chiang, who is running for governor in 2018, recommended that officials consider creating a separate, government-owned bank that could serve cannabis businesses.

The idea of a correspondence bank has been discussed by financial experts in the cannabis industry including Chiangs working group and has merit, according to Hezekiah Allen, head of the California Growers Assn.

The idea, Allen said, is clearly the most feasible, most direct path to expanded banking services. The correspondence bank is a completely different proposal than Chiangs government-owned bank.

Some leaders of the federally regulated banking industry are skeptical of any solution short of action by federal law enforcement and Congress.

Until the federal government changes its position on the classification of the drug, a bank would be jeopardizing its charter by providing services to entities that take in money from these businesses, said Beth Mills, a spokeswoman for the California Bankers Assn. [T]he drug is still illegal at the federal level, and working through a correspondent bank were there to be one, would not change that fact.

Until federal law changes, the only solution would be direct immunity to banks dealing with the pot industry, Mills said.

Those who think the Brown administrations proposal has merit include Jim Brush, president and CEO of Summit State Bank in Santa Rosa.

It will probably work, Brush said, noting banks already do business with the federal and state governments who accept taxes directly from the marijuana industry.

The Brown administration has consulted with federal officials on its proposal and has incorporated some suggestions from Washington, Williams said.

State officials dont expect the federal government to formally approve any plan.

They dont sign off on anything, Williams said. You will know that they dont like it because they will start shutting down banks that are doing it.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Twitter: @mcgreevy99

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Few outside of Sacramento realize that some of the most important state budget decisions happen just before Christmas, in private meetings where the governor signs off on the spending plan he will present to the Legislature in early January.

While we dont know what Gov. Jerry Brown has decided, heres a safe bet about the budget debate of 2018: It will be resolved in some measure by spending agreements that are less about if and more about when.

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Key to that, of course, is money. Last month, the independent Legislative Analysts Office estimated that tax collections will soar past official projections by $7.5 billion in the budget year that begins next July. That gives lawmakers a wide range of options.

The process for divvying up cash is where the deal-making happens. And in the five years since the last budget deficits, there have been some clear signs that lawmakers have started to look beyond the next 12 months.

First, they crafted a 2014 constitutional amendment that expanded the states rainy-day reserve, now expected to total $8.5 billion by next summer. That same law also requires estimates for revenues and expenses three years into the future. Critics may still believe the state spends too much, but budget negotiations now routinely involve a look at whats over the horizon. That wasnt always the case over the last decade.

Gov. Jerry Browns wall of debt has crumbled, but more walls remain unbroken 

Closely tied to that longer view is the increased use of flexible spending. Often, that provides a way to embrace a big policy goal without an immediate and equally big price tag. Take this past summers budget deal that included dental coverage for those enrolled in the states Medi-Cal program and an expansion of subsidized child care. Both changes take effect on Jan. 1, which means they were only scored at a six-month cost in the current fiscal year. Delay the implementation and you spend less in the short run.

There also are what budget writers call off-ramps built into some of the most pricey policy efforts, like the 2016 deal between Brown and labor groups to raise Californias minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. If economic conditions deteriorate and money gets tight, the law says the governor can pause some of those future increases.

Most of Californias $55-billion in tax breaks are here to stay 

This may sound like old-fashioned common sense, but California budget fights in the past often felt like a bitter binary choice: You either funded a program or you didnt. The emergence of a more flexible, gradual approach to state government spending has helped lower the political temperature in Sacramento. It has been an integral component to negotiations between Brown and legislative Democrats.

Its also how Assembly Budget Chairman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) was able to roll out what looked like an awfully ambitious list of budget priorities last week, even after he embraced using some $3 billion of the projected windfall for an extra payment to the rainy-day fund. On the spending side, Democrats are calling for expanding the states earned-income tax credit for the working poor. Ting also urged restoration of cost-of-living increases for the aged, blind and disabled. And he said the state could afford to spend more on Californias middle-class scholarship program. Democrats also have hopes to fully implement a new law offering first-time students a free year of community college.

To do all of that, the spending would probably have to kick in over a couple of budgets. Sure, at some point there still has to be enough money to pay the full freight. But the 2018 budget debate in the state Capitol could very well line up with one of lifes greatest lessons: Timing is everything.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast
The Christmas season is a time to celebrate with family and reflect on our blessings. It is also a time to give back to our communities and help those in need. Unfortunately, for many Montana students, the holiday season is not always merry. As those who have ever served in classrooms know, December can bring stress, anxiety, and doubt for some children. Our 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 1 out of every 5 Montana high school students has seriously contemplated suicide. We can and must do better for our youth.

Reflecting on my 23 years of teaching in Billings, academics and education always led the way, but there is so much more in caring for and developing the whole child. Partnering with parents, working hand-in-hand with counselors, teachers, and school leaders, everyone in the school building is embracing the social and emotional well-being of our students. From the crossing guard to the lunch aids to the custodian and secretary, all are supporting the mental health of our students. A school represents not only a learning environment, but often emotional safety, support, warmth, and nutrition to a young person.

This is why I developed my Montana Hope initiative, which is the whole child approach to education. Promoting mental health allows students to reach their full academic potential. I appreciate the leadership of our legislature. Representative Lenz and Senator McClafferty have recently championed legislation which puts suicide prevention and response policies in schools, but also gives local communities flexibility in policy development. As a positive first step, I have initiated the development of the Montana Suicide Prevention and Response Rulemaking Committee this month. The purpose of this committee is to recommend policies aimed at ensuring schools are providing mental health resources to their students.

We must all possess the courage to have open dialogue about mental health and suicide prevention for our youth. This involves community conversations, because supporting students goes beyond the school building. Please join me in starting this conversation in your communities so that we can give all Montanas students the gift of hope this Christmas season.

Elsie Arntzen is Montana's superintendent of public instruction.
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Audience participation is the theme for the weekend before Christmas, with caroling and film sing-alongs.

Pasadena

The Lythgoe Family Pantos Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose encourages audience participation in this slightly wacky retelling of the fairy tale. Kids can follow the plot, but the jokes are for adults.

When: Through Dec. 24

Cost, info: From $29. Family-friendly. No dogs. (626) 449-7360

Glendale

Los Angeles Youth Ballets Nutcracker adds energy and enthusiasm to the traditional choreography featuring two principal dancers from the Joffrey Ballet.

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If you want more of the memorable score, on Christmas Eve the Russian Grand Ballet performs the Nutcracker in the same venue.

When: Youth Ballet at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23, Russian Ballet at 2 p.m. Dec. 24

Cost, info: From $25 plus fees for Youth Ballet; from $31 plus fees for Russian Ballet. Family-friendly. Only service dogs permitted. (818) 243-2539

Los Angeles

Get your voice in tune for the White Christmas Sing-Along with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye shows on a big screen with lyrics so the audience can join in singing The Best Things Happen While Youre Dancing and, of course, White Christmas.

When: 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 23

Cost, info: From $33 plus fees. Tickets are going fast. Children 6 and older are welcome. Only service animals permitted. (323) 850-2000

Beverly Hills

Children visit Santa at the Paley Center for Media, and the whole family can watch favorite holiday TV specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, at Its Holiday Time in PaleyLand. Families can also make ornaments and puppets and drink free hot cocoa.

When: Dec. 23 and 24

Cost, info: Free. Family-friendly. Only service animals permitted. (310) 786-1091.

Solvang

During the holiday Julefest (pronounced YULE-fest), guides in traditional Danish costumes lead Candlelight Walking Tours past the half-scale replica of Copenhagens Little Mermaid statue.

Families also can independently go on a Nisse Adventure scavenger hunt where they follow a map and clues to look for and snap photos of a dozen 16-inch-tall folklore elves. Find all 12 and you win a prize.

When: Walking tours Dec. 23 and 30; scavenger hunt through Jan. 5

Cost, info: Free. Family-friendly. Dogs on leash OK. (800) 468-6765,

Los Angeles

Twenty-two music, choral and dance performances by community and professional groups will represent multicultural traditions at the 58th L.A. County Holiday Celebration at the Music Centers Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

When: 3-6 p.m. Dec. 24

Cost, info: Free, but go early. Family-friendly. No dogs. (213) 972-3099.

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
I read Catharine Hamms border crossing story How to Get Through Faster with great interest [On the Spot, Dec. 3].

My company manages an electronic billboard at the border. Thus, my border crossing frequency is high, as is the delay I experience returning to my home or office in San Diego.

In all the articles I have read about the border wait times, I have never witnessed anyone addressing the most significant issue causing the delays.

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A vast number of crossers fail to present the proper documentation, as mandated by our current laws, for entering the United States from a foreign border or nation.

If everyone entering the United States at Tijuana would present a legitimate federal identification  yes, even a passport book  I wager that the current wait line would be reduced by half, if not three quarters.

Every time I cross back into the United States at Tijuana I witness a significant number of people presenting birth certificates, drivers licenses, etc., all of which dramatically slow down the entrance process because these documents must be manually input by an agent for verification.

Mike K. Newton

San Diego

::

I read with interest Hamms article about traveling by car through the U.S./Mexico borders. If you are flying to many cities in Mexico you can save quite a bit by flying from and returning to the Tijuana International Airport, accessed by the Cross Border Xpress (www.crossborderxpress.com). The website describes it as an enclosed pedestrian skywalk bridge exclusively for Tijuana Airport passengers who cross the U.S./Mexico border as part of their trip.

Ruth Beaugh

Chino

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
Military authorities say Nigerian soldiers have arrested more than 400 people associated with the Boko Haram extremist group hiding on the islands of Lake Chad, including fighters, wives and children.

The two-week operation netted the largest number of arrests of Boko Haram fighters in recent months in northeast Nigeria, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said. The operation included air and ground offensives.

The military said many Boko Haram insurgents were killed, but it did not give details.

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Among those arrested were 167 Boko Haram fighters, 67 women and 173 children. The women and children will be handed over to authorities at displacement camps after investigations, the military said.

An additional 57 insurgents were arrested during a separate operation in another part of the troubled region.

Boko Haram has been blamed for more than 20,000 deaths during its eight-year insurgency, which has spilled over into neighboring countries and created a vast humanitarian crisis with millions displaced and hungry.

Human rights groups have expressed concern about the large number of women and children who have been arrested in the fight against Boko Haram, saying most of those detained have been picked up at random and without reasonable suspicion.

In an effort relieve overcrowded military detention facilities, Nigerias government in October began the trials of more than 1,600 suspected Boko Haram members behind closed doors at a military barracks. It was the largest mass trial in the Islamic extremist groups history.

While Nigerias president late last year declared the extremist group had been crushed, leader Abubakar Shekau remains elusive and the group in recent months has carried out a growing number of deadly suicide bombings and other attacks. Many have been carried out by women or children who were abducted and indoctrinated.
DECATUR  Police are warning residents to be on their guard after a Decatur woman was conned out of more than $1,500 in a phone scam that pretends a grandchild is in trouble.

Sgt. Timothy Maxwell with the Decatur Police Department said the 73-year-old victim was persuaded Friday to wire money from a Decatur Walmart location to another Walmart store in Maryland.

In this case, a woman had called acting like a grandchild in jail, said Maxwell. Then a male called back to say he was her public defender and he needed the money to bond her out.

The woman found out she had been conned when she checked with the grandchild she had been fooled into thinking was calling her. Maxwell urged verifying first if you believe a relative is calling you asking for any kind of help.

Maxwell said he recalled a similar con being worked 10 years ago where a female victim was targeted successfully three different times.

Any senior citizen who receives a suspicious call can contact the Elder Fraud Hotline at (217) 615-7582. All calls to the hotline are answered by Macon County State's Attorney Jay Scott.
Recent years have been diffcult for An Garda Siochana - both the rank and file and the senior officers.

The scrutiny and oversight they have been placed under is, to some extent, long overdue. Like all medicine, it will benefit the force and society in the long run.

When all the dirty linen has been washed in a transparent way, An Garda Siochana will be able to move forward with full confidence.

But we cannot forget the importance of this group of men and women to society.

Law and order is now an almost old fashioned term but without it society could not function. Look around the world and see where it has broken down.

Where a country loses the rule of law everyone suffers. Lives are lost.

It is the justice system that stands between us and that abyss. The Gardai are a critical part of this safety net.

Last Friday I was in Tipperary for a refreshingly old fashioned event at the Garda Training College in Templemore, which, I might add is not not an old fashioned facilty.

Gardai from across the country were presented with commendations and Scott Medals for bravery.

There was no razzamtaz at this event. There were no spin doctors lurking around telling you what to write or giving you a press release full of spun-out jargon.

There were no selfies, facebook or twitter.

In some ways it is underpromoted. But in other ways that is not such a bad thing.

This was an event that demonstrated the importance of the police. It also showed that they are ordinary people, from ordinary families and communites doing an extraordinary job for the rest of us.

The Laois-Offaly Division was well represented.

Five gardai put their lives on the line near Portarlington in 1976.

Aged just 22, Garda Michael Clerkin was blown to bits in the line of duty. He had just been approved for a transfer back to his native Monaghan when the bomb went off in Garryhinch on the Laois-Offaly border.

Garda Gerry Bohan was aged 22. He was buried in rubble but made a full recovery apart from the awful memories.

Det Garda Ben Thornton was also on the scene. He too was injured but returned to duty in Portlaoise.

Sgt Jim Cannon and Det Garda Tom Peters both suffered extensive injuries, but both survived.

Tom, who still lives in Portlaoise, lost his sight and was lucky to live.

It finished his career and turned his life upside down. Jim Cannon went back to work but, to this day, suffers with his injuries.

The men campaigned for years to get their medals. Finally, the State acknowledged that sacrifice last Friday.

The Laois Offaly Chief Superintendent John Scanlon had the vision and the will to make sure that justice was served by recognising their courage. He was backed by retired and serving gardai, including Noirin O'Sullivan.

Laois TD and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan also played a big part in having the men honoured.

They were sent out in October 1976 to stop an IRA gang from killing his father, Oliver J Flanagan.

The medals honour more than Garda bravery. They also honoured the families who have supported their husbands and fathers over the years since. In Garda Clerkin's case, his family were emotional and relieved that their brother's memory has finally been honoured and he can finally rest in peace.

Garda Tony Golden was also posthumously honoured with a Gold Scott Medal. His wife Nicola collected the medal for her husband who was killed in Omeath, Co Louth. His children were in Templemore. His little girl wore a garda's hat for fun. It was a bittersweet sight.

Garda David Brennan comes from a long line of Gardai. David and his father Dessie, from Laois, intervened in a robbery in Dublin. David, off duty at the time, kicked an armed thief on a motorbike. He put his life on the line when he could have looked the other way. Dessie helped restrain the man.

Another recipient of a Gold Medal was Detective Garda Dominick Hutchin who was injured during the robbery of a Department of Social Welfare Office in 1987.

A man with a large sword, and four concealed knives ran at Garda Dwane Conlon at Dail Eireann. Garda George McGuffan was off duty when a gun was put to his head by a thief in Dublin. Garda Michael Twomey was seriously injured when he was run over when attempting to stop a stolen van.

The simple citations read out for these and all the recipients is evidence that Ireland has a brave and committed police force who will put their lives on the line to stop crime or simply, and mostly, just to help people.
DECATUR  Enterprise School student Ayden Patrick was on a mission to find a versatile black coat. I want something that is long enough, he said.

The 8-year-old shopped with his schools parent liaison Sarah Phillips as part of the Herald & Reviews Letters to Santas Coats for Kids coat drive, a tradition the newspaper has organized for nearly 30 years.

We love it and were thankful for it, said Megan Meyrick, parent liaison from French Academy, who shopped for the coat drive for the third time this year. We wait on it every year.

Parent liaisons such as Meyrick assist the families and schools with events and services. We are the connection between home and school, she said.

During the winter season, they shop for more than just coats. Meyrick has assisted with buying shoes and other items. She watches for children throughout her school who may be in need of a coat. When the need arises, the school may be able to offer a good-quality, used coat.

But this is nice because we get to come out and get brand new stuff, Meyrick said. You know the zippers work and its good quality.

Funds for the event are collected from the newspapers advertising campaign, Letters to Santas Coats for Kids, which began Nov. 1.

Letters to Santa is a special insert filled with letters the Herald & Review has received from local school children. We sell Christmas greeting ads to all of our businesses, said Linda Connelly, organizer of coat drive. And 10 percent goes to buying the coats. Our company matches it with another 10 percent.

Connelly, who works in classified sales for the Herald & Review, also accepts monetary donations from teachers and their children.

Nearly 100 advertisements of various sizes are placed among 24 pages of letters to Santa Claus, which will appear in the newspaper Sunday, Dec. 24. Platinum sponsors this year are Kids Castle Learning Center and E.L. Pruitt Company, and this year's gold sponsor was Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

The newspaper publishes more than 3,000 letters from local schools, including Sangamon Valley Elementary in Niantic and Illiopolis, Bond Elementary in Assumption, Atwood-Hammond Elementary. It isnt just Decatur, Connelly said. Its all over.

The goal of H&Rs advertising department is to purchase as much outerwear as possible for the students.

There are a lot of kids out there that dont have coats, said Shawna Lawrence, H&R advertising director. Knowing the money goes to coats, it is a natural fit.

The coat drive has grown greatly since its origins nearly three decades ago. The first year, we bought three coats, Connelly said.

Lawrence shopped with the school representatives for the first time this year. She was impressed with the details a liaison takes into account when searching for a childs coat. They dont just snatching up a couple of coats and go, she said. They are thinking it through.

Connelly communicates with administrators from the Decatur Public Schools for a better understanding of the students needs. Parent liaisons observe the children who may need a coat, then provide a list for the organizers of the drive. Those are the kids we buy for, Connelly said.

This year the ad campaign was able to provide enough money for 100 coats. The liaisons meet a Herald & Review representative at Kohls Department Store ready to shop. They come in armed with the childrens name, age, size and gender.

They know their kids and know what they will like, Connelly said.

One of Meyricks students was a fifth-grade boy who needed a size 12/14 coat. Anything warm, she said. But I do have one girl who wanted something from 'Frozen,' even if its pink or turquoise.

Other H&R employees also contributed to the coat drive. Throughout the building, individual departments competed in a penny drive. Loose change was collected in each department providing enough money to add gloves, hats and scarves to the coat drive.

Connelly is thankful for the support she receives from the businesses and schools. If it wasnt for them, we wouldnt be able to do it, she said.
Northwestern orchestra to perform in Asia

EVANSTON  The Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra is heading to Asia.

The university says student musicians will perform in three prestigious concert halls during the March 2018 spring break. It's the first international tour for the symphony orchestra, which will make stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The trip is funded by an anonymous donor.

Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro calls the tour "a very special opportunity for our talented student musicians." He says it will strengthen connections between Northwestern and music communities in Asia.

The symphony orchestra will premiere its program for the public during a Feb. 3 concert in Evanston.

Hospitals ask people with flu not to visit

SPRINGFIELD  Health officials in Springfield have a request for anyone who thinks just because they're feeling under the weather it's still OK to visit someone in the hospital: Don't do it.

The State Journal-Register reports that as the area is in the height of flu season, HSHS St. John's Hospital and Memorial Health System are telling people they'd rather not they not visit patients if they're not feeling well themselves.

But area hospitals are also taking steps to help prevent sick visitors from making sick patients even sicker.

For example, St. John's Hospital is providing "respiratory etiquette stations" at hospital entrances that include tissues, masks and sanitizing hand gel. The hospital also says that soap and water or hand sanitizers should be used when entering and leaving patient rooms.
LINCOLN  A section of the glass dome in a Central Illinois county's historic courthouse has crashed to the floor of the more than century-old building.

Logan County officials say a small portion of the upper tier of the courthouse's 52-foot-wide stained glass dome fell Thursday.

GateHouse Media Illinois reports no one was injured, but county deputies working at the entry point of the Lincoln building were worried.

Kevin Bateman is the county board's building and grounds chairman. He says officials will present a $3.5 million courthouse repair plan Tuesday that would add a half-cent sales tax to pay for public safety improvements.

If the county board approves, that proposal will appear on the March ballot.

The 1905 courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Fifty years ago when Xochitl Garcia left her town San Ciro de Acosta, San Luis Potosi, she never imagined she would only be able to go back once a year.

At exactly 5 a.m. Thursday, a caravan with over 1,000 vehicles with license plates from as far north as New York and the Dakotas and as far south as Florida left Laredo through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge.

Paisanos from all over the U.S. took over the parking lot of the Wal-Mart on San Bernando Avenue earlier this week, where they had been preparing their immigration papers while Mexican agencies improvise office settings under several tents.

Garcia, who now lives in El Monte, California, started her journey along with her husband on Monday afternoon. From Laredo, she still had another nine hours of traveling on Mexican highways.

She left San Luis Potosi in 1967 looking for work and better opportunities.

"I worked over there and I made very little, nothing, not even enough to buy shoes," she said. "So some friends of mine invited me, and I came here by myself with my friends. We started working at La Joya, California and from there I moved to El Monte."

She met her husband, who is also from San Luis Potosi, in California. He is from a ranch called El Organo. Both are traveling to their native state to spend one to two months with their families.

When asked what she missed most about home, Garcia was overcome with tears as she answered, "My family."

"We are going with the hope to stay there for a while. What I miss the most is my family, my sisters, my brothers. They can't come here," she said. "They are rooted there. I was the only adventurer who left. It brings happy memories. I miss my family, the food, the people. The people from where I come from still foster old values, like respect for the elderly."

RELATED: Paisano Rest Stop opens for holidays

Protecting migrants

Fernando Rocha Mier, a citizen from Jalpan de Serra, Queretaro, founded Caravana de Migrantes in 2010. He was looking for a way to avoid the abuse, extortion and theft paisanos were victims of while traveling on Mexican highways. On Wednesday, Rocha was standing in the Wal-Mart parking lot while travelers prepared to start their journey into Mexico. The Mexican National Human Rights Commission presented a book that compiled testimony from many paisanos who have been traveling in the caravan ever since.

The first caravan organized by Rocha left Laredo seven years ago with only 35 vehicles. On Thursday, 1,050 cars departed together to several destinations, such as San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas and Guanajuato, among others.

"We got together with only 35 cars. We were going to Jalpan on the next day. We departed at 7 a.m., not as early as tomorrow," Rocha said during a small press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "We were afraid, but at the same time we had faith that nothing was going to happen to us because we were together."

What started as a citizen project now has the cooperation of the Mexican Consulate, the National Human Rights Commission, the Mexican National Migration Institute, the Tax Administration and other agencies that set up temporary offices on the parking lot to help paisanos prepare all the necessary permits and licenses to get back home.

Immigration

Rocha thanked the governmental agencies for their help, while Father Aristeo Olvera Maqueda, another one of the caravan's organizers, thanked the migrants for participating in the journey and for adding hope during the trip.

"I've been thinking that immigration will never cease to be present among us, because we know where we are from, but we don't know where we might end up living," Olvera said. "Migration is a reality we will keep living for different reasons.

"I wish there's always someone waiting for you with joy and happiness, I wish the desire to find home again will always stay with you."

Nabor Sergio Luna Gonzalez from the Mexican Consulate in Laredo took to the microphone to highlight the human aspect of the caravan and the cultural aspects of traveling with more families.

"I remember a few years ago I visited Hidalgo ... it was the time of the posadas. I was impressed by listening to a bunch of kids all from different ages running around speaking English," he said. "Suddenly the town was alive again and everyone was celebrating, having a delicious meal, houses smelled good and happy kids were trying to understand the locals, who only spoke Spanish. It was a party and people were talking filled with joy about their reunion."

READ MORE: Holiday travel safety tips

Luna Gonzalez spoke about the experience of traveling by land and being able to greet other travelers through their vehicle's windows.

"That human aspect of this phenomenon is the most rich, most delightful. Congratulations for feeding it," he said. "Besides, this bond with Mexico generates economic and cultural trade. You take a piece of the United States into Mexico and you bring an enriched Mexico over here."

The book "Caravana de personas migrantes: Nuevo Laredo-Queretaro" highlights paisanos' stories, from the first time they crossed into the United States to their trips back to Mexico on Rocha's caravan. It points outs the alienation Mexicans feel when they are abroad, the same feeling which causes them to unite with their compatriots.

"Octavio Paz said in 'The Labyrinth of Solitude,' 'there are Mexicans for which being Mexican is a problem of vital truth, a matter of life and death.' Those are the compatriots who live in the United States, who generally refuse to be assimilated by the American culture, and being far away from their place of origin makes them hold onto their traditions."

MORE ON LMTOnline.com: 13-year-old Texas runaway found safe in Mexico after passing through Laredo
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For the next 48 continuous hours, paisanos from across the United States are expected to flood the Gateway City as they make their way to Mexico for the holidays.

The paisanos have the opportunity to stop, take a rest and get their documentation in order so as to avoid long wait times at the bridges.

A Paisano Rest Stop opened Friday at noon and is located at Interstate 35 southbound, just off mile marker 13.

"Folks that are coming in from all over the U.S. are going to be able to see a nice welcome and they're going to find a lot of different agencies that have come together to help them as they continue to travel south," City of Laredo spokeswoman Blasita Lopez said.

RELATED: Mexican holiday causes massive amounts of traffic near Laredo

Some of the first people at the tent was a family traveling from Chicago, Illinois. They were appreciative of the services offered at the rest stop.

The mother of the family, who asked to not be identified, said they were traveling from Chicago to the State of Mexico so her daughters can meet their uncles, grandparents and get to know the cultural traditions of Mexico.

"The tent has helped us. Over at the bridge there are too many people and less control. Here we got what we needed quickly," she said.

The rest stop has different agencies in the tent put in place for any questions paisanos traveling south into Mexico may have.

"We get in front of questions. They're able to ask all kinds of questions about what documents they need. A lot of this has to do with the permitting processes that Mexico has in place," Lopez said.

She added, "We've saved them a part of the traveling process by doing it and getting ahead of it here in the tent. They're able to get copies made here. Copies of passports, titles or birth certificates if they don't have a passport."

READ MORE: Laredo makes 'safest cities' list

Agencies present to help paisanos get their documents in order include the Mexican consulate general's office, Derechos Humanos and Mexican immigration. Paisanos can also consult with Mexican customs since they're the ones that receive them as they cross the border.

"As Laredo officials, we are here to make sure that when they do stop in our community, if they need any kind of vehicle service, a hotel or something as simple as a map or wait times for the bridges we help them as best we can," Lopez said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisor Diego Hernandez was at the rest stop and providing information to travelers that can help them avoid penalties and fines and be processed in a timely manner.

MORE ON LMTOnline.com: Man gets 45 years in prison for murder

"We advise the traveling public to be prepared for the high peak travel season. If the traveling public is in use of a smart phone they can download the CBP Border Wait Time app and they'll be able to monitor border wait times at the international bridges. It's user friendly and free of charge," Hernandez said.

According to Lopez, in past years there was an average of 3,000-plus people pass through the rest stop when the 48 hour operation was underway. The Paisano Rest Stop will close at noon Sunday.
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Former Webb County Judge Danny Valdez said in October that he had spent the past year preparing to challenge state Rep. Tracy King's seat in the March primary. However, according to the Texas Secretary of State, King isn't facing any opposition.

Valdez's application for candidacy was apparently sent to the wrong address due to a clerical error, said Erasmo Villarreal, on behalf of Valdez.

Valdez secured the mailing address for the Texas Democratic Party from the Secretary of State's website, but that is no longer the party's address, Villarreal said.

The documents, including a $750 check for the filing fee, were never returned to Valdez, and his attorneys are looking into filing a lawsuit, or some kind of equitable solution, Villarreal said.

RELATED: 42 candidates to compete in Webb County primary election

The Texas Democratic Party moved offices in November 2015, and this is the second filing period they've conducted from their new location, Delma Limones, a spokesperson for the party told LMT in an email.

She noted that the Secretary of State's website links to their website with the correct address, and if one were to search "Texas Democratic Party address" on Google, the correct location comes up in bold at the top of the screen.

The Texas Democratic Party does not send a confirmation of receipt of applications, Limones said, but candidates are posted to the Secretary of State's website by the party when they file.

"The majority of candidates come in person to file, and candidates that do not come in person, usually call us to follow up and we direct them to the SOS website to check their status," she said.

READ MORE: Eyeing Webb County judge spot, Patricia Barrera resigns as tax assessor-collector

Alberto Torres, the Webb County Democratic Party chairman, said he has also spoken to Villarreal, who said they are heading to Austin to file a temporary restraining order against the party to remedy the mistake.

But election law is very clear when it comes to deadlines, Torres said.

"Even a couple of seconds after deadline, you are not on the ballot," he said.

Limones said the party has suggested Valdez file a temporary restraining order. He could still be placed on the ballot if the Texas Democratic Party was instructed to do so by a district court judge, she said.

MORE ON LMTOnline.com: Voter turnout up in Webb County, down across Texas

If a lawsuit is in fact filed, a judge's decision could affect when the ballots are printed in all six counties District 80 falls under, Torres said.

The Webb County Democratic Party plans to certify their ballots in early January to be printed, Torres said.

When Valdez announced his campaign, he told LMT that he had been knocking on doors in District 80 for the past year.

He has previously served as justice of the peace for 24 years and Webb County judge for eight years.

Rep. King could not comment on Valdez's situation, and said it's an issue between him and the Texas Democratic Party.
MEXICO CITY - Thousands of protesters marched against it. Hundreds of human rights groups implored lawmakers to reject it. Even the United Nations warned of its dangers.

But Friday, Mexico's Congress approved the Law of Internal Security, which gives the military broad new powers and solidifies its central role in the country's drug war.

President Enrique Pena Nieto is expected to sign the legislation despite criticism that it could fuel more violence.

In many ways, the measure enshrines into law what has been happening in practice for more than a decade.

It was late 2006 when President Felipe Calderon launched Mexico's war on drugs by sending thousands of troops to his home state of Michoacan, where powerful cartels were battling for turf. Military officers were regarded as less corrupt than poorly trained local and state police forces, some of whom collaborated with criminal groups, and in the subsequent years many thousands more soldiers and marines were deployed across the country.

The strategy has continued under the current president. Military officers patrol streets, operate checkpoints and detain suspects. But all this time, the military hasn't had legal authority to carry out law enforcement inside Mexico's borders.

The new law allows the president to deploy federal troops for military operations inside Mexico without the approval of Congress. The deployments are for up to one year but can be extended indefinitely. The law also defines domestic law enforcement as a national defense issue, meaning information about military operations could be classified as secret.

Critics of the new law question whether it will be effective at reducing violence.

Mexico is on track to record more homicides in 2017 than in any year since authorities began publishing statistics 20 years ago. Officials say 2,371 homicide investigations were opened in October, more than any other month.

The explosion in violence comes in part as a result of the military's "kingpin strategy." One by one, powerful drug lords, including Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, have been taken into custody or killed. Some security analysts say federal forces helped stop Mexico from being completely overtaken by drug cartels, but the strategy also unleashed a wave of violence as would-be kingpins fought for control of the cartels.

A statement issued Thursday by the United Nations high commissioner for human rights warned that the law gives too much power to the military, and without the necessary civilian checks and balances.
ATLANTA (AP)  A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Passengers were left in the dark when the lights suddenly went out in the early afternoon at around 1 p.m.

Airport spokesman Reese McCranie said all airport operations were affected when the electricity went out, including outgoing flights, which were halted. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a "ground stop," meaning flights heading to Atlanta were held on the ground at their departure airport.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service said on Twitter that due to the power outage, international flights were being diverted to other airports.

McCranie said later that emergency power was restored but not all power. Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft said the utility was working to find out the cause of the outage and restore electricity. He could not estimate when that might happen. Spokeswoman Holly Crawford said no areas outside of the airport were affected by the power cut.

Delta Airlines, which has its headquarters at the airport, said more than 450 mainline and regional flights were cancelled. The airlines encouraged passengers to check on the status of flights via the Fly Delta mobile app or delta.com before heading to the airport.

A Southwest Airlines spokesman said in an email to The Associated Press that about 70 Atlanta departures out of 120 scheduled for Sunday were cancelled. American Airlines spokeswoman Alexis Aran Coello said three of the carrier's flights have been diverted and there have been "a couple of cancellations," but American isn't seriously impacted because Atlanta is not one of its hub airports.

Delta passenger Emilia Duca was on her way to Wisconsin from Bogota, Colombia, when she got stuck in Atlanta. She said police made passengers who were in the baggage claim area to move to a higher floor. She said restaurants and shops were closed.

"A lot of people are arriving, and no one is going out. No one is saying anything official. We are stuck here," she said. "It's a nightmare."

Mozell Smith, 68, of Atlanta arrived at the airport at about 4 p.m., hours after the electricity went off. He was headed to Las Vegas with a sister and a friend.

"This is terrible. I wish someone would've given us a heads-up before we got to the airport," he said. "I wish there would have been better communication."

The Hartsfield-Jackson airport - serving 104 million passengers a year - is the world's busiest, a distinction it has held since 1998. The airport serves an average of 275,000 passengers daily, according to its website. Nearly 2,500 planes arrive and depart each day.
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Two men have been refused bail and remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear at Harrison District Court next Friday following a special sitting of Sligo District Court last night, Saturday.

The men are charged with the theft of a substantial amount of cash.

The men, aged in their 20s and 30s, are alleged to have carried out surveillance at a bank on Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday afternoon and are alleged to have followed a business man carrying the money to Rosebank Shopping Centre.

The business man is understood to have left his vehicle for a short period of time and when he returned discovered the cash has been taken.

Gardai obtained CCTV footage of the suspected vehicle, and in a joint operation with Longford Gardai, the two male suspects were arrested near Longford at 3.30pm yesterday.

Gardai have since recovered all of the money.

The two males, believed to be from Dublin, were detained at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station and were later charged with the theft.

You may also be interested in reading:

Two men arrested in Longford following theft of substantial amount of cash in Leitrim
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The late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was brought to Apollo hospital in a breathless state on September 22 last year, a top official said last day. The AIADMK supremo spent 75 days in the hospital before breathing her last on December 5 last year.

She was brought to the hospital in a breathless state, was given adequate treatment and recovered from it, Apollo Hospitals Vice Chairperson Preetha Reddy told a private Tamil channel in New Delhi in reply to a question.

When queried about her accomplices during her treatment, Reddy said people who were required and approved by her were by her side during the treatment period.

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Oxford Dictionaries has crowned 'Youthquake' as its word of 2017. It was announced on its website on Friday. The word meant a significant cultural, political or social change arising from the action or influence of young people.

'Youthquake' was also used in New Zealand to describe increasing youth engagement in politics there, according to the Oxford dictionaries.

Casper Grathwohl, President of the Oxford dictionaries, described the term as a less obvious choice for word of the year in a statement, but asserted to be the right one, calling it the 'word on the move'.

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Predators and Reapers and Ravens (oh, my!) Nearly 15 years of televised war in the Middle East have trained Americans to think of "drones" as an American invention. But in case you haven't noticed, these past few years, the "bad guys" have learned how to use drones, too.

In Israel, hostile drones flown by Hezbollah out of Lebanon are a continual menace. In Iraq, ISIS forces deployed homemade and small commercial drones to drop grenades from the sky. Meanwhile, U.S. rivals Iran, China, and Russia all have well-developed drone programs of their own.

Once a friend, now the U.S. Army finds itself having to think of drones as a potential foe as well -- and figure out new ways to shoot them down.

Target: Drone

To do that, the U.S. Army announced last week a Request for Information (RfI) inviting defense contractors to propose for it a new "counter-unmanned aerial vehicle" (C-UAV) system for defending ground forces against drone attacks from the air.

Dubbed "Interim Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense" (IM-SHORAD), the weapons system that the Army is looking for would ideally be installed upon an existing platform (the General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) Stryker armored personnel carrier) and be compatible with an existing air-search radar system (the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air-defense radar built jointly by Thales and Raytheon (NYSE: RTN)).

IM-SHORAD would comprise three separate, "selectable" defensive weapons systems, to be chosen among depending on whether a Stryker is attacked by a fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter, or a drone:

A missile battery armed with four (4) Stinger missiles or four (4) Longbow Hellfires.

A machine gun of at least .50 caliber.

And finally (here's the laser part) a "non-kinetic effector" that is "designed to engage and counter UAS."

Rockets and guns on Strykers are of course old hat. Leaving those aside, let's focus on the cool part -- the laser.

Locking lasers on target

DoD is placing its priority on a non-kinetic weapons system capable of taking out, firstly, drones of Group 2 and 3 (roughly the size of a Boeing (NYSE: BA) ScanEagle or Textron Shadow, respectively), and secondly, smaller, usually unarmed "Group 1" scout drones (similar in size to AeroVironment's Raven).

How big must a laser be to accomplish this task? Over at the Navy, the 33-kilowatt, circa-2015 Laser Weapon System proved itself capable last year of shooting down ScanEagle drones (Group 2) in flight. This confirms that a 30-kW-ish laser would suffice to handle Group 1 and 2 drone threats -- maybe even Group 3.

Who might build such a weapon, and respond to the Army's RoI? We should know more later this year, but for now:

In other words, the field is wide open. All five of the major defense contractors (in addition to the four named above, General Dynamics is cooperating with Boeing to turn its laser into a "laser Avenger" mobile anti-aircraft platform) have laser cannons of various power ratings in the works. I'd expect all of them to bid on IM-SHORAD.

What comes next?

The Pentagon is requesting contractors to provide "information" and "production representative prototypes" of a defensive weapons system for review no later than Dec. 22, 2017. Following examination of these submissions, the Pentagon plans to issue an official Request for Proposals to build these weapons at scale next year. Then, after picking a winning bid, the Pentagon will place an order for 36 defensive systems to be installed on Stryker armored personnel carriers by the end of 2020, followed by another 36 units ordered at the end of 2021.

Granted, 72 units doesn't sound like much -- but this could be just the start. If the weapon proves effective after initial trials, this program could grow rapidly. At last count, General Dynamics had manufactured some 4,700 Strykers for the Army. Depending on how much the Army is prepared to pay for IM-SHORAD, this program could mean big bucks for the winner -- and a whole new way of fighting wars.

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My parents may have been ahead of their time.

The hashtag #GiveLocal started spreading around our family's holiday dinner table way back in the day, long before the Internet existed and the concept of a hashtag was unknown.

My folks always set extra places at our table to ensure others would not be alone, whether it was Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or any given Sunday dinner.

#GiveLocal meant my mother made it her mission deliver food to elderly friends and others less fortunate than we were. It instilled in me an appreciation of knowing we helped make a difference in some small way for people who lived around us.



Today, #GiveLocal still means a lot to me and to The Republican where I've now worked for 40 years and where the Toy for Joy campaign is in its 95th season of making Christmas special for children right here in Western Massachusetts. This year, thanks to a partnership with the Reading Success by 4th Grade initiative of the Davis Foundation, there's hope the impact of these gifts will last long after Christmas as every child will receive a new book. Reading Success by 4th Grade helped earn the city of Springfield recognition this year for as an All-America City for Grade-Level Reading, and, as more books get into the hands of young readers thanks to Toy for Joy, we hope together to spur an even broader reach of the literacy effort.

More than 20,000 kids will be opening presents this Christmas in homes across Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties thanks to the generosity of readers of The Republican and MassLive, political and community leaders, civic, workplace and school groups and businesses throughout the region. We've now got essentially a week to raise more than $100,000 to pay the bills for the books and toys which have been distributed to thousands of families.



This marks the second year the Pride Stores have teamed up with Toy for Joy to rally customers in support of the campaign. Pride is offering opportunities to make donations at every location in Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. You can also clip a coupon out of today's Sunday Republican and send or deliver it to our offices, and you can also donate online at MassLive.



Pride owner Bob Bolduc and his, wife, Roberta, aren't newcomers to the concept of giving local to help our neighbors in need, especially children, who, they believe, need more champions among us.



In overseeing the now century-old family business started by his grandfather, Bob Bolduc says he quickly learned from the many national vendors Pride uses that large, national charities receive - and should receive he's quick to note - the vast majority of charitable giving by large corporations. That's where it gets "logical" in Bolduc's mind that smaller, regional businesses like his can have great impact in their communities by helping people where they make their money.

It's when you get out into our own backyards that you truly understand the needs which exist for help here at home, according to Bolduc.

For example, at Lincoln Elementary School in Springfield, where the Bolducs one year gave hats and mittens to children, one child exclaimed, "My mommy said she'd get me some when she got some money," Bolduc recalled. "It's not these kids' fault they're where they are. They're freezing."

"Both my wife and I were educated by the religious, at Roman Catholic schools in this diocese, and then at Catholic colleges," he says. (He's a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, while Mrs. Bolduc attended Marymount.) "Somewhere along the line, we both became aware of the Bible story that to whom much is given, much will be required. It comes down to that. You have to share."

The Bolducs have been giving their "time, talent and treasure" to charities at home in Western Massachusetts for years, both as members of boards of organizations in which they believe strongly and with financial help as they are able. When Mavis Wanczyk, of Chicopee, won her $758.7 million Powerball jackpot on a ticket she purchased at Pride store in August, Pride earned a $50,000 bonus from the state Lottery. That money didn't belong to the business, the Bolducs felt, so charities across the region were invited to share stories of how the funds could benefit them.

Pride wound up presenting $1,000 gifts to 19 different programs and $1,000 to each of 31 schools in the region. "It was a windfall," Bolduc said at the time. "We took at as an opportunity to help."

"Because all of our business comes from the local community, it's only right it should stay here and make a difference," he says. "If you give to a group where you know from experience on the board or in other ways, you know your money is going to be well spent. We need to get more people to do that. The needs are just staggering."



Our Toy for Joy partners at the Salvation Army can tell you that's the case for them this holiday season. We all thank you for your generosity to the children of Western Massachusetts, and happy holidays to you and yours. #GiveLocal



Cynthia G. Simison is managing editor of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com.
A man wanted in connection with a non-fatal shooting Saturday in Boston was caught in Framingham Sunday hiding under a blanket inside a car, Boston police said.

Clayton Watts, 33, of Brighton was found in Framingham Sunday as police looked for the suspect in the Saturday shooting.

Boston police said Watts shot a 28-year-old man around 5:30 p.m. in the area of 45 Faneuil St. The victim is expected to survive.

Detectives learned Watts was in Framingham. With the help of Framingham police, investigators stopped a vehicle in Framingham and found Watts hiding in the backseat under a blanket.

"A search of the vehicle allowed officers to recover the loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm allegedly used in the crime," police said.

Watts was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with intent to murder and firearms charges.
There are many reasons to use a typewriter and actor Tom Hanks typed out 11 of them in a letter he sent to a Massachusetts family recently.

Hanks didn't just send a letter, he sent a vintage typewriter as well.

The de Peyster family of Wellesley received the typewriter after Nick de Peyster sent a letter to the actor. The family watched "California Typewriter", a documentary about writers, artists and others who continue to use typewriters. Hanks, John Mayer and David McCullough Sr. - who has ties to Wellesley - are all featured in the documentary.

"Nick wrote to Hanks to say he was inspired and 2 things: 1) we as a family will send someone a typewritten note every day, and 2) we will pay it forward and get another family a typewriter," Julia Hicks de Peyster wrote on Facebook.

Hanks autographed the Olympia De Luxe typewriter.

"Kids are over the moon," Julia Hicks de Peyster wrote.

Hanks also typed his "Eleven Reasons To Use A Typewriter" letter and signed it for the family. Here are the 11 reasons Hanks listed:
The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is the longest-standing and leading advocate for the Flathead Valley community and business climate.
Working to create a clean and balanced energy portfolio that will provide for a safe and reliable energy future. Learn more at http://www.NorthWesternEnergy.com/BrightFuture
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OTTAWA

Dec. 16, 2017

June 2016

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

February 13, 2018

Medical assistance in dying

End-of-life care

Interim update on medical assistance in dying in Canada June 17 to December 31, 2016

2nd Interim Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada

/CNW/ - The federal government recognizes that, for all Canadians, medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal issue. Public reporting in this area is critical to ensuring transparency and fostering public trust. In, legislation passed on medical assistance in dying authorized the Minister of Health to make regulations for the purposes of monitoring and reporting on the provision of assisted dying inToday, the Government ofpublished draft regulations in, Part I, a key step in creating a federal, pan-Canadian monitoring system on medical assistance in dying. Canadians and key stakeholders have an opportunity to review the regulations being proposed by the federal government and provide written comments.The draft regulations set out reporting requirements for those who are authorized to provide medical assistance in dyingphysicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who dispense medication for assisted dying. Any personal data collected will be protected under the federal. The information will be used to publish annual reports on medical assistance in dying in, including the number of requests received, the number of medically assisted deaths, and the number of people found ineligible.Healthinvites Canadians and key stakeholders to review the proposed regulations and provide their feedback by participating in an online consultation untilThe final regulations are expected to be in place by the summer of 2018 and Health Canada will begin producing annual reports for Canadians under this new monitoring system in 2019. Until then, Health Canada will continue to collaborate with the provinces and territories to produce interim reports every six months, based on data currently available."I know that medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal issue for all Canadians. Our government recognizes that Canadians want access to end-of-life options that respect their personal preferences and values. We have worked with the provinces, territories and key stakeholders to develop a consistent approach to reporting on assisted dying, and we look forward to receiving thoughtful feedback from all Canadians on the proposed regulations."Backgrounder: Proposed Regulations for Monitoring Medical Assistance in DyingParticipate in the ConsultationSOURCE Health Canada
Cher Mandel Diamond has had a good run.

For nearly 25 years, she has used her late fathers recipes and his advice to create caramels, truffles, English toffee and other handcrafted chocolates and sweets while developing lasting bonds with her customers and employees.

Sales have continued to grow and at this time of the year, Mandel Diamond, 71, puts in 60-hour weeks to meet the holiday demand.

But on Dec. 29, the doors will close on Mauries Fine Chocolates, 1637 Monroe St. The decision, made several months ago but announced in the last few weeks, was easy for Mandel Diamond. Road construction scheduled for next summer on Monroe Street had nothing to do with her decision, and she didnt want to sell the business or the recipes that have been in her family for over 75 years.

For Mandel Diamond, it was just time  after years of using pure ingredients, treating people fairly and, perhaps most importantly, having patience.

That means take your time with your product, take your time with the people that are working for you, and take your time with your customers, Mandel Diamond said. I have loved every minute of it, and now its time to rest and do lots of other things.

Chocolate booming

in Madison area

The loss of Madisons oldest chocolate shop is an anomaly.

Chocolate is booming and local entrepreneurs are responding with new stores, second locations and expanded facilities. The growth of small, independent chocolatiers has helped make Dane County, literally, one of the sweetest places in the state and melds well with the continued growth of craft beer, distilling, cheese and the buy-local food movement.

In the last year alone, Gail Ambrosius has moved across Atwood Avenue into a larger, two-level facility. The Chocolaterian, five years after opening at the corner of Atwood Avenue and Winnebago Street, expanded to a Middleton location, and Megan Hile opened Madison Chocolate Co. at the corner of Monroe and Glenway streets.

In addition, Infusion Chocolates moved to Monroe Street after spending the last nine years at Hilldale Shopping Center. And late last month, the Chocolate Caper in Oregon added a location in downtown Sun Prairie.

Other additions in recent years include Red Elephant Chocolate, founded in Milwaukee, opening a Madison store in 2015 at 119 State St. A year later, Syovata Edari, owner of CocoVaa Chocolatier, opened a small shop at 1 Sherman Place. The owner of Candinas Chocolates in Verona has founded a separate business called Yodelay Yogurt in Madison. And in early 2016, Sjolinds Chocolate House in downtown Mount Horeb opened a $700,000 coffee shop and production facility on the villages east side.

New space

a game changer

Infusion Chocolates was so cramped for space at Hilldale that it was forced to rent warehouse and packaging space in Fitchburg, which created logistical headaches for owner Ann Culligan and her staff.

In June, she moved her entire operation into a one-story building near the Laurel Tavern. Her new digs, in what was once a sailboard shop, has an 1,800-square-foot area for production, retail and a small coffee bar on the first floor, with another 1,800 square feet in the basement for storage.

We had probably outgrown our space several years ago, and it was really affecting our ability to grow, Culligan said. This is a game changer for us.

When she was at Hilldale, walk-in business accounted for about 50 percent of sales. Now, online and special orders for businesses account for about 60 percent of her revenue.

On Wednesday of last week, some of her customers stood at the counter eyeing individual pieces to be placed in boxes for gifts. A large glass window allows views into the production facility, but Culligan and her staff werent making chocolate. Instead, they were packing a custom order of 110 boxes, each with eight pieces of chocolate that can include fair trade chocolate and ingredients like wildflower honey, Muscovado sugar, house-made raspberry and cherry jam and even blue cheese from Hooks in Mineral Point.

Culligan, 54, worked in the cheese industry for years before getting into chocolate. Her husband, Dan Culligan, is president and CEO of Dairyfood USA in Blue Mounds, a company that specializes in smoked Gouda. As with cheese, she doesnt believe the Madison area has reached a saturation point for locally produced chocolate.

The small, craft confectioner has really caught on, and Madison is a big food town, Culligan said. The diversity here rivals any big city in the Midwest. People are drawn to finding that great, small, artisan hand-crafted piece of chocolate. I really have a lot of respect for the other chocolatiers and the things they are doing.

Growth in Sun Prairie

Dane Countys oldest chocolate shop, not counting Clasens European Bakery in Middleton, is Chocolate Caper, founded in 1983 out of the home of Ellen and Claude Marendaz. The couple initially sold their Swiss praline chocolates at the Dane County Farmers Market but a few years later opened a retail store and production facility in downtown Oregon. The Marendazes retired and sold their business in fall 2014 to Elizabeth and Daniel Donoghue, who stumbled upon the shop as they were looking to rent commercial space to make their own products.

Now, they own the business and have expanded to Sun Prairie, one of the states fastest-growing communities. Production remains in the 1,800-square-foot shop in Oregon. The Sun Prairie store, located in part of what used to be the city hall at 107 N. Bristol St., serves as an 875-square-foot retail outlet that has been bustling with business.

They never considered a spot in the Shoppes at Prairie Lakes on Sun Prairies west side, home to several national retailers like Target, Cabelas and Costco. We love being downtown, Dan Donoghue said. It fits our vibe a whole lot better.

The second location means that several times a week, Dan, 36, who formerly worked in Epic Systems patent department, must haul 150-pound tubs of finished chocolate to Sun Prairie. He makes the trip in a 2000 Voyager minivan that he and Elizabeth, 39, bought from the Marendazes for $27.

When we bought the business from Claude and Ellen, we were just focused on doing everything that they did and doing it right and doing it well. We didnt want to change recipes or upset the apple cart, so to speak, Elizabeth said. But one of the reasons the business was attractive to us was that it had so much room for growth.

That growth goes beyond another brick-and-mortar location. They added online ordering, and the business is now open year-round. Their offerings include Swiss and Belgian truffles made with white, milk and dark chocolate, with ingredients that can include lavender, almond, hazelnut, ginger, bourbon and caramel.

Elizabeth said she likes that Dane County has several options for chocolate consumers but sees an opportunity in Sun Prairie, which did not have a chocolate shop and is far-removed from most of the other shops in the area.

Im happy to send people to other chocolatiers that specialize in things that I dont, but I also didnt want to go and directly compete against another whole line of stores, Elizabeth said. Sun Prairie is a huge growing area, and its basically bleeding into the East Side of Madison, and its a completely under-served market.

[Editor's note: This story was changed to reflect a correction. It misstated the relationship between Candinas Chocolatier and a yogurt business. Yodelay Yogurt in Madison was founded as a separate business by Markus Candinas, who also runs Candinas Chocolatier in Verona.]
Yesterday afternoon, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Ivan Gil.



Mr. Katrougalos reiterated Greeces solidarity with the Venezuelan people at this critical time, highlighting that the crisis can be overcome only through the broadest possible political dialogue.



For this reason, he stressed, substantial progress in the Santo Domingo talks is vital. Mr. Katrougalos also underscored the need to fully safeguard democratic and constitutional processes and ensure the participation of all political forces, with no exclusions, in the 2018 presidential elections.



Greece supports these positions also within the framework of the European Union, supporting the latters active diplomatic contribution towards the resolution of the crisis.
The story of Jesus birth and of how his wandering family finally found refuge in a barn, among animals and gathering shepherds, carries a strong message for the United States today.

It tells us that providing hospitality to those in need can bring unexpected blessings. It also reminds us of our values as members of faith communities.

Sadly, the Trump administration is tearing families apart and deporting immigrants who constitute absolutely no threat to their local communities.

I have heard from immigrants directly about the high levels of fear they experience due to Trumps rhetoric and stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws.

While the number of deportations has declined since Trump took office, the number of people being arrested on immigration-related charges has soared.

A recent study from the group Human Rights Watch found that immigration arrests in the interior of the country, as opposed to at the border, increased 42 percent in the first seven months of the Trump administration over the same period last year. Most disturbing is that the number of interior arrests of immigrants who have no criminal record has nearly tripled.

Many of these people are longtime U.S. residents with spouses and children who are U.S. citizens. They are valued members of churches throughout the land. In response, people of faith across the United States are springing into action to provide refuge to immigrants.

Here are a few examples:

In the hurricane-ravaged areas of south Texas and Florida, faith communities are serving people in need, offering help especially to undocumented immigrants who are unable to qualify for government assistance because of their legal status.

Lawyers with Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist ministry, have helped DACA-qualified students apply and renew their applications for DACA, worked to get refugees to apply for asylum, and sought to protect immigrants facing violence to apply for a specific visa so they can remain legally in the United States. The group often works out of local churches in immigrant neighborhoods.

The sanctuary movement is growing steadily among faith communities as more and more houses of worship are taking in undocumented families and shielding them from arrest and deportation.

Though governments have broad discretion to regulate migration, they also must weigh the impact of deportations on the rights of immigrants. The U.S. immigration system in most cases gives no airing or weight to immigrants ties to home and family. As members of our communities and congregations, Christians should demand that these rights be respected.

So, as Christians in this Advent season await the birthday of a baby who set about to set captives free, it is imperative for all Christians to resist the Trump administrations draconian policies toward immigrants.

This is what Advent is all about.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will meet at the Foreign Ministry, at 12:15 on Monday, 18 December, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Salahuddin Rabbani, who will be carrying out a visit to Greece.



The two Ministers will focus on the upgrading of bilateral cooperation, marked by the opening of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Athens.



Following their meeting, at about 13:00, they will make joint statements to the press.
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CROMWELL  The Santas Workshop Program, a joint collaboration between Cromwell High School Student Council and Cromwell Youth Services Department, annually benefits families in need during the holidays.

This years event was held Dec. 11 in the Cromwell High School cafeteria.

On Nov. 7, students shopped for gifts and on Dec. 7, at the annual Cromwell High School Student Council talent show fundraiser, $1,300 in funds was raised. Also, the Student Council donated $1,300, according to a press release.

The annual Santas Workshop program is a Positive Youth Development program that benefits Cromwell High School teens through community service efforts, the release continued. Fundraising, planning, order placement, purchases, delivery, registration of guests and children and wrapping were just some of the behind-the-scenes projects that took place before the event, according to organizers.

This annual event allows families to enjoy the true meaning of this holiday season by sharing the spirit of giving with the children of our community whose families may be experiencing financial difficulties, organizers said.

The Cromwell High School Student Council Holiday Party committee consisted of co-chairs Mathew Zaino and Cameron Swanson; Holiday Party secretary Sammy Jacinto; and committee members Samantha Flannigan, Jordan Caroso, Matthew Spriglio, Anna Spriglio, Shannon Morril, Jess Faucete, Monica Dewey, Erika Dewey and Lillian Stermer. Numerous volunteers wrapped gifts Nov. 27 at Town Hall, baked cookies, decorated the cafeteria and served pizza, beverages and desserts to the guests Dec. 11.

Children were entertained by the magic of Steve Wronker and balloon sculptures by Noodles, (Nancy Whitehead). CHS Choir members sang glad tidings with Christmas carols, and craft projects and face painting provided a momentary quiet activity while all awaited Santas arrival.

Maribeth Sarnacki, Student Council advisor at CHS, has guided the teens annually.

Organizers thank Superintendent of Schools John Maloney, Assistant Superintendent Krista Karch, Principal Frances DiFiore, Cromwell School system staff, students, those who made cookies for families to take home, as well as parents who donated, and local businesses. Also appreciated were efforts by years Student Council Executive Board: Hannah Perry, president; Allie Fabian, vice president; Alexis Marselli, secretary; Jack Shauk, treasurer; Ashley Donlon, historian; Meghan Savinelli, senior Board of Education rep; Marina Fletcher, junior Board of Education rep; and Matthew Zaino, webmaster.

Marcia Pendleton-Sacco is Cromwell Youth Services Bureau program coordinator.
Which state will suffer the most if President Donald Trump foolishly follows through with his threat to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement?

Michigan would be hardest hit, according to an analysis by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Wolverine State sends 65 percent of its exports  worth $35 billion and supporting 366,000 jobs  to Canada and Mexico, our nations trading partners in NAFTA for 23 years.

But Wisconsin ranks a close second to Michigan as the biggest loser out of all 50 states, should NAFTA fall apart next year. Wisconsin sends 46 percent of its exports to Canada and Mexico, valued at $9.6 billion and supporting 249,000 jobs, the U.S. Chamber determined.

The harm to farmers would be severe. Mexico is the top export market for Wisconsin dairy products. And without NAFTA, our state could be stuck with a 45 percent tariff on cheese. Manufacturers also are worried. Their goods account for 84 percent of Wisconsin exports and almost half to Canada and Mexico. In addition, consumers would have to pay more because free trade lowers prices on both sides of the U.S. borders.

Yet Trump continues to behave erratically, suggesting NAFTA must be renegotiated on Americas terms or our nation will pull out.

Trump seems to misunderstand the goal of free trade. Its not a zero-sum game in which one country benefits while another is harmed. When allies lower tariffs and allow more competition across international boundaries, all sides get to produce and sell more of what they do best.

Wisconsins leaders  Republicans and Democrats  must not sit idly by while Trump threatens to undermine the peace and prosperity that free trade encourages around the globe. Already, Trump has abandoned important trade negotiations with Pacific Rim nations, ceding leadership to China.

Now Trump is loudly demanding a better NAFTA deal that favors America, while threatening to bolt if he doesnt get his way.

Thats a huge risk for Wisconsin. More than one of every five jobs in Wisconsin depends on foreign trade. And consumers benefit from lower prices for televisions, computers, toys and more.

Its true free trade hurts some industries that struggle to compete on price or quality with foreign producers. But overall, more people in all partner nations get to sell and gain access to more of what they want at better prices.

NAFTA has worked for Wisconsin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said Friday in Madison, as a trade association, business groups and farmers touted NAFTAs benefits. Its not the time to put new obstacles in place that would hurt the very markets that our business owners and farmers depend on.

Hes right.

So are Democratic supporters of improving, not abandoning, NAFTA. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, recently told the State Journal editorial board hes holding his breath hoping Trump doesnt do something foolish with Mexico trade.

It would be devastating to our ag industry overnight, Kind warned.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, understands the broad benefits of free trade. He should lobby the president to reconsider his harsh rhetoric and stance.

Wisconsin, more than any other state except Michigan, needs NAFTA to continue.
By Richard Retyi

ANN ARBOR, MI- Everyone knows Santa lives at the North Pole. That's where the big man and Mrs. Claus reside year-round with an army of elves and a herd of immortal flying reindeer.

But Santa can't be everywhere, so red and white clad men serve as Santa's Helpers, showing up in shopping malls or riding on floats in parades. These Santas help spread joy and cheer on behalf of the big guy up north.

Ann Arbor had maybe the best Santa's Helper of all time. He didn't just wear the suit (occasionally) or listen to what little girls and boys wanted under the tree - he did so much more.

His work was praised by four U.S. presidents, as well as governors, senators, congressmen-essentially any elected official looking to shake hands and smile into the camera around Christmastime. This Santa's Helper was once presented with the key to the city of Ann Arbor. Then the key to the city of Detroit. Then the key to the city of Washington, D.C. Newspapers, magazines, TV - they covered him coast to coast, including a two-page spread in Life Magazine in 1956.

His name was Albert F. Warnhoff. He loved being called Santa's Helper. He lived in a modest home at 1315 Franklin Boulevard in the fourth ward on Ann Arbor's south side, a ho, ho, ho from Pioneer High School. It was there in his basement workshop that Albert worked nights and weekends, making toys for sick and handicapped kids in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities.

We're not talking a few dozen toys, or even a hundred. Over 58 years, Albert turned out more than 41,000 toys in the name of old Saint Nick, delivering them by hand to kids all over the state.

Listen to this episode of Ann Arbor Stories by clicking here. You also can subscribe to the podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play.

Editors Note: This post is part of an occasional series in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Stories podcast and the Ann Arbor District Library.
CHELSEA, MI - A prisoner briefly escaped Saturday afternoon from the Special Alternative Incarceration facility north of Chelsea, the Michigan Department of Corrections reported Saturday night.

Matthew Aires Genther, 37, slipped away about 3:08 p.m. and climbed the fence around the boot camp-like facility, 18901 Waterloo Road, department spokesman Chris Gautz said. Less than two hours later, at 4:44 p.m., Michigan State Police found him in a nearby unoccupied home.

He had broken into the structure and had "what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds," according to the department, which issued a statement.

Back in the supervision of the corrections department, he was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Gautz declined to elaborate on his injuries or how he might have hurt himself but said Genther would be hospitalized for "several days."

As it was discovered he was missing, the facility initiated an emergency count and contacted local law enforcement. The department mobilized its Emergency Response Team and Absconder Recovery Unit to aid in the search, the department reported.

Genther was on probation for possession of methamphetamine but violated the terms and was sentenced to the 90-day program in September in Van Buren County in Southwestern Michigan, reads the statement. The program utilizes military-style exercise, work assignments and "cognitive programming" in a structured environment.

Gautz said trainees have freedom to move about the facility and Genther was able to walk away. Video footage is to be reviewed to better determine how Genther came to escape. Whether changes are needed will be part of an internal investigation the department has already begun, Gautz said.

Genther, had he successfully completed the program, would have been released in mid-January. It is now likely he will be placed in a high-security prison, Gautz said.
BAY CITY, MI -- Amid concerns from the public about the future of the community's infrastructure, Bay City officials have decided to push back a vote on privatizing its two moveable bridges in order to give more time for input.

The decision was made Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17. The Bay City Commission was slated to vote Monday, Dec. 18, on a proposal to sell Independence and Liberty bridges to a private firm. The firm, United Bridge Partners, is proposing to takeover and build a new Independence Bridge and make critical repairs to Liberty Bridge at no cost to the city. To see a return on their investment, though, they would charge motorists a toll to cross both ways.

"We've had months of meetings, but people must not have taken it seriously," said Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham. "Now here we are in the eleventh hour and we're going to pull it."

A press release sent out Sunday said, "In order for the city to take more time to further educate the residents on this proposal and work with county leaders, the vote will be placed on hold and held at a future date not determined as of yet."

The proposal, which was first reported on in June, has triggered public backlash, with some arguing it would hurt low income families, take away business from the downtown district and divide the city's East and West sides.

Bay City Manager Dana Muscott, who is in favor of privatizing the bridges, said earlier this week that she believed a majority of the commission was in favor of the proposal, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Commissioners Jesse Dockett, 1st Ward, David Terrasi, 2nd Ward, Andrew Niedzinski, 3rd Ward, Rachelle Hilliker, 5th Ward, and Cordal Morris, 9th Ward, have all said they would vote against it. Five votes of the nine-member body are needed for approval.

Newsham said she isn't entirely sold on the proposal, but is leaning in favor of it.

"I don't know what else we can realistically do," she said.

Newsham said Bay County officials and at least one township supervisor has approached the city this past week about a plan for a countywide millage. She said Bangor Township Supervisor Glenn Rowley would like to see a regional infrastructure millage that would help pay for the bridges, in addition to roads throughout the county.

The mayor's concern is that a millage wouldn't pass and the city wouldn't have any other option on the table.

"When we first started talking about these bridges, there were about $6 million repairs. Now it's close to $10 million," she said. "There's going to be even more wear and tear a year from now."

Bay County Executive Jim Barcia has previously said he doesn't think a countywide millage to fund Bay City's bridges would pass.

Another firm, Florida Drawbridge Inc., also submitted a proposal to the city that would see the city agree to pay a negotiated annual fee for the company to handle all repairs and long-term contracts for things like bridge tenders and engineering assessments. That proposal didn't include a toll for motorists.

The commission still plans on voting on an ordinance Monday night to regulate the medical marijuana industry.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI-- "Ask questions. Demand answers. That's where the change will really begin," environmental and consumer activist Erin Brockovich said Saturday to residents affected by water contamination caused by dumping of toxic chemicals.

"You are the most vital part of this," Brockovich said, addressing the crowd with a team of attorneys in the Comstock Park High School gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Brockovich is working as a consultant for one of three legal firms pursuing a class action lawsuit against Rockford-based Wolverine World Wide, 3M and Waste Management for the dumping of toxic chemicals.

The case centers around the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances named PFAS (or PFCs) in 3M Scotchgard that Wolverine used to make Hush Puppies shoes at the company's former Rockford tannery, which was demolished in 2010.

Erin Brockovich Talks Water Contamination Erin Brockovich talks to MLive after a public meeting to address PFAS concerns near Rockford Posted by MLive.com on Saturday, December 16, 2017

The lawsuit was filed Dec. 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District alleging the companies dumped toxic waste and polluted groundwater in Belmont, Rockford and other areas of Kent County. The lawsuit seeks blood testing, monitoring and damages for residents harmed by the contamination.

At the town hall meeting Saturday, attorneys from each of the three laws firms sat on a panel addressing questions from area residents. Kevin O'Shea, from the Michigan-based Miller Law Firm urged those in attendance to join the class-action lawsuit because "there is strength in numbers."

O'Shea said the law firms needed the support of the people to "go head-to-head" against the resources of the three corporations named in the lawsuit.

"Only by bonding together can we match these resources and get some action," O'Shea said. He said the three law firms were committed to acting for the people impacted, saying it's best to not "wait around and allow this to get swept under the rug."

"We are not waiting for more information. The time for waiting has passed ... The train has left the station," O'Shea said. He went on to say "corporations believe they are invincible," but explained that the point of the lawsuit was to "recruit an army" for a stronger fight.

Brockovich, who said she has been an environmental activist since she was 31 years old, said she was recently "reinvigorated" in her fight because of her three grandchildren.

"I am here as a mom, grandmother, human, concerned citizen," Brockovich said.

She encouraged the people of Grand Rapids to remain "persistent," and said her mother taught her the importance of "stick-to-it-tivenous" that leads to results. She often sees community members get "pushback" for not being experts, but added that information often comes from those who are directly impacted.

"This is your backyard. This is your water. This is your health. This is your future," she said. "Arm yourself with information ... I am here to give you permission -- if that is what you need -- to speak up, speak out."

Sharon Almonrode, a senior litigation attorney at Miller Law Firm, explained the benefits of a class-action lawsuit over filing individual suits. She explained the efficiency and "power in numbers" that comes with a large group of people filing together.

"Corporations are scared of class-action... Let us fight for you. Let your voices be heard," Almonrode said. "We put Wolverine on notice. We are not going to go away."

Brockovich agreed.

"When you come together, that's when they hear you," she said.

During the question and answer portion of the town hall meeting, Travis Brown, a member of the Facebook group "Demand Action From Plainfield Township Regarding Unsafe Drinking Water," addressed Brockovich with criticisms of her celebrity status and questioned her motives for being involved in the case.

"This is not a movie," Brown said. "This is our lives."

Brown, who said he reached out to her via email months ago and never received a reply, accused Brockovich of getting involved only after the contamination had gained national attention, and said she and the attorneys were in the fight for their own monetary gain.

In an interview with MLive after the town hall meeting, Brockovich responded and said she is used to criticism and "tries not to take it personal."

"Listen, it's the week before Christmas, it's cold here. I'm not with my family because I'm here. I'm not getting my Christmas shopping done yet for my grand-girls because I'm here," Brockovich said. "There's not enough money that anyone could pay me to always be away from my family."

An investigation was first launched into Wolverine's disposal in the Grand Rapids area after rediscovery of a forgotten 1960s-era landfill on House Street NE, where levels of the PFOS and PFOA were far above the EPA's health level advisory level for drinking well water.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is also investigating Wolverine's dumping in Plainfield Township in connection to PFAS chemicals found at low levels in the township municipal water system, which serves 40,000 people.

The lawsuit, filed by Miller Law Firm and California's Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd and New York's Weitz & Luxenberg initially named eight plaintiffs, each identified as a current or former resident affected by the contamination of drinking water in the area. It says because the total claims of class members exceed $5 million, the federal court has jurisdiction in the case under the Class Action Fairness Act.

The three companies named in the lawsuit responded in the days after it was filed.

Wolverine World Wide said in a statement it does not comment on ongoing litigation, but later sent an "open letter to Erin Brockovich" inviting her to their headquarters in Rockford and defending their response to the contamination.

"We've been working closely with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on this issue since last year, when we became aware of the possible presence of PFOA and PFOS in groundwater at our former Tannery location," the letter said.

They also outlined assistance they've given residents, telling of the bottled water and home filtration systems made available to those in the impacted areas.

"We wanted to be sure you knew what we're doing so that you understand that we haven't just said that we are committed to doing the right thing, but we're really striving to do the right thing," Wolverine World Wide wrote in the letter to Brockovich.

In the interview with MLive, Brockovich responded to the invitation, saying she would go to their headquarters if there was a result that would help residents. But, she said, she felt their response was "too late."

Attorneys for 3M also responsed to the lawsuit shortly after it was filed, claiming the company has no liability for the contamination in Michigan. In a statement, the company said, "3M never manufactured or disposed of PFC-containing materials in Michigan. We believe this lawsuit lacks merit."

The lawsuit accuses Waste Management of neglecting to properly maintain a waste site it owns through a subsidiary. The State Disposal Landfill, a Superfund site and a known Wolverine dump site, is located at 3954 East Beltline Ave. NE.

A spokesperson for Waste Management said they are aware of the lawsuit and will "respond accordingly via the court system."

Kent County resident Karrie Neinhuist said she and her husband attended the meeting in search of answers.

They pay to have their water tested out of concern for their three kids. Although their water tested below the advised level of PFAS, she said they were still concerned about the chemical.

"Any amount of poison I'm giving my kids is too much," Neinhuist said.

Brockovich echoed this sentiment, saying to another attendee concerned about bathing his newborn baby in the contaminated water that she doesn't like to argue about the number of parts per trillion allowed in water.

"A poison is a poison," Brockovich said. "It should be zero."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Thousands of veterans were honored on Saturday, Dec. 16, when wreaths were placed on each of the 5,400 graves at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Cemetery.

The event was hosted by VFW Post 702 and its auxiliary, which worked with the Civil Air Patrol and Patriot Guard Riders to organize the event.

The local event is part of a nationwide effort, Wreaths Across America, that seeks to honor those military veterans who have died, and their families.

This was the first time all of the graves at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Cemetery received wreaths as part of the annual event.

Last year the group was responsible for laying nearly 750,000 wreaths on veterans' graves at 1,000 different locations across the country.
HOLLAND, MI -- An armed man was arrested after a five-hour long stand off in Holland Sunday morning.

According to Ottawa County dispatchers, the incident started at 2:17 a.m. at a home on the 300 block of Central Avenue. Police were called to the scene by family members of a 40-year-old suspect, who reported he had a weapon.

A release from the Holland Department of Public Safety reports the suspect threatened a victim with a shotgun. Officers confirmed the suspect was in possession of a shotgun and made verbal contact with him, but the suspect refused to cooperate.

The Holland Police Special Enforcement Team was called out to assist along with Holland Police K-9 units. An Ottawa County dispatch supervisor said man inside the home initially refused to come out, but was peacefully taken into custody after 7 a.m. Sunday.

The man was lodged on a charge of felonious domestic assault. A search of the residence resulted in long guns being taken as evidence.

No family members were injured in the incident, and they were outside with Holland police during the standoff. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office assisted in shutting down streets nearby the home, located close to Hope College and Holland's Centennial Park.

This case remains under investigation, and police said the suspect will likely be arraigned on Monday.
SAGINAW, MI -- Catholic Federal Credit Union members who are beginning or continuing their education can apply for the Monsignor Forbes Scholarship.

To qualify for the scholarship, a student must be a member of Catholic Federal Credit Union who is attending or planning to attend an accredited college, university or other institution of higher learning. The award is based on a student's personal achievement, academic accomplishments, financial need, grade point average and community service.

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Avenue Supermarts share price performance in FY18: Up 108 percent | FY19: Up 11 percent | FY20: Up 50 percent.

Realty firm Parsvnath Developers will invest about Rs 100 crore to develop a shopping mall in the national capital as part of its strategy to generate rental income from leased commercial properties.

"We are developing a shopping mall at Netaji Shubhash Place in West Delhi. The total area of the shopping mall is 5 lakh sq ft," Parsvnath Developers Chairman Pradeep Jain told PTI.

The 5 acre project will be constructed in the next 18 months, he added.

Jain said the investment will be Rs 100 crore on this shopping mall.

"We are very bullish on the commercial real estate segment which is doing extremely well as compared to housing segment," Jain said.

In the housing segment, he said the company is only focusing on completion of existing projects and has not launched any new projects in last few years.

Talking about its existing portfolio of commercial properties, he said the company's current annual rental income is about Rs 120 crore.

It is earning over Rs 80 crore from the first phase of office building near Gole Market in central Delhi and about Rs 40 crore from other commercial assets, including metro malls.

Parsvnath is constructing the second phase of the Gole Market property and expects it to be completed by June next year. This will help the company generate another Rs 60 crore as annual rent.

Parsvnath is also constructing a commercial building at KG Marg near Connaught Place in Delhi with a leasable area of 1.3 lakh sq ft, of which 40,000 sq ft will be retail and the rest will be office space. It had acquired 1.18 acre of commercial plot at KG Marg in 2008 for Rs 212 crore.

The leasing of this property has also started.

Parsvnath Developers has so far completed 65 projects measuring 30 million sq ft and is currently developing 52 million sq ft. It has a land bank of 102 million sq ft.
Thanks for staying tuned to our live coverage of events and developments. We will be back tomorrow with more.

18:32 A committee constituted by the Irdai has suggested host of changes in the life insurance sector, including in the investment norms to improve the returns generated by the funds. The insurance regulator had notified the IRDAI (Non-Linked Insurance Products) Regulations, 2013 and IRDAI (Linked Insurance Products) regulations in February, 2013.

17:29 The

Department of Telecom's working group on backhaul spectrum -- including E and V bands that connect mobile towers with each other -- is mulling to allot such airwaves through auction instead of 'fixed fee' as suggested by the sector regulator TRAI, reports PTI.

16:58 Realty firm Parsvnath Developers will invest about Rs 100 crore to develop a shopping mall in the national capital as part of its strategy to generate rental income from leased commercial properties. "We are developing a shopping mall at Netaji Shubhash Place in West Delhi. The total area of the shopping mall is 5 lakh sq ft," Parsvnath Developers Chairman Pradeep Jain told PTI.

16:36 Mini grids powered by decentralised renewable energy can provide long term solution for the country's electrification requirements, says a report. The report prepared by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) also said the central utility grid is 70 per cent powered by electricity generated from coal.

15:48 Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said this was probably the first time in recent history that India was not being blamed for the collapse of talks at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

15:25 India Inc will have to factor in political realities weighing on economic decisions of the government, including in the forthcoming budget, as several major states are going to polls in 2018, Assocham said today.

15:04 HC hearing likely tomorrow on Unitech's plea

The Hyderabad High Court is likely to hear tomorrow a petition filed by debt-ridden realty firm Unitech Ltd, seeking refund from the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation of about Rs 500 crore it deposited in 2008 for the development of 350 acres of land, reports PTI.

The firm said it paid Rs 165 crore in instalments and now seeks Rs 500 crore towards principal amount and interest, as the project did not take off due to land disputes.

According to the petition filed by the company, the amount was deposited as it emerged as the successful bidder for developing design and constructing an integrated airport township and multi-services aerospace park, in a bidding process by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in 2008.

Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014 and subsequently Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) was formed.

14:50 FinMin asks banks to open MSME intensive branches

In order to increase credit availability to small businesses, the finance ministry has asked public sector banks to open MSME intensive branches, reports PTI.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are a huge employment generator in the country, contribute 40 percent of the India's manufacturing.

To cater to the segment, banks have been advised to open specialised branches with skilled manpower to handle the requirement of employment intensive MSME sector, sources said.

The decision to this respect was taken in the 'PSB Manthan' organised by the finance ministry last month.

14:23 Gujarat Elections 2017

We will win with a comfortable majority; it is up to the EC to ensure that there is no doubt about EVMs being tampered, thats why we wanted counting of VVPAT slips; no nervousness at all. Congress will win easily. I am sure I will win Dabhoi seat with ease, Senior Congress leader Siddharth Patel told CNN News 18.

14:05 Not all banks to get capital support in first tranche

Not all banks will be eligible for capital support of the government this fiscal, but those who have performed relatively better and need capital most will be considered for fund infusion, sources said, reports PTI.

It is not necessary that all banks will be issued recapitalisation bonds in the first tranche, but the money will be given depending on fulfilment of various parameters, including reforms undertaken, a senior official said.

Capital infusion would be contingent upon performance, reforms undertaken and future road map, official said.

The quantum of the capital infusion during the current fiscal would be known after Parliament will give nod for this, the official said, adding that the government is yet to decide on SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) status for recapitalisation bonds.

14:00 Cong to build alternative narrative based on fairness,jobs for all: Chidambaram

Former Union minister P Chidambaram has said that the Congress will create an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity and jobs for the youth under the leadership of new party chief Rahul Gandhi, reports PTI.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said Gandhi's inaugural speech yesterday laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward before the people.

"The Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty," he said.

12:39 Railways may speed up recruitment process - from 2 yrs to 6 months

The nearly two-year-long recruitment process for railway jobs may soon be over in just six months, if things go according to plan, reports PTI.

Hit by severe staff crunch, Railways is mulling shortening the process by introducing online tests among other steps.

In a meeting of general managers with Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani soon after the derailment of the Vasco-Da-Gama-Patna Express on November 24, the zonal heads raised the issue of filling up of vacant posts in the railways, according to the minutes of the meeting available with PTI.

"The process of recruitment takes too long, taking almost two years since submission of application. Many candidates get alternative jobs, leading to poor materialisation of indents (vacancy notice). With online tests etc the process should be speeded up," general manager of Northeast Frontier Railway Chahatey Ram suggested in the meeting in the presence of 17 GMs.

In response, Lohani said that the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) should review the process "with a target to complete it within six months".

The board has instructed its departments to submit their proposals on the issue by December 20.

12:23 NIA registers case against the five arrest by Kannur police earlier with suspected ISIS links: CNN News 18

11:37 The market continued its rally for second consecutive session Friday but ended off day's high as investors await final outcome of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections due on Monday.

Going forward, the next trigger for the market could be the outcome of state assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Along with it, there will be action on the IPO and listings front, and corporate news as well.

Here are the 10 factors that Street will watch out for in the coming week.

11:34 Six of 10 most valued firms add Rs 31,646 cr in m-cap

The combined market valuation of six of the 10 most valued firms surged by Rs 31,645.83 crore last week, with HDFC Bank emerging as the biggest gainer.

Others on the gainers' list were ITC, Maruti Suzuki, HDFC, Infosys and ONGC. However, Reliance Industries (RIL), TCS, HUL and SBI suffered losses in their market capitalisation (m-cap) for the week ended Friday.

The valuation of HDFC Bank surged Rs 8,566.49 crore to Rs 4,84,757.35 crore. HDFC's m-cap jumped Rs 7,338.91 crore to Rs 2,75,147.96 crore and that of Infosys climbed Rs 5,030.42 crore to Rs 2,35,085.78 crore.

The valuation of Maruti Suzuki rose by Rs 3,720.12 crore to Rs 2,76,826.17 crore and that of ITC advanced Rs 3,717.41 crore to Rs 3,22,682.82 crore.

ONGC's mcap went up by Rs 3,272.48 crore to Rs 2,34,655.71 crore.

10:54 North Korea marks 6th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death

Crowds of flower-bearing North Koreans today streamed passed statues and portraits of their leaders to pay respects on the sixth anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, report PTI.

With somber, recorded music playing in the sub-zero air, thousands upon thousands of people marched up Pyongyang's Mansu Hill to bow and place flowers at the feet of two giant bronze statues of Kim Jong Il and national founder Kim Il Sung, who is North Korea's "eternal president" and Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

Kim Jong Il died on December 17, 2011.

10:25 Pak confirms 'processing' visa applications of Jadhav's wife, mother

Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife were being processed, reports ANI.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted on Saturday.

Pakistan Today has reported that the FO, on Thursday, issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.

The Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan will also be allowed to accompany Jadhav's family during the meeting.



Congress president Rahul Gandhi has invited Party MPs, Office bearers,PCC leaders and Congress Legislative Party leaders for dinner today evening in Delhi pic.twitter.com/sWuTENYyG0

 ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

The Pakistan Government had decided to allow Jadhav to meet his wife and mother on December 25, Geo News reported citing Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, as saying.

09:36 Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: Re-polling underway in 6 polling stations in Vadgam, Viramgam, Daskroi and Savli

09:15 BJP MP predicts dismal performance for his party in Gujarat

As most exit poll surveys predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party to win the Gujarat Assembly polls, its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade has claimed that the party would not win enough seats to form the next government in the state, reports PTI.

"Forget absolute majority, the party will not even get enough number of seats to form the government. The Congress on the other hand will reach close to the majority mark," Kakade claimed.

"If at all the party retains power in the state, it will be only and only because of Narendra Modi," he said.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday laid the foundation stones for new LNG pipelines in Sukinda area of Odisha's Jajpur district, marking a giant leap in the spread of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga in the state.

Pradhan described the two pipelines  Dharma-Angul 36 inch main pipeline and BhubaneshwarCuttackParadip 12 inch spur line at Haripur, Sukinda  as a new year gift for the people of coastal Odisha from the Centre.

He said foundation stone for the LNG Terminal at Dhamra with an investment of Rs 6000 crore has already been laid recently.

Gas will be imported from countries like Australia, Qatar in cape size vessels and will be supplied to Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh through over 2500 km long pipeline, he said.

Out of that, 600 km natural gas pipeline will be constructed in Odisha covering 13 districts of the state.

This longest pipeline project is a major step towards fulfilment of Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of developing a gas-based economy and linking Eastern India to the countrys Natural Gas Grid. It will lead to the development of high-quality manufacturing in Odisha, the minister said.

This will add more values to the minerals of the mineral-rich state like Odisha. As of now, steel produced in Odisha was limited to the construction of houses and angle making.

But now the steel and aluminium which will be produced in Odisha using gas will be of high quality and will lead to manufacturing of automobiles and Odisha can be a centre of high-quality steel production.

Pradhan also opined that since a long time Tata has been able to utilise natural resources of Odisha. Now the company should come forward to manufacture heavy vehicles like trucks in Odisha using this natural gas.

As part of this pipeline project, the Oil Minister had yesterday inaugurated three Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations at Bhubaneswar.
Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today hit out at Rahul Gandhi for accusing the BJP of spreading hatred and violence in the country, saying it was his party which is dousing the fire lit by the Congress.

Addressing a party rally here, Singh posed several questions to Rahul Gandhi who made the charge against the BJP in his first speech after formally taking over as Congress President yesterday.

"Congress has got a new president. I congratulate him. He says that BJP is responsible for the unrest in the country. I want to ask him who is behind the conmunal tensions, terrorism, Naxalism and unrest in Kashmir? "Who is behind the dynastic politics in the country? Let Rahul Gandhi know that it is BJP which is trying to douse the fire lit by Congress," Singh said.

He also said the whole world knew that the BJP alone knows how to run the nation. "The Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results (tomorrow) will prove it again. Already exit polls have predicted that we are going to form the government in these two states," the senior BJP leader said. The BJP rally was organised as part of "Parivarthan Yatra" with the party leaders crisscrossing the state to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Assembly polls, which are due early next year.

Gandhi yesterday hit out at the BJP, accusing it of spreading hatred and violence in the country, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking India back to the medieval times. In his first speech to party workers after formally assuming charge as the Congress president, he had said, "The Congress's respect for all Indians extends to even the BJP. We do not fight hate with hate. They crush voice, we allow the most vulnerable to sing. They defame, we respect and defend."

"Today, the BJP people are trying to spread fire and violence in the entire country and only the force of lovable Congress workers and leaders can stop them. They break, we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it," he had said.
Battle for Gujarat

The roller-coaster ride that was the Gujarat election is finally drawing to a close, but as we head towards the home stretch one cant help but wonder if there is one last unexpected twist yet to come.

The exit poll results suggest that it will be a smooth finish for the BJP, which is expected to end up with anywhere between 106 and 135 seats in state assembly, depending on which exit poll you look at.

But if there is anything that our political history has taught us, the outcome of an election is certainly not a foregone conclusion and could surprise you at the eleventh hour. And what is telling is that even some of the BJP allies seem to think so.

Sanjay Kakade, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, who was elected as an independent candidate but later joined the BJP, on Saturday said the party will not win enough seats in Gujarat to form a government.

According to a survey by my team, BJP will not get majority in Gujarat This is based on a survey among voters in both rural and urban areas," Kakade told a TV channel in Pune. He added that the elections were not fought on a plank of development emotional issues occupied the prime slot.

Also read: Gujarat Election Results 2017 LIVE: Will it be a clean sweep for BJP in the state?

The Rajya Sabha MPs views were also echoed by Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray. Despite being the head of one of BJPs largest allies, Thackeray said he strongly disagreed with the outcome of the exit polls.

"There is a huge difference between the prevailing political atmosphere and the forecasts of these exit polls. They are not agreeable to us," said the Sena boss, adding the outcome of the elections will come to light on Monday and, whatever it may be, everyone would have to accept the peoples verdict.

On its part, BJP spokesmen tried to put out the fire from within by saying everything will be clear once the election results are out. Anil Shirole, a BJP MP from Pune, said it had not been made clear whether Sanjay Kakade was a primary member of the party.

The Congress, on the other hand, has been very vehement in its refutation of the exit poll results. Party leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Friday pointed out that there have been many instances of exit polls being disproven and said that it will happen again on Monday.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla also shared his two bits on the exit poll results, saying the actual results will be the complete opposite of what the exit polls are saying.

With all the drama going on around the Gujarat assembly elections, it isnt immediately apparent if there has been any shift of power in the state. The words exchanged by members of both parties, the contrarian views expressed by members within the party, and the exit polls themselves have combined to form a very opaque smokescreen.

Whether Modis son-of-the-soil persona was good enough to woo voters even with him not being around in Gujarat any more, or whether Rahul Gandhi has managed to successfully exploit this gaping hole in the BJPs leadership in the state, will only be made clear on Monday, when the counting of the votes takes place.

The battle in the hills

Although exit polls have predicted a massive victory for the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, sitting Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has gone on record to dismiss the findings of these polls.

Depending on which exit poll you go by, the BJP is expected to win between 38 and 55 seats in the states 68-member assembly.

Having contested the election from Arki instead of his former Shimla Rural seat, Singh returned to Shimla after a hiatus of two weeks. He said he could sense the mood of the people and that the actual results of the election would be quite different from the exit poll predictions.

"I am confident that 'mission repeat' would be achieved and tall claims made by the BJP would be proved wrong," the CM said.

Meanwhile, BJPs chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, who has also been CM of Himachal Pradesh in the past, was highly optimistic about his chances to get back to his former role.

Speaking to the media from his residence in Samirpur, Dhumal said that the Congress tall claims were a result of the partys disappointment with the exit polls. In fact, the BJP would win more seats than predicted in the exit polls, the former CM said.
WHITEMARSH  Whitemarsh Township and the Whitemarsh Art Center completed the acquisition of the property that is home to historic Abolition Hall this week, paving the way for its preservation. The acquisition protects the 10.45-acre Corson Tract property off Butler...
Jarrett Coleman goes from school board to statehouse with win in 16th Senate District race
State officials announce $2.85M for new police station in Upper Moreland
December 17, 2017

Weekly Review And Open Thread 2017-46

Due to this week's network problems at my home you were offered too few posts. Most of the research I do is naturally online. So while I probably could have posted I lacked the material to write up decent pieces. I was told that my regular network and phone connections will be back by Monday afternoon. We'll see ...

Dec 12 - U.S. Surrenders On Syria - Resistance Turns Eyes On Israel

A New Yorker piece by a borg journalist suggests that the U.S. political heave mind has for now given up on regime change in Syria. The military junta in the White House still seems to disagree with that, but might be coming around. There will for sure be no clear-cut change, but a gradual move away from the senseless occupation of north-east Syria. Meanwhile the first truck convoy from Iran reached Syria by road. This new supply line will give the Israeli military some serious headaches.

Dec 14 - "Russian Influence" - $0.97 That Changed The Fate Of Britain

The "Russian influence" nonsense is dying a slow death for lack of any evidence that there is any "Russian influence" campaign. The subject is now changing to "Chinese influence". The Rothschild organ The Economist has a title story about that nefarious "Chinese influence" and laments its alleged attempts to move public opinion to its favor. That is of course something "the west" would never even do! To prove that this is a well coordinated campaign the U.S. Council of Foreign Relations adds a piece of its own on "Chinese Influence" . Australia just kicked out a minister for allegedly being to frendly with something Chinese. Trump's new strategic guidance for the military will emphasize China as the new potential enemy. This is a stupid move that will only solidify the Russian-Chinese partnership and further isolate the U.S.

Dec 15 - Haley Fails To Make Case About Yemeni Missiles - Ignores Saudi War Crimes

Haley tried to give her best Colin Powell imitation but failed. Defense Secretary Mattis has said that there will be no military move against Iran. Thus some sanity prevails on the issue. But only in the U.S.. Some Saudi organization put out a funny comic movie (vid) about a Saudi attack on Iran. In it the Saudis defeat the Iranian navy, air- and missile forces. They invade Iran, capture IRGC General Suleimani and are welcome by the people in Tehran with sweets and flowers. Clown prince MbS is overseeing the operation. It is hilarious fiction.

But why do the Saudi grunts talk in English?

Please use the comments as open thread ...

Posted by b on December 17, 2017 at 17:46 UTC | Permalink

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On Tuesday, the Midland Development Corp. board held its meeting with a full agenda. Here are highlights from the meeting.

 Carver Street: Earlier this year, the MDC approved contributing $1.7 million toward construction projects at Carver Street and Scharbauer Drive, including improvements to drainage basins and Scharbauer Draw. However, figures used by the city to create an estimate were out of date; thus, the city requested about an additional $600,000 to make up the difference. The board approved, with member Stephen Lowery abstaining.

 Executive director search: Executive Director Pam Welch retired this summer, and the MDC is searching for her replacement. While a vote earlier in the year prevented the MDC from hiring a search firm, the board approved doing so Tuesday after months of not receiving any applications from qualified applicants.

Chairman Brent Hilliard said the goal is to recruit someone locally; however, it is his opinion the candidates should have backgrounds that are more business-related, not economic development-related. The MDC received about 60 applications since summer. About four had the relevant background.

 Lawsuits: The board approved hiring law firm Cotton, Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson for filing amicus curiae briefs in a pair of cases that affect economic development corporations (EDCs) in Texas.

Vice Chairman Keith Stretcher, former city attorney, said these cases are important to the MDC because when it and other EDCs enter into a contract, damages are set at the most that is owed under the contract. If immunity is lost, EDCs possibly could have damages far in excess of contract and tort issues. Stretcher says the MDC should want to preserve the law as it exists today, as it has existed since the beginning.

Larry Little v. City of Leon Valley argues that EDCs have limited immunity, while Rosenberg Development Corp. v. Imperial Performing Arts says EDCs dont have any immunity.

 Downtown: The board approved a motion authorizing Hilliard to enter into agreements to purchase property in downtown Midland over a period of six months. The area of interest is generally located north of Front Street, south of Cuthbert Avenue, east of A Street and west of Lamesa Road.

 Doctor recruitment: The board approved payment to the hospital district in the sum of $88,339.42 as part of the MDCs agreement to help fund doctor recruitment. In a presentation, Midland Memorial Hospital said 14 doctors were recruited to Midland last year; much of the recruitment was possible because of the MDCs investment.
For the 26th time, Tom Craddicks name will be on a general election ballot as the Republican nominee for state representative.

That Craddick is running to represent Midland County  among others  in the state House of Representatives is something that most people who follow politics in Midland take for granted. For the past 50 years, the people in Midland have come to expect the sun will rise in the east, oil is destined to come out of the ground, and every two years Craddick will run for state representative, and he will win.

With another filing period in the rearview mirror, there was no change in the natural order.

But there certainly is something rather coincidental about Craddicks 26th run. The day after the filing period ended, it was learned that a 24-year-old Midlander with politics running through his veins is seeking to run for state representative for the first time. When longtime Midlanders read this, they probably noted that this person will run with the local establishment lined up for his opponent and will test what has become common practice for years -- if not decades  and that his party is not the favorite around the state.

More for you Candidates for local office

Yes, Tom Craddick has been there and done that.

For many, it may seem difficult to think of Craddick as the young guy trying to get his name out there by any means necessary. But that was once the case. Before he was the longest-serving member of the state Legislature, Craddick was a 24-year-old Texas Tech graduate trying to convince a local Republican Party board to support him heading into the 1968 primary.

And decades before he was the first Republican speaker in Texas since Reconstruction, he was a candidate that supporters wouldnt let be photographed alone for the newspaper or for campaign brochures because his supporters feared Craddick looked too young. Kind of humble roots for the man who it could be argued would become the most powerful person in state government.

Craddick had his eye on the state representative seat before the 1968 election. At age 22, he envisioned a run, but as it turned out, Republican Frank Cahoon -- who once was the lone Republican in the House and therefore could caucus in a phone booth  wasnt done serving county residents. Two years later that changed.

Still, a red carpet wasnt rolled out for the Midland High graduate. Craddick had a primary opponent -- Joe Davis, Craddicks economics teacher at MHS. Davis posed a problem for Craddick because in those days, many Republicans in Midland County voted in the Democratic primary, which meant if Davis could line up enough teachers it might have cut short Craddicks first venture into state politics. That didnt happen. Craddick defeated Davis and then defeated Ray Howard, the owner of a printing company, in the general election.

A lot of the business establishment supported the Democrat but I worked the base, Craddick said last week in a conversation with the Reporter-Telegram. I knew who the Republicans were in town. I saw them one by one. I won handily.

Craddick walked streets and talked to Midland County residents who voted in previous elections. In the case of his race against his former teacher, he got teachers and principals to write letters of support for him to keep a wave of educators at bay.

He found new ways to get his name out, including the 4-by-8 political sign.

Wahoo (McDaniel) and Jim Meyers gave me the racks (for the signs) Craddick said. Wahoo welded them for me.

One of those signs found prime real estate when Jim Hooker, the owner of Gibsons  a store on Cuthbert Avenue between Midkiff Road and Andrews Highway -- agreed to let Craddick put his political sign under the stores sign.

Gibsons was the hot deal then. I told (the owner) I wanted to attach it to where his sign lights up all night, every night, Craddick said. He said I am all for it.  He ended being in my wedding and naming Christi (Craddicks daughter).

Painting Craddick for state representative on the sides of four downtown buildings might have been the most innovative politicking. It caused controversy, and the Midland City Council later passed an ordinance that prevented a future candidate from doing it. But for one political season, Craddicks name was there in blue and yellow.

His ads broke new ground. Endorsement notices blew the top out of what had been published in the newspaper before. When faced with a re-election campaign in 1970, the endorsement ad covered two entire pages of the paper.

It was enormous, he said.

Doing what it takes also meant big changes. He lost 60 pounds preparing for his first run. Craddick said he weighed 215 at one time.

Bill (Heck) told the local Republican board if we dont support (Craddick) and let him run, he will run as a Democrat and beat us.

As it turned out, Craddick, the Democrat, was never going to happen, and half a century later, Craddick is preparing for campaign No. 26. He will face Spencer Bounds, the 24-year-old from Midland. He doesnt know much about Bounds, but when campaigning, that apparently wont matter too much. Craddick will run on his record of getting things done for Midland. He believes his experience is a positive, and has helped make projects a reality, including millions of dollars of funding for the University of Texas of the Permian Basins Engineering School on the schools Midland campus.

He has money to help in the campaign. The Texas Ethics Commission reports Craddick has $192,582 in cash on hand. During his last competitive race for state representative, Craddick spent north of $550,000. At the time, the then-speaker of the House had a war chest measured in the millions of dollars.

Craddick expects to continue seeking funds for UTPB, should he be re-elected. He also will push for more transportation dollars for the district.

We furnish all this money (for the state) and our roads are getting torn up, Craddick said. Getting more dollars for transportation has to be done.  Oil and gas is an economic engine in the state. To me, we need to get more dollars back for that.

He also will push for more state funding for the Petroleum Museum, the physician assistants program for Texas Tech Health Science Center at Midland College and other monies for health care in Midland.

I will do what I do every day. I will be out there and give my opinions on things, Craddick said. People will have a choice. We will compete with him and see where we are in the race.

On top is where most Midlanders are used to seeing Craddicks name. Its been that way for 50 years, and at age 74, he doesnt see why that needs to change.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Two men have been arrested by customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold worth about Rs 57 lakh.

The accused were intercepted after their arrival from Dubai. They had come via different flights in the past two days.

"On detailed examination of their baggage, two gold bars weighing two kgs were found. They were concealed in the transformer of a microwave oven carried by them," a press release issued today by the customs said.

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The gold bars, valued at Rs 56.69 lakh, have been seized, it said. PTI AKV SRY

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Disney has released new details about its upcoming "Star Wars"-themed lands.



Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge set to open in 2019



RELATED: Disney teases Millennium Falcon ride at Star War's Galaxy's Edge



Star Wars: Galaxy Edge is a 14-acre expansion currently under construction Disneys Hollywood Studios and Disneyland in California.

Although Disney has shared concept art of the lands before, visitors attending the Star Wars: Galactic Nights event on Saturday got to take an even closer looke at the

Scott Towbridge and his team from Walt Disney Imagineering shared new concept art, merchandise details and designs during a panel discussion.

One of the main attractions coming to the new lands is the life-size Millennium Falcon ride. Visitors will get a chance to board Han Solos iconic spaceship and pilot it themselves. Disney shared a photo from inside the ship last week.

The ride will feature multiple missions, making each ride a different experience.

Imagineers previously said that visitors will be able to track their performance, building a reputation in the process.

Galaxys Edge, which is set on the new planet of Batuu, will also feature a fleet of full-size X-wing starfighters.

As visitors roam the remote outpost, they will shops and merchant stalls. Members of the WDI team traveled to Istanbul and Marrakesh for inspiration.

Merchants will sell toys and collectibles, many of them with a hand-crafted look.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is set to open in 2019.

CHECK OUT ATTRACTIONS INSIDER: Your all-in-one source for news, pictures and video from Floridas theme parks. Just go to our Attractions Insider page. Sign up to get breaking theme park news alerts and subscribe to our newsletter, Theme Park Roundup, delivered to your inbox or mobile phone.
A marriage counselor was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his ex-fiancee.

Earlier in the day, jurors convicted Lester Winningham, 59, of murder.

Authorities say the licensed psychologist shot Deborah Houchin three times in her Arlington home before dumping her body behind a mechanic's shop in 2005.

During three days of testimony, the jury was told how the couple fought often in the months before her death and that the relationship soured after Houchin asked Winningham to sign a prenuptial agreement.

Winningham testified in his own defense Thursday, saying he is innocent, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in its Friday online edition.

Houchin, 56, owned a marriage counseling clinic and had been engaged to Winningham briefly after meeting him through an online dating service.

She helped Winningham set up his practice in Arlington after he received his doctoral degree. He also moved in with her.
By PTI: Jammu, Dec 16 (PTI) Three people were arrested on charges of drug peddling from Jammu and Kashmirs Samba, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts and over 100 kg of poppy straw and heroin was seized, the police said.

The police intercepted a truck carrying apples near Nud in Samba district and searched it. They found 100 kg of poppy straw kept in the tool box, the spokesman said.

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The trucks driver Bashir Ahmad, a resident of south Kashmirs Kulgam district, was arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The vehicle was coming from Kashmir, he said.

In Kishtwar, Aijaz Keen, a resident of Panazi village, was arrested with 800 grams of heroin at Bojwah, the spokesman said.

His accomplice Lal Hussain managed escape. Keen has been booked under the NDPS Act, he said, adding that Balwan Singh was arrested with one kilogram of poppy straw at Kambal Danga in Udhampur. PTI TAS ANB

--- ENDS ---
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Some Spurs fans rep their Silver & Black pride with the clothes they wear or on their cars, but one woman is literally saying it all with her eyes.

Erica Lopez is a San Antonio native living in Dallas. She said the Spurs' recent game against the Mavericks was part of the reason she decided to create a makeup look that has amassed the attention of thousands on Facebook and Instagram.

"So many people are already doing makeup, so I thought, 'let me do something different,'" she said.

The 23-year-old has created two San Antonio-inspired looks: a dark-toned one featuring the skyline and another, with the vintage Spurs "Fiesta" color scheme.

RELATED: NBA responds to Dallas Mavericks' Salah Mejri's controversial contact on Spurs' Patty Mills

Now Playing: Some Spurs fans rep their Silver & Black pride with the clothes they wear or on their cars, but makeup artist Erica Lopez is literally saying it all with her eyes. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Lopez said each of her creations have received positive reactions across her social media pages. She said some have asked her to create makeup tutorials to help recreate her work.

Though she's not against the idea, Lopez, who has a 4-month-old daughter named Jolene, says she doesn't have the right equipment or time to produce videos like many YouTube makeup gurus.

She said the looks took about an hour-and-a-half and are usually done while her daughter is napping.

Lopez also works on a budget, she uses primarily drugstore-bought items. She uses e.l.f. cosmetics eyeliner, which ranges from $1 to $6, to draw out the designs.

Working on her makeup stirred up some homesickness for Lopez, who has been living away from the Alamo City for six years.

"I wish I was in San Antonio whenever I did it, so I could walk around and show it off," she said. "Once I go over there, I'm going to show it off."

Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for MySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye
A probe is on but no arrest has been made.

By Sneha Agrawal: Beware the next time you take a shared private cab, as the lifafa (envelope) gang has reportedly revived its operations in Delhi.

It targets daily commuters waiting at bus stands. In one such case in south Delhi, a 50-year-old tax consultant allegedly became the victim of the gang and lost close to Rs 70,000.

On December 11, Ajay Kumar (name changed) was waiting at Mahipalpur extension bus stand to take a shared private cab to work in Okhla. While waiting, a man approached him seeking directions for Nehru Place. "I told him that I was also going in the same direction and we could take the same cab.

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There was a third person who also said he wanted to go towards the same direction and would join us. Three of us took a cab when the main culprit started narrating his story," Kumar told Mail Today.

Kumar told police that the man, who came asking for the directions, identified himself as a cop on round-theclock duty to bust a gang that had supposedly stolen Rs 40 lakh from an ATM in Lajpat Nagar.

"He told us that he had received a tip-off that one of the gang members is in Nehru Place. The man was in plain clothes but was carrying a revolver and a walkie-talkie with him," said Kumar.

The man got a message on walkie-talkie that a man carrying Rs 15 lakh had been caught and was being beaten up.

"Suddenly, the cab changed the route. When I questioned, I was told that it was a police car and they had to go to Dhaula Kuan police station," he said. Kumar told police that the accused asked him to open his bag to make sure that he is a genuine person.

"I got my bag searched but was surprised to see him picking up Rs 8000 in cash from my bag and asked me to keep them inside a yellow envelope for police investigation."

"When I objected, he said not to mess with him as I was in the police car and also asked me to hand over my three debit cards along with the pin. They even took my SIM card. He showed me the revolver and threatened to cooperate otherwise I would be risking my life. The next moment I see myself being dropped at Dhaula Kuan flyover and the car sped away." Kumar said by the time he could approach police, the gang had withdrawn almost Rs 70,000 from his account.

A probe is on but no arrest has been made.

--- ENDS ---
Lydia Rodriguez held out her left hand, hovering just inches over her 9-month-old son Marlon's chest, keeping him from rolling off the new couch as her right hand caressed the fabric beneath her.

She and her husband, Edgar, sat on the sectional with his mother, Maria Gertrudiz Raga, Friday at Gallery Furniture, 6006 Interstate 45 North in Houston.

The Dickinson family was chosen out of thousands to receive $10,000 worth of furniture and $3,600 for accessories to replace what they had lost in Hurricane Harvey, thanks to Gallery Furniture owner, Jim McIngvale, or "Mattress Mack" to Houstonians, and his 35th annual 'Christmas Giveaways' program.

Despite three decades of giving to those in need during the holidays, McIngvale said this year was different because of how Hurricane Harvey devastated area communities.

"Each year, we receive thousands of letters from Houstonians in need, and it is our goal to help as many as we can," he said. "We are honored to be able to help Houstonians after the devastation that so many of our community members suffered this year."

The Rodriguezes were selected by a panel of judges who read each nomination letter from across the greater Houston area.

"I didn't believe it," Edgar Rodriguez said when he found out they won.

"It's just ... wow. It's been a blessing," his wife said.

The family's home near FM 517 and I-45 took in 3 feet of water when Harvey tore through Houston.

"We never expected that," Lydia Rodriguez said of the destruction to their home.

They lost Edgar Rodriguez's car, all of their furniture and most of their household items which they had to leave behind when they evacuated the Friday night the storm came through.

Now they face rebuilding a house that has rotted walls and warped floors.

Without flood insurance, the couple has been using money provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to buy supplies to rebuild the home's structure.

"It's just enough to buy stuff for us to do ourselves, but not to hire," Lydia Rodriguez said. "But it's helped a lot."

She said they've had help with some of the work on their house from co-workers at Johnson Space Center, where she works as a secretary. Her husband works at an auto body shop.

The couple was nominated for the prize by a waitress who befriended them over the course of a few months when the couple would stop in at Rouxpour, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant near Baybrook Mall.

They would often go there after a day of visiting Marlon, who was born 10 weeks premature, in the neonatal unit of a nearby hospital.

"They came every week," read the nomination letter from the waitress, Rhiannon McLain. "Sometimes twice in a week and I found they were the sweetest couple.

"I was talking to Edgar about it, you could see tears in his eyes," McLain wrote in her letter. "He's trying to stay strong for his little family. But it breaks his heart to deal with more."

She was shocked when the Rodriguezes walked in one day with Marlon in their arms. They had brought him to the restaurant so he could meet McLain.

"I was so honored to be thought of in their journey," she wrote. "I was just their server but we had bonded. A bond between fellow parents."

Marlon has been home for five months and is totally healthy, said his parents. He wiggled in his mother's arms from inside his fleece jacket while his dad toted the car seat carrier from one dining room set to the other around the expansive showroom.

After browsing most of the warehouse, the couple was met by McIngvale who was stationed at the large desk at the entrance of the store.

Lydia Rodriguez made sure to stop and shake his hand.

"Thank you for all the impact you've made," she said to him.
Sub-Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream

Sub-Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream is now open at 9315 Spencer Highway, next to MOD Pizza and YoYo's Chinese restaurant.

Drawn to the idea of "customizable food", Jerry and Naomi Hancock wanted to apply the concept to desserts.

Jerry Hancock developed a method to freeze ice cream using liquid nitrogen.

This way to eat ice cream became the first Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream restaurant in 2004.

Kids like watching the science behind their favorite dessert.

The company's Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/subzerodeerpark.

Kids Kountry Learning Center

Those who work longer hours or the night shift will be happy to know that Kids Kountry Learning Center will soon expand its childcare hours to 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday.

Kids Kountry has been in Deer Park for 15 years at 310 E. X St., near Center Street. It cares for children from ages 6 weeks to 12 years old, offering meals and snacks plus transportation to and from schools in the Deer Park and La Porte districts.

The longer hours will begin in January.

For more information, call Kids Kountry at 281-479-1126.

Pipefitters Local 211

Pipefitters Local 211, chartered in 1949, recently moved to 1301 W. 13th St. and constructed the Kenneth H. Edwards Apprenticeship School Annex.

The annex is being used to train workers in pipe fabrication, installation and servicing.

Call 713-644-5521 for more information.

Mr. Electric Bay Area

Mr. Electric Bay Area was named Deer Park Chamber's Business of the Year for 2017. Located at 2318 Center St., Mr. Electric offers electrical services for residential and commercial customers that range from repairs to construction needs.

Owner Brock Bihm has received the Mr. Electric Top Gun Award, presented to the franchisee who consistently sites in the top 10 percent of the Mr. Electric network, which includes almost 200 locations throughout several countries.

Call Brock at 713-477-1770 or visit the company's site on Facebook.

City of Deer Park

The City of Deer Park was named Deer Park Chamber's Industry of the Year for 2017 because of its efforts during Hurricane Harvey.

The city also was recognized because of its yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary.

Mayor Jerry Mouton accepted the award on behalf of the city.

USA DeBusk

USA DeBusk has relocated its corporate headquarters from Pasadena to Deer Park at 1005 W. Eighth St.

This mechanical and industrial cleaning services provider specializes in serving the downstream energy market.

The company offers a full suite of maintenance and turnaround services.

Founded in 2012, USA DeBusk has field offices in 21 cities and provides services internationally.

The company occupies several buildings on W. Eighth Street and bring more than 350 employees to Deer Park.

Learn more at www.debusksg.com.

T&T Construction

T&T Construction has been named No. 19 on Houston Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" list for mid-sized companies.
Many of the cargo containers passing through India's busiest port in Mumbai have a small piece of Japan Inc. attached: Devices from NEC Corp. that can be tracked as the containers rumble through the interior of Asia's third-largest economy.

The partnership between NEC and the port illustrates the strengthening relationship between Tokyo and New Delhi. Japan is seeking growth markets, while India craves advanced technology and foreign investment. The leaders of both countries, Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi, are also working to counter the growing regional influence of China -- an important economic partner to both but also historically a rival.

"We have the two largest democratic economies in this region, we respect international rules, openness and transparency -- these are basic principles that we share," said Kenko Sone, a former head of global communications for Abe who now serves as minister of economic affairs at Japan's embassy in Delhi.

With a young and growing population now at 1.3 billion people, India offers an enticing market for Japanese companies, as well as affordable labor for manufacturers looking even further west to Africa and the Middle East for new markets. India needs an estimated $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment in just the next 10 years to help modernize its economy and lift more of its people out of poverty.

Japan is pouring money into India. Lending for development, particularly infrastructure, has grown nearly sixfold since 2001, totaling 366 billion yen ($3.2 billion) in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. The two nations are working together on infrastructure projects that include the $100 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and a Japanese bullet train to run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in Modi's home state of Gujarat.

Foreign direct investment by Japanese companies has also soared, reaching $3.7 billion in 2016, its second-highest level ever. Though it slipped this year, over the past decade it has totaled $25.8 billion, a nine-fold increase over the previous 10-year period. Japanese manufacturers have flooded into auto clusters in Haryana and Rajasthan near Delhi, and into western Gujarat and southern Chennai.

India's young population is an attraction for Suzuki Motor Corp., majority owner of India's biggest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. The company makes about 1.5 million cars a year in India, but aims to produce 2 million annually in 2020, according to Satoshi Kasukawa, a Suzuki Motor spokesman.

"India's population is pyramid shaped, and it's possible for us to provide entry cars to young people," Kasukawa said.

Japanese manufacturers are increasingly using India to make products destined for other emerging countries. Many of Japan's major automakers are already selling India-made vehicles in Africa, while Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. has started distributing its machines in Africa after a joint venture with Tata Group went well, according to the Japan External Trade Organization.

With Abe fresh off an election victory and Modi predicted to win a second term in 2019, the alliance between the two countries is expected to grow for years. Political stability in both Japan and India gives the two nations confidence to build deeper economic ties while strengthening the strategic relationship, Japan's Sone said.

The two countries are also attempting to rival China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, creating the Asia Africa Growth Corridor in an attempt to grow export markets. Modi and Abe launched the initiative at a meeting of the Asian Development Bank in May 2017 -- shortly after China hosted various countries at a Belt and Road forum in Beijing.

Japan also hopes to sell defense technology, perhaps including Soryu submarines, to India as Modi tries to modernize his country's aging, largely Soviet-era military equipment. They have also stepped up military cooperation, with Japan joining the annual Malabar naval exercises with India and the United States in the Bay of Bengal, designed to protect "shared interests" in the region.

"India and Japan are in a sense front-line states of a rising and more assertive China," said Manoj Joshi, a distinguished fellow at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation think tank. "The U.S. is an ocean away, the Europeans even further. Both know that by themselves they are not sufficient to balance China, but together they do not look all that bad."

---

Bloomberg's Hannah Dormido contributed.
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Trump administration officials are forbidding officials at the nation's top public health agency from using a list of seven words or phrases - including "fetus" and "transgender" - in any official documents being prepared for next year's budget.

Policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta were told of the list of forbidden words at a meeting Thursday with senior CDC officials who oversee the budget, according to an analyst who took part in the 90-minute briefing. The forbidden words are: "vulnerable," "entitlement," "diversity," "transgender," "fetus," "evidence-based" and "science-based."

In some instances, the analysts were given alternative phrases. Instead of "science-based" or "evidence-based," the suggested phrase is "CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes," the person said. In other cases, no replacement words were immediately offered.

ALSO: 52% of Americans say country is worse off with Trump (story continues below)

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The question of how to address such issues as sexual orientation, gender identity and abortion rights - all of which received significant visibility under the Obama administration - has surfaced repeatedly in federal agencies since President Donald Trump took office. Several key departments - including Health and Human Services, which oversees CDC, as well as Justice, Education and Housing and Urban Development - have changed some federal policies and how they collect government information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

In March, for example, HHS dropped questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in two surveys of elderly people.

HHS has also removed information about LGBT Americans from its website. The department's Administration for Children and Families, for example, archived a page that outlined federal services that are available for LGBT people and their families, including how they can adopt and receive help if they are the victims of sex trafficking.

At the CDC, the meeting about the banned words was led by Alison Kelly, a senior leader in CDC's Office of Financial Services, according to the CDC analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly. Kelly did not say why the words are being banned, according to the analyst, and told the group that she was merely relaying the information.

Other CDC officials confirmed the existence of a list of forbidden words. It's likely that other parts of HHS are operating under the same guidelines regarding the use of these words, the analyst said.

At the CDC, several offices have responsibilities for work that uses some of these words. The National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention is working on ways to prevent HIV among transgender people and reduce health disparities. The CDC's work on birth defects caused by the Zika virus, for example, includes research on the developing fetus.

The ban is related to the budget and supporting materials that are to be given to CDC's partners and to Congress, the analyst said. The president's budget for 2019 is expected to be released in early February. The budget blueprint is generally shaped to reflect an administration's priorities.

Federal agencies are sending in their budget proposals to the Office of Management and Budget, which has authority about what is included.

Neither an OMB spokesman nor a CDC spokeswoman responded to requests for comment Friday.

The longtime CDC analyst, whose job includes writing descriptions of the CDC's work for the administration's annual spending blueprint, could not recall a previous time when words were banned from budget documents because they were considered controversial.

The reaction of people in the meeting was "incredulous," the analyst said. "It was very much, 'Are you serious? Are you kidding?' "

"In my experience, we've never had any pushback from an ideological standpoint," the analyst said.

News of the ban on certain words hasn't yet spread to the broader group of scientists at the CDC, but it's likely to provoke a backlash, the analyst said. "Our subject matter experts will not lay down quietly - this hasn't trickled down to them yet."

The CDC has a budget of about $7 billion and more than 12,000 employees working across the nation and around the globe on everything from food and water safety to heart disease and cancer to infectious disease outbreak prevention. Much of the CDC's work has strong bipartisan support.

Kelly told the analysts that "certain words" in the CDC's budget drafts were being sent back to the agency for corrections. Three words that had been flagged in these drafts were "vulnerable," "entitlement" and "diversity." Kelly told the group she had been authorized to give verbal instructions about the remaining banned words.
When the founders of Poland's Green Caffe Nero opened the first store nearly 15 years ago, the global 'Starbucks-on-every-corner' coffee-chain explosion had yet to reach the eastern European country.

As the only cafe in the neighborhood and lacking the expertise to whip up lattes and cappuccinos, the partners had to order an instructional video from the U.S., said President and Co-Founder Adam Ringer.

"We went to Milan to a coffee expo and found a supplier,'' Ringer said in an interview in the chain's busy branch in central Warsaw. "It was a virgin market.''

Today couldn't be more different. The coffee chain, now majority owned by the U.K.'s Caffe Nero, serves 800,000 customers a month at its 58 stores and plans to open at least another 12 every year. Market researcher Allegra Strategies estimates the number of branded cafes in Poland is up 14 percent in the 12 months through October, nearly double the continental average this year.

It's not just Poland that's seeing growth, as new Starbucks and McDonald's McCafe outlets spring up across eastern Europe from Prague to Bucharest. Of course, coffee traditions vary and the drink has been present in parts of the region for centuries, especially in smaller southeastern states. But when it comes to branded coffee chains, most countries are still playing catch-up to western counterparts.

The eastern European market for coffee, which is dominated by Russia and Poland, grew 5.3 percent last year to $7.45 billion, compared with 1.8 percent in western Europe, according to Euromonitor International. It remains about a third smaller.

The growth in outlets and demand means eastern Europe has developed into a relatively bright spot against a backdrop of tepid global demand growth for coffee and stagnating markets in the west. Expanding economies and rising wages are buoying consumer spending, creating opportunities for coffee chains like Green Caffe Nero and its international rivals.

Starbucks will add about 40 new stores across six eastern European countries, an increase of about a quarter, according to AmRest Holdings SE, which operates the brand's outlets in the region.

The Czech Republic and Hungary are strong markets for the Seattle-based chain and the company has just entered Slovakia, Adam Mularuk, Starbucks Central Europe president at AmRest, said in an interview in Warsaw.

"We're very happy with the growth everywhere," he said. "Saturation of coffee shops per inhabitant is much lower in eastern Europe than it is in western Europe. So consequently that dynamic is going to be stronger."

Rising demand in the region is helping lift growth in the European Union, the world's top market for the beverage. Consumption of green coffee, the beans that are yet to be roasted, grew at a double-digit rate in Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic last year, compared with 4.2 percent in the EU, according to the International Coffee Organization that counts producing countries for its members.

To be sure, eastern Europe is far from uniform and each country has developed its own tastes over centuries. In Poland, coffee-drinking traditions were eroded by four decades of communist rule, when cafes were typically reserved as a luxury for the elite and a good-quality coffee was hard to find. Today, lattes are the top-selling type of coffee. Hungarians, largely influenced by the Vienna coffee-house culture, have traditionally gone black.

Further east, Russia, the world's largest market for black tea, is also enjoying a growth in coffee culture. Middle classes are expanding and incomes rising again after a recession spurred by an oil-price plunge and sanctions. Russia added about 1,000 coffee shops in the five years through 2016, the seventh-most globally, according to Euromonitor.

However, incomes may be barriers to even faster growth. Coffee is still more expensive in the region compared with western Europe. An hourly minimum wage in Poland will buy one cappuccino, compared with at least two in the U.K.

"It's a special purchase," Jeffrey Young, managing director at Allegra Strategies, said in an interview in Warsaw. "The cost of a cup of coffee in Poland and Central Europe is still much higher."

In many countries tea is still king and per-capita consumption of coffee tends to be smaller than in the rest of the European Union, according to Euromonitor data. The average person in eastern Europe consumed 1.8 kilograms of coffee last year, compared with 3.3 kilograms in the west, the data show.

Lower consumption means more room for growth, according to Mularuk.

The top-quality specialty coffee market is mushrooming too in Hungary, Allegra's Young said. In Poland, the number of specialty coffee shops has risen to at least 40 from just one in 2010, according to Lukasz Jura from Coffee Proficiency, a Krakow, Poland-based specialty roaster.

"The market is growing," he said at the European Coffee Symposium in Warsaw last month. "There is a huge potential in it and people love it."

---

Bloomberg's Samuel Dodge and Balazs Penz contributed.
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An organization that was part of President Donald Trump's transition team claimed Saturday that special counsel Robert Mueller III improperly obtained a trove of transition emails as part of the inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election and other matters.

The batch of emails totaling thousands of pages of communications was improperly provided to Mueller by the federal General Services Administration, the organization claimed in a letter delivered to congressional investigators.

"This morning we sent a letter to Congress concerning the unauthorized sharing of private and transition emails with the Mueller team," lawyer Kory Langhofer said in an interview.

Details of the letter and the allegations from the transition organ known as Trump for America were first reported by Reuters.

The letter from Langhofer, who was counsel to Trump for America, alleged that career employees of the GSA improperly provided privileged communications to investigators working for Mueller.

Now Playing: President Trump praised FBI agents as great people and heroes for all of us at a graduation less than an hour after criticizing the agency to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. Video: Time

The material included tens of thousands of emails, the organization alleged.

Mueller's investigation is looking at whether any crimes were committed as part of what U.S. intelligence agencies say was systematic Russian meddling in the election Trump won.

Trump has consistently said there was "no collusion" with Russia, an assertion he repeated Friday.

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Trump for America alleges that Mueller acquired private records without a warrant or subpoena.

"When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," said Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller's office.

Transition documents are private property, not government records, the organization contends. The letter invokes federal law and decades of precedent to argue that Mueller overstepped.

The transfer of transition documents is "unlawful conduct that undermines the Presidential Transition Act of 1963," the letter said, "and will impair the ability of future presidential transition teams to candidly discuss policy and internal matters that benefit the country as a whole."

The Trump transition alleges that the handover was done by "career staff at the General Services Administration" and suggested that those employees may have had political motives.

Mueller's team, the letter said, "has extensively used the materials in question, including portions that are susceptible to claims of privilege, and without notifying TFA or taking customary precautions to protect TFA's rights and privileges."

The complaint on behalf of the Trump transition team suggests that the organization is preparing to challenge the origin of material that could shed light on contacts and discussions involving former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and others.

Mueller's investigation has produced four criminal cases so far, including charges to which Flynn has agreed to plead guilty.

The Trump organization claims that GSA had assured Trump for America that while it retained copies of transition records, it would not release them without consulting the organization.

The GSA provided facilities to the Trump transition team in the weeks before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

- - -

The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.
Contributed photo

SOUTHBURY  Police have accused a New York man of hitting a Southbury police vehicle with a stolen car and leading officers on a chase.

State police said 34-year-old Eric Feye backed a work utility van into Southbury Officer Anthony Armenos car when the officer was investigating an alarm at Parsells Auto Service on Main Street South on Friday night.
Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan may occupy the vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics created by the demise of Jayalalithaa and frail health of Karunanidhi.

By India Today Web Desk: Election campaign is in full flow for bypoll in RK Nagar Assembly constituency in north Chennai. The seat has been vacant since the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, whose passing away, last year, led to a political turmoil in the ruling AIADMK party.

This year has been politically tumultuous for Tamil Nadu keeping the ruling AIADMK busy in setting its house in order weathering storm after storm.

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At the same time, heavyweight actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan have been dropping hints of entering political arena to occupy the vacuum left behind by Jayalalithaa. The failing health of DMK patron M Karunanidhi has only added to the confusion in the political sphere of Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK IN TURMOIL

'Resort politics' came to dominate the headlines even as a new dispensation under Chief Minister K Palaniswami took over following a rebellion by his predecessor O Panneerselvam against V K Sasikala in February.

In winds of change, once powerful leader TTV Dhinakaran, who was initially appointed AIADMK deputy chief by his aunt Sasikala, struggling to stay afloat with dwindling legislators' support and the challenge of a unified AIADMK.

SASIKALA CONUNDRUM

The demise of Jayalalithaa in December last year found its echo during the entire 2017, with the state government constituting a one-man commission to inquire into the circumstances and situation leading to her hospitalisation in September 22 and death on December 5, 2016.

The internal churning in the ruling AIADMK dominated the headlines, starting in February. What seemed to have been a smooth ascension to power for Sasikala came a cropper with Panneerselvam throwing a spanner in the works.

Having elected the AIADMK chief last December, the decks were cleared for elevation of Jayalalithaa's close confidante as chief minister, when Sasikala was elected AIADMK's Legislature Party leader on February 5.

However, the then chief minister Panneerselvam had misgivings. Jayalalithaa's 'Man Friday' and now deputy chief minister Panneerselvam made a sensational claim two days later that he was forced to make way for Sasikala's elevation.

SASIKALA LANDS UP IN JAIL

He sat on meditation at the memorial of Jayalalithaa in Marina beach, sowing the first seeds of a revolt against Sasikala. Panneerselvam's rebellion virtually set the cat among the pigeons, as an otherwise tight knit and disciplined AIADMK saw the first split in its ranks, decades after the death of its founder, MGR, in 1987.

The party was then divided between Jayalalithaa and VN Janaki, MGR's widow, before the former united it and brought it under the 'two leaves' symbol. With an imminent trust vote staring at her party, Sasikala lodged her MLAs at a resort at nearby Koovathur for days together in February, earning the label 'resort politics'.

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Sasikala herself made repeated trips to keep the morale of her legislators high. In the meantime, she also met then Governor Vidysagar Rao and staked claim to form the government.

However, the Supreme Court, which had reserved judgment in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets cases in which Jayalalithaa was the main accused, convicted Sasikala, dashing her hopes of leading the state.

The apex court awarded her a four-year jail term, which she is currently serving in Bengaluru.

WIND OF CHANGE

As a parting shot, Sasikala brought back her relatives Dhinakaran and S Venkatesh into AIADMK, making Dhinakaran her deputy and in-charge of affairs. The two were among Sasikala's relatives who were expelled by Jayalalithaa in 2011.

Then Sasikala loyalist Palaniswami was elected Legislature Party leader, becoming the second chief minister of the state in less than two months after Panneerselvam, who took over following the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016.

Meanwhile, the two camps led by Panneerselvam and the chief minister continued to face-off, even as the ruling faction fielded Dhinakaran in the April 12 bypoll to RK Nagar, earlier held by Jayalalithaa, which was later cancelled.

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The Election Commission rescinded the poll following complaints of money power. However, things soon took an unexpected turn when Palaniswami revolted against Dhinakaran, with a section of the state cabinet announcing sidelining the former MP.

AIADMK AFTER THE PURGE

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami merged their respective factions after many rounds of talks in August, a move that further agitated the Dhinakaran camp.

The very next day, 19 MLAs supporting the beleaguered leader revolted against the chief minister, later prompting their disqualification as legislators by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal. One MLA later switched over to the ruling camp.

The patch-up between Panneerselvam and Palaniswami saw the former becoming deputy chief minister in the government. Later, a general council of the unified AIADMK sacked Sasikala as interim general secretary and annulled all appointments made by her, effectively targeting Dhinakaran.

The camp got a shot in its arm when the Election Commission awarded the 'two leaves' symbol to it. Now, Dhinakaran is fighting the December 21 bypoll to RK Nagar as an independent.

RAJINIKANT, KAMAL HAASAN EYEING VACUUM

Sensing the vacuum, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan looked to plant their feet in politics of Tamil Nadu, keeping alive a tradition of cinema stars graduating to politics.

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Former chief ministers - the late CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa - besides other actors like SS Rajendran, Sarath Kumar and D Napolean have forayed into politics for successful careers.

Ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi, now in his 90s, too is not a novice to Tamil Nadu filmdom, having been a successful script-writer.

According to Rajinikant, the "system is rotten" as he asked his fans to "prepare for a war". Kamal Haasan, in particular, went ballistic against the ruling AIADMK on corruption, throwing regular barbs against the government, with the ministers criticising him.

A self-declared rationalist, he courted controversy when he hit out at what he called Hindu extremism. Rajinikanth has been more measured. But, speculations are rife that both these superstars are serious about making debut in Tamil Nadu politics and waiting for opportune moment to announce their political outfits.

(With PTI inputs)

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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday phoned President Donald Trump to thank him for a tip from the CIA that thwarted a terrorist attack being planned in St. Petersburg.

The unusual call - countries share intelligence all the time, but presidents rarely publicly thank one another for it - was confirmed by White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Putin told Trump that the information provided by the CIA allowed Russian law enforcement agencies to track down and detain a group of suspects who were planning to bomb the centrally located Kazan Cathedral and other crowded parts of Russia's second-largest city.

"Based on the information the United States provided, Russian authorities were able to capture the terrorists just prior to an attack that could have killed large numbers of people," the White House said in its readout of the call. "Both leaders agreed that this serves as an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together."

It was the two presidents' second conversation since Thursday, when they spoke after Putin's annual four-hour televised news conference, during which the Russian leader mentioned the booming U.S. stock market as an example of Trump's successes. The White House said Trump thanked Putin for remarks he made "acknowledging America's strong economic performance."

Now Playing: Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly called President Trump on Sunday and thanked him for sharing intelligence information. Video: GeoBeats

Putin said he doubted Trump would be able to improve relations between their two countries because the U.S. president was being held back by his political opposition and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election were being invented to raise doubts about Trump's legitimacy.

The CIA tip apparently provided the breakthrough that allowed Russian authorities last week to detain seven members of what officials identified as Islamic State cells. The suspects, investigators said,had been planning a suicide bombing this weekend in Kazan Cathedral, a St. Petersburg landmark located on Nevsky Prospect, its main thoroughfare. The cathedral was built between 1801 and 1811, and, controversially at the time, was designed along the lines of a Roman Catholic basilica.

Russian state television reported the capture of the alleged cell members as it often does in takedowns of terrorist suspects, with a video that shows agents in action and an on-camera confession. In this case, a man identified as Yevgeny Yefimov confessed that he planned to carry out an attack in the city. Later, Yefimov told a St. Petersburg court that he was planning to target the Kazan Cathedral. Three more people were arrested Sunday in connection with the alleged plot, RIA Novosti reported.

The agency published a list of 17 major terrorist plots that Russian law enforcement has been able to head off this year.

The suspects in the latest arrests had been using the messaging app Telegram to communicate with Islamic State leaders abroad, according to law enforcement agencies. Telegram was fined last month for refusing to provide Russian security forces access to the online conversations of two suspects linked to a suicide bombing in April that killed 16 people and injured about 100.

In their phone conversation Sunday, Putin asked Trump to pass along his gratitude to CIA Director Mike Pompeo and the American intelligence agents who received the information, the Kremlin said. It said Putin also told Trump that "if Russian special services obtain any information on terrorist threats against the United States and its citizens, they will definitely and immediately pass it to American counterparts through partner channels."

The CIA declined to comment on that.

But the White House said that Trump "then called Director Pompeo to congratulate him, his very talented people, and the entire intelligence community on a job well done!"

---

Greg Miller and Phillip Rucker in Washington contributed to this report.
Though the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained, no casualty has been reported so far.

By India Today Web Desk: On Sunday, around 12 pm, a major fire broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh.

More than 100 shops were caught in the massive fire that suddenly took over the shopping centre in Bhopal.

So far, more than 20 fire engines have reached the spot and are trying to take control of the situation and put off the fire.

More than 100 shops gutted in the fire which broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh. (Photo: ANI)

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Though the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained, no casualty has been reported so far.

Army vehicle and jawans reached the shopping complex as they joined the fire fighters. Fire fighting operation is underway.

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Saturday morning started out cold, and the temperature only dropped lower as the hours passed. A light drizzle turned into a downpour.

But the dreary weather didnt dampen the spirits of those who turned out at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery to place more than 43,000 Christmas wreaths on the graves of soldiers and their family members. So many volunteers showed up that a line of cars stretched a quarter-mile down Harry Wurzbach Road, waiting to get in.

The ceremony, and a similar one held Saturday at San Antonio National Cemetery, was part of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide event intended to preserve the memories of deceased veterans. A single man started the tradition in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., and it went nationwide in 2005 after a photo of the wreaths went viral.

Veterans die two deaths. One is the physical death, and the other one is when no one says your name again, said Jean Clark, deputy state captain for the San Antonio region of the Texas Patriot Guard, an organization devoted to honoring veterans. He rode to the event on his motorcycle, wearing a leather jacket covered with patriotic patches.

Volunteers walked through the 338-acre cemetery carrying stacks of wreaths to place on the graves. Some of them were lucky enough to have ponchos or umbrellas, while others just got wet. When they placed the wreaths on the graves, they spoke the name of the deceased out loud to make sure they would be remembered.

Before setting out with the wreaths, the volunteers viewed a procession of motorcycles and semi-trucks decked with American flags, candy canes, wreaths and other Christmas decorations. A band from Boerne Middle School played Deck the Halls and other Christmas classics, covering their instruments with plastic bags between tunes.

Just reflect, just for a second, and be thankful for the reason we are here. We are all here because we have lost a loved one, Judy Carlile, an event volunteer for the past eight years, told the crowd. Just take a minute to say Thank you for your service.

The crowd then observed a moment of silence, listened to the bugle call taps, offered a prayer, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem. Wreaths were laid for each branch of the armed services, and a flock of doves was released.

At one point, the ceremony was put on pause so volunteers in the audience could give hugs to the strangers standing next to them.

It is our duty to keep freedom alive, state Sen. Donna Campbell told the crowd. With each wreath laid we recommit ourselves to the cause they died for that were obligated to preserve.

Pete Neber drove to San Antonio from his home in the Dallas area to participate in the ceremony and visit family. His sister-in-law was recently buried in the cemetery after dying of breast cancer, he said. Hes retired from the Air Force, and many of his family members are also veterans.

This is something that brings us all together  our family, our roots, he said. He and his family members were considering getting some hot cocoa after the event.

Look at how beautiful this looks, Neber said, motioning to the wreaths on the gravestones. Regardless of the holiday, I think its always good to remember those before you.
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MONTECITO, Calif. - Residents piled into cars and fled on Saturday, turning downtown Santa Barbara into "a ghost town" as surging winds drove one of the biggest fires in California's history toward the city and the nearby wealthy enclave of Montecito.

The mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighboring Summerland came as winds that had eased a day earlier roared back at around 30 mph, with gusts to about 60 mph. Firefighters sprayed water onto hot spots sparked by wind-blown embers. Firefighters also drove to the historic San Ysidro Ranch in yellow firetrucks as heavy smoke rose from the coastal hills, blotting out the blue skies.

A portion of Santa Barbara was under mandatory evacuation. At the city's zoo, workers began putting some animals into crates and kennels, to ready them for possible evacuation.

In downtown Santa Barbara, Maya Schoop-Rutten, owner of Chocolate Maya, said she saw through the window of her chocolate shop smoke suddenly appear after strong winds blew through.

Now Playing: Thomas Fire still spreading Video: FoxLA

"It was absolutely incredible," she said. "There was a huge mushroom of smoke that happened in just a matter of a few minutes."

Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered.

"It's a ghost town. Everything is shut down," Schoop-Rutten said. "It's very, very eerie."

The northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101, coming up the coast from Los Angeles, were closed for a few hours south of Santa Barbara, with cars stopped on the freeway.

The 404-square-mile Thomas Fire was moving rapidly westward and crested Montecito Peak, just north of Montecito. Known for its star power, the enclave boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities.

"It is right above the homes," fire spokesman Jude Olivas said.

Winfrey expressed her dismay on her Twitter account.

"Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters," Winfrey tweeted.

The fire is now the third-largest in California history. It has burned more than 700 homes and killed a state firefighter.

Since the fire began on Dec. 4, about 95,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation zone near Santa Barbara on Saturday was 17 miles long and up to 5 miles wide and the new expansion encompassed about 3,300 people.
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People often dont realize the value of independence until it is taken away. We have seen this to be true recently in the world of craft beer.

Craft beer drinkers love the great, diverse, full flavored beers that small breweries like ours began brewing at a time when the large breweries were offering only variations on American Light Lager, and innovation in beer had begun to stagnate.

We were quirky little companies that at first attracted a few intrepid customers curious about what we were doing in leased warehouse spaces in parts of town rarely visited. We were operating in a regulatory structure that seemed created to prevent us from succeeding, especially in Texas.

RELATED: Cherrity Bar near Alamodom expected to open in January 2018

These customers stuck with us and began to increase in numbers because they enjoyed the beers we were brewing. But it goes much further. They love the community we create.

Building community is as important to craft brewers as the beers we make.

Craft breweries also bring jobs and tourism to their areas, which benefit the local economy. In fact, small and independent breweries in the Lone Star State contributed more than $4.5 billion to the economy, contributing the equivalent of 26,506 full-time jobs.

Big breweries began to take notice of us in the mid-1990s. Anheuser-Busch had a major public relations campaign in 1996 aimed at undermining craft breweries. It got negative articles written in the Wall Street Journal and a big hit-job special on Dateline. It ran ads mocking craft breweries.

It attempted to prevent its distributors from selling our beers by demanding exclusivity with its brands.

As the craft beer industry has grown  it makes up about 12 percent of the total beer market  Big Beer brands have been on the downturn, and over the past several years have switched strategies and begun quietly buying independent craft breweries.

READ MORE: Popular Pearl restaurant, craft brewer opening second San Antonio location

After all, craft beer is where the money is. In 2016, the overall U.S. beer market had $107.6 billion in sales, with independent craft brewers representing $23.5 billion. Talk about a small-business contribution to our country!

Mind you, these successes are happening amid changing and challenge times.

As such, in the past few years, weve seen brands, including Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the Belgian brewing conglomerate, quietly purchase 10 formerly independent U.S. craft breweries, including Karbach in Houston.

Other companies, such as MillerCoors, have gotten in on the action  acquiring Revolver in Granbury.

As the Big Beer brands amass a collection of formerly small and independent breweries, they are keeping quiet and not letting consumers know which brands they have acquired.

This lack of transparency is a problem.

We believe that when a large brewery purchases a small brewery, that small brewery ceases to be a small brewery. It suddenly has resources and distribution clout way beyond what true craft breweries have. Its production gets moved to the large breweries facilities, and manufacturing costs plummet.

While this is fine and part of the American way, it is counter to the spirit of craft brewing and what matters to the vast majority of our customers.

The selling breweries are monetizing the good will of the craft brewing world exclusively for their benefit.

Weve received many significant offers but chose to remain independent. Furthermore, large breweries are doing all they can to limit small breweries access to market.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice made a condition of approving ABInBevs recent acquisition of SABMiller (a merger of global brewers No. 1 and No. 2 in size) that ABInBev could not execute some of its current strategies forcing our shared distributors to not sell small and independent craft beer brands.

But that is still their end game. Every time you purchase one of these beers from the large breweries, you are inadvertently voting for a future with limited beer options.

For this reason, the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting Americas small and independent craft breweries, developed a seal that independent brewers can use to indicate whether the beer you are buying is truly from a small independent brewery.

This is necessary because the big breweries do everything they can to obfuscate the ownership and brewing location of the brands that they own. The fact that they work so hard to not bring attention to this essentially proves what we already know.

Independence matters.
How much further ahead would you be in life if you had earned an associates degree at age 18 at no cost to you or your family?

Would the value equal more than the $4,000 in college costs you saved? Could you put a dollar amount on the jump-start it would have given you toward your career success or higher education goals?

The Alamo Colleges District knows you cant put a price on the benefits to students who take part in our partnerships with local school districts for dual-credit and early-college high school programs.

We invest in these programs to give high school students an edge, and provide them the opportunity for an education they might not have access to otherwise. The investment comes back to our community, by providing an educated workforce and students prepared to succeed at a university.

Not only do the programs provide value and a head start, but they are also providing a quality education.

In recognition of this fact, Travis Early College High School is being honored as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District and is an academic program partner of Alamo Colleges District-San Antonio College.

The mission of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is to recognize academic excellence and close achievement gaps among student subgroups. Travis Early College High School exemplifies that mission.

SAISD and San Antonio College partnership is rich in opportunity for our diverse communities. San Antonio College is one of the largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the nation, and 98 percent of SAISD students are minorities, while 93 percent are economically disadvantaged.

Travis Early College High School and SAC are both located in the heart of San Antonio, just one street apart, a key to providing an immersive experience. Thats just one of the ways in which the partnership is closing the gaps for Hispanic students and increasing the number of degrees awarded in Texas.

Rigorous instruction and accelerated courses provided by San Antonio College and SAISD faculty and staff, coupled with the hard work and dedication of students, led to 86 percent of Travis students earning a college credential in 2014.

However, these students dont simply earn a degree, they excel academically.

Travis Early College High Schools 2015 graduating class received more than $6 million in scholarship offers from colleges and universities nationwide.

The program proves that with opportunities to leverage a free start in college, combined with hard work and quality instruction, students can have brighter futures without the baggage of extra debt, the obstacles of the unknown, or the lack of social and academic support some people face as first-time college students.

The Alamo Colleges District is proud of the work and the partnerships that make Travis Early College High School, and our 16 other early college high schools, a means by which to shape a more educated and financially stable community.

Yvonne Katz chairs the Alamo Colleges District board of trustees.
If a person receives care at an in-network hospital, that person should receive an in-network bill.

As obvious and logical as this seems, this often does not happen during medical emergencies. Thats because while a hospital might be in-network for a patients insurance provider, the doctors and specialists who provide the care might be out-of-network.

When the the bill comes due under such a scenario, the patient will owe the balance.

That is, they owe the difference between what their insurance covered and those out-of-network costs. This can mean surprise bills of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. All of this after being treated for a medical emergency and receiving care at a hospital that is in-network for the patients insurance.

Its a monumentally unfair system that blindsides vulnerable patients, one that Texas lawmakers should have the courage to fix as their counterparts in other states have done.

The solution is fairly straightforward. If patients go to in-network hospitals or other care settings, they should receive in-network billing, not surprises. Let the medical providers and insurers figure out the difference.

Recent reporting from Jenny Deam with the Houston Chronicle paints a compelling picture that balance billing is really just price-gouging.

First off, balance bills are disproportionately tied to emergency room care.

As Deam reported, in Texas, 48 percent of overall claims from emergency room physicians were outside networks for the states three largest insurance providers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare.

But in nonemergency specialties, less than 10 percent of claims were outside these networks.

And, no, its not that patients are going to the wrong hospitals. Data show that for 89 percent of the emergency claims, patients received care in an in-network hospital or facility.

Got it? Patients are going to the right buildings for care. But in emergency situations, patients have zero control over what doctor or specialist provides care, and they dont have the luxury to shop around.

They have no idea if the ER doctor or anesthesiologist takes their insurance. Thats because the care providers are contract workers with hospitals.

Its hard to ignore the motive for profit here. Its a motive aptly described in a 2016 investor report from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch on the company Envision Healthcare, a leading provider of emergency room physicians.

Heres an excerpt: By consistently going out of network, a provider is able to gain better pricing and a better margin.

Florida, New York and California have tackled this problem by requiring in-network billing when patients go to in-network hospitals and facilities.

Texas has attempted to pass reforms, but they have been too narrow to provide meaningful consumer protections.

Two Texas lawmakers  state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, and state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood  have said they would consider such legislation.

The remedy is much-needed and should be a priority next legislative session.

It is distressing enough when patients find themselves in need of emergency care. It is insult to injury when they are then blindsided by out-of-network pricing.
By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11 has been full of surprises, be it exciting tasks or unexpected evictions. So was yesterday's Weekend ka Vaar.

Host Salman Khan started the episode by thanking the viewers for good ratings. Salman greeted the housemates and asked Hina and Vikas to tell what's different in this season of Bigg Boss. Hina said that in this season everyone is competitive while Vikas said that housemates are not just playing with their heart but are also using their mind in the tasks.

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Salman took a dig at the recent cancellation of captaincy task and said that in the earlier seasons some way or the other contestants used to come to a common ground but in this season neither they have mutual agreement nor do they reach a majority.

Salman grilled Arshi for not letting Shilpa be the captain and also asked her why she didn't want to see Shilpa as the captain, as she has never been a captain in the house. Arshi was quite honest and told that if Shilpa would have become the captain, she could have ruined their game.

Salman then tried to resolve the issue between Vikas and Priyank, but while trying to explain their side, the two ended up arguing in front of Salman. An irritated Vikas stated that it was useless trying to speak with Priyank.

After the grilling session, Salman engaged the housemates in a fun task. He called them one by one and quizzed them about their fellow housemates. He asked Luv about the person who Hina would not like to meet outside the house. With no hesitation, he took Shilpa's name; to which Salman joked about how after Bigg Boss, they will work together as best friends in a show made by Vikas.

Later, viewers and even the housemates were in for a shock when host Salman Khan declared Luv Tyagi safe from eviction. Even Luv couldn't believe this. After Luv, Salman declared Shilpa Shinde safe from eviction, which left Priyank and Hiten in the danger zone.

After being declared safe, Luv and Shilpa got a chance to see the unseen footage of the show. Luv was annoyed after watching Priyank and Hina's discussion where Priyank said that Luv has a soft corner for Hina. He laughed at their discussion and said that even Hina is trying to play that angle that he is after her.

Arshi blamed Vikas for putting Hiten in danger in order to save Puneesh. Vikas tried to explain her that even he didn't know that Luv would be safe. He told Hiten that he is feeling bad for both Priyank and him, as the two are now at the risk of elimination.

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Luv and Shilpa have a conversation after watching the CCTV footage. Luv, who is very annoyed with Hina and Priyank said that there are no friends in this house and he is going to create a ruckus in the house. This could mean trouble for Hina and Priyank.

Luv was seen spending time with Puneesh and Akash and ignoring Hina and Priyank. Let's see if they stay friends after tonight's confrontation.

Naagin actress Mouni Roy increased the glam quotient of the show as she danced on Dil Diyan Gallan from Tiger Zinda Hai with Salman Khan. The actress even asked him some fun questions. Mouni will enter the house and meet the contestants in tonight's episode.

It will be interesting to see who is evicted in tonight's episode of Bigg Boss 11.

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Civil society organisations have said members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) must return to the barracks, further calling for the setting up of an independent body to investigate reports of civilian abuse by soldiers.

Soldiers are still in the streets following a takeover of government last month, which saw the resignation of former president Robert Mugabe, leading to president Emmerson Mnangagwas appointment.

However, there have been reports of human rights abuses, as videos of soldiers beating civilians have emerged on social media.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), said this must come to an end and be investigated.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) is alarmed by increasing reports of military officers violently attacking members of the public that have surfaced on social media.

There have been alleged cases of military officers beating up members of the public with some cases being captured on camera.

Military officers made up 24,4 percent of perpetrators of recorded cases in the ZPP November monthly monitoring report that records human rights violations compared to only 0,6 percent in the previous month, the organisation said.

It further said, The ZPP is challenging the ZDF to immediately investigate these cases of human rights violations that are not acceptable at any stage.

If any members of the military are found perpetrating these incidents, the ZDF is encouraged to take action and make this information readily available to the citizens who are now instilled with fear.

The ZPP feels that the military should be in the barracks in line with the fact that they are the last line of defence.

The organisation said the issue of the soldiers must be addressed without delay, as the military is not equipped to deal with civilians.

Another human rights organisation Heal Zimbabwe, also expressed concern over the continued presence of the military on the streets.

Heal Zimbabwe wishes to register its dismay at recent reports that allege gross human rights abuse by members of the security services. Reports of soldiers abusing innocent civilians have been reported in many parts of the country with the most recent ones in Kwekwe, the organisation said.

Heal Zimbabwe described the situation as deplorable, adding that it goes against every grain of the constitutional provisions.

Government must also with immediate effect set up an independent complaints mechanism as provided for in Section 210 of the Constitution.

The role of the complaints mechanism is to receive and investigate complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services and for remedying any harm by such misconduct.

There is an urgent need for soldiers to return to the barracks and allow people to go about their business without fear of being harassed and attacked by members of the uniformed forces, Heal Zimbabwe said.

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Above - Members of the Hickey and Kearney families gathered at Moyle Rovers GAA club to present 10,000 to Hospice in memory of the late Catherine Hickey (nee Kearney), who died in October. The money was raised at a fundraising dance held at the GAA club's social centre.

Happiness was tinged with sadness when members of the Kearney and Hickey families, and members of the Moyle Rovers GAA Club's social committee, gathered at the club's centre in Monroe, Clonmel to make a presentation to Pat Quinlan of the Milford Hospice in Limerick.

The considerable sum of 10,000, the proceeds of a fundraising dance held at Monroe in early October, was presented to Milford Hospice.

Catherine Hickey (nee Kearney) was a nurse at the Hospice and was a patient there since last March. Her family decided to hold a fundraiser for the Limerick Hospice, which was such an integral part of her life.

Catherine attended the fundraiser and, says her brother Michael Kearney, "she got to meet old friends and family which was great for her, and she had a great night".

Sadly, she passed away peacefully at Milford Hospice a few weeks later on October 30th.

Catherine, from Silvermines, Nenagh, was pre-deceased by her mother Angela. She is survived by her loving husband Tommy and cherished daughter Roisin, her father John, brother Michael, grandmother Nora T. McNamara, other relations and a wide circle of friends.

She was buried at Kilboy Graveyard, Dolla, following Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Silvermines.

Catherine spent her early years with her family in Fourmilewater and Ballymacarbry before they moved to Clashiniska Upper in Rathronan, Clonmel.

Her husband and daughter were among those who gathered at Monroe to make the presentation to Milford Hospice in Catherine's memory.

Michael Kearney extended his heartfelt thanks to the Moyle Rovers club and its social committee, as well as all their friends, Catherine's friends and family and everyone who supported the fundraiser.

"Without their help it wouldn't have been possible to raise those funds for Milford Hospice", he said.
By PTI: Washington, Dec 17 (PTI) Scientists have identified a brain region that can be stimulated to correct social impairments in autistic children.

The research from the University of Texas (UT) in the US provides the first evidence that a specific part of the cerebellum, a region near the brain stem that has long been thought to only have roles in coordinating movement, is critical for autistic behaviours.

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It also establishes a more accessible target for brain stimulation than many autism-related neural circuits that are buried deep within the brains folds.

"This is potentially quite a powerful finding. From a therapeutic standpoint, this part of the cerebellum is an enticing target," said Peter Tsai, from UT Southwestern Medical Centre.

"And although neuromodulation would not cure the underlying genetic cause of a persons autism, improving social deficits in children with autism could make a huge impact on their quality of life," Tsai said.

The research, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, utilised neuromodulation to demonstrate that humans and mice have parallel connections between specific domains within the cerebellum and cerebral cortex that have been implicated in autism studies.

Subsequent phases of the study showed that disrupting the function within the cerebellar domain resulted in autistic behaviours and that brain stimulation corrected social impairment in mice.

The next step is to ensure the same technique would be safe to conduct on children. Although doctors have safely applied cerebellar neuromodulation to disorders such as schizophrenia, it has not been studied in children with autism.

"This area of the brain has not received the attention it deserves in regards to understanding autism," said Tsai.

Most of the focus of autism research has been on the cortex, a region of the brain associated with cognition, he added.

"Our findings have prompted new thoughts on how the cerebellum may be involved in autism and most importantly suggest that the cerebellum could be a therapeutic target for treatment," said Tsai. PTI MHN MHN

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By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Ruling Congress today swept the three municipal corporation polls - Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala, even as the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery.

The Congress swept most of the wards in the three municipal corporations as results were declared late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp. The Akali-BJP alliance, however, demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation polls citing gross poll code violations.

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements.

For the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent.

Congress swept the Patiala municipal corporation winning 59 wards while the opposition failed to open account. In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by BJP (8) and SAD (4). In Amritsar, Congress won 64, SAD 7, BJP 6 and 8 wards went to the independents.

My heartfelt thanks to people of Punjab for turning out in huge numbers to support the Congress in MC, Nagar Panchayat & Council elections. The sweeping victory for @INCPunjab is a clear vindication of our policies and a defeat of the Oppositions false propaganda.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 17, 2017

Overall, the Congress won 189 wards in the three municipal corporations followed by BJP with 14, SAD with 11, while ten were won by independents.

In the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls, the Congress won from 267 places as against 37 by SAD, 15 by BJP, 94 by Independents.

The AAP received a severe drubbing winning from only one place.

The voting started at 8 AM and continued till 4 PM, a spokesman of the state election commission said here.

Tight security arrangements were made to ensure fair and free polling, which by and large remained peaceful barring a stray incident, officials said.

The major political outfits: ruling Congress, SAD-BJP and AAP were contesting the civic polls on their party symbols. A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel were deployed at the polling stations.

The Election Commission (EC) had ordered videography of 103 hyper sensitive wards.

Polling was held in 222 out of 225 wards in the three municipal corporations and 327 of the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

In 90 wards, the candidates had earlier won unopposed and out of these three candidates belonged to the Patiala Municipal Corporation and 87 to municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

Nearly 900 candidates were in fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar.

The civic polls were held nine months after the assembly elections after which the Congress had wrested power from SAD-BJP combine in the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda." Meanwhile, SAD-BJP demanded countermanding of the Patiala Corporation elections. A SAD-BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu here and also sat on a dharna outside his office.

The SAD-BJP leaders claimed that they had vidoegraphic evidence of blatant rigging and violence in Patiala.

Former minister and SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, who led the SAD-BJP delegation, alleged "the Congress had murdered democracy in the State by using police force to commit atrocities on Akali-BJP cadre".

Cheema said even former SAD Mayor from Patiala, Amarinder Singh Bajaj, was manhandled.

He alleged that in Mullanpur Dakha a SAD candidate's mother was attacked and injured by Congress supporters.

"Similarly SAD polling agents were attacked by Congressmen in Sahnewal who barged into their booths with a group of outsiders. In Ghanour when Akali-BJP supporters protested casting of fake votes they were thrashed..," he said adding the SAD-BJP would now take recourse to democratic protests as well as legal remedy.

BJP demanded a repoll in Patiala, Ghagga and some wards in Mullanpur Dakha and Jalandhar, alleging violation of model code and misuse of machinery.

Former chief minister Parkash Badal described the entire process of civic poll as "utterly uncivilised" and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab.

"This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement here.

The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress in the polls.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls." He expressed the confidence that with Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party, the euphoria would translate into victories for Congress.

CHANDIGARH: Ruling Congress today swept the three municipal corporation polls - Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala, even as the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery. The Congress swept most of the wards in the three municipal corporations as results were declared late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp. The Akali-BJP alliance, however, demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation polls citing gross poll code violations. Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements. For the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent. Congress swept the Patiala municipal corporation winning 59 wards while the opposition failed to open account. In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by BJP (8) and SAD (4). In Amritsar, Congress won 64, SAD 7, BJP 6 and 8 wards went to the independents. My heartfelt thanks to people of Punjab for turning out in huge numbers to support the Congress in MC, Nagar Panchayat & Council elections. The sweeping victory for @INCPunjab is a clear vindication of our policies and a defeat of the Oppositions false propaganda.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 17, 2017 Overall, the Congress won 189 wards in the three municipal corporations followed by BJP with 14, SAD with 11, while ten were won by independents. In the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls, the Congress won from 267 places as against 37 by SAD, 15 by BJP, 94 by Independents. The AAP received a severe drubbing winning from only one place. The voting started at 8 AM and continued till 4 PM, a spokesman of the state election commission said here. Tight security arrangements were made to ensure fair and free polling, which by and large remained peaceful barring a stray incident, officials said. The major political outfits: ruling Congress, SAD-BJP and AAP were contesting the civic polls on their party symbols. A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel were deployed at the polling stations. The Election Commission (EC) had ordered videography of 103 hyper sensitive wards. Polling was held in 222 out of 225 wards in the three municipal corporations and 327 of the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. In 90 wards, the candidates had earlier won unopposed and out of these three candidates belonged to the Patiala Municipal Corporation and 87 to municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Nearly 900 candidates were in fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar. The civic polls were held nine months after the assembly elections after which the Congress had wrested power from SAD-BJP combine in the state. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda." Meanwhile, SAD-BJP demanded countermanding of the Patiala Corporation elections. A SAD-BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu here and also sat on a dharna outside his office. The SAD-BJP leaders claimed that they had vidoegraphic evidence of blatant rigging and violence in Patiala. Former minister and SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, who led the SAD-BJP delegation, alleged "the Congress had murdered democracy in the State by using police force to commit atrocities on Akali-BJP cadre". Cheema said even former SAD Mayor from Patiala, Amarinder Singh Bajaj, was manhandled. He alleged that in Mullanpur Dakha a SAD candidate's mother was attacked and injured by Congress supporters. "Similarly SAD polling agents were attacked by Congressmen in Sahnewal who barged into their booths with a group of outsiders. In Ghanour when Akali-BJP supporters protested casting of fake votes they were thrashed..," he said adding the SAD-BJP would now take recourse to democratic protests as well as legal remedy. BJP demanded a repoll in Patiala, Ghagga and some wards in Mullanpur Dakha and Jalandhar, alleging violation of model code and misuse of machinery. Former chief minister Parkash Badal described the entire process of civic poll as "utterly uncivilised" and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab. "This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement here. The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress in the polls. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls." He expressed the confidence that with Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party, the euphoria would translate into victories for Congress.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Two suicide bombers attacked a packed church during a Sunday service in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and injuring 44 others in a targeted assault on the minority Christian community ahead of Christmas in the Muslim nation.

The Islamic State (ISIS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. The groups Amaq News Agency posted a statement online, saying attackers had stormed the church in Quetta -- the capital of Balochistan province. But the terror group provided no evidence for the claim.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Quetta.

ALSO READ: Pakistan security forces kill three 'militants' in Balochistan

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said. Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added. Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked. Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"It was a coordinated attack," he said, adding that the security forces have cleared the church. Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that nine people were killed in the attack, including two women.

ALSO READ: In September, suicide attack in Balochistan left one dead, 22 injured

Two women were among the dead, and 10 women and seven children were among the injured, hospital officials said. According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past. Sources in the Balochistan government said that few days back Methodist schools and churches had received threatening notes from the Sajjan group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The threatening notes were also received in Karachi and Lahore which led to missionary schools cancelling their examinations and taking an early winter/Christmas break. Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack, calling it "an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages." "Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts," he said. Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack. "The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others. Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people. Today's assault raised concerns about the security of religious minorities, especially Christians, in a country with a dismal record when it comes to the treatment and protection of religious minorities, analysts say.

Pakistani officials denied that ISIS had an organised presence in the country, however, even though the terrorist group has claimed responsibility for several other attacks in Baluchistan in recent years.

ISLAMABAD: Two suicide bombers attacked a packed church during a Sunday service in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and injuring 44 others in a targeted assault on the minority Christian community ahead of Christmas in the Muslim nation. The Islamic State (ISIS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. The groups Amaq News Agency posted a statement online, saying attackers had stormed the church in Quetta -- the capital of Balochistan province. But the terror group provided no evidence for the claim. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Quetta. ALSO READ: Pakistan security forces kill three 'militants' in Balochistan "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said. Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. "The security forces foiled their plan," he added. Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked. Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy. "It was a coordinated attack," he said, adding that the security forces have cleared the church. Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that nine people were killed in the attack, including two women. ALSO READ: In September, suicide attack in Balochistan left one dead, 22 injured Two women were among the dead, and 10 women and seven children were among the injured, hospital officials said. According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack. The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past. Sources in the Balochistan government said that few days back Methodist schools and churches had received threatening notes from the Sajjan group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The threatening notes were also received in Karachi and Lahore which led to missionary schools cancelling their examinations and taking an early winter/Christmas break. Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta. Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack, calling it "an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages." "Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts," he said. Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students. Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack. "The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted. On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others. Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people. Today's assault raised concerns about the security of religious minorities, especially Christians, in a country with a dismal record when it comes to the treatment and protection of religious minorities, analysts say. Pakistani officials denied that ISIS had an organised presence in the country, however, even though the terrorist group has claimed responsibility for several other attacks in Baluchistan in recent years.
By PTI: probe

(Eds: Incorporating related stories)

Srinagar, Dec 17 (PTI) A civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in north Kashmir?s Kupwara district, prompting the J&K government to order a magisterial inquiry even as the Army and local police initiated separate probes.

Asif Iqbal Bhat, a driver by profession, was killed in cross firing between Army men and terrorists, Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

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Based on information about terrorists in Thindpura village, the Army laid ambushes in the area on the night of December 16-17, he said.

"Around 2255 hours, an ambush party noticed suspicious movement of three people near a nullah. They were challenged by troops. The terrorists opened fire and the troops retaliated. In the crossfire,Aone person, Asif Iqbal Bhat, was killed due to a gunshot wound," the defence spokesperson said.

An investigation was underway, Kalia said.

Police said Bhat, a resident of Thandipora, was taken to the Kralpora sub district hospital, from where he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.

An FIR was registered at the Kralpora police station and a probe was underway, a police spokesperson said.

The Mehbooba Mufti government also ordered a magisterial probe into the killing, even as the Opposition condemned the incident.

"We have ordered an inquiry into the incident. Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Abdullah Malik will head the inquiry committee," Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) Khalid Jehangir told PTI.

He said the magisterial inquiry, which will be completed in three weeks, and the police probe will go on concurrently.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the killing and directed the probe be conducted in an expeditious manner.A

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah said the Armys "uninvestigated" claim that Bhat was killed in cross firing should not be used to "brush the incident under the carpet".

Separatists Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani sought to blame the authorities for the incident. PTI SSB ADS TIR ABH GVS

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Haven't bought your Thanksgiving turkey yet? A look at local prices.

While farms like Helgers in Tiverton have already sold out of turkeys, there are still frozen and fresh birds for sale at local markets.
By PTI: London, Dec 17 (PTI) "Selfitis" - the obsession of taking selfies on smartphones - may be a real disorder that requires treatment, according to a study conducted in India.

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK and the Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM) in Tamil Nadu began investigating the phenomenon after a hoax story appeared in the media in 2014 claiming selfitis had been classed as a genuine mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association.

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They have now confirmed its existence and developed the Selfitis Behaviour Scale which can be used to assess its severity.

The scale was developed using a large number of focus groups with 200 participants and the scale was tested via a survey of 400 participants.

Participants were based in India because the country has the most users on Facebook, as well as the highest number of deaths as a result of trying to take selfies in dangerous locations.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction confirmed that there are three levels of selfitis.

Borderline is defined as taking selfies at least three times a day but not posting them on social media.

Acute selfitis describes taking selfies at least three times a day and posting each one on social media.

Chronic selfitis is the uncontrollable urge to take photos of one self round the clock and posting the photos on social media more than six times a day, researchers said.

Six motivating factors were identified, with selfitis sufferers typically seeking to increase their self-confidence, seek attention, improve their mood, connect with the environment around them (to create a record of memories), increase their conformity with the social group around them, as well as being socially competitive.

The prevalence of these factors determined the level of selfitis severity.

"A few years ago, stories appeared in the media claiming that the condition of selfitis was to be classed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association," said Mark Griffiths, from Nottingham Trent University.

"While the story was revealed to be a hoax, it did not mean that the condition of selfitis did not exist," Griffiths said.

"We have now appeared to confirm its existence and developed the worlds first Selfitis Behaviour Scale to assess the condition," he said.

"Typically, those with the condition suffer from a lack of self-confidence and are seeking to fit in with those around them, and may display symptoms similar to other potentially addictive behaviours," said Janarthanan Balakrishnan, assistant professor at TSM.

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"Now the existence of the condition appears to have been confirmed, it is hoped that further research will be carried out to understand more about how and why people develop this potentially obsessive behaviour, and what can be done to help people who are the most affected," he said. PTI MHN MHN

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Close to 14 crore out of about 30 crore Permanent Account Numbers (PANs) have so far been linked to the national digital ID Aadhaar, according to a top government official.

The situation on linking of bank accounts to the biometric identifier is better, with 70 percent of estimated over 100 crore accounts already been seeded, UIDAI CEO Aja Bhushan Pandey told PTI in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court last week extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to all services including new bank accounts and mobile phone connections, to March 31, 2018. Earlier this month, the deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar too had been extended by three months to March 31, 2018.

Asked about how many PANs have been linked to Aadhaar, Pandey said that nearly 14 crore of about 30 crore PANs have been linked so far.

Regarding bank accounts that have been seeded with Aadhaar, he said the number stood at about 70 crore as against an estimated 100 crore bank accounts.

"We will continue to work on simplifying the Aadhaar linking process. We have asked all the banks to provide Aadhaar fingerprint and iris scanner in branches (stipulated 10 per cent branches), so that people don't face any difficulty," Pandey said.

The government is pushing for linking a host of services such as credit cards, cell phones and bank accounts to Aadhaar to weed out ghost holders and check tax evasion. With 119 crore residents already enrolled for the Aadhaar -- a unique 12-digit number backed by fingerprints, iris scans and certain demographic details -- the programme today is the world's largest biometric database.

He said Aadhaar is saving the government crores of rupees by better targeting beneficiaries of subsidised food and cash transfers.

After the deadline extension, the PAN, which helps track tax filings, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, mutual funds, pension plans and social welfare benefits will have to be linked to Aadhaar byMarch 31, 2018.
New York: Bitcoin investors expect futures volumes to perk up when CME Group Inc, the world's largest derivatives exchange operator, launches its own contract to wager on the cryptocurrency on Sunday.

The second US bitcoin futures launch is seen as another step towards big institutional investors warming up to a volatile asset that had until recently been accessible only via largely unregulated markets.

Like the futures contract launched last week by rival Cboe Global Markets, CME's will be cash settled. But it will be priced off an index of data from several cryptocurrency exchanges, instead of just one.

"The CME contract is based on a broader array of exchanges," said Matt Osborne, chief investment officer of Altegris, a $2.5 billion alternative investments provider based in San Diego, California. "So there is a possibility that the CME contract may generate more interest and more volume."

The January CME contract will trade on.

Bitcoin has drawn attention for its eye-popping price gains, but it is also notoriously volatile. Bitcoin exchanges and digital currency wallets meanwhile have struggled with issues like outages, denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and hacks.

Bitcoin hit another record high on Friday near $18,000 on the Luxembourg-based BitStamp platform, and has soared roughly 1,700 percent so far this year.

Chicago-based Cboe's bitcoin futures surged nearly 20 percent in their debut on Monday, and more than 4,000 contracts changed hands by the end of the 4:15 p.m. EDT settlement.

But the trading volume in the one-month contract, which expires in January, fell to just around 1,500 contracts the next day. By Friday, volume had stabilized at roughly more than 1,000 contracts.

In contrast, trading volume in the Cboe volatility index futures typically runs in the tens of thousands to more than 100,000 contracts, market participants said.

The decline in bitcoin futures volume had been expected, analysts said, given concerns about the cryptocurrency's underlying volatility.

And discount brokerage TD Ameritrade said on Friday it would allow certain clients to trade Cboe bitcoin futures from Dec. 18, pointing to a potential pickup.

The futures contract price has declined more than 5 percent since its launch on Dec. 10.

Some investors believe the CME bitcoin futures could attract more institutional demand because the final settlement price is culled from multiple exchanges.

The Cboe futures contract is based on a closing auction price of bitcoin from the Gemini exchange, which is owned and operated by virtual currency entrepreneurs and brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

To be sure, the general sentiment in the market remains one of caution and this has been reflected in margin requirements for the contracts.

In the futures market, margin refers to the initial deposit made into an account in order to enter into a contract.

The margin requirement at CME is 35 percent, while at Cboe, it is 40 percent, reflecting the cryptocurreny's volatility. The margin for an S&P 500 futures contract, by contrast, is just 5 percent, analysts said.

One futures trader said the average margin for brokers or intermediaries on bitcoin contracts is roughly twice the exchange margins.

Andrew Busch, chief market intelligence officer of the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission in an interview with CNBC last week pointed out that the underlying cash market for bitcoin is still not regulated.

"It's important to keep that in mind when (investors) are trying to make a decision," he added.

Some analysts believe it is going to take some time before bitcoin futures take off in a big way.

Many professional traders use quantitative systems to identify trading opportunities and that requires a history of data which the bitcoin futures contracts do not yet have.

"Volumes are going to slowly increase as professional traders get comfortable with the price action and more importantly get comfortable with the volatility and the margin usage," said Altegris' Osborne.

Bitcoin was set up in 2008 by an individual or group calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, and was the first digital currency to successfully use cryptography to keep transactions secure and hidden, making traditional financial regulation difficult if not impossible.
Mumbai: A 37-year-old woman police inspector mysteriously disappears one night after meeting her lover. The woman, mother to a seven-year-old girl, was living separately from her husband who took care of the daughter.

For nearly a year-and-a-half after the disappearance, despite the family's best efforts, she remains untraceable. The family ran from pillar-to-post and had to, finally, knock on the court's door to get the police to start searching for her.

The needle of suspicion is on her lover  a 52-year-old, well-connected police officer. And now, as preliminary probe points out, on the relative of a senior BJP leader. The story is a heady cocktail of love, lust, betrayal, power and violence. Chaitanya Mangure delves into the finer details of the case 

The Navi Mumbai police investigating the case suspects that the woman officer was killed by her senior and the body thrown in a creek with the help of a BJP strongman's relative in Maharashtra. While the police look for more evidence in the case, let's put some light on the life of Ashvini Bidre.

A native of Kolhapur, she married named Raju Gore in 2005. Bidre achieved her dream of becoming a police officer when she cleared the Maharashtra Public Service Commission examination in 2007. She was soon posted as a sub-inspector in Pune.

After serving there for three years, she was transferred to Sangli, where she moved along with her husband and one-year-old daughter.

It was in her second posting that she met Abhay Kurundkar, her senior at Sangli training center, and their initial friendship soon turned into love.

In 2013, Ashvini was transferred to Ratnagiri district, but the distance of 170 kilometres could not stop Abhay from meeting her frequently. The senior police officer had promised to marry her and she chose to ignore the fact that he was already married and had two children.

In October 2014, Ashvini decided to live separately from her husband. He knew about the affair and agreed to the decision. What surprised Raju was that Ashvini told him she had married Abhay and both of them were planning to stay together. Speaking to News18, Raju said, "Ashvini told me that she wanted to stay separately as she had married Abhay. She showed a bond paper as evidence of her marriage. I spoke to her father, after which we decided to stay separately."

She, however, would visit her native her daughter once in 3-4 months but eventually, even that stopped.

After Ashvini's separation from her husband, Abhay started regularly stayed at her flat. Ashvinis laptop, which is now with the police, has enough evidence to prove the same.

All was not well between the two, though. The relationship developed cracks as Abhay was not coming good on his promise to marry her, said sources in the police department.

A CCTV video of one such fight surfaced recently. The footage from 2014, recorded on one of the cameras installed at Ashvins flat, shows Abhay physically assaulting her. This was submitted as evidence against the senior officer by Ashvini's brother, Anand Bidre.

In 2015, the lady officer was promoted to the rank of Assistant Police Inspector and posted with the Protection of Civil Rights unit in Belapur near Navi Mumbai. During the same time, Abhay was also taking on the responsibility as Senior Police inspector with the Thane Rural police, both located close to each other.

Ashvini stayed alone at a flat in Navi Mumbai's Kalamboli suburb, where she was frequented by Abhay. After some days the senior officer moved in with her.

On April 11, 2016, the lady officer left for office but didn't return back home. On April 14, a few messages were sent from her phone to her brother, Anand, and the WhatsApp group of Kalyan Police, informing that she was going to UP for five or six days.

Weeks passed but Ashvini did not report for duty. In the last week of May, the APIs father received a call from the Navi Mumbai Police Headquarters asking about Ashvini. Till then unaware of her disappearance, the father was shocked when he heard the news. He gathered himself to inform the police that she wasn't at Kolhapur either.

After being informed by his father, Ashvinis brother Anand, who works in Chennai, decided to look for her himself. Over a month later, he finally gave up and decided to file a police complaint on July 14, 2017.

The police then went to search Ashvini's residence, along with her brother. There they found her laptop, which contained several CCTV footage and call recordings of Ashvini and Abhay. The police also discovered that her car was missing from the parking.

Anand called me on July 14 and told her about what happened. All evidence point towards Abhay, said Ashvinis husband Raju, who recorded his statement soon with the police, soon after Anand's call.

Three days after the missing person complaint, Kalombali police received a call from one of their informer about the missing car. The Maruti 800 was recovered from the parking of Kharghar Railway Station.

Despite evidence pointing towards him, the police did not take any action against Abhay.

After three months of the police claiming no leads, Ashvini's family decided to move the court.

The Bombay High court asked the police to file a report about the investigation carried out in the case. However, the court was not satisfied with the report that the police had filed and directed the cops to carry out a thorough investigation in the case. On January 31, 2017, the police then filed a case of kidnapping.

It took 10 months of investigation by the police to find crucial evidence against senior police inspector Abhay Kurundkar. He initially denied having an affair with Ashvini and gave in, only after being confronted with the evidence. He was arrested on December 7.

"We arrested Abhay Kurundkar after examining technical evidence, his name has also surfaced in the complaint filed by Ashvinis brother," a senior police officer told News18.

The call detail records of Abhay show that he had called Ashvini on April 11, 2016. This was a few hours before she disappeared.

After a while, the location of both phones was at Kalombali Market. According to the police, Abhay went to Kalombali Market to pick Ashvini. They then headed towards Vashi creek, before moving towards Bhayander creek.

Investigations revealed that Abhay had called another phone number, which was close to their location. The number belonged to Rajesh Patil, nephew of a former minister and part of BJPs top leadership in Maharashtra.

The duo came to know each other when Abhay was posted in Jalgaon. Patil was arrested on December 11.

Rajesh's phone details show that several calls were exchanged between him and Abhay. They were also seemingly with Ashvini Bidre at her last location at Bhayander.

Around 2:40 am on April 12, both Ashvini and Abhay's phone were switched off. The next ping off his phone was several hours later in Mumbai.

However, Devendra Patekar, Rajesh Patil lawyer says, "He is not involved in any crime but Rajesh knew Abhay. According to Patil, Rajesh received a call from Abhay on April 11, 2016, when he was at a hotel in Andheri. Later, Rajesh went to meet Abhay at Vashi."

However, he added that the meeting was not longer than 15 minutes.

A crucial evidence in the case is a towel with blood stains seized from the flat of Ashvini Bidre. Ashvini's daughter was called for a DNA test, to ascertain if the blood on the towel, was indeed the lady police officers.

Bidre's husband, Raju Gore, brought their daughter to the Panvel ACP's office on December 15. "We visited the Panvel rural civic hospital, where my daughter's blood sample was taken for investigation," he said.

Cops suspect that Ashvini was kidnapped and killed, after which, her body was thrown into the Bhayander creek. Police have sought permission to search Abhay's car, which he may have used to transport the victim and throw her in the creek.

Rajesh Patil and Abhay Kurundkar have been arrested for  Section 497 (Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), Section 506(2) (Criminal intimidation), Section 497 (Adultery) and Section 323 (Voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

However, after 18 months and 2 arrests, the family of Assistant Police Inspector Ashvini Bidre still awaits the answer to their question. Where is Ashvini Bidre?
Bilaspur: Two professors of a private college have been booked for allegedly molesting a woman colleague here, police said on Saturday.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had written to the Bilaspur police to take appropriate action in the case, Superintendent of Police Shalabh Sinha said.

He said a case was registered on Friday night at the Kotwali police station against Subir Sen and Durga Sharan Chandra.

Sen is a professor of commerce and Chandra is a professor of physics at DP Vipra College in the district.

Sinha said the victim, the widow of an Army personnel, had complained to the Sainik Kalyan Board that the accused had molested her and passed lewd remarks at her.

The victim, in her complaint, alleged the accused were pressuring her into having an intimate relationship with them but she had refused.

Sinha said the Sainik Kalyan Board passed on the complaint to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The Bilaspur police received a letter from the PMO on December 11, directing police to take appropriate action, the official added.

After preliminary investigation, the two were booked under relevant provisions of the law. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the case, Sinha said.
New Delhi: Just a day before the Gujarat Assembly election results are to be declared, the Election Commission on Sunday withdrew its model code violation notice against Congress President Rahul Gandhi after TV channels in poll-bound Gujarat aired his interview.

It said the provision under which it was issued is now under review.

"The Commission is of the considered view that due to multi-fold expansion of digital and electronic media, the extant Model Code of Conduct, Section 126 of the RP Act, 1951, and other related provisions require revisiting to cater to the requirement and challenges of the present and emerging situations," it said while withdrawing the notice.

In another development, the poll body also decided to set up a panel to suggest amendments to a provision in the election law barring campaigning 48 hours ahead of polling, following complaints that it has failed to keep pace with information technology.

The order comes in the wake of controversies over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's FICCI meeting, Rahul Gandhi's TV interviews and the release of BJP manifesto in Gujarat -- all after campaigning had ended in the state.

The poll body had on December 13 issued the show cause notice to Rahul Gandhi for "prima facie" violating the provisions of the election law and the model code by giving interviews to TV channels in Gujarat.

The panel will "examine these provisions in the prevailing context of communication technologies and suggest required changes", it said.

The commission accepted that Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act does not take into account the revolution in communication technology.

"It appears imperative to revisit the provisions relating to the last 48 hours before completion of poll to appropriately address challenges unleashed by fast changing technologies in the context of multi-phase polls," the commission said.

The Rahul interview became the latest flashpoint between the BJP and the Congress, with the latter accusing Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Union Minister Piyush Goyal of threatening journalists in the name of poll code.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: The IMA has strongly opposed the draft Bill that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with a new body, claiming it will cripple the medical profession.

The draft National Medical Commission bill was on Friday approved by the Cabinet.

It provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission.

Indian Medical Association president Dr K K Agarwal appealed to the prime minister to revise the draft bill in the larger interest of the medical profession.

According to the IMA, the NMC will "cripple" the functioning of the medical profession by making it completely answerable to the bureaucracy and non-medical administrators.

"Regulators need to have autonomy and be independent of the administrators. The National Medical Commission will be a regulator appointed by the administrators under their direct control," Aggarwal said.

It abolishes the Medical Council of India and "possibly" the section 15 of IMC Act, which says that the basic qualification to practise modern medicine is MBBS, he claimed.

"It takes away the voting right of every doctor in India to elect their medical council. Medical Council of India is a representative body of the medical profession in India. Any registered medical practitioner in the country can contest the election and every qualified doctor can vote.

"Abolishing a democratic institution and replacing it by a body in which majority are nominated by the government is certainly a retrograde step," Aggarwal said.

He further said that the draft Bill in its current form allows the private medical colleges to charge at will, nullifying whatever solace the NEET brought.

The government can fix the fee for only 40 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges, Aggarwal said.

Also, it inducts non-medical people into the highest body of medical governance changing its perspective and character forever and introduces schedule IV to allow AYUSH graduates to get registration in modern medicine.

"IMA appeals to the prime minister to recall the Bill and rectify these anomalies. Parliament has a larger role to protect the interest of the medical profession of the country," he said.

According to the draft bill, the commission will have government nominated chairman and members, and the board members will be selected by a search committee under the Cabinet Secretary.

There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the commission.

The draft bill also proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practising licences, the official said.

As per the provisions of the draft bill, no permission would be needed to add new seats or to start postgraduate courses.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has upheld a schools decision to suspend two students for hugging in public.

The two students  a boy and girl  studying in St Thomas CBSE School in Thiruvanthapuram, hugged each other during a public function there on July 21.

The boy, who was studying in Class XII at the time, said that the hug was congratulatory as the girl, who was a friend, performed well on stage while singing as part of the school arts festival.

They hugged on the school campus in front of friends and a teacher saw this after which they were taken to the principal.

Authorities of the St Thomas school said that the children violated the discipline of the school and suspended them.

The boy subsequently petitioned the child rights commission, which asked the school principal to admit the boy. The commission invoked the power under relevant sections of CrPC, which was challenged in court by the school.

We have a procedure to discipline a child and this has gone accordingly. Even after all the child and his parents did not have any remorse. The parents were taking the side of the child stating that it happens everywhere," the school told CNN-News18.

A punishment letter was served to the 16-year-old boy on November 30 in which the school said that they intend to dismiss him but considering age did not. The authorities added the boy had uploaded photographs of the incident on Instagram after the school had already conveyed their position to him.

The child's father said," Initially, after the incident in July, we were summoned to school. The secretary of the school used abusive language against my son and even told me to kill him and that there is no point in keeping kids like this. He called my son a "vithukala", a bull in heat. Initially we begged them to reconsider as we did not want the matters to escalate further. We were worried about his future as he is in class XII and he has to attend the board exams."

He said that they even gave an apology letter. After three to four days, the school told us that the children cannot attend school for one month and he was allowed to write the Onam exams. I took him to the school and brought him back when the exams were on. He was not allowed to use the school bus and he had to write the exam sitting alone in the library. Later, after a month, we were told about the disciplinary proceedings and the inquiry commission that they have formed," he said.

School principal Sebastian Joseph said that if the High Court or CBSE asks them to permit the student to sit for the board exam, they will allow him to do so.
He alleged that the Congress was running a malicious campaign claiming tampering of EVM machines before the results of Gujarat and Himachal are declared.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: With barely few hours left for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results to be declared, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today hit out at Congress over EVM tampering issue.

Paswan questioned the Congress as to why did they not suspect or question tampering of EVM machines when they won the Punjab elections earlier this year.

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He alleged that the Congress was running a malicious campaign claiming tampering of EVM machines before the results of the two states are declared.

"It's an incorrect propaganda being floated pertaining to EVMs in Gujarat elections by the Congress and other Opposition parties. Congress won the Punjab elections which was conducted through EVMs. Why did the party not object to EVMs then?" said the union minister.

Taking a dig at the party, Paswan said that the Congress-led UPA, which was in power for 10 years between 2004 and 2014, was chosen through the EVMs, then why did the Congress not object to it.

"Congress-led UPA was elected through use of EVMs in 2004 and 2009. Why did it not raise questions over it?" asked Paswan.

Paswan said that the Congress, by raising questions over the EVMs, was denigrating the office of election commission and insulting the constitutional body.

He maintained that the BJP will perform exceptionally well and get majority in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

--- ENDS ---
Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday said the visa applications of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother had been received and were being "processed", days after it again rejected India's plea for consular access to the death row prisoner.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed in a tweet that Jadhav's family had applied for visas.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds," Faisal tweeted.

He further said the applications were "being processed" but did not give any time line for approval of visas.

On Wednesday, Pakistan had rejected India's plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its "spy".

In its counter-memorial submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan said the provision of such an access under the Vienna Convention is only for legitimate visitors and not for spies, a media report said.

Pakistan said that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April, following which India moved the ICJ in May. The ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Earlier, Pakistan had agreed to facilitate a meeting of Jadhav with his mother and wife in Islamabad on December 25.

It also agreed to India's demand that they be accompanied by an official of the Indian High Commission here.

On Thursday, Pakistan directed its High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.
New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep for rehabilitation of families of fishermen who died due to Cyclone Ockhi.

In his first letter as the Congress chief to the prime minister, he requested Modi to help put in place adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas.

Highlighting the suffering of cyclone-hit fishermen, whom he met during his recent visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu on December 14, Gandhi said the cyclone has caused tremendous damage to their lives and livelihood.

"In these challenging times, our fishermen deserve a helping hand from our government," he said.

Gandhi urged the prime minister to take all necessary measures for rehabilitation of fishermen and restoration of their traditional vocation.

Being one of the most underprivileged sections of the society, these fishermen yearn for succour and hand holding from our government, he said.

"I would request you to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and union territory of Lakshadweep to undertake rehabilitation, provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased fishermen and for the overall development of the coastal region," he said.

Gandhi also asked the prime minister to take steps to prevent such a tragedy, to the extent possible.

He said fishermen in the coastal region depend solely on fishing and related activities as their only means of livelihood and are a vital economic resource of our economy.

"I urge you to take holistic measures for ensuring housing, basic health services and quality education for their children," he said.

Gandhi said the impact of the cyclone has brought to light the urgent need to ensure adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas and for providing life saving instruments for the fishermen sailing to the sea.

"May I also emphasise the need to construct sea-walls and groynes in the vulnerable sea coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu," he urged the Prime Minister.
Kolkata: The Army is totally geared up to face any situation in the Doklam sector and any mischief will be dealt with "properly", General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna said on Saturday.

He was asked about China reportedly stationing its troops in Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a standoff for over two months earlier this year after the Chinese army tried to build a road in the area claimed by Indians ally Bhutan.

India feared the road, if completed, would allow China to cut off its access to its northeastern states. The standoff ended in September after the two countries mutually agreed to withdraw their troops from the area.

Stating that he would not name anyone specifically, Lt. Gen. Krishna said the Indian Army is in high spirits and ready to take on any "mischief".

"We are totally prepared, geared up; let anybody do any mischief and he will get it back nice and proper," he told reporters here.

Lt. Gen. Krishna was speaking at the Eastern Command headquarter at Fort William here after a wreath-laying ceremony on 'Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971, which led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

The road building effort by China and presence of its troops at the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan had led to an eyeball-to-eyeball face-off between New Delhi and Beijing for 73 days from June 16.

Reports have said that China still has troops stationed a few hundred metres from the tri-junction in Dokalam sector.

Asked if the reports were verified, Lt Gen Krishna said a lot has been stated about them and he has nothing more to add.

"The Indian Army is always in very high spirits, we are always ready to take on any mischief by anybody. I am not going to name anybody specifically.

"Territorial integrity is ingrained in our blood and for that we will go to any extent to ensure the territorial integrity," he said.

Asked if India was prepared for a two-front war, Lt Gen Krishna said the country was "undoubtedly" ready for any eventuality.
New Delhi: Ruling Congress on Sunday swept the three municipal corporation polls - Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala, even as the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery.

The Congress swept most of the wards in the three municipal corporations as results were declared late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp. The Akali-BJP alliance, however, demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation polls citing gross poll code violations.

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements.

For the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent.

Congress swept the Patiala municipal corporation winning 59 wards while the opposition failed to open account. In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by BJP (8) and SAD (4).

In Amritsar, Congress won 64, SAD 7, BJP 6 and 8 wards went to the independents.

Overall, the Congress won 189 wards in the three municipal corporations followed by BJP with 14, SAD with 11, while ten were won by independents.

My heartfelt thanks to people of Punjab for turning out in huge numbers to support the Congress in MC, Nagar Panchayat & Council elections. The sweeping victory for @INCPunjab is a clear vindication of our policies and a defeat of the Oppositions false propaganda. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 17, 2017

In the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls, the Congress won from 267 places as against 37 by SAD, 15 by BJP, 94 by Independents.

The AAP received a severe drubbing winning from only one place.

The voting started at 8 AM and continued till 4 PM, a spokesman of the state election commission said here.

Tight security arrangements were made to ensure fair and free polling, which by and large remained peaceful barring a stray incident, officials said.

The major political outfits: ruling Congress, SAD-BJP and AAP were contesting the civic polls on their party symbols. A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel were deployed at the polling stations.

The Election Commission (EC) had ordered videography of 103 hyper sensitive wards.

Polling was held in 222 out of 225 wards in the three municipal corporations and 327 of the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

In 90 wards, the candidates had earlier won unopposed and out of these three candidates belonged to the Patiala Municipal Corporation and 87 to municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

Nearly 900 candidates were in fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar.

The civic polls were held nine months after the assembly elections after which the Congress had wrested power from SAD-BJP combine in the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda."

Meanwhile, SAD-BJP demanded countermanding of the Patiala Corporation elections. A SAD-BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu here and also sat on a dharna outside his office.

The SAD-BJP leaders claimed that they had vidoegraphic evidence of blatant rigging and violence in Patiala.

Former minister and SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, who led the SAD-BJP delegation, alleged "the Congress had murdered democracy in the State by using police force to commit atrocities on Akali-BJP cadre".

Cheema said even former SAD Mayor from Patiala, Amarinder Singh Bajaj, was manhandled.

He alleged that in Mullanpur Dakha a SAD candidate's mother was attacked and injured by Congress supporters.

"Similarly SAD polling agents were attacked by Congressmen in Sahnewal who barged into their booths with a group of outsiders. In Ghanour when Akali-BJP supporters protested casting of fake votes they were thrashed..," he said adding the SAD-BJP would now take recourse to democratic protests as well as legal remedy.

BJP demanded a repoll in Patiala, Ghagga and some wards in Mullanpur Dakha and Jalandhar, alleging violation of model code and misuse of machinery.

Former chief minister Parkash Badal described the entire process of civic poll as "utterly uncivilised" and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab.

"This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement here.

The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress in the polls.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls."

He expressed the confidence that with Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party, the euphoria would translate into victories for Congress.
New Delhi: As Sonia Gandhi handed over the charge of Congress President to her son Rahul Gandhi on a chilly Saturday morning amid fanfare and celebrations laced with mixed emotions, nothing could have been a more picture-perfect moment than the one in which he kissed his mother on her forehead.

The handing over of the mantle of the 132-year-old party took place at a ceremony on the lawns of the Congress headquarters where Central Election Authority president Mullapally Ramachandran presented the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony watched by Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi and other top leaders of the party.

The moment Sonia Gandhi completed her last speech addressed to the party workers as party president and walked up to her chair, an emotional Rahul Gandhi came forward and greeted his mother with a kiss on her forehead. She returned the gesture with a pat on his back.

Though Sonia Gandhi's speech in Hindi was punctuated by loud fireworks set off by enthusiastic party workers, forcing her to pause several times and also briefly lose her cool, the atmosphere outside the party headquarters had a feel of a carnival.

Outside the 24 Akbar Road, a group of colourfully dressed artistes played drums and danced to bhangra tunes with party supporters, waving Rahul Gandhi's posters and Congress flags.

There were other groups of artists from Hyderabad and Rajasthan performing folk dances of their respective regions.

Party workers from across the country thronged to the Congress office in different regional costumes, either to congratulate Rahul Gandhi or to get a glimpse of their future leader. They distributed sweets, burst crackers, took selfies on their mobile phones, shouted slogans and gave a hard time to the security personnel.

The crowd on Akbar Road kept swelling as the day progressed, so much so that many senior Congress leaders had a tough time entering the party office.

While many managed to struggle their way into the party headquarters, others had to either leave or be content listening to their leaders from outside.

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit admitted that she was in tears listening to Sonia Gandhi's speech which was laced with emotion and a sense of fulfillment.

"I have mixed emotions today. @OfficeOfRG (Rahul Gandhi) reinforced the hope that Congress and its values are in safe hands. Hearing Sonia Gandhi speak brought tears to my eyes. She went through so much in her life and yet never lost her poise," Dikshit tweeted.

As Sonia Gandhi made way for her son on Saturday, the party leaders gave a standing ovation after her speech and felicitated her with a citation and a shawl.

As the ceremony came to an end, Priyanka Gandhi, on his brother taking over the mantle of party President, said: "He has a tough road ahead...and I think he is the man for it. He is brave enough..."
New Delhi: Bhupendra Yadav, much like his mentor Amit Shah, is a fiercely private man. Like Shah, he prefers from operating from the confines of a war room than from the stage at an election rally. Yadav, the BJP National General Secretary, emerged as a crucial linchpin in the BJP's election machine in Gujarat.

With a victory in Uttar Pradesh under his belt, Amit Shah's gaze turned to his home state. In April, just a month after the UP assembly elections results, Shah appointed Bhupendra Yadav, an OBC leader from UP and the BJPs National General Secretary, as the BJP's election in-charge in the state of Gujarat. In just eight months, he would have to learn the complex and fast-changing caste equations of Gujarat, in addition to evolving and implementing strategy.

But Shah did not make his choice lightly. Bhupendra Yadav had been the BJP election in-charge for Rajasthan in 2013, Jharkhand in 2014 and Bihar in 2015. While Bihar did not go the way the BJP would have liked, Yadav delivered results for his boss, Shah, in both Rajasthan and Jharkhand. BJP won 163 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly and the BJP-led alliance won 47 out of 82 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly. Party insiders even credit Yadav with the planning and implementation of Vasundhara Rajes Suraaj Sankalp Yatra travelled over 13,000 kms across 33 districts in the state.

But when asked what role Yadav played in the Gujarat campaign, a senior Gujarat BJP leader sounded confused, "I dont understand what you mean. You're asking me what he did? Well, he did everything. He had a part to play in everything from ticket distribution to booth-level management. If Amit Shah outlines the plan, Bhupendra Yadav carries it out."

The leader added that Yadav often shies away from addressing public rallies, often remarking upon the futility of rallies in general. "He often says  keval rally karne se kuch nahi hoga. (Rallies alone will not win you election). His strategy is to focus on local factors. He would sit for hours with state leaders like the CM, the state president and deputy CM to decide which candidate should be fielded in which constituency. When these leaders would go on to address rallies, he would meet local workers for equally long, chalking out local strategy."

But Yadavs biggest contribution, another leader said, was that he was in-charge of implementing Amit Shah's 'Page Pramukh' strategy. "You see, every constituency has several booths and every polling booth has its voter lists. These voter lists run into several pages and each page has the names of 20-30 voters. The idea is to take one of the people on every page of voter lists and appoint them as the BJP's page pramukh."

This, the source added, will follow a pyramidal structure. Gujarat will have over 50,000 polling booths set up in its 182 Vidhan Sabha constituencies. BJP has also set up 'Shakti Kendras', each of which will have the responsibility to look after the area under 5-6 polling booths. Each constituency area has around 50 polling booths. The page pramukh will be answerable to the booth in charge, who in turn will be answerable to their respective Shakti Kendras. The Shakti Kendra will be accountable to the local MLA or Vidhan Sabha in charge, who will in turn be accountable to the BJP's state leadership.

A leader said, "Yadav made sure that at regular intervals, he would check in with each level of the pyramid. Both he and Amit Shah are convinced that Page Pramukhs are key to victory. It ensures that our people reach every last voter in Gujarat and we have personal contact with everyone. This is the level of groundwork that Congress cannot match. And Yadav has been instrumental in getting this done."
Bengaluru: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of trying to "divide" the society and lashed out at it on the law-and-order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Addressing a public meeting here as part of the BJP's ongoing statewide "Parivartana Yatra", organised to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, due early next year, he said the Congress regime believed in spreading enmity between different communities.

"Rudresh, Kuttappa and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta were murdered in cold blood. Even Gauri Lankesh was killed. If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated," Singh said.

RSS activist Rudresh was hacked to death here early this year and a similar fate awaited local Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader D S Kuttappa in Kodagu district in November, 2015.

Veteran journalist Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside her residence here in September, leading to a national outrage.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week. The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mesta's death, for which the BJP has blamed the "jihadi elements".

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

"There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide the Indian society," he added.

Singh said the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there was no such provision in the Constitution.

"Reservation based on religion is a deception with the people of the state. The Constitution does not allow it," he added.

The Union minister said the country was scaling new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Despite the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, various international economic organisations have projected a high economic growth rate for the country."

"They have even recommended such economic reforms," he added. Regarding border security and internal peace, Singh said the way the Dokalam stand-off with China was resolved showed that India was a strong country.

"Even China realises that India is not the same anymore," he added.

Singh said the country had taken the terrorists in Kashmir head-on and curbed their activities substantially. Karnataka's growth would be rapid if the BJP was voted to power in the state, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa too slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly talking about Modi in a derogatory manner.

"You (Siddaramaiah) are only a 'bachcha' (kid) in front of Prime Minister Modi. When the whole world is admiring Modi, who are you to talk about him in an insulting way," the former chief minister said.171824
New Delhi: After intense campaigning and crores votes being cast, the battle to choose between BJP and Congress to lead Gujarat will culminate on Monday.

The election, though, marks the end of the road for a few prominent political faces, who have been integral to Gujarat over decades.

News18 traces three of those who might not be counted as political players during the next election:

ANANDIBEN PATEL

It was on May 22, 2014, when Patel took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Gujarat, succeeding Narendra Modi and becoming the first female CM of the state.

The fact that she would not play an active role in politics had become clear, when she expressed her desire to resign on August 1, 2016, as she was turning 75 in November 2016.

However, rumour mills were abuzz with speculations that Patel had chosen to move aside as she was not happy with the way Patidar agitation and Dalit protests were handled. She continued to hold office until her successor Vijay Rupani took over on August 7, 2016.

Patel first made headlines when she saved two girls from drowning in the Sardar Sarovar reservoir, a feat that she received the President's bravery award for.

Later, in 1987, BJP top cadre suggested to Anandiben that she join the party and was promptly handed over the post of Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha President.

It is also rumoured that one of the major reasons for her to take a backseat was differences with Amit Shah.

When the Rajya Sabha MP became BJP Gujarat Assembly Election campaigns central figure, Anandiben felt she would have no say in ticket distribution. She also wasn't invited to the BJP parliamentary boards meeting in New Delhi.

Anandiben, though, continues to battle for the cause of education and supports privatisation of education.

Recently, while addressing a gathering, she said, "People spend Rs 1000 in restaurants but when it comes to paying for their child education, it pinches them. Tell me, every state except Gujarat has private schools. People can afford to go to private institutes. When parents do not mind, why create a fuss?"

SHANKERSINH VAGHELA

The septuagenarian won his first election 35 years ago but is no more counted in the electoral race. His new political front, Jan Vikalp Morcha, fielded 100 candidates but Vaghela is not contesting and has refrained from addressing any public meetings.

After he quit the Indian National Congress, the former Chief Minister launched JVM ahead of 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election. Talking to News18, he said, When I left the Congress, I had said that I would not join any of the current parties but I never said I would leave politics. Hence, I formed the Jan Vikalp Morcha," said Vaghela.

The ex-Union Minister also wants to change the Indian political system and introduce US Presidential-style primaries here.

"Party workers should vote for their MLA or MP. I strongly feel that a Presidential form of government would be better suited for India and would give more stable governments. It will also put an end to horse-trading and the high-command culture. Another troubling factor nowadays is the level of discourse in this state. It is very saddening to hear abusive language in public, he said.

Always a crowd puller. Vaghela is known for having engineered the Rashtriya Janata Party split from the BJP in 1995, which helped him form the government.

A Kshatriya leader, Vaghela wields influence in OBC-dominated areas of North and Central Gujarat.

KESHUBHAI PATEL

Former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and his family too have kept away from this election. However, Patel was the most important figure in the last election wherein he projected himself as the Messiah of Patidar rights with his newly formed party, Gujarat Parivartan Party.

In 2012, Patel returned to politics after 15-odd years and tried to take on Narendra Modi.

In 2001, when Modi became Gujarat CM for the very first time, Patel had won the Visavadar seat with a commanding margin, but his party won just two out of the 182 seats. Two years later, Keshubhai merged his party with the BJP and resigned as MLA, citing age and health.

Patel was one of the founding members of BJP and had won continuous polls since 1975. In 1995, he became the first chief minister of BJP but had to soon step down, owing to a rebellion by Vaghela.

In 1998, he returned as CM but was replaced with Narendra Modi in the wake of the Kutch earthquake.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday called for a law that would bar the prime minister and chief ministers from participating in election rallies.

In an article in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', he said comments were made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "jumping into muck", adding that the Centre had become a "factory of elections".

"There were comments made on the prime minister during the Gujarat polls. All this happened as the PM himself jumped into the muck. It should stop now. There should be a law in place to stop the PM and CMs from participating in election rallies," Raut said.

"The parliament is the supreme constitutional institution in the country where new laws are made in every session. Now everybody should show the willingness to make a law to bar the PM and CMs from holding election rallies," he said.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Raut said the government's coffers were looted most by the Congress, but those who raised a voice against this were in power today.

However, the loot of the government's coffers has not stopped, he commented.

"Government money and machinery is being used for election rallies when a prime minister or a chief minister campaigns. We will now have to demand that this money should be recovered from the party, be it of Manmohan Singh or Narendra Modi," he said.

The Sena leader said when a PM or a CM goes for an election rally, they do not go on a personal visit but have their supportive machinery with them.

"Modi held 40-45 rallies in Gujarat for which he used government aircraft and helicopters. Being a PM, he spent crores of rupees of government money for election campaigning. His predecessors did not do anything different. The Centre has become a factory of elections," Raut said.

He said after Gujarat, assembly polls in Karnataka will be announced in three months time, and in another six months, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will go to polls.

"Fighting polls and winning them with any possible means has become the only concern for the government. The only way to stop all this is to have the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, or the PM and the CMs are kept away from campaigning. Or they should resign from their posts and then campaign for their party," Raut said.
Pune: As most exit poll surveys predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party to win the Gujarat Assembly polls, its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade has claimed that the party would not win enough seats to form the next government in the state.

"Forget absolute majority, the party will not even get enough number of seats to form the government. The Congress on the other hand will reach close to the majority mark," Kakade claimed.

"If at all the party retains power in the state, it will be only and only because of Narendra Modi," he said.

Kakade claimed his team has conducted a survey in Gujarat and his claim was based on the outcome of that survey.

"I had sent a team of six people to Gujarat. They mostly covered the rural part of the state where they met farmers, drivers, waiters and labourers. Based on their survey and my own observation, I feel the BJP will not get absolute majority in Gujarat," he said.

Kakade cited anti-incumbency against the BJP government as a reason for his prediction.

"The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 22 years. Since Independence, apart from the communists in West Bengal, there is not a single party in the country which has remained in power for 25 years," he claimed.

Kakade said the negative feeling against the party may cost BJP in this election.

He pointed out that BJP leaders did not talk about development in any of the campaign rallies in the last phase.

"In the last a few rallies, there was no word on development by the party leaders. There was no mention of employment generation in Gujarat or about any major decision taken by the party during last three years. The rallies were aimed at targeting the Opposition and making an emotional appeal to voters," he said.
Congress comes to power in municipal corporations in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala. Assumes power in 29 municipal councils as well.

By Indo-Asian News Service, India Today Web Desk: Punjab's ruling Congress swept the municipal elections in the state on Sunday even as the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP alleged booth capturing and misuse of power.

The Congress won 58 wards in the Patiala municipal corporation, while the opposition failed to open its account.

In Jalandhar, the Congress won 66 wards while the Akali Dal-BJP won 12. In Amritsar, the Congress won 69 wards while the Akali Dal-BJP combine won 12.

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Voting was held on Sunday for three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala, and 29 municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats.

Minor clashes between Akali Dal-BJP workers and those from the Congress were reported in Patiala city and a few other places.

In Patiala, the hometown of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, police had to resort to a baton charge to disperse activists of both sides as the situation turned violent.

The Akali Dal demanded immediate countermanding of the elections, citing gross poll code violations in all wards.

It demanded a high level inquiry into violence and rigging done by Congressmen and registration of cases against civil and police officials, whom it accused of acting like Congress agents.

Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the State Election Commission (SEC) of "becoming party to the Congress conspiracy to defeat the voice of the people in the civic body elections".

"We will approach the high court and expose the conspiracy of the SEC, the ruling Congress and police officers," he said after the results came out.

"The party would also demand the immediate dismissal of State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu for becoming a Congress stooge and lowering the dignity of the high office held by him. If he has any self-respect he should resign immediately as he has betrayed the faith of the people who have high respect for the office of the Election Commissioner and don't expect such partisan behavior from him," Badal said.

"The SEC acted in a biased manner from the beginning. Akali delegations met him five times. He did not even give justice once. We protested against late receipt of voter lists and denial of no objection certificates to SAD-BJP candidates. He did not act on this complaint. The SEC failed to act even when officials refused to receive nomination papers of Akali candidates," he added.

Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda". "I congratulate the people of Punjab for not succumbing to the pressure tactics of the opposition," he said in a statement on Sunday.

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Akali Dal and BJP leaders held a protest outside the office of the state election commission in Chandigarh on Sunday afternoon alleging rigging by the ruling Congress.

"We have not seen such murder of democracy as what happened today," Akali Dal leader and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema told media there.

The main contest was among the Congress, main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance. Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards had dominated the campaigning for the municipal elections.

The election for the municipal corporation of Punjab's largest city, Ludhiana, was not being held as the electoral rolls were not updated.

This is the first big election in the state after the Congress government, led by Amarinder Singh, came to power after the assembly polls in March.

India Today - Axis My India poll suggests BJP will lead in Gujarat assembly elections

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New Delhi: Perhaps for the first time since 1985, caste has dominated a Gujarat election to this extent. Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor came to form an alliance that articulated the resentment against the BJP, which has ruled Gujarat for the last 22 years. Their combined assault, as some experts say, brought Narendra Modi to the streets of the poll-bound state. News18 spoke to experts on the role of youth leaders and voters in this election.

Young Caste Leaders Challenged Old Guard

The combine of Alpesh, Jignesh, Hardik and Vasava brought Modi to the streets of Gujarat, said Dr Harun Mansuri, assistant professor, Indian Politics at Sardar Patel University. Mansuri said Modis campaign, which started with vikas, went to dynasty and finally ended on Ahmed Patel and Pakistan. There were seaplane rides, last minute roadshows and Ro-Ro Ferry rides, Prime Minister was in Gujarat all the time.

Baldev Agja, professor and human rights activist said, Decades have passed and whats passed on as development is basically selective development  only of the elites. These boys embody the disenchantment in the youth regarding the development of only the elite. They belong to the youth of Gujarat and have a defining effect on state politics.

According to Agja and Mansuri, the agitation by the three activists contributed to the Congresss revival in the state. They have resuscitated the Congress. Their view is shared by political analyst Hari Desai, director-founder of Sardar Patel Research Institute, who said that Congress benefited from the three movements. Their angst oiled the field for Rahul Gandhi. Now, even if he loses in Gujarat, he has got the launching pad. To say the obvious, the rise is because of these men, he said.

They Still Depend On Old Parties

While Hardik, Alpesh and Jignesh have found followers across the state, there are others whose appeal is largely confined to certain regions of Gujarat. Tribal leader Chhotubhai Vasava is one such leader. He is not as big for tribals as Hardik is for Patels. He will play a minor role in Gujarat elections, said Sanjay Kumar from CSDS.

However, Kumar also said that Hardiks movement would fizzle out unless Congress came to power. There will be no change for them if they don't have Congress in power. Things will remain the way they are unless and until BJP reaches out to him and engages a dialogue with him.

Even then, these boys brought a new kind of politics to Gujarat. They opposed BJP in non-conventional ways that were not known in the state. Gujarat is not Bengal. Hardik brought a new phenomenon of street agitations in Gujarat.

Plans for Future

Abhay Kumar from CSDS said, There is internal rift among Patidars  Kadva and Leuva vote against each other's choices. If one is pro-BJP, the other will be against it. So if Hardik Patel, who is a Kadva, is fighting against the BJP and telling people to defeat them, chances are the Leuva Patels might do the reverse. He warns, Action and reaction might nullify the impact of these three young leaders.

Desai, however, has hope, This time the angst is so deep that there is a consolidation of Patel votes as well. He pointed out, At the time of the Patidar agitation in 2015 there were grass-root level elections in 31 out of 33 seats, and in that zila parishad congress won 23 seats. That win was not because of Congress but the Patidar resentment.

According to Abhay Kumar, Rahul Gandhi came out with flying colors but thats hardly a verdict on Hardik, Jignesh and Alpesh. For any movement to click, it has to make linkages with other communities as well, and serve agenda in a larger and more common parlance." But their movements were divided  Alpesh, Hardik did not agree with each other on a reservation formula. The three, it seems, have only come together to defeat the BJP.

He added, The three are together only in election time. Before this, the leaders were agitating separately, in fact quarreling with each other. It is not to be compared with the anti-corruption movement. That movement affected people from all walks of life and their psyche. It won Delhi for Arvind Kejriwal.

BJPs Organizational Edge

Many observers of politics in India would agree that the BJPs organizational strength gives it an edge in the polls. The strength of the organization, some feel, is enough to trump resentment generated by these new leaders. Some argue that GST and demonetization can derail the BJP in Gujarat. But if UP is anything to go by that is not the case.

Kumar from CSDS said, We expect these aspects of economy like GST, notebandi to translate into anti-government verdict. I have a feeling that the Gujarat elections might have lesson for all analysts. Maybe, these kinds of ruptures, small or whatever, are not going to alter the electoral equation for the party. It might make some difference, but astute leadership can recover from all that.

Jagannath Mishra and old Congress leader also told News 18, BJPs strength is their organization. On the other hand, Congress does not have ground connect.

Will They Trump Polarization?

Polarization has become, over the last few decades, a part of Gujarat politics. But can these three leaders change that? Change of that sort cannot happen overnight. The psyche of Gujarat is polarized but Congress will dent urban voters, except maybe in Bhavnagar and Vadodra. In my view Surat, Rajkot and Ahmedabad will see some change, added Desai.

He felt that this election did not have a lot of state issues being raised. We need to see if this will earn them dividends in the elections, as it has always done, said Desai.
Karachi/Islamabad: Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service on Sunday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least eight people and injuring 44 others.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added.

Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that eight people were killed while 44 others injured, including children and women. He said that nine injured are in critical condition. According to the church's Facebook page, it had organized different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about the number of attackers.

Ansari said that three militants were involved. He said one was killed by police and the second was able to detonate explosives. He said there are reports that a third militant fled from the scene and police was searching for him.

Earlier, DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.
Librevile: An attacker wielding a knife and crying "Allahu Akbar" has wounded two Danish journalists in Gabon's capital Libreville, the Gabonese defence minister said.

The two reporters for the National Geographic channel were in a popular market for tourist souvenirs on Saturday, when a Nigerian national living in Gabon lunged at them with the knife, Defence Minister Etienne Kabinda Makaga said in a statement.

After his arrest, the 53-year-old suspect, who has lived in Gabon for two decades, told authorities he was carrying out a revenge attack against America for recognising Israel's capital as Jerusalem, Makaga said, giving no further explanation.

"A judicial investigation was immediately opened at the public prosecutor's office of Libreville to establish if the acts of the aggressor were isolated or a conspiracy," Makaga said.

Oil-rich Gabon has a small Muslim population consisting mostly of foreign workers, although the precise number is not known. It is not normally considered a high risk country for jihadist violence.
London: "Youthquake" was crowned Friday as Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year 2017, following a five-fold increase in usage.

The word is defined as "a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people".

It first rose during Britain's June general election, which saw an upsurge in youth turnout, then had an even bigger spike in September around New Zealand's general election.

However, the word was first coined in 1965 by the then Vogue magazine editor Diana Vreeland to describe how youth culture was changing fashion and music.

It beat eight other words on the shortlist.

These included "milkshake duck", a "person or thing that initially inspires delight on social media but is soon revealed to have a distasteful or repugnant past" and "white fragility", defined as "discomfort and defensiveness on the part of a white person when confronted by information about racial inequality and injustice".

Also shortlisted was "broflake", a man who is readily upset or offended by progressive attitudes that conflict with his more conventional or conservative views, and "newsjacking", defined as taking advantage of current events to promote a brand.

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Dictionaries, said Youthquake was a word everyone could rally behind.

"Youthquake may not seem like the most obvious choice for Word of the Year, and it's true that it's yet to land firmly on American soil, but strong evidence in the UK calls it out as a word on the move," he said.

"We chose youthquake based on its evidence and linguistic interest. But most importantly for me, at a time when our language is reflecting our deepening unrest and exhausted nerves, it is a rare political word that sounds a hopeful note."

"We turn to language to help us mark where we have been, how far we have come, and where we are heading," Oxford Dictionaries said.

Youthquake best reflected not only the ethos, mood and preoccupations of the past year, but had "lasting potential as a word of cultural significance".

The other shortlisted words are antifa, gorpcore, kompromat and unicorn, something dyed with rainbow colours or decorated with glitter.

Previous words of the year include "post-truth" (2016), the "face with tears of joy" emoji (2015), "vape" (2014), "selfie" (2013), "omnishambles" in Britain and "GIF" in the United States (2012) and "squeezed middle" (2011).
Istanbul: Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognise it as the capital of Palestine.

It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of a future state they seek to be in East Jerusalem, which Israel took in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognised internationally.

The Muslim nation summit was a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's Dec. 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. His move broke with decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that the city's status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkey's consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador.

"God willing, the day is close when officially, with God's permission, we will open our embassy there," Erdogan said.

Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islam's third holiest shrine as well as Judaism's Western Wall - both in the eastern sector - and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkey's, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem's unresolved status.

A communique issued after Wednesday's summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including U.S. allies, said they considered Trump's move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role "as sponsor of peace" in the Middle East.

The status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, is one of the biggest barriers to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Jerusalem's eastern sector was captured by Israel in a 1967war and annexed in a move not recognised internationally.

Palestinians claim East Jerusalem for the capital of an independent state that they seek, while Israel maintains that all of Jerusalem is its capital.
United Nations: The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution finding any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed, after the US recognised the city as Israel's capital.

Egypt circulated the draft text on Saturday, and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the international consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it says.

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

No embassies in Jerusalem

The draft resolution calls on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead.

It demands that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

The Palestinians had sought a toughly-worded draft resolution that would have directly called on the US administration to scrap its decision.

But some US allies on the council such as Britain, France, Egypt, Japan and Ukraine were reluctant to be too hard-hitting and insisted that the proposed measure should reaffirm the position enshrined in current resolutions, diplomats said.

Backed by Muslim countries, the Palestinians are expected to turn to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution rejecting the US decision, if, as expected, the measure is vetoed by the United States at the council.

Aside from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented at the council, which requires nine votes for adoption.
Mark Stephen Agee, 31, was driving eastbound on U.S. 460 just west of Virginia 897 in a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road and overturned multiple times in the median, according to a news release.
By PTI: Patna, Dec 17 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) have helped making elections "transparent and impartial" and those criticising them were doing so out of the fear of defeat.

Kumars observation came a day before the counting of votes for the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and in the backdrop of allegations of EVM tampering in Gujarat to favour the BJP.

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"Some may criticize the EVMs out of fear of defeat, but the EVMs have made elections transparent and impartial. Now, nobody can deprive anybody of the right to cast votes," Kumar, who has predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP in Gujarat, tweeted in Hindi.

The Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and Patidar leader Hardik Patel have expressed apprehension that the EVMs may have been tampered with in Gujarat where the BJP has been in power for 22 years and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had served as the Chief Minister for over a decade. PTI NAC NN ASK ASK

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ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) has pledged to work with other security organs in the country to maintain law and order during the festive season and in the run up to the 2018 harmonised elections.



Officer commanding police in Mashonaland West Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Rangarirai Mushaurwa said they were geared to working with other security organs, including the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to maintain peace.



This, she said, was in line with the ZRP theme for 2018: ZRP promoting Gracious Peace and Economic Stability.





Snr Asst Comm Mushaurwa was speaking at the launch of the Mashonaland West provincial Festive Season Crime and Traffic awareness campaign in Chinhoyi on Friday.

The campaign brought together stakeholders, including the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe National Army, the Vehicle Inspection Department, Chinhoyi Municipality and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.





Snr Asst Comm Musharurwa warned that perpetrators of violence and instigators of instability would not be tolerated in the run up to next years elections.





It is in this spirit of promoting peace that you see us today, and in the future joining hands with other security organs in campaigns, patrols and other law enforcement activities, she said.





With the forthcoming harmonised elections due next year in 2018, this theme resonates very well with our constitutional mandate as espoused in section 219 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) that is preserving the internal security of Zimbabwe, among other functions.

Snr Asst Comm Mushaurwa urged drivers to observe road rules and regulations, which included abstaining from driving while under the influence of alcohol, avoiding speeding to prevent loss of life.





I urge all operators to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys, she said. All motorists are discouraged from overloading and should not attempt to cross overflowing bridges.





Snr Asst Comm Mushaurwa urged members of the public to avoid boarding private vehicles, saying some of the owners pretend to be good Samaritans, but later turn out to be highway robbers.





Conversely, she urged motorists to be careful as they may become victims of robbery by people they would have given lifts.





She also warned pedestrians against using unlit and less used roads during the night, as some people, especially women, have become victims of rape and robberies.





Members of the public must also avoid using unlit footpaths at night because these are hunting grounds for robbers and rapists, said Snr Asst Comm Musharurwa. Residents should also be advised not to leave their houses unattended as this creates opportunity for criminals to gain entry and steal their valuables during this festive season. Herald
Government has not banned extra lessons and Scripture Union (SU) and will allow them to continue in schools, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima has said.



Addressing teachers representatives in Harare last week, Prof Mavima said extra lessons could go ahead, provided they did not supercede normal classes and become money-spinners. The ministers remarks follow speculation that authorities had done away with extra lessons and SU.



Prof Mavima said: We never banned extra lessons in schools. Neither I nor my predecessor (Dr Lazarus Dokora) did. However, we sincerely condemn activities that hinder the smooth flow of main classes. Students should not be disadvantaged because they can only afford main classes and not extra lessons as many parents pay willy-nilly. What we are condemning is a situation where main classes suffer. However, we never banned extra lessons, especially if they are to the benefit of students.





On SU, Prof Mavima said learners were free to organise themselves into faith-based groups as the Constitution of Zimbabwe promotes religious freedom.

I want to make it clear that there has never been an effect in the new curriculum on clubs like the Scripture Union.





There was never any effect and there will never be any effect. There was never any attempt by the ministry to say that we are banning Scripture Union. So, when it is raised in a forum like this, I get really concerned as to where it is really coming from because there was never any directive from my predecessor, myself, the permanent secretary, any of our principal directors or directors to say that there should be restriction in our schools.





Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu told this paper: There has been a distortion in understanding what extra lessons are.

The truth is extra lessons are supposed to be applied for in special circumstances. It is the school that applies for extra lessons in the event that they either want to complete the syllabus or for remedial purposes only. After the school is granted permission for such lessons, a certain fee can be charged; a fee channelled towards rates, rents, etcetera. The charge should not be for teaching services; it is not their salary. Dokora was fighting people who were now commercialising lessons.

Such activities were amounting to corruption, which was bad for the education system. We do not want people to see teachers as merciless people. We do not want a state of anarchy, Mr Ndlovu said. Sunday Mail
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he will represent cross-sectional interests, standing for the rights and aspirations of all Zimbabweans.



His remarks follow an edgy period in domestic politics that saw the highly divisive G40 cabal channel factionalism, regionalism and tribalism; in addition to fuelling cronyism that drove alleged criminal activity by a few elites.



Cde Mnangagwa, who was endorsed as Zanu-PF President and First Secretary and the partys Presidential candidate for the 2018 harmonised elections, preached unity at his inauguration on November 24.





He continued on this note at Zanu-PFs Extraordinary Congress in Harare last Friday, saying: I urge the party to introspect and self-adjust in conformity with the principles, mores and genes of Zanu-PF.





In this regard, Article 2 (Section 14) of our partys constitution outlines the aims and objectives of our party as inter alia being to oppose resolutely tribalism, regionalism, nepotism, corruption, racism, religious fanaticism, xenophobia and related intolerance, discrimination on the grounds of sex and all forms of exploitation of man by man in Zimbabwe.





In line with this instruction, therefore, my ascendance to the helm of the party must never be interpreted as a defeat of one faction and installation of another. My Presidency should not be perceived as a rise in the fortunes of a region, or a tribe or a totem, no. My Presidency is about a united Zanu-PF, a national party with a national outlook.





The President said he would unite all Zimbabweans under the national flag and around the national anthem.





I stand before you, therefore, as the President of a united, non-racial Zimbabwe, itself home to many tongues, dialects, cultures, colours, age groups.

I am a President of women and men; the young and the old; the able-bodied and the physically-challenged; the rich and the poor; the well and the sick. I am an emissary of all the veterans and heroes, dead or alive, who through their blood sketched the cause and mission which my Presidency must promote, must actualise and advance.





I am a President for Ndebeles, Shonas, Zezurus, Ndaus, Karangas, Manyikas, Vendas, the Chewas, Sothos. I am also the President for the Tongas, Tswanas, Xhosas, Khoisans, Shangaans, Kalangas, Nambyans and other races, all who are celebrated in our national Constitution. The role you have given me, and the Office you have inserted me into can never be partitioned to anyone.





Political scientist Professor Charity Manyeruke said President Mnangagwas national outlook reflected political maturity and statesmanship.





It is a very important message coming from a national leader. It shows that President Mnangagwa has a vision in terms of nation-building and he is already taking practical steps to unite the people, said Prof Manyeruke.

It shows that unity will be a key factor under his administration where he is seeking to pull Zimbabweans in one direction, working in unison to develop the country.





The message shows that he is not discriminatory and he is prepared to unite the people under the banner of one Zimbabwe. His message also shows that he is anti-racist.





It is derived from the unity shown by the people of Zimbabwe during the solidarity march which was organised by the war veterans where Zimbabweans of all races, creed and political affiliation came together as one for a common cause.





University of Pretoria PhD scholar and political commentator Mr Alban Gambe added: After a period of political polarisation, it was important for the President to deliver a message of unity.

He did just that by pledging to represent all Zimbabweans and not just those who support his political party or those who come from his province.





It is critical at this juncture, especially when we are due to hold elections in a few months time. Given the history of political intolerance in some areas, it was important that President Mnangagwa assured all the people of Zimbabwe that they are well represented through his administration. Sunday Mail
The Zanu-PF National Youth League Executive yesterday elected new office bearers to fill posts that fell vacant following expulsion of G40 cabal members.



President Emmerson Mnangagwa reinstated former leader Cde Pupurai Togarepi at Zanu-PFs Extraordinary Congress in Harare last Friday and tasked him to fill vacant posts.



Elections were conducted via secret ballot at Zanu-PF Headquarters, with Cde Lewis Matutu becoming Cde Togarepis deputy, taking over from Mr Mpehlabayo Malinga.





Other new secretaries are Cdes Tendai Chirau (administration), Getrude Mutandi (finance), Godfrey Tsenengamu (commissariat), Silas Chimbiro (security), Sibongile Sibanda (external relations), Elizabeth Masuku (transport), Yeukai Simbanegavi (information and publicity) and Tonderai Bosha (indigenisation).





The election results await Politburo ratification. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Cde Togarepi said: The main message is unity and forgiveness. We expect the youth to work together in harmony and no more purging of members. No more insults. We must respect our elders; war veterans, the army and the entire party leadership must be respected.





Youths must mobilise for the ruling party. They are the future of Zimbabwe and their mobilisation should be exemplary. They should help in voter registration and everyone in the Youth League has a duty to explain where we are and where we are going.

In addition, the youth should be peaceful; theres no need for violence during election time. Zanu-PF has the support of the people and I want to encourage young people to stand for election as councillors, Members of Parliament. Sunday Mail
PREGNANT HIV-positive mothers who do not take precaution to prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn babies are liable for prosecution and face up to 20 years in prison under the countrys laws, a lawyer has noted.





Anyone living with the virus who has sexual intercourse with an HIV-negative partner using protection without disclosing their status may also be legally liable, even when transmission has not occurred, Mr Lizwe Jamela of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said.





In an interview on the sidelines of the just-ended International Conference of Aids and STIs in Africa (Icasa) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Mr Jamela, who heads ZLHR in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces said the countrys laws on deliberate transmission of HIV were too broad and should be

reviewed.





He said the broadness of the laws made almost everyone who is sexually active liable for prosecution, and thus called for the repealing of the legislation.





Under section 79 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23 deliberate transmission of HIV is a criminal offence which attracts a sentence of not more than 20 years.

On the face of it the law talks about deliberate transmission of HIV but when you analyse it further you observe that almost everyone can face prosecution, he said.





Section 79 (b) states that Any person, realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she is infected with HIV; intentionally does anything or permits the doing of anything which he or she knows will infect, which he or she realises involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of deliberate transmission of HIV, whether or not he or she is married to that other person, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years.





Mr Jamela said, Anyone can fall into that category. There is just too much conjecture in that law.

If a pregnant woman who is HIV-positive fails to undergo the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme she is liable for prosecution.





Anyone who is HIV positive who has intercourse with someone who is negative and uses protection can still be prosecuted under this law because that person would have done something which involves a real risk of possibility of infecting another person with HIV.





The fact that one used protection can only be used as mitigation but not to absolve anyone.

He added, So under this law, the criminal offence is not only about deliberate transmission but even exposure to risk of transmission, which in my view is very wide and broad.





Mr Jamela said the law should either be amended to deal specifically with cases of deliberate transmission or be totally repealed.





We dont need a law that criminalises HIV. Instead we should be reinforcing the human rights response to HIV intervention by increasing issues of education and advocacy.

We could limit the law to genuine cases of deliberate transmission, he said.





Mr Jamela further argued that it was also humanly impossible to prove in a court of law who would have infected who between complainant and defendant in cases of deliberate transmission of HIV.





Judiciary cant deal with who infected who. There is no technology to generate evidence to prove

that. So in most cases the person who would report first becomes the complainant. But what if the complainant is the one who infected defendant, how do you prove that?





For a criminal conviction to happen someone should be guilty beyond reasonable doubt, but we have people being convicted of deliberate infection when that threshold has not been passed, he said.





Head of the HIV and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi described the enactment of the law as a moment of madness.





He said the law was counterproductive in the fight against stigma around HIV.

It was a moment of madness. This is what happens when decisions are made based on emotions.

The law attacks the basic rights of people living with HIV. Its counter-productive to our interventions and defeats everything we are trying to do to fight the virus.





That law causes people to go underground, it scares away people from getting tested because it stigmatises HIV, he said. Sunday News
FORMER Zanu-PF spokesperson Mr Rugare Gumbo is set to make a sensational return to the revolutionary party three years after his expulsion for his association with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.





They were accused of attempting to usurp power from former President Cde Robert Mugabe.





Mr Gumbo has been spotted at several party and Government functions with the latest being the just- ended Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress in Harare on Friday where he attended as a member of the war veterans association.





Speculation has thus been rife that Mr Gumbo, a renowned freedom fighter is contemplating rejoining the revolutionary party following the crumbling of Zimbabwe People First due to power struggles and divisions.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube confirmed that Mr Gumbo had verbally expressed his willingness to rejoin the revolutionary party but was still to formalise his interests.





Eng Ncube said Mr Gumbo had expressed a lot of optimism in the new dispensation.

I personally spoke to Cde Gumbo and he expressed a lot of optimism in the new leadership. He verbally expressed his interests to come back to the party. However, he is still to express his willingness formally. If he does so as a province we are going to take it up and the party will decide, said Eng Ncube.





Contacted for comment, Mr Gumbo was diplomatic about it but hinted that there was a possibility of him rejoining Zanu-PF.





I have been attending State functions of late and on Friday I attended the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress. I did so as a war veteran and as an observer so people mustnt read too much into it. It (rejoining Zanu-PF) would be a good thing, however, provided that certain things are clarified.





I am not a young person itching for positions, I am past that stage. All this Im not doing it on my own, there are certain people who are supporting us and making suggestions, he said. Sunday Mail
Vaibhav was called by some of his acquaintances from his residence at the Kasmanda House, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone, Abhay Prasad said.

By Shivendra Srivastava, Press Trust of India: On Saturday night, the son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead at the Kasmanda House, barely 300 metres from the Uttar Pradesh Legislature building and the state BJP office.

Vaibhav Tiwari (36), the son of former Domariyaganj MLA Prem Prakash Tiwari alias Gippy Tiwari, was called by some of his acquaintances from his residence at the Kasmanda House, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone, Abhay Prasad said.

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Following an altercation, Vaibhav was shot dead, he said.

Vaibhav, a graduate from IIM Ahmedabad, was into property business. Accused Suraj is his old associate in property business. They parted their ways three years back over dispute in business.

Gippy Tiwari was BJP MLA from Domariyaganj in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Then in 2014 he went to the Samajwadi Party. In this years Assembly elections, however, he campaigned for the BJP.

Vaibhav was the only son of the former MLA and a local BJP leader said that he reportedly had love marriage with a non-Brahmin girl.

The police said that investigation is going on.

The Uttar Pradesh Legislature is currently in session.

(With inputs from J.V. Shivendra Srivastava)

Watch the video | SHOCKING: Hindu Suraksha Samiti leader shot dead in Amritsar, incident caught on CCTV

--- ENDS ---
While ladies of the night put on the right makeup, lashes, musk and dresses to entice clients, their counterparts in the political arena use words, and exaggerated loyalty to charm the mighty and powerful.



It sounds like fiction that at her peak, former first lady Grace Mugabes face was emblazoned on cars of adoring Zanu PF faithful and her word was almost the law.



Grace and her husband, former president Robert Mugabe attracted thousands to their rallies but now many, including those who once sang their praises, have like political turncoats abandoned them.

But crossing floors and denying allegiances did not start with the fall of Grace and her husband, it is as old as prostitution and in Zimbabwe the once runaway winner was former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo.



It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first, former United States president Ronald Reagan once said in the 1980s.

And in Zimbabwe there is little difference between the two professions.





The fights in Zanu PF are as old as the political party itself formed in 1963 after splitting from Zapu.

Fast forward to 2014 when former vice president Joice Mujuru was pushed out from Zanu PF while some cheered, hundreds, tails between their legs left the ruling party crestfallen but determined never to rejoin the former revolutionary party.



Thousands of former Zanu PF officials peeved by Mujurus ouster, including some who even once vowed never to rejoin the party like Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, are knocking on the ruling partys door, pleading for readmission.



The likes of Bhasikiti called Zanu PF by all sorts of names but today they are ready to go back to the ruling party and perhaps salvage a parliamentary seat, because the outside was never rosy.

Harare lawyer and aspiring Member of Parliament Fadzayi Mahere said principle is key in politics.



If young politicians flip flop, take peoples trust and money for granted, then Zimbabwes future isnt safe. Lets do better. Principle is king, she wrote on her Facebook page.



The culture of political flip-flopping has become engrained within the ruling party and extends beyond the party as those that had joined the opposition are also making a beeline back to the ruling party.



Some like Bhasikiti, were part of Mujurus initial political outfit Zimbabwe People First (ZPF).

The party later split, which resulted in Mujuru forming another party called the National Peoples Party (NPP), while Bhasikiti remained with ZPF.



Bhasikiti recently wrote a letter to Zanu PF seeking to be re-admitted to the party.

He is not the only one of those people that purportedly left Zanu PF, who are now jostling to return to the party that has been in power for the past 37 years.



There is also Acie Lumumba, who left the party and formed his own Viva Zimbabwe in June 2016.

Two years down the line, the political leadership in Zanu PF has changed and he announced that he is back to the ruling party.



The reasons for my resignation on May 29, 2016, no longer apply: the party has forcefully and credibly begun the process of reforming itself and the ruling party is now in the unique position to drive positive change in Zimbabwe, as enunciated by its new leader, Lumumba said in his statement announcing his return to Zanu PF.



Zanu PF representative in the United Kingdom, Nick Mangwana, however, on Twitter said the flip flopping of the party members is proof that power rested in the leadership as opposed to the people.



Zimbabwe needs to reform but it cannot reform unless Zanu PF reforms first. The flip flopping of its members & supporters was evidence that power did not rest in the people but leadership which used largesse and patronage to paralyse & control membership. That has to change, Mangwana said.



Like Lumumba, another Zanu PF youth leader, who had officially broken ties with the ruling party and joined the Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (Zipp) is Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Tsenengamu recently quit Zipp and went back to the ruling party.



Announcing his resignation from Zipp, Tsenengamu said: I write to officially inform your honourable office of my resignation from Zipp with immediate effect.



I want to take this opportunity to thank the Zipp leadership as led by (Dr) Blessing Kasiyamhuru for the honour that it had bestowed on me to serve the partnership in various capacities. I am grateful.

Another member to follow in his footsteps is former Zanu PF youth leader Jim Kunaka, who had joined Mujurus political outfit.



He later returned to Zanu PF. Daily News
Idaho Cops:

Actually, There

Could Be a Threat

to the Community
Another lawmaker has announced a career shift in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. CNN reports Rep. Ruben Kihuen said Saturday he won't run for re-election in 2018. The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into the Democrat from Nevada on Friday over allegations of sexual harassment from two women. Kihuen denies the allegations against him but says they "would be a distraction" during a re-election campaign. Despite calls to resign from Democratic leaders, the 37-year-old says he won't step down before the end of his first term in 2018, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Due process and the presumption of innocence are bedrock legal principles which have guided our nation for centuries, and they should not be lost to unsubstantiated hearsay and innuendo," Kihuen says.

Kihuen was first accused earlier this month by a woman who says he asked her for dates and sex and grabbed her thighs while she was serving as finance director for his 2016 campaign. A second, unnamed accuser spoke to the Nevada Independent this week. She says between 2013 and 2015 while Kihuen was a state senator, he touched her thighs or buttocks on three occasions and sent her hundreds of suggestive text messages, which she saved and showed to the Independent. The messages include requests for the woman, a lobbyist, to sit on his lap during a hearing. In one message, he tells her his "day can't go on without knowing" what color here panties are. In response to the allegations, Kihuen says he dated a number of women while a state senator. The woman, who says she ignored or rejected Kihuen's advances, denies they ever dated. (Read more sexual harassment stories.)
Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian contacts with President Trump's campaign has accessed thousands of his transition team's emails, according to several sources. But the investigators did not directly request the records from Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration, a separate federal agency that stored the materialprompting transition group general counsel Kory Langhofer to complain the move was "unauthorized" release of non-government material, reports the Washington Post. The tens of thousands of emails pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, reports the AP; many include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top posts.

Langhofer said that a GSA official appointed by Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's attorneys. According to Langhofer, the assurance was made by then-GSA General Counsel Richard Beckler, who was hospitalized in August and has since died. But late Saturday, GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt, who was present for the conversation, told Buzzfeed that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails. Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the GSA wouldn't hold back records from law enforcement. Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on government servers are subject to monitoring, and there's no expectation of privacy. Late Saturday, a Mueller rep said that "when we have obtained emails ... we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process."

(Read more Robert Mueller stories.)
After the bodies of Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife, Honey, were found hanging in their Toronto mansion Friday afternoon, a source for the Toronto police department told the press the police were investigating the possibility that their deaths were a murder-suicide. But now the couples' children are saying those "rumors regrettably circulated" are untrue. The Shermans were found around noon next to a basement pool by a real estate agent who was showing their home. But while police said the circumstances of their deaths was "suspicious," they also said they found no signs of forced entry and were not "currently seeking a suspect." According to one police source, investigators were considering the possibility that Sherman, one of the richest men in Canada, "killed his wife, hung her body and then hanged himself at the pool's edge," Fox News reports.

But the Sherman's children take issue with that theory and with the police sources and members of the media reporting what they call "rumors" about their parents' deaths. In a statement released Saturday by Barry Sherman's company, Apotex, Inc., the couple's children asked the media to refrain from reporting on the case until the police complete their investigation, ABC News reports. "Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumors regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths," the statement reads. "We are shocked and think it's irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true." (Read more Barry Sherman stories.)
Two pit bulls turned on their owner in Virginia last week in what the local sheriff has called "an absolutely grisly mauling." Authorities says 22-year-old Bethany Lynn Stephens had been missing for a day when her father found her body in a wooded area where she often walked the dogs, People reports. Goochland County Sheriff James Agnew told reporters that when police arrived they found "various articles of clothing  torn into small pieces" around Stephens' body. She also had defensive wounds on her hands and arms that "would be consistent with being attacked while she was still alive, Agnew said. Stephens' father said he found the dogs "guarding" her body when he arrived on the scene.

Animal-control and sheriff's department officials spent an hour trying to tranquilize the animals, which are now with Goochland Animal Control and likely to be euthanized, per the family's request, the Washington Post reports. Not everyone is convinced the pit bulls are responsible for Stephens' death, however. One of her friends, Barbara Norris, told a local news station that the dogs, which Stephens had raised since they were puppies, would only "kill you with kisses." She suggested that something may have happened to Stephens after she returned from her walk and that the dogs may have forced their way out of their kennels to help her. (Read more dog mauling stories.)
Australia on Saturday arrested one of its own citizens and charged him with acting as an economic agent on behalf of North Korea in attempting to sell the Hermit Kingdom's missile technology, reports the New York Times. South Korean-born Chan Han Choi, 59, was "discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction" with unnamed "international entities," said an official with the Australian Federal Police. Among missile components he was allegedly trying to sell on behalf of Pyongyang was guiding software for ballistic missiles, as well as what the Times calls "unspecified North Korean military expertise." Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull called the arrest a "very, very serious matter" on behalf of a "dangerous, reckless, criminal regime," reports the AP, and said that for anyone with similar intentions, "the AFP will find you."

Choi's alleged actions are in violation of Australian and United Nations sanctions against North Korea; he faces six charges that also include trying to sell coal to parties in Indonesia and Vietnam. He's the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, and could face 10 years in prison, notes the AP. Police say the charges relate to activities over the past year, but that Choi has been active dating back to 2008. Two unsuccessful transactions Choi attempted would have been worth "tens of millions of dollars" for North Korea, says the AFP official. Adds Turnbull, "it is vitally important that all nations work relentlessly to enforce those sanctions because the more economic pressure that can be brought on North Korea, the sooner that regime will be brought to its senses." (Read more Australia stories.)
Two high-ranking members of Donald Trump's team said there's been no talk at the White House of firing Robert Mueller, even as the president's legal team accused the special counsel of obtaining emails from the Trump transition team illegally. Appearing on Meet the Press today, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short said there's been "no conversation about that in the White House whatsoever," Politico reports. "You guys keep bringing that up," he added. "We've continued to cooperate in every single possible way in that investigation." Yesterday White House lawyer Ty Cobb reiterated that the president has no plans to fire Mueller. As the White House has repeatedly and emphatically said for months, there is no consideration at the White House of terminating the special counsel, Cobb said.

Meanwhile, on CNN's State of the Union, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had to take time away from extolling the Republican tax-reform bill to address rumors about Mueller's future, the New York Daily News reports. Mnuchin said he hadn't "heard anything about this, any firing" at the White House, but said the decision would ultimately lie with Trump. "I don't have any reason to think that the president is going to do that, but that's obviously up to him," Mnuchin said. Outside the White House, Republican Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said he thinks firing Mueller "would be a mistake myself." (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
A 30-year-old British diplomat was found dead on the side of a highway in Beirut Saturday. Senior police sources in Lebanon told the BBC that Rebecca Dykes was strangled before being left by the Metn Highway in the nations capital. The Guardian reports that an initial exam revealed she died around 4am Saturday. Dykes was last seen at a party with friends in central Beiruts nightlife district before leaving the bar by herself around midnight. She worked at the UK embassy in Beirut as a program and policy manager with the Department for International Development and as a policy manager with the Foreign Offices Libya team. Following the tragic news, British Ambassador Hugo Shorter said a palpable sense of sorrow was felt throughout the embassy.

The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news, Shorter tweeted. My thoughts are with Beckys family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. Per the Independent, a spokeswoman for the foreign office noted that they are providing support to Dykes family and are working closely with the Lebanese authorities conducting the investigation. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time, she said. Dykes family released a statement requesting privacy from the media as they process the shocking news. We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca, it read. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. (Read more diplomat stories.)
By PTI: zero, says BSF

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) In a major development reported after decades of cross-border insurgency along Indias eastern frontier, the BSF has said that camps and hideouts of Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) across the countrys frontier on the Bangladeshi soil have been reduced to "almost zero".

The director general of the Border Security Force, K K Sharma, told PTI that this first-time achievement was the result of an excellent and positive cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries over the past few years.

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The BSFs counterpart in the neighbouring country is the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

"Whenever we have information about exodus or insurgents of the northeastern states in Bangladesh, we share the information and immediate raids are undertaken (by the BGB).

"As a result, the number of training places and hideouts of these insurgents have been reduced to almost zero," the BSF DG said.

If there are some still existing, they are of a floating nature, Sharma said, indicating that no permanent camps of these banned terror and insurgent groups now exist on the Bangladeshi side.

"I congratulate our counterparts (BGB)," the DG said.

The development is being seen as a major victory of the security forces over the insurgency and terrorism situation along the Bangladesh border in the northeast.

For the past so many years and decades, the BSF used to hand over a list of IIGs and terror groups to the BGB during the DG-level talks seeking action against them, a senior officer said requesting anonymity.

"The numbers of these IIGs used to be 150-200 everytime a list was handed over to the Bangladeshi side. That situation has now changed and the IIGs are now on the run, without being able to stay put at a place on the other side for long," the officer said.

Another official of the Indo-Bangla border guarding force explained the current situation.

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, he said, like Khagrachari and Bandarban located opposite Tripura and Mizoram, did not had any "habitation and domination" from the BGB and the insurgent groups were using these locations for their anti-India activities.

"With the consistent pursuance during the DG-level talks and at other levels, the BGB did some crackdown in these forests and the IIGs are now on run," the officer said.

The officer, quoting an official document, said the BGB has now made some arrangements to have their "permanent camps" in these areas so that the activities of insurgents and other criminals are checked and no regular bases of the IIGs can come up.

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The official said the major IIGs operating in these areas were National Liberation Front of Tripura and Manipur valley groups like Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) andAUnited National Liberation Front (UNLF).

In two more districts of Bangladesh - Moulvibazar and Sherpur - that adjoin North Tripura and the Cachar region of Assam and Meghalaya, the official said, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) had camps.

"Crackdown by the BGB has also happened in these regions and the situation is much better now. The BSF too has pressed its manpower in these areas to check the activities of the IIGs on the other side and inform the BGB quickly in case any activity is detected or brought to our knowledge," he said.

The BSF and the BGB, since 2015, have also begun conducting simultaneous coordinated border patrols to check crimes, terrorists and insurgent activities along the border they guard.

The BSF is tasked to guard the 4,096-km-long India- Bangladesh frontier. PTI NES ABH

--- ENDS ---
Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned Donald Trump Sunday to thank him for a CIA tip that helped thwart a series of bombings in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin said. During the call, the two leaders' second in three days, Putin expressed gratitude for the CIA information, the AP reports. The Kremlin said it allowed Russia's top domestic security agency to track down a group of suspects that planned to bomb Kazan Cathedral and other crowded sites this weekend. "The information received from the CIA proved sufficient to find and detain the criminal suspects," the Kremlin said.

It added that Putin asked Trump to convey gratitude to the CIA and assured him that "if the Russian intelligence agencies receive information about potential terror threats against the United States and its citizens, they will immediately hand it over to their U.S. counterparts via their communications channels." While Russian officials have said the two countries were continuing to exchange a terror-related intelligence, Sunday's statement from the Kremlin was Russia's first public assertion that information from the United States helped prevent an attack. The conversation was the second between the Russian and U.S. presidents since Thursday, when Trump thanked Putin for his remarks "acknowledging America's strong economic performance," according to the White House.

(Read more Russia stories.)
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By PTI: NPPA

New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) Fortis hospital at Gurgaon charged as high as 1,700 per cent margin on consumables and medicines used for the treatment of a dengue patient who subsequently died of the illness, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said today.

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, charged a margin of up to 1,737 per cent on procurement price on a three-way stop cock, the regulator said.

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The procurement price of the consumable per unit stood at Rs 5.77 while the hospital charged Rs 106 per unit for the product, it added.

The consumables listed by the NPPA included items such as syringes, gloves and towels among others.

Last month, the NPPA had asked Fortis Healthcare to provide copies of bills in relation to allegations that its Gurgaon-based hospital overcharged the family of a seven-year old girl, who died of dengue.

Regarding the non-scheduled formulations, NPPA said the hospital charged the family a margin as high as 914 per cent.

Elaborating, the NPPA said the hospital charged Rs 287.50 for Dotamin 200 mg whose procurement price per unit stood at Rs 28.35, a margin of 914 per cent.

Fortis also charged Rs 3,112.50 for Merocrit 1 GM thus charging a margin of 670 per cent. The hospital had procured the formulation at Rs 404.32 per unit, the regulator said.

Regarding the scheduled formulations which are under the ambit of price control, the NPPA said the hospital charged up to 343 per cent from the family of Adya.

The per unit procurement price of Tranemic by the hospital stood at Rs 15.75 while it was billed at Rs 69.77 per unit to the family.

The regulator gave a list of 39 scheduled formulations, 41 non-scheduled formulations and 96 consumables that were used for the treatment of Adya.

"NPPA shall be taking necessary follow up action as per existing law and with in its jurisdiction," the regulator said.

The reply of Fortis Healthcare could not be obtained at the time of filing the story.

The drug authoritys action came after the Union Health Ministry asked all states to issue strict warnings and take action against hospitals, including private ones, which indulge in malpractices such as overcharging and do not follow standard treatment protocols. PTI AKT/MSS ANZ MR

--- ENDS ---
Lucknow:

The son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead tonight at the Kasmanda House, barely 300 metres from the Uttar Pradesh Legislature building and the state BJP office.

Vaibhav Tiwari (36), the son of former Domariyaganj MLA Prem Prakash Tiwari alias Gippy Tiwari, was called by some of his acquaintances from his residence at the Kasmanda House, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone, Abhay Prasad said.

Following an altercation, Vaibhav was shot dead, he said.

Gippy Tiwari was BJP MLA from Domariyaganj in 1989, 1991 and 1993.

Then in 2014, he went to the Samajwadi Party.

In this year's Assembly elections, however, he campaigned for the BJP.

Also Read | Bihar: Man shot dead for resisting bid to forcibly take his sister

Vaibhav was the only son of the former MLA and a local BJP leader said that he reportedly had love marriage with a non-Brahmin girl.The police said that investigation is going on.The Uttar Pradesh Legislature is currently in session.
New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged that supporters of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari "scuttled" a programme being held in the memory of Nirbhaya and also hooted at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while he was speaking.

The AAP also accused the BJP of politicising the event held at the Constitution Club. "Extremely shameful of BJP and its officials including PA to @ManojTiwariMP and spokesperson @RaviBabbarbjp for scuttling a programme being held in the memory of late Nirbhaya! Delhi will never forgive @BJP4India for this," the party's twitter handle said.

On December 12, 2012, Nirbhaya, a physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a moving bus and dumped on the streets under the cover of darkness in south Delhi, sparking outrage, with many citizens taking to streets. She succumbed to her injuries on December 16, 2012.

Rejecting the charge, Tiwari said he had been asked by the organisers not to bring politics into his speech and he adhered to it.

Also Read| Nirbhaya fund: AAP govt to install CCTV cameras in over 6,000 buses in Delhi

"When I learnt about the hooting, I condemned the incident. But if people are hooting at Kejriwal then this is worrisome. I am sad that Kejriwal did not take the Nirbhaya Day seriously," the BJP MP said.

Earlier in the day, BJP workers showed black flags to Kejriwal at an event in Mukundpur where he had gone to inaugurate a flyover. The BJP alleged that Kejriwal politicised the event and local MP Manoj Tiwari was not even informed about it.

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Chandigarh:

Ruling Congress on Sunday swept the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala while the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery.

The Congress virtually swept the wards in the three important corporations as results were out by late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp.

The results come as a boost for the Amarinder Singh led government in the state. The opposition alliance, however, alleged gross poll code violations and demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation elections.

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements.

Among the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent.

In Patiala, the Congress won 58 wards while the opposition failed to open account. In Jalandhar, 66 wards fell into the Congress's kitty followed by 8 which went to BJP and four to their ally SAD.

In Amritsar, Congress won 69 while 12 went to the SAD-BJP alliance. The voting started at 8 AM and continued till 4 PM, a spokesman of the state election commission said here.

Tight security arrangements were made to ensure fair and free polling, which by and large remained peaceful barring a stray incident, officials said.

The main political outfits in the state: ruling Congress, SAD-BJP and AAP, were contesting the polls on their party symbols.

A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel were deployed at the polling stations. The Election Commission had ordered videography of 103 hyper-sensitive wards.

Polling was held for 222 wards out of the 225 wards of the three municipal corporations and 327 wards of the 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

In 90 wards, the candidates had earlier won unopposed, Of these, three were in the Patiala Municipal Corporation and 87 in municipal councils and the nagar panchayats.

Nearly 900 candidates were in fray for the elections to the three municipal corporations - Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar.

The civic polls in the state were held nine months after the state assembly elections after which the Congress stormed to power in the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda."

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New Delhi:

In yet another horrific incident, a class 5 student was allegedly molested by a class 11 student in the school bus in Ghaziabad's Vasundhara.

According to the reports, the accused juvenile has been arrested by Ghaziabad police on Sunday.

"A Class 11th student has been arrested on charges of molesting a class 5th student in school-bus in Ghaziabad's Vasundhara," the news agency ANI tweeted.

The incidents of crime against women and students have increased in the past few years across the country.

Earlier, in November, a one and a half-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a thirty-three years old man in Aman Vihar locality of Delhi.

The whole incident came to light after counselling of the child was done in the hospital and police was informed.

Apart from these, the murder of 7-year-old Pradyuman Thakur has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Pradyuman Thakur, a class II student, was found with his throat slit in the washroom of the Ryan International school in Bhondsi area on Sohna Road on September 8.

A Class 11 student who allegedly wanted to postpone a parent-teacher meeting and exams has been arrested in connection with the same.



More details awaited.

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New Delhi:

Three Indian officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad were timely recalled after they revealed that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has set up a honeytrap to extract critical and sensitive information from them.

According to media reports, an investigation has been started and no classified document has been passed on to ISI as their bid was foiled well in time. The reports further claimed, a honeytrap was laid for the officials where several attempts were made to allure them by women.

Due to security measures, the identity of the Indian officials could not revealed.

Sources familier with the matter told The Times of India that the attempt was to seduce and later film the officials in compromising position. However, the officials realised early and approached senior Indian authorities seeking help to get them out of the situation.

They were asked to return to Delhi for further investigation. According to the initial examination, none of the three Indian officials was found guilty and was co-operating in investigation.

These Indian officials worked with the language sections and were responsible for the translation of official documents.

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New Delhi:

Former advisor to then BJP president Nitin Gadkari and aide to party patriarch Lal Krishna Advani, Sudheendra Kulkarni has praised new Congress President Rahul Gandhi and said the leader is fit to be the next Prime Minister of India.

Soon after Rahul Gandhias elevation as Congress President, Kulkarni said that India needed a leader like Rahul Gandhi with truly Gandhian philosophy of politics.

He also said that Rahul should become Indiaas next Prime Minister.

aA new leader is born. A leader India needs. A leader with a new- truly Gandhian- philosophy of politics. Politics of idealism, of love, of service, of inclusion, of dialogue. Today Iam even more convinced:#CongressPresidentRahulGandhi will, and should, become Indiaas next PM,a Kulkarni tweeted.

A new leader is born. A leader India needs.

A leader with a new- truly Gandhian- philosophy of politics.

Politics of idealism, of love, of service, of inclusion, of dialogue.

Today I'm even more convinced:#CongressPresidentRahulGandhiA will, and should, become India's next PM. 1A pic.twitter.com/pLF4tELoLX a Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni)A December 16, 2017

Speaking about Sonia Gandhi, Kulkarni said, she is a awoman of Couragea for leading Congress party for 19 years despite all the odds.

a#SoniaGandhi, a Woman of Courage. One who overcame impossible odds to lead the #Congress for 19 long years. Her speech today touched millions of hearts. It speaks to the greatness of Indian culture and Indian democracy that Indian people accepted her as their own. #Salute,a Kulkarni tweeted further.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took over as the 16thA President of the Congress from his mother Sonia Gandhi who had been leading the Grand-Old Party for 19 years.

Rahul took the charge at a ceremony held at the lawns of the partyas 24 Akbar Road headquarters in Delhi.

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New Delhi:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to complete another major milestone on its journey to space as its New Horizons probe, a spacecraft on a mission will explore areas of space not yet seen by astronomers.

According to astronomers, the peanut-shaped object a billion miles past Pluto may be hiding a mysterious mini 'moonlet.'

The latest theory on the object named 2014 MU69 comes as New Horizons team continues to analyse telescope data on the target of a New Year's Day 2019 flyby, NASA said.

"We really won't know what MU69 looks like until we flypast it, or even gain a full understanding of it until after the encounter," said New Horizons science team member MarcBuie, of the Southwest Research Institute in the US.

"But even from afar, the more we examine it, the more interesting and amazing this little world becomes," said Buie.

The data that led to these hints at MU69's nature were gathered over six weeks in June and July when the team made three attempts to place telescopes in the narrow shadow of MU69 as it passed in front of a star, NASA said.

The most valuable recon came on July 17, when five telescopes deployed in Argentina were in the right place at the right time to catch this fleeting shadow, an event known as an occultation and capture important data on MU69'size, shape and orbit.

Also Read | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch: First used rocket for NASA flies to International Space Station

That data raised the possibility that MU69 might be two like-sized objects, or what is known as a binary.

The prospect that MU69 might have a moon arose from data collected during a different occultation on July 10, by NASA's airborne Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

Focused on MU69's expected location while flying over the Pacific Ocean, SOFIA detected what appeared to be a very short drop-out in the star's light.

Buie said further analysis of that data, including syncing it with MU69 orbit calculations provided by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, opens the possibility that the 'blip' SOFIA detected could be another object around MU69.

"A binary with a smaller moon might also help explain the shifts we see in the position of MU69 during these various occultations.

"It's all very suggestive, but another step in our work to get a clear picture of MU69 before New Horizons flies by, just over a year from now," Buie added.

That flyby will be the most distant in the history of space exploration.

Ancient Kuiper Belt object MU69, just discovered in 2014, is more than 6.5 billion kilometres from earth, NASA researchers said.

Also Read | Watch: NASA, European Space Agency astronauts, cosmonaut land on Earth after six-month ISS mission

Kuiper Belt is a circumstellar disc in the outer solar system, extending from the orbit of Neptune to about 50 AU from the Sun. It appears to be no more than 30 kilometres long, or, if a binary, each about 15-20 kilometres in diameter.

Like other objects in the Kuiper Belt, MU69 offers a close-up look at the remnants of the ancient planet-building process, small worlds that hold critical clues to the formation of the outer solar system.

(With PTI inputs)

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Karachi/Islamabad:

Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service on Sunday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least eight people and wounding 44 others including children and women.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on the church. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added. Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that eight people were killed while 44 others injured, including children and women. He said that nine injured are in critical condition.

According to the church's Facebook page, it had organized different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a Sunday School Christmas Programme at the time of the attack.

No group took responsibility for the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past. Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about the number of attackers.

Ansari said that three militants were involved. He said one was killed by police and the second was able to detonate explosives. He said there are reports that a third militant fled from the scene and police was searching for him.

Earlier, DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistans resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahore?s Youhanabad neighborhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.

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Kandahar:

At least 11 Afghan police officers were killed on Sunday when Taliban fighters assaulted their checkpoints in volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, authorities said.

The assaults on two police post are the latest in a series of deadly attacks on Afghan security forces claimed by the Taliban.

Taliban insurgents launched the attacks in the early morning in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

Our police fought them back, but unfortunately 11 of our police were martyred and two wounded, provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP, adding that the militants fled after the attack.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 Taliban fighters were also killed during the skirmish.

After 16 years of war, the resurgent militants show no signs of fatigue, ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the war-torn country.

Afghan police and troopsbeset by a high death toll, desertions, and non-existent ghost soldiers on the payroll have been struggling to beat back the insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Also on Sunday, a suicide car bomb attack targeting NATO forces in neighboring Kandahar province killed at least one woman and wounded four other Afghan civilians, General Abdul Razeq, the provincial police chief, told AFP.

A NATO spokesman in Kabul told AFP they were still checking reports concerning the attack.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) The government has begun the hunt for a full-time chairman and managing director of the worlds largest coal miner CIL and invited applications from professionals from PSUs as well as the private sector.

Central Coalfields Ltd chief Gopal Singh has been handling the additional charge of CMD of Coal India after Sutirtha Bhattacharya retired from the top post on August 31 this year.

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While inviting applications through an advertisement for the post of chairman-cum-managing director, the government has said that "the applicants may submit their applications to the Ministry of Coal".

Professionals from the private sector along with those from public sector units (PSUs) are invited to apply, as per the communication.

"Applicants from state public sector enterprises/private sector should possess at least 25 years or post qualification experience in any organisation of repute....," the ministry said.

Government head-hunter PESB had earlier suggested that the Centre may choose an appropriate course of action for selection of CMD of Coal India Ltd as it did not find any of the six candidates interviewed as fit for the top post.

"I am looking at creating a search cum selection committee and have sent in a proposal... to look at newer candidates or assess the suitability of the candidate," Coal Minister Piyush Goyal had said.

Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production, is eyeing one billion tonnes of output by FY2019-20. PTI SID MKJ

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Karachi:

Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as "patriotic", former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan's "safety and security", according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general, who is on self-exile in Dubai, had last month said that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah.

"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," the ARY News channel quoted him as saying.

Musharraf said the two groups have large public support and good people and no one could object if they formed a political party.

The LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed, while the JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

Also Read| Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf claims Asif Ali Zardari killed Benazir Bhutto

JuD chief Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack, had last month unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

The former military ruler further said that so far the two groups have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection.

Musharraf had last month announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharraf's Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, then toppled prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan for nine years, is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan.

He unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai. He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharif's control anymore".

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United Nations:

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution finding any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed after the US recognised the city as Israel's capital.

Egypt circulated the draft text on Saturday, and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the international consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it says.

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

Also Read: Donald Trump administration may end work permit for spouses of H-1B visa holders

US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital.

The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

No embassies in JerusalemThe draft resolution calls on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead.

It demands that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

The Palestinians had sought a toughly-worded draft resolution that would have directly called on the US administration to scrap its decision.

But some US allies on the council such as Britain, France, Egypt, Japan and Ukraine were reluctant to be too hard-hitting and insisted that the proposed measure should reaffirm the position enshrined in current resolutions, diplomats said.

Also Read: 15 UN peacekeepers killed in deadliest attack in DR Congo

Backed by Muslim countries, the Palestinians are expected to turn to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution rejecting the US decision, if, as expected, the measure is vetoed by the United States at the council.

Aside from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented at the council, which requires nine votes for adoption.

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By PTI: deputy cm (Eds: rpting after correcting headline) Bengaluru, Dec 16 (PTI) The implementation of the national e-way bill mechanism under GST regime has been assigned to the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said today. "Today, in our GoM meeting, we discussed regardingA implementation of national e-way bill system under Goods andA Services Tax (GST) regime. The work has been assigned to theA National Informatics Centre (NIC)," he told reporters here. As much as Rs 40 crore advance has been given to NIC to implement the e-way bill mechanism, he said, after chairing a meeting of Group of Ministers, constituted to monitor and resolve IT related challenges faced in implementation of GST. The system will be launched across country on a trial basis from January 15, 2018, Modi said. The rules for implementation of the nationwide e-Way Bill system for inter-state movement of goods on a compulsory basis would be notified with effect from February 1, 2018, he said. Asked why the e-way bill mechanism was not assigned to Infosys, Modi said "this decision was taken earlier. The GST Council decides on assigning task to any agency." He, however, refused to comment on BJP Leader Subramanian Swamys letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for replacement of GSTN with a government-owned structure. Swamy had raised strong objections to a majority stake for private entities in the company formed during the UPA regime to manage and control accounting and collection of GST. GSTN, a not-for-profit private limited company, provides the technology backbone for the collection of taxes and filing of returns in the new indirect tax regime and Infosys has developed the software for the same. Modi said the e-way bill was launched under a pilot project in Karnataka on September 12, under which more than 1.20 lakh e-way bills were generated every day. "When it will be launched nationally, about 8 to 9 lakh e-way bills will be generated at inter-state level and about 30 lakh at intra-state level, per day," he said. Like GSTN, an online platform for filing taxes and returns,the GoM will monitor its implementation and addressing problems cropping up therein, Modi said. Modi also said that the GoM is fully satisfied with theA functioning of Infosys and GSTN network, which is reflected inAthe number of complaints dropping down. He said GSTN has started functioning with less complaints pouring in. "The number of complaints have been reduced by 80 per cent. At present there is only 20 per cent of complaints,which shows the system has started functioning," he said. The smooth functioning of GSTN can also be gauged in theA increase of returns filed and invoices processed, Modi said. "As of now, as many as 65 crore invoices have been processed and more than 3. 25 crore returns filed till date, and as many as 1.40 crore payment transactions have taken place. This shows the (smooth) functioning of GSTN," he added. The main emphasis of GoM is to make filings under GSTN asAsimplified as possible, Modi said. "In July, zero tax liability stood at 42 per cent. In August it dropped down to 32 per cent. It further dropped down to 30 per cent in October," he said. Modi also said due to GSTN filings, exports have increased by 30.6 per cent in November. As many as 24 out of 30 export sectors reported growth, but the gems and jewellery sector is facing problems due to GSTN and GST issues, Modi said.

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The sector, however, has reported a growth of 32.7 per cent for November, he said. Modi said the revenue shortfall was not because of GSTNA problems,but for deferement of launch of e-way billAmechanism. To a query,he said states have started to get compensation every two months for losing revenues due toAimplementation of GST. PTI BDN RA APR APR APR

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If you were in downtown Danbury Wednesday night  and lots of people were despite the bracing cold  you might have wondered what was going on with that bunch of people going up and down Main Street in the Merry Christmas trolley. You know, those people wearing reindeer antlers, a jesters cap, some zany Dr. Seuss-like eruptions and such.

Those holiday-hatted people would clamor off the trolley, point to decorations in windows and outside of buildings, scribble notes, then burst into the business bearing cookies from Mothership Bakery. This happened 30 times.

I was happy to be part of that merry band again for the Second Annual Holiday Decorating Contest sponsored by CityCenter Danbury, the group that promotes downtown.

Why do you always chose the coldest night of the year for this? I jokingly asked P.J. Prunty, CityCenters executive director, who had asked me to once again be a judge, this year along with Lou Milano, I95 Rock radio personality, and Taylor OBrien, public relations coordinator for the mayors office.

Mayor Mark Boughton got everyone going at the start, but then had to duck out to deliver a proclamation elsewhere in Danbury. Mayors are in high demand.

Anyone who catches the Ethan and Lou morning show on I95 weekdays knows they are funny guys.

Whoa, thats like the greatest hits of Christmas, Lou deadpanned at the sight of one window decorated with all-things-holiday from the nativity scene to Santa & Mrs. Claus.

Judges had two sheets listing the decorated places and we had to rank them 1 to 10. Taylor said she just couldnt give anyone the lowest rating of 1. Really, it was hard to not give most everyone a 10.

A lot of thought, creativity and work went into dressing up the businesses. Atlantica Insurance, the Peoples Choice winner last year, had two small cars in their windows  playing off the travel theme  with presents and trees. Some places went for a classic look, like Tracy Floors and Tile with a sock monkey, Cat in the Hat and snowman on a fireplace, on which a life-size Santa draped a hand. Eliana Marrero, a 12-year-old Broadview Middle School student, donated her dolls  including one playing the flute as she does  for the pretty display at Aging with Attitude.

We saw paint rollers put to creative use at Danbury Hackerspace, where 11-year-old Nick Clemence helped make the robots work.

We saw a hand-built nativity scene with fresh straw by the front door of La Mitad del Mundo Restaurant.

We saw warm holiday cheer, with colorful lights around the windows, door and roof of the Leon Siguenza family home.

We saw reindeer, snowflakes, gaily wrapped presents, wreaths, toys, elves, nutcrackers, inflatable puppies, dolls, stars and lots of sparkly lights.

Ill tell you why Im not being too specific about where we saw all of this. Its because you have to find them yourself. Something new this year is a scavenger hunt, in which people match clues with the places and then enter to win a prize. Also, anyone participating can vote for a Peoples Choice winner. Art Stueck, president of REI Property Management on Ives Street, a CityCenter board member, came up with this fun idea to get people out to see the decorations up close.

Look for the scavenger hunt form on the CityCenter website this week and for details coming up in this newspaper. The Peoples Choice winners, and the ones chosen by judges, will be announced in early January.

Until then, enjoy the nostalgic-looking garlands of lights crossing Main Street and all the holiday decorations.

Contact Editorial Page Editor Jacqueline Smith at jsmith@newstimes.com or 203-731-3344.
Not many actors get the privilege of reprising a role after a three-decade hiatus. In the case of Mark Hamill, though, who returns in full as Luke Skywalker this weekend in "The Last Jedi," the true privilege belongs to the filmgoer.

It can sound strange, given his 40-year association with the farmboy-turned-Jedi role, but in this eighth main "Star Wars" movie, Hamill fairly resonates as a revelation.

The Luke of the Original Trilogy had a highly pitched energy and eagerness - he often was like a scampering puppy sliding through the whiz-bang action (and oft-stilted dialogue) of a space Western. And Hamill, who had built up a resume of television one-shots at that point, had the lightness of youth and idealism that befit playing boy adventurer.

Not that "Star Wars" creator George Lucas quickly spotted Hamill's fitness for the role during the mid-1970s auditions.

"Lucas was such a brain-in-a-jar during casting, saying so little and giving no signs of interest, that Hamill thought he'd blown it," Brian Jay Jones, the author of "George Lucas: A Life," tells The Washington Post. "In his first audition, he was hustled out almost before he'd had a chance to finish his lines."

But wise Lucas collaborators later found a way to get Hamill back before Lucas' eyes, and the playful chemistry of Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford beat out another casting triad that included Christopher Walken and an underage Terri Nunn.

Hamill worked to elevate his acting with each film in the Original Trilogy, and then, after 1983's "The Return of the Jedi," he began to recede from the center spotlight.

What Hamill began to become in the early '90s, though, was one of the hardest-working voice actors in Hollywood. His scores of credits included "Batman: The Animated Series," "Robot Chicken" and "Justice League," as he became particularly known for masterfully voicing the Joker.

All those years of voice work, it turns out, helped deepen Hamill's best instrument, as he found new tones and colors in his barrel-aged throat. The former high-register "farmboy" could now boom with low and cackling menace.

Then came 2015, and the return of Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han (Harrison Ford) in "The Force Awakens." But in that film, we barely glimpsed Luke.

Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi" was built to be Luke's movie, and so Hamill is given long, poignant scenes to flesh out a ravaged, spiritually defeated Jedi in exile.

Hamill now commands the screen, looking especially haunted during Johnson's generous use of extreme close-ups.

"I think he's giving his best performance ever," "Last Jedi" producer Ram Bergman, Johnson's frequent film partner, tells The Post.

The actor can now deliver so much with facial nuance, and when his voice and countenance are working in riveting harmony, this Hamill is a pillar of gravitas.

"It's exciting just to see him back again, especially as the grand old man of the trilogy" nearly 35 years later, Jones says. "Hamill is the unappreciated hero of the Original Trilogy; everyone makes fun of him for his dialogue, and Ford gets all the glory, but Hamill is really working.

"He's the emotional heart of the original three (films), so I'm so thrilled to see him again."

And when Hamill gets a climactic "Last Jedi" scene that will stand alongside Luke's most iconic moments ever, we are witnessing an actor performing at his peak. His every acting tool has been refined to the point of great command. And his rolling voice lingers till the battle is complete.

The rest, so powerfully, is silence.

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Video: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" sees Luke Skywalker back from isolation and the farewell of Princess Leia. The Post's Comic Riffs duo offers this review.(Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)

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Jignesh Mevani, a Dalit leader from Una who contested in Vadgam in the Gujarat election, doesn't think much of exit polls - polls, by the way, which said the BJP would win big in Narendra Modi's home state.

By India Today Web Desk: All Gujarat election exit polls point to a single scenario: Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party will remain in power in his home state, despite the Congress' spirited campaign.

But Jignesh Mevani, the Dalit leader who contested in the Gujarat polls in Vadgam, is having none of it.

The independent candidate from Una, says exit polls are nonsense, ANI reported. Mevani is sure the BJP will lose the Gujarat election.

Exit Polls are nonsense. BJP is definitely going to lose this time and will not form the govt: Jignesh Mevani, Activist and candidate from Vadgam constituency #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/BCbRed4FHz- ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

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As a PTI report noted, Jignesh Mevani, a lawyer-activist, "has emerged as the face of resistance against the BJP" along with Patidar leader Hardik Patel and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor.

All three men have buoyed a resurgent Congress in their own way ahead of this year's Gujarat legislative assembly election. Alpesh joined the INC. Hardik Patel allied with the Grand Old Party. And Jignesh ran unopposed by the Congress in Vadgam - where re-polling is taking place in two booths today ahead of the announcement of the Gujarat election result.

Will the "troika's" charge have any effect on the outcome? We'll find out tomorrow.

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The mayor of Connecticuts second-largest city, New Havens Toni Harp, could play kingmaker in next years governors race.

Fresh off her landslide election to a third term last month, Harp is said by Democratic insiders to be a top choice of Bridgeports Joe Ganim and Hartfords Luke Bronin as a potential running mate should the mayoral rivals take the next step toward a candidacy.

No other city boasts as many Democratic delegates as New Haven, which will have 100 votes for the eventual nominee at the state party convention next May.

Harp would bring diversity to the ticket and an institutional knowledge of the law-making process from her tenure as Appropriations Committee chair in the Legislature. Harp is the first woman mayor of New Haven and the citys second black mayor.

Mayor Harp could be easily running for governor, Ganim said Tuesday. Any partnership that could be developed there, if one could, would be a hugely dynamic team, not just for the cities but for Connecticut. That type of discussion is not something that you do in the press.

Its no wonder that Ganim has teamed up with Harp on a pair of major job-creation initiatives. One is MGMs Bridgeport casino project, which calls for an employee training center to be built in New Haven. The other is a joint bid between the cities for Amazons second headquarters.

Like Ganim, who is expected to formally enter the race in January, Bronin has set up an exploratory committee for statewide office. The former Treasury deputy secretary under Barack Obama and one-time general counsel to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is in his first term as mayor of the capital city.

Its much too early to be talking about lieutenant governor candidates, Bronin said. That said, I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Toni Harp, both for her long career as a legislative leader and her work as mayor.

Harp, who served as a state senator from 1993 to 2003, downplayed the scuttlebutt about her political future in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media.

While its an honor to be considered a viable candidate for statewide office, and while it would certainly be a privileged opportunity to serve the people of Connecticut as lieutenant governor, Im presently immersed in my work as mayor of New Haven and look forward to beginning a new term in this office in three weeks, Harp said.

Quinnipiac University political science professor Scott McLean said Harp would be an asset to the Democratic ticket. He brought up Ganims comeback from a bribery scandal that sent him to prison for seven years and the states recent $40 million bailout of Hartford.

I think she would go a long way in softening the image that those two candidates might bring to the top of the ticket, McLean said. I can almost visualize the Republican talking points. The Democrats will bring to state government what they brought to city government  bankruptcy and corruption. 

At the same time, McLean said, an all-mayoral ticket could be problematic for Democrats in the suburbs.

I think thats going to be something that the Republicans are going to be able to pounce on, McLean said.

While black and Latino voters have overwhelmingly favored Democrats to lead the state and its largest cities, there has been a glaring void of minority candidates for Connecticuts six constitutional offices, five House districts and two U.S. Senate seats. Denise Nappier is the exception, having been elected five times as state treasurer.

Treasurer Nappier is weighing her options and has not announced whether she is seeking re-election, Nappiers spokesman David Barrett said.

Vincent Mauro Jr., the chairman of New Havens Democratic Party, said he can see why other mayors are trying to cultivate an alliance with Harp.

Toni Harp has an amazing record as a public servant and the success of New Haven only enhances that, Mauro said. New Haven is obviously the largest vote-getting city in the state. Its is no question that everyone would like Toni Harp to join them on the ballot.

Ganim said the cooperation hes had with Harp has been unprecedented and that their two administrations spent hours, days, weeks together developing their joint pitch to Amazon for its second headquarters. There was also a joint appearance of the mayors at the September ground-breaking for MGM Bridgeport, a $675 million privately-funded casino and resort project that still must gain state approval. Ganim referred to himself and Harp as co-mayors.

Thats something, no matter how we work together in the future, weve shown that the states two largest cities can work together and set a very positive example for the state, Ganim said.

http://twitter.com/gettinviggy; nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436
WOODBRIDGE - Police are seeking the publics help in identifying a suspect who Sunday morning robbed TD Bank, 128 Amity Road.

Sgt. A.J. Cappiello said in a press release the robbery occurred around 10 a.m.

Bank staff reported that a male wearing a yellow safety jacket, orange gloves, sunglasses, and a mask entered the bank and demanded the money a teller was carrying out of the vault, Cappiello said.

The suspect left on foot in the direction of the Amity Shopping Center in New Haven.

The FBI, in conjunction with the Connecticut Bankers Reward Association, is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual responsible, Cappiello said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Woodbridge Police Departments Investigative Services Unit at 203-287-2511.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has accused the federal government of deliberately causing the current scarcity of fuel in the c...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has accused the federal government of deliberately causing the current scarcity of fuel in the country so as to be able to justify the planned increment of petrol pump price from N145 to N185 per litre.The governor, who said the federal government, was being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, added that petrol is scarce across the country because the federal government deliberately reduced supply since it is only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that is importing the product.Governor Fayoses Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted him as saying in a release issued on Sunday, that Allowing fuel scarcity to persist for over two weeks when Nigerians are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year is the height of wickedness on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government.Funny enough, instead of directing its anger to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Minister of Petroleum, on December 7, 2017, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) choose to give the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu seven days ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity.Today is December 17, exactly ten days after the misplaced ultimatum was given, the situation has even gotten worse. He said By the time the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) goes on strike as being threatened, the whole country will be shut down and one wonders what will become of Nigerians that desire to move around during the festive season. Governor Fayose, who said it was necessary for the federal government to tell Nigerians the truth about the situation of fuel supply in the country, noted that it was the restriction of supply of petrol to NNPC alone that has put Nigerians into hardship.He said, It is only the NNPC that is bringing products in; and the result is the scarcity being experienced now. The thinking is that by the time the scarcity persists for like one month, with Nigerians already buying at N200 per litre, the people will jump at it if petrol is increased from N145 to N185 per litre. This time, Nigerians will resist any attempt to further impoverish them by increasing the pump price of petrol.
Does Gujarat want a BJP state government that does NOT have Narendra Modi at its helm? Or has the Gujarati voter been enticed enough by a combative Rahul Gandhi and his Congress? We will know in a few hours when the Gujarat Assembly election results are out.

By Dev Goswami: The Gujarat assembly election results 2017 are upon us. By late afternoon or early evening today, we will have a fair idea of whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has managed to beat a 22-year anti-incumbency to retain Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state or whether the Congress, led by a combative Rahul Gandhi, has managed to steal BJP's crown jewel from under its nose.

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Exit polls give the BJP the upper hand, with all of the surveys predicting that the ruling party in Gujarat will come back to power once the election results are announced. The party, however, could lose a few constituencies in the 182-seat Gujarat assembly, where it currently has 120 MLAs.

The Gujarat poll results bring to an end a busy election year. Five states went to the polls earlier this year; four of those saw BJP-led governments come to power, bringing the party closer to its goal of a 'Congress-mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India).

This is one of the prime reasons the results of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections will be closely watched today. There is a lot at stake for the two main parties involved as well as for the two main actors - PM Modi and freshly minted Congress president Rahul Gandhi - who campaigned extensively for the Gujarat elections.

LIVE COVERAGE | Gujarat election results 2017 | Himachal Pradesh election results 2017

THE CONGRESS

Speaking strictly in terms of Congress's electoral might within Gujarat, the party has a lot to gain and very little to lose in today's election results. The Grand Old Party of India has been out of power in Gujarat for over two decades, losing successive assembly elections. A loss, therefore, though painful would be just another one in a state where the party has struggled to prop up a viable alternative to the BJP.

BJP chief Amit Shah has promised his party, which has been in power in Gujarat for two decades, will win more than 150 seats (Reuters photo)

However, in a national context, the Congress faces a challenge like never before, a fact acknowledged by Sonia Gandhi herself this weekend when she passed on the mantle of party president to son Rahul. The Congress has been losing election after election in India, and so for the Grand Old Party, the Gujarat election results will be crucial as far as its future in Indian politics is concerned.

RAHUL GANDHI

Long ridiculed for being a "reluctant politician" Rahul Gandhi came into his own this year, something which even his critics admit. The Gujarat election results come just two days after he formally took over as the president of the Indian National Congress, a promotion that was long-expected and executed simultaneously as Gujarat went to the polls.

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While Rahul has been particularly active, politically, this year - whether on Twitter or at campaign rallies - Gujarat was where the Gandhi scion went one-on-one with the most dominant political force the country right now - Narendra Modi.

#officeofRG . Congress President Rahul Gandhi with Sonia Gandhi as he take over as President of Congress party. Photo Sandeep Saxena pic.twitter.com/kLppgxCW2Z- Sandeep Saxena (@sandeep662003) December 16, 2017

Like PM Modi, Rahul addressed rallies and events in poll-bound Gujarat on a near-daily basis and like PM Modi, Rahul sought to establish a connection with the Gujarati populace, often photographed enjoying a scrumptious Guajrati thaali.

A positive outcome in the Gujarat election results will give the new Congress president a much-needed boost, while a loss could prove to be a body blow at a time when Rahul would be looking to stamp out his own brand of politics and revive the Grand Old Party.

BJP-PM MODI

It is not just the Congress and its new president that have a lot at stake in the Gujarat election results. The BJP has been in power for 22 years in the state, and that sort of an anti-incumbency is not something to be taken for granted.

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The Amit Shah-led Bharatiya Janata Party realises this as was evident by the way the party made use of its star campaigner and the foremost public speaker in India right now - Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the last leg of the Gujarat election campaign, PM Modi was everywhere, addressing as many as four rallies every day.

Cast my vote for the 2017 Gujarat polls. pic.twitter.com/mXd9GTRvtb- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2017

This was the first time Gujarat held an assembly election since Narendra Modi left Gandhinagar for New Delhi in 2014, when the BJP routed the Congress to claim power at the Centre. PM Modi served as the Gujarat chief minister for four terms before handing the mantle over to Anandiben Patel.

She, however, lasted just two years, with incumbent CM Vijay Rupani taking charge in August last year.

Does Gujarat want a BJP state government that does NOT have Narendra Modi at its helm? Or will the pride of having 'aapdo maanas' (our man) in New Delhi trump all? We will know in a few hours once the Gujarat assembly election results are out.

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Follow our live coverage of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results on www.indiatoday.in and www.aajtak.in. You can also watch India Today TV's and Aaj Tak TV's live coverage of the election results here and here.

WATCH: Can Rahul Gandhi, new Congress chief, stem BJP's saffron tide?

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A former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Gidado Idris, is dead. He was aged 82.

A former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Gidado Idris, is dead.He was aged 82.Idris died in Abuja at the weekend, and was buried yesterday according to Islamic rites.He hailed from Zaria, Kaduna State. He was appointed SGF in 1993 and retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigerias independence.President Muhammadu Buhari described the death of Idris as a big loss to the nation. Also, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, expressed sadness over the death, while Governor of Kaduna State, extolled the former SFGs humility and discipline.President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also said that the late Idris, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of his public career as SGF, also served several civilian and military administrations meritoriously as federal permanent secretary.Idris, he added, has left inspiring imprints and enjoined current and upcoming civil and public servants to emulate the cherished values of hard work, discipline, professionalism and integrity which the late distinguished nationalist embodied.Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said with the death of the former SGF Nigeria has lost an elder Statesman and a bridge builder.According to the senate president, Nigeria has lost a highly principled bridge builder who cultivated a high degree of friendship from the lowest to the highest across the country.El-Rufai in a statement said Alhaji Idris was a dedicated public servant who provided decades of distinguished service to this country. He was a father to us, widely admired for his humility and discipline.I personally benefitted from his humility, wisdom and foresight, when I served as a presidential advisor in the Programme Implementation and Monitoring Committee from 1998 to 1999.
Nigeria Governors Forum Chairman AbdulAzeez Yari yesterday ruled Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, was out of order over his clai...

Nigeria Governors Forum Chairman AbdulAzeez Yari yesterday ruled Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, was out of order over his claim that the $1b recently approved for the fight against Boko Haram is a ruse.The governors, at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday, gave the federal government the green light to withdraw the money from the Excess Crude Account.Fayose, in a statement at the weekend, said he was not part of the decision and claimed that the request for the money made no sense since the federal government had earlier boasted of defeating the terror sect.He also alleged that the money would be diverted to President Muhammadu Buharis political campaign in 2019.But responding to Fayoses allegations yesterday, Yari who is also the governor of Zamfara State said the decision was a collective one by the forum.He said Fayoses absence from the meeting did not clear him or anyone for that matter of responsibility for the forums resolutions.His words:I am saying that that statement was an unfair cut against the Forum.When a decision is taken by the Forum in ones absence, once there was a quorum at the meeting where the decision was taken, (it) becomes binding on all.I am sure Fayose was not making the statement to undermine the Forum. He was just doing his thing.Continuing, the Zamfara governor said the decision was a conscious sign by the two parties to show the synergy between the NGF and the Presidency which ought not to be politicized.This same lack of unity between governors and the presidency had brought about poor governance in the past, throughout the country and now that we are working together no one should constitute a wedge in the process.You can never spend too much on security because the safety of lives and property are the most cardinal among all the principles of governance, in any democracy.Governor Yari pointed out that the issue of withdrawal was broadly deliberated at the forums meeting on the eve of the NEC meeting where the decision was taken.If Governor Fayose was there at the meeting, he would have seen the wisdom in the decision. Yes, the administration is claiming to have decimated the insurgents out of Sambisa Forest but they are re-emerging in different flashpoints across the country.They need to be tackled wherever they are and the NGF decided to support the Presidency just as it (The Presidency) had been supporting states with their own problems.Governor Fayose is on his own. We have to protect our people and we have to do it with everything we have.Let me reemphasize one more thing, Mr President is a responsible and honest leader who does not believe in money politics and he would never divert public resources into it.Fayose, in his statement had said:For posterity sake, I wish to place it on record that I was not among the governors who approved the withdrawal of almost half of our savings in the Excess Crude Account, which belongs to the three tiers of government to fight an already defeated insurgency.Since they said they have defeated Boko Haram, what else do they need a whopping sum of $1 billion (over N360 billion) for; if not to fund the 2019 elections?The APC promised to wipe out Boko Haram within six months, now it is 31 months and what the APC government is wiping out is the economy of Nigeria and the means of livelihood of the people.The governor said N360 billion was equivalent to what the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) share to the federal government, 36 States and 777 Local Councils monthly, nothing that Nigerians deserve proper explanations from the federal government on the rationale behind spending such huge sum of money to fight an already defeated Boko Haram.
The planned special birthday parade to be mounted by the Brigade of Guards as part of activities to mark President Muhammadu Buharis 75...

The planned special birthday parade to be mounted by the Brigade of Guards as part of activities to mark President Muhammadu Buharis 75th birthday has been cancelled.A source close to the presidency, which confirmed this development to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, did not give reasons for the cancellation.The presidents family, led by his wife, Aisha and some presidential aides led by the presidents Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, had planned a low-key birthday celebration for the president where they would present birthday cards to him. It would be recalled that President Buhari had in 2016 inspected a special parade mounted by the Brigade of Guards as part of activities to mark his 74th birthday anniversary which coincided with his daughters (Zahra) wedding.Zahra got married to Ahmed Indimi, the son of a multibillionaire oil tycoon, Mohammed Indimi, in another low-key event. Nigerians have been congratulating President Buhari on his 75th birthday in various platforms of the social media since Thursday. They rejoiced with the president and prayed for his good health as well as wishing the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government success in the discharge of its promises to Nigerians. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his birthday congratulatory message to President Buhari, described him as a statesman who has earned a special place in history.I prayed that the God Almighty that has kept you alive and healthy till now, will continue to protect and strengthen you as you lend your efforts towards the realization of our collective dreams for a greater and more prosperous nation, Jonathan said in a statement on Friday. Others and prominent Nigerians including state governors, leadership and members of the National Assembly also felicitated with the president. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a message sent through his twitter handle @BukolaSaraki, using the hashtag #PMBAt75, prayed that God may grant President Buhari wisdom to continue to run the affairs of Nigeria.He said: Happy Birthday Mr. President! I wish you the blessings of the Almighty, and continued wisdom and grace as you celebrate another year. Idris Baba, who wrote in response to Sarakis birthday wish, said: I join the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki in wishing the President a Happy Birthday as Baba is Aging with Grace. May Almighty Allah Continue to Protect Baba for us. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also wished Mr. President a Happy Birthday using his twitter handle @YakubDogara.He wrote: On behalf of the leadership, membership of @HouseNGR, I wish to join the good people of Nigeria and numerous well wishers across the globe in wishing H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari a happy birthday. Under his leadership, Nigeria is steadily regaining its past glory, winning investors confidence and earning global respect and recognition. He has remained consistent in dealing with corruption, insecurity and unemployment through various reforms and interventions.We pray that God continues to keep President Buhari in good health and bless him with more fruitful and prosperous years of service to the people and the nation. The All Progressives Congress (APC), using its official handle @APCNigeria also wished Mr President well and called on Nigerians to wish the President a warm celebration.
Former aviation minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked President Muhammadu Buha...

I congratulate @MBuhari on his 75th birthday even though I disagree with him on virtually everything and I deplore his agenda and ways. I believe that he has been a disaster as Pres. and that the best birthday gift he can give the Nigerian people is his resignation letter.

Former aviation minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office as a birthday gift to Nigerians.Fani-Kayode who called for Buharis resignation in a tweet on Saturday described the president as a disaster to the country.While congratulating the president on his 75th birthday which comes up tomorrow, Fani-Kayode said he disagreed with him on everything and I deplore his agenda and ways.Read Fani-Kayodes tweet below:Fani-Kayode who is facing trial for money laundering was also the former Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.
By Reno Omokri In 2012, allegations were made by opposition elements and their fifth columnists in the Jonathan administration against ...

In 2012, allegations were made by opposition elements and their fifth columnists in the Jonathan administration against that governments running of the oil sector. The government was accused of not running a transparent oil industry and it was alleged that monies were mismanaged.In response, the Jonathan administration initiated not one, not two, but three probes including one headed by a member of the opposition in the person of the highly skilled and highly credible Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who had ran as President in 2011 against the then incumbent.One of the probes was a forensic audit by PriceWaterhouseCooper, perhaps the most thorough independent and internationally renowned audit firm. Not only were these probes instituted, but their results were made public.Now fast forward to 2017, President Muhammadu Buharis minister of state for petroleum resources wrote a memorandum to the President which got leaked.In it, he accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of awarding $25 Billion worth of contracts without due process. Till this very moment as you are reading this document, the President has not commented on this allegation neither has he, as the senior minister of petroleum, taken any steps to probe these allegations in a manner that is public and transparent, yet this is the same man who always accuses his immediate predecessor of corruption.To put this $25 billion in perspective, that money can pay 1 million Nigerians minimum wage of 18,000 for 10 years and can educate 1 million Nigerians from nursery school to post graduate level.Please cross check this fact!On the 15th of February 2013, former President Jonathan ordered the then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to take immediate disciplinary action against the then Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.This is a direct quote from then President Jonathans statement to the Head of Service: President Jonathan directed the Head of Service to act expeditiously on the disciplinary proceedings against Alhaji Maina and report back to him on actions taken.President Jonathan also ordered the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to immediately arrest Abdulrasheed Maina and personally update him on his efforts. Fast forward to 2017 and the present Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina because she personally told him before it happened and warned him about the negative implications of the act for the so called anti-corruption war.In a leaked memo, Mrs. Oyo-Ita said: I sought an audience with His Excellency, Mr. President on Wednesday, October 11th, 2017 after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide-ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina, especially the damaging impact on the anti-corruption stance of this administration.Yet, the Buhari administration went ahead to recall, reinstate and double promote one of the alleged biggest thieves in world history, with the full knowledge and active participation of the President I might add.The Buhari administration tried to shut down INTELS, a private firm, for not complying with the Treasury Single Account, meanwhile this hypocritical government was allowing NNPC, a public corporation, abuse the TSA to the tune of 50 billion.If you still believe in President Buharis anti-corruption war, you probably still believe his promise of making dollar equal to Naira So, going from the above, I ask you, who is actually corrupt between President Buhari and former President Jonathan?And permit me to ask you another question question: Obasanjo initiated EFCC/ICPC to fight corruption. Jonathan initiated BVN, IPPIS, GIMFIS, TSA & e-Wallet to fight corruption.What has Buhari initiated to fight corruption other than blaming past administrations?The only thing he can truthfully be credited with adding to the anti-corruption fight is the Whistleblower policy, but even that has become a cesspool of corruption and abuse. How many people have been paid based on this policy?Little or none. The one man who exposed the Ikoyi billions (whose APC owner we do not know till today) was declared mad when he tried to claim his 5% and then forcefully removed to Yaba Psychiatric Hospital.It took the intervention of the media to force the hand of the government and make it pay, not the 5% it promised, but a mere 2%. The man collected what they gave him and bolted from Nigeria before they could call him a psycho or serial killer!In terms of anti-corruption credentials, President Buhari is in deficit while the past administrations he accuses are in credit. And Transparency International has taken note of this which is why despite all the razzmatazz and smoke and mirrors of the Buhari governments media trial, Nigeria has made NO improvements in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index.The now obvious truth is that President Buhari is a hypocrite who weaponized his so called anti-corruption war for the purpose of hounding the opposition so that no one would be able to challenge his re-election bid because he knows that on the strength of his first term performance, Nigerians will not even vote for him to head a local government, how much more to lead their nation a second time. President Buharis anti-corruption war has not been looking for corruption, instead his goons have been looking for scapegoats and opponents that have the capacity to stop the President in his tracks, and if they cannot find evidence against them, they manufacture it, which has led to a suspension of belief in the Presidents anti-corruption war on the part of the Nigerian people.What a sad way to demystify yourself to the Nigerian people. Alas, what a very sad way!
A student suicide on Rowan University's campus is leading to calls for improved mental health services at the institution, as the community mourns.

The suicide happened at the Rowan Boulevard parking garage around 6 a.m. Monday, the last day of classes before final exams began.

The university released a statement about the incident on Wednesday morning.

On Monday morning, the Rowan community was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of a student. We... Posted by Rowan University on Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Students were trying to make sense of what happened during a stressful time of the year.

"I'm still sick over the fact that somebody really thought it was the best option, that ending their life was the best way to solve their problems," said Jamie Cheeka, a health and physical education student at Rowan.

The problem

The incident was enough to get students talking, especially on social media, about experiences where they felt scared, depressed, stressed -- and then the difficulties in getting counseling.

Eric Smith, an accounting and finance major from Moorestown, said he last visited the counseling center at Rowan about 2 years ago to address anxiety problems that he figures he had been dealing with since middle school.

"They more or less told me, 'I understand what you're dealing with, but the only I thing I can do is put you on a waitlist or in group therapy,'" Smith said.

He wasn't comfortable with group therapy, so he didn't show up again for awhile. He went back a few months ago, signed up for group therapy, and dropped out after a few sessions. He felt that he needed something more individualized.

Two other students NJ Advance Media spoke with expressed similar concerns -- they arrived at the Wellness Center seeking counseling, only to be put on a waitlist or in group therapy.

"It's important to break the stigma and understand that getting help for mental health is really important, but we have to be confident in where we're getting help from," said Jamie Cheeka, a health and physical education major.

Cheeka said she visited the counseling center during an incredibly tough stretch earlier in her college career: she was in some of her most difficult classes, and then her mother received a cancer diagnosis. On top of that, a long relationship she was in ended suddenly. The stress and sadness were piling on.

She showed up at the wellness center hoping someone could talk her through the tough time. But she was put on the waitlist, which at that time was months long, she said.

"I wasn't going to end my life," Cheeka said. "But the thoughts were there, the sadness was there, and I felt like I just needed someone to talk to and I got turned away."

The counselors

Dr. Amy Hoch, associate director of counseling at the university, acknowledged that the waitlist for treatment is long, and sometimes counselors don't make it through the whole waitlist in a given semester.

When a student comes in, a staff member at the counseling center does a "triage" to assess the level of treatment a student would need, and determine if they need something right away, or a weekly or bi-weekly appointment.

And sometimes, group therapy is considered the best option.

In crises such as a student suicide, additional counselors are dispatched from the Stratford campus, and employees from other departments are trained a few times a year to handle counseling as part of the "smart team." That team goes around to clubs or classes that might be affected by such an event and offers support

There's also a service called "Let's Talk," where students can drop in to a few different sites on campus for informal counseling, without committing to an appointment schedule.

Hoch, who has been at Rowan since 2010, said the counseling staff has grown from 4 to 14.5, hiring at least one counselor a year since she's been there.

"The best practice is that you should have one counselor for every 1,500 students," Hoch said.

Rowan's total enrollment is about 18,500 this year.

"We certainly tried to meet that need, and so we're kind of barely at that minimum," she said. "And when there are more stressful times like finals, or transition times like the beginning of the year, you can imagine the need is even greater."

Petitions

Niq Giordano, a senior computer science major, said he had often heard other students complaining about having trouble getting help at the university counseling center.

Then on Monday, after hearing that a classmate had taken their own life, he created a petition on change.org, calling for mental health services at Rowan to be improved. The petition now has about 1,600 signatures.

"You constantly see stuff about how Rowan's growing, there's new buildings, we have 18,000 some students," Giordano said. "As we admit more students, the issue is going to continue to grow."

"I don't want any of my classmates hurting."

There was a suicide here today at Rowan University. And as all of us Profs are praying for the family, I just want to stress how important it is to check up on your friends, and to reach out for help if you need it. Stay safe. And keep them in your prayers  Layne (@alayna_marie621) December 11, 2017

Summer Dixon, a graduate student in criminal justice, also created a petition to call attention to the long waitlist and what she feels is a need for more counseling options at the university.

After being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in her undergrad career, she felt like she needed someone to talk to.

"I was going down a path that I thought was dangerous for myself, and they said 'the waitlist is four months,'" Dixon said.

"I just think, what if I was a person who was suicidal, but I didn't tell them everything, and they sent me away?"

She's glad that the counseling staff has grown, but hopes the university could add more and be a model for mental health treatment on college campuses.

"I get one-on-one [treatment] for every possible Rowan student is not really achievable," she said. "That doesn't mean that we can't make some changes here."

Part of a growing trend

Colleges and universities across the nation reported an increase in mental health treatment visits over the past five years, said Dr. Ben Locke, of Penn State's Center for Collegiate Mental Health. And the growth in use is at a pace many times the growth of the institutions' student body, he said.

And the increase was mostly composed of students who reported that they were thinking about harming themselves, Locke said.

He said this increase is likely due to the coming of age of a generation raised with suicide prevention messages coming through in school, in public service announcements and on campus.

"Literally hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on suicide prevention," he said, leading to people who think they might need help seeking it out and contributing to the increasing demand for services.

"That really makes it so that when a suicide does occur, it's even more of a tragedy, because so many people are putting in effort to prevent them."

At the same time, suicide among college students is still rare, and students commit suicide at a rate lower than the general population, he said.

"We have to be careful about overgeneralizing our fears, our worries, about suicide. It should be treated as a tragic event that is not super common."

Students should seek help

Hoch was glad students were advocating for improvements to mental health services. But at the same time, she hopes criticism of the counseling offered will not deter students who need help from seeking it.

"The message being sent could lead to a student maybe thinking about coming, to say, 'well I can't walk in there, or they don't want to see me, or they don't have enough people to see me," Hoch said.

"Hopefully we can both advocate for better mental health services here but also tell students, if you are having a problem, please come in and see us."

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- New York Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh helped spread holiday cheer in Jersey City on Friday night.

Pugh was on hand at City Hall as more than 2,000 gifts were distributed to more than 900 families.

Children who attended the event had their photos taken with Santa, enjoyed character guests, and snacks. Pugh signed autographs for attendees and posed for pictures.

It is the 21st time the city has sponsored the event.

Check out photos from the toy drive taken by Jersey Journal freelance photographer Rich McCormack.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Nine members of a cocaine distribution ring were arrested Thursday after an investigation found they were moving about 1/3 of a kilogram of cocaine a week, officials said.

The nine-month investigation, dubbed "Operation Snowball," found that Hugo Hernandez, 48, worked as a leader of the ring, giving cocaine to lower-level dealers and telling them to take it to locations in downtown Freehold borough, according to a news release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Nine were arrested last week in a cocaine distribution ring. (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)

In the investigation, officials seized more than 721 grams of cocaine and $14,943.

Hernandez, of Freehold borough, was charged with leader of a narcotics trafficking network and a slew of other drug charges.

Among the dealers was Hernandez's brother, Carlos Hernandez-Campos, 35.

Hernandez-Campos, of New Brunswick, and Lucino Roldan-Coria also known as "Rufino Roldan," 58, of Freehold borough, were charged with possessing and intending to distribute cocaine.

Miguel Garcia-Tapia, 30, of Freehold borough, was charged with possessing and distributing cocaine.

Procopio Morales-Hernandez, 49, of Freehold borough and Antonio Romano-Jiminez, also known as "Merito Romero-Jimenez," 29, of Freehold borough, were charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Gregorio Morales-Morales, 35, of Manalapan, John A. Depaola, 53, of Jackson, and Roberto Tlapa De La Era, 35, of Freehold borough, were charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde. Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us: nj.com/tips
Votes polled in Guajrat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections will be counted tomorrow. Ahead of the vote count, both the Congress and the BJP today claimed to defeat the other in two states.

By India Today Web Desk: On the eve of counting of votes in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, both the BJP and the Congress today claimed victory in the two states. Both the parties expressed confidence of forming governments in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh after vote count tomorrow.

BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said, "This will be a sixth consecutive and a historic win for the BJP. The BJP has been on the ascendant for many years due to its positive and performance oriented politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

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Rao said that the election results would once again prove that "people can't be swayed by negative propaganda and bogies of intolerance".

On the other hand, contrary to the predictions made in the exit polls, the Congress remains hopeful of snatching power in Gujarat from the BJP after 22 long years and retaining Himachal Pradesh in its fold.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence that the Congress would win as the people of Gujarat have voted for change.

"The people wish to change the government. The Congress put forward its vision for each section of the society including youths, women, farmers and labourers," Scindia said at Guna, his parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

He also showered praise on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for working hard in Gujarat.

GUJARAT IN FOCUS

Counting of votes for all 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will take place on Monday. Over 2.97 crore voters cast votes in the two-phase election which took place on December 9 and 14. Over 25 lakh more voters voted this year compared to 2012.

The Congress formed a caste combination on the lines of KHAM, which stands for Kshatriya, Harijan (Dalits), Adivasi (tribals) and Muslim, the theory propounded by former Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki - the father of current Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki. It fetched the Congress 149 of the 182 seats in 1980.

Joining hands with Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PASS) convener Hardik Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani seems to have worked in favour of the Congress.

The Patidar movement, counter-protests by a section of the OBCs and agitations by Dalits against atrocities brought caste to the fore. The Congress used the opportunity to try reap a harvest.

BJP KEEPS HOPE FLYING

To counter the Congress, the BJP raked up issues of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and the "neech" remark made by now suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer and accused Pakistan of colluding with the Congress to help it win in the state.

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Since Modi became chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, the BJP's seats and vote percentage has reduced in each assembly election.

In 2002, the BJP won 127 seats and got 44.81 per cent vote share, the highest ever while the Congress won 53 seats and got 35.28 per cent votes. In 2007, the BJP won 117 seats and 49 per cent vote share while the Congress won 59 seats with 39.63 per cent votes.

In 2012, the BJP got 115 seats with 48.30 per cent while the Congress won 61 seats with 40.59 per cent. But, the party is confident of winning the most crucial election in political terms.

(With IANS inputs)

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Investigators in Mississippi think an ATV crash was staged and that a body found at the crash scene had been placed there. (Wikipedia Commons)
Re-polling is being held in 6 stations in four constituencies in the Gujarat Assembly election 2017.

Re-polling is under way in four polling stations in the Gujarat Assembly election 2017, a day ahead of the results (Photo: Twitter/ANI)

By India Today Web Desk: A day ahead of the Gujarat poll results, re-polling is under way in six stations in Vadgam, Viramgam, Daskroi and Savli.

Here are the names of the booths in which the second round of polling is taking place:

VADGAM: Chhaniyan-1 and Chhaniyan-2 booths

VIRAMGAM: Booth no. 27

DASKROI: Nava Naroda booth

SAVLI: Nhara-1 and Sakarda-7 booths

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The Gujarat Assembly election 2017 was conducted in two-phases on December 8 and 14. Vadgam is the constituency from which Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani contested unopposed by the Congress.

Technical reasons were cited for the fresh round of polling, an IANS report said.

The Election Commission has also ordered the counting of votes in 10 booths using Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), as presiding officials forgot to wipe out mock drill poll results from these Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).

Counting using the VVPAT slips will be for Ralisn-3 in Visnagar, Piludra-1 and Katosan-3 booths of Becharaji, Jamatha of Modasa, Vejalpur-58 of Vejalpur, Vastral-55 of Vatva, Khadiya-16 of Jamalpur-Khadiya, Pilol-2 of Savli, Gojpur and Songir booths of Sankheda constituencies.

The EC has clarified that the VVPAT counting will be in addition to the counting of the VVPAT slips prescribed by the Commission in which one booth per constituency was to counted using the paper trail method.

(Inputs from IANS and ANI)

WATCH | Gujarat Opinion Poll: Congress unlikely to dent BJP hold despite unhappiness on GST, DeMo

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OMAHA  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska plans to create a new parent company called GoodLife Partners Inc. to enhance its efforts to reduce health care costs and improve its clients health.

The change, subject to approval by the Nebraska Department of Insurance and Blue Cross policyholders, would separate its insurance company from its non-insurance businesses under the new GoodLife mutual holding company, meaning it would be owned by Blue Cross policyholders.

The existing insurance company, still under the Blue Cross brand, would convert from mutual ownership to a stock company, 100 percent owned by GoodLife, a name derived from the states The Good Life motto.

GoodLife also would own ventures including Blue Cross Think Aksarben clinic and a business incubator called Genesys Innovations, plus investments it already has made or would make in the future.

The change would not affect existing health plan contracts, benefits or monthly premiums, Blue Cross said in letters to be mailed today to policyholders.

The same board of directors and staff would operate the insurance company and the holding company, with no changes in salaries, said Steve Martin, president and chief executive.

Martin said in an interview that the holding company structure would let the nonprofit company be more nimble and adaptive in investing in and developing health care-related businesses.

Our whole mission is to improve health care, make it more efficient, higher quality, higher consumer satisfaction, un-complicate health care and lower the costs, Martin said. To do that, we need to be a little more than an insurance company. ... I believe we can solve this through innovation.

The non-insurance side of the company would have access to some new sources of capital, he said, and could ally with other companies without merging them into the insurance business. Money from one side could be shifted to the other, he said, but any such transfers would be subject to Department of Insurance scrutiny.

Some current Blue Cross ventures would move right away to the non-insurance side of the holding company, Martin said, and others would move later to avoid some tax-related costs.

Close regulation of the insurance business means that it can be difficult to make investments or start new ventures. Under its current structure, he said, Blue Cross has missed some opportunities.

In recent years, Blue Cross has sought ways to encourage its clients to get better primary care and to find systems that avoid mistakes, coordinate medical care and keep costs down while providing high-quality care, he said.

Several other Blue Cross affiliates have adopted mutual holding company forms, and non-Blue Cross insurance companies have done the same, including Ameritas Life in Lincoln and the former Guarantee Mutual Life Co. in Omaha.

Guarantee Mutual was sold to a larger company, but Martin said there are no such plans for Blue Cross.

The Department of Insurance will hold a Jan. 22 public hearing on Blue Cross reorganization plan, as required by state law. The department oversees insurance companies, in part to make sure they have the money to pay claims and other obligations.

If the department approves the plan, Blue Cross policyholders would vote March 26 at their annual meeting. Approval requires a two-thirds vote of eligible policyholders.

Blue Cross process

Public hearing, 10 a.m. Jan. 22, Room 534, Golds Building, 1033 O St., Lincoln. Send written material and speaker requests by Jan. 18 to the Nebraska Department of Insurance, 941 O St., Lincoln 68501, or call 402-471-2201.

Blue Cross annual policyholder meeting on March 28

Who can vote: Individual plan holders; fully insured groups (one policyholder per group); clients with Medicare supplement, Advantage and Part D plans; and stop-loss insurance holders. People in self-insured employer plans are not eligible.

Effective date, if approved: July 1.
A 19-year-old Omaha man was struck and killed while riding a skateboard on northbound Interstate 29 in Mills County early Saturday morning.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Tyler Ryan Givens-Dunn was riding a skateboard going north in the interstates left lane at mile marker 33 when he was struck by a 2015 Toyota 4Runner driven by Sarah E. Perry, 37, of Saxonbury, North Carolina.

Perry was in the left lane passing a truck when Givens-Dunn was struck, according to the patrol. The accident happened at 2:10 a.m. and Givens-Dunn died at the scene. His body was taken to a funeral home in Omaha, according to the patrol.

The incident is under investigation by the patrol.

According to Givens-Dunns Facebook page, he leaves behind a 1-year-old son. Friends described him on social media as kind and a loving father, with a smile that would make you smile.

 Mara Klecker of BH News Service contributed to this report.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office will be able to expand its applicant pool for deputies.

The countys Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that would allow the office to hire deputies that live in Nebraska. Currently the agency needs a waiver to make such hires.

Iowa law requires sheriffs offices to hire from within the state but allows local governments to remove the residency requirement.

The supervisors voted 2-1 to approve the second reading of the ordinance at its Dec. 12 meeting, with Supervisor Tom Hanafan voting no. The board waived a third reading of the ordinance, meaning it will become law. Supervisors Justin Schultz and Marilyn Jo Drake were not at the meeting.

Im glad they did (it). I think it will give us some opportunity to attract qualified applicants that might be living in Nebraska  where theyre established with family, have kids in school and might not be able to move  that we wouldnt before, said Sheriff Jeff Danker.

Tim Wichman, who had voted against the ordinance on first reading, said of changing his vote, I did some due diligence. I asked the questions I felt I needed to to make that call.

He noted the waiver system that currently could allow deputies to live in Nebraska, saying, Theyre doing it anyway.

What this would allow him to do is to not have to file a waiver every time. And it increases the pool of applicants. That can be positive, he said. We, as well as the sheriff, belief the preference is to hire within the county. It certainly is my preference.

Danker agreed, saying We like them to live in the county and in the community if at all possible.

He noted its possible hirees from Nebraska could enjoy Pottawattamie County enough to make the move eventually. But he said hes glad theres not that urgency to move should a deputy from Nebraska be hired.

Right now, the real estate market is good. But there have been times when it isnt so good, he said of the prospect of moving. We hope, when they join, they fall in love with the county and move over here. We want them to live over here. But it limits your options to say, You have to live in the county.

Hanafan, who voted for the ordinance on first reading, said he often votes through an ordinance on first reading so further discussion can take place. He said he was torn on the ordinance.

If they want to give a waiver, they have the ability to do that. Some of these people have been hired that had to move to Pottawattamie County, he said. Now new people wont have to.

Hanafan also said he wanted to have a third reading vote at the next meeting when all five members of the board are present, but was outnumbered on that request.

Drake voted for the ordinance on first reading, while Schultz told The Nonpareil he supported the measure.
The soldier, along with 4 other jawans, were buried in snow after avalanche hit north Kashmir earlier this week.

By India Today Web Desk: The Indian Army today paid tribute to its jawan Sepoy Koushal Singh, who died after being buried in snow following an avalanche in Nowgam sector along the Line of Control (LOC) on December 13.

The body of the jawan, who belonged to 33 Rashtriya Rifles, was recovered yesterday.

Two soldiers slipped down a mountain slope in Naugam sector of Kupwara district while three others went missing from a forward post in Kanzalwan sub-sector of Gurez in Bandipora district during heavy snowfall on earlier this week.



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While Singh's body was traced, rescue operations are underway to find the remaining jawans.

Pertinently, at least 22 Army soldiers died due to snow furry in Gurez and Sonmarg areas of north Kashmir in January alone.

-With inputs from Ashraf Wani

ALSO WATCH | Terrorist gunned down, 2 Army soldiers martyred in encounter in Pulwama

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A populist is someone who advocates for the rights of the common people over those of the elite. Donald Trump campaigns as a populist but governs as an elitist.

President Trump has stated that he will be financially damaged by the tax reform he supports. Lets look at the tax reform. Donald Trump would benefit from three elements in tax reform: ending the estate tax, creating additional pass-throughs, and reducing the top individual rate from 39 to 37 percent. The pass-through proposal is billed as helping small businesses. Donald Trump controls over 500 businesses that would qualify.

The profits and losses of pass-through businesses, unlike those of traditional corporations, flow directly onto the tax returns of their owners. This benefits rich individuals more than small businesses. America is unusual in also offering this option to large firms, according to an article in The Economist.

Today 95 percent of corporations are pass-throughs, The Economist writes. They make more profit and employ more people than conventional companies do. They also have richer owners. Three-fifths of pass-through income flows to the top 1 percent of earners, compared with two-fifths of corporate dividends. Pass-throughs benefit the little guy a little, and the big guy a lot because of the progressive tax code.

In 2012, Kansas abolished taxes on pass-throughs and suffered a destructive 25 percent state revenue decrease.

The Senate wants taxpayers to deduct 20 percent of their profits from their taxable income. The progressive tax rate makes this more beneficial for large firms. More importantly, decoupling the levies for wages and profits seems to defeat the whole point of pass-throughs, The Economist writes. The point is postcard simplicity. Complex rules foster avoidance.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates that 62 percent of the tax cut will go to the top 1 percent of Americans.

Paul Ryan has said big deficits will eventually have to be offset by cutting entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and unemployment benefits. You get the sugar now and the poison pill later. Campaign donations are really campaign investments, because big donors expect big returns.

Roger Green

Scottsbluff
Its all but certain that Nebraskans will be urged in 2018 to use their powers as state governments second house and rewrite state tax policies.

Well and good. Just know that the first petition you face next year may not be the last  and that each of us has a duty to keep the welfare of all Nebraskans in mind.

Citing serious stresses in agriculture and exhaustion of their patience, a group including state Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard is about to push a two-front strategy promising the elusive prize of deep, lasting property tax relief.

They plan to ask the Legislature and the voters  at the same time  to enact individual state income tax credits equal to half of what each of us pays our school districts in property taxes.

Through their simultaneous attack, supporters are saying that senators either can agree now or watch the voters go over their heads. That may or may not work out.

Regardless, times are tough in farm and ranch country. And the demand for property tax relief is ancient and powerful in Nebraska.

It rattled the State Capitol in 1966, when voters repealed both the former property tax for state government and an income tax law state leaders had enacted in case voters chose repeal.

That memory suggests Nebraskans should eye this proposal critically. So does the possibility of one or even two other petition drives to redirect state fiscal policies.

Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld, likely emboldened by a successful 2014 petition effort to enact a higher state minimum wage, wants to enable voters to mandate expansion of Nebraskas federally aided Medicaid program. If senators wont ask voters directly, he may launch a petition drive, he says.

And if the Erdman group puts its plan on the ballot, state business leaders said last May, they may well run their own petition drive to chisel lower income tax rates into stone.

Meanwhile, revenues from state sales and income taxes  the would-be funding sources in each case  continue to run behind projections, due to the same agricultural downturn and high agland values that are fueling the latest calls for property tax relief.

Do you envy your state senators their job yet?

Heres the truth: Its also our job.

Nebraskans wrote the power to make or repeal laws themselves, through the initiative and referendum, into our state constitution more than a century ago. Using it requires us to consider the wisdom of any proposal  and its potential consequences.

Fiscal responsibility, long a mantra for Nebraskans, has long since been recklessly abandoned by both major parties. But Nebraskas constitution requires a balanced state budget. Lawmakers have no choice.

And any changes to our tax and budget laws, even those dictated by voters, can trigger unintended consequences.

When voters repealed the initial income tax and state property tax 50 years ago, they left senators with no substantial means to fund even the most basic of state services. The result was a new state income tax law, the states first-ever sales tax and  again in the hope of lasting local property tax relief  the beginnings of state aid to local governments, especially schools.

Voters duly punished Gov. Norbert Tiemann, who proposed and signed the measures into law, by unseating him in 1970. Another Republican governor, Kay Orr, suffered the same fate 20 years later when Tiemanns income tax law, linked too closely to federal tax liability, needed fixing during the 1980s farm crisis.

But income and sales taxes and state school aid are still with us. What we want, we must pay for.

Backers of the property tax petition say their plan will force the Legislature  finally, in their view  to eliminate spending they deem unnecessary or wasteful. Nebraskans naturally will disagree on what fits those categories.

But what if voters also decide to mandate greater Medicaid spending (a category that often draws fire from tax and budget critics), income tax cuts or both? How then would supporters pay for, say, Nebraskas troubled prison system? Higher education? Even state school aid?

Its our right to second-guess our lawmakers as the second house. But its also our duty to each other to consider what might come next.
Two major U.S. futures exchanges are launching bitcoin futures, which is adding fuel to the fire behind the cryptocurrency market, pushing prices over $17,000 per BTC this week. Although the underlying bitcoin market is unregulated, the two exchanges have created structured futures contracts around bitcoin, lending additional credibility to the asset.

This may make investments in bitcoin more appealing to the public, but the market has been extremely volatile, making bitcoin one of the highest risk markets available to investors.

Long term, many bitcoin enthusiasts hope that it will function as an everyday currency, while others are treating it only as a speculative asset, like gold, and others yet have derided it, including JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon, who described it as a fraud. The term bubble is also quite popular among those who have compared it other skyrocketing fads chased by a naive public.

Starting Monday, futures traders can put their cryptocurrency where their mouth is, provided they have the risk tolerance and have the nearly $50,000 per contract for the CME Groups futures contract that starts trading Dec. 18.

Cotton market blooms

Cotton prices blew up to new a contract high on Friday as March futures prices topped 76 cents per pound. The commodity is being chased higher by investors watching the weak U.S. dollar  which makes U.S. cotton cheaper to rest of the world  and a developing problem with bollworms that are eating the crop in India, another major exporter.

Our American cotton crop survived the three hurricanes and flooding fairly well but now could face threats from a drought spreading into Texas. World demand continues to be strong and the rally in the U.S. stock market continues to support expectations of demand for the fiber.

One factor that could keep a lid on prices is the large stockpile that China has accumulated during the past couple of years.
Methodist Hospitals says it has lowered its infection rate by using a new kind of catheter.

The hospital system in Gary and Merrillville conducted a study finding zero bloodstream infections over 12 months with the use of a midline IV catheter called the POWERWAND.

The absence of bloodstream infections associated with this particular midline is unprecedented, stated Michelle DeVries, the hospitals senior infection control officer. "This is the only catheter-related study Ive done in my 22 years in infection control where there has not been a single bloodstream infection."

DeVries recently presented results of the research at the Association for Vascular Access national conference. Methodist Hospitals vascular access research has taken top honors at the Association for Vascular Access national meeting for the last two years. Co-authors on the presentation were nurses Janice Lee and Kathleen Rickard, members of the hospitals specialist nursing vascular access team.

Like a peripherally inserted central catheter, or PICC, a midline catheter is inserted into a large vein in the arm and gives clinicians a channel by which to provide the patient with medication and draw blood. Unlike a PICC, it does not extend all the way to the heart.

Intravenous catheters are used for blood draws and various types of medication delivery. American clinicians annually place several million IV catheters that travel through veins to the central venous system of the heart. Many of these are PICCS.

PICC lines are life-saving, but they can potentially lead to central line associated bloodstream infections. To address this patient safety issue, Methodist Hospitals looked to reduce potential overutilization of PICCs through the use of POWERWAND midline catheter.

This study shows that by carefully choosing what fits the actual patient need, we can reduce the risk of infection, and thats good for the patient and the entire health care system," stated Vincent Sevier, vice president and chief quality officer at Methodist Hospitals.

Data compiled since completion of the study has continued to show zero bloodstream infections for the POWERWAND over an additional 2,261 inpatient midline days during the first 10 months of 2017.
Major Region employers largely fared well in the Human Rights Campaigns annual Corporate Equality Index, with most earning perfect scores.

A record 609 large publicly traded corporations received the top score of 100 for workplace policies and practices to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, or LGBTQ, workers, up 18 percent from 517 in 2016.

The top-scoring companies on this years CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to their operations around the globe and impacting millions of people beyond our shores, HRC President Chad Griffin said. Many of these companies have also become vocal advocates for equality in the public square, including the dozens that have signed on to amicus briefs in vital Supreme Court cases and the 106 corporate supporters of the Equality Act. We are proud to have developed so many strong partnerships with corporate allies who see LGBTQ equality as a crucial issue for our country and for their businesses.

Companies are rated by the Human Rights Campaign for non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, responsible citizenship, public commitment to LGBTQ equality and accountability around LGBTQ diversity and inclusion issues.

Making strides

NiSource, the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Northwest Indiana, scored a perfect 100 percent on the national benchmarking survey. It was the third year NiSource was ranked and the first it was named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

This year, NiSource launched a new Employee Resource Group called NiPRIDE that focuses on attracting, retaining and developing LGBTQ employees at the utility.

The diversity of our employees is ingrained in who we are, and each employee plays a role in building NiSources culture of inclusion and diversity, said Carrie Hightman, NiSource executive vice president and chief legal officer, who also serves as the companys executive inclusion and diversity champion. This honor as a best place to work for LGBTQ equality is recognition of the many stories of our employees across NiSource that together create an environment where each employee has the opportunity to bring their true self to work and ultimately reach their full potential.

Ford, which employs more than 5,000 workers at the Chicago Assembly Plant in Hegewisch and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, also attained a perfect score.

In 2004, Ford was the first automaker to receive a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and we are proud of the people, programs and policies that have continued to earn us a perfect score each year since, said Meeta Huggins, Ford's chief diversity officer. Ford remains committed to supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion because we believe it makes our company stronger.

BP, the employer of more than 1,800 workers at its BP Whiting Refinery on Lake Michigan, also got a 100 for its inclusiveness policies.

The company recognizes the importance of being a place where people can bring their whole selves and work to their full potential, said Michael Abendoff, BP spokesman. Partnering with HRC and receiving a 100 percent on the CEI aligns with that goal. Our corporate values and code of conduct make clear that we are committed to treating all people with respect and dignity and that we oppose discrimination of any kind.

BP said its just a good business practice.

We will continue striving to make sure our workforce reflects the society in which we operate and an environment of diversity and inclusion, Abendoff said.

Praxair, which supplies industrial gases to the refinery and the steel mills along the Lake Michigan's south shore, also was designated Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality after a score of 100 percent.

The company also has an employee resource group for LGBTQ employees and is offering mentoring and training programs to promote inclusion company-wide.

We continue to implement programs, policies and training globally that foster an inclusive environment for all of our employees, which has culminated in a score of 100 percent on this important index, said Vanessa Abrahams-John, Praxair chief diversity officer. Receiving this external recognition for the second year in a row is a testament to the value we place on diversity and inclusion.

Supporting change

U.S. Steel received a score of 10 out of a possible 100, which was largely consistent with low rankings given to others in the metals industry. Spokeswoman Meghan Cox said U.S. Steel's ranking was not based on any information the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker had volunteered or any requests for information it responded to.

"U.S. Steel is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a workforce of talented, diverse people," she said. "We strive to foster an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees feel valued and appreciated."

Cox said her company's code of ethical business conduct guides all employees to treat others with dignity and respect in the workplace.

"U.S. Steel has zero tolerance for any discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected basis," she said.

ArcelorMittal, Northwest Indiana's other large steelmaker, wasn't included in the index because it is headquartered outside the United States.
Pete Bolt has joined Franciscan Ministries as executive director for St. Anthony Village in Crown Point. Bolt has more than 25 years in senior health care operations and has an extensive background in leading organizational personnel and processes in the delivery of quality care. Bolt hopes to enhance partnerships with residents, families, and the Crown Point community and referral sources. Since 1939, St. Anthony Village has been serving families with quality care and unique programming.
Northwest Indiana charitable organizations could lose millions in donations under the compromise tax reform bill set for a final vote this week in Washington, D.C.

The proposed bill will double the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals, and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly, according to published reports.

Our concern is, when you increase that, people wont itemize anymore, and that means charitable organizations will lose, Carolyn Saxton, president and CEO of the Legacy Foundation, Lake County's community foundation, said.

Using the new, higher standard deduction, taxpayers would be able to avoid paying taxes on more of their income. However, it also might drastically reduce the number of filers who itemize, because itemizing only makes sense if your deductions, including to charities, exceed the standard deduction, according to the Tax Policy Center.

About one-third of Americans currently itemize their tax deductions. That number could drop to as low as 5 percent if the standard deduction amount is increased.

We dont know whats going to happen at this point, but increasing the standard deduction by doubling it will probably have a negative impact on charitable giving, Saxton said.

Lisa Daugherty, president and CEO of Lake Area United Way, said the impact on the organizations annual fundraising campaign isnt expected to be as much as on the county as a whole.

We dont take a position on the comprehensive bill, but the national organization expects the loss to be several hundred million dollars, Daugherty said.

She said the organization is estimating a 5 percent loss in overall giving as a result of the law. In Lake County, based on information from 50,330 income tax returns that showed a total of more than $192 million in donations from itemized deductions, that would mean about a $9 million loss for all the charitable organizations in the county.

We dont know how many of our donors are itemizing, but based on the profile of a typical donor, we will fare better than the 5 percent. Still, in terms of campaign dollars, we could see a $130,000 loss from that, Daugherty said.

We get other funds, but were deeply concerned about it, because we already know there is a greater need. We believe the basic-needs organizations will be hit the hardest.

Kim Olesker, president and CEO of United Way of Porter County, said, Currently, our organization serves 69,000 residents who rely on United Way each and every day. As such, we are deeply concerned that the tax reform bill will dramatically harm charitable giving to human services organizations.

Across the U.S., 31 million middle-class taxpayers who currently donate to charity will lose the charitable deduction as a result of the current tax bill, Olesker said.

In Porter County, 19,140 people claimed a charitable deduction in 2015. Those people gave a whopping ($82.8 million) to charity. If they gave just 5 percent less because of losing the charitable deduction, thats $4 million less to charities.

Fewer people giving to charities

The concern over the loss of charitable contributions because of the loss of itemized deductions in the new tax bill comes at a time when fewer people are giving to charity.

According to an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, from 2000 to 2014, the percentage of Americans who gave to charity declined for all ages, education levels and income levels. The article detailed a study by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy that focused on religious giving.

The percentage of households giving to charity dropped to 44.5 percent from 66.2 percent during that time, while the decline in religious giving was even more significant, with only 34 percent of households giving to houses of worship or religious organizations in 2014, compared to 46 percent in 2004, according to the article.

The study found only 13 percent of adults younger than 30 give to religious causes.

And only 51 percent of the households in the Midwest states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan gave to charities in the latest census figures, which is the lowest in the country except for the southern states from Texas to West Virginia.

Changes could help as well as hinder

Joseph Laciak, president of Laciak Accountancy Group, said the impact on charitable contributions will depend on the individual.

Most of those who donate to charity are doing so because of their own charitable inclinations and not because of the tax deduction, Laciak said.

Those giving a big amount will not be affected. The people most affected will be those giving $3,000 or $4,000 or less, but, with the higher standard deduction, their income tax will go down, so those people should have more money to give to charity. I dont know if they will still be inclined to give that money to charities.

Charities also could be affected by the decrease in corporate taxes. Having more money could mean more money to give or more money to pay out in stock dividends, which would mean stockholders would have more to give, Laciak said. Whether they would or not, again, depends on the person or the corporation.

If the estate tax is eliminated or the standard deduction for it is dramatically increased so only a few would still pay, Laciak said that could be a double-edged sword, since many people include charitable donations in their estate planning to lower the impact of the tax.

At the same time, if a wealthy person has a charitable intent, they would have more money to contribute. If they stop giving because of the new law, charities would have a very huge problem at that point, he said.
GARY  Hammond officers called off a search overnight Saturday, unable to track an armed robbery suspect with his GPS-equipped ankle bracelet.

The bracelet was a condition the man agreed to in exchange for release from jail last year while awaiting trial for murder in Lake County, court records show.

A Hammond officer was injured Friday night in the pursuit, according to police Lt. Steve Kellogg.

At 8:54 p.m. Friday, officers received a report of an armed robbery in the 6800 block of Kentucky Street in Gary, Kellogg said. A 15-year-old boy told police he was walking to a friend's house when a car pulled up and a man exited, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at him and demanded his phone.

After taking the teen's phone, the suspect, described as black, 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 155 pounds, took off in an older, four-door brown car, Kellogg said.

A Hammond officer responding to the robbery report noticed a vehicle matching that description near 165th and Kennedy so he activated his emergency lights and pursued the suspect. The suspect sped off and reportedly struck a curb near 169th and Cline, forcing his car to spin out into a parking lot.

Thinking the suspect was going to bail, officers pulled into the lot, at which point the suspect accelerated and slammed his vehicle into a squad car, Kellogg said. The K-9 officer inside suffered an injury to his hand.

Officers gave chase on foot with a K-9 assisting, but lost him in the area.

Police later learned the suspect vehicle was registered to a man awaiting trial on murder charges in Lake Criminal Court and that he was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet. Kellogg said they further believe it was the same person because the description matched.

Court records show the man was granted bail, despite the state's objection, under the condition he wear the ankle bracelet.

Police pinged his location several times Friday night, eventually leading them to a home in Hammond, but a search turned up negative, Kellogg said. They pinged his location in East Chicago, but he was gone by the time police arrived.

The search was called off at about 1 a.m., Kellogg said.

The Times is not naming the suspect at this time because charges have not been filed. Kellogg said detectives are working to establish probable cause and file charges in Lake Criminal Court.
INDIANAPOLIS  Gov. Eric Holcomb is expecting the state's building safety commission next month will approve a template ordinance for local communities to adopt if they want to require home carbon monoxide detectors.

In an exclusive interview with The Times, the Republican said he is aware that several Northwest Indiana communities have been unable to finalize carbon monoxide detector requirements due to the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission refusing to sign off on their ordinances.

Holcomb explained the refusals are not borne out of an animus toward carbon monoxide detectors, but rather a desire to avoid different standards and policies in communities across the state.

"We're trying to get away from this hodge-podge approach and have a more formalized template," Holcomb said.

The governor did not specify whether the template only would cover new residential construction, similar to ordinances approved by the councils in Chesterton, LaPorte, Michigan City and Porter County, or also apply to existing rental properties as St. Joseph County wants.

"The board should be working with, and is working with, local communities," Holcomb said. "There will be more work to share coming next year, which is right around the corner."

At its Dec. 5 meeting, the safety commission explicitly declined to tell Michigan City Fire Marshal Kyle Kazmierczak exactly what ordinance language would pass muster, even as commission leaders repeatedly claimed they were working on a template.

"What they're doing, in my opinion, is trying to draw it out as long as possible so we just go away," Kazmierczak said at the time.

Holcomb demurred when asked if he'd rather have the Indiana General Assembly send him legislation setting statewide carbon monoxide detector requirements during the lawmakers' 10-week annual session that begins Jan. 3.

The governor said he first wants to see what the safety commission comes up with for local ordinances before considering whether a statutory requirement is needed.

"I'll review what their final product is and withhold judgment until I see that," Holcomb said. "We want this to be easy for counties to not just go to the board, but to get approval."

At the same time, Holcomb was coy about whether he'd approve a state law preempting local governments from enacting carbon monoxide detector requirements: "I'll withhold my judgment until I see what their (the safety commission's) product is."

The General Assembly in recent years regularly has barred local government action independent of state law on a variety of issues, including setting a higher minimum wage, enacting strict gun regulations and banning plastic bags or Styrofoam food packaging.

Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House and Senate also largely declined action on the dangers of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas produced by malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances that kills approximately 170 Americans each year and sends thousands more to emergency rooms.

For example, the General Assembly in 2014 scuttled a Senate Bill 329 provision, crafted by state Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, to merely have home inspectors advise homeowners of the benefits of a carbon monoxide detector if one was not already installed in the house.

Indiana is among just 12 states that do not require home carbon monoxide detectors either through state law, as Illinois does, or their state building codes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Comcast announced a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter Countys Duneland Club. The funds will be used to purchase additional technology for the clubs science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, lab, including a new electronic whiteboard. The donation is part of a larger effort Comcast is making in locations across the country to support My.Future, an interactive online Boys & Girls Clubs of America platform kids can use to learn, play and socialize, as well as interact with one another  using likes, follows and shares  and showcase their work.

Our club organization is thrilled to partner with Comcast to bring technology to kids we serve and help them learn and develop, said Ryan Smiley, the club's president. Not only does technology help kids learn, it sparks their interest in and an array of topics ranging from science and math to nutrition and exercise.

The whiteboards, purchased through Comcasts funding, are a great addition to our STEM curriculum, because they are really opening a window to different worlds for our members. These boards also will be used for staff development as we connect our clubs in Lake and Porter counties for distance learning and training opportunities, ensuring that we continually provide top quality programs for kids.

Comcast is proud to partner with BGCPOCO once again to provide kids and families it serves access to technology that will help them develop the skills they need to succeed in todays digital world. said John Crowley, senior vice president of Comcasts Greater Chicago Region, which includes Northwest Indiana.
It doesn't need to be the holiday season for Brock Franzman to be in the giving spirit.

That's just the 10-year-old Hebron boy's personality.

His sweet and helpful attitude shined after Brock heard his longest friend had been diagnosed with cancer.

Their school held a fundraiser to help with boy's medical expenses. The event asked students to contribute $1, and they would be allowed to wear a hat in school for a day, said Sarah Franzman, Brock's mother.

Sarah Franzman said her son told her he wanted to contribute more than $1 to help his buddy fight his disease. He set a goal to collect $100 and wrote a note asking people to help him assist his friend who is currently in the hospital, Sarah Franzman said.

It hurts him to see his friend being sick, she said.

That note hit social media, and the contributions starting coming in. Brock more than achieved his goal, collecting close to $2,000.

I'm beyond humbled, Sarah Franzman said.

The note also caught the attention of the Iron Pack Brotherhood, a motorcycle group that focuses on helping children.

Joe Davis, vice president of the Iron Pack Brotherhood, said he was impressed with how Brock went above and beyond to help someone in need.

He cares about others, that's what I want, Davis said, The world doesn't have enough of that.

The group decided it wanted to help Brock's friend, so members on Saturday afternoon took Brock to Target in Hobart to pick out gifts for his friend.

When they met at the store, the group gave Brock a plaque making him an honorary member of the Iron Pack.

The mild-mannered boy had a serious face as he walked the store, helping the Iron Pack pick out video games, toys, coloring books and other items for Brock's friends.

While the group was purchasing the gifts, Davis pointed out that Brock never thought of asking for something for himself.

He didn't have to.

The Iron Pack had one more surprise for Brock. Every time he picked out a gift for his friend, the group grabbed two of each item.

Just before leaving the store, they told Brock he would be getting the same gifts that are going to his friend.

A smile quickly emerged on his face, and he immediately showed his gratitude.

Thank you, Brock said to the group before giving out hugs and shaking hands with the other members of his pack.
According to flyers, the airline did not provide them with any accommodation plan or meal and only after they protested, were they handed sandwiches and a water bottle each.

By Manogya Loiwal : With scores of Jet Airways passengers hungry, tired and left fuming since Saturday night at Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, the situation continues to remain tense today.

The trouble started after Jet Airways first delayed a Kolkata-bound flight by 2.30 hours and later cancelled it at 10:30pm Saturday night.

According to flyers, the airline did not provide them with any accommodation plan or meal and only after they protested, were they handed sandwiches and a water bottle each.

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Later, the passengers were told that they will be accommodated on the next flight- as per seat availability.

But, the first flight on Sunday morning too got delayed due to fog, adding to the ruckus furthermore. Moreover, the second flight was scheduled for 1:35pm today.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Ram Sagar Deuri, Deputy Director, Airport Authority, Borjhar Airport said, "Two flights were cancelled due to fog and bad weather. Airport Authority had provided adequate facilities to all passengers. Due to bad weather seven departing flights and nine arriving flights were delayed up to 9:30 am today."

Jet Airways in a statement today said that all passengers will be put on the next flight to Kolkata- subject to seat availability.

In addition, Jet Airways has also cancelled 9W7067 Guwahati-Aizwal flight.

--- ENDS ---
VALPARAISO  Piper, a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix, poked her head out of the front of Rachele Watsons coat.

Shes less than five pounds, so I have a sweater and a jacket on her, said Watson, of Valparaiso.

Piper, Watson, and Watsons daughter, Cassie, 5, were all bundled up Saturday night for Valpo Parks 2nd annual Luminary Walk.

Stars sparkled in the clear, night sky, while 1,200 flickering LED luminaries lined either side of the 3/4 mile Vale Park West Pathway that crosses over Beauty Creek between Windsor Park and Keystone Commons subdivisions.

The pathway, which opened in November 2016, invited folks out for a brief evening stroll, and volunteers welcomed them to enjoy complimentary cookies and hot chocolate. Live music, including Trinity Lutheran Churchs Trinity Choral-Aires, The Jingle Tones, and Calumet Ridge Jazz Ensemble musicians, entertained the crowd strolling the pathway.

The luminary walk is the brainchild of Helene Pierce, Valpo Parks executive assistant, who was inspired by her grandmother, who loved luminaries.

Every Christmas Eve, we would line her driveway with luminaries, said Pierce, of Valparaiso. She lived in Florida, so it was much easier.

When Pierce learned that Carmel, Indiana, hosted a luminary walk several years ago, she knew it could be done on a larger scale.

When the pathway opened in November 2016, parks director John Seibert gave Pierce the go-ahead to plan the event.

Any time you can bring the community together, do something healthy in the middle of winter, and celebrate the holidays, its a trifecta, Pierce said. Last year we had a really great turnout and people enjoyed talking with their neighbors and taking a stroll at night.

Pierce said the parks department hoped to see more than 1,000 people enjoy the evening, since the temperatures were mild.

We could not do this if we didnt have the support of the community to come out and enjoy it, Pierce said.

Rachele Watson said she had never heard of the pathway, but she and her daughter took advantage of the nice weather to discover it.

Daddy is working afternoons, so we came out to get some fresh air and do something fun, Watson said.

Daniel and Mary Mellady and their son Benjamin, 3, and daughter Grace, 2, came from Westville to enjoy the evening.

Were going on a nature trail, said Benjamin, clutching a cup of hot chocolate. I love going down to the bridge.

It was the familys first time at the event.

We like making memories together, Mary Mellady said.
SOUTH HAVEN  The run-down former ranch-style home along County Road 700 North, just west of Ind. 149, once served as a substation for the Porter County Sheriff's Department. It also had been a homeless shelter.

Now after sitting abandoned and neglected, county government officials have a new plan in mind, which begins with tearing down the building, according to Bob Thompson, executive director of Porter Countys Department of Development & Storm Water Management.

Once demolished, the county would like to clear the site and put up a new building to serve multiple uses, including giving it a stronger presence in the county's most densely populated unincorporated area, said Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North.

The building can serve in the immediate future as a staging area for the massive stormwater drainage improvement project planned for South Haven, a large subdivision in the southeast corner of unincorporated Portage Township.

The county is borrowing $20 million for drainage work, with up to $17 million to be directed toward the long-standing drainage problems in South Haven. That work should be underway by early next year, Biggs said.

The new building would also serve as a warming location for county snowplow drivers, said Porter County Commissioner President Jeff Good, R-Center.

There are not only many roads to plow in South Haven, but they are narrow and often have cars parked along them, which makes plowing difficult and slow, he said.

"It just seems to take longer out there," Good said.

There are no definite plans or cost estimates for the proposed building, Thompson said. But the preliminary plans call for a pole barn structure with a meeting room and two or three garage bays for trucks, he said.

The hope is to have something in place as soon as next year, Thompson said.

The plan is to carry out the project through the Porter County Redevelopment Commission and use that group's funds, he said.

The RDC funding is generated through a fee on the tax abatement granted to Porter Regional Hospital, said Porter County Auditor Vicki Urbanik.

That fund had a balance last week of $647,489, she said.

The Porter County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a resolution supporting the project, which already had the support of the RDC and Planning Commission, Thompson said.

The proposal will now go back to the RDC for a public hearing at 5 p.m. Monday at the county administration center, 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso.

The proposed project is the first in a new approach for the newly revamped RDC, Good said.
Republicans are staring at a mid-term electoral disaster in 2018, both here in Indiana and across Americas amber waves of grain. After a hostile takeover by Donald Trump in 2016, this president has spent the year assaulting an array of institutions including the Republican Party, congressional leadership, U.S. intelligence agencies, American allies abroad, the judiciary and news media.

On Tuesday, the voters of crimson-red Alabama rebuked him and top political adviser Steve Bannon by sending Democrat Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate. It came in the most Republican state in the nation where Trump won with a 28 percent plurality in 2016, even more than the 19 percent plurality he rolled up in Indiana.

Trump had backed Roy Moore despite allegations ranging from pedophilia to sexual assault and harassment. The Republican National Committee also backed Moore.

We watched U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, tell Fox59 last weekend, Id be comfortable with Roy Moore. The rationale? A number of Republicans, evangelicals and Rokita cited abortion.

This is a man whos 100 percent pro-life like myself, Rokita said. Moore just dated 14-year-old girls as a 32-year-old man.

To which conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks observed: What shall it profit a man, Jesus asked, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? The current Republican Party seems to not understand that question. Donald Trump seems to have made gaining the world at the cost of his soul his entire lifes motto. The rot afflicting the GOP is comprehensive  moral, intellectual, political and reputational.

NBC News exit polling revealed Trumps approval/disapproval rating in Alabama stood at 48/48 percent. That compares to Trumps Indiana approval of 47/51 percent in a Public Opinion Strategies Poll for the Indiana Realtors in November. A Monmouth Poll on the congressional generic has Democrats leading by an unprecedented 51-36 percent margin, while Quinnpiac puts it at 49-37 percent.

The Indiana GOP establishment has not only acqiuesced to Trumpism, perhaps out of blind loyalty to Vice President Mike Pence, it has refused to criticize his often boorish, untruthful and offensive rhetoric.

There will likely be a price to pay. It is similar to a fateful scenario in 2012 when Hoosier Republicans jettisoned its leading vote-getter in history, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, for the firebrand Treasurer Richard Mourdock in the primary, only to watch that Senate seat end up in the hands of Democrat Joe Donnelly.

Indiana Democratic Chairman John Zody, who announced the party has candidates in 57 of 100 House districts lined up and more in the pipeline, told me Tuesday of Roy Moore, The president of the United States has campaigned for him. The RNC has invested in him. Its not just about Alabama any more. This is about a moral direction of one of the major political parties in the United States, and it is not going in the right direction.

Former Republican congressman Mark Souder added, It is really clear what happened in Alabama, and it should cause great worry to Republicans. Mobile, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville are Republican areas that showed some swing potential in the past. They went Democrat. The rural areas  core Trump country  stayed with Moore overwhelmingly. This is another warning sign of internal wars ahead. A Republican must win both the higher-educated suburbs and the rural areas to win in most areas that have potential of swinging."

Souder added, The fight ahead looks much tougher for Republicans, but, honestly, had Judge Moore prevailed, he might have been a millstone that took everyone down with him. Democrats were just deprived of a huge potential asset.

Perhaps. But it isnt just Alabama where Democrats are out-performing. In special elections this year in Kansas, Georgia, Montana, South Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia, Democratic congressional and gubernatorial candidates all did far better. In the 4th District of Kansas, CIA Director Mike Pompeo won in 2016 with a 31 percent margin; his replacement won by just 7 percent. In OMB Director Mick Mulvaneys South Carolina seat, which he won by 20 percent last year, his replacement won by 3 percent.

Trumps Gallup approval/disapproval stands at a disaster-making 35/60 percent on Dec. 8-10. Running with Trump fuming above them, Republicans up and down the ballot are facing fallout.

Looking back at modern Indiana mid-term elections with a first-term president, in 1990 with President George H.W. Bush at 58 percent approval, Democrat Secretary of State Joe Hogsett defeated popular Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut, and Democrats retook the Indiana House. In 1994, with President Bill Clinton at 52 percent approval after the failed HillaryCare and passage of gun reforms, Republicans picked up three congressional seats and the Indiana House.

In 2002, with President George W. Bush at 62 percent approval, Republican Chris Chocola won an open congressional seat, but Democrats won the Indiana House.

And in 2010, with Obama approval at 44 percent, Republican Dan Coats picked up Evan Bayhs Senate seat, Todd Young won in the 9th Congressional District and the Indiana House went from a 52-seat Democrat majority to 60 seats for the GOP.

In the Trump presidency  with his toxic job approval and reckless rhetoric  suburbanites, women and African-Americans are rekindling the kind of coalition that fuels Democrat victory.

Tweet that one, Mr. President.
Marc Chase Editor Marc Chase is a veteran investigative reporter, columnist and editor of more than two decades. He currently leads The Times news staff as local news editor. He can be reached at 219-933-3327. Follow Marc Chase 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A litany of outrageous circumstances tied to disgraced Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington aren't just further damaging the reputation of local government.

They're proving taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth from the supposed public servant.

The circumstances are an embarrassing enumeration.

It's not just that he maintained his elected, $32,681-per-year position on the Lake County Council after pleading guilty last December to battering his wife.

It's not merely that he dragged the county and its government through the mud for a year pending the outcome of that case, then threw a party, complete with other elected celebrants, to mark his avoidance of felony charges by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.

It's not just that he's an inmate  this December  in the same Lake County Jail whose finances he has helped preside over as a member of the council.

It's not only that the new stay in the jail, expected to last at least through Christmas, pertains to yet another domestic violence case  this time three felony counts of criminal confinement, two felony counts of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of battery and interference with the reporting of a crime.

And it's not just that for the final Lake County Council meeting of 2017, none of Washington's Gary, Merrillville, Griffith, Schererville and St. John Township constituents received representation on about 50 different votes central to the expense of taxpayer dollars. He couldn't weigh in on the important fiscal matters from his jail cell.

Individually, any one of these matters would raise legitimate questions regarding Washington's fitness to lead as a public official on any level.

Taken together, the circumstances are a clear mandate for county leaders to be seeking pathways to Washington's ouster from his council seat  and potentially future political ballots.

Washington's criminal charges must play out in court. His accuser, a cousin, is now recanting allegations she made to police that Washington grabbed her by the neck, slammed her to the floor, threatened to bash her with a sledgehammer and detained her for two hours against her will earlier this month.

Police and prosecutors aren't buying the recantation, pushing forward with charges to be overseen by two special prosecutors.

But why must the county endure the embarrassment along with Washington?

While Washington surely runs a lower risk of creating new embarrassments behind bars, he's clearly not serving his constituents either.

On Monday, he'll have his first hearing regarding an alleged probation violation.

You see, getting caught up in the recent domestic violence allegations may threaten the no-prison-time plea deal he cut with prosecutors when he admitted in open court last December to battering his wife.

Washington remained on probation at the time of the recent incident. Probation officers are petitioning to revoke his probation in light of the recent occurrences.

And if Washington's probation is revoked, he could be looking at extended jail time  up to a year if a judge decides to impose the entire suspended sentence of the plea agreement, prosecutors said.

If that happens, County Council members and their attorneys should be paying close attention to a state statute allowing local government bodies to expel elected officials who are no longer able to fulfill their duties.

East Chicago City Council members used the statute to unanimously vote former Councilman Robert Battle, who remains in jail facing a felony murder charge, out of office last year.

It's clear any public official sitting in jail isn't able to effectively tend to the public's business.

There's reason to believe such a will may exist among the County Council to oust Washington if it becomes clear he'll be in jail for an extended period.

The Lake County Council voted last week to strip Washington from the countys Community Corrections Committee, which helps set budget and policy for that work-release program. And council President Ted Bilski used his privilege to oust Washington from a number of other law enforcement- and court-related committees in the wake of the recent criminal charges.

The wise justification of those moves is that a person with as many legal troubles as Washington would have too many conflicts of interest in dealing with court or law enforcement budget issues.

Meanwhile, it's time for our state lawmakers to discuss legislation creating mechanisms by which public officials, who are unable to perform their duties, can be docked pay commensurate with public meetings or work missed.

Simple ground rules listing specific reasons, such as incarceration rather than sickness, would seem to be appropriate considerations.

As of the writing of this column, Washington had been in jail eight days pending probation and other hearings. It appears he could be jailed at least through Christmas.

If he were jailed and missing work in a private sector position, there's an incredibly high likelihood he already would have been fired.

Why should his public employment be held to a different standard?

We shouldn't have to wait until the 2018 election to sort out Washington's public employment issues.

The remaining County Council members  the ones who aren't in jail on domestic violence charges and allegations of violating probation in a separate battery conviction  owe it to their constituents to push for solutions.
Prior to Doug Jones receiving the most votes in Lee County during Tuesdays special U.S. Senate election, the last time an Alabama Democrat won the county and a federal office was the same year the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVIII.

Forrest Gump was the highest-grossing film in movie theaters that year. Bill Clinton was president of the United States, and gas prices hovered around $1.10 per gallon.

The year was 1994, and Glen Browder was elected to the U.S. House, representing Alabamas 3rd Congressional District.

The last time a Democrat from Alabama was elected to the U.S. Senate and carried Lee County was Richard Shelby in 1992. Shelby was re-elected in 1998 as a Republican, and continues to serve in that office after his most recent re-election in 2016.

But on Dec. 12, 2017, the Democrat Jones clinched a victory for the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions with 57.42 percent of the Lee County vote, and 49.92 percent statewide. But what is the historical, sociological and political significance of a Democrat taking the seat? Does it indicate a turning of the tide in Alabama politics, or was it simply a tale of two candidates?

Competition is key

Bridgett King, an assistant professor in the political science department at Auburn University, said Tuesdays special election reminded her of the political atmosphere in her home state of Ohio.

At the end of the day, competition is good, she said. It felt very much for me what Im used to, when an election is competitive.

Jones victory over Republican Roy Moore can be attributed to several factors, including voter mobilization efforts, the candidates themselves, and the national attention the race received.

When people are catered to individually, when candidates and issues are explained to them, when people feel their vote does matter, they show up, King explained. When you mobilize people to vote, they go vote.

Nearly 50 percent of voters cast their ballot for Jones, while Moore claimed 48.38 percent of statewide votes, and 1.69 percent of votes went to write-in candidates, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of States website.

Almost 2 percent of votes were write-in candidates, which perplexed me, King said. That seems like a really high number of write-ins.

Exactly 22,780 ballots were cast for write-in candidates, according to the Secretary of States website.

Analysts shouldnt be too quick to see a Democratic victory in the traditionally red state as a shakeup in Alabama politics, King added. She isnt sure whether Tuesdays election had anything to do with President Donald Trumps approval rating or dissatisfaction among Republican voters with the state of the party in general, or whether it really did come down to the individual candidates.

It could be some anomaly that doesnt say anything about a shift in Alabama politics, King said. Im curious to see whether the extent of the mobilization efforts used in this election carry over to next year. If we see that effort in the primaries, and then again in the general, that might be significant.

What it means

Still, other voters believe the results of Tuesdays election do signify that Alabama is a competitive market for politics.

The historic election of Doug Jones could be seen as a referendum on the Trump administration and the frustrations that many have with his extreme policies, as protest against the GOP itself, or as zero tolerance of the misogynistic and predatory behavior of a candidate running for public office, not one of them being mutually exclusive, said Brittany Dement.

She works as an adjunct ethics and American national government instructor at Southern Union State Community College, but spoke to the Opelika-Auburn News about her own views, not necessarily views representative of the school itself.

Tuesdays election sent a clear message to Washington: Racism and all other isms will not be tolerated, either overtly or covertly; and that Alabama values are American values, Dement said. I do believe the election of a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time in a quarter century shows a change in the electorate and the passion they have for their state.

Patsy Parker, chairperson of the Lee County Democratic Party, said Jones election makes her proud for the state of Alabama and hopeful for the future.

For a long time, we havent really had that positive attribute we needed for respect in the world, she said. He gives and wants respect and equal opportunities for all. To me, Doug is a man who has built his life on bringing people together, instead of dividing them.

Alabamas recent political history has been unsteady, to say the least. In June 2016, House Speaker Mike Hubbard was convicted on 12 counts of ethics violations and was formally removed from office. Three months later, Moore was suspended as Chief Justice, after ordering judges not to recognize the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that legalized gay marriage.

And in April of this year, then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned in the midst of a scandal alleging he was using his office to cover an extramarital affair with one of his top advisers. Upon Bentleys resignation, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey stepped into the role as governor.

Looking ahead

Last night had a lot to do with the options presented to the public, King said Wednesday. For a lot of people, Roy Moore might not have been the best candidate. Think about his history in the state. He was controversial, new allegations aside.

Then there was a strong sense among the Democrats here that they thought they had a chance to win. The environment in this election was different.

Lee County GOP chairman Gerald Knight said he was totally shocked at the results of Tuesdays election.

Its been a couple decades since we elected a Democrat to the Senate, Knight said. Its kind of mind-blowing.

Republicans across the state need to analyze all the factors that played into Moores defeat before a game plan can be formed moving forward, he added.

Were just going to have to regroup and prepare for the next election, Knight said.

For Parker, who has known Jones for years and has worked with him on various committees through the state Democratic Party, the decision of whom to support came down to the man himself.

I was sitting at the computer one night, and an ad popped up that said Doug Jones is running for Senate, she recalled. I hadnt seen that name in 15 or 20 years. Usually, I think long and hard before I contribute to a political campaign. But the moment he popped up there, I pulled out my credit card.

Its very hard to know Doug Jones and not respect him and like him. You may not always agree with him, but youll probably respect him, because he respects everyone he meets.
Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal are mass leaders in their own right in Himachal Pradesh. While Virbhadra Singh is popularly called "raja sahib" in Himachal Pradesh, Dhumal is considered the only challenger to the incumbent chief minister.

By India Today Web Desk: Nation awaits with bated breath for the Himachal Pradesh election results and Gujarat Vidhan Sabha election 2017 results.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Congress President Rahul Gandhi have led the election campaigns for their parties from the front for both Gujarat election 2017 and Himachal Pradesh election 2017.

Himachal Pradesh voted for its 68-member Assembly on November 9 in a bilateral contest between the ruling Congress and the BJP for the election results.

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Interestingly, the BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged defeat in 1993. The saffron party formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.

The Congress's move forced the BJP to alter its strategy of going into the polls projecting PM Modi's face. The BJP declared Prem Kumar Dhumal its chief ministerial candidate. With this, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election 2017 became what it has been since 1998: a Virbhadra Singh versus Prem Kumar Dhumal affair.

POPULARITY BATTLE

Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal are mass leaders in their own right in Himachal Pradesh. Both enjoy sizeable support within the party and outside. While Virbhadra Singh is popularly called "raja sahib" in Himachal Pradesh, Dhumal is considered the only challenger to the incumbent chief minister.

Virbhadra Singh hails from the erstwhile royal family of Himachal Pradesh. Whispers in Congress circles have it that Rahul Gandhi was forced to announce his name as chief ministerial candidate. He had apparently threatened to break Himachal Pradesh Congress with 27 other MLAs.

On the other hand, Dhumal was not an automatic choice for the BJP. Reports suggest that the BJP leadership preferred Union minister JP Nadda as the chief ministerial candidate in Himachal Pradesh. The BJP leadership is said to have been wary of the allegations against Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur. But, Dhumal is believed to have outsmarted the party leadership.

CASTE AND PERSONALITY

Himachal Pradesh is one of the few states in the country where elections have not been polarised along religious divide. Rajputs have dominated the electoral politics in the state. Himachal Pradesh has about 38 per cent Rajput, 26 per cent Dalits, 18 per cent Brahmin, 16.5 per cent others including about 2 per cent Muslims and 1.5 per cent Gaddi population.

Both Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal are Rajput leaders. Both have fought internal party battles to emerge at the top. While Dhumal faces tough competition from Nadda, Singh seems to have got better of Himachal Congress chief Sukhvinder Sukhu.

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This leaves the electoral battle in the state equally poised.

The BJP's war cry is Mission 50-plus while the Congress has its own Repeat Mission-2012.

INDIA TODAY-AXIS HIMACHAL PRADESH EXIT POLL IN NUTSHELL: Continuing its winning streak, the BJP is predicted to win 47-55 seats in Himachal Pradesh. The ruling Congress will be reduced to 13-20 seats. While the BJP is likely to get 50 per cent vote share, the Congress will get 41 per cent and others nine per cent. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Rajput, Bhaniya are largely with BJP and contribute more than 50 per cent of the electorate. The Congress got most of its support from the Muslims and the SCs/STs. While the poor mostly supported Congress, the middle class and above opted for the BJP. The BJP's support cuts across age group and education. Farmers, unemployed, homemakers, students, professionals and working class all back the BJP. Both rural and urban voters opt for BJP as do male and female voters. Those surveyed think a common government in the Centre and state will lead to a better life.

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Members of parliament have approved governments request to borrow Shs 1.3 trillion from two separate financial institutions in the United Kingdom for the construction of an airport in the oil area of Kabaale.

However, the MPs have also demanded that the percentage of the projects cost channeled towards local content be raised to 30 per cent, from 20 per cent.

Government is looking to borrow 270.2 million from the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) and another 37.1 million from Standard Chartered bank of London for the construction of the airport.

The committee, in a report released in late November, noted the local content costs during construction will amount to 61.1 million (20 per cent) in form of job opportunities and the use of local inputs, despite the negotiations between government and the contractor capping it at 30 per cent. In addition, the committee was not sure of how many Ugandan businesses and individuals will directly benefit from the implementation of this project.

As a condition, the MPs insisted that the local content percentage be pushed up to 30. The MPs also want government to undertake a due diligence study on SBC Uganda Limited to see that it can execute the task. SBC Uganda Limited is a joint venture firm between SBI International Holdings AG of Switzerland and Colas Limited from UK.

According to a broad breakdown of the budget, civil works will take the largest share of the funds, just slightly more than 85 per cent. At least 202.9 million of the project cost is expected to be spent on goods and services for the construction of the airport.

The contractor will spend 61.12 million on local goods and services. Construction of the airport is expected to start in 2018 and be completed by 2020. While the airport is expected to ease the transportation of heavy materials needed for the exploration and development of oil resources, the road network remains the key mode of transport for the sector.

The airport will not be the main entry to the area for cargo. From a cost perspective, ship and truck transportation is more beneficial during construction and operational phases. Only emergency cargo will be flown to Kabaale International Airport during the operations phase, the report noted.

It added: From a cost perspective, ship and truck transportation is more beneficial during construction and operation phase. In addition, since Total E&P sites are located far from the airport site; it is not likely to be an airport of choice for workers and passenger traffic, it added.
Makerere University has increased the cost of its graduation gown ahead of the January 2018 graduation ceremony.

The gown whose design was released prior to the 67 graduation ceremony held in January, now costs Shs 98,000 according to the official notice issued to prospective graduands.



The university entered into an agreement with a tailoring company, Team Uniform Limited, to supply gowns graduation ceremony at Shs 75,000. The attire has Makerere's emblem and colours, two features that, until January this year, were a preserve for doctoral graduands.



However, the price has since increased to Shs 98,000. One official selling the official gowns at Senate building told URN that a lot has changed since January including the cost of materials.

The official graduation now costs over Shs 90,000

Alfred Namoah Masikye, the Makerere University Academic Registrar has subsequently warned students against purchasing gowns from other places apart from the designated office at Senate basement.

In his statement dated December 8, Namoah stated that; "nobody is allowed to use university colours and logos without permission from the university."



"This is to inform you that the official graduation gowns from Team Uniform Limited, the service provider contracted by the university are available at the basement of Senate building near the former Crane bank," Masikye said. He said that the service provider has enough gowns in stock for all graduands.



URN found that the gown is on display at Wandegeya small gate and traders have since November been involved in its production. At the small gate, the gown ranges between Shs 60,000-80,000. Apart from Wandegeya, the academic gowns are being hawked by university college registrars at the university.



Ian Musimenta, one of the graduates from College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology -CEDAT said that he had not paid for own because it was expensive.



"I just paid for all other graduations fees except the gown. I will get from a friend from last year and incur a cost of changing embroidery, Musimenta said.

He added; "I only hope they don't force us and make it a requirement to pay for it before you get the book and invitation. I really hope because Shs 90,000 is too much for a gown that I will only use for a few hours."



Prospective graduands also have to pay Shs 40,000 as graduation fees, Shs 30,000 transcript fee, Shs 30,000 certificate fees and Shs 10,000 convocation fees.
After more than half a year without activity at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) due to disagreements between Kenya's ruling Jubilee party and the opposition National super alliance (NASA), the regional Parliament reconvenes on Monday in the northern Tanzania city of Arusha.

The inauguration of the 4th regional assembly had initially been planned for June following the dissolution of the 3rd assembly in May.

It was however called off only to be rescheduled to Monday, December 18 after the ruling and opposition politicians in Kenya, agreed on the process of Kenya's nine representatives to the assembly.

Govt chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa sees off Uganda's EALA legislator, Mathias Kasamba at Entebbe airport on Friday

Kenya elected its 9 representatives on Thursday, December 14. In Arusha, the members of the assembly were welcomed by an intense campaign for speakership which has attracted so far three aspirants namely, Martin Ngoga (Rwanda), Adam Kimbisa (Tanzania) and Burundi's former minister for East African Community Affairs Leontine Nzeyimana.

Elections will be held on Monday, December 18. Ngoga appears to have an upper hand, having spent nearly three years of the previous assembly positioning himself for the job.

For instance, he was key in the mediation talks between South Sudan's SPLM in government and SPLM in opposition over the election of the country's representatives to the assembly. South Sudan is the regional bloc's newest member.

Kimbisa and Nzeyimana's interest in the job came open on Saturday after they picked and returned nomination forms.

At Palace hotel, Arusha where most representatives are residing, intense lobbying went on till late in the night with Rwandan diplomats joining Ngoga in the mobilisation. According Mathias Kasamba, the Ugandan chapter had already taken a position to support the Rwandan candidate.

GREED

"It is purely greed on the part of Tanzania, why are they joining the race when it is known that the speakership is rotational? They already served their term, let us have someone from another country," said Susan Nakawuki (Uganda).

The previous three assemblies have been led by speakers from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The rotational arrangement is provided for in the EAC treaty that established the assembly but is not well entrenched which doesn't stop member states from presenting candidates at any election.

"We need to work on the rules and explicitly provide for the election of the speaker on a rotational basis," Paul Musamali (Uganda) said.

"In the spirit of integration, we should not have anything that causes suspicion among member states," he added.

sadabkk@observer.ug
Douglas County is preparing to join dozens of governments across the nation who are suing drug companies over the opioid epidemic.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine is asking the County Board to agree to contract with outside law firms for a federal lawsuit against distributors of prescription painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

The board is expected to vote Tuesday on a contract with a group of lawyers, led by a Florida firm and including the Abboud Law Firm of Omaha.

The contract would be on a contingency basis, meaning the lawyers would be paid only if they won.

The attorneys would receive 30 percent of any money awarded to Douglas County or the attorneys fees ordered by a judge, whichever is greater, according to the proposed contract. The county would receive the rest.

Kleine, calling opioid abuse and addiction a huge public health crisis, said the county could use the money for law enforcement to crack down on opioid abuse.

Were going to continue to keep fighting this epidemic, Kleine said in remarks to the County Board last week.

Numerous counties and cities and a handful of states have filed such lawsuits. Generally they claim that drugmakers and distributors used deceptive marketing practices and failed to warn doctors how addictive the painkillers are.

The lawsuits seek to recover costs associated with public health care, law enforcement and jail expenses.

The Florida law firm, Levin Papantonio, that wants to represent Douglas County is representing numerous governments.

The contract to be considered Tuesday does not name the companies that Douglas County would sue.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drug overdose deaths quadrupled in the United States from 1999 to 2015. Opioids  prescription and illicit  are the main driver of drug overdose deaths, the CDC says.

Nebraska has had one of the lowest rates of drug overdoses of any state in the nation, according to the CDC. Nebraska had 126 drug overdoses, or 6.9 per 100,000 people, in 2015.

County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson said that while the epidemic has not hit Douglas County as hard as other parts of America, we have the problem here, too. ... Im glad that we have elevated it here to a level of great importance and that were doing the contract (this) week.

Bloomberg reported in November that more than a dozen states and about 100 counties and cities already had sued opioid makers and drug distributors. More suits have been filed since then.

Kleine told the County Board that time is of the essence because the lawsuits are being combined.

Omaha City Attorney Paul Kratz said the city has no immediate plans to file such a lawsuit, but might in the future.

Attorney Greg Abboud, whose law firm would work with Levin Papantonio on the Douglas County case, said he wasnt aware of any other Nebraska county filing a suit yet.

In Iowa, two counties have signed on to a lawsuit filed by a Wisconsin-based law firm against prescription opioids, the Des Moines Register reported. They are Sioux County in northwest Iowa and Monroe County in southeast Iowa.
Warren Buffett was a Washington Post shareholder and had met the newspapers publisher, Katharine Graham, by the time Richard Nixon resigned as president in August 1974.

But he didnt join the Posts board of directors until that fall, and over the following years he became a close friend and adviser of Graham, who died in 2001 and who is one of the heroes in the new movie The Post.

So it must have been like watching real life when Buffett and his daughter, Susan, attended the premiere of the Steven Spielberg movie at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., last week and watched Meryl Streep portray Graham and Tom Hanks portray the late Ben Bradlee, the Posts then-editor.

Besides Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., others in Washington for the event, according to the Hollywood press, were Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Post reporters who worked on the Nixon story; Sally Quinn, Bradlees wife, and their son, Quinn Bradlee; former Post publisher Don Graham and Lally Weymouth, both children of Katharine Graham; and Post owner Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder.

The movie is about Grahams decision in 1971 to publish the Pentagon Papers, a secret government history of the Vietnam War, following the New York Times earlier publishing.

The movie opens in wide release in January.

Wildfire losses tallied

Insured losses from wildfires in California this fall may reach $15 billion, according to insurance analyst Cathy Seifert of CFRA Research in New York.

Omaha insurer Berkshire has a 5.4 percent share of the California market, behind State Farm Groups 8.2 percent and Farmers Insurance Groups 7.9 percent, she wrote in a research note.

Berkshire has not commented on insurance claims from the fires, which would come on top of $3 billion in losses it reported from last summers hurricanes.

The combined disaster losses likely will raise prices for most property insurance, Seifert said, as well as questions about the concentration of such risks among a few companies. Nearly half of the California market and 78 percent of its homeowner coverage is held by the 10 largest insurers. California accounts for 12 percent of the U.S. property insurance sold each year.

The Insurance Information Institute, a trade organization, said the country had 56,186 wildfires through Nov. 30 compared with 60,236 for the same period last year  though this year they were more severe: 245,000 acres, 23 deaths and 8,700 structures.

The California Department of Insurance said two weeks ago that of $9 billion in claims already filed, $8.4 billion was for residential property, with more claims to come.

Insurers have the money to pay the wildfire claims, Seifert said, but homeowners may face higher prices for renewing their insurance.

Stock goes to school

Last month Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger donated 18 shares of Class A Berkshire stock, worth about $5.2 million, to Harvard-Westlake School, a Los Angeles prep school he has supported in the past  including about $10 million in donations earlier this year.

In 2006 he donated 100 shares of the stock, worth about $9.2 million at the time. Those 100 shares would be worth about $30 million today.

Munger sent five sons through Harvard School for Boys before it merged with the Westlake School for girls in 1989 and has served as a trustee.

The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) The CBI has booked a Hyderabad- based retail company for allegedly cheating the State Bank of India to the tune of nearly Rs 134 crore by availing various credit facilities on the basis of forged documents between 2007 and 2014, officials said here today.

In its FIR, the agency has alleged that PCH Retail represented by its directors Balvinder Singh and Baljit Kaur had availed credit facilities to the tune of Rs 133.95 crore during the seven year period using false financial statements and documents.

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The directors of PCH retail entered in criminal conspiracy with chartered accountant Bhavesh R Vithlani, a chartered accountant and Taran Jyot Singh, Director Versant Home Appliances Pvt Ltd (both named in the FIR as accused) and unidentified bank officials of the SBI and cheated the bank, the FIR alleged.

The CBI has alleged that the accused diverted the credit facilities availed by them to fictitious companies floated by them and others and siphoned off banks funds.

"It was further revealed that out of the loan amount Rs 2.76 crore was fraudulently transferred to Versant Home Appliances Pvt Ltd for the purchase of immovable property which was subsequently transferred to the daughter of Balvinder Singh," it alleged.

It said that the account was declared a non performing asset on September 28, 2013.

Alleging that a wrongful loss of Rs 133.95 crore was caused to the bank, the CBI booked the accused for criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and criminal misconduct by public servant and abuse of official position. PTI ABS DV

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Standing on her tippy-toes, with her forehead pressed against the glass, Mila Weaselhead yelled, Shark!

Moments later the 6-year-old raised her voice again, her words still hard to hear over the din of more than 200 people gathered in the shark tunnel in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Saturday morning. Santa!

And there, with air bubbles rising around his trimmed white beard, was St. Nick  his red suit tucked under diving gear.

With him in the tank were a few of his helpers, including Mrs. Claus, a pointy-eared elf, a Christmas angel and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Together, the Christmas crew posed for photos with turtles and sharks and waved as families started singing the first stanzas of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.

The zoo has invited Santa to swim with the sharks for more than 20 years, said Mitch Carl, curator of aquatics.

Its just really fun for the kids, he said. It seems like it grows every year  its a pretty popular event.

Though the zoo does other holiday-themed enrichment activities for the animals, the visit from scuba Santa and his friends is the grand finale, Carl said.

After all, he said, Its not every day you see an angel in a fish tank.

The novelty of the morning wasnt lost on Mila.

Its cool, she said, as her mom took several photos on her phone.

Even though Mila and her two siblings had already met Santa at the mall, they thought it was worth the two-hour drive from their home in Creston, Iowa, to see him trade his shiny boots for fins.

Still, after a few minutes of waving at Santa Claus and giving high-fives through the glass, Mila had one thing on her mind.

Would Santa remember that she wants an Elsa doll this Christmas?

When is he coming out? she asked. I want to talk to him.
MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday phoned President Donald Trump to thank him for a tip from the CIA that thwarted a terrorist attack being planned in St. Petersburg.

The unusual call  countries share intelligence all the time, but presidents rarely publicly thank one another for it  was confirmed by White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Putin told Trump that the information provided by the CIA allowed Russian law enforcement agencies to track down and detain a group of suspects who were planning to bomb the centrally located Kazan Cathedral and other crowded parts of Russia's second-largest city.

"Based on the information the United States provided, Russian authorities were able to capture the terrorists just prior to an attack that could have killed large numbers of people," the White House said in its readout of the call. "Both leaders agreed that this serves as an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together."

It was the two presidents' second conversation since Thursday, when they spoke after Putin's annual four-hour televised news conference, during which the Russian leader mentioned the booming U.S. stock market as an example of Trump's successes. The White House said Trump thanked Putin for remarks he made "acknowledging America's strong economic performance."

Putin said he doubted Trump would be able to improve relations between their two countries because the U.S. president was being held back by his political opposition and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election were being invented to raise doubts about Trump's legitimacy.

The CIA tip apparently provided the breakthrough that allowed Russian authorities last week to detain seven members of what officials identified as Islamic State cells. The suspects, investigators said,had been planning a suicide bombing this weekend in Kazan Cathedral, a St. Petersburg landmark located on Nevsky Prospect, its main thoroughfare. The cathedral was built between 1801 and 1811, and, controversially at the time, was designed along the lines of a Roman Catholic basilica.

Russian state television reported the capture of the alleged cell members as it often does in takedowns of terrorist suspects, with a video that shows agents in action and an on-camera confession. In this case, a man identified as Yevgeny Yefimov confessed that he planned to carry out an attack in the city. Later, Yefimov told a St. Petersburg court that he was planning to target the Kazan Cathedral. Three more people were arrested Sunday in connection with the alleged plot, RIA Novosti reported.

The agency published a list of 17 major terrorist plots that Russian law enforcement has been able to head off this year.

The suspects in the latest arrests had been using the messaging app Telegram to communicate with Islamic State leaders abroad, according to law enforcement agencies. Telegram was fined last month for refusing to provide Russian security forces access to the online conversations of two suspects linked to a suicide bombing in April that killed 16 people and injured about 100.

In their phone conversation Sunday, Putin asked Trump to pass along his gratitude to CIA Director Mike Pompeo and the American intelligence agents who received the information, the Kremlin said. It said Putin also told Trump that "if Russian special services obtain any information on terrorist threats against the United States and its citizens, they will definitely and immediately pass it to American counterparts through partner channels."

The CIA declined to comment on that.

But the White House said that Trump "then called Director Pompeo to congratulate him, his very talented people, and the entire intelligence community on a job well done!"
The writer represents Nebraska in the U.S. Senate. He is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Some of the Senates most important work this year has been the confirmation of qualified constitutionalists to our nations highest federal courts.

Last January, when I was asked to become the first Nebraskan to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee since the 1970s, I pledged that Id work to protect our Constitutions system of checks and balances by confirming judges who know what a judges job is. Nearly a year later, Neil Gorsuch sits on the Supreme Court, and new judges are headed to the circuit courts.

Just last week, the Senate set the record for federal appeals court confirmations. This year, weve confirmed a total of 12 new circuit judges who will uphold the rule of law. Thats the most circuit judges confirmed in a presidents first year in office since the Judiciary Act of 1891 created our system of appellate courts. Thats something to celebrate.

Nebraskans take the courts seriously. I hear it at town halls, Rotary Club meetings and the checkout line. Earlier this year, a grandmother in Lincoln grabbed me by the collar and explained that, when she votes in presidential elections, her No. 1 civic concern for her grandkids is the future of the courts. She, like so many Nebraskans, wants judges who understand that they dont write new laws but rather are called to apply existing laws fairly and impartially. Shes exactly right: Thats precisely what the job of a judge is.

Good judges arent Republicans or Democrats. In this new age of cable news shouting, too many in Washington have forgotten that our judicial branch isnt supposed to be a grudge match between partisans wearing red vs. blue jerseys. Our federal courts are supposed to be filled with public servants who understand that they put on black robes to remind themselves and the litigants before them that they must cloak their personal preferences.

Judges must be dispassionate and impartial. Only two things matter: the law and the facts. Thats why good judges must be unwaveringly faithful to their oath to the Constitution and to the law. They must be dutifully mindful of the facts. They must be relentlessly committed to independence. Thats exactly what the Senate Judiciary Committee has been working on this year.

This past spring, news attention focused on Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuchs confirmation hearings, and that week of committee hearings gave us an opportunity to teach our kids about our system of limited government. After confirming Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, the Senate Judiciary Committee has continued to work quietly and deliberately to fill vacancies at the circuit level.

These judges dont get the wall-to-wall television attention that Supreme Court nominees attract, but these are critically important positions. These circuit judges sit on our nations second-highest courts and serve lifetime tenures. These must be thoughtful men and women of integrity.

Thats why it was encouraging to have the Senate confirm Nebraskas own Steve Grasz to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit just last week. Whether he was regularly arguing before the Nebraska Supreme Court or defending Nebraskas ban on partial-birth abortion before the U.S. Supreme Court, Steve earned a reputation for integrity, humility and decency while he was our states chief deputy attorney general. Hes going to take that same approach to the federal bench.

Weve put more than a dozen first-rate judges on the bench, but our work isnt over. In the year ahead, well continue to defend the fact that self-government means elected lawmakers  not judges  write laws. Well continue to protect the principle that the rule of law means courts must be fair and impartial.

This is important work that will help preserve, protect and defend our Constitution for years to come.
The writer is chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Theres been much discussion recently about the shared decision of University of Nebraska leadership to rethink our process for allocating state dollars to the four campuses.

Some of the discussion has lacked clarity or context. The result is that we risk viewing this as a campus vs. campus issue  when what were really doing is joining together to make decisions based on the best interests of all our faculty and 53,000 students, no matter which campus theyre on.

NU President Hank Bounds, my fellow chancellors Dr. Jeffrey Gold and Doug Kristensen and our chief business and academic officers, aided by data from independent higher education finance experts and in consultation with the Board of Regents, have spent over a year analyzing our state appropriations allocation model.

Weve concluded that our current practice, in place since the 1990s, is no longer the fairest approach for distributing our limited state dollars. Going into the next biennium, we will take steps to close the fairness gap, taking into consideration factors such as student credit-hour production, the cost of delivering courses, the size and scale of our institutions and the unique role and mission of each campus.

The universitys leadership is unanimous in its support of our direction. It is based on thoughtful, collaborative analysis, driven by data and our desire to ensure that all students have the opportunity to be successful. It is pro-Nebraska and pro-student  the standard by which we measure all our decisions.

As chancellor of the largest institution in the NU system, Ive been asked a number of questions about how the changes will impact UNL specifically. Let me shed light on some of those.

First, its been suggested UNL will have to make significant budget cuts because funds are being diverted to other campuses. To be sure, the states fiscal challenges are affecting us all. But assuming no further change in state appropriations, no campus will have to make cuts this biennium beyond our ongoing process to find $30 million in reductions to system-wide operations.

Furthermore, its not appropriate to consider only state dollars when looking at the universitys resources. UNLs total operational resources are projected to increase slightly next year. And our campus share of NUs total state-aided budget will change by less than 1 percent.

Ive been asked whether our work in agriculture and extension will be impacted. Few care more deeply about the universitys responsibility to advance agriculture and natural resources than I do, and in Nebraska, these should and must be long-term priorities. UNLs Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will receive proportionally the same amount of funding as it has previously.

Some have wondered why we would use an allocation model based on student credit hours when the University of Nebraska Medical Center has such a distinct mission. This illustrates that allocating dollars is part science, part art. Rather than implementing a pure model, were using data to inform our decisions and considering our unique needs where it makes sense. UNMC will receive state dollars based not on credit hours, but on an analysis of peer institutions.

Do I wish UNL, the states flagship land-grant university, had more dollars to invest in our teaching, research and outreach missions? Of course I do.

Do our counterparts at UNO, UNK and UNMC wish the same? Absolutely.

But our responsibility is to be judicious, fair and accountable in stewarding the resources we do have. Recognizing that we are stronger together, well take a global view, considering whats best for the University of Nebraska as a whole instead of any institution in isolation.

Above all, any decision regarding the use of our dollars must be made with the goal of advancing the Board of Regents highest priority of ensuring an outstanding education for every student.

Im proud of our efforts to ensure that the University of Nebraska serves all of its students and the state effectively. This work, like our collective commitment to our purpose, has never been more important in the 149-year history of the peoples university.
BY JOYCE DeMONNIN, ALAN DeLaTORRE and MARGARET NEAL

We are proud of Portland's role as the leader in creating cities that are friendly to people of all ages. Last Friday marked the the 50th anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, an anniversary that gives us an opportunity to reflect on the work left to do. While the age discrimination act doesn't offer the same level of protection as Title XII for race, religion and gender, it acknowledged and attempted to remedy the strong bias in the American psyche that somehow older just wasn't as good as younger.

That myth persists today. Many argue that ageism is the one "ism" you can make fun of and there will be no consequences. Do you think black balloons at 50 are funny or calling your mentor "granny" is cute? They are not.

You might think older workers cost more than younger ones. In fact, older workers take fewer sick days. You might think older workers won't stick around, and yet older workers have the highest level of workforce engagement of any age demographic.

In a 2013 AARP study, nearly two-thirds of older workers reported witnessing or experiencing age discrimination in the workplace, a figure that has remained stubbornly persistent. And these older workers aren't those lucky few at the top of an imaginary fabulous career pyramid hogging all the awesome jobs millennials are eager to attain.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, median weekly earnings in 2017 were higher for workers ages 45-54 than workers 55-64. In fact, we have large numbers of older workers in lower-income and less skilled work.

The argument that older workers keep younger ones from getting ahead, the "lump of layer theory" because the number of jobs is finite can be easily dispelled by Portland's growth over the last decade. As the population increased, the unemployment rate went down. Newcomers aren't taking away jobs. They are growing the economy.

Researchers Alicia Munnell and April Yanyuan Wu from Boston College wrote, "This horse has been beaten to death. An exhaustive search found no evidence to support the lump of labor theory. ... The evidence suggests that greater employment of older persons leads to better outcomes for the young -- reduced unemployment, increased employment and a higher wage."

Employing older people has other economic benefits. According to David Neumark, at the National Bureau of Economic Research, "population aging means that public policy must be increasingly concerned with the employment of older individuals, because continued employment implies lower dependency ratios, greater income, more tax revenues and decreased public expenditures on health insurance, retirement benefits and income support." Everyone benefits when older adults stay engaged in the workforce.

The purpose of the age discrimination act -- and other civil rights laws -- was to ensure equal opportunity, regardless of a worker's occupation, salary or status. Here in Oregon, our "Age Friendly" efforts are shining a light on age as an asset, acknowledging the contributions of older adults and creating policies that bring age as an equity issue into focus. For too long we've looked the other way at age-related unfair employment practices. It's time to stand up as a community and acknowledge employees of all ages keep our community vibrant and viable, and strengthen our business, government and nonprofit sectors.

-- Joyce DeMonnin of AARP Oregon; Alan De La Torre and Margaret Neal of Portland State University's Institute on Aging are all members of the City of Portland's Age Friendly Cities Economic Development and Work Subcommittee. Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Nick Fish oversee the subcommittee.

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WASHINGTON -- Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian contacts with President Donald Trump's campaign has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, according to several people familiar with Trump's transition organization.

But the investigators did not directly request the records from Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration, a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to those familiar with the Trump transition organization.

The tens of thousands of emails in question pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials. Many of the emails that Mueller's investigators have now include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top government posts, said those familiar with the transition. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the records' sensitivity.

On Saturday, Kory Langhofer, general counsel for the transition group, sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing that the GSA had improperly provided the transition records to Mueller's investigators. In the letter to the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and the Senate Homeland Security committees, Langhofer contends that the disclosure by GSA was "unauthorized," and it considers the documents private and privileged and not government property.

Langhofer also said that a GSA official appointed by Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's attorneys. According to Langhofer, the assurance was made by then-GSA General Counsel Richard Beckler, who was hospitalized in August and has since died. A copy of the letter was viewed by the AP.

But late Saturday, another GSA official present for the conversation told Buzzfeed News that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails to Mueller's team. The GSA has provided office space and other aid to presidential transitions in recent years and typically houses electronic transition records in its computer system.

GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt told Buzzfeed that Beckler didn't make a commitment to the transition team that requests from law enforcement for materials would be routed through transition lawyers.

Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the agency wouldn't hold back records from law enforcement. Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on the government servers are subject to monitoring and auditing, he told Buzzfeed, and there's no expectation of privacy.

The documents were provided to Mueller's team by the GSA in September in response to requests from the FBI, but the transition wasn't informed at the time, according to people familiar with the transition organization. Officials with Trump for America learned last Wednesday that GSA officials had turned over the cache of emails to Mueller's team.

Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now cooperating with Mueller's investigation. Flynn was fired by Trump in February for misleading senior administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

It's unclear how revelatory the email accounts maintained by the GSA will be for Mueller. Several high-level Trump advisers sometimes used other email accounts to communicate about transition issues between Election Day and the inauguration.

Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, and Flynn attorney, Robert Kelner, declined to comment. Jay Sekulow, an attorney on Trump's personal legal team, referred questions to the transition group. Spokespeople for GSA didn't immediately respond to AP's emailed requests for comment.

The media site Axios first reported on the transfer of the emails to Mueller's team.

-- The Associated Press
By India Today Web Desk: Hyderabad police has claimed to have busted a high profile prostitution racket that "saved" two actresses on Sunday. The actresses were identified as Richa A Saksena, who acted in Telugu movie "June 1:43" and Subhra Chatterjee, who acts in Bengali TV.

Deputy Commissioner of Police P.Radhakishan Rao said simultaneous raids were conducted at two five-star hotels in upscale Banjara Hills in the early hours of Sunday.

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The Commissioner's Task Force, which conducted the raids in two rooms in Taj Deccan and Taj Banjara hotels, nabbed two 'organisers', who were identified as Monish Kadakia, casting director for Bollywood Telugu and Tamil films and D.Venkat Rao, a brothel organiser.

According to police, 24-year-old Richa, a resident of Mumbai hailing from Gujarat's Himatnagar district, was "rescued" from room no. 328 of Taj Deccan, while 20-year-old Subhra from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, was "rescued" from room no. 412, Taj Banjara.

Police said that Kadakia is a native of Mumbai, and casting director and event manager with contacts in Bollywood and Tollywood.

He had booked the room in Taj Deccan by "procuring" upcoming actress Richa to attract the wealthy customers. The organizer collected Rs 30,000 to 50,000 from customers.

Venkata Rao, a native of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, had booked the room in another hotel by "procuring" Bengali TV actress.

Another organiser Janardhan alias Jani is absconding.

This is not the first time that actresses have been arrested on charges of prostitution. In 2014, an actress from Mumbai was caught on similar charges. However she was acquitted by the court in December that year.

ALSO WATCH | Online child prostitution racket busted in Kerela

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SPOKANE -- Members of Congress from Washington state are praising the decision to start negotiations early next year over the future of a half-century-old agreement between the United States and Canada that governs hydropower and flood control operations along the Columbia River.

Lawmakers from across the Pacific Northwest have been pressing the U.S. government to reopen Columbia River Treaty talks for several years. The 1964 agreement doesn't have an expiration date, but either country can cancel most of its provisions after September 2024, with a 10-year minimum notice. The U.S. Department of State on Dec. 7 announced its intention to enter talks with Canada over the treaty.

The mighty Columbia starts in British Columbia and flows more than 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers), mostly in the U.S., to the Pacific Ocean.

"The Columbia River Treaty is of immense importance to the economy, environment and culture of Washington state and the Pacific Northwest," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

But it needs to be updated to deal with modern-day issues facing the region, such as environmental protections, she said.

Modernizing the treaty to balance flood control, hydropower generation and environmental protections could benefit both countries, said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., whose district includes portions of the river, has pushed for years to reopen treaty talks.

"We must move forward with renegotiations to ensure this agreement remains mutually beneficial," McMorris Rodgers said.

The treaty over time developed a "Canadian entitlement" that makes U.S. electricity consumers pay Canada more than they should for power benefits, she said.

"It is estimated that our constituents overpay this entitlement by 10 times the reciprocal benefit," said McMorris Rodgers, who ranks fourth in House leadership.

Northwest utilities make an annual payment of $250 million to $350 million to Canada. The payments were intended to reimburse Canada for building storage dams to benefit downstream power generation. But an outdated formula overpays Canadians, a coalition of more than 80 Northwest utilities has contended.

The payments affect the monthly bills of 6.4 million U.S. electric customers in the Pacific Northwest.

British Columbia officials have said they need a better accounting of the benefits Americans get from the vast amounts of water stored north of the border.

Indian tribes in both countries would like the heavily-dammed Columbia to flow more like a natural river, with additional releases of water in dry years to aid struggling salmon and steelhead runs. Tribes have also said new negotiations might produce agreement on reintroducing extinct salmon runs above Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state.

In British Columbia, residents living along the river want more stability in reservoir levels.

The treaty was originally intended to reduce the risk of floods in downstream cities like Portland, Oregon, and to develop additional hydropower capacity.

It led to the construction of three large storage reservoirs in British Columbia (Duncan, Mica and Keenleyside).

The treaty also spurred the construction of the giant Libby Dam in Montana.

All told, these projects doubled the storage capacity of the basin -- and dramatically reduced the river's natural spring flows. But the treaty did not cover the impacts on fish and wildlife populations.

A group of conservation, fishing and religious organizations say that should change.

"Modernizing the treaty ... is not just an opportunity but also a critical need given the challenges salmon face in the 21st century," said Samantha Mace, of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition.

The new talks are an opportunity to include "ecosystem-based function" -- or health of the river -- as a formal component, on equal footing with flood risk management and hydropower production.

"We aim to prod both countries to achieve that goal," said Greg Haller of the environmental advocacy group Pacific Rivers.

That could include improved river flows to aid salmon's migration to the ocean and improve water quality. It would also mean improved fish passage and reintroduction of salmon and steelhead into areas made inaccessible to salmon by dams in the U.S. and Canada.

-- Nicholas K. Geranios
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

It lacks the towering presence of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, it isn't equipped with a beautiful Fresnel lens, and it quite doesn't have the striking silhouette that define the other lighthouses along the Oregon coast.



The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse might be one of the more overlooked lighthouses on the coast, but what it lacks in prominence it makes up for with a quaint, understated beauty that's worth your attention.



Walking through the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is a journey back through time, when lighthouses weren't a novelty, but a necessity. Less a traditional lighthouse, and more a two-story house topped with a light, the inside of the building is decorated to look as it did when it was used as an active beacon on the north shore of Yaquina Bay.

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Stairs inside the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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Bedrooms upstairs are filled with period furniture and accessories, as are the kitchen and living rooms downstairs. The life of a lighthouse keeper could be lonely indeed, but the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse feels like any other 19th century home  one that happens to be perched atop an oceanside cliff.



The lighthouse was first lit in 1871, commissioned to aid the ships that were fast making Newport one of the most bustling ports on the coast. Two years later, however, officials deemed nearby Yaquina Head to be a better spot for a lighthouse, making the light at Yaquina Bay suddenly obsolete. It was decommissioned in 1874, and its Fresnel lens was shipped to a new lighthouse in California.



Over the next 40 years, the building was used by the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard as a living quarters and a lookout. While the coast guard was there, it built the eight-story observation tower that still stands beside the lighthouse. In 1934, state officials bought the buildings and surrounding land for a state park, but by 1946, the historic lighthouse was slated for demolition.

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The exterior of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The proposal riled up local residents, who gathered together and formed the Lincoln County Historical Society to save the lighthouse. Over the next nine years, the group struggled to raise funds to save the dilapidated structure, fending off demolition time after time until 1955, when plans to tear it down were finally abandoned. The next year it was declared a historical site and served as a museum despite its state of disrepair.



In 1974, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department embarked on a year-long restoration effort that landed the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1996, it was finally re-lit with a modern lens, bringing light to the north side of the bay for the first time in more than 120 years.

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A volunteer hangs a wreath on the front door of the lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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Today, the lighthouse is run by the parks department and volunteers with Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses. They seem to do a good job managing the historic landmark, and offer guided tours to the public  though a self-guided tour is sufficient enough for those who want to general idea of the history and day-to-day life as a lighthouse keeper.



You might get more striking photos up the road at Yaquina Head, but you'd be missing out by passing up on Newport's other lighthouse  a light hardly lit that nonetheless remains.



Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in the summer, and noon to 4 p.m. daily in the off season. Admission is free, though volunteers ask for small donations.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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The back of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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Drapes inside the lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The lighthouse keeper's bedroom. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The lighthouse living room. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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Another bedroom inside the lighthouse. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and lookout tower. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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An NIA official said the agency will submit another request for an Interpol Corner Red Notice against Zakir Naik.

Zakir Naik addresses the Indian media via a video conference in Mumbai in 2016. Interpol has turned down India's request for a Red Corner Notice against him. (File photo: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will submit a fresh request for an Interpol Corner Red Notice against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, an agency official was quoted as saying by IANS.

The official said Interpol didn't accept the NIA's earlier request a Red Corner Notice against the Islamic Research Foundation founder because a "chargesheet had not been filed when the request was submitted."

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Here's everything you need to know about the NIA's move, and why it wants an Interpol notice againts Zakir Naik.

ERIOUS ACCUSATIONS: Last year, the NIA registered a criminal case against Zakir Naik, who is accused of spreading hatred through his speeches, funding terrorist organistaions, and laundering money.

UNLAWFUL FOUNDATION: The Narendra Modi government banned Naik and his Islamic Research Foundation, which it declared an unlawful organisation.

INTERPOL'S NO: Interpol has refused to issue a Red Corner notice against Naik. Red Notices "invariably ask that the subject may be arrested, at least in certain countries, with a view to subsequent extradition to the country where he is wanted," the CBI's website says.

DUE PROCESS: Interpol "contended that there was a severe lack of evidentiary basis, a failure by Indian authorities to follow due process of law, political and religious bias that formed the basis of such a notice, and lack of international interest," Zakir Naik's spokesperson said in a statement.

RELIEF: Zakir Naik told India today he was "relieved" by news of Interpol's refusal to issue the notice. "I would feel even more relieved if my country's government and agencies clear me of all false charges," he said in an exclusive video response.

(Inputs from IANS)

WATCH | Zakir Naik wants Indian government to clear charges against him

--- ENDS ---
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BLOOMINGTON  Delta Airlines flights Central Illinois Regional Airport should be back to a normal schedule Monday afternoon, following disruptions after a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport caused massive travel delays across the country.

It is sorting itself out, said Fran Strebing, a spokeswoman for the Bloomington airport. We think by Monday afternoon, though, everything will be back on schedule.

Thousands of people were stranded Monday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush.

A sudden power outage that Georgia Power said was caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility brought the airport to a standstill Sunday about 1 p.m.

All outgoing flights were halted, and arriving planes were held on the ground at their point of departure. International flights were being diverted, officials said.

That caused a trickle-down effect to the Bloomington airport, Strebing said.

Once the situation happened Sunday, you had crews that timed out because they can only work for so many hours straight, and you had planes out of place, she said. When it hits a busy airport like Atlanta, sometimes it can effect things for a couple of days.

All flights later Monday remain scheduled, including arrivals at 4:40 and 10:20 p.m., and a departing flight at 5:16 p.m.

That follows cancellations of two arriving flights Sunday and one departure; a 6 a.m. Monday morning flight also was cancelled.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop for flights to Atlanta at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, meaning that planes were held at their departure airports, and eventually cancelled. Some inbound flights to Atlanta were diverted.

Atlanta is the largest hub for Delta Air Lines. The airline told passengers to check the status of their flights.

In a statement, officials with the FAA said it had put a ground stop for flights headed to the airport because of the failure, adding that the F.A.A. tower had electricity and was operating normally.

However, departures are delayed because airport equipment in the terminals is not working, the statement said. A ground stop means that flights headed to Atlanta are held on the ground at their departure airport.

Airport officials said the outage began just before 1 p.m. Georgia Power said it became aware of the outage at that time.
BLOOMINGTON  Jeffrey Martin spent most of last Tuesday afternoon sitting cross-legged on the floor of a darkened McLean County courtroom, asking questions of a witness who had accused him of aggravated battery.

With the courtroom lights dimmed, Martin questioned his accuser for three hours about a piece of surveillance video several minutes long. After a three-day trial, the jury convicted Martin of hitting the man during a dispute inside the Walmart store in Normal.

The 52-year-old defendant who shared his long history of mental illness with the jury, opted to serve as his own lawyer on the felony charges. That decision resulted in Martin's frequent, sometimes heated arguments with Judge Scott Drazewski, over how the trial should proceed.

Martin is among a growing number of defendants choosing to serve as their own lawyer in civil and criminal cases where the stakes range from a dispute over money to a criminal charge that could cost the person decades in prison.

Under state and federal law, defendants are allowed to represent themselves in court, but they must follow the law and court rules. For most defendants, the complexities of the law are well outside the scope of their expertise.

McLean County, like many areas of the country, is seeing an increase in the number of people serving in what is known as pro se status, said McLean County State's Attorney Jason Chambers.

Martin's case was the fourth felony trial this year where defendants served as their own lawyer, he said.

The requirement that pro se defendants be treated by the state the same as those with lawyers can be a challenge, said Chambers, adding that "if a prosecutor does that, it can look to a jury like we are picking on them."

To avoid the impression that the state is being harsh, "you end up giving them more leeway on the court procedural rules to try to counter that," said Chambers.

Currently, McLean County has about 1,700 pending misdemeanor and felony cases and 5,000 civil cases. According to the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, 65.2 percent of the civil cases filed outside Cook County involve at least one pro se litigant.

McLean County Judge Paul Lawrence noted that trials involving self-represented defendants "certainly are different and often times last significantly longer" than those involving lawyers.

For the judge, the issue is not a person's legal ability.

"The question is, can a defendant make an intelligent and knowing waiver" of their right to an attorney, "and not if they have the competency to present their case," said Lawrence, currently assigned to McLean County's civil division.

An Illinois Supreme Court initiative to improve the public's access to justice has made things easier for pro se litigants by providing forms and information available to litigants in civil cases where an attorney is not provided under the law.

A lack of knowledge of the law can be a dangerous thing for pro se litigants, said McLean County Public Defender Carla Barnes.

"Going pro se can be harmful if you don't know the rules of evidence, or how to present a case in trial," said Barnes.

The public defender, whose office represents indigent clients, said "we never encourage clients to proceed per se but it is their right. If they desire to do so, they should be allowed."

Defendants who want back-up legal advice may opt for the appointment of stand-by counsel to answer questions during court proceedings.

In Martin's case, public defender Ron Lewis will fill that role for the time being on a pending aggravated criminal sexual assault case and full-time counsel on a child pornography case against Martin.

At a hearing Thursday on those felony cases that could send him to prison for 300 years, if convicted, Martin spent almost an hour arguing with Drazewski on various legal issues. Then, he handed the judge a stack of newly-filed motions he is expected to argue at a Jan. 31 hearing.

A similar scenario played out recently in another courtroom where Andrew Pinkston served as his own lawyer on drug charges. The week-long trial included long exchanges between Pinkston and Judge Robert Freitag over how evidence would be presented.

Pinkston faces up to 60 years when he is sentenced in January on delivery of a controlled substance charges.
The Winston Churchill biopic Darkest Hour is a movie that should be seen, but not entirely believed. Gary Oldmans alternately fierce and vulnerable Churchill is a triumph of both acting and the cosmeticians art. Just hearing him deliver snippets of Churchills speeches is worth the ticket price. (Am I the only one who tears up at the words We shall fight on the beaches? My wife: Probably.)

But the central conceit of the film  that a deflated, defeated Churchill required bucking up by average Brits  is a fiction. Very nearly the opposite was true. The policy of appeasement was broadly popular in Britain during the early to mid-1930s. In 1938, a majority supported Neville Chamberlains deal at Munich (which ceded much of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany in return for ... nothing). It is more accurate to say that Churchill summoned British courage and defiance by his intense idealization of British character. He saw heroic traits in his countrymen that even they, for a time, could not see.

This is not to say that May and June of 1940 werent dark times, even for Churchill. As resistance in France collapsed and Italy seemed destined to enter the war on Germanys side, Churchill asked his chiefs of staff if it were possible to continue the war at all (they gave a conditional yes). The despair implied in that question still startles.

But on June 3, even as British troops were being evacuated at Dunkirk, Churchills private secretary Jock Colville wrote in his diary: Winston is tired of our always being on the defensive and is contemplating raids on the enemy. How wonderful it would be, he writes to [Gen. Hastings] Ismay, if the Germans could be made to wonder where they were going to be struck next instead of forcing us to try to wall in the Island and roof it over. In the midst of catastrophe, Churchill was dreaming of Normandy (and North Africa, and Italy). Not the thoughts of a defeated man.

Where Darkest Hour shines is in presenting the alarming, inspiring contingency of great events. In the spring of 1940, Europe was being shaken by massive, impersonal, world-historic forces  the apparent failure of liberal democracy and free markets, the rise of communism and fascism, the unleashing of anti-Semitism. Millions marched, line by line, to the Horst Wessel song or the Internationale.

And yet, in saving the remnants of the British Army at Dunkirk, it fell to 665 private British boats (along with 222 British warships) to rescue their country from (likely) capitulation or invasion. All the powerful, impersonal forces funneled down and down to 665 volunteer captains in pleasure craft and fishing trawlers. The future of freedom was determined by the choices and courage of a few hundred free people.

And, of course, the choices and courage of one man. A New York Times review of Darkest Hour sneered at the movies great man fetish. But is there really any doubt that history would be darker if Churchill had truly lost his nerve, or had died when hit by a car in New York in December of 1931 (he escaped with two cracked ribs and a severe scalp wound)? History can hinge on a single life.

From Churchill, we learn to resist pessimistic extrapolation. May 1940 was terrible, but not permanent. We learn the power of unreasonable optimism  the value of planning for revival in the midst of defeat. We see the possibility of leadership that can not only ride the tide but summon it.

Many of us view this example, not only with appreciation, but with longing. The problem of our time is not only arrogance without accomplishment or swagger without success. These are common enough in politics. Rather, it is the arrival of leadership that survives by feeding resentment, hatred and disorienting flux. Leadership urging us  at angry rallies, in ethnic stereotyping, through religious bigotry  to forget who we really are as a people. Leadership that has ceased to believe in the miracle at our countrys heart  the inclusive, unifying power of American ideals.

But the moment is not permanent. Many are looking for a place to invest their hope. And some leader, we trust, will rise who calls his countrymen to choose decency and civic friendship above the destructive pleasures of hatred and blame. Who can see and summon the best in American character, even if, for the moment, it is hidden.

In the meantime, we shall fight on the beaches.
100 years ago

Dec. 17, 1917: Miss Dorothy Judy of Atlanta leaves for Washington D.C. in a few days to be a stenographer in the War Department. She had taken a Civil Service test a few weeks ago, and later got a telegram that she was hired. Shes the daughter of W. H. Judy.

75 years ago

Dec. 17, 1942: The Spanish American War cannon from Franklin Park brought $541 for the war effort. It weighed 5,695 pounds, so that comes to nine cents per pound. Eventual payoff from the war bonds are to go for acquiring a World War II cannon or tank for display here.

50 years ago

Dec. 17, 1967: The Four Seasons Club will celebrate two years as a non-profit corporation next Friday. The club features dining, an ice rink and a swimming pool. 60 local employers sponsor the club, and memberships are available to their employees at two dollars each.

25 years ago

Dec. 17, 1992: The election for the 103rd House District seat was so close in Champaign County that Republican Greg Cozad sought a recount. The discovery recount looked encouraging. But now hell wait and run in 1994, leaving Democrat Laurel Prussing the winner by 34 votes.
A poster invite for CPM cadres to attend a party meet in Kerala's Nedumkandam area has stirred quite a storm. Why? It has Kim Jong-Un's picture plastered over it.

By India Today Web Desk: Starting his Sunday with a rather quirky attack on the Left in Kerala, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra tweeted a CPI-M poster spotted somewhere- that has a picture of North Korean depot Kim Jong-Un on it.

Drawing a unique analogy thereafter, Patra said that this reasons the mass killing of RSS cadres in the state.

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Hoping that CPI-M does not launch missile attack on the BJP, RSS offices like Kim Jong-Un's plans to nuke the United States, Patra added, "Hope the Left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS, BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda."

Meanwhile, the poster is an invite to all CPI-M cadres to attend the party meet in Nedumkandam on December 16-17.

Kim Jong-un finds place in CPMs posters in Kerala!!No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents!Hope the left is not planning to launch ??? missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda! pic.twitter.com/6LHf1dVtAy- Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) December 17, 2017

In the past, the CPI-M has reportedly used images of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin on their posters, but Kim Jong-Un's is definitely a first.

The CPI-M's district secretary said the poster must be a mistake made by the party's local factions. The party has asked that it be removed, the district secretary said.

Speaking to India Today, Sambit Patra added, "The poster is not an unintentional mistake. This is intentional and shows the mindset of the Left. Also exposes the intolerance brigade."

WHAT'S KIM GOT TO DO WITH POLITICAL KILLINGS?

Kerala has long been marred with reports of RSS-Left cadres indulging in political killings.

Over the years, violence has been sparked by the smallest of provocations-a missing party flag, an altercation at a bus stop, a casual remark directed at a party leader, even the defacing of a 'party wall'.

Killings and counter-killings have been endemic to Kerala over the ever-lasting feud between the saffron and the red.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has time and again raised hue and cry over what it claims are ideological murders of its workers by Left cadre in Kerala.

Insinuating that perhaps the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's belligerent ideas are influencing the CPM cadres in the state, Patra has sure stirred a storm on the internet for the day.

(Inputs from PS Gopikrishnan Unnithan and Anindya Banerjee)

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It's being reported that Apple is close to finishing their first flagship store in Vienna, the capital of Austria. While the locals are hoping for a pre-Christmas surprise, more than likely the grand opening will slip into sometime in January.









The original news and more photos could be found at iFun here. Earlier this week Patently Apple posted other retail store reports related to South Korea and China. The Store coming to Seoul Korea is yet another first for Apple as their global footprint grows.







About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
Hundreds of media practitioners, family and well-wishers turned up at the State House on Saturday to bid farewell to Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA), former host of Political Talk Show Ekosii Sen on Asempa 94.7 FM.



Mrs Samira Bawumia, the Wife of the Vice President, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, the 2016 Presidential Candidate of the Convention Peoples Party, current and former ministers of state and parliamentarians were among the high-profile personalities who turned up at the State House for the final funeral rites.



Clad in mourning colours of red and black, the mourners filed past the mortal remains of the 37-year old Broadcast Journalist from exactly 0700 hours.



The process was characterised by deep emotions and constant wailing by some of the mourners, especially the family members.



KABAs mother, Madam Felicia Asabea Ampenyin, read her tribute first, describing her only son as; The best son any mother could ever ask for, followed by the wife, Valentina Ofori-Afriyie, who described him as a Wonderful father, humble husband, lover of God, God fearing, smart, caring, understanding, and a man who made fatherhood effortless and a sight to behold.



Staff of Asempa FM described KABA as a; Determined, visionary, collaborative, goal-oriented, and caring person who loved life and all that it offered.



The Multimedia Group described him as Hardworking, dedicated and man of integrity.



An intelligent young man who was highly professional in his job, was how the Ghana Journalists Association described him, while the 2015 Political Science Year Group of the University of Ghana referred to him as an interesting and friendly course mate.



Mr Robert Tetteh Coleman, the Communications Manager of Zoomlion Ghana, cousins of KABA, colleagues from the Accra Teacher Training College among other groups, and Mr Solomon N. Amanor, a very close friend of the deceased who was described as a brother from another mother, all read their touching tributes. He was laid to rest at the Osu Cemetery.



KABA, the only son of his mother, died on Saturday, November 18, 2017, after a short illness.



He was a trained teacher who joined the Multimedia Group in 2009 as a Broadcast Journalist and later became the host of the Talk Show Ekosii Sen, which airs between 1500-1800 hours weekdays.



He left behind a wife, Valentina Ofori-Afriyie and a seven-month-old daughter, Nana Yaa Ansah-Asabea Acheampong, as well as his mother, Madam Felicia Asabea Ampenyin and his step-father, Mr Thomas Ampenyin.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah has been released from police custody after an unfortunate arrest by the Nima Police Command on Saturday morning for taking part in an illegal gathering.



Bernard Mornah was picked up by the police along with security analyst, Irbard Ibrahim and others who had gathered at the Kawukudi Park near Accra Girls Senior High School to garner support for the people of Togo who want the Gnassingbe dynasty gone.



Speaking in an interview with Ghanaweb immediately after his release, Mr Mornah said the action of the police was uncouth as he could not fathom why the Director of Operations for the Accra Command, Chief Superintendent Kwesi Ofori and his men would do that.



He, described his arrest as strange and accused National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, of hobnobbing with the government of Togo, which, in his view, suggested that Ghana is complicit in the undemocratic order in Togo.



The PNC Chairman bitterly lamented his arrest saying, My rights and image have been violated. Pictures of me have been taken whiles in Police cells and splashed all over the internet as if I am a criminal. My rights have been violated, and indeed my Lawyer will act appropriately.



Narrating the incident that led to his arrest, Mr. Mornah said he was at the rally grounds when three Police Nissan pickup trucks patrolled the premises and left - following another Riot Police in a white Tundra pickup truck which also patrolled the premises and left.



Upon their return, Mr. Mornah said the police threw me into the Pickup as a piece of wood and brought me to the police station.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Mr Senyo Hosi, has been nominated for the African CEO Impact Award (West Africa) for his immense role in the Oil and Gas sector.



A nomination letter, dated October 23, 2017 and signed by Dr. Ken Giami, Publisher/CEO, said your choice for this important honour is in recognition of your outstanding posturing as one of Africas most innovative and developmental thought leaders in the Petroleum Trading & Distribution sector; having contributed to the economic growth of Ghana.



Through your unrivalled leadership ingenuity, you have laid the most impactful foundation for the future prosperity of The Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and a key factor in the development of the economies of Africa at large. This patriotism to fatherland is commendable, the letter continued.



The Event



The event, which has been billed to take place on Sunday, December 17, 2017, will be held during the upcoming UK  Africa Trade & Investment Forum in London.



Mr Hosi will also be a Guest Speaker at the event, and would be on the front cover of a special edition of the African Leadership Magazine that will be unveiled at the event.



The magazine, which would be distributed at the event, would capture a detailed coverage of Mr Hosi achievements.



Forum and Awards



The Forum and awards organized by African Leadership LLC, and African Leadership (UK) Limited, on the theme UK  Africa Relations Post Brexit: Building Trade and Investments Structures for Equitable Partnerships is aimed at bringing together UK  Africa business leaders, investment bankers, funds managers, senior government officials; key private sector players as well as diplomats to discuss trade and investment priorities for UK  Africa Relations.



According to the organisers as UK attempts to build a global Britain Post Brexit  one of the worlds most passionate advocates of open, free and fair trade in the world, strengthening trade and investment arrangements with some of the worlds most dynamic economies  especially in Africa would be critical to the future.



The organisers indicated that UKs Prime Minister Theresa May announced a new partnership with Africa, focused on supporting trade, investment and growth was not a surprise.



In view of that the UK-Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2017 will highlight the uniqueness of the challenges that have curtailed the free flow and actualization of economic growth in Africa, and especially aim to boost UK -Africa trade.



Former Award Winners



Past outstanding recipients of the African Leadership magazine Awards include, H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of Namibia; H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania; H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone; H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia; H. E John Kufuor, former President of Ghana; Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Ibrahim Prize for Leadership; Hon. Xavier Luc-Duval, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Republic of Mauritius and Mr. Mohammed Dewji, CEO METL Group, Tanzania, among others.



Biography of Senyo Hosi



Mr Hosi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors is credited with developing the Chamber into a major representative, advocacy, and lobby and industry strategy and policy organisation in the Ghanaian and West African downstream petroleum industry.



His advocacy and policy analysis served as the catalyst for key policy decisions including petroleum price deregulation that saved the Ghanaian economy 500 million US Dollars every year in unbudgeted subsidies; the low sulphur policy that introduced cleaner fuels by adopting low sulphur petroleum standards (from 3000ppm to 50ppm); and the development of the conceptual framework and design for the adoption of the Energy Sector Levies Act.



The government of Ghana recently ring-fenced proceeds from the levies as collateral for Ghanas first energy bonds to address the energy sectors debt of about 2.5 billion US Dollars. This contribution to the industry provided a remarkable turnaround in Ghanas economic, financial and energy prospects.



This intervention has further turned around the dwindling commercial fortunes of a hitherto heavily indebted downstream sector.



His outright advocacy backed with solution oriented policy analysis has made him a constant reference for policy proposals by both the public and private sectors. Together with his fine lobbying skills, he has become an industry leader from behind.



Mr Hosi has effectively managed competing interests of 30 oil companies in the Chamber to collectively work towards driving sustainable policies within the industry.



He is a key resource person for major regional downstream platforms like OTL Africa, Argus Media Road Conference, Africa Oil and Gas Summit among others.



He serves on various major public and private boards including the Ministry of Energys Ministerial Advisory Board, Ghana Highways Authority, Private Enterprises Federation, NDK Capital and Legacy Bonds Limited.



He holds an MBA in Finance and an MA in Economic Policy Management.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Deputy General Secretary of National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Koku Anyidoho has confirmed a long time rumour of the party after assuming office in 2009 planned to hound the then Chief Justice (CJ), Madam Georgina Theodora Wood from office.



According to the outspoken former Presidential Spokesperson, after taking office from New Patriotic Party (NPP), some elements in the party petitioned the late President John Mahama for the removal of then appointed under the previous administration



Some of our people thought that the former CJ must be removed so they petitioned the late President Atta Mills, the former Presidential Spokesperson revealed.



But the President ignored their petition because he taught that was not the best way to go, Koku Anyidoho spoke on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM morning show hosted by Kofi Asante.



According to him, the President, Akufo-Addo also has every right to ignore the petition seeking to impeach the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Madam Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Georgina Opoku Amankwa and Amadu Sulley.



I was expecting President Akufo-Addo not to entertain the petition as President Mills did, Koku Anyidoho stated.



The President could have used his executive and discretionary powers to decide that the petition would not have gone to the Chief Justice and it will not see the light of the day.



The admission of Koku Anyidoho confirms revelations by the former Chief Justice who retired in June this year how she endured heated calls on her to resign during the late President John Evans Atta Mills administration.



Speaking at a thanksgiving Service to celebrate her 70th birthday, at the Ringway Assemblies of God church in Accra, Georgina Wood said for the support and encouragement of Justice Jones Dotse, a Justice of the Supreme Court, she would have resigned.



Can you imagine; a full vessel, an array of the men and women who matter at the time with the press in full array asking you to resign, she said, adding that a message she received on her phone also comforted her hence her decision to carry on.



Each single one of you added value to my life. Youre the people who gave me hope and helped us to succeed that is why I dont forget Justice Dotse. He has stood by me and has received some of the beatings through no fault of his, except he was helping to do Gods work It will be difficult on my part that as soon as I exit I forget; I will not. I pray that all the good plans he (Dotse) has God helps him to realize, she added.

Source: mynewsgh.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Founder and President of the opposition National Democratic Congress's (NDC's) Serial Callers Association of Western Region, Mr. William Gyima known as Abeiku Prestea has urged the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two deputies to resign over the raging controversy at the Commission immediately and prevent them from any embarrassment.



Speaking to Bishop Oteng on Hope FM on Thursday, December 14, 2017 Mr Gyima said the continuous stay of the drivers of the EC will affect the country's future elections because of the strained relationship between them.



"The current in-fighting amongst the EC commissioners does not bode well for Ghanas democracy and will dent confidence in their ability to hold credible elections in the future," he explained.



According to him, "Ghanas EC has successfully conducted seven elections which have contributed to the stability and economic growth the country currently enjoys within the sub-region. We have had electoral disputes in the past, but these were managed or resolved amicably to the envy of other African countries and the world at large".



He added that "the due process should be followed in investigating and resolving the issues, however, at this stage, I'm of the opinion that irreparable damage has been done to the credibility of the current EC chairs.



Regardless of what the process finds and whatever Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) measures that are used, it is doubtful that the three people, the EC Chair and her two deputies, will be able to work coherently together in the future".



He, therefore, recommended that the EC Chairperson and two deputies to do the honorable thing of resigning to save their reputation and that of the institution.



"We need to protect the sanctity of this state institution so as to keep intact the confidence the good people of Ghana have reposed in the Commission", he emphasized.



Abeiku Prestea also advised politicians to stop politicising the issue.



"Ghanaians we like doing politics with everything that is a national issue and at the end of the day, we will not see the truth in it and the issue will be thrown into a dustbin", he lamented.



He also used the platform to commend President Akufo-Addo for following the Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution of the Land and hence forwarded the petition the CJ.



Background



Madam Charlotte Osei and her deputies have come under intense pressure to resign, following allegations of corruption made against her by employees of the Commission in a petition and her response, which highlighted corrupt practices at the Commission.



Tensions at the EC became public after employees of the Commission petitioned President Akufo-Addo to dismiss Charlotte Osei for alleged financial malfeasance.



The aggrieved employees claimed among others that Mrs. Osei awarded a GHc 3.9 million contract for work on an office complex without consulting the Commission.



Mrs. Osei, however, rubbished the allegations in her response to the employees, and fired some accusations at the Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Operations at the EC, Amadu Sulley.



She has sued the employees for making what she described as unsubstantiated allegations against her.



Meanwhile, the said petition has been forwarded to the Chief Justice.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), that recent history of politics in the country is replete with examples that must be avoided if the party is not to fail.



He recounted intra party fights, especially between leading members of parties in government for various positions, which accelerated and made their loss of power very easy and said we must learn from history.



President Akufo-Addo was addressing the Extra-Ordinary National Delegates Conference of the NPP in Kumasi Sunday for a one-item agenda, - to consider some constitutional amendment proposals submitted by party members.



Taking members of the party at the congress down memory lane on recent political history, he recounted the causes of change in power in the Fourth Republic and mentioned infighting among members of ruling parties which made it easier for the opposition to win power.



He commended the national council for passing a resolution that banned MMDCEs, from contesting parliamentary primaries unless they stepped down three years before the elections because the party did not need these MMDCEs to disturb the party at the grassroot from their jobs.



The council had placed same ban on three constituency and regional officers and these were the chairperson, secretaries and treasurers, explaining that this was to replicate the banning on national chairperson, general secretary and treasurer from contesting the presidential candidature, all the way to constituency level.



He said some party members wanted the ban to be extended to all constituency and regional officers and all government appointees and cautioned that this will be a radical measure that needed the support of conference on a duly passed amendment.



Bitter History



He said since the August 2017 conference in Cape coast, the National Council has acted to restore and preserve the stability of the party at the grassroots level.



He said on all the three occasions that opposition parties had beaten an incumbent president in an election (2000, 2008, and 2016), these were made easier for the opposition for certain reasons.



He said one main contributory factor that made the victory easier for the opposition, was frosty and breakdown of relation between Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Members of Parliament of the ruling party and the constituency chairmen.



He conceded that in 2000, although the country wanted a change of government, it was made easier by the Swedru Declaration by President JJ Rawlings that Prof JEA Mills was going to succeed him and added that the NDC also cashed in on the divisions in the NPP in 2008, when 17 people contested for the presidential primaries.



He said the last one was the infighting in the NDC between the Rawlings-Mahama-Mills elements all in the NDC in 2016 which made it easier for the NPP to win the elections.



Sacred Day



He described the day as a sacred day because it coincided with her late mothers birthday, Akua Yeboah and expressed the hope that it would be a happy and prosperous day for him.



Government



He said although the party had chalked some great strides in the area of establishing the Free SHS, revival of the NHIS and injection of momentum, resources and attention to agriculture in the country through the popular Planting for Food and Jobs, all had not been rosy.



He mentioned the issues with Delta and Invisible Forces and the tension among members of the party for job opportunities and added that he appreciated their anxiety and assured them the foundation had been laid.



He explained that it had not been easy because the NDC bequeathed a bankrupt economy but with the ingenuity of his team of ministers, the foundation had been laid and urged the party members to remain united and confident because their government was on the right path.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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On Saturday, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery commemorated Wreaths Across America Day, an occasion marked by more than 1,200 cemeteries across the United States.

It's the 12th year for the event at the Annville cemetery. Thousands attend, with more than 26,000 wreaths laid to honor departed veterans.

Keynote speaker for a noon ceremony at the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial was Gold Star Mother Christine Vaccaro, whose son, Lance, was a Navy Seal killed in a 2008 helicopter accident.
On Wednesday, Pakistan rejected India's plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information by its "spy"

The former Navy officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav is serving death sentence in Pakistan over allegations of spying.

By Piyush Agrawal, India Today Web Desk, Press Trust of India: On Sunday, Pakistan said the visa applications of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother had been received and were being "processed".

This came days after Pakistan again rejected India's plea for consular access to the death row prisoner Jadhav.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed in a tweet that Jadhav's family had applied for visas.

Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed.- Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) December 16, 2017

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"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds," Faisal tweeted.

He further added that the applications were "being processed". However, he did not give any timeline for approval of visas.

On Wednesday, Pakistan rejected India's plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its "spy".

In its counter-memorial submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan said the provision of such an access under the Vienna Convention is only for legitimate visitors and not for spies, a media report said.

Pakistan said that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

Pakistan's attempt to honeytrap Indian officials foiled

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April 2017 on charges of espionage and terrorism evoking a sharp reaction in India. It was only after India approached the ICJ that a 10-member bench on May 18 2017 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India, however, continues to maintain that Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Naval officer, was abducted from Iran in March, 2016 by Pak forces who have made it look like he was arrested from Balochistan's Mashkel area near the border region of Chaman.

Earlier, Pakistan had agreed to facilitate a meeting of Jadhav with his mother and wife in Islamabad on December 25. It also agreed to India's demand that they be accompanied by an official of the Indian High Commission here.

On Thursday, Pakistan directed its High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.

(With agency inputs)

Watch the video | India's full argument of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case in ICJ

--- ENDS ---

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A 24-year-old York County woman was killed Saturday morning as her three children, all under the age of 11, were in the home.

Samantha Stein was found dead by her boyfriend at about 7 a.m. at their home in the first block of North Main Street in Spring Grove. None of the children were harmed.

So far, police have declined to disclose how Stein died.

Southwestern Regional Police Sgt. Jamie Stalcup, who called the killing "a crime of great magnitude," said officers had been called to the scene at least twice in the last three months for what appeared to be a series of escalating incidents at two neighboring residences.

On one occasion, Stalcup said, police were called to the scene for an incident of arson. There were also reports of criminal mischief and the victim's cars had recently been vandalized.

Investigators believed the homicide was connected to those past exchanges, the sergeant said. They had identified several persons of interest but, as of 5:30 p.m., did not have anyone in custody.

"I believe that each person needs to review their own affairs and if you have someone in your life that you're concerned about, then be concerned," he said. "We don't believe this was a random act."

Stalcup said he didn't believe the killing was a hate crime, drug-related or domestic violence. He declined to comment further on the persons of interest.

Spring Grove, a small borough of about 2,000 residents 13 miles from the Maryland state line, has typically been a quiet place, the sergeant said.

"This is uncommon -- very uncommon," Stalcup said. He couldn't recall the last homicide in the borough.

Police interviewed the children Saturday and they were safe with family later that evening. Stalcup declined to say whether they witnessed their mother's death.

"Obviously, the family's distraught," he said. "It was quite a horrific event -- with three young children [present]. It's bad."

Anyone with information is asked to call York County 911 or Southwestern Regional Police at 717-225-1344.

Wallace McKelvey may be reached at wmckelvey@pennlive.com. Follow him on Twitter @wjmckelvey. Find PennLive on Facebook and YouTube.
Drew McGinty, who is State Sen. Daylin Leach's opponent in the upcoming Democratic primary in the race for U.S. Congress, is calling on Leach to withdraw from the race in the wake of sexual-misconduct allegations.

As a Montgomery County lawmaker faces sexual misconduct allegations, his opponent in the upcoming Democratic primary is calling on him to withdraw from his run for U.S. Congress.

State Sen. Daylin Leach "has for years engaged in questionable behavior with young female staffers and volunteers, from highly sexualized jokes and comments to touching they deemed inappropriate," the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting.

Drew McGinty released the following statement about his opponent in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 7th District in the U.S. Congress today:

"I wholeheartedly believe the brave women and men who have come forward with their allegations against Senator Leach. That's why today, I am calling on State Senator Leach to resign from office and withdraw from the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 7th district. This conduct is reprehensible from anyone, but when your job is to serve the good people of Pennsylvania, it is especially heinous. The 7th District deserves a nominee that will treat all women and men with respect, and it is clear that Senator Leach is unable to do so."

Leach, 56, is currently a state senator serving Montgomery County.

In that response, Leach said:

"Politics is, sadly, an ugly business," Leach wrote. "I will go back to doing what I've always done, being a fierce fighter for women's rights and trying to protect my family from the unfortunate consequences of the profession I've chosen."
WILLIAMSPORT -- A man who held police at bay for 12 hours during which he yelled "I'm gonna to shoot you cops" has been jailed without bail.

Evan Justin Chapman, 46, never fired at police who surrounded the apartment house in the 1500 block of Light Street in which he lives but he is accused of discharging a rifle inside.

Police were dispatched to the apartment house at 7:11 a.m. Saturday for a domestic disturbance. Chapman was taken into custody at 7:19 p.m. on the third floor by Williamsport's special response team.

The first officers who responded say they observed a man, later identified as Chapman, pointing a rifle with a scope at them from an attic window.

He is alleged to have yelled, "I'm gonna shoot your pigs. I've got you all in my scope."

The officers took cover and, according to the arrest affidavit, a few minutes later Chapman came to the porch and yelled, "shoot me."

He also is alleged to have said "I had every one of you cops' heads." Police said they deployed a stun gun while issuing numerous commands for Chapman to drop his weapon.

Streets surrounding the apartment house were blocked off and more police units were summoned including the Lycoming County hostage rescue team and a bomb squad from Centre County.

Throughout the day police attempted to persuade Chapman to drop his weapon and come outside. They shot flash bangs through windows but no live rounds.

A woman who lives with Chapman told police he was heavily intoxicated having consumed vodka and beer.

She told police Chapman began yelling for her to return to the living room after she went into the bedroom to sleep but she refused.

She alleged Chapman came into the bedroom grabbed her by the neck and strangled her for 10 to 15 minutes.

When he stopped she grabbed a few things and fled to a downstairs apartment where her father lives, she told police.

A short time later she heard a gunshot upstairs and called 911, the charges state.

Chapman is charged with strangulation, aggravated and simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime and discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure.

District Judge Christian D. Frey explained he denied bail because he considered Chapman a safety and flight risk.

Chapman told the judge he is unemployed, lived in the apartment for about two years and has no family in the Williamsport area.

His criminal record, according to police, includes charges of simple assault, escape and drunken driving in both Lycoming and Clinton counties.
By Lisa Hall-Zielinski

Internships have become crucial in finding that first job, so offices like mine are constantly searching for paid internships for students in all majors at every phase of their four years of study.

Myth No. 1: Interns are free help for your business.

Lisa Hall Zielinksi (Twitter)

Many small businesses believe that there are tons of students available who don't care about pay, that they just need internships for college credits.

The reality is that students do care about pay - who doesn't! In fact, there are very few situations in which people can legally work for nothing.

But pay rates can differ. Higher pay doesn't necessarily guarantee a better experience. All of us in the work world can most likely think back and recall that the higher paying experiences were not always the best ones. I know there were not for me.

Also, students may be seeking credit, but in our experience, many students are doing multiple internships so credit might not even be a factor.

Myth No. 2: Students don't want to bother with small-business internships.

The idea that students only want experiences with large corporate businesses is outdated. We see more and more students pursuing multiple internships, so they can do both.

Most students participating in our program report that the benefit of a small business internship is that they had exposure to many more aspects of the business and were responsible for more than at their other internships - something they think is very valuable.

Myth No. 3: Interns are a perfect fit every time.

I'm not sure why people tend to think this way, but we see it a lot. Like regular, everyday employees, there are interns who are a fit for a small business and those who aren't a fit.

The business owner has to use proper recruitment and selection techniques to attract the right individuals. For the small business owner with no employees, this usually is their first experience with this, so following correct procedures is critical.

Myth #4: It doesn't take much planning or effort to host an intern. Just start delegating tasks to them when they show up.

In addition to making sure the educational value exists for the student, interns are a great way to help expand the capabilities of a business. So we know planning objectives and tasks in advance creates value for the intern and the business.

Interns aren't there just to do grunt work and they also shouldn't be expected to take on the tasks of what really requires a full-time employee.

Hosting and mentoring an intern requires a time commitment - you can't expect interns to arrive knowing all they need to know and not requiring any guidance.

Lisa Hall Zielinski is director of The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center, the organization behind smallbusinessinternships.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lmhall9
As the rest of the country held its breath, certain Alabama voters showed up in record numbers to assuage our fears that Judge Roy Moore would take a seat at the U.S. Senate table.

Kirstin Snow (PennLive file)

To those voters- notably African American women- thank you for coming out in numbers even greater than what was ever projected.

The outcome of the Moore election can be debated endlessly - and probably will.

But given its unique circumstances, one should err on the side of caution when considering this a huge victory for Democrats, and in particular, for future races.

Not that this wasn't a well fought, well played ground game that led to a win- but will it prove a pattern in, say, certain upcoming Pennsylvania races?

There is a congressional special election looming in western Pennsylvania.

You may recall eight-term U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-18th District, got himself into a bit of trouble and resigned in October after telling his pregnant mistress to terminate a possible pregnancy.

In fact, should you take a drive down interstate 79, you'd be hard pressed to miss a ReproAction-sponsored billboard that reads, "Abortion: Not just for your mistress!"

Running for the open seat are current Republican state representative Rick Saccone, and Democrat Connor Lamb, a Marine veteran and former assistant United States attorney.

The two candidates could not be more stark in their differences. Saccone, serving his second term, was a surprise choice to many democrats in that the republican party passed over less polarizing rising to stars to run for the seat. Saccone is extremely conservative, and in his own words, boasted, "I was Trump before Trump was Trump."

Whereas the right is seen as running a rather weak candidate, the left may have chosen someone in Lamb who can, after decades of republican control, flip that seat to the democrats. It won't, however, be easy. This race has almost as many nuances as the Moore/Jones election.

There are 76,000 organized labor workers in the district. Murphy had a good relationship with them. Saccone however, 'stepped in it' this week when he voted yes to kill a paycheck protection bill which would have ceased the ability of labor to deduct union fees from willing workers' paychecks.

This did not go unnoticed by Darrin Kelly, Executive Vice President of the Allegheny/Fayette central labor council.

Shortly after the vote on the bill, Kelly tweeted a message to his 'brothers and sisters' to remember Saccone voted against them when they take to the polls on March 13, thus endorsing Lamb in the process, without naming him specifically.

Lamb, however, doesn't come to the race without some leanings that concern staunch democrats.

He's bucked the party's line on guns and abortion rights and hasn't been clear on how far he would go on legal limits on said issues. H

e has, however, said that he intends to run on the need to fight opioid addiction, one of the main issues he handled as a prosecutor, along with sexual assault. In these two issues, he has his finger on the pulse of what concerns many voters.

In addition, when it comes to the fight for the 18th Congressional District, a recent Monmouth University poll shows there may be a glimmer of hope for democrats to take the seat in this staunchly Republican area.

The poll, released the day after the Moore/Jones election, shows democrats having a 15-point edge in generic House races.

It also finds that much like voters were possibly more against Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump in 2016, a reverse pattern is beginning to show that voters are willing to vote against someone who aligns themselves with the president, today.

According to Franklin and Marshall College pollster G. Terry Madonna, Democrats have performed better than expected in special elections across the country since Trump's election.

He does concede, however, that it would "take a revolution within the electorate" for a democrat to win this race.

In the end, the result will likely come down to resources in the form of donations, a skilled ground game and voter turnout.

The right surely doesn't want to lose this seat they've held for so long, and the party is likely to put strong support behind Saccone. It may, however, just might not be enough if Lamb can elicit the same backing as was given Jones, in Alabama.

This March 13 could turn out to be another shocking outcome for special elections in this country, and politicos' eyes will be focused on Pennsylvania to see if they can pull off a repeat in the 18th District.

Kirstin Snow, an associate at Triad Strategies, is a PennLive Opinion contributor. Her "Elephants & Donkeys" column appears weekly opposite conservative commentator Charlie Gerow.
State Sen. Daylin Leach of Montgomery County, considered a progressive and an advocate for women's rights, has been named in the widening sexual misconduct scandal sweeping the nation since the accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Former campaign and legislative staffers and advisers told The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News that Leach, a legislator since 2003 who is now running for Congress, "has for years engaged in questionable behavior with young female staffers and volunteers, from highly sexualized jokes and comments to touching they deemed inappropriate." The papers interviewed nearly two dozen people about the senator's conduct.

Incidents include, according to the Inquirer/Daily News reporting:

* 2016:

A woman named Emily was 27 in February 2016 when she said met Daylin Leach, the then-55-year-old incumbent chairman of the state Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, inappropriately touched her,

Leach, a well-known Montgomery County state senator who has long advocated for women's rights, sat next to her while she registered attendees at an

, and grabbed her thigh under the table as he suggested he could help her find a job.

"He grabbed my thigh, almost to punctuate his point with a cruel irony," Emily, who agreed to use her first name but not last, told the Inquirer. She felt "frozen in fear and humiliation," she said. "I wrapped up the fund-raiser and went back to my hotel room and sobbed."

The Inquirer reported that two members of the state Democratic Party confirmed that Emily sent them distraught text messages hours after the incident describing what happened.

* 2015: A former Senate staffer who spoke on condition that she not be named said she first met Leach in February 2015 at the Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg in February 2015 when she was working for the SDCC. She said Leach touched her on the buttocks, and she yelled at him but was told by one of his aides that her response was not appropriate. She said that a month later, after she began working for the Senate, Leach tickled her torso from behind during a budget hearing luncehon. A witness told the woman's boss about the incident, the woman said, and she met with a human resources administrator in the Senate and was assured it would not happen again. "I'm more mad at the Senate for not doing anything," the woman told the Inquirer. "It's the culture up there that's the problem." Senate Democratic officials cited confidentiality rules to protect victims of sexual harassment when asked for comment by the Inquirer.

Calling out sexual harassment can be difficult, witnesses say

* 2012: A female intern in the Pennsylvania delegation reported that Leach made inappropriate sexualized comments on the opening night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., according to two delegation officials, who said said they were concerned and responded by directing interns to travel in pairs.

* "He'd put his arm around me, and his hand would linger on the small of my back, and briefly graze my butt. As a woman, you get that feeling that this isn't right," said a woman who worked as a fundraiser for Leach several years ago.

* 2008: Two women who worked on Leach's Senate campaign said he repeatedly discussed sex in front of young female staffers. They said his comments, including which famous women he wanted to have sex with, became so uncomfortable they tried to limit his time around interns and volunteers.

Leach, 56, was not interviewed by the Inquirer but issued his own response saying the alleged touching did not happen. You can read the full response here.

"Politics is, sadly, an ugly business," Leach wrote. "I will go back to doing what I've always done, being a fierce fighter for women's rights and trying to protect my family from the unfortunate consequences of the profession I've chosen."

"He's not a predator. He's not a hound dog. He is a very, very conscientious and decent public official that has not lost his sense of humor, despite his political career," Leach's lawyer, George Bochetto of Philadelphia, told the Inquirer.

The episode was not an isolated incident, according to the Inquirer. Eight women and three men told of instances of inappropriate touching or in which Leach turned conversations with young, female subordinates into sexual territory that left the women upset.

"As great as his legislative record is for women globally, he can be awful to women individually," said Aubrey Montgomery, a former finance director for Leach's first campaign for Senate in 2008.

Efforts to obtain comment from Montgomery and several other Leach staffers late last week by PennLive were not successful.

None of those interviewed by the Inquirer/Daily News said they had been assaulted or held back in their careers or had their careers threatened and said Leach framed his comments as harmless jokes.
Gov. Tom Wolf Sunday became the first major public official to call for Sen. Daylin Leach to resign from office in the wake of newly published allegations about inappropriate treatment of staff.

Wolf's statement, issued by his press office shortly after 4 p.m., came in response to a lengthy Philadelphia Inquirer report detailing complaints from several former female staffers about a history of sexually suggestive jokes and a number of instances of inappropriate touches.

Leach, a Democrat from Montgomery County, in a statement on his own Facebook page, has denied any intentional wrongdoing.

"This disturbing behavior is absolutely unacceptable," Wolf said in his statement. "Senator Leach should resign. While he has been a leader on important policy issues, this conduct cannot be excused.

"As I have said previously, this is not a partisan issue," Wolf continued, reiterating a previous call for legislative leaders to quickly ensure that an adequate structure is in place for Capitol staffers to file complaints going forward.

Wolf's call is in keeping with the national Democratic Party's efforts to draw a bright, no-tolerance line for sexual misconduct by powerful public officeholders.

That line has already brought about the resignations within the past couple seeks of U.S. Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan.

Wolf, in issuing his call, also leaped out in front of Leach's own Senate Democratic caucus.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, had committed on Sunday to taking a fresh look at the complaints against Leach and how they were handled.

Wolf's statement in full:

"This disturbing behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Senator Leach should resign. While he has been a leader on important policy issues, this conduct cannot be excused.

"As I have said previously, this is not a partisan issue. The lack of adequate structure for victims to report this type of behavior and feel protected is inexcusable, and underscores that Harrisburg's culture must change.

"Leaders in the General Assembly, Republican and Democrat, must commit to real reform that protects victims."
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued a statement in reaction to the Philadelphia Inquirer story alleging sexual misconduct by Montgomery County Democratic Sen. Daylin Leach.

Costa of Allegheny County said there will be investigation into those allegations as well as a review of the Senate's policy dealing with this type of inappropriate workplace behavior.

His statement doesn't touch the issue as to whether Leach should resign as an opponent in Leach's congressional race has called for.

Here is Costa's statement:

"Workplace harassment cannot be tolerated. Senate personnel should feel comfortable in the workplace and free to report sexual harassment.

"This report raised issues about the Senate's policy for handling workplace and sexual harassment claims. We're seeking more information about these specific claims and will take the appropriate next steps.

"In light of the recent national discussion on workplace harassment, we have initiated a review of our Senate policy governing workplace harassment."
The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News interviewed nearly two dozen people as part of an investigation in to accusations of sexual misconduct against Montgomery County Democratic lawmaker Daylin Leach.

The reporting found that, according to several of Leach's former campaign and legislative staffers and advisers, the state senator "has for years engaged in questionable behavior with young female staffers and volunteers, from highly sexualized jokes and comments to touching they deemed inappropriate."

Pa. lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct, inappropriate touching and sex talk: report

Leach, who has served in the state Legislature since 2003 and is running for a Congressional seat, responded in a statement published by the newspapers on Sunday.

"In June, people affiliated with my political opponent started a 'whisper campaign' against me. After some prodding, the media picked it up. They requested 'complaints' against me which did not exist. The same reporters called my Senate staff and, according to the authors of this story, those staffers said I was a great boss and there were no problems," Leach said in the statement.

"Still hungry for a story, the reporters spent months calling, called my friends, colleagues, former political opponents, and complete strangers. After all of this effort, this is what they've come up with."

He defended his sense of humor, saying that while it may not be pure, it is "no more racy than the average person's." As for the inappropriate touching, "It is true that sometimes I do touch people when I talk to them. A clasped forearm, a pat on the back. But never anything inappropriate or sexual. I now know that some people subjectively find such touching unpleasant. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe comes to mind. I will avoid that in the future, except with people I know extremely well.

"That said, the two alleged incidents that were described to me did not happen. I have brief discussions in public places literally dozens of times a day and of these incidents, I remember one not at all, and one only vaguely. But they both allegedly occurred in crowded rooms with lots of people and cameras around. I was never alone with the women involved. And I never, in any way, intentionally or unintentionally, touched them inappropriately. It did not happen," Leach said in the statement.
The two men can be seen beating the injured animal to death, while hurling abuses at it.

By India Today Web Desk: A shocking incident laying bare the blatant disregard for an animal's life has surfaced from Maharashtra's Washim area- where two youths have been caught on camera torturing an injured langur.

The men tied the langur to a tree, beat it to death mercilessly and continued thrashing its dead body for fun- while recording the whole incident.

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The two also hurled abuses at the animal, while hitting it stick and chappals.

A case has been filed against the accused by the forest authorities under the Animal Protection Act.

Watch: Killed, tied to tree, beaten: This langur suffered the worst humankind can offer

--- ENDS ---
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau prepares to talk with a television crew following talks on housing market in the Greater Toronto Area in Toronto on April 18, 2017. When 2017 dawned for Finance Minister Bill Morneau, he was presiding over the early stages of an economic resurgence that would lift growth beyond expectations, create jobs at an impressive clip and help shave billions off his projected budgetary deficits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Transgenders, who are socially isolated, say the bill offers nothing to further their cause, and is against the April 2014 judgement passed by the Supreme Court.

Hundreds of transgender people from various states gathered around to protest against several provisions of bill. (Photo: Ilma Hasan)

By Ilma Hasan: On Sunday, LGBTQ activists from across the country gathered at Sansad Marg in New Delhi to protest against the Transgender Persons (Protection Of Rights) Bill 2016, which is up for discussion in the winter session of the parliament.

Transgenders, who are socially isolated, say the bill offers nothing to further their cause, and is against the April 2014 judgement passed by the Supreme Court giving people the right to self identity and legal recognition.

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Maya, a transgender who came from Gujarat said, "This government is upturning everything promised to us by the SC. The Standing Committee recommendation had made it clear that any procedure for identification of transgender persons would violate human rights. But this bill will make it mandatory for transgenders to apply to District Magistrate for a certificate of identity."

The government's stand is that the passing of the bill will legitimise the community and help end discrimination.

Transgender people gathered around to protest against several provisions of bill. (Photo: Ilma Hasan)

An activist from Tamil Nadu however said, "How can this government protect us when the definition of a transgender in the bill is wrong? It identifies a transgender as a person who is neither wholly male nor wholly female. The definition in itself is ridiculous"

The bill also proposed criminalisation of begging, which for a transgender person is a major source of income as the job opportunities for them are very little.

The activists are demanding gender based internal reservation for trans persons, stricter laws for violence against the community, free access to gender affirming medical procedures and national and state trans rights commissions.

--- ENDS ---
FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. On Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, several people familiar with Trump's transition organization say special counsel Robert Mueller's team has gained access to thousands of private emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The coffin with the remains of Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III, draped in a flag with the House of Savoy crest, arrives at the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, in Vicoforte, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. The remains were repatriated from Egypt and interred in a family mausoleum Sunday, 71 years after Italians rejected the monarchy in a referendum and the country's royals went into exile. (Raffaele Sasso/ANSA via AP)
ISSUES....

Inside, confidential and off the record Guyana's Transparency





Offshore Energy Today

The Bahamas-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) Tina has arrived at Singapore's Keppel Shipyard where it will be converted into an FPSO unit for SBM Offshore and then used to develop ExxonMobil's Liza field offshore Guyana. ExxonMobil said a US$18 million signing bonus was deposited into a government account at the Bank of Guyana last year, and called for such transactions with all other companies to be made public in the future. Country Manager of ExxonMobil (Guyana), Rod Henson said a bonus is _customary and normal_ in many petroleum agreements as part of the total financial agreement. Critics claim the money was not deposited into the Consolidated Fund and is not reflected in financial records at the Bank of Guyana, violating the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. MINISTER of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman said external advisors and lawyers advised that government should not release the full contract with oil giant, Exxon Mobil, noting that a number of extenuating and external issues some of which have foreign affairs, sovereignty and national security implications. Petroleum Advisor to the President Dr Jan Mangal said that as an emerging oil and gas country, Guyana needs to place significant emphasis on transparency. The expert who has over 18 years' experience in the sector noted that Guyana is on the verge of an economic transformation and though success cannot be guaranteed, transparency will aid in success. Oil and gas, or any resource we cannot assume that it will work for the benefit of the people; it doesn't just happen by chance, he said citing West Africa. Key ingredients to success are transparency and capacity. It has been proven .. that in a resource sector, the exploitation of resources, transparency is paramount and it is ultimately the people's resource so they need to be confident and to trust government is acting on their behalf. Guyana is starting from base within the oil and gas sector, therefore building capacity rapidly is critical. That capacity has to come from further afield. As a result of the overarching need for transparency, all contracts, ought to be made public. I believe all contracts, resource contracts should be made public not only petroleum, diamond, gold and timber .. all resources of the people . that is my objective. In the long term, it is the people of Guyana who will be affected. His statement came in response to the non-disclosure of the government contract with Exxon Mobil, as well as the reported US$20M signature bonus. Dr Mangal believes that the signature bonus needs to be made public as it must be auditable.  people need to have confidence in their representatives and the way to do that is via transparency. Government was urged to release the contract by civil society, Transparency International Guyana, the opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP), the Working People's Alliance (WPA) of the parties in the APNU+AFC coalition government. Trotman said it is not advisable to release the contract stressing that it would not be to the nation's benefit. Government has taken a decision not to release the full contract. We have released quite a few details . persons are wise enough .. you can get a sense of what is the contract but there are a number of extenuating and external issues which are being examined, some .. have foreign affairs implications, some ..have sovereignty implications, some have national security implications and Government has been advised by external advisors and lawyers that we should not bare all. It is perhaps not palatable to everyone to accept that and sometimes advice is not always what you want to hear but it is important that if you have retained experts and others to advise you that you abide by their advice. He believes that in due course, Cabinet will lift what he deems to be an injunction so that everything will be opened. There is nothing that could sink anyone or sink a Government. . it is really a continuation of a 1999 contract .. tweaked in just a few places and so there is nothing to hide. It is just for different reasons, some of which I have just explained at this part in our juncture we ought not to lay our contracts bare .. there are .. contracts with other operators that Government inherited and so it is not a matter of just releasing one contract.  Government will have to release all contracts eventually and approach all operators and work out when and what they wish to be exposed making reference to confidentiality clauses. It is a matter of working with your partners and operators to ensure that we are at one, said Trotman. Dr Mangal feels that if pressure is placed on the government the documents will be released. I believe ultimately it will happen people are usually reluctant to give out information because they feel they'd be criticised. It will take some time .. it will only happen if people keep requesting it. .. he stated. The Petroleum advisor pointed out that while government may have an intention to release the documents, the process would probably be faster if civil society demands same. Ultimately the government will publish it but it might be quicker if put under some pressure, he declared. Trotman said that citizens will feel there is nothing to hide. He agreed with Dr Mangal that it is normal for suspicion to linger .. especially where natural resources are concerned. We have not yet started production .. there is no revenue that is being hidden or siphoned away but we have been working very closely with the IDB, with the World Bank and with the IMF to develop a framework, said Trotman. The Commonwealth Secretariat assisted in the crafting of a regulatory commission for the sector. That legislation, the Petroleum Commission Bill has been publicly criticised as giving the minister too much power; something Trotman said he is not surprised by.  but when one looks at the manner in which semi-autonomous agencies are established in Guyana they all are the same. the Minister directs policy , because we are dealing with oil and its ability to corrupt change and transform societies, there is a push for wider powers and , we want a nationally accepted Bill. Government will pay full attention to comments and criticisms and efforts will be made to re-engage the Commonwealth Secretariat later to work on the legislation. So we expect that the Bill will go through several different changes and people can feel confident that they will not see things as they are .. people want to see a greater civil society engagement and involvement. We are going to allow that. We are going to allow greater participation of the Parliamentary opposition and we are going to see reduced powers of the Ministers. Guyana was accepted as the 53rd member of the Extractive Industry's Transparency Initiative. The requests for more disclosure from the Government regarding all oil and gas contracts have been overwhelming.The Minister will be seeking guidance from Cabinet about all details pertaining to the contract with ExxonMobil. He has every confidence that in time, the citizens of Guyana will have full access to everything.The Minister made this declaration in relation to comments by Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram. The tax expert said that many are aware of his conviction that there was no reason for the new Petroleum Agreement that the Government signed with Exxon and its partners. Mystery surrounds the reason for the new agreement. A source indicated that the reason is not as mysterious as it may seem. The explanation is very simple. The Government of Guyana used the excuse of a new licence to extract a signature bonus, a payment made by a contractor on the signing of an Agreement to take up any given number of blocks. The figure is US$20M. If this information is accurate, the question is, To whom was the payment made? While an early Budget is a commendable achievement, the possibility of transactions not being properly and fully accounted for, must not be discounted because of the incomplete fiscal year Here is the question: Was Guyana paid a signing bonus on signing of the secret Trotman Agreement, and if so how, when and how is that money accounted for? It would be folly to think that our new found status of membership at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) will lead to any significant enhancement in terms of disclosure and accountability. There is simply no sign of any willingness on the part of this Administration., Trotman and the others must have known that the number of blocks granted to ExxonMobil and its partners by (former President), Janet Jagan under the now displaced 1999 Agreement, was in excess of what the law permitted and that those blocks could always be challenged. US$20 million is a small price to pay to lock in a huge portion of petroleum resources, a real bargain!

bridgefield.org / Energy Caribbean Observer / December 2017









ISSUES.... 12/ 18/ 2017 - Send Us Your Issues



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The minister said that entire Udaipur would have burnt had the administration not taken quick action.

Violence had erupted in Udaipur after the so called 'love jihad' murder in Rajsamand district

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria defended the action taken after violence in Udaipur.

Violence had erupted in Udaipur after the so called 'love jihad' murder committed by a Hindu fanatic .

"If the police administration would not have taken this step, then entire Udaipur may have burnt due to rumours", Rajasthan Home minister mentioned.

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Kataria also claimed that crime graph had gone down in the last three years in Rajasthan.

Violence and mayhem had prevailed in Rajasthan's Udaipur district during protests held by organizations on Thursday.

More than two dozen police personnel got injured during stone pelting and around 200 protestors were taken into custody by Udaipur police.

The home minister defended the steps taken to impose section 144 and restrict internet services.

The protesting mob, in large numbers, had turned violent and ran amok on Thursday despite the imposition of Section 144 in Udaipur district.

Earlier on Friday, Udaipur range IG Anand Srivastava, while speaking with India Today had mentioned, "There were several messages going on social media appealing people to gather in Udaipur in big numbers with weapons"

"Around 200 people were arrested by Udaipur police. They were under police custody" Srivastav told India Today

The police resorted to lathicharge in order to disperse the volatile protestors. At several significant junctions in the city, including at Chetak Circle, Reti Stand and town hall, the police used force to ensure that the situation is under control.

The police arrested several protestors as well. The protesting youth were to be taken out of the city area.

Several inflammatory videos were circulating in the district due to which the district administration had to clamp down with a district wide imposition of Section 144. A 24-hour ban on internet services had also been imposed in the district.

During an earlier protest rally taken out in the district, speeches targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and certain religious and social organizations were made. The video of the speeches was widely circulated.

The Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha also took out a rally on the occasion of Vasundhara Raje Government's completion of four years. During the rally, there was sloganeering. The video of that also went viral. A message mentioning a rally in reply to the one held earlier by members of a community was also widely circulated.

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Viral Video: Man burnt to death to 'save girl from love jihad' in Rajasthan

--- ENDS ---
Barhim Benmbark, 39, from Morocco was asked to do the reading of childrens book P is for Palestine by Golbarg Bashi, an instructor of Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University. The public reading was held at the Childrens Community School of West Philadelphia, Sunday, December, 17, 2017. Read more

It was a perfect Sunday activity for toddlers: story time, followed by games and food.

And while the kids assembled at the Children's Community School of West Philadelphia were all about the Cheddar Bunnies and mini-jungle gym, for the parents it was a celebration of inclusion and resistance.

P Is for Palestine, written by Iranian-born Golbarg Bashi, an instructor of Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University, was chosen as much for the colorful photos and rhymes as it was for the controversy it has created.

"We are trying to figure out how to respond to the negative publicity," Alissa Wise, 38, a rabbi and deputy director at the Jewish Voice for Peace. She organized the small group of about 20 preschoolers and their parents who gathered for the Sunday activity.

It wasn't "A is for Arabic, my tongue, a language that's the 4th biggest ever sung" or even that "B is for Bethlehem," or "C is for Christmas," that stirred the controversy. It was "I is for Intifada, Intifada is Arabic for rising up for what is right, if you are a kid or grownup!"

The book has created a backlash in the Jewish community, where some see it as anti-Semitic.

Two Palestinian uprisings or intifadas against Israel in the 1980s and 2000s killed an estimated 1,000 Israelis and 5,000 Palestinians combined, according to the Forward, a national Jewish newspaper.

The 27,000-member Facebook group "UES Mommas" was temporarily shut down when posts about the book turned into a "hateful debate," according to the Forward.

The colorfully illustrated book was published using the crowd-sourced fund-raising platform LaunchGood.com; it is reported to have sold out of the initial run of 2,000 copies, according to the site

Wise hoped that the Philadelphia reading, set to coincide with a similar activity in New York City, would bring more understanding to the meaning of intifada and to the Palestinian culture.

The word can also mean "uprising," "resistance," or "rebellion," which is what many middle-class Americans are taking part in when it comes to opposing the Trump administration, she said.

The book, which also includes pages about foods, markets, holidays, and geographic names, does justice to Palestinian culture, said Brahim Benmbark, 39, of West Philadelphia, who was asked to do the reading.

"It is a wonderful experience," said Benmbark. "This is the way it should be in my mind."

Benmbark, who is Muslim and originally from Morocco, came to the gathering with his son, Ilyas, 3, and wife Shaina, who is Jewish. The family celebrates the Muslim and Jewish holidays and a bit of Christmas as well, he said.

"We are very open to all traditions," he said.

The timing of the gathering coincided with the news that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were being told not to use certain words or phrases in official budget documents, including diversity, 'transgender and science-based.

That struck at the core of the issue with Benmbark.

"Words are debatable. We can discuss them," said Benmbark. "Nobody should give themselves the right to tell people which words to use."

Fascist and dictatorial regimes "start by banning words, then paragraphs, then entire books and newspapers," said Benmbark. "Before you know it, you will be living in a dictatorship."
The Embassy Suites at 18th and the Parkway is one of three cylindrical structures built on triangular lots along the diagonal boulevard. Read more

It's been 100 years since Philadelphia sliced the grand diagonal of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the city's regimented, right-angled grid. The new boulevard helped bring the lush natural landscape of Fairmount Park into the heart of the city, but it also left the city with a string of triangular blocks that were tricky to develop.

You might expect architects to respond to the challenge by designing triangular buildings on triangular blocks  variations of New York's three-sided Flatiron building. Instead, they chose a different strategy. Between 16th and 18th Streets, you'll find three circular, or nearly circular, structures, all products of mid-century playfulness : Embassy Suites, Windsor Suites, and the LOVE Park Visitor Center.

There are several possible motivations for putting a circle in a triangle. Because the Parkway was inspired by City Beautiful planning principles and beaux-arts design, a round building can be seen as the architectural equivalent of a classical column. Like lighthouses at the tip of a peninsula, the cylindrical shape helps focus the eye toward an end point. Round buildings serve as an exclamation mark, punctuating the corner and drawing people from multiple directions. For developers interested in leasing space, the Parkway buildings also promised wide-angle views of the city.

The Visitor Center at 16th and JFK Boulevard was the first of the three cylindrical structures on the Parkway. Designed by architect Roy Larson and engineer Nicholas Gianopulas, it was built when the Parkway still bisected the block that is now home to LOVE Park, breaking it into two triangular parcels.

By the time the Visitor Center opened in 1960, the rage for circular structures was in full swing. The curvy aesthetic, which gave us Bertrand Goldberg's Marina City in Chicago and numerous small banks, was part of the growing revolt against the straight lines and strict functionalism demanded by orthodox modernists, says William Whitaker, curator of Penn's Architectural Archives. Within a year of the Visitor Center's opening, two more round buildings had been commissioned for the Parkway. Both were completed by 1965.

Technically speaking, neither the Windsor nor the Embassy Suites is a true circle. The 25-story Windsor, designed by Aaron Colish, a student of Paul Cret, uses its broad, curving facade to unite three streets, 17th, Cherry, and the Parkway, but includes a rectangular wing in the back. Having once spent two months as a resident of the Windsor, I can confirm that the apartments are shaped like a wedge of pie and culminate in a terrace.

Embassy Suites, designed by Oskar Stonorov for the Korman Co., started out as the Plaza Apartments. Though the 27-story building at the corner of 18th Street gives the impression of being a sleek cylinder, it is assembled from 12 flat planes. Pairs of recessed balconies alternate with white marble panels. Using flat sections to create the impression of roundness was probably easier and cheaper than fashioning a real curved surface. But like its curvy neighbors, it clearly makes its point on the city skyline.
Crowds gathered at Tom Binder's house for weeks in Berks County to get a glimpse of BB, the black-backed oriole native to Mexico. Read more

One man, when he heard about the wayward bird, dropped everything and drove straight through from Nebraska.

All told, 1,824 people from 35 states, plus the United Kingdom and Canada, came to Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, for a few months earlier this year to catch a glimpse of the black-backed oriole from central Mexico that shouldn't have been there. Not a few members of the species. Just one black-backed oriole.

Most of these people stood in Tom Binder's driveway in a sprawling development where all the streets are named after Monopoly properties.

"People really went nuts over this bird," Binder said this week.

BB  a bird with a nickname and a Facebook page  generated $223,000, "or about $3,000 per day over 67 days," in global spending, according to a study released last month by the University of New South Wales in Australia.

"I've always wondered how much money is generated by this unique and unpredictable part of birding  vagrant bird chasing  given the number of people who sometimes travel long distances to see an individual bird outside its normal range," said Corey Callaghan, the study's author and a Ph.D. candidate at the school.

"This was a rare opportunity to find out, and our study reveals just how much people are prepared to pay. There are dozens of similar events around the world each year."

People booked flights, frantically, and hotels. They bought coffee at Sheetz.

The oriole arrived in a bird feeder on Indiana Avenue on Jan. 26. The owner didn't recognize the species, took a picture, and sent it off to a friend familiar with ornithology. Soon, the word spread and the crowds came. The black-backed oriole had only been seen once before in the United States, in San Diego, but it was deemed to be an escapee.

"There's still some doubts about where this bird came from," Binder said.

There was a sighting of a black-backed oriole in Massachusetts in May, Binder said, and some people believe it could have been BB.

Not the get-off-my-lawn type, Binder embraced the birders and had them sign a log. That's how Callaghan got his data set.

"There were times when we had 50 to 75 people here, most of them with cameras and high-powered binoculars," Binder said.

Sometimes, when BB made an appearance, the crowd erupted into cheers.

Binder just dropped $1,000 on binoculars for an epic RV trip across America.

"I pay more attention to birds now than I used to," he said.

No one knew why BB flew in, or why BB left. Indiana Avenue just went with it, and a community of diehards found a small joy watching this bird flutter around the burbs before checking it off their list.

"He mostly ate orange slices, raw peanuts and orange marmalade," Binder said. "He loved red grapes."
It was supposed to be a relaxing five-day jaunt aboard the world's largest cruise ship, Independence of the Seas  travel, adventures and good food in the Caribbean while most of the country was shivering through "extremely frigid air, straight from the Arctic."

But the cruise quickly morphed into a gastrointestinal nightmare, with 332 passengers sickened by a quickly spreading norovirus outbreak and the remaining 5,000 or so people worried they'd be next.

As the Miami Herald wrote, by the time the cruise ship returned, most passengers "couldn't wait to disembark."

The cruise left Port Everglades in Miami on Monday, and passengers began reporting symptoms of norovirus two days later.

By Thursday, it was official: Royal Caribbean distributed a letter to passengers about the outbreak, which had overwhelmed the ship's medical personnel.

"In an abundance of caution, we have implemented enhanced sanitizing procedures onboard, as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health Agencies worldwide," part of the letter said.

The letter told readers that their best defense against the virus was good old-fashioned soap and water. It instructed worried passengers to wash their hands after bathroom breaks and before eating anything. And it encouraged anyone with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea to avail themselves of "complimentary consultation and treatment" at the ship's medical facility.

Though especially inconvenient for someone who's shelled out hundreds of dollars for a cruise, norovirus is rarely fatal.

People usually show symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms usually clear up within one to three days, but it's not a particularly pleasant 72 hours.

"If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and throw up or have diarrhea many times a day," the CDC says.

Avoiding the illness can be particularly difficult for passengers aboard a cruise ship, who risk infection every time they go near people  in an environment where they are perpetually surrounded.

About 90 percent of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruise ships are caused by norovirus, according to the CDC:

"Norovirus can be especially challenging to control on cruises ships because of the close living quarters, shared dining areas, and rapid turnover of passengers. When the ship docks, norovirus can be brought on board in contaminated food or water or by passengers who were infected while ashore. Repeated outbreaks on consecutive cruises may also result from infected crew or environmental contamination. This is because norovirus can persist on surfaces and is resistant to many common disinfectants."

Perhaps underscoring the "especially challenging to control on cruise ships" point, the Independence of the Seas wasn't the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship afflicted by norovirus this past week.

On another ocean, more than 200 people got sick and five had to be hospitalized after an outbreak on the Ovation of the Seas during a 14-night cruise from Sydney to Singapore, according to the Associated Press.

The husband of one passenger hospitalized in Australia said his wife had eaten "undercooked chicken."

"Her condition continued to worsen, and I thought she was going to die in front of me," said the passenger, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity, citing privacy issues. He said she was recovering in the intensive care unit.

Although only about 1 percent of vicious gastrointestinal outbreaks affecting U.S. residents happen on cruise ships, the issue has long been examined by the CDC, which tracks significant outbreaks and routinely inspects ships.

On the Independence of the Seas' latest inspection, in April, the craft received a 98 out of a possible inspection score of 100.

Among the deficiencies: a fruit fly outside the pastry area and ice machines that were "soiled with rust."
The third version of the fire house on Queen Street near Second Street, which was built in the 1890s. It was closed in the 1960s and sold at auction. It has had three independent owners in its lifespan. Read more

Before it was renamed Queen Village in the 1970s, and before the building boom and the rush of young professionals through the new millennium, it was Philadelphia's "first suburb."

The area was originally settled by the Swedish in the 1600s (hence the name, which was in honor of Sweden's Queen Christina). It was later renamed Southwark after William Penn settled Pennsylvania. The area grew into a working-class suburb and was eventually absorbed into the city limits in the mid-1800s.

After Society Hill was restored in the 1960s and after artists populated South Street in the 1970s, the village  which extends north to Lombard Street, south to Washington Avenue and tucked between Sixth Street and the Delaware River  started repopulating in the 2000s.

And then the home prices began to rise. In the third quarter of 2017, there were 172 sales in the 19147 zip code at a median price of $385,000. That's up from $360,000 a year before and $279,750 a decade earlier.

Among the neighborhood's most recognizable changes: a plot of land once occupied by three different firehouses over the course of two centuries. The last remaining firehouse building has been preserved and then remade in recent years to fit into a new century, serving a new purpose.

History

Philadelphia's tradition of volunteer fire service dates to the 18th century. Among the volunteers was the Weccacoe Fire Company, which opened a firehouse on a lot on Queen Street near Second in the early 1800s. But the building succumbed to an ironic fate, burning down in the late 1840s.

"Supposedly," said Stephen J. Nicastro, the building's current owner, "it was burned by competitors after Weccacoe stole their spanner [or wrench] for their steam, fire-extinguishing device."

A new firehouse was built by the volunteer group in the late 1850s.

The firehouse got its name from the Lenni Lenape Indians from Delaware, who called the area home. They dubbed it Weccacoe, or Wicaco, which translates to "pleasant place," according to The Clio.

In 1871, a paid Philadelphia Fire Department was organized with 22 engines and five truck companies, replacing the loose confederation of 92 volunteer companies and renaming the firehouses. The Weccacoe Fire House, at 117-119 Queen St., was renamed Engine No. 3.

This iteration of the structure became famous in 1875 after a former fireman shot and killed another fireman outside the firehouse's front door. The violent episode, which started with allegations of sexual assault of a child, ended in an execution.

Not long afterward, the building was demolished, and the third and final version of the firehouse was built in the 1890s.

This version, which is still standing in Queen Village today, was used by the fire department until the 1960s when Engine No. 3 moved to a new facility at East Moyamensing and Washington Avenues, where it still is.

Other lives

In 1966, the city auctioned off the property for $7,500. It was purchased by an interior decorator, who turned the firehouse into a showroom, as well as his home.

A smaller commercial building stood on the adjacent plot for many years and saw many tenants. It was a bakery and later a commercial dry cleaner's.

"I grew up around there, so I've been going by it forever," said Jack Wright, the Philadelphia Fire Department historian. "I remember a commercial dry cleaners. I remember a big sign outside when I was in my teens."

And then in the late 1980s, David M. LeVan became the building's second owner.

LeVan, former chairman of Conrail, made extensive renovations to the property. He bought the dry cleaner's building next door, demolished it, and replaced it with a smaller replica of the original building.

He used the replica as a garage for several cars, while the original firehouse served as his home. The property is considered two separate lots but combine for roughly 10,000 square feet.

"And he's the one who put the statue outside," Wright said.

The well-known statue showcases a fireman and a dog and sits outside the original firehouse.

In 2004, Nicastro bought 111, 113, 117, 119, and 121 Queen St. for $1.8 million, according to Philadelphia property records.

There are dozens of former fire department outposts still tucked into corners of the city. Much like the churches in Philadelphia, many buildings have been saved by the wrecking ball, used as residential homes or trendy restaurants. But how many can survive?

"I never thought they would take down the old fire department headquarters on Race Street, but they took it down for the Convention Center expansion, so here we are," Wright said. "Think about it, off-street parking is worth its weight in gold."

Staff writer Caitlin McCabe contributed to this article.
On a bitterly cold night in February 2016, a woman named Emily met State Sen. Daylin Leach at a political fund-raiser in Harrisburg. She was 27, working as a temporary employee for the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee (SDCC). He was a 55-year-old incumbent who chaired the committee.

Leach, a well-known Montgomery County progressive and longtime advocate for women's rights, listened with interest as they talked, Emily said. At one point, she explained that she had once lived in Beirut, Lebanon, and could speak Arabic.

She recalled that during the conversation, Leach held on to her upper arm "for an uncomfortable amount of time," maybe 10 seconds or so. It seemed harmless, but later that evening, she said, an email from Leach arrived in her inbox.

"Hey there," read the subject line. Below was a short passage in Arabic. "How wonderful it was to talk to you today," it began, according to a translation, before making a reference to some petitions.

The following morning, as Emily registered attendees at an SDCC breakfast in the lobby of the Harrisburg Hilton, Leach approached again. She was wearing a skirt and sitting at a table. She said Leach sat next to her, discussed his history of fighting for women, and suggested he might be able to help her find a job.

And then "he grabbed my thigh, almost to punctuate his point with a cruel irony," said Emily, who spoke on the condition of her last name not being used. In the moments that followed, Emily said, she felt "frozen in fear and humiliation. I wrapped up the fund-raiser and went back to my hotel room and sobbed."

Two members of the state Democratic Party confirmed that Emily sent them distraught text messages describing the encounter in the hours after it occurred.

The episode was among the starkest cited by former campaign and legislative staffers and advisers who say Leach, a legislator since 2003, has for years engaged in questionable behavior with young female staffers and volunteers, from highly sexualized jokes and comments to touching they deemed inappropriate. The behavior was all the more jarring, they said, given his reputation as a stalwart defender of women's rights.

Leach, 56, who is now running for Congress, declined to be interviewed for this story and did not respond specifically to written questions from the Inquirer and Daily News. Instead, he provided a lengthy statement in which he blamed the accusations on an unnamed political opponent and denied ever inappropriately touching women. He noted that he sometimes does touch people when he is talking to them and that "some people subjectively find such touching unpleasant."

"Politics is, sadly, an ugly business," Leach wrote, adding: "I will go back to doing what I've always done, being a fierce fighter for women's rights and trying to protect my family from the unfortunate consequences of the profession I've chosen."

Leach, who is married and has children, referred specific questions to Philadelphia lawyer George Bochetto, who in an interview last week added: "He's not a predator. He's not a hound dog. He is a very, very conscientious and decent public official that has not lost his sense of humor, despite his political career."

After being alerted to concerns regarding Leach's behavior, the Inquirer and Daily News interviewed nearly two dozen people about the senator's conduct. Some women described him as a good boss, one who gave them wide latitude to make political and policy decisions in an office where hierarchy and job titles mattered little. They acknowledged he often made sophomoric comments and had a bawdy sense of humor, but said they were not bothered by it.

But eight women and three men recounted instances when Leach either put his hands on women or steered conversations with young, female subordinates into sexual territory, leaving them feeling upset and powerless to stop the behavior.

Aubrey Montgomery, a former finance director for Leach's first campaign for Senate in 2008, said Leach has consistently supported policies that help women.

"But," she said, "as great as his legislative record is for women globally, he can be awful to women individually."

Accusations and a denial

Montgomery, a well-known fund-raiser who has worked for Leach and others, was among the few witnesses to his behavior willing to be publicly identified or quoted. Others spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the nature of their encounters and Leach's position as one of the region's high-profile elected officials.

Among the incidents they described:

 A woman who worked for Senate Democrats in 2015 said Leach inappropriately touched her in a Senate office. At least one eyewitness reported the encounter and a human resources officer for the Senate interviewed the woman.

 On the opening night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Leach allegedly made inappropriate sexualized comments to a female intern in the Pennsylvania delegation, according to two delegation officials at the event. They said they were concerned and responded by directing interns to travel in pairs for the remainder of the convention.

 A woman who worked as a fund-raiser for Leach several years ago said he was prone to "inappropriate" touching. "He'd put his arm around me, and his hand would linger on the small of my back, and briefly graze my butt," she said. "As a woman, you get that feeling that this isn't right."

 Two women who worked on Leach's 2008 Senate campaign said he repeatedly discussed sex in front of young female staffers, including references to famous "women I'd like to f." They said Leach's sexualized comments became so uncomfortable they tried to limit his time around interns and volunteers, and fretted over hiring attractive young women for fear of how he'd behave around them.

None of the women who described seeing or hearing questionable conduct by Leach told the Inquirer and Daily News that they had been assaulted, denied promotions, or had their careers threatened. Each said that he created and promoted a culture in his office that objectified women and that he often framed his comments as harmless jokes.

Leach, in his statement, said he never "intentionally or unintentionally touched" these women inappropriately. "It did not happen." Although in the same statement he said of the two incidents: "I recall one not at all and one only vaguely."

>> Read Sen. Daylin Leach's statement on claims of inappropriate conduct

Senate Democratic officials declined to publicly discuss Leach and whether they knew of any complaints against him. Privately, one Senate officer acknowledged that Democratic leaders had fielded a 2015 complaint from a then-23-year-old staffer who said Leach inappropriately put his hands on her.

But the officer, along with others, also argued that other unnamed state legislators have engaged in far worse behavior.

In an interview this month, the former Senate staffer, who spoke on condition that she not be named, said she first met Leach at an after-party for the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit at the Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg in February 2015. At the time, she was working for the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, the fund-raising arm that Leach then-chaired.

The woman said Leach asked her about the work she was doing for the committee, and then slid his hand down her back and "touched my butt." She yelled at Leach, she said, only to be told by one of his top campaign aides that her response was inappropriate.

She said she encountered Leach again a month later, after she'd taken a job with the Senate. This time, she said, he approached her from behind and tickled her torso while she sat at her desk during a budget hearing luncheon in a Senate office, leaving her stunned.

A witness reported the incident to the woman's boss, she said. During a subsequent meeting with a human resources administrator in the Senate, the woman said, she felt as if she had been discouraged from filing a formal written complaint about Leach's conduct. Instead, she was assured that such behavior wouldn't happen again.

"I'm more mad at the Senate for not doing anything," she said of the episode. "It's the culture up there that's the problem."

In a statement, Senate Democratic officials said they could neither acknowledge nor discuss any such incidents, citing confidentiality rules to protect victims of sexual harassment.

Brittany Crampsie, spokeswoman for the Senate Democratic caucus, said that typically, if an employee wants to report an incident, "he or she would go to their supervisor and/or the director of human resources. They would walk the individual through their options, one of which is making a formal complaint with the chief clerk's office. That process involves a review by outside counsel, and then a report to Senate leadership."

A high-ranking Senate Democrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a party leader did speak to Leach after the woman described their contact, and warned the legislator to watch his behavior. Asked if he had been given any such warning, Leach did not respond.

When a joke goes too far

Throughout his nearly 15 years in public office, Leach has been known as an unflinchingly liberal Democrat who sometimes aims an edgy, often-skewering sense of humor at staffers, fellow legislators, and even himself. President Trump, whom Leach called a "fascist, loofah-faced shit-gibbon" in a tweet that went viral earlier this year, is also a frequent target.

Leach is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, a Delaware County Republican, as Capitol Hill reels from a wave of sexual-harassment accusations against some prominent male politicians, leading to the recent announced resignations of Sen. Al Franken and Reps. John Conyers and Trent Franks.

Leach's supporters have argued that allegations about his conduct are politically motivated, and aimed at derailing his congressional run. They have taken issue with reporting by the Inquirer and Daily News, noting that the papers have filed Right-to-Know requests for any harassment complaints, as well as the names of current and former staffers.

Earlier this month, Leach's attorney sent reporters a letter demanding that they "cease and desist this fishing expedition." Bochetto elaborated during an interview in his Center City office last week. "You've undertaken a witch hunt," he said. "And I think what you've done is come up with Easter eggs, for the most part."

The women who spoke to the Inquirer and Daily News about Leach said they were all struck by the irony of feeling harassed by a man they believed was their ally.

In his tenure in the Capitol, the senator from Wayne has championed legislation to legalize medical marijuana, ban the shackling of female prisoners, increase the minimum wage, expand access to health care, and extend antidiscrimination protections to Pennsylvania's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. He has also been a fierce and vocal opponent of measures that seek to roll back women's rights, including a recent bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Aubrey Montgomery was 24 when she joined Leach's 2008 Senate campaign. She said she was offended by his sexualized tone in the office. Montgomery said she called him on his comments but felt as if the move backfired.

"When I expressed my discomfort, Daylin suggested I just didn't get the joke, labeled me a prude and characterized me to my colleagues as the campaign's wet blanket," she said. "The more uncomfortable Daylin made me, the more he would dial up the intensity. The more I expressed my discomfort at his sexual and off-color humor, the funnier it was to him."

Montgomery said she continued to support Leach because she backed his policy positions. In recent years, however, she has done compliance work for, and donated money to, Dan Muroff, who is running against Leach in the Democratic primary for Congress.

In his statement, Leach said he found it "a little strange" that Montgomery was offended by his humor. He noted that she had donated to his political campaigns and that she "came back to work for me again" after the 2008 race. Montgomery did political work for Senate Democrats in 2011 but not directly for Leach.

Meanwhile, another woman who worked on Leach's 2008 campaign said he would talk about actresses he wanted to sleep with, and referenced wanting to hire a "full set" of secretaries: a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead  followed by a "bald chick." He also referenced wanting to have his own "Charlie's Angels."

"I don't subscribe to the belief that there is a sliding scale to marginalizing women in the workplace, that there is a gray area," the woman said. "I feel really strongly that we shouldn't have to put up with this stuff. That this is not appropriate in the workplace."

Political campaigns, unlike government, have no human resources departments. They also often have no written policies guiding employee behavior.

The woman who worked as a fund-raiser for Leach and said he had grazed her behind with his hand several times said the senator is "very friendly, which you don't mind. But as an elected official, you know where your hands should be."

She added that she sometimes offered a simple warning to young women who were going to work with Leach: Don't be alone with him in an elevator.

Emily, the temporary SDCC worker who encountered Leach last year in the Harrisburg Hilton, said she was among the women who had been given that exact warning from the fund-raiser.

An imperfect process

The legislature has sexual-harassment policies in place, but the process for reporting such conduct is not clear-cut, and can be fraught with politics.

The Senate, for instance, has a "workplace harassment" policy that generally defines such harassment as "any repeated, deliberate, unwelcome comments, gesture, conduct or physical conduct of any nature."

Employees who believe they have been harassed can make a complaint verbally, but the policy recommends following that up with a written statement that documents the nature, date, and time of the offense.

Violating the policy could lead to suspension, termination, or other sanctions, it says.

Though the policy states that complaints can be filed with an employee's supervisor, or with the Senate's chief clerk or secretary, there is no central clearinghouse. Nor does the policy state how to investigate and resolve them.

Instead, Democratic and Republican leaders in the chamber each select someone to investigate and manage personnel issues.

Depending on the type of complaint and whom it involves, that person could decide to handle it in-house or farm it out to an outside attorney, according to Senate lawyers.

Such protocols  particularly against the backdrop of a national wave of high-profile sexual-harassment allegations  have led a number of Pennsylvania legislators in recent weeks to propose measures to tighten the rules and prohibit confidential payouts and settlements.

Though bills aimed at cracking down on sexual harassment have been introduced, there has been no commitment to moving any quickly to a vote.

A harsher climate

Leach has faced scrutiny in the past over some of his risque comments.

The legislator shuttered the "Leach Vent," a blog he wrote that mixed political satire with amateur sketch-comedy bits that were heavy on not-so-subtle sexual jokes, after the Inquirer wrote about it in 2005.

At the time, he argued his humor wasn't offensive.

He still sometimes resorts to Leach Vent-like comments while weighing in on political matters. In March, Leach tweeted a photo of Vice President Pence and other Republican officials sitting at a long conference table. "Here, the EXPERTS on women's bodies deciding what #healthcare they need," he wrote. "For example, I bet they are all sure the female orgasm is a myth."

The allegations against Leach have surfaced at a moment when elected officials in Harrisburg and beyond are demonstrating they have little interest in defending male colleagues accused of inappropriate behavior.

"We have to rid the Capitol of those who seek to take advantage of their position and power," Gov. Wolf wrote in an editorial earlier this month about the #MeToo movement.

Last month, the House held a sexual-harassment awareness session for all of its members. A group of female lawmakers in the House and Senate have proposed measures that include banning nondisclosure agreements in sexual-harassment cases to shield the names of legislators and prohibiting the legislature from using taxpayer money to pay settlement costs.

No such policies were being mulled back in 2015, when the former Senate staffer said Leach twice put his hands on her in the space of two months. At that time, she said she felt the process could leave future female employees vulnerable.

She worried it "would just happen again to the next twenty-something-year-old woman," she said. "That shouldn't happen. Harrisburg should be a great place to work."
At long last, there are signs that Pennsylvania voters might win representative government. Granted, the signs are dim, but still encouraging.

For decades, the political aristocracy has rigged elections by carefully digging moats around compliant voters to create safe districts for their candidates. The map makers spread opposition voters so far apart, they become powerless. It works. Pennsylvania Republicans, who drew the maps effective since 2012, hold 13 of the 18 House seats even though Democrats have rung up about 50 percent of the overall vote in recent elections.

Republicans created district maps so ridiculous that U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan's turf runs through five counties to include as many Republicans as possible. The GOP split the increasingly blue Montgomery County among five congressional districts to weaken the Democrats' chances of taking an extra seat or two.

Advocates of fair play have cried foul to no avail  until now. They're more organized and effective, and are pushing legislative reforms as well as a pair of legal challenges which are moving forward in the courts with some positive signs.

Last week, the state Supreme Court fast-tracked a case which is being heard this week in Commonwealth Court. Expert after expert for the plaintiff voters has pointed out how the Republicans stacked the deck in their favor. One expert used a computer to randomly draw hundreds of districts that were more fair than current ones. A fair district does not break up communities or pack voters of a single or race party into a district and has a substantially equal number of voters in each district in a state, under guidelines established by U. S. Supreme Court decisions and the Voting Rights Act.

Testimony in the separate federal suit wrapped up last week; there is no time set for a decision. The case's most significant moment came in November when a three-judge panel forced Republicans in control of drawing districts, Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) and Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati (R., Jefferson), to hand over data from the Republicans' national gerrymandering operation. It is important because while we know they rigged congressional districts, the data could show just how they did it.

These two suits could result in fair districts being drawn in time for the 2018 congressional races. But even if the judgments are good for voters, map making would still be in the hands of the ruling class.

There's an even better solution before the legislature right now pushed by Fair Districts Pa. Lawmakers from both parties introduced bills early this year to create an independent commission to draw district lines, not only for congressional seats but for state legislative seats as well. Citizens, who are not beholden to the parties, would be supported by experts in demography, statistical analysis, map making, and other disciplines and draw districts containing Republicans and Democrats and more diverse constituencies. That would force politicians to represent a variety of perspectives, even making compromises with the other party to solve problems.

Although 13 of the 40 senators and 97 of the 203 house members have co-sponsored these bills, Scarnati and Turzai are blocking them. Call your legislators and tell them they're crossing a line by continuing to rig the system  and your vote.
From the jungles of Central America to the glacier laden mountains of South America, travelers can find themselves creating an almost limitless list of things to see and do. This area is also home to some of the largest and most dynamic cities in the world, with places like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Caracas. It is also home ancient ruins, unique cultures, one of the greatest rivers in the world, jungles, beaches, and an unimaginable amount of wildlife.

Traveling through South and Central America can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Beginning in Central America, visitors will find a wealth of travel experiences. In Guatemala, gaze out at volcanoes across the waters of Lake Atitlan, explore the colonial architecture of Antigua Guatemala, or see the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. Surf along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, or step into a world of monkeys, sloths, and toucans in the surrounding hillsides and National Park of Manuel Antonio. In Honduras laze the days away on the beaches of Roatan or dive the stunning reefs just off shore. Throughout Central America visitors will find quaint villages, inland lakes, ocean side beaches, mountains, coffee plantations, and all kinds of wildlife.

South America is a whole other experience, with a mix of old and new. Some countries, like Brazil, have seen exceptional development and advancements on a world scale in the past couple of decades. In other areas, like in the small villages in the Andes, life remains much as it has been for hundreds of years. This contrast makes South America an interesting area to explore.

Some of the continents top tourist attractions are the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, the beautiful cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, the national parks of Chile, particularly the famous Torres del Paine, and Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. Additionally travelers might also consider a cruise up the Amazon River, a flight over Angel Falls in Venezuela, or wet walk around the huge Iguazu Falls on the Argentina and Brazil border.

When to travel in South America depends largely on the region. Due to the size of the continent the climate varies greatly between regions. There are also huge elevation differences to consider as you move from the coastal areas up into the Andes. In Peru, travelers can board a plane at sea level in Lima and be at Lake Titicaca, which sits at over 3800m / 12,300ft, later that same day. Depending on the country, travelers may want to plan a more gradually ascending route which allows for time to acclimatize, rather than beginning their journey at high elevations.

Visitors will also want to be aware of national holidays and major regional events. Many holidays are celebrated in big style, with parades and large crowds. In Brazil, Carnival draws huge numbers of visitors to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Traveling through most of Central and South America during Easter or Christmas can be challenging if you have not booked transportation and hotels in advance.


Originally the name Nepal (pronounced "Neppawl") referred solely to the Kathmandu Valley region. Today it is used to refer to the whole kingdom lying along the southern slopes of the Great Himalayan Range.

The geography of Nepal is marked by considerable differences in altitude - from the northern edge of the Upper Gangetic Plain (min. 86 m (282 ft)) up to the world's highest peak in the Himalayas (8848 m (29,039 ft)). Although the country measures at most only 230 km (140 mi.) from north to south, the maximum difference in altitude is 8762 m (28,757 ft). Almost two-thirds of this predominantly mountainous land lies at more than 1000 m (3300 ft) above sea-level, with at least a quarter above 3000 m (9900 ft).

Nepal's climate in the course of the year is largely determined by the monsoon, which results in extremely high levels of rainfall between June and September, while the remaining months are comparatively dry. Read Less Originally the name Nepal (pronounced "Neppawl") referred solely to the Kathmandu Valley region. Today it is used to refer to the whole kingdom lying along the southern slopes of the Great Himalayan Range.The geography of Nepal is marked by considerable differences in altitude - from the northern edge of the Upper Gangetic Plain (min. 86 m (282 ft)) up to the world's highest peak in the Himalayas (8848 m (29,039 ft)). Although the country measures at most only 230 km (140 mi.) from north to south, the maximum difference in altitude is 8762 m (28,757 ft). Almost two-thirds of this predominantly mountainous land lies at more than 1000 m (3300 ft) above sea-level, with at least a quarter above 3000 m (9900 ft).Nepal's climate in the course of the year is largely determined by the monsoon, which results in extremely high levels of rainfall between June and September, while the remaining months are comparatively dry.

After centuries of seclusion it was the middle of the 20th century before the South Asian Kingdom of Nepal opened its borders to the outside world; by the 1970s and 1980s it had become popular with tourists seeking somewhere different. Since then the rather dubious benefits of modern Western life have been introduced to the inhabitants of the Nepalese valleys on the southern side of the Central Himalayas, leading to marked changes and increasing social problems. About a quarter of Nepal's export income is derived from tourism, with the emphasis on hill-walking, mountain tours and "white water" canoeing.
Miss Iraq Sarah Idan and Miss Israel Adar Gandelsma met during the Miss Universe pageant in Japan and have shared a good friendship since then.

By India Today Web Desk: The family of Sarah Idan, Miss Iraq 2017 has fled the country after receiving threats over Sarah's photo with Miss Israel Adar Gandelsma and a bikini photoshoot.

Sarah Adin met Miss Israel Adar Gandelsma during the Miss Universe pageant held in Japan last month. The two women stuck a friendship and have remained in touch ever since.

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Adar told Hadashot News channel that Sarah lives in USA and her family has been forced to flee the country after receiving threats to their lives over Sarah's bikini photoshoot and a selfie she posted with Miss Israel on Instagram.

Iraq doesn't recognise Israel as a state and the two countries thus have no diplomatic ties.

Miss Israel Adar Gandelman told Jewish Chronicle that Sarah's family had received threats over the photograph she posted on Instagram.

"People made threats against her (Ms Idan) and her family that if she didn't return home and take down the photos, they would remove her title, (and) that they would kill her... Out of fear, they left Iraq at least until the situation calms down," she said.

Sarah's picture with Adar led to widespread backlash in Iraq. The Instagram post by Sarah read - "Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel #missuniverse"

She received a ton of comments on the picture slamming her for getting clicked with Miss Israel.

Sarah later apologised "to all those who consider [the picture] harmful to the Palestinian cause". She did not take down the picture though. "Posting this does not mean that I am supporting the Israeli government and does not mean that I accept any of their policies toward the Arab world," Sarah wrote.

Sarah Idan also tweeted confirming the threats faced by her family.

I'm not the first nor the last person to face prosecution over a matter of personal freedom. Millions of Iraqi women live in fear. #freeiraqiwomen https://t.co/Vt0YjFbyf4- Sarai (Sarah Idan) (@grrrciara) December 15, 2017

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9 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Negril

Written by Karen Hastings

Nov 17, 2020

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At the western end of Jamaica, laid-back Negril maintains the sleepy tropical charm that first attracted tourists in the 1960s. It's much more laid-back than Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, but also offers plenty of alluring natural attractions, both inland and along the coast.

One of the main tourist attractions is Negril Beach. Also known as Seven Mile Beach, this stunning stretch of soft, white sand and azure sea fronts many of Negril's hotels and resorts and is one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.

Besides basking on its powdery shores, other fun things to do in Negril include exploring the coral reefs, soaking in therapeutic mineral springs and rain forest waterfalls, hand-feeding hummingbirds, and zooming through the jungle canopy on ziplines.

After a day of relaxation and adventure, head to the famous Negril Cliffs, where tourists and locals alike gather to watch divers plunge from the limestone peaks as the fiery sun slides into the sea. Find out more about the best places to visit in this tropical paradise with our list of the top attractions in Negril, Jamaica.

1. Negril Beach

Negril Beach

Stretching from Bloody Bay in the north to Long Bay and the Negril Cliffs in the south, Negril Beach is one of Jamaica's finest stretches of shoreline. Also known as Seven Mile Beach, though it's really only four miles long, this ravishing stretch of soft sand and turquoise sea is great for strolling, swimming, and sunbathing.

You'll find plenty of water sports on offer, as well as some persistent hawkers wandering the shore selling souvenirs. Several areas of the beach are also designated as clothing optional.

Restaurants and hotels overlook the shore, including the popular Sandals Negril , Royalton Negril , and Beaches Negril Resort & Spa , but most lie tucked back behind sea grapes and coconut palms.

Are you looking for some quiet couple time? Strolling at sunset along this sublime stretch of sand and sea is one of the most romantic things to do in Negril.

If you want to go snorkeling in Negril, you can take a boat tour to the coral reefs surrounding Booby Cay, just north of Negril Beach, or snorkel off the Negril Cliffs in the south. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Negril

2. The Negril Cliffs

Negril Cliffs | Abir Anwar / photo modified

Rising above the sea, south of Negril Beach, the picturesque Negril Cliffs were used as a backdrop for the James Bond film Thunderball.

At their highest point, these limestone outcrops rise up to 12 meters high, and they're a popular spot for both locals and tourists to dive into the calm sea below. If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, this is one of the most exciting free things to do in Negril.

Prefer a more relaxing experience? Head to the famous Rick's Cafe. Perched high above the ocean, it's a favorite venue to unwind at sunset and watch all the cliff-diving action.

Some of Negril's most luxurious resorts preside over gorgeous ocean views atop the cliffs here, including The Caves , one of the best luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

A short walk from Rick's Cafe is Negril Lighthouse. Built in 1894, it towers 30 meters above sea level and is the highest structure in Negril. Sadly, it's no longer open to visitors, but you can still view it from the outside.

3. Mayfield Falls

Mayfield Falls

About an hour's drive from Negril, past papaya trees and plantations, Mayfield Falls are smaller and less commercialized than Dunn's River Falls  and blissfully less crowded.

These spring-fed cascades tumble into more than 20 pools, providing tranquil spots to soak under the invigorating rush of water. If you're a couple, this is one of the most romantic places in Negril, Jamaica. The road through the jungle to reach the falls is rough and rugged, but that's part of the adventure.

You can catch a cab to the trailhead and hire a guide once you arrive, who will lead you on the hour or so hike to the falls and point out interesting birds, butterflies, and plants. Another option is to join a Mayfield Falls Nature Walk from Negril .

It's a good idea to wear water shoes and only bring items you are willing to get wet, as you have to wade through the river for about an hour to reach the falls. Before you plunge into the cool water, you can stash your belongings in lockers that are available for rent.

4. Bloody Bay

Bloody Bay

Just north of Seven Mile Beach, Bloody Bay tends to be a little quieter than its famous neighbor. Palms and sea grape trees provide shelter from the sun, and the water is typically calm and clear.

If you're feeling peckish, rustic beach shacks sell BBQ seafood. You might find a few souvenirs to buy as well. But if you're more interested in just relaxing, sun loungers are available along the shore.

Plenty of restaurants and hotels back the beach, including the large resort Hotel Riu Negril , but this stretch is usually less crowded than Seven Mile Beach, which makes for a more peaceful experience. Lifeguards are on duty from 8am to 5pm.

5. Barney's Flower & Hummingbird Garden Jamaica

Doctor bird

Tucked in tropical foliage, a five-minute drive from Rick's Cafe, Barney's Flower & Hummingbird Garden is a tiny treasure box of birdlife.

Here, hummingbird's hover over hibiscus, bougainvillea, ginger, and other tropical plants in this small quarter-acre garden. When you arrive, you are offered a bottle of sugar water to feed these winged beauties, so you can enjoy up-close encounters and fantastic photo opportunities.

Other small animals such as butterflies, bees, and lizards also visit the garden, and if you're lucky, you might even spot the doctor bird, Jamaica's national bird, also called the swallow-tailed hummingbird.

Keep in mind that the weather and other conditions influence hummingbird activity. Address: Hylton Avenue, Negril Official site: https://www.barneyshummingbirdgardenjamaica.com/

6. Zipline Canopy Tours

Ziplining in Jamaica | Chris Short / photo modified

If you want a taste of the jungle, and you can tear yourself away from Negril's beautiful beach, a canopy ziplining tour is a great option. Not far from Negril, you can soar through the treetops on a series of ziplines, linked by platforms perched high up in the trees.

The Montego Bay Zipline Canopy Tour at Chukka Jungle Outpost typically lasts about two hours and includes hotel drop-off and pickup, as well as safety briefings and expert guides. Along the way, you can learn about Jamaica's ecosystems and enjoy bird's-eye views of the lush landscape below.

7. Blue Hole Mineral Spring

About 25 minutes southeast of Negril, Blue Hole Mineral Spring lies in a limestone cavern, where you can soak in the cool, clear waters and test the claim of its therapeutic qualities. The white clay-like mud surrounding the spring is said to be soothing for the skin.

If you're agile, you can jump off a cliff into the chilly waters or climb down the long ladder, and those who are physically challenged can soak in the spring-fed swimming pool.

After your dip in the spring, you can enjoy a relaxing massage with the soothing white mud.

Location: Brighton District, Westmoreland Parish

8. Kool Runnings Adventure Park

Family-friendly Kool Runnings Adventure Park is a great place to spend a few hours  especially if you have kids.

You can zoom down Jamaican-themed waterslides, cruise in the go-karts, and bounce on the bungee trampoline. Looking for something a little more relaxing? Drift around on the lazy river ride. Small children will love Captain Mikie's Coconut Island, with smaller slides and interactive water features.

A new Adventure Zone appeals to older kids, with paintball, outdoor laser-tag, and even rafting and kayaking on the canal here.

After a day of water-themed fun, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the on-site restaurants. Address: Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril Official site: www.koolrunnings.com

9. Half Moon Beach

Quieter than Seven Mile Beach, the private Half Moon Beach is a peaceful slice of hammock-slung coast, where you can bask on the sand and feast on fresh-grilled seafood at the open-air restaurant.

A daily fee covers use of the beach and its facilities, and a short boat tour whisks you off to a tiny island, Calico Jack Pirate's Island, for snorkeling and refreshments.

Half Moon Beach hosts live music on certain days, and if you want to extend your stay, you can book one of the colorful wooden cabins.

Location: Green Island, Hanover Official site: http://www.halfmoonbeachjamaica.com/

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Exploring Jamaica: If you are interested in exploring other areas of the island, have a read through our list of the best places to visit in Jamaica. Another consideration in planning is the weather and time of year. For information, see our guide to the best time to visit Jamaica.

Where to Stay in Jamaica: Wondering about the best base for all your tropical adventures? Jamaica offers a wide range of accommodations, including some of the top luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Find the perfect resort with our lists of the best all-inclusive resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios.
12 Top Tourist Attractions in Santiago de Cuba

Written by Karen Hastings

Jul 31, 2020

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Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and a historical and cultural treasure. The city is often regarded as the root of the Cuban Revolution, and the many museums here retrace key events from this important period of Cuba's history.

Unlike Trinidad, which seems frozen in time, Santiago de Cuba mixes modern architecture and industrial developments with its colorful colonial gems and historic fort. This bustling metropolis is also home to one of the country's most prominent universities, giving it a young and vibrant edge.

View over Santiago de Cuba

Shaped by its rich mix of cultures and Afro-Caribbean heritage, the city is often said to be the most Caribbean city in the country. Today, you can experience this multicultural vibe in the eclectic music, diverse architecture, art galleries, and lively festivals. Hotels in Santiago de Cuba also reflect the city's rich culture and history, from grand colonial-style properties to charming guesthouses.

Short trips to nearby attractions are appealing from here, too. Not far from the city, you can visit a famous pilgrimage site, or hike to the top of a rocky summit for inspiring views across mist-shrouded peaks. Discover more places to visit in and around this historic city with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Santiago de Cuba.

1. Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca del Morro

Castillo de San Pedro del Morro

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Castillo del Morro enjoys a reputation as one of the best-preserved Spanish fortresses of the 17th century. The huge fortress, at the entrance to the Bay of Santiago, lies about 10 kilometers southwest of Santiago de Cuba.

Perched upon a cliff top, the structure took decades to build and was finally completed at the end of the 17th century. Italian engineer, Giovanni Battista Antonelli designed the original plans in 1587, although construction did not begin for almost 45 years.

Castillo de San Pedro del Morro was originally intended to protect against pirate attacks, but also served as a prison in the late 1700s before being once again converted into a fortress.

Today, this elegant fort is open to the public and contains a small naval museum with displays on piracy and the history of the area. After exploring the fortress, head to the roof and terrace restaurant, where you can enjoy breathtaking views over the bay.

The best time to visit the fort is about an hour before sunset, which allows time to explore the fort and snap some photos before the cannon firing ceremony at sundown. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Santiago de Cuba

2. Parque Cespedes

Parque Cespedes

At the heart of the city, Parque Cespedes is an excellent starting point for sightseeing tours. Many of Santiago de Cuba's most notable buildings surround the square, including the Casa de Diego Velazquez and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion).

Although Parque Cespedes is more of a plaza than a park, it's a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists at any time of the day or evening. Music fills the air, and a lively feeling prevails. It's also a great place to relax with a coffee or a cool drink and watch the world go by.

3. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion)

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and Cespedes Park in Santiago de Cuba

You can't miss this magnificent structure. Gracing the south side of Cespedes Park, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the most eye-catching landmarks and top places to visit around this buzzing plaza.

The church was completed in 1526 and, thanks to pirate attacks, earthquakes, and renovations, it has undergone many reconstructions over the years. In 1958, it became a national monument of Cuba. Most recently, Hurricane Sandy damaged parts of the buildings

The impressive facade features two tall bell towers and marble statues peeking out from niches. Look up to admire Michael the Archangel, perched between the towers, before you enter.

Inside, highlights include the exquisite blue and white domed ceiling, beautiful frescoes, and the hand-carved choir stall. You can also explore the Museo Eclesiastico, with a number of religious art pieces and sacred musical scores.

Before you leave, be sure to climb the tower and enjoy beautiful views of the city.

4. Santa Ifigenia Cemetery (Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia)

Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia

The Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia in Santiago de Cuba is home to the remains of some of Cuba's most famous military figures, as well as people of wealth and notoriety.

Some of the monuments marking the tombs are spectacular works of art. One of the most impressive features in the cemetery is the Mausoleum of Jose Marti. This huge structure towers over the surroundings and was designed to allow a stream of light to enter in during morning hours.

The Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia also contains the tombs of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Emilio Bacardi, and Frank Pais. Famous Cubans are still being buried here, including musician Compay Segundo, who was laid to rest here in 2003. Every 30 minutes, a changing of the guard ceremony takes place. Guides are highly recommended to shed light on all the history here.

5. Casa de Diego Velazquez (Museo de Ambiente Historico Cubano)

Casa de Diego Velazquez

Presiding over Parque Cespedes, the Casa de Diego Velazquez offers a fascinating glimpse of a Spanish conquistador's former residence. Built in the early 1500s, the building is thought to be the oldest residence in Cuba, and now houses the Museo de Ambiente Historico Cubano.

The conquistador and governor, Diego Velazquez, lived in the upstairs portion of the house, while the lower level was used as a gold foundry; the furnace used for melting gold still stands. Seeing the building's intricately carved ceilings, thick walls, and solid construction gives a sense of the wealth and power of the Spanish empire.

Beginning in 1965, the house underwent restoration work and is now the Museo de Ambiente Historico Cubano. The museum displays a large furniture collection from the 16th to 19th centuries. Each room shows a different time period, and the collections are impressive, with exquisite porcelain, glass, and other household items, which complement the antique furniture.

For those who don't speak Spanish, guided tours in English are recommended to get the most out of a visit here.

6. Cuartel Moncada (Museo Historico 26 de Julio)

Cuartel Moncada (Museo Historico 26 de Julio) | Cancillera del Ecuador / photo modified

History buffs interested in the Revolution should make time for a visit to this historic attack site and macabre museum. On July 26th, 1953 during carnival celebrations, rebel forces led by Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara attacked these concrete barracks to seize weapons. The attempt failed, but the revolutionaries gained much recognition from their efforts, and many people consider this incident to mark the beginning of the Revolution.

Today, visitors to the Moncada Barracks can see the bullet holes from the attacks and explore the museum, which describes the history of Cuba from the 1500s onward. The exhibits focus on the events of the 1950s, including the fateful attack on July 26. Part of the building is used as a school, so you might also see students on the grounds during your visit.

7. Revolution Plaza (Plaza de la Revolucion)

Plaza de la Revolucion | Rog01 / photo modified

Northeast of the city center, the Plaza de la Revolucion is the famous site of many important events. Here, Fidel Castro delivered speeches, the Pope celebrated mass during his visit to Cuba in 1998, and many protests have taken place.

The most striking feature of this large square is the dramatic monument dedicated to the 19th-century war hero, General Antonio Maceo. Saw-toothed machetes rise from the grass and surround a large sculpture of the General on horseback. A local artist, Alberto Lezcay, created this impressive work of art, and it was erected in the 1990s.

8. Emilio Bacardi Moreau Museum (Museo Municipal Emilio Bacardi Moreau)

Emilio Bacardi Moreau Museum

In an elegant 1929 Neoclassical building, the Emilio Bacardi Moreau Museum is among the oldest museums in Cuba, with an impressive diversity of art and collectibles from around the world.

The collection spans prehistory, the Spanish Conquest, the wars of independence, and the Revolution. Emilio Bacardi Moreau, a Cuban politician and writer, obtained most of the items and even traveled to Egypt in 1912 to purchase a mummy.

Among the things to see are artifacts from the Amerindians, the conquistadors, and the slave trade, as well as personal items of national heroes such as Carlos Manuel Cespedes and Jose Marti.

Perhaps the most impressive portion of the museum is the art exhibit featuring national and international artists, while the archeological section features Egyptian and Peruvian mummies and shrunken heads from the Amazon. Address: Calle Pio Rosado at Aguilera

9. Vista Alegre

Old home in Vista Alegre | Richard Weil / photo modified

The Vista Alegre section of Santiago de Cuba is the former upscale residential area of the town. Much of the architecture in this area dates from the 1920s and 1930s with several Neoclassical mansions. You can stroll along the wide tree-lined streets here and imagine how life must have been for the wealthy Cubans who once lived in these grand homes. Many of them have been converted into offices, restaurants, and schools.

Besides the architecture, other tourist attractions in Vista Alegre include the tiny Museo de Imagen, with displays on the history of photography in Cuba, and the Casa del Caribe, a cultural research center, which hosts concert nights and festivals.

10. Museum of the Clandestine Struggle

View from the balcony of the Museum of the Clandestine Struggle

Housed in the old police headquarters, the yellow Museo de la Lucha Clandestina (Museum of the Clandestine Struggle) presents another intriguing chapter of the Revolution.

The museum depicts the history of the movement, led by Frank Pais, against the Batista regime and offers insight into the history of this time period as it relates to Santiago de Cuba and the role of the local residents in the Revolution. Pais along with other revolutionaries set fire to this building in 1956.

Today, it is beautifully restored and features a splendid courtyard, as well as fine views over Santiago de Cuba from the balcony.

11. Gran Piedra (Jardin Botanico)

Walkway up the Gran Piedra

About 25 kilometers southeast from the city, Gran Piedra (Grand Stone) is a large volcanic rock perched atop a mountain, with spectacular views over misty peaks and coastal plains.

The drive to Gran Piedra, though a little hair-raising, is worth the effort. A 12-kilometer road winds up to the Jardin Botanico from the main coastal road in Parque Baconao, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of lushly cloaked mountains and golden-sand beaches that are much more picturesque than the beaches in Santiago de Cuba. You can also see a variety of orchids and other tropical plants here.

At the end of the Jardin Botanico is a seemingly never-ending set of stairs that leads up to the 1,234-meter-high peak of Gran Piedra and breathtaking views. The area is sometimes hazy in the afternoon, so it's best to plan an ascent during the morning hours.

12. Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre

Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre

The old mining town of Cobre, about 18 kilometers northwest of Santiago de Cuba, is home to the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre, one of Cuba's most famous churches. Standing out against a lush backdrop, the church and its red-domed towers is a beautiful sight.

The basilica is actually best known for a statue it contains. Adorned with precious jewels, the statue of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobra (Our Lady of Charity), Cuba's patron saint, is a black Madonna wearing a lavish yellow dress. She carries a diamond and amethyst cross and is crowned with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

Each year on September 8, the Virgen is extracted from her air-conditioned glass enclosure inside the Basilica for an annual public procession. She was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

This magnificent church is a pilgrimage site and attracts people from all over Cuba who come seeking the Virgin's purported healing powers.
14 Top-Rated Places to Visit in Cambodia

Written by Jess Lee

Updated Mar 22, 2022

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Best known as both the home of the colossal temples of Angkor Wat and for the brutal Khmer Rouge era of the 1970s and later civil war, Cambodian history encompasses both some of humanity's greatest artistic accomplishments and most horrific deeds.

The history is what draws most travelers here, but this Southeast Asian nation has more tourist attractions to offer for those who linger longer than a short temple hop to Siem Reap.

Beyond the temples, Cambodia is a prime destination for Southeast Asia travels that manages to charm all who come.

The coastline of sandy white beaches tempts every sun sloth. The jungle-swathed countryside is geared up for the more intrepid, and the buzzing capital of Phnom Penh envelops visitors in the frenetic pulse of contemporary Cambodian city life.

Plan your sightseeing in this fascinating country with our list of the top places to visit in Cambodia.

1. Angkor Wat (Angkor Archaeological Park)

Angkor Wat (Angkor Archaeological Park)

This temple city is the number one tourist spot in Cambodia.

Accessed from the town of Siem Reap, the temples of the Angkorian period are so ambitious in scale and in the majesty of their construction, that Angkor Wat is rated as one of the world's must-see ancient sites.

Built between 802 and 1432, this was the largest city in the world during the medieval age and the vast powerhouse of the Khmer kings who endeavored to outbid their predecessors in the beauty of their construction.

As the city's wooden dwellings were encroached and then decayed by the surrounding jungle, what remains today, are just those mighty temples.

The temple of Angkor Wat itself, the world's largest religious building, is only one sliver of the site in total, and the sprawling circuit of temples deserves three days to explore if you want to understand the scope of the Angkorian period's architectural achievements.

For those short on time though, the main highlights after Angkor Wat are the tree-root clasped temple of Ta Prohm (which first found international fame as a location used in the movie Tomb Raider), the Bayon Temple for its 216 stone-carved faces, Angkor Thom and Preah Khan.

2. Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh

Cambodia's capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation; a city of chaotic streets abuzz with motorbikes and car horns that can frazzle at first glance.

Deserted completely during the Khmer Rouge madness and left to wither and decay, Phnom Penh has bounced back to become one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic cities.

For visitors, this is Cambodia's most cosmopolitan destination, with a cafe and restaurant scene unrivaled in the rest of the country.

It's also home to a scattering of important historic sites that help unravel both Cambodia's modern and ancient history.

The National Museum is home to a swag of Khmer sculpture that traces the nation's history from the pre-Angkorian age right through to the phenomenal majesty of the god-Kings of Angkor.

The Royal Palace provides gorgeous examples of traditional artistry, while Tuol Sleng Museum and the killing fields of Choeung Ek speak of the horror and brutality the people of this country suffered under Khmer Rouge rule. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Phnom Penh: Best Areas & Hotels Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Phnom Penh

3. Koh Rong Samloem

Koh Rong Samloem

Just off Cambodia's south coast lie a scattering of islands just as beautiful as their Thai counterparts to the west, but much less visited.

Compared to the now very developed islands of Koh Samui and Phuket, Cambodia's islands are a slice of laid-back tropical bliss, where sun and sand take center stage, and the big resorts have yet to make their mark.

Of all the islands, Koh Rong Samloem is one of the most beautiful, with the long, sandy Saracen Bay home to a dozen beach hut resorts that offer a welcome respite from the world.

It's really all about hammock-time here, but there's plenty of scuba diving activities on offer for the more active.

You can access these islands from Sihanoukville. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Koh Rong Samloem

4. Siem Reap

Street in central Siem Reap

Siem Reap is usually seen by travelers as among Cambodia's top places to visit due to it being the base for Angkor Archaeological Park, but the town itself offers more things to do beyond the mighty temples.

This is the country's major activity center, with bundles of tours on offer, from cycle trips around the lush countryside just outside of town to Cambodian cookery tours.

Shoppers will also find plenty to keep them occupied, as central Siem Reap is brimming with opportunities to browse traditional crafts.

Make sure to visit Angkor National Museum, before heading to Angkor Wat itself, to dose up on the history of the site. The exhibits here explore the breadth of culture and artistry of the Khmer empire.

For evening entertainment while in town, don't miss Phare The Cambodian Circus. This internationally-renowned circus troupe and social enterprise puts on dazzling shows where performers combine theater, acrobatics, and music. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Siem Reap

5. Ratanakiri

Ratanakiri

Ratanakiri is a nature-filled reprieve for travelers suffering from temple-fatigue.

This is outback Cambodia, and the endless red-dirt roads of the region, leading to ethnic minority villages, are an intrepid traveler's delight.

For those with an adventurous streak, the province is one of the best places in Cambodia for trekking, from spotting gibbons at Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area, where overnight trips involve sleeping in hammocks and early rises to track buff-cheeked gibbons, to hiking in Virachey National Park home to elephants, tigers, and sun bears.

There's more relaxing options on offer as well. The emerald water of Yeak Lom Crater Lake just outside of Ban Lung town is a tranquil swimming spot, while the waterfalls of Chaa Ong and Ka Tieng are fun diversions that provide more opportunities for getting wet.

6. Prasat Preah Vihear

Prasat Preah Vihear

The temples of Angkor Wat may gain all the glory, but Prasat Preah Vihear wins the prize for the most dramatic location.

Sitting atop the Dangrek Mountains, on an escarpment with dizzying views across the Cambodian floodplains, Prasat Preah Vihear is a monumental temple complex of intricately carved pavilions linked by long causeways, built originally to honor the god Shiva.

The temple is snug against the border with Thailand and has historically been a point of contention between the two nations, who both claim it as their own.

The International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia's favor in 2013 after border disputes flared up between 2008 and 2011.

Tensions have dissipated in the last few years, meaning this UNESCO World Heritage Site can now reclaim its rightful role on the tourist trail.

Access is from Sra Em, although most visitors come on a day trip from Siem Reap (200 kilometers south).

7. Battambang

View from Phnom Sampeau Temple

The countryside of rice fields and tiny villages surrounding the northwest city of Battambang holds some of the most tranquil rural scenery in Cambodia, and the area is home to swags of historic riches as well.

All this has made the city itself a popular destination on traveler itineraries.

For history fans, the temples of Phnom Sampeau, Phnom Banan and Wat Ek Phnom are all within day-tripping distance, while the famed Bamboo Train - a single-line rail track where "carriages" made from a platform of wood and bamboo travel between Battambang's east bank and the tiny village of O Srav - is one of the most popular activities for visitors.

Battambang

Battambang itself is a rather sleepy city compared to the buzz of the capital, with a central district brimming with colonial buildings.

For those who found Phnom Penh's hectic buzz a bit too much to handle, Battambang is a thoroughly approachable town to use as a base. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Battambang

8. Kampot

Kampot river views

The laid-back riverine town of Kampot has oodles of old-world ambience.

The compact central district is a joy to ramble around, full of surviving shop-house architecture, some of which has been painstakingly restored.

Kampot's charm lies in its exceedingly chilled-out atmosphere, and many a traveler finds themselves waylaid here longer than they expected, having succumbed to its easygoing pace.

Rice fields in Kampot

For the more active though, this is also an excellent base for discovering the surrounding sights of the south.

The old French summer getaway of Boker Hill Station, with its abandoned church and eerie, empty shell of a once-grand hotel, is an easy day trip from town, as are the limestone caves of Phnom Chhnork and Phnom Sorsia both with old temples inside. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Kampot

9. Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap is Cambodia's most important waterway and Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.

As well as being an important source of food and a vital tool for Cambodian irrigation, the lake itself is home to 170 floating villages that depend on fishing for their livelihood, with homes built directly on the water.

The houses, shops, churches, schools, and temples of these villages are built on rustic buoy foundations of lashed together barrels and bamboo, and all transport is by boat. They're a fascinating place to spend a day exploring.

One of the most interesting is the sprawling village of Kompong Luong, near the town of Pursat on Tonle Sap's western shore, although the most popular village to visit is Chong Kneas near Siem Reap.

10. Koh Kong Conservation Corridor

Tatai River

The Koh Kong Conservation Corridor stretches across an area within Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, south of the border town of Koh Kong in the country's southwest.

The highlands here, home to dense rainforest, winding rivers, and waterfalls, offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and boat tours.

Head to the Tatai River if you want to simply soak up the lush surroundings and take a time out from life. Here, you'll find a handful of boutique eco-resorts scattered along the riverbank all offering activities such as day hikes and kayaking.

Further south in the Cardamoms is the village of Chi Pat, an eco-tourism center with simple homestay and guesthouse accommodation and plenty of activities, ranging from multi-day treks into the forested mountains to wildlife-spotting river boat trips.

11. Kratie

Boats on the Mekong in Kratie

If you're here for the full Mekong experience, you've come to the right place.

Spread along the banks of the mighty Mekong, Kratie has become a major destination for travelers due to its dolphin-watching tours.

The endangered Irrawaddy dolphins are endemic to the Mekong, and environmental measures have now been put in place to try and help their dwindling numbers.

Tourism has played a good role in trying to protect the dolphins by offering an alternative economy to fishing.

To see the dolphins head to Kampi, just north of Kratie, where there are plenty of boat tours available. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Kratie

12. Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk

This pre-Angkorian temple site dates from the early 7th century when it was the capital of the Upper Chenla Empire.

More than 100 brick temples dedicated to various Hindu gods sit within the forest here, many half-swallowed by mammoth tree roots.

Archaeologically, the site is extremely important, containing some of Cambodia's oldest surviving buildings, but you don't have to be an archaeology buff to appreciate the ethereal beauty of this tree-wrapped site.

The most important temples in the archaeological site include Prasat Sambor, Prasat Tao and Prasat Yeay Peau which all have remarkably clear carvings on their temple walls and plenty of ethereal ambience provided by twisting tree trunks and coiling vines.

You can access Sambor Prei Kuk from Kompong Thom.

13. Banteay Chhmar

Carving at Banteay Chhmar

For a touch of Indiana Jones-style temple exploring, you can't beat Banteay Chhmar.

This mammoth temple complex sits consumed by surrounding jungle in Cambodia's lonely northwest, providing the perfect opportunity to discover the highlights without the crowds.

It was built by the 12th-century Angkorian king Jayavarman VII, and the remarkable stone reliefs along its walls are some of the most intricately detailed you'll see in the country.

In particular, the spectacular bas reliefs depicting Avalokitesvara on the south wall and the dizzying array of battle scenes depicted on the eastern walls are prime examples of the Angkorian era's artistry.

The village neighboring the archaeological site has simple homestay accommodation. Otherwise, most people stay in Sisophon (60 kilometers south) or take a day trip to the ruins from Siem Reap.

14. Mundulkiri

Mundulkiri's Elephant Valley Project

Adventurous travelers beeline to the hill country of Mundulkiri Province in Cambodia's far east for wildlife spotting, village life, trail-bike tours, and the Elephant Valley Project.

The most famous tourist attraction in the region, the Elephant Valley Project offers visitors a chance to walk with the sanctuary's elephants (no riding allowed) while providing an opportunity for local mahouts (elephant keepers) to earn a wage that doesn't involve overworking their elephants.

For adrenaline-junkies, the Mayura zipline course skims right over the top of Bou Sra waterfall, while bird-watchers and wildlife spotters will want to take a tour into Seima Protected Forest, home to gibbons, the endangered black-shanked douc langurs, and plentiful birdlife.

The small town of Sen Monorom is the main base for travelers in Mundulkiri and within easy day-tripping distance to all of the tourist attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Cambodia?

Most visitors who arrive in Cambodia are heading to the Angkor Wat temples as their main destination - so it makes sense that the best time to visit Cambodia is when the temples are at their best. Weather-wise, the best time to visit Siem Reap and Angkor Wat is between December and February, when temperatures drop into the high 20s and the humidity is low enough to be bearable.

However, these months are part of the cool season, which is also high season in the country - this means higher prices, bigger crowds, and more expensive airfares. For better prices and slightly smaller crowds, consider arriving in March or early April - while temperatures are rising fast at this time, the rainy season is just starting by then, so you should be able to still enjoy the outdoors.

Phnom Penh has hot and humid weather all year-round, with just a small dip in temperature and humidity dropping to around 70 percent during the cool season. This is also a good time to visit Koh Rong, Cambodia's best beach destination.
15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nepal

Written by Lana Law

Updated Mar 22, 2022

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Nepal is a surprisingly diverse country that attracts visitors for many reasons. Some are lured by the call of the mountains and seeking to climb or trek in the Himalayas, others are intrigued by the culture and the famous city of Kathmandu, and yet others come hoping to find some sort of spiritual awakening. Nepal can be an adrenaline adventure, a cultural eye opener, a life-changing experience, or all of the above.

Most travelers spend some time in Kathmandu visiting sacred and historic attractions, and then head out to other parts of the country. Some of the best places to visit outside the capital are Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National Park for wildlife viewing, and the lakeside town of Pokhara, a popular area for embarking on treks.

Trekkers will find a variety of options across Nepal, with the most important areas being the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang regions.

In 2015, a major earthquake struck Nepal, causing severe damage in Kathmandu and other areas, and restoration is still underway. In Nepal, things take time to happen, and when they do, they tend to happen unevenly, so progress has been substantial in some areas and limited in others. That said, much of the damage to the major sights has been repaired, although some historical treasures were lost forever.

To find the best places to visit, have a read through our list of the top attractions in Nepal.

1. Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, is like no other city in the world. The decaying buildings in the heart of the city are a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere that permeates the streets. The smell of incense wafts from stores while street sellers push their goods, and people go about their daily lives, all against a backdrop of historic temples and carved statues.

For several hundred years, Kathmandu was one of three rival royal cities, along with Bhaktapur and Patan. Situated in close proximity to each other, today these three almost run together.

The highlight of Kathmandu has long been Durbar Square, the largest of the palace squares in the three royal cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Temples and monuments of varying shapes, sizes, styles, and faiths can be found here.

Kathmandu's Durbar Square was severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake, with many buildings destroyed beyond repair, but it still remains a special place to visit. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Kathmandu Kathmandu Map - Attractions (Historical) Kathmandu Valley Map (Historical)

2. Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, the third of the "Royal Cities," lies on the old trade route to Tibet, just outside of Kathmandu. For Bhaktapur, the trade route was both an arterial link and major source of wealth. Its relative remoteness at the time allowed the city to develop independently and in ways which distinguish it from the other two cities.

In contrast to Patan and Kathmandu, the population of Bhaktapur is primarily Hindu. The best place from which to begin a tour of the city is Durbar Square, where in addition to the royal palace, several temples are also situated. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many of the buildings in Durbar Square in Bhaktapur were damaged in the 2015 earthquake; the main temples are close to being repaired fully. However, other buildings in the complex remain in ruin. The UNESCO-funded restoration work came to a stop in 2019 and the agency had to withdraw due to threats against its workers. The project has been turned over to the Nepali Department of Archeology. Restoration work continues albeit very slowly. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bhaktapur Bhaktapur Map - Attractions (Historical)

3. Boudhanath Stupa (Bodhnath)

Boudhanath Stupa (Bodhnath) | Photo Copyright: Lana Law

The Bodhanath Stupa, just outside Kathmandu, is one of the largest stupas of its kind in the world and dates to some time around the 6th century, possibly even earlier. Like Bhaktapur, it lies on the old trade route to Tibet and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stupa itself is a symbol of enlightenment but at Boudhanath the symbolism is particularly clear. Each different shape represents one of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air, and sphere, which are also the attributes of the five Buddhas. Brought together in the form of the stupa, their unity reflects in abstract fashion the structure of the universe itself.

The stupa sustained minor damage during the 2015 earthquake and is now fully repaired.

4. Pokhara

Pokhara

Set at the base of the foothills and surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the world  Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna I  Pokhara is one of Nepal's most scenic cities. For trekkers, Pokhara is the gateway to the Himalayas and the starting point for treks to Jomsom and the Annapurna region. It's also a wonderful spot to relax for a bit, either before or after a hiking trip.

By population, it is the second largest city in Nepal after Kathmandu but still does not feel like a big city. As you travel from Kathmandu, 200 kilometers to the east, you'll notice the much cleaner air and pleasant climate almost immediately. Lake Phewa, with its cluster of lakeside hotels, restaurants, and shops, is ideal for those looking for a little relaxation. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Pokhara Pokhara Map - Attractions (Historical)

5. Trekking in the Annapurna Region

Trekking in the Annapurna Region

The Annapurna Region is one of the most popular trekking regions in Nepal, with options that range from a few days to a few weeks. Three main routes in the Annapurna Region intersect and combine in places, and you can opt to do a portion or a variation on the routes. The routes are well marked and easy to follow.

The Annapurna Circuit around Annapurna Mountain takes about 21 days to complete and is incredibly popular with people who have enough time. This route is sometimes called the "Apple Pie Circuit," in reference to the fact that most of the teahouses along the route serve their own version of fried apple pie.

A popular hiking destination in this region, often offered in hiking packages in combination with the Annapurna Circuit, is the trek to Poon Hill (3,210 meters) near Ghorepani. Most hikers try to be on Poon Hill early to see sunrise and a stunning view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Singa Chuli.

The Annapurna Sanctuary nestles between the peaks of Annapurna and takes five days to reach. Muktinath is on the way to Annapurna but has since become a destination in its own right. The Muktinath route runs in the Kali Gandaki Valley on the east flank of Annapurna and takes seven days. North of Muktinath is Mustang, a small region that was only opened up to tourists in 1992. This area has its own fascinating culture.

In many regards, the Annapurna Region, north of Pokhara, is an ideal walking area. The dramatic contrasts of the Nepalese countryside are especially visible, from the subtropical vegetation of the Pokhara Valley to the dry rain shadow area, with features of the Tibetan plateau. The people and cultures are also very different: facial characteristics, food, houses, lifestyles, customs, and religion.

The Annapurna region was declared a protected area in 1986. Most importantly, it has a good infrastructure to support the many trekkers that come through this area. The paths are well maintained, and food and lodging are plentiful.

6. Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is the place to come to experience a different side of Nepal. This is a wonderful place for wildlife viewing and it has a safari-type atmosphere. At an altitude of only 100 meters in some areas, much lower than Kathmandu at 1,400 meters, Chitwan has a tropical monsoon climate, quite different than what you'd expect to find in Nepal.

Travelers come here to see wildlife. The park is home to rhinos, Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaur (buffalo), deer, and many other critters. Freshwater dolphins (gangetic) and crocodiles inhabit the rivers and streams but are rarely seen. More than 500 species of birds make Chitwan a paradise for ornithologists. Tours from the lodges take you out into the park, either on foot, or more often, on elephants for close-up views of the animals.

Chitwan lies southwest of Kathmandu close to the Indian frontier and is included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage sites.

The best time to visit Chitwan is from October to February. Average temperatures hover around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), with high humidity, although the mornings can be quite cool. June to September is the monsoon season, with frequent and heavy rain.

Chitwan National Park, Central Nepal Map (Historical)

7. Trekking in the Langtang Region

Trekking in the Langtang Region

The Langtang Region, home to Langtang National Park, is an incredible area for hiking, with high passes, extensive views, old monasteries, and beautiful mountain scenery. Rhododendron forests bloom during the spring hiking season adding color to the vistas.

The region, home to the Sherpa people, is less developed than some of the other popular trekking areas in Nepal and generally less busy on the trails, despite its close proximity to Kathmandu. Villages with guesthouses and food can be found along the route, although somewhat more spread out than in other trekking regions.

This area can be reached easily from Kathmandu by jeep in seven to eight hours. On a clear day, the peak of Langtang Lirung (7,245 meters), which dominates the surrounding area of the same name, is visible from Kathmandu.

Trekking lengths and duration in Langtang range from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the routing. Some trekkers combine Helambu and Langtang for a longer trek.

8. Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Set on a hilltop to the west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath is the second most important shrine in the Kathmandu Valley after Boudhanath. Due to the resident monkeys that inhabit parts of the temple, it is more affectionately known as the Monkey Temple.

The Swayambhu Stupa, painted with the eyes of the omnipresent god, forms the centerpiece of the temple complex. It was originally a prehistoric cult site, but the temple complex dates to the 5th century. Swayambhu plays a major part in the lives of the Vajrayana Buddhists of Northern Nepal and Tibet, but especially of the Newari Buddhists of the Kathmandu Valley.

The 2015 earthquake caused some damage to the Swayambhunath temple complex; however, repairs are now complete, and the temple is back to its original condition.

Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Valley Map (Historical)

9. Everest & the Trek to Base Camp

Everest and the Trek to Base Camp

The summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, reaches 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) high. Trekking in the Mount Everest area became popular following the now legendary first ascent of the peak in 1953 by Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and the Sherpa Tensing Norgay.

Since that time, many more have summited the mountain, but far more trek the route to Everest Base Camp simply for a glimpse of the peak far above. In recent years the mountain has seen its fair share of tragedy and drama. The 2015 earthquake and previous avalanches, along with disputes between climbers on the mountain, have left their mark on Everest trekking and climbing.

The Everest Region is generally not regarded as the most scenic region in the country for trekking, but the allure of Everest makes it a popular destination, both for climbers and trekkers. There are various routes to access base camp and several options for organizing a trip.

Many trekking companies offer a guided hike, either with Nepalese companies or western-based companies. It's also possible to hire a private guide or porter and do it yourself; however, all trekkers are technically required to have a guide. The main hiking seasons are in the spring and fall, from March to May and September to December.

For those not looking to trek to Mount Everest but still wanting to see the mountain, it is possible to see it on clear days from the hill town of Nagarkot near Kathmandu. Hotel staff will knock on guests' doors on clear mornings if Everest is visible. This might be the lazy traveler's best chance of seeing the world's highest peak.

10. Bardiya National Park

Wild Bengal tiger in Bardiya National Park

Many people are surprised to learn that Nepal has extensive lowland areas where Bengal tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, and elephants roam. One of the best spots to see these animals in their natural habitant is Bardiya National Park (also Bardia National Park). In addition to the large animals, the park is also a bird-watching hot spot, with over 400 species either living in, or transiting through, the region.

Located off on its own in northwest Nepal near the border of India, this area is known for its river valleys, extensive grasslands, and tropical forest dominated by the Sal tree. Areas of the national park were once the exclusive hunting domain of Nepali royalty. Through the years, it has been expanded and now encompasses 968 square kilometers.

11. Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple

Dating from the turn of the 17th century, the Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest temple in Kathmandu and also considered one of the most sacred in Nepal. Located in western Kathmandu along the Bagmati River, the temple is known for its beautiful pagoda-style architecture, with copper and gold covering.

The temple is dedicated to Pashupati, one of the incarnations of Shiva. Of the three gates, only the western one is open, and only practicing Hindus of South Asian descent are allowed inside. A good viewpoint of the complex for non-Hindus is located across the river. One note of caution: the monkeys that hang out around this area may look cute, but they tend to be aggressive and should be treated with caution.

12. International Mountain Museum

International Mountain Museum | TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock.com

Located in the beautiful mountain town of Pokhara, the International Mountain Museum is a must-see prior to heading off on a trek. This very impressive modern building is a bright and airy space and houses all the information you could ever want to know about the mountains of Nepal and the people who inhabit them.

Three main galleries are spread throughout the museum, the first being the Mountain People Gallery. Here, through exhibits and a video, you'll learn about the Indigenous people of Nepal and the Khumbu region in particular.

The second gallery deals with the mountains themselves and provides extensive information on 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, along with an overview of the geology that formed them.

The third gallery provides insight into equipment used in mountain climbing and delves into the mythology of the secretive Yeti. In addition to the galleries, a Lakhang room is available for quiet contemplation.

If you're looking for other things to do nearby, outside is a tall triangular climbing wall along with a smaller version for those less inclined. Address: Nagpokhari, Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal Official site: https://www.internationalmountainmuseum.org/

13. Lumbini

Lumbini

Lumbini is famous for being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historic Buddha, known as Buddha Shakyamuni. Situated off the main tourist track, almost 250 kilometers from Kathmandu, Lumbini is a worthwhile detour on the route from Pokhara to the Chitwan National Park.

In this pilgrimage town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is a feeling of tranquility. Most of the visitors are Buddhist pilgrims from around the world, retracing Buddha's footsteps through the stations of his life. The Maya Devi Temple, dedicated to Buddha's mother, is believed to be the spot where Buddha was born. It contains an ancient stone relief from the 2nd century AD depicting Buddha's birth.

Lumbini Map - Attractions (Historical)

14. Helambu Trek

Helambu Trek

The Helambu region is a popular trekking area, particularly with trekking companies offering guided hikes. This is largely because it is close to Kathmandu, does not reach astoundingly high elevations, and offers some beautiful mountain scenery.

For many of these same reasons, it is often touted by tour groups as being easy. However, many hikers who come here on tours find it is more demanding than they feel they were led to believe and more difficult than they anticipate.

Trekking in the Himalayas is always demanding, and although it is not as high as other treks, it is still a physically demanding hike and trekkers should be in good physical condition. With that in mind, this is a beautiful trek, with stunning rhododendron trees in bloom in March and April, and it's well worth the effort.

The Helambu region is inhabited by the Sherpas and situated in the upper part of the Malechmi Khola valley. The Helambu Trek can be started in Kathmandu and completed in five to eight days. The typical seven-day itinerary is circular, with the first day's section being repeated at the end of the walk. The sudden contrast between the lower and upper lying regions and their characteristic cultures is striking. Accommodation can be found in lodges and village guest houses.

15. White Water Rafting

White water rafting in Nepal

With towering mountains and rushing rivers Nepal is an excellent place for white water rafting. Several options are available depending on how much time you want to spend on the river.

An easy trip for travelers only looking for a one-day adventure is the Trisuli Rafting Day Trip from Kathmandu . Unlike many rafting trips, which are seasonal, this one is available year round. After your day of rafting, you can either go back to Kathmandu or on to Chitwan or Pokhara.

If you are looking to spend more time on the water and interested in more serious rapids, one of the most popular places to go is the Bhote Kosi River.

Bhote Koshi River Rafting trips take two days and are intense. You'll find yourself in the white water shortly after put in, and along the way, you'll blast through class IV and V rapids. The trip is 25 kilometers long and includes camping on the riverbank for one night. Meals are included.

Other multiday trips to consider are on the Tamur, Karnali, Arun, and Bheri rivers.
21 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Thailand

Written by Meagan Drillinger and Diana Bocco

Updated Jul 13, 2022

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The "Land of Smiles" is one of the jewels of Southeast Asia. Thanks to a thriving tourism industry, Thailand is well-developed and provides all kinds of modern comforts  yet it's also still wild enough to offer off-the-beaten-path adventure and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Whether you are here for the world-class beaches in the south or the mountain villages in the north, Thailand will not disappoint.

Cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai are bustling hives of activity and commerce, but you haven't really seen the country until you've trekked in the mountains or enjoyed some face-time with elephants or the bold monkeys always ready to steal your lunch (or your camera, if you're not careful). Thailand's attractions are diverse, and each provides a rewarding and memorable experience in its own way.

For some inspiration when planning your trip, here's our list of top tourist attractions in Thailand.

1. Railay Beach

Railay Beach

Krabi province is home to some of Thailand's most famous beach destinations-and Railay tops the list as one of the most stunning. Considered by many as one of the best beaches in the country, Railay delivers on promises of white sand, turquoise-blue water, and the feeling that you've found a slice of paradise even before your feet touch the sand.

The island can be reached by boat from Krabi town and Ao Nang-and the trip on a long-tail traditional boat is just as magical as what you'll encounter when you reach the shores.

While the beach might be the main reason to visit the island, Railay is also a rock-climbing hot spot, with karst peaks drawing adventurers both experienced and novice, ready to take on the towering limestone cliffs.

Among the many other active things to do, Railay is well-known for its ocean rafting and kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving-but visitors can also try their hand at cooking classes or indulge in a massage.

There's also the tourist-friendly Diamond Cave, reached via a beautiful trail with stunning views and ready to accommodate curious visitors looking to do some exploring between stretches of sunbathing. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Krabi Province

2. Koh Phi Phi

Boats on shore, Koh Phi Phi | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

The Phi Phi Islands are one of Thailand's most popular resort areas for a reason-the clear blue waters, the soft sand, the breathtaking views that go on forever.

You can reach Phi Phi Don-the largest of the islands and the only one permanently inhabited-on a rented kayak or by hiring a small wooden boat to take you here.

Perhaps one of the most fun spots on Koh Phi Phi is Monkey Beach, where you'll come face to face, literally, with plenty of macaques ready to steal your lunch.

Koh Phi Phi

Long Beach is another nice spot on the island; while not a secluded place where you can hope for privacy, it's great for watching the sunset. If you're lucky and the tide is out, it's a beautiful walk back towards the main part of the island.

Tour operators offer packages for snorkeling and diving trips to the islands, as well as excursions to the famous Maya Bay, where the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach was filmed. Because Koh Phi Phi draws so many tourists, there are plenty of tour companies arranging tickets to other beach destinations, such as Phuket, Koh Chang, and Koh Lanta.

Phi Phi Don was one of the areas hit hard by the 2004 tsunami - but since then, guesthouses, restaurants, and markets have been rebuilt, and crowds still come in droves to the resort island. There is a small, somber memorial park to honor those who died in the tragedy, but the resort areas are otherwise revived and looking as beautiful as ever. Accommodation: Where to Stay near the Phi Phi Islands

3. The Grand Palace, Bangkok

The Grand Palace, Bangkok | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

Even if your plans for Thailand mainly involve frolicking on a beach and eating as much Massaman curry and pad Thai as humanly possible, you'll probably spend at least a day or two in Bangkok. There are plenty of things to see and do in the capital, but the Grand Palace should definitely be at the top of your list. This is the number one sightseeing attraction in the city, and it's staggering in both historical significance and craftsmanship.

The grounds are a maze of royal halls, temples, and ancient relics, the most important being Wat Phra Kaeo (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), said to hold a fragment of either hair or bone from the enlightened Buddha himself.

Allow several hours to do the Grand Palace justice, but if you're up for more walking afterward, you can easily take in some of the city's other major landmarks nearby. The famous Wat Po and Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn (a great place to watch the sunset), are just a few minutes away. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bangkok: Best Areas & Hotels Read More: Exploring Bangkok's Grand Palace: A Visitor's Guide

4. Sunday Walking Street, Chiang Mai

Sunday Walking Street, Chiang Mai

Every Thailand visitor looks forward to cheap and delicious food-and that's exactly what they can find in abundance at Chiang Mai's Sunday Night Walking Street. Vendors sell all kinds of treats here: from the popular pad Thai and chicken satay to samosas, fried bananas, sweet roti, and fresh fruit shakes-often for less than $2 a piece.

Once you've satisfied your culinary cravings, you can peruse hundreds of stalls selling an array of unique goods such as all-natural soaps, hand-dyed textiles bearing the unique patterns of local hill tribes, incense and essential oils, musical instruments, paintings, wall hangings, and more.

The market gets crowded every week without fail, no matter what time of the year you're visiting, so brace yourself and try to enjoy being part of the fun chaos. This is one of the must-dos in Chiang Mai, and an essential part of the Thailand experience. If you're not around for the Sunday market, or just want to get a taste of other market experiences in Chiang Mai, check out the Saturday Night Walking Street or the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road, a daily event. For something less touristy, head to the daytime Warorot Market, near Mae Ping River. Accommodation: Top-Rated Places to Stay in Chiang Mai

5. Pai

Pai

Thailand's reputation as a country of beautiful landscapes and friendly people is due largely to the world-renowned southern beaches. Because of this, most people don't realize that the vast north is also home to entirely different but equally breathtaking places to visit.

Northern Thailand, particularly the western region near the Burmese border, is marked by mountainous jungle terrain that is both rugged and beautiful. Pai, in Mae Hong Son province, is the perfect starting point from which to enjoy the country's natural beauty, as well as the famed Thai hospitality and cooking.

This small town has developed a reputation as a mecca for hippies and backpackers, though you will see plenty of families traveling in the area as well. There is a small walking street market that comes alive every night, a variety of local and Western foods, and easy access to nearby Buddhist temples, waterfalls, and the impressive Pai canyon.

There is an air of cheerfulness and relaxation as you walk through the tiny town center, a vibe that continues to draw crowds season after season despite its somewhat remote location. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Pai

6. Wild Elephants at Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park

Elephants are revered in Thailand, and statues and paintings of them can be seen everywhere you go, including the royal palaces and many temples. For the ultimate experience, however, nothing beats the chance to see elephants in their natural environment-and Khao Yai National Park provides a great opportunity to do just that.

Here, you'll run into elephants roaming near rivers, exotic birds of prey, monkeys, and plenty of other tropical creatures that call the park home. The park is also home to many waterfalls, including the 150-meter-tall Haew Narok and the even more famous Haew Suwat, which appeared in the Leonardo DiCaprio's film, The Beach.

If a one-day stay isn't enough to take it all in, it's possible to camp out at the park and get up early enough to watch the sunrise over the lush landscape. Accommodation: Where to Stay near Khao Yai National Park Read More: Exploring Khao Yai National Park: A Visitor's Guide

7. Sukhothai Old City

Buddha in the ruins of the temple Wat Chana Songkram, Sukhothai Old City

A favorite stop for history buffs and photography enthusiasts, Sukhothai offers many lovely photo ops at a smaller scale than Ayutthaya. Ruins of this old city still stand proud despite enduring centuries of battle and exposure to the elements. Sukhothai's Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and much has been invested to restore and preserve one of Thailand's most significant historical sites.

Of the many wats in Sukhothai, Wat Mahathat is the most impressive. Founded sometime in the 13th century, the temple was built to enshrine Buddha relics and is surrounded by massive standing Buddha images, stuccoed sculptures, stupas, and more. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Sukhothai

8. Historic City of Ayutthaya

Historic City of Ayutthaya | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

Ayutthaya offers a magnificent peek into the glory of ancient Thailand, where visitors can wander the haunting but romantic ruins of the former capital.

Ayutthaya was once the most important city in Thailand, and the old palaces and temples stand as a testament to this. Over a hundred wats, chedis (Thai-style stupas), prangs, and thousands of Buddha statues are spread around the park. Some sights - like the temple that houses the 12-meter-long reclining Buddha and the tree roots embracing a Buddha head - are particularly stunning and not to be missed.

Ayutthaya is located only a short bus trip or train ride from Bangkok, making it convenient for a day trip if you're pressed for time. If you're on a more leisurely schedule, plan on spending a few days exploring the ancient capital and rent a push-bike to tour both the old city and the new. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Ayutthaya Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Ayutthaya

9. Beaches of Koh Samui

Bang Po beach on Koh Samui | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

Koh Samui island is the country's second-largest island and home to some of the most beautiful golden coastline you'll find in Southeast Asia. Each beach on Koh Samui offers something different: some are ideal for peaceful isolation; others are filled with activities, water sports, and big crowds.

The island's biggest and busiest beach is Chaweng, where you'll also find the best shopping, plenty of attractions, and some of the nicest restaurants. The turquoise blue waters and palm trees dancing in the ocean breeze might explain why some of the island's best resorts are located here.

Heading just south of Chaweng Beach will get you to Lamai Beach, a little smaller and slightly more affordable but still busy in the middle of the day, as day-trippers arrive.

Silver Beach on Koh Samui

For backpackers and those on a budget, there's Maenam Beach, while Bophut Beach (better known as "the Fisherman's Village") is a great destination for visitors wanting a place that retains some traditional Thai touches. At Bophut, that means wooden Thai-Chinese shophouses sitting close to boutique hotels and plenty of attractions.

10. Doi Suthep

Doi Suthep | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

Perhaps the best-known wat in Chiang Mai sits atop Doi Suthep, a mountain overlooking Thailand's second-largest city. A favorite destination of devout Buddhist followers and travelers from all over the world, Doi Suthep is a marvel of intricate religious carvings - a visit here means seeing monks praying, witnessing worship rituals, and a chance to gaze out over the ever-growing sprawl of Chiang Mai city.

Just be sure to bring a bottle of water and your walking shoes - you'll have to climb a steep staircase to reach the top of the hill where the temple is. At the base of the stairs, vendors hawk everything from tasty local treats to goods handmade by villagers from the surrounding mountains. There's also a shop selling masks, elephant carvings, and home furnishings, so you can do some shopping while recovering from the trek up and down the stairs.

You can combine your trip to Doi Suthep with excursions to Doi Pui, a small Hmong village in the mountains. Although far more touristy than other villages, this will still give you a taste of Hmong culture and a chance to learn more about the hill tribe communities in the region, not to mention purchase some beautiful hand-woven textiles. The Bhubing Palace, open to tourists, is on the way to Doi Pui from Doi Suthep as well. Accommodation: Top-Rated Places to Stay in Chiang Mai Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Chiang Mai

11. Floating Markets

Floating markets

Thailand's floating markets offer a unique way to do some shopping and eating while supporting local vendors and getting a closer look into a traditional way of life.

While some of the markets do seem to cater more to the tourist crowds, others make for a nice authentic travel experience that involves getting in a boat and letting your guide take you through canals, where you'll see traditional houses on stilts and run into sellers offering wares from their own boats. You'll need to get up early to visit a floating market, as vendors are out in their long wooden boats first thing in the morning with their goods, fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and tasty dishes.

There are several floating markets near Bangkok, with Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak being among the most popular. You can visit the markets on your own or join a guided tour, which often includes visits to other local attractions and shops. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bangkok: Best Areas & Hotels Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Bangkok

12. Climbing at Tonsai Beach

A climber at Tonsai Beach

With its stunning limestone cliffs hugging sandy coastlines and turquoise waters, Thailand attracts plenty of climbers all year long - and while there are many destinations that offer stunning routes, Tonsai Beach has long been considered a climbers' paradise. One of the great things about climbing here is that you can just as easily climb solo or find a climbing partner or club once you arrive - and if you need a refresher lesson, that won't be a problem to find here either.

Because the area has many climbing and bouldering schools, the easier routes are often busy, and you might even have to queue to get up to the most popular viewpoints. If you're an experienced climber - and can get around stalactites, overhangs, and tufa - you'll fare much better and get the best spots with stunning open views over the bay (almost) all to yourself.

13. Kanchanaburi Bridge

Kanchanaburi Bridge

Better known to many as "the bridge over the River Kwai," the Kanchanaburi bridge is part of the Thai-Burma Railway that never came to be. During WWII, Japanese forces were intent on building a railway link between Thailand and Burma and used Allied prisoners of war (mostly British, Dutch, and Australian citizens) for forced labor. Over 12,000 Allied prisoners ended up dying during the one year the bridge was under construction  and reconstruction, as the bridge was bombed and damaged more than once  leading to it being known as the "Death Railway."

While the Kanchanaburi bridge remained closed for years after the war ended, it is now again in operation and can be crossed by boarding a slow local train. About 130 kilometers of the original 415-kilometer railway route are in use today, a grave historical reminder of the horrific events that took place here.

Near the bridge, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is the final resting place of Allied military personnel from many countries except the United States, which repatriated all remains. The Hellfire Pass Museum and the JEATH War Museum both offer insights on the history of the railway and the effect of the war in Thailand. Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Kanchanaburi

14. Waterfalls at Erawan National Park

Erawan Falls

Erawan National Park has much to offer to visitors, including a number of caves; paths that cut through thick deciduous forests; and fauna that includes wild elephants, gibbons, and great hornbills. But it's the waterfalls here  and especially the seven-tiered Erawan Falls  that attract the bulk of the visitors.

The falls are named after the white elephant that travels with the Hindu god Indra because the tiers are said to slightly resemble the shape of an elephant's head.

Each of the seven tiers also has its own name, and reaching them gets harder and harder as you go up  after the fifth tier, visitors need to use slippery ladders while pushing through thick vegetation in order to continue. You might not need to venture that far, though. The first three tiers are actually the most impressive, offering emerald green pools, a small cave, and cool cascading waters. Plenty of curious fish live in the pools, so don't be surprised to feel them swimming between your feet.

15. Maruekhathaiyawan Palace

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace

Built as the summer residence of King Rama VI, who reigned until 1925, this unique teak palace is stunning in many ways. The king originally ordered its construction following a suggestion by his doctor, who thought an airy seaside climate would help the king's rheumatoid arthritis.

The palace was then built in Hua Hin, a sleepy seaside town about three hours south of Bangkok. Today, Hua Hin is a popular destination for families and travelers who want to enjoy the beach in a relaxed atmosphere away from the crowds.

Mrigadayavan Palace (Maruekhathaiyawan) was designed to stand completely on stilts, which allows the sea breeze to circulate on all sides and keeps the buildings cool. The palace complex consists of a number of buildings divided into three main groups: the official reception area; the king's private quarters; and the ladies' quarters, originally designed for the Queen and an area no other man, besides the king, could enter.

The palace is an exquisite mix of Western standards (which included a modern-for-the-time bathroom and a badminton court) and traditional Thai architecture that can be visited and enjoyed by everybody today. Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Hua Hin

16. Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is a unique mix of very diverse ecosystems. Home to rainforest that's older than the Amazon, the park also contains a limestone mountain range covered in karst formations, many kilometers of trails, and even a river you can explore on canoes or bamboo rafts. The park is home to Malayan sun bears, tigers, and wild elephants, and sightings aren't rare once you get deep into the evergreen rainforest.

The park is also famous for its eco-luxury camps, where tents come with en-suite bathrooms, deluxe bedding, their own kayak, and some of the best meals you'll try in Thailand.

17. Ao Nang

Ao Nang | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

One of the most important anchors for Krabi's islands is the mainland beachtown of Ao Nang. It's from this pier that many travelers venture off to the more far-flung and remote beaches, like Railay, Koh Poda, and the beaches of Koh Phi Phi. But Ao Nang is an attraction in itself, with so much to see and do right here on the mainland.

Ao Nang is a busy port, and more often than not, you'll find the bay practically brimming with longtail boats waiting to take tourists out onto the water. The long, wide beach is always alive with activity, from sunbathers and tour-seekers, to street food vendors.

Ao Nang has two main thoroughfares that are flanked on either end with restaurants, shops, and hotels. Outside of town is another main road lined with street food stalls that comes alive once the sun goes down.

Ao Nang is also the best jumping-off point from which to explore smaller beach communities, like Klong Muang for the famous Railay Beach.

18. Hua Hin Beach

Hua Hin beach and Khao Takiab | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

Where do Bangkok residents go when they want a relaxing beach getaway? Hua Hin, of course. This bustling seaside town is jam-packed with restaurants, resorts, shopping, and lots of things to do. It's for good reason  the main draw to Hua Hin is its powder-white beach that sits perched at the edge of the turquoise Gulf of Thailand.

Hua Hin beach is massive. It runs from Klai Kangwon Palace in the north down to Khao Takiab. It is undeniably one of the top attractions in Thailand, but that does come with a few caveats. The sand is as bleached white and soft as they say, but because of its beauty, it has definitely become increasingly crowded over the years. The white sand is lined with dozens of beach restaurants and hawkers who charge crazy prices for food and beverages. And it may be difficult to find a quiet place to swim.

Having said all that, it is absolutely beautiful. Arriving in shoulder season will ensure that it will be a little more low key.

For something a little more laid-back, head to Suan Son beach, which is about 12 kilometers south of Hua Hin.

19. Prasat Hin Phimai

Prasat Hin Phimai

Thailand's ancient cities are among the most beautiful and fascinating in the world. Most visitors to Thailand know about Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, but Prasat Hin Phimai is another gorgeous historical park that is worthy of your time.

The Phimai Historical Park holds one of the largest Hindu Khmer temples in the country. It dates back to the 11th or 12th centuries. In fact, it was connected with Angkor (in present day Cambodia) by an ancient Khmer roadway. If you've ever visited or seen pictures of Angkor Wat you'll recognize the gorgeous, elaborate architecture.

The stunning historic park is in the Nakhon Ratchasima province to the northeast of Bangkok.

20. Phang Nga Bay

James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay

When you close your eyes and picture the southern seas of Thailand, what you're likely picturing is the mesmerizing Phang Nga Bay. Positioned between southern Thailand's mainland and the island of Phuket, the massive bay is known for its towering limestone cliffs, electric blue water, tropical lagoons, rich jungle forests, and small islands.

The bay is also home to Ao Phang Nga National Park, which keeps its natural beauty protected. Many visitors who come to Thailand tour the bay on a day trip or an island-hopping tour. One of the most famous islands is called James Bond Island, thanks to its appearance in the film, The Man with the Golden Gun.

While exploring the bay, the Similan Islands are a must-see. These low-lying islands are lush with jungle and rimmed with striking white sand. They are also known for the massive boulders that cover their shores.

21. Mae Hong Son Loop

Rice field on the Mae Hong Son Loop | Photo Copyright: Meagan Drillinger

For many travelers, a visit to Chiang Mai is about as far north as they get in Thailand. But a venture into the northernmost province of Mae Hong Son, on the border with Myanmar, will take the Thailand experience to a whole new level. One of the most popular ways to travel in Mae Hong Son is to drive the Mae Hong Son loop, beginning and ending in Chiang Mai.

The loop travels up into the mountains, some of the most beautiful countryside in Thailand. The hilly, lush, mountainous terrain lends itself to a road ribboned into switchbacks. The drive is challenging, but beautiful, not to mention fun. Most travelers who do the loop make stops in towns like Pai, Mae Hong Son, and Mae Sariang. Along the way, are guesthouses, stops for lunch, lookout points, waterfalls, and hot springs.

The entire loop is about 600 kilometers. The trip can be done in four days, but you may want to leave more time, so you can take your time. Anywhere from five to seven days will have you doing the loop at a relaxed pace.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Exploring Thailand's Islands: The islands are some of Thailand's hottest attractions. Glorious beaches attract all kinds of travelers and vacationers. Places like Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui attract a lot of attention but you may also want to consider destinations like Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which offer unique alternatives.
17 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam

Written by Jess Lee

Updated Mar 22, 2022

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Vietnam is an astonishing mix of natural highlights and cultural diversity.

The scenery ranges from jagged peaks seen from winding mountain passes down to verdant paddy fields painted every shade of green in the palette, while Vietnam's long history and multicultural population (with over 50 ethnic minority groups) make a trip here rich in heritage.

Outdoor lovers can get their teeth into the countryside within the numerous national parks, where hiking, biking, and kayaking are popular things to do, but Vietnam's most famous natural tourist attraction, the spectacular karst seascape of Halong Bay, is one natural sight that even the more slothful can experience up close on a cruise.

While the rural areas brim with lush panoramas, the big cities buzz with contemporary life and provide ample opportunities to get stuck into Vietnam's tasty culinary highlights.

This fascinating country is full of surprises and is one of Southeast Asia's most underrated destinations. Plan your sightseeing with our list of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

1. Halong Bay

Halong Bay

The karst seascape of Halong Bay is one of the best places to visit in the world for spellbinding sea views and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thousands of limestone islands sit within this bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, eroded into jagged pinnacles by wind and water action over millennia.

With the bay's scenery best seen by boat, this is prime cruising territory. Opt for at least an overnight tour to see Halong Bay's iconic views as a day trip doesn't do it justice.

There are plenty of caves in the bay that can be entered including the Hang Sung Sot, with three mammoth caverns, and the Hang Dao Go, with superbly weird stalagmites and stalactites. For most people though, the highlight is simply cruising amid the karsts and soaking up the changing scenery of pinnacles as you pass by. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Halong Bay

2. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Hall

For big city fans, no visit to Vietnam is really complete without a visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the buzzing commercial hub of the country.

The streets are an insane clog of motorbikes and cars, the restaurant and cafe scene is incredibly cosmopolitan, and the shopping is the best in the country.

At its center is Dong Khoi, a relatively small and easily navigable central district, which holds most of the city's sights.

Here, you'll find the HCMC Museum, with a brilliant collection of artifacts that weaves together the story of the city, and the grand Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 19th century.

Check out the old district of Da Kao nearby for some of the best surviving examples of the city's French colonial architecture and also to visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda with its dazzling array of Buddhist and Taoist religious iconography.

Afterwards, the History Museum is a must-do for history fans with stacks of relics on display from various archaeological sites.

For many visitors, the two big-hitter tourist attractions not to miss are just a little out of the center, along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. The Reunification Palace, then known as Independence Palace, was the residence for South Vietnam's president. It's chiefly famous as the spot where North Vietnam's tanks stopped on 30 April 1975, officially ending the war. It's a completely fascinating place to visit complete with 1960s furnishings still in situ.

Nearby is the War Remnants Museum, which although very obviously biased, paints a disturbing picture of the brutality of war and the many atrocities committed by US Forces during their Vietnam campaign. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: Best Areas & Hotels

3. Hue

Hue

One of Vietnam's most historic towns, Hue is packed to the brim with relics from the reign of the 19th-century Nguyen emperors.

Sitting along the banks of the gorgeous Perfume River, the Imperial Enclosure is a huge site set within walls that sprawl for 2.5 kilometers.

While touring the grounds check out the gorgeous Ngo Mon Gate, the Thai Hoa Palace with its finely lacquered interior detailing, the Dien Tho Residence where the Queen Mothers would live, and the Halls of Mandarins with its preserved ceiling murals.

A dazzling number of historic sites lie outside the Imperial Enclosure walls as well.

One of the nicest ways of visiting a collection of outlying sites is by taking a riverboat cruise on the Perfume River. A day cruise can take you to visit several royal tombs along with some pagodas.

If you're short on time, the best tomb to visit is the Tomb of Tu Doc and the most important pagoda in the area is the Thien Mu Pagoda, with its tower that soars for 21 meters high. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Hue

4. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

One of the best places to visit in Vietnam for caving, World Heritage-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a dramatic karst mountain formation honeycombed with huge caverns, which are home to superb stalactite and stalagmite displays.

The most popular destination within the park is the Paradise Cave, which extends for a staggering 31 kilometers below ground.

The yawning caverns here are truly spectacular. Tu Lan Cave is a "wet cave," and a visit here includes swimming through the cave-systems river.

The other most popular excursion is to the Phong Nha Caves, where the interior is accessed by boat.

You can access Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Son Trach. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

5. My Son

Hindu temple ruins at My Son

Surrounded by lush jungle-covered mountains, My Son is a ruined Cham era temple city that dates from the 4th century.

This old Hindu religious center was still very much in use during the 7th to 10th centuries and only fell into complete decline and abandonment during the 13th century.

There are around 20 temple structures still standing here, all built of brick or sandstone blocks and showing interesting influences from various Asian empires, including Indian and Malay.

Note that the temples of Group B are the oldest, while Group A once contained the site's most important monument but was destroyed deliberately by US forces during the Vietnam War.

A good museum on-site houses plenty of information on the Cham.

Access to My Son is from Hoi An. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Hoi An

6. Hoi An

Hoi An

Beautiful Hoi An is the most atmospheric city in Vietnam, with bags of surviving historic architecture.

The old town quarter is a joy to explore, packed to the brim with well-preserved merchant houses that hark back to Hoi An's trading center heyday of the 15th century, when the town was a major meeting point for Japanese and Chinese merchants who flocked here for the local silks.

Plenty of the old merchant houses have been opened to the public, so you can get a taste of these times. The best is 17th-century Tan Ky House, with fascinating architectural and decorative elements.

Hoi An's major symbol is the delightful Japanese Bridge at the western end of Tran Phu Street, while nearby, the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is the old town's most highly decorated temple.

There are numerous small pagodas and museums dotted about town, but Hoi An's true charm is found in simply rambling the old town streets admiring the well-preserved facades. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Hoi An

7. Sapa Countryside

Sapa Countryside

The verdant rice field countryside surrounding Sapa, bordered by the jagged peaks of the Hoang Lien Mountains (often still known by their French colonial era name of the Tonkinese Alps), are home to Vietnam's most beautiful rural vistas.

The deep valleys here are home to a diverse mix of the country's ethnic minorities, including the Hmong, Giay, and Red Dzao people, while the rippling hills are terraced with rice fields and overlooked by the country's tallest peak, Fansipan Mountain.

This is the top trekking destination in Vietnam with oodles of options to trek or day hike between tiny villages and experience the staggering mountain views.

Sapa itself is the main base here - an old hill station and now a bustling and forever growing tourist center that is a stark contrast to the sumptuous tranquil countryside right on its doorstep. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Sapa

8. Hanoi

Hanoi

Vietnam's capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation and a place that befuddles travelers as much as it charms them.

The motorbike frenzy, pollution, and constant clamor of street vendors can get too much for some travelers, but if you want to dive into Vietnamese city life, Hanoi is the place to do it.

The old town quarter has plenty of dilapidated charm on offer, while history fans should make a beeline here simply to see the bundle of excellent museums.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Vietnam Fine Art Museum are both brilliant introductions to the diverse artistry of the country, while the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an important tribute to the founder of modern Vietnam. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Hanoi: Best Areas & Hotels Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Hanoi

9. Nha Trang

Nha Trang

For sandy fun in Vietnam, Nha Trang is king. The well-maintained beach trundles for six kilometers along the shoreline of central Nha Trang city and during summer is jam-packed with local families on vacation, as well as foreign visitors.

There is excellent swimming here with designated swimming areas and manicured lounging areas that make this a great option for relaxing days soaking up the sun and sand.

If you do get bored of sunbathing, the ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers are just to the north across the Xom Bong Bridge and have been used as a place of worship here since at least the 7th century (with some historians saying the site itself has been a place of active worship since much earlier).

There is also an excellent museum dedicated to the work of Alexandre Yersin who discovered the cause of the bubonic plague and founded Nha Trang's Pasteur Institute (which still carries out vaccination programs in Vietnam today). Accommodation: Where to Stay in Nha Trang

10. Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels

An absolutely fascinating experience for all travelers, not just those interested in Vietnam's modern military history, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive tunnel network that during the war, stretched for more than 250 kilometers, allowing VC troops to operate and communicate in the area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City.

Two short sections of the network can be visited with a guide who'll take you down into the narrow unlit confines, which definitely are not for claustrophobia sufferers.

You will literally be crawling on your hands and knees and some points. You can access the tunnels at either Ben Dinh village (the more popular choice) or Ben Duoc village.

11. Ba Be National Park

Ba Be National Park

Tranquil Ba Be National Park is absolutely stunning with the three interlinked Ba Be Lakes at its heart, rimmed by jagged karst peaks and thickly forested slopes.

Most visitors come here to take peaceful boat trips or kayak on the lake and explore the caves full of stalactites and stalagmites in the vicinity, but for the more active, there's also excellent hiking and trekking in the hills here between ethnic minority villages.

This is one of the most peaceful spots in Vietnam, and travelers who spend the night here sleep in traditional stilt-house homestay accommodation along the lakeshore, allowing an experience of simple rural life.

12. Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta

The far south of Vietnam is where the mighty Mekong River finally finds its way to the sea in a maze of waterways that crisscross the floodplain.

Incredibly lush, with paddy field vistas and mangroves, and full of local life, with chaotic floating markets to explore by boat, the delta is one of the most interesting regions for travelers to discover.

Can Tho is the most popular town to use as a base, as it's close to the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang, while boat trips from Ca Mau allow you to explore the U Minh Mangrove Forest and Cau Mau Nature Reserve.

13. Cat Ba Island

View from the top of Cat Ba Island

One of Vietnam's major centers for activities and adventure travel attractions, Cat Ba Island sits on the western edge of Halong Bay.

This is the best place to visit if you want to organize cruises and kayaking trips in Lan Ha Bay, which lies off Cat Ba's southern coast. Lan Ha Bay is a less visited seascape of karst islets and outcrops that makes for a quieter alternative to Halong Bay.

Off the water, much of Cat Ba's dense jungle interior is part of Cat Ba National Park, where hikers can spot plentiful birdlife, as well as animals such as macaques.

For many visitors, though, Cat Ba is all about climbing opportunities. Climbing excursions here utilize both the island's limestone cliffs and Lan Ha Bay's outcrops, providing experiences to suit both complete climbing beginners and experienced climbers. Accommodation: Where to Stay on Cat Ba Island

14. Ha Giang

Scenery along the Mai Pi Leng Pass

The emerald-green karst mountain landscapes along Ha Giang's mountain passes make this far-north province prime territory for scenic road-tripping by either motorbike or car.

In particular, the twisty Quan Ba Pass between Ha Giang town and Tam Son provides panoramic vistas of the karst plateau and its jagged limestone outcrops, while the zigzagging Mai Pi Leng Pass between Dong Van and Meo Vac offers dizzying views of the lush mountain scenery and narrow valleys below.

Time your visit to coincide with one of the area's market days, when traders from the surrounding mountain villages pile into town. Dong Van's Sunday market is one of the best.

15. Phu Quoc Island

View of colorful fishing boats from the Phu Quoc cable-car

Sitting 45 kilometers off the southern coast of the country, in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is a densely forested island, speckled by sweeps of white-sand beach that attract plenty of sunseekers during the winter dry season.

Dry season (November to May) is also when the island's underwater and on-the-water tourism attractions spring into action, with plenty of dive sites in the waters just offshore, as well as opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, and boat trips.

Many of the main boat excursions head to the An Thoi Islands, just to the south of Phu Quoc, which is home to the best snorkeling in the area.

Off the water, the Phu Quoc cable-car provides bird's-eye views for eight kilometers, soaring over the seascape and islands, all the way from Phu Quoc to the island of Hon Thom in the An Thoi Islands.

Phu Quac is accessed by plane or regular ferries from the mainland towns of Rach Gia and Ha Tien. As Ha Tien lies very close to the southern border crossing with Cambodia, the island is a popular first (or last) stop-off in Vietnam for overland travelers.

16. Con Dao Islands

An Hai Beach on Con Son Island

This remote island group lies around 160 kilometers offshore in the South China Sea and is renowned among divers as one of the best places to visit in the country, both for the variety of sea life and for the coral reefs.

Much of the Con Dao Islands, and the surrounding water, is a protected wilderness area, with the island shores home to nesting turtles, and dense forest still covering the island interiors.

The main island, and prime base for visitors with all the accommodation and things to do, is Con Son Island, which has sweeps of sand strung out across its coast that attract beachgoers looking for a relaxed sun-soaked getaway, as well as divers.

Even if you're here mostly for the beach, make sure to explore the historic sites of Con Son Town (the island's only settlement) including Phu Hai Prison, Bao Tang Con Dao Museum, and the prison known as the Tiger Cages, which document the dark history of this isolated island group.

Con Son's remote position led to the island being used to incarcerate political prisoners during the era Vietnam was occupied by French colonial forces, and later by both the South Vietnamese government and the occupying American forces.

Preserved sites including Phu Hai Prison and the prison cages used by the US forces, known as the Tiger Cages, along with Con Son Town's Bao Tang Con Dao Museum, do an excellent job of documenting this history for visitors.

Access to Con Son Island is either by flight from Ho Chi Minh City or by ferry from the coastal city of Vung Tau.

17. Mui Ne

Fishing boats on the beach in Mui Ne

Once a sleepy coastal fishing town, Mui Ne has developed into a beautiful beach resort town and a prime destination for windsurfing, sailing, and kitesurfing.

Compared to other beach destinations in Vietnam, however, Mui Ne remains relatively unknown - and this means pristine beaches and a quiet retreat for most of the year.

Red cliffs and river in Mui Ne

One of Mui Ne's most unique attractions is the natural Red Sand Dunes just outside town, where visitors can practice sand-sledding or rent dune buggies for a more adrenaline-charged experience.

Tucked away between nearby fishing villages and towering orange limestone formations, there's the fairy stream, a slow-moving warm stream that almost feels like a walkway because it's so shallow - follow it to the end to reach a waterfall.

For those wishing to explore beyond the coastline, there's also the ruins of the Po Shanu Cham Towers - remnants of the Cham Empire that dominated the area many centuries ago. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Mui Ne

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

Vietnam experiences strong monsoon seasons, where heavy rains hit the cities and the countryside, often causing floods and mudslides. If you're planning to travel around, the best time to visit Vietnam is during the dry season, which lasts from December to February  but there are some exceptions.

The south of Vietnam  where Ho Chi Minh city is located  experiences a more tropical climate, with high temperatures and high humidity year-round. Visiting these areas in the cooler months means less humidity and temperatures in the high 20s rather than the high 30s and 40s, which makes it more comfortable to walk around.

In the north, however, many areas experience an actual winter. Hanoi sees temperatures in the mid- to high teens in December and January  and in the mountains of Sapa in the north, you'll even get to see some snow during these months.

If you're visiting Danang for some beach time or to travel through the ancient town of Hoi An, it's best to arrive between February and May, when water and air temperature are in the 20s  perfect beach weather for enjoying the sand or a dip in the water. The rainy season, and especially the months of September and October, see very heavy rains and often very strong wind storms on the coast, so it's better to stay away from Danang during this time.
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According to a Washington Post report published Friday, the legal team of senior White House adviser and the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner is looking to hire a crisis public relations firm. The news comes as the investigation into Russias influence on the 2016 election and the Trump campaigns possible collusion with the foreign government heats up.

Four sources told The Post that Abbe Lowell, Kushners lawyer, called a minimum of two PR firms over the past couple of weeks. Lowell confirmed the information in a statement for the papers report.

My law firm and I are considering hiring an outside consultant to handle the time-consuming incoming inquiries on the cases in which I am working that receive media attention, he said. This inquiry from you about whether I am doing this is a good example of why we need one.

The Kushner camp was rejected by Mercury Public Affairs, a firm also currently being investigated by Mueller for its lobbying activities.

The only reason Jared Kushner would hire a crisis public relations firm is because  wait for it  A CRISIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO HIM. Also, anyone who needs a crisis firm should not have a security clearance. Oh, and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, you backed the wrong person. https://t.co/3EqbbklXlN  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 15, 2017

Kushner has reportedly been feeling increasingly frustrated with the bad press surrounding his communication with a Russian lawyer. Since he was recently revealed to be the very senior member who instructed former national security adviser Mike Flynn to contact Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak last December, the negative coverage on Kushners involvement has only increased.

Whether Kushners need for crisis management professionals is a response to learning of new developments in the investigation that will bring even more scrutiny to him or not, its definitely a sign that he and his camp are feeling more anxious about the Russia probe than they were before.
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Remember last July when Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros and his regime? At the time the Maduros regime was attempting to re-write Venezuelas constitution to erode provisions enforcing democratic institutions in order to secure dictatorial powers for himself.

Mnuchin issued a statement last July 31 that, looking back, we can see contains language remarkably resonant with the recent behaviors of not just the Trump administration but, it is important to note, the current GOP regime itself. In this statement, Mnuchin said, As President Trump said earlier this month, the strong and courageous actions by the Venezuelan people to stand for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law have been continually ignored by Nicolas Maduro who dreams of becoming a dictator. Yesterdays illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people.

While Mnuchin characterizes Maduro as a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people, certainly the Republican efforts over the last year to ramrod massively unpopular legislation through Congress, from the failed Obamacare repeal to the current tax bill, constitute similar, even equal, disregard for the will of the American people.

Consider the following examples:

*Last September myriad major groups and constituencies, including the American Medical Association, the National Council on Behavioral Health, the American Association of Retired People, as well as major Health Insurance Companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and the largest health insurance lobby Americas Health Insurance Plans, expressed strenuous opposition to the Graham-Cassidy Bill designed to repeal and replace much of the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare. The legislation failed, to be sure, but what is important to note is that the Republican majorities in Congress pushed forward with the legislation despite this ferocious popular opposition among the industry itself and the masses of Americans.

*The current tax bill, which all signs indicate will be passed by Congress before Christmas, is also opposed by the majority of Americans. A Gallup poll from earlier this December registered a 56% disapproval rating for the bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while a Quinnipiac Poll from the same time registered a 53% disapproval rating. Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight site compiled data ranking the bill the least popular tax-related bill since 1981, and included two tax-hike bills in the 1990s.

Despite this clear opposition from an American majority, Congress still nonetheless has promised to pass the current tax bill and President Trump has pledged to sign it, characterizing it as a Christmas present for the American people, who conversely, polls indicate, view the bill as a lump of coal in their stockings.

While Trumps campaign was often characterized as a populist one, his administration has in the main disregarded the will of the American people, to the point of assaulting the economic well-being of the mass of Americans. Remember his first hour in office when he made mortgages more expensive for millions of middle-class and lower-income Americans?

Certainly, many have observed and discussed not just his abandonment of a populist agenda but his assumption of a downright authoritarian style of rule. But what really needs to be understood and underlined is that this authoritarianism, what Mnuchin described with Maduro as a disregard for the will of the people, is not limited to Trump himself but, more to the point, characterizes the Republican majority itself.

What accounts for this authoritarianism of the GOP that governs and legislates with such blatant disregard for the well-being of the majority of Americans? If the GOP isnt representing the American majority, then whom do they pretend to represent?

Well, Republicans have been quite candid, according to Dylan Scott of Vox, about their motivations. They serve their donors, a small wealthy sliver of the American population, at the expense of the populous. He cites Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) who told him, My donors are basically saying, Get it done or dont ever call me again.

Populism has become donorism, and representational democracy has been turned on its head, becoming a representational elitism, leaving the majority of Americans inspired with terror at the prospects the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has in store for them.

The question now is how the will of the people, so blatantly disregarded by Trump and the broader GOPboth its fringe and establishment wings,will express itself in the 2018 mid-term elections.
As I note below, Axios has posted the letter from Trump transition lawyer Korey Langhofer to Senator Ron Johnson and other members of Congress responsible for oversight here. Interested readers really have to read for themselves the facts recounted in section II. of the letter at pages 3-5:

After Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017, [Trump for America] wound down the bulk of its activities, vacated the premises provided by the [General Services Administration], and returned to the GSA the computer and telephone equipment that TFA had used during the transition period. Shortly thereafter, the GSA asked TFA for direction on the disposition of [Presidential Transition Team] data. TFA directed the GSA to handle PTT data in a manner consistent with the [Memorandum of Understanding] and the reported disposition of data from President Obamas presidential transition in 2008; computing devices were to be restored to original settings and reissued to federal personnel and, to the extent that PTT records were not required for the winding down of TFAs affairs, the PTT email archives were no longer to be preserved.

Approximately two months later, TFA became aware of certain requests concerning PTT records. TFA promptly instructed the GSA, as the custodian of certain TFA records including PTT emails hosted on GSA servers, and others to preserve PTT records. Because of TFAs prompt reaction, all PTT emails have been preserved.

In order to comply with congressional document production requests, TFA ordered from the GSA electronic copies of all PTT emails and other data. Career GSA staff initially expressed concern that providing copies of PTT emails to TFA might violate a document preservation request that the GSA had received from the Special Counsels Office. This issue was resolved decisively on June 15, 2017 after a series of emails and telephone calls between TFAs legal counsel and Richard Beckler and Lenny Loewentritt, the newly appointed General Counsel for the GSA and the career Deputy General Counsel for the GSA, respectively. After discussion and consideration of the issue, Mr. Beckler acknowledged unequivocally to TFAs legal counsel, in the presence of Mr. Loewentritt, that TFA owned and controlled the PTT emails and data pursuant to the Presidential Transition Act, and that the GSA had no right to access or control the records but was simply serving as TFAs records custodian. Mr. Beckler assured legal counsel for TFA, again in the presence of Mr. Loewentritt, that any requests for the production of PTT records would therefore be routed to legal counsel for TFA. In the meantime, Mr. Beckler agreed to maintain all computer equipment in a secure, locked space within GSA facilities. There are multiple surviving witnesses to this conversation, including me. Additionally, we understand that the following day, June 16, 2017, Mr. Beckler personally informed the Special Counsels Office that PTT records are not owned or controlled by the GSA, and that the Special Counsels Office should communicate with TFA if it desired to obtain PTT records.

It is our understanding that Mr. Beckler was hospitalized and incapacitated in August 2017. Notwithstanding Mr. Becklers June 16, 2017 instruction to the Special Counsels Office concerning the ownership and control of PTT records, the Special Counsels Office, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), sent to the GSA two requests for the production of PTT materials while Mr. Beckler was hospitalized and unable to supervise legal matters for the GSA. Specifically, on August 23, 2017, the FBI sent a letter (i.e., not a subpoena) to career GSA staff requesting copies of the emails, laptops, cell phones, and other materials associated with nine PTT members responsible for national security and policy matters. On August 30, 2017, the FBI sent a letter (again, not a subpoena) to career GSA staff requesting such materials for four additional senior PTT members.

Career GSA staff, working with Mr. Loewentritt and at the direction of the FBI, immediately produced all the materials requested by the Special Counsels Office  without notifying TFA or filtering or redacting privileged material. The materials produced by the GSA to the Special Counsels Office therefore included materials protected by the attorney-client privilege, the deliberative process privilege, and the presidential communications privilege. It is our understanding that Mr. Beckler passed away without returning to the GSA, and that career GSA staff (including Mr. Loewentritt) never consulted with or informed Mr. Beckler or his successor of the unauthorized production of PTT materials.

The unauthorized production of PTT materials by career GSA staff violates (a) the GSAs duties to TFA pursuant to the GSAs previous acknowledgement concerning TFAs rightful ownership and control of PTT materials; (b) the statute requiring the GSA to ensure that any computers or communications services provided to an eligible candidate . . . are secure, 3 U.S.C.  102 note 3(h)(2)(B)(ii); and (c) the Fourth Amendments prohibition on a government actor (e.g., Mr. Loewentritt), or a private actor working at the request of a government official, failing to obtain a warrant for the search of seizure of private property in which the owner has a reasonable expectation of privacy, see Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 489 (1971).

We understand that the Special Counsels Office has subsequently made extensive use of the materials it obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims. Additionally, certain portions of the PTT materials the Special Counsels Office obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims, have been leaked to the press by unknown persons. Moreover, the leaked records have been provided to the press without important context and in a manner that appears calculated to inflict maximum reputational damage on the PTT and its personnel, without the inclusion of records showing that PTT personnel acted properly  which in turn forces TFA to make an impossible choice between (a) protecting its legal privileges by keeping its records confidential and (b) waiving its privileges by publicly releasing records that counteract the selective leaks and misguided news reports. In short, since the GSA improperly provided them to the Special Counsels Office, the PTTs privileged materials have not only been reviewed privately by the Special Counsels Office without notification to TFA  they have also been misused publicly.

We discovered the unauthorized disclosures by the GSA on December 12 and 13, 2017. When we learned that the Special Counsels Office had received certain laptops and cell phones containing privileged materials, we initially raised our concerns with Brandon Van Grack in the Special Counsels Office on December 12, 2017. Mr. Van Grack confirmed that the Special Counsels Office had obtained certain laptops, cell phones, and at least one iPad from the GSA  but he assured us that the Special Counsels investigation did not recover any emails or other relevant data from that hardware. During this exchange, Mr. Van Grack failed to disclose the critical fact that undercut the importance of his representations, namely, that the Special Counsels Office had simultaneously received from the GSA tens of thousands of emails, including a very significant volume of privileged material, and that the Special Counsels Office was actively using those materials without any notice to TFA. Mr. Van Grack also declined to inform us of the identities of the 13 individuals whose materials were at issue. We followed up with Mr. Van Grack the next day after learning of the unauthorized disclosure of PTT emails to ask what procedures, if any, had been implemented to protect privileged PTT communications from unauthorized and improper review. Mr. Van Grack declined to respond at the time, but contacted us on December 15, 2017 to inform us that the Special Counsels Office had, in fact, failed to use an ethical wall or taint team and instead simply reviewed the privileged communications contained in the PTT materials. Mr. Van Grack also acknowledged on the December 12, 2017 telephone call that, even before we contacted him, the Special Counsels Office had been aware of the importance and sensitivity of the privilege issues that we raised.
Last week I noted that by order dated December 6 a Wisconsin judge unsealed an 88-page report on the state Department of Justices (WisDoJ) investigation into a leak of sealed evidence from the politically motivated John Doe investigation of Gov. Scott Walker, his supporters, and various conservative groups related to his recall election campaign. The 88-page report is posted here. The investigation was triggered by the Guardians publication of leaked documents last year in the article Because Scott Walker asked.

The WisDoJ report lacks an executive summary. The pseudonymous Warren Henry summarized and commented on the report for the Federalist in Bombshell report: Political persecution of Scott Walker swept up high-level GOP officials. Matt Kittle also summarized and commented on the report for Wisconsins MacIver Institute in DoJ report: Wisconsins infamous John Doe was more sinister than first reported. Kittle updated the story here and here last week.

Now Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Christian Schneider outlines the background and explains how the report advances the story in Wisconsin, the surveillance state. Appearing in the December 25 issue of the Weekly Standard that was just posted online Friday, the article is a useful addition to the previous columns on the WisDoJ report.

Schneiders article cites the Wall Street Journal column (behind the Journals paywall) by Republican state senator and U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir. Vukmir and her family were victims of the spying operation exposed in the report. Vukmir decries the crimes committed against them; she wants the perpetrators to see jail time.

The report itself does not provide encouragement on that front. Although it notes the violation of a number of Wisconsin criminal laws, it also notes the difficulty of pinpointing criminal responsibility. Senator Vukmir is unlikely to receive satisfaction from the Wisconsin authorities.

At page 87 the report itself recommends the initiation of professional disciplinary proceedings against Falk as well as contempt proceedings against Falk and eight others. That wont do much for Vukmir et al.

Schneider focuses on former Government Accountability Board member Shane Falk in connection with the leak to the Guardian (the GAB is now defunct). I wonder if a section 1983 action for damages doesnt lie against Falk, if not the other state officers named in the report. In a section 1983 action plaintiffs would have to prove the officers violation of plaintiffs constitutional right(s) under color of state law. In order to overcome the qualified immunity that protects state officers in a section 1983 action, however, plaintiffs would also have to prove that the state officers violated a clearly established constitutional right of which a reasonable officer would have known. That seems to me the easy part of this case. I trust that Senator Vukmir is seeking the advice of counsel on possible civil remedies that she may have under federal law.

The Wall Street Journal originally broke the story that underlies the stunning WisDoJ report in an October 2013 editorial and continued to break news on the story in reported editorials such as this one. Journal columnist Kim Strassel devoted a couple of chapters to the story in her book The Intimidation Game (published in paperback earlier this year). David French turned National Reviews spotlight on the events in the excellent cover story Wisconsins shame: I thought it was a home invasion.'

Let me repeat the conclusion to my post on the report last week. The wrongdoing detailed in the WisDoJ report is of the deeply fascist variety that exceeds my poor powers of denunciation. Suffice it to say that it combines the instruments of tyranny  physical torture omitted  in the service of the suppression of conservatives. The story is shocking almost beyond belief. One might ask where the outrage is, but at this point we should probably ask if anyone is paying attention.
By PTI: Karachi, Dec 17 (PTI) Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as "patriotic", former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistans "safety and security", according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general, who is on self-exile in Dubai, had last month said that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah.

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"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," the ARY News channel quoted him as saying.

Musharraf said the two groups have large public support and good people and no one could object if they formed a political party.

The LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed, while the JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

JuD chief Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack, had last month unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

The former military ruler further said that so far the two groups have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection.

Musharraf had last month announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharrafs Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, then toppled prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan for nine years, is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan. He unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.

He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharifs control anymore". PTI SMJ ZH AKJ SMJ

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Michael Scarpato was working a state Forest Fire Service tower last week when he got the call.

It was 9 a.m. and Scarpato, 21, of Hammonton, was looking forward to the next day  his first day off in a while  but the call changed everything.

He went home, packed and headed to the airport. By 3 p.m., he was on his way to California.

There, he joined the 8,369 other firefighters (as of Friday) helping fight the historic Thomas Fire in Southern California.

The Thomas Fire, already the fourth-largest wildfire in California history, has burned more than 252,000 acres as of Friday. More than 800 structures have been destroyed, too.

Scarpato has been a firefighter since he was 17, first as a volunteer for Hammonton. In June 2014, he joined the New Jersey Forest Fire Service at the first possible opportunity  right when I turned 18, he said.

For the past two years, he has been part of two contract engines: DS Fire Suppression based in Helena, Montana, and Alpine Wildfire based in Carson City, Nevada. For this fire, he is with Alpine Wildfire.

A contract engine is a company firefighters could join from all across the country. Think of it as the National Guard or the Air Force Reserve. Most hold another job, but can be called into action when conditions warrant.

Scarpato has left South Jersey to head west before. His first trip was in 2015 was to Northern California. This summer, the Waldorf University student spent 70 days fighting wildfires in Montana.

However, he said he has never seen any fire quite like this one.

This fire is a beast of nature. When we first got here, there was no getting in front of it or slowing it down. It was an extremely explosive sight and incinerated anything in its path, he said.

On Dec. 4, the first embers of this fire were reported near Santa Paula, California, about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The dry Santa Ana winds, strong seasonal winds that blow through the valleys of South California, spread this wildfire quickly.

The National Weather Service issued its first-ever Code Purple for fire danger Dec. 7. A Code Purple means, Upon ignition, fire will have extreme growth, will burn very intensely and will be uncontrollable. The winds were so strong last Thursday, Scarpato said, fire control by air was impossible.

Weather is as much a factor as firefighters efforts in containing wildfires.

Specifically, wind and relative humidity are more important than whether it rains. Unfortunately for California, humidity has been extremely low. At Van Nuys Airport between Los Angeles and Ventura, the humidity was a bone-dry and very rare 1 percent Tuesday.

Its Chapstick and lotion weather out here for sure, Scarpato said.

He was stationed until last Wednesday in Ventura, California, north of Los Angeles. Since then, he has been in Santa Barbara. In both places, his role has been structure protection.

To protect homes and businesses, he and his crew of three other firefighters set up sprinklers. The crew also uses Phos-Chek fire retardant around structures.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles expected the Santa Ana winds to strengthen Sunday into early Monday. With single-digit humidity expected, firefighting will be a struggle.

How long will Scarpatos stay in California last? That depends on when the job gets done.

Its one of those things where you do not know when you will come back, he said.

When he is done, the people of Hammonton will be happy to know he is with them, Hammonton Fire Chief Bill Eppler said.

He is a very dedicated firefighter. He does whatever he can do to help Hammonton and the community, Eppler said.

Scarpato says he feels the appreciation of the people in California for firefighters.

With Christmas approaching, they are very thankful for us, but we can only do so much.

It hits you in the gut.
Salami and prosciutto packages produced in Canada and shipped to New Jersey have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination, federal officials said.

The recall, which was issued Saturday, is for ready-to-eat products made by Pillers Fine Foods, of Waterloo, Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Safety Inspection Service.

The products affected are vacuum-sealed plastic packages labeled Black Kassel Pillers Dry Aged DAmour Salami and Black Kassel Pillers Dry Aged Speck Smoked Prosciutto with a best before date of May 12, 2018, a news release said.

Anyone who purchased the salami or prosciutto should throw it away or return it to the store, officials said.

The meat was produced in Canada and sent to distribution centers in New Jersey and other states, according to the FSIS. As of Sunday, the agency did not have a list of retail locations where the product was sold.

A sample of the meat tested positive for salmonella, according to the news release. There were no reports of illness from the products, FSIS said.

People who eat food contaminated by salmonella can develop a bacterial illness that causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, officials said. Symptoms usually occur 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated food and normally last four to seven days, the release said.

Most people recover without treatment, although some with severe cases may have to be hospitalized, according to the FSIS.

Officials advised those suffering from symptoms to contact their health care providers.

Pillers produced the recalled salami and prosciutto in September and October, and the products were shipped to distribution centers in New Jersey, California, Illinois, Michigan and New York, officials said.

Consumers with questions may call Pillers President Trent Hilpert at 519-743-1412, ext. 240.
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Washington, Dec 16 : US President Donald Trump's private lawyers are slated to meet Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is currently probing alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, next week, the media reported.

While the lawyers have met with Mueller's team before and might again, the upcoming meeting has greater significance because it comes after the completion of interviews of White House personnel requested by the Special Counsel and after all requested documents have been turned over, informed officials told CNN late Friday.

Mueller could still request more documents and additional interviews. No request to interview the President or Vice President Mike Pence has been made.

Trump's team, led by John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, is hoping for signs that Mueller's investigation is nearing its end, or at least the part having to do with the President, the officials said.

After about seven months on the job, Mueller has already brought charges against four people, including two who have pleaded guilty to making false statements and are now cooperating with the investigation, CNN reported.

Earlier this week, White House Counsel Don McGahn sat for an interview with Mueller's investigators, according to the officials.

He was among the last of the White House employees to be interviewed.

White House officials and the President's lawyers have dismissed the idea that Mueller could charge Trump and others around him for obstruction of justice.
By PTI: Srinagar, Dec 17 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today condemned the killing of a civilian during an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in Kupwara district.

The senior National Conference leader said the Armys "uninvestigated" claim that he was killed in crossfire should not be used to brush the incident under the carpet.

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Asif Iqbal Bhat, a driver by profession and a resident of Thandipora, was injured in a firing incident in the Thandipora area of Kupwara last night.

He was taken to the Kralpora sub district hospital, from where he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.

Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said Bhat was killed in an exchange of fire between Army men and militants.

Condemning Bhats killing, Abdullah termed it as a tragic and inconsolable loss and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

The former chief minister, who is also the working president of the opposition National Conference, demanded that an FIR registered by the J&K Police be taken to its logical conclusion in a time-bound and transparent manner.

"An uninvestigated claim of a young life lost in cross- firing shouldnt be used to brush the incident under the carpet," he said.

He took to Twitter to say that killed in cross-firing cant be a justification for Asif Iqbals death.

"The FIR registered by the police must be taken to its logical conclusion. Killed in crossfire cant be a justification for Asif Iqbal?s death," he said. PTI SSB TIR

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Mogadishu, Dec 17 : Several senior Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in a drone strike on the outskirts of the coastal city of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

A military official, on condition of anonymity, said several strikes hit an Al-Shabaab base in Berhani location, some 60 kilometre south of Kismayo, killing several senior terrorists, Xinhua reported.

Residents of Berhani location said there were huge explosions early hours of Saturday.

"The strike hit the base where the terrorists were meeting leading to several casualties," the military officer from the Somalia National Army was quoted as saying.

There is no official confirmation from the US Africa Command (Africom) yet.

Africom, which has been using drones to attack Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (IS), carried out at least ten strikes in southern and northern Somalia in November.
Sydney, Dec 17 : The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Sunday arrested a man from Sydney for allegedly acting as an economic agent for North Korea with the intent of raising revenue for the Pyongyang government.

Authorities have identified the man as South Korean-origin Chan Han Choi, 59, CNN reported.

The AFP said the man, a naturalised Australian citizen, brokered the sale of missiles, missile components and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and discussed the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

He also planned to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Vietnam and Indonesia.

However, there was no evidence that the governments of those two countries were aware of the plan.

These actions are alleged breaches of UN and Australian sanctions. He is facing six charges in connection with the acts.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," CNN quoted AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan as saying.

"This is the first time charges have been laid under the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act in Australia, and the first time we have laid charges specifically for alleged breaches of UN sanctions against North Korea."

Gaughan said the business activity occurred offshore and that "there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons, or missile componentry -- which he said was software-- had been imported into Australia.

"This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose."

More charges against the man have not been ruled out, according to the police statement.
Gandhinagar, Dec 17 : The Gujarat election verdict will be delivered on Monday but the Election Commission is still looking into a plethora of complaints against the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress feels that little was happening to all its complaints against the Bharatiya Janata Party while things moved quickly when it came to grievances against others in the fray.

The stock reply of the Gujarat Chief Election Officer (CEO) to all queries is: "We are looking into it." The CEO's office could not tell IANS for two days the number of complaints it got for violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress has made 20 applications.

Since the announcement of the Gujarat elections on October 25, the code of conduct came into effect, preventing the government from making any policy announcements related to new schemes and preventing all parties from invoking communal and caste tensions.

The parties were also barred from using official machinery to influence voters.

The key instances of allegations of violation of the code of the conduct were against Modi.

The first was during a public meeting he addressed in Palitana in Bhavnagar district on November 29 where he allegedly incited hatred between the Patidar and Rajput communities over a conflict that occurred more than 30 years ago.

In 1982, three members of the Rajput community of Chomal village near Mangadh were killed and 19 Patels were charged with murder but were acquitted.

In an alleged reprisal in 1984, the Rajputs killed nine Patidars in Mangadh. After that, Mangadh village remained embroiled in caste conflict. But time healed matters and since then the area has seen peace.

But Modi stirred passions: "Gujarat cannot forget those days when (Patidar) farmers were looted by a handful of strongmen (Rajputs) who had the blessings of the Congress. Now it is for the people to decide whether they want those days back. Do you want to bless those who carried out murders of innocents in Mangadh?" He repeatedly asked these questions.

Through the Bhavnagar District Collector, the Gujarat Khedut Samaj filed a complaint against Modi and urged the poll panel that he be banned from campaigning further as he was inciting hatred.

Although Election Commission rules prohibit aggravating existing differences or creating mutual hatred or tension, Gujarat CEO B.B. Swain said: "We are looking into it."

The rules also bar campaigners and candidates from appealing to caste or communal feelings. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship cannot be used for election propaganda.

But at an event at the Vadtal Swaminarayan sect temple on November 4, the chief administrator of the shrine, Maharaj Ghanshyam Prasad Das, appealed to the devotees to vote for the BJP -- in the presence of Modi and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Asked about this, Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

But the Commission acted swiftly and issued a notice to the Archbishop of Gandhinagar through the District Collector, asking him to explain the intention and aim in writing a letter in which he asked Christians to organize prayer services so that those elected in Gujarat remain faithful to the Indian Constitution.

Chief Minister Rupani announced a ban on controversial film "Padmavati". Asked if this not a violation of the code of conduct, Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

The code of conduct clearly states that once elections are announced, ministers and other authorities shall not lay foundation stones of projects or schemes.

But on the last day of campaign on December 12, Modi flew off in a seaplane from the Sabarmati riverfront to Dharoi Dam reservoir to announce the launch of the seaplane service by the central government.

When pointed out that this was a clear violation of the code of conduct, Swain maintained: "The Commission is looking into it."

In sharp contrast, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was swiftly slapped with a notice for giving interviews to Gujarati TV channels on the eve of polling for the second and last phase on December 14.

But on the day of polling, Modi, a voter from Ranip in Ahmedabad, while returning from the voting booth, openly displayed his finger during a veritable roadshow.

The Congress complained to the Election Commission. Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

The code of conduct prohibits parties and candidates from canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations.

The Congress complained, backed by video evidence, that an outgoing BJP MLA paid money to voters coming out of a polling booth. Swain's comment: "The Commission is looking into it."

The Congress asked the Election Commission to bar three tainted officials from conducting poll duty. One of them, Mahendra Patel, had made personal comments against then Congress President Sonia Gandhi on his Facebook page.

And two police officials were involved in alleged controversial encounter killings and were out on bail -- Rajkumar Pandian (and Abhay Chudasama.

Mohan Jha, the Additional Director General of Police and the nodal officer for the Election Commission's police deployment plan, said: "Since there is no ongoing departmental inquiry against these officials, there is no breach or violation of any rules."
London, Dec 17 : Google may be courting fresh trouble after the European Commission's massive penalty in June as its rivals are preparing to lodge new complaints with the Commission alleging "inadequate" response to the record anti-trust fine, a media report said.

In recent weeks, several of Google's rivals have held meetings with Margrethe Vestager, Europe's competition commissioner, to express their dismay at the changes made to Google's results in response to last summer's fine, The Telegraph reported on Saturday.

"They are preparing to lodge formal complaints in the coming weeks," the report said.

The move could lead the European Commission to slap further multi-billion euro fines on the Internet giant and make it implement further changes in its search results.

After a seven-year investigation, the European Commission fined Google $2.7 billion in June for breaching EU anti-trust rules.

The Commission found that Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service.

It charged Google with demoting rival comparison shopping services in its search results.

The Commission also ordered Google to comply with the simple principle of giving equal treatment to rival comparison shopping services and its own service.

However, the changes that Google made to its search results after the European Commission's decision have failed to please its rivals.

They say Google's remedy has been inadequate because it continues to place its shopping service at an advantage in search results, The Telegraph report said.

While handing out the fine in June, the European Commission said that it would monitor Google's compliance closely and that the company was under an obligation to keep the Commission informed of its actions from time to time.
Mumbai, Dec 17 : Actor Sanjay Dutt on Sunday began the shoot of his new film "Torbaaz" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

"New day, new film. 'Torbaaz'," Sanjay tweeted along with two photographs.

In one, he is seen praying with folded hands in front of a picture of Lord Ganesha, and in another image, Sanjay is seen doing 'aarti' with some incense sticks.

He is surrounded by the crew members of the movie, said to be an action-thriller set in Afghanistan. It is being directed by Girish Malik.

The film's producer Rahul Mittra is excited, and tweeted that he is "enjoying minus 10 degrees in the beautiful city of Bishkek".
New Delhi, Dec 17 : Ahead of the vote count in the bitterly fought Gujarat Assembly polls on Monday, both the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress expressed confidence of forming a government in the state.

"This will be a sixth consecutive and a historic win for the BJP. The BJP has been on the ascendant for many years due to its positive and performance oriented politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," BJP spokesman G.V.L Narsimha Rao told IANS on Sunday.

He said the election results would once again prove that "people can't be swayed by negative propaganda and bogies of intolerance".

Although the exit polls have predicted an outright victory for the BJP, the Congress remains hopeful of snatching the state after 22 long years.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence that the Congress would win as the people of Gujarat have voted for change.

"The people wish to change the government. The Congress put forward its vision for each section of the society including youths, women, farmers and labourers," he told reporters in Guna, his parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

He also showered praise on Congress President Rahul Gandhi for working hard in Gujarat.

Counting of votes for all 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will take place on Monday. Over 2.97 crore voters cast votes in the two-phase election which took place on December 9 and 14.

Over 25 lakh more voters voted this year compared to 2012.

The Congress formed a caste combination on the lines of KHAM, which stands for Kshatriya, Harijan (Dalits), Adivasi (tribals) and Muslim, the theory propounded by former Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki. It fetched the Congress 149 of the 182 seats in 1980.

Joining hands with Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PASS) convener Hardik Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani seems to have worked in favour of the Congress. Madhavsinh Solanki's son Bharatsinh Solanki is the state Congress chief.

The Patidar movement, counter-protests by a section of the OBCs and agitations by Dalits against atrocities brought caste to the fore. The Congress used the opportunity to try reap a harvest.

To counter the Congress, the BJP raked up issues of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and the "neech" remark made by now suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer and accused Pakistan of colluding with the Congress to help it win in the state.

Since Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, the BJP's seats and vote percentage has reduced in each assembly election.

In 2002, the BJP won 127 seats and got 44.81 per cent vote share, the highest ever while the Congress won 53 seats and got 35.28 per cent votes. In 2007, the BJP won 117 seats and 49 per cent vote share while the Congress won 59 seats with 39.63 per cent votes.

In 2012, the BJP got 115 seats with 48.30 per cent while the Congress won 61 seats with 40.59 per cent.
Kolkata, Dec 17 : Border Security Force personnel seized around 60 kg of ganja (cannabis) near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Nadia district after a clash with smugglers, a BSF officer said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the troopers from Hoogly district's Meghna border outpost had laid a vigil near the border on Saturday evening when they saw a gang of 15-20 people with head-loads and stopped them.

"The gang attacked our men with sharp weapons compelling them to fire three stun grenades and a chili grenade to resist the miscreants. The smugglers managed to escape leaving away the head loads," Naveen Chouhan, Deputy Commandant in BSF's south Bengal frontier, said in a press release.

"Nearly 60 kg of ganja was recovered by the BSF from 15 gunny bags left behind by the smugglers. It has been handed over to Jalangi customs office," he added.

The south Bengal frontier of the BSF has seized 803 kg of ganja and apprehended nine smugglers, including five Bangladeshis, in different operations so far in 2017.
Hyderabad, Dec 17 : Hyderabad police on Sunday claimed to have busted a high-profile prostitution racket and "saved" two actresses.

Police identified the two actresses as Richa A Saksena, who acted in Telugu movie "June 1:43" and Subhra Chatterjee, a Bengali TV serial actor.

Deputy Commissioner of Police P.Radhakishan Rao said simultaneous raids were conducted at two five-star hotels in upscale Banjara Hills in the early hours of Sunday.

The Commissioner's Task Force, which conducted the raids on two rooms in Taj Deccan and Taj Banjara hotels, nabbed two 'organisers', who were identified as Monish Kadakia, casting director for Bollywood Telugu and Tamil films and D.Venkat Rao, a brothel organiser.

According to police, 24-year-old Richa, a resident of Mumbai and hailing from Gujarat's Himatnagar district, was "rescued" from room no 328 of Taj Deccan, while 20-year-old Subhra, from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was "rescued" from room no. 412, Taj Banjara.

Police said that Kadakia is a native of Mumbai, and casting director and event manager with contacts in Bollywood and Tollywood.

He had booked the room in Taj Deccan by "procuring" upcoming actress Richa to attract the wealthy customers. The organizer collected Rs 30,000 to 50,000 from customers.

Venkata Rao, a native of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, had booked the room in another hotel by "procuring" Bengali TV actress.

Another organiser Janardhan alias Jani is absconding.

This is not the first time that actresses have been arrested on charges of prostitution. In 2014, an actress from Mumbai was caught on similar charges. However she was acquitted by a court in December that year.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 : Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday laid the foundation stone for new Dhamra-Angul gas pipeline and Bhubaneshwar-Cuttack-Paradip natural gas spurline in Odisha.

The foundation stone was laid at Haripur in Jajpur district.

Pradhan said that this 600-km-long natural gas pipeline project is a new year gift for the people of coastal districts of Odisha from the Narendra Modi-led central government.

He said that foundation stone for the LNG Terminal at Dhamra at an investment of Rs 6,000 crore has already been laid recently. And gas will be imported from countries like Australia and Qatar and supplied to Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad through a 2,500 km long pipeline, he added.

Out of this, 600 km of the pipeline will be constructed in Odisha covering 13 districts -Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Debagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri and Kendrapara, and connecting major industrial clusters of Khurdha, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalinganagar, Jajpur and Paradip.

"This longest pipeline project is a major step towards the fulfillment of Prime Minister's dream of developing a gas-based economy and linking eastern India to the country's Natural Gas Grid. It will pave the way for development of high-quality manufacturing in Odisha," said the Petroleum Minister.

He said this will add more values to the minerals of the mineral-rich state like Odisha.

As of now, steel produced in Odisha was limited to the construction of houses and angle making. But now the steel and aluminium which will be produced in Odisha using gas will be of high quality and lead to manufacturing of automobiles and Odisha can be a centre of high-quality steel production, said Pradhan.

He also called on the Tata Group, which has long been utilizing natural resources of Odisha, to come forward to manufacture heavy vehicles like trucks in Odisha using this natural gas.

As part of this pipeline project, Pradhan had inaugurated supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and CNG-run scooters in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Islamabad, Dec 17 : The Islamic State terror organisation on Sunday claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb and gun attack on a Methodist church in Quetta, which killed at least nine people and wounded another 30.

In a statement published via the messaging service Telegram, IS said two of its members launched the attack on the Bethel Memorial Church in Imdad Square in Quetta, where around 400 people were present, Efe news agency reported.

IS added that one of them detonated an explosive belt he was wearing, while the second was killed in a shootout with Pakistani security forces.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) More than 1,000 Naga rebels were arrested by security forces since the banned NSCN-K attacked an Army convoy and killed 18 soldiers in Manipur two years ago, officials said.

As many as 531 underground cadres of NSCN-K and 542 overground workers were arrested in Manipur and Nagaland following intensive operations which began after the June 4, 2015 attack on the Army personnel.

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"The operations are continuing even now and security forces have been able to restrict the NSCN-Ks movement to a great extent," a home ministry official said.

This was for the first time in a decade that such a large number of Naga militants were arrested in just two years, the official claimed.

During the last two years, the security forces also killed 34 NSCN-K militants and recovered 571 sophisticated arms from arrested underground and overground cadres of the group.

After the June 2015 attack, the Indian Army had carried out a surgical strike on the camps of NSCN-K, killing some militants and destroying the camps.

Security forces also arrested 37 militants belonging to NSCN-IM, 26 militants belonging to NSCN-KN and four others from NSCN-R, the official said.

While the NSCN-K had abrogated the ceasefire agreement on March 27, 2015, the other three Naga insurgent groups have been maintaining the ceasefire agreement which they had signed with the central government a few years ago.

On December 8, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said theAviolence perpetrated by insurgent groups in the Northeast has come done significantly -- by 75 to 80 per cent.

He also said the central government is committed to do its best to fulfil the aspirations of the Naga people for a brighter future but ruled out integration of the Naga- inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

Expectations for lasting peace have gone up in Nagaland, whichAhas been hit by decades of insurgency, after the Centre andAthe NSCN-IM signed a framework agreement in 2015.

Early this month, President Ram Nath Kovind had said Nagaland was at the threshold of making history as the final agreement on the Naga political issue would soon be arrived at and a lasting peace achieved.

On September 19, Nagaland Governor P B Acharya said the vexed Naga issue would be solved within the next few months. PTI ACB ZMN

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Shillong, Dec 17 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using the official programme for a BJP rally here on Saturday.

Modi, who had inaugurated the Shillong-Nongstoi-Rongjeng-Tura Road, launched the public rally dubbed as "The Rally for Change" wherein he claimed that Meghalaya was not witnessing any development during the 15 years rule of the Congress.

Sangma and Public Works Department (Roads) Minister Martin M Danggo stayed away from Modi's unveiling the plaque of the 264-km-road built at a cost of over Rs 2,300 crore.

"It was surprising to hear from that Prime Minister that there was no development in the State, but he (Modi) indeed inaugurated the road projects implemented by this Congress government sanctioned by the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre," Sangma said.

He said that the UPA government, which understood the needs of the people, had made huge investments over a period of time to build the massive road connectivity projects, adding that the Shillong Bypass project and the four-laning of Shillong-Guwahati Road came up "because of the persistent and committed effort of this Congress government to get these massive projects sanctioned by our leadership in Delhi.."

"Such massive investments are unprecedented in the history of Meghalaya. These road projects are now connecting people from both western and eastern sides (of the state)," he said that people from the western part are no longer needed to visit their state capital via Assam.

Praising the "visionary and authentic leadership" of then Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for responding to requests of the state government, he said: "It is ironical to hear these words of lack of development in the State from the incumbent Prime Minister who just inaugurated those projects, which were actually brought by the Congress-led UPA government."

Responding to Modi's allegation on the poor health sector in the state, the Chief Minister said: "Meghalaya is pioneering state to bring a new Mega Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). This is one of the most inclusive programmes covering all aspects of the life.

"Now, we can see people, regardless their economic background can go to any hospital, whether it is a private or government hospital, to access the best health services. The Central government in fact invited the State government to present about this exemplary health initiative to other states," he said, urging the Prime Minister to do his "homework, verify and ascertain facts before berating an elected government".

Sangma said that the BJP-led NDA government has also withdrawn Block Grants to the northeastern states.
Cairo, Dec 17 : Egypt announced on Sunday security level around churches was being raised to the highest ahead of Christmas to prevent terror attacks.

Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar instructed in a meeting with his security assistants to beef up security in the surroundings of churches and vital state facilities, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the state news agency MENA.

More security patrols will be deployed on the streets, Ghaffar added.

The measures were taken in the wake of the November 24 terror attack against a mosque in North Sinai that killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others.

It is the deadliest terror attack and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt's modern history.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt focused on targeting police and military men in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic Christian minority as well.

Terrorists attacked two Coptic churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandira in early April, killing a total of 47 people and wounding 106 others.

Most of the attacks were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the terror group Islamic State.
Bengaluru, Dec 17 : The Indian Air Force's Soviet era Mi-8 helicopters were phased out of service in a ceremony at the Yelhanka Air Force Station here on Sunday.

MI-8, called Pratap, had been the backbone of the IAF's medium lift combat capability.

The MI-8 helicopters arrived in India in 1971 at Bombay and were formally inducted in the IAF helicopter inventory in the year 1972. Between 1971 and 1988, 107 were inducted and served for 45 years.

The MI-8 formed 10 operational helicopter units and it operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The helicopter also operated extensively in humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the length and breadth of the country. It was also used for ferrying VIPs and VVIPs for decades.

"MI-8 through its glorious service career, did not just establish itself as a mainstay of the helicopter operations but also left an indelible mark on the future by providing the Indian Air Force with a lineage of professional helicopter aircrew," an official statement said.

The phasing out ceremony was attended by veterans headed by former IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major (retd), who flew the last MI-8 mission along with CO 112 Helicopter Unit.

IAF Training Command chief Air Marshal S.R.K. Nair, was the chief guest at the event. national Defence Academy Commandant, Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, the senior most MI-8 pilot, was also present on the occasion.
New Delhi, Dec 17 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep in the wake of damage and loss of life caused by the cyclone Ockhi.

Gandhi, in his first letter to Modi as party President, also called for adequate measures for strengthening the advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas and constructing seawalls and groynes in the vulnerable sea coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Stressing that Ockhi had caused severe destruction and casualties in the southern coastal region, Lakshadweep and the western coast, he said that the death toll in Kerala alone has risen to 70 with hundreds of fishermen still missing.

"The situation is similar in Tamil Nadu with hundreds of fishermen missing and dozens having lost their lives. On a daily basis rescue teams and fishermen are finding floating dead bodies in the sea," he said.

Referring to his visit to some of the affected areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on December 14, Gandhi said he felt the immense pain brought to the people.

"As families mourn the loss of loved ones, others wait in hope and fear for those who have still not returned from sea," he said.

He said the fishermen deserve a helping hand in these challenging times and urged the Prime Minister to take necessary measures for their rehabilitation and restoration of their traditional vocation as a first priority, "I would request you to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadeep to undertake rehabilitation, provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased fishermen and for overall development of coastal region, including steps for prevention of such tragedy," he said.

He also called holistic measures for ensuring housing, basic health services and quality education for children of the fishermen, saying they were one of the most underprivileged sections of society.

Gandhi said lifesaving instruments should be given to fishermen sailing to the sea.
Kunming, Dec 17 : Sons of a US aviator who helped China fight against Japanese invaders during WWII have donated two blankets, which were gifted to him by Mao Zedong, to a memorial hall in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Mao presented the blankets from Mongolia to John Paul McConnell as a token of thanks after the US pilot flew the leader to and from Chongqing in September 1945, a month after the Japanese surrender. The blankets have been well-kept by the McConnell family for more than 70 years, Xinhua reported.

Sons of McConnell, Bruce and Dorsey, made the donation to Dianxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall during a recent trip to Tengchong city in Yunnan. They hoped that the blankets could serve as reminder of the friendship between the USs and China.

"I think that when Chairman Mao gave my father these blankets, he was expressing a hope -- that though circumstances might separate us for a time, one day the people of China and the people of the United States would again share deep bonds of friendship," said Dorsey.

John Paul McConnell first came to Asia in 1943 as chief of staff of the China-Burma-India Air Force Training Command at Karachi.

He was later responsible for training American and Chinese pilots as they took on the treacherous missions of transporting military supplies from India to China over the Himalayan mountains.
Bengaluru, Dec 17 : The Congress government in Karnataka had failed to nab the alleged killers of Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh even three months after the incident, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.

"Though its over three months since she (Gauri) was killed, the state government had failed to solve the case. We will conduct a thorough probe into her murder and bring the culprits to book if our party is voted to power in the upcoming assembly election," he said at a rally of his BJP here.

Lankesh, 55, was shot dead in front of her home here on September 5 by three unidentified men who then fled from the spot under the cover of darkness.

Although a Special Investigation Team, set up to crack the sensational murder case, released sketches of the two suspects in October, there has been no breakthrough in it so far.

"The Congress government had also failed to maintain law and order in the state. Our party workers Rudresh Goudar and Paresh Mesta were killed recently but their killers are still at large," said Rajnath Singh at the BJP state unit's Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra reaching the city.

In the run-up to the assembly election, due in April-May 2018, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) embarked on a three-month-long, state-wide rally on November 2 to bring the party back to power on the plank of building a new state and changing its fortunes.

The BJP came to power in the southern state on its own in May 2008 but lost to the Congress in the 2013 assembly election following a split.

Referring to rising crimes in the state capital, including murders, abductions and rape, Rajnath Singh said the state government had failed to ensure the safety of its people, especially women in the country's tech hub.

Accusing the Congress of dividing society and polarising the people on caste and communal lines, Rajnath Singh questioned the wisdom of the state government in celebrating the birthday of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century Mysuru ruler, as "he was a tyrant and committed crimes against the Hindus".

Refuting the charge of newly-elected Congress President Rahul Gandhi that the BJP was stoking fire in the country with its divisive politics, the Home Minister said on the contrary, his party was dousing the fire the Congress had been setting across the country over the years.

Besides the party's state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa, party's central ministers from the state D.V Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar, thousands of party's cadres and supporters participated in the rally.
Cairo, Dec 18 : Egypt's Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said on Sunday that Egypt is preparing a UN resolution against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Speaking during a parliament session, Abdel-Aal said Egypt has begun contacting all Arab leaders and a number of foreign officials for the resolution. Xinhua news agency reported.

Abdel-Aal stressed that Jerusalem will remain an Arab city, reiterating Egypt's rejection of the US decision to recognise the holy city as Israel's capital and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

All Egyptian parliament members appeared at the session wearing a sash with "Jerusalem is Arab" written on it.

Abdel-Aal added that Egypt's representative to the United Nations Security Council had called for holding an emergency session to get the US administration to withdraw its decision.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city.

Trump's declaration sparked widespread criticism and opposition from Arab and Muslim countries.

Jerusalem lies at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, it has not been recognised by the international community.

The Palestinians insist that they should establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the final settlement.

Under the previous Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, the status of Jerusalem should be determined through the final-status talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
IvyTies: A modern approach for college admission IvyTies helps students remember deadlines so that you no longer have to worry about forgetting when you must turn your documents to our school - Chemeketa Community College, Oregon

Applying to numerous colleges and keeping track of deadlines can be overwhelming. Even the most organized applicant can lose track of a deadline. IvyTies makes it easy for students to stay on track in the application process, says Gaurav Chopra, Director of International Admissions, Stenberg College, Canada. Not only do students often miss out application deadlines but also many colleges lose out potential applicants just because they don't have a way to remind all interested applicants about their application deadlines. To solve this longstanding problem, IvyTies, an EdTech startup, is the first to introduce the Application Timeline Tool.

IvyTies helps students remember deadlines so that you no longer have to worry about forgetting when you must turn your documents to our school. It is a very helpful way for students to stay on top of the requirements, says William Velez, Assistant Director for International Admissions & Recruitment, Chemeketa Community College, Oregon. A college admission officer can enter their application deadlines for each step in a given term on IvyTies. Students applying for a particular term for a particular college just need to click a button to add it to their calendar. IvyTies merges the deadlines for each step of the admission process for each college into a common timeline. Students can then clearly see the next upcoming deadline across all the colleges that they are applying to, and would receive multiple email reminders for each deadline.

The IvyTies team has been working hard to identify unmet needs of both colleges and applicants, and built an innovative solution that works for both parties after multiple iterations of the solution. The team at IvyTies have always provided a professional and attentive service. The website is very intuitive and simple for schools to edit and update, and the look and feel of the site is modern and up-to-date. We look forward to connecting with many international students through the IvyTies platform, says Andrew Murray, Marketing Coordinator at International Management Institute, Luzern, Switzerland.

The current solution in the market requires students to join the mailing list of each university that they are interested in. IvyTies is the first platform that provides students with a common application deadline timeline across all the colleges that they are interested in applying to.

IvyTies is a leader in higher education technology that is seeking to become a one-stop solution for international admissions. IvyTies is a very user-friendly platform. As a college administrator who works with international students who speak a multitude of languages, this is extremely important. I am thrilled a platform like this exists, says Katherine Murrin, Coordinator, International Students Office, Long Beach City College.

The Application Timeline Tool is currently available on http://www.IvyTies.com and is free for both students and colleges. Colleges not currently active on IvyTies can claim their college profile on IvyTies for free, and add the application timelines for each term. Students visiting the college profile on IvyTies can subscribe to the application timeline for free.

About IvyTies. IvyTies is the world's first social network platform that connects potential students with over 10,000 colleges around the world. Whereas most existing platforms are mere information aggregators, meant for students to browse like Yellow Pages, IvyTies is an innovative platform that facilitates information exchange within and between applicants, current students, and university admission officers.

2017 by IvyTies. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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I thought there needed to be a better way to handle accumulations of snow and ice on driveways and sidewalks, said an inventor, from Westerville, Ohio, so I invented the SNOWBUSTER.

The patent-pending SNOWBUSTER provides an effective way to remove snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks. In doing so, it eliminates the need to manually remove snow and ice and it eliminates the need to use snow melting chemicals. As a result, it enhances safety. The invention features a practical design that is convenient and easy to use so it is ideal for households and businesses.

The inventor described the invention design. My design offers an improved alternative to shoveling and scraping.

The original design was submitted to the Columbus office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 16-CLM-330, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. -https://www.youtube.com/user/inventhelp
A. Drummer, Director of Admissions, Fordham GSE, Jeanine Genauer, Principal, The JPR Group, Dr. A. Cavanna, Associate Dean, Fordham GSE at the GSEs 12th Annual Leadership Conference. "Today's educational environment is fast-changing. We believe in the importance of highlighting the kind of innovative, collaborative work being done at Fordham to train educators in how to address critical educational needs in K-12 schools in profound and lasting ways. J. Genauer, The JPR Group

The JPR Group, a public relations and marketing communications firm located in Montclair, NJ, announces the addition of the Fordham University Graduate School of Education (GSE) to its client list. Fordham University Graduate School of Education is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in building practical, culturally aware skills for teachers, counselors, psychologists, school administrators, and other educational professionals and scholars who serve diverse populations.

"We are very pleased to be able to partner with Fordham's GSE and to promote their presence as a top-ranked graduate educational institution," explains Jeanine Genauer, Principal and Founder of The JPR Group. "Today's educational environment is fast-changing, and we believe in the importance of highlighting the kind of innovative, collaborative work being done at Fordham to train educators in how to address critical educational needs in K-12 schools in profound and lasting ways.

Fordham University is the only Jesuit university in New York and focuses on Cura Personalis, a commitment to educating the whole person. In addition to having a distinguished faculty, top-caliber academic programs, and a global reputation, Fordham pays close attention to the spiritual well-being of every student and the importance of moving beyond the self to serve others.

About The JPR Group, LLC

The JPR Group is a woman-owned business offering strategic, responsive and personalized marketing and public relations solutions for todays rapidly evolving media environment. Jeanine Genauer, Founder and Principal, has been recognized as a Leading Brand Builder by Leading Women Entrepreneurs and the firm is a recipient of New Jersey Monthly magazines Great Oak Award for charitable and nonprofit work.
Saeed remark coincide with 'Vijay Diwas' and 'Victory Day', which India and Bangladesh celebrate on December 16, respectively.

By India Today Web Desk: Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based terrori st who masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, says he wants to free Kashmir to avenge the creation of Bangladesh after the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

"We will avenge creation of Bangladesh by liberating Kashmir," ANI quoted Hafiz Saeed as saying in Lahore on Vijay Diwas, a day which commemorates what Bangladesh calls 'Victory Day.'

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46 years ago, on December 16, tens of thousands of Pakistanis raised white flags in surrender the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini - a moment which marked the end of the Indo-Pak war of 1971.

Yesterday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chief paid tribute to the martyrs of the third India-Pakistan War.

Hafiz Saeed leads the Jamaat-ud Daawa, a proscribed organisation and a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He was recently released from house arrest in Pakistan's Lahore.

After his release, the US warned Pakistan of "repercussions" on bilateral ties. The US said the move 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."

Manmohan: Modi tarnishing PM's office by spreading falsehood

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Special counsel Robert Mueller is in possession of "many tens of thousands" of emails from President Donald Trump's transition team officials, sources told Axios on Saturday.

The emails reportedly include conversations about sensitive topics, such as potential appointments, the political views of senators involved in the confirmation process, and policy planning.

The special counsel obtained the emails from the General Services Administration, the federal government agency which hosted the transition team's email system.

Transition team officials reportedly assumed that Mueller would want to see some of the emails, which is why they separated out the ones they considered privileged. However, they only learned that Mueller had obtained all the emails from a third party when investigators questioned witnesses about their contents. Per Axios, Mueller's team has emails from 12 different accounts, one of which had about 7,000 emails.

"Mueller is using the emails to confirm things, and get new leads," one transition team source told Axios.

McFarland told the unnamed colleague in the emailobtained by the New York Timesthat the sanctions were aimed at delegitimizing Trump's election victory.

"If there is a tit-for-tat escalation Trump will have difficulty improving relations with Russia, which has just thrown U.S.A. election to him," she wrote.

New leads

The emails could shed light on other critical events which took place during the transition period that have drawn Mueller's focus. They include Kushner's meeting with a Russian banker with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin; Kushner and Flynn's meeting with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, during which Kushner reportedly asked to set up a secret back channel of communication between Trump and Russia; and Flynn's suggestion to a business associate that the new Russia sanctions would be "ripped up" under Trump.

The emails could also help investigators piece together more of what happened near the end of 2016 as it relates to Flynn's conversations with Kislyak  interactions he would later mislead FBI agents about during a January 24 interview.

Flynn pleaded guilty on December 1 to one count of making false statements to investigators about his contacts with Kislyak.

According to the US governments statement of offense regarding Flynn, the former national security adviser was encouraged by key members of Trumps transition team to communicate with Kislyak following Obamas announcement of new sanctions against Russia.

The emails may also shed more light on what Trump knew about Flynns contacts with the Russian ambassador, and when he knew it.

The White House said in February, after Flynn's departure, that Flynn was fired because he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with Kislyak. It gave no indication that it knew he had lied to the FBI as well.

But Trump sent out a tweet on December 2  the day after Flynn's charge was made public  which suggested that he had known at the time of Flynn's firing that had had misled the FBI, which is a federal crime. If he knew about Flynn's unlawful conduct, then his request to former FBI director James Comey that the bureau drop the Flynn investigation, and his subsequent decision to fire Comey, could significantly bolster the obstruction-of-justice case Mueller is said to be building against Trump.

Mariotti said on Saturday that while it wasn't unusual for prosecutors to obtain documents from third parties, as Mueller's office did with the Trump transition team's emails, it was unusual that Mueller asked the GSA for the communications as opposed to lawyers representing the transition team.
We believe that every congregant should be allowed to attend fellowship in the name of God. Your socio-economic status should not exclude you from any participation in any religious programme. Church should be an equaliser and not a divider where the poor feel marginalised.

We have repeatedly said that until parliament, specifically the portfolio committee on CoGTA (Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs), decides what to do with our recommendations, such problems and challenges will remain. If a Peer Review Committee had already been set up they would be dealing with this matter as peers of Prophet Bushiri.
Speaking at the New Patriotic Partys extraordinary conference on Sunday at the Heroes Park in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Wontumi vowed that by the end of his tenure as the regional chairman, the main opposition National Democratic Congress would have no parliamentary seat in the region.

Before I end my tenure as a regional chairman of this party, every single parliamentary seat in the Ashanti region will be in the hands of the great NPP party in Ashanti" he said.

His comments also suggest that he will run for re-election as the regional chairman.

It had been reported that he was considering running for the National Chairmanship position of the party.
The men detained were mostly traders and sellers in the popular market in Libreville where the attack occurred on Saturday -- and all are from west Africa, according to an AFP correspondent.

They were taken to police headquarters were they are due to be questioned, an official said.

"Operations are ongoing," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told AFP. "We are not commenting at this stage."

Two Danish nationals working for the National Geographic channel were wounded in the attack, he said.

Police said the assailant is a 53-year-old Nigerian man who, according to witnesses, shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the attack.

The man, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, said in his first statements that he "acted in retaliation for US attacks against Muslims and America's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital," Defence Minister Etienne Massard said Saturday.

Residents said the man was from the Muslim Hausa/Fulani community of northern Nigeria and sold smoked meat from a cart in the city and in the market.

"We are still gathering information," Bilie By Nze said.

The market in Libreville, popular with tourists, was shut down after the incident and remained closed on Sunday, with security forces manning the gates.

Authorities have said the attack appeared to be politically motivated, but have not publicly classified it as terrorism.
The Pakistan ISI unit in Dhaka has been tasked with trying to get future Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force officers to work as agents for the spy agency.

ISI, Pakistan's intelligence agency, is trying to get potential Indian Armed Forces officers to work for them. (Image for representation)

By Jitendra Bahadur Singh: Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is trying to use to lure soft targets among future Indian Defence Force personnel currently taking National Defence Courses (NDC) in Dhaka.

ISI, Pakistan's intelligence agency, is trying to get these potential officers to work for them once they finish their courses.

The method: Honey traps or money.

The Pakistan ISI unit in the Bangladesh capital has been given this task. The man in charge?: Col. Akhtar Hamid, the military attache of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.

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Almost 40 potential Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force officers are taking various courses at the National Defence College in Dhaka, in an exchange programme.

A report published in August said Indian intelligence agencies had warned officers to be alert to "increasing attempts by Pakistan and Chinese agencies to honeytrap Indian officers using attractive women."

The report described the modus operandi in detail: First, an Urdu-speaking Pakistani woman or English-speaking Chinese woman contacts the officer on social media. Next, a meeting. Then, the courtship. Finally, a video is used to blackmail the officer, and extract information about India's Armed Forces.

ALSO WATCH | Here's how ISI hackers honey trapped Indian army personal working from a Karachi call center

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The chancellor-elect, Sebastian Kurz of the conservative People's Party (OeVP), already has a deeply-fractious relationship with Ankara due to his staunch opposition to Turkey's EU bid while serving as foreign minister.

"This baseless and short-sighted statement in the new Austrian government's programme unfortunately confirms concerns about a political trend based on discrimination and marginalisation," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Turkish EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik meanwhile said the incoming Austrian government had "started attacking fundamental democratic values without delay."

In a barrage of tweets, he said Kurz was "even more radical than the far right".

Slamming the EU for not condemning the government programme, he said: "Ignoring the racist approaches in the Austrian government programme... is a weakness."

"Islamophobic, antisemitic, xenophobic and anti-migrant parties are on the rise. Now this movement is in power in Austria," Celik said. "Austria should draw lessons from recent history."

Accusing the incoming government of "dishonesty", the Turkish foreign ministry warned that if realised, the programme would bring Austria "to the brink of losing Turkey's friendship" and be met with "the reaction that it deserves".

Turkey's decades-long ambition to join the EU has hit the buffers in recent months as the bloc sounded the alarm over the crackdown that followed the 2016 coup bid aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While Austria has called for the accession process to be formally halted, this has met with opposition from key EU members, notably Germany.

Meeting Erdogan on his trip to Greece earlier this month -- the first by a Turkish president in 65 years -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also backed Turkey's EU bid.
The airline industry is not known for making money. There's a long-held belief that all airlines are either working their way towards bankruptcy or working their way out of one.

Hence the old saying, "If you want to make a small fortune in airlines start with a big one."

Delta is managing to buck that trend.

Over the past few years, the Atlanta-based carrier has become the most profitable airline in the world while upgrading its product offerings and boosting employee pay. In 2016, the airline reported more than $4.4 billion in net income while returning $1.1 billion to its employees through profit sharing.

Leading the way for Delta is CEO Ed Bastian. The Poughkeepsie, New York native joined Delta in 1998 before becoming its president in 2007. Bastian ascended to the top job in May 2016 upon the retirement of former CEO Richard Anderson.

Over the past year and a half, Bastian has worked to maintain Delta's profitability while investing heavily in new aircraft and technology.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bastian in his office at Delta's headquarters in Atlanta where we discussed a myriad of different topics including the airline industry's struggle to adopt new technologies and how Delta is actually embracing them to grow its business.

Deltas lost decade of tech

In the early morning hours of August 8, 2016, Delta's computer network went down, effectively grounding the airline's thousand aircraft fleet for six hours. For days, the cascading effects of the data center failure caused chaos for the airline and its passengers. In total, the outage cost Delta more than $150 million.

But Delta is far from alone.

In recent years, computer outages have plagued the entire industry; American, United, Southwest, and British Airways, just to name a few, have all suffered through their share technology related troubles.

According to Bastian, one of the major issues behind these outages is the archaic technology platforms that power the airline industry. These systems are still around because, for much of the past 15 years, airlines simply didn't have the money to invest in new technology. After all, the years following 9/11 and the financial crisis were not kind to the airline industry.

"Many of us went through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring," Bastian said. " The only money we had to spend on technology was just to keep the lights on."

"It was all about 'break' 'fix' which means if something breaks you fix it. There was no innovation," he added.

Bastian called the 10-year period after 9/11 a "lost decade where (Delta) was under-invested in a lot of areas with technology probably being the largest."

But when Delta finally did make money again there were much more pressing needs that required funds ahead of the computer systems.

"We had a number of things we had to invest in and the most important thing was our people," Bastian said. "People had taken pay cuts. There were job losses and we needed to restore some of their faith in our company."

Bastian said the overall pay at Delta, including profit sharing, is up 80% since 2008.

"Our people get the first fruits, and then we had to invest in airplanes, airport experience, and maintenance, so technology tended to lag in that cycle," he added.

Delta and technology making up for lost time

Things are different these days. Delta has the cash to buy pretty much whatever it wants.

Now, it's just a matter of having enough personnel and bandwidth to get to all of the projects and upgrades the company wants to make, Bastian said.

Over the past year, Delta has built a new data center to shore up stability issues within its computer network while launching experimental projects featuring biometrics and facial recognition technology at airport terminals.

With resources in hand, Delta has the opportunity to do some incredible things in terms of technology beyond just reinforcing its data centers and computer networks.

Some airlines see technology as a potential money maker by turning their planes into flying e-commerce platforms with hundreds of captive customers.

Bastian said he isn't interested in going down that route. Instead, he wants technology to help his airline better understand and interact with its customers. In turn, improving the flying experience and strengthening Delta's core business.

"I've told our people that next to them, technology has to be our competitive advantage," the Delta CEO said. "We are in the business of building relationships and our technology allows us to build intimate relationships with 180 million customers a year and you can only do that through technology."

Bastian's big tech goal in 2018 is what he calls "building a single view of the customer." That means unifying all of Delta's various customer databases to create a more holistic view of and a better understanding of the people who fly with the airline.
LONDON  Theresa May is not being honest with the British public about the reality of the Brexit transition period.

That's the view of Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who in an interview with BI this week, accused the prime minister of misleading the public about the fact that, for at least two years after Brexit, Britain will effectively stay part of the EU single market and customs union.

"It was clear that certainly as far as transition is concerned, there was nothing else the EU could offer us other than transition on single market and customs union terms," the former shadow cabinet minister told BI.

"There was never going to be a bespoke arrangement offered to us, not least because there just isnt time to put in place an alternative to a single market, customs union transition."

For Umunna, May's attempts to obscure the reality that Britain is heading for a Brexit transition inside the customs union and single market is so strong that she is not even being willing to use the terms.

"The prime minister has used different words like 'implementation period' and said we'll observe the same rules and regulations apply, without actually mentioning the phrases single market and customs union," Umunna adds.

"But that's exactly where [we] have landed."

Ummuna's view was this week given weight by the negotiating guidelines published by the EU Council following their decision on Friday to allow transition negotiations to begin.

It's clear from these guidelines which you can read here, that the EU understands the UK will "continue to participate in the Customs Union and the Single Market (with all four freedoms) during the transition."

It adds that Britain will accept the entire legal "acquis" of the EU, including "all existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures," as well as "the competence of the Court of Justice of the European Union."

Yet these are not things that the prime minister has so far been open about.

For instance, in October the prime minister told parliament:"I have been clear that when we leave the European Union we will no longer be members of its single market or its customs union."

She added: "The British people voted for control of their borders, their laws and their money. And that is what this government is going to deliver."

And on Friday Dan Dalton, the Conservative Party's chief whip in the EU Parliament, described the prospect of staying in the customs union during transition as "totally unacceptable" in an interview with Sky News.

This is a view shared by large parts of the Conservative party, which is increasingly worried that Britain will be left essentially as almost full members of the EU for years after we leave.

Importantly, continued de facto customs union membership would prevent Britain from immediately striking new free trade deals around the world as her International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has previously suggested we will.

As BI previously reported, Fox promised cheering delegates at the Conservative party conference this autumn that the UK would sign 40 free trade deals the 'second after' Brexit. None of that would be possible under the plans spelled out this week.

More importantly, continued de facto single market membership would also leave the door open for a future government, potentially under Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, to keep Britain inside the tent indefinitely  something leading Brexiteers such as former UKIP leader Nigel Farage increasingly fear.

This growing conflict between political demands for Britain to reach out into the world away from the EU and the economic necessity for a smooth transition period is incredibly hard for May to settle.

This is almost certainly why the prime minister has so far been so reluctant to spell out the reality of the Brexit transition period, or even to use the phrase itself.

Yet whatever words May chooses to describe the two year period after Brexit, it's become increasingly clear that any transition period will look very much like continued membership.
Shortly after Phynofest, there were unconfirmed whispers of rape at his concert. Now, these whispers have grown louder.

On Twitter, Nigerians are expressing disgust and sadness over the unconfirmed stories.

Phyno has responded to the allegations of rape at his concert on Twitter today, Sunday, December 17, 2017.

ALSO READ: 7 Hottest Nigerian rappers of 2017

"We had over 150 bouncers in the stadium .. Over 300 policemen, + civil defense, military personnel and the commissioner of police there" tweeted Phyno.

He admitted that some people tried to harass some of the women who attended his show but they are arrested.

Phyno also stated that new investigations are being carried.

These tweets are coming up the same day frequent Phyno collaborator Olamide is holding his annual concert. The Yoruba rapper is taking his #OLIC show outside of Eko Hotel & Suites for the first time in four years.

The third edition of Phynofest held on Sunday, November 20, 2017, and saw Phyno perform alongside industry's finest acts including veteran songstress, Onyeka Onwenu, MI, Olamide, Psquare, Burna Boy, Patoranking, Kcee, Mr Eazi, Zoro, Lil kesh among others.
This is good news indeed.

Journalist Azuka Jebose shared a transcript of a phone call he had with Sadiq Daba on his Facebook page, asking that he relay the message to Nigerians.

According to the post, Daba will be seeing an oncologist on Monday, December 18, and will not be needing an operation.

He said: "Azuka, morning o! ( well, its morning here in London), how you dey my brother? Before I start with you, please help me tell Nigerians that I am profoundly grateful for giving me hope to live again. Nigerians saved my life: my family and I remain eternally grateful.

"Done with the Doctors this week. All the test results for my prostate cancer did not find spread. I was told in Nigeria that it had spread to other organs of my body. But all tests here by Specialists came back negative, with regards to the spread. It can be treated with drugs and injections. Also, the doctors, after tests for Leukemia, concluded that it is in remission. The Specialists placed me on drugs to help with the remission. I will see an oncologist on Monday; no need for an operation(surgery) to open me up. In Nigeria, I was told I needed surgery. My brother na wa o. I am feeling like a sweepstakes winner.

"These treatments are very expensive sha. Where I for get the money?. Na God send you, Soni Irabor, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin and compassionate Nigerians to me o. Doctors placed me, effective immediately, on hormone treatments; Azuka, can you believe that?: no spread found.your prayers WORKED!!! Will be here for another two weeks for observation and then head home to recuperate!!!!. Azuka, I feel spectacular. Shebi you hear my voice. God Bless "Nigerians for this gift of life. Abeg help me thank them. I will live. My wife has been dancing nonestop o. I go call you again on Monday."

Sadiq Daba who has been battling to stay alive explained to The Punch how the diseases has left him helpless at an old age.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammad Saad Abubakar, has now condemned the Nigerian Law Schools decision of denying Ms Amasa from being called to bar, Daily Trust reports.

Speaking under the theme, "Public Trust and Accountability, at the 5th National Convention of Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), the Sultan said that the hijab simply means decent dressing.

The Sultan who is also the president of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), was represented by one of its members, the Wazirin of Katsina, Sanni Abubakar Lugga.

He added that the constitution is clear and that no Nigerian can be discriminated against and denied their right.

He said: "His eminence wonders while Hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing, decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? The Hijab is just an Arabic word. In English, it means decent dressing.

"His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of dressing. It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public.

"Secondly, in Nigerian constitution, it is absolutely clear. Why should Nigerian Muslims be molested and even denied their own right? The Appeal Court ruling in Ilorin is there, the Appeal Court in Lagos and also the High Court all delivered judgement in favour of Hijab.

"Justice Alooma, the former CJN, Justice Bukalchuwa and other Senior Justices in Nigeria wear their Hijab and then the wig on top of it. The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), the Highest body in the judiciary has not said, no, they should stop which means the Nigerian constitution allows the Hijab, the Nigerian Courts through these three judgements have allowed the Hijab and the NJC through these senior judges have allowed the Hijab.

"Why will a legal school refuse our sisters induction into the judiciary simply because she is wearing Hijab? Is the law school saying they are above the NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, they are above these three senior courts?"

As you well know by now, Ms Amasa was denied entry into the venue of her call-to-bar because she was wearing her wig over her hijab being that she is Muslim.

She revealed during an interview with Premium Times that she remains resolute in her convictions to set a standard for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the ceremony.

My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony), she said.

Ms Amasa explained that she wanted to change the narrative by giving her Muslim sisters the right to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution, when asked the reason behind her conviction.

I knew that was what was going to happen, she said of the consequences of her decision.

ALSO READ: Young student sacrifices life to save hundreds

She, however, said she remained determined to speak for the recognition of rights of female Muslim law graduates.
The civil society group described as shameful, a situation where the IGP Idris who is supposedly the Chief Law Enforcement Officer turns out to be the Chief Law Breaker with no respect for court orders.

Spokesman of the group, Olayemi Success stated this while reacting to the IGPs failure to obey the recent judgement delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court, where the Nigerian Police was ordered to unseal the corporate headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), with immediate effect

Success cautioned that the country may slide into a lawless state if the rate at which the Police boss disrespects court judgements is not not checked.

His words: "As at the time we checked, there was no order for stay of execution of the judgement delivered in favour of Peace Corps of Nigeria. It therefore goes without saying that IGP Idris and his men have no legal basis to remain in occupation of a property which they ought to have unsealed over a month ago.

"We make bold to say that this action of IGP Idris is the reason behind the recent complaint coming from the Chief Justice of Nigeria that the executive arm of government has constituted itself into a clog in the wheel of justice by refusing to obey court judgements. This is rather unfortunate and worrisome",

"A situation whereby IGP Idris who is supposedly the Chief Law Enforcement Officer turns out to be the Chief Law Breaker with no respect for court orders, yet runs to the court for protection at every slightest opportunity is rather an aberration," the group said.

ALSO READ: Fayose advises Buhari not to seek reelection

The group threatened to shut down Abuja next week to demand the IGPs sack if he fails to unseal Peace Corps headquarters.
In 2015, the Buhari administration imposed a 70 percent tariff on imported vehicles.

The move was geared toward stimulating local production in line with the local content policy of the federal government.

Smuggling

However, Reuters reports that the policy has successfully reduced the number of vehicles brought into the country this year by a quarter, fuelling smuggling from neighbouring Benin.

Reuters cited data from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

According to the NPA, car imports in Nigeria fell to 70,453 units in the first 10 months of 2017--a 26.8 percent reduction on the same period in 2016.

NPA MD, Usman said; we appreciate the need for the government to have assembly and manufacturing in Nigeria but we are concerned that the capacity of the Nigerian market is beyond what is said to be assembled in Nigeria.

We have seen a lot of cars being smuggled through neighbouring countries - mainly from Benin.

Tokunbo era

Most of the cars imported into Nigeria are knocked down or second hand--referred to as Tokunbo in local parlance--no thanks to the low purchasing power of the citizenry.

Nigerias borders are famously porous and allegedly manned by corrupt immigration and Customs officials who often demand kickbacks or bribes.

Neighbouring Benin has maintained low import tariffs when juxtaposed with Nigeria.

Vehicle imports fell to 96,222 units last year from 131,994 in 2015, according to NPA figures.

Usman said the ports authority expected a further drop in 2018 to 67,400 units, Reuters reports.

From factory to church

Nigeria has been battling a port congestion problem since forever and only a few auto companies have been able to set up assembly plants in Africas largest economy.

ALSO READ: Reasons why many Nigerians will rather buy a foreign used vehicle
The President clocks 75 on Sunday, December 17, 2017.

A message by Tambuwal's spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the governor said Buhari has paid his dues in the Nigerian polity, and prayed to God to continue to bless the life of the president.

"Attaining 75 years in life calls for thanksgiving and expression of gratitude to God. I am glad the Almighty Allah has blessed our president with long life and good health.

"No doubt, the president has proven himself to be a leader of high ethics and morality. We in Sokoto State join all Nigerians in wishing the president a happy birthday." Tambuwal said.

ALSO READ: Army General threatened to kill Buhari over defence contract
Gujarat Assembly Election results 2017 and Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election results should be out by afternoon today. Will Gujarat election results 2017 change PM Modi's stint as the prime minister?

By India Today Web Desk: Gujarat Assembly Election results 2017 will be out in a few hours from now. The counting of votes will begin across Gujarat and Gujarat election poll result 2017 will decide who will rule the state for the next five years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's prestige is at stake as Rahul Gandhi's presence, campaign and alliances in Gujarat made it look like Modi-Shah won't have it easy in their home state.

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SEE LIVE COVERAGE OF GUJARAT ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Gujarat for past 22 years - for 12 years of which Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

Gujarat election is considered a prestige battle for PM Narendra Modi since it's his home state. At the same time, Gujarat election results 2017 will also be a litmus test for newly elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Led by PM Modi and Party president Amit Shah, the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, while the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

Gujarat Assembly election results 2017 are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014 based on the 'Gujarat model of development'.

The counting of votes for the Gujarat Assembly Election result 2017 will be at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amid tight security.

The Gujarat election results are expected by noon.

The votes were cast for Gujarat Assembly Election, following an acrimonious poll campaign, in two phases, on December 9 and 14.

GUJARAT ELECTION CAMPAIGN

PM Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress's electioneering. During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

Rahul Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani, respectively - in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

Hardik Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led a counter protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

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The influential Patidar community, which accounts for around 12 per cent of the state's population, could prove to be the 'X factor' in the polls in which Patel pledged support to the Congress and appealed to people to "uproot the BJP" this time.

As the campaign was nearing its end, "Vikas" (development) took a back seat, and caste and religious issues received prominence. The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign "Vikas Gando Thayo Che" (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat".

HOW PEOPLE VOTED IN GUJARAT ELECTION

An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on December 14, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 per cent.

In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 per cent voting was recorded. The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered.

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In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.

VOTING PATTERN IN GUJARAT ELECTION 2017

According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 per cent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 per cent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are Tapi (78.56 per cent), Banaskantha (75.15) and Sabarkantha (74.97). The districts which saw a low turnout are Amreli (61.29), Bhavnagar (61.56) and Porbandar (61.86).

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 per cent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 per cent and 70 per cent. Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 per cent.

(With PTI inputs)

For Gujarat Assembly Election Results LIVE and Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election Results LIVE, stay tuned on www.indiatoday.in and www.aajtak.in

VIDEO | India Today-Axis exit poll Gujarat 2017: BJP set to win for sixth consecutive time

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Misezhnikov starts serving time as public pressure increases to demand legal action against "corrupt" officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself faces two separate graft probes.

Misezhnikov is a member of Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party.

In August, Yisrael Beitenu secretary general Faina Kirshenbaum, who was deputy interior minister from 2013 to 2015, was charged with corruption, breach of trust, fraud and money laundering.

On Saturday, thousands of Israelis protested for a third week running in Tel Aviv to demand legal action against "corrupt" people in the government and their resignation.

The demonstration came a day after Netanyahu was questioned for the seventh time since January 2 in a corruption probe.

In one investigation, the prime minister is suspected of illegally receiving gifts from wealthy personalities including Australian billionaire James Packer and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

In a second case, police suspect Netanyahu sought a secret pact for favourable coverage with the publisher of the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

The alleged scheme, not believed to have been finalised, would have seen him receive favourable coverage in return for helping curb Yediot's competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel Hayom.
Oficials said police intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church's main door where he blew himself up.

"Police were quick to react and stop the attackers from entering into the main hall," Jah told AFP.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but attendance had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas.

"God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," tweeted the home minister.

TV footage showed shattered pews and broken musical instruments littered across blood-smeared floors.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people and have long faced discrimination -- sidelined into lowly paid jobs and sometimes the target of trumped-up blasphemy charges.

Along with other religious minorities, the community has also been hit by Islamic militants over the years.

In 2016 Lahore suffered one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks during the Easter season -- a suicide bomb in a park that killed more than 70 people including many children.

The bombing was later claimed by the Jamaat ul Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Police and troops have been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan for over a decade.

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is the largest of the country's four provinces but its roughly seven million inhabitants have long argued they do not get a fair share of its vast gas and mineral wealth.

Efforts to promote peace and development have reduced the violence considerably in recent years.
E. Hunter Harrison is gone. Railway Ages twice-honored Railroader of the Year (2002 and 2015) died on Saturday, Dec. 16, in Wellington, Fla., from what CSX, the railroad that ultimately became the last stop in a long and distinguished career, attributed to unexpectedly severe complications from a recent illness. He was only 73.

Only the day before his death had the surprise announcement come from CSX that Hunter had been placed on medical leave. He had indeed been ill for quite some time, requiring supplemental oxygen, as he was suffering from emphysema. But few probably knew the extent of just how ill he was. Hunter leaves behind his wife Jeannie, who he married at the tender young age of 18, two daughters, and a railroading legacy that will endure, despite that the last year of his career was not the best of his years.

No matter. One does not measure a life solely in terms of what have you done for me lately, which I believe is the approach of the activist investors who positioned Hunter as their means to an end.

CSX, upon issuing a statement late Saturday expressing great sadness, major loss, and deepest sympathies, and describing Hunter as a larger-than-life figure who brought his remarkable passion, experience and energy in railroading to CSX, found it necessary to say something to appease its shareholders, some of whom may feel that they have been shortchanged: The Board will continue to consider in a deliberative way how best to maximize CSXs performance over the long term.

Really? Hunter deserves better than that.

What is the measure of a human being? It is not net worth. It is not ones ability to enrich stockholders. It is not share price. It is not the spike in share price that the anticipation of ones arrival at a company generates. It is not the amount that the share price plummets, and how much market value disappears, after one suddenly and unexpectedly leaves the building. For a railroader, it is not operating ratio. It is not dwell time. It is not average train velocity. It is not productivity. It is not efficiency. It is not customer satisfaction, even though that particular measurement is an important oneindeed, the most important one, with safety. And even though Hunter would probably disagree with me, it is not Precision Scheduled Railroading.

I think Keith Creel, whom Hunter mentored for many years, expressed it best in these heartfelt words:

Personally, today I lost a friend and a mentor. I spent most of the past 25 years working closely with Hunter. Over that time, he taught me how to railroad, but more than that, he taught me how to be a leader. Professionally, Hunter was unmatched in this industry. He will go down as the best railroader ever, plain and simple. What he has done at multiple railroads and for our industry the past 50-plus years is incredible, which includes bringing CP back to its rightful place among leaders in the Class I space in what some have called the greatest corporate turnaround in history. His legacy will be felt at our company forever, not only by shareholders, but by employees and customers who have all benefited from his leadership, foresight and tenacity. The foundation he built at CP, and at all the other railroads he led, serves us, and the industry, well for the future.

While Hunter will be remembered in history books as the best railroader there was, I will remember him first as a friend with a loving and giving heart, then as a tremendous, visionary leader who always challenged the status quo. His greatest legacy is not the railroads he changed for the better, but the family and friends he left behind that are all blessed to have known and loved him. We grieve with them in the tremendous loss of a one-of-a-kind railroader and even better person, Mr. E. Hunter Harrison.

Today, and probably for a while more, the Canadian or U.S. flags that fly on the Canadian Pacific network will fly at half-mast in Hunters honor.

Yes, I know what some of you are thinking: Im sugarcoating things. So here are a few differing views:

As one Wall Street Journal writer described Hunter, he was a driven and disruptive force in a centuries-old industry struggling with high operating costs and heightened competition from shipping rivals. His ability to rapidly pare railway budgets, speed up freight deliveries and challenge union-backed work rules at Illinois Central, Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. earned him many fans on Wall Street. Unions and customers frequently challenged his harsh tactics  His initial moves to streamline CSXs operations were thwarted by traffic congestion, customer complaints and opposition from some of the railroads top officials.

In an editorial the day before Hunter died, when his medical leave was announced (causing CSX shares to drop almost 8%about $4 billion in market value), the WSJ said: Even if Hunter Harrison wasnt struggling with health problems, the value that investors put on his ability to turn around CSX was overly optimistic. Now, it looks irrational. Despite his reassurances earlier this year, the 73-year-olds medical issues seem to have caught up with him, forcing a leave of absence from the railroad. Investors have been willing to suspend disbelief and attach some truly gaudy numbers to Mr. Harrison.

The warning signs of a fragile CSX investment bubble were not Hunters health, says Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner, whose career has included executive posts at the Association of American Railroads and the largest rail labor union, and a White House appointment to a senior-staff post at the Surface Transportation Board. They were that his reputation was elevated to Brobdingnagian status through his superintending of two Canadian railroads that were a combination of relatively straight east-west lines and their funnel-like feeding into the relatively straight north-south Illinois Central that he also led. His so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading had not been tested on the significantly more complex spaghetti-like network of American eastern railroads.

Similarly missed by investors was the warning sign of Hunters perennially harsh relationship with organized labor. Consider the unfortunate nickname of the ugly American that was pasted onto him by unionized employees of CN. American railroading is a geographically massive outdoor shop floor, meaning that there are high probabilities of chaotic events, absent enthusiastic dedication to service outcomes by mostly unsupervised train crews. Then there was Hunters frosty relationship with shippers who traveled south with him to CSX. Former CN Chairman Paul Tellier frequently apologized for Hunters behavior toward customers, semi-joking that he (Tellier) periodically had to put Hunter into a cage because of his (Hunters) biting of shippers. And then he would find a way to get out of the cage and bite them again, Tellier once related at a breakfast interview in Washingtons Willard Hotel some 20 years ago.

Im sure these accounts of Hunters behavior at times will grow more intense as the years go by. Legends tend to take on a life of their own. The glows of accolades tend to shine brighter. The stories of dark moments tend to get darker. As far as the good things are concerned, Ill quote my maternal grandmother, my Nonna, who lived to the ripe old age of 100: I would love to have now as many good qualities as people will attribute to me after Im gone.

As for my own recollections, I will remember the Hunter Harrison who was moved to tears in front of a large crowd at Chicagos Union League Club when speaking about his beloved wife and family the first time he was honored as Railroader of the Year nearly 20 years ago. I will remember the man who invited me to ride his vintage business train from Memphis to Chicago along the Illinois Central main line. I will think of the CEO who always took the time to talk with me candidly and openly, who told me not long ago, Any time you want to ask me something or talk to me, Bill, just call me.

I did just that for the cover story of our October 2017 issue. In what may have been his final media interview, I asked Hunter if he thought he had been moving too fast at CSX to implement change. He acknowledged that, at least in some areas, he had.

I have often wondered why Hunter had moved so fastundoubtedly way too fast. Was it pressure from investors to deliver a quick return? I dont believe so. Rather, I think deep down, Hunter may have had a feeling his days were numbered (people can sense these things sometimes), and he wanted to ensure one more success before it was too late. Under much better health circumstances, I think Hunters approach to making changes at CSX would have been more measured, less disruptive.

I feel a sense of loss that I am no longer able to contact Hunter and ask him these questions.

Hunter always treated me, and this publication, with respect. He may have evoked fear in some people who worked for him, but I never felt intimidated. Of course, I never worked for him, but I dont think my feelings would have been any different if I had. I think he was a good judge of character. I think he would have sensed the respect Ive always had for him.

Honestly, the now-legendary railroader who started his career in 1963 as a carman-oiler on the Frisco was no different than you or I. He was just Hunter. Im sure thats how he would like us to think of him.

Rest in peace, Hunter. You earned it.
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By PTI: Hyderabad, Dec 17 (PTI) The Hyderabad Police today arrested two persons for allegedly running a sex racket after a raid on two hotels last night. Police said that two women have been rescued during the operation.

According to Task Force (North Zone) Inspector K Nageshwar Rao, police raided two hotels in Panjagutta and Banjara Hills last night and apprehended Monish K and Venkatesh, the alleged organisers of this racket.

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He said that the two women, one from Mumbai and the other from Kolkata, rescued are actors.

The two men have been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA)and further investigations were underway, the official said. PTI VVK BNM

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Royal Enfields sales are equivalent to the global sales of Harley-Davidson, KTM, BMW, Triumph, and Ducati combined, but Bajaj's MD has a counterview.



Image: Eicher Motors chief executive officer Siddhartha Lal at a Royal Enfield store in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Rajiv Bajaj calls him a good friend, yet his company, Bajaj Auto, is waging a bitter battle against Siddhartha Lals Eicher Motors to break into the 250 cc-plus motorbike market, where the latter reigns supreme.

In a tweet recently, Lal, chief executive officer, Eicher Motors, said, Royal Enfields sales are equivalent to the global sales of Harley-Davidson, KTM, BMW, Triumph, and Ducati, combined. Let that sink in for a second.

Eicher owns the iconic Royal Enfield motorcycle brand.

Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, which has a 49 per cent stake in KTM and a comprehensive collaboration with Triumph Motorcycles, counters Lals view.



Image: A worker prepares a Bajaj motorcycle before it is delivered to a customer at a Bajaj showroom in Kolkata. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

By measuring solely on the basis of volumes at the exclusion of pricing power, it would seem that Maruti Suzuki is above and beyond brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Porsche put together, he told Business Standard.

Eicher sold 378,029 motorbikes in the 250-500 cc segment during April-September this year, with nearly a 90 per cent share of the domestic market.

In contrast, international brands sell far smaller volumes.

For instance, Ducati sold 55,000 bikes globally in 2016, Triumph 65,000, KTM 190,000, and Harley Davidson 260,000 bikes.

However, their products command a huge premium in the global market, as a result of which their average sale price is multiple times what manufacturers in India sell for.

KTM, for example, sells a bike at an average price of $8,400 (Rs 541,000), which is nearly five times of what Indian players sell their products in this category.



Image: The Triumph Daytona 675. Photograph: Paul Harding Livepic/Reuters

Eicher sold over 660,000 bikes last financial year, generating revenues of Rs 7,939 crore.

Harley-Davidson, on the other hand, sold only a third of the number of bikes (194,000) in the first nine months of this year, but generated revenues of Rs 19,300 crore.

In the export market for over 250 cc bikes, the equation is different.

It is here that Bajaj Auto, with over 53 per cent market share, dominates -- mainly through KTM and its recently launched Dominar.

Eicher has a market share of under 19 per cent.

Bajaj has put together a clear strategy to take on Eicher in the 250 cc-plus segment.

Apart from launching the Dominar, a 373 cc bike at over Rs 100,000, it has tied up with Triumph to combine its frugal engineering skills with that of its partners' technology and brand to come out with mid-segment bikes for both the domestic and export market in the Rs 100,000-Rs 200,000 price range.

The bikes are slated to hit the roads by 2020.



Image: Workers assemble a Royal Enfield motorcycle inside its factory in Chennai. Photograph: Babu/Reuters

Eicher, the darling of the stock market, has stitched together a five-year export plan and has identified southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam) and Latin America (Brazil and Columbia) as key markets for growth.

Lal is also looking at opportunities to fill the gaps in the mid-weight mobike market across the globe and grow it tenfold.

That is because the big boys -- Ducati, Harley, BMW, and Triumph -- which have a high cost structure, are forced to price bikes at a high price tag and sell only limited volumes.

Instead, they prefer to sell heavyweight bikes, where they make good margins at only an incremental increase in cost of production.

To fill this gap, Eicher has just showcased its 650 cc parallel twin-engine mobikes, which will target its 2.3 million domestic Enfield customers, some of whom might be looking for an upgrade.

But it will also provide Lal with volumes needed to reduce costs and will be offered at a compelling price in the US and Europe.
IMAGE: A policeman guides a family after after gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service on Sunday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least eight people and wounding 44 others including children and women.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added.

Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

IMAGE: Policemen guide people after gunmen attacked the Church during a midday service. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

Dr Wasim Baig of Civil Hospital said that eight people were killed while 44 others injured, including children and women. He said that nine injured are in critical condition.

According to the church's Facebook page, it had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, and was holding a 'Sunday School Christmas Programme' at the time of the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban terrorists targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past.

Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about the number of attackers.

IMAGE: A man and a woman react as they run out the Church. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

Ansari said that three terrorists were involved. He said one was killed by police and the second was able to detonate explosives. He said there are reports that a third terrorist fled from the scene and police was searching for him.

Earlier, DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police.

Following the attack, an emergency was declared in all hospitals across Quetta.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

IMAGE: A policeman takes position during the gunfight with terrorists. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

On March 15, 2015, the Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahores Youhanabad neighbourhood, killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.
By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (PTI) Foundation stones for two LNG pipelines of 600 km were laid in Sukinda area of Odishas Jajpur district today, marking a giant leap in the spread of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga in the state.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stones for new Dhamra-Angul 36 inch main pipeline and Bhubaneshwar?Cuttack?Paradip 12 inch spur line at Haripur, Sukinda.

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Describing the 600-km natural gas pipeline project as a new year gift for the people of coastal Odisha from the Centre, Pradhan said foundation stone for the LNG Terminal at Dhamra with an investment of Rs 6000 crore has already been laid recently.

Gas will be imported from countries like Australia, Qatar in cape size vessels and will be supplied to Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh through over 2500 km long pipeline, he said.

Out of that, 600 km natural gas pipeline will be constructed in Odisha covering 13 districts of the state.

This longest pipeline project is a major step towards fulfillment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s dream of developing a gas-based economy and linking Eastern India to the country?s Natural Gas Grid. It will lead to development of high quality manufacturing in Odisha, the minister said.

This will add more values to the minerals of the mineral rich state like Odisha. As of now, steel produced in Odisha was limited to construction of houses and angle making.

But now the steel and aluminium which will be produced in Odisha using gas will be of high quality and will lead to manufacturing of automobiles and Odisha can be a centre of high quality steel production.

Pradhan also opined that, since a long time Tata has been able to utilise natural resources of Odisha. Now the company should come forward to manufacture heavy vehicles like trucks in Odisha using this natural gas.

As part of this pipeline project the Oil Minister had yesterday inaugurated three Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations at Bhubaneswar. PTI SKN RG

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Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi a day after he accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of spreading hatred, Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh on Sunday said it was his party which has been trying to douse the fire "lit by the Congress" on issues such as Kashmir and communal tensions.

Addressing a BJP rally in Bengaluru, he also accused the Congress government in Karnataka of trying to 'divide' the society and lashed out at it on the law-and-order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

The senior BJP leader posed several questions to Rahul Gandhi, who made the charge after being handed over the baton by his mother Sonia Gandhi yesterday to take over as the Congress president, heralding a generational change.

Singh said, "The Congress has got a new president. I congratulate him. He says that the BJP is responsible for the unrest in the country. I want to ask him who is behind the conmunal tensions, terrorism, Naxalism and unrest in Kashmir?

"Who is behind the dynastic politics in the country? Let Rahul Gandhi know that it is the BJP which is trying to douse the fire lit by the Congress," Singh said.

He also said the "whole world knew that the BJP alone knows how to run the nation. The Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results will prove it again. Already exit polls have predicted that we are going to form the government in these two states," he said.

In his first speech to party workers after formally assuming charge as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi had said: "They break, we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it. They get angry, we love. This is the difference between them and us."

Targeting the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka, Singh said the Congress regime believed in "spreading enmity" between different communities.

Referring to the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Rudresh in Bengalurur early this year and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader D S Kuttappa in Kodagu district in NOvember, 2015 and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta recently, he said they were "murdered in cold blood." Even Gauri Lankesh was killed.

"If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated," the Union home minister said.

Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in September, leading to a national outrage.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week.

The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mesta's death, for which the BJP has blamed the "jihadi elements".

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

"There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide the Indian society," he added.

Singh said the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there was no such provision in the Constitution.

"Reservation based on religion is a deception with the people of the state. The Constitution does not allow it," he added.

The Union minister said the country was scaling new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Despite the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, various international economic organisations have projected a high economic growth rate for the country. They have even recommended such economic reforms," he added.

Regarding border security and internal peace, Singh said the way the Doklam stand-off with China was resolved showed that India was a strong country.

"Even China realises that India is not the same anymore," he added.

Singh said the country had taken the terrorists in Kashmir head-on and curbed their activities substantially.

Karnataka's growth would be rapid if the BJP was voted to power in the state, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa too slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly talking about Modi in a derogatory manner.

"You (Siddaramaiah) are only a 'bachcha' (kid) in front of Prime Minister Modi. When the whole world is admiring Modi, who are you to talk about him in an insulting way," the former chief minister said.

The BJP rally in Bengaluru was organised as part of "Parivarthan Yatra" with the party leaders crisscrossing the state to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Assembly polls, due early next year.

Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo
At least eight people have been reported killed in the terror attack in Balochistan's Quetta city.

By Hamza Ameer: At least eight people have been killed and 44 injured in a suicide bomb attack at a Catholic Church in Balochistan's capital city Quetta today.

Reportedly, two suicide bombers stormed the church- out of which one was killed at the entrance but the other managed to explode his vest inside.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti in a statement said, "Hundreds of worshippers were attending services at the church ahead of Christmas at the time of attack."

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An emergency has been declared in all public hospitals in Quetta.

"All doctors and paramedics staff shall be vigilant and must use all available resources to give maximum proper health care facilities to the injured ones," an official statement said.

More details awaited.

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During the American Revolution many local state militia units were created to help defend the rights of the colonies. The Frederick County Militia (1777), a militia unit from Virginia, fought in support of the American cause.

Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_militia_units_in_the_American_Revolutionary_War
Meteor missiles have a whopping 100 kilometer range. It will be an asset for Indian Air Force.

By Manjeet Negi: The much awaited Rafale fighter aircraft will be a major boost to India's firepower as the fighters will come fitted with Meteor and Mica missiles from Europe.

These missiles will give immense advantage to Rafale fighter aircraft as these are 'beyond visual range' weapons. In simpler terms, the pilot of the fighter plane will be able to target enemy plane even if he cannot physically see the enemy craft.

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The range of meteor and mica missile is exceptionally long at 100 kilometers. This will give a comprehensive edge to these planes in combat situations.

The Rafale fighters will come along with Meteor Mica missiles under the Rs 59,800 crore deal which will give Indian Air Force aerial superiority in case of launching air campaigns against enemy ground targets and will also suppress their air defence planes as well.

The deal is facing questions from the Congress which had declared Rafale as the L-1 bidder in 2012 and contract negotiations had begun with its manufacturer Dassault Aviation that year.

Contract negotiations remained incomplete even after 2 years in 2014 due to a lack of agreement on various terms of RFP compliance and cost related issues.

There was no deal under the UPA Government. Transfer of Technology remained the primary issue of concern between the two sides. Dassault Aviation was also not willing to take the responsibility of quality control of production of 108 aircraft in India. While Dassault provisioned for 3 crore man hours for production of the aircraft in India, HAL's estimate was nearly 3 times higher, escalating costs manifold.

As per comparisons drawn between the two deals based on the cost of flyaway condition planes, the NDA deal is coming out to be cheaper by Rs 12,000 crore.

The Air Force is sending teams of its pilots and technicians to a French air base to train on the Rafales that will start arriving in early 2019.

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Experts said the killing of a young woman by her dogs in rural Goochland County last week may have resulted from misdirected aggression and it was unlikely that it had anything to do with them being pit bulls.

Bethany Stephens, 22, of Glen Allen, was found by her father Thursday. Goochland Sheriff James Agnew said Sunday that, the way he described it, he could not get to his daughters body because the dogs were guarding the body and these were rather menacing dogs.

She had walked the dogs there in the past, Agnew said. Asked if the dogs were friendly to her, Agnew said, I dont know the answer to that. They were her dogs. I guess you could assume that, but I dont know.

Amy L. Pike, of the Veterinary Referral Center of Northern Virginia and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, said, Dogs dont just attack out of the blue. They are typically scared or threatened by something.

This is thankfully very rare and obviously very tragic, she said.

Pike said, I dont know anything about these dogs or her personal relationship with them, but there are likely to have been precursors to this, I suspect, either in terms of fear and anxiety or potentially aggression issues in either one of these dogs to have happened this way.

She said dogs can redirect aggression toward their owners or other dogs nearby when they are threatened.

Its very possible there was something else that scared them and unfortunately either they got into a fight with one another and she was trying to break it up or one or both redirected towards her in the moment, she said.

Agnew said Stephens was small, about 5 feet 1 inch tall and 125 pounds, and estimated that the dogs may have weighed as much as her.

Janet Velenovsky, an animal behavior consultant in Montpelier, said, If she was as small as I read, she could be knocked down and then before you know it the redirection happens on her instead of whatever they were trying to get to.

If she fell over, got tripped or pushed or something, and now shes on the ground, if she squeals or something like that ... that may have directed their attention toward her. Its just the saddest thing. My heart goes out to her family and father, she said.

Velenovsky said the answer about what happened could possibly lie in the training methods used on the dogs in the past.

Pike and Velenovsky said it is unlikely the attack had anything to do with the dogs being pit bulls. Pike said pit bull is not actually a breed. Its just the look of a dog.

Any dog can bite, even an eight-pound Chihuahua can bite. But, certainly, the bigger the dog and the more powerful the dog, the more dangerous aggression can be, said Pike.

The sheriff said he does not know if the dogs had been trained to fight. He said one of her friends told an investigator the dogs had been adopted, she thought, through a group that rescues former fighting dogs. I have not confirmed that, he said.

Pike said, Dogs that are bred to fight are actually trained not to redirect to people because it has to be very safe for the handler to be able to get in there and pull the dogs apart after the fight is over.

Fighting pit bulls  ones specifically bred for that  tend to be very nice to people, Pike said.

Anytime people see fear or anxiety or stress in their animals, that can potentially lead to aggression because most aggression is fear-based, she said.

Anyone with concerns about their dogs can see their veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist who can help manage aggression and treat the underlying fear and anxiety.

The dogs are being held at Goochland County Animal Control, and the sheriffs office is seeking to have them euthanized. A change.org petition is being circulated online to Save Bethany Stephens Pit Bulls.
A community center has opened its doors in downtown Richmond, providing a landing spot for those just released from jail and those battling addiction.

The REAL Life Community Center is part of the nonprofit arm that is expanding the Richmond City Justice Centers REAL program outside of the jail and into the community in hopes of continuing the behavior modification, recovery and rehabilitation many former inmates started behind bars. But the center also will serve those not associated with the jailhouse program.

The program and nonprofits founder, Sarah Scarbrough, who directs internal programs at the jail, said she hopes the center can provide help before people find themselves incarcerated for what amounts to an illness.

We do hope that folks will come here for help, so they dont have to go to the jail for treatment, she said. There are so many folks in the community that are living the lifestyle, but a lot of them genuinely dont want to be doing what theyre doing, but they dont know another way and dont know an escape.

Scarbrough continues to get calls from former participants of the REAL program, which stands for Recovering From Everyday Addictive Lifestyles, who have been released but are not finding the resources they need to keep from relapsing or reoffending. Top that with calls from inmates at other jails, and community members who want to participate, and Scarbrough said she has to tell them that unless they get locked up in Richmond, theres not much she can do for them.

While we have REAL Life and some services, there have never been full-time staff. So the amount of services and support that can be provided to them is limited, she said. Thats why they opened a community center.

One of those calls was from James Bullock, who was released from jail in August after serving a year-and-a-half for drug distribution.

He had been in and out of jail all his life, he said.

By now, I would have been into something. She made me believe, Bullock said of Scarbrough. They taught me I dont have to do that.

Bullock, his wife and child moved into their own place  its the first time Bullock has had his name on a lease, he said. He took pride in receiving, and paying, his first bill.

He left school around the fifth grade, Bullock said. He came into the jail with a second-grade reading level, Scarbrough said, but by the time he left, he had passed one part of his GED exam. Hes now studying for the other parts to earn a high school diploma, and had a job interview last week.

This is a whole new life for me, Bullock said.

On opening day, he volunteered as the receptionist, greeting people as they came in and signing them up for an initial assessment, which determines the range of services they require from one-on-one case management, job skills, budgeting, counseling, anger management classes, Bible study and 12-step meetings.

Within hours of opening Dec. 6, Scarbrough said they had nine people signed up  nearly halfway to her goal of 20 clients per month.

The centers annual operating budget is slightly under $270,000 with just two full-time case managers on staff. That breaks down to about $1,320 per client per year. Compare that to the cost of incarceration, which in Virginia is between $30,000 and $35,000, Scarbrough said: Its an incredible bargain.

The Wheless Family Stewardship Trust pledged to cover 75 percent of the centers budget for the first two years, and 50 percent for years three and four.

Mark Wheless, whose family from outside Charlottesville runs the trust, said they began talking with Scarbrough, who mentioned the far-fetched idea of a community center, just six months ago.

Here we are, he said at the grand opening event earlier this month. Not only is someone coming to the program able to have support to sustain their recovery, but if they choose to, they can go far beyond that to the thriving life.

The center also has applied for grants, like one just awarded from Dominion, and has received donations from individuals and churches. The Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office, which works closely with the REAL program at the Richmond jail, donated $200.

Were so excited about having something like this in the community, said Chesterfield sheriffs Capt. Eric Jones. Regardless of whether its in Chesterfield or not, its an opportunity for someone to get out of jail and be able to go somewhere thats going to help them.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge William R. Marchant, who oversees drug court in Richmond, said he has been impressed with the work of the REAL program in the jail. Hes happy to have another resource for the disposition of cases.

Outgoing Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. donated $5,000 of leftover funds from his unsuccessful bid for a fourth term at the grand opening. Sheriff-elect Antionette V. Irving also attended the event. Irving has not indicated whether she will keep the REAL program at the jail, only saying she was reviewing this program as any other and will put out there whats best for the residents and the city.

Irving added that she envisioned having some rehabilitative programs. We want good citizens when they come out, she said.

Scarbrough said she does not know what the change of leadership means for her job security, but that the center was not a fail-safe in case she found herself out of a job in the new year. Everything, from the money to the space, came together quickly, she said.

One stumbling block was finding a location. The nonprofits board initially looked in the Blackwell community in South Richmond, where the REAL House is located. Its a recovery house for men leaving the jail that opened this summer, and REAL Lifes first substantive out-of-jail expansion. The men have to commit to living in the home for six months to finish the REAL curriculum, which takes more than six months  longer than the average stay at the jail.

The idea for the home, and eventually the community center, originated after a study released in May showed that the REAL program successfully reduced recidivism only in individuals who participated in the program for more than 90 days. The University of Richmond study found that 30 percent of the individuals who participated for longer than three months reoffended within a year of release, compared with a 55 percent recidivism rate for those who did not participate. There was no difference between those who participated for a shorter length of time and those who did not participate at all.

That means the longer the men and women are exposed to behavior modification-based programs, the better they do. Scarbrough said that necessitated taking the program outside of the jail.

When looking for the centers location, Scarbrough thought to centralize near the house in Blackwell, but rental property owners there were not willing to work with that at-risk population. So she started looking elsewhere and found a 5,000-square-foot space on Main Street downtown. While not ideal, its on a bus line and not far from South Richmond or the jail  nor does it overlap geographically with other resource-heavy areas like Scotts Addition or the McShin Foundation in Henrico County.

We are arresting and locking up the wrong people. We are locking up those that are mentally ill. We are locking up those that are sick and addicted to opiates and drugs and alcohol and all of that kind of stuff, Woody said. We have to stop sending them to the jail to get treatment for their causes and their problems. We need to prevent them from coming to jail.

This is just the beginning.
Fairfax lawmaker files bill to restore parole eligibility

RICHMOND  A Northern Virginia state senator has submitted a bill to change the states three-strikes law to restore parole eligibility in certain cases.

Sen. Scott A. Surovell, D-Fairfax, confirmed to The Virginian-Pilot that he submitted the proposed legislation Monday. The bill would amend a 1982 law that allowed offenders convicted of rape, robbery or murder to be deemed ineligible for parole if their three crimes were committed in a single string, even if they had not been to prison before.

The amendment would allow only those who had been out of prison between each of their three convictions to be deemed ineligible for parole.

As many as 260 people are currently in Virginia prisons under the 1982 law.

A new three-strikes law targets recidivists but does not apply to those who previously lost parole eligibility.

Teen accused of attacking officer wants to apologize

VIRGINIA BEACH  A teenager charged with attacking a police officer with a knife now wants to apologize to the law enforcer.

Riley Miller told a Virginia Beach judge that he wants to tell the injured officer hes sorry, The Virginian-Pilot reported. The 17-year-old suspect made the comments at his first court appearance on charges of attempted capital murder and malicious wounding of an officer.

Police said the officer was treated and released from a hospital the same day he was allegedly stabbed by Miller.

Only the broadest outlines of the stabbing have been released. But the newspaper reports that large splatters of what appeared to be blood could be seen where officers responded to a domestic incident.

Miller was being held without bail at the Virginia Beach Juvenile Detention Center.

Jury pays fine it imposed after convicting woman

FAIRFAX  A Northern Virginia jury has chipped in to pay the fine of a maid it convicted of stealing three rings from a house she was cleaning.

Jury foreman Jeffery Memmott told The Washington Post that he gave 19-year-old mother of two Sandra Mendez Ortega $80 the jury collected after it convicted her of felony grand larceny. The trial was in July. Sentencing was Dec. 8 in a Fairfax County court.

The jury fined Mendez Ortega $60, her daily pay as a maid. Memmott said the general sentiment was she was a victim, too, and had made a youthful mistake.

The case began when Lisa Copeland discovered her rings, worth at least $5,000, missing in September 2016. Copeland said she was outraged and that she didnt think $60 equated to the crime at all.

Revamped Va. Beach hotel plans to reopen in February

VIRGINIA BEACH  A historic Virginia hotel is preparing for its February grand opening after four years of repairs and restoration.

The Cavalier Hotel at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, which originally opened in 1927, will feature 85 guest rooms, three restaurants, a spa and a distillery.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that a job fair will be held Tuesday for 225 hospitality positions.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Who will dine with Rahul Gandhi today at the Hotel Ashoka in New Delhi? Read on to find out.

Dinner with Congress President Rahul Gandhi? Not for you, if you're not one of the people mentioned below. (Photo for represenatation: @rssurjewala/Twitter)

By India Today Web Desk: Are you a Congress MP? No? All right - an office bearer, PCC leader or a Congress Legislative Party leader? Still no? Well, you won't be dining today with Rahul Gandhi, the party's new president.

ANI reported that Rahul invited the Congress leaders mentioned above for dinner this evening. India Today has learned that it will be closed-door affair, held at New Delhi's Hotel Ashoka in honour of former president Sonia Gandhi.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has invited Party MPs, Office bearers,PCC leaders and Congress Legislative Party leaders for dinner today evening in Delhi pic.twitter.com/sWuTENYyG0- ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

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Right now, Rahul Gandhi party has a little over a 100 MPs - in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha combined. With a new Lok Sabha poll and several state assembly elections coming up in the next couple of years, how does the Congress party fix that? Perhaps Rahul Gandhi will ask his legislators that over dinner.

Rahul is the the Congress' 49th president and the sixth member of his own family to lead the INC. Faced with the task of contesting elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, he'll need to roll up his sleeves and get cracking. India Today's magazine published a to-do list for him in last week's edition.

The certificate of election of the Congress President awarded to Shri Rahul Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/ZkCHCx5Juw- Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2017

Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's official appointment as Congress chief, his mother Sonia said her role was to retire. But yesterday, Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi said Sonia Gandhi would contest polls from Raebareli, which the former party president currently represents as an MP.

On Sunday, India Today TV broadcast a retrospective on Sonia Gandhi's life in politics. You can watch the full video here, on click on the playable image below.

WATCH | Sonia Gandhi: From the reclusive bahu to reluctant political party chief

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: fishermen

(Eds: With additional input)

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Congress President Rahul Gandhi today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep for rehabilitation of families of fishermen who died due to Cyclone Ockhi.

In his first letter as the Congress chief to the prime minister, he requested Modi to help put in place adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas.

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Highlighting the suffering of cyclone-hit fishermen, whom he met during his recent visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu on December 14, Gandhi said the cyclone has caused tremendous damage to their lives and livelihood.

"In these challenging times, our fishermen deserve a helping hand from our government," he said.

Gandhi urged the prime minister to take all necessary measures for rehabilitation of fishermen and restoration of their traditional vocation.

Being one of the most underprivileged sections of the society, these fishermen yearn for succour and hand holding from our government, he said.

"I would request you to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and union territory of Lakshadweep to undertake rehabilitation, provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased fishermen and for the overall development of the coastal region," he said.

Gandhi also asked the prime minister to take steps to prevent such a tragedy, to the extent possible.

He said fishermen in the coastal region depend solely on fishing and related activities as their only means of livelihood and are a vital economic resource of our economy.

"I urge you to take holistic measures for ensuring housing, basic health services and quality education for their children," he said.

Gandhi said the impact of the cyclone has brought to light the urgent need to ensure adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas and for providing life saving instruments for the fishermen sailing to the sea.

"May I also emphasise the need to construct sea-walls and groynes in the vulnerable sea coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu," he urged the prime minister. PTI SKC DIP

--- ENDS ---
MEADOWS OF DAN  Thirty-three years ago, Bob Heafner made a promise to an old man.

The old man was Matt Burnett, a lifelong resident of this mountain-top community in Patrick County. In 1984, Burnett was an 80-year-old man living with a regret that he confessed to Heafner as the two men walked in a grassy pasture just a few yards from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nearly 50 years earlier in that same meadow, as the parkway was being built in about 1936, Burnett had been part of a work crew that had removed the headstones from an old slave cemetery. He and other men had pulled up the simple fieldstone grave markers and had hauled them into the nearby woods. The plan was to replace the stones when the road was finished, Burnett said, but that never happened. The slave cemetery was all but forgotten.

You could tell the man felt bad about it, Heafner said, recalling that conversation.

Burnett asked Heafner if he would make sure that people would someday know about the forgotten slaves hiding in plain sight next to a road traveled by millions. Heafner was young then, a businessman and a publisher who knew people in Meadows of Dan and up and down the parkway. Surely, Burnett thought, Heafner could find a way to place a monument or memorial to those people, so that their lives wouldnt remain buried in the past.

I want you to promise to get it done, the old man demanded.

Ill do my best, Heafner replied. Burnett died three years later.

Heafner told that story on a dreary, drizzly day in September as he walked through that same field where he had first heard the story of the old slave cemetery near Meadows of Dan Baptist Church. He walked slowly in the wet grass, while holding a blue umbrella and wearing a heavy denim coat against the chill. He strode into a small area cordoned by a split-rail fence where a pair of wooden stakes marked possible sites for a stone marker to be placed.

After 33 years worth of letters, emails, phone calls and near endless haggling with parkway officials, countless hours of research in courthouses, and with the aid of other people who helped seal the deal when it appeared the cemetery might never be marked, Bob Heafner made good on his promise. A granite marker dedicated to the African-Americans who worked for the Langhorne family and who are buried there was placed Nov. 29 inside what Heafner dubbed the slave meadow.

The young man who made that promise is 70 now, fleshier of face, with a smokers deep drawl and crowned with white hair that flips into a rakish curl on his forehead.

Lord have mercy, if Id known what I promised to do for Matt Burnett  he said with the hint of a chuckle. He paused.

I wouldve still done it.

A local legend

Folks had always heard that there was a slave cemetery around somewhere. The trouble was documenting its existence so that the National Park Service would acknowledge it with some kind of historic marker. An old mans memory about something that happened in the 1930s wasnt good enough.

Felecia Shelor, owner of the Poor Farmers Market on U.S. 58 and a longtime friend of Heafners, said that old-timers sometimes griped about the lost headstones.

I heard several people say that they were upset that the stones had been dumped, Shelor said.

Heafner had heard a story about a black woman who came looking for the cemetery years ago, and she was saddened to see cattle grazing in the meadow where her ancestors were possibly buried.

Heafners research went slowly, but some facts were already well-documented. The Langhorne family had operated a large farm in Meadows of Dan before the Civil War. Slaves lived and worked on the farm called Langdale, although an exact number is not known.

Slavery was common in Patrick County. According to county historian Tom Perry, as many as 2,000 slaves were part of Patrick Countys 9,000 residents in 1850. The majority of those enslaved people were owned by the prominent Reynolds and Hairston families. Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuarts father owned 28 slaves, according to Perry. Slavery was less prevalent up on the mountain in Meadows of Dan, where five families owned slaves, according to an Appalachian State University research project commissioned by the park service.

Heafner discovered a will that stated James Steptoe Langhorne had at least five slaves, and perhaps owned more than 10 at one time.

He also found the names of five other African-Americans who were probably buried in the cemetery. Three of them died enslaved, with history having no record of their last names: Charles (a child who died in 1858), John (who was 19 when he died in 1858) and Ellen (a 1-year-old who died in 1862). The two other people Heafner documented died after the Civil War: Guss Langhorne (another 1-year-old who died in 1871) and Susan Langhorne (born a slave, died free in 1871 at age 28). It is unclear why the latter two had the Langhorne name.

Those people are buried near the Langhorne familys section of the Meadows of Dan Baptist Churchs cemetery, Heafner said. Although he had answered some questions about who was buried there, he still had not fully proved where they were buried. As the 20th century dissolved into the 21st, he was unsure if he would ever fulfill his promise to Burnett.

A mountain of a task

Bob Heafner and his wife, Charlotte, moved to Meadows of Dan in 1971. He had worked in real estate before finding an old farmhouse in the mountains near U.S. 58. He and Charlotte were quickly enamored with the people of Patrick County and the stories they had to tell, especially the tales of old folks who remembered a time before paved roads and electricity, a time when mighty American chestnut orchards carpeted the mountainsides before the devastating blight that destroyed them.

Bob and Charlotte decided to record these stories, which is how they came to start The Mountain Laurel, a free, monthly, tabloid-sized newspaper filled with history, recipes, profiles, ghost stories and other accounts of a rural lifestyle that was disappearing from the mountains like the chestnuts. With the help of their neighbor Susan Thigpen, the Heafners launched The Mountain Laurel in March 1983 and quickly sold all 3,000 copies.

By the early 1990s, monthly circulation had exploded to 25,000, with coast-to-coast distribution. The Heafners were early adopters of the internet, and they put The Mountain Laurel online in 1996, where back issues from 1983 to 2015 can be found, thanks to the Library of Virginia, which archived older stories for the website. (The Mountain Laurel can be read online at mtnlaurel.com.)

Publishing The Mountain Laurel is how Bob met old-timers such as Burnett, a local man who had a knack with a pocket knife. Burnett whittled walking canes and old-fashioned wooden toys  things with colorful names like gee-haw whimmy diddles, horseshoe puzzles, jumping jacks, dancing men and other country crafts. He remembered the days when mules plowed the fields and when families attended the Fourth of July celebration on horseback.

Burnett also knew about the fieldstone grave markers being removed from the slave cemetery, because he had been part of a crew that removed them.

Mister Matt showed me where the slaves are buried, Heafner said. Mister Matt told me he was on the crew that did the landscaping. They picked up the fieldstone markers and took them to the woods and never put them back.

The park service has owned the property where the cemetery is located since the 1930s, so Heafner started by calling Gary Everhardt, who was the parkway superintendent in the 1980s.

I asked Gary to put up a monument, Heafner said. He said theyd do it, but Id have to pay for it. This was in the days before GoFundMe. I never could get any interest in it.

Everhardt was the first of four Blue Ridge Parkway superintendents with whom Heafner would work over the next three decades.

Heafner, who today lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, was often frustrated with the park services deliberate approach to documenting the slave cemetery, as evidenced by a series of back-and-forth emails and letters he has posted on The Mountain Laurel website that cover just the years 2001 through 2012. The communications between him and the park service are mostly cordial, professional and straightforward, but Heafner was often unsatisfied with parkway officials responses.

Mr. Matt is dead and Im not getting any younger, he wrote to superintendent Dan Brown in 2001, and I fear if something is not done soon, even the fact that slaves are buried in the meadow will someday be forgotten and they will pass into oblivion like countless other forgotten black people who contributed to the settlement and development of the Blue Ridge.

For their part, parkway administrators were receptive to the idea of placing a marker in the slave meadow, but officials also told Heafner that they lacked funds for an extensive project. Any park service undertaking that requires taxpayer money or private grants takes considerable time, Brown wrote to Heafner in 2002. Park service staff also spent time trying to determine whether the slave cemetery even existed.

Three years later, in 2005, Heafner wrote another letter that said, The clock is ticking fast and action is needed very soon.

I just had to keep going back and going back and going back, Heafner said during an interview this fall.

Finally, a pair of breakthroughs jump-started the project. Heafner found an old map in the Patrick County Courthouse in Stuart that showed the location of the slave cemetery right where Burnett said it had been. The park service then sent Heafner a copy of a ragged property-acquisition map from the 1930s that also showed the slave cemetery.

In 2007, a park service archaeologist used ground-penetrating radar to discover nine graves in the suspected cemetery. The graves were marked, and the park service planned to build a split-rail fence around the property. That took another five years.

Heafner acknowledges that had he gone searching for maps earlier, perhaps the project would have been completed sooner.

The cemetery still had no headstones or historic marker to memorialize the people buried there, however. Heafners efforts to raise $7,500 for a stone memorial through a GoFundMe site had not been successful. His good friend Shelor, who oversaw the GoFundMe campaign, was about to return about $1,200 in pledges to donors. The effort to erect a marker appeared dead.

Thats when Libby Wilcox showed up.

Rock-star performance

Wilcox is a 73-year-old, type-A spitfire who is an energetic advocate and volunteer for the Blue Ridge Parkway. A former environmental educator from North Carolina, Wilcox has a part-time home near the scenic highway in Carroll County. She was the subject of a Roanoke Times story in 2015 when she and a friend painted and cleaned road signs along the parkways entire 469-mile route.

She met Heafner three years ago, when recently retired parkway superintendent Mark Woods told her about the stalled effort to place a memorial marker in the slave cemetery. When Heafner told Wilcox that they needed $7,500 to buy a stone marker, Wilcox had another idea.

Bob, you do know that the worlds largest granite quarry is in our backyard? Wilcox said. That would be the North Carolina Granite Corporation in Mount Airy, North Carolina, about 45 minutes from Meadows of Dan.

Wilcox had no intention of paying for a stone marker.

I used to work with Girl Scouts, she said. I know how to get donations.

She met with the quarrys owner, William Swift. Within 10 minutes of introductions, Swift had agreed to donate a 2 -foot by 4-foot marker with an inscription.

What do you want on it? he asked.

Forever free

The sky was topaz blue on a mild Nov. 29 in Meadows of Dan as Wilcox watched the stone lowered into place. Wayne Thomas and Scott Smith of Acme Stone Company parked the companys flat-bed truck next to the split-rail fence, placed straps around the heavy granite stone and hoisted it with a lift onto a stone base. The men applied a cement-like setting compound between the marker and its base, then brushed the letters with water. The inscription read:

SLAVE MEADOW CEMETERY

In memory and honor of the

known and unknown

African-Americans buried in

this Meadow.

May they rest in peace,

forever free.

Im about to cry, Wilcox said, although she sounded happy. Its so big!

She was joined by Shelor and Nancy Galli, the founder of Nancys Candy Company and a longtime Meadows of Dan resident. A couple of men from the local papers also watched and reported the event.

One person who was not there was Bob Heafner. The last couple of years have not been the best for him. Charlotte, his wife, died two years ago after years of declining health. He lost a daughter last year.

However, he plans to return to Meadows of Dan in the spring, when the park service will formally dedicate the granite marker in the slave meadow. He said his work isnt finished. The GoFundMe account has about $900 left, after $300 was spent to place the marker. He would like for the park service to build a wayside exhibit dedicated to the lives and stories of slaves in the region.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if someone came to the cemetery and found their relatives? he said. I think there are people out there who still know stories about the people who are buried there. Now, maybe this will shake some memories loose. Thatd be icing on the cake.
MEADOWS OF DAN  Thirty-three years ago, Bob Heafner made a promise to an old man.

The old man was Matt Burnett, a lifelong resident of this mountain-top community in Patrick County. In 1984, Burnett was an 80-year-old man living with a regret that he confessed to Heafner as the two men walked in a grassy pasture just a few yards from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nearly 50 years earlier in that same meadow, as the parkway was being built about 1936, Burnett had been part of a work crew that had removed the headstones from an old slave cemetery. He and other men had pulled up the simple fieldstone grave markers and had hauled them into the nearby woods. The plan was to replace the stones when the road was finished, Burnett said, but that never happened. The slave cemetery was all but forgotten.

You could tell the man felt bad about it, Heafner said, recalling that conversation.

Burnett asked Heafner if he would make sure that people would someday know about the forgotten slaves hiding in plain sight next to a road traveled by millions. Heafner was young then, a businessman and a publisher who knew people in Meadows of Dan and up and down the parkway. Surely, Burnett thought, Heafner could find a way to place a monument or memorial to those people, so that their lives wouldnt remain buried in the past.

I want you to promise to get it done, the old man demanded.

Ill do my best, Heafner replied. Burnett died three years later.

Heafner told that story on a dreary, drizzly day in September as he walked through that same field where he had first heard the story of the old slave cemetery near Meadows of Dan Baptist Church. He walked slowly in the wet grass, while holding a blue umbrella and wearing a heavy denim coat against the chill. He strode into a small area cordoned by a split-rail fence where a pair of wooden stakes marked possible sites for a stone marker to be placed.

After 33 years worth of letters, emails, phone calls and near endless haggling with parkway officials, countless hours of research in courthouses, and with the aid of other people who helped seal the deal when it appeared the cemetery might never be marked, Bob Heafner made good on his promise. A granite marker dedicated to the African-Americans who worked for the Langhorne family and who are buried there was placed Nov. 29 inside what Heafner dubbed the slave meadow.

The young man who made that promise is 70 now, fleshier of face, with a smokers deep drawl and crowned with white hair that flips into a rakish curl on his forehead.

Lord have mercy, if Id known what I promised to do for Matt Burnett  he said with the hint of a chuckle. He paused.

I wouldve still done it.

A local legend

Folks had always heard that there was a slave cemetery around somewhere. The trouble was documenting its existence so that the National Park Service would acknowledge it with some kind of historic marker. An old mans memory about something that happened in the 1930s wasnt good enough.

Felecia Shelor, owner of the Poor Farmers Market on U.S. 58 and a longtime friend of Heafners, said that old-timers sometimes griped about the lost headstones.

I heard several people say that they were upset that the stones had been dumped, Shelor said.

Heafner had heard a story about a black woman who came looking for the cemetery years ago, and she was saddened to see cattle grazing in the meadow where her ancestors were possibly buried.

Heafners research went slowly, but some facts were already well-documented. The Langhorne family had operated a large farm in Meadows of Dan before the Civil War. Slaves lived and worked on the farm called Langdale, although an exact number is not known.

Slavery was common in Patrick County. According to county historian Tom Perry, as many as 2,000 slaves were part of Patrick Countys 9,000 residents in 1850. The majority of those enslaved people were owned by the prominent Reynolds and Hairston families. Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuarts father owned 28 slaves, according to Perry. Slavery was less prevalent up on the mountain in Meadows of Dan, where five families owned slaves, according to an Appalachian State University research project commissioned by the park service.

Heafner discovered a will that stated James Steptoe Langhorne had at least five slaves, and perhaps owned more than 10 at one time.

He also found the names of five other African-Americans who were probably buried in the cemetery. Three of them died enslaved, with history having no record of their last names: Charles (a child who died in 1858), John (who was 19 when he died in 1858) and Ellen (a 1-year-old who died in 1862). The two other people Heafner documented died after the Civil War: Guss Langhorne (another 1-year-old who died in 1871) and Susan Langhorne (born a slave, died free in 1871 at age 28). It is unclear why the latter two had the Langhorne name.

Those people are buried near the Langhorne familys section of the Meadows of Dan Baptist Churchs cemetery, Heafner said. Although he had answered some questions about who was buried there, he still had not fully proved where they were buried. As the 20th century dissolved into the 21st, he was unsure if he would ever fulfill his promise to Burnett.

A mountain of a task

Bob Heafner and his wife, Charlotte, moved to Meadows of Dan in 1971. He had worked in real estate before finding an old farmhouse in the mountains near U.S. 58. He and Charlotte were quickly enamored with the people of Patrick County and the stories they had to tell, especially the tales of old folks who remembered a time before paved roads and electricity, a time when mighty American chestnut orchards carpeted the mountainsides before the devastating blight that destroyed them.

Bob and Charlotte decided to record these stories, which is how they came to start The Mountain Laurel, a free, monthly, tabloid-sized newspaper filled with history, recipes, profiles, ghost stories and other accounts of a rural lifestyle that was disappearing from the mountains like the chestnuts. With the help of their neighbor Susan Thigpen, the Heafners launched The Mountain Laurel in March 1983 and quickly sold all 3,000 copies.

By the early 1990s, monthly circulation had exploded to 25,000, with coast-to-coast distribution. The Heafners were early adopters of the internet, and they put The Mountain Laurel online in 1996, where back issues from 1983 to 2015 can be found, thanks to the Library of Virginia, which archived older stories for the website. (The Mountain Laurel can be read online at mtnlaurel.com.)

Publishing The Mountain Laurel is how Bob met old-timers such as Burnett, a local man who had a knack with a pocket knife. Burnett whittled walking canes and old-fashioned wooden toys  things with colorful names like gee-haw whimmy diddles, horseshoe puzzles, jumping jacks, dancing men and other country crafts. He remembered the days when mules plowed the fields and when families attended the Fourth of July celebration on horseback.

Burnett also knew about the fieldstone grave markers being removed from the slave cemetery, because he had been part of a crew that removed them.

Mister Matt showed me where the slaves are buried, Heafner said. Mister Matt told me he was on the crew that did the landscaping. They picked up the fieldstone markers and took them to the woods and never put them back.

The park service has owned the property where the cemetery is located since the 1930s, so Heafner started by calling Gary Everhardt, who was the parkway superintendent in the 1980s.

I asked Gary to put up a monument, Heafner said. He said theyd do it, but Id have to pay for it. This was in the days before GoFundMe. I never could get any interest in it.

Everhardt was the first of four Blue Ridge Parkway superintendents with whom Heafner would work over the next three decades.

Heafner, who today lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, was often frustrated with the park services deliberate approach to documenting the slave cemetery, as evidenced by a series of back-and-forth emails and letters he has posted on The Mountain Laurel website that cover just the years 2001 through 2012. The communications between him and the park service are mostly cordial, professional and straightforward, but Heafner was often unsatisfied with parkway officials responses.

Mr. Matt is dead and Im not getting any younger, he wrote to superintendent Dan Brown in 2001, and I fear if something is not done soon, even the fact that slaves are buried in the meadow will someday be forgotten and they will pass into oblivion like countless other forgotten black people who contributed to the settlement and development of the Blue Ridge.

For their part, parkway administrators were receptive to the idea of placing a marker in the slave meadow, but officials also told Heafner that they lacked funds for an extensive project. Any park service undertaking that requires taxpayer money or private grants takes considerable time, Brown wrote to Heafner in 2002. Park service staff also spent time trying to determine whether the slave cemetery even existed.

Three years later, in 2005, Heafner wrote another letter that said, The clock is ticking fast and action is needed very soon.

I just had to keep going back and going back and going back, Heafner said during an interview this fall.

Finally, a pair of breakthroughs jump-started the project. Heafner found an old map in the Patrick County Courthouse in Stuart that showed the location of the slave cemetery right where Burnett said it had been. The park service then sent Heafner a copy of a ragged property-acquisition map from the 1930s that also showed the slave cemetery.

In 2007, a park service archaeologist used ground-penetrating radar to discover nine graves in the suspected cemetery. The graves were marked, and the park service planned to build a split-rail fence around the property. That took another five years.

Heafner acknowledges that had he gone searching for maps earlier, perhaps the project would have been completed sooner.

The cemetery still had no headstones or historic marker to memorialize the people buried there, however. Heafners efforts to raise $7,500 for a stone memorial through a GoFundMe site had not been successful. His good friend Shelor, who oversaw the GoFundMe campaign, was about to return about $1,200 in pledges to donors. The effort to erect a marker appeared dead.

Thats when Libby Wilcox showed up.

Rock-star performance

Wilcox is a 73-year-old, type-A spitfire who is an energetic advocate and volunteer for the Blue Ridge Parkway. A former environmental educator from North Carolina, Wilcox has a part-time home near the scenic highway in Carroll County. She was the subject of a Roanoke Times story in 2015 when she and a friend painted and cleaned road signs along the parkways entire 469-mile route.

She met Heafner three years ago, when recently retired parkway superintendent Mark Woods told her about the stalled effort to place a memorial marker in the slave cemetery. When Heafner told Wilcox that they needed $7,500 to buy a stone marker, Wilcox had another idea.

Bob, you do know that the worlds largest granite quarry is in our backyard? Wilcox said. That would be the North Carolina Granite Corporation in Mount Airy, North Carolina, about 45 minutes from Meadows of Dan.

Wilcox had no intention of paying for a stone marker.

I used to work with Girl Scouts, she said. I know how to get donations.

She met with the quarrys owner, William Swift. Within 10 minutes of introductions, Swift had agreed to donate a 2 -foot by 4-foot marker with an inscription.

What do you want on it? he asked.

Forever free

The sky was topaz blue on a mild Nov. 29 in Meadows of Dan as Wilcox watched the stone lowered into place. Wayne Thomas and Scott Smith of Acme Stone Company parked the companys flat-bed truck next to the split-rail fence, placed straps around the heavy granite stone and hoisted it with a lift onto a stone base. The men applied a cement-like setting compound between the marker and its base, then brushed the letters with water. The inscription read:

SLAVE MEADOW CEMETERY

In memory and honor of the

known and unknown

African-Americans buried in

this Meadow.

May they rest in peace,

forever free.

Im about to cry, Wilcox said, although she sounded happy. Its so big!

She was joined by Shelor and Nancy Galli, the founder of Nancys Candy Company and a longtime Meadows of Dan resident. A couple of men from the local papers also watched and reported the event.

One person who was not there was Bob Heafner. The last couple of years have not been the best for him. Charlotte, his wife, died two years ago after years of declining health. He lost a daughter last year.

However, he plans to return to Meadows of Dan in the spring, when the park service will formally dedicate the granite marker in the slave meadow. He said his work isnt finished. The GoFundMe account has about $900 left, after $300 was spent to place the marker. He would like for the park service to build a wayside exhibit dedicated to the lives and stories of slaves in the region.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if someone came to the cemetery and found their relatives? he said. I think there are people out there who still know stories about the people who are buried there. Now, maybe this will shake some memories loose. Thatd be icing on the cake.
However, it is not clear if he deliberately fired, or the revolver went off accidentally.

By Rohit Parihar: Rajasthan Police have claimed that Inspector TV Periapandiyan of Tamil Nadu Police was killed by a bullet fired from the revolver of his own colleague during a raid to catch robbers with four kilos of gold in Pali district four days ago.

Deepak Bhargava, SP, Pali said, Pandiyan, accompanied by another Inspector TM Muni Shekhar and three others raided a house of Teja Ram on the night of December 13 to apprehend the absconding robbers.

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The suspects attacked the raiding team from Chennai, forcing four members to escalate boundary wall to jump outside of safety, but Paeriapandiyan was stuck inside.

To save him from the attackers, Muni Shekhar pulled out his revolver.

However, it is not clear if he deliberately fired, or the revolver went off accidentally.

Teja Ram, his wife and daughter have been arrested.

The investigation is still on before any conclusion can be drawn.

The Rajasthan Police have accused Chennai Police of not taking it into confidence before this operation.

However, Rajasthan Police also faces criticism as this region is rapidly becoming a hub for criminals who operate in other states but find shelter here.

--- ENDS ---
Downtown Christiansburg was full of Christmas cheer on Dec. 8, when the town held its annual holiday celebration. The event included a special farmers market, as well as the traditional parade down Main Street. Edmee Rodriguez-Hasler was there and shared these images.
Whenever we write about the economy of Southwest Virginia  which we do rather frequently  we often hear from some readers who basically say the biggest obstacle to economic growth there isnt the lack of broadband internet, or whatever the topic of the day might be.

Its the culture.

David Horn of Moneta addressed this in a commentary we published earlier this year headlined Culture inhibits economic growth. He wrote: To their advantage, the rural southwest has a plethora of natural beauty, but the people they want to entice dont come to hunt. They come to hike and mountain bike, canoe and kayak. They are also looking for a social scene not centered solely on church activities and NASCAR. They are a different breed from the locals entirely. That doesnt make them inhospitable, per se, but these young, mostly urban and educated imports need to feel at home. Thats a much larger barrier.

Another reader posed this in more vivid terms in an e-mail to us, by imagining what would happen if entrepreneur Elon Musk were to send a three-person team on an unannounced visit to check out Southwest Virginia as a possible business site. He imagines this team consists of an African-American woman, an Asian man and a Latino man: As they approach their destination, they declare that so far they have seen more Confederate flags waving than perhaps General Lees Southern army actually possessed, that reader muses. They turned on the radio to see if there was a commemorative or holiday parade? The evangelical Christian minister speaking across the airwaves was obviously a very big Trump supporter. He was declaring that Obama was a Kenyan, gays were criminals, liberals were atheist gun-snatchers, and lastly Democrats were college-educated snobs and elitists.

What kind of impression, he asks, would that make?

This seems a good question to explore, even if theres no quantifiable answer, and even if the readers depiction of Southwest Virginias culture is itself stereotypical. Is Southwest Virginia simply too  well, pick whatever negative word you want  to attract outside investment?

Lets peel back that onion this way. Simply being conservative isnt an obstacle to economic growth, at least a certain kind of economic growth. South Carolina is pretty darned conservative and it has become a manufacturing spot. Volvo is investing $1 billion and creating 3,900 jobs there. BMW is there. Boeing is there. The Confederate flag that once flew over the South Carolina Statehouse obviously wasnt enough to scare those companies away.

Every company is different, though, and some companies have site requirements that have nothing to do with the technical requirements of their business. Roanoke saw that very clearly with the Deschutes Brewery, which put a premium on quality-of-life issues. The absence of Confederate flags wasnt one of the 200 items on its initial checklist, so we can only speculate on how Deschutes executives would have reacted if on their first visit to Roanoke they had seen the Star and Bars flapping on every corner. We do know, though, that the Oregon-based company was looking for an East Coast town that reminded its people of home, and a very visible presence of Confederate nostalgia probably wouldnt have done that. Greenways and hiking trails and a hospitable welcome sure did, though. Ditto Humm Kombucha, another Oregon company that liked Roanokes culture.

If youre looking for a quantifiable answer here, you wont find one. What we can do, though, is point to some evidence that culture does make a difference with certain types of companies.

n The GO Virginia economic development councils recently issued reports that identified obstacles to growth in each part of the state. The report for the Richmond area quoted human resource directors who said it was hard to get some potential applicants interested in the city simply because its so identified with the Civil War: The HR directors felt that they had to overcome a sense from people outside the area that Richmond was still the Capital of the Confederacy and not the ideal place for professionals who wanted to live in a vibrant, culturally diverse location. They said that if they can bring people here, the impression often changed, but that it is important to understand how important a role the overall brand of the region plays in the global competition.

n Likewise, at one recent meeting of the GO Virginia economic council for the Lynchburg-Roanoke-River Valley region, one health-care executive cited the regions lack of diversity as a problem when it comes to recruiting outside talent. Put another way, outside an increasingly diverse Roanoke, were awfully monochromatic, but the world is not. Maybe that doesnt matter to you  whats a single person we couldnt get here because we were too white?  although perhaps it will the next time you need to see a doctor. However, the d word  diversity  is also one that governs some location decisions for entire companies, and thats where we ought to pay attention. Its worth noting that when Amazon announced its search for a second headquarters city, one of the requirements it set forth was cultural community fit. By that, Amazon said it meant the presence and support of a diverse population.

Diversity is a particular concern for technology companies. Theres been a lot of attention paid to how some of the big tech companies reply on a lot of workers with H1-B immigrant visas. They dont see themselves as American companies; they see themselves as global companies that just happened to be based in the United States. Their interest in attracting global talent puts them at odds with the nationalist economic policies of President Trump.

However, whats drawn far less attention is the degree to which immigrants are responsible for much of the nations tech boom. Politico reports that through 2012, immigrants were founders of a quarter of U.S.-based technology companies  and 40 percent of the start-ups in Silicon Valley.

Some in Appalachia entertain hopes of creating a Silicon Hollow in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia. Wise County actually has broadband speeds that rival Northern Virginia. Tech companies would find a surprising number of reasons to locate there. But its worth asking whether those companies would find, to use Amazons words, a cultural community fit.

If not, then its also worth asking what economic price we might be paying.
Lashing out at the Congress, Rajnath Singh has said that if the BJP wins Karnataka Assembly election next year, it will ensure justice for Gauri Lankesh and Paresh Mesta.

By India Today Web Desk: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today raised BJP poll cry in Karnataka at a rally in Bengaluru. Rajnath Singh addressed a gathering the Karnataka capital as part of the BJP's Parivartan Yatra in the state.

Rajnath Singh accused the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of letting the law and order situation slip out of the grip in Karnataka. He alleged that the Congress government was shielding the killers of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh and teenager Paresh Mesta.

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"Paresh Mesta was recently killed. What this government is doing in these murder cases? Gauri Lankesh was killed. I want to assure Karnataka's people that when our government is formed in the state, we will probe her death from all angles. The culprits will be punished. We won't shield anyone," Rajnath Singh said.

Kannada tabloid Gauri Lankesh Patrike editor Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her home on September 5 in Bengaluru. On the other hand, 19-year-old fisherman Paresh Kamalakar Mesta had gone missing on December 6. His body was found near a lake in Honnavar in Uttar Kannada district on the night of December 8 under mysterious circumstances.

RAJNATH TRAINS GUN AT RAHUL

Responding to newly election Congress president Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the BJP indulges in divisive politics, Ranatha Singh said, "I want to congratulate him (Rahul Gandhi). But I also want to ask him - did the fire of communalism, terrorism and naxalism in India erupt due to BJP's policies? Did fire erupt in Kashmir due to BJP's policies?"

In his first speech after taking over as the Congress president yesterday, Rahul Gandhi had said, "The BJP is spreading hatred and communalism... they break, while we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it."

"If someone formed governments by setting fire, it is Congress. BJP is trying to douse it," Rajnath Singh retorted.

BJP SHARPENS FOCUS ON KARNATAKA

The home minister further announced that BS Yeddyurappa will be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka, which goes to polls next year. "The BJP will fight upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka under BS Yeddyurappa's leadership," Rajnath Singh said.

"The Congress government here wants to divide Karnataka community to rule. I received information that even though there is no such regulation in constitution, Muslim community here was befooled with reservation which was later out ruled by the court," Rajnath Singh said.

Earlier, the BJP took out a Parivartan Yatra in Bengaluru. Union ministers Ananth Kumar and DV Sadananda Gowda and BJP State Chief BS Yeddyurappa were also present in the rally.

Visuals of BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Karnataka's Bengaluru, Union Minister Ananth Kumar & DV Sadananda Gowda and BJP State Chief BS Yeddyurappa also present in the rally. pic.twitter.com/leSuxoTArt- ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

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WATCH VIDEO | Rajnath promises justice for journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh

--- ENDS ---
Retired Sikkim High Court Chief Justice SN Bhargava touched rape accused Asaram's feet while the latter was being produced in Jodhpur court in the sexual assault case.

By Sharat Kumar: Accused of raping a minor girl at his ashram on the pretext of exorcising her from evil spirits, Asaram is still a godman to many including a former chief justice of the Sikkim High Court.

Retired Justice Sundar Nath Bhargava, who is also a former governor, has stirred a controversy with public display of affection and reverence to rape accused Asaram while the latter was being produced in Jodhpur court yesterday.

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The case of sexual assault against Asaram is being heard on daily basis in the Jodhpur court, where the self-styled godman is brought everyday from jail. When Asaram was brought to the court by the Rajasthan police officials, Justice Bhargava was one of those present in the premises.

As the police brought Asaram to the Jodhpur court in connection with the IT Act and sexual assault cases, Justice Bhargava fell in the rape accused godman's feet when the latter got down from the police van. The two security personnel accompanying the retired judge also touched feet of Asaram.

WHAT JUDGE, ASARAM SAID?

When Justice Bhargava was asked about his public display of reverence to a rape accused, he said, "I had come to Jodhpur to attend a private function. But when I came to know that Asaram would be produced in the court, I came here for his darshan."

Later when Asaram was being taken away from the court back to the jail, he sounded more confident than other days. He said, "Justice Bhargava is one of my old devotees. He knows me for long. He wanted to meet me. So, he came here. He has good contacts in judiciary. Something good will happen."

Asaram and his ashrams have been in controversy over a range of alleged crimes. Before being arrested in the case of sexual assault, Asaram controlled a network of ashrams across the country.

ASARAM AND CASES

In 2008, his ashrams came under sharp scrutiny after deaths of four students studying in the gurukuls run under Asaram's management. It was alleged that black magic was practiced in these ashrams. However, a probe by Gujarat police gave the ashrams clean chit in the case.

In August 2013, a 16-year-old accused Asaram of raping her inside his Jodhpur ashram. The parents of the girl filed a complaint with the Delhi police, which booked Asaram under relevant sections of IPC. Later, the case was transferred to Jodhpur.

After much dilly-dallying tactics by Asaram, the Rajasthan police managed to arrest him from his Indore ashram in September. Asaram's son Narayan Sai was also arrested on the charges of rape in December, 2013 on the complaints by two sisters in Surat, Gujarat.

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By SA Commercial Prop News

Outsanding views are to be had from the second floor of this chic family home which has a squash court and gym.



One Johannesburg residential suburb that is not widely known about but which is very popular among residents is Morningside Ext 40 in the Riverclub area, Sandton.

It is a quiet little suburb, and a very well kept secret in the view of Jonathan Davies, Pam Golding Properties (PGP) Hyde Park joint branch manager.



According to Davies, Morningside Ext 40 is appreciated by those who enjoy community living in a secure environment. He says the area offers homes through from the middle to the upper market and it caters to a variety of tastes.



Properties in this charming suburb tend to be in demand. One of the reasons for this is that it is so central and particularly close to Sandtons CBD, which is just minutes away. This is appreciated by those who work in the area and who enjoy the excellent shopping that is on offer in the greater Sandton area. There are also a multitude of outstanding schools within easy reach including St Stithians College, Redhill, Brescia House, The French School Lycee Jules Verne and British International College.
It is the first time that India is not being blamed for the collapse of talks at the just concluded 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference here, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

The talks at the 11th ministerial conference (MC11) broke down earlier this week as the United States reneged on its commitment, along with other countries, to find a permanent solution to the issue of public food stockholding by members of the multilateral trade body.

"We came here with an open mind. This is the first time that India is not being blamed... we are definitely not going back as villains," Prabhu told reporters here on Saturday.

"We knew that nothing was going to happen because of the way the US administration was moving and questioning the efficiency of the global trading system," he said.

The Minister said that India was keen for a permanent solution to the food stockpiling issue, which ought to have been better than the existing "Peace Clause" compromise agreed upon earlier at the WTO till a permanent solution was found.

The WTO talks here collapsed after Assistant US Trade Representative Sharon Bomer Lauritsen declared in a small group meeting that a permanent solution to the food stockholding issue was not acceptable to America.

Prabhu said that he had held over two dozen bilateral meetings here during which he explained India's position, as well as of the developing countries, on various issues.

Under the WTO norms, a member-country's food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

India has been seeking amendments to this formula, fearing that full implementation of its food security programme may result in breaching of the WTO subsidy limit.

The 2013 WTO ministerial meeting in Bali in Indonesia had decided to put in place the Peace Clause as an interim measure, and had agreed to negotiate a permanent solution at the 11th ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Prabhu said that India continued to press for the reduction of farm subsidies by developed countries and resisted inclusion of new issues on the negotiating table in case these dilute the commitment to complete the existing agenda.

In an official statement in New Delhi earlier this week, India blamed a "major country" for derailing the process to find a permanent solution to the food security issue.

"In the agriculture negotiations in Buenos Aires, a major country stated categorically that they cannot agree to any permanent solution on the public stockholding issue at MC11," a Commerce Ministry release said.

"This has posed a severe threat to a successful conclusion of the conference as there was a ministerial mandate for a permanent solution by MC11. India is surprised and deeply disappointed that despite an overwhelming majority of members reiterating it, a major member-country reneged on a commitment made two years ago to deliver a solution of critical importance for addressing hunger in some of the poorest countries of the world.
Protests erupted on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district after a civilian driver was killed during an Army ambush the previous day, a police official said.

The victim, Asif Iqbal, was injured when an Army ambush party fired at a vehicle in Thandipora village on Saturday evening following reports about the presence of militants in the area.

"He was hospitalised but succumbed to critical injuries," the official added.

The protests erupted after residents of Batpora village clashed with the security forces.

The forces used tear smoke to disperse the protesters.

Internet has been suspended across Kupwara.
Ahead of the vote count in the bitterly fought Gujarat Assembly polls on Monday, both the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress expressed confidence of forming a government in the state.

"This will be a sixth consecutive and a historic win for the BJP. The BJP has been on the ascendant for many years due to its positive and performance oriented politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," BJP spokesman G.V.L Narsimha Rao told on Sunday.

He said the election results would once again prove that "people can't be swayed by negative propaganda and bogies of intolerance".

Although the exit polls have predicted an outright victory for the BJP, the Congress remains hopeful of snatching the state after 22 long years.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence that the Congress would win as the people of Gujarat have voted for change.

"The people wish to change the government. The Congress put forward its vision for each section of the society including youths, women, farmers and labourers," he told reporters in Guna, his parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

He also showered praise on Congress President Rahul Gandhi for working hard in Gujarat.

Counting of votes for all 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will take place on Monday. Over 2.97 crore voters cast votes in the two-phase election which took place on December 9 and 14.

Over 25 lakh more voters voted this year compared to 2012.

The Congress formed a caste combination on the lines of KHAM, which stands for Kshatriya, Harijan (Dalits), Adivasi (tribals) and Muslim, the theory propounded by former Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki. It fetched the Congress 149 of the 182 seats in 1980.

Joining hands with Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PASS) convener Hardik Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani seems to have worked in favour of the Congress. Madhavsinh Solanki's son Bharatsinh Solanki is the state Congress chief.

The Patidar movement, counter-protests by a section of the OBCs and agitations by Dalits against atrocities brought caste to the fore. The Congress used the opportunity to try reap a harvest.

To counter the Congress, the BJP raked up issues of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and the "neech" remark made by now suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer and accused Pakistan of colluding with the Congress to help it win in the state.

Since Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, the BJP's seats and vote percentage has reduced in each assembly election.

In 2002, the BJP won 127 seats and got 44.81 per cent vote share, the highest ever while the Congress won 53 seats and got 35.28 per cent votes. In 2007, the BJP won 117 seats and 49 per cent vote share while the Congress won 59 seats with 39.63 per cent votes.

In 2012, the BJP got 115 seats with 48.30 per cent while the Congress won 61 seats with 40.59 per cent.
Three members of a family were beaten to death in Jharkhand's Gumla district on Sunday, police said.

Villagers earlier had heated arguments with Tahlu Ram, 65, his wife Lakhpati Devi, 55, and their daughter Runi Kumari, 19, at Khatgao village over the death of a 23-year-old man Nandlal Kereketa, who was in a live-in relationship with Tahlu's daughter.

All three were beaten to death. Police said two girls were seriously injured and were admitted in an area hospital. The identity of the injured girls could not be immediately known.

After a police complaint, Nandlal was arrested on November 25. He fell to his death in a well while escaping from the police station. The villagers were incensed over Nandlal's death.
At least four people were killed and 20 others seriously injured when a suicide bomber detonated himself inside a church in Pakistan's Quetta city on Sunday, police said.

Four suicide attackers attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church while a service was on, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti told Dawn News.

One of the attackers detonated a suicide vest inside the church premises. Another was shot dead near the entrance by security forces after an intense gunfight, Bugti said. The other two terrorists escaped.

According to Bugti, around 500 people were present in the church during the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the killings.


By India Today Web Desk: Remember the 2007 hit Partner, that gave Govinda a fresh lease of life in Bollywood? Well, if all goes well, the comic caper might soon have a sequel. While the first part was helmed by David Dhawan, Mid-Day reports that Sohail Khan would don the director's hat for the sequel.

Preparations are in full swing, and Sohail has already registered two titles - Carry On Partner and Partner 2. An insider told the publication that the makers toyed with the idea of making a sequel before, but it was dropped as they could not zero in on a good script.

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There was also a rumoured fallout between the leading men, Govinda and Salman Khan. Govinda has often gone on record to say that he "should not expect too much" from Salman. If the grapevine is to be believed, Govinda expected Salman to launch his daughter, Tina Ahuja, but she was left in the lurch, something that did not go down too well with the Hero No 1 actor.

However, all that is in the past. Buzz is that Govinda is set to play a supporting role in the Partner sequel. When asked about working with Salman, Govinda told Mid-Day, "Why will I not work with him? We don't have any issues with each other."

Apart from Salman, Sohail will cast two young actors in the film. It is not known if Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta will return as the film's leading ladies.

Sohail, who is currently working on the script of the sequel, is in no rush to make the Partner sequel. "I'm not making the film right away," he said.

ALSO WATCH: A look at Salman Khan's controversial life

--- ENDS ---
I am a writer.

Thats a belief, short story author, Jenny Bennett, winner of the 2017 Samoan category for the Samoa Observer Tusitala Story Competition, struggled in silence to affirm in herself as she battled with depression and low self- esteem during her teenage years.

In a moving acceptance speech at the prize giving on Thursday evening, Ms. Bennett paid tribute to the award winning author and Editor-in-Chief of the Samoa Observer, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa.

Bennett revealed how almost 10 years ago, the Editor-in-Chief played a pivotal role in helping her to overcome crippling low self-esteem so that she could find her voice as a writer.

I decided I wanted to write but I didnt believe in myself that was one of the struggles I had, I never believed in myself. When I handed my story to Muliaga and she passed it on to Gatoaitele, he called me up and said they wanted to publish me.

I wept for about an hour. After struggling with depression and very low self-esteem, having someone tell you that you can write  its not a small thing, its massive. So he published me and handed me my first 100 tala in exchange for my story.

That 100 tala was photocopied and framed ten years ago by Ms Bennett and it hangs permanently on the wall to serve as a reminder to herself that she is a writer,

Every time I look at it  it reminds me that Gatoaitele believes that I can write. He paid me for it and Ive never stopped writing since, she said.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer after the prize giving, Ms Bennett expressed why having a prominent writer believe in her work, freed her from her fears of inadequacy and as a result, unlocked her writing potential,

This is Gatoaitele. He is such a prominent figure and particularly in literature I mean hes written a novel himself and is the Chief Editor of the biggest newspaper so I have always respected him. To have him tell me that I can write and that hes willing to pay me for it was a big self-esteem boost and I have never stopped writing since.

Writing has been with me since childbirth but the belief that I could write began when Gatoaitele published my first story in the Myths and Legends of the Ancient World column and that was in 2008. So its been almost 10 years since then. That gave me the kickstart that I needed  the belief in myself to get started.

At 30 years old, Ms. Bennett says she has finally found her voice and her short story entry, Matalasi is the first expression of that strong voice. Her story is about the conflict- ridden internal world of a faafatama that will be published in the Samoa Observers collection of short story series Our Heritage, the Ocean in the new year.
With technology moving at such a fast pace and the attention of many young people focused on their devices, it leaves less room to realize what is important around them, their family.

That is according to Fomai Matale from the village of Satuiatua, Savaii, who expressed his concern to the Village Voice team yesterday.

Aged 61, Mr. Matale was spotted at the Mulifanua Wharf making his way back to Savaii. He explains that with technology moving so fast in the world, it leaves the little island of Samoa with many problems.

When I look around Samoa I notice a big difference in how people are living in this day and age, he said.

I feel that the world is just moving too fast and it is causing some real problems for the people living in this country. The real issue right now is technology.

We see new technology like phones coming out every year with new features. My church had a talk recently about this because we want to protect our youth from being drawn in by the negative effects of technology.

Asked what was so wrong about technology, Mr. Matale says that the young people spend all of their time on their phones and it has become their whole existence.

He adds that many become depressed when messages from partners or social media posts become unfavorable and it may even lead to people taking their lives.

An example of this would be how the young people are being heavily influenced by social media through their phone, he said.

A young member of my family committed suicide due to relationship problems and a lot of his sadness was due to whatever was going on in his phone; messages and what not.

We spoke about it just last Sunday at church and I agree that we need to set boundaries for our children.

Furthermore, according to Mr. Matale, phones nowadays act as a sort of barrier between the young people using them and family members at home trying to reach out to them.

Another problem which is common within so many families in Samoa is the attention of the youth being solely on their phones, he said.

Its as if their lives revolve around those devices. They have their faces buried in their phone screens and they dont notice whats going on around them.

Even when it comes to answering their parents when they call out to them at home, their complete attention is on their phones.

Asked for a solution, Mr. Matale says that awareness of the risks of technology and how to properly deal with unfavorable messages or posts would help a lot.

Another solution would also be to set boundaries for children regarding their phones and limitations on its use.

I feel that the only solution to deal with the fast pace of technology would be to set boundaries, he said.

I mean, even children as young as three years old are seen playing around with different devices and I find that ridiculous.

We need to educate our children to set their priorities right. They need to spend less time with their phones and more time with their family because thats more important.

Furthermore, Mr. Matale feels that the young people are exposed to too many things with the help of technology, both the bad and the good. He also explained that if nothing is done about these issues, Samoa would end up in more off a mess than it already is.
The Samoa Police Service executive has bid farewell to six of its police officers who will be leaving for Sudan as part of a UN deployment mission for a period of 12 months.

The Commissioner of Police congratulated the officers for making it through the tough selection process and reminded the officers about their roles as Ambassadors of Samoa in the UN arena during their deployment.

He wished them all the best and most importantly of all is for them to stay safe.

The team consists of:

1. S/Sgt Tavete Tusani

2. Const Onosai Muipu

3. Const Vavaemuititi Koroseta

4. Const Tosoimatuu Talatonu

5. Const Faafetai Opeta Auvaa

6. Const Benhuro Fiu Loimata

The officers left Samoa last night.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Tensions over China's island-building in the South China Sea may have eased in the past year, but Beijing has kept busy.

New satellite imagery shows China has built infrastructure covering 72 acres (28 hectares) in the Spratly and Paracel islands during 2017 to equip its larger outposts to be air and naval bases.

The Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative closely tracks developments in the South China Sea, where China and several Asian governments have conflicting territorial claims. It said Thursday there has been construction of hangars, underground storage, missile shelters, radar arrays and other facilities.

The activity comes as China joins what are likely to be protracted negotiations with Southeast Asian nations on a "code of conduct" for South China Sea. Tensions with the U.S. on the issue have also eased, despite Washington's criticism of Beijing's conduct.

The construction is the follow-up phase to a campaign of land reclamation that was completed by early 2016 in the Spratlys, an island chain where Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei also have claims. According to the Pentagon, China has added more than 3,200 acres (1,248 hectares) of land to the seven land features it occupies in the area.

China also seems to have halted smaller-scale operations to expand islands in the Paracels that lie farther north, the initiative said.

The U.S. and others have accused Beijing of further militarizing the region and altering geography to bolster its sweeping claims across the South China Sea. China says the man-made islands in the Spratlys, which are equipped with airstrips and military installations, are mainly for civilian purposes and to boost safety for fishing and maritime trade.

Greg Poling, the initiative's director, said China had seized a diplomatic opening after the election of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who adopted a conciliatory stance toward Beijing over their territorial dispute. It's also been less of a focus for President Donald Trump's administration, preoccupied by North Korea's nuclear threat and trade disputes with China.

"It's gotten off the front pages, but we shouldn't confuse that with a softening in China's pursuit of its goals. They are continuing all the construction they want," Poling said.

The most construction has been on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys, including hangars alongside its 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) airstrip, underground structures likely intended to house munitions or other materiel, hardened shelters for missile platforms, and communication and radar facilities, the initiative said.

It also noted that China has deployed new military aircraft at Woody Island in the Paracels. At the end of October, the Chinese military released images of J-11B fighter planes there for drills. In mid-November, Y-8 transport aircraft were spotted on the same island that may be capable of electronic intelligence gathering.

Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that he could not comment in detail on U.S. assessments of the region but that "further militarization of outposts will only serve to raise tensions and create greater distrust among claimants."

The United States does not claim territory in the South China Sea but has declared it has a national interest in ensuring that the territorial disputes there are resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and that freedom of navigation and overflight are guaranteed. China has opposed what it calls U.S. meddling in an Asian dispute.
Dear Editor,

Its good to see that someone in the Ministry of Police is finally showing courage and speaking out against the so called drastic measure that has been implemented by the Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner, to apparently address conflict of interest in the ministry.

It is obvious that this is really about getting rid of those officers alleged to have acted and plotted against the Commissioner in the past year and resulted in his suspensions and arrest.

Little to do with what is good for the ministry.

In all the chaos, smoke and mirrors of the dysfunctional ministry that is the Samoa Police Service, I wonder has anyone asked why these events involving the Commissioner occurred last year?

I mean really look to examine the person that occupies the role. And find out whether they genuinely possess the appropriate moral and spiritual character. Maturity, humility and self-awareness. Appropriate experience and qualifications. Strategic nous, cultural sensitivity and people skills.

A willingness to listen and learn, trust and delegate, and truly cares equally about all staff. Exercises good, even, fair and wise judgment, and can make quick decisions and not drag, complicate and belabour straightforward or common sense tasks. All are essential requirements for the Chief Executive Officer post of our countrys Police ministry or any public agency for that matter.

Seems the real problem here lies in the fact that there has not been much objective and criticial analysis of the person that is in charge of the ministry, and whether they were ever suitable. We know that Cabinet and the Public Service Commission play a hand in government C.E.O selections so they have a lot to answer for, especially to the people of Samoa, in this case.

I understand there is very low morale amongst staff in the ministry at the moment despite the continuing public showmanship by its leader.

Part of the problem is having shrunk his team of close advisers to containing only yes people, and alienating others that can offer a broad and alternative view, and would therefore challenge his precarious world view and ego.

I do feel for those Police Officers losing their jobs especially if they directly had nothing to do with the events surrounding the Commissioner last year.

I hope a good and decent lawyer can help address their grievances and provide an effective legal solution for them soon.

There is something to be said about cause and effect in all things and situations that develop or unravel.

One must ask what were the real and underlying causes to the lack of support and subsequent active revolt against the current Commissioner last year.

And what role did the Commissioner actually play in all that mess? After all he is a living and breathing human instrument that is in a position of authority and influence whose actions (i.e.cause) lead to consequences (i.e. effect).

Something to ponder on.

S.M.S

O le Samoa Moni
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi reminds firefighters the need to use 'common sense' in their line of work during the promotion ceremony of 15 firefighters. (Photo: Samoa Observer)

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi reminds firefighters the need to use 'common sense' in their line of work during the promotion ceremony of 15 firefighters. (Photo: Samoa Observer)

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has encouraged firefighters to use common sense in their line of duty.

His comments were made at the Promotion ceremony of 15 firefighters who took another step forward in their career with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) last week.

The promotion recognised eight new leading firefighters, five qualified firefighters, one senior station officer, and one station officer.

Leading the ceremony with invocation was Reverend Nuuausala Siaosi Siutaia and Masters of Ceremony was F.E.S.A. Commissioner Lelevaga Faafouina Mupo.

Tuilaepa told a story about a professor who gave remarks during graduation about the 10 golden rules.

However there is the 11th rule, in protecting ones life when fighting fires, when you encounter a predicament that was not included in the 10 rules I taught you, use the 11th rule I did not tell you, use your common sense, he said.

In a respectful manner you say, use your common sense but when shooting a straight point, use your brain.

Your life is on the line when fighting fires, so when you are on duty, please utilize the 11th rule, all the time.

The global problem we have with the climate change which has the attention of the world leaders and the sole source of these issues is from pollution created by man and as a result climate change.

According to Tuilaepa, there is news about fires all over the world and so the firefighters, prior to leaving the house for work, they always say their goodbyes to their spouses.

As you know nowadays, the more fire incidents, the more lives are lost to the fire and so you as a firefighter have to stay alert at all times.

You should also be physically fit, he said.

Tuilaepa says in 1972, during the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, an incident occurred and the Police Officers who responded were unable to climb poles because they were fat.

Yet the terrorists were physically able to run all over.

Tuilaepa challenged them to hit the gym and engage in physical activities.

If you are not physically fit, then you will get burned in the fire.

In Samoa when there is a fire, you get there when it is too late, there is literally nothing you can do, by the time you get to the scene.

So we should be ready at all times, so you can get there and be able to salvage a residence that is on fire.

I tell you that it is not pleasant the firefighters get there too late, he said.

He reminded them about the explosion of the fuel tanks.

Luckily for us, we had enough fume to eliminate the fire.

It took about an hour while waiting for the fire trucks from the airport.

He then urged F.E.S.A. of the need to expand the resources in case there was a fire in a six storey building.

He told the Commissioner to look at purchasing fire trucks similar to the fire trucks at the airport.

We have to wait for the airplanes to leave then the truck can respond to the big fires in town and that is unacceptable.

We should have a similar fire trucks stationed in Apia.
The battle lines in Broadcoms hostile takeover bid of Qualcomm are still being drawn, but analysts see a handful of pivotal issues that could tip the scales for each side. Heres what Qualcomm must do.

Convince its fatigued shareholders that its more valuable than Broadcoms offer of $70 per share.

Complete its pending $38 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors to diversify beyond smartphones.

Mend its ailing patent licensing business.

Tell a 5G growth story

Highlight the regulatory hurdles of a Qualcomm/Broadcom merger

Make its case quickly. Shareholders will decide by March 6 annual meeting.

What might Qualcomm do: The full story

When Broadcom proposed ousting Qualcomms board of directors on Dec. 4, it set in motion a high stakes chess match for control of San Diegos most iconic technology company.

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The outcome could reverberate not only locally but throughout the tech industry  possibly changing the landscape for firms ranging from Apple to Google, Microsoft to Intel.

Qualcomm invented technologies that manage cellular communications in every smartphone. Rival Broadcoms hostile takeover bid  launched after Qualcomms board rejected its $70 per share offer in November -- looks like it will play out relatively quickly.

Qualcomms shareholders will vote on either Broadcoms nominees or Qualcomms slate of candidates by the companys March 6 annual meeting.

Strategies in this fight remain unclear. Both companies are being cagey about potential moves.

But analysts say Broadcom has the ammunition to raise its price for Qualcomm  perhaps as high as $100 per share  and still come out with a deal that contributes to earnings.

If Qualcomms board hopes to fend off Broadcom, analysts believe it must wrap up its slippery acquisition of automotive/Internet of Things chip maker NXP Semiconductors, which would make Qualcomm less dependent on smartphones.

It also may need to consider new ways to mend its troubled patent licensing division and raise the specter of stiff regulatory resistance to a Broadcom/Qualcomm marriage.

All that, plus tout its leadership in the massive market opportunity from new, ultra-fast 5G mobile networks, where Qualcomm has been investing in core technology for nearly a decade.

We are probably the best positioned company for 5G and the connected world, said Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf at a recent Economic Club of Washington, D.C., event. We are sitting in a momentary spot where our revenue is a little bit difficult to model because of these licensing disputes. But those will get resolved, and what youll see is a company that really is providing the fundamental technology....into the connected world when the connected world is disrupting almost every industry.

Even that might not be enough, however. Qualcomms ongoing legal battles with Apple and antitrust regulators over patent fees have weighed down its stock price.

Qualcomms shares slumped 18 percent this year before rallying last month on news of Broadcoms $103 billion buyout bid.

Meanwhile, Broadcoms shares have soared nearly 60 percent this year. Chief Executive Hock Tan continues to deliver strong financial results. Revenue surged 33 percent for fiscal 2017. The company increased its dividend 72 percent.

I am sure investors in Qualcomm  particularly as the semiconductor space has run up pretty significantly this year outside of Qualcomm  have gotten a little fatigued holding onto these shares that have under-performed, said Abhinav Davuluri, an analyst with Morningstar.

My guess is a lot of shareholders would think long and hard about taking it if you waved $80 (per share) under their nose, added Bernstein Research Analyst Stacy Rasgon. I think Qualcomm management has their work cut out for them.

Closing the deal with NXP

Qualcomms shares last traded above $80 three years ago. To get there again, analysts say the company needs to complete its $38 billion acquisition of Dutch automotive and Internet of Things chipmaker NXP Semiconductors.

The NXP buyout has yet to receive regulatory clearance in Europe, China and South Korea. Qualcomm expects to nail down approvals early next year.

Last week, activist NXP shareholder Elliott Partners began publicly lobbying fellow shareholders for a higher price from Qualcomm.

Elliott pegs NXPs value at $135 per share  23 percent higher than Qualcomms $110 per share price.

Qualcomm stood by the current offer. But 80 percent of NXP shareholders must agree to sell their shares to Qualcomm for the deal to go through. To date only 2 percent have done so.

A man works on a tent for NXP Semiconductors in preparation for the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada January 4, 2015. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo - RTX2G3VV ( Steve Marcus / Reuters / REUTERS )

Broadcom says its buyout offer for Qualcomm stands whether the NXP deal closes at $110 per share or not.

But Broadcom hasnt said what it would do if Qualcomm agrees to pay more for NXP.

Analysts dont expect Broadcom to walk away though. Tan could boost his offer for Qualcomm on the condition that it jettison NXP, whose inclusion increases Broadcoms debt load and regulatory risk over potential job cuts. NXP employs 31,000 workers globally. Broadcom has approximately 17,000 employees.

The real motivation for Broadcom, where they are weakest, is in connectivity -- the 4G and 5G part as we transition to the next generation, said Geoff Blaber, an analyst with CCS Insights. That is a substantial gap in their portfolio, particularly as it relates to the Internet of Things and powering a huge multitude of devices. It is an element that they absolutely have got to have.

Getting out of licensing limbo

Tan hasnt said precisely what he has in mind to end patent lawsuits with antitrust regulators and Apple, a long-time Broadcom customer. But analysts believe his plans involve slashing royalty rates and making up for any lost revenue by entering long-term chip supply agreements with top smartphone makers and cutting costs.

Qualcomm has argued that these legal disputes will be settled in time, so drastic changes arent necessary.

The stock was $81 not too long ago before all these things hit, so if they could just settle Apple, the stock might be in the $80s again on its own merit, said Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity.

But Walkley added that the Apple/Qualcomm feud is so entrenched that I dont think Apple is going to help them by settling while Broadcom is trying to buy them. My gut tells me Apple would be pleased if Broadcom bought Qualcomm.

One step Qualcomm might consider is splitting its licensing division and chip-design arm into separate companies, said Steven Re, of Fairbanks Capital Management in Rancho Santa Fe.

The only way Qualcomm can sustain a better stock price than what Hock Tan would offer is to split the company intelligently, said Re. It makes a lot of sense after they close NXP. I dont think they have a choice, or theyre not to get the stock price high enough to save their bacon.

Re believes a split derails the core charge that Apple and regulators levy against Qualcomm  that it illegally leverages its market dominance in cellular modems to extract exorbitant patent royalties from smartphone makers, who dont fight back for fear of losing chips supply.

While Qualcomm has studied splitting the company several times  most recently in 2015 at the behest of activist investor Jana Partners -- its board has rejected the idea on the grounds that both divisions rely on each other.

Drawing the battle lines

Last week, Qualcomm rolled out new technologies that deliver Always Connected Windows 10 laptops with 20-plus hours of battery life.

It unveiled the latest Snapdragon 845 processor that will power better artificial intelligence, locked-down security and depth-sensing cameras for face/iris scanning ID  enabling smartphones from Samsung, Xiaomi, LG and others to keep pace with Apples iPhones.

Qualcomms long-held position as the R & D engine for the mobile industry -- particularly for Android and Chinese device makers  is a subplot in this hostile takeover saga. But it may be starting to gain more attention.

While Broadcom contends Qualcomms customers favor the combination, CNBC reported last week that both Google and Microsoft have raised concerns about a potential merger.

The two tech giants are supposedly wary of Apples influence over the deal and worried about Broadcoms reputation for cutting costs rather than investing in new technologies, which could interfere with Qualcomms 5G research.

In a research note, Rasgon said Qualcomms 5G efforts would be mostly safe from cuts under Broadcom because its a core franchise that the company needs.

But Qualcomms work on long-battery life chips for laptops, as well as its new Centriq server chips targeting data center computers, would likely be on the chopping block, said Rasgon.

Google is reportedly interested in power efficient server platforms for data centers. Microsoft has already adopted Qualcomms Centriq platform for certain products  on top of working with Qualcomm to tune its smartphone processors to handle Windows 10.

The article suggested that the complaints were directed toward Qualcomm rather than the regulators (we shall see what happens going forward,) wrote Rasgon. But it appears initial battle lines may be beginning to be drawn between Microsoft/Google and Apple as these tech behemoths jockey for position in a changing landscape.

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad City Council has canceled its regularly scheduled meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

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DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers, 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Suite 100, to consider an appeal of the Design Review Boards decision to approve permits for a new restaurant by Hillstone Restaurant Group at 1404 Camino Del Mar. The council will review goals and priorities for the rest of fiscal year 2017-18; review and discuss planning for the North Bluff Preserve in the Del Mar Resort Specific Plan; and discuss a proposed outline for a meeting with the Sheriffs Department on improving service.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and property negotiations at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers at 201 N. Broadway. In regular session at 4:30 p.m., the council will consider an amendment modifying the budget to delete the position of Director of Library and Community Services and add the position of Director of Communications and Community Services. The council will hold a hearing and discuss whether to approve a bond issue by the California Municipal Finance Authority for $10 million to finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of Cobblestone Village apartments at 360 E. Washington Ave. The council will also discuss amending the citys zoning code to allow incubator uses in the M-1 (light industrial) and M-2 (general industrial) zones, and whether to approve a permit for a cryotherapy business in the M-1 zone.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Council Chambers at 300 N. Coast Highway. In regular session at 5 p.m., the council will hold a hearing and introduce ordinances dealing with commercial cooking grease disposal, and sewage and plumbing regulations. Final approval will be given to an ordinance raising water use rates.

POWAY

The Poway City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive, when it will finalize zoning amendments for the Poway Road Corridor, and approve hiring Alan Fenstermacher as city attorney. A hearing will be held on water and sewer rate charges.

SOLANA BEACH

Citizen Commission openings

The Solana Beach City Council is looking for volunteers to serve on its committees. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 16. Most positions require applicants to be at least 18 years old and city residents. Find the application at https://bit.ly/2j1lFs7:

Budget and Finance: two vacancies. Provides input to the council regarding the citys operating budget. Must be at least 18 years old, city resident and property owner within the city.

Climate Action: five vacancies. Helps review matters regarding reducing the citys greenhouse gas emissions and implementing the Climate Action Plan.

Parks and Recreation: three vacancies. Helps reviews matters regarding the citys parks and programs, and conducts certain city events.

Public Arts: four vacancies. Helps review matters regarding community art opportunities and conducts certain city events.

View Assessment: four vacancies. Reviews development when an assessment request is filed and makes decisions on projects using the citys adopted guidelines/toolkit.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
In Think Before You Like, Poway journalist Guy Harrison explores the effects of social media on our brains and on our lives. He writes about filter bubbles, confirmation bias, fake news, and the need for everyone to be more careful while exploring the digital world.

Q: Why did you write this book?

A: I saw a great need for it. For years and years  this is my seventh book  Ive been doing my best to try to promote science and reason for everyone. I think in general our world can be a lot better and every individual can improve their lives by just sort of embracing critical thinking and trying to be a consistent, constructive skeptic.

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Whats happened with social media is that weve got this vast new universe with all these billions of people participating. Unfortunately, we have taken all of our human vulnerabilities and weird weaknesses for intellectual error right into this new ecosystem.

I dont condemn social media. So much good can come from it, and so much good does come from it right now. But theres a real dark side to it, too, and the new book is an attempt to offer a practical guide and encouragement to people to do a better job of thinking on social media so theyre not victims and theyre not setting themselves up for trivial or serious problems.

Q: What do you find most troubling?

A: The thing most people need to be aware of is that the reason all these social media platforms are free is because you are paying for them with your private life, in a sense. All these platforms, and the free apps you download on your phone  they all exist to spy on you. They are harvesting your data and that is a very valuable commodity that is being sold to third-party companies behind your back.

The reason its so valuable  some people even call it the new oil  is because if you know who does this on a Sunday, and who goes out on a Wednesday, and who likes to buy this, and who has this as a favorite color, and who is conservative and who is liberal, who is gay and who is straight  you can narrow this down and then marketers can really zero in.

Q: What should people do about that?

A: The first thing is, be aware that there are people behind the screen, so to speak, churning out algorithms that are quantifying you, making you a target for people who want to sell you things.

Once you realize that, you dont quite give away as much as freely as you might have in the past. You start holding back a little bit of your private life. It doesnt mean you have to become a Luddite. You dont have to be Ted Kaczynski. You just to need to be more aware of it.

Heres a real practical example: There are these online questionnaires everywhere. You go to a medical-tips website and its got a little questionnaire. Theres a good chance the site might exist just because they want you to fill that out. The medical tips are just the bait. You can fill it out, but be vague. Not everyone needs to know your birth date. Not everyone needs to know the city you were born in. Hold back as much as you can.

You also have to worry about hackers. Security experts will tell you nowadays that everything is hackable. Do not think anything you are putting online is untouchable. So you have to know that as well, and act accordingly. Know the kinds of passwords you should use, how many characters there should be, the tricks to remember them even though they are a jumble of seemingly random letters and numbers.

Q: How did all the news about Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election influence your work on this book?

A: I was halfway through the book when all this stuff started blowing up about Russia. And I was not surprised by any of it because all they did was use the same techniques marketers have been using to try to sell you books and shoes. Its just pointed in the political direction now. They targeted people, mostly on Facebook, by knowing who they could fire up and make angry. They would inflame those tensions.

Its scary. And heres something really important: With social media, it does not matter how intelligent you are. If youve got a high IQ, if you have a fancy Ivy League education, youre still vulnerable, a sitting duck, unless you are consciously, actively embracing critical thinking skills and applying them consistently.

Q: What happens to the brain when you are on social media?

A: Its a playground for subconscious shenanigans. I catch myself all the time. You see a headline and you get upset and you say, Yeah, I knew that. Well, wait a minute. Slow down. Read the article. Whats the source? Whos saying this, and why are they saying it? Whats the evidence? What are other news sources saying about this?

Because I am so aware of these subconscious biases we all have, I really try to mix up my news input. I look at everything from the most liberal news sources to Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. Im taking it all in.

Q: This isnt the first time that the word think has appeared in the title of one of your books. Why is that important to you?

A: I just kind of figured out long ago that Im really interested in history, pre-history, the human story, the way we evolved in Africa and migrated around the world and essentially tamed nature enough so we could survive and be this thriving species of billions now. Its just an amazing story.

A big, big part of the success is due to our brains, this amazing organ. Its a three-pound blob of electrochemical magic. But were also nuts. We are crazy. We are goofballs, every one of us, and were just this weird mix of being complete geniuses and complete idiots. Weve got one foot in the marvelous, spectacular real universe, and one foot in fantasy land every day of our lives.

If you look at almost every big human problem, it goes back to bad thinking. So much of the conflict and the inefficiency of our species is because were not good thinkers. Its very frustrating. Im trying to encourage people to use their brains more effectively and help themselves live safer, more efficient lives  and in the process help uplift humankind so we can be a more sensible species and get along better.

Theres a lot of room for optimism and hope here. If we can get a handle on our own brains and apply them better, and if we can do a better job of raising our children to be better thinkers, to get them tuned in as much as possible to reality, we can really have a shot at building a future where were all getting along pretty well and were not constantly wiping out all the life around us and suffering all these self-inflicted wounds because of our irrational behavior and our stupidity. Its avoidable, and in that theres a lot of hope.

Think Before You Like: Social Medias Effect on the Brain and the Tools You Need to Navigate Your Newsfeed, by Guy Harrison, Prometheus Books, 380 pages.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-2236
At least eight people were killed and more than 40 wounded Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a church packed for a Nativity service in southwestern Pakistan, officials said.

Witnesses said the bomber detonated his explosives outside the main hall where congregants were observing the Christmas service at Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, the capital of the restive province of Baluchistan.

People were busy in service when the bomber approached the church and blew himself up at the main gate, said Shahzada Zulfiqar, a Quetta resident. He said two women were among the dead.

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Sarfaraz Bugti, the provincial minister responsible for security affairs, said in a message on social media: God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans, more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake.

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement by its Amaq news agency. It was one of the groups deadliest attacks against religious minorities in Pakistan this year, following a blast at a Sufi shrine in February that killed more than 70 people.

Initial reports suggested that two assailants had approached the church before the attack. Officials said security personnel shot one to death while another reached the gate of the main hall.

Authorities said they were searching for two other suspects believed to be accomplices.

Rescue teams reached the church to evacuate the dead and wounded. Hospital officials said they received four bodies and about 20 injury victims, four of whom later died of their wounds.

Others received injuries from wooden splinters or shards of glass after the explosion destroyed the churchs doors and windows, said the provincial police chief, Moazzam Ansari.

Islamist militants have often attacked Pakistani Christians, a mostly working-class minority that accounts for less than 2% of the countrys nearly 200 million people, the vast majority of whom are Muslim.

Christian leaders say security threats rise around religious holidays. On Easter Sunday in 2016, Pakistani militants bombed a park in the eastern city of Lahore, killing dozens.

Arguably, the quick response of the security forces at the church reduced the impact of this attack, but that has done nothing to ease the anxiety that Christians are feeling, said Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Assn., a civic group based in Britain.

Ali is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Shashank Bengali contributed to this report from Mumbai, India.

UPDATES:

6 a.m.: Updated with new details and a higher number of wounded.

4:30 a.m.: Updated to raise the death toll from five to eight.

This article was first published at 2:55 a.m.
Konane Martinezs path to becoming a medical anthropologist started with an interest in archaeology and then moved to the field of cultural anthropology before a pivotal experience studying in Oaxaca, Mexico, in the 1990s moved her to her final focus.

While at Humboldt State, I completed a bachelors degree in 1995 with majors in Spanish and anthropology. My experience studying Spanish in Oaxaca made it clear to me that I wanted to return to continue my research, she says. While in Oaxaca, a local doctor took me to a local village with a high rate of out-migration, and I spent the day talking to female heads-of-households about their lives and the challenges they faced with their husbands and sons gone. This project laid the foundation for my graduate work with Oaxacan indigenous communities that have migrated in large numbers since the 1990s.

For nearly 20 years, shes continued this work, examining how immigrant and border communities navigate health and social service agencies in the state. Shes a founding member of the Farmworker CARE Coalition, which includes more than 40 agencies that work to improve the health and lives of farmworkers and their families. This past November, she was also appointed to the California Office of Binational Border Health advisory group, which works to improve health care through building better communication and coordination between health officials and professionals in California and Mexico.

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Martinez, 46, lives in San Marcos with her 8-year-old son, Sebastian, and took some time to discuss her work, her appointment to the binational border health advisory group, and the satisfaction she experiences being able to join her professional work with her activism.

Q: What is critical medical anthropology?

A: Its an analytical/theoretical framework within medical anthropology that emphasizes how the economy and politics strongly determine health and the provision of health care. My research examines how immigrant health is shaped by the political and economic system here in the United States, and how inequity and racism hinders their access to quality health care.

Q: How were you introduced to the California Office of Binational Border Health ?

A: In 2002, while I was working at the National Latino Research Center, I conducted research on border health after receiving a grant from The California Endowment, a health care foundation. The research allowed me to get to know the various federal, state and nonprofit agencies that focus on border health. I published a report on the research in 2003 that received the attention of state Sen. Denise Ducheny, who was advocating for continuing funding of the binational border health office at the state legislature. I was invited to present my report in support of the office at a senate hearing in Sacramento.

Q: Why did you want to work with them?

A: My interest in becoming a member of the offices advisory board lies in my passion for health equity and in closing the gaps in access to health care for border residents. I truly value my colleagues in border health and, based upon my research experience, I strongly feel that binational cooperation is key. I also hope that my perspective from North County can be a contribution to the creation of border and binational projects.

What I love about San Marcos ...

I moved to San Marcos a year ago and finally feel like I live in a true community. This is where I work, live and my son goes to school. Being able to find shopping, dining and activities right around my neighborhood is the best!

Q: What are your responsibilities as a member of the advisory group?

A: The advisory group meets quarterly to receive updates on the work of the office and on pressing issues in border health. We also work in partnership with the office toward achieving the their goals, which include assessing and monitoring border and binational health issues; building the capacity to effectively address public health issues specific to these communities; increasing awareness of those health issues and the role of the binational border health office in addressing them; and promoting greater communication, coordination and collaboration on those issues and policies.

Q: The advisory group also develops and manages a plan for the office, and advises on critical issues facing the U.S.-Mexico border region? What are those critical issues?

A: The offices border priority issues include chronic and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and obesity. They also work on issues such as health care access and immunizations as well as are responsive to emerging issues health issues the Zika and West Nile viruses.

Q: You helped lead an effort to mitigate the effects of the 2007 wildfires on farmworkers? What were the effects of the fires on this communities, and what did you and the Farmworker CARE coalition do to mitigate these effects?

A: Farmworkers and migrants faced pronounced barriers during evacuations and in receiving assistance both during and after the fires: Farmworkers continued to work in evacuated areas, they were intimidated and turned away from resources available to other evacuees, and farmworkers who lost their homes lacked insurance or finances to rebuild. It became immediately clear to me and my colleagues at the National Latino Research Center, and our community partners, that the coalition needed to become involved in ensuring equitable access for all residents in San Diego during disasters.

Following the fires, the coalition worked to facilitate access to food and water for evacuees and farmworkers that had lost work. As a coalition, we were able to leverage funds to provide emergency housing to farmworkers as well as rental assistance. We collaborated with the American Red Cross and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services to develop our own skills and capacity to respond to disasters. Our coalition has developed an incident command structure that will allow us to respond in times of emergency. We also facilitated farmworker community leaders receiving training in first aid and CPR, becoming American Red Cross volunteers, and promoting civil rights during a disaster. One farmworker community developed their own community emergency response team in collaboration with a local fire department.

Q: Why is it important to you to focus on issues like border health, farmworker health and vulnerable communities?

A: As a researcher and lifetime activist, I have seen firsthand how farmworker and migrant communities have been overlooked and hidden within our region. I have built powerful relationships over the past 20 years with farmworker and Oaxacan indigenous communities whose stories I feel need to be heard and understood.

Q: Whats been challenging about your work?

A: The shifting and tense political environment and overall anti-immigrant climate in the border region, and in the U.S. as a whole, makes changing the environment in which farmworkers live and work very challenging.

Q: Whats been rewarding about this work?

A: It is extremely rewarding see positive change come about in local farmworker communities as a result of our work. Watching community residents emerge as leaders as a result of our projects is in and of itself a major reward of the work.

Q: What has it taught you about yourself?

A: That connecting with people must come from a genuine place inside.

Q: What is the best advice youve ever received?

A: Do what you love.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: Im actually a native San Diegan. And Im not Hawaiian, only my first name is!

Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: The one thing that keeps me here is the beach. I can literally spend the entire day there. Enjoying the sun, surf and sunset is my idea of an ideal day in San Diego. My son and I also love going to cultural festivals and experiencing new cuisine.

Email: lisa.deaderick@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @lisadeaderick
Firefighters took advantage of light winds in Santa Barbara County late Sunday, mounting an aggressive attack directly on the massive Thomas fires western face a day after powerful gusts pushed flames toward homes along the coast.

Crews were in place to protect homes should a wind shift send the wildfire toward neighborhoods overnight, but authorities said thats unlikely.

The fires burning in open country right now, which is away from homes, which is exactly where we want it, said Capt. Rick Crawford, a Cal Fire spokesman. Even so, he said, Well always be in the ready, set, go mode.

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Just a day earlier, stronger-than-expected winds kicked up and triggered an epic battle to save homes along the coast. Two homes in the Montecito hills were destroyed and about a dozen structures damaged during Saturdays flare up.

But firefighters were able to protect about a 1,000 structures because of advanced preparations, officials said. Evacuations were also lifted for the Carpinteria area.

As of Sunday evening, the third-largest wildfire in modern California history was at 270,000 acres and 45% contained, officials said.

Fueled by Santa Ana winds, with gusts topping 70 mph early Sunday in some valley and mountain areas, the blaze burned a massive swath from Santa Barbara to Ventura. By late Sunday, winds had dropped down to 3 to 5 mph, with gusts of about 10 mph, Crawford said.

Were in pretty good shape for the time being, he said.

In Ventura County, firefighters concentrated their forces in the hills above Fillmore where the wildfire stayed within containment lines. Their efforts were hampered during the day by dry conditions combined with low humidity and winds of about 35 mph.

Red flag conditions were forecast in the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles County through Sunday evening as well as parts of Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Winds are expected to stay calm Monday and Tuesday at 10 to 20 mph, which will look tranquil compared with the weekend gusts, said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Those calmer conditions should allow firefighters to focus on more defensive work such as bulldozing fire lines and dropping fire retardant. The humidity levels should also increase during the early part of the week  another help for fire crews, Hoxsie said.

But it will be a short respite, as strong winds and low humidity are expected to return on Wednesday in Santa Barbara County and Thursday in Ventura County, Hoxsie said.

In advance of the weekend flare-up, firefighters smothered portions of the Santa Barbara County hills with hundreds of thousands of gallons of fire retardant to keep embers from igniting spot fires. Some hillsides were intentionally denuded above Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria, including in Romero and Toro canyons, to limit the potential damage.

As of Sunday morning, the fire was at 269,000 acres and 40% contained. (Raoul Ranoa / Los Angeles Times )

Santa Barbara County Fire Division Chief Martin Johnson told reporters Saturday night that the aggressive prevention measures had paid off. Hundreds of homes were spared.

Earlier this evening I was asked the question, How many structures did we lose today?  Johnson said. Thats the wrong question to ask. The question to ask is, how many did we save today?

As the winds began to die down in Santa Barbara early Sunday, fire officials said they were going to take advantage of the moment and extinguish smoldering hot spots in the Montecito area.

Rusty Smith, 57, said he fled his home on Gibraltar Road about 1 a.m. Sunday. He stayed with a friend nearby and set his alarm clock to wake him every 90 minutes so he could see if the flames had reached his house.

But firefighters managed to save Smiths house and about two dozen others in the neighborhood.

I wasnt worried. You know when things are out of your control, Smith said Sunday afternoon, as he swept debris from the driveway of his neighbors house. But we know we were fortunate.

Resident Lucas Merrick returned Sunday around noon to find that his home also had been spared. As helicopters dropped water on smoldering vegetation, Merrick said his hillside property is much more than a home for him and other residents.

Theres a spiritual element, he said. Thats why people decide to live here.

Not all homes were spared. On Sunday, a multimillion-dollar house on Park Hill Lane in the Montecito hills was still burning. From the outside, the Spanish-style structure appeared intact, but the interior was almost completely gutted.

All that remained was smoldering ash.

Despite the loss or damage of some homes in the Montecito hills, fire officials emphasized that more homes were saved than lost.

This is the worst fire condition Ive seen in the last 32 years, said Capt. Dave Zaniboni, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. It could have been a lot worse. We could have easily lost firefighters or had more homes destroyed. It was a great effort by firefighters.

Orange County Battalion Chief Mike Summers huddled with his team of firefighters gathered in the parking lot of Cold Springs Elementary School to discuss the days plans. The fire had reached into the backyards of some homes on Saturday, and officials wanted to make sure that they were no longer threatened.

He said his crews would be patrolling along Coyote Road to clean up any hot spots.

Despite the long hours, Summers said his team was in good spirits and well-rested. Hes been on the fire for about a week and expects to work through Christmas.

Many of the firefighters have kids and families waiting at home, he said. But we are here for the community. Our first priority is the community, and then our second is family waiting back home.

Humboldt firefighter Jake Illiam, who was among the crews working in Montecito, said he was also missing his family. He said his daughter will turn 1 this week.

Today was her birthday party, he said.

Fire officials said that 8,300 fire personnel have been mobilized to fight the Thomas fire  the largest mobilization of fire crews to fight any wildfire in California history. Firefighting costs so far stand at $110 million.

By Saturday afternoon, Santa Barbara County appeared to be in recovery mode as evacuation orders were lifted for areas around Carpinteria.

Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.

melissa.etehad@latimes.com

ben.poston@latimes.com

UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Sunday nights fire fight.

7:00 p.m.: This article was updated with new acreage figures.

5:55 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire and weather officials.

5:35 p.m.: This article was updated with new comments from Montecito residents whose homes were spared.

4:00 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with new information about evacuation order being lifted in Carpinteria area.

12:20 p.m.: This article was updated with new details from the scene and comment from Capt. Dave Zaniboni.

11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from the National Weather Service.

10:25 a.m. This article was updated with comments from Battalion Chief Mike Summers.

10:05 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

9 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

This article was originally posted at 8:20 a.m.
A festive and thankful mood prevailed at the San Diego Rescue Missions annual Christmas Outreach Meal on Saturday, despite the living conditions and everyday realities endured by those in attendance.

More than 1,000 homeless and impoverished men, women and children were expected to gather at the shelter for the afternoon holiday home-cooked meal, consisting of ham, potatoes, vegetables, salad and pie. Individuals lined up early and wrapped around the venue to experience the free meal and Christmas cheer, as provided by more than 250 volunteers and a live band.

Ive been coming every year, said Ronda Roediger, 56, who lives in a downtown hotel with her cat, Lucy, and spends most of her Social Security checks on housing, leaving little money for food. They give you good food. On Thanksgiving, they give you real turkey. Not all of (the shelters) do.

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Roediger, who lived on the streets in the 1990s, was in good spirits Saturday and anticipated better times in the new year. She said she hoped to not only secure her own apartment but be cancer-free after years of chemotherapy for Hodgkins lymphoma.

1 / 10 Volunteer Timothy Overall sets tables at the San Diego Rescue Mission before the Christmas Outreach Meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 10 Volunteer German Benitez wears his volunteer shirt at the San Diego Rescue Mission. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 10 A crowd lines up at the San Diego Rescue Mission before the Christmas Outreach Meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 10 The San Diego Humane Society provided on-site pet care at the San Diego Rescue Mission during the Christmas Outreach Meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 10 The San Diego Humane Society provided on-site pet care at the San Diego Rescue Mission during the Christmas Outreach Meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 10 People sit at tables ready to eat. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 10 Volunteer T.J. Clark helps manage seating. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 10 People enjoy their meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 10 Volunteer German Benitez serves a meal. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 10 Volunteers serve meals. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Equally cheery was Priscilla Magat, 33, and her 7-year-old daughter, Eliana, who picked up a free stocking cap and cookie as they waited in line. Homeless in Chula Vista since August, Magat was thrilled to learn that the mission was giving away kid backpacks filled with toys and other supplies.

Founded in 1955, the San Diego Rescue Mission is a Christian organization run entirely from private donations. It serves the homeless, addicted and abused through a variety of initiatives, including transitional housing and job training. The charity typically opens its doors for outreach meals three times per year.

Weve baked 1,500 pounds of ham and 300 pounds of potatoes, said Donnie Dee, the centers CEO of five months. We celebrate Christmas by having a meal, breaking bread, but it also gives us a chance to actually engage the homeless. Were not a soup kitchen  so this meal, our Thanksgiving meal and our Easter meal are great opportunities for us to showcase what we do at the mission.

In addition to feeding the body and soul of attendees, the nonprofit sought to entertain guests with its house band, The Elm Street Band, and a choir. Individuals were also offered hygiene kits, complete with socks, toothpaste and other staples. And those with pets could drop them off at the entrance to be looked after by representatives from the San Diego Humane Society; they also received a bag of kibble and other pet supplies on their way out.

The event comes as San Diego Countys homeless population has risen to an estimated 9,160 people, the fourth-largest population of any region in the nation, according to a federal report released earlier this month.

I dont have the answers, Dee said of the countys homeless crisis. But I want to be part of the solution.

In some ways he already is. Volunteer Joseph Schuldt, 61, joined a San Diego Rescue Mission program in July and is a resident of the facility. He credits the charity for ending his abuse of prescription medications and giving him a new perspective on life.

At Thanksgiving, I actually sat here and cried because I saw the faces of people (at the meal), and thats what I looked like when I came in.

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jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin
For todays Back Story, reporter Peter Rowe discusses two local con artists, players in the ongoing epidemic of senior financial abuse.

Q. What led you to this yarn?

A. When District Attorney Summer Stephan called a meeting of law enforcement officials to discuss elder abuse, my editor asked me to look into this issue.

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Q. What was your first step in reporting this story?

A. The D.A.s meeting took place behind closed doors, but Stephan agreed to give me a post-meeting briefing. While she discussed this issue at length, I was struck by a figure Stephan cited  at a time when the overall crime rate is falling, in the last five years weve seen a 38 percent rise in these crimes.

Q. Did that interview give you enough material for this story?

A. No. That interview provided a great topic, but I needed a great story. Statistics are important and underscore this issues gravity, I needed a tale that would illustrate these crimes human cost. Stephan suggested Paul Greenwood would have some of these tales.

Q. Who is Greenwood?

A. A native of England, this former British barrister has led the D.A.s elder crimes unit since 1996. Now an expert in this area, he began as a total neophyte. Nobody else was doing it, he told me. The good thing is that when nobody else is doing it, nobody knows when youve made a mistake.

Q. Hes the one who steered you to the husband-and-wife con artists from Fairbanks Ranch?

A. Yes, but not directly. In our earlier talk, Stephan had noted several notable local fraud cases, including this couples gemstone scam. Greenwood also cited several notable cases. I decided to focus on William Phillips, aka Marshall Fields, and Lisa Sidney.

Q. Why?

A. Their sheer cheek, for one thing. They set up a shell company, Portfolio Development Inc., that claimed to employ dozens of (fictitious) employees. Targeting retirees, they sold the notion that gems were a fail-safe and profitable investment. In fact, Portfolios stones were lovely, beautifully packaged  and vastly over-priced. Phillips peddled cheap geegaws for up to 460 times their true worth.

Q. How were you able to reconstruct this scam?

A. Two victims swallowed their pride and answered numerous questions about this embarrassing episode. Im grateful to them and admire their courage.

Court files also helped, especially the letters from victims and family members. They made painful reading, outlining how Phillips and Sidney drained their retirement accounts and shook their faith in humanity.

Q. Were you able to interview Phillips or his wife, Stanley?

A. No. I met them when they were in court arguing that this con man is too ill to begin serving his prison term. Phillips, himself a senior citizen  the tall, white-haired man will turn 70 in a few weeks  seemed indignant when I requested an interview.

You should be ashamed of yourself, he said.

His wife and lawyer, David Baker, also declined to speak with me.

Q. Did you draw any personal lessons from this story?

A. As a freshly-minted AARP cardholder, Im paying more attention to issues important to retirees. While I dont want to become a cranky, get-off-my-lawn oldster, this story reinforced my skepticism about financial deals that sound too good to be true. Most, if not all, truly are.
In open country near I-15 and Highway 76, a spark caught fire. Fanned by strong winds, the spark became a blaze and the blaze became the Lilac fire.

That was on Thursday, Dec. 7, around 11: 20 a.m. By 11:30 a.m., the sky was full of smoke, burning embers and a twin-engine airplane. Circling 3,000 feet over the conflagration, Cal Fires OV-10 Bronco began coordinating water drops from tanker planes and helicopters.

The Lilac fire raced from zero to 4,100 acres in less than a day, but then its advance was halted by a massive counter-attack. Fire trucks, hand crews, bulldozers  all played critical roles.

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You dont put out fires just with aircraft, said Chuck Mcfarland, chief of air operations for San Diego Fire-Rescue. We are a resource for the people on the ground, not the other way around.

Still, the Lilac fire was San Diego Countys most dramatic demonstration of air powers unique firefighting capabilities. This was underscored last week when the San Diego City Council agreed to spend $33 million on a firefighting helicopter  the citys third  and a hangar to house these machines.

The Lilac fire witnessed the largest squadron of aerial firefighting assets in San Diego Countys history. Coming from numerous agencies, the aircraft worked closely with ground forces to turn the tide in the fires first 18 hours.

A helicopter scoops up water from a pond during the Lilac fire. (K.C. Alfred/ The San Diego Union-Tribune )

11:30 a.m.: The Lilac fire wasnt exactly a surprise.

Earlier in the week, with low humidity and Santa Ana winds in the forecast, Cal Fire had canceled days off and alerted the Navy and Marine Corps that their helicopters might be required.

We knew that right when the fire started we would need that, said Capt. Jon Heggie, a Cal Fire spokesman.

The agencys observational OV-10, the eye in the sky, was fueled. When motorists called in reports of a fire, the two-person crew took off within minutes.

On reaching their destination at 11:30 a.m., what they could see  and couldnt see  was disturbing.

Because of the wind, the smoke was blowing out in front of the fire, Heggie said.

Hit by gusts of up to 50 mph and steady winds of 30-35 mph, the smoke obscured the aerial spotters vision of where the fire ended and the endangered land began.

Noon: The skies started to get crowded. Dropping water on the fire were three Cal Fire air tankers; a U.S. Forest Service helicopter, and other choppers, including three from the San Diego County Sheriffs Department. All were directed by the Bronco orbiting overhead.

12:47 p.m.: All hail the mighty Aircrane.

The aircraft over the Lilac fire had a wide range of liquid payloads. Many helicopters drop 375 gallons at a time; some air tankers, 1,300 gallons; the Aircrane outdelivered all the others at Lilac, with 2,650 gallons.

All these drops, even the smaller ones, can make a difference when applied strategically. Water from above can help firefighters and bulldozers down below, as the latter cut away flammable plants to create defensible fire lines.

We support the dozers, Mcfarland said, hitting the fire line and protecting them.

Operated by SDG&E, the county of San Diego and San Diego Fire-Rescue, the Aircrane made sorties until sunset, dropping a total of about 30,000 gallons.

3:05 p.m.: Two San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopters took off from Montgomery Field. Taking their cues from the Bronco, the copters make their first drops on the fire at 3:23.

These attacks were integrated into the strategy crafted by the incident commander  the senior official on site  Cal Fires Nick Schuler. If the fire were a massive human body, the blaze began at the heel.

You pick it up at the heel and go up the flanks, the sides, Mcfarland said.

From the flanks, firefighters on the ground and in the air worked to hem in the fire, moving westward in hopes of eventually getting above the head.

You want to pinch off the head, Mcfarland said.

As long as the Santa Anas were gusting, though, the head continued to rage forward.

When you have fires driven by 50 mph winds,  Cal Fires Heggie said, its like trying to stop a hurricane from reaching the coast of Florida. You dont get in front of it.

4 p.m.: By going back to school, a fire captain and two firefighters found what they needed.

Seeking a suitable site for a night helibase, they found that Mission Vista High School was ideal: a fire hydrant to fill helicopters water tanks, space for a fuel truck to keep the rotors turning, and open space for takeoffs and landings.

They marked the improvised landing field with green LED lights, out of consideration for helicopter crew who wear night-vision goggles.

While useful for seeking hot spots from the air, these tools arent meant to be used around bright lights.

Night vision goggles amplify your vision so much, Mcfarland said, if you are on Catalina Island and flick a lighter, I can see that on Laguna Beach.

4:42 p.m.: Sunset. While the battle continued on the ground, the OV-10 Bronco headed back to base. So did all the other aircraft, except the two night-flying helicopters.

5 p.m.: Before the first night mission, the night-flyers check the weather and winds and review hazards such as power lines.

You have to make sure theres enough to gain to justify the risk, said Mcfarland, who flew for the Forest Service for 26 years before taking over San Diego Fire-Rescues air operations five years ago.

As the only two aircraft fighting Lilac that night, the two choppers moved quickly, coordinating runs with each other, seeking targets of opportunity.

By 4 a.m., they had made a combined total of 145 drops, dropping about 54,000 gallons. And by sunrise, thanks to falling winds and the efforts of firefighters on the ground and aloft, the fires head had been pinched.

Mcfarland marvels at all the high-tech tools available to firefighters. Helicopters carry iPads that can display critical information; custom cell phone apps supply up-to-the-second status reports.

But hes more impressed by the advances made on the human side.

The most important thing thats happened since the 2003 fire, he said, in the county we are all working so much better with all the agencies.

This isnt tennis. This is a team sport.
Most law enforcement officers go through their whole career without shooting anyone.

A handful get into more than one shooting  as many as four and five for two San Diego police officers.

Why this is the case, and whether the public should be concerned about officers who become involved in multiple shootings, isnt easy to answer.

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Police officials say each shooting should be evaluated on its own for legal justification, without regard to prior incidents.

Officers have no control over what calls they go to, or the ultimate actions of a person who appears armed and poses a direct threat to the public or the officers, San Diego police Lt. Scott Wahl said.

Critics of police use of deadly force, on the other hand, believe the officers personality and training have more to do with his or her willingness to pull a gun and use it.

Attorney Dan Gilleon, who has represented many families of those killed by law officers in San Diego County, said officers who are repeat shooters should be seen as bad and dangerous.

These officers have personality flaws in my opinion, and seem to believe they live in the old west where you can settle disputes like Wyatt Earp, Gilleon said in an email response to questions on the subject.

He called them adrenaline junkies who chose riskier assignments in SWAT, gang enforcement, narcotics and K9 units.

The Rev. Shane Harris, president of the San Diego chapter of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization, said when officers get into several shootings, We need to be questioning an officers ability to de-escalate a situation and the officers temperature in patrolling our communities.

One study found that an officer who is involved in one shooting is 51 percent more likely to get involved in another within a certain period of time than is an officer who has not shot anyone.

Charles Wilhite, assistant professor and director of the Criminal Justice program at Asuza Pacific University in San Diego, said the research that came up with that figure couldnt answer why.

Some cops are just st magnets, Wilhite said. There are just certain people who end up in circumstances that others dont.

He said researchers at the University of Riverside found no relationship between an officers personal characteristics and being involved in shootings.

The study included 186 shootings by some 300 deputies in the Riverside Sheriffs Department in 15 years between 1990 and 2004. About 28 percent of the deputies were involved in multiple shootings.

Researchers suggested that a beat assignment into neighborhoods where residents are less compliant with police could be a factor. Another could be that an officer who has shot someone may become more sensitive to future risks and dangers, and be quicker to react with a gun another time.

A small number of officers around San Diego County have been involved in multiple shootings over the last several decades.

Last weekend, San Diego police Officer Richard Butera killed a man who was advancing with a knife after breaking into a Point Loma home. It was Buteras fourth fatal shooting since 2013, all found legally justified.

San Diego police Detective Phillip Bozarths career has included five fatal shootings, all cleared by the District Attorneys Office.

San Diego officers Gordon Leek, Carlos Garcia and Stephen Paul Williamson were involved in three shootings each. National City police Officer John Murray was involved in two shootings that left two dead and one injured. Border Patrol Agent John Roberts was involved  with other officers and agents  in two shootings where five men were shot.

Under California law, officers may use deadly force if they are reasonably in fear for their own lives or the lives of others.

Officer-involved shootings are investigated on several tracks. Homicide investigators in the jurisdiction where the shooting occurred present the facts to the District Attorney, who determines whether criminal charges should be filed against the officer. An FBI agent sits in on that evaluation.

Within the officers department, internal affairs investigators look for violations of policy and procedures that might lead to discipline. Disciplinary measures are not typically made public.

The community has to trust that officer-involved shooting investigators do a very thorough job, very unbiased, said Nancy Bohl-Penrod, a psychotherapist and director of The Counseling Team International based in San Bernardino, who works with first-responders after traumatic incidents.

She and the team counseled officers who responded to the mass shootings in San Bernardino two years ago and Las Vegas in October.

Bohl-Penrod said officers involved in a second or third shooting relate fears of being judged badly by the public, the media, their families and their agency administrations.

If they end up killing a really bad guy, they feel a sense of relief that the person is no longer on the street, she said. But there is no joy in it. Its a shame that a two-second decision (to shoot) can mean years of torment.

Former police officer Lance LoRusso, a civil liability defense attorney in Georgia who also serves as a police union attorney, said some officers quit law enforcement after a shooting.

Lately, officers are more concerned that their administrations lean toward discipline, that theyll be sacrificed on a political altar, LoRusso said. Thats why were having recruiting problems around the country. And they fear being prosecuted for doing nothing wrong. A plaintiffs attorney will argue they are cops out of control.

He said if an officer is cleared of multiple shootings and stays on the job, the community should view him or her as a dedicated public servant.

I think most people dont understand about the use of deadly force, said criminal justice Professor David A. Klinger, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He was a police officer in Los Angeles and Redmond, Wash., in the 1980s.

If its a good shooting, the analysis stops there. If its a questionable shooting, we have concerns, Klinger said. Ive interviewed hundreds of officers involved in shootings. It just so happens they are in the right  or wrong  spot at the right time.

One officer he knows has been involved in seven shootings, and sees them all as happenstance, Klinger said.

Wilhite, at Azusa Pacific University, said he believes officers deserve greater scrutiny after repeated shootings.

But that doesnt mean theyre doing something wrong, Wilhite said.

He said the public doesnt always understand why one officer at a tense scene may draw a gun while another holds a Taser. Thats a police tactic to make both levels of force instantly available  not a sign that the officers read the level of danger differently.

De-escalation involves time, and space, Wilhite said. Im a big proponent. It saves lives. But we have to recognize that sometimes the situation doesnt allow that.

He said in reading a media account of Buteras shooting in Point Loma, he noted that a second officer fired a Taser as Butera fired his gun.

That tells me they both sensed the same threat and both fired, he said. These dynamic situations are dictated by the person who was shot. The public thinks one officer was meaner than the other. Thats not the case.

As a Riverside sheriffs deputy, he sometimes saw rookies wait so long to avoid using force that they ended up using greater force to control a suspect.

He said research shows that in 80 to 90 percent of confrontations where deadly force would have been justified, officers dont use it.

Officers are no different from anybody else, Wilhite said. They make decisions like any other person does. Its amazing how many times theyre right.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
A class-action lawsuit in Northern California is challenging a program used by prosecutors across the nation  including San Diego  to help businesses collect on bounced checks.

The program is run by BounceBack Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, which sends debtors letters that threaten prosecution. The letters are sent in cooperation with local district attorneys, who get a share of fees that are collected.

Backers of the program see it as a way to partner with the private sector to fight petty crime, allowing public resources to focus on bigger things.

Critics say the letters are over the top, threatening prosecutions that are unlikely or unwarranted. They worry due process could be at risk, and question whether private companies should be making money off law enforcement.

In San Diego, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has offered the program to local businesses who lost money for at least 10 years.

My office is providing a Check Enforcement Program to assist merchants and individuals in fighting back against bad check writers, her website says.

Links on the district attorneys website lead visitors to HotChecks.net, a domain registered to BounceBack Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, which features a photo of Dumanis, her official office seal and her message urging creditors to sign up for the service.

Writing a bad check is illegal in California if its done knowingly or with intent to defraud.

Critics say companies like BounceBack deliberately mislead debtors by overstating the possibility that they will be criminally prosecuted for bouncing a check.

The district attorneys job is to enforce criminal laws, said Paul Arons, a Washington state lawyer who filed the lawsuit against BounceBack earlier this month. DAs are not supposed to be in the debt-collection business.

Arons said most people who bounce checks do so inadvertently and without criminal intent. When they do overdraw their accounts, they are typically charged a returned check fee by their banks, and sometimes the business.

Now theyre being told theyll be charged with a crime, Arons said. Threatening to put someone in jail if they dont pay you money is called extortion.

BounceBack president and founder H. Gale Krieg did not respond to a message left at his Kansas City office or an email. Employees said Krieg was the only person authorized to speak to reporters.

One of the lawyers defending BounceBack in the class-action case said his client is merely operating as an administrative agent for the district attorney and noted that everyone contacted by the company has been determined by prosecutors to have possibly committed a crime.

The letters that are sent out are fully the responsibility of the prosecutor, said Gregg R. Smith, an attorney in Spokane, Wash. They either draft, approve or modify a letter that may or may not be sent. BounceBack provides an administrative service that will assist and alleviate some of the budget problems for prosecutors offices.

According to the company, BounceBack does business with dozens of local governments, including at least eight counties in California. The firm has several competitors across the country.

The American Bar Association examined the business model in detail last year and issued a legal opinion aimed at helping lawyers and prosecutors decide when it is appropriate to contract with outside vendors to operate a check-enforcement program.

The opinion concludes it is unethical for prosecutors to farm out the work absent a review for probable cause that a crime may have been committed or a review of the letter to ensure that it complies with the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

The San Diego Union-Tribune contacted the San Diego County District Attorneys Office on Thursday with a number of questions about the program. Dumanis said answers and documentation would be provided next week.

The involvement of the District Attorneys Office is in compliance with the ethics opinion from the American Bar Association, as you will see when you receive our documentation, Dumanis said via email.

Under its agreement with San Diego County, BounceBack collects information about returned checks from businesses and individuals who report the insufficient funds through the county enforcement program.

Many of the cases are referred by collection agencies or companies that accept a high number of personal checks.

BounceBack alerts the District Attorneys Office to possible cases and prosecutors decide whether the checkwriters will receive a warning letter, Smith said. He said every recipient is given a chance to pay up long before a letter is sent.

Its a good deal for prosecutors and their constituents, Smith said. Economic crimes cause a huge toll on society.

The BounceBack notices sent in Mendocino County are included in the class-action lawsuit. On District Attorneys Office letterhead, they carry messages such as Warning of Criminal Charges and It is still possible to avoid a CRIMINAL CONVICTION. They contain no reference to the company or its involvement.

The letters go on to state that the recipient must pay the full dollar amount shown and also enroll in an online check writers financial training course at a fee of $145 or more. The program fee is $50 or more and if the person pays with a credit or debit card, there is a $6 fee for that.

Payment must be received within ten (10) days from the date of this letter, the notices state.

The contract that San Diego County officials signed with BounceBack in 2011 calls on the company to provide monthly reports indicating how many checks were reported, how much money was recovered, how much was received in fees by the vendor and how much was paid to the District Attorneys Office.

The proposal BounceBack submitted in advance of being awarded the contract estimates the program would generate $1.3 million over five years beyond the money it recovers on behalf of businesses and individuals.

Most of those funds pay for BounceBack salaries, benefits and operating costs. BounceBack estimated the county would receive about $75,000 a year from fees paid by more than 1,200 checkwriters.

The class-action case against BounceBack was filed August 3 in federal court in Northern California. The suit seeks an injunction against the company, a legal determination that its practices violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, punitive damages, attorney fees and other damages.

It is a misrepresentation to state that a check writer risks prosecution when no prosecutor has reviewed evidence, the lawsuit states.

Smith, the BounceBack attorney, said his client relies on the prosecutors to review case histories before any warning letters are mailed out.

We have no discretion, he said. This is the prosecutors program.

Arons said that prosecutorial review is nothing more than a monthly list of checks with no specific evaluation of what prompted the bank to return the check unpaid. No one reviews the evidence to determine if a crime may have been committed, he said.

Theyre looking at a name, an address and a check, Arons said. They dont do any investigation, any of the things they normally do when they prosecute someone.

The practice of outsourcing check enforcement programs has gained more attention from federal regulators as the industry has grown in recent years.

In March, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced an enforcement action against BounceBack competitor National Collective Group of San Clemente that prohibited the company from using District Attorneys Office letterhead

The order also directed the firm to inform consumers that prosecutors had not specifically determined they should be charged with a crime and to stop telling them they were required to enroll in diversion courses.

National Corrective Group masqueraded as prosecutors and used deceptive tactics to intimidate consumers into paying hundreds of dollars in extra fees to avoid potential criminal prosecution, said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. Today we are taking action to put a stop to these illegal debt collection practices.
House Resolution 38 diminishes gun safety reciprocity agreements between states. It forces us to accept conceal carry weapon (CCW) holders from states that have superficial safety requirements. The bill places the burden of verifying the permits from other states on overworked law enforcement. It exposes law enforcement to lawsuits.

Disturbingly, a CCW person need only be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence, not actually have a permit. HR 38 opens up school zones and federal lands to CCWs, but doesnt require the gun holder to remain sober.

Retired law officers in good standing are permitted CCW in all states by 18 U.S Code 926C. They are required to requalify each year. Law enforcement officers have extensive training including tunnel-vision and cross-fire awareness.

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The 926C code is an example of thoughtful legislation designed to protect armed and unarmed citizens. HR 38 is a rush to repay donors and lobbyists.

S.P. Smullen

Escondido

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Arriving in San Diego on the Int 15, fire apparatus engineer, Cory David Iverson with Cal Fire is escorted back to San Diego accompanied with a procession of first responders late Sunday afternoon. David lost is life while fighting the Thomas Fire in the Fillmore area. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune )

California fires: A procession for CAL FIRE engineer Cory Iverson who was killed while fighting the Thomas Fire in Ventura County will begin at 10:00 am at the Ventura County and travel along Interstate 15 into San Diego County exiting the 15 at Miramar Road and at concluding at El Camino Mortuary.
SAN DIEGO - A man who fatally shot his mother whiledemonstrating a new laser light attachment on his gun pleadedinnocent to charges of involuntary manslaughter and possession ofan unregistered assault weapon.

Jonathan Schmitt, 24, faces up to three years in prison ifconvicted in his mothers April 25 death. He entered his pleayesterday.

San Diego police said the 52-year-old victim was shot once ather home about 4:50 p.m. in the 2100 block of Swan Street inEncanto.

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Family members and paramedics tried to save Margaret Schmitt,but she died at a hospital less than an hour later.

Police said at the time that the shooting appeared to beaccidental but that an investigation was under way.

The defendant was interviewed at the scene but was not arrested.Deputy District William Gentry said Schmitt was notified of thecharges by mail.

Superior Court Judge David Szumowski allowed the defendant toremain free on his own recognizance pending an Aug. 27 readinessconference and Sept. 14 preliminary hearing.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Francis Marion Universitys commencement speaker told graduates Saturday to avoid having a victim mentality when things go awry.

So what do you do when adversity strikes  when it comes knocking on your door? Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe asked those in attendance.

His answer: Stay calm. Be poised.  Have hope. Be thankful for what you do have. Have faith. Understand your mission and create a plan to accomplish it. And persist until you break through. You will get through it.

Ghartey-Tagoe, a Ghana native, is Duke Energys state president for South Carolina operations. Besides giving the commencement speech, he received an honorary doctorate from FMU at the ceremony. The university also conferred an honorary doctorate on Judge Melissa J. Buckhannon of the South Carolina Family Court Bench.

The university awarded degrees to 309 graduates at its fall commencement. The degrees included 231 baccalaureate degrees, and 78 graduate degrees. Among the graduates were 86 who earned degrees in the health care field, one of the universitys largest classes in that growing field.

The ceremony was held in the Smith University Center gymnasium.

Dr. Fred Carter, president of FMU, told the graduates that theyll never receive more advice in their lives than at their collegiate graduation. Make the most of that, Carter said. And dont hesitate to continue to seek advice in the future, especially from FMU faculty members who relish the chance to assist former students.

One graduate who didnt attend the ceremony was Xavier Nettles, who talked in a recent interview about his time at FMU.

Nettles said it is bittersweet to graduate from FMU. While he said it has sometimes been a difficult journey that started in 2010, the campus is a familiar space that holds memories of play rehearsals, trips to The Grille and helping form two campus organizations.

I am going to miss it, but I know Im ready for my next step, Nettles said.

Nettles graduated with degrees in theater arts and psychology. He will move to Canyon, Texas, in the spring to work as technical director for Texas Outdoor Musical, an opportunity that Nettles said FMU helped make possible.

A university grant partly funded a trip to a theater conference with a career fair. After the conference, Nettles received an internship with Texas Outdoor Musical, his future employer.

Ill always be tremendously thankful for that, Nettles said.

Nettles said his time at FMU has helped him hone his skills as an actor, and he wants to use art as a platform to help others process ideas and emotions.

One idea Nettle is particularly passionate about is accurately understanding and portraying those with mental disorders. Thats one reason he decided to study psychology.

I do want to at least shape how people view them and portray them in a positive way, Nettles said.

While Nettles college journey has outlasted the traditional four years, he said there is no asterisk on victory. He came in undecided and had to take time off here and there, but he kept pushing to reach his goal.

It doesnt matter how long it took, Nettles said. Cross the finish line  thats what counts.

Nettles said he would be unable to get as far as he has without his wifes support.

Six students graduated summa cum laude (with greatest praise) after completing degree requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher. They were Rachel Ankers of Elgin; Sierra Lind of Timmonsville; William Huntley of Florence; Catherine Hyman of Pamplico; Emily Lavender of Hartsville; and Shelly Smith of Pamplico.

Eight students graduated magna cum laude (with high praise) in recognition of a cumulative GPA between 3.75 and 3.89. They were Kaitlin Elmore of Dalzell; Rachel Fleschner of Florence; James Jepertinger of Florence; Tyler Matusiewicz of Florence; Miranda Miles of Coward; Devin Nelson of Bloomfield, Conn.; Garrett Rogers of Charlotte, N.C.; and Caroline Starling of Greer.

Eighteen students graduated cum laude (with praise) after completing degree requirements with a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74. They were Elliott Christmas of Hartsville; Jessica Elliott of Marion; Katelyn Elmore of Bishopville; Alexus Franklin of Georgetown; Grantham Heustess of Florence; Sarah Holladay of Florence; Hampton Johnson of Simpsonville; Stacey King of Pamplico; Chase Kirby of Effingham; Sidney Lawrimore of Florence; Juanita McLeod of Florence; Jessica Meggs of Effingham; Molly Packett of Pamplico; Amber Purvis of Effingham; Joshua Stalheim of Florence; Kimberly Vinson of Aiken; Cierra Weatherford of Hartsville; and Kendalyn Woodard of Longs.

Three students graduated with University Honors, which is awarded to students who achieve an overall grade point average of 3.25 or above and complete 21 hours in honors courses with a grade point average of 3.25 in all Honors courses taken. They were Rachel Ankers of Elgin; Rachel Fleschner of Florence; and Kristin Ingram of Mullins.
A sewing group from the United Church of Christ in Hallam will donate 120 handmade blankets to centers for people in need Monday.

The group will bag the blankets on Monday and deliver them to the People's City Mission, Friendship Home and other nonprofits, said member Sheryl Block.

Block said the yearly Christmas donation is something the group has been doing for several years.

"It's just fulfilling to be able to help people," Block said.

The sewing group, which has been around for over 30 years, meets on Wednesdays year-round to make the blankets.

In addition to the Christmas donation, the group runs a blanket giveaway for newborn babies, Block said.

They also host a emergency blanket supply for victims of disasters.
They were once normal things: snarled traffic. Heavy winds. Large crowds.

Now, theyre enough to bring Samantha Eggert back to October, when the most destructive wildfire in state history consumed her home in Santa Rosas Coffey Park neighborhood  and almost her and her husband with it.

Eggert cries in her car, in her rental home in Vacaville and while shopping for groceries. Sometimes she cries at work, at a Santa Rosa auto parts store where she runs the credit department.

Eggert, 48, knows she has company, that thousands of fire victims are struggling to rebuild their lives. But she feels alone.

It really messes with your mind, she said. We were in a situation where we honestly didnt know what was going on, even though there was all this smoke. I still have this feeling of not being able to escape, even after all this time.

Sonoma County has plunged into a period that trauma psychologists call disillusionment. At the peak of clinicians phases of disaster chart  after the immediate shock and the gratitude for acts of heroism  is the honeymoon phase of deep community cohesion.

Then the line plunges, a jagged downward slope that can last up to one year after a disaster.

The number of people seeking mental health resources in Sonoma County has nearly doubled since the historic firestorm hit Wine Country starting the night of Oct. 8, officials said. In the first month, 125 behavioral health workers provided about 13,000 hours of counseling to victims. On average, 40 workers remain in the field daily.

As the focus shifts to the holidays, and the Sonoma County Strong signs begin to disappear from shop windows, some fire victims say theyre feeling even more isolated. And the county is struggling to help everyone who needs it, while also tending to its own staffers who suffered losses.

I dont know if anyone expected this to be the scale it was, said Michael Kennedy, Sonoma Countys mental health director. It was a little shocking how many individuals lost their homes, and how long the fires actually lasted. This was different because it went on for days. Everybody knows someone who was impacted. In a way, its had a net trauma impact on the whole community.

Its definitely stretching our resources, he said.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

The Tubbs Fire, the biggest of Octobers blazes, killed 22 people and ruined more than 5,000 structures, including Eggerts home.

In the aftermath, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Sonoma County a $900,000 crisis counseling grant, while giving the same amount to Lake, Mendocino, Solano, Butte and Nevada counties. The money funds outreach, counseling and other mental health services for up to nine months after a disaster.

Sonoma County officials have applied for a second round of grant funding. The county is also bringing in two experts from the International Trauma Center to assess post-disaster needs, train staff and set up coping groups for the victims.

Its a start, according to Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane, who said she can relate to what fire victims are feeling. She grappled with depression after her husband committed suicide seven years ago.

Its not a linear process, Zane said. Its a circular process where we go in and out as we move forward. Here, the trauma is different than the grief. Thats the issue. We need to treat it collectively as a community and recognize when someone is exhibiting mental health symptoms. We have a long way to go still.

Private health networks, like the West County Health Centers, have also seen an increase in cases of depression and anxiety and other chronic illnesses, officials said. The issues have been exacerbated by how far from normal many victims lives have veered. Many have seen their churches, jobs and childrens schools  their daily rhythms  disrupted.

People are more susceptible to trauma because they dont have their normal community support, said Jason Cunningham, medical director of West County Health Centers, which provides services from several locations. Initially we had this community coming together, and it was actually life-giving. They were supporting one another. We arent putting the same attention on those feelings as we did the first two weeks.

Cunningham said his staff compared state maps of fire damage to maps of where existing patients live, in order to locate high-risk victims who might need extra support. Health workers called those people in the weeks after the fires to check in and offer resources, everything from help with FEMA applications to therapy referrals.

We know these people, Cunningham said. We want to hear how theyre doing and hear their story. Its a familiar voice to connect with. That social support is important so they dont try to self-medicate with things like alcohol.

Addressing the needs of victims in a county with a population of more than a half-million people is difficult because there is no blanket solution, said Dr. Melissa Brymer, director of the Terrorism & Disaster Program at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at UCLA and one of the experts helping to train county officials.

People facing other struggles, including those with low-income jobs or without U.S. citizenship, will feel adversity more acutely, she said.

Because of the holidays, we are already expecting more depression, and usually, about six months after a disaster, you see another increase in depression, Brymer said. People like to put a timetable on grief. To be honest, when the one-year anniversary clicks, they might not be over it. When people are able to begin to rebuild and restore the aspects of their lives that were taken away, that does usually help.

Children in particular are vulnerable to trauma, Brymer said. As schools reopened, 50 to 80 county clinicians were dispatched to campuses to talk with students about what they had experienced. But even those mental health workers have largely moved on to other duties.

Finding a counselor for both Amy Marlar and her 11-year-old daughter, Logyn, has been challenging. Marlar, a single mother who works in the county Department of Health Services checking medical claims, lost her Section 8 subsidized rental unit in the fire. Child care and rent for the familys new apartment has increased her monthly costs by $1,500. She hasnt found time to find a therapist.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Marlar, 46, said she has become obsessed with the burned husk of her former home. She visits nearly every day, parking on the street and imagining the now-vacant lot on Santiago Drive as it once was. In her mind, she unlocks the front door and walks down the hallway, past her grandmothers heirlooms and the broken stove.

She always goes alone. Logyn refuses to visit.

You take it for granted. You take everything for granted, Marlar said. You realize you did have it good. For the first two weeks, both (Logyn) and I would wake up at 2:20 or 2:30 a.m., around the time we left our house. If we were in different rooms, we would both wake up and not even know we were doing it.

She added, Were not doing well.

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn
For Kris Parker, the decision to shut down his Santa Barbara brewery on Saturday didnt come easy.

But when he looked outside and saw the sky dark with smoke and the flames blowing toward the city, he knew he had no choice.

By Sunday morning, the smoke had cleared, and with only a voluntary evacuation in place for Third Window Brewing, Parker reopened the brewerys doors.

Firefighters went face-to-face with the huge Southern California blaze, pushed by strong wind gusts, attacking it with hoses as weather conditions tempered.

The Thomas Fire, which began burning through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties on Dec. 4, has grown to 270,000 acres  the third-largest fire in the states modern history  with containment up to 45 percent.

The containment numbers were expected to increase as crews continued to confront the fire head on, with full containment anticipated by Jan. 7, said Capt. Rick Crawford of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It doesnt look as harrowing, Parker said, the CEO of the brewery. Everyone is struggling. At the moment, we are trying to figure out ... how to keep our employees paid and make our rent.

The brewerys revenue was down 40 percent compared with last December, Parker said. Joining him Sunday was one other staff member who helped open the brewery.

Now Playing: Thousands more Californians are on the move with forcible evacuations in Santa Barbara as the Thomas fire lashes towards the ocean, whipped by high winds that are forecast to continue for the next 48 hours. Prosperous Montecito on the city's outskirts has been badly damaged and in total hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in southern California in what is now officially the state's third-biggest wildfire. Thomas is being described as a "beast", and some 8,500 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters are battling it. Firefighters say the blaze was 40 percent contained on Saturday evening, but the veering winds had sounded the alarm for Santa Barbara just hours before. Video: Euronews

Ten homes were lost in Montecito overnight, Crawford said, adding that damage could have been much worse.

Parker evacuated his own Montecito home a week ago and doesnt know if his home is still standing. There are still about 18,000 structures threatened by the wildfire.

Wind gusts dropped to about 20 mph on Sunday, making it slightly easier for the more than 8,500 firefighters. Thirty-four helicopters were assigned to the blaze Sunday, as well as 972 fire engines, said Capt. Stan Ziegler of the Ventura County Fire Department.

The weather patterns are going to be a little more favorable for us to take advantage of certain geographical points where we might be able to hold the fire. ... We can dig in and become a little more aggressive, Ziegler said.

Mandatory evacuations remained in place for most of Montecito and the town of Summerland, and upper areas of Santa Barbara, affecting 16,000-17,000 people.

Fred Huther, 58, of Santa Barbara said a city official knocked on his door on Saturday night and told him and his 17-year-old son, Jon, that it was time to leave.

I could see the flames peeking over the hill just above where our house was. It was pretty crazy, Huther said.

Huther had packed his car with jewelry, artwork, clothing and other essential items just in case.

Its just kind of frustrating. Weve only lived in Santa Barbara for three years  we are not accustomed to the fire thing, Huther said, who moved from the Washington, D.C., area. We are probably a little more cautious than other people, but when that happened (Saturday), everyone was like, OK, this is real.

Unlike Huther, Ian Anzlowar, 26, remembers when he was evacuated during the 2008 Tea Fire, which destroyed about 200 homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara. But this time, he said, the fire was the closest its ever been to us.

The Santa Barbara resident said he was escorted out of his home by the National Guard on Saturday because the flames were only three blocks away.

You could feel the heat from the fire from my house, Anzlowar said.

Anzlowar hasnt been able to return home since evacuating, but said hes heard that his house hasnt burned down yet.

Nonetheless, Anzlowar, a manager at Renauds Patisserie and Bistro, arrived to work on Sunday to cover for the many employees who evacuated due to the poor air quality.

There is almost nobody in town. Its strange, Anzlowar said. This is the first day Ive seen blue skies in town in about two weeks, but you can definitely see a haze over everything.

On Saturday, the Santa Barbara Zoo crated most of its birds and other small animals, bringing them indoors to protect them from the ash and smoke. Larger animals were taken to their indoor living quarters while the condors and griffon vultures were transferred to the Los Angeles Zoo, said Rich Block, the CEO.

To date, the cost of battling the fire is nearly $117 million. At least 1,026 structures have been destroyed and 242 damaged in the Thomas Fire.

The body of firefighter Cory Iverson, 32, was returned from Ventura to his hometown of San Diego on Sunday in an hours-long highway procession of fire engines, motorcycle cops and other emergency vehicles.

Iverson was killed Thursday. He had worked for Cal Fire since 2009 and was assigned to a fire engine strike team from San Diego.

He was the second person to die in the blaze. Virginia Pesola, a 70-year-old from Santa Paula, died in her car along an evacuation route. The medical examiner said the cause of death was blunt force injuries, along with smoke inhalation and heat injuries.

I went down to L.A. on Thursday ... and it was beautiful with perfect blue skies, Huther said. I came back (to Santa Barbara) at the end of the day, and it was almost dark there was so much smoke, and the sun was glowing red. Its odd to have to go to L.A. for clean air.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
So Democrats are now the saviors of the Dreamers? How in the world did that happen?

For those of us who have paid close attention to the immigration debate over the past couple decades, its surreal watching Democrats in Congress threaten to go to the mat for a legislative fix that protects undocumented young people. After all, when Democrats had the chance to get Dreamers out of harms way by legalizing them, they were asleep at the switch.

Its not politics. Most Democrats dont have anything against Dreamers, many of whom they see as future Democratic voters. Blame Republicans for that, because their approach to immigration is often belligerent, boorish and boneheaded.

Its just personal. Democrats arent ready to adopt the Dreamers by taking on their cause. As long as restrictionists paint as amnesty any accommodation for the Dreamers, you wont see squeamish Democrats snuggling up to that group.

Such cowardice. Many Americans dont have a problem with accommodating young people who  aside from being undocumented  have the same American values as their own children. According to a recent Marist poll, 81 percent of Americans support allowing Dreamers to stay in the U.S. legally, either with or without citizenship; only 15 percent think they should be deported. That includes 92 percent of Democrats  and 67 percent of Republicans.

In fact, although Democrats have promised a government shutdown if Republicans dont protect recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  the estimated 800,000 undocumented young people who signed up for a temporary reprieve under the last president and had it snatched from them by the current one  Democratic leaders may be backing off that threat.

During a recent appearance on CBS News Face the Nation, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois  who earlier said that he was not prepared to go home for the holidays until we get our work done, which would include protection for DACA recipients  signaled that he may be back in the Land of Lincoln in time to trim the tree. Durbin lacks the nerve to do what a shutdown requires  cutting off, as he said on the show, the resources and programs that many middle-income families use across America.

Dear Dreamers, you are now  and have always been  on your own, and the last group of people you should trust to have your back are Democrats. Actions speak louder than words. And despite what Democrats say about how you belong in the United States, they have not done all they could to keep you here. Theyve always acted in their own best interest, but rarely in yours.

There are villains in this story, Democrats who went overboard either failing to come to the aid of Dreamers  or, even worse, helping remove them from the country. The Democratic unholy trinity includes former representative and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Lets start in August 2001, when the original Dream Act was proposed by Durbin and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. The bill would have given young undocumented immigrants a shot at U.S. citizenship if they joined the military or went to college.

Of course, the terrorist attacks one month later scuttled any discussion of immigration reform for the next few years.

When those talks began in 2005, with President George W. Bush eager to sign legislation, Democrats and immigrant advocates convinced Dreamers not to settle for the piecemeal approach of the Dream Act and instead demand what then Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda called in 2001 the whole enchilada  namely, a path to citizenship for all 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. That was never going to happen. And Dreamers came away empty-handed.

Once President Barack Obama took office in 2009, and started an enforcement juggernaut that would earn him the nickname Deporter-in-Chief, many Dreamers were swept up and removed from the country. That continued even after Obama unveiled DACA.

Finally, in 2010, when the Dream Act died in the Senate because it didnt get enough votes for cloture, it was the no votes of five conservative Democrats  Jon Tester, Max Baucus, Mark Pryor, Kay Hagan and Ben Nelson  that killed it.

Dreamers, this is your wake-up call. Democrats want you to think theyre in your corner. But its not so.

The Democrats failed you. Dont let them fool you.

 2017 Washington Post Writers Group

Ruben Navarrettes daily podcast, Navarrette Nation, is available through every podcast app. Email: ruben@rubennavarrette.com
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration's consideration of a wage freeze for federal employees is one piece of a renewed multifront Republican push to shrink those workers' pay, benefits and workforce.

That effort has been around for years, but it now has an intellectual champion in the White House, and I don't mean President Donald Trump.

Confidential administration information released last week by Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the leading Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealed an administration proposal to freeze federal salaries in fiscal 2019. That is the third piece in a pattern that includes Trump's 2018 budget proposal to cut the employer contribution to retirement benefits and the House Republican plan to have retirees pay more out of pocket for their health insurance.

Congress did not approve the last two recommendations, and the pay freeze, which Trump can impose, is not beyond the leaked-document stage. Yet the proposals lurk, likely to reemerge in future budget plans after having long percolated in conservative circles.

Now, with James Sherk - a chief proponent of the notion that federal workers are overpaid - serving as Trump's labor adviser, the proposals stand their best chance yet of becoming policies that dig deep into federal employees' pockets.

Sherk, a labor economist, joined Trump's team early this year after working for the conservative Heritage Foundation. His co-authored report, "Why It Is Time to Reform Compensation for Federal Employees," was published by Heritage just days after the 2016 Republican National Convention nominated Trump.

The bottom line: Feds would get less pay and benefits for more work.

"Our paper was intended to serve as a framework for any candidate or elected official who wants to improve the way the federal government operates and offer more competitive options to federal employees," Rachel Greszler, a Heritage economist who wrote the report with Sherk, said by email Friday.

"Reform" really does not convey the serious bite of their proposals. The central thesis is that federal workers are overcompensated compared with those in the private sector. They outlined a plan to cut those costs - a blueprint that Sherk can now follow from a position of influence in the White House - "to the extent that the administration is willing to take on the labor policies that Sherk has spent much of his career championing," Greszler said.

Those policies face fierce opposition from Democrats and federal employee organizations.

Policies like Sherk's "undermine the value this country places on public service by targeting the income security of those who carry it out," said Richard G. Thissen, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. "Whether caring for our veterans, responding to disasters or just ensuring the day-to-day operation of democratic government, the work these individuals do is vital to our country, and it should be rewarded, not devalued."

The paper did not call for a pay freeze, but Greszler's email said that "without Congressional action, it is the administration's only tool. While a freeze alone doesn't help achieve a more competitive pay structure (because the current system massively overcompensates lower-skilled workers and provides little to no compensation premium for the highest-skilled workers), it could serve as a bargaining tool for more comprehensive Congressional action."

Rather than making the government a model employer, the proposals would unite Uncle Sam with employee-regressive business practices designed to maximize profits. But Sam is in the business of service, not propelling profits.

The authors begin by citing three studies indicating that federal compensation is higher than private-sector compensation by at least 16 percent. They ignored Federal Salary Council data saying federal workers earn 34 percent less, on average, than comparable private-sector employees.

Sherk and the White House declined my requests to speak with him, but his published work speaks for itself.

Sherk has argued for years that federal compensation is too high. Consider the title of his 2010 Star Tribune piece: "Who in This Country Has More than They Deserve? Most Federal Employees."

Seeking to counter that negative notion, he and Greszler want to:

- Restrict within-grade increases, also known as step increases. These pay hikes are based largely on tenure, rather than performance. "Limiting the size of step increases would, over time, lower pay for all federal employees."

- Undermine the federal retirement program by moving away from defined-benefit pensions, which cost employers more, to a defined-contribution system, which provides less certainty and higher costs for federal workers.

- Shrink pensions significantly in the future, basing them on the average of employees' annual career salaries instead of the current high three years - not even on the high five that other Republicans have suggested.

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.

- Kill federal retiree health-care benefit subsidies for new hires.

- Extend the probationary period to three years, giving managers more time to fire workers at will.

- Speed the firing process by limiting the opportunity to appeal terminations and lowering the proof needed to give workers the boot from "a preponderance of evidence" to "substantial evidence."

- Cut paid time off, including vacation and sick time. The authors noted that few private employers provide paid time off for every federal holiday, implying that federal employers also should not provide it. (The rationale for Columbus Day as a federal holiday is weak, but that's another story).

"These policies would boost federal employees' productivity by increasing the number of days they work," Greszler and Sherk wrote, "and thus could reduce the number of federal employees needed to carry out government functions."

One compensation increase they favor is bigger performance bonus budgets, but within a process that would cut average federal pay by five percentage points after implementation of smaller step increases.

Although Sherk has a long-standing interest in federal compensation, none of several federal employee organizations contacted said he had spoken with them since he joined the White House.

"We've never heard from James Sherk," said Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees. "We don't know him, and he certainly doesn't know us or federal employees or families. He doesn't represent the values that working people share, nor does he understand the complexities of the federal workforce.

"In addition, the cuts and pay freezes being considered by this administration are expected, sadly, because this administration has been forthright in its poor opinion of working people and their families."
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WASHINGTON - After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history.

The team, based out of the DEA's Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nation's largest drug company, McKesson Corp. By 2014, investigators said they could show that the company had failed to report suspicious orders involving millions of highly addictive painkillers sent to drugstores from Sacramento, California, to Lakeland, Florida. Some of those went to corrupt pharmacies that supplied drug rings.

The investigators were ready to come down hard on the fifth-largest public corporation in America, according to a joint investigation by The Washington Post and "60 Minutes."

The DEA team - nine field divisions working with 12 U.S. attorney's offices across 11 states - wanted to revoke registrations to distribute controlled substances at some of McKesson's 30 drug warehouses. Schiller and members of his team wanted to fine the company more than $1 billion. More than anything else, they wanted to bring the first-ever criminal case against a drug distribution company, maybe even walk an executive in handcuffs out of McKesson's towering San Francisco headquarters to send a message to the rest of the industry.

"This is the best case we've ever had against a major distributor in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration," said Schiller, who recently retired as assistant special agent in charge of DEA's Denver field division after a 30-year career with the agency. "I said, 'How do we not go after the number one organization?' "

But it didn't work out that way.

Instead, top attorneys at the DEA and the Justice Department struck a deal earlier this year with the corporation and its powerful lawyers, an agreement that was far more lenient than the field division wanted, according to interviews and internal government documents. Although the agents and investigators said they had plenty of evidence and wanted criminal charges, they were unable to convince the U.S. attorney in Denver that they had enough to bring a case.

Discussions about charges never became part of the negotiations between the government lawyers in Washington and the company.

"It was insulting," Schiller said. "Morale has been broken because of it."

The result illustrates the long-standing conflict between drug investigators, who have taken an aggressive approach to a prescription opioid epidemic that killed nearly 200,000 people between 2000 and 2016, and the government attorneys who handle those cases at the DEA and the Justice Department.

None of McKesson's warehouses would lose their DEA registrations. The company, a second-time offender, had promised in 2008 to be more diligent about the diversion of its pills to the street. It ultimately agreed to temporarily suspend controlled substance shipments at four distribution centers and pay a $150 million fine.

"Within the ranks, we feel like our system was hijacked," said Helen Kaupang, a DEA investigator and supervisor for 29 years who worked on the McKesson case in Denver before retiring in September.

While the fine set a record for drug distributors, it is only about $50 million more than the compensation last year for McKesson board chairman and chief executive John Hammergren, the nation's third-highest-paid chief executive. McKesson has 76,000 employees and revenue of almost $200 billion a year, about the same as ExxonMobil.

The Justice Department declined repeated requests for comment.

"The McKesson settlement was a groundbreaking conclusion to a successful multi-district investigation into the role of a distributor's failure to detect and report suspicious orders, many of which were tied to independent and small chain pharmacy customers ordering opioid medications," the DEA said in a statement. "More importantly, McKesson accepted responsibility and accepted terms beyond the requirements of the [Controlled Substances Act]."

A senior agency official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the fine was a significant penalty, the company agreed to an independent monitor, and the case prompted McKesson and other distributors to be more diligent about reporting suspicious orders.

"We could have fined them out of existence, or indicted the company and put them out of business," the official said. "I'd rather have one of the largest drug distributors be the poster child for detection and reporting of suspicious orders."

At the time of the settlement, McKesson said it had instituted "significant changes" to its program designed to flag suspicious orders of narcotics. "We continue to significantly enhance the procedures and safeguards across our distribution network to help curtail prescription drug diversion while ensuring patient access to needed medications," Hammergren said in a statement.

The company also has said that addressing the opioid problem requires the cooperation of everyone involved - doctors, pharmacists, distributors and manufacturers.

In a recent interview, Geoffrey Hobart, McKesson's lead attorney, said that the prospect of criminal charges or a $1 billion fine against the company were never raised by government lawyers during nearly three years of negotiations.

"While I am not privy to any of the government team discussions that may have taken place behind closed doors in this particular settlement, I can tell you that the DEA investigators, the U.S. attorney's offices and others would have had plenty of opportunity to raise their views during the process," said Hobart, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Covington, one of the most influential law firms in Washington. "While individual DEA investigators and agents are entitled to their opinions, their agency may ultimately take a different view."

"If the lawyers for the government believed there was criminal conduct here, they would have told me about it," Hobart added. "That would have increased the leverage they had, and that never happened."

DEA investigators, agents and supervisors who worked on the McKesson case said the company paid little or no attention to the unusually large and frequent orders placed by pharmacies, some of them knowingly supplying drug rings.

Instead, the DEA officials said, the company raised its own self-imposed limits, known as thresholds, on orders from pharmacies and continued to ship increasing amounts of drugs in the face of numerous red flags.

"They had multiple chances to correct their behavior going back to the Internet pharmacy days. They promised everyone they were going to correct their behavior, and a year or two later, they were doing it again," said Jim Geldhof, a DEA program manager who worked on the McKesson case in Detroit before retiring in 2015 after a 43-year career. He is now advising law firms suing opioid manufacturers and distributors, including McKesson.

The DEA agents and investigators contend that lawyers stationed at the chief counsel's office in the agency's Division of Diversion Control were "intimidated" and retreated from the battle with McKesson and its legal team, which included a former top DEA official from that division.

Schiller said DEA lawyers would repeatedly ask: "Why would you go after a Fortune 50 company that's going to cause all these problems with Ivy League attorneys, when we can go after other [DEA registration holders] that are much lower, that are going to put up no fight?

"And I said, 'That's exactly why you want to go after McKesson. They're the prize. They're the ones that are going to send a message to the thousands of mom-and-pops, to other big distributors, to the manufacturers, that this is no longer acceptable.' "

- - -

In 2008, McKesson paid a $13.25 million fine for failing to report hundreds of suspicious hydrocodone orders from Internet pharmacies - even after being warned by the DEA three years earlier that it was shipping excessive amounts of the drug commonly called Vicodin. The online pharmacies took orders from customers who had obtained bogus prescriptions, resulting in criminal prosecutions.

"By failing to report suspicious orders for controlled substances that it received from rogue Internet pharmacies, the McKesson Corporation fueled the explosive prescription drug abuse problem we have in this country," then-DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement announcing the settlement.

As part of its agreement with the Justice Department, McKesson pledged to temporarily suspend distribution of narcotics from two of its 30 distribution centers and to improve its system for monitoring and reporting suspicious drug orders.

McKesson caught the attention of the DEA again in 2012, when state and local law enforcement began to investigate Platte Valley Pharmacy in Brighton, Colorado, a suburb 25 miles northeast of Denver on the banks of the Platte River. The population was 38,000.

Pharmacist Jeffrey Clawson was selling as many as 2,000 pain pills per day.

With state and local law enforcement, the DEA's Denver field division began a criminal investigation into Clawson, making undercover buys and monitoring the size of his drug purchases.

Most of the drugs came from McKesson's warehouse in Aurora, northeast of Denver, records show. Under federal law, McKesson is required to notify the DEA about any orders of unusual size, frequency or pattern and hold off on shipping the drugs until those issues are resolved.

But McKesson filled 1.6 million orders from the Aurora warehouse and reported only 16 as suspicious between June 2008 and May 2013. None of the 16 involved Platte Valley, and the company reported them only after the DEA began its investigation.

"We would have a pharmacy in a small town out in Colorado, 200 miles from Denver, that is getting the same number of pills or perhaps exceeding a pharmacy that is located next to a medical center in the city of Denver," said Kaupang, the DEA investigator who worked on the Colorado case. "There was no legitimate reason for that pharmacy in that little town in remote Colorado to be getting hundreds of thousands of pills over a several-year period. None. There was no justifiable reason.

"And yet, the pills kept coming."

Clawson ordered so much oxycodone that he repeatedly bumped up against thresholds McKesson had set for his pharmacy. The company raised those limits and sent him more, DEA agents and investigators said.

"The company would raise thresholds so pharmacies could order more pills without setting off suspicious monitoring alarms inside the company," Kaupang said. "Did they think we wouldn't look at them again? I don't know. But they almost acted that way."

Hobart, McKesson's lawyer, denied that the company raised thresholds to avoid scrutiny.

Schiller and his DEA colleagues in Denver believed they had enough information, at a minimum, to bring an administrative complaint against McKesson that could result in stiff fines and the revocation of the Aurora distribution center's registration to handle controlled substances.

In December 2012, the DEA asked attorneys at headquarters to issue an "immediate suspension order" against McKesson, an enforcement tool reserved for the most serious threats to public health and safety, Schiller and Kaupang said.

But the immediate suspension order was never approved. Schiller said lawyers at DEA headquarters told him he needed more evidence that the drugs from the warehouse were posing an immediate danger to public health and safety.

"They said, 'You don't have enough evidence to prove it's an immediate danger,' but they created the lack of immediacy because they delayed the case for nearly a year," Schiller said. "They were just looking for an excuse not to issue the order."

The senior DEA official contended that the Denver field division did not submit documents supporting the request for the immediate suspension order until February 2013. Agency lawyers in headquarters did not believe the company's threat to the public could be considered "immediate" because too much time had passed, the official said.

The investigators tried again in March 2014, this time seeking an "order to show cause" that would bring McKesson to a hearing, where the DEA could argue for the need to halt drug shipments from Aurora before an administrative law judge.

But DEA attorneys declined to approve that request, as well. Schiller said he was told that he still needed more evidence - even after he said the team submitted eight boxes of documents to the attorneys.

"It still wasn't enough," Schiller said.

The senior DEA official said that settlement negotiations with McKesson had begun and the show-cause order would have interfered with the talks.

At the same time the administrative case against McKesson was languishing, the criminal case against Clawson was moving ahead.

A Colorado grand jury had indicted him in 2013 along with 14 others on drug trafficking charges. The indictment noted that McKesson was the main supplier of Platte Valley Pharmacy and said that the company had an obligation to report suspicious orders of narcotics to the DEA.

"From 2008-2011, the percentage increase for oxycodone 30 mg orders supplied by McKesson to Platte Valley Pharmacy was approximately 1,469%," the grand jury wrote.

Clawson was convicted on drug trafficking charges and is serving a 15-year sentence. McKesson was not charged in the indictment.

- - -

As Schiller's team was examining the Aurora warehouse, he took steps to broaden the investigation beyond Colorado to determine whether McKesson was ignoring the agreement it had reached with the Justice Department in 2008 to tighten its procedures. Schiller and the Denver DEA division took the lead as eight divisions in other parts of the country began to collect information on McKesson's activity.

In all, the DEA would pursue administrative cases involving 12 McKesson distribution centers. A DEA memo outlined the investigative findings:

- "Supplied controlled substances in support of criminal diversion activities."

- "Ignored blatant diversion."

- "Pattern of raising thresholds arbitrarily."

- "Failed to review orders for suspicious activity."

- "Ignored own procedures designed to prevent diversion."

In addition to Aurora, investigators found that McKesson warehouses in Livonia, Michigan, and Washington Court House, Ohio, were supplying pharmacies that sold to criminal drug rings, according to internal government documents obtained by The Post and "60 Minutes."

As they were working on the administrative cases, Schiller and Joseph Rannazzisi, who led the DEA's diversion office during part of the McKesson case, said investigators also were compiling information in preparation for a potential criminal case against the corporation for knowingly supplying the corrupt pharmacies.

In the summer of 2015, "on two occasions, I was briefed by my staff, and talked to the Denver field division, and they believed they had more than enough to go after the corporation criminally," said Rannazzisi, who now works as a consultant to lawyers suing drug companies.

John Walsh, then the U.S. attorney in Denver, said he had discussions with Schiller and others about possible criminal charges against McKesson.

"We were not presented with a case that had adequate evidence," said Walsh, now a partner at WilmerHale, a global law firm.

Schiller said that his team had amassed "more than enough" evidence and presented it to Walsh.

"I said, 'We have everything we could possibly want on a silver platter,' " Schiller said. "We had corrupt pharmacies that were being supplied by McKesson, and they were turning a blind eye to everything that was going on."

In a recent response to The Post, a McKesson spokeswoman said, "We categorically deny any criminal intent or the violation of any criminal law in our handling of opioids, and in our discussions with the government, they never suggested otherwise."

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In October 2014, Schiller requested a meeting at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. On one side of the table were DEA Chief Counsel Wendy Goggin and Clifford Lee Reeves II, the associate chief counsel. On the other side sat Schiller and his agents and investigators.

The meeting started off on a cordial note as they began to review the facts of the case.

"And then the gloves came off," Schiller said. "It was one of the most stressful conversations I've ever had in my life."

Reeves declined to comment, and the DEA declined to make Goggin available for an interview.

"They were attacking the things we did, how we did it," Schiller recalled. "Not one time did they say, 'All right, here's what else we need. It's been a great case. We know about the previous settlement.' That never came up. It was, 'We are going to settle.' "

- - -

With a settlement looming, representatives of the nine DEA division offices descended on the agency's headquarters a month later, in November 2014, to make sure that their attorneys knew they wanted take a hard line against McKesson.

"It is clear that [McKesson] does not appreciate the gravity or extent of their violations," the group wrote in an internal document obtained by The Post and "60 Minutes."

They demanded four-year "surrenders" of McKesson's DEA registrations to distribute controlled substances in Washington Court House, Livonia and Aurora, as well as two-year surrenders in Methuen, Massachusetts, and Lakeland, Florida.

The company balked. McKesson's lawyer, Hobart, called the proposed surrenders a "dealbreaker," according to an internal Justice Department memo.

McKesson insisted that its registrations be "suspended" rather than "surrendered," the memo said. A surrender would cost the company accreditations it needed for state regulatory boards, and McKesson would have to reapply for DEA registrations when the penalties expired. That would trigger a new round of inspections of company operations.

A suspension would allow each warehouse to keep its registration.

McKesson wanted something else as part of a settlement: A provision that would allow the Livonia and Washington Court House distribution centers to continue to send drugs to facilities that serve the federal prison system, Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. McKesson holds a $31 billion federal contract to supply VA centers and other sites.

But some DEA officials wanted to take a hard line with the company because it had already been sanctioned for its behavior in 2008, documents show.

"Notwithstanding, their bad acts continued and escalated to a level of egregiousness not seen before," Imelda Paredes, a DEA official working on the case, wrote in a memo on March 30, 2015. "They were neither rehabilitated nor deterred by the 2008 [agreement]."

She also noted that McKesson received an exception for VA in 2008. She said that allowing McKesson to continue to distribute narcotics was "inconsistent with the public interest."

"How then, can the Government say it is inconsistent with the public interest for McKesson to distribute to the general public; however, they are 'good enough' to serve veterans?"

McKesson and government officials argued that punishing the company would disrupt the flow of drugs and hurt veterans. But Paredes and other DEA officials said there would be no disruption if the contract was turned over to one of McKesson's competitors, Cardinal Health or AmerisourceBergen.

"Find other distributors," Paredes wrote.

The next day, Schiller wrote to Paredes, saying he had heard that the DEA and the Justice Department were on the verge of settling instead of taking the company to court.

"I have a bad feeling about this," he wrote to her on March 31, 2015.

Paredes replied that she was being overruled by lawyers in the DEA's legal office.

"I'm totally against settling, but how do we hold their feet to the fire if counsel refuses to litigate?" Paredes wrote. "Our attorneys have us over a barrel with their refusal to go to court."

Paredes, who has left the DEA, declined to comment.

Schiller's fears were justified. The same day that Schiller wrote to Paredes, Arthur Wyatt, chief of the Justice Department's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, recommended in an internal document that McKesson's registrations should be suspended but not surrendered. It was a big win for the company. Wyatt said that the assistant U.S. attorneys working on the case believed that suspensions were "satisfactory" in light of the "overall scope of the settlement."

In September 2015, McKesson and the government reached a tentative settlement. McKesson's registrations would be suspended in Aurora for three years, in Washington Courthouse for two and in Livonia for two. The company would be barred from distributing for one year one type of narcotic, hydromorphone, from its Lakeland, Florida, warehouse.

There would be no criminal charges. No administrative case. No $1 billion fine.

The case took more than a year to come to a conclusion. In January, the Justice Department announced that it had finalized a deal with McKesson that included the $150 million fine and the four warehouse suspensions. The company also agreed to increase staffing and retain an independent monitor to assess its compliance.

Schiller said he and his team were left demoralized.

"It's on the front lines of everybody's dinner table conversation, kids, adults," he said. "McKesson was at the forefront. But DEA wasn't going to go after them? We were going to settle. How do you settle? How do you say it's OK, just 'Here, write this check this time and - and close this place for a little bit, sign this piece of paper.' "

In Washington, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has begun an investigation into how drug distributors, including McKesson, sent 780 million pills over six years into West Virginia - 433 doses for every man, woman and child in the state. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has also launched an investigation into the role of drug distributors and manufacturers in the opioid epidemic.

Across the country, 41 state attorneys general have banded together to sue the opioid industry.

"One of the things we have to do is begin to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable," said Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., whose state suffers from the second-highest drug overdose rate in the nation. "Right now, when you see a fine for the McKesson company for a hundred-fifty million when they make a hundred million a week in profits, that isn't going do it."

She noted that it was state attorneys general who had won a settlement against the tobacco industry for more than $200 billion in the 1990s.

"This in many ways reminds me of the situation with Big Tobacco," Hassan said. "I think it's one of the reasons you see attorneys general around the country beginning to file lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry, to hold them accountable for the cost of this terrible epidemic."

- - -

The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Sitting on the narrow second-story balcony of our Havana abode, thick Cuban coffee in hand, I close my eyes  and travel back to a time not so long ago. The year is 1957. Wealthy businessmen in crisp, white suits puff on Monte Cristo No. 4s. Perfumed women click up and down the cobbled streets in fashionable American heels. And socialites buzz in and out of French bakeries with hot baguettes tucked neatly under their arms.

The sound of an ailing 57 Chevy rumbles past. My eyes flicker open.

Today, buildings are falling to ruin. Sagging power lines crackle overhead. And broken pavement and crumbling sidewalks provide passage to life below.

What caused the rise and fall of this once prosperous nation?

Following the abolition of Spanish rule in 1898, and under the tutelage of the United States, Cubas economy began to steadily grow. Cuba finally gained independence in 1902  but the U.S. would remain a constant presence in its affairs.

The rise of authoritarianism began, and Cuban people suffered at the hands of many ruthless dictators. Fulgencio Batista, president and dictator of the 1950s, stroked his ties with the U.S. and began exploring new trade and commerce  many of which were illegal and corrupt. The mafia became quick friends of Batista. Illegal gambling rings, prostitution, drug trafficking and bootleg alcohol sales boomed. Money poured into Cuba, but only to a select few. The revolution was imminent.

Led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the guerrilla army forced Batista from power in 1959 and introduced a nationalist, or communist, government. Socialism or death became a standard slogan, and total citizen surveillance and economic control took hold. Successful businesses were run into the ground, and relations with the U.S. deteriorated. The crippling U.S. trade embargo was introduced in 1960, and Cuba has yet to recover.

Today, the average wage in Cuba is $25 to $35 (in U.S. dollars) per month. Most jobs are nationalized, and the government sets wages accordingly. The government continues to limit foreign and private enterprise, although capitalism is creeping in. Health care and education are free  a silver lining to what many outsiders view as an oppressed nation. And Cubas main source of GDP is not cigars, coffee or sugar cane  its tourism.

Tourism efforts have mostly stemmed from Europe and Russia, and only recently have Americans been allowed to travel to Cuba from the U.S. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to experience this once clandestine country, mi madre and mi padre arrive under the veil of journalists. (See "What Americans need to know before traveling to Cuba" on page 22.)

We choose to explore three locations: Havana, Valle de Vinales and Varadero.

Old Havana, or La Habana Vieja, revolts against time, neglect and deterioration. The districts picturesque decay of Neoclassical and Baroque buildings now intermingles with resurrected shop fronts and ornate hotels. Original cobblestone streets still meander between classical Spanish piazzas, and lively jazz musicians occupy most street corners. Singing round after round of Guananamera, a popular Cuban folk song, its easy to understand why Ernest Hemingway continued to return to Havana for literary inspiration.

Radiating out from this tourist epicenter, the bones of Havana are what truly defy time. These battered bosoms dont expect a facelift, and instead find pride in their collapsed roofs, broken windows and peeling paint. This is the real Cuba. Its where old men sell black market cigars out of big brothers watchful eye, kids play barefoot in the street and neighbors congregate under what, for many, is their only form of electricity  streetlights.

Tourist buses and taxis do their best to avoid these parts of town. The more utopian drives, such as the famed Prado and Malecon, the great sea wall, attract more attention.

Flying down the street in a shiny Pink Cadillac or fire engine red Ford Fairlane convertible is quintessential to your Havana experience. Ford on the outside, Toyota on the inside, drivers muse  the solution to keeping these beauties running after the American embargo.

We stay in a charming casa particular, the Cuban version of a bed-and-breakfast. Our generous host Andres, a 30-something father of two, shares Cubas history over a delicious breakfast of fruits, fresh baguettes and bottomless coffee. He expresses that only recently has the Cuban government allowed families like his to open their homes for tourism and private enterprise. Capitalism, he hints, is the only way forward.

Departing the poetic injustice that is Havana, we travel to the western side of the country and the town of Vinales. But where are all the other cars? Aside from a few buses and vintage cars filled with selfie-happy tourists, the highways are eerily desolate.

Our primary objective, Parque Nacional Vinales, is an idyllic valley famed for sugar, coffee, tobacco and mogotes. These steep, dome-like limestone outcrops rise dramatically from the flat valley floor and tower above the fertile plantations like mystical sentries.

What better way to explore the park than with a 75-year-old cowboy and his trusty steeds? With skin more leathery than his faded chaps, and eyes as soft as the clouds above, Tony shares stories of the valley from beneath his wide-brimmed hat. Speaking slowly and methodically, his lack of English and my basic Spanish somehow find harmony under the soaring palm trees.

Enjoying freshly roasted coffee and local rum on the 10-mile trek is a memorable experience, but our favorite stop is a family tobacco plantation.

Oversized oxen work the fields while family members carefully hang and dry leaves inside an aging barn. More elderly than the barn is an 84-year-old patriarch, systematically rolling (and smoking) cigars from morning to night. Sealing each cigar with a glistening line of locally sourced honey, he lines up three on a splintered wooden table.

Theyre good for your health, he exclaims from behind a veil of sweet smoke, and asks us to join this most-favored Cuban pastime.

Back in town, Vinales is undergoing a facelift. Many locals have converted their once-derelict dwellings into casa particulars, flaunting their new form of income with fresh coats of bright paint and shiny new decking. Our hosts, a young couple with a bouncing baby boy, welcome us into their home. His sweet laughter fills the evening air as we take in the sweeping views of the mogotes from their rooftop terrace.

Last stop  the beach. Touted as one of the most famous beaches in Cuba, Varadero is the perfect example of Cubas rise and fall. The powdery-white sand beaches and warm Caribbean waters enticed development, but when capitalism fell, so too did their futures. Today, casinos are boarded up, cabarets permanently closed and some resorts completely abandoned. Those resorts and hotels that did survive leave a lot to be desired.

Strolling the beach one final time, an abandoned restaurant catches my eye  a colonial building with a large, stone terrace and striking Spanish arches. The windowpanes are gone, remnants of furniture still scattered about. But when the sun hits it just right, a reflection of light flickers from within. This reflection is Cuba  an island of proud, happy people who look hardship in the face and persist.
The most important poll number to come out last week had nothing to do with defeated Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. It had to do with Fox News and Donald Trump. Well get to the numbers in a minute.

First: some disclosure. Im a Fox contributor and a Trump skeptic (a.k.a. a former Never Trumper). That makes this an awkward column to write, for reasons that should be fairly obvious.

Regardless, I dont think I am revealing any state or corporate secrets when I say that Fox is the presidents favorite news network. He says as much all the time. According to CBS Mark Knoller, as of October, President Trump had given more than three times as many interviews (18) to Fox and Fox Business as he had to NBC, ABC and CBS combined (5). Hes given two to religious networks and zero to CNN.

Some Fox defenders would say this is understandable because the other networks are so hostile toward the president. They certainly have a point.

Fox critics would say that Trump favors Fox because the network is exceedingly friendly to the president. Some even call it Trumps state TV. The critics have a point, too, though an important distinction needs to be made.

Most of the presidents interviews havent been with the news side  which I think usually does a very good job of covering the news honestly and fairly  but with the opinion side. Sean Hannity, probably Trumps favorite host and, reportedly, an informal Trump adviser, explained in April 2016, If Im interviewing Hillary Clinton, its gonna be a hundred times harder than any Republican, because I believe the Republicans ... have a far better vision, one that I agree with. ... Im not a journalist, Im a talk show host. (Hannity recently revised this, telling the New York Times hes an advocacy journalist.)

Many other cable hosts pretend that they are dispassionate journalists when any reasonable viewer can see that they are ideological and political partisans. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow touts her show as covering the news without fear or favor. I dont know about the fear part, but any remotely objective viewer would see an awful lot of favor  to Democrats, liberals, Trump critics, etc.

Still, the same objective viewer simply must concede that Fox, particularly Fox & Friends (which Trump watches to the point where many in Washington now call the program the presidents daily briefing) and the prime-time lineup  with Hannity at the forefront  is objectively and intensely pro-Trump.

The news side is a different animal (which is probably why Trump wont sit down with news anchors Bret Baier or Chris Wallace). But even here its fair to say Fox doesnt follow the path forged by other news organizations, which often appear so determined to hurt Trump that they fall for bogus stories that my National Review colleague Rich Lowry calls too anti-Trump to check. Whether that makes them biased toward Trump is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. That Hannity & Co. bend over backward to cast Trump in as favorable a light as possible really isnt up for debate.

But theres a difference between favorable and helpful. Much of the opinion stuff essentially involves mirroring Trumps Twitter feed, attacking Trump critics and railing about the rigged system, fake news and the deep state. Its so much muchness, as the British say.

The focus on the reality show drama and cult-of-personality stuff is distracting from the more straightforward, if more boring, case for the White House. That may not be evident in the ratings, but it is in the polls. Trump has been hemorrhaging support among key demographics for months, despite a much improving economy, victory over the Islamic State and mostly excellent judicial appointments.

Which brings me to those poll numbers. Suffolk University and USA Today released a poll last week that found that among people who trust Fox News the most, the presidents approval rating has been sinking. His favorability among Fox devotees in June was 90 percent. In October, it was 74 percent. Last week? Fifty-eight percent. If that trend continues, he will be underwater with the Fox audience long before the 2018 midterms.

You can cry fake polls, as Trump often does. But was the same poll fake in June? Or are the same trends that led to Trumps historically abysmal approval ratings now reaching even the Fox faithful?

From Virginia to Oklahoma to Alabama, establishment and antiestablishment GOP candidates alike have lost in large part because Democrats, independents and a significant number of Republicans disapprove of Trump more than they approve of him. His pander-to-the-base approach still does wonders for Hannity & Co.s ratings, but ratings arent votes.

 2017 Tribune Content Agency LLC

Jonah Goldberg is an editor at large of National Review Online and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Email: jonahscolumn@aol.com To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters.
If one sign that a city has transcended racism is its willingness to criticize its citizens regardless of their race or ethnicity, San Franciscos treatment of its late mayor, Ed Lee, ought to place it in the colorblind hall of fame.

During his two terms in office  the second cut tragically short by his sudden death early Tuesday morning  Lee was whacked as thoroughly and regularly as a dusty old carpet, for reasons that had nothing to do with the fact that he was Chinese American. Whether you were a critic of Lee or a supporter, his racial background was completely irrelevant. No one even thought about it.

San Franciscos mostly post-racial perspective on its Chinese inhabitants is so familiar, and so accepted, that its hard to imagine it hasnt always been like this. Yet for much of its history, the city took a far less enlightened view of the Chinese. An examination of that often-ugly history gives a greater appreciation of Lees achievement in becoming the citys first Chinese-American mayor.

The first Chinese arrived in San Francisco at the beginning of the Gold Rush, in 1848. Mostly Cantonese from the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province, they had no desire to stay or to become citizens of a country they regarded as barbaric. They had left their families behind and planned to return to China after striking it rich; many arranged for their bones to be shipped home after they died.

By 1853, 4,000 Chinese had arrived and settled in the area around Sacramento Street and Dupont (later Grant Avenue), which became a separate district known as Chinatown.

White San Franciscans initially tolerated the Chinese, whom they found useful because they did work, like laundry and cooking, that most whites would not do, and because they worked for much lower wages. But majority attitudes were far from enlightened. In 1858, the San Francisco Evening Bulletin spoke for many when it editorialized against allowing Chinese to attend schools with whites, opining, We want no mongrel race of moral and mental hybrids to people the mountains and valleys of California.

In the troubled decade of the 1870s, the limited tolerance extended to the Chinese turned to resentment and outright hatred. A severe economic downturn was exacerbated when thousands of Chinese who had labored on the transcontinental railroad returned to San Francisco. As cheap Chinese labor undercut white wages, the white working class turned against the coolies with a vengeance. So-called sandlot orators began haranguing large crowds of working men who gathered in vacant lots near City Hall, blasting bloodsucking capitalists and their Chinese slaves.

In the summer of 1877, sandlot agitation against the moon-faced lepers reached its peak. Hundreds of angry men stormed Chinatown, attacking Chinese and burning laundries. Police had to erect barricades on Pine and Broadway, at both ends of the quarter, and beat back the mob. Another horde attacked the Pacific Mail docks at the foot of Brannan St., where Chinese immigrants arrived. The riots were the worst in the citys history to that point.

Anti-Chinese sentiments were not confined to California. In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which essentially froze Chinese immigration into the country. It was the first law that specifically prohibited an ethnic group from entering the United States. It was not repealed until 1943.

Meanwhile, San Franciscan officials inveighed against Chinatown, denouncing its filthy, overcrowded alleys, brothels and opium dens as a menace to public health and morality (but making no effort to ameliorate its slum-like conditions). When the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed Chinatown, city fathers  including former Mayor James Phelan, who despite being an ardent progressive was virulently anti-Chinese  saw a golden opportunity to get rid of the quarter. A city committee laid plans to move Chinatown to San Franciscos unofficial dumping ground, the slaughterhouse district of Hunters Point. Only the concerted opposition of Chinese notables and merchants, who flexed their political muscles for the first time, prevented the quarters relocation.

In the 20th century, bigotry against the Chinese gradually eased, for a number of reasons. Economic rivalry became less of a factor. Anti-Chinese sentiments did not comport well with San Franciscans image of themselves as cosmopolitan and tolerant. The new, cleaned-up, Orientalized Chinatown was a less-sordid tourist attraction. And the Chinese themselves became more Western, cutting their queues and integrating themselves more into society.

By the 1920s, most Chinese Americans were attending San Francisco public schools. World War II further eroded prejudice, as the good, loyal Chinese were contrasted favorably with the Japanese, seen as evil and disloyal. In 1948, racially restrictive covenants that had prevented Chinese Americans from buying property west of Chinatowns unofficial border on Powell Street were struck down. After the second great wave of immigration that began in 1965, Chinese Americans settled in every part of the city.

So when Ed Lee became San Franciscos first Chinese American mayor, it represented the triumphant culmination of a long, hard struggle for acceptance, civil rights and justice. For the Chinese Americans whose predecessors arrived here at the citys very beginning, and for all San Franciscans, regardless of their race, ethnicity or political persuasion, that achievement was, and remains, a moment to cherish.

Gary Kamiya writes the Portals of the Past column that appears every other Saturday in Datebook. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters.
On a recent Monday night, a Beat poet recited Jack Kerouacs October in the Railroad Earth in the Batterys penthouse living room. The performance was a nod to San Franciscos old-school creative class by way of nearby North Beach, and the occasion marked the second issue of Battery Candy, the new magazine for the private, members-only club.

As a jazz band played and guests chatted in view of the Transamerica Pyramid, the poet was the lone throwback to a city that had once fostered rebellious cultural provocateurs. But around him was another generation of potential disruptors looking to make its mark.

When Xochi and Michael Birch opened the Battery in 2013, their goal was to curate a community that inspired forward-thinking minds from a range of industries. The 58,000-square-foot private club in the Financial District was a place for them to escape the tech world after a successful foray. Having sold their social network, Bebo, to AOL for $850 million in 2008, they envisioned an experimental social network of a different sort  one reminiscent of a village pub in Michaels native England, but where tech people could mingle with San Franciscos other creative types, and where diversity included profession, ethnicity and gender.

Now, four years in, their latest venture has found stable footing, but their original goal has been more elusive. Running a private club has at times been at odds with running a nobly utopian experiment.

While tech disruptors have arguably changed the world as much as the counter culture did, creating new communication platforms and upending entire industries, their effect on this city has been less than democratic. These companies vast market values and commuter-bus networks have invited a new breed of controversy. Rising rents have priced out creative types, and cultural diversity is running low. Increasingly, the popularity of events like Burning Man suggests a longing for artistic inspiration and analog experiences. But perhaps fittingly, even the desert festival (a favorite of the Birches) has succumbed to the tendency for the wealthy to snuff out an egalitarian province.

The Birches intended to cap the Batterys invitation-only $2,400 yearly membership at 1,400 members, with only one-third of members coming from the startup sector, they told The Chronicle in 2013. Membership has grown to 4,605, with a renewal rate hovering around 91 percent. The overall makeup of members is more tech-heavy than planned, and the Birches have shifted emphasis from cultivating creative types to activating generosity among members.

But in an era when there is public pressure for organizations to prioritize diversity and inclusion, what defines a successful invitation-only club in San Francisco? Should a sanctuary city also host a private playground for the affluent?

Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle

By opening the Battery in a city that already tends toward insularity, the Birches were aware that theyd likely be accused of elitism or of the hubris that comes with a high-dollar tech exit. But after an initial wave  San Franciscos Playboy Geeks Trying Very, Very Hard To Be Cool, wrote Valleywag  tech commuter shuttles like the Google bus took over as protest targets.

Nonetheless, the Batterys been working hard to change perceptions and build a loyal membership. A lot of friends were cynical to begin with, but when they actually experience it, their mind tends to quickly change, Michael Birch says.

The 1907 building has been a marble factory, candy manufacturer and office building, but it was made over by creative director Ken Fulk, a society favorite (and taxidermy fan). Its five floors boast multiple bars, a boutique hotel, a gym, a wine cellar and other spaces well endowed for genteel pursuits that have proven good enough for the likes of Beyonce and professional athletes.

Even detractors cant deny the impressive atmosphere: leather upholstery and cheeky wallpaper warm the retrofitted warehouses steel and glass. The setting facilitates everything from intimate conversations to crowded DJ sets. But often, one senses among patrons a perpetual hope of spotting someone such as Apple chief design officer Jony Ive departing a clandestine Apple powwow. There is no dress code, which is intended to be an equalizer, but more often fuels are you or arent you? side-eyes.

Four years ago, the Birches knew nothing about hospitality, Michael Birch admits. We thought it would be easy to have great service and great food. We thought, you just hire a great chef and director of F&B (food and beverage)  this has been done for centuries. But it turned out to be really hard, he says.

Three weeks after opening in October 2013, they fired the general manager, the chef and the director of food and beverage all on the same day, without any Plan B. Eventually, the teams leveled out, but Birch describes that first year as  pretty chaotic.

Even now, its not uncommon to wait 30 minutes to order a drink at the bar during a Friday happy hour, and the clubs annual Pride party has been known to leave ticketed guests waiting outside for more than two hours.

The Battery has also struggled to enforce its privacy policies. The club hosts 300 or so events a year, ranging from performances from musicians who are in town for a larger concert to a weekly family-friendly Sunday brunch. Members are allowed to bring in three guests, but they often end up unsupervised; and despite a rigid no photos rule, someone filmed Justin Bieber imbibing with Hailey Baldwin there last year.

Then theres that pesky question of diversity. Birch found it hard to distinguish who works in tech. If you take a company like Uber, they want to be a tech company, but really they are a transportation company, he says.

Members are split almost equally between men and women, with slightly more men. The club doesnt take age or ethnicity into consideration during the application process, but does track ages in aggregate to get a sense of representation.

An ideal new member is not someone attracted to the Battery scene, Birch says. We shy away from members who want to join for elevating their status or recognition. We try to accept members who want to be actively engaged. If someones going to do it to further their business, then we arent interested.

Membership director Stephen Flowers says that he knew tech, finance and real estate would be well represented in San Francisco, so he encourages members to nominate those who inspire them and who are not in their field.

Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle

New member Youjeong Kim wasnt deterred by the heavy tech and finance contingent; as an orthopedic spine surgeon, she was eager to meet others beyond the medical community.

At first, she says, I thought it was a very neat concept but not for me  and I think a lot of people probably feel that way. They think there is an air of elitism, but it really isnt there.

London native John Stallard, who is a user experience and design consultant, was an early member. He doesnt think hed be able to get into a similar club in London, which he says tend to be more elitist  even for a 41-year-old white male.

Flowers says membership has diversified since opening, and points to a member-initiated group called Battery Recharge (originally called Black Battery), in response to an underrepresented African American contingent, that formed in early 2016.

In a Battery Candy profile on the group, P2Health Ventures co-founder and managing partner Marquesa Finch describes the first time a group of 10 people met before the group was officially formed: You definitely could tell that the Battery hadnt seen a group of black folks before at once. People would come in thinking there was a special event going on.

But not all groups find an ideal community.

When they first opened, they approached the arts community with a discounted fare to join, says Micki Meng, director of San Franciscos Altman Siegel Gallery, who visited just twice during the year she was a member. The half-price membership fee of $1,200 was very generous, she says, but its still expensive for the creative class.

I dont really see my peers there. You can get a pack of Tecate for $10, or you can get a drink for $20 (at the Battery). We all go to the Uptown in the Mission.

The Battery still offers scholarships rates, in addition to a short-term membership for its creative-in-residence program, but demand has been low  just 111 of 4,605 members are at the scholarship level.

We try not to make wealth in any way a criteria for membership, Birch says, but the reality is that the vast majority of members are quite successful.

Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle

That success is helping fuel new initiatives that illustrate that the Battery experiment isnt just another way to benefit the Birches.

A new, member-led philanthropic nonprofit called Battery Powered (named by philanthropist Lynne Benioff, a Battery member) has given at least $11 million to causes such as womens health and gun safety. The organization, a separate nonprofit entity overseen by founding director Colleen Gregerson, is like a giving circle:New participants must contribute at least $4,000 up front. Members then vote on the three themes of the year and the organizations that will receive grants.

The group has 550 members; about half of new Battery members join Battery Powered, says Gergerson. Flowers says it has been a big game-changer in attracting new members.

Birch says philanthropy was always a goal, and ultimately he hopes that all club members get involved.

We live in a very fortunate place, Birch says. There are a lot of people making new money, and overwhelmingly we found that people wanted to give back in a meaningful way.

Personally, the Battery was a significant investment of his and Xochis time and money, but so far, its kept its head above water and he hasnt had to invest more money in the venture, he says. We didnt do this because we thought it would be a great way to make a lot of money. I would have done significantly better if I had just bought some Amazon, Apple or Google stock eight years ago.

The Birches were attracted to the idea of a private club specifically because hospitality was a foreign arena. I wanted to be a real entrepreneur rather than a tech entrepreneur, he says. I wanted to challenge myself with something that was outside my obvious comfort zone.

Well, mostly. On the tech thing, he came full circle.

Birch has also been toiling away at a new hospitality-software startup called Sonato, which has 11 employees, and for which the Battery serves as a testing ground. He says the Battery has all the components that a large Vegas hotel might have in terms of complexity, but its just a much smaller version of it. The Battery will likely remain Sonatos only client for about two more years, Birch says, as he works on ways to improve the club experience through tech.

A handful of other entrants into the private-club sector has also recently emerged, including Wingtip, in the Financial District; Modernist, near the Ferry Building; and the Academy, in the Castro. The latest is Londons Soho House, which quietly started recruiting for its new Cities Without Houses membership in San Francisco this summer while it looks for a physical location. (Rumors that the company bought the Armory building are not true, according to a Soho House spokeswoman.)

At $2,500, Soho Houses membership is built for frequent travelers to other Soho House cities (New York, Los Angeles, Miami), and provides entree into local events. The club, which has a reputation for attracting people from creative industries and stands to gain as New York transplants decamp for San Francisco.

Birch isnt too worried. Im a big fan of competition, he says. I think it makes everyone better.

As new (analog) social experiments go, the Battery stands out for being uniquely funded by and built for the new money and technology that lubricates life for many who play in San Francisco. But as it tests ways to optimize user experience, perhaps its ultimate legacy lies less in competing with $10 packs of beer than in encouraging $10 million-dollar charitable donations.

Maghan McDowell is a San Francisco freelance writer. Email: style@sfchronicle.com.
Netflix adds the second season of Hello, My Twenties for streaming today.

Freeform airs the holiday special Decorating Disney at 8 p.m. And over on ABC, the fifth season of The Great Christmas Light Fight runs up the utility bill for two hours with its finale at 8 p.m.

HBO looks at the very rich life of the late Italian industrialist and playboy Gianni Agnelli, head of Fiat, in the documentary Agnelli airing at 8 p.m. The film is directed by Nick Hooker.

The special will be followed on HBO by the premiere of the miniseries Gunpowder at 10 p.m., starring Kit Harington as Robert Catesby who, in 1605, led the Gunpowder Plot to assassinate King James because of persecution of Roman Catholics in Great Britain. The event is memorialized as Guy Fawkes Day. Harington and others, including Mark Gatiss, are very good. The storytelling is uneven, though. There are long periods of conversation about religious freedom, interrupted by often gruesome scenes of violence and torture. Harington is one of the shows producers.

Montel Williams hosts the 2017 Hollywood Walk of Fame Honors at 9 p.m. on the CW.

ABC honors those weve lost in 2017 with the special Year in Memoriam at 10 p.m.

NBC airs the premiere of Ellens Game of Games, a six-episode game show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.

Acorn.TV is adding the French drama series LAccident (The Accident) to its streaming content today. The exclusive U.S. premiere of the six-episode series centers around the discovery of a womans body on a freeway ramp in Brittany. Her widower refuses to believe it was an accident and goes about trying to get to the truth of the matter, with the aid of a local police captain.

Also added to Acorn today are the documentary Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure, the fifth episode of the original series Love, Lies & Records, the third episode of the fourth season of The Brokenwood Mysteries, and episodes 9 and 10 of the fifth season of A Place to Call Home. Go to www.Acorn.TV for information.

TV NEWS

Michael Che and Colin Jost have been named co-head writers of Saturday Night Live. They join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker. Thats a lot of heads.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@

sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV
A study of hundreds of pregnant women in the Bay Area found that those who were more exposed to the type of radiation produced by cell phones, wireless networks and power lines  radiation that grows more and more common  were nearly three times as likely to miscarry.

The Kaiser Permanente study, published last week in the journal Scientific Reports, did not show definitively what was causing the higher rate of pregnancy loss, nor did it isolate the potential impact of cell phones or other producers of electromagnetic fields, or EMFs.

But the authors said the results underscore the need for more research.

EMFs have been very controversial because from a public health point of view, everybody is exposed, said lead investigator De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist for Kaisers research division in Oakland. If there is any health effect, the potential impact is huge.

Kaiser started the study by asking hundreds of pregnant women in its Bay Area network to spend 24 hours wearing an EMDEX Lite, a commercially available device made by Enertech Consultants Inc. that measures EMFs and is slightly larger than a deck of cards.

The women were asked to keep a diary of their activities during the day they were studied and were interviewed in person afterward. While 913 women took part, the main findings were based on a group of 453 women whose time spent wearing the meter was deemed to be typical, reflecting their usual work and leisure activities.

The results were stark. While 10.4 percent of the women in the lowest quartile of exposure miscarried, 24.2 percent of the rest of the women lost their pregnancies.

When researchers controlled for factors known to influence the risk of miscarriage  including nausea and vomiting, past history of miscarriage, alcohol use, caffeine intake, fever and infections  they determined that women who were in the three highest exposure quartiles were 2.72 times as likely to miscarry.

The rate of miscarriage reported in the general population is between 10 and 15 percent, Li said.

The link between higher exposure to EMFs and miscarriage was generally consistent, regardless of a womans race or education level, Li said. The study didnt seek to explore differences in women in different types of jobs.

EMFs can be generated by electric appliances, power lines and transformers, and all sorts of wireless devices. Despite their wide footprint, Li said, the potential health impacts have been relatively understudied. Most inquiries have focused on potential long-term problems such as cancer, which can be difficult to measure.

Everyone studies EMFs and cancer, but the problem is that cancer takes decades from exposure to development, he said.

Joel Moskowitz, a public health researcher at UC Berkeley who has studied cell phone radiation, called the Kaiser study a well-designed and carefully executed contribution to research into the link between electromagnetic field exposure and risks of miscarriage.

He noted, though, that the results were limited because the study didnt distinguish between varying sources of EMFs. It would be helpful, he said, if women knew how much of their exposure came from hair dryers or cell phones or other devices.

It would be really useful if you could find out what kind of devices are putting out large fields, Moskowitz said. A limitation of this study is the lack of knowledge of what the source of those fields are.

Links between electromagnetic field radiation and health problems have long been debated in the age of the cell phone. Some studies have suggested links between cell phones and cancer, decreased sperm count and other illnesses, but other research has found no such connection.

Cell phone manufacturers have long resisted attempts by state and local government to require warning labels, saying the evidence of risk is simply not there.

In the spring, The Chronicle reported that the California Department of Public Health had for years kept secret a set of guidelines about health risks associated with cell phone use.

On Wednesday, the same day the Kaiser study was published, the health department released updated guidelines and best practices for smartphone users.

Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones, agency Director Karen Smith said in a statement. We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults.

Li said concerned consumers can take simple precautionary measures to reduce exposure to EMFs, such as increasing the distance between them and their devices.

It doesnt have to be drastic, Li said, explaining that keeping a cell phone a few feet away from the body can dramatically reduce exposure.

Li said that while it was unlikely a single study will shift public policy, The hope I have personally is that we will get more studies, so people are no longer dismissive about this relationship.

Sophie Haigney is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney
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They came from all over the city and beyond, lining up Sunday for hours outside San Franciscos City Hall to remember the man so many knew as not just Mayor Ed Lee, but as a nice guy with an ever-ready kind word who just happened to be in charge of the coolest city in California.

Carletta Jackson-Lane, executive director of the Sojourner Truth Foster Agency in the city, queued up early and wept as she waited. She does her shopping at the same Safeway where Lee collapsed of a heart attack Monday.

He was truly a family man first  a father and a husband, Jackson-Lane said through her tears. He had continual compassion for the homeless and for mental health issues in the T.L. (Tenderloin).

He would look you in the eye. Hed ask, How you doin? Hows your mama doin?

She said she appreciated how much Lee cared for people of all religions, cultures and backgrounds, remembering how he was blessed at his inauguration by leaders of many faiths  a practice echoed in the ecumenical service honoring him Sunday.

Now Playing: Jean Quan spoke about Mayor Ed Lee outside City Hall on Dec. 17, 2017. Video: Kimberly Veklerov

He was always a man of the people, said retired teacher Angie Cheatham-Sanders, who brought red flowers to the service. He was so humble and down-to-earth. He always had time for the little man.

Cheatham-Sanders is working on opening a battered womens shelter named after her mother, Eda Lee, who went by Ed Lee  and she said the mayor used the name similarity as fodder for jokes with her. At least one of those jokes turned out to be sadly prescient.

Lee told her the other day to hurry up and open the shelter, Sanders said, because I might not be around forever.

The atmosphere all around City Hall was somber as the crowd swelled to hundreds throughout the early afternoon under bright blue skies, then peaked in the thousands when the 3 p.m. service under the halls majestic golden dome began.

The marquee on the nearby Bill Graham Auditorium read, Rest in Peace Mayor Ed Lee. Two fire trucks hung a gigantic American flag from their ladders across from the City Hall steps, and on those steps lay thousands of flowers, dotted with smiling portraits of the late mayor.

The street in front of City Hall and its plaza were blocked off for the service, and even the skateboarders and bicyclists who continuously zip through backed off. It was as if the civic complex held its breath in respect.

Lee, the first Asian American mayor of San Francisco, died Tuesday at 65, and his body had lain in state Friday under the City Hall dome from morning until evening as thousands filed through to pay respects. Sunday gave the opportunity for political luminaries to pay public homage.

Space is tight in City Hall, though, so only a comparative few were allowed in, leaving a large overflow crowd outside. Admittance was by invitation to VIPs, and then in general to those in line, and when the doors closed for the ceremony to begin, hundreds were turned away.

The first person to snag a spot in line Sunday was May Lee of Santa Clara, no relation to the mayor. She was there at 6:30 a.m., having awakened before dawn to make the long drive north to make sure she had a spot in the standing-room-only section of City Hall.

When the public library finally opened so May Lee could take a bathroom break, she asked her friend Barbara Wong  who drove up from Cupertino  to hold her coveted spot.

I really admired Mayor Ed Lee, said May Lee, who does marketing for Hewlett Packard and never met the mayor. He was a voice of calm and reason that we need right now.

Those left outside when the doors shut were directed to the Main Library across the plaza, where one overflow viewing room quickly spilled over into a second viewing room. Hundreds more stayed outside City Hall to stand in the street and listen quietly to the service on loudspeakers, occasionally laughing at a quip in the service or cheering a comment.

As they walked away afterward, many were still chuckling  in between wiping their eyes  over Lees jokes as retold by speakers at the service. Lees joke about hoping Alcatraz could be reactivated if President Trump goes to prison  recalled by former Mayor Willie Brown to chuckles in the crowd  was a favorite.

Philip Choi, a financial consultant, said he was heartened to see so many dignitaries paying their respects to Lee, his friend of two decades. I hope that after all the speeches, well catch some of his spirit. I hope there will be other Ed Lees, he said.

By 6 p.m., the mourners had all left, and the giant flag was hauled down from the fire truck ladders. The skateboarders and cyclists resumed their buzz, and life went back to normal  except for one flourish, a shaft of light shot into the night air from one edge of the plaza in the late mayors honor.

The light was put on by the Illuminate art organization, and the man hired to mount and flick on the four 2,500-watt lamps stood for a moment to contemplate what hed done after he threw the switch.

To me, he was the peoples mayor, said Marty Axelson, who as owner of Bay City Searchlights and a stagecraft specialist had actually shaken the mayors hand at least once. My lights are kind of known for doing big ballyhoos in the sky, you know, promotional things where they swirl around. But that wouldnt be appropriate for this occasion.

Nope, he said, squinting up into the night sky at his light shaft. This is more appropriate. Somber. Simple. The guy deserves that.

Kevin Fagan and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @KevinChron, @KVeklerov

To donate

Ed Lees family has established a fund in his name at the San Francisco Foundation. It will support nonprofits and social causes that were important to the mayor. Contributions, payable to The S.F. Foundation: Edwin M. Lee Community Fund, can be mailed to the foundation at 1 Embarcadero Center, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111.
Mark Wineman / Getty Images

Two men were killed in separate shootings about a mile and a half apart over the weekend in Oakland, and the killers remain at large, authorities said.

The first shooting occurred about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the 2600 block of Ritchie Street, a residential neighborhood, according to the Oakland Police Department.
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Ralph Carney, a versatile musician and longtime San Franciscan who had a long career as a much-sought-after sideman working with everyone from Tom Waits and Allen Ginsberg to Elvis Costello and the B-52s, died Sunday at a hospital in Portland, Ore. He was 61.

His death was confirmed by his nephew, Patrick Carney of the band the Black Keys. Ralph Carney died after an accident at home.

I hope everybody is lucky enough to have someone as special as Ralph in their lives at some point, Patrick Carney said via Twitter. He taught me so much. ... He sat me down at 15 and made me listen to the Shaggs. We all need an uncle like that.

Carney, with his familiar mutton-chop sideburns and colorful attire, became a fixture on the Bay Area music scene after coming to San Francisco in 1989 from his native Akron, Ohio.

Having gotten his start in the punk band Tin Huey, he was determined to stay an independent agent, playing local clubs with various outfits, while recording and touring with national acts.

His signature horn blasts can be heard on the Waitresses new wave staple I Know What Boys Like, while his work is woven through the B-52s early albums (1982s Mesopotamia, 1983s Whammy) and Waits classic albums such as 1985s Rain Dogs, 1992s Bone Machine and 1993s The Black Rider.

Ralphs great, Waits said on Carneys official website, www.akroncracker.com. Hes guided by some other source of information. Hes like a broken toy that works better than before it was broken.

While his primary instruments were the saxophone and clarinet, Carney was also a dedicated collector and master of other instruments, such as a slide clarinet made of parts from a hardware store, the electric saz from Turkey and a monochord from Vietnam.

Carney took an equally eclectic approach to the bands he worked with, often making them up for the occasion, such as the Hula-Gins, the Oranj Symphonette, CarneyBallJohnson and, most recently, Ralph Carneys Serious Jass Project.

With his ability to slip comfortably into any genre, Carney contributed to recorded projects by performers as disparate as alt-country rockers Grant Lee Buffalo and late literary giants such as William S. Burroughs and Ginsberg.

Before he left the Bay Area for Portland in 2015, Carney worked out of a crammed studio in the basement of his Bernal Heights home.

His last projects there included a classical piece inspired by the Charleston, S.C., church massacre, Lament for Charleston, which he performed with the Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet; the saxophone sample for St. Vincents 2014 single, Digital Witness; and the soundtrack for the animated Netflix series BoJack Horseman, which he co-wrote with his nephew.

Ralph was one of a kind  absolutely brilliant, said singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips, with whom Carney worked on his group Grant Lee Buffalos 1996 album, Copperopolis, on Twitter. Grant Lee Buffalo were fortunate to work with him, witness his genius in the studio; and it will forever remain a treasured memory.

Carney released seven solo albums, including his most recent, 2012s Secret Language, with multi-instrumentalist David Coulter.

Besides Patrick Carney, Ralph Carney is survived by his significant other, Megan Hinchliffe; ex-wife, Deena Zacharin; daughter, Hedda; brother, James Carney, and his wife, Katie; and nephews, William Carney and Michael Carney.

Aidin Vaziri is The San Francisco Chronicles pop music critic. E-mail: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF
Cuba may be one of the most interesting and exciting travel destinations in the Caribbean. But it requires a lot more advanced planning than its Caribbean neighbors.

1. Visa  You must obtain a visa before your trip. Websites like cubavisaservices.com allow you to purchase one ahead of time for a fee  $50 visa, $35 processing + shipping. The other option is to purchase a visa directly through your airline, purchasing and completing the visa form at the gate for a set fee of $50. When filling out the visa, visitors must claim one of 12 reasons for travel to Cuba, none of which can be tourism. Journalism, family affairs and religious reasons are just a few boxes that can be ticked. Dont stress too much about hiding your identity, however. Immigration officers know exactly why visitors are coming  and exactly how much their dollars stimulate their economy.

2. Currency  Cuba has a dual currency system. Cubans are paid in CUPs, also known as Cuban Pesos, and the banknotes depict portraits of Cuban heroes. Tourists, on the other hand, pay for goods and services using CUCs, Cuban Convertible Pesos. These banknotes illustrate national monuments and are 25 times more valuable than the Cuban Peso. Paying in CUCs and getting change in CUPs is the most common scam. Always check your pesos. If someone is staring back, youve been duped.

3. Cash Exchange  ATMs and credit card machines are difficult to come by, and many do not accept U.S. cards. Your best bet is to change cash at a bank. Remember, a 10 percent bank fee is charged for buying Cuban currency with U.S. dollars. Bring Canadian dollars or Euros for exchange and avoid the fee.

4. Internet  Cuba is one of the most poorly connected countries in the world due to government restrictions. Some fancy hotels will offer guests wifi, but most people must purchase an internet card from a licensed retailer. Waiting in line for one of these coveted cards could easily consume half your day, and finding a public hot spot to use the card could take the other half of your day. My advice: Forget the internet and rely on a physical guidebook.

5. Accommodation  Hotels and resorts can be found all over Cuba, but if you want to truly experience Cuba, youll first need to get to know Cuban people. The best way to do this is to stay in a casa particular, the Cuban version of a bed-and-breakfast. Families open their modest homes to travelers and share not only their space, but their stories  a Cuban education you wont find in the museums. Numerous accredited websites that advertise casa particulars allow online bookings. Internationally recognized Airbnb and VRBO have also penetrated the market and provide great options.
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A priest in his collar. An aged Danish Boy Scout. A pair of Japanese tourists. On Aug. 25, 1973, a photographer coaxed them into his loft on the top floor of a San Francisco Victorian for a photoshoot.

Forty-four years later, the photographer is trying to track them all down.

Jeff Cohen, then a budding freelance photographer, woke up on a summer morning in 1973 looking for something to do. So he approached strangers strolling past his Union Street loft and invited them upstairs.

Shortly after that day, Cohen moved away from San Francisco and the photos were packed up and forgotten. But four decades later, after raising a family and retiring from his 30-year-long career as an editor at Playboy Magazine, Cohen rediscovered the portraits while unpacking his new photo studio in Chicago.

VINTAGE PHOTOS: When the 3-ring circus still came to town

Cohen had the full names and addresses of his subjects from 1973, and with the advent of social media, he decided to try to track down some of the strangers. Within a couple weeks of looking, he connected with two of them.

Less than three years after beginning his search, he's found a total of eight. He hopes to find all of them and display their recent photos, taken with the same Hasselblad film camera, alongside their 1973 portraits.

His search led him to a self-proclaimed hippie in the Sierra Nevada foothills, an established artist in Los Angeles, and a reclusive photography professor in Vermont. One woman, Cohen says, sends him a message every few days.

"She's in a bad relationship," he said. "I think I must be part-shrink."

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In his searching, Cohen learned some of his subjects have been long dead, others have grown up and grown estranged from the people with whom they were photographed, like the trio in slide 7 of the above gallery. Cohen says the two men  brothers  haven't spoken in 20 years.

Then there's Brother Michael Finney. Cohen tracked him down in September after searching for months. The challenge? The priest got married  after leaving the church  and took his wife's last name. The pair currently live on a commune, says Cohen.

WAY BACK WHEN: 4 cans of lima beans was enough to cross Golden Gate in the 70s

Not much has changed for Nancey Kearney, now 60 and living 3,000 feet above sea level in Sonora, Calif., where she moved not long after Cohen took her photo. She was just 16 at the time and visiting San Francisco from Sacramento for the day when Cohen found her "sauntering around the city" in a new peasant dress.

"I was a hippie back then," she said from her Sonora home, which she shares with chickens, dogs, cats, guinea pigs and other rescue animals.

"Well, I guess I'm still a hippie."

Kearney admits that she's thought about that day in 1973 "so many times throughout the years."

She says she didn't hesitate when Cohen asked to photograph her. "Though I certainly would freak out now," she said. "Most people would."

She continued, "It was a very innocent time. People weren't afraid of each other as they are now."

Cohen believes therein lies the charm of the long-forgotten photographs: The whimsy in the knowledge that such a feat would be difficult to accomplish today.

"It's a sign of the times," he said.

Cohen returned to his old studio in October while vacationing in the Bay Area (see a photo of the house in the above gallery). He discovered that the old Victorian still stood, though barely. Cohen, never one to shy away from interactions with strangers, knocked on the front door and found his old landlord inside, signing away the deeds to the house at that exact moment. The new buyer planned to knock it down to build condos, Cohen said.

Yet another sign of the times? The house sold for $2.6 million.

"If only I'd stuck around," he said.

If you recognize any of the subjects, Cohen asks that you send him an e-mail at jeff@jeffcohenphotography.com.

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
WASHINGTON  In the $600 billion annual Defense Department budgets, the $22 million spent on the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was almost impossible to find.

Which was how the Pentagon wanted it.

For years, the program investigated reports of unidentified flying objects, according to Defense Department officials, interviews with program participants and records obtained by The New York Times. It was run by a military intelligence official, Luis Elizondo, on the fifth floor of the Pentagon's C Ring, deep within the building's maze.

The Defense Department has never before acknowledged the existence of the program, which it says it shut down in 2012. But its backers say that, while the Pentagon ended funding for the effort at that time, the program remains in existence. For the past five years, they say, officials with the program have continued to investigate episodes brought to them by service members, while also carrying out their other Defense Department duties.

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The shadowy program  parts of it remain classified  began in 2007, and initially it was largely funded at the request of Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who was the Senate majority leader at the time and who has long had an interest in space phenomena. Most of the money went to an aerospace research company run by a billionaire entrepreneur and longtime friend of Reid's, Robert Bigelow, who is working with NASA to produce expandable craft for humans to use in space.

On CBS' "60 Minutes" in May, Bigelow said he was "absolutely convinced" that aliens exist and that UFOs have visited Earth.

Working with Bigelow's Las Vegas-based company, the program produced documents that describe sightings of aircraft that seemed to move at very high velocities with no visible signs of propulsion, or that hovered with no apparent means of lift.

Officials with the program have also studied videos of encounters between unknown objects and U.S. military aircraft  including one released in August of a whitish oval object, about the size of a commercial plane, chased by two Navy F/A-18F fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Nimitz off the coast of San Diego in 2004.

Reid, who retired from Congress this year, said he was proud of the program. "I'm not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing going," Reid said in a recent interview in Nevada. "I think it's one of the good things I did in my congressional service. I've done something that no one has done before."

Two other former senators and top members of a defense spending subcommittee  Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii  also supported the program. Stevens died in 2010, and Inouye in 2012.

While not addressing the merits of the program, Sara Seager, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, cautioned that not knowing the origin of an object does not mean that it is from another planet or galaxy.

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"When people claim to observe truly unusual phenomena, sometimes it's worth investigating seriously," she said. But, she added, "what people sometimes don't get about science is that we often have phenomena that remain unexplained."

James Oberg, a former NASA space shuttle engineer and the author of 10 books on spaceflight who often debunks UFO sightings, was also doubtful.

"There are plenty of prosaic events and human perceptual traits that can account for these stories," Oberg said. "Lots of people are active in the air and don't want others to know about it. They are happy to lurk unrecognized in the noise, or even to stir it up as camouflage."

Still, Oberg said he welcomed research. "There could well be a pearl there," he said.

In response to questions from The Times, Pentagon officials this month acknowledged the existence of the program, which began as part of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Officials insisted that the effort had ended after five years, in 2012.

"It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding, and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change," a Pentagon spokesman, Thomas Crosson, said in an emaile, referring to the Department of Defense.

But Elizondo said the only thing that had ended was the effort's government funding, which dried up in 2012. From then on, Elizondo said in an interview, he worked with officials from the Navy and the CIA. He continued to work out of his Pentagon office until this past October, when he resigned to protest what he characterized as excessive secrecy and internal opposition.

"Why aren't we spending more time and effort on this issue?" Elizondo wrote in a resignation letter to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Elizondo said that the effort continued and that he had a successor, whom he declined to name.

UFOs have been repeatedly investigated over the decades in the United States, including by the military. In 1947, the Air Force began a series of studies that investigated more than 12,000 claimed UFO sightings before it was officially ended in 1969. The project, which included a study code-named Project Blue Book, started in 1952, concluded that most sightings involved stars, clouds, conventional aircraft or spy planes, although 701 remained unexplained.

Robert C. Seamans Jr., the secretary of the Air Force at the time, said in a memorandum announcing the end of Project Blue Book that it "no longer can be justified either on the ground of national security or in the interest of science."

Reid said his interest in UFOs came from Bigelow. In 2007, Reid said in the interview, Bigelow told him that an official with the Defense Intelligence Agency had approached him wanting to visit Bigelow's ranch in Utah, where he conducted research.

Reid said he met with agency officials shortly after his meeting with Bigelow and learned that they wanted to start a research program on UFOs. Reid then summoned Stevens and Inouye to a secure room in the Capitol.

"I had talked to John Glenn a number of years before," Reid said, referring to the astronaut and former senator from Ohio, who died in 2016. Glenn, Reid said, had told him he thought that the federal government should be looking seriously into UFOs, and should be talking to military service members, particularly pilots, who had reported seeing aircraft they could not identify or explain.

The sightings were not often reported up the military's chain of command, Reid said, because service members were afraid they would be laughed at or stigmatized.

The meeting with Stevens and Inouye, Reid said, "was one of the easiest meetings I ever had."

He added, "Ted Stevens said, 'I've been waiting to do this since I was in the Air Force.'" (The Alaska senator had been a pilot in the Army's air force, flying transport missions over China during World War II.)

During the meeting, Reid said, Stevens recounted being tailed by a strange aircraft with no known origin, which he said had followed his plane for miles.

None of the three senators wanted a public debate on the Senate floor about the funding for the program, Reid said. "This was so-called black money," he said. "Stevens knows about it, Inouye knows about it. But that was it, and that's how we wanted it." Reid was referring to the Pentagon budget for classified programs.

Contracts obtained by The Times show a congressional appropriation of just under $22 million beginning in late 2008 through 2011. The money was used for management of the program, research and assessments of the threat posed by the objects.

The funding went to Bigelow's company, Bigelow Aerospace, which hired subcontractors and solicited research for the program.

Under Bigelow's direction, the company modified buildings in Las Vegas for the storage of metal alloys and other materials that Elizondo and program contractors said had been recovered from unidentified aerial phenomena. Researchers also studied people who said they had experienced physical effects from encounters with the objects and examined them for any physiological changes. In addition, researchers spoke to military service members who had reported sightings of strange aircraft.

"We're sort of in the position of what would happen if you gave Leonardo da Vinci a garage-door opener," said Harold E. Puthoff, an engineer who has conducted research on extrasensory perception for the CIA and later worked as a contractor for the program. "First of all, he'd try to figure out what is this plastic stuff. He wouldn't know anything about the electromagnetic signals involved or its function."

The program collected video and audio recordings of reported UFO incidents, including footage from a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet showing an aircraft surrounded by some kind of glowing aura traveling at high speed and rotating as it moves. The Navy pilots can be heard trying to understand what they are seeing. "There's a whole fleet of them," one exclaims. Defense officials declined to release the location and date of the incident.

"Internationally, we are the most backward country in the world on this issue," Bigelow said in an interview. "Our scientists are scared of being ostracized, and our media is scared of the stigma. China and Russia are much more open and work on this with huge organizations within their countries. Smaller countries like Belgium, France, England and South American countries like Chile are more open, too. They are proactive and willing to discuss this topic, rather than being held back by a juvenile taboo."

By 2009, Reid decided that the program had made such extraordinary discoveries that he argued for heightened security to protect it. "Much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings," Reid said in a letter to William Lynn III, a deputy defense secretary at the time, requesting that it be designated a "restricted special access program" limited to a few listed officials.

A 2009 Pentagon briefing summary of the program prepared by its director at the time asserted that "what was considered science fiction is now science fact," and that the United States was incapable of defending itself against some of the technologies discovered. Reid's request for the special designation was denied.

Elizondo, in his resignation letter of Oct. 4, said there was a need for more serious attention to "the many accounts from the Navy and other services of unusual aerial systems interfering with military weapon platforms and displaying beyond-next-generation capabilities." He expressed his frustration with the limitations placed on the program, telling Mattis that "there remains a vital need to ascertain capability and intent of these phenomena for the benefit of the armed forces and the nation."

Elizondo has now joined Puthoff and another former Defense Department official, Christopher Mellon, who was a deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelligence, in a new commercial venture called To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science. They are speaking publicly about their efforts as their venture aims to raise money for research into UFOs.

In the interview, Elizondo said he and his government colleagues had determined that the phenomena they had studied did not seem to originate from any country. "That fact is not something any government or institution should classify in order to keep secret from the people," he said.

For his part, Reid said he did not know where the objects had come from. "If anyone says they have the answers now, they're fooling themselves," he said. "We do not know."

But, he said, "we have to start someplace."

Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean are writers for the New York Times.
She stands in the living room of the small home in suburban San Jose, a comfortable California breeze rolling through her windows, early June sunlight warming her skin.

Channy Chhi Laux gazes at the fragile bundle coddled in her arms. Her first born. A week-old baby girl.

Tufts of black hair spot the small head, patches that will grow full and thick one day just like her mothers, just like her grandmothers.

Already the new mother imagines the life she wants for her daughter: good schools, kind friends, boundless opportunity. But she also wants Natasha to be strong. She wants her to know how they got to the quaint home on the edge of San Francisco Bay.

She wants her to know about the rice fields in Southeast Asia. About a government killing millions of its own people, working them to starvation, marching them to exhaustion in one of the largest genocides in history.

She wants her daughter to know how a 13-year-old girl survived the killing fields. How she escaped Cambodia and fled to Nebraska, where she graduated college and got married.

Channy wants her infant daughter to know what made this life possible  what it took to overcome the question that haunted her.

Why does God keep making me suffer?

She wants her baby girl to know it was a mothers love.

That really makes a person strong, she said. Someone else caring.

Now, 25 years later, her kids may be grown and her mother passed, but the 54-year-old has finished writing her story. She hopes her new book, Short Hair Detention, captures how, sometimes, a companion can be reason enough to survive.

* * *

By the time Channy turned 13, civil war in Cambodia had killed as many as 300,000, displaced 2 million and razed 20 percent of the countrys properties.

But in 1975, the young girl knew little about the struggle between communists and republicans taking place outside her prospering hometown.

Instead, she remembers biking down city blocks to her first day of seventh grade, feeling the cool fall breeze against her new white shirt and blue skirt.

Then came the gunfire and rumblings of bombs that woke her the morning of April 18, 1975  three days after the Khmer Rouge communist militants seized Cambodia. Her family fled to a border town, but a few months later the black uniforms came and she, her family and many others were marched toward work camps.

Those were the first steps in a four-year genocide under the Khmer Rouge regime, where the goal was resolute: cleanse Cambodia of the ethnically impure. In that effort, they starved, executed and killed 1.7 million people, 21 percent of the countrys population. More than 1.3 million of those bodies were buried or left to rot in mass graves known as the killing fields.

Throughout this period, Channys family  her, her mother, father, sister and three brothers  worked 14-hour days in rice fields. They sloshed through oftentimes waist-high water stretching to the horizon like liquid prairie, picking rice from thin green stalks as well as leeches from their skin. Most nights they came home to a thin gruel of rice porridge, if anything at all.

As the months went by she saw the fat melt from her parents and siblings bodies. Eventually loose skin hung from skeletons.

Years later, these memories would jolt Channy awake. Shed go to her computer and begin typing.

Id wake up and sometimes shes just not there, said her husband, Kent Laux. Shes downstairs either pounding away at the keyboard, sobbing or staring into space.

When his wife passed him pages, Laux read stories that seemed to both describe life on another planet and something too eerily relatable. But he also saw how much it hurt to relive those memories and knew it would take time to hear the whole story.

We all have things we dont want to face or dont want to remember, he said. But in this case it was just so extreme.

Ten years ago, Channy wouldnt have included certain stories now in the book, like what happened to her in the harvest season of 1978 when a uniformed officer caught her ripping sweet root from the dirt.

As he recited the law, she begged him to understand. She was only hungry.

Its a shame a beautiful girl like you committed such a crime, he said as he pulled her into the bushes.

Later, the young girl told her mother what happened, tears streaming down her face.

I was raped.

The memory still haunted her decades later as the blinking computer cursor stared back at her. Shame clung to it too. Shame that this happened because she was the unlucky child, a teasing label that shed accepted and allowed to cause her pain for years.

As time went on and she repeated this exercise, the memories became easier to relive. One by one, Channy wrote them down, absolving herself until she started feeling free.

It wasnt until she picked up a mockup of the book that she realized how far shed come. Staring at the girls face on the cover, it was hard to recognize it as her own.

I started crying in the shop, she said. I couldnt control myself, because I felt so sorry for that girl.

But she also knows the child had guardians. Most importantly she knows the child had a mother, one who loved her despite the suffering. A mother who never made her feel like the unlucky child.

Because of that, I felt so close to her, she said. It was almost like, Youre the only one that can understand me, that can protect me.

* * *

The young girl hides by the brush as a procession of women and children march through the village street in the third spring of Khmer Rouge rule. They are the wives and children of fugitives, sentenced to march and, presumably, not to return.

The daughter scans the crowd and sees her mothers thick, tangled hair.

As the procession draws closer, the girl's mind races.

I could die if I go with them.

As the cluster trudged past, the daughter slips from her hiding spot and falls in line. The mother does not look down. She does not break stride.

Come close to me, she says.

In this moment, Channy knew what it meant to live and survive for another person.

I remember thinking, How can a person follow the other person when they know the other person is going to die? she said.

Its that same love. You go without fear.

That kept her strong until communist rule crumbled in spring 1979. As the black uniforms disintegrated, she, her mother and sister escaped to a refugee camp in Thailand. There they received letters from Channys two older brothers whod already escaped.

Theyd made it to America and wanted to bring their sisters and mother to live with them.

For all of them it was a scary thought  going to a place where they didnt know the people, language, culture or food. But it was also exciting to start again.

When people are in that situation, they have a second chance, Channy said. So what do you do when you have a second chance?

Youre going to try the best you can.

* * *

The high school girl scans the student ID. A picture of a blonde white girl smiles back at her.

This isnt going to work, Channy said.

Just go with it, said Ken Chhi, her older brother.

Sure enough they dont stop her and soon the concrete corridors open up to a sea of 76,000 red-clad fans, roaring under a bright blue sky.

Sounds from the marching band reverberate throughout Memorial Stadium as Tom Osbornes 1980 Husker team takes the field against Iowa on a warm September afternoon.

When they cheer, just cheer, Ken said.

By then, Channy and her family had lived in Lincoln for more than a year.

Originally she wondered how her brothers ended up in the Midwest. She came to learn they were given the option between settling in Long Beach, California  which had Cambodian people, food, newspapers and culture  and Nebraska  which had none.

What Lincoln had was snow, an unfamiliar concept, Channy said. That intrigued them.

The family settled quickly. Channy enrolled in school, taking English as a Second Language classes and quickly making friends at Lincoln High. She then enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she met her future husband, Kent Laux, a farm boy from the Nebraska Panhandle. Both got computer science degrees there and jobs as software engineers in the burgeoning Silicon Valley.

Back then the family was sponsored by a refugee program in Lincolns First Lutheran Church. Today, refugee resettlement is handled by organizations like Lutheran Family Services which resettles about 200 refugees a year, according to Lacey Studnicka, the group's director of advancement. Recently, most of those people have been Yazidi, fleeing persecution by ISIS in northern Iraq. However while the demographics have shifted, the core value motivating refugee resettlement programs has not.

Its the American dream, Studnicka said. You get to watch someone literally get a second chance at life.

Channys family took that seriously, starting businesses, nonprofits and working in innovative fields like biotech, aerospace and software engineering. Studnicka said refugees of today are no different. No matter where theyre from, refugees add an indispensable layer to Lincolns social fabric.

We believe and trust this program, she said. Weve seen the tremendous transformation in the lives of the people that it touches."

But even as opportunity was abound in America, Channy couldnt entirely forget Cambodia.

Since Natasha was born, Channy filled hard drives, binders and loose leaf papers with notes and chapters, but progress on the book itself came in fits and starts.

Then in 2010, things changed.

Channy took off work the five weeks her mother was in intensive care. Sleeping only two to three hours a night, she read chapters from her book aloud while her mother laid in the hospital bed.

I just didnt want her to struggle by herself, she said. Not even for one second. I wanted her to know I was there.

She died April 19.

And while Channy mourned her mother, she was also drawn to the memory of another hospital bed. To the feeling she had decades ago while holding the sleeping baby. To the promise she made and the addition she makes now.

I want to make this story so the children have something to remember Grandma by, she said.

* * *

Channy sits around a table of family and friends who all survived the same tragedy.

As the conversation bounces back-and-forth about whose memory of their experiences in the Cambodian Genocide is correct, Channy doesnt chime in.

I didnt have to say anything, she said. I felt great. Its not about telling (the story anymore), its about getting out and being free of it.

And in most ways thats how she feels now. Free.

For the past seven years Channy dedicated her time to writing, editing, organizing and publishing her book. And now, 25 years after penning the first chapter, Channy has self-published the 545-page story with the help of a Kickstarter campaign that raised $10,000.

There are still some nightmares  shes not sure if shell ever be able to return to Cambodia where her father, brother and millions of others died  but the cathartic experience of making peace with those painful memories has eased her burden.

Her hope is that people who hear her story will not see it as a lesson in a history book, but as a reminder of the human rights issue.

She hopes they find the story beyond the devastation. The one about strength. The one about what a mother will do to protect and nurture a child. That thread has run throughout Channys life, and its one she only started to realize decades ago in the hospital room outside San Jose. As she delivered her first child, she thought about her mom.

I was thinking, Now I finally understand how I was special to her, she said. How every one of us was.

You can understand mother-daughter relationships, she added, but once you have (a daughter) it makes it much more real.
When the auction house Christies brought a work by Leonardo da Vinci through San Francisco for three days in October, it arrived with great fanfare and was met with long lines of viewers, on its way to being sold in New York for nearly half a billion dollars.

Much quieter was the tour stop in the Bay Area that same week of two paintings by Norman Rockwell, put on view by Sothebys for a single day. Yet the tale behind that event could have more far-reaching effects on Americans access to art, and on U.S. museums, than the spectacular Leonardo auction.

Recognized as among the artists best works, the Rockwells were to be part of a series of sales of 40 works from a single collection, including major pieces by Thomas Moran, Frederic Church, Henry Moore and others. The Rockwells alone were estimated to realize as much as $40 million; the other works could push the total well beyond $60 million.

Those paintings, however, never made it to the auction block. The reason? Unlike the privately owned Leonardo, the 40 works were consigned by a museum  the 114-year-old Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Mass.  and they comprise the core of its art collection.

They were offered for sale by the museums trustees, following dubious procedures in making the decision to deaccession, or officially remove, the works from its collection. Along the way, the trustees have ignored protests by museum supporters and defied standards accepted by virtually all art experts and professional associations, drawing condemnation and several lawsuits.

The struggle over the arts fate has been playing out since July in the small city of Pittsfield, population 42,846, but it has drawn global attention. One journalist estimates that some 4,000 articles about it have appeared in publications throughout the world.

Why? What does an arcane argument in a small corner of the Northeast mean to museum-goers in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the U.S.?

One might as well ask: What is the value of a work of art? Can a price tag be affixed to anything and everything? Or can we agree that some things should be, truly, priceless?

Sothebys downplayed its preview of the Berkshire Museum art in San Francisco. But if the auctioneers and the museum board thought they could fly under the radar until the checks were cashed, they were wrong.

The boards aim is to use auction proceeds to fund capital improvements, a larger endowment and what they call a New Vision that deems the institutions most marketable works of art not essential to the museums refreshed mission.

That plan flies in the face of widely accepted ethics guidelines, which require that any proceeds from sales of deaccessioned objects be used only in direct support of the collection. That is, generally, to improve the quality of a museum collection by buying better works or works in better condition  never to meet operating expenses or to renovate buildings.

In rapid order, a community group called Save the Art  Save Berkshire Museum popped up and regional arts leaders spoke out. The two national museum associations, the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums, condemned the plan. The Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, coaxed and threatened.

A group of museum members filed suit. They were quickly followed by Rockwells heirs, who argued the artist donated his art to the museum, in 1958 and 1966, hoping the people of the Berkshires would see it and enjoy it.

Ben Garver/Associated Press

Museum director Van Shields, an architect of the plan who reportedly began speaking of monetizing the collection shortly after his arrival in 2011, left the museum on medical leave in October and has yet to return.

Finally, the Massachusetts attorney generals office, which, like Californias, oversees laws governing charitable organizations, sought and won a Massachusetts Appeals Court injunction. It halts for now what it has called the extraordinary step of selling 40 works of art that amount to substantially all of the value of (the museums) fine art collection.

The Berkshire Museum board has refused even to discuss what it sees as its exclusive right to decide the institutions future. Its alarming lack of transparency, ignorance of museum standards and utter disregard for the cultural heritage of its community have been clouded, in some quarters, by the argument that the collection sell-off is the only way it will avoid bankruptcy.

Never mind that such an analysis has been discredited by outside financial experts; lets take it at face value. Is there ever a time when it might be appropriate to shed a few objects to save the institution?

What if San Franciscos Legion of Honor decided one day that Rodins Thinker, which has graced the entry court since the first days of the museum, was too valuable to keep when the roof was leaking? If SFMOMA wished to sell off Matisses Femme au Chapeau to prevent layoffs in a difficult year?

I asked the major collecting museums in the region for their deaccession policies. Most have strong guidelines. (The new director of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University reported that her museum has a written policy that follows and affirms the guidelines for best practices as described by AAM and AAMD, but for some reason would not share the document.)

All the policies provided carefully define what objects might be considered for deaccession, and require the advice of professional curatorial staff. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, outlining common standards, says such recommendations must be based upon the lack of merit or changed circumstances of the object with regard to its physical condition, identity, or irrelevance to the collection.

More on Berkshire Museum Court blocks Berkshire Museum sale of Rockwells and other art

Much of the debate about the Berkshire Museum, and the topic of deaccessions by community-based museums in general, revolves around a key question: To whom does the collection belong? In a strictly legal sense, that can vary.

The Asian Art Museum and the Fine Arts Museums (the de Young and the Legion of Honor) are, technically, agencies of the city and county and their art, with some minor exceptions, is government property. The Oakland Museum of California was, says Director Lori Fogarty, a city department until 2011 and transitioned to independent governance in 2011, although the city still owns the collection and the facilities.

Works held by the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives legally belong to the regents of the University of California. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the San Jose Museum of Art are private, nonprofit entities that own the art directly, overseen by their boards of trustees; their structure is most like the Berkshires.

Regardless of legal ownership, however, there is a real sense in which these collections belong to all of us. These institutions exist for the benefit of the public, and they subsist through public support, whether directly with government dollars, through tax deductions for their donors, or both.

The law can be unclear on the particulars, but there is little doubt that, ethically, museums hold works of significant cultural value in the public trust. Indeed, cultural value, as opposed to market value, is the only worth of the objects in museum collections. The best institutions, including all the ones I surveyed, do not report in their financial statements any monetary value at all for their art collections.

Regardless of an auctioneers or collectors interest, a work that cant be sold is essentially worthless.

Worthless, that is, in monetary terms. Some might even argue that a collection of fragile, space-occupying objects is more like a liability. As SFMOMA told me, encapsulating the gist of every collections policy I examined, we do not carry our collection as an asset, on the underlying assumption that we will care for it in perpetuity.

There are practical reasons, too, for museums not to peddle works to raise money for operations and maintenance. One is that potential future donors might very well think twice if they know their beloved objects could be sold off at any time, for any reason. Even more important: A policy that allowed a board to jettison art rather than give or get the resources needed to run the museum would be a great temptation for the lazy trustee.

In 2009 the late Michael Rush, who was director of the Rose Museum at Brandeis University, told me of a risky plan to get the attention of the university administration by having the Rose collection appraised. Sure enough, when the schools then-president saw the number  $350 million to $400 million  he promptly announced the closure of the museum and a plan to sell the art to support the students, the faculty and core academic mission.

That decision was eventually reversed, but only after two years of litigation and the end of the Brandeis careers of both director and president.

Not every deaccession controversy has worked out so well, however, and there is every reason to be concerned about what precedent might be set in Pittsfield. That is why a lawyer for the Berkshire Eagle, a newspaper fighting the museum board for access to information on its decision-making, put the local issue in broader terms.

This case is part of a national controversy, Jeffrey J. Pyle said in a filing, over the circumstances under which museums should be able to deprive the public of access to works of art by selling them at auction to the highest bidder.

Meanwhile, lest we become complacent about our own museums, we might keep one more fact in mind regarding the Berkshire debacle. That museum had written policies, too, as stringent as the best anywhere. When the board decided to move forward with the sale of art, they simply voted to change the policy  a full month after executing a confidential consignment agreement with Sothebys.

Charles Desmarais is The San Francisco Chronicles art critic. Email: cdesmarais@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Artguy1
Former Nebraska State Patrol Maj. Billy Hobbs, convicted of sexually assaulting a child, has been receiving at least $1,800 a month in pension benefits during the 11 years hes been in a state prison.

His ex-wife also continued to collect more than $1,800 each month from his pension following Hobbs' conviction, part of their divorce, according to court records.

That's because Nebraska law allows public employees to collect pensions even if they are convicted of serious crimes.

In fact, the Nebraska Supreme Court in 2014 declared a state law unconstitutional that would have required Hobbs to use his retirement benefits to pay $325,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victim.

The pension question has resurfaced this year in the case of a former Lincoln police officer who is charged with first-degree sexual assault of a person mentally or physically incapable of resisting.

Gregory Cody, who retired several weeks before he was charged with sexual assault in November, is receiving $1,965 a month in city pension benefits.

In addition to the sexual assault charge, he is accused of using his position of authority to coerce a mentally ill woman into a sexual relationship that lasted more than a year.

And Lancaster County Treasurer Andy Stebbing would face no loss of retirement funds if he is convicted of any of the five felony counts he faces, most related to selling used cars and trucks. He has publicly denied those charges.

Stebbing, like most city and county employees, including sheriff's deputies, has a defined contribution plan, where the employer and employee each contribute. That money is invested to be used by the person when they retire.

City police, like state troopers, teachers and judges, have a defined benefit pension, with monthly pension amounts guaranteed for life based on the person's salary at retirement.

Every state treats public pensions differently, based on research done by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

Some, like California, remove retirement benefits only from elected officials who are convicted of certain crimes. But most state laws apply to anyone who is part of a public retirement system.

Many states, like Maryland and Illinois, tie forfeiture of pension benefits only to crimes relating to the duties of the employee.

A few states, including Minnesota and Delaware, have slayer provisions, which preclude a person from receiving a pension as the beneficiary of someone they killed, such as a spouse or other family member.

And in some states, public employees convicted of serious crimes can continue to collect on the portion of their pension they funded themselves, but not the employer-funded share.

Eight states, including Nebraska, plus the District of Columbia, have no law allowing government to reduce or end a public pension.

Although many people are incensed when government employees continue to collect pension payments after being convicted of serious crimes, there are arguments on both sides of this issue.

A person's opinion often depends on whether they consider a pension a perk or part of the employee's compensation, said Keith Brainard, research director of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

Some believe a pension is a perk which is funded largely by public money or taxpayer dollars. If those public servants violate the trust of their positions, critics say it is reasonable to expect to have their pension confiscated.

But there are others who view the pension as a form of deferred compensation  another way of paying employees for doing their jobs. The argument here is that it is wrong and potentially unconstitutional to take away that compensation.

The argument is that you dont go looking for back pay if someone is found guilty of a crime, so why should a pension benefit be treated any differently, Brainard said.

In recent years more states have allowed pensions to be forfeited for specific crimes, said Brainard, whose organization monitors these issues nationally.

Nebraska state senators have been unsuccessful in trying to change the state's pension law.

Former state Sen. Colby Coash was frustrated by the Supreme Courts decision to declare the garnishment law he sponsored unconstitutional.

"This was a very broken, very injured young woman, who won in a civil case. The judge said, 'yes, she should get some money,' but she couldnt collect from his pension," said Coash.

He said public employee unions fought his garnishment legislation because they believe those pensions shouldn't be touched.

It was terribly disappointing. It was the right thing to do, to take that money and make this victim whole, he said.

The law allowed garnishment of retirement funds for certain felonies, namely felony assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment and theft by embezzlement. But the state Supreme Court said it arbitrarily benefited certain public employees because it didnt apply to all retirement plans or to those who committed similar crimes.

No other senator has tried to change Nebraska's pension policy in recent years, according to legislative staff.
Washington

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of the FBI on Friday over its investigation of possible links between Russia and his campaign, adding a new round of his own complaints to a growing conservative effort to discredit the inquiry.

"It's a shame what's happened with the FBI," the president told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before departing for an event at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. "It's a very sad thing to watch."

Without citing specifics, Trump described an extraordinary "level of anger" at the FBI over the investigation. He labeled "disgraceful" recently released text messages between one of the agents on the investigation and a lawyer for the bureau who were critical of him. The special counsel, Robert Mueller, removed the agent from the investigation when he learned of the texts.

Trump's latest attacks on the FBI kept alive a rare public feud between a president and the nation's premier law enforcement agency, friction that could be seen as Trump undermining faith in the integrity of an inquiry he has long derided as a "witch hunt." They also came amid a campaign by congressional Republicans, conservative media and the president's own lawyers to paint the inquiry as a partisan effort to weaken the president.

"I have nothing to do with Russia," Trump said. "Everybody knows it. That was a Democrat hoax. It was an excuse for losing the election and it should never have been this way, where they spent all these millions of dollars."

He also criticized the FBI's handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton and her use of a private email server, calling it a "scam." The Justice Department closed that case without filing charges.

"They found tremendous things on the other side," Trump said. "When you look at the Hillary Clinton investigation, it was  I've been saying for a long time  that was a rigged system."

The president's constant attacks have frustrated FBI agents who say they see him as diminishing a proud organization and eroding its trust with the public. Other agents dismiss the president's comments as empty rhetoric and said that many hope Trump stops dragging the agency into the headlines and accusing it of being political.

"The agents just want to be viewed as being referees who call balls and strikes and follow the evidence," said James A. Gagliano, who spent more than two decades in the FBI. "The rank and file just want to return to normalcy. They want to dispel the notion that America should not trust its premier law enforcement agency."

Democrats were also quick to defend the bureau.

"The men and women of the FBI are among the most professional and committed public servants in our nation, and the president's comments this morning are gravely concerning," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Judiciary Committee, said in an email response to questions. "American law enforcement officers, including those serving at the FBI and training at the FBI Academy where President Trump spoke, do not serve him personally, but serve all of us," he added.

Asked at a news conference Friday afternoon whether he agreed with Trump's assessment of the FBI, Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not directly answer but praised the bureau.

"The FBI is doing a great job around the country," he said, citing its work with other federal law enforcement agencies.

The president also said Friday that it was premature to discuss whether he would pardon Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who pleaded guilty this month to lying to the FBI in connection with the investigation.

"I don't want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet," Trump said. "We'll see what happens. Let's see. I can say this: When you look at what's gone on with the FBI and with the Justice Department, people are very, very angry."

The president had said after Flynn's guilty plea that the reputation of the FBI was "in tatters" and its standing with the public was the "worst in history."

Christopher A. Wray, FBI director, defended the agency in testimony to Congress and in a letter to nearly 37,000 agents and support staff, saying that he was "inspired by example after example of professionalism and dedication to justice demonstrated around the bureau."

Trump did not repeat his criticism at the FBI Academy event, a ceremony to honor local police officers and sheriffs who had received specialized training. He sat alongside Wray and Sessions. At the end of the event, Trump even thanked the FBI.
LEXINGTON  A Dawson County Sheriff's deputy has been honored for his work in helping capture a man suspected of being the so-called "AK-47 Bandit."

In a ceremony Monday, Deputy Chad Byrne was presented with a plaque in recognition of his "outstanding service and attention to detail on June 20, 2017."

That was the day Byrne was on patrol when heard the bulletin that a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper had been shot by a man in a stolen pickup. Byrne stationed himself south of Lexington on Highway 238 in case the fleeing truck drove that way.

He later spotted the suspected truck, called for backup and helped arrest Richard Gathercole, suspected of robbing banks in Nebraska, California, Idaho, Iowa and Washington state. Gathercole got the nickname "AK-47 Bandit" because that's the weapon police believed he carried in the robberies.

He's in a Colorado federal prison awaiting trial.
As the #MeToo movement gained momentum the past several weeks -- and more than a dozen powerful men accused of sexual misconduct were suspended, fired or banished into the outer darkness, it was reasonable to wonder where it would all end.

On Wednesday afternoon, it ended for Kentucky state Rep. Dan Johnson on a remote bridge, where he shot himself with a .40-caliber handgun. In an apparent suicide note posted (briefly) on Facebook, he wrote: "GOD knows the truth, nothing is the way they make it out to be . . . I cannot handle it any longer. . . BUT HEAVEN IS MY HOME."

Johnson was referring to accusations published two days earlier by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting that he had fondled a 17-year-old friend of his daughter during a New Year's Eve sleepover in 2013. According to his accuser, now 21, a drunk Johnson slipped his hand under her top and down her pants as she was sleeping on a couch. She begged him to stop, which, ultimately, he did.

Assuming the woman's story is true, Johnson's actions were reprehensible, made more so by the fact that the girl considered him "a second dad." The betrayal of a trusted adult is a higher order of evil. The circumstances of the alleged event magnify the drama and invite condemnation seasoned with relish. The woman, whose identity is being protected, said the incident occurred at the "Pope's House," a fellowship hall next to the Heart of Fire Church where the well-known Republican was the self-anointed "pope" to his congregation.

Even with all of that, however, didn't Johnson have a right to some sort of dispassionate hearing? It is convenient to think he was too ashamed to withstand what would lie ahead for him. Or, one could believe, as Johnson hoped people would, that things didn't happen as described.

That's the trouble with weighing allegations of years-old behavior in the court of public opinion. Given that the statute of limitations precludes indictments in many of these recent cases, we're left to decide for ourselves whether the accusers are telling the truth -- or enough truth to be convincing.

An accusation isn't a conviction or even an indictment, of course. Yet, the draconian actions we've witnessed as each case comes to light have provided cause for concern even in the most despicable of alleged offenses. We've rather quickly moved away from a society that embraces the suspension of judgment pending a fair trial to one in which subjective opinion -- or fear of financial repercussions -- justifies harsh sentencing.

Why have a jury-trial system at all, if we're comfortable passing judgments derived primarily from common sense-based calculus? This we know about common sense: Everyone considers theirs to be of higher quality than mine or yours. During the past couple of months, we've all become rather expert in dispensing verdicts, which seem to go something like this:

When several women tell similar stories of sordid encounters with the same individual, then we deem the accusations true. This was the case with Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who admitted to some of the charges. When only one accuser is involved, we tend to give the accused some benefit of the doubt. It's when only three or four victims come forward with similar tales that we begin to hear terms such as "credible accusations" or "credibly accused."

"Credible" accusations brought down Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore after The Washington Post conducted an extensive investigation into allegations against him. There's no proof of anything, of course, but there was enough corroboration from other people interviewed to suggest a strong likelihood that the women were truthful.

Even if one believes all the women who have come forward thus far, there's room for some self-doubt in our individual rushes to judgment, as well as our participation in social media's ruthless, often-anonymous dispensations.

We're on new ground these days when everyone occupies a seat of infinite power. Thus, it may be impossible to mitigate the effects of a determined mob, especially given a zeitgeist poised to assume the worst of men and the best of women. This shift in the balance of power may feel justified at some level, but this, too, should give one pause.

Should every man who has ever made an unwelcome advance on a grown woman be ruined? In instances of poor judgement or reckless behavior, is there no punishment short of firing?

It is notable that "shame," so long out of vogue, is in these most modern of times making a comeback, indeed, with a vengeance. Johnson's suicide reminds us that the best of causes conducted without the usual rules of law can lead to disastrous, even fatal, consequences.
Embattled Lancaster County Treasurer Andy Stebbing is touting the results of a private lie-detector test as proof that hes innocent of one of the five felony charges he faces.

Hes pleaded not guilty to all charges, so his trumpeting of the polygraph is no surprise. But, once one looks more deeply into the specifics of the test and the alternatives, Stebbings actions leave one of two troubling conclusions.

In his mind, hes careless. Prosecutors, meanwhile, are building a case to argue he broke the law.

Incompetence and ineptitude are no defense for an elected official. Lancaster County voters elected him to faithfully execute the law, not to profess his inability to pay close enough attention to his positions statutory duties.

The polygraph determined he wasnt being deceptive when he said he didnt write any price on the sales receipt for a truck he sold. Taking that outcome to its logical endgame, the elected official in charge of collecting motor vehicle taxes and registration fees for Nebraskas second most-populous county left a bill of sale mostly blank for a customer to fill out.

State statute doesnt specify which party is responsible for completing the bill of sale. But a county treasurer, of all people, must know that failing to fully populate the fields on that document creates a situation ripe for abuse.

The Nebraska State Patrol investigation turned up two instances where buyers reported paying more than was listed on the bills of sale to dodge sales tax. (Its worth noting that the polygraph, which generally isnt admissible in court, only addressed one of those claims, although Stebbing has volunteered to take a polygraph for the other.) He has also been charged with two counts of filing fraudulent state income taxes and another of selling cars without a license.

All this, of course, preceded news that the state auditor determined much of Stebbings mileage reimbursement during a three-year period lacked proper documentation. The report noted the mileage appeared to be questionable, unreasonable or not supported based on the locations of travel stated on the form.

Again, Stebbing chalked up the problem to his haste; to his credit, he has repaid Lancaster County to cover the cost of the mileage in question. But, again, the negligence hes claiming cant be justified by any elected official.

The Journal Star editorial board already urged Stebbing to resign, given that the nature of the charges against him came in direct conflict with the obligations of his political office. He insists he wont step down and is committed to winning re-election.

Instead, Lancaster County voters will have at least two other options in next springs Republican primary. Rather than re-electing a man whose defense against criminal allegations and job performance is his own inattention, its time to start anew in the treasurers office.
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Rep. Jackie Speier said Friday in an interview with KQED Newsroom that a rumor is going around Capitol Hill alleging Trump plans to fire special counsel Robert Mueller before Christmas.

"The rumor on the Hill when I left yesterday was that the president was going to make a significant speech at the end of next week," Speier told KQED."And on Dec. 22, when we are out of D.C., he was going to fire Robert Mueller."

The House and Senate were last in session Thursday, and will not reconvene until Jan. 3, 2018, according to the House and Senate calendars.

White House special counsel Ty Cobb told CNN Saturday that no such plans exist.

"As the White House has consistently said for months, there is no consideration of firing the special counsel," Cobb said in a statement.

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Now Playing: A new poll finds that a majority of Americans believe President Trump has attempted to interfere with the Russia investigation, with 40 percent of believing Trump has done something illegal with the Russians. For more on the story here is Zachary Devita. Video: Buzz 60

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Trump transition team sent a letter to Congress Saturday alleging Mueller improperly obtained emails as part of the Russia probe that should have remained confidential, Fox News reported.

The letter alleges the General Services Administration handed over tens of thousands of emails records it "did not own or control," the letter says  to the special counsel's office, according to Fox. The GSA is a government agency that provided the transition team with office space and hosted its email servers.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, whose district covers most of eastern Alameda County, called the criticisms of the investigation "baloney."

"'Private documents' on a US Government, public email system? What are they afraid was found?" Swalwell wrote on Twitter. "This is another attempt to discredit Mueller as his #TrumpRussia probe tightens."

Despite Cobb's denial that any plans to fire Mueller are under consideration, several Democrats from California's congressional delegation voiced concerns about the possibility on Twitter Friday and Saturday.

"The attacks on Mueller, DOJ and FBI this week make it clear they plan to go after Mueller's investigation," Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee wrote on Twitter Friday. "Aggressively and soon."

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter.
SANTIAGO, Chile  Billionaire Sebastian Pinera once looked set to easily win Chiles presidential runoff and swing the country back to the right. Now, the elections outcome is so uncertain analysts say the nation could remain on its center-left path.

Pinera, who previously governed Chile from 2010 to 2014, won the first round of voting in November with 36 percent support, below expectations from pollsters. His center-left challenger Sen. Alejandro Guillier garnered 22 percent. Pineras failure to get an outright majority forced Sundays runoff between the two candidates, the top vote-getters in a crowded field.

Polls are banned in the weeks ahead of the election, but analysts say it appears the race is now up for grabs.

What it is showing, though, is that theres practically a tie between the two of them, said Javier Sajuria, a lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University of London.

Pinera oversaw annual economic growth averaging 5.3 percent during his first term. But the 68-year-old conservative struggled to deal with massive protests over inequality and education rights and left office with low popularity ratings.

Since (Guillier) is not very popular, he has tried to turn the election into a referendum on Pinera. As a former president, Pinera has high negatives, said political scientist Patricio Navia of New York University.

Even so, an economic slump in the worlds top copper-producing nation under outgoing, center-left President Michelle Bachelet seemed to have cast a retrospective glow over Pinera leading up to the first round.

But in recent weeks the race has polarized, with Pinera comparing Guillier to Nicolas Maduro, the president of crisis-riddled Venezuela, a scare tactic that seems to have backfired.

In fact, it seems to have activated voters in the Broad Front (hard-left coalition) who began to endorse Guillier, said Kenneth Bunker, director of the electorate program at Chiles Central University.

Pinera promises to launch an aggressive investment plan to combat the slowdown that has seen growth average about 1.8 percent annually under Bachelet. The Harvard-educated entrepreneur is also proposing to cut taxes on business to promote growth.

Guillier, a 64-year-old journalist, has vowed to continue Bachelets plan to increase corporate taxes to partly pay for an education overhaul, improvements to the pension and health care system and the development of alternative sources of energy.

Eva Vergara is an Associated Press writer.
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JAKARTA, Indonesia  Muslim clerics called for a boycott of American products Sunday in Indonesias largest protest against President Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Wearing white robes and carrying banners reading Indonesia unites for Palestine and Save our Palestine, an estimated 80,000 people rallied in the capital of the worlds largest Muslim nation on the 10th straight day of protests.

Anwar Abbas, a top cleric from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American products until Trump revoked his move.

Dont rely on their products, he said, as the crowd including men, women and children responded by waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouting boycott!

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the protesters marched peacefully almost 2 miles from the National Monument Park to the U.S. Embassy. Some local media reported the number of the demonstrators was double the police estimate. About 20,000 security forces were deployed to secure the rally.

In the petition, the clerics urged Trump to immediately revoke his recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital because it has hurt international justice, violated human rights of the Palestinians and undermined peace efforts. It also demanded nations not follow the U.S. in moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The chairman of the clerics council, Maruf Amin, said lets fight together with the government and the world for the freedom of Palestine through political, diplomatic and economic ways.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo has strongly condemned Trumps move as a violation of U.N. resolutions.

Trumps announcement overturned decades of U.S. policy, and an international consensus, that the fate of Jerusalem be decided as a part of a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians.

Niniek Karmini is an Associated Press writer.
NEW DELHI  Rahul Gandhi, the scion of Indias most famous political dynasty, took over as president of the main opposition Congress party on Saturday while facing a stiff challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Hindu nationalists.

Gandhi, who took the mantle from his mother, Sonia Gandhi, at a party function, takes over the leadership of a party that has been losing power to Modis Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014. Gandhis party has suffered humiliating defeats in recent state elections despite his active campaigning to win back support.

In a speech, Sonia Gandhi described her son as a new hope for the Congress as party workers danced, lit firecrackers and distributed Indian sweets to celebrate the generational shift in the leadership.

Gandhi, 47, will be taking on Modi when the prime minister seeks a second five-year term in 2019. Modi has vowed to create a Congress-free India while working for the rise of Hindu nationalist forces.

In his speech, Gandhi described himself as an idealist and said Indian people were becoming disillusioned by policies pursued by the Modi government.

He said the Congress party, which had ruled India for decades, took the country into the 21st century through modernization and development. He accused Modi of taking India to a medieval path where people are butchered because who they are, beaten for what they believe in and killed for what they eat.

The Congress will take on this challenge and will never back down, he said.

Gandhi was referring to killings and attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept national elections in 2014. Most of the violence against Muslims has involved fringe Hindu vigilante groups that have become active in small towns and cities across India. Muslims make up about 14 percent of Indias 1.3 billion people and Hindus about 80 percent.

Gandhi is the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead Congress. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, grandmother Indira Gandhi and great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru have all served as prime minister since Indias independence from British colonialists in 1947. Rahul Gandhi entered politics in 2004.

Gandhi was elevated as the partys vice president in January 2013, serving as his mothers No. 2. Sonia Gandhi, 71, stepped down on Saturday as the partys longest-serving chief, leading the party for 19 years.

Ashok Sharma is an Associated Press writer.
MEXICO CITY  Thousands of protesters marched against it. Hundreds of human rights groups implored lawmakers to reject it. Even the United Nations warned of its dangers.

But Mexicos Congress has approved the Law of Internal Security, which gives the military broad new powers and solidifies its central role in the countrys drug war. President Enrique Pena Nieto is expected to sign the legislation despite criticism that it could fuel more violence.

In many ways, the measure that passed Friday enshrines into law what has been happening in practice for more than a decade.

It was late 2006 when then-President Felipe Calderon launched Mexicos war on drugs by sending thousands of troops to his home state of Michoacan, where powerful cartels were battling for turf. Military officers were regarded as less corrupt than poorly trained local and state police forces, some of whom collaborated with criminal groups, and in the subsequent years many thousands more soldiers and marines were deployed across the country.

The strategy has continued under the current president. Military officers patrol streets, operate checkpoints and detain suspects. But all this time, the military hasnt had legal authority to carry out law enforcement inside Mexicos borders.

The new law formally allows the president to deploy federal troops for military operations inside Mexico without the approval of Congress. The deployments are for up to one year but can be extended as many times as necessary. The law also defines domestic law enforcement as a national defense issue, meaning information about military operations could be classified as secret.

Human rights advocates say that instead of solidifying the presence of armed forces on Mexican streets, lawmakers should focus on initiatives to strengthen and professionalize Mexicos civilian police forces.

Soldiers should not be out patrolling city streets trying to investigate and prevent crimes, said Maureen Meyer of the think tank Washington Office on Latin America. Those are tasks for well-trained, professionalized police forces and a functional justice system.

Protesters marching in several large demonstrations against the law in recent weeks have pointed to the militarys role in rights violations, including documented cases of soldiers raping, torturing and carrying out execution-style killings. There are also questions over the armys failure to stop the disappearance of 43 students near a military base in 2014.

Between January 2012 and August 2016, there were 5,541 complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces registered with the National Human Rights Commission. Only about 6 percent of those complaints resulted in criminal trials.

Jose Maria Tapia Franc, a senator from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, said he voted for the law to give certainty to the armed forces.

It is absolutely false that this law is the militarization of the country, he said in a radio interview. The focus is on supporting local forces.

He said he wondered what critics of the law would do if overnight the armed forces returned to their barracks and left the population unprotected?

But critics of the new law question whether it will actually be effective at reducing violence.

Eleven years into the drug war, Mexico is on track to record more homicides in 2017 than in any year since authorities began publishing statistics 20 years ago. Officials say 2,371 homicide investigations were opened in October, making it Mexicos most murderous month on record.

The explosion in violence comes in part as a result of the militarys kingpin strategy. One by one, powerful drug lords, including Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, have been taken into custody or killed. The strategy unleashed a wave of bloodshed as would-be kingpins fought for control of the cartels.

Kate Linthicum is a Los Angeles Times writer.
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JOHANNESBURG  The vote to choose the next president of South Africas ruling African National Congress will be finished Monday after the party officially nominated two candidates to lead Nelson Mandelas historic liberation movement.

After a rocky start to the gathering, two candidates accepted the partys nomination for president on Sunday: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former African Union commission chair and the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma; and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a wealthy businessman who has been increasingly critical of the president.

Voting among the more than 4,700 delegates got off to such a late start Sunday that it was postponed until Monday morning, an ANC official said.

The ANCs new leader is likely to become South Africas next president. More than 4,700 ANC delegates have gathered on the outskirts of Johannesburg to vote for a new party leader as Zumas two terms as head of the party come to an end.

The nominees for deputy president are David Mabuza and Lindiwe Sisulu.

Though either presidential candidate could still prevail, Ramaphosa had the edge after the nominations were announced, with the backing of 1,469 ANC branches, compared to Dlamini-Zumas 1,094. The Saturday night endorsement of Ramaphosa by Baleka Mbete, the partys outgoing national chairwoman and a Zuma ally, also fueled speculation that the race may be swinging in the deputy presidents favor.

The mood at the party conclave, held once every five years, was jubilant on Saturday as delegates arrived at a conference center in buses, clad in the ANCs yellow and green colors. However disagreements quickly erupted over the legitimacy of some delegate groups. By midday Sunday, the credential process was resolved.

The ANCs reputation has taking a beating during Zumas scandal-ridden tenure, causing rifts that threaten to split Africas oldest liberation party. Keeping the ANC together has been a key talking point at the gathering.

In all its manifestations, factionalism has become the biggest threat to the organization, Zuma said in a tepidly received speech at the opening of the conference. Unity is what will make the ANC and South Africa succeed.

Under Zuma, unemployment has risen to nearly 30 percent and economic growth has slumped, briefly dipping into recession this year. More than 55 percent of the country lives below the poverty line.

Ramaphosa has pledged to crack down on corruption and stimulate the economy. Dlamini-Zuma, a doctor and former government minister, has promised to bring more black South Africans into the fold through radical economic transformation.

Krista Mahr is an Associated Press writer.
TOKYO  Sanctions aimed at punishing the North Korean government are hampering the ability of aid groups to operate inside the country, triggering warnings that the international campaign is harming ordinary North Koreans.

Difficulties in obtaining supplies, including medical equipment, and in transferring money to fund aid programs could have a direct impact on health and nutrition levels throughout North Korea, they say.

We need to deal with the nuclear problem, but we need to properly ponder our means for achieving that goal, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N.s special rapporteur on North Korean human rights, said in an interview in Tokyo.

About 70 percent of the North Korean population is already categorized as food insecure, meaning constantly struggling against hunger, and one in four childrens growth is stunted.

The sanctions could increase the levels of food insecurity and the incidence of acute malnutrition among children.

These are not just statistics. This is reality in the DPRK, Quintana said, using the acronym for North Koreas official name. Its my responsibility to remind the Security Council that they should develop a comprehensive assessment of the possible impact of their sanctions. What is the concrete impact on humanitarian agencies working inside North Korea?

The U.N.s World Food Program, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the U.N. Development Program all have operations in North Korea. A small number of American and other humanitarian agencies provide food, medical and agricultural assistance from bases outside the country.

But the waves of multilateral and direct American sanctions that have been imposed on Kim Jong Uns regime following its missile launches and nuclear tests have now made operations so difficult that some agencies are pulling out. Save the Children has shut down its operations in Pyongyang, billing the move as a temporary suspension.

U.S. and international humanitarian NGOs working in North Korea are experiencing death by a thousand cuts, said Keith Luse, executive director of the National Committee on North Korea based in Washington, which includes many humanitarian agencies among its members.

These sanctions were not intended for them, but they have ended up being victims of the international sanctions regime, Luse said.

The difficulties have mounted as the crackdown has broadened from smart sanctions designed to cut off parts and funding for the nuclear weapons program to more general measures that are starting to look like a trade embargo.

President Trump has vowed to use maximum pressure to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.

Sanctions imposed in September through the U.N. Security Council, at the United States instigation, banned North Korean exports of seafood, garments and coal, adding to previous prohibitions on commodities.

The South Korean government, which has vowed not to let political considerations affect humanitarian decisions, has not delivered on its September pledge to give $8 million to the World Food Program and UNICEF for children and pregnant women.

Seoul was still in consultation with the two agencies, said unification ministry spokeswoman Choi Ji-Seon.

Anna Fifield is a Washington Post writer.
HIRES, APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS: Attorney Angela Shin has joined Jeffrey Leavell S.C. as an associate in its civil trial and litigation practice. She was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in 2017, having graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2017. Shin is also admitted to the practice of law in the federal Eastern district and Western District of Wisconsin.

Sales associate Julie Algrim has joined the Shorewest Realtors Racine office located at 1557 S. Green Bay Road.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Merchants Delivery Moving & Storage received national certification as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Womens Business Development Center of Chicago, Ill., a regional certifying partner of the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Kane Communications Group, a southeastern Wisconsin-based strategic communications firm, has been recognized with the 2017 Platinum Award for Strategic and Integrated Communications from the MarCom Awards, an international competition recognizing excellence in marketing and communications. Kane received the highest honor possible for demonstrating excellence in quality, creativity and resourcefulness for its Nurse Recruitment Campaign for Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.

Compiled by Sharon Knox

Business anniversaries

Is your business celebrating an anniversary? The Journal Times publishes short news items of 10th, 25th, 50th and greater multiples of 25 years of Racine County-based companies.

We ask you to provide us with the basic information: when the business started; the founder; its location then and now; the original name if different than todays; and what the business did in the beginning and now.

We will include these in the Names and Faces column or use them as stand-alone news items in our Sunday Money section.

Send your items to Michael Burke at: mburke@journaltimes.com, or to Sharon Knox at: sknox@journaltimes.com, or fax them to 262-631-1780. Please provide a contact name and phone number in case we have questions.
Indian nationals DO NOT need visa for traveling to Nepal!

Magical Himalayas in Nepal!

Things to keep in mind for Nepal travel

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Visa exemption for all SAARC countries

Visa-on-arrival process for non-SAARC countries

Thats one question I often saw being discussed in many online forums when I did a bit of research before my recent visit to Nepal. I was a little surprised because there is absolutely no ambiguity about visa requirements for Indians traveling to Nepal. I travelled so often to our Himalayan neighbour as a kid when I didn't even have a passport, but this research did teach me a few interesting and important things. However, before everything else:However, there are a few important things to know if you are planning to visit Nepal, for tourism or for business.Indians do not need visa to visit Nepal, but we need documentation to make a visit. Currently two documents are considered valid to give access:If you are flying out from India, your passport will get stamped at the airport so you do need to pass through immigration check. The process is swift and smooth, but requires either of the above two documents.At the time of entry to Nepal through an airport, like Kathmandu, heres the process you need to follow:- fill the foreign national form. I was in Nepal for work as well as travel, so ticked them both off. However, I don't think it matters much for us Indians, we will be granted entry nevertheless.- no need to stand in the queue for visa - there is a separate counter (its not marked and is located next to the counter for Diplomatic visa counter on far right) where you can go and submit the form, give your passport, get it stamped and you will be allowed to enter Nepal.- if you are traveling with your Voter ID, you need to show that along with the form- its a fairly simple and quick process and should take minutes unless there are many Indian nationals coming together.Back in the days when I lived on the Indian side of the border, the process used to be much simpler. None of us had a passport or a Voter ID and were not even asked to enter our names when entering via road. Of course, thats past and border controls have only become tighter now.Apart from India, tourist visa requirement is waved off for travellers from the other SAARC countries as well. These are. In this regard, Nepal has one of the most generous visa regimes.If you are not an Indian and eligible for visa-on-arrival, the procedure is a bit different. Heres what you need to do:1. Fill the foreign national form2. Fill an online form with passport details3. Stand in the queue to pay the visa fee4. At the immigration counter, the visa fee receipt will be checked, visa will be granted and passport stamped. Unlike us Indians, you will get a nice Nepalese visa on your passport.If you are an Indian and planning to get a passport to explore the world, heres your guide -
SOMERS  During Saturdays University of Wisconsin-Parkside winter commencement ceremony, speaker George Mehaffy advised graduates to commit to lifelong learning.

You will simply have to continue to learn in order to compete, said Mehaffy, vice president for academic leadership and change at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

He told the graduates to brace themselves for the change theyll see in technology over the course of their working lives. Many of the jobs theyll do in the future dont yet exist, Mehaffy said.

Here is a closer look at three Racine residents who were part of the winter 2017 graduating class.

Jessica Diaz

Jessica Diaz, 32, graduated with a degree in political science with a law concentration. Diaz grew up in Kenosha but has spent most of her adult life in Racine. She was inspired to go back to school by her boss at Cabranes Law, 840 Lake Ave., Racine, where shes worked for the past 11 years.

Her ultimate goal is to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then return to Racine to practice immigration and criminal law.

Its primarily because Im an immigrant, Diaz said.

She came to the United States from Mexico when she was 6.

I want to be that advocate for the community, she said.

She feels theres a huge need for representation in the local immigrant community and believes she can better accomplish this with a law degree.

When Diaz first started classes at Parkside, she wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible.

She soon realized that involvement on campus enhanced her studies as well as her life in general, and she ended up being the president of the student body as well as Hispanic outreach coordinator for the college of social sciences.

The campus kind of grew on me, she said.

Jeremiah Van Offeren

Jeremiah Van Offeren, 39, graduated with a degree in computer science. Van Offeren grew up in Racine and graduated from Walden High School. After that, he served as an intelligence analyst in the Wisconsin National Guard for six years. He later received a medical discharge due to a back injury.

He decided to go back to school after being laid off from his welding job at Caterpillar in Oak Creek, where hed worked for seven years.

The decision to work with computers seemed obvious, as hed taken to building his own. He became interested in the subject after taking a basic coding class at Starbuck Middle School.

Ive always had a passion for computers, Van Offeren said.

While at Parkside, he took part in the schools App Factory program, which he said helped him realize how capable he is.

I know I can succeed, he said.

The App Factory is a student internship project that Van Offeren was involved in for three years. During these internships, students build apps for real-world clients.

The students are in charge of the projects and communicate directly with the clients. The professors are just there to guide them.

It gives students a huge advantage, he said.

Van Offeren said his classes and his internship taught him how to learn, so he can keep up with new developments in his industry.

After spending some time with his family, Van Offeren hopes to obtain a mobile app development job somewhere between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Desarae Saffold

Desarae Saffold, 22, graduated with a degree in applied health science, with a concentration in pre-public health. She minored in both psychology and health communications. Saffold grew up in Racine and graduated from Horlick High School.

In her first year at Parkside, Saffold immediately declared a biology and pre-medicine major, as she intended to become a pediatrician.

But during her second semester at the school, she received her first F grade ever, in a chemistry class.

Saffold  a low-income student who attended the school on grants and scholarships  was given a warning that she could lose her financial aid due to the grade.

I realized I had to get my stuff together, she said.

She re-took the class and passed it, then changed her major to nursing. But after a year, she still felt out of place. After talking it over with faculty, students, staff and advisers, she decided to change her major to applied health science, with the intention of working in the public health field.

I fell in love with public health, she said.

She also got more involved on campus, working as a peer mentor, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and serving as the secretary of the Black Student Union, among other things.

She ended up graduating in 4 years, even after changing her major and having two minors.

Next, she plans to apply to graduate school at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, Ill., to get a masters degree in health administration.

It feels like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders, she said, of being finished with school for the moment.

Graduation numbers

With about the same number of students as last years winter graduation, 367 students were eligible to walk in the ceremony on Saturday.

Parkside has graduated more students in the past 10 years than it has in any previous 10-year period, according to John Mielke, director of strategic communications at the school.
It turns out the City of Milwaukee could leap-frog Franklin and Oak Creek and annex land in the Town of Yorkville  provided Yorkville and Racine County agree to the annexation.

Good luck with that.

While Milwaukee Alderman Robert Baumans idea for his city to get a piece of the Foxconn action is both half-baked  when he told a Journal Times reporter hes not an annexation expert, we had no trouble believing him  and far-fetched, we do think we understand where hes coming from.

We either transport our workers from Milwaukee, or the workers from Milwaukee will relocate to Racine, Bauman said. One of those two things has to happen for the public to benefit from this $3 billion taxpayer investment. Hes referring to the $3 billion in incentives that the state gave to Foxconn to locate in Wisconsin.

On that  the idea that Wisconsin residents should benefit from Wisconsin taxpayer investment in the Foxconn project  we are in complete agreement with Alderman Bauman.

Ideally, current Racine County residents would be employed in connection with Foxconn, either in the construction of the massive plant which is poised to dominate the Village of Mount Pleasant or within the plant itself.

Idealistic and realistic are rarely, if ever, the same thing. The reality is that some of those jobs will go to people from outside the county, and from outside the state: Its easy to envision prospective employees paying at a tollbooth or two on their way up Interstate 94 to interview at Foxconn.

Thats fine. Foxconn is going to take qualified applicants, regardless of where theyre living on the day of the interview.

We accept that not all of the jobs will go to current Racine County or Wisconsin residents. But we do want to see as many Foxconn employees as possible become Wisconsin residents  Racine County residents, specifically  if they arent on the day they take the job.

Were optimistic that will happen.

Last month, Milwaukee-based Blue Ribbon Management announced plans to build a five-story, approximately 80-unit apartment building here in anticipation of Foxconn creating more demand for housing. Its to be located on 3.4 acres of vacant land at the northeastern corner of Highway 20 and South Fancher Road (Highway H), with rezoning from business park zoning to multifamily.

The village lacks the modern, market-rate multifamily housing built in nearby communities, and upcoming development trends may exacerbate this lack of supply, Mount Pleasant Planner Robin Palm wrote in the staff recommendation for Blue Ribbon Managements rezoning request.

Were certain that many of the 13,000 plant employees and some of the 10,000 construction employees will be looking to live close to the workplace.

That, in turn, makes us confident that the Blue Ribbon housing development is only the first related to Foxconn coming to Mount Pleasant and its adjacent communities, and that the bulk of the Foxconn jobs will go to Wisconsin residents, present or future.
Ryanair Holdings pilots got an unexpected Christmas present when Europe's biggest low-cost carrier agreed to recognise their labour unions. Investors are the ones paying for it.

The move, which chief executive Michael O'Leary had previously said wouldn't happen before "hell would freeze over", was aimed at averting the first-ever walkout by employees. Ryanair stock fell 9 per cent, the most since June last year, as shareholders digested the potential for higher labour costs at the notoriously tight-fisted airline.

CEO Michael O'Leary's Ryanair has acted to reduce the threat of further disruption during the busy holiday season by agreeing to recognise pilots' labour unions. Credit:Aidan Crawley

The Irish carrier, which had already cancelled some 20,000 flights since September because of botched planning for crew vacations, said it acted to reduce the threat of further disruption during the busy holiday season.

"If unionisation is what we need to do not to have disruptions for our customers, then we're going to do it," Edward Wilson, chief people officer at Ryanair, said. Pilot unions in Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Spain had called for strikes in coming days.
All of a sudden, we came to a screeching halt. The security guard who was stationed outside my front door ran towards me, flung open the car door and hastily ushered me inside the house.

I was completely unaware that we had been followed.

Ruth Jebb, a nurse and Australian Red Cross aid worker.

As is the way with events like this, the memory remains blurry. Only a few details stand out. The sound of gunshots, the radio call instructing us to move to the safe room. The feeling of confusion and fear. The Kalashnikov that was held to my driver's head.

It had started out just like any other day. I was working in Darfur, Sudan, co-ordinating a Red Cross nutrition program for the thousands of malnourished Darfurians who had found themselves without homes or food due to the ongoing violence that had ravaged the country for five long years.
ReachTEL asked for statewide One Nation support, while Newspoll and Galaxy only asked in the 61 (out of 93) seats One Nation contested. ReachTEL may have been close had One Nation contested all seats. Newspoll was very close on all primary votes, while Galaxy was a little high on the major parties, and a little low on the Greens and One Nation.

Kevin Bonham estimated Labor won 51.2 per cent of the two-party vote, virtually unchanged on 2015. A poll result within one point of the actual outcome is in bold.

The table below shows the final three Queensland election polls, and how they compare with the election results.

Tim Colebatch wrote in Inside Story that One Nation preferences flowed to the LNP at a 65 per cent rate, while Greens preferences went to Labor at a 76 per cent rate.

This data is based on the distribution of preferences, which includes preferences from other candidates in the One Nation and Greens totals. It is likely the flow from One Nation primary votes to the LNP was higher than 65 per cent, and the flow from Greens primary votes to Labor was higher than 76 per cent.

I believe Newspoll and Galaxy expected a One Nation flow to the LNP of about 60 per cent, while ReachTEL used respondent-allocated preferences. The final ReachTEL poll was thus better than Newspoll or Galaxy on two-party-preferred terms. However, earlier ReachTEL polls consistently had the LNP ahead by 52-48, before the final poll became more in line with Newspoll and Galaxy.

Thirty one per cent of overall votes were won by parties other than the big two, but Colebatch says One Nation and Greens preferences effectively cancelled each other out.

Eighty four of the 93 seats went to the primary vote leader. Of the other nine, Labor lost three it led on primary votes, but won four it trailed on. The LNP lost two seats to the Greens and Katters Australian Party that it led on primary votes.
Labor may have to fight as many as four more byelections in early 2018, after John Alexander's victory in the crucial Bennelong byelection restored Malcolm Turnbull's one-seat majority.

The victory in Bennelong also makes it more likely Mr Turnbull will reshuffle his front bench later this week, though after the release of the mid-year budget update on Monday that will show the federal deficit will be $23 billion lower than forecast by 2021.

Lower house MP David Feeney was referred to the High Court over his possible dual UK-Australian citizenship earlier this month. Now that the government has its one-seat majority in Parliament again, it has the numbers to refer Labor MPs Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Josh Wilson to the court.
"I think we have a problem with minorities in general in France," she said in one interview this year after her book was published.

But it is because of this view, Deydier argues in her book, that fat people  and especially fat women  are stigmatised in French society. She cites multiple personal experiences with discrimination in the workplace and says she has even had trouble finding long-term accommodation as a result of irregular work.

According to a 2017 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, drawing on data up to 2015, only 15.3 per cent of the French population is obese, compared with 26.9 per cent and 38.2 per cent of the British and American populations, respectively. The predominant view in Paris is that you are born thin, and if you do your job right, nothing will ever change.

Obesity is far less visible here in the French capital than it is in much of the United States or Britain.

"We say we are politically correct, but in fact we are not at all. The biggest problem is that people generally do not consider fat phobia to be on the same level as other discriminations because they think that if someone is fat, it's their fault and that they should change."

This is especially the case for French women, Deydier says, who live in a society with an aggressive ideal of femininity.

"There is this feeling that women have to be perfect in every way," she said.

But this standard of French femininity is known far outside France. In the United States, for example, books such as French Women Don't Get Fat are periodic bestsellers. In fact, myths such as that of the lithe, stylish French woman and her perfect body are part of the rhetoric that is most often used to shame American women, said Jes Baker, an American blogger and body activist who also spoke in Paris on Friday.

"Fat is not wrong," she said. "What is wrong is the way we address fat. It's time for change, and this conversation is happening all over the world."
Police have set up a critical incident team to investigate the death of an 18-year-old man at a music festival in Sydney's west on Saturday night, after he tripped and suffered head injuries in the fall.

Police were told the man was running on Riverina Avenue in Homebush shortly after 10.30pm on Saturday when he tripped over the feet of some people sitting on the ground.

It appears the man was attending Knockout Circuz, a popular musical festival held at Sydney Showground on Saturday night.

Security guards assisted the man, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, after he sustained head injuries in the fall.

The 18-year-old then became violent towards security guards, prompting police to be called to the scene.
John Tate II is an exceptional candidate to represent Racine in the assembly. John was raised in Racine and earned his degrees from Marquette and Loyola universities studying social work. Since then, he has committed his life to service in our community. As a social worker, John understands through direct experience, not in the abstract, the struggles and needs of working families and the most vulnerable among us. John has worked with youth and their families to make sure they have every opportunity to succeed. It is critical that we have a representative who understands the way Wisconsin will move ahead is by making sure our young people have a quality education and access to family-supporting employment after their schooling. John will fight for our public schools and training programs that will make Racine stronger.
A teenager has been charged after an alleged confrontation and stabbing at a Brisbane ferry terminal on Saturday night.

It will be alleged a 27-year-old man was boarding a ferry at Kangaroo Point with a group of people when an argument broke out with a 19-year-old man, who was getting off the ferry with a female.

Police will allege the disagreement happened about 6.15pm at the Thornton Street Terminal and that the two groups were not known to each other.

During the confrontation, the older man was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen by the teenager.

He was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, according to a Queensland Police Service spokesman.
"There's a cultural shift that's happened over the last few years. People are getting used to strangers' cars and through Airbnb, strangers' houses. People are more comfortable with someone coming into their home," she says. "Life is becoming more busy and people are looking for convenience. There is definitely a need for time saving. There's a natural need for convenience and we solve that for people who don't have the time to get out." Fabiola Gomez is the founder of Luxit. The pair have faced challenges along the way, particularly as neither has a technical background. "Technology is developing so rapidly you have to be so on top of your game," says Silvers. Founder and chief executive Jenene Crossan of Flossie.

They have worked hard to hire a strong team and a watershed moment was appearing on Shark Tank. Glamazon secured investment of $250,000 which Silvers and Maree declined after receiving an offer of $500,000 but the real benefit was in the time spent with the sharks and the publicity boost. The Shark Tank episode aired in July and in the month that followed, Glamazon experienced 300 per cent revenue growth and now turns over just shy of $1 million a year with a business valuation of $4.6 million. "I would highly advise any business that is not seeing growth to utilise the platform," says Silvers. "We were so grateful for that experience. It was really the catalyst for our major growth in 2017. It was not only consumers but also freelance beauty professionals watching and then applying to be stylists, so it really helped both sides of our market." Glamazon makes its money by taking a commission on each booking of between 20 and 25 per cent.

The app now has 700 hair and makeup artists signed up across Australia and 35,000 users serviced by a team of eight staff. "We want to conquer Australia and be a household name in Australian homes and we are also looking internationally at global markets," says Silvers. Luxit Glamazon's major competitor is Luxit which was founded by former lawyer and fashion industry veteran Fabiola Gomez almost two years ago. "From those two worlds I was getting a lot of inquiries from friends and family of 'Do you know someone who can come to my house?' and I became the go-to person," says Gomez. "I realised there was a need for an on-demand platform for stylists and makeup artists. It was a combination of corporate world combining with the fashion and beauty industry."

Gomez used "a good deposit on an Eastern suburbs home" to start Luxit, which now turns over "just under" $1 million a year and employs six staff. Luxit takes an average of 20 per cent commission on bookings and Gomez says her clients value the convenience of the app. "Convenience is the new black," she says. "There are all these apps coming on board you can order anything now from an app." Gomez says she is targeting a different clientele to Glamazon. "I think there is enough room for us both," she says. "The average age of our customer is about 40. We are tapping into the corporate space and our price point is higher and I'm ok with that."

Flossie A third major player in the beauty services market is about to enter the Australian market with the launch in 2018 of New Zealand startup Flossie. The app focuses on salons rather than the at-home market, offering the ability to book appointments at a curated list of hair and beauty salons. Founder and chief executive Jenene Crossan says the app aims to fill the spare capacity in salons and turned over $2.5 million last year. "It's a continuous learn-and-evolve kind of product and we run it from MVP [minimum viable product]," she says. "Capital raising in the beauty industry is very difficult. Typically investors are male, as much as that saddens me. It's been really challenging."

Crossan says there are a lot of similarities between the Australian and New Zealand markets which she hopes will ensure Flossie's success. "There is a pretty similar structure in the service industry," she says. "They have a problem with the changing consumer who is no longer booking six weeks in advance and wants to book very last minute, so they are having to shift to do be a pre-sale business." Flossie takes between a 5 per cent and 20 per cent commission on transactions depending on factors such as the salon's rebooking rate and performance. "We really specialise in the last-minute stuff," she says. "The goal is to merchandise the industry in a way that it has never been merchandised before. We don't just show you pictures of chairs in a salon on the app, we show you the outcome." Flossie will go to market with a minimum of 100 Australian salons on board but hopes to eventually sign up almost 2000.
The Age contacted Cr Doyle at 8:15am on Sunday, but did not receive a response until he tweeted his public statement at 1pm. Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle speaks at the opening of the 2013 Melbourne Writers Festival, Melbourne Town Hall, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013. (AAP Image/Paul Jeffers) NO ARCHIVING AAP Credit:Paul Jeffers This alleged incident was said to have been witnessed by another person at the meeting. On Sunday, this person confirmed to The Age that they had seen the lord mayor grasp this woman's leg. They had later asked the woman why she did not "call out" Cr Doyle for his alleged behaviour. Ms Sullivan's complaint on Friday included a statement from the second woman, and a supporting statement from Ms Sullivan's friend Alicia Chisholm, a lawyer, who was present when Ms Sullivan disclosed the allegations in front of a fellow councillor at a social event. In a statement on Sunday, council chief executive Ben Rimmer said he had commissioned an independent external investigation of these matters, led by Dr Ian Freckelton, QC, in accordance with natural justice principles.

"These allegations are very serious, and if proven, would be inconsistent with the values of the city and the organisation. Therefore it is very important that these matters are thoroughly investigated." In a statement to The Age on Sunday, Ms Sullivan said: "Sexual harassment and indecent assault of women is unacceptable. I encourage women in politics to make a stand against such acts." "I felt isolated for so long, I hope other women will feel strong enough to come forward, too. There needs to be a better system in place to protect women from such violations of safety, and a greater collective effort to ensure that this culture is eradicated." Ms Sullivan's friend Jacqui Siebel, who works at a community legal centre, has confirmed to The Age she was present as a support person to Ms Sullivan on Friday when Ms Sullivan lodged her complaint against Cr Doyle. Ms Siebel confirmed that Ms Sullivan lodged a complaint against Cr Doyle, alleging sexual harassment and indecent assault.

"Tessa was understandably upset," Ms Siebel said. "Because of the conduct, she was left to feel powerless. However, I consider her to be incredibly brave." Tessa Sullivan, who resigned as a councillor on Friday. Credit:Melbourne City Council Ms Sullivan joined the "Team Doyle" ticket for the 2016 elections. Cr Doyle would allegedly compliment Ms Sullivan, comment on her clothing, hug and kiss her, and display overt affection in a way that she felt was not appropriate in a workplace. Councillors meet for drinks together at Town Hall after council meetings on Tuesday nights, and on occasion Ms Sullivan would get a lift home from Cr Doyle and his driver. Cr Doyle would be dropped off at his home first, and then Ms Sullivan.

On a Tuesday night in May this year, Cr Doyle exited the car at his address and, it is alleged, opened the door to the back seat where Ms Sullivan was sitting. He allegedly put an arm around her neck and then grabbed her breast with his other hand. She slapped away his hand, it is alleged. In October this year, Ms Sullivan accompanied Cr Doyle to the lift at Town Hall after a council meeting, and said she would go down [in the lift] with him. He allegedly replied, "Will you just?" and then allegedly said, "I love cunnilingus." The councillors noticed that Ms Sullivan was tearful the next day, and asked her what was wrong. She did not divulge the alleged sexual harassment at that time.

She later confided Cr Doyle's alleged behaviour to her friend Ms Chisholm (who gave a supporting statement to council on Friday), and a number of her fellow councillors. She asked them not to reveal the allegations. One councillor told Ms Sullivan that Cr Doyle had allegedly commented on Ms Sullivan's breasts, saying they had become smaller. The Age has been told Ms Sullivan lost a considerable amount of weight in the past six months and has appeared anxious and unhappy, in contrast to her usual positive outlook. Ms Sullivan is a lawyer, working in the areas of commercial and family law and speaks four languages. She is married and has three children. Cr Doyle, 64, is married and has four children. He was elected lord mayor in 2008 and is a former state opposition leader.

Council chief executive Mr Rimmer, is a "Male Champion of Change", part of a national program that encourages male leaders of major organisations to take a stand against gender harassment and violence. All council staff recently received an email from Mr Rimmer stating that he wanted Town Hall to feel like a place where all employees felt safe and supported, and all employees would have to take compulsory training on gender equality and family violence. Now that Ms Sullivan has resigned, Team Doyle candidate Beverley Pinder-Mortimer is likely to be elected in her place, retaining the Team Doyle majority on the council. Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz's spokeswoman described the allegations as "extremely serious". She said the government fully supported the independent investigation into the matter. Councillor Arron Wood will be acting lord mayor while Cr Doyle takes leave.
Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a home in Melbourne's west on Sunday morning.

Homicide and forensic teams cordoned off a house on Norwood St, Albion, after discovering the body shortly before 10am.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said on Sunday evening the man was yet be identified and the cause of death was still being investigated.


Berlin: Austria's far-Right party secured its return to power on Saturday, with an incoming minister insisting that "nobody has anything to fear".

Herbert Kickl, a senior figure in the far-Right Freedom Party, will take over the interior ministry, with the anti-immigration party also taking the defence and foreign ministries.

Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Freedom Party. Credit:Lisi Niesner

Sebastian Kurz, 31, of the conservative People's Party will become the world's youngest leader. He stressed that the new government, to be sworn in next week, was pro-EU, although he said Brussels should have less say in national affairs.

"We have agreed a clear pro-EU stance with the aim of boosting subsidiarity in the EU," Mr Kurz told a news conference, favouring an EU that is "stronger in big questions and which should step back on smaller issues". Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the Freedom Party (FPO) who will be the country's new vice-chancellor, promised there would be no referendum on Austria's EU membership.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and Carib Beer call on companies and NGOs to send in events they are planning for 2018 for their National Event Calendar. By launching the calendar three months after hurricane Irma, partners seek to promote events to show Sint Maarten again is a vibrant place and recovering from the devastation. This year, special emphasis goes out to NGOs and small-scale community events.

In 2016, SHTA launched its 2017 national calendar experiment. Inspiring design by local artist Loic Bryan encouraged showcasing of the poster in many public spaces. Next to a distribution campaign, the calendars were part of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and the Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) goodie bags. Next to deliberate dispersion, the poster was downloaded hundreds of times in the past year and was even requested to be sent to other countries, such as Aruba, the United States, and the Netherlands. Last but not least, all events were spread by digital calendars, apps, newsletters, and social media of the SHTA.

Carib Beer partnered with the SHTA in last years edition and is on board again as main sponsor for the 2018 edition. The beer, popular by locals and tourists is happy to be a part of the initiative that should send a positive message that St. Maarten is still full of fun and excitement.

Because of its functionality for both locals and visitors looking for upcoming events, as well as its benefits for managerial planning, the project will increase in scope this year. For the 2018 edition, SHTA is looking forward to highlight small-scale societal events held by not-for profit organizations that could use the extra attention. In the wake of hurricane Irma it is exactly those organizations that have meant the most for the Sint Maarten people, having the greatest difficulty of continuing their efforts due to lack of funding. Whereas member and non-member companies pay a small printing fee for having their event publicized, for its 2018 editions NGO's and foundations are offered a free publication for one Calendar event.

For NGOs, even more exposure is possible. Back in June, SHTA newsletter began publishing the "NGO of the week" column, which is specifically aimed to highlight the NGOs of Sint Maarten to SHTA members. If deemed desirable, societal organizations can have their profile distributed freely in SHTAs newsletter.

Event submissions for the 2018 Events Calendar qualify as long as they are (1) interesting for visitors and are (2) publicly accessible for anyone. The offer of free early bird placement will be in place until December 20th. Event submissions can be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; please ensure that the following information is included: date, time, location, and any other crucial information pertaining to the event.

SHTA Press Release
Bir Lahlou, Dec 17, 2017 (SPS) - President of Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, called Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern to stop importing phosphate, illegally extracted from Western Sahara, underlining that this illegitimate activity contributes to the enshrinement of the Moroccan occupation and the violation of the international law and infringes the right of the Sahrawi people to their sovereignty over their natural resources.

In a congratulation message to Jacinda Arden for her election on the head of New Zealands government, Ghali underlined the continuation of the importation of phosphate, illegally extracted from Western Sahara by New Zealand.

Sahrawi President recalled the attempts, in vain, to dissuade the companies involved in the importation of Sahrawi phosphate, before the Polisario uses several legal measures against the cargos passing through Panama and South Africa to New Zealand and which were restored by the Sahrawi people.

President Ghali expressed his hope to see this country stopping this illicit activity which contributes to the enshrinement of the Moroccan occupation and infringes the international law as well as the Sahrawi peoples right to their sovereignty over their countrys natural resources.

He said that several companies from several countries, like Australia, Norway, Uruguay and others decided not to import Western Saharas phosphate. (SPS)

062/SPS/APS
A third of migrant households in Sunsari remain poor: Study

While migration is seen as a driver of economic upliftment for families, not everyone has been able to walk out of poverty even after migrating to overseas in search of better opportunities.
Five years. During this time gunfire has killed, or injured, half a million people in the United States. The Congressional response: moments of silence for victims when killings are too heinous to ignore.

Thursday was the fifth anniversary of the Newtown massacre. On that tragic day, 26 people were gunned down in an elementary school, including 20 small 6- and 7-year-old children. Since then, there have been nearly 170,000 gun related deaths, about 33,000 each year.

No more than 2 percent of these deaths result from mass shootings, with suicide accounting for nearly two-thirds of all gun-related deaths. Yet on average, theres a mass shooting nearly every day. Since Newtown, there have been more than 1,500 mass shootings, defined as an act of gun violence in which at least four people are killed or wounded. These shootings are increasingly lethal and exact an enormous psychological toll on relatives, friends, and communities.

This uniquely American phenomenon also takes a national toll, threatening the nations moral fiber. In the past 50 years, more have died in gun-related incidents than in all the wars in which the United States has ever fought. No other country, outside of a war situation, experiences anything even remotely resembling Americas level of gun violence.

As a nation, we cannot afford to normalize this violence. It must never become an accepted part of the American social fabric. As we resist this moral assault, Connecticut serves as a guiding light.

As I look back, I feel extremely gratified that Connecticut leads the way in the fight to end the epidemic of gun violence, CT Against Gun Violence (CAGV) Executive Director Ron Pinciaro writes in an op-ed commemorating this sad anniversary.

CAGV leaders  Pinciaro who is retiring after 17 years, incoming executive director Jeremy Stein, board president Marty Isaac, and directors Carolyn Vermont and Jonathan Perloe  issued a statement Thursday that sees Newtown as a watershed moment.

Sadly, a majority of the Congress  those sworn to protect us, with the power to act  have done less than nothing. But Newtown was a watershed moment. Never before has a single community been able to galvanize the nation to honor with action all the lives lost from gun violence than have the determined and passionate survivors and citizens of Newtown.

On Feb. 14, 2013, two months after Newtown, an estimated 5,500 men, women, teens and children, myself included, rallied on the north steps of the state Capitol building to demand safer, common sense, rational gun laws. This movement succeeded in bringing about historic bi-partisan reforms in Connecticuts gun laws.

Connecticut now has the second strongest gun laws in the nation, and the fifth lowest rate of gun deaths.

The post-Newtown movement has also disproved an NRA lobbyists claim that outrage over the Newtown massacre  what he called the Connecticut effect  would eventually wear off, with little long-term impact, like Columbine, Virginia Tech, the Tucson mall, and Aurora movie theater.

But anniversary vigils throughout the nation, memorial services, church bells, and flags at half-staff demonstrate that the Connecticut effect has only gained strength over the past five years.

Today, as America marks five years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, we should celebrate the miracles, big and small, of the last half decade, Connecticuts Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, said Thursday. Miracles like those performed by the numerous charitable organizations started by the parents of the Sandy Hook victims ... Their work has improved and saved countless lives.

Connecticut legislators are on the front lines in an ongoing legislative battle. After Orlando, Connecticut House members walked out of the House chamber to protest yet another moment of silence. I will not be silent, said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut.

Senator Murphy, supported by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, led a filibuster calling attention to the deafening silence of Congressional inaction.

Recent House action is perverse, passing NRA legislation expanding gun rights, despite the Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs massacres. Senators Murphy and Blumenthal will fight it in the Senate, while co-sponsoring bi-partisan legislation that tightens up the federal background-check system.

Keep going, a tearful Sandy Hook parent once told Senator Murphy.

Yes, enough deadly silence. For the childrens sake, in the service of life, we must keep that Connecticut effect going.

Alma Rutgers served in Greenwich town government for 25 years. Her blog is at blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/
Early childhood development matters

Globally, an estimated 6 million children under the age of five die each year and at least 200 million who survive are at risk of not reaching their full potential.
Eat now, vote later

Amid the euphoria with which the public and the media have received the election results due to the hopes of political stability that they seem to offer, several serious aspects which tarnished this and previous elections have been clearly ignored.
Crop Production Clinics at Gering and other locations across Nebraska in January 2018 sponsored by Nebraska Extension will provide valuable information to help crop producers and agribusiness professionals improve their profitability and sustainability.

The clinics are also an opportunity for pesticide applicators to renew their licenses in several categories, including commercial and noncommercial ag plant (01) and demonstration/research (D/R). Private pesticide applicators also can renew their licenses. Extension Educator Gary Stone strongly recommends that anyone who needs to renew a pesticide applicator license take advantage of this early opportunity to do so.

The Gering clinic is scheduled for Jan. 10 at the Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St. Other dates and locations: Jan. 11 at North Platte; Jan. 15 and 16 at Norfolk; Jan. 18 at Lincoln; and Jan. 24 and 25 at Kearney.

The clinic starts at 8:45 a.m. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. On-line pre-registration is strongly encouraged at https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. The $80 fee includes a noon meal, refreshments, the 2018 Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska and the 2018 Crop Production Clinic Proceedings. On-site registration is $80.

Certified crop advisors may earn up to 6 credits in the following categories: Integrated pest management (6), crop production (2), nutrient management (1), water management (1), and professional development (2). Certified Crop Advisors are required to bring their CCA number to apply for CEU credits.

The Crop Production Clinics will feature presentations from extension specialists and educators on soil fertility; soil, water, and irrigation management; crop production; ag business management and policy; pesticide safety; and disease, insect, and weed resistance management. Program topics are tailored to meet the needs of cropping systems in different parts of the state, and vary by location.

For more information, contact Amit Jhala, Nebraska Extension weed management specialist, at 402-472-1534 or amit.jhala@unl.edu.
EC: Allocation of PR vote seats could take time

Electing members of the House of Representatives on Proportional Representation quota is likely to take time as the Election Commission is in favour of selecting the candidates only after formation of the National Assembly.
KEARNEY  Its not only the fear that President Trump might withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement that has Nebraska ag producers and organization leaders worried. It also is the uncertainty created by a long negotiation process.

My greatest concern is that this drags out, said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson of Axtell. With every day that goes by without confirming a trade agreement, it creates uncertainty with our buyers.

There already are uncertainty and trust issues that resulted from Trumps decision to pull the United States out of the multi-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership.

U.S. ag producers worry that customers in Mexico and Canada (NAFTA partners), Asia (TPP countries) and in other parts of the world will seek deals with other suppliers of corn, soybeans, wheat, beef and pork.

How much damage is this doing just because were talking about it? Nelson said.

Some exporters of U.S. ag products have told him they know of customers who are shopping around and even starting to buy a few things elsewhere to begin building new relationships. Other exporters have had new clauses added to their deals with importers.

There are negative effects already, Nelson said.

Darr Feedlot partner and National Cattlemens Beef Association President Craig Uden of Elwood said the beef industry is growing, thanks to a very viable, vibrant export market.

He said that if export markets go away, Americans will have to eat a lot more beef to maintain the industrys profitability. That includes tripe, tongue and similar products in high demand in Mexico.

With only 330 million people residing in the United States, we have to have export markets, Uden said, and that need extends to farmers who grow feed grains.

Good trade deals

Chad P. Brown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, wrote in an analysis for The Washington Post that the value of all U.S. goods traded with Mexico and Canada grew from $291 billion in 1993, when NAFTA was passed by Congress, to $1.1 trillion in 2016.

Brown said NAFTA has had some effect on lost manufacturing jobs, which has been Trumps focus, but advances in automation technology and Chinas growing role in the global economy have had much greater impacts.

Those factors wont change if NAFTA ends and a renegotiated NAFTA that re-establishes trade barriers is unlikely to help U.S. workers who lost their jobs, he said.

Meanwhile, withdrawal would result in job losses for agriculture and other industries that depend on NAFTA.

In a press release about a new North American Free Trade Agreement and Nebraska Agriculture report by Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Economist Jay Rempe, Nelson said he understands that Trump wants to get the best trade deal possible, but withdrawing from NAFTA is unfathomable.

Nelson added that the same could be said of any renegotiation that weakens U.S. agricultures position in the agreement.

What he (Trump) sees as better trade deals and what we see as better trade deals may not be the same thing, he told the Hub.

We all want better trade deals, Uden said, especially at a time when ag producers are operating on thin profit margins. ... But were very satisfied with zero tariffs with these (NAFTA) countries. Its very hard to improve on zero tariffs.

He added that U.S. beef sales to Mexico and Canada have increased 750 percent since NAFTA was approved.

Although Trump has talked about negotiating more favorable bilateral trade deals after withdrawing from TPP, Nelson said he hasnt seen evidence that work is being done toward that goal.

Wed have to see hundreds and hundreds of deals, he said about such an undertaking with markets around the world.

Were pretty happy with all aspects of our trade deals, Uden said. Wed like to see the federal government increase the scope and access to all export markets.

His other concern is maintaining the economic viability of young people returning to agriculture.

We dont want to jeopardize our future. Weve created a lot of opportunities and been quite successful. Wed like to move forward on that, Uden said.

More positive voices

When asked if anyone can convince Trump that NAFTA is critical for agriculture and positive for the overall economy as an export category with consistent trade surpluses, Nelson replied, I think (Agriculture) Secretary Perdue is doing an outstanding job in making the case on behalf of U.S. farmers and ranchers.

NCBA Director of International Trade and Market Access Kent Bacus agreed that Perdue has been a fierce advocate for us, but Trump also is hearing from others with negative views of NAFTA.

After saying more positive voices are needed, Bacus said it has been a year since the last election and a chief ag negotiator still has not been confirmed.

The Farm Bureau report, which focuses on Nebraskas economic benefits from ag exports to Mexico and Canada, was done to provide more information to make positive arguments, Nelson said.

But there are those within the administration who dont have a strong connection with farming and ranching, he said, and dont have an appreciation for the negative effects of this (revise or withdraw) talk.
SCOTTSBLUFF  After landing in Scottsbluff more than a week ago, an Embrarer KC-390 plane, flown by members of the Brazilian military, has created a stir and a positive economic impact for the local community.

The most immediate impact could be seen at the Flight Deck Restaurant. Tammy Relka, co-owner of the restaurant, said the large crew has kept her busy.

They are very good eaters and they were so happy that I do homemade food because they are tired of fast food, she said.

The crew were staying at the Holiday Inn and had also ate in other establishments in town. Don Overman, board chair, said the crew were putting a lot of money into the local economy. Some of the lines on the runway will also need to be repainted, said Raul Aguallo, airport operations supervisor. The areas that were painted white are now all black, mainly due to the exhaust from when the engines are turned on.

The plane is bigger than a C-130, can fly at 870 kilometers per hour, can fly nonstop for 7,000 miles, has two pilots and a loadmaster, and can be refueled in the air. It is flown by wire and is estimated to cost $100 million each.

The plane was in town to test it against different crosswinds and perform crosswind landings, but the crew was able to conduct several other tests, including an emergency descent from about 38,000 feet. The chief pilot had originally thought theyd have to go to several different locations for their tests.

I believe they are getting everything (they need) here for the most part and are happy with whats going on, said Darwin Skelton, airport director.

The flights are part of tests the crew is conducting to see if the plane is airworthy enough for the Brazilian military.

Skelton said he has had many calls about the plane since it arrived.

The plane made a trip to Manhattan, Kansas, and back on Tuesday. This was a good trip economically; they purchased about 3,200 gallons of fuel from the airport, Overman said.

On Tuesday, the crew told Bob Unzicker, board vice chair, that they hoped the wind picked up a bit more. Unzicker told them, around here, everyone hopes it dies down.

Both can usually be granted within the same day, said Neal Smith, board member.

Members of the crew offered to let Overman visit the cockpit.

I got to sit in the jumpseat and watch their screens, Overman said. It was quite an opportunity.

Overman later presented the crew with a Star-Herald article about their visit and a thank you note from him, and all 23 crew members were presented with Western Nebraska Regional Airport patches.

They were very appreciative of that, Overman said. They gave us a booklet, which shows the airplane they are flying. The main picture is of them taking off from a dirt field.

The crew also indicated they would be happy if one of their photos was hung in the lobby of the airport. Skelton said if no one had a photo yet, one would be obtained.

Overall, the crew was pleased with the hospitality the community extended toward them and employees at the airport had nothing but praise for the Brazilians who spent two weeks in town.
While many kids may have been sleeping in, watching cartoons, playing videos or hanging out with friends, a group of students from Community Christian School packed and delivered boxes of food to families in the community.

The CCS students team up with members of Mitchell Berean Church to fill and deliver 100 boxes of food to families in the community.

A group of about 70 volunteers came together at 7 a.m. Saturday. After eating breakfast together, they prayed and went to work filling boxes with enough food supplies for eight meals for a family of four or five. The boxes also included the fixings for a Christmas meal.

Were helping people have food for Christmas so they dont have to worry, CCS fifth-grader Hanah Johnson said. It makes me feel good because Im helping other people so they can have a good Christmas.

The students' help was great to have, Mitchell Berean Church Senior Pastor Giles Armstrong said. The church gives out boxes of food at Thanksgiving and Christmas as a way to love on people.

We want to instill in our students the character and importance of service in our community, CCS principal Deirdre Amundsen said. We want people to see Him (Jesus) in us.

The church teams up with the students and with the Scottsbluff Safeway grocery store.

Safeway does the Turkey Bucks, Armstrong said. They provide the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy for the Christmas meal.

The involvement also helps the students get to know different people in their community, Amundsen said.

It is all about connecting with people, she said. Hopefully, we can pray for families and get to know them. Its important this time of year.
SCOTTSBLUFF  Nearly 400 people turned out on a cool Saturday morning to meet the grizzly bear cubs as they made their public debut at Riverside Discovery Center.

Guests made their way through several lines for pancakes, sausage, bear doughnuts and drinks. People of all ages stopped to marvel at an animal few people have a chance of ever seeing. The Breakfast with the Bears event was the kickoff to a capital campaign, A New Zoo for You, which aims to raise $500,000 for changes at the zoo, including a permanent, and larger, home for the bears.

We are going to need the entire communitys support, said Anthony Mason, zoo director.

Now that the bears have made their debut, zoo staff is planning many fun events around the bears, including educational activities, talks and having the bears be featured in future animal camps.

Mason said he has been a big believer in the zoo for many years and is planning several changes; one of the biggest is the grizzly bears.

Im proud to stand here today and say we are a diamond in the rough, he said. I can tell you this is a world class community and we offer top-notch things in the community.

With the capital campaign and the eventual large housing for the bears, the cubs will fundamentally change the face of the zoo. Phase one of the campaign will build a large outdoor facility for the bears where the zebras are and make it the home for the cubs for the remainder of their lives. The zebras will be moved to the area near the water buck.

We are seeking to make this change, not just for this zoo, but for the entire community, Mason said. We want people from a four-hour radius to come here.

Currently, people from Sidney, Alliance and Cheyenne, Wyoming, make the trip, but Mason wants more of them to come not only for the zoos benefit, but for the local economy.

When they come here they are going to stay and patronize our other businesses and that will only happen if we improve the zoo, Mason said. We can also offer better opportunities for the children in our communities.

The changes need to happen as the bears will be several hundred pounds heavier by the time they are grown. When RDC took them in, they weighed 140 and 120 pounds. They now weigh 215 and 250 pounds.

When you see them, they dont look like cubs, but they still have a lot of growing to do, he said.

Early in the day, one of the cubs wasnt feeling well, so he stayed inside while his brother was outside watching the crowds of people who came to see him.

When youre dealing with animals, you let them make the call, Mason said. We just put them in this new enclosure a couple of days ago, so theyre sill getting used to their new environment.

The brothers, who are a little over a year old, made their way to the zoo after a long journey to see if they could survive in the wild. Their mother had been killed in Wyoming near Yellowstone National Park. United States Fish and Wildlife Service employees kept an eye on the cubs after her death to see if they could make it on their own.

The first call was to see if they could make it on their own, but they started interacting with the public, he said. As winter approached, they (Fish and Wildlife) realized they didnt have the necessary skills to survive in the wild.

Fish and Wildlife then contacted RDC to see if they could take the brothers in. Fish and Wildlife only works with facilities that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo is accredited, which played a large factor in them being able to take the bears and create a home for them.

Not only is it rare to have a zoo in a rural area, but its practically unheard of to have one that is AZA accredited, he said.

The campaigns goal is to raise $500,000 by September 2018. Mason said he is happy to take any size donation as it all helps toward the final goal.

This is about getting $10 or $50 or whatever you can, Mason said. Its also about going out and talking to your friends about the changes and maybe donating memberships.

One of Masons long-term goals was to come back to the zoo and be the director.

This is an incredible community that is lucky to have something like this, he said. There is an ability here to build something great together.

There will be a naming contest in January. More details on the contest will be announced in the near future.

For more information or to make a donation, call 308-630-6236 or visit http://riversidediscoverycenter.org/bears/.
SIDNEY  A Sidney woman accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy has pleaded to charges.

According to Cheyenne County District Court records, Jennifer McKinsey, 30, agreed to a plea agreement and pleaded Wednesday, Dec. 6, to the amended charge of child abuse, a Class IIIA felony.

Charges stem from a July 2016 investigation in which Sidney police responded to a disturbance at a Sidney home. Police made contact with McKinsey, who was arguing with another woman. The woman told police her son had alleged that the woman had sexually assaulted him.

The boy reported to his mother that he had been at the womans home, watching a movie, when he alleged the woman attempted to kiss him. After falling asleep, he alleged he woke up to the woman performing a sex act on him.

The woman was arrested and charged.

Judge Derek Weimer ordered a pre-sentence investigation and McKinsey will appear for sentencing on Feb. 7.
WHEATLAND  Camp Laramie Peak (CLP) will soon celebrate its centennial anniversary.

Camp Larame Peak, located 23 miles northwest of Wheatland, Wyoming, is owned and operated by the Longs Peak Council Boy Scouts of America. The council serves youth in Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado as a youth education organization to further citizenship training, character development and personal fitness. It has been operating since 1920.

The Boy Scouts of America started the camp in 1910, making it among the oldest in the nation. Many youth from the three-state area and from many other states have trekked to CLP over the decades to enjoy the rustic setting and to grow personally from an outdoor experience.

One of the challenges in the area for property owners is water resources. The local camp committee, led by Scottsbluff businessman Marty Manley, has been challenged for years to fund water wells at CLP to secure permanent water resources. The Oregon Trail Community Foundation of Scottsbluff, led the campaign with a $10,000 gift toward the $100,000 project.

Scott Neu, vice president of Goldman/Sachs in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dr. Nathan Green an internal medicine specialist in Lincoln, Nebraska, pledged $35,000 and $10,000 respectively through Scotts Charity Foundation. Matt Rogers, a senior project manager at Suntec Corporation, located in Arizona, also pledged $20,000

Neu, Green and Rogers are Eagle Scouts formerly of Scottsbluff.

There were additional donations from local Scouters of $2,200 and the Longs Peak Council contributed $20,000 to start drilling two wells in the spring of 2017. The wells are producing more than anticipated and will guarantee a stable source of water for the camp because of these generous supporters.

Hundreds of Scouts and leaders from six states attended CLP in 2017. The thirty member camp staff included nineteen Eagle Scouts from eight states including Nebraska, Wyoming, Washington, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Colorado and New Jersey. Known as the home of Xtreme Scouting, the program offers twenty-nine traditional merit badges, Living History program (1800s living, tipis and blacksmithing), mountain boarding, mountain biking, BMX, ATV safety course, zip lines, rifle, shotgun, pistol and archery programs. Troops have the option of visiting Camp Guernsey and Fort Laramie for extracurricular activities and historical programming in the middle of their camping week. A program for Cub Scouts was offered in July to advance the younger boys into the Boy Scout program. The Order of the Arrow, an honor camping society, has over one hundred campers attending a service weekend in June 2017. CLP was in the direct path of totality of the Eclipse and over four hundred youth and adults attended the August event.

Values are taught at camp based on the Scout Oath and Scout Law to instill physical and moral values to prepare youth to make ethical choices over their lifetimes, according to a press release.
Bountiful Harvest: Farm harvests 215,000kg of apples worth Rs32 million

An apple farm in the western mountainous Nepali district of Manang has harvested 215,000 kg of apple worth Rs32.3 million. The farm operated by Agro Manang Pvt Ltd in northern Nesyang village has generated a net profit of Rs26 million from sales of the fruit.
As many readers of this weekly update know, Ive spoken about the property tax crisis in Nebraska many times. Lively debate on the subject continues in op-ed pages of newspapers across the state and social media sites. As we approach the second session of the 105th Legislature, this debate will intensify. Two camps seem to be forming; those in favor of the 50/50 property tax idea, and those opposed. I am in favor of the 50/50 idea.

Ill not recite the list of depressing statistics again. Suffice to say, property taxes arent just too high in Nebraska  they have reached the point of being immoral. They are hurting people every day. Its the only tax people and businesses cannot avoid. Were fifth highest in the country and are getting worse.

If you want to reduce property taxes, there are only two possible courses of action. The Legislature can pay for it by raising sales or income taxes and/or shifting existing spending from Peter to pay Paul, like ending a program and using the savings, etc. The other way is to make the Local Units of Governments (LUG) pay for it (like school districts, counties, natural resource districts, etc.) This is done by limiting how much a LUG can levy and/or limiting how much they can assess in property value. There are about 650 LUGs in Nebraska that depend entirely on property taxes to function. The 50/50 idea requires the Legislature to pay for it. One of the many reasons for this decision is the Nebraska constitution requires  the legislature to provide for the free instruction in the common schools.

It is important to remember at this point that government will not reform itself. It must be compelled to act.

The argument against the 50/50 property tax reform idea says its a bad idea because no one can explain how it will be paid for. When you hear this argument  and you will  consider the flaw in reasoning going on here. By this rationale, any idea that forces the Legislature to appropriate money for something is therefore a bad idea. No idea that forces the Legislature to appropriate money comes with a gift-wrapped how to pay for it explanation, and there is a good reason for this.

There are actually 49 different ways (senators opinions) to pay for something. This is why we have a Revenue and an Appropriations Committee (and why we should explore creating a Ways and Means Committee like other states have). Figuring out the how to pay for something is why we have hearings in these committees. This is why we have motions and amendments during the three different stages of debate for bills on the floor of the Legislature. These are the ways how to pay for something are developed and created.

What must come before how. Its important to remember that none of the aforementioned process will happen unless the Legislature is forced to act. You cannot pass an appropriations bill (how) until the Legislature first debates a bill to do something (what). Why on earth would you have an argument about how to pay for something, unless you first had something to pay for? Expecting the author of an idea to show up with the how to pay for accompanying the idea, and then condemning the idea when objections are raised about some aspect of the how to concept is a political dodging tactic that provides a great excuse for the Legislature not to do anything and let the problem persist.

Its no surprise were in the mess were in. This tactic has been used with the property tax problem for 50 years. Look where using that reasoning has gotten us. It has to stop. I urge readers to reject this tactic when they hear it. I hope my colleagues finally do something about the property tax problem and pass the 50/50 idea. I welcome the fight about how to pay for it. I say so what if we have to stay late and have food catered in for midnight sessions? So what if we face gridlock for weeks on end? I dont care if were forced into a special session to solve this. The plain truth is, the people being made to suffer out-of-control property taxes in Nebraska are hurting far more than a handful of politicians being made to argue with one another.

I believe the people will put the 50/50 property tax idea on the ballot in November 2018. The Legislature can face this reality in the second session of the 105th Legislature in a few weeks. They can listen to the people, avoid the heartache created by a ballot initiative, and pass Sen. Erdmans 50/50 bill during this session. The other option is to hide behind the flawed theres no way to pay for it argument and wait for the political earthquake. When the people pass the ballot initiative, they can begin the first session of the 106th Legislature in January 2019 with a $1.1 billion hole to fill. From what Ive seen of this place so far, my money is on the latter.

I promised to talk about poverty this week, and then the story broke about the 50/50 plan, so Ill talk about poverty next week. I want to talk about poverty because we have a moral duty to raise people out of poverty, plus we can dramatically shrink the size of state government if we reduce poverty in Nebraska. Instead of making it less miserable, I think government should focus on making poverty more escapable.

Please contact my office with any comments, questions or concerns. Email me at: tbrewer@leg.ne.gov. Mail a letter to: Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1202, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509 or call us at 402-471-2628.
Five years of construction, lane closures and new traffic patterns are about to be in the rearview mirror.
After skit from a West Iredell High School social studies class, there have been more questions than answers about what exactly was meant to b
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Govt trying to undermine peoples mandate: Nembang

Former House Speaker and CPN-UML leader Subash Chandra Nembang has accused the current NC-led government of trying to undermine the peoples mandate.
MBBS fees at medical schools: IoM takes steps to curb overcharging

In a bid to curb exorbitant fees charged by medical schools, the Institute of Medicine (IoM) has asked students to deposit the fees directly into bank account of the concerned colleges and provide it the voucher or receipt.
Left alliance urges to clear the deck for new govt formation

CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) has urged government to pave the way for the formation of new government.
The Labour Party is establishing a permanent and very visible presence in their Tauranga heartland.

The party, which now boasts four MPs across the Bay of Plenty region, is opening an office beside Countdown on Cameron Road on the fringe of the Greerton Village shopping precinct.

Because Greerton has a vibrancy, says new Labour list MP Jan Tinetti. Its an amazingly go-ahead place and we wanted to be part of it.

The 90-square metre office at 1356 Cameron Road will be the full-time electorate base for Jan. She will share the space with another Labour list MP, Angie Warren-Clark, who will also work out of Rotorua.

And it will be a part-time base for Tamati Coffey, who won the Waiariki seat off the Maori Party.

We wanted to be away from the city centre  be more accessible for people and be more visible, says Jan. Being on Cameron Road, I think we will achieve that.

Its also a nod to the suburb which pitched in for Labour at the election. We took two Greerton booths and went very close in a couple of others. We did very well out here. And obviously, we wanted to be close to those people. We are now happy to be here for them.

Its something quite big for the party and for the Bay of Plenty according to Jan. That was the whole aim - by putting candidates high on the list in the first place, the party wanted a presence, not just in the Bay of Plenty, but in Tauranga.

Now, she says, the party has four MPs across the region including Kiritapu Allan in Whakatane. And it has visibility.

The team had to jump through some hoops first. The facility had to be inspected by the Parliamentary Services security team to ensure it met standards.

The new Greerton office will require some reconfiguration, with a reception area, offices and a consultation space being built before MPs and support staff move in.

Its also an opportunity for us to make a connection with the many interest groups out this way thats another reason for us being here  the social service groups, education groups and other groups that we need to be connecting with and hearing their stories.

So its a perfect setting for the Labour Party.

For the last six years the party in Tauranga has operated from an office in the Historic Village.
Sweet as, flash, stink, knackered and wicked. We all know what those words mean, right? Wrong. If youre learning to speak English in New Zealand its enough to make you pack a sad.



A group of Tauranga migrants has been attending a Professional Speaking for Migrants course over the past 10 weeks in preparation for an examination that will see them deliver a short speech in front of an audience this weekend.

Harumi Renz is one of these migrants and was in the throes of preparing her speech when The Weekend Sun visited.

Although she has lived in New Zealand for 17 years, the Japanese mother of two is not confident in her spoken English.

Public speaking is not an easy thing for me so I wanted to improve it. At the moment its only for personal reasons but it will be useful if I have an interview for a job, or need to talk in the community.

I had thought of joining Toastmasters but I thought this course was a good fit for me since Im not a native speaker and it is for migrants.

Harumi has found the course very helpful.

I have learned to be more relaxed in front of people and learned some New Zealand idioms that I didnt know the meaning of in the beginning.

Course presenter Pieter de Zwart from Multicultural Tauranga says this is the first time the Speech New Zealand course has been run in Tauranga.

Elements Ive been teaching in the course include not only articulation and sound, but also how to prepare speeches and things like stress reduction because most people getting up to speak in front of others are nervous. We touch on confidence-building and body language, how to ask questions and listening skills. Theres role play and information on how to behave in job interviews.

Pieter says all of his students are highly motivated and see the great value of the course.

I can definitely see their progress, even though some of them think they havent changed much. I tell them trust me, you have.

Pieter has also enjoyed teaching them some New Zealand idioms which would have once floored them. They get it now.
A ridge of high pressure has held sway over New Zealand since early November, and has set the tone for hot and dry weather.

In the last week of November conditions were favourable for inland thunderstorms driven by afternoon heating, but these eased off as we moved into December and stable weather resumed.

This week however, has seen an increase in the ability of fronts to make progress into the ridge, although they have weakened as they do so. Following the fronts southerly winds have allowed for cooler air masses, particularly in the south.

On Wednesday a southerly moved up the country, bringing rain and thunderstorms especially to eastern parts, and temperatures at Dunedin airport reached a daily maximum of only 14 degrees. Two days later, northerlies were back and the airport recorded a max of 28 degrees.

A front is working up the South Island today, and a Severe Weather Watch for heavy rain is in force for Fiordland. Following the front southerlies set in, and the watch extends to Dunedin and North Otago where heavy rain and thunderstorms could bring up to 40mm of rain in 12 hours. On Monday this front moves over the North Island, bringing a brief spell of rain.

Unfortunately, the front is fast moving, so total rainfall amounts are not expected to be large except in localised spots affected by thunderstorms. For this reason, a watch for heavy rain has been issued for ranges of Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty during Monday afternoon and evening.

Thunderstorms also make a return today and next week, with a watch for severe thunderstorms issued for the central North Island this afternoon and evening. The South Island could also see a few strikes, both in the west as the front passes and in the east in the following southerly. On Monday the risk of thunderstorms eases in the South Island, but persists for much of the north.

Looking ahead more fronts find their way through the ridge, bringing much of their rainfall to the southwest. Temperatures will yoyo, with many places expecting top temperatures around 10 degrees cooler tomorrow, and seesawing through the week. Christchurch for example has maximum temperatures of 30 today, 19 on Monday, 26 on Tuesday, 19 on Wednesday and 29 on Thursday.

As fronts make inroads onto New Zealand we can expect more variable weather conditions, says meteorologist Tom Adams.

The biggest fluctuations between cool and hot, wet and dry, will be in the south. Further north the fronts will have weakened, but we still expect the coming weather to be more changeable than during the last few weeks.

With the holidays approaching and people starting to make outdoor plans, it is worth remembering the weather does change, and it always pays to keep an eye on the latest forecasts. Dont take fine weather for granted!
In light of recent media coverage of a proposed new harbour entrance, Opotiki District Council has clarified the numbers and reminded those outside the district of the big picture.

Opotiki Mayor John Forbes says the numbers stack up and will make a major difference in the lives of Eastern Bay residents.

One number, in this case the cost of building the harbour entrance and running it for a generation or two, doesnt tell the whole story  we have a whole business case going to Cabinet to do just that.

Following a $3 million funding boost from central government in 2015, Council has been working with Whakatohea, the Treasury, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and industry experts to prepare a business case in line with government requirements.

The business case details the rationale for the harbour entrance aligned with growth in the off-shore aquaculture industry.

What that business case shows is that the numbers stack up. We are talking more than 200 jobs in the next three or four years growing up to more than 1000 once the sea farms are fully operational in the 2020s.

Add to that the harder-to-measure jobs in support and tourism, fishing and other maritime industries and the growth potential is incredible, says John.

For more than ten years, Opotiki has been working towards the construction of a year-round navigable harbour entrance, allowing the town to return to its historical role as the bustling maritime hub of the eastern Bay of Plenty.

The project works in parallel to the Whakatohea aquaculture development just 8.5km off the Opotiki coast.

The large-scale mussel farm already operating in the coastal waters will be the main user of the harbour entrance to bring mussels to a processing factory to be built in the town.

John says the local population is incredibly supportive of the project and understands the benefits it will bring to the whole district.

I have no doubt that the locals here in the Eastern Bay understand the big picture and why we are driving for this. So it is unfortunate that it has become a partisan political issue which misses the real-life impact it will have here in the Bay of Plenty.

We have been working with politicians of all stripes over the many years I have been involved in the project and the numbers stack up to all of them. All politicians want to reduce reliance on government support and provide a backbone for the regions to support themselves.

For the mussel industry, this is already a reality. The farm is harvesting commercially and they have lines in about a quarter of their consented water space and are growing every year. Add to that the extended space earmarked in the pre-settlement Treaty offer and you are looking down the barrel of the biggest aquaculture farm in the world. All we want to do is make sure that those benefits  the processing, the support, the research and development  are felt right here in Opotiki.

The business case puts all our cards on the table  the benefits and the costs. The numbers and the story they tell make compelling reading.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has been overwhelmed by the response from people donating kennels for under-privileged dogs.

In less than a week more than 50 kennels have been offered and Councils animal services team has been out and about collecting kennels of all sizes, shapes and conditions.

Council will continue collecting kennels until this Thursday 21 December and will be able to resume collections in January.

Animal Services officer Melissa Murton says the response has been fantastic and she thanks all those who have taken the time to contact Council and get their kennels ready for pick-up.

"We had offers from as far away as Gisborne and Auckland  and one company, C3 Construction, has even offered to build us kennels. There are going to be some very lucky dogs out there whose living conditions we can improve greatly  and whose owners we will also be able to help."

C3 Construction Director Michael Bowman says most of his staff have a soft spot for dogs and it was a simple call to help out.

"Its a horrible thought that there are animals neglected or whose owners cant afford to provide a good shelter. Were finishing up a project and have materials left over so it was really a no-brainer for us to spend a day putting some kennels together. Hopefully this makes a difference to the life of some four-legged guy or girl."

The donated and done-up kennels will be posted on Councils Facebook page before being gifted to deserving pooches. Those that arent gifted will be raffled or sold for a donation.

The kennel hunt is part of a Council-led campaign that aims to highlight the plight of many dogs homed in substandard conditions.

Animal Services officers want to give people the opportunity to learn about their obligations as owners and get pointers about how best to care for their dogs.

Council start the education campaign at the Doggy Day Out in Omokoroa on 24 March and have other days planned in Maketu on 27 and 28 April 2018.

Anyone willing to drop a kennel to Council is welcome to drop it off at Councils Barkes Corner offices in Greerton.

Otherwise after 21 December Council will continue to take phone numbers of people with kennels to donate but will not be able to collect them until early next year.

If you have a kennel to donate, please email your name and contact details to animalservices@westernbay.govt.nz.
Taurangas mayor has been named as one of the countrys best-dressed men in a list compiled by the New Zealand Womens Weekly.

Greg Brownless joins the likes of 1 NEWS presenter Simon Dallow and The Project host Jesse Mulligan on the list for 2017.

Greg told SunLive it was highly embarrassing to find himself mentioned.

I knew nothing about it  I think the photo they used was taken before I was mayor, and somehow they must have got a hold of it. Initially when staff told me I thought it was a Photoshop windup.

He says his friends would tell anyone hes not interested in fashion whatsoever.

I have two suits, three pairs of shoes, enough shirts to last a week, and a collection of $2 ties, he laughs.

Ive had fake watches in the past, but theyve only lasted a couple years. Now I just have a $100 Citizen watch.

Around home, he says he dresses in what he feels comfortable wearing, and certainly doesnt wear a suit when feeding the chickens.

I only wear a suit when I have to  but thats most days now.
Male rhino found dead in CNP

An adult male one-horned rhino was found dead on the bank of Rapti River near Meghauli in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) on Saturday.
The Idyllic Lifestyle of Amaryllis

A work of art in itself, the Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht is an example of style, grace and charter appeal. On the charter market with Hill Robinson, we take a look at the stand out features of the Belle Epoque-inspired 78-metre superyacht. Her deep blue hull and striking white superstructure offer an imposing first impression and her Reymond Langton exterior aesthetic softens the scale thanks to flowing lines and elegantly executed style, but its onboard where Amaryllis comes to life.

The Revival of Aquila

Cakewalk is world renowned as the largest American-made superyacht since the 1930s; however, after her sale and subsequent refit, Cakewalk entered a new era as Aquila. The elegance of Aquila runs deep in the DNA of the 85.60-metre superyacht, with expert construction by Derecktor, a striking, flowing style by Tim Heywood and, arguably, one of the finest interior updates on the refit market thanks to the award-winning work of British shipyard Pendennis.

Achieving Nirvana on Elysian

An almost literal translation of heaven, Elysian is a custom-built 60-metre (196'10"ft) motor yacht from Abeking & Rasmussen. For the most desired charter experience of unconfined freedom, connection to the outdoors an immersion into the heart of nature; Elysian, the winner of the International Superyacht Society Awards 2010 boasts a striking design from the outside in. From its sharp exterior by Donald Starkey to its luxe-living space by interior talents at Bannenberg & Rowell, this 2009 built 60m classic makes for the perfect escape with your guests as you charter the romatic shores of the Med or the picturesque oasis of the Caribbean.

Explore the World on Sherakhan

Sherakhan is one of those timeless yachts which embodies the very image of sophisticated exploration. Measuring 69.65-metres (2286ft), this classically styled expedition superyacht is now on the market and ready to explore the world in style. ith space for 26 guests in 13 cabins, not to mention 19 highly-skilled crew on hand, the ample space on board offers accommodation across a master cabin, eight doubles and four twins, staterooms have been designed to be extremely spacious and provide an appealing haven for guests

Escape to the Med on Moonlight II

The 91.40-metre (29910ft) superyacht Moonlight II entered the water in 2005 and has maintained her position as one of the most spectacular superyachts on the charter market thanks to a refit in 2015. One of the largest yachts available for charter in the world, Alpha Marine's Moonlight II is perfectly positioned to take groups, families and friends across the ocean in a blend of style, comfort and excitement.

The Limitless Variety of Solandge

Solandge has made a name for itself in the world of luxury yacht charter since her launch in 2013, and for good reason. Drawing on the extensive design expertise of Espen Oeino to create a timeless exterior profile, the high-quality construction ethics of Lurssen Yachts works with the noteworthy style of interior collaboration Aileen Rodriguez and Dolker & Voges to create an iconic yacht and a great example of an adaptable luxury yachting lifestyle.
Vitality: A Fresh Take on Stripped-back Superyacht Style

The Berlin-based designer came to the fore this month with the steel and aluminium superyacht design dubbed Vitality this 2017. Conceptually, this is a project which is begging to be brought to the water, technically, a superyacht which offers endless space with a 5180 gross tonnage and 17.30-metre (57ft) beam. Vitality, the latest look at the superyacht lifestyle from designer Theodoros Fotiadis, is a 118-metre exercise in elegance. With huge space, timeless style and endless layout possibilities, it brings to life the retro modernism of any contemporary project, merging space and style with magnificence.

Project Redwood: An Update from the Design Studio

Nuvolari-Lenard, one of the most innovative and largest yacht design studios in the world, released new design details of Project Redwood in 2017, a 139-metre Lurssen spectacle expected to be delivered to delighted new owners in 2019. Confirming that the superyacht will have a realm of endless capabilities, to name a few; the ability to land two helicopters on the decks and a fleet of tenders (even up to a size of 15-metres), making venturing off and arriving in comfort seamless as ever. Aside from being the perfect family vessel for afternoons of adrenaline, it will have efficient, long-range cruising capabilities for independent global exploration, ideal for freedom and discovery.

Superyacht Project Cosmos: A Gateway to the Galaxy

The 90-metre Cosmos superyacht project, a new design collaboration between Luiz DeBasto and Oceanco, is an immersion into nature in an ethereal dimension. On board the outside world merges with the interior to create a new universe of luxury and serenity; capturing the very essence of sailing the great beyond.

"The glass dome, while it looks simple, is extremely complex in order to comply with all the regulations" says Luiz DeBasto. The glass is UV protected and can be dimmed or colored to enhance any desired mood. On the outside the dome looks like it's floating above the hull, a vision to behold.

Closer Look: Explorer Project 'Days' Headed to the Blue

With a 68-metre custom explorer yacht under construction, CCN Yachting - in collaboration with the yachts owner and builder AES Yachting - has assigned Burgess Yachts as the central agents responsible for bringing Days to the water. Part of an all-new explorer range of ICE Yachts, M/Y Days is under construction in the AES facilities in Turkey with the view of delivery to her owner in Spring 2018. Her interior, a plush nude tone of creams merge to create a simple yet classic look of contemporary elegance, matching Project Days external.

Rossinavi & Pininfarina Present the Aurea Superyacht

Pininfarina, the iconic Italian design studio, has joined forces with the craftsmen at Rossinavi to present Aurea; a superyacht concept with fluid lines and unparalleled lifestyle.

Taking the design DNA of Pininfarina, the studio responsible for automotive classics such as the Cisitalia 202 and the Ferrari Testarossa, Aurea is an evolutionary creation made for those who want to explore the water in style. With a focus on lifestyle thanks to its record-size beach club - unusual for a 70-metre superyacht - and huge exterior spaces with two swimming pools and water access on both sides of the hull.

We're looking forward to bringing you more in-depth design retrospectives across the coming weeks as we move into 2018.
A beauty salon, jewelry store and fudge shop have recently opened in Wytheville. And next year at this time, a new hotel will open its doors.

TRU Hotel

Hilton plans to open a Tru Hotel in Wytheville late next year. According to Tiffany Wilson, a public relations official for Hilton, the 101-room hotel is slated to open in December 2018. The hotel will be located at Peppers Ferry Road near the interstate and across the Fairfield Inn & Suites.

Tru hotels are sleek and modern, tech-savvy spaces with digital check-in, digital keys and USB ports in every outlet. There is fast, free Wi-Fi and wireless printing throughout the hotel.

The design is young, hip and contemporary.

The 2,800 square foot lobby includes sound-dampening work pods. The hotel includes a build-your-own breakfast bar with 30 toppings, a 24/7 marketplace, 55-inch televisions and a fitness room.

Salon LaBelle

Salon LaBelle has opened at 500-B Peppers Ferry Road, beside Fastenal. The shop is owned by Angela Hall and her daughter-in-law Stephanie Parks. Before opening Salon LaBelle, Hall owned and operated the Designs by Angela salon in Independence for 18 years.

Hall said she moved to Wytheville to be closer to her son and Parks.

The salon opened about three weeks ago in the space formerly occupied by B&T Pallet Sales. Hall and Parks spent about six weeks renovating the space, which includes six work stations, a nail station and a tanning bed area. The other two stylists are Lauren Thomas and Leigh Ann Coe, who, with Parks, is also a nail technician.

Hall said she eventually hopes to open a cosmetology school at the salon. She said that both she and Parks are licensed to teach. They are also educators for the Italian hair coloring company Framesi.

To reach Salon LaBelle, call 276-389-7333. Walk-ins are welcome.

P.R. Sturgill Fine Jewelry

P.R. Sturgill Fine Jewelry has opened in the Skeeters building at 115 E. Main St., Wytheville, in the former Black Horse Artisan Guild location. The Wytheville store is the shops second location; owner Philip Sturgill also owns a store in Radford.

In addition to fine jewelry, the store offers antique and estate jewelry. The store has its own jeweler, who makes custom-designed pieces. The stores services include jewelry repair and watch battery replacement. It also buys gold, silver, diamonds and gemstones.

The Radford store has been in business since 1979.

The Blue Ridge Fudge Lady

The Blue Ridge Fudge Lady has opened a store in Wytheville at 200 W. Main St., in the former Coffee and Crumbs location.

Inside the store are about 30 flavors of fudge including basic flavors like chocolate and peanut butter to more creative options like cotton candy, red velvet and pumpkin. Also on the menu is fudge ripple ice cream with dark chocolate caramel sea salt fudge inside. The ice cream is made by Wiffle Pops. The store also sells coffee, hot chocolate, banana splits, and vegan cinnamon rolls from Mockingbird Cafe Bakery in Christiansburg.

The Wytheville shop is owner Robin Burdettes second location; her flagship store is in Pulaski. She said she decided to come to Wytheville because of the downtown renovations and business incentives offered by the town.

To reach reporter Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, ext. 35, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com.
Maoist Centre chief Dahal shifts to Khumaltar

Former prime minister and Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has moved to Khumaltar in Lalitpur. The Dahal family shifted to Khumaltar of Lalitpur Metropolis-15 on Friday, his secretariat confirmed.
Monkey menace terrorises Myagdi locals

Monkey menace has put the local people of Galeshwordham area in Myagdi district popularly known as Pashupatinath of Eastern Nepal at the receiving end.
Nepal to press India to agree on funding modality

Nepali energy secretary will soon try to convince his Indian counterpart to agree on the funding modality prepared by Nepal to build the 400kV Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line, reliable sources said.
What could be a critically important relationship between the city's newly elected mayor and state lawmakers is off to a rocky start after May
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No alternative to UML-MC merger

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that preparations are being made to finalise the unification of his party with the CPN-UML.
One man has been arrested after a shooting outside a Baton Rouge barbershop in December left one man dead.
"I know the value of the manufacturing industry; it is part of the core industry that makes up this state," he said. "We need our industries, and we value them. To me, that's the bottom line. If we don't support industries, then the world is out there and they can go to the world."

Steve Windham, chairman of the state Board of Commerce and Industry

Pull Quote
Our Views: Legislators must reach agreement on Medicaid program -- for the children's sake
Louisiana has given the world enough disgraced public officials to fill up an entire federal prison, or at least a wing of one. But there should be a special place in the pen for one particular category of wrongdoer.

It's bad enough when elected and appointed leaders violate the public trust by taking kickbacks from recipients of juicy public contracts, the kind that are inflated in the first place so that taxpayers bear the corruption's cost. It's bad enough when they help themselves to extra publicly funded perks, or when they use either the power or the aura of their positions to fill their personal bank accounts.

But it's even worse when they loot vital public functions that serve the most innocent, and take advantage of people of goodwill seeking to support these institutions, in the process.

That's what famed musician and former board chair of the New Orleans Public Library Foundation Irvin Mayfield is accused of doing, according to an infuriating, not at all surprising federal indictment that came down last week. Piggybacking on a series of investigative reports by WWL-TV's David Hammer, the feds accused Mayfield and business partner Ronald Markham of a wide-ranging conspiracy to hijack donations to the foundation, which was set up solely to support the city's perpetually struggling libraries.

+27 How downfall of trumpeter Irvin Mayfield silenced the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra On the final night of the 2016 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, trumpeter Irvin Mayfi

Instead, the indictment alleges, Mayfield and Markham led a conspiracy to funnel nearly $1.4 million of the foundation's funds to "to unlawfully benefit themselves." The indictment charges that the money went toward shoring up Mayfield's struggling New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and other ventures, to pay Mayfield's and Markham's six-figure NOJO salaries, and to finance expenses that had nothing to do with the libraries. Among the bills that foundation donors unwittingly paid were thousands in charges to high-end New York hotels and to Carnegie Hall. Another $25,000 went into Mayfield's personal checking account, $23,000 to Saks Fifth Avenue, $2,000 to Harrah's, and so forth.

It's worth remembering that the man who put Mayfield in the position to do all this was his political patron, former Mayor Ray Nagin, whose once reform-themed administration has already gone down in the books for dirty dealings. One of the former mayor's top aides, tech guru Greg Meffert, was caught accepting everything from use of a yacht to dinners at Chuck E. Cheese's with his kids from a friendly vendor. Meffert then testified against Nagin himself, who remains in prison following his bribery conviction.

It was Nagin who put Mayfield in charge of the libraries and then the foundation. And the indictment suggests that it was the loss of NOJO funding through a separate foundation controlled by the sitting mayor once Nagin left office that led to Mayfield's apparent desperation to save his pet project and maintain his cushy lifestyle. The greed and entitlement, it seems, were already there.

So were the conditions that enabled Mayfield to take advantage. The city's libraries serve both kids and adults with limited resources, provide safe public spaces, offer homework help and literacy courses and act as community anchors, yet they've always been woefully underfunded. Until a hard-fought new millage was passed shortly before the scandal broke, most libraries weren't even open on Fridays. The system was knocked to its knees by Hurricane Katrina, with numerous branches suffering terrible damage, and many well-intentioned citizens gave their hearts and souls to help it rebuild.

Private donations to the foundation were meant to pay for books, other informational materials and programming, all basic functions that the city has struggled to afford. That's it. That someone given control over the fund instead apparently used it as a personal piggy bank shocks the conscience.

So yeah, there should be a special place in prison for someone who's convicted on charges like these. There should also be a special place somewhere else.
A photo montage published in Fairfax newspapers last week documented a key aspect of what has been one of the most wasteful and unproductive years in politics this country has seen in recent memory.

It featured the 13 Senators, all of whom had been elected in the 2016 double dissolution poll, who had left the upper house over the course of 347 turbulent days.

Forget decimation, the ancient Roman tradition in which every 10th soldier in a disgraced legion was put to the sword. In this instance almost one or six, or just under 17 per cent, left the chamber.

While three, including Nick Xenophon, departed for family reasons or, in his case, to seek election as a state MP, seven were banished for not doing their homework on Section 44 of the Constitution.
Oli, Dahal to organise joint press meet today

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal are organising a joint press meet on Sunday.
Unimaginable atrocities, committed by Myanmar's armed forces, local militia and even Buddhist monks.

A Rohingya victim of the violence in North Rakhine state.

The extreme cruelty in North Rakhine state revealed by Fairfax Media's south-east Asian correspondent Lindsay Murdoch is almost beyond comprehension.

But believe it we must.

It has gone far beyond a mere humanitarian crisis.

This, the deliberate killing of a specific ethnic group, is genocide.

It has caused the fastest refugee exodus since the Rwandan genocide.
Where are the strategies for Sydney's overcrowded trains? Overcrowding and consequential delays are not about to end on Sydney's trains any time soon ("Overcrowding on trains worsening as demand soars", December 16-17). In 18 months time, when the north-west metro opens as far as Chatswood, until the next stage is operational in late 2024, the T1 North Shore line will have to absorb most of the commuters from hundreds of peak period buses that currently run direct from the Hills district to the CBD and North Sydney, plus most of the occupants of 12,000 cars the government says will transfer to the metro over a two hour peak. Expect Wynyard and Town Hall to have to cope with many more thousands than they do now. What strategies does the government have to deal with this? Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills Matt O'Sullivan describes the extreme overcrowding on Sydney's [double-deck] trains. Not to worry, the government has a brilliant solution: single-deck trains, as on the Sydney Metro, which is actually designed to not allow double-deck trains. Their great pronouncement was that double-deck trains take longer to load and unload than single deck: Yes Minister, that is because they carry more passengers! John Wyndham, North Sydney

Is the overcrowding on public transport, and the road network, really any surprise? All because Sydney is full. The main reason is the ridiculous level of immigration that our government are encouraging and supporting. Eighty thousand extra people into NSW each year. Business is gung ho about this because it increases markets, and provides a cheap source of labour (with the addition of 457 visas) that can be easily exploited, without accountability and penalty. Political leaders can feather their nests with highly paid jobs after politics by pandering to the big end of town, businesses increase profits, developers run rampant (except in Mosman and the eastern suburbs) with blocks of flats, many of which will become the slums of tomorrow. All in the headlong rush of artificially, inorganically increasing the population. Politicians don't you realise that your support of this highest level of immigration is diminishing the quality of life in this city. I don't side with Tony Abbott very often but on this subject he has got it right. Duncan Cameron, Lane Cove Leo Schofield's letter regarding overdevelopment (December 16-17), perfectly sums up my feelings towards the ruination of our city and state. According to Sean Nicholls' article in the same publication, Gladys Berejiklian states that she always does her best. If this is her best shot, then she has shot to kill. Vale our beloved city. It was wonderful while it lasted. I truly despair.

Moira McLean, Beverley Park I love that "concrete gash", Leo Schofield. It is a 10-second respite as I wiz thru my busy day, with wondrous views of the opera house and harbour bridge. Tim Schroder, Gordon Win for the right reasons I'm relieved John Alexander has been re-elected, not because he was a better candidate than Kristina Keneally ("Bennelong win a 'renaissance' for PM", smh.com.au, December 17). but because if If he'd lost and this had led to a spill in the Liberal Party we could have Abbott, Dutton, Morrison or Bishop as new leader, and a swing further right.

Fran Kirby, Castle Hill John Alexander - Australian champion, Bennelong champion and now Bacon Saving Champion! Neil Buchanan, Waitara To JA and PM  in Sir Robert Menzies' words: You were magnificent! Andrew Edson, Homebush West

I'm a 74-year-old pensioner and have never been more disgusted with the result of a byelection as I am today. The people of Bennelong should be ashamed of themselves. Have they no thought for the future or good of Australia? Don't they realise that now with this current government, we are going to get more cuts to education, health, pensions, penalty rates, rising power costs, poor NBN and much more? We are now stuck with a "no renewables policy", just that black poison coal. Their children and grandchildren are going to suffer because of this result.The mere thought of another 12 months or more of the non policies of this duplicitous government fills me with dread. Richard Cammies, Liverpool Had Labor won, Bill Shorten would be crowing from the rooftops on what a failure Malcolm Turnbull was as a leader. The fact that Shorten's Labor Party couldn't beat such a poor leader and performer as Turnbull reflects more on Shorten's failings as an opposition leader than Turnbull. Australia can't afford to risk the LNP being re-elected, at the next election, and Shorten continually shows that he is not a viable alternative. It's time Shorten accepted he will never win the top job and hands over leadership to any one of the more competent people in Labor. Victor Marshall, Erskineville This byelection was not between the Liberal candidate and the Labor candidate. It was between Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten. Sadly, the preferred prime minister in the opinion polls won. Poor Keneally, who put in a good campaign, had to pay the price.

Bala Superamaniam, Queenscliff It would be wise for Labor to keep Keneally under wraps, now that she has failed to win Bennelong. There has been much talk about her being offered the Senate seat vacated by Sam Dastyari. However, she is obviously a very high-profile, attractive and popular candidate and she could better serve the party in the lower house. Perhaps in time she could be our next Labor female prime minister. I don't think it will be too long before we see another general election federally and there will be quite a few seats they will be hoping to win back from the Coalition. Mary Lawson, Marrickville Turnbull is celebrating, but it must be relief more than anything, despite what is said. In the end, all the Liberal Party did was win a safe seat, and the "boost" just gets them back to where they were, not ahead. The Liberal Party in Bennelong gained a swing of 2 per cent on the 2PP vote at the July 2016 election, against a swing against the Coalition of 3.5 per cent nationwide. Probably demographic change has been making Bennelong more conservative, not less, but still there is a 5 per cent swing away now. Something for both sides to spin  a "triumph" in the win for Turnbull, but the ALP to play up taking votes in Liberal heartland. Nick Wilson, Palm Beach

The Macquarie Thesaurus provides "arrogance" and vanity" as synonyms for the word "pride". John Alexander displayed both in his anecdote regarding his rejection of a mobility parking permit when he injured his back ("I still have some pride"). Is he implying that those of us reliant on this parking assistance have no pride in the abilities we still have, and in our continual struggle to maintain them? Joan Grant, Beecroft Leaving aside the bizarre attempt at humour, if Alexander can walk the streets of Bennelong day after day when campaigning why does he warrant a disabled sticker? Patrick Hennessy, North Narrabeen Another facet to the "joke" seems to be that before he entered politics he still had pride. Since then he has surrendered it. So is he saying that now he would accept a disability parking permit?

David Neilson, Invergowrie Anyone who thinks JA's remark was offensive has not actually heard what he said. He said that after he was entitled to a disabled permit due to back injury, he fought his way back to No. 14 in world rankings. He then said "the doctor said I was still entitled to the permit", to which JA replied "I have some pride". Meaning: "I could not possibly, in good conscience, use a disabled permit, when I am ranked No. 14 in the world, regardless of the state of my back". It was a story of fighting through adversity, nothing more.



Mitch Geddes, Palm Beach Another insightful, measured and eloquent article by Peter Hartcher to remind us of the reasons that make Australia a successful society ("Beholden to the cargo cult", December 16-17). The byelection has brought out the fanatics in force, and even though some of them would like us to be a satellite state of China, I say let them form a political party where their motives are transparent because after all communism has been legal since 1951, another victory for free speech and Australian democracy. Political extremists are nothing new in this country, nor is the desire to work for the political plans of an imperialistic state, but back then the people just decided Menzies was a better bet than Stalin. In Australia, the mundane and the ordinary will trump dictatorship and military excess any day. Lyndall Nelson, Cremorne National parks run down

There was one glaring omission in the interview with Gladys Berejiklian ("Premier's mask slips in frank admission", December 16-17). There was not one mention of the natural environment (green spaces in the city are not "natural"). It is supposedly a responsibility of the state government to conserve and protect our natural estate for future generations. Instead, the Premier presides over resourcing and staffing cutbacks in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and a general downgrading of our national parks. An expectation that the natural environment will pay for itself through commercial development is anathema to natural environment conservation. Her apparent lack of concern for the natural environment and her pro-development stance is reflected in all her government does, epitomised by the stadium controversy. Karen Joynes, Bermagui So Berejiklian claims that she doesn't "want communities to lose their local character". I wonder how the Premier knows the local character of a community when her government fails to consult with the community and when it does, it fails to listen. Manuela Epstein, Pyrmont Charm's the secret to a good-hair day

Richard Glover may need to reacquaint himself with Shampoo, starring the gloriously coiffed Warren Beatty ("The joy of a decade without shampoo", Spectrum, December 16-17). One should never rely on the scalp to sense an excess of oil. Oozing charm from every pore, he oiled his way across the floor. Warren's the winner. Pam Connor Mollymook Beach He's one of us I was happy to read Amanda Hooten's article about Senator Dean Smith (Good Weekend December 16-17), particularly when he described himself as invisible. There would be a lot of Australians like me who may have finally found a politician they actually feel they have something in common with. John McGee, Evatt (ACT)

Thumbs-down to DJs I was floored to find that David Jones will not accept a free provider such as Gmail for an order for an e-card gift  according to the lass online! They will only process them through a paid provider. How many people use 'gmail' today and are denied this fairly common way of sending gifts. Staggering! Colene Taylor, East Blaxland Thumbs-up to Browns The Browns' photo montage (December 16-17) has left the rest of us for dead with our "not-much-to-tell-fuzzy-photos-end-of-year/Christmas" family newsletters!
It took the tug of a shirt. A history revisited.

One of Oxfam's most experienced water engineers, Zulfiquar Ali Haider, was approached recently by a man in his sixties, who was living in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. Extraordinarily, the refugee recognised Haider  as the man who helped save his life by providing emergency water two decades before.

It was a reunion tinged with sadness. For the third time in 40 years, the world watches Rohingya people forced to flee after they were attacked and driven from their homes. Aid workers like Haider are deployed yet again. The international community watches, again, having collectively failed to find a lasting solution to the decades-long oppression of Rohingya in their own country.

I feel a personal sense of deja vu: it brings back painful memories of the Rwandan genocide and exodus that took place on my doorstep in east Africa in 1994.
Amid the #MeToo reckoning that's finally weeding out the predators in high-profile industries and public institutions, last month it was reported that universities are considering banning sexual relationships between academics and students. The idea immediately floods the mind with questions, from the practical  like,"how can they do that?"  to the philosophical, like, "how can they do that?" And in the spirit of intellectual inquiry that befits the academy, here's a broader question: must every revolution result in over-correction?

The push for a ban comes from the convenor of the Australian Council of Graduate Research and RMIT professor, Denise Cuthbert, the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations and the National Union of Students. Cuthbert says many universities are too relaxed about these relationships and the "murky space" needs scrutiny.

Unis are considering banning sexual relationships between academics and students. Credit:Adam McLean

Yale University bans sex between academics and undergraduates  Cuthbert wants Australia to go even further and extend the prohibition to postgraduate students. The academic board at RMIT is considering the idea, and Universities Australia is developing guidelines for the interaction between supervisors and postgraduate students  chief executive Belinda Robinson says universities are part of the "growing conversation across every sector of society about the importance of consent and respectful relationships".

I won't prejudge Universities Australia's guidelines, other than to note the existing laws and internal procedures covering sexual harassment, assault and discrimination  all applicable to unwanted advances or romances that sour into vindictive payback. But banning sex between academics and students has nothing to do with "consent and respectful relationships"  indeed, it's about disrespecting consenting relationships to supposedly protect the weaker party.
One of the savings the government is expected to outline in the update is about $2.8 billion from the university sector. This is to be achieved by pausing indexation on payments to the sector, after proposed cuts to university funding were blocked by the Senate.

New figures released last week by the ABS showed that 61,600 jobs were created last month, and 383,000 had been created in the last year, while the participation rate had risen to a six-year high of 65.5 per cent

Ahead of the release of the budget figures on Monday, Treasurer Scott Morrison said the figures demonstrated the Turnbull government's prudent economic management, including "staying the course to keep expenditure under control and return the budget back to balance".

"In the years ahead we intend to make further progress on bringing down the debt as we get the budget back into balance as promised," he said.

"Our responsible budget management means we are now in a position to no longer be borrowing to pay for everyday [recurrent] expenditure, like schools funding, Medicare and welfare, a year earlier than forecast.



"We are acting, as we promised, in a fiscally responsible way to reduce our debt so that we can sustainably fund the essential services like health, schools as well as infrastructure, that Australians rely on."
A young woman who was forced to jump from a burning building in Sydney's west is suing her landlord and body corporate in the Supreme Court, alleging her apartment had an increased risk of fire because it did not have sprinklers installed and was modified without council approval.

Yinou "Ginger" Jiang and her friend Pingkang "Connie" Zhang were inside a fifth-floor apartment at the West Terrace development in Bankstown on September 6, 2012, when a fire started on the balcony and quickly spread inside.

Yinou "Ginger" Jiang and Pingkang "Connie" Zhang cling to the side of their apartment building before being forced to jump. Credit:ABC News 24

The pair became trapped in a bedroom and climbed onto the narrow window ledge outside, but the fire's heat was so unbearable they were forced to jump.

Ms Zhang  a promising pharmacy and nursing student  died, while Ms Jiang survived with "severe injuries" to her legs that require her to use a wheelchair.
"It is vitally important that all nations work relentlessly to enforce those sanctions because the more economic pressure that can be brought on North Korea, the sooner that regime will be brought to its senses. "The charges that are being laid are of the gravest nature, so I'll say no more about the facts of the case, obviously it will be dealt with in court." Mr Choi has been charged with six offences, two under the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995. The other four are under legislation enforcing UN and Australian sanctions against North Korea. Mr Gaughan stressed that there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons or missile componentry had been imported into Australia. "This is black market 101," he said.

"We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea," he said. "This was his goal. His actions were all around trying to raise revenue for the government of North Korea." He said it was believed the man had been in contact with high-ranking North Korean officials but gave no other details of how or when the man was recruited as a North Korean economic agent. "I know these charges sound alarming. Let me be clear we are not suggesting there are any weapons or missile componentry that ever came to Australian soil, nor that we believed that we identified any immediate threat to the Australian community." The allegation in relation to the missile componentry is that the man participated in discussions about the provision of the componentry, which assists in the guidance of ballistic missiles, from North Korea to other entities.

"This man was acting as a loyal agent for North Korea. "The evidence suggests there had been contact with high-ranking officials in North Korea," he said. However, Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said there was no evidence, and in fact there was evidence to the contrary, that any other foreign government officials were involved in the matter. Rather, the charges related to "people trying to use the blackmarket as a way to get things they shouldn't get hold of and then also to receive revenue back in return. "That's the same with the coal, and the oil and everything else we will be alleging, and also some gemstones and the like as well, it is all about making money for the North Korean government," he said.

Mr Choi was arrested following the execution of search warrants in Sydney on Saturday. The matter came before before Parramatta bail court on Sunday. He did not apply for bail and did not appear in the courtroom. Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said investigations were ongoing, and that the AFP was working closely with intelligence agencies and overseas law enforcement partners. The man's activities were being investigated back as far as 2008, and it was possible other charges would be laid. He added: "There are relatives in Australia that we are currently speaking to and there are ongoing investigations in relation to those particular people." Police will allege that the man provided services to a "weapons of mass destruction program" and discussed the sale of ballistic missile technology. They will further allege those discussions included the setting up of a "ballistic missile production facility", the supply of missile construction plans and the provision of North Korean technical specialists for training others outside North Korea. But Mr Gaughan would not name the potential partner to the missile componentry transaction.
It wasn't often that David Bowie flew in anything other than a private jet.

So when he took a scheduled flight over Australia - albeit business class - it was sufficiently unusual to merit a quick photograph just before the meal arrived.

David Bowie over Australia 1983, on a schedule flight rather than private jet. Credit:Denis O'Regan. Ricochet:David Bowie 1983

Another image shows him relaxing next to the pool at a Melbourne hotel with breakfast and an Australian newspaper just delivered.

In two other pictures he is evidently enjoying the Australian sunshine, one quietly smoking a cigarette and the other in a thong next to a creek at a surprise picnic he organised for friends.
After around six hours, premium product becomes soft-serve sludge. Small business owners face disruption and losses when the lights go out. "You churn ice cream really fast so it gets fluffy and delicious and as soon as it starts to melt, it just deflates," Addison-Smith says. "We've had a few instances where we've had to throw out a bunch of ice cream because of electricity failure and it's the saddest thing I've ever done." The Riverview Hotel dining room in Balmain.

Preventing spoilage will be trickier at the newly-opened scoopery, where up to 65 litres of ice cream is on display at a time. That's 650 scoops at $5 a scoop and if the power goes off, it will melt much more quickly  along with the week's profit. "It's grim," Addison-Smith says. Not knowing when outages will occur is the greatest concern and the company's contingency plans include borrowing a generator from a builder friend to run the display freezer and loading the refrigerated van with stock. "We'll eventually invest in a bunch of generators but we've got to sell the ice cream to make the money to buy the generators first!" Addison-Smith says. What to do in the event of a blackout

Hiring a generator is likely to be a more affordable option than buying, for small businesses desperate to power on. Expect prices to start at around $250 a day for a 20kVa unit, rising to $17,000 a day for a 1250kVa unit capable of running a sizeable factory, according to Kennards Hire product manager Dean Groves. Businesses may be able to claim compensation if the power is out beyond a specified period. Legislation differs between states but the amounts paid typically represent only a fraction of the losses resulting from a day in the dark, according to NDA Law senior associate Paul Gordon. "If you can demonstrate loss then they will compensate you for the loss of physical items but it doesn't extend to things such as loss of profits, or loss of contract," Gordon says. Businesses claiming for food spoilage must produce an accurate inventory. "You need to have a record of what you bought and how much it cost you and secondly, when you're throwing things out  you need to also [keep] records of what you are throwing out," Gordon says.

Businesses should also have a technological back-up and disaster recovery plan and consider investing in power banks to keep laptops and mobile phones running. "At the end of the day these things are, to an extent, beyond our control," Gordon says. "It's just a matter of putting in place whatever measures you can  that are reasonable in light of the size of the business." Getting ready That's been a focus of late for publican Nicola Farrell, co-owner since 2015 of Balmain's historic Riverview Hotel.

"What brought it front of mind was the issue in South Australia and that kind of made us think  if this happened here, how would it impact us?" Farrell says. The hotel's kitchen runs on both gas and electricity and stock is delivered daily to ensure freshness and minimise wastage. Farrell has a generator on standby and price lists and calculators at the ready, if the digital registers go off, while a cloud-based back-up system keeps bookings and financial data safe. "Based on plans we put in place we can definitely operate some or all of the venue without power for a considerable while," she says. But given the hotel expects power prices to rise by more than 50 per cent over the next year, having to plan for the possibility of outages rankles, Farrell adds.
Police used capsicum spray to break up a fight outside the Forum Theatre in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday night.

A police spokeswoman said officers tried to stop a fight on the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Street about 11.10pm.

Police used capsicum spray to break up fight a outside the Forum Theatre on Sunday night. Credit:Forum Melbourne / Facebook

"Upon police arrival a large group of males became aggressive and police were forced to use OC spray to subdue the crowd," the spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said about 20 men were involved in the confrontation.
PM Deuba consults with constitutional experts

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday held a consultation with constitutional experts to discuss the row over formation of the National Assembly.
From left: Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Nicole Meyer and Victorian MP David Southwick during their visit to Jerusalem. Erlich, Meyer and Sapper were in Israel to press for the extradition of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer. Leifer is wanted in Melbourne to face 74 Victoria Police charges of child sexual assault, including rape. Sapper and Meyer have just started publicly identifying themselves as Leifer's victims, after Erlich paved the way in March. Erlich and Sapper both gave private submissions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which released its 17-volume final report this week. Malka Leifer. Meyer, two years Erlich's senior, is arguably in a more sensitive position than her sisters.

With her husband and four children, she still lives within the confines of the Adass community. Meyer didn't make a conscious decision to put her name and face to the campaign - it happened organically when she accompanied her sisters on their lobbying mission to Israel. She is unsure how the community will respond. "Most people  stay silent. That's probably the most discouraging thing - they may be supportive but they're silent," she says. Sisters (left to right) Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper. Credit:Joe Armao

Erlich, having turned her back on her ultra-Orthodox upbringing, has no such concerns. The metamorphosis of an Adass girl On a hot November day in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, I visit Erlich at her simple two-bedroom apartment in Caulfield North to reflect on the past few months and the Israel visit. There is no air-conditioning, but a fan whirs in the background as Erlich makes coffee and then folds herself into a comfortable grey couch.

"This campaign is recreating my sense of identity, which is in a constant process of evolving anyway," Erlich says. The 30-year-old mother-of-one is now a high-profile lobbyist, justice campaigner and advocate for sexual abuse survivors. Given the hardships she has faced - a horrific childhood home life, the alleged sexual abuse by Leifer, mental health issues and psychiatric treatment, a divorce and a long custody battle over her daughter - her trajectory is extraordinary. She had already endured the tricky transition from a life in ultra-Orthodox Judaism, where every move was governed by severe rules and rituals, to a secular life in Melbourne's suburbs. "I was standing there [in Israel], outside the Knesset building, thinking: How did I go from being a shy Adass girl from this tiny, closeted community, to being in front of Knesset members, confidently telling them my story and asking for their help? Dassi Erlich at the gates of the Adass Israel school in Elsternwick.

Since launching the #BringLeiferBack campaign this year, Erlich has recruited former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu to her cause, met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and lobbied powerful Israeli politicians. She is also lobbying the current Adass school board, with Baillieu's help, to issue a public statement of support for Leifer's alleged victims, thought to number between eight and at least 15. The Age understands the school is currently drafting a statement. And hundreds of people, mostly from Jewish communities, have contacted her via her Facebook campaign page to express support or to share their own heartbreaking stories of sexual abuse. None of it has overwhelmed her. Dassi Erlich meets Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne earlier this year. Credit:Suppied.

"Very little intimidates me, I don't get scared easily. I don't feel fear really. Or I've chosen not to feel it," she says. She reminds me that the capacity to dissociate from feelings, or to compartmentalise them, is a common coping mechanism among people who have experienced significant trauma. Despite her apparent fearlessness, Erlich lives daily with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, including nightmares and flashbacks. She has regular therapy and has to carefully manage sleep and self-care to minimise symptoms. Given the ongoing effects of her abuse, it surprises some that she chooses to speak freely about her past. "When I first spoke publicly, it wasn't about the campaign," Erlich explains.

"There was a lot of media about me as a victim, and I abhorred the word. I wanted to own my story and the narrative. I'm not a victim, I've changed my life and I've worked really hard to get here. "I wanted to prove to myself - and one day to my daughter Leah - that I'm not ashamed of myself or my story." That story - the horrific grooming and sexual abuse that Erlich allegedly suffered from Leifer - has been documented. 'Trauma can either divide or it can bring you together': Elly Sapper, Nicole Meyer and Dassi Erlich. Credit:Joe Armao Erlich was the fourth of seven siblings (five girls and two boys) who grew up in the highly insular Adass community in Melbourne, which numbers up to 200 ultra-Orthodox (or Haredi) Jews.

Sadly, the seven children lived in a physically and emotionally abusive home, where they existed in constant fear of their cruel and extremely controlling mother. The siblings' connection to their parents is irrevocably broken but the six living brothers and sisters maintain powerfully supportive relationships with each other. Their eldest sister sadly died three years ago, aged 39. "Trauma can either divide or it can bring you together," says 32-year-old Meyer. "I think the way that we grew up, we turned to each other. That has just strengthened and intensified as the years have gone by." Leifer's legal team has kept her out of court in Israel and away from potential extradition, using what Erlich labels "legal loopholes".

Turnbull raised the stalled extradition when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month and says Australia maintains a strong interest in Leifer's fate. The sisters meet members of the Knesset during their trip to Israel. "My future at the moment depends on [Leifer] coming back. Ever since I gave a police statement in 2011 that's been my main focus," she says. "Beyond that, I imagine there'll be a lot more healing a lot quicker." Meanwhile, Erlich is bursting with plans for her future, which include finishing her memoir over summer and possibly using her nursing degree to become a psychiatric nurse.

But the goal that energises her most right now is becoming a motivational speaker. She recently gave her first school talk - to year 11 students at Mount Scopus Memorial College, a Melbourne Jewish school. "I'm thinking - how can I take the experience I've had  and do something more with it, give back with it?" Erlich says. However buoyed she is by this activity, the spectre of Leifer inevitably looms. On January 23, attention will turn to Israel once again, when Leifer faces her next psychiatric review. Erlich, Sapper and Meyer are hopeful that a new Israeli judge overseeing the case will see the matter returned to court. It is no surprise that Erlich sees coming face to face with Leifer in a Melbourne court as part of her future.

"I would like to face her in court. I have so many questions and I know, cognitively, I'm not going to get answers to them but I just want the chance to ask." As Erlich says, not much intimidates her. Especially not Malka Leifer. MALKA LEIFER: A TIMELINE 2001: Israeli teacher Malka Leifer arrives at the Adass Israel girls school in Melbourne's south-east. The following year she is appointed principal. March 2008: The school is alerted to sexual abuse allegations against Leifer by a social worker who Dassi Erlich has been seeing for treatment. The Adass community allegedly pays for Leifer and her family to flee Australia.

2011: Elly Sapper gives a statement to Victoria Police regarding allegations of sexual abuse by Leifer. Her sisters make statements shortly afterwards. 2014: Sapper receives a confidential out-of-court settlement after suing for damages. Victoria Police announce that Leifer is wanted on 74 charges of sexual assault and rape relating to girls who attended the Adass Israel school. Leifer is placed under house arrest in Israel as extradition proceedings begin. 2015: Erlich endures a two-week trial in the Supreme Court, after the school refuses to settle out of court. She receives a record $1 million payout for damages. June 2016: An Israeli judge suspends Leifer's extradition proceedings and lifts her home detention after her lawyers argue she is not well enough to attend court. She has evaded 10 court appearances since 2014. Instead, an independent psychiatric panel will review her mental health every six months. March 2017: Erlich launches her #BringLeiferBack campaign, an effort to pressure the Israeli and Australian governments over the extradition.
Melbourne City Council will investigate Lord Mayor Robert Doyle over a claim of sexual harassment made by Tessa Sullivan, one of his team of councillors who resigned on Friday.

Cr Doyle issued a statement on Twitter saying he was "shocked" by the allegations and would take leave for one month. "My decision to take leave must not be interpreted as any concession or admission," he said.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. Credit:AAP

Ms Sullivan, who was elected on the same ticket as Mr Doyle, resigned on Friday and lodged a complaint with the council's chief executive, Ben Rimmer.
A childcare centre owned by the University of Melbourne will be without sunlight for most of the year after it builds a 14-storey student accommodation next door.

Childcare centres are not subject to protections from overshadowing and overlooking because they are not defined as a public space, the City of Melbourne said as it approved the 600-bed tower last week.

Parents Stephanie Rennie and Greg Ireton outside Queensberry Childcare Centre. Credit:Eddie Jim

The university owns both the Queensberry Children's Centre and an abutting site to be developed in Carlton's Bouverie Street.

It had originally planned to build a childcare centre on the site. Instead, it will develop the plot to help reach the university's goal of doubling the number of students it houses to 6000 by the year 2020.
Anyone who toured the behind-the-scenes store rooms of Melbourne Museum, even the crustiest grouch, would struggle to stop from oohing and aahing.

Here you'll find rainforest moths the size of your head, stuffed huskies that once worked in Antarctica, and a squat, blob-shaped fish from the deep Pacific.

Di Bray, senior collection manager of vertebrate zoology, observes a blob fish kept in Melbourne Museum's vertebrate wet collections. Credit:Eddie Jim

That "wow factor" is the effect curators are aiming for when they bring 370 items out of storage, many rarely or never before displayed, for the museum's new Inside Out exhibition.

Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Marshall said some of "the most extraordinary and beautiful and wonderful" of the museum's 17 million items had been chosen for the exhibition, which opens on December 23.
If there is a human embodiment of the Christmas spirit, then Deborah Henry might be it.

Hundreds of people call her Mum. Her favourite saying is "thanks, hon", and she could hug for Australia.

Thank you 'Mum': Volunteer charity leader Deborah Henry with John King, whom she has helped through tough times, at the From Us 2 You Christmas lunch. Credit:Paul Jeffers

There was plenty of that on Sunday, when her team of volunteers served free Christmas lunch to 120 disadvantaged people at the Drill Hall near Queen Victoria Market.

But it wasn't some one-off kindness. For the past three years, Ms Henry's grassroots charity, From Us 2 You, has served meals to the homeless two or three times a week at Batman Park in the city.
Bunbury Prison will get an extra 160 beds. "The State Government should be commended for not only recognising the serious overcrowding problem in our prison system, but for also taking action to try and deal with the problem, even under difficult budgetary pressures," Mr Welch said. "[The Barnett Government] did nothing to deal with the chronic overcrowding in WA's prisons, all the while managing to wreck our state's finances." The expansion aims to create an additional 672 beds by 2019, of which 512 would be built at Casuarina Prison. Speaking at the site, Corrective Services minister Fran Logan said the expansion would make Casuarina one of Australia's biggest prisons.

"The 512 beds at a cost of $96 million is absolutely needed. The prison system has been nearly at capacity for many years," he said. Casurina's extra beds will be built at the rear of the building as two new wings, separate from the main facility, according to Mr Logan. Another 160 beds will be created at Bunbury Prison. Mr Logan said the overcrowding of WA's prisons had been caused by the poor management of the situation by the former Barnett Government, which promised a new $600 million prison at the State election. Opposition leader and former treasurer Mike Nahan has renewed calls for the new prison.

"Their priorities are wrong and they have to stop blaming the previous government and get on with being responsible for their own decisions," Dr Nahan said. "We need a new prison and we need it soon. "Instead of taking on the responsibility of build a prison, they are cutting other essential services and under doing it." Mr Logan said the government's expansion plan would create the equivalent capacity of a new prison, at a third of the cost. "There was no money for a new prison, there was no direction for a new prison and there was no action being taken to build a new prison. We were left with a crisis," he said.

"The way in which we are dealing with the crisis is to use the existing prison estate and to think smartly about how we tackle the problem. "By using the existing prison estate it means that the cost of infrastructure is kept low." Mr Logan said the state government had also created a further 212 beds already by implementing double bunking in all prison cells. "All of the prisons across Western Australia were designed to be single-cell. Virtually every cell in WA is now double-bunked and they were never designed that way, but that is the way it has to be," he said. "It is not dangerous. It is uncomfortable for prisoners. As a prisoner you are sharing a very small space with another prison.

"Unfortunately that is part and parcel of going to prison." But Mr Welch has warned that overcrowding and double-bunking was having implications for the safety of prison officers. "We have people being shoe-horned into a tiny space of a cell designed for one person, especially when dealing with the hot heat of a Perth summer," he said. "It is easy to see how combustible that situation can become and how difficult it becomes for a prison officer to handle that situation." The funding announcement comes just days after inmates at Hakea prison threatened staff and destroyed property in a riot.
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Police arrest Indian thief gang known as Challa Samuha

Police have arrested a gang of thieves of India notoriously known as challa samuha who entered Nepal on the pretext of collecting scrap.
Protecting workers without borders

Migration is now a global phenomenon and most countries are simultaneously countries of origin, transit and destination for migrants.
Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp credits U.S. Rep. Bill Flores with "literally saving the education of tens of thousands of graduate students" by keeping a proposed tax off of them.

Flores -- a Republican who serves over the 17th Congressional District, which includes A&M, Baylor and the University of Texas -- said the tax relief is for those who receive discounted or waived tuition incentives. He said the measure is critical for research institutions to compete globally for the "best and brightest students as they educate and pursue important research initiatives for the 21st century.

"Robust graduate education programs are economic engines for America and it is crucial that policymakers recognize and promote these important components of our higher education infrastructure," Flores said. "I look forward to voting in favor of this bold, pro-growth bill which will lead to more jobs, bigger paychecks and fairer taxes for hardworking American families."

The issue is part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed in the House of Representatives in mid-November and in the Senate earlier this month, then went to a conference committee where the differences between the two were finalized Friday. Both the House and Senate are expected to soon vote again on the bill before it heads to President Trump.

"I want to express sincere thanks to my Congressional colleagues for working with my office on this important initiative for American higher education and economic opportunity," Flores said.

He worked closely in recent months with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, committee members and other members of House leadership to continue the current tax treatment for grad students.

"Bill Flores is the primary reason this tax will not fall on graduate students," Sharp said. "The entire Texas A&M System owes him a huge debit of gratitude."
Rs 7 million worth of property burnt down in Solukhumbu fire

A cooking gas leakage caused a fire in a house of a local resident at Solududhkunda Municipality-8 in Solukhumbu district, destroying property worth approximately Rs 7 million, said the police.
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NORWALK  Custom-made chandeliers hang from the ceiling, brass railings and glass panels form the edge of the new balcony, the pews and floors have been refurbished, and the altar has been rebuilt at Macedonia Church on West Avenue.

Once accessible only from the sides, the altar has been lengthened and opened to the congregation.

With our type of worship, we do a lot of altar work, so this way we ministers can come down and we can come up and bless (the worshipers) or the babies, said the Rev. DeWitt Stevens Jr., senior pastor at the church.

Macedonia Church purchased the former First United Methodist Church at 39 West Ave. in May 2014 for $1,215,000. In the three years since, Macedonia has made good on its promise to be faithful stewards of the historic yellow-brick church, which was built in 1896 and is on the state Register of Historic Places.

Volunteers lend hand

Through donations, the roughly 200-member congregation has invested roughly $2 million worth of improvements into the building, from the roof to the basement, according to church operations manager Joleen Green.

Green credits the Rev. Michael Rumble, who happens to be a general contractor, for saving the congregation hundreds of the thousands of dollars on the work.

He removed all the pews, put them at our neighbors property and had everything refinished, all the floors refinished, Green said. We spent $853,000, more or less, on renovations. A million more would have gone for contractors, but we had volunteers.

Rumble said building new bathrooms  the old church had one small bathroom  and removing the pews to refinish the floors were the most difficult parts of the renovation. Other work was more intricate.

Just one of these is $75, said Rumble, pointing at new spindles  hand-crafted to match existing woodwork  that form the railing of the lengthened altar.

The work also included installing new doors, replacing parts of the roof and creating a new platform for the porte-cochere that once served carriages.

Basement next

The renovations arent over. The large stained-glass windows have yet to be refurbished and cleaned. More immediately, Macedonia Church is working to raise an additional $200,000 to create a kitchen, pantry and donated clothing area in the basement. The dirt floors have been replaced with concrete in preparation for creation of the new space.

This is our pastors dream, to do this section into a full pantry and then a clothes unit for the community, said Rumble, pointing at the basement space.

Stevens said his goal was to have the kitchen, pantry and clothing donation area open this year but funding didnt allow that. He hopes to see the basement work completed next year before winter sets in.

Hopefully next year, when the cold weather comes in, well be able to serve the community, Stevens said. We just need the cash.

Macedonia Church moved into its new home after having spent 16 years renting various spaces. In October 2015, Macedonia held its grand-opening celebration by holding a processional march from its old rented space at 70 South Main St. to 39 West Ave.

Room to grow

Church members are proud of their new home and dont plan on relocating again. With room for 900 in the former Methodist church, they have plenty of room to grow and expect a few new members might come from next door where The SoNo Collection, a regional shopping center, is under construction.

Were expecting it will also attract people to come in and see what this is all about because its historical, Stevens said.

For now, attention is focused on finishing the basement renovations and, more immediately, Christmas. A Christmas play is scheduled for Wednesday evening, Stevens said.

Macedonia officials have described the ability to acquire the historic church as a Godsend.

We celebrated our 39th anniversary and we had no home, we rented everything, Stevens said. Now we have a place we can call our own home.

In 2014, Macedonia Church put down $315,000 toward the property and took out a $900,000 mortgage to cover the balance. The church is making its payments and has about $850,000 remaining on the mortgage, according to Green. She and other church members are confident theyll finish the renovations and pay off the mortgage.

Weve never gone without, Green said. The Lord has always provided.

For more information about Macedonia Church, visit www.macedoniachurchct.com.
HASTINGS  Hammocks arent just for lounging. One Hastings business is taking them to new heights.

Teresa Miller and Chelsie Wilson are co-owners and class instructors at Aerial Yoga Hastings. Jen Larrick is also an instructor.

Miller and Wilson started doing aerial yoga on their own as a fun way to change things up.

It was a personal want-to-do, Wilson said. We went to training just for fun.

Wilson and Miller took training at Aircat Aerial Arts in Boulder, Colo. Once they took the training, they thought they might as well get certified to teach aerial yoga classes. After being certified, they thought of starting a business to offer classes to others.

Aerial Yoga Hastings, which is housed in Millers TDance School of Performing Arts, has been around for nearly two years. They started off with one hammock and now have 10.

Aerial yoga involves many of the same poses as normal yoga, said Wilson, who also teaches yoga classes. However, the poses in aerial yoga are variations of the original yoga poses since it uses the hammocks.

Its like another prop, Wilson said of the hammock.

Though Miller and Wilson took up aerial yoga for fun, they said it wasnt always easy. Aerial yoga is a full body workout and works a lot of core and upper body muscles. Being upside down in certain poses was also something they had to get used to.

Wilson said once they did it a few times, being upside down while holding a pose was no problem at all. They make sure to teach safety with each pose, as well as offer modifications.

Miller said now if she hasnt done aerial yoga for a period of time, her body can feel it. She said her body feeds off of the exhilaration of using different muscles and stretching out.

Ive noticed Ive changed a lot, she said.

Wilson said aerial yoga sometimes feels like youre a little kid playing on a swing set.

Miller said there has been good community response to aerial yoga, as theyve hosted many groups, including families and Girl Scout troops.

Miller and Wilson said they and Larrick offer different styles of classes. One class may be more of a cardio workout while another instructor may teach a more relaxed class.

A few times each month, Aerial Yoga Hastings offers introductory classes, which everyone must take before taking any other aerial yoga class.

Wilson, whos used to teaching yoga, said she has fun teaching aerial yoga.

I like it because its taking what Im teaching and blending it in a different dimension, she said.

Wilson said she loves seeing people take the class and realize their potential, no matter their age or gender.

I like it when someone learns something about themself, she said.

For more information or to sign up for classes, visit www.aerialyogahastings.com.
More than 100 people came out Saturday to place wreaths on the graves of veterans at the Nebraska Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The event, which included a ceremony, is part of the national Wreaths Across America event.

The Patriot Guard Riders sponsored the event and stood at the edges of the All Faiths Chapel at the Grand Island Veterans Home, holding various flags. The Grand Island Senior High School Air Force JROTC posted and retired the flags for the ceremony.

Several members of the armed forces presented wreaths in remembrance of members of each branch of the military in addition to wreaths to honor those missing in action, prisoners of war and those killed in action.

Wreaths Across America began in 1992. Grand Island has been participating in the national event for more than 10 years.

Nancy Klimek, activity manager for the Grand Island Veterans Home, introduced keynote speaker Richard Lemmerman, commander of American Legion District 6.

Lemmerman spoke about the theme of this years Wreaths Across America: Im an American. Yes I am.

He said the theme shouldnt just be for one day.

The mission is carried out throughout the year, Lemmerman said.

The wreaths represent a three-step mission: Remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom.

After the ceremony, people volunteered to unload the wreaths from a G.I. Express truck and place them on each of the 1,200 graves at the Nebraska Veterans Memorial Cemetery. People from all over the community came to help, including GISH students, families and veterans. Klimek said this is the second year theyve had a group of volunteers to unload the truck, since its the second year G.I. Express has headed up fundraising efforts to transport the wreaths to Grand Island.

Klimek said shes not surprised by how many people showed up to help, especially last year when the temperature was 20 degrees below zero. She said about the same amount of people came this year as last, but shes glad the weather was much warmer.

The community and the state of Nebraska have always supported veterans, Klimek said.

Theres never any doubt in my mind, she said, that people in the community understand the sacrifice veterans and their families made.

No grave, whether it was in a corner or right in the middle of the cemetery, was left untouched by a wreath. Klimek, who has a son in the Navy, encouraged volunteers to read the name on the gravestone and find out about the veteran who sacrificed.

L.B. Thurlow was among the first veterans buried in that cemetery in 1888. Thurlow was a Civil War veteran.

Klimek said its good, especially for younger people, to know the stories of the people who are honored in the cemetery. Its good for them to get a sense of the history thats there and that this is sacred ground.

She said especially since the cemetery is near a busy street, the wreaths help serve as a good reminder for the holidays.

Klimek said as people are driving, in a rush to get their shopping done, she hopes they can stop and realize that they can enjoy the holidays because of the sacrifice so many veterans have made.
The filing season for elected offices is open and the incoming Hall County election commissioner wants people to be informed of what offices are up for election and the filing process.

Tracy Overstreet, who will become election commissioner on Jan. 1, 2018, said one of her goals is to get more information out to the public about what offices are open. She plans to have the details on the Hall County election commissioners website after Jan. 5.

The reason for this, Overstreet said, is because the deadline for political subdivisions to inform her office of what offices are up for election in 2018 is Jan. 5.

As of now, the local offices up for election in 2018 are Hall County Board of Supervisors Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7, half of the Grand Island City Council (one member from each ward), Grand Island mayor, Hall County attorney, Hall County sheriff, Hall County assessor/register of deeds, Hall County treasurer, clerk of the district court and seats on the Grand Island Public Schools and Northwest Public Schools boards.

Seats on the Wood River, Doniphan/Trumbull and Centura school boards are also up for election.

There are a lot of important local races, Overstreet said. Virtually all of the county positions and four of the seven Hall County supervisor positions are up for election. There is a lot going on. Its not a presidential election year, but there is a lot going on. There is a lot for people to file for.

For some elected positions, there are certain qualifications that must be met for an individual to run for, and hold, the office. For example, the Hall County assessor/register of deeds requires an assessors certificate, the Hall County attorney requires a law degree and the Hall County sheriff requires law enforcement training.

Overstreet said one thing people filing for an elected office may not know is that there is a filing fee required to run for paid elected positions.

Unpaid positions, such as school board positions, do not require a filing fee.

The filing fee is 1 percent of the elected offices paid salary. Overstreet said the filing fee is $78 to run for Grand Island City Council and $160 to run for Grand Island mayor.

They will come in here and what we will do is make sure they are a registered voter, Overstreet said. Then, we will fill out a registration form. They can sign it and then they are filed. With a city or village position, if there is pay associated with that  there is for Grand Island  they need to pay the filing fee to their city clerk and bring the receipt to our office.

In addition to paying a filing fee, Overstreet said a change in Nebraska state law on paid elected positions requires those filing for such offices to also file a financial statement.

If you file, the financial statement is for the previous year, she said. So, if you file in December 2017, you have to file your 2016 and 2017 financials. After the first of the year, you have to file them again. Everybody has to have a 2017 financial filing before they can be listed on the ballot. If you file in December, you also have to file 2016. So you have extra filing to do if you file then.

The deadline for an incumbent to file for re-election is Feb. 15, 2018, while non-incumbents have until March 1, 2018, to file for an office. Overstreet said if someone currently holds an elected office, they are considered an incumbent, regardless of whether they are running for the same office they currently occupy.

Overstreet said she plans to compile a list of frequently asked questions for candidates, voters and election workers to place on the website after Jan. 5.

Frequently asked questions currently answered on the Hall County election commissioners website include where to register to vote, how to file for office, when the filing deadline is, when the deadline to register to vote is, how to apply for an early ballot and how to sign up to be a poll worker.

Other questions Overstreet plans to answer on the website include:

 What are the fundraising regulations?

 Where can I get voter lists or mailing labels and what is the cost?

 What are the sign regulations?

If you are thinking about running and have questions about it, it is pretty easy to talk yourself out of it, Overstreet said. The more things we can answer, the more apt people will be to run. It is nice to have a full ballot of people to choose from.
President Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and it absolutely, undeniably is and has been for 70 years. In fact, an American law has said as much since 1995 and past presidents named Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all echoed the indubitable verdict at one time or another.

But, oh, what a Trumpian horror, its said.

The U.N. Security Council has condemned Trumps decision, especially his intent to finally move our embassy from Tel Aviv to where the Israeli government is. That is seen as a kind of conclusiveness, and, with rabble-rousing anger, Palestinian leaders have said its no longer going to meet with U.S. representatives to discuss a two-state peace solution with Israel. Other Arab nations in the Middle East are snarling, too, and European leaders are astonished at so flagrant a foul.

Here, we are told, could be a significant setback to peace negotiations, but such setbacks started with the founding of Israel and have been mainly the fault of Palestinians wanting Jewish settlers tossed out or extinguished. In the beginning, the international community mapped out a plan in which Israel and Palestine would get different territories. The Palestinians werent having any, went to war in 1948 to get rid of the Israelis and the Israel won enough land to sustain itself.

Part of what Israel captured was the western portion of Jerusalem. It had been declared an international city, but Israel established its capital there despite some still insistent naysayers. In a war with Arab states in 1967, Israel captured the eastern portion of Jerusalem from Jordan along with the West Bank it continues to control militarily.

If the Palestinian leaders thought a two-state solution might include Israel handing over western Jerusalem as a capital for them, they were living in never-never land. However, eastern Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital remains a possibility. Trump said nothing in his remarks about refusing to divide up the city again, and his U.N. ambassador, Nikky Haley, said the United States would have no objections if the two parties agreed to such a thing.

The real hindrance to the two-state solution is that the Hamas terrorists who run the Palestinian Gaza Strip still see the only answer as the elimination of Israel, occasionally firing missiles to make the point. Then there is the Palestinian Authority representing the Palestinians on the West Bank and its funding of terrorists who visit Israel for fatal purposes. The issue of Jerusalem as the capital is nothing compared to all of this.

Of course, many will tell you that the Jews fleeing Europe after World War II had no right to settle in Israel despite their ages-old holy sites and Jews already there. They say Israel has violated international rules, that it has occupied the West Bank for far too long and that Palestinians there have been badly mistreated.

To say Israel has done no wrong would be fallacious. But look at the context of all of this: the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, tiny Israel surrounded by major Arab states wanting its demise, Israel twice making generous offers to the Palestinians demanding all or nothing, the Palestinian reluctance to even talk to Israelis and the Israeli need for endless self-defense to survive.

What we have in Israel is a self-disciplined, industrious, innovative nation that is humane and democratic despite the endless assaults of a United Nations filled with nations that are no such thing. Israel is one of our best allies, is hugely important to us and deserves our support.

Right now, other Arab nations that are likewise threatened by Iran are considering a closer relationship with this militarily fit nation. Its said that, if the two-state solution fails, Israel will have to absorb the Palestinians, but there is another suggested solution in which Israel returns much of the West Bank to Jordan, Egypt gets the Gaza Strip and Palestinians work things out with other Arabs.
Coffee enthusiasts may have heard of Margo Redjo, a legendary coffee roastery in Semarang, Central Java. Nestled in the citys Chinatown, the coffee roastery is the go-to place for coffee tasting.

Although Margo Redjo is a popular spot among coffee lovers, first-time visitors may have a hard time finding the shop, as there is no signboard in front of the country house built in the Dutch colonial style.

The shop is owned by the Tan family, who have been living at the house since 1837. The Tans ancestors migrated from Fujian, China, to Indonesia in 1790.

The Tan family started the coffee business in Cimahi, West Java. In 1916, they founded a coffee manufacturing company called Bandoengsche Electrische Koffiebranderijj, or Margo Redjo. Prior to the establishment of Margo Redjo, the Tan family were landlords, leasing their land for salt and opium farming. However, because the business failed, they had to move to Cimahi and only returned to Semarang in 1925.

In the past few years, Margo Redjo has produced a wide array of coffee powders under different brands and prices, including Tjap Grobak Idjo, Tjap Orang Matjoel, Tjap Pisau, Koffie Sari Roso as well as Koffie Mirama.

Read also: Damn fine coffee! 6 places in Jakarta to get your caffeine fix

Now the baton has passed to Widayat Basuki Dharmowiyono, also known as Tan Tjoan Pie, a third generation family member. Under the watchful eye of Basuki, the shop now sells roasted coffee beans from across Indonesia, including Lintong, Gayo, Mandailing, Sumbawa and Ciwidey coffees.

The most expensive coffee in Margo Redjo is luwak arabica coffee from West Nusa Tenggara, priced at Rp 560,000 (US$41.26) per kilogram.

The aroma and flavors of roasted coffee beans only last for eight hours. After [eight hours] the aroma and flavors slowly disappear. Thats why I only sell coffee beans, so customers can experience the best of the coffee's aroma and taste by grinding it themselves, he said.

To ensure the quality of the coffee, Margo Redjo still uses a classic gas powered coffee machine. Without a temperature controller, the roaster needs to use their hands while roasting the beans, requiring experience and precision.

Basuki added that it is important to keep the coffee's flavors, as the younger generation have a greater knowledge about coffee and are more sensitive to its taste. (jes/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom  Sun, December 17, 2017 13:04 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dc9942 2 Lifestyle language,Oxford-Dictionaries,Britain Free

"Youthquake" was crowned Friday as Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year 2017, following a five-fold increase in usage.

The word is defined as "a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people".

It first rose during Britain's June general election, which saw an upsurge in youth turnout, then had an even bigger spike in September around New Zealand's general election.

However, the word was first coined in 1965 by the then Vogue magazine editor Diana Vreeland to describe how youth culture was changing fashion and music.

It beat eight other words on the shortlist.

These included "milkshake duck", a "person or thing that initially inspires delight on social media but is soon revealed to have a distasteful or repugnant past" and "white fragility", defined as "discomfort and defensiveness on the part of a white person when confronted by information about racial inequality and injustice".

Also shortlisted was "broflake", a man who is readily upset or offended by progressive attitudes that conflict with his more conventional or conservative views, and "newsjacking", defined as taking advantage of current events to promote a brand.

Read also: 'Feminism' is US dictionary 'Word of the Year'

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Dictionaries, said Youthquake was a word everyone could rally behind.

"Youthquake may not seem like the most obvious choice for Word of the Year, and it's true that it's yet to land firmly on American soil, but strong evidence in the UK calls it out as a word on the move," he said.

"We chose youthquake based on its evidence and linguistic interest. But most importantly for me, at a time when our language is reflecting our deepening unrest and exhausted nerves, it is a rare political word that sounds a hopeful note."

"We turn to language to help us mark where we have been, how far we have come, and where we are heading," Oxford Dictionaries said.

Youthquake best reflected not only the ethos, mood and preoccupations of the past year, but had "lasting potential as a word of cultural significance".

The other shortlisted words are antifa, gorpcore, kompromat and unicorn, something dyed with rainbow colours or decorated with glitter.

Previous words of the year include "post-truth" (2016), the "face with tears of joy" emoji (2015), "vape" (2014), "selfie" (2013), "omnishambles" in Britain and "GIF" in the United States (2012) and "squeezed middle" (2011).
Semi-floor bus operation within a month: Sajha

Sajha Yatayat, a transportation cooperative, plans to bring a semi-floor bus in the Capital within a month for trial operation.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain  Sun, December 17, 2017 20:46 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dd183a 2 World Wikileaks,ecuador,Catalan-independence Free

Ecuador has warned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange not to interfere in Catalonia's separatist crisis, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said in an interview published Sunday.

Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London for the past five years, has angered Madrid by using Twitter to pump out messages of support for Catalonia's independence drive and accuse Spain's central government of "repression".

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has said there were signs that Assange was "trying to interfere and manipulate" amid the Catalan crisis after the outspoken Australian met last month with a prominent Catalan pro-independence figure.

"We do not want to intervene under any circumstances with respect to Catalonia. We hope the problem is resolved as soon as possible for the benefit of all Spaniards," Moreno told top-selling Spanish daily El Pais.

"We have reminded Mr Assange that he has no reason to interfere in Ecuadorian politics because his status does not allow it. Nor in that of nations that are our friends. He does not have the right to do so and he has committed himself to this."

Last month Ecuador's foreign ministry said it had told Assange to avoid making statements "that could affect Ecuador's international relations" with Spain and other nations.

Moreno begins a three-day official visit to Spain on Sunday with a meeting with Ecuadorian immigrants in Madrid. He is scheduled to hold talks with Spain's King Felipe VI and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday.

Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012 after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face a rape allegation.

Although Swedish prosecutors dropped their rape probe in May, Assange -- who denied all allegations -- still faces arrest by British police on a charge of skipping bail if he leaves the embassy.

He fears he will be extradited to the United States and put on trial for WikiLeaks publishing leaked secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010.

Spain was plunged into its worst political crisis since a failed coup attempt in 1981 after the Catalan government pushed ahead with a banned independence referendum on October 1.

Catalonia will vote Thursday in a knife-edge regional election that could chart the course of the secession crisis.
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Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap, Central Java  Sun, December 17, 2017 11:12 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dc379e 1 National Banyumas,RSUD,earthquake,patients,BPBD,hospital Free

The Banyumas General Hospital (RSUD) in Central Java has sustained severe damage following a strong earthquake on Friday evening, with the worst hit being a three-story building that houses an emergency installation (IGD), radiology and haemodialysis units.

Fortunately, the earthquake occurred in the middle of the night. There would have been a lot of victims if it occurred during the day, a hospital worker told The Jakarta Post on Saturday, while gathering medical equipment scattered across the floor. He said there were no casualties in the incident, however more than 40 patients were evacuated to safer places when the earthquake occurred.

Haemodialysis patients have been moved to other hospitals, however those undergoing in-patient care are undergoing treatment in other parts of the hospital.

Banyumas Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) chairman Prasetyo Budi Widodo said the earthquake damaged 30 houses and dozens of public facilities.

The damaged houses are located in the districts of Ajibarang, Banyumas, Cilongok, East Purwokerto, Jatilawang, Kalibagor, Kedungbanteng, Sokaraja, Sumpiuh and Pekuncen. (vla/ebf)

Damaged: A three-story building that houses an emergency installation (IGD), radiology and haemodialysis units at the Banyumas General Hospital (RSUD) in Central Java is worst hit by a strong earthquake on Friday evening. (JP/Agus Maryono)

Topics : Banyumas RSUD earthquake patients BPBD hospital
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Linkedin News Desk (AFP) London, United Kingdom  Sun, December 17, 2017 09:30 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dc01cf 2 World Brexit,Theresa-May,British,EU,European-Union Free

British Prime Minister Theresa May has hit back at critics of her handling of Brexit, writing in the Sunday Telegraph that she had "proven the doubters wrong" after securing an interim deal.

Pressure lifted on the embattled leader after she struck a deal with the European Union over Britain's divorce terms last Friday, enabling talks to turn to the country's future trading relationship after months of fraught negotiations.

"We have proven the doubters wrong and are making progress towards a successful exit from the EU," she wrote in the center-right broadsheet, calling the agreement "a watershed" in negotiations.

"Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job," she added. "We will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people."

The prime minister said it was important to work out the exact terms of an implementation period, designed to soften the effects of Brexit after the March 2019 leave date, "as soon as possible... to provide invaluable certainty for employers."

She also played down fears of Brexit voters that Britain would end up being bound by EU rules, insisting that the country would regain "control of our borders, and set our own laws".

However, prominent Brexit campaigners in her own cabinet appeared concerned that Britain would be restricted by EU rules during the transition period, which is expected to last for around two years.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Sunday Times that Britain risked becoming a "vassal state" of Europe if it did not fully leave the jurisdiction of European courts or the customs union, which would prevent it from striking trade deals with other countries.

His comments came shortly after finance minister Philip Hammond said Britain would "effectively replicate the status quo" during the transition period, highlighting May's task in uniting her cabinet ahead of the second phase of negotiations.

She also faces battles with her own MPs, 11 of whom rebelled last week to deliver the government a damaging parliamentary defeat on the bill that will enshrine Brexit into domestic law

A BMG Research poll for The Independent newspaper on Sunday found 51 percent of Britons now favored staying in the EU compared with 41 percent who backed Brexit, the widest margin since the June 2106 vote -- although the poll was carried out before the interim deal was announced. (**)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, December 17, 2017 16:50 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dcdf9e 2 Business citilink,extra-flights,year-end-holidays Free

Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, plans to serve 280 extra flights from Jakarta to seven busiest-routes during this Christmas and New Year holiday, up 20 percent from last year.

The seven routes are Malang and Surabaya in East Java, Denpasar in Bali, Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang in Central Java, and Silangit in North Sumatera.

We add more [flights] this year [compared to the past year] to anticipate a surge in passengers during the peak season which will fall from December 21 to January 3, 2018, said Citilink president director Juliandra Nurtjahjo in a press statement Saturday as quoted from kompas.com.

Subsequently, during the period, Citilink will have 264 flights on a daily basis, up 8.2 percent from regular days.

For instance, it will run 14 Jakarta-Denpasar return flights, up from 12 flights. In addition, there will be six Jakarta-Malang return flights, up from only four flights. (srs/lnd)
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Linkedin Jan Flemr (AFP) Prague, Czech Republic  Sun, December 17, 2017 08:41 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dbd6a9 2 World Austria,Far-Right,Marine-Le-Pen,Geert-Wilders,Europe,Austrian-Freedom-Party,conservatives Free

Europe's far-right leaders including Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders on Saturday hailed as "historic" the government coalition deal struck by their Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) peer with the conservatives.

At a triumphant gathering of some of the continent's most prominent far-right personalities, leaders urged closer cooperation to build upon recent electoral gains.

"This is great news for Europe," said Le Pen, who made it to May's presidential run-off in France before losing to Emmanuel Macron.

"These electoral successes show that... the future rests with the nations, with a Europe of the people, a Europe of cooperation," she added, calling the FPOe's success a "truly historic event".

Le Pen also threw her support behind Russian President Vladimir Putin's bid for re-election on March 18, saying her National Front party "naturally wants the victory of Vladimir Putin," and called for better relations between France and Russia.

Dutch far-right firebrand Wilders also applauded what he called the "excellent result" achieved by FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache.

His Freedom Party got the interior, defence and foreign ministries in the Austrian government it formed with the conservative People's Party of future Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

"Let that be an example for all the political elite that it is much wiser to work together to achieve good policies and strengthen our border and diminish the immigration and be rougher on crime -- everything that is happening in Austria today," added Wilders, head of the Dutch Party for Freedom, the largest opposition party in the Netherlands.

Wilders also said that "Russia should be an ally", calling the EU's stance on Russia, including sanctions over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, "a total disgrace".

Both far-right leaders were in Prague for a conference of the Europe of Nations and Freedoms (ENF), a European Parliament group established two years ago.

- 'Sort waste, not people' -

Far-right politicians espousing anti-migrant and anti-EU views discussed cooperation within Europe outside EU bodies at the conference which brought together politicians from the FPO, Italy's Lega Nord or the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Czech police tightened security as left-wing groups announced several protests, including a blockade of the suburban area of Prague where the conference is held.

About a hundred protesters blocked an access road, carrying banners saying "Sort waste, not people" and "We don't want a Jurassic Park of nationalists here."

Another group blocked the entrance to the hotel, chanting "corrupt journalists" at those trying to enter.

Police also had their hands full with Wilders, who is facing death threats over his fiery anti-Islam rhetoric.

Le Pen and Wilders also hailed the success of the far-right Czech SPD party in general elections in October.

Led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura and running on a staunchly anti-EU and anti-Islam platform, the SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) scored 22 seats in the 200-member Czech parliament.

Okamura, a deputy parliament speaker, hosted the Prague conference of the ENF.

Days ahead of the conference, Okamura received backing from Czech President Milos Zeman, a veteran leftwinger known for his pro-Russian, pro-Chinese and anti-Muslim rhetoric, who attended an SPD congress last weekend.

Zeman, who once called the migrant crisis "an organized invasion" of Europe and Muslims "impossible to integrate", is the odds-on favorite in a two-round presidential election slated for January.

Paradoxically, the Czech Republic, which vehemently opposes the EU's quota system for distributing migrants among its members, has received only 12 migrants under the scheme.

Overall, migrant numbers from the Muslim world are very low in this EU member of 10.6 million people as refugees prefer wealthier European countries such as Germany or Sweden. (**)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, December 17, 2017 14:03 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dcb485 2 Business WTO,food-security,subsidy Free

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said the country will be able to safeguard its food security despite the absence of an agreement on public food stockholding at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The 165-member global trade governing body failed to attain a permanent solution on the public stockholding for food security purposes in its ministerial conference from Dec. 10-13 in Buenos Aires, Argentina following theUnited States rejection of the proposal.

Even though a permanent solution has not been achieved, Indonesias interest for food security will not be affected, said Enggar said in a press statement on Friday.

Developing countries, including Indonesia and India, sought a permanent arrangement that would allow them to subsidize their crops for food security without having to worry about legal challenges.

With the recent failure to reach a deal, they will continue to rely on an interim solution with which they can still provide subsidies, as set in the 2013 Bali Package, which covers trade facilitation, agricultural subsidies and the development of least-developed countries (LDCs).

Members of the WTO will further work on a draft proposal discussed during the recent meeting.

The Civil Society Coalition for Economic Justice had earlier urged the government to compel various public interests in the talks at the WTO, including fishery and staple food subsidies. It argued that the WTOs rules on subsidy reduction had caused Indonesia, long known as an agrarian country, to import a significant amount of agricultural produce, such as soybeans, potatoes, garlic and salt. (jlm/fny/lnd)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, December 17, 2017 15:40 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dcc866 2 Business PLN,loan,Germany,hydropower-plant Free

State-owned electricity company PLN has secured an 85 million euro (US$ 99.9 million) loan from German development bank Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) to finance the development of its Kumbih III hydro power plant (PLTA).

The power plant, set to benefit from the Kumbih River, which flows through the cities Sidakalang in Dairy regency, North Sumatra and Subulussalam in Aceh, will have a capacity of 3x15 megawatt (MW) and require 100 million euro in investment.

PLN corporate planning director Syovfi Felienty Roekman and KfW senior project manager Jens Wirth signed the loan agreement on Friday.

Syofvi said the direct loan would not have a government guarantee and would have a 15-year tenor.

Well prepare the rest of the funding on our own, she said in a statement on Saturday.

Syovfi further said the power plant was expected to meet the surging demand for electricity in northern Sumatra and reduce production costs, owing to the use of fossil fuels, in addition to contributing to the domestic renewable energy mix.

Meanwhile, Wirth said the cooperation would be crucial to support PLN in accelerating electricity replenishment from renewable energy in Indonesia.

We expect the project to begin immediately and consequently, the public will soon benefit from it [the power plant], said Wirth.

The construction of PLTA Kumbih III is scheduled to kick off in 2019, while it is expected to operate commercially in 2023. (fny/lnd)
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Linkedin Kamal Taha (AFP) Amman, Jordan  Sun, December 17, 2017 10:00 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dc0b32 2 World Jordan,Iraqi-Christians,Islamic-State,IS Free

Inside a church in Jordan, a displaced Iraqi Christian mother dreams of a brighter future for her children far from the war-torn country they were forced to flee.

She is among thousands of Iraqi Christians from the northern town of Bartalla to have sought refuge in neighboring Jordan after running for their lives from jihadists.

"We've lost everything. Our houses have been pillaged and destroyed. There's nothing left over there to make it worth returning," said Walaa Louis, 40.

When the Islamic State group swept across northern Iraq in 2014 they told Christians to convert, pay tax, leave or die. Tens of thousands chose to flee.

Baghdad has announced final victory over the extremist group, but Louis says she will not return to a country where she does not feel safe.

She, her husband and three children -- now aged 16, 15 and eight -- fled Bartalla in August 2014, trekking for hours in the dead of night to the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Arbil.

They endured months of struggle in Arbil, including sleeping rough in parks or inside churches.

Iraqi forces retook Bartalla from IS earlier this year, but when Louis returned to her hometown in August she found nothing but a home in cinders.

She and her husband decided to head to Jordan, where they filed with the UN refugee agency for resettlement "in any safe country" to ensure her children's future.

But as Christmas approaches, Louis said her family has received no financial aid and their money is running out.

"We've spent everything we had," said Louis, who suffers from a heart condition.

"I can't even see a doctor or buy Christmas presents for my children," she said.

For now, her youngest son is among some 200 children aged 6 to 14 attending night classes at the Marka Latin Church in the Jordanian capital Amman.

- 'Right to life' -

They are taught by volunteer Iraqi teachers, and receive books, clothes and meals for free.

The night classes are all in English, the school's head Sanaa Baki said, as the parents of most Iraqi students have applied for resettlement abroad.

She hopes the language skills will help the children better settle in foreign schools if these requests are granted.

Some 10,000 Iraqi Christian refugees live in Jordan, according to Father Rifaat Badr, who heads a Catholic research center.

Many of them dream of new lives in Europe, Canada, Australia or in the United States.

The church's priest, Khalil Jaar, believes education is also key to the children remembering where they come from.

"The saying goes, 'If you want to destroy a people, erase their history and make their children ignorant'," he said.

"We need to work to ensure all these children are given their right to education and to life."

This month, France's ambassador to Jordan, David Bertolotti, visited the church to announce a 120,000 euro ($140,000) donation for the night classes to continue until the end of the school year.

Under a large Christmas tree, children with wooden crosses dangling around their necks sang the Iraqi national anthem at the top of their lungs.

Ban Benyamin Yussef, a mother-of-four, was among the parents present.

"After Daesh members plundered, destroyed and burned our home and my husband's grocery shop, we decided to pack our bags and seek refuge in Jordan, hoping to start a new life," the 43-year-old said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

It was the last leg of a journey fleeing harassment across Iraq.

"When sectarian violence flared in 2006, we received death threats and fled Baghdad for Mosul", a city in northern Iraq, she said.

Threatened there too, they escaped to a small village north of the city -- until IS arrived in 2014.

But even now that Iraqi forces have claimed victory over the jihadists, Yussef and her family have no intention of returning to Iraq.

"We can't go back. Our towns have been destroyed. We've lost everything." (**)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Jakarta  Sun, December 17, 2017 15:37 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dcc6fa 2 Politics Jerusalem,US,trump,rally Free

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the street Sunday against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the latest show of support for the Palestinians in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

The rally was organized by the top Islamic authority the Indonesian Ulema Council and supported by the government as well as several other Islamic organizations.

Police said 80,000 protesters gathered at the National Monument, a tower that looms over central Jakarta, waving the Palestine flag and banners reading "Free Palestine" as they chanted "God is greatest!"

"This is my solidarity as a Muslim to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine... the Al-Aqsa mosque, a historical mosque for Muslims, is there (in Jerusalem)," said Hermawati, from Bogor, West Java.

Dressed mostly in white, the demonstrators urged the US to change its decision.

Indonesians gather ahead of a protest against US President Donald Trump's recent decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, at the US embassy in Jakarta on Dec. 17, 2017. Thousands attended the rally organised by the country's top Islamic authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), backed by the government as well as several other Islamic organisations. (Agence France -Presse/Adek Berry)

Religious affairs minister and Jakarta's governor were among those at the protest site just a few meters from the US embassy, which was cordoned off behind coils of razor wire.

"Isn't it the government's job to work on the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians? And the government has tried its best so Palestine can achieve its rights and independence," Religious Affairs minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the crowd.

Indonesia has condemned President Donald Trump's decision, with President Joko "Widodo" Widodo joining other world Islamic leaders last Wednesday in an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

The leaders urged world powers to recognize occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of the "State of Palestine" and declared Trump's decision "null and void legally".

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution which would find that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed.

The status of Jerusalem, a city considered holy by Christians, Jews and Muslims, is a sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state.

Topics : Jerusalem US trump rally
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Linkedin Hossam Ezzedine (AFP) Ramallah, Palestinian Territories  Sun, December 17, 2017 08:49 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dbdd93 2 World Jerusalem,Israel,Palestine,Palestinians,Mahmud-Abbas,Mike-Pence,DonaldTrump,Donald-Trump Free

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah faction on Saturday called for a massive demonstration next week to protest against a visit to Jerusalem by US Vice President Mike Pence, after Washington said it would recognize the holy city as Israel's capital.

Breaking with decades of US policy, President Donald Trump also said on December 6 that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In New York, Egypt on Saturday circulated a draft resolution that would affirm that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded.

Diplomats said the council could vote on the proposal as early as Monday, with the United States expected to use its veto power to block it but with most, if not all, of the 14 other council members backing the measure.

Trump's declaration has stirred global condemnation and sparked angry protests across Arab and Muslim countries, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied territories between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

It also prompted Abbas to cancel a meeting with Pence, who arrives Wednesday in Jerusalem, and warn that Washington no longer had a role to play in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

"We call for angry protests at the entrances to Jerusalem and in its Old City to coincide with the visit on Wednesday of US Vice President Mike Pence and to protest against Trump's decision," Fatah said in a statement.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

The call to protest came as thousands of Palestinians took part in funerals for four men killed Friday in clashes with Israeli forces during protests in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Mourners chanted anti-Trump slogans and masked men fired into the air during one of the ceremonies in the village of Beit Ula in the occupied West Bank.

Funerals were also held for the two other Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, where the enclave's Islamist Hamas rulers had on Friday called for a "day of rage".

One of those killed was Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh, a Palestinian who lost his legs in an Israeli attack a decade ago. With his wheelchair, he was a regular feature at protests along Gaza's border with Israel.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniya attended Abu Thurayeh's funeral in a refugee camp west of Gaza City.

Friday's deaths brought to eight the number of Palestinians killed in violence or air strikes since Trump's Jerusalem move, and hundreds have been wounded.

- Western Wall row -

Pence will no longer see Palestinian officials during his visit to the region after they -- as well as Egyptian Muslim and Christian religious leaders -- cancelled meetings in protest at the embassy move.

"We understand that the Palestinians may need a bit of a cooling off period, that's fine," a senior White House official said Friday. "We will be ready when the Palestinians are ready to re-engage."

Pence is expected to try to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward after he lands in Jerusalem on Wednesday, US administration officials have said.

They also suggested that the Western Wall -- in largely Palestinian east Jerusalem -- would almost certainly be part of Israel under any deal, sparking Palestinian condemnation.

"We will not accept any changes to the 1967 border of east Jerusalem," Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for the Palestinian president, said Saturday.

"This American position proves once again that the current US administration is completely out of the peace process," he said.

A US administration official said Friday: "We cannot envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel."

Another added: "We cannot imagine Israel would sign a peace agreement that didn't include the Western Wall."

The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray, at the foot of the Haram al-Sharif compound housing the Al-Aqsa mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in Islam. (**)
PR vote count concludes

Election Commission has concluded the count of votes cast under the proportional representative (PR) category on Sunday.
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Linkedin Josh Wingrove (Bloomberg) Ottawa  Sun, December 17, 2017 12:48 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dc972c 2 World Canada,billionaire,investigation,death Free

Canadian police continue to weigh whether to open a homicide investigation after the deaths of billionaire pharmaceutical executive Bernard Barry Sherman and his wife shocked the countrys corporate and political worlds.

The bodies of the 75-year-old founder of Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc. and his wife Honey Sherman were found in their home in the Toronto neighborhood of North York on Friday under what police called suspicious circumstances.

Tributes poured in from prominent Canadians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As media reports citing anonymous sources surfaced Saturday, the Shermans children issued a statement calling for a full criminal investigation, and criticizing the police and the media.

We are shocked and think its irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true, the Shermans children said. They derided rumors about the circumstances of the parents deaths, adding that the pair shared an enthusiasm for life.

Tragic Deaths

We urge the Toronto Police Service to conduct a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation, and urge the media to refrain from further reporting as to the cause of these tragic deaths until the investigation is completed, the family said in the statement.

Toronto police were waiting on autopsy results, which were expected on Saturday, before determining if the services homicide unit would take over the case.

We are treating the deaths as suspicious, Toronto Police Constable David Hopkinson said in a phone interview. Investigators arent searching for any suspects at this time, he said.

Tributes flooded in as news of the Shermans deaths spread. Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit, Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

Singular Purpose

In a statement on Saturday, Apotex hailed Shermans role in growing the company from a two-person firm in 1974 to a global giant -- one of the worlds largest generic drug makers, employing some 11,000 people including more than 6,000 in Canada.

Sherman gave his life to the singular purpose of our organization -- innovating for patient affordability, Apotex said in the statement. Patients around the world live healthier and more fulfilled lives thanks to his lifes work.

Sherman, who had a Ph.D. in astrophysics from MIT, was chairman of the closely held Canadian generic-drug maker and formerly chair of Cangene Corp., a Canadian biotechnology firm. He was ranked recently by Forbes as Canadas 12th-richest person with a net worth of about $3 billion.

The billionaire held a fundraiser for Trudeau in August 2015, shortly before his Liberals won the election, that was later reportedly investigated by the countrys lobbying watchdog.

Beyond Words

Linda Frum, a Canadian senator who recently awarded a medal to Honey Sherman for community service, was among those paying tribute to someone she described as one of the most beloved members of Canadas Jewish community.

I am gutted by the loss of Honey and Barry Sherman. Our community is steeped in grief. I am heartbroken, she said on Twitter.

Eric Hoskins, health minister of Ontario province, described the couple as incredible philanthropists and said he was beyond words right now. Brad Duguid, Ontarios minister for economic development, said he was deeply shocked & saddened.

The Shermans 12,440-square-foot home had recently been placed on the market for almost C$7 million ($5.4 million).

Topics : Canada billionaire investigation death
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Linkedin Carole Landry (AFP) United Nations, United States  Sun, December 17, 2017 08:57 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dbec6a 2 World Jerusalem,Israel,Palestine,Palestinians,UN,Security-Council,US,DonaldTrump,Donald-Trump Free

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution finding any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed, after the US recognized the city as Israel's capital.

Egypt circulated the draft text on Saturday, and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the international consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it says.

Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

- No embassies in Jerusalem -

The draft resolution calls on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead.

It demands that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

The Palestinians had sought a toughly-worded draft resolution that would have directly called on the US administration to scrap its decision.

But some US allies on the council such as Britain, France, Egypt, Japan and Ukraine were reluctant to be too hard-hitting and insisted that the proposed measure should reaffirm the position enshrined in current resolutions, diplomats said.

Backed by Muslim countries, the Palestinians are expected to turn to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution rejecting the US decision, if, as expected, the measure is vetoed by the United States at the council.

Aside from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented at the council, which requires nine votes for adoption. (**)
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Linkedin Josh Wingrove, Eric Martin and Andrew Mayeda (Bloomberg) Washington, United States  Sun, December 17, 2017 16:30 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dcdbd2 2 Business US,climate,trade-aggreement-talk Free

The US is fighting against any mention of climate change in a potential new environmental chapter of the North American Free Trade Agreement, according to two people familiar with talks.

The latest Nafta talks were set to wrap Friday in Washington with no new agreement to finalize individual subjects or chapters. While mention of climate change in a trade agreement would be largely symbolic, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pushed for the inclusion of such progressive elements to help boost public support for trade.

In a list of Nafta negotiating objectives, the US called for the countries to bring environmental provisions, along with labor, from side agreements into the core of the deal. Still, its privately pushing against the inclusion of the phrase climate change in that chapter, and against any mention of multilateral cooperation on the environment, the two people said, speaking on condition of anonymity as negotiations continue.

Canada and Mexico favor recognizing the challenge of climate change in the agreement, the people said. Canada is also pushing for stronger environmental standards within Nafta.

The US negotiation position follows similar holdouts at the Group of 20 and Group of Seven nations meetings earlier this year where the US balked at climate change pledges. President Donald Trump has also announced he would withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change while moving to roll back other environmental protections.

A spokeswoman for US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and a White House representative didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 18 2017

The National Polices Criminal Investigation Department arrested a doctor in West Sumatra on Friday afternoon for allegedly spreading hate speech via Facebook. According to the police, the doctor, Siti Sundari Daranila, 51, is suspected of having created an alternate account under the name Gusti Sikumbang to which she uploaded the content in question.

Cybercrime division head Brig. Gen. Fadil Imran said the police suspected that Siti had spread hate speech related to blasphemy and racial discrimination in numerous posts. She reportedly posted a photo of newly inaugurated Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Hadi Tjahjanto with his family, with a caption allegedly containing hate speech against a certain ethnicity.

The police, Fadil said, had confiscated two smartphones as evidence. Siti faces up to six years imprisonment if charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Mon, December 18 2017

Parmalim Palace, a place of worship for the local followers of Ugamo Malim, an indigenous faith of the Batak, one of the biggest ethnic groups in North Sumatra, came to life on a recent Saturday as a congregation was streaming in for their routine mass.

Ulupunguan Rinsan Simanjuntak, who led the procession, slowly walked into the place of worship holding burning incense, followed by his parishioners. All of the worshippers were barefoot and clad in traditional Batak attire.

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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, December 17, 2017 09:00 1796 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2dbf46f 1 News bali,#Bali,Tourist,Hotel,#hotel,hotels,Canggu,Uluwatu,Dreamland-Beach Free

Visiting Bali is always a good idea as the island is filled with beautiful places as well as a plethora of activities, from surfing, diving to cultural shows.

Although the recent volcanic activity of Mount Agung in Karangasem regency has led many tourists to believe the whole island is under a Level 4 emergency status, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said on Wednesday that the warning only applied within an 8-kilometer radius of Mt. Agungs crater, meaning the rest of the island is safe to visit.

However, those still feeling a tad worried about Mt. Agung might want to check out these three hotels, slated to open next year, in South Bali.

Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali

Dreamland Beach on Bukit Peninsula is said to be one of Balis hidden gems.

In January, the area is set to welcome Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali. Offering 190 one-bedroom suites and villas with private pools, the resort is equipped with three food and beverage outlets, two swimming pools, a children's pool as well as a spa and wellness center complete with yoga studio.

Read also: Bali still safe for tourists: Governor

Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu

A post shared by Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu (@radissonblubaliuluwatu) on Oct 19, 2017 at 2:10am PDT

Nestled on the south-western tip of Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu is a popular destination among surfers.

Those wanting to ride the waves should check out Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu. Slated to open next month, the hotel offers 111 deluxe rooms featuring either private balconies or private sundecks.

Moreover, the facilities includes an all-day dining restaurant, Italian eatery, bars as well as a fitness center, meeting rooms and a kids club.

Como Uma Canggu

Canggu is among the hippist places in South Bali as, recently, the neighborhood has become filled with modern restaurants and bars.

Those wanting to stay in Canggu can check Como Uma Canggu. Slated to open in February, the hotel offers 119 rooms and various facilities, including a rooftop swimming pool, a seaside restaurant as well as Como Shambhala Retreat, a wellness facility offering a spa and yoga and pilates classes. (kes)
Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line: World bank pulls out from project

The completion date of the Kabeli corridor has been affected after the World Banka Washington based multilateral lending agencypulled its assistance due to the delay in construction work.
As we near Christmas, not everyone will be feeling the festive cheer. So in the spirit of the holiday, why not pass on some joy?

While Christmas can be a time of great happiness, when family and friends set aside time to show each other how much they care, not everyone will be filled with the Christmas spirit. Indeed, too many will feel more lonely and isolated than ever.

While many of us are blessed with family and friends, not everyone is, and a time so focused on these things can leave people feeling especially alone. Even those who have loved ones can struggle to embrace the festivities, as mental illness, health issues or stress stop them from truly being able to enjoy the holidays.

As such we have come up with a list of ways to reach out to those you love this Christmas in order to help them feel less alone. After all, what could be a better way to show some Christmas spirit?

1.Give someone a call

Christmas can be a very busy time, so were not expecting you to be able to see everyone. However, finding time to give those you wont see a phone call shouldnt be too hard. Its a simple gesture, yet showing that you care enough to set aside time to catch up will show them you remember and care. This is a far greater gift than a card or gadget, and will likely be something they treasure far more.

This effort should be made for older family members in particular! It is well known that Christmas can be a hard time for the elderly, especially those who have lost many of their friends or who now live in care homes. Doing something as easy as calling (or better yet, visiting) will take very little of your time, but will likely make them very happy.

2. Make time to see as many as you can

We are by no means suggesting you go and visit all your friends and family members. After all, there will likely be many and they could live far away. However, it is important to make time for those you care about. Therefore seeing as many of your closest loved ones as possible is advisable.

Going out can be expensive, which is especially unappealing at a time when so much money will be spent on presents. Yet even just putting aside some time to grab a drink with a friend, or stay at home and watch a movie or play board games is enough. While putting aside time for those you rarely see is often emphasised, we also recommend making an effort with those you see often, such as parents.

You may see them every day, especially if you have moved home for the holidays, but is important to reflect on whether or not these interactions constitute quality time. Is it a brief conversation at dinner? Or are you actually doing things as a family? If not, now might be a good time to start, as its always important to show loved ones they are not taken for granted.

3. Surprise presents

While it is typical to wait to give presents until Christmas, it can sometimes be even nicer to surprise someone with a small gift prior to this. It doesnt have to be expensive or complex, indeed it could be something as simple as a chocolate Santa. It is (as cliche as this sounds) the thought that counts. Showing someone you thought about them, paired with the aspect of surprise, is sure to put a smile on their face, as well as remind them that they have people who care.

4. Christmas cards

Sending Christmas cards is something that has gone a little out of fashion. It is considered somewhat old-fashioned and the expense of stamps and postage can often stop young people embracing this tradition. Of course, some people still send such cards, though they are more often handed out in person to friends and colleagues. Nonetheless, the tradition is sweet, and writing and posting a card can convey affection better than an email or text. As such, sending Christmas cards- even if only to a few people- is a preferential way to show loved ones you are thinking of them.

5. Offer to help

Though students and those who work get time off for Christmas, the stress and anxiety they feel won't stop at the door. Such emotions can make it difficult to enjoy the festivities, yet with your help they might soon overcome this.

Sometimes offering a cup of tea and a shoulder to lean on will be enough. Other times it might be worth offering to help, as a problem shared is a problem halved. Have a look at their essay and offer advice on how it can be improved, help them create a presentation or make sense of their notes. Help them practice for job interviews or revise for an exam, wrap their presents or get all the chores done in time.

It may not seem like much, but taking a bit of the burden and helping with one or two things will likely make them feel a thousand times better. The less stressed they are, the more they'll be able to enjoy Christmas and feel like a part of all the fun.

6. Volunteer

If you want to help those outside your family, volunteering is always a good option. Care homes, food shelters and homeless shelters are all worthy places to volunteer your time. Alternatively, you can donate money to a chosen charity or shop at charity stores in order to help vulnerable people this winter.
Toast Mayonnaise Turkey Guacomole Toast Tomato chutney Sausage stuffing Cheese Chicken liver pate Toast

With only a week left until Christmas, our tastebuds are all getting excited for the sheer amount of food we are about to consume. yet, somehow, even after our best efforts, there is SO MUCH leftover food. And best of all, it is not all sprouts! Below, we have outlined the ingredients for the MONSTER SANDWICH- a breakfast leftover solution, that we can only accept, when we remind ourselves that Christmas calories don't count!- just chuck everything in in this order:This is obviously just an example. The most important thing is to have a bit of fun with it. You can literally put everything in it (everything above plus tomatoes, salad dressing, cucumber, dauphinoise potatoes and anything else you can get your hands on...!). Take the challenge and show us pictures of your best post-Christmas Monster Sandwiches! And don't forge to leave some turkey for your siblings! After all it's Christmas!
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1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities.

2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion.

3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact.

4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance.

Vote

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"They all feel its the right thing to keep doing what theyve always done as a band, make new music"
Actor Kaushik Sen and his son Riddhi were allegedly heckled last night at NSC Bose International Airport here following arguments over car parking.

One airport parking agency employee was arrested after Sen, who was returning to the city from Bhubaneswar along with his wife, filed a complaint at Airport Police Station about the alleged heckling, sources in the police station said today.

The actor said the accused misbehaved with the driver of his car when he stopped the vehicle outside the domestic terminal area to drop his son, who had gone there to receive his parents. He also slapped a fine of Rs 100 on the driver for exceeding the free 10 minutes allowed to pick or drop a person.

Later, when Sen and his family were about to leave the parking lot outside the terminal, they found the accused allegedly misbehaving with another car driver and protested against it.

We got down from our car when we saw another gentleman and his driver were being harassed for protesting against overcharging. As we tried to intervene, I and my son Riddhi were heckled and verbally abused. We then called up the police station and some officers arrived at the spot to bring the situation under control, he said.

Countering the actors claims, an official of the parking agency said Sen, his son and the occupants of another car misbehaved with the parking agency staff. He demanded that the CCTV footage be examined to ascertain what exactly happened last night.
A civilian was killed allegedly in Army firing during an ambush in north Kashmir s Kupwara district, police said on Sunday.

Asif Iqbal, a driver by profession, was injured in firing by Army personnel during an ambush at Thandipora area of Kupwara last night, a police official said.

He said the forces had laid an ambush in the area following intelligence inputs about the movement of militants.

Iqbal was rushed to a hospital at Kralpora where from he was referred to a hospital here, but he succumbed on the way, the official said.

He said further details are awaited. Army officials were not available for a comment.
Director Peter Jackson has claimed Harvey Weinstein designed a smear campaign against Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino, that discouraged him to offer roles to the two actors who were one of the first women to openly accuse the disgraced media mogul of sexual harassment.

The 56-year-old filmmaker said he was unaware of the allegations against Weinstein while working him on projects including The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy, but was wary of collaborating again.

I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realise that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing.

I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women (Judd and Sorvino)  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list, Jackson told New Zealands Stuff in an interview.

The filmmaker described Weinstein and his brother, Bobs behaviour likening to that of second-rate Mafia bullies.

They werent the type of guys I wanted to work with  so I havent.

Although his name had to be on the Lord of the Rings credits for contractual reasons, he was not involved in the movies we ended up making, he added.

Judd and Sorvino had earlier claimed they had lost out on films due to Weinstein.

The actors took to Twitter to thank Jackson for speaking up.

Judd said, Peter and Fran had me in  showed me all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything. They asked which if the two roles I preferred, and then I abruptly never heard from hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter.

While Sorvino wrote, Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick.
Stakes are high for six-time Congress Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal in high pitched 2017 Assembly poll battle in Himachal Pradesh, the results of which are due on 18 December.

The two senior leaders are facing each other for the fifth time as CM face of their respective parties, with two victories each in their kitty since 1998.

The polls to 68 Assembly segments in Himachal Pradesh were held on 9 November, with 74.6 per cent voters, highest in the state so far,turning out to exercise their franchise.

The BJP went to 2017 polls, riding high on the three decade trend of change in power every five years, while the ruling Congress is hopeful of a close fight.

In 2012, the Congress had snatched power from BJP, getting 36 seats, while BJP, which was eyeing a repeat based on its performance then, was reduced to 26 seats. Five independents had won, while one seat was secured by BJPs splinter group Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) that ultimately merged with BJP.

Unlike many times in the past, the state is witness to direct fight between ruling Congress and BJP in most of the constituencies n 2017, but for some strong rebels of two parties in half a dozen segments each.

The CPM is in fray formidably on few seats in Shimla district, with Theog, where senior party leader Rakesh Singha is contesting, its best bet.

The fate of 60 out of 67 sitting MLAs (one-Karan Singh-died earlier this year), including Congress ministers Kaul Singh Thakur, GS Bali, Mukesh Agnihotri and Sudhir Sharma, State Congress chief, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, is locked in the EVM machines. Eight-time MLA, Kaul Singh has lost only one election so far in 1990, Bali is four-time MLA in a row, Sudhir, Mukesh and Satti three-time MLAs consecutively.

Singh, 83, has already termed it as his last election of political career and for Dhumal, 73, it may be the last election to become CM, given the age bar imposed by BJP high command.

Congress sources said, Singh, who led the Congress campaign as CM candidate again, was more interested in settling his son, Vikramaditya Singh in politics this time. Singh had even left his Assembly constituency, Shimla (Rural) for Vikramaditya, 28, who entered the electoral field for first time. Singh himself went to Arki in Solan district for contest.

Two-time CM Dhumal, for whom it was a question of his own survival at the top, did have some anxious moments initially in the run up to polls as the BJP high command took a longer time to declare him the party face. Dhumal switched his seat from Hamirpur to Sujanpur in this election.

We will form the government with good majority. Dismal performance of the Congress government apart on development front, corruption, shelter to mafia raj and the rising crime were the main issues in Himachal, said State BJP Chief, Satpal Singh Satti. He said demonetization was never an issue, and GST also didnt have much impact here.

State Congress President, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Congress was hopeful of a repeat, based on its work, party organizations strategic back-up and the feeling against Prime Minister, Narendra Modis policies.

All eyes on biggest Kangra

All eyes are set on biggest Kangra district with 15 Assembly segments. So far, whosoever has won maximum seats in Kangra has formed government in the state over last 32 years. In 2012, Congress had got 10 seats in Kangra, BJP three. Two seats had gone to independents.

Polls hold national significance

Lot of prestige is attached to the Himachal polls along with Gujarat, as the results here carry political significance at the national level this time. For BJP, the victory would be another feather in Prime Minister, Narendra Modis cap and for Congress, it may boost up newly appointed Congress President, Rahul Gandhi.

District wise tally in 2012 polls

Total seats: 68
After Interpol on Saturday refused to issue a red corner notice (RCN) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it will submit a fresh request for the same.

NIAs request for Red Notice against Zakir Naik was not accepted by Interpol as chargesheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol headquarters. Now NIA will submit a fresh request to Interpol as chargesheet has already been filed in the NIA court concerned in Mumbai, an NIA official said.

In a statement, Naiks spokesperson said: Interpol has cancelled red corner notice on Dr Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, citing political and religious bias among other reasons.

The Interpol contended that there was a severe lack of evidentiary basis, a failure by Indian authorities to follow due process of law, political and religious bias that formed the basis of such a notice, and lack of international interest, he added.

It also said: The Interpols Commission found after thorough examination that the request from the Indian NCB was not compliant with Interpols rules and thus decided the Indian governments request for Red Corner notice should be cancelled.

The Indian government had banned Naik and his organisation Islamic Research Foundation for five years and declaring it an unlawful organisation.

Naik is also accused of spreading hatred through his speeches, funding terror groups and laundering money. The NIA last year had registered a criminal case against him.
As Sonia Gandhi handed over the charge of Congress President to her son Rahul Gandhi on a chilly Saturday morning admist fanfare and celebrations laced with mixed emotions, nothing could have been a more picture-perfect moment than the one in which he kissed his mother on her forehead.

The handing over of the mantle of the leadership of the 132-year-old party took place at a ceremony on the lawns of the Congress Headquarters where Central Election Authority President Mullapally Ramachandran presented the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony watched by Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhis sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other top leaders of the party.

The moment Sonia Gandhi completed her last speech addressed to the party workers as party president and walked up to her chair, an emotional Rahul Gandhi came forward greeted her mother with a kiss on her forehead. She returned the gesture with a pat on his back. She also congratulated him gave her best wishes and blessings for the future endeavours.

Though Sonia Gandhis speech in Hindi was punctuated by loud fireworks set off by enthusiastic party workers, forcing her to pause several times and also briefly lose her cool, the atmosphere outside the party headquarters had a feel of a carnival.

Outside the 24, Akbar Road, Congress Headquarters, a group of colourfully dressed artistes played drums and danced to bhangra tunes with party supporters, including men and women, shaking a leg or two and waving Rahul Gandhis pictures and Congress flags.

There were other groups of artists from Hyderabad and Rajasthan performing folk dances of their regions.

Party workers from across the country thronged to the Congress office in different regional costumes, either to congratulate Rahul Gandhi or to get a glimpse of their furture leader. They distributed sweets, burst crackers, took selfies on their mobile phones, shouted slogans and gave a hard time to the security personnel.

The crowd on Akbar Road kept swelling as the day progressed, so much so that many senior Congress leaders had a tough time entering the party office. While many managed to struggle their way into the party headquaters, others had to either leave or be content listening to their leaders from outside.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit admitted that she was in tears listening to Sonia Gandhis speech which was laced with emotion and a sense of fulfillment.

I have mixed emotions today. @OfficeOfRG (Rahul Gandhi) reinforced the hope that Congress and its values are in safe hands. Hearing Sonia Gandhi speak brought tears to my eyes. She went through so much in her life and yet never lost her poise, Dikshit tweeted.

As Sonia Gandhi made way for her son on Saturday, the party leaders gave a standing ovation after her speech and felicitated her with a citation and a shawl.

As the ceremony came to an end, Priyanka Gandhi, on his brother taking over the mantle of party President, said: He has a tough road aheadand I think he is the man for it. He is brave enough
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday condemned the killing of a civilian during an exchange of fire between Army personnel and terrorists in Kupwara district.

The senior National Conference leader said the Armys uninvestigated claim that he was killed in crossfire should not be used to brush the incident under the carpet.

Asif Iqbal Bhat, a driver by profession and a resident of Thandipora, was injured in a firing incident in the Thandipora area of Kupwara last night.

He was taken to the Kralpora sub district hospital, from where he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.

Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said Bhat was killed in an exchange of fire between Army men and militants.

Condemning Bhats killing, Abdullah termed it as a tragic and inconsolable loss and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

The former chief minister, who is also the working president of the opposition National Conference, demanded that an FIR registered by the J&K Police be taken to its logical conclusion in a time-bound and transparent manner.

An uninvestigated claim of a young life lost in cross- firing shouldnt be used to brush the incident under the carpet, he said.

He took to Twitter to say that killed in cross-firing cant be a justification for Asif Iqbals death.

The FIR registered by the police must be taken to its logical conclusion. Killed in crossfire cant be a justification for Asif Iqbal s death, he said.
Pakistan on Sunday said the visa applications of Kulbhushan Jadhavs wife and mother had been received and were being processed, days after it again rejected Indias plea for consular access to the death row prisoner.

Pakistans Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed in a tweet that Jadhavs family had applied for visas.

Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds, Faisal tweeted.

He further said the applications were being processed but did not give any time line for approval of visas.

On Wednesday, Pakistan had rejected Indias plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its spy.

In its counter-memorial submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan said the provision of such an access under the Vienna Convention is only for legitimate visitors and not for spies, a media report said.

Pakistan said that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April, following which India moved the ICJ in May. The ICJ halted his execution on Indias appeal pending the final verdict by it.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Earlier, Pakistan had agreed to facilitate a meeting of Jadhav with his mother and wife in Islamabad on December 25.

It also agreed to Indias demand that they be accompanied by an official of the Indian High Commission here.

On Thursday, Pakistan directed its High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhavs wife and mother.
Punjab Congress leadership on Saturday claimed to win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections under the new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Punjab Congress chief and Member of Parliament (MP) from Gurdaspur, Sunil Jakhar on Saturday said that the Congress was going to form the Union government after winning parliamentary polls to be held in 2019.

Jakhar attended Rahul Gandhis office assuming ceremony in New Delhi along with former MP Parneet Kaur and state Local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. Jakhar claimed, the Congress party was the past and future of the country. The party cadre is excited with the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president. Especially youth cadre is encouraged to work under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, he said.

He further said that at present, there are big challenges before the country and Congress is the only party which could bring the country back on the path of progress. He said that the people of the country have seen how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has handled trade, industry and agriculture sector in the country on the brink of destruction of these sectors. He said that in the general election of 2019, Congress party will win under the leadership of Rahul and will form government in the Center.

In his first speech after officially taking over as Congress president on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking India down a medieval path and that people are being butchered for what they eat. He invited the youth of the country to build a compassionate and loving India.

Meanwhile, parts of Lutyens Delhi were dotted with posters hailing Rahul Gandhis ascension with some of them describing the development as the beginning of a New India.

Gandhi succeeds his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who led the party for the last 19 years.

Rahul entered electoral politics in 2004. He was appointed as the party general secretary in 2007 and was then elevated as its vice president in January 2013.
Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Saturday said that youths will respond to new party President Rahul Gandhis call for an alternative narrative based on equal opportunity and jobs for the youth in the country.

Referring to Rahul Gandhis inaugural speech as the Congress chief during the day, Chidambaram said his partys idea of the nation is different from that of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday replaced his mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress partys new President and launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of taking us back to the mediaeval times.

Rahul Gandhis inaugural speech laid down the contours of an alternative narrative that the Congress will put forward to the people, Chidambaram tweeted.

The Congress will build an alternative narrative based on fairness, equal opportunity, jobs for the youth, and lifting 250 million people out of poverty.

Our recall of Indias history is different from the BJPs. Our idea of India is different from the BJPs. Rahul Gandhi called upon Indias youths to defend our idea of India, and I am sure that the young will respond, he added.

On Saturday, Gandhi said that though the politics belongs to the people it is today not being used for them.

It is not being used to uplift people, but to crush them, Gandhi said.

Gandhi said that many countrymen were disillusioned by politics of our time as politics is devoid of kindness and truth.
The Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) mechanism, introduced by the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), has been panned by analysts. The government seems to focus on the schemes net energy savings of 8.67 Mtoe, considering it as a success. Analysts believe that the scheme didnt achieve high energy savings because of its low targets.

The PAT scheme is a regulatory instrument to reduce specific energy consumption in energy intensive industries. It works with a market-based mechanism that certifies tradable energy savings.

Energy reduction targets are assigned to Designated Consumers (DCs) for a three-year cycle. This eventually creates a market for energy efficiency through tradable certificates, called Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), by allowing them to be used for meeting energy reduction targets. These certificates can be issued by any of the 478 industries that are able to exceed their respective notified target.

The beneficiary industry can trade this certificate with any of the other entities (of the 478) that is unable to meet its target. Buying ESCerts has been allowed as sufficient fulfillment of the compliance requirement. This sale and purchase transaction has been recognised by the recently amended Energy Conservation Act and is a motivating factor for several industries.

The first cycle commenced with nine industrial sectors as designated consumers, namely Aluminium, Cement, Chloralkali, Fertilizers, Iron and Steel, Pulp and Paper, Railways, Textiles and Thermal Power Plants.

The flexibility of the PAT scheme to allow an obligated entity to purchase ESCerts for compliance offers an economically efficient path for achieving the overall target set for the scheme. However, this fluidity of ESCerts allows developed industries to merely purchase these credits rather than introducing measures to conserve energy. The idea of achieving an overall target limits the likelihood that each industry would conserve energy individually rather than purchasing compliance from overachieving energy conservers.

The added incentive of ESCerts and its attendant monetary benefits enhances the attractiveness of implementing energy efficiency while providing an escape mechanism for the large industries. Such industries may adhere to the scheme by merely purchasing ESCerts from complying industries.

The targets for each industry are based on the emissions and their potential to conserve energy. As pointed out by Shubhasis Dey, the energy efficiency program manager at Delhi-based non-profit Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, the lack of experience and the mistrust between the government and industries plays an active role in setting lenient targets for industries to achieve. Thus, each industry effortlessly meets the facile thresholds representing energy savings.

In 2017, the trade transactions of the ESCerts commenced at the rate of Rs 1200 each at the first session with a total of 10,904 being traded. The mismatch of the demand and supply of the certificates seems wide as the bids to buy were 50,904 while the ones to sell were 239,644. The escalating supply in comparison to the diminishing demand led to the collapse in the prices of ESCerts.

Such a price collapse disincentivises industries from making energy efficiency investments, as the cost of such investments cannot be recovered by them through the trade of ESCerts at such low prices. The certificates should be ideally traded at Rs 10,000 in order to recover costs incurred by the industries. In such a scenario, the industries prefer to purchase low-cost ESCerts rather than making energy efficient investments. This nullifies the whole idea of the PAT scheme. Large industries with the largest emissions bank on the rest to make investments and subsequently trade certificates, evading compliance mechanisms.

The only available recourse for complying industries having excess ESCerts is to hold on to their bankable credits which can be traded in subsequent cycles. Assuming the targets imposed on industries would be challenging, the consequent rise in the prices of the credits would be a substantial incentive for complying industries. CII, a Delhi based industry association, highlighted the pressing need for the government to manage the oversupply by increasing the targets in Phase 2 and setting a floor price for the certificates being traded to realise better prices.

While the first PAT cycle assigned the target of 6.689 MTOE by the end of 2014-15 for 478 designated consumers from the aforementioned nine energy intensive sectors, there was an over-achievement of 30 per cent by the complying industries. Drawing from the results of the first cycle, the second cycle of the PAT scheme imposed a higher target of reducing energy consumption by 8.869 MTOE for 621 energy consumers.

The second cycles 621 designated consumers came from 12 sectors  petroleum refineries, railways, and electricity distribution companies, in addition to the nine sectors included in the first cycle. These consumers account for 45 per cent of Indias industrial energy use. Considering the over-achievement and the potential of the industries, these targets seems realistic and at the same time challenging enough to keep the demand and prices of the credits sustainable.

(The writers are, respectively, professor of law and a 4th year law student at Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat.)
An Afghan woman was killed and four civilians wounded when a suicide car bomb struck a NATO-led coalition forces convoy in Kandahar city on Sunday, an official said.

The blast occurred around 2 p.m. local time in Police District 5 of Kandahar city, capital of southern province of Kandahar, along a road which connects the city to the international airport, the official, who did not want to be named, told Xinhua news agency.

The initial information found a woman was killed and four civilians were wounded by the blast. But no foreigner from the convoy was hurt as they were sitting in bomb proof vehicles, he said.

We heard a huge blast when a convoy of international forces was passing our neighbourhood. The whole place has now been sealed off, and no one knows what happened to residents near the blast site, witness Ahmad told Xinhua.

Several vehicles and nearby houses were also damaged by the blast, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.

More than 2,640 civilians were killed and over 5,370 others injured in conflict-related incidents in first nine months of the year in Afghanistan, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country.
Guest column: Whether in Attleboro or Central Falls, DACA issue is the same
Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy

By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat
In Delhis power corridors, discussions on the possible outcome of elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh could soon be drowned with one revolving around peoples biggest assetcash deposits in banks.

There are questionswhether the government could soon take the deposits away without notice and offer peanuts in return? Will it have some severe effects like demonetisation? No answers are forthcoming, only gossip is filling Delhi's already polluted skyline.

They are calling it the BJP-led NDA governments Chewbacca momentthe much-feared Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill whose powers are both vast and wide and characters unknown, hence worrying for the masses. The original Chewbacca moment happened over four decades ago when the half man-half ape Wookiee warrior of Star Wars series appeared on the screens and took people by both fear and surprise, everyone worried about its intentions.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, aware of the concerns of depositors over provisions of FRDI Bill, addressed a presser on Monday, December 10, 2017, saying the government will fully protect public deposits in financial institutions. He even hinted at openness to make changes in the proposed FRDI Bill. The NDA government has drawn up a massive Rs 2.11 trillion bank recapitalisation plan to strengthen public sector banks, many of them reeling under stress of non-performing assets (NPA). But that cash will not come from the people, the government will fully protect the deposits made by customers.

But fears still persist, wide and large.

Trade unions of all PSU banks, worried about the Bill bringing potential harm to deposits in the form of savings accounts, have decided to strike if the Bill is pushed through by the joint committee of Parliament. Worse, the unions argued that the government did not seek any reactions from stakeholders before introducing the Bill in Lok Sabha this August, 2017. Stakeholders are now meeting up with representatives from the ministry of finance to offer their arguments on the Bill, which proposes to create a framework for overseeing financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, NBFCs and stock exchanges in case of insolvency.

Fears in the minds of millions of people must be addressed and the government is doing it, says seasoned economist Surjit Bhalla, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) member.

He admits that people's fears stem from the resolution corporation (RC), proposed in the draft FRDI Bill which would look after the process and prevent banks from going bankrupt. It would do this by writing down of the liabilities, a phrase some have interpreted as a bail in. The draft Bill empowers RC to cancel the liability of a failing bank or convert the nature of the liability. It does not specify the deposit insurance amount. At present, all deposits up to Rs 1 lakh are protected under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act (DICGC) that is sought to be repealed by this bill.

The fear is over the RC and its activities and powersthat is the Damocles Sword hanging on peoples heads.

The RC will have representatives from all financial sector regulators, finance ministry and some independent directors. And then it will classify financial firms into five categories based on their risk of failure'low', 'moderate', 'material', 'imminent' and 'critical'. If the firm gets classified as 'critical', the RC will use any one or more of five routes to resolve the crisis.

So what happens to my bank deposits and can these be used in the bail-in clause? asks Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury.

The finance ministry is not offering an immediate answer because India has always been faced with a slow-motion bank crisisstate-owned banks saddled with a bad-loan ratio thats almost twice as bad as their private counterparts. Currently, NPAs make up more than 10 per cent of banks advances. But will the recapitalisation leave Indian banks stronger and more sustainable? The government had put Rs 20,000 crore into the banks in the early 1990s. In the years following the financial crisis, it injected another Rs 58,600 crore.

Chowdhury says the 'bail in' provision has been interpreted to mean that depositors, who rank low in the hierarchy of claimants, could see part of their deposits being converted to keep the financial firm solvent. We need some clarity here from the government, says the Congress leader.

In 2014, before the NDA returned to power, the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) mandated a working group headed by finance secretary Arvind Mayaram and RBI deputy governor Anand Sinha, which recommended the setting up of a resolution regime for the failure of weak financial institutions. The group said losses would be absorbed by shareholders and unsecured creditors, and the action would respect the hierarchy of claims.

But are Indians ready for this behavioural change that nudges investors to be mindful of risks and to accept both risks and rewards? asks Yogendra Yadav, senior fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. He says an online petition against the BillDo not use innocent depositors money to bail in mismanaged banks #NoBailInhas attracted almost 390,000 signatures.

Yadav says the countrys financial sector is bank-dominated, and bank deposits make up the dominant share of financial savings. Public sector banks comprise 63 per cent of the Indian banking system. The government want to push people on the same path as in many other parts of the world  to ultimately lower risks and the potential burden on taxpayers, although there is no explicit mention of this in the proposed law. There are concerns that the Bill may not clearly lay down the quantum of protection for deposits, or classify deposits separately, he adds.

In short, the government must re-ensure its implicit sovereign guarantee that protects deposits no matter how badly government-owned banks perform. So that people can keep their savings in term deposits with a United Bank of India (UBI) and United Commercial Bank when their net worth was badly eroded, without worrying about the bank going bust or the fact that only Rs1 lakh per depositor was guaranteed by deposit insurance.

That must happen, else there will be no end to the Chewbacca conversations.
Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat 'model of development'.

The much-awaited results of the keenly fought elections will be announced on Monday when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amid tight security.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each others.

Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like the Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and dalit leadersHardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevaniin its bid to unseat the BJP in power after over two decades.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led a counter-protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against dalit atrocities.

The influential Patidar community, which accounts for around 12 per cent of the state's population, could prove to be the 'X factor' in the polls in which Patel pledged support to the Congress and appealed to people to 'uproot' the BJP' this time.

As the campaign was nearing its end, vikas (development) took a backseat, and caste and religious issues received prominence.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign Vikas Gando Thayo Che (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter-drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat."

An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on December 14 for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 per cent.

In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 per cent voting was recorded.

The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared with the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered.

In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.

According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 per cent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 per cent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are Tapi (78.56 per cent), Banaskantha (75.15) and Sabarkantha (74.97). The districts which saw a low turnout are Amreli (61.29), Bhavnagar (61.56) and Porbandar (61.86).

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 per cent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 per cent and 70 per cent.

Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 per cent.

Both sides remain confident in HP

The fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will be known on Monday as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal Pradesh where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have contested all 68 seats.

The hill state witnessed a record 75.28 per cent turnout and pollsters have predicted a BJP victory.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for counting, which would start simultaneously in all 68 constituencies at 42 counting centres.

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign, with the party training its guns at Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issues of GST and demonetisation.

The BSP contested 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) with 14 seats, the Swabhiman Party and the Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI three seats.

Out of 67 sitting MLAs, 60 MLAS, nine cabinet ministers, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi and eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) contested the poll along with a dozen former ministers.

HP has a tradition of change in government after every election and going by the trend, this time it is the turn of the BJP, which is upbeat after exit poll results.

There are 25 Congress, 28 BJP and four independent MLAs in the outgoing house while one seat was lying vacant after death of former minister Karan Singh from Banjar.

Sitting Rajya Sabha member Viplov Thakur (Congress), former Lok Sabha members Chander Kumar (Congress) and Dr Rajan Shushant (Independent) and former Rajya Sabha member Kripal Parmar (BJP) are also among key contestants.

While the BJP is confident of winning the polls with a comfortable majority, the Congress has rejected the exit polls and claimed that it was all set to repeat its stint in power.

The BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged the defeat in 1993. The BJP formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.

2,820 counting staff has been deployed for Monday's exercise, which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro-observers.

Chief Electoral Officer Pushpender Rajput said three-tier security arrangements have been made at all counting centres.

He said wire mesh barricading has been done at counting centres and there was a separate entry passage for counting staff and counting agents.

Videography and CCTV coverage will be done in all counting centres.
There will probably be a mixed reaction in the secular camp to Rahul Gandhi's temple-hopping in Gujarat.

To some, it may seem to be a negation of the Congress's vaunted secular credentials and that too by the great grandson of the man who championed the concept of keeping the state separate from religion in independent India.

To others, it was probably a tactical move to deprive the BJP of an opportunity to project the Nehru-Gandhis and their party as anti-Hindu, a propaganda ploy which the saffron brotherhood has been using for many years along with the depiction of "Raul Maino" as someone who is not an Indian at all.

If BJP MP Subramanian Swamy is to be believed, Rahul is a Catholic and a UK citizen. It was perhaps necessary, therefore, for the Congress president to counter such charges from a party which can apparently go to any lengths to tarnish an opponent. Hence Rahul's assertion that he is a devotee of Lord Shiva and does not need anyone's permission to visit temples.

That may not have stopped one BJP chief minister, Gujarat's Vijay Rupani, from asking why doesn't Rahul go to the Akshardham temple in Delhi which is not far from his house and another, Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath, to say his posture in the temple precincts was like someone offering namaz, the Muslim form of prayer.

However, whatever his tireless critics may say, the BJP may be compelled to be somewhat more careful in future in its endeavours at character assassination.

It is possible that Rahul's temple visits, along with his silence on the condition of the Muslims in Gujarat, have been in response to senior Congress leader A.K. Antony's observation in his report on the 2014 election results that the perception of minority appeasement continues to hobble the Congress.

At the same time, Rahul has to realise that his visits to temples cannot be a one-time affair. He will have to continue with these excursions irrespective of whether elections are being held or not. Otherwise, he will expose himself to the politically damaging conclusion that his visits were indeed no more than tactical manoeuvres intended to rob the BJP of a political point during a crucial battle.

Rahul's trips to temples cannot be like his earlier practice of slumming when he used to spend a night in a Dalit hut with a bottle of mineral water.

Arguably, it may be advisable for him to change tack by visiting the places of worship of other religions as well. That will be in sync with Mahatma Gandhi's preference for readings from the scriptures of all religions at his prayer meetings to underline India's composite culture.

Visits to mosques, churches, gurdwaras and synagogues, along with going to temples, may be interpreted as too palpably showy and pretentious, especially by a person who has not been noticeably religious-minded till the Gujarat elections.

But it has to be remembered that the Congress is up against a party which regards itself as a monopolistic wholesaler in the business of projecting Hinduism and, therefore, the latter's ploys can only be countered by taking the matter of flaunting faith to a different and higher level.

It is possible that the BJP will be flummoxed by its adversary visiting the shrines of all religions because it is something which the party of cultural nationalismone nation, one people, one culture will never be able to do lest it should undermine its Hindu supremacist agenda.

However, demonstrating devotion to all religions will be widely recognised as typical of non-communal Hindus who have always regarded secularism as a celebration of all faiths, attending midnight mass on Christmas eve and visiting dargahs as that of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer in large numbers.

As the Antony report pointed out, the Congress's mistake was that it deviated from the country's long-standing syncretism and focused on pandering to Muslim sentiments. This approach may have been understandable in the aftermath of partition when the Muslims felt lost because of the departure for Pakistan of the community's tall leaders like Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the collapse of organisations like the Unionist Party in Punjab and Krishak Praja Party in Bengal which were based on Hindu-Muslim amity.

Since the Muslims consequently turned to the Congress as their only hope, the party apparently decided to treat them as its special responsibility. That this policy worked satisfactorily is evident from the BJP remaining in the margins of national politics till the early 1990s.

However, it was the Congress's inability to counter the whipping up of communal sentiments by the Hindutva lobby over the Ram temple issue from the 1990s which helped the BJP to make political gains.

Arguably, Rahul's temple trips are a belated exercise to blunt the BJP's tactic of pretending to be the sole custodian of Hinduism. But this opportunistic "soft" Hindutva line doesn't seem to have worked in Gujarat if the exit polls are to be believed. It is time, therefore, for him to change track and embrace other religions as well.

IANS
Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad on Sunday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to hold talks with Sunni Waqf Board too in connection with Ram temple-Babri Masjid dispute.

"I have requested the chief minister to talk to the Sunni Waqf Board over the Babri Masjid matter to resolve the issue. I want to solve the matter through peaceful means," the Shia Cleric told media after holding a meeting with Adityanath at his residence here.

However, the cleric also said the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board chairman, Zufar Ahmed Farooqui, was not a trustworthy person and he has conveyed the same to the chief minister.

During the meeting, as informed by Jawad, cow vigilante violence was also discussed.

"The chief minister said the state government has issued orders in this regard that strict action would be taken against those who do so (violence). He has also said that if someone does this (cow smuggling), then the public should not take law into their own hands, but instead inform the police," Maulana Jawad.

Reportedly, president of Shia Gau Raksha Dal, Shamil Shamsi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amil Shamsi were also present there.
The Interpol has cancelled the red corner notice on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) president and preacher Zakir Naik, who is being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"Interpol has cancelled red corner notice on Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, have cited political and religious bias among other reasons," a spokesperson of Naik said.

The NIA's request for red corner notice against Naik was not accepted by the Interpol as the chargesheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol. Now, the NIA will submit a fresh request to the Interpol as a chargesheet has already been filed in the concerned NIA court in Mumbai.

The Islamic preacher is facing charges of incitement of terror activities, hate speeches among youth and money-laundering.

Naik fled from India after some terrorists allegedly involved in the Dhaka cafe attack claimed that they were inspired by his speeches.

Last year, the National Investigation Agency's Mumbai branch had registered a case against Naik under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after the Union home ministry had declared his Mumbai based IRF as an unlawful association.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) last month had said the inter-departmental consultations were on for the extradition of Naik from Malaysia.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on December 17 arrested a man from Sydney for allegedly acting as an economic agent for North Korea with the intent of raising revenue for the Pyongyang government.



Authorities have identified the man as South Korean-origin Chan Han Choi, 59, the media reported.



The AFP said the man, a naturalised Australian citizen, brokered the sale of missiles, missile components and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and discussed the supply of weapons of mass destruction.



He also planned to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Vietnam and Indonesia.



However, there was no evidence that the governments of those two countries were aware of the plan.



These actions are alleged breaches of UN and Australian sanctions. He is facing six charges in connection with the acts.



"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," the media quoted AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan as saying.



"This is the first time charges have been laid under the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act in Australia, and the first time we have laid charges specifically for alleged breaches of UN sanctions against North Korea."



Gaughan said the business activity occurred offshore and that "there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons, or missile componentry  which he said was software  had been imported into Australia.



"This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose."



More charges against the man have not been ruled out, according to the police statement.
A lawyer for US President Donald Trump's transition team has accused Special Counsel Robert Mueller of unlawfully obtaining documents including thousands of emails without their knowledge, for its ongoing probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.



Kory Langhofer, counsel to Trump for America (TFA), said in a letter on December 16 to several congressional panels that Mueller's team obtained these emails from the General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that hosted the transition email system, reports the media.



In the seven-page letter, he accused Mueller's team of "unlawfully producing TFA's private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsel's Office".



The lawyer urged the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee "to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives".



Mueller's probe into the alleged Russia meddling entered a new phase earlier this month when former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
The Citys biggest boardroom battle in years will reach its climax tomorrow when the future of London Stock Exchange chairman Donald Brydon hinges on a shareholder vote.

Brydon, 72, could be sacked after hedge fund boss Sir Chris Hohn accused him of having a toxic effect on the LSE.

The chairman is widely seen as responsible for forcing out the LSEs chief executive Xavier Rolet, who unexpectedly announced he was standing down in October and refused to say why.

Donald Brydon: Faces the sack after shareholder vote or has said he will leave in 2019

Hohn is furious that Rolet has gone and has forced the LSE to arrange the vote. Hohn said: It would be difficult to find a new world-class chief executive to serve under Donald Brydon.

In an attempt to find a compromise, Brydon said that he will leave in 2019. But this was not enough for billionaire Hohn, who insisted on tomorrows shareholder vote to decide whether the chairman should be removed immediately.

Several large investors have now publicly backed Brydon, including Blackrock, the Qatar Investment Authority, Lindsell Train and Aviva Investors, which together have a stake of around 26.7 per cent.
The Mail on Sundays call for tough regulatory action on companies that charge people for receiving unwanted mobile phone texts has received further parliamentary support.

Earlier this month we revealed how thousands of people are unknowingly paying to receive pestering text messages  a practice Labour MP John Mann described as a national scandal.

Now Rebecca Pow, Conservative MP for Taunton Deane and a member of the all-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has intervened. She says: It is dismaying how easy it is for customers to find they have inadvertently signed up for messages they do not want, and are then charged for them.

It is scandalous there are unscrupulous companies out there deliberately taking advantage of people in this way. It is an area the regulator ought to address.

Shocked: Marcus Hardingham with daughter Ava, 11, who was charged for unwanted messages

Pows comments come as more people have stepped forward to share their experience of being charged to receive text messages they did not want or ask for. Many people disregard texts as spam and hit the delete button, without realising they could be paying for them.

YOUNG CAN BE CHARGED

Marcus Hardingham paid nearly 50 for unsolicited texts sent to his daughters mobile.

He only discovered this when he contacted mobile phone provider Three UK to upgrade his handset and an employee commented on the 3-a-time texts on his daughter Avas phone.

Aged 11, she is adamant she has never subscribed to any phone paid service  indeed the experience has caused her great upset.

Two changes phone firms MUST make now Firstly, mobile networks and landline providers should make it clear, on the first page of a bill, if a customer has incurred charges for premium rate texts or calls. Customers are told what to do if they see unexpected charges, but people who do not inspect each item on a bill may not notice small sums paid over many months. This remedy is simple and highlights information already on a bill they might otherwise miss. Secondly, firms providing premium rate services should require subscribers to first send a text confirming they are opting in to receive messages. This is how it works when donating to charity via text  a customer sends a message to a shortcode number, then receives a confirmation text and the donation is added to the bill.

Marcus, 54, says: Avas initial reaction was shock and embarrassment, then annoyance, worry and loss of confidence.

Three directed Marcus to contact the company responsible for sending the messages, which in turn told him he would need to send a copy of Avas passport or birth certificate as proof of identity.

Marcus says: I did not want to pass on my daughters personal details so I have written off the charges and instead cancelled my daughters phone contract.

A spokeswoman for Three UK says: If any of our customers have concerns about their bill, we encourage them to contact our customer service team by calling 333 from their mobile.

There were additional charges on Mr Hardinghams bill because a subscription had been activated. Three has no control over the costs that third-party providers charge subscribers.

After The Mail on Sunday intervened, the mobile network agreed to refund the charges as a goodwill gesture.

THE COSTS MOUNT UP

David Jennings says it was sheer luck he recently spotted erroneous charges when checking his phone bill following a trip to Japan.

The 62-year-old, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, discovered he was paying around 4.50 a week to be entered into a competition he knew nothing about.

As he pored over past bills, he traced a string of charges back to August last year  and calculates he and wife Lynne have been charged more than 270. These fees would have continued to accumulate had he not stopped them.

David, a business owner, says: The costs mount up and because the amounts are small, unless you are on your game you will not notice them.

Every so often we received messages saying we were entered into a competition for 4.50 per week until we sent a Stop message  but as we never opted in, we had no idea we had to opt out.

When David saw he was being charged, he sent a Stop message to the number provided, but this had no impact. The Mail on Sunday asked his bill provider Vodafone to investigate. A spokeswoman says: The premium rate text messages originate from third-party companies and not from Vodafone.

The contract is between the customer and the third-party provider of the service, so our advice is to contact them to discuss a refund. If this does not resolve the issue, we do everything we can to help individual customers.

David rejects the idea he had a contract with the company sending the messages since he has never had any dealings with them.

Vodafone agreed to refund 36 of charges covering the past two months and put a bar on Davids phone so he cannot receive further premium rate texts and calls. David adds: There appears to be a legal loophole ordinary people fall through and the big mobile phone companies could not care less.

NEED FOR REGULATION

There are some two million complaints a year from people unhappy about phone-paid services, which encompasses all types of goods and services that can be charged to a telephone bill.

But it is not always clear who a customer can turn to when something is amiss.

Mobile networks often direct people to contact the company in question, even when customers claim they have no contract with that particular service provider. Consumer expert James Walker, founder of online complaints service Resolver, says: These paid-for services are crying out for tougher regulation  and an ombudsman that can step in if things go wrong.

Have you been paying for texts and calls you never asked for? Email laura.shannon@mailonsunday.co.uk to tell your story.
It sounds like the quintessential anti-festive story. An animal welfare charity in San Francisco was accused of using a robot  it looks alarmingly like a giant egg  to clear homeless people off pavements in front of its offices. All was not quite as it seemed.

The sinister egg-bot, supposedly on a mission to socially cleanse the streets of undesirables, turned out to be a robotic crime-buster. And since the robot had been on patrol, break-ins, thefts and assaults had gone down, according to the Silicon Valley firm that made it.

The story illustrates a deep-seated fear about robotics and technology in general, namely that the machines are indifferent to humanity, if not actively malign and liable to run out of control.

Patrol: The security robot used in San Francisco

I became a convert after visiting an Amazon warehouse in Dunstable last December, where I was mesmerised by the stately dance of 2,000 robots weaving around the warehouse picking up items and taking them to be packed.

Amazon says that far from putting people out of a job, the robots have allowed the company to grow faster in the UK, and therefore to expand its human workforce here by several thousand.

Not only retail, but the world of banking and financial services is ripe for infiltration by robots which can easily relieve people of routine tasks. An insurance bot, for instance, could process a claim in seconds, instead of days, while a loan bot could handle a mortgage application far more quickly than a human being.

Robots have obvious attractions for employers: they dont get sick, they dont need holidays or maternity leave, they dont rack up expensive pension costs, they dont get bolshy and join a union  they dont get hangovers and they dont even get tired.

Consumers can benefit from goods that are cheaper and arrive more quickly, and innovations such as driverless cars.

The flip-side is the threat to us as employees. The Royal Society of Arts recently predicted in a major piece of research that robots could commandeer four million private sector jobs in the next ten years  equivalent to 15 per cent of the workforce.

It is not just low-level jobs that could be affected, but ones further up the chain. Quite possibly this column in future could be written by a Ruthbot.

Looking ahead: Jobs potentially at risk include drivers, who could be replaced by driverless cars and lorries

But that is only one side of the story. Counterintuitively, the robot employment boom could be good for the economy overall, if not for some individuals.

Mundane tasks may be taken over by machines but the hope is that, freed of drudgery, humans will be free to undertake more creative endeavours, and add more value to the economy.

PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts that up to 30 per cent of UK jobs could be affected by automation by the early 2030s, but that this will be offset by other types of jobs being created elsewhere.

It argues that the UK economy could expand by around 10.3 per cent, equivalent to an additional 232billion, thanks to automation and artificial intelligence by 2030, mostly due to gains in productivity.

The accountancy firm is devoting huge amounts of intellectual energy to thinking about how the economy and businesses might change, including a team of eight people who spend their working lives thinking about drones, or unmanned planes. This is, of course, in itself an example of roles that wouldnt have existed ten years ago.

Jobs potentially at risk include drivers, who could be replaced by driverless cars and lorries, checkout staff in shops, cashiers in banks, data processors and call centre staff.

In the past, though, technological change has not resulted in mass unemployment. Between 1900 and 1970 the percentage of people employed in agriculture in the US dropped from 40 per cent to less than two per cent but workers were deployed elsewhere and the American economy continued to grow.

History tells us that robots are more likely to make us richer than to make us redundant.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Mrs I.B. writes: I was cold-called in August by Incrementum Funding and told shares in Paragon Time Trading would be an excellent investment. I was dubious, but after a number of calls I was persuaded to invest 6,000.

The salesman kept calling, wanting the money before the end of September because there was a dividend due. Needless to say, I have not received it. I was interested to read your article saying the company could not legally sell these shares to certain people.

I am 86 years of age, a widow, living in a council house, and my only income is the state pension. I have never invested in shares before and my small savings are now sadly depleted.

Seconds out: Richard Ludgate plans to put watch hire firm Paragon into liquidation

Tony replies: I warned against this scam twice in August, at just about the time you were first called. So I am sorry you missed the alarm bells and may now have lost the 6,000 you invested.

Incrementum Funding, run by 29-year-old Timothy Sandhu from Croydon in South London, was illegally selling shares. It has no licence from the Financial Conduct Authority, and although no licence is needed to sell shares to people who are rich enough or sufficiently experienced to stand the risks, you fall a million miles outside those exemptions.

The shares Sandhu and his mates were flogging over the phone were in Paragon Time Trading Limited, a new company set up by Richard Ludgate, 31, and registered to his address in Sanderstead, Surrey.

Ludgates plan was to raise 1.8million by selling three million shares at 60p a time. The cash would be used to buy luxury watches which he would rent out to people.

The share offer document bearing Ludgates signature claimed the rental scheme was already 60 per cent subscribed by existing customers. He told investors: Paragon Time has the potential to become one of the first and leading hire specialists in the luxury watch market, and become the UK Netflix of watches.

Really? The truth is the whole scheme was riddled with false claims and law breaking. Nobody likes to invest in a company with just one director, but Paragon seemed to have two.

The offer document named Samuel Tyler as the director in charge of marketing, yet Companies House has never heard of him.

While the same document assured investors there would be no fresh shares sold, which would dilute their investment, it later contradicted itself and warned this was exactly what might happen.

Share sales boss Sandhu assured me he was only selling the scheme to angel investors, high net worth individuals and sophisticated investors. This was false when he told me, and your own experience proves it yet again. You have little money and never bought shares in your life.

I had hoped the Financial Conduct Authority would spring into action in August and stop the illegal sales. It failed to do so, and at the end of September I described Paragon and its watch scheme as a ticking time bomb.

Well, it is about to explode. Ludgate is planning to put Paragon into liquidation, and one investor says he has been informed the company has no assets.

I told Ludgate how you had been ripped off, and asked him whether he would refund your money. He replied: I have no comment to make.

He blamed The Mail on Sunday for ruining his business. He told me: Please be advised that Jamie Taylor of Begbies Traynor has been appointed to liquidate the business due to the breakdown in investor confidence caused by your articles.

Sorry Richard, but investors were conned by your false claims and by the illegal marketing operation run by your pal Tim Sandhu. Our articles just tore away the veil of lies. Your latest statement is false too.

A spokesman for liquidation firm Begbies Traynor told me last Wednesday that Jamie Taylor is not even proposed as the liquidator. He explained: At present the company is not in liquidation. He added: The resolution that the company be wound up voluntarily will be considered by members on the decision date, December 22.

Begbies assured me that if the liquidation is approved, all comments from investors have been noted and will form part of our investigations.

Sandhu did not respond to invitations to comment, so where investors money has ended up remains to be uncovered. But Begbies staff will not be alone in investigating.

After saying initially it did not have sufficient evidence, Action Fraud has finally called time on Paragon and sent a file to the City of London Police. It in turn tells me it is in the hands of a fraud team.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Hedge fund billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn looks set to suffer an embarrassing defeat this week, as shareholders in the London Stock Exchange are expected to vote against his attempts to topple the chairman.

Hohn, who heads up The Childrens Investment Fund (TCI), has forced the LSE to hold a shareholder meeting to vote on whether to oust Donald Brydon this Tuesday.

A number of large shareholders  including BlackRock  have indicated they will support Brydon, making victory for Hohn highly unlikely. He is now planning to crank up the pressure to oust the chairman at the LSEs annual general meeting next spring.

Set for defeat: Christopher Hohn of The Children's Investment Fund

TCI is also understood to have asked the LSEs interim chief executive, David Warren, for a meeting either this week or in early January. Hohn wanted to unseat Brydon and to reinstate Xavier Rolet as the Stock Exchanges chief executive.

Rolet initially announced plans to step down in 2018. Following an intervention by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, he resigned with immediate effect last month.

It would take a 50 per cent vote to force Brydon out. Having previously been confident of achieving this, Hohn is now understood to be hoping for a strong protest vote.

Other shareholders are reluctant to oust the chairman due to the risk it would leave the Stock Exchange rudderless when it has just parted with its chief executive.

The Treasury yesterday said it would speed up a project to tie the London Stock Exchange to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, helping investors access both markets, as part of wider plans to build up economic relations with China.
A register naming and shaming companies whose shareholders have protested over fat cat pay is expected to be launched this week.

The idea for the list, which will be published online, came from Prime Minister Theresa May who said in August that it would help expose corporate greed and attempt to restore trust in capitalism.

Any FTSE All-Share company where at least one in five shareholders vote against pay policy will appear on the register, which is expected to include a number of household name businesses.

Resigned: Persimmonschairman Nicholas Wrigley

However, some firms that have been hit by major scandals will escape embarrassment because the list only covers shareholder revolts in the past 12 months.

Notable absentees are likely to include Persimmon, where the chairman and one of the most senior directors quit on Friday because of their part in devising a pay scheme dating back to 2012.

The resignations came after a recent investigation by The Mail on Sunday which revealed that Jeff Fairburn, chief executive of the housebuilding firm, is in line for an astonishing 50million share award in the New Year.

Persimmons incentive scheme is one of the most lavish in corporate history. The company is likely to pay out shares worth more than 800million to senior managers.

The ten big names under the spotlight Ten of Britains 100 largest listed firms face humiliation as they look set to feature on the register after revolts over their executive pay this year. Among the FTSE 100 companies likely to be on the list is advertising giant WPP, whose chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell remains one of the UKs best paid bosses  even after his pay was cut last year from 72million to 48million. Fewer than 10 per cent of investors voted against Persimmons pay deal this year, meaning Britains biggest housebuilder will not appear on the register. Company Protest Vote % Pearson (Education) 66 Morrisons (Grocer) 48 AstraZeneca (Pharma) 39 Burberry (Fashion) 31 Informa (Media) 29 NMC (Health Hospitals) 29 Sky (Media) 29 Old Mutual (Insurance) 28 Experian (Credit check) 24 WPP (Advertising) 21

Fairburns total jackpot comes to around 130million. He is in line to receive the remaining 80million next year.

Chairman Nicholas Wrigley handed in his notice alongside senior director Jonathan Davie. As chair of the pay committee, Davie was responsible for putting the incentive scheme in place five years ago.

Persimmon said the two men now realise they should have set a ceiling to limit the amount bosses could be paid under the long-term reward plan. In recognition of this omission, they have therefore tendered their resignations, it added.

Some 15 per cent of Persimmon shareholders voted against the scheme in 2012 when it was introduced. That is below the threshold for the new register, but it is still a significant revolt.

Under the plan, rewards are linked to the performance of shares. However, critics point out that the Governments Help to Buy loan scheme launched in 2013 has significantly pushed up Persimmons share price.

Pressure is mounting on the company to introduce a retrospective cap on the scheme and for Fairburn and his colleagues to forgo part of their rewards or make large donations to charity.

One large investment firm, Royal London Asset Management, called on Fairburn and the pay committee to acknowledge their errors and correct them. However, Persimmon said it has no plans to change its scheme.

The Mail on Sunday understands Wrigley and Davie had wanted to introduce a cap but were unable to do so because the scheme involves more than 140 regional managers, rather than just a handful of executives.

A spokesman for Persimmon said Fairburns plans for his bonus were a private family matter.

Jeff Fairburn, left, is staying with 130m, while Jonathan Davie, right, has resigned

Garry White, chief investment commentator at City firm Charles Stanley, said: Much of Persimmons share price gain is due to luck. It came from a Government subsidy.

Catherine Howarth, chief executive of investment group Share-Action, urged Wrigley and Davie to donate at least half of their bonuses to housing charities.

The Investment Association, which is compiling the register, is providing links to allow named companies to explain how they are tackling shareholder concerns.
Insurance giant Aviva is facing open-ended losses that may in theory run to billions of pounds thanks to a bizarre investment product sold in the pre-internet 1980s that lets its owners profit from moves in financial markets after they have happened.

It is pitting the FTSE 100 firm against a 28-year-old Frenchman, Max-Herve George, who lives in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad.

He says Aviva  which looks after pensions for millions of Britons and has many UK private investors  could owe him more than a billion euros over his lifetime.

Challenger: Max-Herve George, who lives in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad

Aviva says his claims are utter fantasy. It insists the risks posed by these known-price arbitrage contracts are limited and that it has already disclosed the potential liabilities in the accounts of its French business.

The row has rumbled through the French courts for 15 years but it is only under a ruling earlier this year that George has been able to start benefiting from his investment.

He says Aviva has had to credit him with up to half a million euros in some weeks and that since January he has made millions of euros in profit. Thousands of the known price contracts were issued by French firm Abeille Vie, in the 1980s to attract wealthy customers. In 2002, Abeille Vie became part of Aviva France, owned by Aviva PLC.

Under the contracts terms, every week holders can switch their money between different funds spread across the world in sectors ranging from equities to gold.

These have become known as golden tickets because they allow holders to invest each week with 20:20 hindsight. They can look for an investment that has gone up over the past few days and buy it at the price listed seven days earlier.

The contracts are a throwback to the days when transactions were all on paper, prices of some investment funds were published less frequently and it could take days to complete a trade.

The advent of the internet and instant pricing has made it relatively easy for holders to profit.

Abeille, then Aviva, persuaded many holders to amend their contracts in return for smallish sums. Others refused, including George, who sued Aviva France over his contract, bought for him by his father.

George, who runs a business in Geneva developing luxury hotels, told The Mail on Sunday: Last week, I made 1.68 per cent on my portfolio. The week before I made 1.5 per cent. In some weeks he had made 5 per cent. Since January, I have made millions of euros.

One actuary believes Georges contract alone could cost Aviva at least 1.22billion over his lifetime  and if the firm is forced to expand the range of investments covered, the cost could even hit 5billion.

Aviva is appealing to the French Supreme Court. But Georges London lawyer, Veronique Favreau, said: The only thing at stake now is the level of damages Max is owed because of Avivas previous refusal to honour the contract.

Response: Aviva says Max-Herve George's claims are utter fantasy

His Paris lawyer Nicolas Lecoq-Vallon said he has about 50 clients also suing Aviva, some of whose holdings are as large as Georges.

One is Didier Cartreau, an insurance broker. He said: Other companies issued these contracts. But instead of fighting their customers in court, they settled them, and paid them off. That was expensive. But only Aviva has behaved in this way, and it may cost them far more.

An Aviva spokesman said: The numbers being quoted are utter fantasy. Aviva France is appropriately provisioned, its reserves are audited and reviewed annually. This matter is subject to litigation and Aviva will not comment on the specifics of the individual case.
Rob Collins looks surprisingly relaxed for a man so close to his busiest day of the year. Hes the boss of the quintessential British middle-class retailer, Waitrose, and, as well as the usual Christmas rush, this year he is under intense pressure from all sides.

Collins is facing worries over the impact of Brexit on his suppliers and the threat of losing customers to cheaper rivals as even well-heeled shoppers succumb to the lure of Aldi and Lidl when the neighbours arent watching.

This week he will be so busy he has lined up 1,000 turkey runners  staff dedicated only to the job of fetching and carrying the birds, as well as hiring 5,000 temporary staff to make operations run smoothly.

Challenge: Rob Collins is braced for the busiest day of the year at Waitrose

In his first major interview since taking the job, he is cagey about how well his 350 stores will do this Christmas. You never really know until the final week, he says. But Waitrose should benefit from the festive snob factor as we strive to impress visiting friends and relatives.

Sales of quails eggs and premium bacon are expected to more than double because shoppers want to treat their guests to a lavish breakfast. And theres a 15 per cent spike in the sales of polish in December as hosts and hostesses flick the cobwebs off the bannisters. One-in-ten of us even buys posher than usual loo roll at Christmas to show off to visitors.

Our tendency to trade up is good news for a retailer like Waitrose, trying to tempt us with Butter Basted Turkey with a Smoked Bacon Lattice; Chocolate & Ginger Mince Pies; and Heston Blumenthals Persian Spiced Christmas Pudding.

Collins is obsessive about the food. Discussions about product details go right down to the size of the crumb on the breaded prawns  I love that, he says. Hes even trying out novel packaging for his Duchy brand tomatoes, made partly from tomato leaves.

So committed is he to bringing his wares to the tables of Britain that he plans to spend 1.5 million on a new kitchen at the head office in Bracknell, Berkshire  a project beyond the dreams of even the most lavish home cook.

We go right down to the size of the crumb on the breaded prawns... I love all that

The kitchen, which will be used to test new product ideas, will be four times the size of the existing facility, have twice as many chefs and will include a cookery theatre for training staff as well as a food library.

He says: Its state of the art and will take things to a whole new level. Weve done a lot this year but we want to ramp that up even further  this facility is bigger and better.

Before his new fantasy kitchen arrives, however, those of us who are infuriated at how the festivities seem to kick off earlier each year should spare a thought for Collins. Waitrose starts offering online delivery slots three months in advance and is selling mince pies at the beginning of October.

This week is when we see a very significant surge. Double an average week and that builds to Saturday, our busiest day.

Rush hour arrives at 11am on December 23  probably the time for sensible people to avoid shops altogether.

Luxury: Waitrose Christmas pudding

For a man in charge of a vast logistical operation that would make many a General quaver, Collins is remarkably calm. Waitrose lorries will drive nearly a million miles in the run-up to Christmas, and stores will be open for more than 750 extra hours the week before. But will this colossal effort pay off?

Theres a buzz around our shops and the excitement is building, he says. By Christmas Eve, I will have a very clear view on how weve done but I am encouraged by what I can see at the moment.

He confesses the chain is not immune to the pressures  profit in the first half of the year fell 17 per cent, which Collins attributes to Waitrose taking some pain in order to keep prices down for shoppers.

We need to make sure that farming in the UK remains competitive with the rest of the world

Other competitors have also raised their game too. I mention that the packaging on some products in cheaper stores looks uncannily like his own. He points out hes cut prices on its basics Essential range. But his solution is not to race his stores to the bottom, but rather to be more Waitrose  dig deeper into the middle-class essence that has made the store such a favourite.

For me, all this reinforces the importance of making Waitrose even more Waitrose. My obsession is to find ways to turbo-charge product innovation. That allows us to compete in a very different space to the discounters.

Collins, a father of three, has kept a relatively low profile compared with his exuberant predecessor, Mark Price, who embraced his nickname the chubby grocer. He says he counteracts the effects of all the delicious food in store by riding 20 miles a week on his bike: Its a really good tonic and helps keep the pounds off.

He stepped up from his previous role at Waitrose just two months before last years EU referendum and wakes up before 6am, tuning into Farming Today at 5.45am each morning on Radio 4 before catching the Today programme.

Every single morning, its all about Brexit, what is going to happen and the uncertainty.

Collins is sprucing up all 350 shops over the next two years but is putting a brake on new openings to just two or three next year, compared with about ten a year previously

A month ago Collins organised a meeting with his main suppliers  British farmers  to discuss those concerns.

We had over 400 farmers come to Telford  a gathering like that is unique and very few companies could do it. Theyre anxious about what it might mean for them  that is the great challenge of Brexit.

Hes worried about maintaining food standards, animal welfare, and strict food labelling, or, as he puts it, being really clear where food is coming from.

He adds another concern: The EU is actually putting money into farming, not just through subsidies, but also research and making farming more productive. It will be very important that this investment continues. We also need to make sure that UK farming remains productive and competitive with the rest of the world.

Hes sprucing up all 350 shops over the next two years but is putting a brake on new openings to just two or three next year, compared with about ten a year previously. Thats very much a competitive decision as a Brexit one, he says.

All I would say is that making new shops work today is a lot harder than it was five years ago. Each pound I want to invest, I want to do while pleasing the most customers.
Action: Developer David Russell

The entrepreneur behind a 30million legal action against RBS has spoken of his anger at how he felt shamed by the banks controversial turnaround unit.

David Russell, chief executive at property developer Property Alliance Group, claims the bank cost him millions he ought not to have paid and said he was treated like he was nothing in the process.

The action could open the way to a mountain of claims against RBS if appeal court judges rule that the bank had a duty to explain the complex details of Russells loans.

Russell told The Mail on Sunday: I just want some truth to come out about what the banks were doing. I dont back down to bullies.

His Manchester-based business was put into RBSs infamous Global Restructuring Group in 2010. The firm later had to pay 8.2million to get out of interest-rate hedging products that were supposed to limit his loan interest payments.

Russell is suing RBS over his treatment by its restructuring arm, for being mis-sold the hedging products and also for the banks rigging of Libor rates, which were used to set the cost of his loans.

The case is set to be heard at the Court of Appeal next month after the bank won the first round in the High Court. The appeal will be closely monitored because it could define what responsibilities banks owe business customers over and beyond the limited requirements outlined in their contracts.

Russell said his experience of being put into RBSs controversial turnaround unit had made him feel he had failed.

He said: There are a lot of people ashamed like I was at first. I didnt like to talk about it. You feel like youve failed, like youve been had over and conned.

Case costs: RBS has run up costs of 11million

Russell claims GRG managers were disrespectful, with one putting his feet on the table and inviting him to hand back the keys to the properties he owned if he refused the banks valuation.

They talk to you like youre just nothing, he said.

The case has cost Russell 7.5million to bring. RBS has run up its own costs of 11million, including 2million paid to law firm Clifford Chance, on top of fees paid to lead solicitors Dentons.

Fellow Manchester developers stung by the bank have been backing him in the case. Russell said: There are a lot of guys who have encouraged me to do it, who couldnt afford to do it themselves. Theres a lot of people who want to see RBS beaten in court.

Many smaller firms have similar complaints to Russells, but their losses are generally not big enough to justify the expense of a High Court claim.

Russells Property Alliance Group has been able to bring its claim because it had access to other funds and was able to refinance away from RBS in 2015.

Since bringing the claim Russell said he had nevertheless been contacted by RBS 15 or 20 times to ask if he wanted new loans. The bank said: RBS rejects the allegations made by the Property Alliance Group Limited and will continue vigorously to defend this claim.
PITTSTOWN -A motorist from Hoosick Falls is dead and six other people were sent to area hospitals after a three-car wreck Saturday morning on Route 7 near Baker Road in Pittstown that closed down the roadway for hours, according to State Police in Brunswick.

Police say the six people, all of whom suffered non-life-threatening injuries, were wearing seat belts, which saved them from more serious harm.
The state Division of Military and Naval Affairs is reminding residents about key dates affecting New Yorkers during the 100-year anniversary of America's entry into World War I. The information, excerpted here, is provided through the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.

In December 1917, National Guard Soldiers of the 42nd Division were all in France, waiting for training in trench warfare.

The 27,000 troops had started moving from Camp Albert Mills on Long Island to France in October. The Division was formed by taking National Guard units from 26 states and combining them into a division that stretched across the country "like a rainbow." The New York National Guard's 69th Infantry, renowned as the "Fighting 69th" had been renamed the 165th Infantry.

By Christmas 1917 the division's elements were located in villages northeast of the city of Chaumont, about 190 miles east of Paris. The men had hiked there from Vaucouleurs where they had been deposited by train.

More Information Over 400,000 New Yorkers served in the Army and Navy during World War I - more than any other state in the union. See More Collapse

The 165th Infantry celebrated Christmas 1917 in the village of Grand. The Rev. Francis Duffy, the regiment's chaplain, celebrated a joint American-French Mass on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day the men ate turkey, chicken, carrots, cranberries, mashed potatoes, bread pudding, nuts, figs and coffee.

The 168th Infantry, from the Iowa National Guard, hosted 400 French children at a Christmas celebration in the village of Rimaucourt. Two American soldiers dressed like Santa Claus gave presents to the French children and a French band played the Star-Spangled Banner. The kids received dolls, horns and balloons, recalled Lt. Hugh S. Thompson in his book "Trench Knives and Mustard Gas."

While that Christmas was a good one for most Rainbow Division soldiers, the next week went down in the division's memory as "The Valley Forge Hike."

It was 30 to 40 miles from where the division's troops had celebrated Christmas to the town of Rolampont, where the U.S. Army's Seventh Training Area had been established.

Today you can drive the route in an hour. In 1917 it took the soldiers four days to get there.

The march was miserable, according to the 1919 book "The Story of the Rainbow Division." The soldiers had "scarcely any shoes except what they had on their feet, there was no surplus supply to speak of. Some of the men had no overcoats."

At night the men huddled in the barns and haylofts of the French villages to keep warm. Medics reported cases of mumps and pneumonia as the temperatures dropped below zero. Hundreds of men fell out  700 at least, and 200 of the New Yorkers  but most made it to Rolampont.

By New Year's Day the division's elements had arrived in Rolampont, and along with a new year they got a new commander. Maj. Gen. William Mann, former head of the Militia Bureau, the equivalent of today's Chief of the National Guard Bureau, had taken command of the division at Camp Mills.

But Mann, who was 63 in 1917, couldn't meet the physical standards for officers laid down by General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force.

He was replaced by Brig. Gen. Charles T. Menoher.

As 1918 began, Menoher, 55, and Rainbow Division soldiers began gearing up to go into the trenches.
New York

When an immigrant from Bangladesh set off a bomb in New York City's subway system this week, he was the only person injured. But New York City's vibrant Bangladeshi community is worried that it, too, may ultimately get hurt by the attack.

Within hours of the blast, President Donald Trump was assailing the immigration system that had allowed the alleged bomber  and multitudes of law-abiding Bangladeshis  to enter the U.S.

Akayed Ullah, 27, got an entry visa in 2011 because he had an uncle who was already a U.S. citizen. Trump said allowing foreigners to follow relatives to the U.S. was "incompatible with national security." He pledged to work toward a system that would give preference instead to people who had wealth or special skills.

That promised policy change struck a sour note with some Bangladeshis in the Brooklyn neighborhood where Ullah lived.

"If Trump is going to stop immigration visas, that's not good for our Bangladeshi people," said Fazlul Karim, 45, a livery car driver. "Because some people are waiting for their families  citizens who apply for their wives, children who are missing their father. So if they cannot come here, it's going to be very sad. We are afraid."

Kamal Bhuiyan, chairman of the Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group, said it would be unfair to hold the entire community responsible for the actions of one person.

"Those who commit crimes, they do not believe in God and they don't belong to anybody," Bhuiyan said. "They don't belong to Bangladeshis nor anybody else around the world. They are themselves."

According to the U.S. Census' 2016 American Community Survey, there are about 90,000 Bangladeshis in New York City, out of a nationwide population of about 234,000. It is a relatively new immigration group. Two thirds of New York's Bangladeshis arrived in the U.S. after 2000; 38 percent arrived in just the last seven years.

While the Bangladeshi community isn't as large as other ethnic groups in the city, it has made its presence felt. Bangladeshis make up nearly a quarter of all taxi drivers, according to city statistics. Bangladeshis also have an outsized presence in the New York Police Department's traffic enforcement division, making up around 15 percent of the city's traffic agents, according to a union estimate.

In a sign of the increasing numbers of Bangladeshi immigrants coming to the U.S., they are no longer eligible for the diversity visa lottery, which is open to countries that have seen low immigration to the United States.
New York

Hunter Harrison, the president CEO of railroad giant CSX, has died, the company announced Saturday. He was 73.

CSX confirmed Harrison's death in a statement, saying it was caused by "unexpectedly severe complications" from a recent illness. His death in Wellington, Florida, comes only a couple days after the company announced he was taking an unplanned medical leave of absence.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Harrison was a longtime railroad executive who made his career turning around railroads. Before joining CSX in March, Harrison was president and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and the Canadian National Railway Company. He also was the head of the Illinois Central Railway in the 1990s.

"Hunter was a larger-than-life figure who brought his remarkable passion, experience and energy in railroading to CSX," the company said in a statement.

He was hired by Florida-based CSX in March under shareholder pressure. But recently there had been concerns about his health. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Harrison often worked from home and occasionally required portable oxygen.

CSX shares fell sharply on Thursday when the company announced Harrison was taking an unexpected leave of absence due to a medical condition.

Edward Kelly, chairman of CSX's board of directors said that Jim Foote, who was named acting CEO when Harrison took the leave of absence, will continue in his role as acting CEO. Kelly called Harrison's death "a major loss" to the company but said they would try to implement some of the ideas Harrison had for the railroad before his death.

Under Harrison's tenure, CSX has moved to consolidate dispatch operations in Jacksonville, Fla., which could affect workers in Selkirk. About 45 dispatchers work in Selkirk, where they direct and coordinate train movements through a specific geographic area.

Several weeks ago, workers learned those plans were delayed, leaving them in limbo since some had already begun selling their homes.

A union document seen by the Times Union earlier this year suggested three hump yards  which use gravity to sort individual freight cars  will remain systemwide, and one may be Selkirk. In a May 2017 presentation to analysts, CSX identified Selkirk as a yard "in transition" to flat switching.

 Times Union staff contributed to this report.
I have a healthy family, food and shelter, and more books in my house than I can read in a lifetime. So my only Christmas wish is that Gov. Andrew Cuomo works to repair his toxic relationship with the Capitol press corps.

Let me be clear: By using the term "relationship," I'm not suggesting that either the governor and the media who cover him should be chummy or transactional. There's been quite enough of that in state government down through the years, and it inevitably results in lapdog coverage and run-amok official misconduct. As intended by our Founding Fathers, the interaction between these two sides is supposed to be adversarial.

But does it have to be this bad?

For a sign of just how lousy things are, consider the past 10 days in what is supposed to be a season of good cheer. On Dec. 7, as Cuomo was preparing to take part in a conference call to discuss the impact of the Republican tax plan, a number of reporters trooped down from the legislative press room to Cuomo's offices to stage a protest against the fact that he had gone almost six months without holding a real, live news conference at the Capitol.

Adding insult to injury, according to Politico New York and the Daily News, his aides had attempted to plant questions with reporters, all but one of whom declined to play along. Cuomo refused to take questions from the reporters who had rejected the potted queries. When he told the telephonically assembled reporters that because there were no more questions he would be ringing off, several were left hanging on the line with their questions queued up in vain.

The resulting coverage of that mess meant that Cuomo was pretty much obliged to conduct a Q&A with many of the same reporters after he hosted the annual Regional Economic Development Council awards show in Albany on Wednesday.

What ensued was what the kids today might refer to as a "Hold my beer" scene  as in, "Hold my beer: I'm about to break the land speed record for gubernatorial churlishness."

Asked by Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS.com to explain why his administration hired people to work for the executive chamber but chose to put them on the payrolls of state agencies and authorities  the subject of an FBI inquiry  Cuomo adopted a basilisk gaze and answered Hughes' question with four of his own: "Have you been in Albany? Have you covered government? Do people who have political experience get hired by government? Or is this a new fact for you?"

A few minutes later, the governor fielded a question about the #MeToo cultural moment, and whether it presented an opportunity to affect real policy change to fight abuse of and discrimination against women. Cuomo said it did.

Karen DeWitt of New York State Public Radio asked what the governor, whose administration only last month said goodbye to development official Sam Hoyt amid a sexual misconduct probe, planned to do along those lines in state government.

"Well, you have it going on in journalism," Cuomo said.

"Yeah, I know," said DeWitt.

"What are you going to do differently?" the governor asked, as if DeWitt was Queen Media, Mistress of All Communications. (Frankly, we could do worse.)

"But the question is about state government, it's not about journalism," said Hughes, apparently recovered from his previous exchange with Cuomo.

The governor told DeWitt that while there would of course be state government policies, "I think you miss the point. When you say, 'It's state government,' you do a disservice to women  with all due respect, even though you're a woman. It's not government, it's society. It was Harvey Weinstein in the arts industry." (Weinstein was a generous donor to Cuomo's campaign.) "It's comedians. It's politicians." (Such as Hoyt, who as an assemblyman was sanctioned for his affair with an intern.) "It's chefs." (Like Mario Batali, who was scrubbed from a Cuomo fundraiser after facing allegations of sexual abuse including groping.) "It's systemic. It's societal. It's not one person in one area. It's not just Charlie Rose, right?" (Rose, a notorious power-flatterer when he wasn't preying on his female staffers, was favored by Cuomo to conduct a long-form one-on-one interview after the release of his memoir.) "It's not just Matt Lauer. It's not just journalists. It's societal."

Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter.

"Could you just name one thing?" asked DeWitt, her voice harder now.

"It's called the State of the State  come and cover it and see the agenda," he said.

You can watch several versions of this exchange, including one where the eyebrows on Newsday's James Madore appear to nearly jump off his face in surprise at Cuomo's performance.

The governor called DeWitt hours later to apologize, which is not something he is famous for.

There is worse to come in three weeks, when the trial of Cuomo's top aide Joe Percoco begins. It's a good bet the trial will produce questions Cuomo will want to answer about as much as he'll want to undergo a gum scraping without anesthesia.

I hope these questions will earn responses, with a minimum of snappishness and a maximum of transparency. This Christmas Eve, I will dream that every journalist waiting on a long-deferred FOIL request sees the results in his or her email. And God bless us, every one.

cseiler@timesunion.com  518-454-5619
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Love what you do. Be passionate, and stay passionate. Don't be afraid to try.

These maxims were proffered by our inaugural 20 Under 20 class to future young generations considered for this title, a joint effort between Women@Work and the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and its Young Women's Leadership Initiative. These young women from all corners of the Capital Region are high academic achievers and student leaders. They have far-reaching goals and have logged countless hours of community and volunteer service. Some have already established businesses and non-profits, among other achievements. It makes us all feel more secure about the future of women in our area. And a little awed.

Note: Hair styling for our 20 Under 20 photos was provided by Rumors Salon & Spa, a Women@Work corporate partner. The interviews have been edited for space and clarity.

Caroline McGraw

More Information  Not a member of Women@Work? Sign up at TUWomenatwork.com - and tell a friend. 20 Under 20 Honorable Mentions Langston Williams Age: 15 | Hometown: Delmar Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll have graduated high school. I've been looking at SUNY Cortland or Buffalo. Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom; she's very successful, and she's won lots of awards. Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Just keep being successful in life. It will take you places. Katie Gonick Age: 18 | Hometown: Guilderland Where do you see yourself in five years? Either working or trying to work for a non-profit, or another community organization in a city. Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom, Denise Gonick. She got me interested in a health career. Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? I'd say, if you find something you're interested in, stick with it. Some people put it to the side. Olivia Lawrence Age: 17 | Hometown: Malta Where do you see yourself in five years? Just finishing college, maybe pre-med. I'm going to explore my options. Who do you consider your greatest role model? Probably my middle school English teacher. She is super happy and always upbeat. I like how strong she is. Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Just to be a leader, especially in high school. Just stay with what you believe in. See More Collapse

Age: 16 | Hometown: Niskayuna

Swim-a-thon fundraiser for Crandall Foundation to help those with cystic fibrosis, YWCA-NENY volunteer

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll be a senior in college. Hopefully I'll be successful, have a couple of internships. I'd like to go into political science, do something with foreign relations.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom; she's always been into politics. She's a really big role model.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Do what you love doing.

Angel Warner

Age: 19 | Hometown: Northville

Founder, Shelters' Wings, which collects and donates items needed by women and children living in local shelters; anti-human trafficking activist

Where do you see yourself in five years? I will have just graduated college. Hopefully I'll be a prosecuting attorney.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My cousin, Heidi Gifford, who's an attorney in Gloversville. She's always been able to answer my questions about law.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Find something you love to do. That's how I started my charity, Shelters' Wings, which donates to shelters.

Jayme Laing

Age: 16 | Hometown: Schenectady

Anti-bullying activist and youth mental-health advocate

Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully graduating with a degree. I'd like to go into pediatric nursing, maybe.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? Probably my older brother, Andrew. We kind of grew up quickly; he's been pretty helpful.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Not to get distracted by your pet peeves.

Libby Ashe

Age: 17 | Hometown: Gloversville

Member of Fulton County Pie Girls, which bakes and sells pies to benefit local charities, and animal rescue volunteer.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Working somewhere in the medical field. I just like helping people.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My dad. He's determined in everything he does.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Never give up, and always shoot for your dreams.

Kimberly Murray

Age: 16 | Hometown: Colonie

President, Colonie High School iCARE initiative, the school's largest student-to-community volunteer group

Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully doing something in physical education. It's a lot of fun working with kids.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? I have a couple. My mom, who I connect with on a more personal level. Also, Mr. (Tom) Kachadurian, the associate principal of South Colonie High School. I want to be a principal like him.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Balance!

Kate Horan

Age: 16 | Hometown: Clifton Park

Volunteer for Capital District Women's Employment & Resource Center (WERC), a not-for-profit working to "advance women's success in the workplace by building their economic and personal independence."

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself either graduating college or applying to a masters program to study applied mathematics. My dream job is to work for a consulting firm.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mother; she has my back for everything. She's a friend to me. She's always motivating me to do volunteer work.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Do the absolutely best to work to make other people happy. That makes me happy inside.Katie Farman

Age: 18 | Hometown: Slingerlands

Advocate for the disabled, past president of Best Buddies at Bethlehem Central High School

Where do you see yourself in five years? Graduating from the University of Rhode Island, and being in an accelerated program to become a nurse.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My sister, who has Down syndrome. She motivates me so much; she's so strong. My mom is also a huge role model. She's the most hardworking person I know.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Don't be afraid to reach outside the box. Be as much of a leader as possible.

LeAsia Royall

Age: 17 | Hometown: Albany

Capital District YMCA Youth in Government Youth District Vice-Chair and service learning project coordinator

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll be 22 then, so I see myself just graduating. I'd like to do AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps before I go to law school.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? There are two strong people: Drew Caldwell (director of youth development at the Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Inc), who I met through Youth in Government. He did AmeriCorps, and we share similar experiences. Then, Donovan is my advisor for Youth in Government. He's so sweet.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Smile big in your pictures. Work the hardest you can.

Jenesha Robert

Age: 18 | Hometown: Schenectady

Volunteer for Schenectady YMCA Black and Latino Achievers, and Youth and Government programs

Where do you see yourself in five years: In five years I will be in my first year of law school however, my goals will remain the same. I hope to build a platform where I can help people work hard in whatever they aspire to be or do and most imortantly learn the value of believing in themselves. I want to be the role model that I wish I had to other young women.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom; she showed me hard work really pays off.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Follow your passion and make sure you find something you enjoy doing. Take your own path.

Ava Grande

Age: 17 | Hometown: Greenfield

Volunteer leader, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival; barefoot-living advocate

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll have just graduated college ... I'm really drawn to the social sciences.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom, 100 percent. She's come really far, and has shown me more wisdom and guidance than I ever deserved. She's my biggest inspiration.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Just don't be afraid to stand up and take chances.Amanda Ennis

Age: 17 | Hometown: Greenwich

Volunteer for Nipper Knolls Equine Center for children with physical and neurodevelopment disabilities

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'm going to graduate school to get my Ph.D.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? Both of my parents; both have taught me so much.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? It's important to work hard. It's important for focus on what you enjoy.

Nyra Alexander

Age: 19 | Hometown: Albany

Volunteer for Tour de Cure Saratoga, the Albany Tulip Festival and Capital City Rescue Mission

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll have graduated law school, either in corporate or family law. My mom works at family court.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom, she raised my brother and me by herself.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Stay true to yourself, and know all your goals.

Arielle King

Age: 19 | Hometown: Albany

Community advocate and volunteer for, among others, the Council for Equity and Inclusion and Capital District YMCA

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I'll have my law degree. I want to work for the Environmental Protection Agency or the United Nations, contributing to regulate climate change and injustice.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom. She has been this strong human being in my life. She's a go-getter.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Don't let anyone or anything stop you.

Rachel Rankin

Age: 16 | Hometown: Scotia

Student director, GIVE Buddies program at Scotia-Glenville High School, which offers peer-to-peer support for students with disabilities

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'd like to be working as an executive assistant. I still want to help, but behind the scenes.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My family is filled with them! All my female relatives are strong and independent.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Don't be afraid to try your best. It's like "extra" is the word when people try too hard. Don't be afraid to do that.

Alexis Gotham

Age: 16 | Hometown: Ballston Spa

Founder, Keep Kids Klean, which provides cloth diapers to the Haitian Christian Mission

Where do you see yourself in five years? Probably working in a hospital as a nurse practitioner in the ICU with children.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom, she influences my life.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? No matter how hard your project is, you can achieve it. That's how I started Keep Kids Klean.

Eva Castagna

Age: 17 | Hometown: Delmar

Aspiring scientific researcher, volunteer for Green Drakkoman Foundation, which raises funds for those affected by childhood cancer

Where do you see yourself in five years? I'll be in college. I'm not quite sure what for; the sciences. I'm intrigued by stem cells.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My aunt  she seems to have her life under control!

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Explore different areas, especially before college, because you might have a passion you didn't know about.

Xavia Francis

Age: 17 | Hometown: Albany

Photographer, founder of Captured by Xavia Cimone, and community volunteer who trains her lens on social issues such as poverty and homelessness

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I'll be graduating college. By then, I'll have developed my photography business, Captured by Xavia Cimone. (Instagram @captured_by_xaviacimone)

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom. She really pushes me to be the best I can. She tells me, "Follow in my footsteps."

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Tell them that what they need to do is just keep doing what they like. They are already part of this program, so they achieve a lot.

Annabel O'Neill

Age: 19 | Hometown: Philmont

Sustainable living advocate, founder livinglifefruitfully.com

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself starting a sustainable business as well as running retreats. I'm a Forest Therapy Guide; that's been life-changing.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My mom; She's super entrepreneurial and always supported me in what I wanted to do.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Just pursue what you're interested in and not to do what's "normal." There are so many paths to choose. The technology that's developed has informed my ability to start Living Life Fruitfully.

Michelle Merritt

Age: 18 | Hometown: Troy

National president, Venuturing, an inclusive youth-development program of the Boy Scouts of America

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to have graduated in engineering, and either be completing or working on an MBA.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? My parents for supporting me in scouting and science and technology.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Probably to pursue what you're passionate about. I've gone with those  mine are scouting and STEM. Don't let anyone get in your way.

Stephanie Fortune

Age: 17 | Hometown: Saratoga Springs

Creator of early learning reading program in partnership with the Mechanicville Community center for Pre-K students

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to be a civil engineer, developing water systems. During our February break we did a missions trip to Nicaragua where we helped with their water.

Who do you consider your greatest role model? St. Teresa, for all of the work she'd done in Calcutta.

Advice for the future 20 Under 20 classes? Find something you're really passionate about. It really drives you.
WITH TWO CRITICAL INTERCEPTIONS MARCUS PETERS IS CERTAINLY THE MVP OF THIS GAME!!!









ESPN:

Chiefs overwhelm turnover-prone Chargers as luck runs ou

KANSAS CITY RESIDENTS CONFRONT DANGEROUS STREETS TONIGHT WITH DRUNKEN CHIEFS FANS CELEBRATING THE COMEBACK OF THEIR TEAM!!!

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the L.A. Chargers in a game that keeps them atop the AFC West and back on track to the playoffs.The 30-13 final score reflects pretty much total domination of the L.A. team but here's the big takeaway . . .Credit where it's due,that wasn't pretty but still effective . . .Check the links:And now . . .As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe & fun Saturday night . . .
Honorary consuls are essentially volunteer diplomats. "You're representing the country and promoting the country when possible," Lebert Shultz told KCUR's Central Standard guest-host Brian Ellison. Shultz is the honorary consul of South Africa to Kansas and Missouri. Born in New York, he moved to the Midwest in 1960.
Family remembers teen killed - KSHB.COM KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Dozens of people brought balloons to a Raytown park Saturday afternoon to remember a teen killed earlier this week. Alexis Mitchell, 16, was shot at an apartment complex near 79th and Manchester in Kansas City Wednesday night. She later died of her injuries.

The latest hope for peace over the weekend as Kansas City copes with one of the most violence years in a generation.Take a look:
Greece's Culture Ministry announced that for the fifth consecutive year, investigations were carried out as part of the Lechaion Harbor Project. Between October and November 2017, excavations and digital footprints were carried out on the two-port remnants of the external port (L-M1 and L-M2). A detailed surface cleaning and excavation was also carried out for the first time in the remains of the building that dominates the center of Harbor Basin 3.

The Lechaion Harbor Project is a collaboration between the Ephorate of Elders of Antiquities and the Institute of Denmark in Athens to study and highlight the ancient port of Corinth at Lechaio. The port played a key role in the long historical development of the city of ancient Corinth. Located about 3 kilometers from the ancient city and facing the west, it was undoubtedly the most important medium of growth during the different periods of the peak of Corinth. In 146 BC. he suffered serious destruction by the Roman general Mammius, but soon he re-emerged from 44 BC. in the context of the re-establishment of Corinth as Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis was once again used as a port.

The investigations are conducted under the direction of the Hellenic Federation of Scientists, D. Kourkoumeli (Ephorate of Old Antiquities) and Dr. B. Lonn (SACHO-Institute, University of Copenhagen) funded by the Augustinus Foundation and the Carlsberg Foundation. The most important results of this year's research period are the following:

Inland Harbor: Excavation was carried out east of the monumental structure in the middle of Harbor 3 (Harbor Basin 3). The building has dimensions 9m x 9m, it consists of rectangular structures bearing traces of tumulus and is saved at the height of four structures. During the excavation, ceramics and other finds dating from the 1st to the 6th century AD were found.

Organic residues and pieces of processed wood were also found which are preserved in excellent condition due to the anoxic conditions of the bottom of the harbor. Through the analysis of the organic DNA of organic residues it will be possible to reconstitute the flora and fauna of the Lechaeum region during the various phases of antiquity. Respective findings are also expected in the future in the Harbor Basin 3 area. Although its use remains unclear at present, the detached fragments found in the incision in conjunction with the findings indicate that the building was probably destroyed by an earthquake between 50-125 AD. and suffered further damage during the earthquake of the 6th century AD.

External port: Excavations were made east of Molos 1 (L-M1) and west of Molos 2 (L-M2). The purpose of the excavations was to reveal the foundations of the Moles and to detail their remnants (Fig. 6). The Moles are preserved at a height of 4 blocks and are built in stages. In particular, Molos 2 L-M2 seems to be seated on a layer of pebbles placed on the sandy bottom at a depth of approximately 3.5 m from the current surface of the sea (Fig. 7, 8). Molos 1 (L-M1) has been discovered in a length of 45 meters and a width of about 18 meters. It is rested at a height of 4 meters and is made of large structures measuring 2.5 x 0.9 x 0.8 meters. On Mole 1 (L-M1) the remnants of a square floor building were found with dimensions of approximately 12 m x 12 m, which probably constituted the foundations of another building (probably fortification tower or lighthouse).

At the same time, extensive samples of sedimentary cores and three-dimensional aerial representations were carried out, focusing mainly on the inland port harbors. The purpose of the investigations was to study the stratigraphy and geomorphology of the harbors and the canals that connected them in order to reconstruct the paleogeography of the area. The preliminary study of drilling results indicates the existence of a further 40,000 square meter port (L-M1 and L-M2) of approximately 40,000 square meters (L-M1 and L-M2) and provides data through sediment dating the confirmation of the use of port 1 during the Roman period (mid-1st century AD).

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: culture.gr
The book is entitled 52 Weeks in Greece and it is a collection of photographs which has been conceived as a sort of visual calendar which covers a whole year around the country

The most stunning views of Greece are presented in a book by Miltos Kourmpoglou, an independent proposal that has sold hundreds of copies.

The book is entitled 52 Weeks in Greece and it is a collection of photographs which has been conceived as a sort of visual calendar which covers a whole year around the country. As days go by, images portray changes in seasons, in colors and in the mood of the inhabitants, greekreporter.com notes

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Tilemahos Efthimiadis License: CC-BY-SA
Occasional strikes and protests do occur in Greece but, overall, the country continues to boast one of the highest safety and security records worldwide

Greek farmers convened with their tractors in central region of Tyrnavos, on Saturday where they announced more protest actions against the government's pension and tax reforms.

Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA), the head of the Larisa farming association federation Rizos Maroudas noted today's protest "send the government the message that it will find us against it."

Farmers will meet again in Larisa on Sunday to decide on further action for the remaining year.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Chartered surveyors are undertaking the difficult task of adjusting the property rates used for taxation purposes (known as objective values) for 2018.

According to an amendment tabled on Friday in Greek Parliament, a one-off special process will be employed next year, with 13,000 zone values to be proposed to the finance minister by special surveyors who will be assigned to the project through a tender process. The new values will have to be delivered to the ministry by early March.

Still, the certified property surveyors of the ministry consider it improbable that the deadline will be met. A market professional poignantly warned, We will have to hire everyone who speaks Greek for assessments to be made in time.

Thomas Ziogas, the president of the Greek branch of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS Hellas), told Greek Kathimerini newspaper that due to the way the process has been structured, the quality of the assessments will not be safeguarded, given the absence of an entity with deep knowledge of the subject to observe the quality of the work produced. Practically, surveyors are being asked to assess zone values based on theoretical assumptions.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Lemur12 License: CC-BY-SA
Three months after Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving, officials have announced that Saudi women will now be able to drive trucks and motorcycles, a report said.



The announcement was made by the Saudi General Department of Traffic (GDT) on Friday stating that women will be allowed to drive trucks once the required conditions and guidelines have been met; now in force for males only, sadi a report in Al Arabiya.



"Saudi women will also be allowed to drive motorcycles as per the royal decree announced in September, which comes into effect in June 2018."



Saudi Arabia allowed women to drive in September 2017 as per a royal decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, which will take effect from June 2018, the report said.



During the preparatory period until June 2018, the relevant agencies in the kingdom have been instructed to make all the necessary changes to the current rules and regulations to implement the order, including developing the infrastructure and institutional capacity, such as expanded licensing facilities and driver education programmess, to accommodate millions of new drivers.


Russia and Egypt have signed a protocol on cooperation in maintaining civil aviation security, a media report said.



The agreement was signed by Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov and Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi, reported Tass, citing the Russian Transport Ministrys press-service.



Earlier, Sokolov explained that it would be possible to resume air links only after the Russian president signed a corresponding decree, the report said.








Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

Three Panjab University (PU) students were held for teasing another student near a girls hostel on the PU campus.

The victim had complained that three youths, riding an Alto car, passed comments about her near Sarojini Hall Girls Hostel No. 3 on last evening.

The victim reported the matter to the police. Later, the accused, identified as Bhuvnesh and Lalit Sodhi, both residents of Phase X, Mohali, and Ishan Goyal, a resident of Malerkotla, were arrested. Inspector Lakhbir Singh, SHO, Sector 11 police station, said all accused are MBA students. The car, which the accused were riding, has also been impounded, the SHO said.

A case under Sections 294 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the youths at the Sector 11 police station.
Aman Sood/Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 17

The home city of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh witnessed one of the ugliest scenes on the day when the voters were democratically electing their councillors for the Patiala Municipal Corporation here today.

Right from hurling verbal abuses to openly threatening, forcibly throwing candidates and polling agents out of polling booths and clashes, the MC poll saw it all today.

While all this was happening, the police and district administration either chose to be mute spectators or were seen helping Congress candidates. Even mediapersons, including a female journalist of a local channel, were not spared when they tried to capture booth rigging incidents. They were not only assaulted but their mobile phones and cameras were also taken away.

The biggest sufferers were the silent common voters. Many of them were not even allowed to cast their votes on one pretext or other. Interestingly, many voters had to return without casting votes as their votes were already cast.

The polling started amid a large presence of security personnel and tense atmosphere as the voters were expecting violence and clash incidents keeping the previous three elections of 2002, 2007 and 2012 in mind.

However, there were reports of bogus voting in a few wards from the beginning of polling and eventually, it led to clashes between the rivals. Congress leaders, including a few MLAs and their heavily protected family members, were seen moving around various wards and reportedly pressurising police officials and SAD-BJP candidates. In many wards, AAP leaders and their supporters were asked to leave their booths, set up outside the polling stations.

Amrinder Singh Bazaz, who was the Mayor in the last term, was attacked by some Congress workers and his turban was tossed in the scuffle. He said the police and administration played into the hands of the Congress and its workers had no fear of law. They were openly threatening us to leave the polling station or face the consequences. When I refused, they abused my family members and attacked me, he added.

It was the time to pay back to the Akalis in the same manner what they did in 2007 and 2012. Now, they staging protests and alleging booth capturing. Perhaps they forgot how they attacked us during the last two MC elections, said Congress workers present outside a polling station in Ward No. 14.

Polling amid violencen

A clash was witnessed in Ward No 14 between Congress and Akalis workers as the former were reportedly getting bogus votes cast. The Congress workers openly waved swords and sticks. Police personnel did not even allow mediapersons to enter the booths.

Troublemakers also assaulted mediapersons, including a female journalist, and took away their cameras as well as cell phones because they were trying to make videos and click pictures of the booth rigging.

Another clash took place in Ward No. 20 where the police resorted to lathicharge.

Akali candidate Rajinder VIrk alleged that the police openly supported the Congress candidate and lathicharged Akali workers. Rajinders mother Balwinder Kaur, who was also contesting as an Independent from the same ward, was injured. Besides, his father Gian Singh, Harwinder Kaur and others were also injured in the clash. They were admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital.

In Ward No. 49, Congress workers reportedly threw AAP polling agents out of booths and assaulted them. They even smashed their tables and brought down their polling booths.

SAD alleges booth capturing

SAD candidates staged protests in various wards, alleging booth capturing. After initial hours, most of them left their wards and boycotted the elections. They, later, gathered at the YPS roundabout where senior leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra led the protest and raised slogans against the Punjab government. They also protested outside Deputy Commissioners office and demanded the cancellation of elections.

Congress sweeps poll
Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 17

The Mohali police have seized diamond-studded gold jewellery worth Rs 4.71 crore from a Mumbai resident at Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali. The suspect has been identified as Munish Bandi, who landed here in a Hyderabad-Chandigarh flight. The jewellery, kept in three boxes, was hidden in a bag. Officers failed to detect the jewellery at the Delhi and Hyderabad airports.

Inspector HS Bal, station house officer of the Airport police station, said Bandi could not produce the documents required with the jewellery items. He told us that he was intending to hold an exhibition in Chandigarh. He could not produce the required documents, following which we also called up the officials of the Excise and Taxation Department, said Bal, adding that the flight also landed in Delhi on the way to Chandigarh.

He added that they had a tip-off about the suspect.

The confiscated jewellery has been handed over to the officials of the Excise and Taxation Department for further action.

The seizure
Panchkula, December 17

The Society for Emergency Medicine India (SEMI), Punjab chapter, organised a continuing medical education (CME) programme at Bella Vista Hotel in Panchkula today. The topic of the CME was Point of Care Test.

SEMI Punjab president Dr Goma Bali Bajaj welcomed the chief guest, Major-Gen Rashmi Datta, Commandant of Command Hospital.

She said events would be regularly organised to educate doctors on latest research in emergency medicine.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 16

Military veterans and prominent citizens of the tricity attended the lecture, Military Force and Diplomacy in Managing Indias External Security, by Dr TCA Raghavan, Indias former High Commissioner to Pakistan and Singapore, at Panchkula, today. The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), Panchkula, had organised the event.

It was discussed during the lecture that the military and diplomacy were the two essential tools in the armour of any state for safeguarding nation against external threats. Ideally, the military and diplomacy must be applied in concert.

Raghvan said maintaining relationship among all neighbouring countries was difficult and if they looked at the India-Pakistan relationship from the South Korean point of view, then it was all right though not great.

He added that just like Iran couldn't insulate itself from Syria, whatever was happening in Pakistan was important to them.

Raghvan further said, There is no perfect solution to the India-Pakistan problem. We will have to live with it.

According to Brig Kiran Krishan (retd), convenor of the IESM, no institutional mechanism existed for the military men and diplomats, sitting together and setting viable national security aims together. Both appear to be working in silos. India deserves better, he said.

Military Veterans pointed out that India was found wanting in diplomacy and flexing military muscle without adequate understanding in 1962 and lost its standing in the world. In 1971, the Indian leadership and diplomats were nimble in the run up to the December 1971 war and were able to convince the world of the Pakistans duplicity and atrocities in the then East Pakistan.
IN order to encourage digital transactions, the government will subsidise for two years the cost incurred in the usage of debit cards for small transactions up to Rs 2,000. It will cost about Rs 2,500 crore to the exchequer; the money will be ultimately paid by taxpayers, mostly holding more than one debit card. This raises two questions  is the incentive enough to popularise debit cards in just two years? And, what will happen when the government withdraws the subsidy? The subsidy-conscious government  which has forced Aadhaar on the entire population to pare subsidies  is expected to do its homework. Else, another subsidy would be added to the list of fuel, food and fertiliser subsidies.

Subsidies are not a long-term solution and may not be enough to encourage greater use of plastic cards. The Cabinet justified its move on the grounds that merchants do not entertain debit cards because they dont want to pay the resultant transaction charge. But, before treating the symptom, the government needs to understand the disease. There is one universal business principle in a free market economy  profit. Businessmen know how to make profit even if it gets paid through a debit card. Petrol pumps not only happily accept plastic cards, but also reverse the transaction charges paid by customers. Then, what is the problem with other retailers? The answer: fear of the taxman. For most common Indians, the taxation system is intimidating, uncertain and runs on the principle of search and seizure. Small retailers, currently exempted from all tax liabilities, do not want to take any chance by leaving their business footprints on digital systems for the taxman. They have seen the government frequently moving the goalposts. They dont want to voluntarily become a part of the formal economy.

The other intriguing point is the increasing costs of online or electronic banking transactions. There is no charge for physically depositing or withdrawing money. But, all faceless electronic transactions are charged. Why? The government wont have to dole out the Rs 2,500 crore in subsidy if it makes the effort to know the answer.
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 17

Over 25 BJP and INLD leaders left their respective parties today and announced to join the Congress in presence of three-time Congress Lok Sabha MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda here.

The leaders who joined the Congress along with their supporters include Virender Singh Ghogaria, chairman of the Market Committee, Uchana; Inder Singh, ex-serviceman and director, Land Development Bank; Sadhu Ram Sheokand; Sunil Redhu, Surender Singh Balda; Ram Bhaj; Kuldeep Nain; Satyawan; Vikas; Jitender and Vishwas Bhura.

While some of the leaders have been staunch supporters of BJP leader and Union Steel Minister Birender Singh, others have remained associated with the INLD or its student wing INSO.

Welcoming the leaders and their supporters into the party fold, Deepender remarked that their decision indicated a no-trust sentiment prevailing against the BJP.

The BJP government has failed to perform even when a major part of its tenure is over in Haryana as well as at the Centre. People are disappointed with its functioning and are looking for an opportunity to give it a befitting reply, the MP maintained while interacting with mediapersons on the occasion.

The Congress leader asserted that the BJP government in Haryana had failed to bring any worthwhile project and investment from the private players to the state.

I question the BJP government in Haryana  What have they done for the state? Have they brought any development project to the state during their tenure? Any national highway, railway line, Metro rail project, power plant or university? said Deepender.

On being questioned about the ongoing chintan shivir of the state government, Deepender said it was chinta shivir, as the state government had remained a non-performer and was anxious about facing people.
Panipat, December 17

Hisar MP Dusyant Chautala has expressed dissatisfaction over the data released by the Haryana Backward Class Commission (HBCC). He termed the data as misleading at a public meeting in Ganjbar village of Panipat district on Sunday.

He said that the state government had failed to fulfil its promises and the law and order situation was deteriorating with each passing day.

He criticised the governments demonetisation move and said it had increased unemployment. Dushyant said the INLD would increase pension to 2,500; waive domestic power bill by half and completely waive of electricity bills of tubewells after to coming to power in the state.TNS
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

The caste data of government employees released by the Haryana Backward Classes Commission (HBCC) may block the possibility of reservation to Jats and five other castes  Jat Sikhs, Mullah Jats, Rors, Bishnois and Tyagis.

The data reveal that Jats occupy 28.28 per cent of state government jobs against their population share of 25 per cent. While the numbers have put Jats on defensive, it has provided ammunition to those favouring quota for non-Jats in the state.

Talking to The Tribune today, Saini said the state government should make public the figures of Census 2011 pertaining to caste-wise population of the state kept under wraps by the previous Congress government.

The claims that Jats constitute 25 per cent of the population are false. Let the Census 2011 data be made public and all castes be provided reservation in jobs as per their share in population. If any caste has already cornered more jobs than its population, ban should be imposed on its entry to jobs till the backlog of the others is completed, said Saini.

Social analysts believe that caste data will have political overtones and with elections due in May 2019, this may well become a poll issue.

The parties practicing Jat politics will have a lot of explaining to do while seeking votes from other castes in the upcoming polls.

It is no secret that the BJP government was not initially inclined to provide reservation to Jats and five other castes, which the previous Hooda government had provided by placing them in the Special Backward Classes category just before the 2014 Assembly poll.

It was only after violent agitation by Jats in February last year that the BJP government passed a Bill, listing the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim Jats, Bishnois, Tyagis, and Rors in the freshly engraved Backward Classes (C) category, which is yet to clear legal scrutiny.

Sources said that the BJP won only 19 per cent of the Jat vote in the 2014 general elections and only 17 per cent in the state Assembly elections.

The consolidation of non-Jat votes was a factor in the BJPs electoral victory and the present caste data of government employees is likely to help it to unite non-Jats again for poll benefits.

Case sought against Hooda over fake quota survey

Chandigarh: The Loktantra Suraksha Manch, an organisation opposed to Jat reservation, on Sunday demanded registration of an FIR against former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and members of his Cabinet for giving quota to Jats on the basis of a fake survey. Prajapati Hanuman Verma, general secretary of the manch, said the Central government should immediately dismiss the services of 24,000 persons who got jobs on the basis of the quota under Special Backward Classes. Jat leader Yashpal Malik has claimed on several occasions that 24,000 Jats were given Central jobs after the implementation of the SBC quota, said Verma. He alleged Hooda gave jobs to his own men in the name of reservation under the SBC category. He said that the state government should order an inquiry into it. As per the caste data of state government employees, the share of Jats in Class-I jobs is 24.48 per cent, Class-II 30.22 per cent, Class-III 31.08 per cent and in Class-IV 14.12 per cent, which is much more than their population. He said the claim that Jats were 25 per cent of the total population was erroneous. If true figure was brought to the fore, they would not be more than 15 per cent of the total population.  TNS
Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, December 16

Horned grebe or Slavonian grebe, a migratory bird from Central Asia and Europe, has been spotted for the first time in the water bodies at Dighal village in the district.

Rakesh Ahlawat, a local bird watcher, spotted the bird first. It was a pleasant surprise to see a horned grebe swimming in a waterlogged field. I immediately clicked its photos and shared the information with Jhajjar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunder Sambharya, who is also a keen bird watcher, said Ahlawat.

He added that six horned grebes had so far been spotted in the village.

Bird watchers from Delhi and other parts of the state are likely to visit Dighal in the coming days to see this winged guest, said Satish Kumar, another bird watcher.

The DFO said migratory horned grebe had so far been reported only at a few places in India. The bird had been spotted for the first time in Haryana and in the National Capital Region, he claimed.

Dighal and its nearby villages are developing into a favourite destination for these winged guests due to waterlogged fields, good habitat for breeding and availability of plenty of food. Thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, Russia, Europe, Afghanistan, China and other countries have so far arrived in these villages, said the DFO.

The Dighal region should be developed as a national park as it fulfils all requirements and parameters needed for a national park and villagers will also find a source of income, he added.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 17

With just a day left for the declaration of results of the state Assembly elections now, most of the leaders have returned to their home towns. Buoyed by exit polls, BJP leaders and their supporters are making preparations for celebrations tomorrow, while the mood in the Congress camp was sombre.

In the Congress camp, only the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Transport and Technical Education, GS Bali, seemed to be confident of his victory. Bali arrived at Kangra today. His supporters have already prepared for election victory. Sources here said booking had been made for organising a rally at Nagrota Bagwan and feast for supporters to mark the victory of the Congress leader.

While talking to mediapersons at Gaggal airport, Bali said he would respect the verdict of the people, but was confident of his victory. Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader Viplove Thakur, who contested as party candidate from Dehra, also arrived from Delhi today.

Other Congress leaders remained huddled with their supporters keeping their fingers crossed. The Minister for Urban Development also arrived at Dharamsala today and held a meeting with his supporters at the office of Rubru, an NGO being run under his patronage.

BJP leader Kishan Kapoor held a meeting of his supporters at his residence in Dharamsala. His supporters are confident of his victory.

Many of the BJP leaders like Rakesh Pathania went to Gujarat to campaign for the party and also to create the ground for their induction in the Cabinet in case they were elected and the party was voted to power. Former CM Shanta Kumar would not be in Kangra district tomorrow, sources said. He was in Delhi to attend the winter session of Parliament. The results of the Palampur Assembly constituency are going to evoke interest of people as Indu Goswami, president of the mahila wing of the state BJP, was contesting there. She was considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and got the party ticket against the wishes of Shanta Kumar. Shanta loyalist and former BJP MLA Parveen Sharma was contesting from Palampur as an Independent.

The other Assembly election that is going to invoke interest of people is Dehra where an industrialist Hoshiar Singh was contesting as an Independent and was giving a tough fight to senior BJP leader Ravinder Ravi and Viplove Thakur of the Congress.
Amin Masoodi

Kupwara December 17

A civilian was killed when the Army allegedly fired at him during an ambush laid down last night to trap militants in a remote village of Kupwara district, the police said.

However, the Army said the victim identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, 22, a resident of Thandipora village, was killed in the cross-firing between soldiers and militants, a claim refuted by locals. Following fierce clashes in the village that left at least eight policemen, including Kupwara Superintendent of Police injured, the police registered a case and took up the investigation, a police official said. The authorities suspended internet services in a few major towns of the district to prevent protests from spreading further. The family alleged that the Army killed Asif, a driver by profession, in cold blood. According to them, the slain left home around 10.20 pm after a local resident of adjoining Batpora village requested Asifs father on phone to send him with a vehicle to pick him up from there.

He left home and after just a few minutes we heard a volley of gun shots. The neighbours rushed outside along with us. We spotted Asif lying in a pool of blood on the ground around 50 yards away from the spot where he used to park his vehicle, said Raja Begum, mother of the slain. He could not speak due to a few bullet wounds, including one on his head. We shifted him to hospital but he breathed his last on the way, she added. Following the registration of a police case, villagers held his funeral. In a statement, the Army said the civilian was killed in the cross-firing. The Army had placed ambushes to maintain surveillance over the area. At 22:55 pm, an ambush party observed suspicious movement of three persons near a nullah. The individuals were challenged by troops, but they did not respond, the Srinagar-based defence spokesman said.

Thereafter, terrorists opened fire at the Army ambush party which was retaliated. In the crossfire, Asif Iqbal Bhat was killed due to a gunshot wound, he added. An FIR has been lodged in Kralpora police station and investigations taken up. The police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the J&K Government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of a civilian during an exchange of fire between Army personnel and militants in the Kupwara district on Sunday.
Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 17

After remaining in slumber despite directions from the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry for effective vigilance and monitoring of the poorly implemented mid-day meal scheme, the state School Education Department has finally rolled out the Automated Reporting and Management System (ARMS) portal.

The portal is a joint initiative of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, Department of Elementary Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Himachal Pradesh.

The initiative has been taken by the state government after the Central ministry had expressed concern over the lack of data in different aspects like total enrolment of students under the scheme in government schools, number of children being served the meal, number of schools lacking kitchen-cum-stores and cook-cum-helpers, unavailability of utensils, etc. However, the major thrust will be on collection of data regarding serving of meals to children.

Under the new system, the data collected by the Education Department will be put on the national portal. The principals, headmasters and teachers in charge at the school level can send the data on a daily basis regarding the number of children being served the meal in schools.

For this purpose, there will be a nodal officer as a state master at the divisional level, district master at district level and block master at zonal level to manage the affairs.

The block masters will identify the schools which have not sent data through SMS and will take necessary action if the school has not served meals to the students and report to the district master immediately.
Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 17

The Congress party on Sunday made a clean sweep in all municipal council (MC) elections in Sahnewal, Mullanpur-Dakha, Machhiwara and a Nagar Panchayat (NP) in Maloud by winning 45 of the 54 seats for which the results were declared in the evening.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won four seats, its alliance BJP won three, besides two independent candidates also registered win in the MC/NP elections. The Aam Aadmi Party candidates, however, who were contesting from 11 wards in Mullanpur-Dakha, 11 wards in Machhiwara and one ward of Malaudh, could not win any seat.

Additional District Election Officer-cum-ADC (Development) Surabhi Malik said a total of 74.52 per cent polling was recorded in the district. The elections were held at 68 polling stations for 52 wards of three MCs and one NP in the district today, while candidates at two wards of NP Maloud have been elected unopposed.

The Congress has won all 13 seats of the Municipal Council Mullanpur-Dakha, where lowest polling was registered in the district. The polling percentage was recorded at 71.75 here. A total of 9,748 residents (5,385 males and 4,363 females) cast their vote here. As many as 92 voters used NOTA here.

Meanwhile, SAD and AAP leaders levelled allegations of booth capturing and bogus voting against the Congressmen at various booths. However, Congress leaders denied such allegations.

Out of 15 wards in MC Machhiwara, Congress won from 12 wards, SAD, BJP and Independent won one seat each here. According to the information, 75.60 per cent polling was recorded at Machhiwara, wherein 11,984 voters (6,390 males and 5,594 females) cast their votes. The highest polling percentage (86.35%) was registered in Malaudh, wherein 3,878 residents (2,012 males and 1,866 female) used their right to vote. The Congress has won from eight out of 11 wards of NP Maloud. SAD, BJP won one seat each here, while one seat was won by an independent candidate. Of the 15 wards of MC Sahnewal, the Congress won in 12 wards, while SAD won in two wards and BJP in one ward. The polling was recorded 72.43 per cent here. A total of 11,354 voters (6,046 males and 5,308 females) cast their vote.

SAD MLA from Sahnewal, Sharanjit Dhillon said it was an unfair election as Congressmen illegally entered some booths. He said: Our supporters were not being allowed to cast their vote. District Electoral officer-cum-DC Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said the elections were held peacefully in a fair manner. He said he had not received any complaint of booth capturing.

Minor clashes witnessed in Mullanpur Dakha

Minor clashed were witnessed at Ward Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 13. SAD-BJP alliance candidate from Ward 6 Balbir Chands mother Asha Devi got injured after being allegedly manhandled by Congress leader Karan Waring. Alliance candidate from Ward 7 Poonam Mattu and SAD district president (urban) Baljit Chatwal also alleged of being manhandled by the Congressmen.

Cong all the way in Mullanpur

Jagraon: Amid reports of clashes between the Congress and SAD-BJP supporters and allegations of bogus voting and booth capturing by the ruling party, the Congress party swept Mullanpur Dakha Nagar Panchayat elections held on Sunday. Congress candidates emerged victorious in all 13 wards of Mullanpur-Dakha Nagar Panchayat. The main contest was between the ruling Congress party, main Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and SAD-BJP alliance. The poll percentage in Mullanpur Dakha Nagar Panchayat elections was recorded at 71.75 % with 9,748 voters, including 5,385 males and 4,363 females out of total 13,586 voters exercising their right to vote. Jaswant Shetra

Wins 12 seats in Machhiwara

Machhiwara Sahib: The Congress party swept the Nagar Council Machiwara poll by winning 12 out of 15 seats, while faction-ridden Akali Dal and BJP managed to get only 1 seat each. One seat was won by an Independent candidate.There were 15,852 voters (8,380 men and 7,452 women) in Machhiwara Municipal Council election of which 75.60 % voting was recorded. Main candidates of Akali Dal stayed away from contesting elections allegedly due to infighting between Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia. AAP had also put candidates on all 15 seats, but could not get any seat. The voting passed peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Gurminder Singh Grewal

Its 12 out of 15 in Sahnewal

Sahnewal: Out of the total 15 wards of the Municipal Council in Sahnewal, the Congress party won on 12 seats, while the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine got three seats only. Out of a total 15,675 voters, 11,345 people exercised their franchise on Sunday in the Municipal Council elections. The percentage of voting recorded at Sahnewal was 72.38 per cent till 4 pm. Lovleen Bains

Grabs 8 of 11 seats in Malaudh

Malaudh: Grabbing eight out of 11 seats, the Congress party swept the civic body elections held for the Nagar Panchayat in Malaudh under tight security today. Barring some incidents of mild arguments between the supporters of the Congress and SAD candidates, polling passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported till evening.As many as 3,878 ( 2,012 males, 1,866 females ) of total 4,491 voters (86.35 %) used their right to vote for the first time through EVMs in the civic body elections.Congress legislator Lakhvir Singh Lakha Payal, former legislator and SAD leader Isher Singh Meharban and AAP leader Gurpreet Singh Lapran remained busy in boosting candidates launched by their respective parties. Mahesh Sharma

Sheer murder of democracy: Phoolka

AAP MLA HS Phoolka criticised both Congress and SAD-BJP alliance saying that both parties act similarly when in power. The Congress is doing what SAD-BJP alliance used to do while being in power. By indulging in bogus voting and booth capturing, the Congress has surpassed SAD-BJP alliance. It is sheer murder of democracy and there is no meaning in conducting elections in such a way because the entire election process was nothing but just a drama, said Phoolka.

Seats won

Congress 45

SAD 4

BJP 3

Independent 2

AAP 0

Voting percentage in the dist 74.52

NP Malloud 86.35 %

MC Machhiwara 75.60 %

MC Sahnewal 72.43 %

MC Mullanpur-Dakha 71.75 %
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16

The second day of Machma Expo and IETSS  2017 International Exhibition on Machinery and Technology received an overwhelming response today.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking, welcomed chief guest MLA Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Chairman, Planning Board Ludhiana, Jagbir Singh Sokhi.

The dignitaries appreciated the efforts of CICU for organising the exhibition for boosting the national and international market. Various stalls displayed latest technologies developed by them.

More than 6,000 people visited the exhibition and booked orders worth over Rs50 crore.

Upkar Singh Ahuja signed the MOU with Saban Kucukzoroglu, vice-president of Turkish Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Turkey. The purpose was to create cooperation between the two countries for upgrade of the industry.
New Delhi, December 17

In a major development reported after decades of cross-border insurgency along Indias eastern frontier, the BSF has said that camps and hideouts of Indian insurgent groups (IIGs) across the countrys frontier on the Bangladeshi soil have been reduced to almost zero.

Border Security Force Director General KK Sharma said that this first-time achievement was the result of an excellent and positive cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries over the past few years.

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The BSFs counterpart in the neighbouring country is the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Whenever we have information about exodus or insurgents of the northeastern states in Bangladesh, we share the information and immediate raids are undertaken (by the BGB).

As a result, the number of training places and hideouts of these insurgents have been reduced to almost zero, the BSF DG said.

If there are some still existing, they are of a floating nature, Sharma said, indicating that no permanent camps of these banned terror and insurgent groups now exist on the Bangladeshi side.

I congratulate our counterparts (BGB), the DG said. The development is being seen as a major victory of the security forces over the insurgency and terrorism situation along the Bangladesh border in the northeast.

For the past so many years and decades, the BSF used to hand over a list of IIGs and terror groups to the BGB during the DG-level talks seeking action against them, a senior officer said requesting anonymity.

The numbers of these IIGs used to be 150-200 every time a list was handed over to the Bangladeshi side. That situation has now changed and the IIGs are now on the run, without being able to stay put at a place on the other side for long, the officer said.

Another official of the Indo-Bangla border guarding force explained the current situation. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, he said, like Khagrachari and Bandarban located opposite Tripura and Mizoram, did not had any habitation and domination from the BGB and the insurgent groups were using these locations for their anti-India activities.

With the consistent pursuance during the DG-level talks and at other levels, the BGB did some crackdown in these forests and the IIGs are now on run, the officer said.

The officer, quoting an official document, said the BGB had now made some arrangements to have their permanent camps in these areas. The official said the major IIGs operating in these areas were National Liberation Front of Tripura and Manipur valley groups like Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF).  PTI

Intel sharing the key

"Whenever we have information about exodus or insurgents of the northeastern states in Bangladesh, we share the information and immediate raids are undertaken (by Border Guard Bangladesh)" KK Sharma, BSF Director General
Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, December 17

Lucknow Police have detained the father and uncle of the prime accused in the murder of 30-year-old Vaibhav Tiwari, son of former BJP MLA Prem Prakash.

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Vaibhav was shot dead in a high-security zone on Saturday night.

Hazratganj Police have arrested the father and uncle of prime accused property dealer Suraj Shukla as after the murder, he had reportedly called his father informing him of the murder and instructing him to remove cash from the house.

The police are hunting for the other accused, Vikram Singh, who is the son of a policeman and had actually shot dead Vaibhav.

Interestingly, the murder has been captured in CCTV cameras in the VVIP area.

According to the police, Shukla had phoned Vaibhav around 9 pm on Saturday night, asking him to come to the Hazratganj crossing.

During the meeting, an argument started which turned hot and Shuklas history-sheeter friend Vikram drew a pistol and shot Vaibhav in the chest.

He was rushed to the Lohia Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Hearing of the murder in the high-security zone, top cops rushed to the hospital.

Seven police teams are combing the neighbouring districts as well as the deceaseds ancestral district of Siddhartha Nagar in search of the two accused, who have been named by the family in their FIR lodged at the Hazratganj police station.

Deceased Vaibhav Tiwari was a resident of Kasmanda Apartments, a stones throw from the Vidhan Sabha building. He was the gram pradhan of their ancestral village of Damwapur Jagatram in Domariaganj tehsil of Siddhartha Nagar district on the Nepal border.

The only son of the three-time former BJP MLA from Domariaganj, Prem Prakash, alias Jippy Tiwari, Vaibhav was into property business as well.

He lived in a flat with his wife, three-year-old daughter and ex-MLA father and mother Sandhya Tiwari who is member of the Block Development Council.

Lucknow Police have also sought help of the Special Task Force (STF) to work out the case that apparently also involves professional criminals.

The police believe a property dispute to be the cause of the murder.
Ahmedabad/ Shimla, December 17

The counting of votes for the high-stakes and hotly-contested Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, which will have a bearing on the national stage, will be held on Monday.

While the Gujarat Assembly polls is being considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the fate of 337 candidates, including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal, will be known tomorrow as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal.

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While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office in Gujarat, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat model of development.

The much-awaited results of the keenly-fought elections will be announced tomorrow when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the states 33 districts, amidst tight security.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each others.

Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress electioneering.

During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyars remarks.

Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for not talking about the future of Gujarat and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders  Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani  in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

Himachal Pradesh witnessed a record 75.28 per cent turnout and pollsters have predicted a BJP vitory.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for counting which would start simultaneously in all 68 constituencies at 42 counting centres.

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Chief Minister Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of GST and demonetisation.

Himachal has a tradition of change in government after every elections and going by the trend, this time it is the turn of the BJP which is upbeat after exit poll results.

There are 25 Congress, 28 BJP and four Independent MLAs in the outgoing House while one seat was lying vacant after death of former minister Karan Singh from Banjar.

While the BJP is confident of winning the polls with a comfortable majority, the Congress has rejected the exit-polls and claimed that it was all set to repeat.

The BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged defeat in 1993. The BJP formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.  PTI
Shubhadeep Choudhury

THE military treats its media interface as part of the information warfare (IW) package. A fine example of IW  perhaps the most successful in the history of the Indian Army to date  was revealed during the Vijay Diwas celebrations by the Armys Eastern Command here.

The Tangail Airdrop was an airborne operation launched on December 11, 1971 by the 2nd battalion of the Indian Armys Parachute Regiment during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

The airdrop and the subsequent capture of the Poongli Bridge gave the advancing Indian Army the manoeuvrability to side-step the strongly held Tongi-Dhaka Road to take the undefended Manikganj-Dhaka Road right up to the Mirpur Bridge at the gates of Dacca.

Maj Gen Inder Singh Gill was the Colonel of the Para Regiment at that time. He met the Ministry of Defence PRO in Delhi before the airdrop, and asked him to ensure good publicity for the airdrop. This was critical for building up pressure on the East Pakistani military establishment. As the Army had no prior access to Tangail, photographs of the airdrop could not have been arranged. The PRO, Lt Col Ramamohan Rao, was not one to get dissuaded owing to such trifles. Rao had been to Agra a year earlier to cover an exercise by the 50th Independent Para Brigade. He fished out one of those pictures, and had it released with the caption that troops of the Indian Para Brigade were airdropped over East Pakistan in the morning of December 12.

The 2nd Para Battalion, which was actually airdropped, could not have consisted more than 700 odd soldiers. A brigade, on the other hand, can have around 4,000-5,000 men. Rao had turned his constraint into an advantage!

The next day international media carried the picture with the news that an entire para brigade was on its merry way to Dhaka. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Gen AAK Niazi, the Pakistani military commander in the East caved in and surrendered with over 90,000 of his men. When asked later regarding the reason for his surrender, Niazi pointed to a copy of the Times London, on his desk, carrying the doctored picture of the Tangail Para drop.

RN Kao, the founder of the external espionage agency Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) was impressed by Raos pyro techniques. He complimented Rao and the latter soon became a kaoboy as the spooks in the RAW were then called.

Didis cartoon blanked out

A leading English daily recently blanked out a cartoon on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from its Kolkata edition.

The decision drew flak from none other than Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi writer who occupied a central place in the cartoon.

The cartoon is about Kolkata and its CM. But this has not been published in Kolkata edition, Nasreen, who had to leave Kolkata following violent protests by Muslim fanatics, tweeted.

In the cartoon (published in all major editions of the paper, including Delhi and Mumbai), a caricature of Mamata is seen having a telephonic conversation with another woman who complains against curbing of her creative freedom by some patriarchal characters who enjoy the backing of the state. Mamata, touched by callers plight, addresses her as Padmavati (of the controversial movie of the same name) and says she is welcome to Bengal. The caller at the other end then says she is Taslima Nasreen, not Padmavati. Mamata, shocked, drops the receiver from her hand.

Nasreen, who has earned the wrath of Islamic zealots because of her branding of the Islam as a misogynist religion, is in exile since 1994. She spent three years in Kolkata in the last decade. She left the city in 2007 following riotous protests by Muslim fanatics. The so-called secular Left Front government, which was in power in Bengal then, did not do anything to give her protection.

Mamata Banerjee, who succeeded the communists, has also made it clear that Taslima is not welcome in Bengal. She (Mamata Banerjee) thinks she will lose Muslim votes if she allows me to enter West Bengal, Taslima (55), who has a fatwa on her head and now lives in the US, recently said in an interview.

Mamata, even though she likes to appear as a staunch defender of the freedom of expression, does not take kindly to criticism. In the past, action had been taken against people for drawing her caricature and posting it on the Facebook.
New Delhi, December 17

The IMA has strongly opposed the draft Bill that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with a new body, claiming it will cripple the medical profession.

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The draft National Medical Commission Bill was approved by the Cabinet on Friday.

It provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Read: Cabinet clears medical commission Bill

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr K K Agarwal appealed to the Prime Minister to revise the draft Bill in the larger interest of the medical profession.

According to the IMA, the NMC will cripple the functioning of the medical profession by making it completely answerable to the bureaucracy and non-medical administrators.

Regulators need to have an autonomy and be independent of the administrators. The National Medical Commission will be a regulator appointed by the administrators under their direct control, Agarwal said.

It abolishes the Medical Council of India and possibly Section 15 of the IMC Act, which says that the basic qualification to practise modern medicine is MBBS, he claimed.

It takes away the voting right of every doctor in India to elect their medical council. The Medical Council of India is a representative body of the medical profession in India.

Any registered medical practitioner in the country can contest the election and every qualified doctor can vote.

Abolishing a democratic institution and replacing it by a body in which majority are nominated by the government is certainly a retrograde step, Agarwal said.

He further said that the draft bill, in its current form allows the private medical colleges to charge at will, nullifying whatever solace the NEET brought.

The government can fix the fee for only 40 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges, he said.

Also, it inducts non-medical people into the highest body of medical governance changing its perspective and character forever and introduces schedule IV to allow the AYUSH graduates to get registration in modern medicine.

The IMA appeals to the prime minister to recall the bill and rectify these anomalies. Parliament has a larger role to protect the interest of the medical profession of the country, Agarwal said.

According to the draft Bill, the Commission will have government-nominated chairman and members, and the board members will be selected by a search committee under the Cabinet Secretary.

There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the commission.

The draft Bill also proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practising licences, the official said.

As per the provisions of the draft Bill, no permission would be needed to add new seats or to start post-graduate courses. PTI
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

India and China have revived their long-pending issue of setting up a telephonic hotline at the level of Director-General Military Operations (DGMO).

The matter was revived at a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing last month. The two sides are now coordinating on how to have a Mandarin-to-English translator in India and the reverse of it in China. The telephonic talk between the two senior officers may be done like a conference call with translators listening in to transcribe, on either side.

This is being done in the backdrop of the 20th round of special representatives (SR) talks on boundary resolution in New Delhi on December 21-22. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his counterpart, state councillor Yang Jiechi, will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the situation along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is the first SR-level meeting since the 73-day military standoff at Doklam.

Since the two are responsible for boundary resolution, they are expected to discuss measures to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC.

The issue of the DGMO-level hotline was discussed at a higher level in April 2016 during the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to China. A draft agreement was exchanged, but there were hurdles of language and also for China to identify an officer at the rank of the DGMO-a three-star lieutenant general.

At present, India and China have five border personnel meeting points along the Himalayas, where formation commanders on either side discuss local irksome issues. A DGMO-level hotline will be for overall talks when matters heat up.
New Delhi, December 16

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and ex-coal secretary HC Gupta were today sentenced to three years in jail in a coal scam case by a special court, which said white collar crimes were more dangerous to the society than ordinary crimes.

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AK Basu, former Jharkhand chief secretary, and Vijay Joshi, a close aide of the ex-CM, were also awarded jail terms of three years for indulging in corrupt practices and hatching a criminal conspiracy in the allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to a Kolkata-based company, Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).

Special CBI court judge Bharat Parashar also imposed fine of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1 lakh on VISUL, Koda and Gupta, respectively, in the UPA-era coal scam.

The convicts were granted statutory bail for two months to enable them to file appeals in the Delhi High Court.  PTI
New Delhi, December 17

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will file a fresh request before the Interpol for issuing Red Corner Notice against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, after its previous plea was rejected on the grounds that the agency had not filed any charge sheet against him, officials said on Sunday.

They said that since a charge sheet has now been filed in a special court in Mumbai, the NIA will move the Interpol for a Red Corner Notice against Naik.

Naik has been changing his base quite frequently after the NIA petitioned the Interpol for issuance of Red Corner Notice (RCN), international arrest warrant, against him, they said.

The preacher is being probed on terror and money laundering charges. He fled from India immediately after an investigation against him was initiated.

His present place of stay is unknown and it is believed that he has been shuttling between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and African and Southeast Asian countries.

Naik is accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of rupees over the years.

The Interpol was approached in May against Naik after a year-long probe during which the NIA gathered evidence of his NGOIslamic Research Foundationand Peace TV, being used allegedly to promote hatred between different religious groups.

The Centre has already banned his NGO and taken his TV channel off air.

He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after one of the terrorists involved in an attack on a cafe in Dhaka claimed he was inspired by his speeches on waging jihad.  PTI
Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 17

Leaders of the opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra are feeling the heat from Chief Miister Devendra Fadnavis government after announcing a non-cooperation programme by farmers in the state.



The government has reopened several files pertaining to irrigation projects and filed First Information Reports in a few of them hours after Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar asked farmers not to pay their water and power bills as part of a protest for higher remunerative price for their crops. Pawar had led a joint march of opposition parties, including Maharashtra Congress Party president Ashok Chavan and leaders of smaller parties in Nagpur, to mark his birthday.



Enthused by the turnout at the protest in Nagpur, leaders of the Congress and the NCP have chalked out protest programmes in all regions of the state from January. Leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress party told reporters in Nagpur that protest marches would be held in the Konkan, Marathwada, Amravati, Western and North Maharashtra.



Shortly afterwards FIRs were filed against industrialist Sandip Bajoria, who is believed to be close to senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar. During the 15-year long Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra, the irrigation department was held by Pawar and his close aide Sunil Tatkare. Probes into several alleged scams in the irrigation department are being carried out under the supervision of the Bombay High Court.



The NCP hit back by saying the BJP was playing vindictive politics.

The BJP is taking revenge on the opposition parties following the huge turnout at our Vidarbha protest march, senior NCP leader Dhananjay Munde said.



Leaders of the two Congress parties say they will continue to forge ahead with a combined protest programme despite the threat of government action in the coming days. Sources in the Congress and the NCP say they were taken by surprise at the huge turnout at the protest march across Vidarbha earlier this month that culminated in Nagpur.

Pawar's call for a non-cooperation movement by the farmers has also enthused the party cadres, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said in Mumbai.

Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil who belongs to the Congress party, said there was big demand for opposition unity from the people. The success of the protest march shows that the people want the opposition to stand united. And this has made the government desperate.
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, December 17

The Lucknow police have detained the father and uncle of the prime accused in the murder of Vaibhav Tiwari, 30-year-old son of former BJP MLA Prem Prakash, in the high-security zone on Saturday night.

The police arrested the father and uncle of prime accused property dealer Suraj Shukla as he had reportedly called up his father and informed him about the murder and instructed him to remove cash from the house.

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The police are hunting for the other accused, Vikram Singh, who is the son of a policeman and had actually shot down Vaibhav.

The murder has been captured in the CCTV footage in the VVIP area. Around 9 pm on Saturday night, Shukla called up Vaibhav and asked him to come to the Hazratganj crossing. During the meeting, an altercation ensued and Shuklas history-sheeter friend Vikram drew a pistol and shot Vaibhav in the chest. He was rushed to the Lohia Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Seven police teams are combing the neighbouring districts and the deceaseds ancestral district of Siddhartha Nagar in search of the two accused who have been named by the family in the FIR.

Vaibhav, a resident of flat number 322 in Kasmanda apartments that are situated at a stones throw from the Vidhan Sabha, was the gram pradhan of Damwapur Jagatram village in Domariaganj tehsil of Siddhartha Nagar district on the Nepal border.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 16

Reacting to the launch of controversial anti-cervical cancer vaccine in the state, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Punjab, today demanded that the entire information related to phase 1 of the HPV vaccination programme should be made public.

In a letter written to Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, the JSA welcomed the decision of the government to reconsider the HPV vaccination programme in the state. It said, Concerns arise from documented evidence questioning the long-term efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the HPV vaccine.

Dr Payare Lal Garg, co-convener of the JSA, Punjab, requested the government to re-constitute a committee to examine the available evidence on the HPV vaccine.

Study overestimated deaths

Dr Jacob Puliyel, who had challenged the PGI study, said one of the errors the study made was to overestimate the deaths caused by cervical cancer. It presumed that 99 per cent of those with cervical cancer will die. This is an exaggeration, he said.

They then projected that it was cost-effective to spend $14/child on HPV that happened to be the cost at which vaccine manufacturers were willing to give the vaccine to the state government. Using data specific to India, economists in the UK have calculated that if it costs more than $3.3 to fully vaccinate a child with HPV, the Government of India is best advised to spend their money on other programmes.
GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 17

The Congress easily wrested control of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation from the SAD-BJP alliance, winning 64 of the 85 wards. In the 2012 poll, it had bagged just four seats.

The SAD and the BJP ended up with only seven and six seats, respectively, even less than the Independents (eight). Last time, the allies had won 24 seats each.

Senior BJP leader and former Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, who had never lost an election since 1997, lost to Congress rookie candidate Sameer Dutta from Ward No. 10. The Aam Aadmi Party drew a blank.

During 2002-07, when the Congress ruled the state, it also controlled the MC House. The SAD-BJP alliance was in charge here during its 10-year rule.

Those in the race for the Mayors post include Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mamta Dutta. She won from Ward No. 11 by over 2,200 votes. Dutta had won as an Independent in 2002 and on the Congress ticket in 2007, but had lost in 2012. Her nomination as the womens wing chief was supported by Capt Amarinder Singh. She is the sister-in-law of party MLA Sunil Dutti.

Other contenders are Congress leader Karamjit Singh Rintu, who won from Ward No. 12, and former Leader of the Opposition in the House, Raj Kanwar Preet Pal Singh Lucky (Ward number 16).

Except for a few scuffles, polling remained peaceful. Former BJP councillor Prabhjit Rataul, a close aide of ex-minister Anil Joshi, was detained for carrying his licensed weapon during voting.

Former deputy Mayor Avtar Singh Truckanwala, who contested unsuccessfully as an Independent, alleged that his opponent, Shailender Singh Shelly, attempted to influence voters at polling booths with the assistance of Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhus gunmen. However, Sidhu denied the allegations.

The police booked Mangal Singh alias Manga and Ajay Kumar alias Moti of Baba Deep Singh Colony under Section 171(E) of the IPC for allegedly distributing cash and liquor to woo voters in Chheharta.

AAP draws blank
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

Alleging violence, rigging, booth-capturing and intimidation of Akali-BJP candidates and workers, the state BJP today demanded a repoll in Patiala, Ghagga and some wards of Mullanpur Dakha and Jalandhar.

Partys state vice-president Anil Sarin and secretary Vineet Joshi handed over a complaint to State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu, alleging that the police were in cahoots with the Congress.

They complained that the police in Patiala intimidated Akali-BJP candidates, thrashed their polling agents and shooed away voters. The party also expressed anguish over the absence of poll observers. Even video cameras were turned off, they said.

In Ghagga, the BJP said, Congress workers captured all booths. Similarly in Mullanpur, all booths of Ward No. 5 were captured, they alleged.

Demanding a repoll, the BJP leaders said the central forces and election observers from other states be deployed for the same. The BJP also sought action against the erring police and administrative officials.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

Ruling Congress on Sunday swept the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala while the opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery.

The Congress virtually swept the wards in the three important corporations as results were out by late evening, prompting celebrations in the ruling camp.

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The results come as a boost for the Amarinder Singh led government in the state. The opposition alliance, however, alleged gross poll code violations and demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation elections.

Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements.

Among the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent.

The Congress has convincingly won Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar Municipal Corporations and was ahead in most of the Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils.

It bagged 66 out of 80 wards in Jalandhar and won 58 of the total 60 wards in Patiala. In Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Congress clinched 69 out of 85 wards, BJP 6, SAD 6, Independent 4.

The SAD criticised the State Election Commission for allegedly favouring the ruling party. The commission behaved as if it was scared of the government, Akali Dal and its alliance partner BJP alleged.

Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi appealed to the Punjab Election Commission to cancel the Patiala MC polls and hold fresh elections under the supervision of some central agency.

In ward no. 42 of Patiala, voters complained that Congress workers allegedly skipped having their fingers inked. There were also complaints of Congress workers threatening voters in ward no. 25.

In Patialas ward no. 54, Akali leader Harbaksh Chahal accused administration of playing into hands of Congress. Chahal alleged his supporters were thrown out by police while those of Congress allowed inside the booth without voter cards.

While many voters reported to have voted multiple times, district electoral officer Kumar Amit denied allegations, saying he had received no such complaints.

Voters left the queue at polling station set up at Government College for Women over alleged harassment. There were allegations of Akali supporters being stopped at entry gate by police and Youth Congress leaders.

AAP polling agents were allegedly thrashed in ward no 49 of Patiala.

On SAD leaders allegations against the ruling party, Congress leader Preneet Kaur said these claims were unfounded. SAD leaders should recall when in the 2012 MC polls they beat up our leaders and had forcibly pushed them out of their own wards by 11 am. SAD are poor losers, she said.

Senior Akali leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra gheraoed Moti Bagh palace, residence of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

In Ludhiana, hundreds of Akali workers led by former MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali staged a protest outside a polling station at Mullanpur Dakha claiming that Congress supporters had been allowed to go inside polling stations.

Ayali also accused Congress leaders of booth capturing at Mullanpur. He claimed Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu and some the Congress workers illegally entered polling booths.

SAD leaders claimed Congress supporters were allowed to enter polling stations at Sahnewal as well. SAD MLA Sharanjit Singh Dhillon complained to senior officials that Congress supporters did not allow Akali supporters to cast their votes, and said the elections were unfair.

The Akali Dal also claimed that there was violence in Mullanpur Dakha, Ghanaur, Sahnewal and Raja Sansi.

In Ghagga, SAD leaders were reportedly slapped inside polling booths and asked to leave. The returning officer was reportedly missing from the scene.

There were also unconfirmed reports of firing in Patiala. While police denied any such occurrence, witnesses claimed two Congress supporters fired at some people near PRTC workshop.

On the recommendation of an engineer, an EVM was replaced in Jalandhars ward no 33 due to some technical fault.

Clear vindication of Congress policies: Capt Amarinder

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the poll results as a "clear vindication of the Congress policies and a resounding defeat of the opposition's deceitful propaganda."

Former chief minister Parkash Badal described the entire process of civic poll as "utterly uncivilised" and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab.

"This day will be remembered as a black Sunday for democracy in Punjab," Badal said in a statement here.

The AAP also alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress.

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar thanked the people and party workers for ensuring smooth and impressive turnout in the polls, "despite the efforts by the Akalis to scuttle the poll process through threats, violence and rumour mongering in some areas." He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had lost its ground completely in Punjab, as in the rest of the country.  With agencies

Results

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

Sr.No. Name of District Name of Municipal Corporation No. of Wards Cong SAD BJP AAP Ind/Others 1. Amritsar Amritsar 85 64 07 06 -- 08 2. Jalandhar Jalandhar 80 66 04 08 -- 02 3. Patiala Patiala 60 59 --- --- --- ---- Total: 225 189 11 14 --- 10

MUNICIPAL COUNCILS/ NAGAR PANCHAYATS
Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

The ruling Congress in Punjab today swept the civic elections, winning 267 of the 414 wards of municipal committees and nagar panchayats as well as the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. In Patiala, it won all wards. Repolling will be held in Patiala's booth 3 of Ward 37 on December 19.

While AAP suffered a near rout, winning just one ward in Bholath, the SAD-BJP was victorious in 52 wards of municipal committees and nagar panchayats. Also, the alliance won 13 wards each in Amritsar and Jalandhar municipal corporations. Independents won 94 wards of municipal committees and nagar panchayats and 10 of municipal corporations.

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Both the Aam Aadmi Party and SAD-BJP alleged booth-capturing and manhandling of candidates in Patiala and Ghanaur (Patiala), Mullanpur-Dakha and Sahnewal (Ludhiana) and Rajasansi (Amritsar).

A voter in Ghagga, Mahinder Singh (60), reportedly suffered a heart attack inside a polling booth after Congress and Akali workers locked horns over alleged bogus voting. He died later in the evening.

Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab co-convener Aman Arora too claimed high-handedness by the ruling party. Isn't it a shame that democracy was murdered in Patiala, which is represented by the CM and his senior-most minister Brahm Mohindra, he remarked.

The SAD-BJP, that boycotted the election process in the afternoon citing administrative failure to stop booth-capturing, staged a dharna outside the office of State Election Commission (SEC) in Chandigarh after it refused to act on complaints. Calling the SEC a "dummy body", Akali and BJP leaders sought the dismissal of the State Election Commissioner.

Pleased with the results, PPCC president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar said it was a mandate in favour of the positive policies of the Amarinder Singh government. However, SAD president Sukhbir Badal termed it as a murder of democracy. Despite court orders to videograph the polls at Patiala and Amritsar, this was not done. This is contempt of court and we will approach the High Court, he said.

Win completes chain of power, says Sidhu

"Congress victory in the civic elections completes the chain of power. We have created history by hitting a hat-trick  78 seats in Assembly, convincing win in Gurdaspur bypoll and now the local bodies. Its a gift to new AICC president Rahul Gandhi." Navjot Singh Sidhu, Local bodies minister

Results

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

Sr.No. Name of District Name of Municipal Corporation No. of Wards Cong SAD BJP AAP Ind/Others 1. Amritsar Amritsar 85 64 07 06 -- 08 2. Jalandhar Jalandhar 80 66 04 08 -- 02 3. Patiala Patiala 60 59 --- --- --- ---- Total: 225 189 11 14 --- 10

MUNICIPAL COUNCILS/ NAGAR PANCHAYATS
GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 17

Congress Minister Navjot singh Sidhu said on Sunday that Congress partys victory in the civic elections would complete a chain of power  Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on top, legislators in the middle and councillors at the bottom of the pyramid.

After he and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu cast their votes in Amritsar, Sidhu, Punjabs local bodies minister, said: Congress will create a history by hitting the hat trick-first  first winning 78 seats in Assembly, then a convincing win in Gurdaspur by-poll and now play googlee to win the Corporation seats. This will complete the chain.

He said that the partys victory in the Amritsar Municipal Corporation elections would be Chief Minister Singhs gift to the newly appointed AICC president Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking about Gandhis election, he cited the examples of Indias former prime ministers Jawarhar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to show the Nehru-Gandhi familys sacrifice and contribution to nation building.

They have just given to the nation and never taken anything. Congress is the new ray of hope for 70 per cent youth of future India under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, who is being looked up as a rising leader and claimant for PMs chair, he said.

Sidhum blamed the money crunch assailing the Amritsar Municipal Corporation on the corruption that SAD-BJP alliance indulged in, and said: Whom should have we allocated funds? To the councillors and mayor of SAD-BJP alliance, who misutilised public funds and indulged in corruption? Now it would be our mayor, our councillors and there would be no dearth of funds, he said.

Rajya Sabha Parliamentarian Shwait Malik however blamed the civic bodys state on the Congress, saying that the party did not release funds, putting municipal corporations through strain.

Sidhu is diverting peoples attention from his failures as a local bodies minister. It was funny and unjustifiable for him to say that since it was SAD-BJPs hold on MC here, thats why he could not issue funds, he said.




Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspura (Sangrur), December 17

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday accused the Congress of booth-capturing and voter intimidation in several places in the state in the civic body elections.

Addressing a press briefing in Gurdaspura  a village 5 km from Sangrur  state BJP chief Vijay Sampla said: Congress MLAs are roaming the streets of various cities of Punjab  including Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar with goons and have captured polling booths. Our repeated requests to SSPs, DCs, and the State Election Commission have failed to yield any action.

Union Minister Sampla, who was speaking from BJP Kisan Morcha leader Satwant Singh Punias house in the village, called the ongoing civic body elections farcical., and said Congress leader Preneet Kaurs allegations that some Shiromani Akali Dals leaders beat up Congress leaders after civic elections of 2012 elections was unfounded.

Kaur, wife of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, was responding to SADs allegations that the Congress had captured booths in an attempt to rig the elections under way.

State BJP secretary Aman Punia claimed that they received reports of Congress goons of threatening its leaders to stay away from polling stations. The BJP also said that small cities were also reporting violence they claim began on Sunday morning, and accused the Congress of murdering democracy.

Since Punjab Congress leaders are well aware that they would lose elections, they have directed their goons to capture booths, Punjab BJP vice-president Harjit Grewal said.

Sunam MLA Aman Arora accused the Congress of openly murdering democracy.

Congress government knows of its imminent defeat in MC elections across state. Therefore, its leaders have captured polling booths and thrashing all others. Its murder of democracy, Arora, AAPs Punjab co-convener, said, accusing the Congress of trying to tamper with the election process since the start by rejecting nominations from other parties and refusing to give No Objection certificates without valid reasons.

With goons, Congress can loot the elections, but it could not win the hearts of people. Punjab CM Capt Amrinder Singh has failed to fulfil even a single poll promise he made during elections. He is well aware that his all candidates are losing in Punjab, Arora claimed, adding that his party was planning a protest by blocking roads and holding sit-in protests in
Tribune News Service

Ropar, December 17

A month after three youths got trapped in Saudi Arabia when travel agents allegedly duped them on the pretext of providing a drivers job there returned home here today.

The youths said they had to pay Rs5.3 lakh to the employer for their release.

The youths  Ajay Singh, Jasvir Singh and Suresh Kumar of Mawa Khurd village near Nurpur Bedi  had gone to Dubai on November 18. On November 23, they sent a video to their families alleging the employer had kept them as labourers in a camp to feed animals and clean toilets.

Suresh said each of them had given Rs1.5 lakh to go to Saudi Arabia.

Another youth from Amritsar, Kabal Singh, was also trapped.

When four of them tried to escape, Kabal Singh was captured by the employer and tortured, alleged Ajay.

Kabal said his hands and feet were burnt with hot iron rods after he was captured. Three days later, the three other youths were also traced by the local police and handed over to the same employer who tortured them as well, they alleged. A few days ago, the employer agreed to release all four of them only after receiving Rs5.3 lakh.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested two of the three travel agents allegedly involved in the case.
Saba Naqvi

Saba Naqvi

I am happy to report that the exit polls almost unanimously tell us that the Empire of Narendra Modi is yet again likely to have defeated Alauddin Khilji and the Mughal Empire, with special emphasis on that most evil of emperors, Aurangzeb. Its quite a feat, to defeat the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals in one fell swoop. And imagine the sheer delight of impaling that marauder Khilji, last seen eating meat like an animal in the film trailer of Padmavati (but let me confess, I may have seen some hungry nephews also tear into their chicken legs like that).

The medieval victories apart, the Modi Empire has also apparently managed to outwit the dastardly Pakistanis in a modern day plot to install Sonia Gandhis political adviser Ahmed Patel as CM. Obviously, this was a Pakistani plot based on rather poor intelligence as even an 8-year-old child in Gujarat would know than an Ahmed cannot presume to rule the state even if he were a Patel.

I hate to be a party pooper but this may be the space to point out that although we could have defeated the Pakistanis in Gujarat, they have tied up with the Chinese to curtail our influence in the region. So while we have been fixing the Ahmeds, Alauddins and Aurangzebs, in Nepal, the communist coalition has won three-fourth seats in the federal assembly. And sadly they would be more likely to tilt towards the Empire of China than the Empire of Narendra Modi. Thats not me saying this; its weighty strategic experts. Still, I gather that as long as American (past or present) Presidents, tell us how important we are, it hardly matters as we continue our national battles across time zones and centuries.

Although Gujarat is shining and is on top of our minds, anyone who has gone into the literature of the Hindu Right would know the great symbolic importance of Nepal. Let me quote from the most intellectually engaging ideologue of the Hindu Right, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. His speeches as president of the Hindu Mahasabha are published as Hindu Rashtra Darshan. In his 1937 presidential address, he began with what he called a homage to the independent Hindu Kingdom of Nepal and sent greetings to the King for holding out as a Hindu power. He then went on to elaborate why people whose motherlands and holy-lands are not the same cannot be part of the Hindu nation.

So there: hope thats clear to all Ahmeds and Alauddins (not to forget Afrazul who was hacked and burnt in Rajasthan).

Still, the loss of Nepal is small change compared to the expanding footprint of the Modi Empire. It extends across much of the length and breadth of India with a few outposts along the eastern coastline such as West Bengal, Orissa and Tamil Nadu still holding out with their own chieftains (the latter is getting quite wobbly though). Punjab, too, is a little island of resistance in the north but then the Sikhs have always had their own ideas of nationhood. Theres Karnataka too, still outside the realm of empire but since we now have an iron fist in an iron hand dealing all the cards in politics, its just a matter of time (and elections to the state assembly are due to April-May next year).

And if it was an Aurangzeb today, there is a Sultan tomorrow. Since Im doing my best to assist the historical hunt of the BJP I wanted to point them in the direction of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Mysore, but it seems they were already on to it in the election-bound state. They are sharp fellows.

Turns out that when all our attention was on Gujarat there was already a little storm in Karnataka over attempts by the Congress regime to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti on November 10. Union minister Anantkumar Hegde told the Karnataka government not to invite him to the shameful event. Hed tweeted: I have conveyed to the Karnataka government not to invite me to a shameful event glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist. So there you have it: move on Khilji, weve found Tipu Sultan!

With so much ammunition in the arsenal, Its, therefore, just a matter of time before all the outliers (such as Karnataka and West Bengal) are handled and then we can enter the glorious age of single-party rule and move towards simultaneous central and state elections. Order would then be imposed and we can then truly enter an age, such as one described in our history books as the golden age of ancient India. In this seamless vision of India ancient, medieval and modern seamlessly merge, with a few historical scores to be settled now and then. (When it comes to the turn of Bengal, may I suggest Mir Jafar, the Nawab who handed over Bengal to the East India Company making his name synonymous with treason) The end always justifies the means and dead Muslim rulers do not turn in their graves.
Shubhadeep Choudhury in Kolkata

Shubhadeep Choudhury in Kolkata

WARS wouldnt serve a purpose if peace were to be a casualty in the ultimate analysis. And peace is a very fragile word, hard to crystallize. In the 20th century wars, there were many decisive victories  continents were stabilized, a monstrous ideology was given the ultimate burial and nations allied themselves in a new tussle for supremacy. In the midst of stabilization, more wars were fought, and more nations came up. A relative peace was the prize. One such unforgettable, decisive war was in 1971 between India and Pakistan involving the birth of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan.

On Saturday, a few members of the Mukti Bahini, the guerrilla force raised from the Bangladeshi freedom fighters, assembled at Kolkatas Fort William, the headquarters of Indian Armys Eastern Command, to celebrate the Vijay Diwas. On Dec 16, 1971, Pakistani Army had surrendered to Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Arora, GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command, paving the way for the eastern part of Pakistan to break away and become an independent country. The 13-day war beginning Dec 3 resulted in the surrender of nearly 93,000 Pakistani soldiers. It is estimated that more than 20 lakh civilians were killed in Bangladesh. Around 1 crore people fled their country to seek refuge in India

In my village near Dhaka, some 236 unarmed villagers, all males, were shot by Pakistani soldiers. Women were raped, recalls Md. Sultan Mahmud, who is now an additional attorney general at the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal.

The Bangladesh liberation war is remarkable many ways: It was one of the rare instances of a struggle driven by peoples love for their language. To suppress the struggle, Pakistan unleashed its Army against its own people. As a result, the Indian Army, purportedly a foreign force, got a rousing reception and was hailed as liberators wherever it went in the then East Pakistan during the war.

During the final days of the war, the Pakistani soldiers stationed in Chittagong, Barisal and other areas started abandoning their camps and fleeing to Dhaka by gunboats. Indian warplanes used to strafe these boats and sink them. We used to catch Pakistani soldiers aboard the boats and kill them, recalls Brig Mohiuddin. He commanded 300 guerrilla fighters in and around Chandpur, near Dhaka, during the war. He later joined the Bangladesh Army after the country became independent.

The Brigadier said the operation was carried out most effectively by boys in their teens. They will swim deep into the Meghna to catch Pakistani soldiers struggling to keep themselves afloat. These soldiers would be later killed after they were brought ashore, says Mohiuddin.

Members of the Indian armed forces who participated in the 1971 war also recounted their experiences at the function held at the Albert Ekka auditorium at Fort William. The Indian officers had no horror stories to tell. A friendly reception across the Bangla border could have been the reason for their good memories.

Brigadier Panwar (retd), who was a young officer when the war broke out, described the battle as a shikar (hunt). The local people would tell us where the Pakistanis were hiding. The locals would also give us logistical support, said Panwar. He had carried a camera with him to the front. He displayed some of the snapshots of the battle.

Brigadier AP Datta, another retired Indian Army officer, shared yet another story. He said the unit led by him had multiple face-offs with forces led by the Pakistani commanding officer Sher Bahadur Ali Shah. On one occasion after Pakistanis were forced to fall back, Datta occupied the COs hut that had previously housed Shah. The Pakistani CO had left a lot of his personal belongings behind including letters written to him by his wife. The letters, written in English, were full of complaints. Shahs wife badly wanted her husband to return to his home in West Pakistan and look after their young child and his grumpy old father.
Kandahar, December 17

At least 11 Afghan police officers were killed today when Taliban fighters assaulted their checkpoints in volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. The assaults on two police post are the latest in a series of deadly attacks on Afghan security forces claimed by the Taliban.

Taliban insurgents launched the attacks in the early morning in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. Our police fought them back, but unfortunately 11 of our police were martyred and two wounded, provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat said.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 Taliban fighters were also killed during the skirmish.

After 16 years of war the resurgent militants show no signs of fatigue, ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the war-torn country.

Afghan police and troops-beset by a high death toll, desertions and non-existent ghost soldiers on the payroll-have been struggling to beat back the insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.  AFP
Kandahar, December 17

At least 11 Afghan police officers were killed on Sunday when Taliban fighters assaulted their checkpoints in volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, authorities said.

The assaults on two police post are the latest in a series of deadly attacks on Afghan security forces claimed by the Taliban.

Taliban insurgents launched the attacks in the early morning in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

Our police fought them back, but unfortunately 11 of our police were martyred and two wounded, provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP, adding that the militants fled after the attack.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 Taliban fighters were also killed during the skirmish.

After 16 years of war the resurgent militants show no signs of fatigue, ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the war-torn country.

Afghan police and troopsbeset by a high death toll, desertions and non-existent ghost soldiers on the payrollhave been struggling to beat back the insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Also on Sunday, a suicide car bomb attack targeting NATO forces in neighbouring Kandahar province killed at least one woman and wounded four other Afghan civilians, General Abdul Razeq, the provincial police chief, told AFP.

A NATO spokesman in Kabul told AFP they were still checking reports concerning the attack.  AFP
Tehran: Iran shut primary schools in the capital and other parts of the country on Sunday due to choking levels of air pollution. Local authorities late Saturday announced the closure of all primary schools in the province of Tehran, which is home to 14 million residents, except in two towns. A blanket of smog has covered neighbourhoods in the capital in the past few days. Authorities also ordered mines and cement factories in Tehran province to close and reinforced regular traffic restrictions in the capitals centre. AFP

2 Danish scribes hurt in attack

Libreville: An attacker wielding a knife and crying Allahu Akbar has wounded two Danish journalists in Gabons capital Libreville. The two reporters for the National Geographic channel were in a market for tourist souvenirs on Saturday, when a Nigerien national living in Gabon lunged at them with the knife, Defence Minister Etienne Makaga said. After his arrest, the suspect said he was carrying out a revenge attack against America for recognising Israels capital as Jerusalem, Makaga said. Reuters
Karachi, December 17

Thousands of Islamists have rallied in two major cities in Pakistan to condemn US President Donald Trump for declaring Jerusalem Israels capital.

Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Karachi and advocates of US-wanted Islamist Hafiz Saeed in Lahore dispersed peacefully after rallying Sunday for the Palestinian cause.

Protests have persisted in Pakistan since Trumps announcement angered Muslims across the world.

The chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, called on all Muslim nations to suspend diplomatic ties with the US until it reconsiders its Jerusalem decision.

Hafiz Saeed said that Muslims the world over should put aside any differences and unite around the cause of liberating Jerusalem.

Muslim-majority Pakistan has reiterated its support for the Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.  AP
When the holidays approach, many things begin to happen. Least concerning to you, but of some concern to people such as me, are ideas for columns.

So, today, well discuss a couple of quick topics: terrorism and elections. That doesnt sound very holidayish, you might say. Well, youre right. But its all Ive got right now. Next week, Christmas Eve, it will be about Christmas.



There was a terrorist attack in New York City last week. Well, it was not a successful attack, unless the terrorist planned to set himself on fire.

Akayed Ullah, 27, an immigrant from Bangladesh who lived in Brooklyn, strapped on a homemade pipe bomb with a plan to blow up himself and many others in a narrow hallway connecting subway stations beneath Times Square. The bomb failed to detonate but sent up a lot of smoke and left Ullah writhing in pain on the floor. He has now been charged with five federal counts that likely will get him a life sentence in prison.

He claimed allegiance to ISIS and even left a Facebook post for the president: Trump you failed to protect your nation. Naw, Ullah, you took care of that all on your own.

This dominated the news until the Alabama election took over. In the meantime, New Yorkers went back work and carried on with life as usual. These people battled through 9/11. A little smoke bomb certainly isnt going to shut down the city. And all that reminded me of a passage from one of my all-time favorite movies. The scene takes place in Ricks Cafe Americain in the movie Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart (Rick) is talking with the Nazi major and others.

Maj. Strasser: Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?

Rick: Its not particularly my beloved Paris.

Heinz: Can you imagine us in London?

Rick: When you get there, ask me!

Maj. Strasser: How about New York?

Rick: Well, there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldnt advise you to try to invade.

Good advice.



A little farther south, Alabama was in a bitter and hotly contested U.S. Senate race. It was a special election to fill the seat of Jeff Sessions, who was appointed Attorney General by President Trump.

Im sure anyone who hasnt been under a rock in the last few weeks knows most of the details of this sordid tale.

Republican Judge (twice removed) Roy Moore was facing Democrat Doug Jones. No contest, right? A Democrat win in Alabama? But this one had some twists with Moore credibly accused of child molestation by several now-adult women. Moore denied all charges and grabbed his Bible and pistol and hit the campaign trail.

Jones, on the other hand, is best known for prosecuting and convicting two of the Ku Klux Klan members who bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in September 1963, killing four African-American girls  Denise McNair, 11; Carole Robertson, 14; Addie Mae Collins, 14, and Cynthia Dianne Wesley, 14  and wounding more than 20 others.

No one gave Jones much chance to win. Steve Bannon, who New York Republican Rep. Peter King said looks like a disheveled drunk, was the brains behind Moores campaign. Bannon, who, one candidate at a time, seems set on destroying the U.S. as we know it, ran the show and at one point told a pro-Moore rally that there is a special place in hell for Republicans who did not vote for Moore.

Even President Trump, who has troubles of his own when it comes to females, endorsed Moore. He made robo calls and threw a big rally for Moore in Pensacola  yes, thats in Florida, but its close to Alabama and in the Mobile, Alabama, TV coverage area. None of that did much good. In the end, Jones upset Moore.

Of course, not long after the results were announced, Trump tweeted that he told everyone that Moore would lose. Everyone except the hundreds, if not thousands, who heard his robo call or those in attendance and watching on TV at the rally in Pensacola.

There simply didnt seem to be much contact with reality during this campaign.

Jones won because he carried the urban areas. He won in Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile, Tuscaloosa (home of the University of Alabama) and the state capital of Montgomery. He won more than 90 percent of the African-American vote and a good portion of the female vote, black and white. Moore carried the rural areas and a lot of the white vote, but not as much as a Republican usually does in Alabama.

But Democrats ought not get too excited or over-confident. In 2020, Jones will be back on the ballot. He likely wont be facing Moore. And Alabama is still a red state.

Nevertheless, Alabama sent a strong, positive message last week: Character does matter.

Thank you, Alabamians for rescuing the country from an international embarrassment. Its almost enough to make me yell, Roll Tide. Well, almost, but not really.
PRYOR  Mennonites are making use of old-school manpower  and technology  to feed the world.

The semi truck that was parked behind Zion Mennonite Church north of Pryor earlier this week was like something out of a Transformers movie.

When rolling down the highway, it resembles every other truck. But, when parked, it opens up to become an entirely different creature  the perfect beast for an annual pit stop in Mennonite country.

The truck, dispatched by the Mennonite Central Committee, doubles as a mobile canning unit. Its equipped not only with machinery for meat canning, but also with eight colossal pressure cookers. Each is capable of cooking 140 cans at a time.

Of course, people were needed to man assembly lines inside and outside the mobile cooking unit, but finding labor was no problem. More than 200 people flocked to the church Monday and Tuesday to volunteer for meat canning. They canned 18,000 pounds of chicken thigh meat to be shipped to people in need all over the globe.

Everybody has the same heart of giving, coordinator Curt Stutzman said. We are blessed and want to share our resources worldwide.

Call it charity if you want. But, really, its a tradition.

Stutzman said Mennonites in the United States started canning meat to feed hungry people in Europe following World War II. He said the Oklahoma Mennonite community started canning meat for others in 1957, and it became an every-year project about 15 years ago. (Portable generators were used to keep the streak alive when an ice storm slammed the area and knocked out power in 2007.)

Among workers who showed up for the most recent meat canning was 92-year-old Andy Chupp, according to Stutzman, who said Chupp was present for the first meat canning 60 years ago.

Not all of the 2017 meat canners were Mennonites. Some were Amish. Some were people who wanted to chip in for a good cause.

You dont have to be Mennonite at all, Stutzman said. Most are, but we will let anybody help.

The first wave of meat canners showed up at 4:30 a.m. Monday. A USDA inspector arrived shortly afterward and the assembly line began work on the first of 85 batches of canned chicken.

De-boned chicken thighs were ground into chunks. Tubs of chunks were carried into the mobile canning unit, where workers hand-filled cans with a precise amount of raw meat. A machine attached lids to cans, sealing them. Pressure cookers, generating heat and noise, cooked the meat inside the cans. Some workers wore ear plugs.

Cans were cooked at 250 degrees for two hours and 20 minutes. After cooling, cans were taken out of the mobile canning unit to another assembly line, where they were toweled off, stamped by a high-tech gadget and hand-labeled for shipping. The label reads food for relief in the name of Christ.

Stutzman said people in some countries requested the label be removed. The request was denied. Were going to leave it on there because thats why we do it, he said. Its in Gods name that were doing it.

Canning continued until 11,603 24-ounce cans were cooked and labeled. Shifts of workers didnt toil straight through until completion. They took meal breaks  and, yes, the food looked fantastic. They also took a sleep break, calling it quits at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday before relaunching a few hours later. Canning was completed around sunset Tuesday.

Stutzman said his respect level for those who participated is about 150 percent, because they have a heart for Gods word that says you need to share with those less fortunate than you. And we in America are so fortunate.

Stutzman has traveled overseas when meat and care packages were delivered to the less fortunate. He said soup kitchens in one country he visited were serving horse meat and cabbage. He said he has seen tears stream down the faces of people who were thankful affluent Americans thought enough of them to provide meat and other items.

It makes you want to come back and tell everyone else, he said. So thats what I do.

In the previous fiscal year, the MCC donated 637,896 cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to Burundi, Canada, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Nicaragua, North Korea, Ukraine and the U.S. Meat is canned on Mennonite turf all over the U.S. From October 2017 through April 2018, the mobile canning unit  operated by a four-person crew  was scheduled to make stops in Oklahoma (Pryor, Hydro and Fairview), Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennyslvania, Virginia and New York.

Local committees work together to raise money to purchase the meat ahead of time, so when the cannery shows up, they can get right to work, Tina Schrag, MCC Central States communications coordinator, said in an email to the Tulsa World.

Stutzman, who has been a coordinator for 12 years, said it takes about $30,000 to fund Pryors meat canning event. Three area church communities split the bill, and Jerry Rackley of Trailer Refrigeration Service provided a refrigerated storage trailer. Workers drove in from all over Green Country. Said longtime Pryor photographer and meat canning participant Jack Hardy: Many hands make lighter work.

Stutzman doesnt view the annual meat canning get-together as work. He said its a way to give back. He looks forward to it every year.

I just enjoy it, he said. I enjoy the results.
Army veteran Clinton Dean applied his public administration education from UTSA to internships in the community and is looking toward law school once he graduates.

(Dec. 15, 2017) -- Meet Clinton Dean. This transfer student is using his public administration degree at UTSA to prepare for a career in law.

Dean comes to UTSA from Jacksonville, Fla. and nearly four years in the United States Army.

During his time in the military, he served as a human intelligence collector and was responsible for information collection operations, screening sources and preparing intelligence reports. His service in the Army took him to Afghanistan for a year and brought him to Texas in 2011.

After leaving the Army in August 2014, Dean began taking courses at San Antonio College. In 2016, he transferred to UTSA and enrolled in the UTSA Department of Public Administration.

Ive learned so much from faculty members in the UTSA College of Public Policy. They have extensive knowledge about the field to share with their students, through their work experiences and professional connections, said Dean.

Dean credits UTSA faculty member, Gina Amatangelo, lecturer and internship coordinator in the College of Public Policy, with helping him land amazing internship opportunities.

During his first internship in the Spring of 2016, Dean worked in the administrative office of State Senator Jose Menendez. As an intern, he worked with the state senators staff to address the needs of the constituents they served.

Through this internship, I learned a lot about the importance of public service and being attentive to the needs of the community, said Dean. From my classes at UTSA, I learned about public budgeting, administration management and public policy and all of those lessons applied directly to my internships.

Dean also interned with TJ Mayes, who at the time was a UTSA public policy lecturer. He currently serves as chief of staff for Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

TJ Mayes has been an excellent mentor during my time at UTSA. He taught me about the public administration process in a real-life setting, said Dean. I was able to not only witness the process firsthand but also be an active participant.

During his Bexar County internship, Dean worked with Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff on a pilot program aimed to serve veterans transitioning into civilian life. As a student veteran, the project hit close to home.

When you first transition out of the military, you are kind of lost. I got lucky because I had friends and family to support me, but some veterans arent as fortunate, said Dean. This program is will give veterans the support they need to find housing, receive health care services and learn about employment opportunities.

While Dean was an intern in Wolffs office, staffers asked for his insight, recommendations and suggestions to develop an effective program.

Once he graduates in December, hell draw upon his coursework and internships to build a career as an attorney.

I plan to go to law school for administrative and regulatory law and feel like the public administration degree program at UTSA has prepared me, because I now know the administrative processes for both federal and local governments, said Dean. I hope to incorporate meaningful public service in my life no matter where my path may lead.


The Animal Foundation will partner with the Vegas Golden Knights in a Pucks for Paws community event to kick off the adoption process for the large number of Pomeranian dogs rescued by Las Vegas police and Clark County officials from the back of a U-Haul truck in Sandy Valley on November 30 (Pictured: Pomeranian dogs as they arrived at The Animal Foundation).

On Monday, December 18, beginning at 11:00am, the Vegas Golden Knights will host members of the public at City National Arena for a team practice session that begins at 11:30 am immediately followed by a live auction of five (5) dogs. Golden Knights players will assist in the live auction while the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation will also contribute funds to allow each attending adult over the age of 18 one free chance to adopt one of the ten (10) additional dogs there that day. Additional chances to increase an attendees odds of adopting a dog will be available for a discounted fee starting at $20 per ticket. A non-discounted online promotion to facilitate adoptions of the remaining majority of the dogs will launch at the same event, with members of the public invited to purchase tickets through 11:59pm on January 1, 2018.

Given the overwhelming interest on the part of the community, we are very excited to partner with the Vegas Golden Knights in welcoming the public to celebrate the journey of these rescued dogs and begin the process of helping them find loving homes, said Christine Robinson, Chief Executive Officer for The Animal Foundation. Borrowing from our annual and highly popular Best in Show dog auction format, we plan to kick off this adoption process by showcasing five of our top picks of these special dogs. As with every adoption promotion, every penny made will go right back into our many lifesaving programs at The Animal Foundation.

Thanks to the generosity of the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, those interested in adopting one of the ten additional Pomeranian dogs there on Monday will receive one free chance per person to adopt. Attendees may also purchase an unlimited amount of discounted chances starting at $20 each. Winners will be chosen at random by an independent third-party raffle administrator and notified at the event. All winners must be present to win and only one winner per household is allowed.

The free and discounted tickets for the chance to win will serve as the adoption fee for the winners. Spay/neuter, microchip, up-to-date vaccines, a starter bag of food, 30 days of free pet insurance and a voucher good for a complimentary wellness exam at participating veterinary hospitals will all be included thanks to the funds contributed by the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation. The Animal Foundation can and will deny adoptions to participants who do not meet all adoption requirements or in the instance that the placement is not in the best interest of the dog. No refunds will be issued.

A non-discounted online promotion to facilitate adoptions for the remaining majority of the Pomeranian dogs for $200 per dog less than the cost to care for each dog during their stay at The Animal Foundation and equal to our highest adoption fee  will also launch at the event on December 18, with tickets available for purchase through 11:59pm on January 1, 2018. Further details of the online chance to adopt will be made available on December 18.

All the rescued Pomeranian dogs have been in the care of The Animal Foundations animal care and veterinary staff since they were brought to the shelter by Animal Control on November 30. Based on evaluations of each dogs health and temperament, placement options for some of the Pomeranians dogs will include care in a foster home and not immediate adoption.

The Animal Foundation is located at 655 North Mojave Road.A For more information and to find a new Pomeranian or other companion, please visit animalfoundation.com.
Heineken Vietnam Brewery

Heineken Vietnam Brewery Limited Company (Heineken Vietnam Brewery), was established on December 9, 1991 by Saigon Trading Group (SATRA) and Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. (APBL) with the initial registered capital of $305.4 million. It was renamed Heineken Asia Pacific Pte., Ltd. (Heineken Asia Pacific) in 2013.

Covering an area of 12.7 hectares in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, the brewery is one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Southeast Asia. For a number of years, Heineken Vietnam Brewery has been one of the top corporate tax payers and was recognised as one of the most effective businesses in Ho Chi Minh City.

Heineken Vietnam Brewery has also created significant employment opportunities, hiring around 1,600 local workers and creating thousands of jobs for suppliers and partners in Vietnam. The company is also active in social activities, human resources development, and leads the way in environmental protection.

Apart from the innovative brewery in District 12, Heineken Vietnam Brewery has wholly-owned breweries in Danang, Quang Nam, and Tien Giang. Currently, it has a broad and impressive portfolio of beers which includes Heineken, Tiger, Tiger Crystal, Desperados, Biere Larue, Biere Larue Export, BGI, and Bivina in Vietnam.

According to Vietnam Industry Research and Consultancy (VIRAC), the revenue of Heineken Trading, the arm in charge of beer distribution in Vietnam, hit VND33.9 trillion ($1.5 billion) in 2016.

Pepsico Vietnam

Pepsico Vietnam was licensed on December 24, 1991 with a registered capital of $180 million, then started to operate as a joint venture in 1994 when the United States lifted the embargo on Vietnam. In 2005, Pepsico was already leading the beverage market.

Notably, in 2004, Pepsico made heavy investments in Vietnam with its first factory in Can Tho and two new factories in Dong Nai and Bac Ninh by 2012. So far, PepsiCo has grown tenfold since 2004 and consistently maintained double-digit growth over the past 12 years. Annual revenue of PepsiCo tripled from $8 billion in 2006 to $22 billion in 2011.

In 2012, PepsiCo and Suntory Holdings Limited (Suntory) formed a strategic alliance in Vietnam. Suntory acquired a 51 per cent stake in PepsiCos Vietnamese beverage business, while PepsiCo is a 49 per cent shareholder of Suntory.

The brand also announced to continue pouring $250 million into Vietnam within three years. Ten brands of Suntory Pepsico are working together to reach the retail sales of $1 billion in 2018. Currently, Suntory Pepsico has five factories, 450 distribution points, 3,000 employees, and more than 1.1 million retail outlets.

Regarding the reason for the heavy investments in recent years, Uday Shankar Sinha, CEO of Suntory Pepsico Vietnam, said: "We see a bright future in Vietnam. First of all, the economy grows at an astounding 6-6.5 per cent. Second, there is still ample room for development in the beverage market. Third, the population is astoundingly young, with 55 per cent under 30 years old. Fourth, consumer confidence is still growing."

UmranBeba, president, PepsiCo Asia Pacific said: Vietnam is a highly attractive growth market where PepsiCo is well positioned in the food and beverage marketplace. Were focused on expanding our food and beverage business in Vietnam through continued investment across our portfolio, and our beverage alliance with Suntory is an important part of our strategy to position PepsiCo for sustainable long-term growth in the market. Suntory is a world-class company and proven PepsiCo partner, and we believe their expertise and capabilities will drive the continued success of our Vietnam beverage business.

In 2017, Suntory Pepsico Vietnam is one of the largest companies in the beverage sector, making up 36 per cent of the whole market.

Vedan Vietnam Enterprise Corp., Ltd.

The largest project at the early time of Vietnam's FDI picture was the $572.7-million Vedan Vietnam Enterprise Corp., Ltd, producing organic fertiliser and feed additives, including starch, glucose syrup, and hydrochloric acid. The project was licensed to Burghley Enterprises Pte., Ltd. (Singapore) on August 3, 1991 and is based in the southern province of Dong Nai.

Vedan (Vietnam) Enterprise Corp., Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Vedan International (Holdings) Limited. This company has been constantly raising its capital to become the production and supply factory of biotech products for the whole of Asia.

According to Vedan International, its revenue hit $158 million in the first half of 2015 with internal profit of $4.21 million. Vedan Vietnam contributed 52.5 per cent of Vedan Internationals total revenue.

Vedan Vietnam has built up a closed system, including a sugarcane starch factory, sweeteners factory, modified starch factory, lysine factory, even a specialised port called Vedan Phuoc Thai berth.

Vedan was the first big brand in the Vietnamese starch market. In addition, Vedan Vietnams products are also exported to China, Japan, Taiwan, as well as Southeast Asian and European countries.

Starting from its starch production line, Vedan has extended production to starch products, specialty chemical products, organic fertilisers, and animal feed, among others.

Despite good business performance, the company was involved in a series of environmental scandals in 2008. Specifically, the company poured 105,600 cubic metres of fermented wastewater directly into the Thi Vai River every month.

After the scandal and the emergence of other brands in the sector, Vedan Vietnam is now hard pressed to remain in operation.

Two of the above projects rank second and third on Vietnam Report's list of the most reputable companies in the beverage sector

Thai businesses focus on VN processing, manufacturing industries Thai businesses have been focusing on investment in processing and manufacturing industries in Viet Nam, data issued by the planning and investment ministry's Foreign Investment Agency showed.

Vietnam to be a new processing and manufacturing centre of the world Vietnam is expected to become a new processing and manufacturing centre of the world after 2015, thanks to its inexhaustible potential and advantages, as well as the developed countries shifting their processing and manufacturing bases to developing countries.

Manufacturing industry attracts huge FDI Three major foreign investors  Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore  are heavily investing in Vietnams processing and manufacturing industry.
Chu Lai Soda has been suspended in August 2016 over recurring environmental violations

In 2010, Chu Lai Sodas soda processing factory with an annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes was welcomed as the country was importing millions of tonnes of soda every year.

The central province of Quang Nam, where Chu Lai Soda intended to develop the factory, was lured in by the companys promise to generate jobs for 400 local workers and pay VND60 billion a year to the provinces budget once the factory comes into operation.

In addition, banks located in the province, including Agribank, had numerous benefits once the large-scale project was approved. Thus, Agribank decided to provide a loan of VND1.6 trillion ($70.48 million) and another bank gave VND400 billion ($17.6 million) to Chu Lai Soda.

As a result, in April 2010, the construction of the Chu Lai Soda processing factory was kicked off on an area of 60 hectares at Chu Lai Open Economic Zone with the investment capital of VND2.3 trillion ($101.3 million), VND2 trillion ($88.1 million) of which came from loans. The factory was expected to start operations after two years of construction.

In June 2015, after five years of delay in construction, the factory came into pilot operation. However, after a short time, hundreds of nearby households complained that their daily life was affected by environmental pollution caused by the factory.

According to the residents complaints, the factory discharged wastewater directly into the river, causing severe water, air, and noise pollution. The fish in the river already started dying en masse.

Furthermore, the wastewater was not only dumped into the river, but also into residents' fishery ponds and fields located at the back of the factory, also killing all flora and fauna.

After receiving complaints from several households near the facility, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) requested the Department of Central and Central Highlands Environment to inspect the companys activities.

According to the departments inspection record, Chu Lai Soda discharged coal and black carbon, both substances banned by regulations, into the environment. Along with violations of the discharging process guidelines, the company did not build appropriate wastewater and solid waste treatment facilities.

As a result, the authorities issued a fine of VND730 million ($32.2 million) to the factory. Simultaneously, the company had to suspend its operations until it installed wastewater and solid waste treatment facilities.

However, in June 2016, local residents protested Chu Lai Sodas relapse into discharging untreated wastewater into the local river. Tempers ran so high that residents threatened to take matters into their hands and block the companys wastewater pipes.

At the time, in an unannounced inspection, the inspection team of the Vietnam Environment Administration detected that Chu Lai Soda continued to discharge untreated wastewater into the river, despite having been closed to install proper treatment facilities.

According to the department, Chu Lai Soda had a seriously negative track record of environmental violations. Notably, along with the illegal discharge, the company had yet to carry out measures prescribed in its environmental impact assessment report and failed to collect the harmful waste produced by its manufacturing activities.

In addition, the company had delayed in paying the VND731 million ($32,796) fine incurred for the previous violation. Accordingly, it paid VND200 million ($8,973) only.

With its relapse into discharging untreated wastewater into the river and delay in fine payment, the authorities asked the factory to suspend its operations from August 2016.

Since the factory was suspended, 400 employees lost their jobs, almost all of whom have been waiting for their salaries for three or four months.

According to Ha Thach, director of Agribanks Quang Nam branch, the bank has been making efforts to co-operate with the investor to resume the factorys operation with little effect, making it difficult to revocer the banks VND2 trillion ($88.1 million).
FIA director general Do Nhat Hoang at the workshop

According to data from the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first 11 months of 2017, FDI attraction hit $33.09 billion and disbursed capital $16 billion, which are the highest figures over the last ten years.

The FDI sector's GDP contribution has been rising to over 20 per cent of the GDP, and 70 per cent of export turnover, creating 3.7 million jobs directly and millions more indirectly.

However, the effects of FDI have so far flown below expectations. The role of Vietnamese enterprises remains limited to the low-added-value segment of the global supply chain.

On December 15, FIA held a Workshop on Supporting industry development-Strengthening linkages between FDI and domestic enterprises under the framework of Vietnam's 30-year anniversary of FDI attraction.

The workshop discussed impacts, difficulties, and favourable conditions for domestic firms to take part in the supply chains of FDI firms and offered solutions to strengthen linkages between the two sides to develop the Vietnamese supporting industries.

Stable politics and reform are important factors to attract FDI. Vietnam will enhance criteria to select FDI projects, focusing on high-technology and spillover projects, while prohibiting projects that could potentially harm the environment, emphasised Do Nhat Hoang, director general of FIA.

He also confirmed the shortcomings of FDI in supporting industry development and creating linkages with domestic firms. Policies on supporting industry development have been issued slowly and are not commensurate with the socioeconomic situation. The productivity of domestic enterprises is low, does not meet the demand of big global corporations and cannot join the global supply chain.

Thereby, FDI attraction should shift from natural resources and energy-intensive projects to using high-quality labour and environmentally friendly projects. Using and transferring high-technology and ensuring socioeconomic sustainability should also be included in future orientations.

Professor Nguyen Mai

Professor Nguyen Mai, president of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises (VAFIE), shared some successful models of supporting industry development, such as Samsung, Vinamilk, and Vingroup based on the linkages with other companies and closed supply chains created.

In order to strengthen linkages, Vietnamese firms need to be confident and proactively reach out to FDI firms. They should improve technology and the quality of human resources to take part in suitable production segments in the supply chain.

FDI businesses need to strengthen co-operation and connect with Vietnamese ones, support them to improve corporate governance and transfer technology, as well as find collaboration models to fit each product.

The government should build policies connecting domestic and FDI firms by incentives, as well as support domestic firms to enhance corporate governance, technology, and human resources quality. Successful cases like Samsung need to be multiplied, said Mai.
The authorities are looking for ways to enhance tax collection from foreign enterprises

Massive revenue without having to pay taxes

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation has recently issued an ultimatum for Uber B.V Netherlands Co., Ltd. to pay VND66.68 billion ($2.90 million) in tax arrears within 10 days of December 13.

Previously, in September, the taxation department asked Uber B.V to pay the tax arrears which included personal and corporate income tax, withholding tax, and value-added tax (VAT), as well as late payment fines. However, Uber B.V refused to pay, arguing that the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Vietnam and the Netherlands gives them exemption.

In another case, Le Thi Ai Lien, representative of Saigon Mui Ne, said that the company signed a co-operation contract with international booking site Booking.com. According to regulations, Booking.com will have to deduct a part of its benefits (including profit from business activities in Vietnam) for Saigon Mui Ne so that it can pay corporate income tax (CIT). However, Booking.com also claimed that it was exempt due to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

In addition, Facebook and Google currently pay a 5 per cent value-added tax and a 5 per cent corporate income tax on any revenue generated from their operations in Vietnam. These earnings normally come from payments Vietnamese companies make for ads on Google and Facebook. The two tech titans refuse to pay these taxes and force their Vietnamese partners to cover them.

These are all examples for foreign enterprises supplying cross-border services and making massive revenue while the tax authorities have yet to find a grip on them to enforce tax obligations.

How do enterprises evade taxes

According to Le Dac Lam, general director of Vntrip.vn, numerous foreign enterprises find ways to evade taxes, including Agoda. Notably, when Vietnamese customers pay money for Agoda to book rooms in hotels and resorts in Vietnam, Agoda takes 20 per cent of every booking on its website without being subject to tax. Agoda said that this revenue is considered as earnings outside of the territory of Vietnam, thus the company does not have an obligation to pay taxes for Vietnam.

Lam estimated that revenue from bookings in all hotels and resorts in Vietnam could reach $21 billion by 2020, 50 per cent of which would come from online bookings and the foreign online booking sites may enjoy an estimated benefit of $1.25 billion from playing the role of intermediaries between customers and hotels and resorts.

Thereby Vietnam will lose thousands of billions of dongs due to foreign online booking sites refusal to pay taxes.

Tax authorities refute foreign enterprises

In the case of Uber B.V, in late November, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) affirmed that the company does not enjoy exemption from tax payments because its drivers are Vietnamese people, meaning that it has a permanent establishment in Vietnam.

Regarding Booking.com, the Binh Thuan Department of Taxation, after reviewing the files, concluded that Booking.com is not exempt from tax because it has two permanent establishments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Cao Anh Tuan, deputy general director of the General Department of Taxation, agreed with the conclusion. Tuan stated that online booking sites, including Booking.com, Agoda, and Hotels.com, have been popping up left and right in recent years through co-operation with domestic tourism and hotel enterprises.

In case foreign enterprises remain persistent in asking for tax exemption based on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, MoF will have to consider rewriting its policy on foreign contractor tax in a way that shifts the burden on the foreign companies responsible for the tax obligations, instead of simply charging the Vietnamese entities that use their services.

The new policy should also come with strict penalties for any foreign contractor that fails to comply with the law.

One possible solution is to freeze payments to Facebook or Google from individuals and organisations unless the former clear their foreign contractor tax payments.
The Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management and the city of Wacos Information Technology Department will co-host a joint ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at their new offices at 721 N. Fourth St.

The two departments are fully settled into the newly renovated building that previously served as the Waco Police Departments headquarters before its move to 3115 Pine Ave.

First Day Hikes

Mother Neff State Park is hosting First Day Hikes starting at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 1. Bring a water bottle and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to give plenty of time to check in at park headquarters. There will be four ranger-led hikes.

First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by Americas State Parks to encourage family and friends to get outdoors to start the New Year healthy and outside.

The First Day Hike is free, but a park entrance fee of $2 per person applies. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information call 853-2389 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/mother_neff.

West holiday exhibit

An exhibit of toys, dolls and Christmas trees is on display for the Christmas season at the History of West Museum, 112 E. Oak St.

Admission is free. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The exhibit runs through Dec. 30.

For more information, call 755-6762.

Waco Rotary Club

State Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco, will provide a legislative update during the Waco Rotary Clubs meeting at noon Monday at the Waco Lions Den, 1716 N. 42nd St.

Lunch is $12. For more information, call 776-2115.
Sixteen Midway theater students have qualified for the International Thespian Festival in June.

The Texas Thespian Festival (the state level) was held on Nov. 15-18 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine.

Christina Julian was selected as a new state thespian officer, taking over for Nick Marquez, a Midway senior and officer last year.

Qualifying for the international level are:

Mia Scott in solo musical.

Bethany Neubert and Taylor Neimer in duet musical.

Bethany Johnson, Abbie Harp, Ally Brown, Emma Horn, Andy Kanz, Chandler Cordon, Garret Butler and Tyler Sims for group musical.

Lindsay North with scenic design and a perfect score.

Holly Eaker with sound design and a perfect score.

Lindsey Hartgroves with lighting design.

Alexandra Lewis with costume construction.

Lauren Brown with costume design.

The improv troupe placed third in the Texas State Thespian Improvisation Challenge.

Organized by the Educational Theatre Association and hosted by the University of Nebraska, the International Thespian Festival is June 25-30. It is an experience in singing, dancing, acting, designing, directing, creating and writing.

Midways students will raise funds through the spring semester to cover travel expenses. To contribute, contact jill.wilkinson@midwayisd.org.
Each Tuesday, Pastor Bob Rainey, Mr. Bob to Kendrick Elementary School kindergartners and teachers, spends about an hour and a half pulling a few students out of class, one by one.

He sits beside them in a small chair in the middle of a long school hallway and turns page after page, mentoring the students as they sift through story after story together.

My favorite part is just getting to talk to them. Some have more personality than others, and some just talk and talk and talk. Some dont want to go back in for whatever reason, but its fun to talk to them, said Rainey, who leads the Central United Methodist Church down the road from the campus. But its all about relationships anyway. Quite frankly, thats what Christianity is at its heart, at its base. We believe that and were glad to have a relationship with the school when they need something.

The moment is fleeting with childrens books taking only a few minutes to finish, but Raineys brief reading sessions are part of a wider effort.

In the Bible Belt of Texas, churches are providing an entry point for community support for public schools.

Officials have identified community support as an important factor in helping Waco ISDs six struggling campuses, including five facing possible closure next year if they dont meet state standards.

The district added three church groups as Adopt-a-School partners this school year, bringing the total to 33, said Stephanie Hines, Waco ISDs community partnership specialist. Waco ISD has also added more than 200 volunteers, some church members, in the last two months, Hines said.

Of the 33 Adopt-a-School churches, 12 work with the five campuses trying avoid closure, she said.

The kids are learning they do have support, in the local church right down the street from them, Hines said. Its nice to see those members see there is a need in the community and reaching out to help with whatever the need is and reaching across the table, so to speak.

As executive director of Pastors for Texas Children, the Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, of Fort Worth, is pushing for churches to engage as volunteers for schools statewide.

Thats exactly what were trying to do, get ministers and educators linking together to help our children, Johnson said. Ninety percent of our Texas children are in public schools, and 89 to 95 percent of all Americas children are educated in public schools. The faith community is engaging in public education, not retreating from it and thats what Pastors for Texas Children is all about.

Johnson recently gave a speech at a Texas Association of School Boards convention about advancing educational needs by creating a culture of voting among school employees, according to The Dallas Morning News. He was also honored at last weeks Friends of Texas Public Schools gala in Waco and has met with local church leaders and superintendents, including Waco ISD Superintendent A. Marcus Nelson, to push the support of churches further.

We have been in Waco many times. Weve got a number of Waco clergy that are involved, Johnson said. Heres what we have learned in our work over the past four and a half years: If the community, led by the church, can come along side the educator, under the educators authority, academic success increases.

But Johnson, local faith leaders and school district officials are quick to say their volunteer efforts are not about pushing religion. The efforts are about helping students engage in a quality education, the key for upward social and economic mobility, Johnson said.

Educators determine the work volunteers help with, Waco ISD spokesperson Kyle DeBeer said.

Its driven by the specific needs of the campuses. Its about the volunteers not coming in and doing busy work, but the things volunteers are being asked to do are driven by the needs of the campuses and the curriculum on that campus, DeBeer said. The way the partners are matched up, theres an intensity and a focus to it thats all about what the kids need to be successful.

These arent volunteers coming into the school to do whatever they want, and certainly not to proselytize.

Pastors for Texas Children offers a variety of support by gathering school supplies or other items not properly funded by the state, providing facilities maintenance if a school needs a few repairs, and helping send home nutritious food for students on the weekends so they dont go hungry, Johnson said.

But one-on-one mentoring and reading partnerships and advocacy for public education funding at the state level are probably the organizations most important work, he said. Even if its one hour a week, student performance can improve, he said.

Those five schools are in neighborhoods that are highly marginalized neighborhoods. They dont have the community partnerships, the business partnerships, Johnson said of Wacos campuses that have been on the state improvement-required list at least five years in a row.

More than 80 percent of Waco ISDs 15,000 student population is economically disadvantaged. Earlier this year, district officials recognized literacy struggles as the biggest issue facing students in Waco ISD, with only 54 percent of third-graders reading on grade level or higher.

State funding cuts and a constant fight to meet a burdensome assessment out of Austin do not help students, Johnson said.

The state cut $5.4 billion from state education funding in 2011. During its most recent session this summer, the Legislature debated school funding reform but failed to pass a bill that would have directed $1.5 billion to public schools and simplified outdated funding formulas.

Waco ISD did not get any additional state money this year, district officials said this summer.

Turn it over to Dr. Nelson and his God-given authority and professional expertise, Johnson said. He knows the needs of those Waco children better than anybody, not senators. Give him the resources he needs.  A public school teacher is a first responder, like a fireman and a policeman, and we need to see a public school teacher in that way. Teaching needs to be restored to the god-given stature it deserves.

In August last year, South Waco Elementary School received news it had met state accountability standards for the first time in three years, and officials gave some of the credit to support from community members, including Julie Carter, a Seventh and James Baptist Church member, and Bryan Dalco, pastor of One Fellowship United Methodist Church.

Dalco has continued to volunteer on the campus weekly and to encourage others to become involved, he said.

Its critically important for a church member, congregation or faith leader to go into a school and show that support and love, Dalco said. I dont want to feel like Im taking credit, because what (South Waco) accomplished was definitely the principal, the staff and the teachers. But what we offer more than anything is the community support to make sure they know were behind them and were for them. That goes a long way with what churches and communities can offer.

Local faith leaders and church members can be part of spurring a revival in the neighborhood support that has been missing for Waco ISD campuses, Alta Vista Elementary School Principal Karmen Logan said.

Texas Education Agency records show Alta Vista missed meeting state standards by just a few points last year, which marked the school for potential closure for failing five consecutive years in a row.

Generally, as a church member myself, thats really the call. Its not within the four walls of a church that we all live in a community, and what better to go out and help our community than helping the children who are our future, Logan said.

For the last several years, First Presbyterian Church on Austin Avenue has served as one of Alta Vistas Adopt-a-School partners. Other churches have also contacted the school recently about offering support, said Christy Freeman, Alta Vistas Adopt-a-School coordinator.

The Presbyterian church members have supplied snack drives and coats and socks. The members, including the pastor, often serve as mentors and even pen pals to fifth-graders in need of confidence outside school, Freeman said. The church and individual church members have also gone as far as donating about $5,000 to help Pack of Hope fight hunger on the campus, Logan said.

The pastor has also asked to meet with campus officials before the start of the past two school years to see what needs the church can help with, which has led to continual support, Logan said.

The power of one person willing to step up can make an impact and create a domino effect, she said.

You never know the impact one act or one thing you do can have for generations to come, Logan said.
Mike Collier, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, told a McLennan County Democratic Party meeting Saturday he believes there is a way to bring in billions of dollars for Texas public education without increasing property taxes for most Texans.

Collier, citing his background as a former accountant for Exxon and the accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, said closing a tax loophole could bring in more than $4 billion for public education.

That loophole, a clause in state tax law meant to require equal and uniform appraisals, has instead been exploited by large corporations with sufficient legal resources to sue county and local tax districts regularly, if not annually, if their property is not valued as low as other similar properties.

The result has been a loss in taxable valuation when higher-value properties or buildings are treated as equal to older facilities or those located in less-desirable areas, Collier said.

Changing that law could bring in more money for the state to apply to public education and ease pressure on local property taxes, which Collier said are bearing the brunt of continued cutbacks in the states proportion of education funding.

The candidate suggested several changes: altering the laws wording so that comparable value would take age, use and location into consideration; requiring open disclosure of property sale prices; and changing the legal fee structure to discourage large companies filing valuation challenges on an annual basis.

Speaking to about 30 people at the Waco-McLennan County Library, the self-professed numbers person ran through a charts-heavy slideshow that he said shows how a Republican-led statehouse has shrunk support for public education funding, with per-student funding remaining roughly flat since 2010 while property taxes have increased.

He brought his message closer to home, pulling out a hand-written note with Waco ISD statistics and telling his audience that while Waco ISD student spending has gone up 13.7 percent since 2010, property taxes have increased 33.4 percent.

Dont get angry with your school district. Its the states fault, he said.

School vouchers, pushed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at the last legislative session as a strategy for educational improvement, are not a serious solution, Collier said.

He showed a state map indicating the majority of Texas counties have fewer than five private schools. Another illustration compared 5.4 million Texas school students to an estimated 100,000 student openings in Texas private schools.

Theres zero linkage between vouchers and choice.  As lieutenant governor, were not going to talk about vouchers again, he said.

Improving public education is not about raising property taxes, but making the existing system work equitably and not for the benefit of the largest corporations operating in the state, he said.

Property taxes and public education  You cant talk about one without the other, said Collier, who ran for state comptroller in 2014 and lost to Republican Glenn Hegar.

He said that race taught him the need to inform voters what Texas Democrats are for, hence the talk on property taxes and public education. Collier will face sales manager Michael Cooper in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.

In a question-and-answer period after his talk, Collier was asked how he intends to convince a Republican Senate if elected. Its a question of leadership, he said.

There are state senators who are more moderate than theyre allowed to be, Collier said.
A moon-faced boy sits atop a bay quarter horse, surrounded by a trio of adults who speak words of challenge and encouragement.

Now Im going to try to push you off, one of the grownups says as the horse traces a circle in the sand at the REACH Therapeutic Riding Center near McGregor. The boy, E.J. Muniz, giggles and plays along, pushing back against the therapists hand.

E.J., 11, needs plenty of attention as he learns to balance and strengthen the muscles on his left side that have been weakened by cerebral palsy.

The horse, Chico, needs almost no attention at all. Hes calm, unflustered by the unpredictable movements of the boy on his back or the grownups crowded around him. He moves or stops on cue, brisk and unobtrusive as a butler.

Chico is a rock star, said Kristin Bolfing-Volcik, executive director of the nonprofit equine therapy center. Hes one of the best. Therapists like him because he has so much movement. He walks really fast, walks with purpose, but when you ask him to stand stock still with all these people around him, he will. He wants to please you.  Our riders have seizures on him all the time, or throw balls at the back of his head, and it doesnt bother him.

That unflappable disposition is no accident.

This spring, Chico retired from more than a decade of service as a patrol horse in Cameron Park, where he became accustomed to all manner of distractions  crowds, fireworks, unruly teenagers, motorcycles, even drones. At 15, he was beginning to have some joint issues from patrolling the rough terrain, so the city released him into the care of his longtime keeper and buddy, Park Ranger Lanny French.

But it turned out Chico wasnt ready to be put out to pasture. An employee of the nonprofit therapy center struck up a conversation with French, who agreed to loan Chico for an indefinite period.

If he can continue to serve, thats really great, French said. The reason hes such a good fit for that is that hes seen and done so much. Horses like that arent everywhere.

Chico works with children who have mental and physical disabilities, including autism and spina bifida. He also works with a much different population: combat veterans from the Waco Veterans Affairs hospital and Fort Hood. Many of those veterans have found that riding and working with horses helps them manage post-traumatic stress disorder, Bolfing-Volcik said.

They know they need help, she said. They learn patience and how to control their emotions.  If theyre local, they often come back as volunteers. They say it changes their life.

REACH, one of a handful of equine therapy operations in Central Texas, is preparing to celebrate its decade anniversary in April at its home on 1007 Camp Road, at the former Camp Val Verde.

The organization works with local therapy providers, supplementing their clinical work with hippotherapy, the use of assisted riding to strengthen muscles. Some clients start as early as 3 years old, and at first some are unable even to lift their head off their chest. In time, they may progress to therapeutic riding, in which they can ride more independently.

Bolfing-Volcik said the movement of a horse mimics human hip movements and helps those with physical disabilities learn balance and strengthen muscles.

Youre using so many muscles when youre riding a horse, she said. They get off and theyre sore. They dont realize theyre doing therapy.

The professional use of horses for therapy dates back at least to 1969, with the founding of the accrediting organization now known as PATH, or the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. The organization accredits 877 members, including 615 nonprofits.

E.J.s grandfather, Emmitt Herrera, has watched the boys progress through hippotherapy for the last three years, and he was there Thursday, when E.J. graduated to therapeutic riding. He said the boy suffered from a head injury in a wreck before he was born, and the muscles in his left side didnt develop properly.

Since he started this, theres not so much back pain, Herrera said. My wife said he grew an inch, he stretched out. They had to cut down the elevator shoe theyd given him on his left foot.  Its helped him a lot, praise God, and he loves the people out there. He cant wait to come out here.

E.J. said he is looking forward to being able to ride on his own in the new year.

I really do like riding horses, he said, sitting atop Chico. I find it really fun. It helps me get used to my left hand and foot.  I like going outside a lot. I dont get to go outside much because theres not a lot for me to do outside.

He was surprised to hear that Chico, his usual horse, was previously known to the public as a park horse.

I did not know that, he said.

French has been riding the citys other park horse and is still shopping for a replacement for Chico. In the meantime, has gone out to check on his old pal every few weeks.

Theres a familiarity when I visit, he said. I do think he remembers me. He doesnt have pictures of me up in the stall or anything. We tend to humanize horses. But I think he knows me.

French said the soft sand of the riding ring minimizes the stress on Chicos body, and he sees no reason to call Chico home anytime soon.

If we can help out doing things that help kids and soldiers, I couldnt be happier, he said.
The trial seemed utterly ordinary. A 19-year-old maid swiped a womans three rings  worth at least $5,000  from a house she was cleaning in Fairfax City, Virginia, but later returned them after police questioned her. She was charged with felony grand larceny.

What the jury did was extraordinary. They felt bad for the young woman, pregnant with her second child, and agreed that she had made a dumb, youthful mistake. Reluctantly, they convicted her of the felony. But the fine they imposed was her daily pay as a maid, $60. And then they took up a collection and gave her the money to pay the fine.

The general sentiment was she was a victim, too, said the jury foreman, Jeffery Memmott. Two of the women [jurors] were crying because of how bad they felt. One lady pulled out a $20 bill, and just about everybody chipped in. Memmott then contacted the public defender in the case and went to the home of Sandra Mendez Ortega. He gave her the jurys collection, which totaled $80.

Justice had to be done, said another juror, Janice Woolridge, explaining why the panel imposed a felony conviction. But theres also got be some compassion somewhere. Young people make bad decisions. We just couldnt pile on any more.

The two-day trial was held in July, but the sentencing was last Friday before Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Robert Smith. Mendez Ortegas attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Cash, asked the judge to defer the case and not enter a conviction or sentence in light of the defendants actions and the jurys response. Smith declined, entered the conviction and imposed the $60 fine. Numerous veteran criminal lawyers, on both the prosecution and defense sides, said they had never heard of a case where a jury paid a defendants fine.

A happy holiday story, right? Well, what if youre the woman whose rings were stolen? Although she was not pleased when the jury returned from their deliberations with only a $60 fine for the felony conviction, crime victim Lisa Copeland was appalled when she learned that the jury had also paid the fine.

I just pray that theyre never in my shoes, Copeland said. She said Mendez Ortega never accepted responsibility for the theft. If she had accepted accountability, I would be OK with all of this. The fact that she wont accept accountability makes it wrong.

Copeland said Mendez Ortega told a series of lies from the start and then unfurled a tragic life story that persuaded the jury to impose the $60 fine. I was outraged, Copeland said. I was just flabbergasted. I didnt think $60 equated to the crime at all. She did not know that the jury had taken up a collection for Mendez Ortega until she was contacted by a reporter.

The case began in September 2016, when Copeland discovered that her engagement and wedding rings were missing from the container where they were usually kept. The engagement ring had been her grandmothers, made in 1943, and the two rings were appraised at $5,000 in 1996, Copeland said. Copeland didnt realize that a third, inexpensive ring had been taken until it was turned in.

Fairfax City police investigated and interviewed the three women who had cleaned the home. All three denied taking or seeing the rings, court records show, and no one was charged.

But after the interviews, Mendez Ortega reportedly felt bad about the theft, admitted to her boss that she had the rings and turned them over to him. The police were contacted and Mendez Ortega confessed to them as well, saying she returned the rings after learning that they were valuable. The police had her write a letter of apology to Copeland, in Spanish, which said in part, Sorry for grabbing the rings. I dont know what happened. I want you to forgive me.

Copeland said she has never seen that letter and that Mendez Ortega has never apologized to her in person. Never saw it, Copeland said. Never heard about it until the trial, during sentencing.

After Mendez Ortega was arrested, she spent eight days in jail until she was released on $1,000 bond. The jury was not told that. The jury also was not told that Mendez Ortega apparently is not in the country legally, as Copeland said she was told by prosecutors, because it was not relevant to whether she stole the rings. I think its relevant to the case, Copeland said. She said the penalties of a felony conviction, such as not being able to vote or buy a gun, would not be actions available to an immigrant in the country illegally anyway.

It really irritates me that she came here and committed a felony, said Jeff Copeland, Lisa Copelands husband. People are coming here because there is opportunity here. But when they come here and commit crimes, thats where youve got to draw the line.

At trial, the facts were not really in dispute. The jury did not hear from Mendez Ortega during the case in chief, but they were already sympathetic to her. We didnt feel she should have been tried and convicted, said Memmott, the foreman. We tried every way we could to find some way of not convicting her. But the legal standard was very clear. Two other jurors agreed that the felony conviction was appropriate, given the facts and the law.

Lisa Copeland was amazed. The fact that she confessed, she said, and they didnt want to convict her? I dont get this. Thats basically saying its OK to steal.

During the sentencing phase, Mendez Ortega took the stand. She faced a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. She told the jury she had dropped out of school after sixth grade, that she first became pregnant at 15 and that she was pregnant again at 19 and had no job, according to court records.

The whole time, she was telling the sob story, Lisa Copeland said, I looked at my husband and said, Ive heard enough of this.  She noted that after Mendez Ortega took the rings, she lied to the cops, she lied to her employers. She didnt turn in the rings  she made somebody else do it. She confessed but claimed that the rings were in the bathroom. And then she tried to blame her boss.

When the jury went back to deliberate on a sentence, the jurors said they quickly agreed that no jail time was appropriate and that only a small fine should be imposed. We all came to the conclusion, Memmott said, we should fine her the amount she made for a days work.

We came up with the least we could do, Woolridge said. And then we decided we wanted to help her out. So we got some money together.

The degree of empathy that was shown by these citizens, said a third juror who asked to remain nameless, and the serious way everybody took their responsibility, was really remarkable.

Memmott said he and his wife went to visit Mendez Ortega at her home in Falls Church. We talked to her, offered to help her with anything we could, Memmott said. She declined.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mendez Ortega said after her sentencing, I became happy when I heard they wanted to give me that money. Thank you very much to all of them, God bless them.

Assistant Fairfax Commonwealths Attorney Marcus Greene had asked the jury to consider jail time for Mendez Ortega and argued against Cashs motion that the verdict be deferred. He said the jury had considered the felony conviction to be part of the punishment and that Mendez Ortega did not return the rings until after being questioned by police. He declined to comment on the jurys actions.

Cash, Mendez Ortegas attorney, said he was thrilled that the jury felt sympathy for my client and that they took it upon themselves to help despite finding her guilty. I think the jury saw this case for what it was: a teenager who had never been in trouble before who made a really bad decision but then tried to make it right when her conscience got the better of her.

Jeff Copeland said, The punishment was she didnt get paid for the day she stole from us. But then she did get paid for it. Thats changed my whole view of it.

She made $20 out of it, too, Lisa Copeland added.
Barbara Dan Butt

January 26, 1928 - December 14, 2017

Barbara Dan Butt, wife of Howard E. Butt, Jr., and influential leader in The H. E. Butt Family Foundation, passed away peacefully in her home on December 14, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 89.She was born Barbara Dan Gerber on January 26, 1928, in San Angelo, Texas, to parents Rex Gerber and Christine Hanks Gerber. Although many of their relatives still live around San Angelo, the Gerbers moved to Corpus Christi, where Mrs. Butt's father worked 40 years as a geologist for Humble Oil, then Exxon.

Mrs. Butt was two years older than her sister, Betty Gay Gerber Blank. The two of them attended Corpus Christi High together, where Mrs. Butt served as president of the Latin Club and the Tri-Hi-Y Club, a leadership program of the YMCA. The two sisters would remain very close throughout their lives.

During her senior year in 1945, Mrs. Butt invited her former boyfriend, Howard E. Butt, Jr., to address Tri-Hi-Y when he was on break from Baylor University. Later, he would say that her poise and confidence as president of the club made quite an impression on him. The next semester, she joined him at Baylor, where she received the honor of Baylor Beauty, earned a degree in English, and secured the love and affection of her future husband.

On March 21, 1949, after dating for most of seven years from the age of fourteen, Barbara Dan Gerber married Howard E. Butt, Jr. In their first years of marriage, the two lived in Corpus Christi. She "held down the fort" while Howard worked as an H-E-B executive and led Christian crusades around the country on the weekends. "I would fly all night after speaking in the southeast," Howard Butt often told people. "Barbara Dan would meet me at the plane with a clean shirt and a fresh tie, and I would go and spend the day in the grocery company.

"Mrs. Butt believed her marriage was a gift from God, once saying, "I feel like I was put on this earth to be Howard Butt's wife." Everyone who knew them could see that their marriage was special.

After their youngest went to college, Mrs. Butt followed her husband into leadership at The H. E. Butt Family Foundation. By 1983, she was serving as Secretary-Treasurer on the board. Ten years later, she was Vice President, attending weekly executive staff meetings and working together with the staff to operate Laity Lodge, the retreat center built on the Frio River at the 1900 acre H. E. Butt Foundation property near Leakey, Texas.

For several decades, she was instrumental in the planning and execution of the Laity Lodge Leadership Forums, which brought together Fortune 500 executives from around the country for a weekend of learning, spiritual reflection, and worship. She made decisions on everything from the keynote speakers, to the musicians, to the invitation, to the layout of the meeting rooms. In 2007, Howard Butt said of her, "My wife is a wise woman, full of both common sense and spiritual wisdom." After serving alongside her husband more than three decades, she retired from the board of The H. E. Butt Family Foundation in 2014."Her love for our dad was the mark of her life," said their daughter, Deborah Rogers. "Theirs was a 75-year love affair, a model of marriage in our family, at Laity Lodge, and in our community." In 2012, Howard began having health issues, eventually diagnosed as Parkinson's. According to her son Stephen Butt, when Mr. Butt's Parkinson's grew worse, "she absolutely put everything in her life on hold for him  Her devotion to our father was deep and knew no boundaries." Mrs. Butt lost her husband on September 11, 2016."I still cannot fathom Mother and Dad separated," said their son Howard Butt III. "Theirs was an exceptional marriage, and it gives us all great comfort to believe that in her passing, they are reunited in heaven."

"After Dad died," Mrs. Rogers said, "she would still tell our children that she loved everything about their grandfather, the way he dressed, the way he treated people, his mind, even the way he aged."

Early in her marriage, Mrs. Butt was known to say, "There is more to life than length! You best measure life by its depth!" Surely, she was blessed with a life of great length and great depth. Barbara Dan Butt is survived by her son Howard Butt III, his wife Pamela, and their children Howard IV married to Kristen, Hillary Butt Gromus married to Thomas, and Jeffrey married to Alexandra; her son Stephen Butt, his wife Susan, and their daughters Sarah and Shelby; and her daughter Deborah Rogers, her husband David, and their children Katherine Hanks McAlister married to Rob, Alexandra Crawford married to Patrick, and Jackson Rogers. Her sister, Mrs. Blank, now lives in Hong Kong, China. Mrs. Butt has one great granddaughter, Charley Butt, daughter of Howard IV.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 22, at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. Memorial gifts may be sent to Trinity Baptist Church or The H. E. Butt Family Foundation.Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com
Gerald L. "Jerry" Miller, 81, of Hewitt, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at a local hospice facility. Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Monday, December 18, at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, December 17, at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend, in Waco.
Ann Badolati Roznovsky

March 17, 1936 - December 16, 2017

Ann Badolati Roznovsky, beloved community leader and veteran newspaper woman, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at her home after valiantly battling cancer. She was 81. Ann's body will be donated to scientific research. Even in death, she continues to give to others as she did every day of her life. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Woodway First United Methodist Church.

Ann was born in Paris, Tennessee on March 17, 1936, and grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee. After graduating with honors and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Woman's University, Ann began a career spanning more than 50 years with the Waco Tribune-Herald. Her devotion to the Texas Aggies and everything maroon and white made her a Texan at heart. As a young reporter, she met her future husband, Al Roznovsky, a Waco police officer, while covering an automobile accident. Thanks to that "accidental" meeting, Ann and Al married on May 21, 1960, and celebrated 57 years of marriage this year.

Anyone who knew Ann remembers her beautiful smile and the warmth that came with every word she spoke. Known for her impeccable taste and beautiful clothes, Ann's style was her trademark. Ann was a model of modesty, but her service to others was widely known throughout the state. With a heart for her community, Ann served on the board of 24 different non-profit organizations throughout her career. Ann loved Waco as much as she loved the Trib. In early 2000, she began a museum at the Trib, "Through Our Pages," highlighting Waco and the Trib's history. Ann's legacy will live on through the museum and also through her love of Storybook Christmas, a literacy project which she co-founded, focused on providing new books at Christmas to underprivileged children in McLennan County. During Ann's years at the helm, over 434,000 books have been distributed.

Not many Wacoans have had a day named for them; "Ann Roznovsky Day" in Waco was formally declared in 1996 when Ann was selected as a "Community Hero" to carry the 1996 Olympic Torch through the streets of Waco, and again in 2008, celebrating her 50 years as the "Face of the Trib." Ann was the "Ultimate Tribber," her experience and talent valued and respected by several Trib owners and publishers over the decades. Ann also directed the Great Texas River Run for 20 years and the Summer Sounds (now River Sounds) for 10 years.

Ann was reared by her widowed grandmother in Tennessee whom she credits for her own love of reading and spelling expertise, her perfect manners, and appreciation for music. Ann's grandmother wanted her to be a classical pianist, but she chose to be a journalist. She and Al are members of Woodway First United Methodist Church.

Ann is survived by her husband Al, a retired City of Waco police chief and personnel director, and their son Mike of Waco as well as her brother David Frantz of Houston, Texas; her half-brother Tom Keenan of Omaha, Nebraska along with their spouses and children; and her half-sister Sarah Keenan of Clearwater, Florida. She is also mourned by a multitude of friends. Her two cats, Priscilla and Kaycee, were special members of her family as well.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Storybook Christmas, P.O. Box 6088, Waco, 76706; the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 268, Waco, 76703; or The Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society, 1703 North 4th St., Waco, 76707.
Funeral service will be held at Connally-Compton Funeral Directors in Waco, Texas. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., before the service at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2017. Graveside service will be at Waco Memorial Park following the service.
While Congress finishes tweaking its federal tax-cut bill, its useful to remember that a significant 44 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax in the first place. And here in Texas the real sore point continues to be property taxes. Cities and counties this year only narrowly avoided seeing tighter percentage caps placed on how much property-tax revenue they can garner from one year to the next.

So consider this news flash, largely overlooked amid other spectacles: During this years special legislative session, the Texas House Ways and Means Committee began throwing around proposals to scrap the biggest portion of your property tax bill: that devoted to the maintenance and operation of public schools. One proposal would even junk school property taxes without anything to replace an estimated $23.3 billion in 2021 and $24.6 billion in fiscal year 2022.

Basic idea: Well figure all that out later.

We dont have that in the mattress or the cushions, San Angelo Republican state Rep. Drew Darby acknowledged of his bill. I assure you if we allow this bill to move forward and we give voters an election to end this [school property taxes], Ill work every day with you for the next two years, with the committee, to make sure we can open our schools in 2020. This is not a repeal-and-replace, its simply a repeal. This is not a Pogo stick. This is no stick at all.

Attend a local or state hearing on property taxes and youll often hear the usual suspects vilified: local taxing entities  especially school districts  and county appraisal districts, whose valuations often enough make it possible for taxing entities to bring in more revenue without hiking tax rates. Of course, whether your property goes up in value or the tax rate gets hiked or both, you feel the pain.

That said, Trib contributing columnist Jessica Attas, policy director of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, this year wrote in great detail about other volatile elements that seem to have escaped the notice of irate taxpayers. While school boards and appraisal districts may well deserve scorn on occasion, any discussion about property-tax reform must include the states role in complicating matters for taxpayers and taxing entities.

For instance, Attas as well as John Kinnaird, chairman of the beleaguered McLennan County Appraisal District board, have noted how the state quietly manipulates local property values from afar (that is, Austin), allowing state legislators to then slyly use our increased property values as an excuse to just as quietly decrease the states share of per-pupil funding, leaving it to local school districts to make up the shortfall. And when school boards hike taxes to make up the difference, they and the local appraisal district (which must bow to these aforementioned state-set valuations to a degree) conveniently catch all hell about it.

Cruelest irony of all: State officials in recent legislative sessions have tried to restrict local tax-rate increases in a political charade for an all-too-gullible taxpaying public. As Attas noted in her column, the situation is complicated not only for school districts but also cities and counties by ever-increasing unfunded mandates passed along by state legislators and the governor. Many politicians, ironically, have flourished politically by attacking the federal government for being onerous. Now theyre attacking local control.

Anyone smell hypocrisy?

Thats why the Aug. 2 meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee was so fascinating. A number of bills were discussed, including a bill to provide tax exemptions to Purple Heart recipients (and which, to a degree, represents the growing problem of exemptions peppering the tax code). But the meetings real energy focused on two revolutionary bills. One, state Rep. Andrew Murrs House Bill 285, would hike the state and local sales tax to something like 14 percent, allowing for a substantial part of the school property tax to be gutted if voters approve statewide.

More revolutionary: Rep. Darbys bill, which would eliminate school property taxes with no plan for any replacement funding. This, he said, would give special impetus to legislators  bound by the state constitution to fund public schools  to come up with a solution rather than dithering or procrastinating. Complicating the matter: a provision in state law that prohibits a state income tax, at least without a vote of the voters. Given that only three basic forms of taxation exist in the first place, this bill would seem to put most of the burden on raising and expanding the sales tax.

Murrs proposal was enough to rattle John Kennedy of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association: We think a 14 percent sales tax is not a viable method to reach the goal that Rep. Murr is trying to reach. And I dont think it can be higher. A 14 percent sales tax would make us [the state of Texas] roughly 50 percent higher than the sales tax anywhere else in the country.

One possible drawback: Folks seeking to skirt such sales taxes might order more products online from out of state. Hows that for helping small, Mom-and-Pop, brick-and-mortar businesses?

Kennedy accurately noted that, whatever else, the property tax is the most stable of the two taxes available for Texas governmental entities. The sales tax can prove quite volatile, given that people adjust buying habits when times are poor. He also suggested that exemptions in any sales-tax scheme might keep it more reasonable.

On the other hand, State Republican Executive Committee member Terry Holcomb stressed that any plan relying more heavily on the sales tax will work only if the base is broadened: If were going to talk about eliminating property taxes and going to the sales tax, you cannot have that conversation without broadening the tax base. Were going to have to have hard conversations about what were going to do thats best for Texas taxpayers and you are going to have to broaden that base. There is simply no way around it. And thats part of the problem we have today. We have far too many exemptions and the load is continuing to be put on fewer and fewer people and fewer and fewer dollars.

Holcomb also said revenue produced from the states part of the expanded sales tax should go toward school funding  and not be funneled into covering other expenses.

As the committee hearing dragged on and fewer women remained in the hall, it began to assume the air of a bunch of guys in a deer blind where everyone has lost interest in the deer and begun debating matters in a more frank, even irreverent manner. State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, droll chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, couldnt keep from poking holes in the things he was hearing, especially considering how just two years ago some in the Texas Legislature were talking about cutting the sales tax.

Now, he noted, lawmakers and others were suddenly brimming with ideas on how to raise it while cutting property taxes. And while those loudly protesting property taxes regularly advocate for an increased sales tax, theyre also incredibly picky about broadly applying it. People still want their exemptions.

The truth is theyre politically deadly to touch, many of them, Bonnen said of the wide range of exemptions to sales taxes. Isnt that kind of weird, though, when you think about it? Lets use residential utilities as an example, which is needed to survive and exist. On one hand, people say, Oh, Id rather pay a sales tax than anything else  but how dare you put a sales tax on that! I prefer that tax, but dont put it on that! 

A lanky, bald, bespectacled Republican whose wit makes him an acerbic player in House Speaker Joe Straus buttoned-down, mainstream conservatism, Bonnen at another point put the heat on Vance Ginn, economist of the Center for Fiscal Policy, which functions under the right-wing Texas Public Policy Foundation. Ginn appeared before the committee not only to cheer the idea of scuttling part of the property tax and going to a sales tax hike but to encourage lawmakers to scrap all property taxes and broaden the sales-tax base to include such things as real-estate transactions.

This was too much for Bonnen, given that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick two years ago successfully pushed a constitutional amendment prohibiting levying taxes on real-estate transactions. And when Ginn mentioned that the sales-tax rate under his scheme could go from 19.5 percent with all current exemptions in place today to 15.7 percent if real-estate transfer taxes were included, Bonnen lunged.

Youve frustrated me, Bonnen said. So your goal is to eliminate the property tax, right?

Correct, Ginn said.

You believe the best way to do that is by increasing and expanding the sales tax, right?

Correct.

And the cornerstone of that expansion is to go to the sale of property, correct?

Thats part of it.

And yet you sat silently two years ago when the lieutenant governor drove an initiative to constitutionally prohibit a sales tax on the sale of property.

As I said, we didnt like that portion

But you didnt say anything!

Youd have to have a constitutional amendment anyway to do [all] this.

Dont give me the anyway because you dont respond to my anyways so ... anyway!

No, but you bring up a good point, though.

Bonnen exploded in sarcasm: Oh, well, wonderful, thank you so much!

I strongly suspect that Bonnen was pressing Ginn to acknowledge that, for all his beliefs in a broad sales tax as opposed to property taxes, he didnt want to tangle with Lt. Gov. Patrick two years ago, something Bonnen seems to relish doing. In any case, Darbys bill to just scrap school property taxes straight out prompted concern from other lawmakers who kept trying to envision how they would then generate revenue for public schools.

Let me tell you, Rep. Richard Pena Raymond remarked during this free-wheeling discussion. If that [the Darby bill] passes, youll never get there again [through property taxes]. I was here when we passed  and Im trying to remember if anyone else here was  when we did the HJR that said we would not have a state income tax without voter approval. I voted for it. But I knew once we did that, we would never have a state income tax. It just isnt going to happen. Im just saying if we pass this, youre not going to have a property tax [for school operations].

As lawmakers debated what might replace the school property tax, Darby intervened and lectured his colleagues on his proposal: Yall are trying to solve the problem. I think youre getting off task here. My wife tells me, You guys are all alike. You just want to solve problems. You dont want to listen! And what Im trying to get you to do is listen. We need to listen. We need to set an attainable goal.

Despite Darbys exhortation, his fellow legislators kept trying to figure out a tax scenario to fund schools if voters scrapped the school property tax, prompting Raymond at one point to question whether Darbys bill would replace 60 percent of school property taxes or 100 percent.

No, hes been really clear, Bonnen quipped. He isnt talking about a damn thing!

In short, stay tuned. The legislative session of 2019 in Austin could be wild, even without bathroom bills, gun-rights legislation and voter-suppression acts. And under at least one scenario, school finance could walk a long tightrope without a safety net.
When I was appointed police chief of Woodway, it became not only my job but also my privilege to build public safety for Texas families. As a former president of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, I learn and share best practices with chiefs all around the state about how to make our communities safer.

Law enforcement leaders know cutting crime requires good old-fashioned policing and a strong, committed police force. But achieving the results our communities deserve also requires an unexpected approach  like advocating for policies that we know will keep kids and families safe and give them the support they need. Thats why I call on Congress to work together and swiftly reauthorize the Childrens Health Insurance Program, more commonly known as CHIP.

I know what youre thinking: How does funding childrens health insurance stop people from committing crime? The answer lies in the programs and services that CHIP funds and those programs impact on public safety.

More than 1 million of Texas roughly 7 million children rely on CHIP for health insurance. Nationwide this program insures 8.4 million children  one of every 10 American kids. Kids who qualify for CHIP come from families who earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid but cannot afford to buy private insurance on their own.

But the power of CHIP is not just in the number of kids it covers  both in Texas and across the country. This program is important because it provides vital services that help kids become healthy, productive citizens who choose to contribute to their communities instead of choosing crime.

For instance, CHIP provides mental and behavioral health supports that curb drug abuse. It helps youth who are involved with drugs get clean. These programs are more critical than ever, as drug-overdose rates have doubled nationwide in recent years.

CHIP also funds alternative therapies to detention for juvenile offenders in many states. These therapies reduce the likelihood that kids who commit crimes will reoffend. A study of one such program, Functional Family Therapy, showed the program cut re-arrests in half. Another program, Multisystemic Therapy, cut violent felony arrests by nearly 75 percent.

CHIP also helps kids with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SEDs), which are severe mental or behavioral disorders that persist over a long period of time. Youth with SEDs often need access to CHIP-funded services such as case management, therapy and crisis intervention. These services make a huge difference for both children and for police, as research shows youth with SEDs are roughly 13 times more likely to be arrested than youth who do not have a disorder. Moreover, one study found that almost half of kids with SEDs had contact with the juvenile justice system.

As a cop and as a parent, I never want to see a kid detained. If we get kids the mental health and substance abuse treatments they need, we help put them on a path that can keep them away from ever seeing the inside of a detention center.

CHIP provides these treatments. Yet the program is in trouble.

CHIP expired at the end of September. Without reauthorization, kids in our state and across the United States wont have access to the tools they need to stay on track and stay out of crime. States such as Arizona, Mississippi and North Carolina have already said that, without those critical federal dollars, many children could soon lose their coverage. If Texas is unable to fund CHIP in our state, it will be a big problem for me and my police force  and for the safety of Texas families.

While President Trump has authorized extending CHIP funding in Texas through February, the broader crisis remains. Thats why Congress must reauthorize CHIP before its too late. This common-sense policy has historically garnered support from both sides of the aisle. Sens. John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and the remainder of Congress, including Congressman Bill Flores, who represents my community, should now come together to ensure bipartisan reauthorization without delay.

Our kids, our communities and our public safety depend on it.
Many thanks!

We, the advisory board of the Salvation Army for McLennan County, thank this community. To everyone who has ever volunteered serving meals at our Community Kitchen or rung the bell at a Red Kettle at Christmastime, we say, Thank you. To our compassionate donors who share generous gifts and supportive messages, we say, Thank you. To you who contribute clothes, furniture and household goods, we say, Thank you. And if you participated in Food For Families, you benefited the Salvation Armys food pantry and for that you have our thanks.

You may not know how the Salvation Army helps others beyond your point of support, so let us share briefly what we have learned as board members. The Salvation Army delivers critical help to people in need, families on the brink of crisis and individuals experiencing homelessness. Servicing McLennan County, committed officers and staff of this army focus on people who reside here, struggle here and hope to recover their personal footing here.

Because of caring and committed citizens like you, vital programs and services including Sallys House (a shelter for women and women with children), utility assistance, seniors programming, emergency shelter and family services have a thriving impact on struggling households. This safety net of holistic services can be the difference between an individual experiencing a temporary crisis and a long-term catastrophe.

But we believe the Salvation Army also offers less visible help  that of mercy, dignity and hope. As members of this community, we strongly support their efforts. Thank you for the backbone of possibility your involvement adds to the Salvation Armys works in Waco and McLennan County

Major Bradley Caldwell, Waco

Alabama tragedy

Somehow Sweet Home Alabama resounds as mere anomaly after voters there elected a hard-core, liberal Democrat who endorses the murder of unborn children. For those cowering behind expressions of abortion and reproductive rights, I suggest they man up and call this tragedy exactly what it is. Id sooner settle for a senator whose past is marred with wrong choices than choose one whose future in government will end lives of innocent babies. Surely God intends the womb to be a safe place for precious life. But then God doesnt settle all His accounts in December. The wages of sin is death.-Romans 6:23.

Voting invokes irrefutable consequences.

Kay King, Eddy

Refreshing voice

I read Gary Abernathys column in amazement. Someone aligned with the Washington Post actually understands the Trump phenomena. Maybe Mr. Abernathy needs to spend a few days with the DNC and teach them Trump 101. What an honest and forthright breath of fresh air. And the Trib published it! Wow!

Dan Dayton, West
Household power bills are tipped to fall by more than 10 per cent in the next two years, but only after a spike this summer.

In its latest electricity trends report, the Australia Energy Market Commission (AEMC) predicts prices across the country will rise sharply in the first quarter of 2018 before falling by 6.2 per cent each year on average over the next two years from July thanks to falling wholesale energy costs.

A record-breaking high in the March 2018 summer quarter is forecast to be the peak for energy bills. Credit:MICK TSIKAS

Consumers are riding a power-price rollercoaster driven by changes in generation, the AEMC said.

Victoria is expected to see the greatest change in its electricity bills, with power prices falling 8.2 per cent between July 2018 and 2020.
Both directions of South Western Highway are closed after a motorist crashed into several power poles about 4.15am on Sunday morning.

The highway remains inaccessible for motorists between Clifton Street and Beenyup Road in Byford, with emergency services on the scene trying to clear the area.

South Western Highway has been closed in both directions.

A male driver and female passenger escaped with only minor injuries from the collision, police said.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 16, 2017 | 12:10 PM | LEXINGTON, KY





The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety honored law enforcement officers across the Commonwealth for their efforts to target impaired drivers.Awards were presented to officers with the most impaired-driving arrests in each agency and Highway Safety All-Star awards were presented to the top three in each division.We are honoring those who put their lives on the line each day to save the lives of others, said KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter. These officers, their departments and agencies render a great service for all Kentuckians, and on behalf of Governor Matt Bevin, we say thank you.Sgt. Brandon Mayo of Fulton Police Department had the highest number of arrests among agencies with 10 or fewer officers.Deputy Chris Greenfield of Marshall County Sheriff's Department had the second-highest total arrests for agencies having 11-24 officers.McCracken County Deputy Sheriff Dustin Awberry received an award for the 2nd year in a row, and was recognized for the third-highest total among agencies with 25-49 officers. The department says Awberry arrested 67 impaired drivers in 2017.Mayfield Police Department shared on Facebook a photo of Officer Jeremy Williams, who was awarded for representing his department at the event.State Police Trooper Paul Hale attended on behalf of Post 1 in Hickory, and received an award as well.
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ARCADIA  On Saturday, Ashley Furniture Industries (Ashley) hosted a free and public ceremony with Wreaths Across America to honor and remember our veterans for their service. The event took place at Soldiers Walk in Arcadias Memorial Park, one of the premier war memorials in the United States outside of Washington, D.C.

This is the second year Ashley has sponsored this event to commemorate National Wreaths Across America Day. During the ceremony, veterans (including, members of Arcadias American Legion Post 17 and members from the first of the 128 infantry), community members and Ashley volunteers laid wreaths at each of the war memorials along Soldiers Walk. Simultaneously, thousands of volunteers and sponsors in over 1,200 additional locations across the country, at sea, and abroad held their own wreath-laying ceremonies to honor the contributions and sacrifice of U.S. veterans.

Our first ceremony was last December at Soldiers Walk in Arcadia, Wisconsins Memorial Park, recalls Steve Ralston, Director of Safety, Ashley Distribution Services (U.S. Army Veteran). It was frigid cold and snowing, and I thought even as cold as we were it was nothing compared to what our soldiers and heroes went through during the Battle of the Bulge. That was my unit that was there, so the mission objective to remember really hit home that day.

Leading up to this day, beginning in Maine, a parade of trucks traveled down the East Coast on a mission to lay remembrance wreaths at the grave sites of veterans at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, and other Veterans cemeteries along the way. This year, Ashley Distribution Services assisted in transporting wreaths. Two Ashley trucks and trailers, debuted new Salute Our Veterans graphics, while delivering wreaths from Maine to Philadelphia National Cemetery and from Mississippi to Dallas/Fort Worth Cemetery. The two trailers were driven by Ashley Ambassadors who are military veterans. Ashley now has a total of six of these new trailers, all of which will run year-round out of each of its manufacturing and distribution facilities.
On Feb. 23, Saint Marys University will host the 65th Annual Southeast Minnesota Western Wisconsin Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Students from throughout southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin will present nearly 100 papers and projects. Approximately 30 students will advance to the state fairs, where they compete for awards totaling $25,000 sponsored by 40 government agencies, corporations, and professional scientific societies.

The local fair is an affiliation of the Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF). MSSEF is an annual competition that showcases Minnesotas best and brightest students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). One project from the region will go on to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh in May.

The fair is entirely dependent on support from local universities, businesses and individuals. Fair volunteers, many of them science educators and engineers themselves, contribute more than 400 hours of time to plan and stage the fair.

Businesses and individuals can support the efforts by sponsoring a state entrant ($175.00), the local ISEF representative ($100-$1000), an award for one of 22 categories of research, or you can contribute to the fair directly to help defray expenses, ($12-15,000/annually). Or volunteer to be a judge. Either way the support can help make the fair a successful event for student scientist. They are, after all, the future.
As the third wave of families at Winonas Toys for Kids filed out of the Tandeski Center at Minnesota State College Southeast Saturday morning, 25 to 30 volunteers began restocking tables and filling the room with stuffed animals, dolls, cars, games, crafts and even bicycles.

The next round of 25 people were lined up in the centers hallways and out front, waiting for their chance to peruse the donations of toys at the Toy Store for the annual toy donation pick-up event.

Saturdays event was another installment of the Winona Toys for Kids Toy Store, where each year, families can visit the store and pick out toys and gifts for their children to open on Christmas morning.

Families are given tickets based on how many children they are shopping for in their family and pick out toys based on the number of tickets given. Co-chair of Winonas Toys for Kids and Toy Store organizer Ruth Inglett said attendees at the store this year received two tickets per child, a sign of the commitment by the community to local families and children, Inglett said.

Its awesome; it is just awesome, Inglett said. Parents appreciate it; we appreciate it.

But the process of ensuring every child who celebrates Christmas has something to open that holiday morning is satisfied by the volunteers who help make it happen, Inglett said.

If it wasnt for the volunteer support to help us put it on, we wouldnt do it, Inglett said.

Volunteers in Ingletts family and other community organizations were not new to the Toy Store, but among the volunteers were first time volunteers from out of the area, getting their first glimpse into Winonas Toys for Kids.

One such helper was Pete Maher, who is from the Milwaukee area and friends with Wendy Liebsch, Ingletts daughter and a frequent volunteer at the Toy Store.

A frequent volunteer with childrens organizations in the Milwaukee area, helping at the Toy Store was right in Mahers wheelhouse.

Ive been coming all week, Maher said. This is an amazing production.

Maher, Fastenal volunteers and helpers from the local boy and girl scout troops were among the volunteers who helped set up tables, shop with donations from retail stores and get the store up and running for the morning its opened.

Maher also pitched in his own donation, purchasing 10 bicycles for the event.

Cassandra Petri with the Winona County Sheriffs Office Search Operations Assistance Response (SOAR) Team was also a first-time volunteer. Petri, of St. Charles, Minn., has been with the team for the last six months and decided to join the SOAR team on its annual volunteering at the Toy Store.

Petri was volunteering throughout the duration of the Toy Store and encouraged others to join.

Dont hesitate to get involved, because youll enjoy it, Petri

Laura Isenor and her husband Jonathan Isenor were also first-time volunteers with the Toy Store. The Isenors were in the area to learn more about the district Jonathon is hoping to represent as he runs to represent District 21B for the Minnesota House of Representatives. While 21B does not encompass Winona, it does include close-by Minnesota City and its families.

Volunteering with an event like the Toy Store, Laura said, is one way people can change their communities. Laura was also impressed with the amount of donations the organization had received and was giving away.

Seeing the waves of families come to the Toy Store Saturday morning through fresh eyes with his other fellow Toy Store first-timers, Maher said seeing the support from all avenues of Winona was inspiring.

I dont think everyone is giving a ton, but everyone gives a little... to make something incredible, Maher said.
My visit was

a pleasure

I recently visited Winona for the first time and would like to thank the community for the invitation and for sharing your experiences as residents, students, and business and civic leaders. Learning about your community allows me to fulfill my obligation to represent our regions needs, priorities and opportunities as we set monetary policy for the nation.

The students I met with from Winona State, St. Marys and Minnesota State Southeast Technical were ambitious and incisive. Their worries about finding work after graduation, student loan debt and affordable housing are, unfortunately, shared by many others in our region. While your entrepreneurial and business climate is stronger than many communities your size, I heard business leaders express concerns about recruiting and retaining talent.

As the Federal Reserve strives to be more transparent and inclusive, I want to especially thank Winona State University President Scott Olson for moderating a wide-ranging town hall forum. The discussion was live-streamed on our website, and you may watch it here http://bit.ly/2ytkc2x if you were unable to attend. There, you may also sign up to receive publications focusing on our regions economy and economic opportunity.

I am committed to highlighting our unique region as part of monetary policy deliberations, but I cannot do that without candid dialogue like that in Winona.

Neel Kashkari, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Im no longer a coder or someone writing computer software or instruction code. I once did it, but that science  if science is correct  has become very sophisticated.

Who knows?

As aware dodgers do know, a now, a right-leaning FCC has ruled against so-called Internet (Net) neutrality. Okay. One disturbing consequence of conservatism is understood  expected  were stepping backward, quickly.

Just recently, a number of San Francisco coders pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from a system they created  called a botnet  using their computer virus (Mirai) to infect thousands of computers, general video applications, appliances and so on.

Coders can be hackers and vice-versa. For the record, uninvited intruders are hackers.

The networked infected devices  the botnet  eventually unleash massive email deluges toward  usually corporate  targets. Sheer volume shuts down or cripples the target in what are known as service denials. Its often a way of seeking revenge or vengeance, but sometimes its just mischievous knot-holing.

And the frisky Frisco crew got caught. Yea, cops!

That criminal crew engaged in mafia-styled extortion. They threatened to shut down businesses or encrypt data, unless ransoms were paid.

The thing is, up until the FCC decided against net-neutrality, most dodgers were less fond of rogue coders than corporations.

Remember, these hackers are the creeps who wrote the software that helped to devise those annoying robo-calls and spam sent to computerized communication devices  like your home or business computer and cell-phone, and now to internet-linked security systems. (Hackers now use security video and home video devices, like your home laptop, as bots.)

For most of us, rogue coders are criminal outcasts. But, that will change now that the right-leaning FCC has given the internet to corporate America, taking the internet out of our not-remotely-as-greedy mitts.

If the once-open internet becomes the new private playground for Disney/Fox, politicians, Pacs, fundraisers and religious wack-jobs, what then?

Will apprehending hacks still merit agood-on-ya. to the cops? Or, will most dodgers side with the hackers who deek the large corporations? You get my drift?

Has the conservative FCC just shot corporate America in its already clubbed-foot?

In other words, by making the internet a closed-loop controlled by active money hunters, then has the FCC, in one fell-swoop, shifted general public sympathy to the creeps who ring our phones at mealtimes with bullroar?

Lets be clear, corporations are bullroar organizations. That is, these board-driven outfits are not real people  they are legal entities that are often found to be as criminal as some of us live dodgers.

These legal persons are about to multiply as targets and their being hacked will not be held in as much contempt.

If the corporate world swings its wherewithal-weight around the internet, prices will rise and exclude us.

More robber-barons will attract more legitimized Robin Hacker Hoods. Millions of us robocall-haters love it when hackers stick pins in big corporations.

Will he internet, under new FCC guidelines, implode to pay stockholders?

There are lots of retired coders out there. Will they come back to play Robin Hood, hack the shafting greedy corporations?

Hey, dim conservative dude. Know this...

Old coders dont die.

They come back, hacking away with a vengeance.
A newly disclosed state ethics investigation would likely have remained secret as required under state law had Attorney General Brad Schimel not revealed its existence in a recent report on leaked documents from a now-shuttered investigation into Gov. Scott Walkers 2012 recall campaign.

The Wisconsin State Journal has confirmed that the states former ethics agency, the Government Accountability Board, authorized the ethics investigation into whether lawmakers or taxpayer-paid legislative staff members were campaigning on state time  a review reminiscent of the widely publicized caucus scandal that roiled the Capitol after the Wisconsin State Journal first reported it in 2002.

In this case, the newspaper has learned, the GAB  a panel of six retired judges appointed by the governor  closed the 16-month investigation in March 2013 without recommending criminal charges or penalties. State law requires such inquiries to remain secret unless they result in penalties or criminal charges.

It was not publicized until Schimel this month issued his report on the leaks stemming from the so-called John Doe II investigation into Walkers recall campaign. Schimels report for the first time unmasked the identities of subjects of the previously undisclosed ethics probe, including state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, who is now running for U.S. Senate.

In his report, Schimel erroneously referred to the separate GAB ethics probe as John Doe III, even though it wasnt a John Doe investigation  a separate type of secret law enforcement tool with different rules.

Schimels report stated Department of Justice investigators were not able to discern any limit into this investigation, but didnt mention that it was authorized by the GAB or that it had a start and end date.

The State Journal confirmed additional details of the ethics investigation with multiple sources, most of whom asked that their identities not be revealed because the states confidentiality rules governing ethics investigations prohibit their disclosure with a penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail.

Former GAB ethics administrator Jonathan Becker said he was not aware of there ever being a John Doe III, a term Schimel coined to describe GAB investigation No. 2012-01, the one looking at whether state employees were campaigning on taxpayer time.

That type of activity was at the center of the 2002 legislative caucus scandal, which resulted in felony convictions of top legislative leaders. Two of the six felony convictions in what is now known as the John Doe I investigation into Gov. Walkers Milwaukee County office were also related to campaigning on taxpayer-funded time.

Becker said the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office provided evidence it had collected during the John Doe I investigation to the GAB, which did not seek warrants for records itself. It is not unusual for the states ethics agency to conduct secret investigations when presented with evidence in a complaint or a referral from law enforcement.

There was an investigation that I cant talk about, Becker said. I have maintained confidentiality my whole professional career on this stuff, unlike the Attorney General who may have violated (the confidentiality laws related to ethics investigations) by talking about this stuff in his report.

Schimel spokesman Johnny Koremenos said DOJ agents were authorized to review the contents of the GAB investigation because the agents suspected they included records related to the John Doe I and II reviews.

Koremenos didnt respond to a request for comment on why Schimel referred to the authorized ethics investigation as John Doe III or why he was able to disclose the identities of those under investigation publicly.

Records custody

at issue

The John Doe II also originated from evidence collected by Milwaukee County investigators as part of the John Doe I investigation, which closed in February 2013. The second John Doe was eventually shut down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which ruled the underlying legal theory advanced by Becker and others at the GAB was invalid.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm declined to comment on his offices role in gathering evidence for the ethics probe.

I am still subject to those secrecy orders, as would be the Attorney General unless specifically authorized, Chisholm said in an email.

Schimels report criticizes the former GAB for lax record-keeping that allowed secret documents from the John Doe II investigation to be leaked to the Guardian U.S. newspaper, which published previously unknown details of the investigation in September 2016.

It called for contempt-of-court proceedings against nine individuals and spurred state legislative leaders last week to call for the resignation of the administrators of the Ethics and Elections commissions.

The report takes issue with John Doe special prosecutor Francis Schmitz and Ethics Commission staff for not turning over the John Doe III records, which were found in May in the Ethics Commission offices basement storage area in a box labeled GAB investigation files-closed, 2012-01 State time campaigning. The box was in a file cabinet labeled with former GAB lawyer Shane Falks name attached and another ethics investigation file box labeled GAB investigation, 2013-02 Confidential.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court had ordered all records related to the John Doe I and II investigations be turned over to it. Falks hard drive, which Schimel suspects contains the records leaked to the Guardian, is still missing.

Hard drives held 500,000 emails

Becker said evidence from closed GAB ethics investigations was stored in a locked file cabinet outside his office and after a number of years transferred to a locked storeroom in the basement. Ethics Commission administrator Brian Bell, who wasnt involved in the original ethics investigation, found the boxes in a file cabinet and reported them to DOJ, according to Schimels report.

Falk said he was not involved in the GAB 2012-01 ethics investigation, though he was able to confirm it was approved by the GAB panel of retired judges in December 2011 and closed in March 2013.

He said when the GAB was reorganized in 2016 its likely the files were consolidated in storage.

Either there was space in a box they put my name on or whomever boxed the files up mistakenly believed the 2012 investigation was part of John Doe II or something I worked on, Falk said. Neither are true, of course.

The report said the boxes contained hard drives with 500,000 emails totaling millions of pages and transcripts of Google Chat logs between several individuals most of which were purely personal (and sometimes very private) conversations. Many of the emails, including 150 between Vukmir and her daughter, were placed in folders titled Opposition Research  a term that refers to political dirt collected on opponents.

Schimel concluded the folder name, the breadth of the records and other statements GAB investigators had made in emails demonstrated the weaponizing of GAB by partisans in furtherance of political goals.

I certainly have questions about what in the investigation led to being authorized to get those emails, Schimel told reporters last week. But Im more concerned with why did they retain them at all then.

Schimels report emphasized that no charges were ever filed and his investigators found no evidence to support the allegations of campaigning on state time among the recovered documents. The report doesnt mention that the GAB drew the same conclusion in 2013.

Vukmir horrified over practice

Schimels report says investigators obtained complete personal email accounts, chat and messenger logs, contact lists and IP login information for 35 people, including Vukmir, the only elected official on the list.

In a recent interview with WISN 12, Vukmir said she was horrified to learn her private emails were obtained and placed on a hard drive in a place that many people had access to.

It calls into question how a government agency can operate this way, Vukmir said.

She didnt respond to an interview request.

Retired Judge Neal Nettesheim, who oversaw the John Doe I investigation, said in an interview he doesnt have a specific recollection for why Vukmirs private emails would have been subpoenaed. But he said he carefully reviewed every request for a subpoena or warrant that came before him.

Each would have had to state some of kind probable cause or reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed to acquire the emails.

I would always want to be satisfied we were not running amok and it was not becoming an unwieldy mess, Nettesheim said. I was satisfied at the time and remain satisfied that all the areas that were probed in John Doe I were legitimate and proper.




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A police officer who was in charge of watching over the emperor of Japan is now behind bars after being caught in possession of child porn, according to police in Tokyo

Police arrested the 30-year-old police officer, who was not identified, on Monday.

The imperial police officer regularly escorted members of the imperial family and the emperor.

According to the police investigation, several months ago, officers arrested a man for producing and selling child porn DVDs.

As part of the investigation, police got hold of a list, which contained the names of the child porn dealers clients.

Police found the name of the imperial police officer on the list.

Police raided the police officers home and seized several porn DVDs, which contained photos of young girls having sex with adults.

Police also arrested several police officers and officials from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, whose names appeared on the pron dealers list.

In total, the list contained 7,000 names.

The porn dealer earned $2.5 million by selling the illegal DVDs.

All suspects have been charged with violating the Anti-Child Porn act.
MIAMI (AP) - A former Florida health care administrator has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison for accepting bribes from health care facilities to help them stay ahead of regulators.

A U.S. Attorney's Office news release says 66-year-old Bertha Blanco was sentenced Friday. The former Agency for Health Care Administration employee must also pay $441,000 in restitution and forfeit $100,000. She pleaded guilty in October to bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Prosecutors say that from at least 2007 through June 2015, Blanco solicited and received thousands of dollars of bribes from Miami-area facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds in exchange for nonpublic reports and other information, including unannounced inspections and previously undisclosed patient complaints. The facilities could use the information to fabricate and falsify medical paperwork and to temporarily remedy deficiencies.
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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A group of state lawmakers have approved sweeping proposals aimed at encouraging people and businesses to move to rural Georgia.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the group recently voted to support income tax breaks worth up to $6,000 a year, high-speed internet lines in unconnected areas and better health care access.

The recommendations approved by the Georgia House of Representatives Rural Development Council could become a reality if enacted by the General Assembly next year.

House Speaker David Ralston said the council's initiatives are a high priority as lawmakers try to bolster rural areas of Georgia.

The efforts are focused on counties losing population and jobs to cities. Of Georgia's 159 counties, 124 of them had less than 5 percent population growth for five straight years.
HAVANA, Fla. (WTXL) - A local man is behind bars after police take down a high-tech marijuana grow operation in Gadsden County.

According to the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, deputies searched a house on Deerview Drive in Havana, where they found 18 pounds of marijuana, dried and packaged. On top of the drugs, they also found paraphernalia and cultivation equipment in a separate grow house.

Deputies arrested Jason Seeders and booked him into the Gadsden County Jail on charges of operating a drug house, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 22F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 22F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
SATURDAY 12/16

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

MONDAY 12/18

>> Immunization Clinic: The Polk County Health Department will hold immunization clinics at the Polk County Health Department in Osceola on Monday, Dec. 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

>> A Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held at the York City Auditorium on Monday, Dec. 18 from noon until 6 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/19

>> Immunization Clinic: The Polk County Health Department will hold immunization clinics at the Polk County Health Department in Osceola on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

>> A Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held at the York City Auditorium on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

>> La Leche League of York will meet Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Lower Level Conference Room of the Medical Office Building, 2222 North Lincoln Avenue.No pre-registration or fee necessary. During pregnancy is the ideal time to seek birth and breastfeeding education though all women and babies are welcome at any stage. Contact accredited leader, Gloria at 402-362-6875 or turnbull@inebraska.com

WEDNESDAY 12/20

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Wednesday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

>> The Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program will be presenting an update on Medicare for the new year on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m. at the York Senior Center. They will also be offering fraud bingo after the meeting. Everyone is welcome.

THURSDAY 12/21

>> Weight Watchers meets in the basement of the York Towne House, 5th & Grant Ave., each Thursday. Weigh in 5:15 - 5:45 p.m.; Member meeting 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.

>> AL-ANON meets Thursday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

>> Narcotics Anonymous meets Thursday at 8 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the Annex building.

FRIDAY 12/22

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Friday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

SATURDAY 12/23

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

MONDAY 12/25

>> Immunization Clinic: The Polk County Health Department will hold immunization clinics at the Polk County Health Department in Osceola on Monday, Dec. 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/26

>> Immunization Clinic: The Polk County Health Department will hold immunization clinics at the Polk County Health Department in Osceola on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 12/27

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Wednesday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

THURSDAY 12/28

>> Weight Watchers meets in the basement of the York Towne House, 5th & Grant Ave., each Thursday. Weigh in 5:15 - 5:45 p.m.; Member meeting 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.

>> AL-ANON meets Thursday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

>> Narcotics Anonymous meets Thursday at 8 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the Annex building.

>> A Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the American Legion in Fairmont on Thursday, Dec. 28 from 12:30 - 6 p.m.

FRIDAY 12/29

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Friday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

>> A Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at York General Hospital on Friday, Dec. 29 from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 12/30

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.
Arizona News

Tucson, Arizona - Tucson Border Patrol Station completed their 14th Citizens Academy on Thursday night and graduated 13 students who learned firsthand about Border Patrols mission.

The students participated in classes, discussions, scenarios and demonstrations to gain an in-depth view into various areas of law enforcement and the daily operations of securing Arizonas southern border.

Classes were held one night per week for seven weeks, with each night focusing on a different aspect of what Border Patrol agents do. Participants also received a brief overview of various laws agents must know prior to graduating from the Border Patrol Academy.

The Border Patrols primary purpose for offering this introductory course is to give attendees a better understanding of U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations and the dynamics of securing the nations borders.

The Border Patrols Tucson Sector is committed to community outreach programs to strengthen relationships within border communities.

Attending the Citizens Academy is free  all materials are provided  but applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet certain application requirements.
Latest News

Sells, Arizona - A 20-year-old Guatemalan man has been charged with assault on a federal officer after he fought with two Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents south of Sells, Arizona, on Thursday morning.

Two agents patrolling on off-road motorcycles tracked two suspected illegal aliens a few miles north of the U.S. border. One agent located and arrested a 34-year-old Mexican man. The other agent located and attempted to arrest a 20-year-old Guatemalan man nearby but was pulled off his motorcycle and physically assaulted by the subject. The agents partner assisted in restraining the subject as the man continued to fight both agents before being placed under arrest.

The Guatemalan man will be charged with assault on a federal officer by the U.S. Attorneys Office and will be processed for immigration violation in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines. The Mexican man will also be processed for immigration violations.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Early this morning, at 12:39 a.m., officers responded to 1460 S. 4th Avenue, the Maverick Bar, reference an aggravated assault.

Upon arrival officers located a 37 year old male with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased. The suspect, 38 year old Carlos Moreno Leal Jr., was located in the 1300 block of S. 5th Avenue and taken into custody. Leal Jr. was booked into Yuma County Detention Center for multiple felony charges to include 1st degree murder.

The victim has been identified as 37 year old Joseph Benjamin Roosevelt. The location of the shooting was inside the business. The victim and suspect were known to each other.

This case is still under investigation.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.
Bhopal: Ahmedabad collector Avantika Singh on Sunday rubbished all allegations made by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel that 140 engineers were hired to tamper 5000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)s.

She added that it doesn't call for any clarification as they were "baseless".

"These are baseless allegations. I don't think any clarification is needed. Even if any clarification is to be issued, it will be issued by the Election Commission," she added, as per ANI.

Patel on Sunday said on Twitter that if a human body, made by God be tampered with, then why not an EVM, which is made by humans.

He also alleged that there had been attempts to hack EVMs using its "source code" in the Patidar-dominated and tribal areas of the state.

,,,,,,,-,,,-,,,,,,,,            EVM           Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 17, 2017

          

                  EVM        !! ATM      EVM   !!!  Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 17, 2017

Patel had also claimed in a tweet yesterday that 150 software engineers of an Ahmedabad-based company were preparing to hack 5,000 EVMs.

,,,,,,,-,,,-,,,,,,,,            EVM          December 17, 2017

Patel's statement comes after the apex court dismissed the Congress' plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to count and cross verify at least 25 percent of VVPAT with votes cast with EVM.

On December 15, the apex court had said it found no merit in Congress' plea and asked that the Gujarat Congress could approach it through filing a writ petition for electoral reforms.

It further maintained that electoral process in a democracy was of utmost importance and the SC cannot interfere only to allay apprehension of a party.

Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

(With Agency inputs)
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump`s administration is set to propose revoking a rule that makes spouses of thousands of H1-B visa holders eligible to work while in the US, potentially complicating a major driver of technology jobs, the media reported.

Since 2015, the spouses of H-1B, or high-skilled, visa holders waiting for green cards have been eligible to work in the US on H-4 dependent visas, under a rule introduced by former President Barack Obama`s administration, CNN reported on Friday.

The tech sector is a major employer of H-1B visa holders.

But in a statement late Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security said that it intended to do away with the rule.

However, the department did not explain its reasons in the announcement, saying that it was only acting "in light of" the "Buy American, Hire American" executive order that Trump had signed in April.

The formal process to rescind the rule will still need to be initiated at a later date.

While changing the rule would not prevent spouses of H-1B holders from pursuing other avenues for work authorisation, it could deter a number of high-skilled immigrants from staying in the US if their spouses cannot easily find work.

As well as dropping the rule allowing spouses to work, the Department of Homeland Security statement mentioned plans for other changes to the H-1B visa programme, reports CNN.

They include revising the definition of what occupations are eligible for the programme "to increase focus on truly obtaining the best and brightest foreign nationals", which would be a standard potentially far above what is currently understood under the law.

The Obama-era rule allowing spouses to work already faces a legal challenge. A group called Save Jobs USA filed a lawsuit in April 2015 arguing that it threatens American jobs.

It has continued to press the case following Trump`s election, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said in the past that the H-4 rule "hurts American workers".

The administration`s plans to overhaul the H-1B programme has caused particular alarm in India, which accounts for 70 per cent of all H-1B workers.

The H-1B is a common visa route for highly skilled foreigners to find work at companies in the US. It is valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years.

It is a programme that`s particularly popular in the tech community, with many engineers vying for one of the programme`s 85,000 visas each year.

In October, the government said it was toughening up the process for renewing the visa. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services instructed its officers to review requests for renewal as thoroughly as they would initial visa applications.
Karachi/Islamabad: At least four worshippers were killed and 20 others injured today in a suicide bombing at a church in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province.

Around four militants attacked the church located on Zarghon Road of the provincial capital when the Sunday service was going on, according to police.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two attackers were involved.

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said that two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police. He said the fleeing militants were chased by police and killed.

He said that four worshippers were killed and 20 others injured in the attack.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.
More than 100 shops have been gutted in fire at a shopping complex in Bhopal. The incident occurred in the Bairagarh area of the Madhya Pradesh capital.

Over 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

More details are awaited.

(With ANI inputs)
NEW DELHI: Gold smugglers come out with ingenious ways from time to time to conceal their prized items from the watchful eyes of the Customs, be it at the airports or the seaports. However, in one such latest incident, the officers have unearthed a consignment hidden inside a microwave transformer.

This perhaps was the first such attempt to smuggle gold into the country hidden inside the transformer of a microwave.

The precious metal was being shipped in the form of two cylindrical bars hidden inside the transformer. However, the alert officers deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday spotted the items during an inspection.

According to the ANI news agency, the seized items have a market value of Rs 56,69,400. An investigation is currently underway.

Recently, gold smugglers seemed to have shifted their focus to the European nations from traditional Gulf countries, which used to be a preferred route for smuggling of the yellow metal, to avoid suspicion of the Indian customs.

Recent cases of gold seizure show that smugglers are opting for the European route and newer modus operandi, the customs officials said.

It has emerged that there is a strict vigil on passengers coming from Gulf countries to check any attempt of gold smuggling. However, flights coming from the European nations do not see such strict checks.

"There are cases of gold smuggling involving passengers coming from European sector. It means that the smugglers are now opting for this route to bring gold. It is a new trend witnessed by us," a senior customs official had earlier said.

In the period from January to October this year, at least 110 kg of gold, valued at Rs 37 crore, has been seized from smugglers at the IGI airport here, officials said.

The customs officials maintain high vigil at the Delhi airport as it is one of the entry points in the country which registers a maximum number of cases of gold smuggling.
GHAZIABAD: A Class 11 student has been arrested on charges of allegedly molesting a class 5 student in a school bus in Vasundhara district.

The latest incident was reported days after a four-year-old was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a classmate in a school in Dwarka in November.

As per the FIR filed by her parents, the girl had complained of pain in her private parts after coming back from school on November 25. The next day she broke her silence on the assault.

According to the parents, she narrated the whole incident that took place during the school hours, wherein one boy of her class opened her pants and put his finger inside her private parts.

The girl tried pushing him away but to no avail, and could not ask for help as no staff member was around.

Accusing the school management of laxity, the parents had alleged that a school teacher and school coordinator, on being told about the incident, feigned ignorance and offered no concrete assistance. The school principal too did not provide any relief, and further refused to divulge details of the accused student.

After the doctors at Rockland Hospital examined the victim and confirmed it to be a case of sexual assault, the parents lodged a complaint at the Dwarka Police Station.
PANAJI: The concept of paid sex is no more a discreet and private affair, with business being conducted behind the closed doors. Especially in Goa.

Patrons wishing for paid sex now have show their Aadhaar cards, as a proof of identity.

In an effort to avoid authorities, pimps in Goa have introduced several layers of verification measures including Aadhaar cards. Customers also have to send photos of themselves and surrounding area, including hotel premises and room, as proof.

Over the past few months, the state has heavily cracked down on flesh trade.

According to a report in the Times of India, a group of men looking for paid sex were forced to shell out their Aadhaar cards.

The men, who were there for a bachelor party, contacted someone for five 'girls'. The contact soon reverted, demanding for their Aadhaar details via WhatsApp along with a photo of their room keys with the hotel tag.

The report added that pimps are doing a background check to see if customers arent police decoys, as flesh trade in India is illegal.
AHMEDABAD: Elections are over and the results of the much-awaited Gujarat assembly polls will be declared on Monday.

The Gujarat elections witnessed hectic campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress leaders raked up several issues to hit out at each other and reach out to the voters.

This time even foreign factors were raised by the party leaders to slam their opponents.

One such example was when BJP star campaigner Narendra Modi alleged that his predecessor Manmohan Singh was conspiring with Pakistan for the BJP's defeat in Gujarat.

Modi, while speaking at a poll rally in Gujarat on December 10, had sought to link the dinner meeting hosted by Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistani dignitaries and attended by Manmohan Singh, among others, with the ongoing Assembly polls and a conspiracy against the BJP.

The BJP leader claimed that some Pakistani officials and Manmohan Singh met at Aiyar's house over dinner on December 6. This was a day before Aiyar's "neech" jibe against Modi that led to his suspension from the party.

Later Singh issued a statement, listing those who attended the dinner, and stressed that the election was not discussed during the meeting. I reject the innuendos and falsehoods as I did not discuss Gujarat elections with anyone else at the dinner hosted by Mani Shankar Aiyar as alleged by Modi.

I sincerely hope that he will apologize to the Nation for his ill thought transgression to restore the dignity of the office he occupies, Singh said in the statement.

Another incident which made the headlines was OBC leader and Congress candidate Alpesh Thakor's 'Modi eats Taiwanese mushrooms' statement.

At an election rally, Thakore claimed that the complexion of the Prime Minister has turned fair because he eats mushrooms imported from Taiwan that costs Rs 80,000 per piece.

Speaking at a rally in Gujarat, Thakor said, "Someone told me that what Modi ji eats, you can't eat because it's not poor people's food. So I asked what such food does he eat? He said he eats mushrooms. I asked what was wrong in that, mushrooms are widely available. He said that he doesn't like the ones we eat, the ones he eats are from Taiwan and the cost of one mushroom is Rs 80,000. He eats five of them every day."

Thakor was trolled on Twitter with hilarious memes for 'PM Modi eats Taiwanese mushrooms' remark.
Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amid tight security.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each other.

While PM Narendra Modi led the campaign for the BJP, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of his party's electioneering.

Following are some of the highlights of Gujarat polls:

- During the campaign, PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

- Rahul persistently attacked the PM and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

- The Congress also stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani - in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

- Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led a counter-protest against the inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities. The influential Patidar community accounts for around 12 percent of the state's population.

- The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign "vikas gando thayo che" (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of "I am development, I am Gujarat".

- According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of voting on December 14, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 percent.

- In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 percent voting was recorded.

- The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 percent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 percent polling was registered.

- In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.

- According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 percent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 percent.

- Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 per cent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 percent and 70 percent.

- Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 percent.

- In the 2012 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61 in Gujarat.

(With PTI inputs)
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Sunday that he was confident of a landslide victory for ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Assembly elections.

"I am confident that the results will be in favour of BJP. BJP will form the government and will get more than two-third of the (182 Gujarat Assembly) seats," he said.

"Gujarat public has preferred politics of development, and development was brought in by Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the BJP," Rupani added, as per ANI.

Replying to the allegations of Congress about tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said the baseless charges had been made "so that the responsibility of defeat does not fall on Rahul Gandhi" when the results would be declared on Monday.

Rupani also dismissed Congress ally Hardik Patel's allegation of 140 engineers being hired to tamper 5000 EVMs, as insignificant.

Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly elections, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across Gujarat's 33 districts, amid tight security. The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each other.

While PM Modi led the campaign for the BJP, Rahul was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of voting on December 14, for 93 seats of north and central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 percent.

In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 percent voting was recorded. In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office in Gujarat, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the Opposition for over two decades.

In the 2012 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61 in Gujarat.

(With PTI inputs)
The battle for Gujarat has been fought. And it has certainly not been a cakewalk for either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress. The campaign for the Assembly polls witnessed everything from name calling to personal attacks to sporadic violence.

The first controversy surrounding the Gujarat Assembly elections was the delayed announcement of polling dates. The Election Commission broke the convention as it declared the dates for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls on October 13 but did not declare any dates for polling in Gujarat  notably the counting of both the states are taking place on Monday, December 18, 2017.

In 2002-03, the EC had announced the dates for Gujarat elections on October 28, 2002 while the dates for Himachal Pradesh were announced on January 11, 2003. This difference in announcement of dates had come because of the riots in Gujarat, following which the state Assembly was dissolved prematurely. Apart from this, the EC has always been announcing the dates for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections simultaneously.

While the opposition had hit out at the authority for the delayed announcement, the EC defended itself saying it was done to avoid an unreasonably long period of model code of conduct in Gujarat.

However, soon the parties went back to business  reaching out to the voters.

Both the BJP and the Congress were aggressive from the onset. And the battle was led from both ends by the biggest names  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

One target of both the parties was the Patidar community, of which some leaders like Hardik Patel have been up in arms against the ruling BJP in the state. There were attempts by both the parties to woo Patidar leaders.

What added fuel to the fire were few videos. While first came a video of Patidar leader Hardik Patel reportedly meeting Rahul Gandhi in a hotel in Ahmedabad, later came another one  a purported sex CD of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel.

The Patidars, however, finally sided with the Congress. But the tie-up came only after its share of drama when some of the Patel community members resorted to violence over the first candidates list released by the Congress party. A presser by Hardik Patel came later to pacify the PAAS members wherein he openly declared his support to the Congress, attributing the same to a reservation formula given by the opposition party.

The stage was thus set for the battle to get fiercer. The issue that now came to the fore was religion. One register entry at Somnath temple  still not clear if real or fake  raised questions on the religion of Rahul Gandhi. The opposition embraced the issue and ask the Congress to clarify on the religion of the Gandhi scion, targeting his several visits to temples in the state. Paying heed to the attack, the Congress released three pictures showing Rahul Gandhi perform Hindu rituals. The Gandhi scion himself later told a party meet that his family members are disciples of lord Shiva.

The ruling BJP got another shot in the arm with veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar triggering a row by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi neech. The Congress, however, acted swiftly and suspended Aiyar from the party after serving him a showcause notice. Rahul Gandhi also asked Aiyar to offer an apology, and asserted that nothing derogatory must be said about the Prime Minister. But the opposition took up the issue and questioned the opposition party on public platforms. PM Modi himself raised the issue during his rallies, saying it was an insult not to him, but to the Gujarati pride. The damage, if any, caused with this statement to the Congress party is yet to be seen.

However, the opposition got a similar opportunity to target the ruling BJP when the Prime Minister claimed in his rally that Pakistan was trying to influence the results in Gujarat Assembly elections. He cited a dinner attended by former Pakistani officials, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar to allege that the neighbouring country was interfering in Gujarat polls. The opposition hit back saying PM Modi was making such statements as he feared defeat. Even Pakistan foreign office issued a statement saying India must not drag it in its political battle.

And if this was not all, there were the likes of OBC Congress leader Alpesh Thakor, who added a humourous element in the last leg of campaign claiming, PM Modi eats Taiwanese mushroom worth Rs 4 lakh everyday to get fairer.

Before the battle could end, it was back to square one for both parties as the fight culminated at the doors of the EC, which issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi over the latters television interviews after the campaigning date was over. The Congress alleged bias by the constitutional authority.

And then came the icing on the cake with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a mini roadshow after casting his vote in the second phase of polls in Ranip in Ahmedabad. The Congress reached the EC door alleging gross violation of norms by the BJP leader. The opposition even termed the EC as a puppet of the Modi government.

Now, after months of intense political war, exchange of personal attacks, and questions on constitutional authorities, the fate of the political parties have been locked. The verdict will be out on Monday. Though the exit polls have suggested a clear victory for the ruling BJP, many still believe that the results may even lead to political earthquake in the country.
Gurugram: A 27-year-old man was robbed and killed by two persons who later dumped his body in south's Delhi Mahipalpur forest area, police said on Saturday.

Body of Sunil Kumar Bhatt, a native of Uttarakhand who lived with his wife in Gurgaon's Gandhi Nagar area, was found in the forest area of Mahipalpur of neighbouring Delhi.

"Bhatt on Thursday around 7 pm left for Haridwar for a function at his brother's place. He boarded a private cab after its driver and a person masquerading as passenger lured him saying that they were also going to Haridwar," he said.

"While my husband called me to inform that he has boarded a cab, the call got disconnected abruptly. On calling again, his number was found switched off mode," Bhatt's wife Deepa told police.

"Suspecting foul play, she approached the Gurgaon Police did not take swift action and registered only missing complaint," she said.

The Delhi Police yesterday informed its Gurgaon counterpart about recovery of a body, which was later identified as of Bhatt, in forest area of Mahipalpur area.

A case of murder was registered against unknown persons in Delhi Cantt police station, the PRO said.

During investigation, it was found that the accused persons, hit on Bhatt's head with a heavy object. They robbed his valuables, ATM cards and strangulated him with a muffler and also slit his throat before dumping his body, Kumar said.

The accused also withdrew money from Bhatt's ATM cards several times and did shopping using it last morning, the officer said.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Delhi Police and Gurgaon Police. The CCTV footages of ATMs, and major roads are being scanned to identify the accused, he added.

Earlier this month, a woman who took a shared cab from Shankar Chowk to go at Hero Honda Chowk was robbed, molested and tried to rape by three accused persons in a cab. She was later thrown out of a moving cab at Rajeev Chowk.
Simla: Congress leader and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday mocked at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over state election results.

"I am waiting for the results. I am expecting that Congress party will get a victory. BJP is targeting above 50 or 60 seats of total 68. This is just a dream. Let them dream. Nobody is stopping them," he told ANI.

Rejecting the exit polls that predicted BJP's victory in the hill state, Singh said, "Exit polls are fraud and not based on facts. It has been manipulated."

He added that state has witnessed a rapid development in the last five years.

"Congress party has always fought elections on the basis of development and there is no doubt that during the last five years the state has seen rapid development. Our success and efforts have been acclaimed by the Central government and all the agencies,"

Polling for 68 seats of Himachal Pradesh was held on November 9 recording 74.61 percent voter turnout, the highest-ever in the state.

Most of the exit polls on Thursday projected a clear majority for the saffron party in Himachal.

Today's Chanakya gave BJP 135 seats in Gujarat and predicted a measly 47 for the Congress, 14 less than the Opposition party has in the current Assembly. It predicted a vote share of 49 percent for the BJP and 38 percent for challenger Congress.

The VMR exit poll predicted 115 seats for the BJP and 64 for the Congress, with the remaining going to 'others'. On the other hand, the C Voter exit poll gave the BJP 108 seats and the Congress 74.

The CSDS exit survey predicted a BJP victory in 117 seats as against the Congress's 64.

The counting of the votes will be done on December 18.

(With Agency inputs)
This week many children are busy preparing for their annual Sunday School Christmas programs.

Their parents, grandparents and pastors are eager to hear them retell the story of the birth of Jesus as they parade through the church dressed up as shepherds, wise men, sheep, donkeys, cows...and of course..the coveted roles of Mary and Joseph. Cute and often a bit humorous, Christmas programs are a great way to live into Gods amazing story.

Most often the setting for Christmas programs is a stable or cave in the little town of Bethlehem. English Lutheran Church (La Crosse) has put together another phenomenal version of the little village where Jesus was born. The Bethlehem Event includes people of all ages, animals too! If your schedule this weekend (Dec 16-17) allows, I encourage you to go and experience what life in Bethlehem may have been like for people living under Roman occupation, complete with soldiers and tax collectors. The Bethlehem event is free and open to the public from 12-5pm.

The Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke includes the foretelling of Jesus birth to Mary in a little village of Nazareth. The Angel Gabriels surprising announcement to Mary, an unsuspecting teenage woman engaged to be married, left her afraid and perplexed. And with good reason. How could she ever expect to hear the angels greeting that she was the one favored by God to conceive in her womb, a son that she would name Jesus. This took place in the most unlikely of places, the little village of Nazareth, a village of about 200 people at that time.

A month ago I was with a group from our area that visited Nazareth, now a city of 70,000 people in the Galilee region of Israel. There we visited the Church of the Annunciation, one of the most modern churches in the Holy Land, built nearly 50 years ago over the cave that was the traditional site where the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the Messiah. This, the fifth church built over this site, contains beautiful panels of Mary depicted from different cultures around the world. Architecturally it is breathtakingly beautiful! Spiritually it is awe-inspiring.

One person said that quietly meditating on the wonder of Mary at the Church of the Annunciation, was one of the highlights of her trip. For as the Angel Gabriel said, Nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37)

Whether it is at a childrens Christmas program, the Bethlehem event at English Lutheran, or in the quiet of your home, may you find time to prepare for Christmas by quietly pondering anew, what the Almighty God can do...through you!

Merry Christmas!
Los Angeles: Kevin Hart wishes to fill in veteran actor Robbie Williams' shoes if a remake of "Mrs Doubtfire" is ever made.

The 38-year-old actor, who currently features in 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle', a rehash of another classic starring Williams, said bringing Mrs Doubtfire to life again would be interesting, CinemaBlend reported.

"I'll stay on the Robin Williams train and say that if I could jump into 'Mrs Doubtfire'. That was a very amazing performance on both ends for him. I think that's one I'd love to get to play in," Hart said.

The 1993 award-winning comedy had Williams play a father who goes to extreme lengths to be in his children's lives - posing as a Scottish nanny, Mrs Doubtfire - after a judge grants their custody to their mother after divorce.
HYDERABAD: At least four persons, including two actresses from Mumbai, were arrested after police busted a prostitution racket in the city.

The police conducted raids on two five-star hotels in posh Banjara Hills area late on Saturday night and arrested several people involved in the fresh trade. Those arrested include an actress from Bollywood and another television actress, according to reports.

Two brokers, who were running the racket online and booking rooms in star hotels for the customers, were also taken into custody.

The actresses, however, are yet to be identified. They had reportedly flown to Hyderabad from Mumbai on Monday.

A police officer said two girls from Mumbai were arrested from the hotels adding that an investigation has been launched after the arrest of the people.

According to reports, police conducted raids on luxurious hotels - Taj Deccan and Tej Banjara following information that organised sex rackets were being conducted.

Later, two more persons, including the television actress, were arrested from another star hotel in the same area.

Following the arrests, the accused were handed over to Punjagutta police in the city.

In another incident, a high-end prostitution racket involving actresses was busted in West Bengal today.

The Hyderabad police officials arrested five persons, including a Tollywood actress and a television actress from Bengal.

Rs 55,000 cash was seized from the arrested persons.
Agartala: Anybody living in India is a Hindu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said today, asserting that the meaning of Hindutva is to unite all communities.

Hindutva is different from Hinduism, he told a public function at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan in the heart of Tripura's capital.

"The Muslims in India are also Hindus," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak said.

Bhagwat, who is on a five-day tour of Tripura since Friday to review the organisational work of the RSS in the north-eastern region, said, "We have no enmity with anyone. We want welfare of all. To unite all is the meaning of Hindutva."

Maintaining that India is a land of Hindus, he said "tortured" Hindus from across the world come to the country and get shelter.

The RSS supremo said, "Hindus believe in truth, but the world respects strength. There is strength in organisation. Being organised is the natural law."

Referring to the Partition, he said parts of India got separated in 1947, leading to the weakening of the spirit of Hindutva and a decline of the "Hindu Samaj".

"India was united for so long. There was unity among the Hindus," Bhagwat said.

Highlighting the rich heritage of the country, he said, "A perturbed and confused world is looking at India for a new world order that can accommodate the materialist as well as the idealist."

He urged the Hindus to get organised and trained at RSS "shakhas" (daily meetings), saying these were the only places where one could prepare for nation-building and self- development.

The "sanatan dharma" wants to work together with everybody on board, Bhagwat said.

The Left Front-ruled Tripura is scheduled to go to polls early next year and the BJP is making a serious bid to increase its footprint in the north-east. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have BJP governments.
New Delhi: Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly elections, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across Gujarat's 33 districts, amid tight security. The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds-barred attacks on each other.

While PM Modi led the campaign for the BJP, Rahul was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

Counting of votes will be done for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections too. In the hill state, counting will take place at 42 centres.

Gujarat polls: Highlights

According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of voting on December 14, for 93 seats of north and central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 percent.

In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 percent voting was recorded. In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise.

According to the EC data, the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 percent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 percent.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office in Gujarat, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the Opposition for over two decades.

During the campaign, PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

On the other hand, Rahul persistently attacked PM Modi and the BJP for "not talking about the future of Gujarat" and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.

The Congress also stitched a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani - in its bid to unseat the BJP.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led a counter-protest against the inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

The influential Patidar community accounts for around 12 percent of the state's population.

Himachal polls: Highlights

Meanwhile, the fate of 337 candidates including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal will also be known on Monday as counting of votes is taken up in Himachal.

Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of GST and demonetisation.

Out of 67 sitting MLAs, 60 MLAS, nine Cabinet ministers, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, Deputy Speaker, Jagat Singh Negi and eight chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) contested the polls along with a dozen former ministers.

Himachal has a tradition of change in government after every election. The BJP ousted the Congress in 1990 and the Congress avenged defeat in 1993. The BJP formed the government with the help of Himachal Vikas Congress in 1998 and the Congress was back in power in 2003. The BJP made a comeback in 2007.

The hill state witnessed a record 75.28 percent turnout. 2,820 counting staff has been deployed for the exercise which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro observers, PTI reported.

Predictions by exit polls for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh:

Meanwhile, most of the exit polls on Thursday predicted more than 100 seats for the BJP in Gujarat. In Himachal the exit polls projected a clear majority for the saffron party, unseating the Congress.

Today's Chanakya gave BJP 135 seats in Gujarat and predicted a measly 47 for the Congress, 14 less than the Opposition party has in the current Assembly. It predicted a vote share of 49 percent for the BJP and 38 percent for challenger Congress.

The VMR exit poll predicted 113 seats for the BJP in Gujarat and 66 for the Congress, with the remaining going to 'others'. On the other hand, the C Voter exit poll gave the BJP 108 seats and the Congress 74.

The CSDS exit survey also predicted a BJP victory in Gujarat and said the saffron party would 117 seats as against the Congress' 64.

In Himachal Pradesh, the exit polls predicted the BJP's return to power with a comfortable majority in the 68-member Assembly.

Today's Chanakya gave the BJP 55 seats and to the ruling Congress 13 seats, with the remaining to 'others'. It also predicted a margin of plus/minus 7 seats. The VMR exit poll predicted a tally of 51 seats for the BJP. It gave 16 seats to the Congress and one to other.

On the other hand, the CSDS exit poll predicted 38 seats for the BJP and 29 for the Congress in Himachal, with one to 'others'.

(With PTI inputs)
PUNE: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Sanjay Kakade, on Saturday predicted his party`s defeat in Gujarat elections.

"The BJP has been in power for the longest time and there is a possibility that anti-incumbency will affect us. Apart from this, the fact is that the Muslim population is unhappy with us to a large extent," BJP spokesperson Kakade told ANI.

"Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he could not concentrate on state issues the way he used to when he was the chief minister. Also, if Congress wins this election, it will be because the BJP did not conduct a good election campaign," he added.

Meanwhile, several exit polls have predicted a big win for BJP not only in Gujarat and but also in Himachal Pradesh.
NEW DELHI: Newly-elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi will on Sunday host a lunch for party MPs, office bearers, Pradesh Congress Committe members and Congress Legislative Party leaders.

Facing the uphill task of reviving a moribund party, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took over as the Congress president.

The handing over of the mantle of the leadership of the 132-year-old party took place at a ceremony on the lawns of the Congress Headquarters where Central Election Authority President Mullapally Ramachandran presented the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony watched by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other top leaders of the party.

In his first speech as the Congress president, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP, accusing it of spreading hatred and violence in the country.

"They break, we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it. They get angry, we love. This is the difference between them and us," he told party workers.

Attacking Modi, he said the Congress took India into the 21st century, "while the prime minister today is taking us backward, to a medieval past where people are butchered because of who they are, beaten for what they believe and killed for what they eat".

This ugly violence in the country, he said, has "shamed us" in the world as India's philosophy and history, born out of love and compassion, are being tarnished by such horror.

The Gandhi scion's formal takeover comes two days before the counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, the outcome of which could be a trendsetter for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. His main challenge remains the revamping of party organisation, apart from electoral battles in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Sonia Gandhi, 71, who helmed the party for 19 years, in her last address as the party President, said the Congress has been playing the role of opposition since 2014 and never before has it faced the challenge that it faces today.
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep in the wake of damage and loss of life caused by cyclone Ockhi.

In his first letter as the Congress chief to the Prime Minister, he requested PM Modi to help put in place adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas.

Highlighting the suffering of cyclone-hit fishermen, Rahul said the cyclone has caused tremendous damage to their lives and livelihood.

"In these challenging times, our fishermen deserve a helping hand from our government," he said.

"I would request you to declare a comprehensive special financial package for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Lakshadweep to undertake rehabilitation, provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased fishermen and for the overall development of the coastal region," Rahul added.

CP Rahul Gandhi writes to the PM requesting:



A Financial Package for rehabilitation & assistance to families of deceased fishermen in wake of Cyclone Ockhi



Adequate measures for weather update & advance cyclone warning



Construction of seawalls & groynes on vulnerable coasts pic.twitter.com/lGzWh7jRLk  Congress (@INCIndia) December 17, 2017

He had met the fishermen during his recent visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu on December 14.

Rahul also asked the PM to take steps to prevent such a tragedy, to the extent possible.

He said fishermen in the coastal region depend solely on fishing and related activities as their only means of livelihood and are a vital economic resource of our economy.

"I urge you to take holistic measures for ensuring housing, basic health services and quality education for their children," Rahul said.

He further said that the impact of the cyclone has brought to light the urgent need to ensure adequate measures for strengthening the weather update system and advance cyclone warning communication mechanism in the coastal areas and for providing life-saving instruments for the fishermen sailing to the sea.

"May I also emphasise the need to construct sea-walls and groynes in the vulnerable sea coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu," he urged the PM.

Meanwhile, PM Modi will visit the cyclone-hit areas in Lakshadweep, Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, PTI quoted BJP sources as saying.

According to the schedule released by the BJP state unit, he would arrive at Kochi in the early hours of December 19 and proceed to Agatti in Lakshadweep at 7.30 am.

PM Modi would then leave for Thiruvananthapuram. From here, he would visit Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, party sources said.

Before leaving for Delhi in the evening, he would visit cyclone-hit areas in Thiruvananthpuram's coastal region.

(With PTI inputs)
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) have helped to make elections "transparent and impartial".

He added that those criticising them were doing so out of the fear of defeat.

"Some may criticize the EVMs out of fear of defeat, but the EVMs have made elections transparent and impartial. Now, nobody can deprive anybody of the right to cast votes," Nitish, who has predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP in Gujarat, tweeted in Hindi.

                                     Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) December 17, 2017

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel has accused that 140 engineers were hired by a company to hack 5000 EVMs.

"A company in Ahmedabad has prepared to hack the source code of 5000 EVMs through 140 engineers," he had alleged in a tweet on Saturday night.

             EVM            Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 16, 2017

,,,,,,,-,,,-,,,,,,,,            EVM           Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 17, 2017

He had also questioned Supreme Court`s decision to reject Congress` plea, seeking cross-verification of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails with votes cast with EVM and had asked why they were used in the Gujarat elections.

"Why are VVPATs used in the first place? It is used for smooth counting of votes wherever there is a fault. I do not understand Supreme Court`s stand on the issue," the PAAS convener had said.

The apex court has dismissed Congress` plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to count and cross verify at least 25 percent of VVPAT with votes cast with EVM.

On December 15, the apex court had said that it found no merit in Congress` plea and asked that the Gujarat Congress could approach it through filing a writ petition for electoral reforms.

It had further maintained that electoral process in a democracy was of utmost importance and the SC cannot interfere only to allay apprehension of a party.

The voting for the two-phase Gujarat Assembly election ended on Thursday and counting of votes will be held on December 18.

(With PTI and ANI inputs)
NEW DELHI: Several letters in the name of Election Commission were doing round on the social media on Sunday.

One of the letters mentioned that the poll panel has decided to shut down internet services on December 18 in view of counting of votes of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, scheduled to take place tomorrow.

As per letters, the decision has been taken to avoid any possibility of EVM rigging.

However, after the posts went viral, the Rajkot collector Dr Vikrant Pandey clarified that the letter is fake and refuted rumours of internet services being closed on the day of counting.

Pandey has also suggested the people remain calm and not pay heed to such messages.

Gujarat CEO BB Swain too issued a clarification, saying, "We have not issued any such order."

The fake messages were issued in the name of deputy election commissioner of the State Election Commission.

Another fake letter, reportedly signed by a deputy election commissioner, reads, "This is to inform you that hacking of EVMs is on the rise. It has come to our notice that EVMs have microchips which can be accessed from some devices."

Meanwhile, the much-awaited results of the keenly fought elections will be announced on Monday when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amidst tight security.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on Gujarat 'model of development'.

Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress' electioneering.

During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks.

An average 68.41% polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70% polling, while 17 others clocked between 60% and 70%. Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60%, as per PTI reports.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan is processing the visa applications of Indian death row prisoner Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother, who had requested to meet him.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Mohammad Faisal, the Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan, wrote:

Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed.  Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) December 16, 2017

Pakistan had earlier permitted Jadhav's mother and wife to meet him on December 25 on humanitarian grounds. His family members will be accompanied by a diplomat from Indian high commission in Islamabad.

On Wednesday, Pakistan once again rejected India's plea for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the ground that it was not applicable in cases related to spies.

Jadhav, a retired navy official, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on grounds of espionage and terrorism. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in May 2017 halted his execution on Indias appeal.

India had earlier requested for a Pakistani visa for Jadhavs mother, Avantika, who wanted to meet her son in Pakistan.

Islamabad has claimed that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan province on March 3, 2016, after he crossed illegally into Pakistan from Iran and was attached to the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In a statement in November, Pakistan further said that Jadhav had "confessed" in a Pakistani court "that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage, terrorist and sabotage activities aimed at destabilizing and waging war against Pakistan".
New Delhi/Balrampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed happiness over a tribal village in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district getting electricity connection for the first time.

"Such news makes me extremely happy and emotional. It is gladdening to see so many lives being brightened," the PM tweeted.

Such news makes me extremely happy and emotional. It is gladdening to see so many lives being brightened. https://t.co/4hVrHc4elv  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2017

The Jokapatha village, situated in the mountainous region, had been deprived of power supply since Independence.

Jokapath village in Balrampur district of #Chhattisgarh gets electricity connections for the first time since independence pic.twitter.com/Gkl2uJaGv1 December 17, 2017

"We are very happy now that we finally have electricity in our village, now our children can study well and progress in life," the Sarpanch of Jokapath village told ANI.

In September 2017, PM Modi had launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana 'Saubhagya' - to provide electrical connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018.

According to an official statement, the total outlay of the 'Saubhagya' project is Rs 16,320 crore while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs 12,320 crore.

The outlay for the rural households is Rs 14,025 crore while the GBS is Rs 10,587.50 crore. For the urban households the outlay is Rs 2,295 crore while GBS is Rs 1,732.50 crore, PTI reported.



The Centre will provide largely funds for the scheme to all States/UTs. The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

However, it was said that un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.



The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with the battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.



Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot, the statement had said.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: A day after assuming charge as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hosted a dinner for party MPs and senior leaders as well as leaders of Opposition parties.

A number of senior Opposition leaders attended the dinner here along with Congress MPs and the party's state chiefs and legislative party leaders, a move viewed as an attempt to bring them closer to Rahul Gandhi.

Chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party Sonia Gandhi, former president Pranab Mukherjee, former vice president Hamid Ansari and former prime minister Manmohan Singh were also present.

The dinner comes at a time when the opposition is seeking to corner the government on various issues in the truncated winter session of the Parliament that started on December 15.

The opposition will formalise its strategy soon after the Assembly election results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh tomorrow.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, NCP leader Praful Patel, TMC's Derek O'Brien, former JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, RJD's Misa Bharati and Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav also attended the event.

"We greeted Rahul Gandhi on his elevation during the dinner," said CPI national secretary D Raja, also present there.

Though Congress leaders said it is a customary dinner organised during the Parliament session, some view the effort as a an attempt to bring them closer to Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul took charge of the Congress party's reins yesterday at a formal function from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who remained at the helm for 19 years.
INDORE: Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Sunday called the condition of religious minorities much better in India than in other Muslim-majority nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The 55-year-old writer alleged that atrocities are committed against Hindus and Buddhists in Bangladesh.

"Though I have never been to Pakistan, but have read that members of religious minorities there are being converted and persecuted," she said in an interview.

"The condition of religious minorities is much better in India as compared to these two nations. The Constitution of India is same for all," she said.

Taslima, the writer of the much-acclaimed book 'Lajja', had fled Bangladesh in the early 1990s after right-wing Muslim outfits issued death threats to her.

"I am a citizen of Europe but India appears to be home to me. I am thankful to the Indian government to have given me permission to stay here. I want to work for the betterment of the Indian society," she said.

On her write-up in an online magazine over the killing of a Muslim labourer in Rajasthan, Taslima denied that she had equated the Hindu community with terror group ISIS after the incident.

She alleges that some people distorted a part of her article and fanning hatred against her on the social media.

"It is totally wrong to say that I, in my article, equated the entire Hindu community with ISIS. I had mentioned one particular incident (about the posting of video on social media of the killing of a Muslim labourer). I am quite upset with these false allegations," she said.

Why did u write against me without checking the facts and let thousands of people abuse me for no fault of mine? U could read my tweets before saying whether I really compared Hindus with ISIS. I did not. U know why magazines put catchy headlines. https://t.co/D415hbJ9la  taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) December 17, 2017

Did u really read my article bfore saying I compared Hindus to ISIS? U know well I didn't say that.U r angry w/ me bcoz my reaction agnst Shambhulal's act, right? U think i don't hv right to express opinions abt India&Indians. I thought u r a journalist & u believe in free speech https://t.co/chtohxMlM7  taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) December 17, 2017

Hailing Indian laws and their implementation, she noted that the accused in the Rajasthan killing incident was arrested and sent to jail.

A 48-year-old Muslim labourer, from West Bengal, was hacked and burnt to death in Rajasthan's Rajsamand earlier this month.

Nasreen, meanwhile, alleged that in Bangladesh, the people who committed excesses on minorities were roaming free.
There seems to be no end to the poster war in India polity. In the latest instance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra has tweeted a poster of the CPM in Kerala featuring North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

Posting a photo of the poster, which Patra claims belongs to the CPM, he said, No wonder they have converted Kerala into killing fields for their opponents.

He further took a dig at the Left party, saying hope the left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS, BJP offices.

His tweet said, Kim Jong-un finds place in CPMs posters in Kerala!! No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents! Hope the left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda!

Kim Jong-un finds place in CPMs posters in Kerala!!

No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents!

Hope the left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda! pic.twitter.com/6LHf1dVtAy  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) December 17, 2017

The BJP has in the recent past taken up the issue of political violence in Kerala with assertion. Top BJP leaders, including party chief Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have participated in Jan Rakshha Yatra organised by the party in Kerala.

Amit Shah had kisckstarted the yatra in the state on October 3, which went on for 15 days. Union Minister Smriti Irani had also participated in the yatra.

Later, Shah had asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan if he was prepared to take moral responsibility for killing of 13 innocent BJP/RSS workers.

Addressing party workers at Puthrikandam maidan in Thirvananthapuram on the conclusion of the party's 15-day 'Jan Raksha Yatra', Shah had alleged that the 13 workers were killed after the present government came to power in May last year.

"I am asking the Kerala chief minister, whether he is prepared to take moral responsiblity for the killing of 13 BJP/RSS workers in the state after the LDF government came to power," he had said.

The padayatra had criss-crossed 11 districts in the state with four chief ministers, including Yogi Aditiyanath of Uttar Pradesh, senior party leaders and Union ministers taking part in the high-pitched campaign against the ruling LDF.

Remarks by BJP leaders also kicked up controversies as the march progressed.

Adityanath wanted Kerala to learn from UP's record in health care and Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar alleged that Kerala was being ruled by 'rogues', triggering counter remarks from the CPI-M.

Shah had skipped the march through Pinarayi, the chief minister's home town, in Kannur district, as he had to rush to Delhi for an important meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
AIZWAL/SHILLONG: Kickstarting Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) campaign in poll-bound Meghalaya and Mizoram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed two massive public rallies in Aizwal and Shillong on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was visiting the two states to inaugurate the Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura road project here in Meghalaya and hydroelectric power project in Mizoram, apart other development projects.

Meghalaya and Mizoram state assembly elections are scheduled to be held in 2018. The BJP is already in power in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. It is a part of the ruling coalition in Nagaland, which will go to polls in 2018.

In his first visit to Mizoram after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi raked up North East's lack of connectivity and development issues.

It is said that the lack of connectivity is one of the biggest hurdles in the path of development of the North Eastern Region. My Government wants to do 'Transformation by Transportation' through investment in infrastructure to change the face of the North Eastern Region, said Modi.

PM Modi further said that the Centre is executing 15 new rail line projects of 1385 kilometers length in North East at a cost of over Rs 47,000 crore.

In Meghalaya, the Prime Minister spoke about making Meghalaya a top tourist destination.

During my last visit to Meghalaya in May 2016, I spoke about promotion of tourism in the State. We want to make Meghalaya a top tourism destination. Government of India has sanctioned around Rs 100 crores for development of tourist destinations in the state, he said.

Stressing the need for connectivity to ensure development in the north-eastern region (NE).

The Prime Minister also announced that his government had released around Rs 470 crore under the Pradhan Manti Gram Sadak Yojana to construct 700-km road connecting over 100 villages.

Modi also announced that Rs 180 crore had been earmarked for the expansion of Shillong airport.
Jaipur: As many as 65 doctors have been arrested in the state till this evening under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) even as strike of in-service doctors continued for the second day.

The doctors went on strike yesterday when police arrested few of them under the act which was invoked on Thursday on doctors' warning of a strike from December 18.

"We have arrested more than 65 persons under RESMA in two days," Additional Director General (Law and order) NRK Reddy said.

Many of the in-service doctors, who are on strike, have gone underground and health services have allegedly been hit.

"We were forced to go on strike due to the adamant attitude of the government. We cannot work in this atmosphere. Police is looking for doctors.. We are doctors not terrorists,? Dr Durgashankar Saini, general secretary of All Rajasthan in-service government doctors' association said.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the doctors' strike was unfortunate and the government should look into the demands of doctors.

In Sikar also, police arrested several doctors.

Patients kept waiting for doctors at the government hospital but most of the doctors remained underground and patients allegedly suffered.
Jaipur: Rajasthan police on Saturday baton-charged on students protesting against state chief minister Vasundhara Raje's 'jan samvad' event in Sikar's Fatehpur.

Six students were detained by the police.

The students, reportedly belonging to the Students Federation of India (SFI), were demanding a government college in Fatehpur town.

Protesting against Raje government, the students held black flags during the march.

Congress MLA Nand Kishore Mahariya was quoted by local reports as saying that Chief Minister Raje had promised a government college in the area four years ago and the demand of the students were justified.

Raje has held several Jan Samvad programmes in an effort to reach out to the public this year.
A retired Block Development Officer in Jharkhand has become a cause of trouble for the West Singhbhum district administration. The retired government official, 80-year-old Ramo Virua, is on a mission to make Kolhan  the other name for West Singhbhum  a separate country.

Ramo Virua, who retired 23 years ago, is openly challenging the Constitution and law of the land, and has organised a programme on December 18 to hoist the flag of Kolhan in the presence of villagers.

He doesnt believe that President and Prime Minister of the country are the supreme authority. Instead, he considers the Queen of England as the head of the country. He has even been distributing pamphlets, stamp paper, and has also reportedly distributed specially designed caste certificate, residence proof and identity cards to the members of the tribal community.

Reports claim that he has even been running a parallel administration at small level in villages.

This has caught attention of police administration, who confiscated all documents with the retired government official. They have threatened him with sedition charges. The villagers have also been asked to refrain from attending the December 18 anti-social event organised by him.
BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the Karnataka assembly elections 2018 under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa, Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Sunday.

Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had advocated for the Lingayat community strongman, saying that the party will contest the next state election under the leadership of Yeddyurappa.

BJP state president and former chief minister Yeddyurappa has been facing criticism over his "arbitrary" style of functioning with some party leaders expressing their unhappiness with him.

Building BJP in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa had crafted his political ascent that brought him the Chief Minister`s post which he lost in July 2011 after the party directed him to resign after the Lokayukta report indicted him on corruption charge linked to illegal mining.

Despite his four-decade-old association had ended when he walked out to float Karnataka Janata Paksha in 2012. However, he returned to the BJP fold in 2014.

Known for game of brinkmanship, highly temperamental Yeddyurappa has sobered down after the 2013 Assembly polls that established his capabilities as a spoiler but not as a powerful political entity. He returned to BJP conceding a lot.

Amit Shah on November 2 had flagged off the party's statewide 75-day rally in poll-bound Karnataka at a huge gathering of its leaders and cadres.

The BJP came to power on its own for the first time in 2008 but lost to the Congress in the May 2013 assembly election.
BENGALURU: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday lashed out at Congress newly-elected president Rahul Gandhi for accusing BJP of spreading hatred and communalism in the country and said, if someone formed a government by setting the fire, it is Congress.

Addressing a 'Parivarthan Rally' here, Rajnath extended his wishes to Rahul for taking over the topmost post in the party and said, "I want to congratulate him (Rahul Gandhi) but also ask- did the fire of communalism, terrorism and Naxalism in India erupt due to BJP`s policies? Did fire erupt in Kashmir due to BJP`s policies? If someone formed governments by setting the fire, it is Congress. BJP is trying to douse the flame."

Accusing the Congress Party and its leadership in the state of indulging in corruption, Rajnath alleged that the grand old party is indulging in 'divide and rule' in the state and causing communal disharmony by involving caste and other related factors. He further claimed that scams such as that related to the construction of a steel flyover are being ignited by the Congress.

"Congress government here wants to divide Karnataka community to rule. I received information that even though there is no regulation in the constitution, Muslim community here was befooled with the reservation which was later out ruled by the Court," he said.



With the assembly elections in Karnataka on the agenda for 2018, the Union Home Minister appealed to the natives to support the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa.

"We want to empower Karnataka, and this will be possible when, in two to three months, a BJP government will be formed here. The BJP will contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka under BS Yeddyurappa Ji's leadership," Rajnath said while hailing praises on the former Chief Minister of the state.

Rajnath added, "The government here created such an issue over Tipu Sultan. I do not want to dive deep into history, but I have to ask: Why is there no celebration for Kempegowda, Kittur Rani Chennamma or Sir M. Visvesvaraya? Why only Tipu Sultan?"Congratulating the newly-elected president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath further accused the Congress of igniting disorder and turmoil in several states, including Kashmir.

Rajnath further attacked the present state government over the lack of action being taken following murders of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta.

"Paresh Mesta was recently killed. Gauri Lankesh was killed. What is this government doing in these murder cases? I want to assure Karnataka public that when our government is formed, we will probe her death from all angles, and culprits will be punished. We won't save anyone," he said.

Rajnath was accompanied by Yeddyurappa and other party leaders.

Meanwhile, Karnataka is all set to go to assembly elections in April next year.
A state equal rights officer has dismissed a claim of sexual harassment by a prominent military veteran against the state Department of Veterans Affairs, ruling most of the allegations were too old and others failed to prove she was treated differently because of her gender.

But Amber Nikolai, who was fired by the state Department of Veterans Affairs in September and a month later became the first woman to lead the 53,000-member Wisconsin American Legion, may go to court to pursue the claim rejected earlier this month by the state Equal Rights Division, her attorney said.

She is a tremendously ambitious, effective, talented and dedicated advocate for the interests of veterans, said her attorney, Jeff Scott Olson. Wisconsin veterans never had a better friend than Amber Nikolai.

Nikolai, a Navy veteran who supervised programs at the departments largest veterans home, has alleged that her bosses punished her for reporting hundreds of sexually harassing text messages sent to her by an agency administrator, and for reporting poor conditions at the home  first to her bosses and then to state investigators, legislators and a newspaper.

The state veterans affairs department said it takes sexual harassment seriously, but it has fought Nikolais allegations. On Dec. 4, an officer for the Department of Workforce Developments Equal Rights Division dismissed most of the claims because rules prohibit consideration of potential violations that occurred more than 300 days before a complaint is filed. Nikolai filed her complaint in May about behavior that allegedly began in 2014.

Within statute

of limitations

Olson said Nikolais complaint is far from extinguished. She can appeal, but she may instead take the case to court, where the allegations would fall well within a six-year statute of limitations, a final decision can be reached more quickly, and the potential remedies are greater, Olson said.

Nikolai said she suffered retaliation for reporting that a high-ranking administrator, Randy Nitschke, sent her hundreds of inappropriately intimate text messages and then threatened to falsely claim a political appointee subjected her to physical and verbal sexual harassment.

Nitschke, who was administrator of the departments veterans homes division, told investigators he made the threats to Nikolai and to the departments top executive in an attempt to save his job at a time when he thought he was about to be fired.

There are varying accounts of why Nitschke feared for his job. He said it was because he had knowledge of sexual harassment that made his bosses unhappy with him. Nikolai said he told her it was because he believed  wrongly  that she had previously reported him for sexually harassing her.

He issued the threats in October 2015 about a week after Nikolai met with John Scocos, who was then the department secretary. She said she told Scocos about poor conditions at the King Veterans Home that she had previously reported to her supervisor.

Reports about veterans receiving poor care and that the department was covering it up were detailed in a series of articles in The Capital Times beginning in August 2016. The department eventually accused Nikolai of violating work rules by helping the newspaper.

Documents released as part of the Equal Rights Division decision and in a state personnel office report also released earlier this month show for the first time that Nikolai alleges the text messages from Nitschke included sexual advances and she was punished for refusing them.

The state personnel office investigation completed in the first week of December 2015 led to a determination that Nitschke harassed Nikolai by making the threats.

Nitschke was reprimanded, given a three-day suspension and returned to his job less than two weeks after the investigation concluded. On July 21 this year, Nitschke transferred to the Union Grove veterans home, where he is commandant, said department spokeswoman Carla Vigue. His $116,605 salary has not changed, she said.

According to Nikolais complaint, nobody would tell her the results of the investigation. And in the months after reporting Nitschkes threats and texts she was twice reassigned to less desirable duties, and the department rescinded permission shed been granted earlier to give presentations on veterans issues.

In addition, she learned that her attendance record was being secretly reviewed, and she was questioned in a disciplinary setting about leaking information to the press about the veterans homes at a time when they were facing intense public scrutiny. Nikolai complained several times about department retaliation.

The department didnt reduce her pay when it changed her duties, and she had received high marks in a performance evaluation.

In late November 2016, she went on medical leave for emotional stress on the recommendation of her doctors.

On Sept. 28 of this year, Nikolai was fired because she didnt return to work after her allowable leave time was exhausted, Vigue said.

Vigue emphasized that Nitschke had been disciplined for harassment, not sexual harassment.

Vigue and state personnel office spokesman Steve Michels didnt respond when asked how that determination was made. But Nikolais attorney said Nitschkes text messages and his threat to spread stories about her clearly constituted sexual harassment.

Agency officials were surprised that Nikolai never came back to work, Vigue said.

We worked extensively with Ms. Nikolai, made every available attempt to bring her back to work, and anticipated that she would return, Vigue said.

However, Nikolais doctors never cleared her to go back to the department, her attorney said. The homes-slide-again/article_e6ba64c8-1d4a-5ecc-acda-1f5ebaee31ce.html" target="_blank">veterans affairs department workplace, for obvious reasons, created emotional stress that the American Legion job didnt, Olson said.

Nikolai declined to comment for this article.

Vigue said that last month deputy secretary Tom Rhatican told senior managers to review the department sexual harassment policy and to remind all supervisors about the process for reporting complaints. The department human resources director reviewed the policy and has not made changes, she said.

The Department takes any allegations of harassment seriously, Vigue said.
Noida: Body of a 28-year-old call centre employee was found from his rented accommodation at Bishanpura village here on Sunday, police said.

The body was spotted by the house owner when he had gone to collect rent from the victim, Sandeep Taman, they said.

SSI Dharmendra Sharma said Taman might have taken the extreme step two to three days ago.

No suicide note was found from the spot, he said.

Taman, a native of Meghalaya, was working at a call centre in Noida Sector 63, police said.

The incident is being probed, Sharma said.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said the Congress party can't get a better result than this after it won all three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar in the civic body polls.

Polling for three municipal corporations and 32 nagar councils and nagar panchayats were held on Sunday. The counting of votes began soon after the polling ended.

The civic poll results are a big boost to the party which comes after its big victory in the assembly elections in March. The party had been struggling to consolidate votes in elections since the resurgence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led saffron brigade, which seemed to have white-washed others in the battle of ballots polls after polls.

The Punjab victory had been a face-saver for the grand old party after it lost a considerable ground since the last general elections, including Assam and Manipur, which were predominantly a Congress stronghold.

Election results have been very good, we are very pleased. You can't get a better result than this. Out of three corporations, we have swept polls and won all of them, the ANI news agency quoted Singh as saying after the civic poll verdict.

The civic polls were spread across 17 districts. A total of 873 polling stations and 1,938 polling booths were set up for the elections and 50 percent of the seats were reserved for women.

In Amritsar, 413 candidates were in the fray for 85 wards, while in Jalandhar, 305 candidates were in the fray for 80 wards. Scores of candidates had also contested for the 57 wards in Patiala.

In 2012, the Akali Dal-BJP alliance had swept the state civic polls. The alliance had bagged 48 wards in Amritsar Municipal Corporation, 38 in Patiala, 35 in Jalandhar and over 40 in Ludhiana. However this year, the civic poll was not held in Ludhiana reportedly due to delay in voters registration process.
Chandigarh: The voting for the municipal polls in Punjab kickstarted on Sunday. 40 municipal bodies in Punjab, including the key municipal corporations of Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar are going to polls today. Polling is being held in 327 wards of the 29 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.

Latest updates

- Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu cast their votes at Ward No 9's polling station 5 in Amritsar.

- BJP leader Tarun Singh Chugh casts vote in Amritsar during Punjab Municipal Elections 2017.

- Polling began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm.

The election for the municipal corporation of Punjab`s largest city, Ludhiana, was not being held as the electoral rolls were not updated.

The ruling Congress, main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance are contesting the polls December 17.

It would be the first big electoral outing for all three after the assembly elections in March.

A total of 873 polling stations in the state, having 1,938 polling booths. A total of 8,000 election staff and 15,500 police personnel would perform duties at these polling stations.

A total of 413 candidates are in the fray in 85 wards of Amritsar where 769,153 voters will exercise their franchise.

In Jalandhar, 305 candidates are in the fray from 80 wards. The number of voters there is 560,261. In Patiala, election will be held in 57 wards in which 260,664 voters can exercise their franchise.

This is the first big election in the state after the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, came to power after assembly poll results in March.

The Congress won 77 out of 117 seats in the assembly. The AAP finished second with 20 seats.

Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday accused the Congress government in the state of harassing SAD-BJP candidates.
VARANASI: In the latest incident of crime against foreign tourists, an Argentina national was allegedly manhandled and robbed by three youths at the famous Assi Ghat in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

After the incident, the victim registered a police complaint against three unknown accused.

According to reports, the woman was meditating at the bank of River Ganga when the incident happened. The woman had been living in Bhadini area for over a decade and has been associated with a NGO.

In the complaint, the victim claimed that seeing her alone, the three accused approached her and robbed her money. When she resisted, one of them even slapped her and went away with the money.

The victim had approached the police and the complaint was filed only a day later.

On December 14, a Japanese tourist Akihiro Tanaka was also drugged and robed by a fake tourist guide.

Tanaka had arrived Varanasi from Agra by a bus. He came into contact with a fake tourist guide, who allegedly drugged him and robbed his bag containing visa, passport, 50000 Japanese yen, Rs 2000 (Indian currency) and ATM cards of Japanese bank. The case was reported with Sigra police.

On December 10, at least 11 foreign tourists were beaten up and molested by locals in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. All the tourists were natives of France.

It happened after few boys began to harass the Indian female who was accompanied with the French tourists' group. When the foreign nationals intervened, they were roughed up. The boys returned with their friends after the initial ruckus to further attack the group.

When the victims reached the Mirzapur police station to lodge a complaint, they were made to wait for hours to get the police officers register their complaints.

In another incident, a German national was beaten up by a man at a railway station in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh after he unintentionally ignored the accused's greetings.

Also, a Swiss couple was thrashed at Fatehpur Sikri on October 26.
LUCKNOW: Christian schools in Uttar Pradesh with Hindu majority students have been asked not to celebrate Christmas within the school premises.

Uttar Pradesh's Hindu Jagaran Manch  an outfit associated with Yogi Adityanaths Hindu Yuva Vahini  has warned Christian schools in Aligarh to not celebrate X-Mas in schools with Hindu students in the majority, reported WION.

Speaking to media, Hindu Jagran Manch president Sonu Savita said that students are being asked to bring toys, gifts and celebrate Christmas. The outfit claims that Christians lure Hindu students with gifts and other items and later converts them.

The outfit members have warned schools of dire consequence in case they fail to follow their directives.

Claiming that such kind of activities can affect the mentality of Hindu students the group said it will talk to the parents and request them to oppose the activities.
BANDA: At least 10 people were injured when a Uttar Pradesh Roadways bus turned turtle in the district, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place yesterday when the driver of an Allahabad-bound UP Roadways bus lost control over it in an attempt to save a girl coming from the opposite direction, the police said.

Superintendent of Police Banda Shalini said that at least 10 people were injured in the incident and there were 60 passengers travelling on the bus.

Some of the injured were undergoing treatment in Banda, while some injured passengers have been referred to Kanpur for treatment, the police said.
Sydney: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Sunday arrested a man from Sydney for allegedly acting as an economic agent for North Korea with the intent of raising revenue for the Pyongyang government.

Authorities have identified the man as South Korean-origin Chan Han Choi, 59, CNN reported.

The AFP said the man, a naturalised Australian citizen, brokered the sale of missiles, missile components and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and discussed the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

He also planned to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Vietnam and Indonesia.

However, there was no evidence that the governments of those two countries were aware of the plan.

These actions are alleged breaches of UN and Australian sanctions. He is facing six charges in connection with the acts.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," CNN quoted AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan as saying.

"This is the first time charges have been laid under the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act in Australia, and the first time we have laid charges specifically for alleged breaches of UN sanctions against North Korea."

Gaughan said the business activity occurred offshore and that "there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons, or missile componentry -- which he said was software-- had been imported into Australia.

"This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose."

More charges against the man have not been ruled out, according to the police statement.
Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday dismissed as "baseless" the US allegations that Tehran supplies missiles to Yemeni Shia Houthis.

"In an attempt to cover up its presence in the region and its measures which can mostly amount to war crimes, the US raises baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran by displaying a piece of metal," Xinhua cited Press TV quoting Zarif as saying.

On Thursday, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley appeared standing before parts of a ballistic missile that she claimed Iran delivered to Houthis, which was fired at Saudi Arabia`s Riyadh airport last month.

Zarif said such claims aimed to deflect attention from US complicity in the crimes committed in the Middle East, particularly in Yemen and from US President Donald Trump`s "very dangerous move" to recognize Jerusalem as Israel`s capital.

Washington has made such allegations against Iran while it provided Saudi Arabia with cluster bombs that kill Yemeni civilians, and supported the Saudi`s blockade on the impoverished country, Zarif was quoted as saying.

What is clear is that American bombs are being dropped on the Yemeni people and "this is a fact that no one can conceal," he added.

Also, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri on Saturday denounced as "absurd" the remarks made by Haley about Iran`s missile support for Yemen.

"This person`s comments have their roots in her lack of understanding of military issues," Jazayeri said.

"If the Americans had been informed of the high level of the Yemeni resistance`s missile technology, they would have refused to make such absurd comments," he was quoted as saying.

The chief commander of Iran`s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in November that the Islamic republic provides "advisory assistance" for Yemeni Houthi militants.
Kolkata: Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon has asserted that Jerusalem would continue to remain the capital of Israel for eternity.

"It is fact that Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 5,000 years. Jerusalem is the capital of the modern state of Israel for 70 years," Carmon said."

Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish state of Israel and will continue to be so forever," he added.

The Israeli envoy`s remarks comes following widespread criticism and protests against U.S. President Donald Trump`s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Trump`s Jerusalem move has prompted international criticism and sparked protests across the world.The United States has become the first country in the world to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel following Trump`s decision.

In line with this announcement, the US is also shifting its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city, again becoming the first country to take such a step.

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, which is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites.However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.
Miss Iraq Sarah Idan and her family were forced to flee their country after receiving death threats over a 'peace' selfie with Miss Israel Adar Gandelsman.

Last month, Idan posted the photo online with caption Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel #missuniverse and heart emojis.

The 20-year-old beauty pageant contestant received several backlashes for the photo. The Instagram post was filled with curses at her for hurting the Palestinian cause.

Supporting Idan, Miss Israel also posted a photo on Instagram:

Defending her decision to post the selfie online, Idan wrote on social media, Despite the death threats and some negative response Im proud to say I am glad for everything I have done, helping both my countries Iraq and US. I love them both equally.

Idan's family has now left the Middle Eastern country to live with her in the United States, reports suggested.

The two of those things together caused a mess for her back home where people made threats against her and her family that if she didnt return home and take down the photos, they would remove her (Miss Iraq) title, that they would kill her, Adar Gandelsman told Israeli TV.

Miss Iran later confirmed the news on Twitter:

Im not the first nor the last person to face prosecution over a matter of personal freedom. Millions of Iraqi women live in fear. #freeiraqiwomen https://t.co/Vt0YjFbyf4  Sarai (Sarah Idan) (@grrrciara) December 15, 2017

Idan has yet not removed the photo from her Instagram account.

Iraq does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Both the countries Iraqi and Israeli forces fought against each other in 1948, 1967 and 1973.

On December 6, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and set in motion the relocation of the US Embassy to the ancient city, breaking with decades of US policy that the citys status must be decided in negotiations with the Palestinians.

The move upset the Arab world and several Western allies. Iraq too demanded that the US government backtrack on its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital to avoid fuelling terrorism.
CAIRO: Islamic State claimed an attack on a church in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday which killed at least five people, the group's Amaq news agency said in an online statement.

It said two Islamic State members had carried out the attack but provided no evidence for the claim.

At least five worshippers were killed and 20 others injured in a suicide bombing at a church in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province today.

Around four militants attacked the church located on Zarghon Road of the provincial capital when the Sunday service was going on, according to police.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two attackers were involved. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said that two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police. He said the fleeing militants were chased by police and killed.

He said that four worshippers were killed and 20 others injured in the attack.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.
ISTANBUL: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope on Sunday that Turkey would soon be able to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, as he again denounced Donald Trump`s recognition of the city as the Israeli capital.

Erdogan has sought to lead Islamic condemnation of his US counterpart`s move, calling a summit of the leaders of Muslim nations last week in Istanbul who urged the world to recognise East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel after it seized control of the area in the 1967 war, in a move never recognised by the international community.

"Because it is under occupation we can`t just go there and open an embassy," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling party in the city of Karaman.

"But, inshallah (God willing) those days are near and... we will officially open our embassy there," he said, without giving any precise timescale.

Turkey currently has a general consulate in Jerusalem. Ankara has full diplomatic ties with Israel, and like all other nations, its embassy is in Tel Aviv.

Erdogan again slammed his US counterpart`s decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move the US embassy in Israel to the city, saying it smacked of a "Zionist and evangelist logic and understanding."

He said Jews had no right to "appropriate" Jerusalem which was the the "capital of Muslims".

"Please stop where you are and don`t attempt any Zionist operation," he said. "If you try, then the price is going to be high."

Erdogan hailed the outcome of the December 13 summit which he said showed the "world a vote of unity".

However the meeting was shadowed by the level of attendance from close US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who sent lower-level officials rather than leaders.

In a speech on the eve of the summit, Erdogan had warned Muslims against "internecine warfare" and "attacks to bring down Muslims from within" saying fighting with each other "only helps terror states like Israel".

Israel has reacted relatively cooly to Erdogan`s repeated broadsides over the last days, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "not impressed" by statements made at the summit.
Mogadishu: Several senior Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in a drone strike on the outskirts of the coastal city of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

A military official, on condition of anonymity, said several strikes hit an Al-Shabaab base in Berhani location, some 60 kilometre south of Kismayo, killing several senior terrorists, Xinhua reported.

Residents of Berhani location said there were huge explosions early hours of Saturday.

"The strike hit the base where the terrorists were meeting leading to several casualties," the military officer from the Somalia National Army was quoted as saying.

There is no official confirmation from the US Africa Command (Africom) yet.

Africom, which has been using drones to attack Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (IS), carried out at least ten strikes in southern and northern Somalia in November.
KANDAHAR: At least 11 Afghan police officers were killed on Sunday when Taliban fighters assaulted their checkpoints in volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, authorities said.

The assaults on two police post are the latest in a series of deadly attacks on Afghan security forces claimed by the Taliban.

Taliban insurgents launched the attacks in the early morning in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

"Our police fought them back, but unfortunately 11 of our police were martyred and two wounded," provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP, adding that the militants fled after the attack.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 Taliban fighters were also killed during the skirmish.

After 16 years of war the resurgent militants show no signs of fatigue, ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the war-torn country.

Afghan police and troops -- beset by a high death toll, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll -- have been struggling to beat back the insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Also on Sunday, a suicide car bomb attack targeting NATO forces in neighbouring Kandahar province killed at least one woman and wounded four other Afghan civilians, General Abdul Razeq, the provincial police chief, told AFP.

A NATO spokesman in Kabul told AFP they were still checking reports concerning the attack.
December 13, 2017

After US President Donald Trumps ill-advised decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, some headlines have noted that Irans hard-liners have been empowered as a result. While that may be true  and extremists in Tehran certainly claim as much  it also paints an incomplete picture. Trumps Jerusalem fiasco has, in fact, also been a boon to President Hassan Rouhani and his administration. In other words, it has in several key ways empowered the Islamic Republic as a whole  and not any particular faction or group.

First, Irans political system will now have an easier time realigning its ideological and geopolitical proclivities. This will essentially solidify the executive branch as Iranian stakeholders unify against Trumps extremist activities in the Middle East. Before the Jerusalem announcement, Tehran was more measured in playing the anti-Israel card relative to its bombast during the presidency of conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013). This was because Irans geopolitical goal of escaping American and Israeli-led efforts to render it a pariah required tempering its ideological inclination to spout off anti-Israel tirades, which score brownie points among Arab public opinion.

Rather than being forced to choose between those ideological and geopolitical inclinations, Rouhanis pragmatic team can now work with other domestic stakeholders to pursue both. Notably, it will be able to do so while maintaining its position on Israel, which is nearly identical to that of former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005): Refusing to recognize Israel, maintaining criticism of the Israeli occupation and double standards, and emphasizing defensive rather than offensive measures against Tel Aviv. Twenty years ago, Iran adopted this position as part of a proposed quid pro quo to end the American-Israeli hostility it was facing. After Trumps Jerusalem announcement, Rouhani can use this position to widen divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv on one side, and the majority of the world on the other.

For related reasons, Irans broader position in the Middle East may now also be strengthened. As a Persian Shiite Muslim minority in the region, the Islamic Republic has long used the anti-Israel card as a way to foster credibility and common cause with Arab populations and Sunni Muslims. This strategy arguably peaked in late 2010, when Arab public opinion ranked Ahmadinejad as one of the most admired world leaders. Fast-forward seven years, and that reservoir of Iranian soft power in the region has vanished, largely due to Tehrans support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But Trumps latest train wreck may help reverse this trend. With most of the Muslim world incensed over the American-Israeli-Saudi initiative on Jerusalem, Rouhani can now lead Irans efforts to foster condemnation across the Middle East and reconstitute Palestine  rather than Syria or sectarian strife  as the regional fault line. Tehran can thus work to rehabilitate its image among Arab public opinion by openly supporting any peace process accepted by the Palestinians, emphasizing that it does not seek hostility or conflict, and arguing that the problem is continued occupation of Palestinian territory. It will now be comfortable readopting these positions held by Khatami because the peace process is no longer a threat to Irans regional standing, directly thanks to the Washington-Tel Aviv-Riyadh troika effectively having killed whatever remained of it.

Finally, the rehabilitation of Irans image and standing may not be limited to the region. The swift rebuke from American allies and adversaries alike to Trumps Jerusalem decision has been ferocious, thereby providing Tehran with an opportunity to further reintegrate itself into the international community as a whole. Rouhanis measured approach to the region compared to his predecessor, combined with Irans demonstrated track record of diplomacy and compromise with the world since he took office in 2013, stands in stark contrast to the trail of tears left behind in Qatar, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere by the US-Israel-Saudi bloc in less than one calendar year. Indeed, the latters actions in the Middle East may reinforce a growing global perception that the problem is in their respective capitals, and not Tehran.

Armed with Trumps Jerusalem debacle, Tehran now has more tools at its disposal to protect itself from increased efforts to isolate it politically and economically. Moreover, the joint American-Israeli-Saudi efforts to create an exclusionary regional security framework at Irans expense will likely fall flat since much of the world deeply opposes it, having seen the chaos it has already caused. Now that Irans position on regional matters is more (but not entirely) in line with global public opinion, it may help Tehran consolidate its regional and international gains without having to be more stringent on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

The ultimate irony of the Jerusalem debacle is once again that Iran has been given the upper hand without having lifted a finger. Indeed, with the peace process dead, most of the world is blaming Trump, Israel and Saudi Arabia for tearing the region apart. But Jerusalem is only the latest in a long line of missteps over the past year that Iran has capitalized on. This has left Rouhani in a position in which he can now work across the political spectrum to reconnect the Islamic Republics ideological goal of opposing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory with its geopolitical goal of avoiding international isolation  with increased international support for both objectives. Iran may not have drawn it up this way, but it will gladly accept the freebies being handed out by Washington, Tel Aviv and Riyadh.
December 15, 2017

Since the outbreak of war in Syria, Turkeys predicaments have forced it to turn a number of its red lines to yellow lines. Now, Turkey seems to be taking a step back on the Kurdish issue.

A sensitive topic these days is whether the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD)  the prime mover behind the push for democratic autonomy in northern Syria  will be invited to the Syrian National Dialogue Congress that Russia is organizing in Sochi. In return for cooperating with Moscow and Tehran in the Astana process, Ankara wants to get dividends on the Kurdish issue. Ankara's two critical demands are known: a green light for a military move on Afrin to uproot affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and the PYDs exclusion from the Sochi congress.

On Dec. 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the seventh time this year, flying to Ankara in a whirlwind regional tour, which also included a visit to Syria's Khmeimim air base, where he ordered the Russian military to begin its withdrawal from the country. According to Deutsche Welles Turkish service, Erdogan reiterated his objections to PYD attendance in Sochi. Putin responded with a proposal for the participation of non-PYD Kurds. Erdogan reportedly raised no objections to this formula. Diplomatic sources who closely followed the meeting say Erdogan and Putin agreed that the Syrian National Dialogue Congress can convene with the participation of Kurds other than the PYD, according to the report.

The two leaders shared few details about their talks in remarks to the press after the meeting. Erdogan spoke of discussions on additional steps in Syria. We will contribute to the Geneva process with the aim of finding a permanent solution in Syria, he said.

Putin said, During the trilateral meeting of the Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents on Nov. 22 [in Sochi], we reached certain agreements concerning [political settlement in Syria]. Now it is important to go through with them. In particular, we continue to work together on preparations for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress to be held early next year. The plan is for the congress participants to analyze issues  such as future state structure, adopting a constitution and holding constitution-based elections under the supervision of the United Nations.

Referring to the Astana process, Putin added, We continue to maintain the cease-fire and ensure stability in the de-escalation zones and to increase trust between the conflicting parties.  I would like to note the positive contribution of the Turkish Republic and President Erdogan to the reconciliation between the parties.

Russias initial invite list for Sochi included 33 parties and groups. It had extended two invitations to the PYD in terms of separate delegations from Qamishli and Kobani. The Kurds have now changed their approach  both because of the prospect that the PYD would be unable to attend under its own banner and because of its desire to have the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria included as a whole. Members of the self-rule administration are now seeking ways to get around Turkey's objections and ensure the participation of all ethnic elements involved in the autonomy movement, and not only the Kurds. To do so, they have drawn up a list of numerous figures and groups involved in the Democratic Federation rather than institutional parties.

Due to Turkeys reservations, the congress has been twice postponed. Originally scheduled to take place in November, the congress was then postponed to December and now January. The Kurds have adopted a flexible approach that could facilitate Putins efforts.

Abdul Karim Omar, a top foreign relations official in the Jazeera canton, attended the Kurds Dec. 3 meeting with Russian generals in Deir ez-Zor. He told Al-Monitor that the Kurds gave the Russians a list of 140 names representing all communities in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, including Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians, Chechens and Turkmens. After the initial invitation to the congress in November, he said, officials from Russia's Foreign and Defense ministries visited the region to discuss the issue.

The invitation we received was on the behalf of all communities in the democratic self-rule administration and northern Syria, Omar said. The PYD is only one of the parties in this structure. All meetings, visits and contacts abroad are taking place on the behalf of the democratic self-rule administration.

Underscoring that the self-rule administration comprises various ethnic groups, he added, We have no fixation on attending [the Sochi congress] under the PYD name. We are seeking to attend all international meetings under the name of the self-rule administration.

All 140 people on the list would go to Sochi on behalf of the Democratic Federation, he said, adding that they would seek to attend the Geneva talks and other future meetings as either the self-rule administration or the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

Asked about any contacts with Damascus on participation in Sochi and Geneva, Omar said, We have absolutely no communication with the regime regarding [any] settlement. Late last year, we had a meeting with the regime at Khmeimim through the mediation of the Russians. The regime, however, was not ready for any settlement. Since then, we have had no meeting with them on a political solution.

The new formula designed for Sochi offers Turkey a dignified, honorable exit as it keeps the PYD away from the spotlight. Yet Ankaras essential aim is to prevent any pro-PKK, self-rule administration from maturing and gaining a de jure status across its border. This, in fact, is what Turkey expects as an end result from its partnership with Russia. At the same time, however, Turkey is aware that a solution excluding actors who control one-third of Syrias territory (under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces) cannot be a real solution and could also pave the way for US entrenchment in the region. This awareness appears to be producing some flexibility.

Meanwhile, one peculiar expectation seems to be softening Ankara. Although the democratic self-rule project has advanced from Iraqi Kurdistan to the western banks of the Euphrates, Ankara has focused its objection on Afrin, as if things will let up once the PYD flag comes down in this particular area. The talk in Ankara is about a scenario in which Damascus takes over Afrin. It may sound like black humor, but a Turkish official knowledgeable on the issue  quoted last week by Haberturk columnist Muharrem Sarikaya  believes that Afrin could change hands overnight. They could suddenly go away one night. The PYD and PKK armed forces could be gone, bag and baggage, with only the local population left, the official said. According to the official, Damascus  with Russias help  would let the PYD know that it wants to take control of Afrin and would appoint its own local administrator. Thus, someone appointed by Damascus would govern Afrin.

One must be quite detached from reality to argue that the PYD or its armed wing, the Peoples Protection Units, could vanish overnight from Afrin. Still, the comments offer an important hint of what Ankara has in mind for a face-saving exit from Syria. There is no doubt that what actually happens in the north will be decided through negotiations. Still, flying the Syrian flag at the border, along with some other symbolic steps, could serve the Kurds as well as the Syrian government, since both of them want Turkey to withdraw all the elements it has thrust into Syria. Having failed to achieve its goals, Ankara could see a surgical operation in Afrin as the way to make an honorable exit from Syria and start rebuilding bridges with Damascus.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and fine-art photographer Miguel Gandert shows his work highlighting his mestizaje heritage, and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas. Runs through 12/29.

Querer means to want, to desire, to be in a place, with its people. In folk terminology, querencia is such a place, the center space of desire, the root of belonging and yearning to belong, that vicinity where you first beheld the light. Querencia, in collective terms, is homeland. ~Enrique Lamadrid, Nuevo Mexico Profundo

Miguel Gandert tells stories. He tells stories of his homeland, New Mexico (and beyond), its people and the cultural practices that distinguish communities from each other while simultaneously revealing their kinship. You will have to form your own words, however. Ganderts stories are told through penetrating, black and white photos. A primary focus of his work is his own mestizaje heritage and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas.

Miguel Gandert, a native of Espanola, NM, is an award-winning documentary and fine-art photographer and filmmaker. His photographs have been shown in galleries and museums throughout the world and are in numerous public collections including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Museum of American History and Art at the Smithsonian.

Querencia: Rituals of the Rio Arriba opens Friday, October 6 at the New Mexico Humanities Council, 4115 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque. An artists reception will be 6:00 pm  8:00 pm with an artist's discussion at 7:00 pm. The exhibit closes December 29, 2017.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
The Art of Christmas: New Mexico Style

PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
News / National

by Staff reporter

EMBATTLED ex-Zanu-PF provincial youth leader Mubuso Chinguno, who skipped the country into Lesotho, has apologised to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the disparaging remarks targeted at him during his reign in Manicaland. Chinguno was a key member of the G40 cabal in Manicaland, and vicious critic of President Mnangagwa. Chinguno's eminence abruptly ended with a suspension over allegations of misappropriating $400 000 meant to service youth residential stands in Chipinge.He skipped the country following the Zanu-PF and Government earthquakes that catapulted Cde Mnangagwa to the presidency. Chinguno said all Zanu-PF youths should embrace the new dispensation and actively participate in various programmes aimed at reviving the economy and uniting Zimbabweans."Due to lack of leadership and clarity on some ethos of the party some of us miscalculated, disrespected some members of the leadership and might have unwittingly undermined the interests of the party. On that note I would like to unreservedly apologise to the gallant freedom fighters, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, Cde Christopher Mushohwe, Cde Christopher Chingosho, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and many others for uttering some disparaging remarks targeting them during my tenure as Manicaland Zanu (PF) Province youth chairperson."The statements were made in a context in which emotions were running wild, but with many of us having no knowledge and experience of peacefully managing conflicts surrounding leadership change. Some of us, the youths, lacked political guidance, and consequently made some wrong political decisions," said Chinguno."I hope members of the revolutionary party as well as Zimbabweans are drawing important lessons from this leadership contestation, are crafting strategies and tactics, and putting in place systems to make sure such practices which have the potential of extinguishing the revolutionary fire don't happen again in future," added Chinguno.Chinguno said the Zanu-PF commissariat department led "by an ideologically clear party cadre" Cde Victor Matemadanda must intensify efforts aimed at educating the masses, especially youths on the party's ideology. Though Chinguno dismissed reports that he fled Zimbabwe, saying such "falsehoods have an agenda of setting me up against the leadership of my party" The Manica Post has it on good authority that he is in Lesotho."I was a G40 ally, and you know what is happening to those linked with the G40 cabal. Please do not make a story out of this, the dust will settle and will grant you an interview after the (Extra ordinary) Congress. In fact, I will request for a one-on-one. I have a friend who works in Maseru, in fact she is a girlfriend from Zimbabwe," said Chinguno prior to conveying his apology through the publication.Although ex-President Mugabe had counselled that Government should consider building flats for the youths, Chinguno allegedly used his links with former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to get large tracts of land, stretching over 300 hectares, to sell to the youths. Chinguno together with his proxies formed two private property development companies, which collected registration and monthly subscriptions from nearly 6 000 youths.The funds were allegedly misappropriated, resulting in the suspension of tuck survey, pegging of the stands, road servicing and water installation on the 2 500 residential stands. The scandal was reported to Chipinge police by the victims, among them Joyce Mary Muyambo, Tonderai Ngwendu, Douglas Mlambo, Plaxcedes Muringami, Gilbert Kombo, Elisha Mandhazi, Memory Baiwa, Pamela Waeni, Dakarai Matongo and Trust Dunguni, among others.However, Chinguno denied the allegations, saying the case has its origins in internal party power struggles.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Former Higher Education secretary Francis Gudyanga was yesterday arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of public office hardly a week after he was sacked from his position.Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission spokesperson Phyllis Chikundura confirmed the arrest.She, however, did not have details of the allegations Gudyanga was facing."Yes, he has been arrested and is currently detained at Rhodesville Police Station. He will appear in court tomorrow (today)," Chikundura said.According to sources at the anti-corruption body, Gudyanga faces graft charges emanating from deals he struck while he was Mines and Mining Development secretary.During his days as Mines secretary, Gudyanga was accused of ordering the State-owned Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) to do work on behalf of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Border Control Unit, but it turned out that no job was rendered by MMCZ, prejudicing the State of close to $1,7 million.Gudyanga also reportedly ran a one-man board at MMCZ where he allegedly handsomely rewarded himself with allowances. The Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee recently recommended that Gudyanga be fired for his role in abusing the country's mineral resources and aiding illicit financial outflows.But instead of firing him, former President Robert Mugabe re-assigned him to the Higher Education portfolio.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has committed Zimbabwe and the ruling Zanu PF party to democratic tenets and honest engagement with the rest of the world.Under former President Robert Mugabe, who was forced to resign following a military intervention last month, Zimbabwe had turned into a pariah State amid accusations of human rights abuses and skewed social, economic and political policies.In his address to the Zanu PF extraordinary congress yesterday, Mnangagwa pledged that Zanu PF would pit itself against the opposition in a free, fair and credible political contest next year. His comments come in the wake of demands from Western powers as well as the opposition for a commitment to reforming the poisoned political environment ahead of the elections."We must take pride in our abilities and resources, guarding ourselves from being opinionated to the extent of not knowing that we need and benefit from mutually beneficial partnerships with the rest of the world. We mean well, we stand as a nation of its word, of its promise. We are committed to repair broken relations desiring to rebuild our economy so it gives jobs to our people especially the youths and improves the living standards of our people," Mnangagwa said.Mnangagwa said his speeches after a brief period in exile following his expulsion by Mugabe, his inaugural speech and the budget statement by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa gave the world a "peep into the new era we seek to build" promising once again free, fair and credible elections next year."In the same vein, democracy bids that as a political party Zanu PF must always compete for office, through pitting itself against the opposition parties in elections which must be credible, free, fair and transparent."We must vow to observe the rule of law, to live and to govern in accordance with the tenets of our struggle, for failure to do so will undoubtedly result in damnation of the party, whatever our rank and level," Mnangagwa told party leaders.Mnangagwa warned Zanu PF against remaining stuck in past glory." we should not be a party of the past. We must also be a party of the future, a party of prosperity and posterity. Let us be alive to the fact that successful parties constantly renew themselves, speaking to youths, women and the disadvantaged," the President said.With the shadow of regionalism looming large especially during the bitter factional tussle that culminated in Mugabe's removal and his elevation, Mnangagwa rejected he was an ethnic leader."I stand before you, therefore, as the President of a united, non-racial Zimbabwe, itself home to many tongues, dialects, cultures, colours and age groups."I am a President of men and women, the young and the old, the able-bodied and physically challenged, the rich and the poor, the well and the sick," he said.While Mugabe sought to project Mnangagwa as a regional leader claiming he had hounded former Vice-President Simon Muzenda from Midlands province, Mnangagwa sought to project himself as a national figure."My Presidency should not be perceived as a rise in the fortunes of a region, tribe or totem. My Presidency is about a united Zanu PF, a national party with a national outlook," Mnangagwa said. "I am President for Ndebeles, Shonas, Zezurus, Ndaus, Karangas, Manyikas, Vendas, Chewas and Sothos. I am also the President of Tongas, Tswanas, Xhosas, Khoisan, Shangaan, Kalangas, Nambyas and the English who are all celebrated by our Constitution."Having risen to power on the coat-tails of unrelenting agitation from veterans of the liberation struggle and the military, Mnangagwa sought to wean himself from Mugabe's shadow, whose relationship with the former fighters in 37 years of his rule had hit rocky ground."I am an emissary of all veterans and heroes, dead or alive who through their blood sketched the cause and mission which my Presidency must promote, must actualise and advance," he said.Mnangagwa urged Zanu PF members to be on the lookout for infiltrators, adding there was need to rehabilitate members "corrupted" by factional fights under Mugabe.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Serial political flip-flopper, Jonathan Moyo, has backed opposition political parties' calls for the west to maintain sanctions on Zimbabwe until the ruling party has introduced noticeable reforms.Before his latest damascene moment from self-imposed exile, the former Higher and Tertiary Education minister was at the forefront of blaming the United States' policy towards Zimbabwe for hurting the country's economy.He even launched a sanctions impact research in January and devoted $150 000 to finance the survey.With the tables having been tabled against him, Moyo is now singing from a different hymn book.Quoting New York-based Human Rights Watch Southern Africa head Dewa Mavhinga's submission presented before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging Washington to maintain its stance on Zimbabwe until reforms have been enacted, Moyo said no country should deal with Zimbabwe as it was an illegitimate administration."A military coup is a military coup and in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe it can only beget nothing else but an unconstitutional government and thus an illegitimate dispensation! #CouptheCure @dewamavhinga," Moyo said on his twitter account.The former Zanu PF politburo member took another about turn as he supported the opposition's call for the United Nations and other international election watchdogs to supervise the 2018 elections.Zanu PF has always maintained that the elections will not be observed by the UN."Given what has happened since the coup d'etat of 15 November 2017, the only way forward is for Sadc, AU and UN to cure the coup by restoring constitutional legitimacy through a civilian national transitional structure to oversee free, fair and credible elections! Cure the coup. To expect the same Junta and Mnangagwa who violently grabbed power through a coup d'etat on 15 November to organise and oversee free, fair and credible elections is the same as expecting Satan the devil to organise and run the church of God on behalf of Christians! Cure the coup," Moyo insisted.He further called on the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the African Union (AU) and UN to interrogate the deployment of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on November 15 and the "alleged resignation of Mugabe on November 21. Firstly, was the ZDF deployment constitutional? Secondly did (former) president Mugabe voluntarily and freely resign?"Moyo starkly warned: "The Junta will pay at the polls for humiliating ...Mugabe!"This week, Tendai Biti led an MDC Alliance delegation comprising Nelson Chamisa, activists Dewa Mavhinga and Peter Godwin to make presentations before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday where they urged Washington to maintain its current policy on Zimbabwe, which includes the sanctions.Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo has responded by saying it was staggering that opposition expects Mnangagwa to undo the wrong committed over 37 years in just two weeks.In the wake of an outcry from Zanu PF, Biti said the ruling party should stop "being cry-babies" and implement electoral reforms if at all it is sincere about creating a new political dispensation.Moyo's narrative on maintaining existing US policy towards Zimbabwe until the military removes itself from politics was in tandem with that of Biti who described the intervention by the army in the country's political affairs as an illegal and illegitimate transfer of power from one faction of the ruling Zanu PF party to another.Speaking after lobbying Washington as Zanu PF went into overdrive blaming the MDC Alliance for calling on sanctions to the detriment of ordinary Zimbabweans, Biti said:"The goodwill we have witnessed as MDC Alliance on this trip, the doors that have been open for us here, some of the offices we have entered that are no normally not opened to anyone is telling, when we say we have the keys to unlock Zimbabwe it's not a lie. It's all shown us that we have the goodwill as the opposition. Our message has been that it's time to build Zimbabwe that has been our message from the white house, national security department, Capitol Hill, it's time to build Zimbabwe but Zimbabwe has to walk the talk. There has to be incentives for good behaviour. So the ball is in our court. Let us not cry sanction or no sanction lets walk the talk."In his welcome remarks to the Zanu PF central committee meeting on Thursday, Mnangagwa stressed that general elections will be held next year as scheduled, promising that unlike in previous seasons, this time around the outcome will not be disputed."As I have already announced, harmonised general elections will be held in 2018  as scheduled. Government will do all its powers to ensure that these elections are credible, free and fair," he said without elaborating.It remains to be seen if Mnangagwa will stick to his word within the eight months preceding the elections that are expected in July next year.
News / National

by Staff reporter

CIVIL servants have expressed elation at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's responsiveness to their concerns saying signs are there for all to see that the new political administration is sensitive and determined to better their welfare and remuneration.This was after the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) last week promised to look into the deductions from civil servants' salaries by loan sharks.This was in response to the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) that had sought President Mnangagwa's intervention on the deductions.PTUZ sits on the Apex Council, a body that represents civil servants and has previously been critical of the previous political administration that was marshalled by former President, Robert Mugabe.Last week's swift response to PTUZ's concerns by the President's Office appears to have enamoured the union.Over 30 000 civil servants have reportedly had money deducted from their salaries by loan sharks ostensibly to service non-existent loans.One of the loan sharks that have been fingered in the alleged scam is McDowells International (Pvt) Limited, which has since been liquidated.Some of the affected workers claim they have been left with as little as $0,73 after deductions.In a letter to PTUZ on Tuesday last week, Principal Director in President Mnangagwa's Office Mr Christopher Gwatidzo said the matter would be looked into with the "gravity and urgency it deserves".PTUZ secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe posted the letter on his official twitter account on Friday last week."ED has responded to our letter concerning fleecing of civil servants by bogus companies."This is the first time the Office of the President has done so since our birth," an excited Mr Majongwe posted.Part of the letter written by Mr Gwatidzo reads, "His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe . . . has noted the union's great concern on the welfare of as well as deductions from teachers' salaries."The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) in consultation with the line Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will look into the matter with the gravity and urgency it deserves".PTUZ president Dr Takavafira Zhou said the response from President Mnangagwa's office was positive and encouraging.He said as civil servants' representatives, they welcomed the President's commitment to address the welfare of Government workers."I think this is a positive and encouraging move. We hope that the line ministry that was officially informed by the OPC will act accordingly," he said.Dr Zhou added, "We are quite happy and hope that the issue will be dealt with to its logical conclusion."We are encouraged by the concern over our welfare. We hope for an improvement and to be paid reasonable salaries," he said.Earlier this year PTUZ had their demonstration against the deductions blocked by police and the union insisted that it would continue engaging the police to be allowed to protest.The union had planned to march to the SSB and Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in Harare where they would deliver petitions over the continued deduction.Dr Zhou said the union had shelved the plans and was giving President Mnangagwa an opportunity to deal with the matter."There is a new administration now and it has promised to look into the issue. Let's give them a chance to pursue the issue to its logical conclusion," he said.Last year the High Court appointed a provisional liquidator to collect money owed to McDowels by its debtors, among them some civil servants who had taken loans.However, some civil servants, mostly teachers, claim they have been made to pay monthly premiums to service loans from McDowells which they did not take.Those that took loans from the company claim that the loan shark continues to deduct money from their salaries despite them having finished paying off.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

The Special Advisor to the President, Christopher Mutsvangwa says Zimbabwe can derive maximum benefits socially and economically by strengthening cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC).Mutsvangwa made the remarks at an inter-party training workshop conducted by the visiting Deputy Minister of International Trade in the CPC.Zanu PF office bearers attended a workshop organised by the visiting CPC delegation, where the two sides shared experiences and exchanged notes on various party programmes.Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans should work in unison to achieve common goals at the same time focusing on collaborating with countries like China with a view to derive maximum benefits socially and economically.The CPC held its 19th National Congress in October this year where President Xi Jinping was re-elected as Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee.Mrs Xu Lyuping, who conducted the inter-party training workshop, said the just-ended Zanu PF Extra-Ordinary Congress provided a platform for the CPC delegation to have an appreciation of how the revolutionary party is conducting its processes in a transparent and accountable manner which is in line with how the Chinese counterparts also undertake their programmes.Herbert Chitepo Ideological College Principal, Munyaradzi Machacha, who also attended the training workshop, said lessons learnt from the interaction with members from the CPC, which shares the same ideological values with Zanu PF, will help build character development programmes for those in leadership positions and this will in turn cascade to grassroots levels.A number of Zimbabweans have benefitted from exchange programmes with China in various sectors.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

HARARE - Serial political flip-flopper, Jonathan Moyo, has backed opposition political parties' calls for the west to maintain sanctions on Zimbabwe until the ruling party has introduced noticeable reforms.Before his latest damascene moment from self-imposed exile, the former Higher and Tertiary Education minister was at the forefront of blaming the United States' policy towards Zimbabwe for hurting the country's economy.He even launched a sanctions impact research in January and devoted $150 000 to finance the survey.With the tables having been tabled against him, Moyo is now singing from a different hymn book.Quoting New York-based Human Rights Watch Southern Africa head Dewa Mavhinga's submission presented before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging Washington to maintain its stance on Zimbabwe until reforms have been enacted, Moyo said no country should deal with Zimbabwe as it was an illegitimate administration."A military coup is a military coup and in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe it can only beget nothing else but an unconstitutional government and thus an illegitimate dispensation! #CouptheCure @dewamavhinga," Moyo said on his twitter account.The former Zanu PF politburo member took another about turn as he supported the opposition's call for the United Nations and other international election watchdogs to supervise the 2018 elections.Zanu PF has always maintained that the elections will not be observed by the UN."Given what has happened since the coup d'etat of 15 November 2017, the only way forward is for Sadc, AU and UN to cure the coup by restoring constitutional legitimacy through a civilian national transitional structure to oversee free, fair and credible elections! Cure the coup. To expect the same Junta and Mnangagwa who violently grabbed power through a coup d'etat on 15 November to organise and oversee free, fair and credible elections is the same as expecting Satan the devil to organise and run the church of God on behalf of Christians! Cure the coup," Moyo insisted.He further called on the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the African Union (AU) and UN to interrogate the deployment of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on November 15 and the "alleged resignation of Mugabe on November 21. Firstly, was the ZDF deployment constitutional? Secondly did (former) president Mugabe voluntarily and freely resign?"Moyo starkly warned: "The Junta will pay at the polls for humiliating ...Mugabe!"This week, Tendai Biti led an MDC Alliance delegation comprising Nelson Chamisa, activists Dewa Mavhinga and Peter Godwin to make presentations before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday where they urged Washington to maintain its current policy on Zimbabwe, which includes the sanctions.Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo has responded by saying it was staggering that opposition expects Mnangagwa to undo the wrong committed over 37 years in just two weeks.In the wake of an outcry from Zanu PF, Biti said the ruling party should stop "being cry-babies" and implement electoral reforms if at all it is sincere about creating a new political dispensation.Moyo's narrative on maintaining existing US policy towards Zimbabwe until the military removes itself from politics was in tandem with that of Biti who described the intervention by the army in the country's political affairs as an illegal and illegitimate transfer of power from one faction of the ruling Zanu PF party to another.Speaking after lobbying Washington as Zanu PF went into overdrive blaming the MDC Alliance for calling on sanctions to the detriment of ordinary Zimbabweans, Biti said:"The goodwill we have witnessed as MDC Alliance on this trip, the doors that have been open for us here, some of the offices we have entered that are no normally not opened to anyone is telling, when we say we have the keys to unlock Zimbabwe it's not a lie. It's all shown us that we have the goodwill as the opposition. Our message has been that it's time to build Zimbabwe that has been our message from the white house, national security department, Capitol Hill, it's time to build Zimbabwe but Zimbabwe has to walk the talk. There has to be incentives for good behaviour. So the ball is in our court. Let us not cry sanction or no sanction lets walk the talk."In his welcome remarks to the Zanu PF central committee meeting on Thursday, Mnangagwa stressed that general elections will be held next year as scheduled, promising that unlike in previous seasons, this time around the outcome will not be disputed."As I have already announced, harmonised general elections will be held in 2018  as scheduled. Government will do all its powers to ensure that these elections are credible, free and fair," he said without elaborating.It remains to be seen if Mnangagwa will stick to his word within the eight months preceding the elections that are expected in July next year.
News / Press Release

by Thembani Dube

Gratitude and many thanks

The 1893 MHRRM 23rd December 2017 Scheduled Demos

First and foremost, we extend our gratitude and many thanks to the BBC and Al Jezeera for highlighting our Genocide. Many thanks are extended to Jeremy Paxman of Panorama Programme, Peter Godwin, Dr Hazel Cameroon as well as many others who have done so. Please click the following links to learn more about the Matebele Genocide.The 1893 Mthwakazi Human Rights Restoration Movement (1893 MHRRM) demonstrations against the Zimbabwean government for the genocide this government committed against the Matebele people in 1983 will go ahead this coming Saturday, 23rd December 2017 in London, UK and in Johannesburg, South Africa.The Demo in the United Kingdom, is taking place at the Zimbabwe Embassy, the Strand from 13:00 hrs to 16:00hrs and will be blessed by several solidarity speakers from other suppressed Nations around the world.The Demo in South Africa will start with a march from Jobert Park to Berea Park at 11:30hrs to 15:00hrs. Various Matebeleland groups and leaders are invited and expected to grace the Demo and give speeches regarding this genocide and the demand for the Restoration of our Nation. The Demo is blessed with Loyiko theatre group that will be performing their legendary Gukurahundi Genocide play on the day.In 1983, the then Government of Robert Gabriel Mugabe unleashed a North Korean trained crack unit called the 5th Brigade of Zimbabwe in Matebeleland. This unit caused a lot of untold suffering in its genocidal forays in our territory and turned Matebeleland into its ethnic killing fields and into its ethnic "rivers of blood". It also turned Matebeleland into an Auschwitz concentration camp of Africa never witnessed in Africa.Between 50 000 and 100 000 Matebele people died in this genocide. The CCJP report puts a conservative number of more than 20 000 as it was researched in a climate of fear and therefore its estimate figures are extremely conservative. Millions were driven from their homes to neighbouring countries and to overseas countries. Thousands endured torture and rape of unimaginable proportions. The survivors remain traumatised, enslaved and held hostage in Zimbabwe by the same tyrannical rulers who committed and continue to commit heinous crimes against them.To this day, this ethnic cleansing and Genocide continues unabated under different forms and guises including cultural and linguistic genocide as well as the brazen confiscation of Matebele Land. The Matebele rights and that of others are violated with impunity. The Matebele are not allowed to assembly and exercise their cultural rights. Any form of assembly invites beatings and arrests.The ring leaders of this ethnic genocide against the Matebele were Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the deposed President of Zimbabwe, the current President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who at the time was the State Security Minister, Constatino "Dominic Chinenge" Chiwenga, the current Army General who deposed Mugabe through a Coup D'etat, the late Army General Commander, Rex Nhongo Mujuru, Air Force Commander, Perence "Bigboy" Shiri who was the then Commander of the 5th Brigade and now the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and the former Defence Minister, Sydney Sekeramai among many others.At the time of the genocide, Perence Shiri assumed a godly status and blasphemously nick-named himself "Black Jesus" as he engaged in his genocidal forays in Matebeleland with reckless abandon.The current military-imposed President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, the then State Security Minister, compared the Matebele people, in April 1983, to "cockroaches" that needed to be killed with a now banned insecticide called DDT. The North-Korean trained 5th Brigade crack unit became the DDT insecticide that fumigated the Matebeles to agonizing deaths with reckless abandon.At the time of the genocide, the military-imposed President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa made statements that fuelled the genocide, such as,"Blessed are they who will follow the path of the Government laws, for their days on earth will be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth.'-MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, 4 APRIL 1983Driven by fear to protect themselves, the majority of the ring leaders of the genocide have carried a Coup Detat in Zimbabwe and installed the then State Security Minister, who was the leading figure in the Genocide campaign against the Matebele, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the President of Zimbabwe.In the midst of this unfolding dangerous militarization of a government in Zimbabwe by genocidalists and the public Genocide Denials, the authentic Matebele voice about this genocide is being drowned out. We can also speak for ourselves. We have a voice. At the same time, we appreciate all those who have spoken on our behalf and the media that has given our tragedy the attention it deserves. It is however time to hear our voice too, to add to the voices already out there. We therefore make an appeal to Matebeles, friends of the Matebele and anyone who is horrified by this genocide to come and join us on the 23rd December 2017 to send a strong message to the world that tyranny must not be rewarded.The Matebele Genocide Matters. Truth, Justice and Reparations for this Genocide matters!Give us a hand, give us a voice and together we expose tyranny for what it is!Bring your Banner!
News / Press Release

by Zim Vigil

An obscure Cairo-based bank has advanced Mnangagwa the money to launch Zanu PF Mark II in its new PF incarnation as the pragmatic fascist party - rather on the lines of the Egyptian regime itself.Having swept away Grace Mugabe and her 40 groupies, Mnangagwa seeks to present himself as the modern Mugabe. He certainly sees Zanu PF in the same way: the party is the state, generals are party stalwarts and the constitution is what he says it is.Only two years ago Mnangagwa said that those who do not support Zanu PF deserve to die. 'We will continue to rule this country despite their shouting about electoral reforms', he declared. Unsurprisingly, Mnangagwa was speaking at the commissioning of a water treatment plant in Masvingo rehabilitated with donor funds.Despite promises at Friday's party congress of 'credible, free and fair' elections, Mnangagwa has hinted that the polls due about August, may in fact take place earlier - although there is no acceptable voters' roll and none of the recognized provisions for credible elections are in place.Presidential adviser Chris Mutsvangwa told the congress that the military would play a big role in theelections: 'We will win resoundingly, better than the 1980 elections, and we will mobilise heavily working with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces', he said.The $1.5 billion loan that Mugabe is getting - sorry, we meant Mnangagwa - has emboldened him to demand that the West scrap sanctions which, like Mugabe. he pretends are the main cause of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown. True to Zanu PF, he can only repeat what has worked in the past.Mnangagwa says he wants new relations with the West and that he seeks Western investment. The Vigil thinks that it must be made clear to him that there can be no prospect of re-engagement until there are free, fair and internationally-monitored elections.Zimbabweans may find an easing of the bank queues. This will be accompanied by talk of action against corruption. But the target of this will be the informal sector: the poor touts, vendors and squatters - the victims of the mafia bosses who compose the top level of the Zanu PF party who will now merrily loot $1.5 billion of Afreximbank's money, deploying the army to keep the povos quiet.And then the money will run out again . . . We trust there will be enough to continue paying Mugabe's pension and expenses. The Vigil warned in our recent book 'Zimbabwe Emergency' what would happen if Mugabe went but Zanu PF remained in control: 'They say the leopard never changes its spots. Our fear is that, with the departure of Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe may again have the Zanu PF leopard foisted on them in some form or other. For the likely results be warned by these pages.'
Opinion / Columnist

Zipra armed forces were once known for their political correctness, a disciplined army that was even admired the enemy of racist Smith. Peter Walls spoke highly of them: their training was outstanding, he said. Immediately after independence they are constituency that suffered untold state persecutions, murder, and torture in those barracks they shared with Zanla armies. When Zipra could not stand seeing the deaths of their Zipra comrades they fled leaving the barracks and went to rural areas for cover, fear of brutal death by the Zanla army that had the upper hand then and now.Zipra war vets do not realize how much they been taken for a ride, mercilessly dubbed by ZNLWVA and Christopher Mutsvangwa. Immediately after the military take-over in Zimbabwe, General Dabengwa went live on South African media commending the coup, he supported the coup. Further he was quoted again expressing his wish to work in Mnangagwa's government. When we all thought that General Dabengwa learnt his lessons when he was imprisoned by the very Mnangagwa who dangled keys at his cell in Chikurubi: "either you join Zanu PF and leave the prison cell: here are the keys." We have not forgotten all those torture, humiliations and death General Lookout Masuku and him had to endure. General Masuku was murdered in jail, we have not forgotten all. Apparently General Dabengwa has forgotten. What is General Lookout Masuku saying in his grave, he is turning in his grave.Christopher Mutsvangwa and Zanu PF Lacoste were smart in their dealings and negotiations prior to the coup d'etat and thereafter. They made sure they engage Zipra and Dabengwa in their planning the coup to get recognition: a recognition they got from the top, from General Dabengwa. The article in the Bulawayo24 today about the Zipra War Vets is a disappointing development. Zipra has lost its noble values and noble principles they were imparted in the liberation struggle. They are just headless chickens. Do they, did they hope sincerely that Zanu PF Lacoste will include them in the "inclusive government?" Who in the opposition was included in the most anticipated government of national unity to this day? Ko ma Zipra War Vets chii panyama ye huku ye Zanu PF Lacoste in December 2017? General Dabengwa and Zipra War Vets have been cheated broad daylight by Mnangagwa and his cabal government: same story we have always known about Zanu PF. We feel this humiliation of Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa even us outside Zapu membership following. Tirikuvanyarira zve sure! Inhloni bar!It appears as if Zipra War Vets has not learnt anything at all when it comes to Zipra/Zanu PF conflicts dating back to the split that happened in the late fifties and early sixties. These two parties have never worked together successful ever since the struggle for independence of Zimbabwe. What makes Zipra War Vets think that they can MANAGE to form an inclusive government of national unity if it did not happen successfully before? We all know that Comrade Joshua Nkomo literally capitulated to serve lives that have been lost to unprecedented levels in 1987. That government of national unity between Zanu and Zapu in 1987 was necessary mainly to stop the butchering of unarmed civilians: the political matrix of yesteryear is different from the political trajectory of today. Nothing has changed in Zanu PF; it's the face that has changed. Zipra War Vets should know this better than me.The evidence that Zanu PF has not shed its leopard colours is evident the way they used and abused the general population into thinking change has come just by removing Mugabe from power by hook and crook. It was not a coup D'etat!" they said. The leopard has not removed its colours when the entire Zanu PF cabinet of former President Mugabe was reinstated once more in Mnangagwa government. Zipra War Vets, in the today's Byo 24 article talks about how they assisted to fight corrupt elements in G40: that is just laughable: how did they do it? Can't Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa ask themselves pertinent questions: why is corruption so criminalized in G40 and the corrupt elements in Lacoste are left scot free, untouched? Who does not know that the money looted by Zanu PF Lacoste is in millions and billions: and not in hundreds and thousands by G40, except of course Mrs. Grace Mugabe together with her husband looted government revenues in billions of diamond revenues? Mugabe and his wife are even given a retirement package unimaginable by good thinking person.The Zipra War Vets tell us in Bulawayo 24 social media today that they seek audience with President Mnangagwa. It is indeed desperation of the first order to ever engage with known thugs, criminals, murderers and looters of diamond finds from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mnangagwa, a man who is on the sanctions list of United Nations. The Zipra War Vets are going down in their knees begging to their once killer of the people of Mathebeleland, who called them cockroaches and must be gamatoxed. All those miseries and deaths and dehumanizing of "other ethnic" groups and "other people with different political convictions" (Zapu members of Shona ethnic groups) is forgotten because the empty stomach now dictates to them what to do, less noble convictions, no Zapu/Zipra liberation values, less Zapu/Zipra liberation principles.When General Dabengwa left Zanu PF in 2009 to revive Zapu once more we were convinced he knew what he was doing and we thought he needed all the assistance from us former Zapu cadres and children of Zapu fathers and mothers. We are of the opinion that General Dabengwa should now leave the politics mainly because of his age and obvious political mistakes he is inclined to. He has served the nation and his legacy is indeed outstanding. He is not doing Zapu any favour to still wish to be part of a government that came through the back door, let alone endorsing a coup d'etat there by legalising an illegal act of change of government by a military coup. Is General Dabengwa suffering from trauma of his incarceration in Chikurubi High Prison by the very Zanu PF of 1980s? It is just inconceivable to still wish to be part of the new Zanu PF Lacoste dispensation. What change was he going to effect in a Zanu PF government at 78 years of age: joining a government of geriatrics and evident criminals?Our Manager: not a politician; by his own admission, Dr. Nkosana could be excused for wanting to be part of Mnangagwa's government. He was bringing with him a wide range of experience he acquired in those world finance institutions. Our Strive Masiyiwa who was touted to be the President's economic adviser in the new dispensation, if it is true, could have none of it, he stays aloof from the hullaballoo, as a result his world-famous-reputation remains intact. Amai Mujuru was sceptical from the onset. She distanced herself from the new government openly. Amai Mujuru apparently knows Zanu PF more than General Dumiso Dabengwa does. It is for this reason they are targeting her: this externalisation of foreign currency is directly targeting Amai Mujuru. We do not exonerate her from that, but why are opposition parties and those of G40 the target, not blanket approach to all those who criminally externalized foreign currency?The Zipra War Vets could have done better if they denounced the coup d'etat. The Zipra War Vets could have demanded the return to civilian government immediately after the coup. The Zipra War Vets could have advised the regional SADC and African Union that the government of Mnangagwa came to power through the back door and was unconstitutional and therefore illegal by all civilized standards. The Zipra War Vets should have been the ones to educate the masses that they were duped by the coup that has just happened; it was a war inside the Zanu PF- house that had nothing to do with the masses. It was a war that was openly sided by the Securocrat who made the final push, Mnangagwa and Lacoste had failed to remove Mugabe using those civilized and democratic means to change leadership within the party.This flip-flopping of Zapu and the Zipra War Vets will cost them the elections again. Be it the War Vets or General Dabengwa has no mandate whatsoever to be put in any government without winning the elections in their territory: Bulawayo and Mathebeleland. Zapu Spokesperson tried to distance Zapu from the hullaballoo of the inauguration of the second President of Zimbabwe. General Dabengwa may have attended the circus; he was invisible in the crowd. That should have informed Zipra War Vets that Zipra and Zapu have no chance in the Mnangagwa government. If for argument sake, General Dabengwa is handpicked to become the second President, will that be appeasement strategy to silence the nation about the atrocities this government has committed all these 37 yearsn power? Are the Zipra War Vets singings for their supper to endorse a criminal called Mnangagwa and Lacoste government? When we hear the Zipra War Vets saying they want to take part in politics, are they going to harass the people of Mathebeleland to vote for Zanu PF?Ncube the Zipra War Vet said in the today's article:"We are calling on all the Zipra cadres regardless of tribe or political affiliation to work towards setting ourselves up politically in order to ensure we safeguard what we fought for. The main agenda today was to talk about our political position. We need to participate in the new political dispensation to unsure that what we fought for is safe guarded," said Ncube.If that did not happen before all these years of liberation and independence, what tricks are the Zipra War Vets going to do to make this happen. Already Zanu has chosen its own, not even one opposition even technocrats from outside were included in the new dispensation. What makes the Zipra War Vets still dream again of being part of the new dispensation when the deal is already been done. Chinamasa said it loud and clear on the 21st of November that this is a Zanu PF Lacoste Day and none in the opposition. We know that the times are indeed very hard out there, but it is a grave mistake to overlook fundamental values of democracy my own parents: Mr Zephaniah Sihwa and Mrs. Louisa Sihwa fought for most of their precious lives. What are Zipra War Vets telling us about the masses of people that died victims of genocide and till today there was never a word of slender sorry, asking for pardon for all those atrocities of that magnitude: crimes against humanity of the Millennium, genocide of 1980s?The war Vets should be reminded that all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe suffered under Zanu PF rule. There are all signs on the ground that informs us those crimes against humanity will happen again. Signs on the ground that tell us all will not be well in Zimbabwe until the elections of 2018. The army is still on the streets beating and harassing civilians. Christopher Mutsvangwa openly told the nation that the army is going to assist Zanu PF Lacoste to win the coming elections. Are we going to be harassed by the army to vote for their favoured candidate Mnangagwa in 2018 as it happened not long ago in 2008 general elections? Peoples of all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe will be targeted this time round.Dear Zipra War Vets, with all due respect I have for you; let's not think with our stomachs in such painful times of our political developments. We need your constructive input and not that of the stomachs. If you want to sup with the devil: what will make you different in the whole circus unfolding in our national politics: do you want to be used in the coming campaigning of the 2018 elections: beat up our women and men for not voting for Mnangagwa and be dumped again after the elections. You assisted in fighting on the side of Lacoste to fight criminals called G40 you say. What we know and is evident that Zanu PF government does not know you anymore; you have been dumped and left irrelevant to whatever contributions you made before and after the coup. What is your next mission this time round to seek audience with President Mnangagwa either than getting humiliated again if Mnangagwa tells you he has no time for you? You will be lucky to meet Chris Mutsvangwa ever. There is serous infighting in Zanu PF Lacoste: they are jostling for posts, does it surprise you that till today there are no VP posts, it will be his luck if General Dabengwa was selected to be one of them in the "inclusive" government. He will be taking that post for himself and certainly not for the people of Mathebeleland and Midlands.
Opinion / Letters

Dear Mrs Mugabe,The agony you are now going through is just unimaginable, you are pained right in your heart, your soil, your bones and your very self. You wish dozen times that what you did should not have happen: how you wish those stage-managed interfaces did not take place in the first instance. I do not want to imagine your loss and pain on my own skin by any stretch of imagination because it is most unbearably painful. If I sit down and conjure your state of mind today at this moment, it compels me to write you this letter to give you some comfort; emotional comfort. It does not matter how big you have sinned to men/women and God, at the end of the day you are a Zimbabwean, a Zimbabwean mother, a daughter of this land called Zimbabwe.The people out there are aggrieved about your behaviour towards other people in general: the very poor people who needed your assistance and guidance as the First Lady. You failed as a mother to understand and comprehend how a poor Zimbabwean mother feels despite the fact that you are a mother yourself. This is not the time to split you, judge you, insult you; we all know what you did, what you said all those are not new to Zimbabwe; home and abroad. What you did to Zimbabwean people, remember that anyone else in your position could have done it. It is very easy to do what you did to the Zimbabwean population if one had the leverage of power that you had by virtue of your marriage to President Robert Mugabe.Mrs. Mugabe: When your mind sinks into regrets, burst into crying uncontrollably, regrets of what you have done and said, please remember that you are a victim yourself. You are equally a victim just like those families you ruthlessly removed from Manzoe farm because you wanted animals to dwell in that farm to attract tourists. Please remember this Mrs. Grace Mugabe that you are a classical example of an abused woman. We visibly see your abuse because you are in the limelight and we are not. Your abuse is all visible to all who can see and are able to determine what abuse on women means what it is all about. Abuse on women is sometimes not noticeable at all, but what they know and notice is how you kicked and screamed at people whom you thought were an obstacle to your assuming power from your husband: Robert Mugabe. One among many is how you treated Mrs. Joyce Mujuru: your fellow woman.In your national rallies that were stage-managed by men in your social circle, most of the time these rallies were very insulting, sometimes very boastful, most of the times children were force-matched to those gatherings and interfaces were you uttered words that are unprintable: you exposed the school-children and robed their innocence. Children, school children should never be exposed to a language such as "bonde." As a mother yourself, you should have known this that children must be respected all the time. No political scoring, purging and insults should be done in their presence.You were sometimes insensitive to tribal make-up of our great nation. Going to Mathebeleland and assume that all understood Shona was not only disrespectful but rude too. Somehow you failed to appreciate the reasons why the people of Mathebeleland relocated to South Africa looking for those jobs that were not available in Zimbabwe. Now to call men in Mathebeleland "lazy" and they just come to make babies and return to South Africa: they just buy bicycles and blankets: those were scatter-shots that were wholly insulting to the "other" tribe, knowing that there are serious ethnic tensions in Zimbabwe. Such accusations should have been avoided as they exacerbate un-necessary ethnic conflicts.What is most disturbing is that we have always heard of UBUNTU and thought that our African-ness: Ubuntu has support structures that will look after their own in such situations like yours. Where was your sister, your brother, your aunties; all those people that support families so that you do not go astray as you did? Those support structures that did not come to your assistance and advice as such, failed you in every respect. Somebody in the family should have taken you by the side and told you that: your position as First Lady does not allow you to use those unprintable words to denigrate other people: be it Dr. Joyce Mujuru or Emmerson Mnangagwa or George Charamba, just to mention those few who are also in the limelight, was not the best way forward to assume power.Firstly we see victimhood in you when you got married to then President of Zimbabwe: Robert Gabriel Mugabe when you were still nursing your divorce with your first husband. The President took advantage of your youthfulness and beauty. He wanted to have children because his mother yearned for grandchildren from Robert before she died. You are the woman who was supposed to fulfil that wish. Innocently you did fulfil the old woman's wish. Senior Mrs Bona Mugabe happily died because you had given her three grandchildren with your second husband: Robert Mugabe.We see victimhood in you when you were used by men, MEN in the party- G40 who were power-hungry themselves but were not able to get the presidency; they used you to do that job for them. Firstly you purged Mrs. Mujuru out of her Vice Presidency t pave way for Mnangagwa. That you successfully did with absolute cruelty. That capacity and crude language-use did not come from you at all, you were fed to say what you said by the men around you and your husband. It was painful to see such open abuse on a woman by another woman: we "from the aside" were able to see through where that courage you had came from.Your dangling of diamond ring and rings in your hands gave pain to all those abject poor people who are suffering because of your husband's mismanagement of government spending and excessive looting of the state treasury. Your unending shopping sprees show an excessive desire to be unique from the rest of us. That one million dollar diamond ring was not necessary to spend on in a country where young pregnant women a denied to give birth in hospitals because they did not pay hospital fees. You had become removed from the very people you purported to be the mother of. You do not have any idea how dilapidated our country clinics and schools are out there. Our roads cause accidents daily; we are losing lives daily because of the run-down road infrastructure. We had perfect roads before your husband took over power in 1980. Because of the looting culture dating back in the early independence, there was ground-breaking infrastructure development that took place since 1980.The looting of farms is another flake on your body and soul. There are millions of people who are landless in their own country, but you and your husband have 12 farms looted from the White Zimbabweans, citizens of Zimbabwe. You cannot possibly own Mazoe Dam. You tried to loot it too, claimed it was yours and nobody is supposed to use it. Mazoe Dam belongs to the nation and is supposed to benefit all catchment settlements within that radius and not you alone. When the settlers in Manzoe Farm were removed, they were just dropped like animals by the way side. There was no resettlement program to replace their livelihoods. It is without doubt that lives were lost in this exercise. Those victims: women, men and children prayed and cried to God for their loss of livelihoods, dear Mrs. Mugabe and it was a question of time, their prayers got answered. This pain and humiliation you are going through comes from those humble cries: "For he is a just God" But still I consider you a complete victim of circumstances.What we see today is injustices against a woman by Lacoste and G40 equally: you the victim Mrs. Mugabe. The blame is put paid on you most, than your husband, the former President. I say this because all the blame is rubbed on you and not your husband, not Jonathan Moyo who used to feed you with all those larger than life utterances; not Kasukuwere, and not your Mzukuru: Patrick Zhuwao. The nation's anger is put-paid on your body and soul to suffer it. Ever since your husband lost power, it appears as if he has been exonerated from all the crimes and genocidal intentions since early independence till he was pushed away from power by a coup. d'etat. Of late MDC-T even suggested your husband should be honoured for good service as President for 37 years. All those crimes against humanity your husband committed have been forgotten, but nobody has forgotten your sins, serious mistakes, sometimes of criminal intentions. This to me is travesty of justice if the woman is made to suffer the crimes she committed more than men.The very people who used to hero-worship, kneel before you, called you Dr. Amai, or Munhu wese kuna Amai not even four weeks ago, have gone live on social media denouncing you calling you a Whore, "Hure". When you hear those insults and altercations about you and your previous behaviour: when people who paid reverence and absolute to you not even four weeks ago, they now call you all sorts of names: among those insults are that you are a prostitute, a whore and so forth it goes on. It is certainly not that you are a prostitute, a whore; it is only that the word "whore" is the strongest term they can use to illustrate their detest for you as a person.For goodness sake: who calls Jonathan Moyo a "Hure", who calls Saviour Kasukuwere a "Hure." Who calls Patrick Zhuwao a "Hure". That insult curiously applies to you because you are a woman. This is how women are insulted: "Whores" if women crossed their demarcation lines of men's bar measurement of morality. These are the very men who put you in serious trouble. Emotionally these men who were near you carry fewer burdens than you: you are the one who insulted Mnangagwa, it is not said or asked who fed Mrs. Mugabe those purging utterances to destroy Lacoste and Mnangagwa in those stage-managed rallies and youth interfaces. Evidently some of your utterances were fed in you to say what you said. The paint brush remains in you more than the G40 group, you were just fronted to do the dirty work for them and they remained at the background. You are now facing the music alone in Zimbabwe.I am desperately trying to reach out to you out there and humbly advise what could assist you to come to terms with your very painful loss of Presidency and humiliating situation you find yourself in. Give back what does not belong to you? "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give back those farms and remain with one. Give back looted diamond revenues to the owners of the land, surrender that looted money to the country's treasury. Write a letter to the nation and apologize to the nation that you did and said was out of realms of good practice. Give that "PHD" doctorate degree back, you know it was not your sweat, somebody wrote the theses for you. When you have done that you will have done your part so don't wait for the nation to forgive you: Few women/men are capable of forgiveness is such like your situation at the present moment.Knowing that man/woman is not capable of forgiveness: in a clear blue night: when the moon and stars are beautifully shining on you face: ask for forgiveness to the entire universe: to the moon, to the stars, to the empty space in the universe. The magic behind this is that you will get your peace you now need most. This will assist you to come to terms with your pain, loss and humiliation. The universe will forgive you irrevocably. You will find peace in your mind and body. Your husband is old and can go to his creator anytime now. You will remain alone and your children and grandchildren to face the inevitable. Do not ask for forgiveness to the universe: moon and the stars a thousand times, in so doing you will be saying even the universe cannot forgive me hence your continuous asking for forgiveness.You are young; you are a mother of still very juvenile boys who are used to life of drugs, alcohol and sex: boys who still need guidance from you as their mother. You need that peace of mind to be able to face life without the husband: and life can be very long. There is some woman in USA who was about to face capital punishment: she said the something that still lingers in my mind to this day: she said human beings do not forgive but she knew that by talking to God; only God forgave her the sin she had committed to get capital punishment and she was sure she was forgiven by God before she was executed.Mrs Mugabe it will be asking too much to get in touch with Ntombi-Langa Charity organisation that hopes to assist women in emotional distress, I am lesser mortal and have no privilege to speak to you personally. This letter I hope will get you and hope it may help:
Opinion / National

TODAY'S article is the last in a detour we took to prepare for the continuation of visits to the Ndebele State by London Missionary Society (LMS) Reverend Dr Robert Moffat. His last trip to King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana when the Ndebele were still in South Africa was undertaken in 1835.The Ndebeles' hurried departure from Marico  Egabheni was occasioned by their decisive defeat at the hands of the Afrikaners.Reverend Dr Robert Moffat was to follow the Ndebele later in 1854 when the Ndebele king was domiciled at Emahlokohlokweni just north of Bulawayo. Our intention is to catch up with his journals so that we glean some historical information regarding what he experienced. In the absence of written records, his accounts, though they may be distorted here and there, do nonetheless provide some historical information.Between 1837 and 1854 the wheels of history among the Ndebele continued to turn. The detour we took sought to bridge the gap between the two years up to the arrival of the LMS missionary. However, our thrust has been on some names that have endured to this day: Umthwakazi, Umthwakazi omhle and Umthwakazi ondlela zimhlophe.Umthwakazi ondlela zimhlophe was explained and interpreted in an earlier article. Just to recap, we said King Mzilikazi possessed ox wagons which his armies captured from the Griqua, such as Peter David. Roads were cleared for the wagons and the paths that were created were referred to as indlela ezimhlophe. However, indlela ezimhlophe as a descriptive term was used in conjunction with Umthwakazi, now the most used name and yet it is the least understood.Umthwakazi has come to mean the Ndebele nation. The suffix  kazi is an important starting point. It means female such as in indodakazi, meaning daughter, inkomokazi meaning cow, which will also mean a big beast. It will also mean big as in isihlahlakazi, a big tree. Intabakazi is a big mountain.What we have to figure out in Umthwakazi is whether the suffix refers to female or big. The historical background for the name helps to sort that out.When King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana and his people arrived in present day Matabeleland, the Swazi under Queen Nyamazana Dlamini had already set up their own polity following their murder of the Lozwi/Rozvi King at Manyanga Hill, also known as Intaba zikaMambo, north of Inyathi Mission. TheLozwi/Rozvi State had been the last before Mfecane refugees stormed the north.The people that initially lived in the area were the San, who the Ndebele called Abathwa. The BaKalanga called them Bakhwa. Their area is what in Portuguese records was referred to as Butua, Ebuthwa, land of the San. The Kalanga King Tjibundule overran Butua and established himself as king.After a while, he too was defeated by the Lozwi/Rozvi, whose ruler Changamire or Dombodzvuku was of the Moyo Dewa totem. The Lozwi ruled till they were defeated by the Swazi under the leadership of Queen Nyamazana Dlamini.In essence therefore, the Swazi were in control of the south western part of what today is Zimbabwe. Here we need to appreciate an important African belief or world-view regarding conquering earlier inhabitants of the land. While invading armies may dispense of the living occupants of the land, they cannot defeat their ancestors who would have assumed a spiritual dimension. It is thus imperative for the conquerors to appease the dear departed ancestors of those that they have conquered.Queen Nyamazana Dlamini was no exception to this idea, nor was King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana and indeed, his successor to the Ndebele throne, King Lobengula kaMzilikazi. Queen Nyamazana Dlamini thus sought to rule the land she had conquered through a representative of the people that had tamed it  the San, Abathwa. She solicited the services of a San woman who became her right hand woman. She ruled through her. The lady is said to have been very light in complexion and very beautiful  hence the reference to her as Umthwakazi omhle, a term that graces many lips of Ndebele speaking people today (Interview with Cont Mhlanga 20 October 2017, Amakhosi Cultural Centre, Bulawayo).At the time when King Mzilikazi KaMatshobana and his section of Amahlabezulu (the stabbers of the Zulu) arrived there were already two nations in existence: Amahlabezulu under King Nkulumane kaMzilikazi. The Prince had been elevated to the status of king under a mistaken belief that the Ndebele under the leadership of the King had been wiped out by the Griqua.The second nation was one under the leadership of Queen Nyamazana Dlamini. The priority for King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana was to weld one nation out of the three. But before doing that he had to satisfy himself that what he was told by Mkhithika Thebe was correct, that Prince Nkulumane had been elevated to the status of king. A ritual test was arranged by Dr Mphubane Mzizi, the royal doctor. Medicines were placed in a skin which the two princes were to lift up in a test of royal elevation. The younger Prince Lobengula kaMzilikazi was summoned first and sent by his father to bring the medicated test skin. Prince Lobengula kaMzilikazi, as expected, failed to lift the skin. So far, Dr Mphubane Mzizi's test had been successful. The innocent Prince Lobengula kaMzilikazi failed to lift the skin.Prince Lobengula kaMzilikazi failed to lift the skin. Unbeknown to him, the elder brother who had been elevated to the status of King was summoned, ostensibly to help his younger brother. King Nkulumane kaMzilikazi failed the test. He easily lifted the skin with test charms. His success was proof he had been elevated to the status of king. Prior to the test, King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana had summoned Queens Nyamazana Dlamini, Mwaka Nxumalo and Fulatha, okaMabindela, to come and sit next to him. Queen Nyamazana Dlamini was to sit next to the king followed by Queen Mwaka Nxumalo. Queen Fulatha, okaMabindela, was to sit next to her cousin Queen Fulatha.Queen Nyamazana Dlamini protested and demanded that Umthwakazi sit next to her rather than Queen Mwaka Nxumalo. She went on to explain why that was so and who Umthwakazi was, including her role in the governance of the Swazi State. For King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana, it was an opportune moment to strike. He asked Dr Mphubane Mzizi to go and bring some potsherd, udengele, and a sharp razor, insingo. Into the container, the celebrated doctor collected his own blood, that of Queens Nyamazana Dlamini Mwaka Nxumalo, Fulatha kaMabindela and Umthwakazi.Off went Dr Mphubane Mzizi to work on the blood with the aim of welding three disparate nations into one. Queen Nyamazana Dlamini became one of his queens, although it does not appear their union produced a child. The test and the ritual manipulation were not performed in full glare and knowledge of the people. Only a few who included Dr Mphubane Mzizi, Gwabalanda Mathe, Mkhithika Thebe and the King knew what was taking place.Dr Mphubane Mzizi had earlier on played another important role. The Queen of the Swazi and her people had contracted smallpox, impunza. As a result, the planned wedding ceremony was thrown into jeopardy. Dr Mphubane Mzizi was commanded to ensure the ceremony was not postponed. A party of Ndebele men was to go and live briefly at the village of the Swazi people. When the proposed day of the ceremony approached, the accompanying party was to travel with the Queen and her wedding party.The real intention and purpose in sending a party to the Swazi village was to test whether Dr Mphubane Mzizi's medicines to prevent them contracting smallpox were going to work. When the disguised wedding party did not perish, it was proof enough of the efficacy of Dr Mphubane Mzizi's medicines.Despite the Swazis having contracted smallpox, impunza, they proceeded to King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana's homestead. From that incident came the well-known expression that has endured to this day: inhlanhla yaMaswazi wona aqonywa yinkosi elempunza.It was time for the party to relocate to a place under a big and shady tree near the cattle byre. The king then addressed the people. "Lina Mahlabezulu, lani bakaMthwakazi . . .". For the first time the king uttered the name Mthwakazi in public and the name stuck. It became a reference to the Ndebele nation from then on.Various accounts of the fate that befell King Nkulumane kaMzilikazi have been given. However, according to Cont Mhlanga, the king did not shed the blood of his own son, uLitshelamilasenkulumane. Instead, he was accompanied by several men and women to settle near the land of the Bafokeng near present day Rustenburg. He was given several head of cattle in order to start a new life, away from his father. The new place, called Ephugeni (Pokeng) had earlier provided refuge to men and women who escaped when the village of Zwangendaba under Chief Mbiko kaMadlenya was destroyed for opposing the ascension of King Lobengula kaMzilikazi in 1870 (Interview with Cont Mhlanga 20 October 2017, Amakhosi Cultural Centre, Bulawayo).
A rocket fired from Gaza into Israel Friday hit a residential building in Beit Hanoun in the strip and caused it considerable damage, according to the Arabic-language Facebook page of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. "Once again, the terrorist organizations launch rockets at the residents of Gaza themselves," the post said. This is the second time in a week that a rocket fired by Palestinians hits a building in the northeast Gaza city. In the previous incident, a public school classroom was completely demolished.
Gilberto Oliva Sr, the patriarch of the Oliva Cigar family, died earlier today in Miami, Florida. He was 86 years old. Oliva Sr. is best known for founding the massive Oliva Cigar Company Operation with his son Gilberto Jr.

Oliva Sr. was the grandson of Melanio Oliva, who had established a growing operation in Cuba. Oliva Sr. started his own career in the tobacco business in Cuba. Even after the 1959 Revolution, Oliva Sr. remained in Cuba because, at the time, the government was focusing on nationalizing the larger tobacco operations. However, by 1964 when the smaller operations like the Oliva family had in Cuba were being affected by nationalization, Oliva Sr. would leave Cuba. He first went to Spain, and eventually made his way to Nicaragua.

Once in Nicaragua, Gilberto became one of the early pioneers in cultivating tobacco in Nicaragua. However the 1980s brought the Nicaraguan revolution, and like many Cuban ex-patriots who had settled there, Oliva Sr. was forced to leave again. He started establishing tobacco-growing operations in other countries, including Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines. By 1995, Oliva Sr. returned to Nicaragua. Around this time, he turned his attention to cigar production. He and his son Gilberto Jr. teamed up with Nestor Plasencias Honduran operation to create the first cigar in the Oliva Cigar brand known as Gilberto Oliva, a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar over Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The brand name would be shortened to Oliva. Eventually Oliva Sr. would re-establish his tobacco operations in Nicaragua as well as open his own factory there. When it launched his brand, Oliva made the decision to leverage its own tobacco rather than relying on foreign tobacco. This led to Oliva Companys growth.

In recent years, Oliva Sr. would turn operations over to four of his children and maintain a lower profile. Oliva Sr.s son Jose emerged as the face of the company. In 2016, the family sold the brands and factory Oliva Cigar Company to European giant, J. Cortes, where it became a subsidiary (the Olivas maintained their growing operation). Earlier this year, the Gilberto Oliva line, named as a tribute to Oliva Sr. (and the first Oliva cigar), was added.

The past 18 months have seen the passings of Carlos Fuente Sr., Avo Uvezian, Jose O. Padron, and now Oliva Sr.

Oliva Sr. is survived by his wife, five children, and fourteen grandchildren. He was with his family at the time he passed away.
The Marrero Fuerte is one of five lines of cigars produced by Marrero Cigars. The company was founded by Joel Vazquez Marrero in 2014. To produce his cigars, Marrero works with the Tabacos de Costa Rica factory located in Costa Rica. The name Fuerte translates to strong and the Marrero Fuerte is intended to be one of the bolder offerings offered by Marrero Cigars. There are five sizes in the Marrero Fuerte that are a mix of parejo and box-pressed offerings. Today we take a closer look at the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BP, a box-pressed offering that made its introduction into the line early in 2016.

Tabacos de Costa Rica is quietly becoming a factory on the rise. Over the past few years, releases from Bombay Tobak and LH Cigars have landed on the Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. Brands such as Atabey, Byron, Brun del Re, Xiphos and Cuba Rica have also come out of this factory. As for Marrero Cigars, in addition to the Marrero Fuerte, the other lines include Marrero Bellartes, Marrero Flor de Nino, Marrero Tesero Mio, and Marrero Tico.

Without further ado, lets break down the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BPO and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Blend Profile

The blend to the Marrero Fuerte is a multi-national one. In addition to the Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro, the blend also features tobaccos from Peru, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Peruvian, Nicaraguan, Dominican

Country of Origin: Costa Rica (Tabacos de Costa Rica)

Vitolas Available

The Marrero Fuerte is offered in five sizes  each available in 20-count boxes

Petite Corona: 5 x 40

Gran Robusto BP: 5 1/2 X 54

Gran Toro BP: 6 1/2 x 54

Torpedo 1/2 6 x 54

6 x 60: 6 x 60

Appearance

The Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper of the Marrero Fuerte has a roasted coffee bean color. The wrapper also has a slight amount of mottling on the surface. There was a nice oily sheen on the surface of the wrapper. This is a smooth wrapper with any visible wrapper seams and visible veins on the thin side. As for the box press, this is one that has sharper edges than a typical Cuban press.

The band to the Marrero Fuerte has a white background. The front of the band has a shield-like design with an image of a knight with the Costa Rican landscape in the background. Toward the top of the shield is the text MARRERO in gold arranged in a curved fashion. Toward the lower part of the band is a dark-colored ribbon design with the text FUERTE in white font. The shield is also gold trim with a crown on top. The remainder of the band had mostly gold and gray design elements. On the left side of the band is the text COSTA RICA while the right side has the text PURA VIDA  both in dark font. The far right of the band has the text MARRERO CIGARS in landscape mode in dark font.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

I commenced the cigar experience of the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro with a straight cut. After removing the cap, I moved on to the pre-light draw. The dry draw of the cigar delivered cocoa, cherry, and dusty notes along with a creamy texture. Overall I considered this to be a very good pre-light draw. At this point, I was ready to light up my Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro and see what the smoking experience would have in store.

Flavor Profile

The start of the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro delivered a mix of cocoa cherry, wood, and black pepper. The cocoa and cherry notes moved to the forefront during the early stages. There was a nice creamy texture that kept the overall flavor profile smooth. Meanwhile, the wood and black pepper notes were in the background, but the pepper was more prominent on the retro-hale.

As the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro moved into the second third, the cocoa notes transitioned to more of a classic coffee note. The cherry notes were also present in the forefront, but shed some of its sweetness. The creamy component also started to diminish. In the background, I still picked up wood and pepper notes. By the midway point, the coffee notes took over as the dominant flavor of the cigar. It was also around this point where the herbal notes started to increase.

The last third of the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro saw the herbal notes join the coffee in the forefront. By this point, the creaminess had dissipated. The cherry and pepper notes were still present. There was also a slight amount of bitterness present in the background. This is the way the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro cigar experience came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch, but cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

While the burn of the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BP maintained a relatively straight path, I did find this cigar needed a few extra touch-ups along the way. Meanwhile, the resulting ash was skewed toward the firm side. This ash was silvery-gray with some dark spots mixed in. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal.

I assessed the draw to be excellent. The Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BP performed with the ideal amount of resistance and openness  especially for a box-press, which sometimes are skewed a little too open for me.

Strength and Body

I did find the name Fuerte appropriate for this cigar. The Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BP started out medium to full in terms of strength and body. Both the strength and body increase at a linear rate. I did find the body increased a little more rapidly than the strength and by the second half, the Marrero Fuerte Gran Toro BP was in full territory. Meanwhile, the strength comes very close to full by the very end of the cigar. This is one of those cigars where I felt the strength increase after I put the cigar down.

In terms of strength versus body, I gave a slight edge to the body.

Final Thoughts

This is the second of the five blends I have had from Marrero Cigars and once again I am impressed. When I think about cigars from Tabacos de Costa Rica, I normally dont think about cigars that get past the medium threshold. However, the Marrero Fuerte is one that is going to deliver a bolder experience. At the same time, there was a very nice amount of complexity and balance among the flavors. I also found the overall profile meshed well with the box-pressed format. Given this cigar is $8.00, it is one that provides nice value. Since this is a bolder experience, its a cigar Id recommend for a more experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, the Marrero Fuerte BP is one that I would smoke again and seek out some of the other sizes. Its worthy of buying multiples to have in your humidor.

Summary

Key Flavors: Coffee, Cocoa, Cherry, Wood, Pepper, Cream

Burn: Very Good

Draw: Excellent

Complexity: Medium to High

Strength: Medium to Full

Body: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)

Finish: Good

Rating

Value: Buy Multiples

Score: 89

References

News: n/a

Price: $7.80

Source: Marrero Cigars

Brand Reference: Marrero Cigars

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Irans foreign ministry has sharply contradicted recent claims by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that an agreement on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is practically ready.

Bahram Qassemi, the spokesman of Islamic Republics foreign ministry announced on December 15, that not only the status issue has not been resolved, but reaching an agreement was not even on the agenda of littoral states meeting held in Moscow on December 4-5.

The issue of maritime borders and access to Caspians vast fossil fuel deposits is a thorny issue for Iran. Russia and the other former Soviet states have agreed among each other to give Iran a tiny part of the inland sea.

The issue of maritime borders and access to Caspians vast fossil fuel deposits is a thorny issue for Iran. Russia and the other former Soviet states have agreed among each other to give Iran a tiny part of the inland sea.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov had insisted that after more than twenty years of talks, an agreement on the legal status of the Caspian was "practically ready" for signing when the presidents of the littoral states attend a summit next year in Kazakhstan.

Lavrov met in Moscow with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan on December 4-5.

After the meeting ended, Lavrov told reporters: "I am pleased to tell you that we have found solutions to all outstanding key issues linked with this document. The text of the convention is practically ready."

It is worth noting that Lavrov faced reporters alone, in what was supposed to be a joint press conference by all foreign ministers.

Lavrovs comments triggered a wave of angry reactions in Tehran. Irans deputy foreign minister for Asia, Pacific and Commonwealth affairs, Ebrahim Rahimpour bitterly rejected Lavrovs claims, Suggesting that Irans share in Caspian Sea has been finalized is a false and unfounded remark, misleading public opinion.

Echoing Rahimpours response, Qassemi emphasized that ministers discussions on the Legal Status of Caspian Sea Convention were only over the generalities and principles.

Meanwhile, Qassemi reiterated that discussing demarcation and delimitation of Caspian Sea will take years to be finalized.

Irans retreat in the face of Russian pressure has angered many in the country, who see the Islamic Republic as unable to defend what they believe is the countrys historic rights.

Bahram Qassemi also reiterated that no document had been signed at the Moscow summit though it had been agreed that certain legal measures be taken after internal coordination and holding several bilateral expert meetings; eventually, effort will be made to implement the Convention of the Caspian Sea Legal Regime after the final text is signed at a forthcoming meeting of the Presidents of the five Caspian Sea countries, the date of which will be agreed on later.

However, the details of discussions on the Legal Status of Caspian Sea Convention in Moscow are yet to be disclosed.

Since the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the littoral states of Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan have repeatedly discussed the legal status of the worlds largest lake or full-fledged sea.

Though the discussions have not been fruitful so far, Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have been successful in reaching bilateral and trilateral agreements, dividing the sea bed among themselves.

Russia and Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have already divided the seabed of the Caspian Sea according to the Russian proposed formula of the Modified Median Line which divides the seabed on the basis of the length of coasts and leaves the superjacent waters as common. Using this formula will leave Iran with less than 13 percent of the Caspian Sea, says Bahman Aghaei Diba, an expert in international law of the sea.

The Caspian Sea region produced an average of 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil and lease condensate in 2012, around 3.4% of the total world supply.

Immediately after the collapse of Soviet Union, Iran expected to receive a 50% share of Caspian Sea. Tehran argued that based on an old agreement with Moscow, the sea should be equally divided between Iran, on one side and the newly created republics of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan on the other.

However, apparently, Iran has recently reduced its demand to 20% of Caspian Sea while the other littoral states are not prepared to give away more than 12% share of the sea to Tehran.

Irans retreat in the face of Russian pressure has angered many in the country, who see the Islamic Republic as unable to defend what they believe is the countrys historic rights.

US Energy Information Administration, EIA estimates that there were 48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas in proved and probable reserves within the basins that make up the Caspian Sea and Surrounding area in 2012.

Offshore fields account for 41% of total Caspian crude oil and lease condensate (19.6 billion barrels) and 36% of natural gas (106 Tcf). In general, most of the offshore oil reserves are in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, while most of the offshore natural gas reserves are in the southern part of the Caspian Sea.

In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates another 20 billion barrels of oil and 243 Tcf of natural gas in as yet undiscovered, technically recoverable resources. Much of this is located in the South Caspian Basin, where territorial disputes over offshore waters hinder exploration.

EIA estimates that the Caspian Sea region produced an average of 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil and lease condensate in 2012, around 3.4% of the total world supply. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan's onshore oil fields, particularly the Tengiz field, were the biggest contributor to the region's production.

As Azerbaijan developed the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) field group between 2006 and 2008, its offshore production began accounting for an increasing part of total Caspian production. Other significant sources of Caspian oil include production in Turkmenistan near the coast and in Russia's North Caucasus region.
Thirty-six students associations affiliated with Azad University have protested restrictions imposed on events related to Students National Day in Iran, on December 7, a website close to Iran Green Movement, Kalemeh reported.

In their written protest, addressed to the head of Azad Universitys Board of Founders, Ali Akbar Velayati, the students have highlighted the restrictions imposed on holding the annual ceremonies.

Referring to Velayatis remark on the necessity of respecting different political tendencies, the protesters have asserted that Azad University officials are seeking to eliminate their political opponents" from the university, through weird and unjustifiable behavior.

Reportedly, Azad University officials had imposed restrictions on inviting political figures to deliver speeches at Students National Day ceremonies.

Some Azad University departments had gone even further, forbidding students to hang reformist former president Mohammad Khatamis portraits at locations assigned to holding the ceremonies.

Moreover, while referring to the latest appointments at Azad University, the protesters have raised their concern over what they have described as turning universities into garrisons.

Earlier on Sunday, November 26, director of Students Islamic Associations, Mohammad Baqir Golshan Abadi had insisted that Those who were involved in 2009 sedition will definitely not be allowed to speak at Students National Day ceremonies.

Sedition is a term used by the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader and his conservative allies to describe the Green Movement or five-month long protests against highly controversial official result of 2009 presidential elections, declaring the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner.

Preventing the prominent reformist figures from delivering speeches at Students National Day was not limited to Azad University, reports from inside Iran indicate.

Following an order issued by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps security organization, many reformists were barred from delivering speeches all over the country.

On the eve of this years Student Day, students were summoned over the phone and warned not to take part in protests.

Nevertheless, a political deputy to President Hassan Rouhanis Ministry of Interior, Issmail Jabbarzadeh claimed that none of the ceremonies scheduled to celebrate Students National Day were banned by outside interference.

We had banned outside entities [non-academic organizations] to meddle in the ceremonies and none of the gatherings were cancelled, Jabbarzadeh affirmed.

In a speech on December 2 in the city of Zabol in Sistan and Balouchestan Province, southeastern Iran, Rouhani had also maintained, "We are very happy that our students are now speaking loudly and clearly."

Expressing satisfaction over Students Day being celebrated across the country, Rouhani had affirmed, "Universities must be independent and free, and this was one of the aims of the [Islamic] Revolution."

Furthermore, Rouhani had asserted that universities must be free to criticize like seminaries clergy, adding, Students speak without stammering."

Nevertheless, 92 student associations, 813 staff at student publications, and 8,000 student rights activists wrote letters in recent years protesting the police state and threatening atmosphere ruling over Iranian universities, as well as cancellation of student gatherings and extrajudicial interference to stop holding them.

According to Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), protests were held at several Iranian universities on December 7, 2017, on the occasion of Student Day. A students rights activist told CHRI that President Hassan Rouhani has failed to uphold his election campaign promise to end the securitization of university campuses.

On the eve of this years Student Day, students were summoned over the phone and warned not to take part in protests, student activist Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam told CHRI. The authorities have made it more difficult to organize unions to seek better living conditions for students. The climate for political activities now is even worse than before.

In a Radio Farda round-table discussion, a political analyst, Mehdi Mahdavi Azad said, "One of the main goals of the regime is to control of universities, by using various means of pressures...universities present a danger of a political explosion".
(Reuters) - Sabih al-Masri, Jordan's most influential businessman and the chairman of its largest lender Arab Bank, was detained in Saudi Arabia for questioning after a business trip to Riyadh, family sources and friends said on Saturday.

Masri's detention, which follows the biggest purge of the Saudi kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history, has sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories, where the billionaire has major investments.

A Saudi citizen of Palestinian origin, Masri was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after he chaired meetings of companies he owns, according to the sources.

He is the founder of Saudi Astra Group, which has wide interests in diversified industries ranging from agro-industry to telecommunications, construction and mining across the region.

"Masri was heading to the airport and they told him to stay where you are and they picked him up," said a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named. He cancelled a dinner in Amman on Wednesday that he had invited board members of Arab Bank and business associates to attend on his return.

The Saudi authorities did not respond to requests for comment, while Masri could not be reached for comment. His confidants had warned him not to travel to the Saudi capital after mass arrests of Saudi royals, ministers and businessmen in early November, the sources said.

"He has been answering questions about his business and partners," said a source familiar with the matter who did not elaborate nor confirm he was held.

A source close to the family later said that "while Masri is currently restricted from leaving Saudi Arabia, no official charges have been filed against him."

POLITICAL MOTIVE

Reasons for Masri's detention were not clear but political sources said the Saudis might have used him to put pressure on Jordan's King Abdullah not to attend a Muslim summit last week to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The Jordanian monarch attended the Istanbul summit, however. He is a custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem and has been vocal in criticizing Trump over his decision on Jerusalem.

Saudi Arabia, whose relations with the United States have warmed with Trump taking a harder line against its arch-rival Iran than his predecessor, appears to have taken a softer line on the decision on Jerusalem, according to analysts.

Riyadh sent a junior minister to the Istanbul meeting. Masri, who comes from a prominent merchant family from Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, amassed a fortune from partnering with influential Saudis in a major catering business to supply troops during the U.S.-led military operation to retake Kuwait from Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War.

Reports of his detention surfaced on Thursday in the local media in Jordan where Masri's multi-billion dollar investments in hotels and banking are a cornerstone of the economy. He was elected chairman of Arab Bank in 2012 after the resignation of Abdel Hamid Shoman whose family had founded the bank in Jerusalem in 1930.

The bank, which has earned a reputation of resilience in the face of political upheaval, played a prominent role in supporting former Palestinian leader, the late Yasser Arafat during past Middle East turmoil.

Arab Bank, which operates in 30 countries and five continents, has an extensive network in Palestinian territories where it is the largest bank. It also owns 40 percent of Saudi Arabia's Arab National Bank ANB.

Masri led consortium of Arab and Jordanian investors who bought a 20 percent stake in Arab Bank Group from Lebanon's Hariri family business empire for $1.12 billion last February.

He was also instrumental in agreeing in 2015 to settle litigation brought by hundreds of Americans who accused Arab Bank of providing financial services in the West Bank that facilitated militant attacks in Israel.

They had sued Arab Bank under the U.S Anti-Terrorism Act, which permits U.S. citizens to pursue claims arising from international terrorism.

Masri is also the leading investor in the Palestinian territories with a large stake in Paltel, a public shareholding company, which is the largest private sector firm in the West Bank. Masri's family ranks among the wealthiest in the Palestinian territories, with majority holdings in real estate, hotels and telecommunications firms set up after a self-rule agreement with Israel in 1993.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 17

Trend:

Azerbaijan has launched preliminary tests of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of striking human targets and enemys military equipment, Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Industry Yaver Jamal said in an article published in the countrys official press Dec. 17.

He said that unmanned aerial vehicles with cumulative ferrules have already been tested.

"UAVs will have the ability to independently detect and destroy both human targets and the enemy's military equipment," he said. Moreover, negotiations on the creation of electropulse weapons are being conducted with a number of countries.

As for the establishment of a joint venture with the Israeli company, Jamalov added that Azerbaijan produces unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes.

"We are negotiating various issues with Turkeys Aselsan company, he said. We have already decided to establish a service department at the Alov plant. In 2018 we intend to implement projects with a number of Turkish companies, as well as relevant organizations of other countries."

The minister said that the creation and use of a 23 mm sniper rifle can also be attributed to these projects.
A British car designed to reach 1,000mph will be tested for the first time on its South African dry bed race track in October next year, it has been disclosed, AOL.co.uk reports.

Bloodhound SSC will be tested at Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape with the team behind the supersonic car aiming for the 500mph milestone.

In October, Bloodhound, which is driven by ex-RAF fighter pilot Andy Green, reached 200mph during trials at Cornwall Airport in Newquay.

The car is a combination of a fighter jet, a Formula One car and a spaceship and is fitted with an EJ200 jet engine, sourced from a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

The team said the trials would test Bloodhound's performance and handling during one of its most vulnerable phases - the point between 400mph and 500mph.

The stability of the car transitions from being governed by the interaction of the wheels with the desert surface to being controlled by the its aerodynamics.

The grip from the wheels will fall off faster than the aerodynamic forces build up, so this is likely to be the point where the car is at its least stable.

The team, which is based in Bristol, said hundreds of gigabytes of data would be gathered by more than 500 sensors built into Bloodhound during testing.

The car will run for the first time with its solid 900mm wide, 95kg aluminium wheels, specially designed for the desert surface.

They are designed to spin at up to 10,200rpm - more than four times faster than the wheels on an F1 car at top speed.

The 12-mile desert race track has been prepared by 317 members of the local Mier community, who have moved 16,000 tonnes of rock from 22 million square metres of dry lakebed.

The car will attempt to break the land speed record in South Africa in 2019.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.17

Trend:

Azerbaijan could be the most important key link between Asia and Europe by launching multi-billion transit projects that stretch from China to Western Europe, Fuad Shahbazov, a foreign policy analyst at the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Republic of Azerbaijan, told Azernews and Trend.

"Lapis Lazuli Corridor, which is the product of five-years-long negotiations among five countries, is seen as one of the most prospective transit project linking Asia with Caucasus and Europe. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, which are participants to the project, will mostly get benefits as transit countries and gateway to Europe. Due to its geographic location, Azerbaijan has become a transit hub for many countries including Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Poland, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, Turkey and etc," he noted.

The expert also emphasized the importance of this project for Afghanistan.

"The landlocked Afghanistan has always been keen to orchestrate the Lapis Lazuli project as the most reliable and safe route in order to make inroads to European markets," he added.

Asked about possible pitfalls of the project, the expert noted that there are no certain security concerns from the point of view of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, although they exist in terms of Afghanistan.

"The main source of concern is the growing militant activities in Afghanistan and in its borderline with Turkmenistan. However, official Kabul assures its partners that the Afghan Armed Forces are able to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of the transit route," he added.

Shahbazov further underlined that Lapis Lazuli would likely compete with the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is supposed to allow Chinese goods to travel south via Pakistan and then be shipped by sea from the South Asian countrys Gwadar port.

The regional importance of the project cannot be overestimated.

Afghanistan and Turkmenistan heavily count on the project as a key link between Asia and Europe, according to the expert.

"Undoubtedly, Asian countries are in need of new potential markets to export their goods and boost the economy. In this regard, the long awaited Lapis Lazuli is a savior for South Asia. Moreover, Lapis Lazuli Corridor is strategically geared toward freeing Afghanistan from dependence on Pakistani, Iranian and Russian ports for its exports," he concluded.

Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed an agreement on the creation of the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor which is set to connect the five countries on November 15, 2017.

The trans-regional corridor will encompass mainly railways and highways, which will connect the city of Torghundi in the Afghan province of Herat with the port of Turkmenbashi on the shore of the Caspian Sea via Ashgabat.

From Turkmenbashi, goods will be able to travel further by ferry to Baku, where they would be placed on train cars and continue westward to Europe across the South Caucasus via the newly launched Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. Further, the corridor will pass through Tbilisi to Ankara with branches to Poti and Batumi, and, then, from Ankara to Istanbul.

The budget of the project is estimated to exceed $2 billion. Consultations on the creation of the transport corridor began back in 2012. Four technical discussions on the Lapis Lazuli Corridor agreement have been held, with the most recent occurring on March 31, 2016. National railways and motorways are already forming a significant part of this transport corridor, so the agreement is primarily aimed at facilitating transit logistics and simplifying customs procedures.

The initiative seeks to improve transport infrastructure and procedures (including for road, rail, and sea), increase exports, and expand the economic opportunities of citizens in countries benefiting from this new transport corridor.

Barriers to regional trade and transit and transaction costs will be reduced, in part, through a new Custom Integration Procedure and, between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, a new Cross-Border Transport Agreement. Its projected impact is considerable not only because most of the needed infrastructure is already in place, but also because most of the investment required will focus on improving policy and governance.

The name Lapis Lazuli is derived from the historic route that Afghanistans lapis lazuli and other semiprecious stones were exported along, over 2,000 years ago, to the Caucasus, Russia, the Balkans, Europe, and North Africa.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.13

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijans oil production is expected to decline by 0.05 million barrels per day to average 0.80 million barrels per day in 2017, according to OPECs December Oil Market Report.

In 2018, the cartel expects Azerbaijans oil production to drop by 0.04 million barrels per day and stand averagely at 0.76 million barrels per day.

This is while in its previous report, OPEC expected crude output in Azerbaijan to decrease by 0.06 million barrels per day in 2017 as compared to 2016. The cartel forecasted the countrys oil production to drop by 0.05 million barrels per day to average 0.74 million barrels per day in 2018.

"In Azerbaijan, according to data provided by the Ministry of Energy, oil production increased by 0.01 million barrels per day month-on-month to average 0.81 million barrels per day in October, lower by 0.03 million barrels per day year-on-year," said the report.

Average oil production in the country in the last three quarters declined by 0.05 million barrels per day to average 0.80 million barrels per day, compared to the annual average in 2016, according to the cartels estimates.

Earlier, OPEC and several other non-OPEC producers, including Azerbaijan reached an agreement to extend the production deal for a further nine months. This would shift the expiration date of the agreement from March to the end of 2018. The agreement is on the same terms as those agreed in November last year.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 15

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Although between 90 and 95 percent of IT infrastructure fall in the category of software and Iranians have very especially high talents in that area, the opportunity to tap domestic know-how is overlooked, an IT specialist says.

This is while in the field of hardware also we have very high capabilities and are doing one percent of installation and maintenance jobs in our country via domestic technicians, Mehdi Mirmehdi Komjani, the former chairman of Iran IT Association, told Trend December 15.

He also said that lack of regard to startups by governmental bodies and private companies is a bitter fact in the Iranian IT business.

We have science-based companies that, if supported, would be able easily to compete with top Western firms.

A great part of this is because while in most of the world between 10 and 15 percent of the firms' budgets go to R&D, in Iran the percentage is around zero, Komjani noted.

In the meantime, according to official reports on IRINN TV, the national Iranian broadcasting has been able in past years to avoid paying $55 million to foreign companies by using domestic technology to acquire radio and television transmitters.

Last year, government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said science-based industries, IT in particular, are seen as main propellers of Irans economy in a 20-year plan.
Tehran, Iran, December 17

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Irans largest auto manufacturer, Iran-Khodro has opened production line for two new models of Sedan.

One of the new products was Dena+ Turbo charge, a remote facelift of Peugeot 405, and the other an automatic-transmission version of Peugeot 207 with an added trunk, Trend correspondent reported from the event.

Speaking at a conference on the occasion, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani pointed to problems that hinder investment in car as well as other industries in Iran, complaining about the tough and arduous bureaucracy that lies ahead of investors.

Nonetheless, he went on to promise the car makers that if they improve their products safety, develop their indigenous R&D sections, and improve exports, the Parliament will financially support them by allocating loans from the National Development Fund.

Minister of Industry Mohammad Shariatmadari also addressed the conference, saying governmental monopoly over industries has grounded them.

"Governmental ownership has been a real challenge to the auto industry. The government should bring down to zero its share of ownership," he noted, adding that talks are being held with Iran-Khodro and the other major car maker Saipa to privatize the companies.

He also said that the government is preparing support packages for industries in the country, including 100 trillion rials (1 US dollar = 42,000 rials) from the National Development Fund, 100 trillion rials more from government resources, as well as 100 trillion rials via banks and private sector.

"Today there are 30 auto enterprises in Iran, making 3.5 percent of the countrys GDP. The industrys added value is 18.5 percent of that of the entire industries of the country," Shariatmadari noted.

The minister said the Iran envisions taking the 5th place in Asia and 11th place in the global car market by 2025.

He also noted that there are some 1,200 auto part makers in the country, and they should be merged into a big conglomerate.
At least 40,000 people gathered on Sunday (Dec 17) morning at the National Monument (Monas) to protest against US President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, The Straits Times reports.

"Sunday as per 8am local time, the Defend Palestine rally at Monas circle had a crowd of about 40,000 and the people still keep coming," Jakarta police spokesman Colonel Argo Yuwono said in a statement.

Monas is located across the South side of the presidential palace. The US embassy is less than 100m away from the protest site.
US President Donald Trump's transition team has accused special counsel Robert Mueller of "unlawfully" gaining access to thousands of private emails as part of a probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Deutsche Welle reports.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team obtained thousands of private emails sent by US President Donald Trump's transition organization, according to reports on Saturday.

The email trove reportedly contained messages from at least 12 high-ranking members of Trump's transition team, but Mueller has been accused of receiving the files improperly.

The transition group's general counsel, Kory Langhofer, sent letters to the Republican chairmen of two congressional committees on Saturday, saying the GSA's actions were an "unauthorized" release of records.

GSA staff members "unlawfully produced TFA's [Trump for America Inc.] private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsels Office," Langhofer wrote in the letter.

He added that Mueller's office has "extensively used the materials in question, including portions that are susceptible to claims of privilege."
Acting Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in an interview with German national newspaper Bild am Sonntag that he supports creating the position of anti-Semitism commissioner in the next German government, Deutsche Welle reports.

The conservative De Maiziere said his support for the commissioner went beyond the most recent incidents  in which Berlin protesters burned Israeli flags to demonstrate against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital  and was also based on the recommendation of an independent commission of experts.

Germany's Central Council of Jews has also called repeatedly for an anti-Semitism commissioner to be part of the chancellor's office.

In the interview, de Maiziere expressed his concern over the increase in anti-Semitic agitation in Germany.

"Each crime motivated by anti-Semitism is one to many and shameful for our country," he told the paper. He also said that occurrences of derogatory comments, inappropriate jokes and discrimination towards "our fellow Jewish citizens" were on the rise.

"Hatred towards Jews must next be allowed to take hold again in Germany," he added, alluding to Germany's historic responsibility for the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed.

His words on the subject of anti-Semitism were the latest to emerge from a German politician in the aftermath of protests in front of the US Embassy in central Berlin and in the immigrant-heavy Neukolln neighborhood.

The minister spoke out in favor of cracking down on protesters' actions that demonstrate a hatred of Israel, including through police action when possible.

"We cannot tolerate it when a country's flag is burned in public," he said. "It is the symbolic annihilation of a country's right to exist."

Current German law makes it illegal to burn flags and symbols of a foreign state that have been officially installed. Burning homemade or non-official flags is not a crime, though incitement to violence against Jews is.
ISIS has claimed the suicide attack carried out by two heavily-armed ISIS terrorists on a church in the Quetta city of Pakistan, EurAsian Times reports. The tragedy occurred at the time of midday service taking lives of at least 9 people and severely wounding others including small children and women.

Group said in an online statement through Amaq, its official news agency that ISIS members carried out the Bomb blast in the church. However, the group provided no evidence to support its claim.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church located at the nearby Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital took place just over a week before Christmas. Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, the Home Minister of Balochistan said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on the church. One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives, he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. The security forces foiled their plan, he added. According to General Moazzam Ansari, Balochistans Inspector, more than 400 worshippers were inside during the Church attack.
Egypt condemned on Sunday the suicide bombing attack against a Christian church in Pakistan that killed at least eight people and injured 44 others, Xinhua reported.

"The Egyptian government and people stand in solidarity with the Pakistani government and people against terrorism," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, urging for collaborative international efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism.

Four suicide bombers attacked on Sunday a densely-packed church in Pakistan's southwestern town of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.

One of the terrorists was shot dead by the church guards before detonating his explosives vest, according to Pakistani authorities.

Local affiliates of the terror group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the Pakistani church attack.

IS has also claimed responsibility for most of the deadly terror attacks in Egypt over the past few years.

On Nov. 24, a terrorist attack at a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others, in the deadliest terror attack and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt's modern history.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, though a Sinai-based terror group loyal to IS was the main suspect.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 17

Trend:

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called to review the economic relations of the Jewish state with Turkey following the statements of the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Turkish President Erdogan uses any excuse for open incitement against the Jewish state. I think we need to review much in our relations with Turkey", Lieberman posted on Facebook.

Earlier Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey wants to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, following a decision by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Friday that it had prevented the activities of Daesh terrorist group's supporters in St. Petersburg, who planned to carry out a terrorist attack later in December. Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked US President Donald Trump during a phone conversation at the initiative of the Russian side for the intelligence data provided by the CIA that helped detain the terrorists, Sputnik reported.

Trump told the Russian president that US intelligence was pleased to assist in preventing a terror attack in St. Petersburg.

"President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia called President Donald J. Trump today to thank him for the advanced warning the United States intelligence agencies provided to Russia concerning a major terror plot in Saint Petersburg, Russia President Trump appreciated the call and told President Putin that he and the entire United States intelligence community were pleased to have helped save so many lives," the White House said in a statement late on Sunday.

Putin and his US counterpart have welcomed the prevention of a terror attack as a positive example of bilateral cooperation, the White House statement read.

President Trump stressed the importance of intelligence cooperation to defeat terrorists wherever they may be. Both leaders agreed that this serves as an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together, the White House said.

The US President expressed gratitude to the CIA on Putin's request for the work done on prevention of a terror attack."President Putin extended his thanks and congratulations to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo and the CIA. President Trump then called Director Pompeo to congratulate him, his very talented people, and the entire intelligence community on a job well done!" the statement read.

As the United States has provided valuable intelligence information to Russia, it could be a sign that the exchange of intelligence information between the countries might be restored, Russia's Senior Lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov told Sputnik on Sunday.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 16, 2017 - 15:05 | All

The operator of Japan's only baby hatch said Saturday the country should allow women in cases of unwanted pregnancy to give birth anonymously at hospitals, while ensuring the children's right to know their mother's identity after they grow up.

Jikei Hospital in the city of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, said many of the women who have anonymously turned over their newborns to the hospital had given birth in precarious circumstances, such as inside cars, while being unable to tell anyone about their pregnancies.

"Allowing anonymous childbirths (in hospitals) will be effective in protecting the lives of both mothers and babies," Takeshi Hasuda, deputy head of the hospital, said during a press conference.

Under the proposal, mothers who wish to give birth anonymously in hospital would leave their identities in sealed documents at an administrative institution. The hospital would help with the children's upbringing through adoption and other means, while the children would have the right to know their mothers' identities after reaching a certain age.

Hasuda said the hospital hopes to "discuss (the proposed system) with government officials and experts as we cannot go ahead on our own."

Modeled on Germany's Baby Box, the hospital set up a baby hatch, called "konotori no yurikago" (the cradle of the stork), in 2007 to prevent women in cases of unwanted pregnancy from killing babies or abandoning them in unsafe conditions.

Germany has a law allowing anonymous childbirths in hospitals, while granting the children born the right to know their mothers' identity.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 17, 2017 - 17:04 | All, World

(EDS: UPDATING WITH SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH)

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft was successfully launched Sunday to the International Space Station with three astronauts from Japan, Russia and the United States on board.

The spacecraft carrying Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Anton Shkaplerov of Russia's Roscosmos agency and Scott Tingle of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is expected to arrive at the ISS on Tuesday afternoon.

The Soyuz successfully moved into orbit about nine minutes after the launch at 1:21 p.m. local time (4:21 p.m. JST) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

For Kanai, a former Maritime Self-Defense Force doctor, it is his first trip into space. He will take part in a number of space missions during his stay at the space station through June 3.

The 41-year-old is the 12th Japanese astronaut to travel into space and the seventh to stay at the ISS for a period of months.

In the Japanese laboratory Kibo on the ISS, Kanai is expected to conduct scientific experiments to create crystal protein substances for future new drug development, engage in feeding mice for examination of the effects of a space environment on their health, and discharge an ultra compact satellite into space.
By Ronron Calunsod, KYODO NEWS - Dec 17, 2017 - 10:42 | Arts, World, All

The tradition is theirs, but the name is Japanese.

Handicrafting has been with the people of the Marshall Islands, an archipelagic country in the central Pacific, from even before the Japanese occupied it in the early part of the 20th century.

Loretta deBrum of the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority told Kyodo News that before the Marshallese people adapted the Japanese word "amimono" to refer to handicrafts, they used the local word "monakjen."

"We have this tradition already on our own. We knew how to make 'amimono.' I heard it being called 'amimono' when I was growing up," Gradle Alfred, who owns a handicraft shop in the capital Majuro Atoll, said in a separate interview.

Alfred, 83, was born in 1934 during the Japanese occupation of the Marshall Islands, a nation in the heart of the Pacific Ocean above the equator made up of 29 atolls and five islands.

The relatively young country of some 60,000 people now is known as a former nuclear bomb testing site of the United States after World War II, and as among those presently bearing the brunt of climate change.

Japan took military possession of the Marshall Islands in October 1914 when World War I broke out. Prior to that, it was a colony of Germany.

From 1914, Japan expanded its presence in the island nation and went on to establish military fortifications on several atolls in the late 1930s.

Alfred disclosed that her father was a Japanese man identified by her mother as a certain Marita Fujita who was said to have been an engineer on a ship that brought commercial goods to the islands back then.

"My father did not see me when I was born because my (maternal) grandfather kept me and my mother away from him for fear he would take me with him to Japan," said Alfred. "So, we don't really know what happened to him -- whether he went back to Japan, or stayed here until he died."

She adds she does not even have a photo of her father.

Alfred recalls that during the Japanese occupation, the Japanese called their handicraft products "amimono."

The Marshall Islands Visitors Authority said "amimono" was "coined by the Japanese in the early 1900s to describe any and all of the handmade crafts created by the Marshallese people."

Alfred shared that she learned about making handicraft products from her grandmother and mother when she was growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, creating handicraft skirts and sleeping mats even when she was still a little girl.

"The Marshallese already had this handicraft tradition even before the Japanese occupied us," she said.

Japan's occupation of the Marshall Islands ended in 1945 after its defeat in World War II. The United States took over and went on to be its administrator until the Marshall Islands sought independence in 1986.

After retiring from government work and with the intention of helping local women make their own living, Alfred opened the Leipajid Handicraft Shop in 1988.

Employing some women, her shop produces handicraft items and sells them. She also makes purchases from handicraft makers outside and sells them in her shop.

Before opening her shop, she recalled that a women's club on Majuro was already running a formal handicraft business.

According to the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority, the Marshallese have perfected their skills in handcrafting over time as resources are naturally available.

With just basic materials like coconut shoot membrane, pandan leaves, and strips of coconut frond, the Marshallese are able to create woven mats, model canoes (decorative), work baskets, hats, and a popular wall ornament called "ubon."

They have also ventured into making purses and fashion jewelry, such as earrings and hair pins, with the utilization of additional materials like seashells.

Alfred's shop is filled with "ubon," baskets, fans, necklaces, keepers, and some wall and car decorative items, among others.

With five employees at present and supplied handcraft products from makers outside, Alfred also brings some items to outside of the Marshall Islands, such as Guam, Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, South Korea and Japan.

"(Foreigners) like it," she said.

Currently, more than 10 shops are operating across Majuro, aside from individual vendors and handicraft sections in some stores.

"The Marshallese are very well known now with 'amimono' in the Pacific region (for the) very nice and fine weaving," Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine proudly told Kyodo News in a recent interview.
(Adds details of proposed deal, background on trade dispute)

By Allison Lampert and Christine Murray

MONTREAL/MEXICO CITY, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Aeromexico has held preliminary talks to take some Bombardier CSeries jets orders from Delta Air Lines Inc, which owns a stake in the Mexican carrier, to avoid possible U.S. trade duties levied on the planes, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Mexico's largest carrier, 49-percent owned by Delta, is considering taking an unknown number of the 75 CSeries planes ordered by Delta in 2016, one of the sources said. Delta's CSeries deliveries, scheduled to begin in spring 2018, face a possible 300 percent U.S. duty stemming from a trade dispute with Boeing Co.

In October, Bombardier gave a controlling stake in the CSeries program to Airbus SE, which would enable assembly in the United States in a move it says will help bypass potential import duties.

Under the proposed Aeromexico deal, the single-aisle jets would be sold to Aeromexico and fly under the banner of the Mexican carrier which would not have to pay a U.S. duty, one of the sources added.

"It's not a way for Aeromexico to fly for Delta," the same source said. "But it keeps the planes within the Delta family."

Aeromexico is now reviewing its fleet, a third source said, which is composed of Boeing and Brazil's Embraer SA jets. The carrier received a presentation about the 110-to-130 seat CSeries last week, and is expected to receive another from Bombardier's Brazilian rival, the source said.

Sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the talks are confidential. They cautioned that no final decision has been made and Aeromexico could still buy planes from Embraer.

Embraer and Bombardier both declined to comment. Aeromexico referred questions to Delta. Delta did not comment on any specific deal, but spokesman Morgan Durrant referred to recent remarks by the company's CEO who said the carrier would not pay any duties, but still intended to "take the aircraft."

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An Aeromexico deal would offer a short-term solution to Bombardier and Delta in the trade dispute.

A U.S. trade agency is expected to decide in early 2018 on Boeing's complaint that the Canadian company benefited unfairly from subsidies and dumped the 110- to 130-seat CSeries jets in the U.S. market below cost.

The case has fueled trade tensions between Canada and the United States and comes as the two countries, along with Mexico, are engaged in tense negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Bombardier has said it would assemble the CSeries jets destined for U.S. airlines at Airbus' Alabama plant, which the two companies say would exempt them from duties.

Boeing has countered that the CSeries should still be subject to duties, even if the planes are assembled in the United States.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Christine Murray in Mexico City; Editing by Denny Thomas and Lisa Shumaker)
WASHINGTON  Robert McDowell, a Republican former FCC commissioner, on Friday tweeted out a comment: Testing. Testing. Just wanted to make sure that the #Internet was still working this morning. Phew!

McDowell supports the FCCs rollback this week of many of their current net neutrality rules, and the sarcastic tweet was a comment on the dire rhetoric that has surrounded the debate.

But activists, public interest groups and Democratic lawmakers are not only mounting challenges in Congress and the courts, but also hope that the issue resonates into the 2018 midterm election.

While FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and other fellow Republicans on the commission say that the fears of what will happen without the rules are way overblown, their vote does mean that ISPs are no longer explicitly barred from blocking or throttling content, or from selling fast lanes of traffic to websites and content companies that want speedier access to the consumer.

Internet providers will still have to disclose when they handle traffic that way, but the FCCs authority over broadband has been dramatically scaled back. Enforcement largely will fall to the Federal Trade Commission.

Heres whats ahead in the coming months:

Lawsuits. In the immediate aftermath of the FCCs vote, New Yorks attorney general Eric Schneiderman said he would lead a multi-state lawsuit to stop the repeal. He has said that the agencys process for rolling back the rules was corrupted because his own study found millions of public comments on the record were coming from stolen identities and fake accounts.

The rules are likely to be challenged on multiple fronts. The Internet Association, which represents major internet sites like Google, Facebook and Amazon, is considering its legal options, and a number of public interest groups also are weighing litigation. A likely argument is that the FCC ignored proper administrative procedure in reversing itself just over two years after imposing the rules, when Democrats controlled the agency.

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The FCCs action still has to be entered into the Federal Register, something that could take a month or more, so lawsuits may not be filed until then.

Pai responded to the lawsuit threats by quoting from Casablanca, saying that he was shocked, shocked that the decision would be challenged in court.

In Hollywood, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and Independent Film and Television Alliance are among the creative community organizations expressing dismay over the FCCs actions. The DGA said that it was a blow to the creative community and threatens the ability of our members, and other creators, to make their works available to internet users without interference. Whether they would join a lawsuit remains to be seen.

The MPAA has remained silent on the issue. Among its members is NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast, while other members have privately expressed concerns about losing net neutrality protections.

Legislation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Friday that he would try to force a vote on net neutrality using a legislative maneuver in which Congress can reverse an agency decision via the Congressional Review Act. Its a long shot, but Democrats want lawmakers on record on the issue, especially as they head into the 2018 midterms.

A handful of Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), publicly asked the FCC to delay or cancel their actions, expressing concerns over the lack of protections. Though activists have been urging calls to Congress, the question is still whether the net neutrality issue will spill over into 2018 midterm campaigns.

Kristen Soltis Anderson, pollster for Echelon Insights and author of The Selfie Vote, said that she doesnt have polling on the issue, but, I suspect this is an issue that is buried low on the priority chart for the vast majority of voters, but to the extent that it is influencing voter, especially young voter, views on the relationship between this administration and corporate America, it could play a role.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers in California are talking about legislation to keep the rules in place in that state. The FCCs action on Thursday also includes a provision in which local and state net neutrality laws would be pre-empted by the federal regulations, meaning that this could all be another avenue for a court showdown.

Consumers. McDowell is right. The internet did not stop functioning on Friday, the day after the FCCs vote. Major internet providers like AT&T and Comcast have also dismissed the opposition to the FCCs action as hyperbole, and they say that they will continue their policies of not blocking or throttling content.

Others predicted that ISPs would be reticent to start balkanizing the internet into fast lanes and slow lanes.

In a report on Friday, Moodys said that at least in the near term, the cost of negative publicity on their existing businesses far outweighs the benefit of additional revenue streams these companies can generate from paid prioritization agreements. We also believe there is little incentive to alter their customers experience, particularly in more competitive markets, and in light of our expectation for growing competition over the long-term stemming from wireless 5G.

Activists will remain vigilant, and fear that over time, ISPs will have the incentive to exert their power and evolve the internet into something resembling cable TV.

Related stories

FCC Launches Review of TV Station Ownership Cap

Netflix Slams FCC's 'Misguided' Repeal of Net Neutrality Regulations

Security Concern Halts FCC Net Neutrality Vote

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Barry Sherman, founder of pharmaceutical manufacturer Apotex and one of Canadas richest men, was found dead in his Toronto home on Friday. Shermans wife Honey Sherman was also found dead on the scene.

According to the Associated Press, Toronto police are treating the deaths as suspicious, but stopped short of declaring them homicides.

Sherman, 75 at the time of his death, founded Apotex in 1974 and grew it into a worldwide supplier of generic drugs. Forbes has estimated Shermans net worth at $3.2 billion, making him the 12th wealthiest Canadian. Sherman stepped down as CEO of Apotex in 2012.

Sherman had been embroiled in family conflict. Sherman acquired Empire Laboratories in 1967, following the death of Shermans uncle Louis Winter and his wife Beverly within weeks of each other. In the acquisition deal, Sherman reportedly promised to share a mix of royalties and a stake in the company with Winters four orphaned children.

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Those cousins and their families have filed a series of suits against Sherman, Apotex, and the Royal Bank of Canada, a subsidiary of which executed Winters estate, since 2006. The cousins alleged that Apotex was founded in part using proceeds from Shermans later sale of Empire Laboratories, and that they were therefore owed a share of Apotex. A judge dismissed the suit in September of this year, calling the claims beyond fanciful, but the plaintiffs said they would appeal the decision.

Since the news of Shermans death, Canadian officials and dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have been sharing their shock and sadness, describing Sherman and his wife in glowing terms.

Sophie and I are saddened by news of the sudden passing of Barry and Honey Sherman. Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 16, 2017
FILE PHOTO: A coin representing the bitcoin cryptocurrency is seen on computer circuit boards in this illustration picture, October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

By Jemima Kelly

LONDON (Reuters) - Bitcoin blasted to another all-time high of almost $18,000 on the Bitstamp exchange on Friday, up 9 percent on the day, as warnings grew over the risks of investing in the highly volatile and speculative instrument.

The cryptocurrency's staggering recent price rises -- more than 1,700 percent since the start of the year -- have driven worries that the market is a bubble that could burst in spectacular fashion.

Bitcoin has climbed almost 80 percent so far in December alone, putting it on track for its best month in percentage terms since December 2013.

On Friday it reached as high as $17,900 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange.

While bitcoin has added another fifth to its value since Monday, trading has been slightly calmer than the wild price swings the market has seen in recent weeks, with volatility lower since the launch of bitcoin futures from Cboe Global Markets on Sunday.

Market-watchers said bitcoin's price was being lifted by the launch of rival CME Group's bitcoin futures contracts on Sunday.

"The hope (is) that futures signal the unlocking of institutional money into the digital arena and (that there will be) a rapid demand increase and ratification of the technology and its principles," said Charles Hayter, founder of industry website Cryptocompare.

But outside of the crypto market, worries continue to grow about the amount of money piling into the space.

A study by Anglia Ruskin University, Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University released on Friday said bitcoin could pose a threat to the financial stability of traditional currencies and markets.

"Our evidence finds that the price of Bitcoin has been artificially inflated by speculative investment, putting it in a bubble," said Larisa Yarovaya, one of the report's authors and a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University.

"Although bitcoin is not regulated by governments, it could still have a knock-on effect on traditional markets due to the interconnectedness of cryptocurrency markets with other financial assets."

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Others, however, say bitcoin's total market size -- around $300 billion -- mean the impact of any future price collapse would not be large enough to have a knock-on effect on financial stability.

The BBC reported late on Thursday that the head of Britain's Financial Conduct Authority, Andrew Bailey, had warned that bitcoin buyers should be prepared for the possibility that they could "lose all their money".

Outages on some of the world's biggest exchanges this week, which left millions of investors unable to access their funds during periods when trading volumes are high, have also fuelled concerns about the fragility of the market's infrastructure.

(Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Editing by Tommy Wilkes and Catherine Evans)
(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 pleaded guilty on Tuesday, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Karim Baratov pleaded guilty to charges returned by a grand jury in the Northern District of California in February for hacking email accounts and selling the passwords to an agent of Russia's intelligence agency, the department said in a statement.

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.

The Justice Department announced charges in March against Baratov and three other men, including two officers in Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, for their roles in the 2014 theft of 500 million Yahoo accounts.

Following the charges, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the idea that FSB employees could have been involved in the Yahoo hack.

Verizon Communications Inc, the largest U.S. wireless operator, acquired most of Yahoo Inc's assets in June.

Prosecutors said the FSB officers, Dmitry Dokuchaev and Igor Sushchin, directed and paid hackers to obtain information and used Alexsey Belan, who is among the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most-wanted cyber criminals, to breach Yahoo.

When the FSB officers learned that a target had a non-Yahoo email 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.

The Justice Department said on Tuesday that as part of his plea agreement, Baratov also admitted to hacking more than 11,000 email accounts in total for both the FSB and other customers from around 2010 until his March 2017 arrest by Canadian authorities.

Baratov, the only person arrested to date in the case, had pleaded not guilty in August to conspiring to commit computer fraud, conspiring to commit access device fraud, conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

(Reporting by Eric Walsh in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech and Peter Cooney)
China may have started out as a copycat when it comes to technology, but it now has a life and an innovative force of its own, backed by a relentless state-backed investment and driven increasingly by the huge opportunities of its internal market.

Thats one of the main takeaways from a panel at Fortunes Global Forum in Guangzhou that featured CEO Charles Robbins, co-founder Jerry Yang and General Electrics chief executive for China, Rachel Duan.

Yang noted that the Chinese tech sector had effectively abandoned its copycat habits of the 1990s first after the collapse of the Internet bubble in 2001, and then, much more profoundly, after 2009, when the scale of the economic crisis in the developed world became apparent, just as Chinas own economy was achieving a depth that clamored for more sophisticated investment.

Since then, companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and JD.Com have rewritten the rulebook for things such as e-commerce, online gaming and mobile payments. And Yang noted that those companies and their budding rivals are forced to keep up a breakneck pace of locally-focused innovation by the sheer scale of the market theyre trying to conquer. But while consumer-facing companies have commanded most of western investors attentions, GEs Duan suggested that that may not always be the case.

The use of digital in industrial life is only just beginning, she noted.

Industrial applications, naturally, subject to much greater input from the Chinese state  the central, regional and city governments that plan and execute vast projects such as the Smart City in a Guangzhou district that Cisco is helping to wire. Robbins spoke with something verging on awe at the speed and thoroughness of the preparation of such projects, referring to four square miles of ground, cleared and ready for building in barely a year.

Duan pointed out that its not just that the state sets the general direction of investment. Its also an omnipresent partner in business.

Story continues

Most of the sectors we operate in  health care, aviation and energy  are not only tightly regulated, theyre dominated locally by state-owned enterprises, she noted.

Given the sensitivity and the importance of such sectors, that seems unlikely to change soon.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
Federal prosecutors are looking to unload 513 bitcoins seized as part of a drug case in Salt Lake City. They originally belonged to one Aaron Shamo, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly taking part in a massive fentanyl distribution scheme, the online portions of which netted the cryptocurrency in question.

Worth about $500,000 when they were seized, their worth has now ballooned to more than $8.4 million  and there's no way the feds are letting that get away.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah has put in the requisite paperwork to sell the bitcoins while they're hot. There's considerable debate about how cryptocurrencies should be considered in situations like this  is it property, like a car, or currency, like a trash bag full of cash (something also recovered in the operation)?

Doesn't matter to the feds, who are selling it now while it's more than $17,000 per coin (to the moon!) and will work out the details later. Shamo has pleaded not guilty to the various charges, but his lawyer did not contest the sale of the bitcoins, so make of that what you will.

Assuming the price doesn't completely collapse before early next year, Utah could be getting an unexpected cash infusion  assuming the proceeds don't have to be returned to their former owner.

Some may think, of course, that they should put this unexpected windfall on the table and let it ride  perhaps that $8.4 million will turn in to $80.4 million before the case finishes.

That's certainly what many would say today of the tens of thousands of bitcoins seized from the Silk Road and auctioned off in 2014. They'd be worth well over a billion today (as Tim Draper, who bought many of them, can tell you).

This article originally appeared on TechCrunch.

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Tax reform efforts have been fast and furious in recent months, and with both the House of Representatives and the Senate having gone through their own processes to come up with proposals, key differences emerged. Yet not all of those differences really made sense. One issue that emerged as highly controversial and potentially destructive to individual investors was the Senate's FIFO provision. Getting its name from the abbreviation of the tax reporting method that it sought to make mandatory, FIFO would have had a huge impact on longtime investors, creating a large effective tax increase.

To their credit, lawmakers have reportedly moved swiftly to eliminate the FIFO requirement from the unified tax reform proposal. Yet the fact that the measure got as far as it did is a testament to the dangers of working so quickly to try to find even minimal revenue-raising measures to offset tax cuts. Let's look in more detail at what FIFO is and why it just got the ax.

Magnifying glass on top of an IRS Form 1040 on a wood table.

Image source: Getty Images.

What is FIFO?

FIFO stands for first in, first out, which refers to a method for recovering cost basis when you sell an investment. What is says is that if you have bought shares of a certain stock on multiple occasions, when you sell them, you have to sell the shares that you acquired first. So for instance, if you bought 100 shares of stock every year from 2000 to 2015 and sell 500 shares in 2017, then under FIFO, you'd be treated as if you had sold the shares from from 2000 to 2004.

Under current law, investors are allowed to use the FIFO method, but you're not required to do so. Instead, you can use an alternative method known as specific identification to select the shares you want to sell. Again using the example above, you could direct your broker to sell the 500 shares you bought between 2011 and 2015 instead, or you could choose any five individual years you wanted.

What's the big deal about FIFO?

The reason FIFO is often less than ideal has to do with the upward path of the prices of successful stocks over time. For long-term investors, the shares you buy the earliest tend to be the ones that you paid the least for. As share prices go up, subsequent investments cost you more money.

Story continues

When you decide to sell part of your investment, the amount of tax you'll pay depends on the capital gains on the shares you sell. The more you paid for those shares, the less capital gains get generated from the sale, and so the smaller your tax bill will be. It's therefore generally in your best interest to choose to sell the shares that have the highest cost basis.

FIFO almost never results in selling the highest-basis shares that you own. The consequence is therefore that individual taxpayers faced the prospect of having to pay much higher taxes if they wanted to trim their positions in a certain stock, with the biggest penalty coming on the stocks that had done the best over time.

An uproar over FIFO

News of the proposal sparked concerns from several corners of the investment industry. The Motley Fool took the step of publicly advocating for the removal of FIFO, citing the damage that it would have done to individual investors and their financial health.

Some businesses faced threats to their models as a result of the proposed rule. Several robo-advisors offer tax-loss harvesting services that use specific identification to optimize after-tax returns on their individual portfolios. FIFO would have eliminated many of the benefits of such a service, reducing not only their investors' overall returns but also removing some of the competitive advantages that such services offer over more passive investing methods like indexing.

Taking out the provision wasn't particularly costly for lawmakers. Because scoring models assumed that most investors would simply defer sales as long as possible, the measure wasn't expected to bring in much new revenue. Yet the impact on investor behavior would have been substantial, locking up capital and potentially slowing shifts to more productive investments.

Be on your guard

The need for haste in doing tax reform is understandable from a political perspective, but it can lead to problem areas like FIFO coming up without much warning. It's imperative to watch Washington, D.C. closely and speak up when provisions threaten your financial situation. There's no guarantee you'll get as quick a response as lawmakers made with FIFO, but the saga does show that at least sometimes, your political representatives are responsive to your needs.

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FILE PHOTO - The logo of French defence and electronics group Thales is seen at the company's headquarters in Neuilly, near Paris, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

By Cyril Altmeyer

PARIS (Reuters) - Aerospace and defense group Thales has agreed to buy chipmaker Gemalto for 4.8 billion euros ($5.6 billion), trumping an earlier bid by fellow French firm Atos to expand in the fast-growing digital security market.

The bidding race for Gemalto has come after a difficult year for the Franco-Dutch group in which profit warnings have hurt its share price and overshadowed its attempt to shift from a slowing market for phone SIM cards towards security services such as data encryption and biometric passports.

"This is a terrific project," Thales CEO Patrice Caine told reporters on Sunday. "In digital, Gemalto and Thales are like twins."

Caine said his firm's bid represented a total of 5.6 billion euros ($6.6 billion), including 800 million of debt in addition to its offer for shares.

This showed its basic 51 euro per share offer for Gemalto was worth 4.8 billion euros in comparison with Atos' 4.3 billion bid based on a 46 euro per share price.

Atos, which saw its offer rejected by Gemalto this week, said in a statement later on Sunday that it would not pursue its bid, although it would be open to talks with Gemalto if Thales' offer fell through.

Thales' all-cash bid has the unanimous backing of the both companies' boards, Thales and Gemalto said in an earlier statement.

The agreement calls for Thales' digital activities to be merged with Gemalto to create a business with 3.5 billion euros in sales which would be a top-three global player in digital security, they said.

"RIGHT DIRECTION"

Christophe Castaner, a junior minister in the French government and head of the party of President Emmanuel Macron, told France 3 television the deal was "in the right direction".

The French state is the largest shareholder in Thales, while state-owned bank Bpifrance is Gemalto's second-biggest shareholder.

Bpifrance said this week it was favorable to consolidation between two French companies in the tech sector.

Story continues

Thales will finance the offer through its available cash resources and a 4 billion euro fully committed credit arrangement secured for the Gemalto offer, it said.

Thales and Gemalto said their digital security entity would generate pre-tax cost synergies of between 100 million and 150 million euros by 2021, as well as meaningful revenue synergies.

The deal, expected to close in the second half of 2018, would have a positive effect on earnings per share of 15-20 percent, before synergies, from the first year, they said.

Thales did not expect job losses from the takeover and pledged to maintain current job levels at Gemalto's French operations until at least the end of 2019.

However, union officials at Gemalto cautioned that the announcement did not refer to the struggling chip card activity.

Brice Barrier, representative for UNSA, the largest union at Gemalto, said he would call on Gemalto to drop a plan to cut 288 jobs in France.

($1 = 0.8509 euros)

(Additional reporting and writing by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Gareth Jones and Adrian Croft)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the White House!

On Thursday, Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, released their first official Christmas portrait as president and first lady. The photo, which was taken by photographer Andrea Hanks on Dec. 5, and shared on both the White House's website and FLOTUS's Twitter account, shows the first couple posing between Christmas trees and American flags in the Cross Hall at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Dressed in a classic black tuxedo, the president smiles broadly amid his wife's infamous Christmas decor. Melania, holding the president's hand firmly and offering a festive smile, went the bespoke route in a custom midnight blue gown by Delpozo featuring a sparkling, asymmetrical applique that picked up the twinkle from Christmas lights surrounding her.

FLOTUS has spent the past week getting into the holiday spirit, with a Wednesday visit to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, where she helped children from military families sort and box donations to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign.

Related video:
Missouri has issued its first fines over the misuse of a farm chemical in 2016 that went on to be linked in different formulations to widespread U.S. crop damage this year, the state said on Thursday.

Authorities fined eight people a total of $145,125 for improperly spraying the chemical known as dicamba, used to kill weeds, in what Missouri called the first wave of civil penalties issued to applicators, according to a statement.

The delay between sprayings last year and the states action shows how a long process of investigating many complaints about dicamba use is straining resources in farm states.

The United States has faced an agricultural crisis this year caused by the new formulations of dicamba-based herbicides, which farmers and weed experts say have harmed crops that cannot resist the chemical because it evaporates and drifts away from where it is applied.

Monsanto mon and BASF say the herbicides are safe when used properly.

Last year, farmers sprayed dicamba illegally in states including Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas on soybeans that Monsanto Co engineered to resist new versions of the chemical, according to regulators and weed scientists.

Monsanto sold the GMO soybean seeds for planting in spring 2016 before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the autumn approved use of the new versions of the herbicides, made by Monsanto and BASF SE. The herbicides are designed to be sprayed on the soybeans during the summer growing season and not drift away.

That delay left farmers who bought the seeds with no matching herbicide for use in summer 2016 and three bad alternatives: hire workers to pull weeds, use a less-effective herbicide called glyphosate, or illegally spray an older version of dicamba at the risk of damage to nearby farms.

A resulting rash of illegal spraying that year damaged 42,000 acres of crops in Missouri, among the hardest hit areas, as well as swaths of crops in nine other states, according to an August 2016 advisory from the EPA.

Story continues

Monsanto, which is being acquired by Bayer AG for $63.5 billion, has blamed farmers for the illegal spraying in 2016. The company has said it could not have foreseen that the delayed approval of the new dicamba herbicides would result in damaged crops.

For more on Monsanto, watch Fortunes video:

This year, damage related to dicamba herbicides covered 3.6 million acres in 25 states, according to University of Missouri data. Several states have imposed new restrictions on dicamba use for 2018 to avoid a repeat of the damage.
In a highly controversial move that could reshape the internet, the Federal Communications Commission has officially repealed net neutrality regulations.

Net neutrality is the principle that all internet traffic should be equal and fair. The rules were put in place by the FCC in 2015 under the Obama administration.

They prohibited internet service providers from blocking, slowing down or favoring specific websites. The regulations also prevented companies from charging customers extra fees for high-quality streaming.

Now all those restrictions have been removed under the plan proposed by Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Broadband providers would only be obligated to tell the consumer what theyre up to, and likely in fine print.

Twitter lit up with reactions to the decision:

Were disappointed in the decision to gut #NetNeutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity & civic engagement. This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.  Netflix US (@netflix) December 14, 2017

Today the @FCC majority over my objection approved a proposal to allow more media consolidation. Not #ConsumersFirst. My full statement: https://t.co/lBISqlhM3e pic.twitter.com/AKbv2t8ubo  Mignon Clyburn (@MClyburnFCC) December 14, 2017

Today the @FCC eliminated its #NetNeutrality rules. That's bad. But here's what's good: This misguided decision awoke a sleeping giantthe American people. And we're going to keep fighting. In court. In Congress. And we won't stop until internet openness is the law of the land.  Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) December 14, 2017

How will the repeal of net neutrality protections affect you?

Story continues

Internet service providers could block you from streaming your favorite shows and videos from Netflix or YouTube. Or they could charge you extra just to access those sites.

Your choices could also be limited. Internet service providers would be allowed to prioritize their own content and block access to particular company sites.

During the FCC monthly open meeting on Dec. 14, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, said, Half the households in this country have no choice of broadband provider. So if your broadband provider is blocking websites, you have no recourse. You have nowhere to go.

Pai says the net neutrality rules have hindered investments in the industry. Before the vote he said, Under Title II, investment in high-speed networks has declined by billions of dollars. Notably, this is the first time that such investment has declined outside of a recession in the internet era. When there is less investment, that means fewer next-generation networks are built. That means fewer jobs for Americans building those networks.

The repeal of net neutrality rules wont take effect for a few months, but opponents are ready to take their fight to the courts. Multiple states are preparing to sue the FCC to protect net neutrality rules.
Procter & Gamble is behind brands including Gillette

American consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble has added an activist investor to its board, conceding defeat after a battle which has dragged on for almost a year.

Trian Fund Management's chief executive, Nelson Peltz, will be joining P&G's board effective from March 1 and will also be added to the company's director slate for the annual general meeting next year, P&G said.

Trian has built up a 1.5pc stake in the $233bn group, which is behind brands including Gillette razors and Crest toothpaste, since February, when it took a $3.5bn holding.

Since then, it has been trying to get Mr Peltz added to P&G's board citing the company's "disappointing results over the past decade". Mr Peltz said "suffocating bureaucracy" was holding the group back.

However, Trian launched a proxy fight in July, after Mr Peltz was rebuffed in his efforts to get P&G to expand its board to enable him to join, meaning he was contesting a seat against the existing directors.

P&G had lobbied against his appointment, issuing a report in September which directly took aim at Mr Peltz, claiming he had previously destroyed long-term value in companies when he took a place on the board.

What is an activist investor?

This prompted Mr Peltz to give an interview in which he said P&G's management were "overseeing a melting ice cube" and said it was "dangerous" to allow things to carry on as they were at the company.

In the original vote tally after the meeting in October, P&G claimed victory against Mr Peltz, though this was disputed by an independent vote tally last month.

In a letter to shareholders on Friday, P&G conceded that Mr Peltz had won "almost 50pc of shares voted", saying the results were "extremely close".

Because of the strong backing given to Mr Peltz, P&G said it would be adding Mr Peltz to its board despite him having not officially won the vote "after numerous discussions".

Chairman David Taylor said: "We respect Nelson Peltz as a highly engaged shareowner and investor, and look forward to his contributions as a member of P&Gs board."

P&G increased the size of its board to 13 from 11, also adding Novartis chief executive Joseph Jimenez as a director.
sam altman

Drew Angerer/Getty

Sam Altman, one of the most powerful people in the startup world, says the debate about political correctness in San Francisco is bad for startups and smart people.

His blog post on the topic drew heated reactions both from people who agree with him and from those who say his ideas are dangerous.



If Sam Altman, the president of Y Combinator, wanted to start a furious debate with his latest blog post, he certainly succeeded.

In the post, published Thursday, he argued the climate of political correctness in San Francisco and Silicon Valley was "very bad for startups" and said it was easier to express controversial ideas in China than in California.

The essay, titled "E Pur Si Muove"  Italian for "And yet it moves" referencing a quip the heretic scientist Galileo Galilei said on his deathbed  drew swift and strong reactions from both supporters and detractors.

Here's his point:

"Restricting speech leads to restricting ideas and therefore restricted innovation  the most successful societies have generally been the most open ones. Usually mainstream ideas are right and heterodox ideas are wrong, but the true and unpopular ideas are what drive the world forward. Also, smart people tend to have an allergic reaction to the restriction of ideas, and I'm now seeing many of the smartest people I know move elsewhere."

He says ideas the San Francisco intellectual climate have rejected include "pharmaceuticals for intelligence augmentation, genetic engineering, and radical life extension."

In Altman's view, people who have criticized those ideas for businesses have cast the entrepreneurs behind them as "heretics," like how the Catholic Church sentenced Galileo to house arrest for (correctly) saying the Earth revolves around the sun.

"This is uncomfortable, but it's possible we have to allow people to say disparaging things about gay people if we want them to be able to say novel things about physics," Altman wrote. "Of course we can and should say that ideas are mistaken, but we can't just call the person a heretic."

Story continues

Altman runs the most prestigious tech-startup accelerator in Silicon Valley, Y Combinator, but in recent years has increasingly expressed interest in political ideas.

One of his experiments  related to the concept of basic income, in which every resident regularly receives a sum of money with no conditions attached  is a program that gives 100 people in Oakland, California, $1,000 to $2,000 a month.

And he had to shoot down rumors last year that he would run for governor of California.

The reaction

Users can't post comments on Altman's blog, but many people who read his thoughts on political correctness were eager to respond.

Altman had defenders from the venture-capital and entrepreneurship worlds, but he also drew scores of critics in technology writers, activists, business professors, and even rank-and-file employees at big tech companies.

It got heated.

Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941385977422942208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Sam. Really? Genetic engineering is a controversial idea. Bitcoin is a controversial idea. Putting them on the same footing as "gay people are evil" legitimizes the latter as something that is worthy of consideration and debate. Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941382733997129728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

I dunno if China is the shining example of "free speech" and "lack of political correctness" we should be striving for. Remember Liu Xiaobo, the labor camps, the golden shield? I remember. https://t.co/p2fAK0JTvl Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941381032476942336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Ffs this idea that Sf techies cant speak their minds to share their shitty racist/sexist thoughts is so stupid. Name one of your funders whos been run out of town on a rail for their toxic beliefs. You arent the marginalized group youre the babies who cant take disagreement. Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941673708640497664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

This @sama blog and the subsequent debate make me terribly sad. The people who are best positioned to be the solution to the degradation of discourse in America are part of the problem. https://t.co/WkDtUFqFfv Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941443273863974912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

This essay on free speech is ... well I dont know where to begin.



But sadly written by one of Silicon Valkeys most revered factotums.



https://t.co/ov9VrKOIsn



Shallow analysis. Unsupported assertions. Ignores years of real work done across disciplines around these issues. Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941399609196265472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://t.co/MwQVkU3RDA is representative of the absolute worst thing about tech culture - the idea that technological progress is more important than anything else Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941384731412774912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Id love to see someone start an anon google doc to list these, for those of us not smart enough to have unspeakably good ideas.



If it can work for naming sexual harassers, it can work for this!https://t.co/8Ro1ZfES9U Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941385375465005057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A gentle reminder, @sama, that homophobia led to the chemical castration and suicide of Alan Turing. https://t.co/eP8cvC9L7Y pic.twitter.com/zM7gdM5Mma Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941382898686484480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

lol Sam was honored by @glaad this year with an award for advancing "LGBTQ acceptance" https://t.co/4h1rLcBk1v https://t.co/WRN0poNhpJ

Altman's defenders said they felt constrained to pursue or express controversial ideas, and they cited the backlash to the post as proof of Altman's point.

On Hacker News, Y Combinator's message board, the post has more than 690 comments, many of them supportive of Altman's argument.

Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941441473827840000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

An honest and sincere question: is there anyone you know with a different opinion on any social issue that you do not believe absolutely to be a vicious and evil bigot, or an enabler thereof? Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941439806759886849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The replies to this tweet do a pretty good job of making Sams point. https://t.co/SrauVAYYdO Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941362390565904386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Often when I see American Twitter and writers being vitriolic about some startup, I feel like the company should launch its products here in India instead. Bring the expensive bus, the expensive juicer, whatever. We won't lose our minds yelling about it. https://t.co/UwXQTIjnpv Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941648596771975168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Its like everyone he criticized just volunteered to prove his point in the follow-ups. https://t.co/wjwibW5qac Tweet Embed:

https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/941423496579739653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Is Sam coming around on political correctness being cancer? ]]>
SAO PAULO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Brazil's Embraer SA , the world's third-largest commercial planemaker, is ending a furlough program next month at its factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, putting more hands on the assembly line as it ramps up output of next-generation E-Jets.

A local metalworkers union said in an emailed statement that the shortened furlough program has only affected the contracts of 350 employees since it was signed in December 2016.

The furlough, which had already been pared back to 1,080 employees from the 2,000 announced in November 2016, was originally scheduled to end in December 2018, cutting labor costs as Embraer transitions to a re-engined family of passenger jets.

Embraer confirmed in a written statement that it had advised the union of the early end to the furloughs at its headquarters in the state of Sao Paulo. (Reporting by Aluisio Alves; Writing by Brad Haynes; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
President Donald Trump predicted the U.S. economy is "going to start to rock" when the Republican rewrite of the U.S. tax code is complete after a six-week sprint.

GOP lawmakers posted their sweeping, 503-page bill  with permanent tax cut for U.S. corporations and temporary benefits for individuals  on Friday evening after gaining key votes from two Republican senators who'd threatened to oppose it. Now, with votes planned in the House and Senate by the middle of next week, Trump is closing in on his first major legislative victory.

The bill  hammered out behind closed doors by Republican leaders  would slash the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, the lowest that rate has been since 1939. It would provide across-the-board tax cuts for most individuals, but then wipe them off the books by 2026. Whether to extend them would be up to a future Congress.

Trump's White House applauded Friday's developments, which Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called a major step toward achieving the president's promises of faster economic growth and "much needed financial relief to all Americans."

"It'll be fantastic for the middle-income people and for jobs, most of all," Trump said on Saturday at the White House before boarding Marine One for Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. He predicted U.S. economic growth "could go to 4, 5 or even 6 percent, ultimately."

"We are really going to start to rock," Trump told reporters.

House leaders plan to hold their vote Tuesday. Timing for the Senate vote was less clear, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would "get this bill done" next week.

Everything You Need to Know About the GOP Tax-Overhaul Plan

Trump and congressional Republicans have repeatedly pitched the tax measure as a boon for the middle class, despite independent analyses of earlier versions that said most of the benefit would go to higher earners. The final bill would provide a larger tax cut for the highest earners by shaving the top individual tax rate to 37 percent from 39.6 percent, a lower level than was proposed in either the House or Senate versions.

Story continues

"This April 15 filing season  that is the last time you will file under this monstrous, broken tax code," House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady said Friday evening. Brady kicked off a remarkably rapid law-making effort on Nov. 2, when he released an initial bill. The final version reflects significant changes  many of them aimed at shoring up GOP votes.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who had announced his opposition to an earlier version of the legislation, switched to "yes" after tax writers changed the bill to broaden the child tax credit's benefits for working families. Rubio said in a Twitter message that the change "is a solid step toward broader reforms which are both pro-growth and pro-worker."

'Major Wins'

Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who hasn't committed to supporting the final legislation, issued a news release saying she'd secured "major wins" in it, including provisions that would temporarily broaden an individual deduction for medical expenses and broaden the types of state and local taxes that can be deducted below a $10,000 cap.

Collins also seeks approval of separate legislation that would shore up individual health insurance markets  where experts say premiums could rise because the tax bill would repeal the Obamacare individual mandate. The Congressional Budget Office has previously estimated that the change would lead to as many as 13 million fewer Americans having health coverage over a decade.

But the most surprising announcement came from Bob Corker of Tennessee  the only Republican senator who voted against an earlier Senate version of the legislation  when he said that he'd reversed course and would vote "yes."

Corker's concern  that the legislation would increase federal deficits  was not addressed in the GOP's final product. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimated on Friday that the legislation would increase deficits by $1.455 trillion over 10 years, an amount that's slightly higher than the projection for the version Corker opposed earlier this month.

'Disappointing' on Deficit

"This is a bad day to be a deficit hawk," said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "While Senator Corker's decision is disappointing, the entire Republican conference should be against this deficit-financed tax cut," Ellis said.

McConnell himself had cited deficit concerns earlier this year in discussing tax legislation. "It will have to be revenue-neutral," he said in an interview with Bloomberg News. "We have a $21 trillion debt."

By changing his position, Corker, who's exchanged bitter remarks with Trump over the president's personal style, cleared the way for the president's first real policy victory on Capitol Hill.

Whether it will constitute a political victory remains to be seen. Public opinion polls have shown that earlier versions of the bill were unpopular, but Trump administration officials and GOP leaders predict the tax cuts, once finalized, will gain favor in 2018, ahead of congressional elections.

Democrats  all of whom voted against earlier versions of the legislation in both chambers  have decried the rapid, largely secretive process that produced the bill.

"This monstrosity is a bill that only Donald Trump and Republicans, who have accomplished next to nothing in this Congress, could love," said Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who serves on the tax-writing Ways and Means panel. "It will not grow our economy, it only burdens us with an immense amount of debt."

On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen offered only a lukewarm endorsement of the legislation's effect on the national economy. "It's not a gigantic increase in growth," Yellen said during a news conference.

See original article on Fortune.com

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A video shows whats said to be an encounter between a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet and an unknown object. (Department of Defense via New York Times)

The U.S. Department of Defense funded a program to investigate unidentified flying objects until 2012, and the program may well be continuing with alternate funding, The New York Times reported today.

The Times says its report is based on a range of interviews with people familiar with the program  including the military intelligence official who ran it until a couple of months ago, Luis Elizondo; and the now-retired U.S. senator who helped get $22 million in funding for the program, Nevada Democrat Harry Reid.

This was so-called black money,' Reid told the Times.

The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program is also discussed today in a report published by Politico.

A share of the federal funding reportedly went to a company headed by Robert Bigelow, the Nevada billionaire who has long held that aliens were visiting Earth in UFOs. Bigelows company, Bigelow Aerospace, is currently involved in a NASA-backed program to develop expandable space modules, and one of its modules is being tested on the International Space Station.

Im not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing going, the Times quoted Reid as saying. I think its one of the good things I did in my congressional service. Ive done something that no one has done before.

The Times published a video clip that was recorded by a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet and retained by the Pentagons UFO program.

The black-and-white video clip, which dates back to 2004, appears to show an object moving against a cloudy background and zooming away at high speed, off Californias coast near San Diego. In an accompanying story, the Times provides retired Navy pilot David Fravors account of the encounter with what he said was a whitish oval object.

Defense Department officials are quoted as saying that the program was funded until 2012, and Elizondo told the Times that he continued to work with the Navy and the CIA after that time.

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Elizondo left his Pentagon post in October and is now director of global security and special programs for a company called To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science. In a news release issued today, Elizondo said he was honored to serve at the DOD and took my mission of exploring unexplained aerial phenomena quite seriously.

In the end, however, I couldnt carry out that mission, because the department  which was understandably overstretched  couldnt give it the resources that the mounting evidence deserved, he said.

Elizondo said he left the Pentagon under very good terms to join To The Stars, where the investigation would be priority number one. Toward that end, To The Stars has set up a Community of Interest website to serve as a central database and online hub for information related to unidentified aerial phenomena.

The Times quoted Elizondo as saying that his successor at the Pentagon was continuing with investigative efforts.

One of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons most provocative  and most derided  campaign pledges was her vow to get to the bottom of the UFO controversy. That pledge reportedly came at the urging of her campaign chairman, John Podesta, a longtime advocate for UFO disclosure.

At the time, the UFO comments were lost in the press of other campaign issues, including Wikileaks release of purloined emails from Podestas personal Gmail account.

The Trump administration hasnt said much about UFO investigations, but current Pentagon officials acknowledged that the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was in existence between 2007 and 2012.

It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change, the Times quoted Pentagon spokesman Thomas Crosson as saying in an email. Politico published an identical comment attributed to Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White.

Some aspects of the program remain classified, the Times said.

One of the authors of the Times article, investigative reporter Leslie Kean, has been looking into UFO reports for years  and is the author of a 2010 book on the subject, UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record.

This has more potential to create change than anything I have done before Posted by Leslie Kean on Saturday, December 16, 2017

Todays articles are likely to return the decades-old debate to the spotlight. However, the fact that the federal government continues to investigate anomalous aerial encounters doesnt prove that extraterrestrial forces are at work.

An unnamed former congressional staffer told Politico the UFOs may have been experimental aircraft incorporating technologies that could threaten the United States. Was this China or Russia trying to do something or has some propulsion system we are not familiar with? the staffer said.

James Oberg, a former NASA engineer who has long looked at UFO controversies with a critical eye, noted that seemingly out-of-this-world observations usually have a more down-to-Earth explanation.

There are plenty of prosaic events and human perceptual traits that can account for these stories, Oberg told the Times. Lots of people are active in the air and dont want others to know about it. They are happy to lurk unrecognized in the noise, or even to stir it up as camouflage.

Update for 8 p.m. PT Dec. 16: Oberg, a former colleague of mine at MSNBC, provided further perspective in a text:

UFOs not having placed themselves under scientific scrutiny, all that can be studied are UFO reports  and there is at least one excellent reason why the Pentagon ought to be studying such reports. Whatever else may be causing them, many have for decades been caused by Soviet/Russian top secret missile/space activities badly misinterpreted by startled witnesses. Ranging from tests of space-to-ground nuclear strike weapons, to nationwide space-war simulations, to U.S. missile defense evasion techniques, legitimate military intelligence targets have made their greatest public mark as UFO reports  providing any alert intelligence analysts with significant performance parameters.

Read the full stories from The New York Times and Politico.

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LIMA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Workers at Southern Copper Corp in Peru said they completed a ninth day of an indefinite strike on Wednesday, following a failed negotiation attempt with the company.

The walkout, which involved 3,000 members of two out of the five Southern Copper unions in Peru, has been declared illegal by the labor ministry.

Southern Copper, owned by Grupo Mexico SAB de CV , operates the Toquepala and Cuajone mines in Peru, as well as the Ilo refinery, and produced 900,000 tonnes of copper last year. Peru is the world's No. 2 copper producer.

"There was a meeting with company representatives, but we did not reach an agreement because they do not offer a solution to our demands," union leader Fidel Roman said in an interview.

Workers are seeking a better share of miners' profits, and say Southern Copper has not adhered to benefits agreed to after a prior strike, including the replacement of dismissed workers.

"The strike continues, and we expect a new meeting in Lima with representatives of the company and the labor ministry to achieve a solution," Roman said.

Southern Copper did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company said last week the strike had not affected operations at its mines. There are three smaller unions that did not participate in the strike.

Southern Copper's shares listed in New York were down 2.1 percent in midafternoon trading on Wednesday. (Reporting by Teresa Cedpedes; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
(Adds details on TIM Live and fiber expansion, possible Oi tie-up)

By Gram Slattery

SAO PAULO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian telecoms provider TIM Participacoes SA launched an expansion of its fiber-to-the-home service outside the country's two biggest cities on Friday, adding to competition for Brazil's high-end broadband customers.

Chief Executive Stefano de Angelis, speaking at a year-end event in Sao Paulo, added that the company was expanding its TIM Live service, a speedy internet service than can support high-quality streaming video, in the South.

His comments reflect how TIM's focus is expanding from its core wireless business into the high-end residential market where rival Telefonica Brasil SA has made great strides since acquiring broadband provider GVT in 2015.

Until Friday, only consumers in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro could subscribe to TIM's offerings of fiber-to-the-home, a technology that runs fiber optic cables directly to a consumer's home, boosting broadband speeds.

"We'll be investing more and more in residential services, like TIM Live," said de Angelis said, who took over the Brazilian unit of Telecom Italia SpA in the middle of last year.

TIM's expanding fiber network in Brazil has raised questions about potential acquisitions. De Angelis told journalists there were no "transformational" deals imminent, although the company would examine small acquisitions as a means of expansion.

One TIM competitor, Oi SA, is currently struggling with a messy debt restructuring. A consortium of U.S. investment fund TPG Capital Management LP and China Telecom Corp Ltd are considering taking control of the company after creditors approve a plan to take the company out of bankruptcy protection, sources have told Reuters.

Local media have speculated that Oi, which has a geographically expansive fixed-line network in Brazil, would then discuss a possible tie-up with TIM.

Speaking to journalists, de Angelis said TIM would not consider a tie-up "at least" until after a restructuring plan is approved.

"The problems of Oi are financial," de Angelis told journalists. "There hasn't been some great blackout." (Reporting by Gram Slattery; editing by Phil Berlowitz and Cynthia Osterman)
Activists stage a sit-in to protest the GOP tax reform bill outside of office of Representative Dana Rohrabacher: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Republicans in the House and Senate have agreed upon a final tax reform bill that would cut a key provision of Obamacare while giving corporations a record tax break.

The tax bill  which the Trump administration hopes to make their first major legislative victory  would give disproportionately large tax breaks to businesses and the wealthy, according to independent analysts. It would also lower individual taxes for the majority of Americans  at least until 2025, when the tax cuts expire.

Senator Bernie Sanders called the bill a moral and economic obscenity.

It is a gift to wealthy Republican campaign contributors and an insult to the working families of our country, he tweeted.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi referred to the bill as a "daylight robbery".

"With every iteration, the GOP tax scam becomes even more cowardly, outrageous, dishonest, brazen-theft from middle class families, giving money from them to the richest people in our country and to corporations," she said in a press conference the day before the bill was officially rolled out. "Its a monumental con job."

Almost every personal income tax bracket would see a tax reduction under the bill  including the top income bracket, or those making more than $500,000 a year. The wealthiest Americans would see their taxes drop to 37 per cent from 39.6 per cent.

The bill also raises the threshold for the estate tax, which affects property passed down when a family member dies. Under current law, Americans can pass down $5.5m worth of property to their family members tax-free. The Republican bill raises that threshold to $11m.

Corporations also get a major tax break under the bill, from a 35 per cent rate down to 21 per cent. The decrease would be the largest one-time reduction in the corporate tax rate in US history, according to a Washington Post analysis. The bill also eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax, after legislators received pushback from businesses for including it in a previous version.

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Controversially, the legislation would repeal the individual mandate  a key component of Obamacare  which taxes individuals who do not sign up for health insurance. The bill would also reduce the amount individuals can write off based on their state and local taxes, capping it at $10,000.

But the bill also preserves some carve-outs for middle- and low-income Americans. Tax payers would still be able to take deductions for student-loan interest and medical expenses, and graduate students would keep their tax waiver. Parents would also be able to take a $2,000 child tax credit under the bill  a provision added to win over the support of Republican Senator Marco Rubio.

President Donald Trump has said he wants the bill on his desk by Christmas, so he can sign it into law before the end of the year. The bill is widely expected to pass the Republican-controlled House in a vote on Tuesday.

Republicans have a narrower margin for victory in the Senate, where they need 50 of their partys 52 legislators to sign on. Senators Susan Collins, Jeff Flake, and Mike Lee remain uncommitted on the bill, but Republican leadership seemed confident they had the necessary votes on Friday.

"I think we'll get the support on Tuesday or Wednesday and have the vote, Senator Rob Portman told reporters. We already had enough Senators as it came through the Senate and the bill has even improved further in the House-Senate conference process.
Twitter users are losing it over the net neutrality ruling, and OF COURSE THEY ARE

On Thursday, December 14th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal net neutrality. The end of net neutrality allows internet providers to take control of web users experiences by blocking websites, slowing down connections, and charging for higher-quality services or content. Following the net neutrality repeal, Twitter users voiced their opinions and noted an undeniable truth: we all have reason to be deeply concerned.

The net neutrality rules were introduced in 2015 during the Obama administration. The FCC was then headed by Democrats who wanted to regulate broadband service as a utility, like our electricity and telephone services. Without net neutrality rules regulating internet providers, the worry is that using high-speed internet might come at a high cost. Broadband carriers will also be able to completely block their users from seeing specific content, which is intrusive and disturbing.

Backlash against the repeal is currently in full swing. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey vowed to fight the FCCs ruling in court and in Congress. He, alongside other lawmakers, also plans to introduce new legislation in an effort to overturn the decision. New Yorks attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, also plans to file a multistate lawsuit against the FCC, according to The Washington Post.

The loss of net neutrality is a bad scenario, and many are upset about what could happen to the online sphere.

New York Attorney General @AGSchneiderman is suing the FCC for repealing #NetNeutrality pic.twitter.com/RUsvOdxlCM  NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 15, 2017

I plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution that would restore the Open Internet Order and reverse the @FCCs historic mistake of repealing #NetNeutrality. This fight is far from over. pic.twitter.com/FTyqf1U83X  Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) December 14, 2017

#NetNeutrality supporters, hysterically, think the govt is going to fix an internet that isnt even broken. Just like it fixed:

-healthcare

-student loans

-public schools

-your retirement

-the housing market

-and just about anything else the govt touches  Dan Bongino (@dbongino) December 15, 2017

People saying "The Internet Is Free Again" after repealing #NetNeutrality , is like wall street saying 'see, now you can be outdoorsy' when you lose your house thanks to the financial crisis they caused. Idiots.  Francis Maxwell (@francismmaxwell) December 15, 2017

DONT STOP FIGHTING ! TEXT BATTLE TO 384-387 ! #NetNeutrality RETWEET AND SPREAD! pic.twitter.com/NZ2q740qho  rach (@jinsawake) December 15, 2017

Repealing #NetNeutrality rules was like a last minute Christmas gift from the @FCC to the biggest players in the internet market. Yesterday, the FCC tied the bow with their disastrous vote.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 15, 2017

We are the #Resistance:

* We need to protect women, not GRAB them

* We need clean air and water, not a POLLUTED PLANET

* We need affordable healthcare, not TAX CUTS for RICH

* We need to protest racial injustice, not be called SOBs

* We need #NetNeutrality, not #CENSORSHIP  Jason (@JasonHalle) December 15, 2017

I think I'm gonna make a thread of as many lawmakers as i can find that supported the repeal of #NetNeutrality and include their state & reelection date.  Tyler Kurtz (@tkurtz95) December 15, 2017

how I feel when some ppl could care less about #NetNeutrality pic.twitter.com/Vs8GZKfp3h  Meowri (@JennaLynnMeowri) December 15, 2017

Despite the ruling, the Times reports that some major telecom companies like AT&T and Comcast told consumers their internet experience would not change. But other leading companies may not be able to promise the same.

Call your senators and representatives, and write Congress via BattleForTheNet.com. Its not too late to make a difference.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The top U.S. Senate Democrat said on Friday he would force a vote on the Federal Communications Commission's decision to repeal the 2015 landmark net neutrality rules.

The FCC voted Thursday along party lines to reverse the Obama rules barring internet service providers from blocking or throttling internet traffic, or offering paid fast lanes. A group of state attorneys general vowed to sue.

On Friday, Senator Charles Schumer of New York said he would force a vote on the FCC action under the Congressional Review Act. Republicans scuttled internet privacy rules adopted under the Obama administration using the same procedural vehicle.

"There will be a vote to repeal the rule that the FCC passed. Its in our power to do that," Schumer said in New York. "Sometimes we dont like them, when they used it to repeal some of the pro environmental regulations, but now we can use the CRA to our benefit and we intend to."

This week's FCC order grants internet providers sweeping new powers to block, throttle or discriminate among internet content, but requires public disclosure of those practices. Internet providers have vowed not to change how consumers get online content. The FCC rules also seek to bar states from imposing their own net neutrality requirements.

The FCC said Monday the rules will take effect once the White House Office of Management and Budget approves the new transparency rules, which could take several months.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday in a Fox News interview that "so much of the hysteria is simply misplaced." He added: ""Going forward, the internet is going to speed up."

Republicans on Capitol Hill have largely praised the rollback of the rules. Many want Congress to pass legislation that would retain consumer protections but prevent future regulators from adopting internet pricing rules or other actions.

Moody's Investors Service said in a note Friday the FCC vote was "credit positive" for internet service providers that could have faced rate regulation under the 2015 rules that would have treated them like public utilities. Moody's said providers "will tread lightly when it comes to engaging in paid prioritization and throttling, as there could be significant negative public reaction to these acts."

Moody's said "at least in the near term, the cost of negative publicity on their existing businesses far outweighs the benefit of additional revenue streams these companies can generate from paid prioritization agreements." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to end net neutrality, giving internet service providers unprecedented power to control our experience online. So what do telecommunications giants like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Charter have to say for themselves now that they have officially been handed the keys to the internet kingdom?

Those four companies are the ISPs for about 76 percent of the 94.5 million internet subscribers in the United States. And when about half of all households only have access to a single provider, these companies hold enormous power in shaping an internet without net neutrality, the previously longstanding principle that ISPs could not set up a tiered internet of slow and fast lanes, throttle access to certain content, or charge either consumers or sites more for preferential access.

Under FCC Chairman Ajit Pais plan, all the ISPs have to do now is be transparent in their dealings with consumers. So lets get the transparency ball rolling by checking in with the big four ISPs the day after the ruling.

Heres the short version: According to the ISPs, they support net neutrality, and Thursdays ruling wont change how they operate. A common objection is essentially one to do with process. The Obama-era FCCs 2015 decision to reclassify ISPs as utilities instead of content providers was an act of regulatory overreach, this argument goes, and the better way to preserve net neutrality is for the U.S. Congress to enact such protections legislatively.

In a post titled Its Time For Congress to Act and Permanently Preserve the Open Internet, Comcast Senior Vice President David L. Cohen laid out this case. Heres a section from the full blog.

Its now time for all of us to take advantage of this moment in time and end the cycle of regulatory ping pong weve been trapped in for over a decade and put this issue to rest once and for all. And theres a simple way to do this  we really must have bipartisan congressional legislation to permanently preserve and solidify net neutrality protections for consumers and to provide ongoing certainty to ISPs and edge providers alike.

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The Internet is at the core of Americas digital innovation and technological advancement. It is too valuable to be trapped in the middle of a never ending game of politics and regulatory arbitrage depending on the party in power. We should stop the litigation and legislative threats by the party not in control of the FCC. We need bipartisan congressional legislation to protect the Internet and consumers. Now is the time for both sides of the aisle to come to the table, have a civil discussion, and produce a legislative product that enshrines durable and enforceable net neutrality rules.

Cohen and Comcast have a point here, in isolation: Its not productive for the FCC to keep going back and forth on its net neutrality policy depending on whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. A legislative solution would be better, and its worth asking why the Democrats, the countrys theoretically progressive party, didnt get around to sorting this out when they had both the White House and overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate during the first two years of Barack Obamas presidency.

But Comcast elides its own role and that of fellow telecommunications companies in lobbying for Thursdays ruling. The Center for Responsive Politics reported anti-net neutrality lobbying has totaled $110 million in 2017 alone. Ajit Pai and Donald Trump might be the primary political architects of this decision, but the ISPs were not mere spectators in the regulatory ping pong game.

Im not necessarily looking to pick on Comcast specifically here  if anything, they deserve a small sliver of credit for posting the most detailed response to the ruling, even as it paints a decision it played an active role in bringing about as merely the latest chapter in the endless struggle between political parties.

Indeed, AT&T echoed many of Comcasts points in this statement on its Public Policy site, which is included in its entirety.

For more than a decade, under both Republican and Democratic Administrations, AT&T has consistently made clear that we provide broadband service in an open and transparent way. We do not block websites, nor censor online content, nor throttle or degrade traffic based on the content, nor unfairly discriminate in our treatment of internet traffic. These principles, which were laid out in the FCCs 2010 Open Internet Order and fully supported by AT&T, are clearly articulated on our website and are fully enforceable against us. In short, the internet will continue to work tomorrow just as it always has. Despite the existence and the enforceability of all of these commitments, we have, since 2010, also repeatedly called for a non-Title II legislative solution that would make these consumer protections permanent. We continue to support a legislative solution and will work with any interested members of Congress to achieve that solution.

Verizon spokesman Rich Young gave Inverse this short, simple statement on the FCC ruling: Verizon fully supports the open Internet, and we will continue to do so. Our customers demand it and our business depends on it.

That statement reiterates a key tenet of Pais justification for his plan: Consumers demand net neutrality, so therefore the free market will incentivize ISPs to maintain it even in the absence of regulations. The big, unanswered question here is whether the internet can truly operate like a free market when, again, half of households have only one option for their ISP.

Charter directed Inverse to this official statement, in which it points to increased investment as a key reason it supports the FCCs ruling.

This is why Charter also supports Congress pursuing bipartisan legislation that enshrines an open internet into law and spurs broadband deployment and investment. Such legislation would provide permanent regulatory assurance and create an environment that allows for more long-term planning that will help us continue to provide even better broadband across our country.

Charter recognizes this debate has stirred passions. But in the days and weeks ahead, we hope our customers remember two things: 1) we will continue to provide them with a superior broadband service that includes an open internet; and 2) by bringing internet regulations into the 21st century, we can ensure more future innovation, improvement and availability of our broadband.

Its full statement is here.

Photos via Getty Images / Scott Olson

Photos via Getty Images / Scott Olson

Written by Alasdair Wilkins

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Afghan officials say Taliban militants have attacked two checkpoints in the southern province of Helmand, killing 11 police officers.

Provincial Governor Hayatullah Hayat said on December 17 that Afghan forces eventually repelled the attack early on December 17 in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

Hayat added that two officers were wounded in the fighting.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 militants were also killed.

The Taliban, who have a strong presence in Helmand, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In the neighboring Kandahar Province, another Taliban stronghold, provincial police chief General Abdul Raziq said a suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign forces, killing an Afghan woman and wounding five other civilians.

The NATO Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan confirmed the attack and said there were no casualties among its personnel.

No group claimed responsibility.

The latest attacks come as the Western-backed government in Kabul has been struggling to fend off the Taliban and other militants since the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014.

However, the U.S. Defense Department hailed success on the battlefield by Afghan forces in its semiannual report to Congress -- the first since President Donald Trump announced in August his new strategy for the South Asia region.

The Pentagon said in the report given to Congress on December 15 that U.S. and Afghan "sources indicate this fighting season has been more successful than the last."

"During this reporting period [June 1, 2017, to November 30], the Taliban was unable to threaten any provincial centers, lost control of key districts, and the ANDSF retained control of all major population centers," it said, referring to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

The report also urged Taliban insurgents to embrace "peace and political legitimacy" through a negotiated settlement with the Kabul government.

Under the new South Asia strategy, the Pentagon said that the United States had deployed "modest numbers" of additional U.S. forces to train, advise, and assist and for counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan.

The United States has about 14,000 uniformed personnel in Afghanistan, an increase of some 3,000 from the previous reporting period, it said.

The United States has been in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion to drive the Taliban from power following the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

U.S. forces have remained as part of a NATO-led coalition ever since, although active combat operations were turned over to Afghan forces in 2014, and international troop levels have fallen from a peak of more than 100,000 to about 16,000.

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, Khaama Press, and Pajhwok
Pakistani officials say at least nine people have been killed and about 50 injured in a suicide attack on a church in the southwestern city of Quetta.

The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the December 17 attack through its Amaq news agency.

Balochistan Province Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that two militants were involved in the assault on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, the provincial capital.

Bugti said that one bomber detonated his suicide vest at the gate of the church, where about 400 men, women, and children had gathered for Sunday services ahead of Christmas.

Another attacker was shot dead by security forces before he could detonate his explosives-filled vest, he said.

Provincial police chief Moazzam Ansari said that "all the victims were inside the church building, as the suicide bomber blew up himself at the gate."

"So the deaths and injuries were mainly caused by shrapnel and splinters from the gate and windows," he added.

Two women were said to be among the dead.

The injured were rushed to the main hospitals of the city. Several of them were in serious condition, according to police.

The attack was condemned by senior Pakistani officials.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Faisal said in on Twitter that "Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts."

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people. Along with other religious minorities, the community has faced discrimination and attacks by Islamic militants.

The resource-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, Islamist militant attacks, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004.

On November 25, at least four people were killed and more than 20 wounded by a suicide bomber who attacked an army vehicle on the outskirts of Quetta. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa
The U.S. Defense Department has hailed success on the battlefield by Afghan forces and urged Taliban insurgents to embrace "peace and political legitimacy" through a negotiated settlement with the government in Kabul.

The comments came this week in the Pentagons semiannual report to Congress, the first since President Donald Trump on August 21 announced his new strategy for Afghanistan and the South Asia region.

The Pentagon said in the report given to Congress on December 15 that U.S. and Afghan sources indicate this fighting season has been more successful than the last."

During this reporting period [June 1, 2017, to November 30], the Taliban was unable to threaten any provincial centers, lost control of key districts, and the ANDSF retained control of all major population centers," it said, referring to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan had said in early summer that the conflict was in a "stalemate" as Afghan security forces struggled to hold back the Taliban and other extremist groups in the country.

The report said the major change in U.S. policy under Trump from "our previous strategy is the shift from a time-based approach to a conditions-based one."

"This strategy is a clear signal of U.S. resolve and a break with the previous administrations focus on a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan," it added.

"Our purpose in Afghanistan remains the same," the report said. It is "to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a safe haven from which terrorist groups can plan and execute attacks on the United States, or our allies, and citizens abroad."

It said the goal remains the same as in 2001: "a stable, independent Afghanistan at peace with its neighbors."

"The objective of the campaign is to convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield. The war will end in a comprehensive, Afghan-led political settlement that will include all parties, including the Taliban."

"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield. They must know that their only path to peace and political legitimacy is through a negotiated settlement with the Afghan government," it said.

The Pentagon said it had a "willing and able partner" in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

"In conjunction with the new U.S. strategy, he launched with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and U.S. forces in Afghanistan a process to create and monitor reforms in four priority sectors: governance, economic development, security, and the peace process."

It cited Ghanis "long-term plan to seize the initiative in the fight against insurgent and terrorist forces, further professionalize the ANDSF, modify the ANDSF force structure, and compel the Taliban to seek reconciliation."

Under its new South Asia strategy, the Pentagon said the United States had deployed "modest numbers" of additional forces to support the train, advise, and assist, and for counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan.

The United States has about 14,000 uniformed personnel in Afghanistan, an increase of some 3,000 from the previous reporting period, it said.

It cautioned, though, that "our commitment is enduring but not unlimited. Our support is not a blank check.

"As long as the Afghan government continues to show real progress and make real reforms, we will continue to support them as our strategic partners in the fight against international terrorism."

The United States has been in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion to drive the Taliban from power after it said the group's leaders were sheltering Al-Qaeda militants responsible for the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.

U.S. forces have remained as part of a NATO-led coalition ever since, although active combat operations were turned over to Afghan forces in 2014, and international troop levels have fallen from a peak of more than 100,000 to about 16,000.
GUELPH, Ontario, Dec. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After more than a year of industry research, a comprehensive financial analysis and community engagement on a potential transaction, Guelph City Council voted today in favour of a merger between Guelph Hydro Electric Systems and Alectra Inc.



The City of Guelph will receive a 4.63 per cent ownership interest in Alectra, and one permanent seat on Alectras Board of Directors. As part owner of a larger municipally-owned utility, the City of Guelph is expected to receive higher annual dividends to invest in local infrastructure, programs, and services, and Guelph Hydros current location will be home to Alectras Southwest Ontario operations hub, and a new Green Energy & Technology Centre (GRE&T Centre).

Next year, on top of its regular dividend, Guelph Hydro would pay the City of Guelph a special dividend of $18.5 million, which can be reinvested in the local community. Over the next 20 years, the City is expected to receive $10 million more in dividend payments than it would if Guelph Hydro continued operating alone.

Customers in Guelph and Rockwood will avoid an estimated 5 per cent distribution rate increase in 2021, and another estimated 5 per cent increase in 2026, while Alectra maintains or exceeds current service standards.

As part of developing the Green Energy & Technology Centre, Alectra will invest $5 million to renovate parts of Guelph Hydros current headquarters for demonstration areas, laboratories or showrooms, and another $3 million a year to fund pilot projects, demonstrations, salaries, administration, marketing and partnerships.



Guelph Hydro employs about 130 people. About 70 positions will remain in Guelph. Individuals occupying about 30 positions will be offered relocation opportunities starting in 2019, with most occurring in 2020 and 2022. Another 30 positions are expected to be addressed through normal attrition, retirement and other voluntary initiatives whenever possible. Additionally, the Green Energy & Technology Centre would employ eight to 10 people.

The City encouraged community participation throughout the process, helping inform Guelph City Councils decision. As a next step, a merger application will be submitted to the Ontario Energy Board for approval. Among other things, the approval process will ensure the merger does not have an adverse effect on ratepayers based on the boards No Harm Test. The Ontario Energy Board is expected to make its decision in fall, 2018. With Board approval, the merged company could begin operating on January 1, 2019.

To stay up to date on the Ontario Energy Board approval process, community members can visit guelph.ca/energy or guelphhydro.com.

Quotations

After extensive community engagement, industry research and independent financial analysis, Council is happy to announce the Guelph Hydro-Alectra merger. We truly appreciate all the different perspectives and opinions we heard during this process. We believe this merger will bring more value for our citizens and businesses through better rates, the same reliable service, and an even stronger position as an energy leader."  Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph.

By merging with Alectra, Guelph Hydro customers can expect the same excellent level of reliable service they have come to expect. Local Homes and businesses will benefit from Alectras industry-leading work in energy innovation. Guelph Hydros legacy of legacy of service will continue as our local utility evolves to address the changes and challenges ahead in our industry.  Jane Armstrong, Chair, Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc.

This merger will bring several lasting benefits for Guelph Hydro customers, and for our community. Customers will benefit from downward pressure on rates, and our community will benefit from increased dividends that will go towards the municipal services and programs our citizens use every day.  Derrick Thomson, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Guelph.

Alectra and Guelph Hydro are a perfect match and we are looking forward to taking the next steps on this exciting journey with them. We will now work with the Guelph Hydro team to prepare a merger submission to the Ontario Energy Board in the first quarter of 2018, and we expect that a hearing will take place later in the year. This is an exciting opportunity for Alectra and Guelph Hydro, and most importantly, it will benefit the customers and communities that we serve.  Brian Bentz, President and CEO, Alectra Inc.

The Guelph Hydro-Alectra merger will ensure customers continue to experience excellent service, while fostering more innovation and value in the community. Alectra is one of the most innovative utilities in the industry. As a result of the merger, Alectra will establish a new Green Energy & Technology Centre, which will develop new technologies and attract investments to Guelph.  Norm Loberg, Chair, Alectra Inc.

About Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc.

Guelph Hydro is a medium-sized local distribution company delivering electricity in a safe and reliable manner to more than 55,000 customers in Guelph and Rockwood, Ontario. You can learn more about Guelph Hydro at guelphhydro.com

About the City of Guelph

Guelph is a growing, diverse and vibrant community of more than 120,000 people, located about 100 kilometres west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Guelph City Council has the authority to make the final decision about the ownership of Guelph Hydro. Learn more about Guelph City Council at guelph.ca/council

About Alectra Inc.

Alectras family of energy companies distributes electricity to nearly one million customers in Ontarios Greater Golden Horseshoe Area and provides innovative energy solutions to these and thousands more across Ontario. The Alectra family of companies includes Alectra Inc., Alectra Utilities Corporation and Alectra Energy Solutions. Learn more about Alectra at alectrautilities.com

Resources

Media Contact

Tara Sprigg, APR, General Manager

Corporate Communications and Customer Service

City of Guelph

519-822-1260 extension 2610

tara.sprigg@guelph.ca

Eric Fagen, Director, External Communications

Government and Corporate Relations

Alectra Inc.

647-297-1273

eric.fagen@alectrautilities.com
Standing in front of an allegedly Iranian-made ballistic missile that had been fired into Saudi Arabia from Yemen, Haley explained that the US expected to build an international coalition to confront and counteract the destabilizing Iranian influence in the region. But if the White House hoped to obtain immediate pledges of support as a result of the presentation, there are signs that it will be disappointed.

Reuters reported, for instance, that the French government had declined to give a definitive response to press inquiries regarding Haleys presentation. This is not to say that France rejected the relevant evidence, only that there is some hesitancy about taking it at face value. French officials pointed out that the United Nations was still investigating missile launches that targeted Saudi Arabia in July and November. The results of this investigation may still present European leaders with a reason to accept the Trump administrations accounts of the extent of ongoing Iranian belligerence among neighboring countries.

In the meantime, however, skepticism persists even among longstanding adversaries of the Islamic Republic. The New York Times provided a more general account of this skepticism, which evidently influenced the French response. That report described the White Houses claims as falling short of the criteria for definitive proof, in large part because of the apparent lack of verified information about when the Iranian weapons were transferred to other regional actors and from where they were recovered.

Of issue is the notion that Iran is violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed alongside the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and which bars Iran from exporting most weapons without explicit permission from the Security Council. The Trump administration maintains that Irans support of the Houthi has routinely disregarded its international obligations, but if the relevant weapons could be shown to have arrived in Yemen before the January 2016 passage of Resolution 2231, it could not be regarded as a sign of non-compliance.

There is little doubt that Iran has been supporting the Houthi in some fashion since before the Shiite rebels overran the capital city of Sanaa in 2015. Iranian officials deny that this support extends beyond the political and spiritual, but some weapons caches have been intercepted while apparently en route between Iran and Yemen. These seizures, together with reports of the presence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Arabian nation, further contribute to the White Houses conclusions about ongoing influence.

These things also help some US partners to avoid the skepticism that seems to remain predominant in Europe. Al Jazeera reported on Friday that the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs embraced the Trump administrations declassified intelligence and said via Twitter that Thursdays presentation, leaves no doubt about Irans flagrant disregard for its UN obligations, and its role in the proliferation and trafficking of weapons in the region. The UAE calls on the global community to more forcefully address the threat posed by Iran.

The same report notes that the presentation was offered against the backdrop of an escalating war of words between Iran and its adversaries, particularly Saudi Arabia. As a close partner of the Saudi kingdom, the UAE has already put itself forward as one of the leading contributors to a strategy for countering Iranian influence. It was these two countries that initiated the diplomatic isolation of Qatar as punishment for its outreach to Iran. Egypt and Bahrain have also participated in this effort, although it has been criticized by many analysts for actually pushing Qatar further into Irans orbit.

Nonetheless, this coordination among multiple Arab nations is indicative of growing anxiety about the role that Iran is playing in the region, and this is something that the White House undeniably hopes to build upon. The Crisis Group website has prepared an analysis of potential flashpoints in the tensions between Iran and the US, and it identifies heightened convergence among several of Irans adversaries as one of three major contributing factors that could lead to the situation escalating even further. The second is the emerging power struggles following the defeat of ISIL, and the third is the Trump administrations well-known contempt for the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Nikki Haleys presentation of alleged Iranian weaponry may have been intended in part to help establish justification for US withdrawal from that agreement. Although the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency say Iran is complying with its requirements, the White House has repeatedly expressed the view that Irans regional interventions and ballistic missile tests violate the spirit of the agreement. But Haley spoke in broader terms on Thursday, referring to Iran as fanning the flames of conflict throughout the Middle East, and effectively urging other partners to join the US in backing Arab confrontation of Iranian influence.

That confrontation has already yielded some unexpected partnerships, as has been repeatedly highlighted in global media. The aforementioned heightened convergence includes the state of Israel, which has expressed willingness to share intelligence and otherwise cooperate with Saudi Arabia over the Iran issue, despite decades of tensions related to the Israel-Palestine crisis. The potential for overcoming those differences was put on display once again on Friday when Fox News reported that an extremely conservative Israeli official and opponent of the existing Palestine peace process, Intelligence and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, expressed commitment to forming an anti-Iran axis with Sunni powers in the region.

While Katz was quoted as urging mutual visits between the leaders of Israel and Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Iranian Foreign Ministry were seen to continue using tensions over Israel as a wedge with which to distance the Islamic Republic from the Gulf Arab nations as a whole. Since President Trump announced earlier this month that the US would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, there have been numerous attempts by the Iranian supreme leader and other Iranian officials to portray regional adversaries as complicit in this move, despite their contributions to near-universal criticism of it.

Iran Daily reports that these efforts continued against the backdrop of an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which convened in response to Trumps announcement. The Iranian participants in that meeting publicly distanced themselves from the meetings final statement, despite the fact that it referred to East Jerusalem as the inseparable capital of Palestine. Tehran reportedly took issue with language in the statement that appeared to support a two-state solution to the crisis, in contrast to the Islamic Republics repeated calls for the outright destruction of the Jewish state.

While this strategy is unlikely to spur reevaluation of the current policies of any nations that feel directly threatened by Iran, it may win the regime some sympathy among Muslim actors whose loyalties are split between Iran and Saudi Arabia. While this would represent only modest gains by the Islamic Republic, those gains could be nonetheless significant if the Iranians can prevent other countries from lining up against them.

Toward that end, the Foreign Ministry quickly launched a public relations campaign in response to Thursdays presentation of US intelligence. Via Twitter, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif shared an English-language factsheet on the conflict in Yemen, as reported by Fars News Agency. The document reiterated public statements denying the validity of the USs conclusions and accusing the White House of pushing a prefabricated agenda. But the document provided very little in the way of direct responses to the information shared by the US. Instead it focused on blaming Saudi Arabia and its American backers for the humanitarian crisis that has grown out of the more than two-year civil war.

The effects of this distraction are presently as unclear as the effects of Haleys presentation itself. But the New York Times observes that the Trump administration faces an uphill battle to convince European allies of the need to more assertively confront the Islamic Republic. The administrations controversial tone is one reason for this, as is something else that the Iranian Foreign Ministry took pains to emphasize: the false intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction that led to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

However, in the current situation, the international community has independently confirmed at least some of the relevant US intelligence, as well as supporting previous conclusions about Irans own pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Although Zarif claimed in Friday that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had declared that there was no evidence for the Iranian origin of Houthi weapons, the reality is that the UN acknowledge evidence but set the stage for France and other European nations to follow suit in denying the presence of definitive proof so far.

If evidence continues to accumulate, it may still support the American mission of building a broader coalition against Iran. In that event, there will still be some question as to what the international community can do to put additional, effective pressure on Iran, either over its regional interventions or its nuclear activities. As Fars News Agency reported on Friday, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded to the latest US pressure by once again declaring that this Islamic Republic will not accept efforts to renegotiate the JCPOA under any circumstances.
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Timing is everything. That is an expression people around the world use in many situations.

Generally, this expression means that taking action at the right time can be just as important as how well you do something.

This is especially true when a student is seeking admission to a college or university, says Becky Konowicz. She is Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission at Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit school in Santa Clara, California.

Konowicz notes that applying to colleges and universities in the United States can often be a long and complex process. This is partly because of recent changes to the admissions policies at many schools and increasing competition among applicants.

Part of the complexity of today is students are applying to more universities that have more variations in deadlines and requirements, Konowicz told VOA. And so it requires even more organization. Back when I applied years ago, I applied to three schools. Now, the average student applies to six to eight schools.

What many students and their families fail to understand, Konowicz adds, is just how long the application process takes. Many people think the process begins in the final year of high school. However, Konowicz says students should start taking action well before that.

In the U.S., young people generally attend high school for four years. And Konowicz suggests students take their first step towards applying to college in the months before their third year. At this point, young people are still likely to have several unanswered questions on their mind. Those questions could be as complex as What do you want out of your college experience? or as simple as Where do you want to study?

Konowicz says students can get closer to finding the answers by visiting any college or university. It is not important if the student does not plan on attending the school. The visit can still give them a better idea of what to expect in that kind of environment.

Visit a university, see what its like, she said. Check into an admissions office. It doesnt matter the size or where it is, stop in on one. You may be on a family holiday, and that gives you a sense. And then it might also spark some questions to help you start going to online resources.

The next step, Konowicz says, involves testing. Most U.S. students take exams to prove their level of academic performance in the second half of their third year in high school. These tests include the SAT, once known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and the ACT. Some schools like one test more than the other.

Konowicz adds that this is also the time when international students should be taking tests like the TOEFL and IELTS to prove their abilities in English.

After taking these tests, the period between the third and fourth years of high school is a busy one for high school students, she says. This is the time when they should be narrowing the list of colleges and universities under consideration. Then, once they have made a shorter list, they should contact these schools and try to build a relationship with them.

Konowicz notes many schools have email lists that students and family members can join. The schools emails can provide helpful information, she says. Also, college admissions officers often set up informational events, both at their schools and elsewhere, which students should attend. This will give students a chance to meet the people who may be considering their applications, she says.

The next step is for students to begin working on a writing sample. Most U.S. colleges and universities require applicants to provide a writing sample that does more than show off their writing ability level. It also tells admissions officers more about who the applicants are.

Konowicz argues that creating a good writing sample takes time, and students often need several attempts to get it right. So students should begin working on it even before their final year of high school. Also at this time, students should create a document clearly detailing the different requirements and closing dates for the schools to which they are applying.

Once the final year of high school begins, students should get all the required materials together and ready for submission, Konowicz says. This includes putting the finishing touches on the essay and any documents needed for financial aid. Also students need to ask teachers and others with whom they have strong connections to write letters in support of their application.

Konowicz says most U.S. colleges and universities require letters of recommendation. And it can take a while for someone to write one. So students should make their requests for these at least 30 days before the closing date.

Finally, in the United States, most deadlines for college application materials are in early winter. But Konowicz suggests that students should submit all their application materials a week before the actual date. That way if any emergencies come up or mistakes were made, students have plenty of time to contact the schools, if necessary.

Konowicz notes that spring is when most schools make their decisions and inform candidates if they will accept them. However, she says students should contact the schools a week after submitting their materials to ensure that there are no problems. If problems, such as missed deadlines, do exist, admissions officers will try their best to help.

I would encourage parents to remember that an admissions office can be their ally, Konowicz said. So if a student has missed a deadline  encourage your student to call us  and then well help them through the process. The hardest part is when the parent takes over  Then we start to wonder Can this student develop these independent skills? and Would they be a good fit for our university?

Admissions officers want to be as helpful as possible, she argues. Some will even send messages to applicants smartphones to restate upcoming deadlines and provide useful information. After all, Konowicz notes that helping students apply to college is why most admissions officers started working in this field to begin with.

Im Pete Musto. And Im Susan Shand.

Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. When are the deadlines for applying to colleges and universities in your country? How early do applicants begin the process? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

Jesuit  adj. belonging to the religious group called the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus

apply(ing)  v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing

variation(s)  n. a change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something

deadline(s)  n. the last day, hour, or minute that something will be accepted

spark  v. to cause something to start or happen

academic  adj. of or relating to schools and education

sample  n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

submission  n. an act of giving a document, proposal, or piece of writing to someone so that it can be considered or approved

essay  n. a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject

financial  adj. relating to money

recommendation  n. a formal letter that explains why a person is appropriate or qualified for a particular job or school

encourage  v. to make someone more likely to do something
France recently launched its first floating wind turbine.

The new turbine is called Floatgen. It is near the countrys western coast.

Makers of the turbine say it is able to provide electricity for as many as 5,000 homes.

It also is Frances first attempt at offshore wind energy: electricity produced by turbines located in the ocean. The project cost $29.5 million.

A number of European businesses and research groups are supporting the Floatgen Project.

Bruno Geschier is head of sales and a marketing manager for Ideol, the company that coordinated the project.

He said the next step is to produce offshore wind farms. The goal, he said, is 50 much larger offshore turbines that are able to provide electricity to hundreds and thousands of people.

Geischier predicts that this might happen in less than 10 years because France is trying to decrease the countrys dependence on nuclear power.

Based in Brussels, Belgium, the industry group WindEurope predicts France will become Europes second biggest wind energy producer by 2030. Germany would remain the largest producer.

Currently, wind power produces about 4 percent of Frances electricity.

Pierre Tardieu is WindEuropes Chief Policy Officer. He said that renewable energy, such as wind, is not only good for the planet. Today, it is much less costly than it used to be.

This is true for France of course, but it is also true for Europe as a whole, he said.

Leadership hopes

Increasing wind energy also fits with President Emmanuel Macrons aim of helping lead efforts to limit the rise of world temperatures.

Last Tuesday, Macrons government held an international meeting on climate financing. The meeting took place two years after the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed in the French capital.

Many European Union (EU) countries say they will likely meet the EU goal of getting 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. They may also increase their renewable energy goals for 2030.

But such goals remain hard to reach. France, for example, is one of several EU members not expected to reach the 2020 goals.

In addition, French environment minister Nicolas Hulot in November delayed a 2023 deadline for reducing the nations dependence on nuclear power. Currently, nuclear energy provides 75 percent of Frances electricity. The 2023 goal was to decrease that number to 50 percent. Hulot said the deadline could not be met.

Germany is a strong producer of renewable energy, but it also depends on fossil fuel. The country gets 40 percent of its energy from coal while wind and solar provide 30 percent.

The greater dependence on coal is partly the result of Germanys reduction of nuclear power which still provides 30 percent of the countrys electricity.

With Floatgen, France hopes to go from being one of the EUs slow movers to a wind power leader.

I think that the French government understands that its not possible in the world today to continue just with nuclear power, said Green Party Senator Ronan Dantec.

He said nuclear power is very expensive. Having a plan for renewable energy, he added, is important for industry in France and for the countrys future electricity needs.

Powering the oceans

Today, France is one of a few countries testing the use of floating wind turbines. The technology uses wires attached to the ocean floor and can be deployed in deeper waters than non-floating offshore turbines. This helps to make use of deep ocean winds -- which are often stronger and more continuous than winds on the coast.

Other countries are also moving forward with floating, offshore turbines. In October, Britain launched the worlds first floating wind farm off of the coast of Scotland. The farm can provide electricity for up to 20,000 homes.

Were late -- lets be honest, said Frances Junior Environment Minister Sebastien Lecornu during Floatgens launch in Saint-Nazaire.

Yet France is seeking to catch up.

We have everything it takes to make this region big in terms of building wind turbines, both on land and offshore, said Regional Council Vice-President Paul Jenneteau. He notes that the Floatgen turbine alone created 70 jobs.

Imagine offshore wind farms here, he added.

WindEuropes Tardieu agrees, predicting Europes wind industry will generate more than 500,000 jobs by 2030, more than double todays numbers.

Blades can be produced in Portugal and turbine structures in Poland, he said. Belgium can make the equipment boxes.

Not everyone supports floating wind farms

But the Floatgen Project is not welcomed by everyone. A few meters from the launch celebrations, riot police faced protesting workers.

We face an uncertain future, said Mathieu Pinault, a member of a trade union, as he spoke with other protesters. A fuel and coal heating plant has employed him for many years. Now, the company is slowly closing down.

He said renewable energy does not offer long-term jobs, but rather unstable, part-time work.

But, renewable energy supporters disagree.

Wind energy today already represents thousands of jobs, said Ideol marketing manager Geischier. It could represent much more than that, local jobs, but also brainpower.

Im Phil Dierking. And Im Alice Bryant.

Lisa Bryant wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Quiz

Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz.

Quiz - France Hopes to Get More Wind Energy from Its Coasts Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

wind turbine  n. a large structure with blades that spin by pressure from wind and generate electricity

offshore  adj. located on the ocean away from the shore

deadline  n. a date or time when something must be finished

fossil fuel  n. a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

solar  adj. of or relating to the sun

region  n. a part of a country (or the world) that is different or separate from other parts in some way

trade union  n. an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members

brainpower  n. the ability to think intelligently


One of the foreign policy goals of United States President Donald Trump's administration has been to reform United Nations peacekeeping.

The administration says that the U.N. peacekeeping missions should cut costs and that the U.S. should pay less for them.

Earlier this year, the U.N. announced it would cut its budget by $600 million. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., supported the announcement. She said, "We're just getting started."

Vice President Mike Pence has been critical of the U.N.'s peacekeeping missions. In September, he told the U.N. Security Council that peacekeeping missions should be more efficient and need to do a better job.

Paul Williams is a professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He said that it is a good idea to find ways to cut costs. However, he noted, blanket cuts can make it more difficult to keep soldiers safe.

Fifteen U.N. peacekeeping missions are ongoing around the world, including eight in Africa. The United States provides 28 percent of the U.N. peacekeeping budget. That is the most of any country. China is second, providing 10 percent of the budget.

Williams says the United States has a legal obligation to pay 28 percent of the peacekeeping budget. The U.S. has pushed to reduce the total budget in order to decrease the amount it has to pay.

The peacekeeping budget is now $7.3 billion.

To reduce costs, the U.N. must either close missions or reduce operations. Carrying out missions with a smaller budget could mean cutting personnel or logistical support.

Both choices concern Williams. He said U.N. peacekeepers already operate with few resources.

In early December, an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed 14 Tanzanian peacekeepers and five Congolese soldiers. The attack showed the risks faced by U.N. peacekeeping missions.

The mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo will likely face more difficulties. That is because the country's president, Joseph Kabila, has refused to step down, even though he has reached his two-term limit.

Aditi Gorur is director of the Protecting Civilians in Conflict Program at The Stimson Center, a research group in Washington DC.

Gorur notes that some U.N. missions have already had large reductions.

"A big part of the motivation for those cuts was pressure from the U.S. government," she said.

Gorur worries that reductions are not well planned and "the cuts come first and then the strategy comes later."

She notes that rising levels of "local intercommunal violence" will likely continue in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Williams said that, while some things can be done better with the same budget, cuts can place added pressure on peacekeepers.

I'm John Russell.

Salem Solomon reported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

efficient  adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

blanket  adj. affecting or applying to everyone or everything

obligation  n. something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc.

logistical  adj. the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people

motivation  n. a force or influence that causes someone to do something

strategy  n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

intercommunal  adj. existing or occurring between communities


Life for Shakar Nisa was good. Her children went to school. There was a lot of food, and they could buy fruit.

One day her husband went to work at his store in Quetta, the capital of Pakistans Baluchistan province. He did not return home.

A Sunni extremist had shot and killed him.

Nisa had to find money for herself and her five children. Up until her husbands death, she had never had a job or worried about money for housing. Her brother-in-law, a poor taxi driver, made her leave the familys house.

Nisa began working as a housekeeper for $50 dollars a month. The money was just enough to pay for a rental home, electricity and water.

There was no money left for food. Her son left school and started working at a wedding hall, which held parties for the newly married. The son earned $2 a day. Sometimes he brought home leftover food. When he could not, the family ate only bread with tea.

Nisa and her children are members of the small Hazara community in Quetta. She is one of many women who has lost her husband or other male family members to religious violence.

The Hazaras, a Shiite Muslim minority group in Pakistan, are a conservative people who follow a traditional way of life. The women stay in the home, while the men work outside the house. Over the years, the men have been a target for Sunni extremist groups, leaving many families struggling to get enough money and food.

Some families without men cannot attend their most basic needs.

My daughter has a blood infection, but she is not getting proper treatment, said Zahra, who makes $25 a month embroidering cushions for a local dealer. My children are not going to school because we dont have money for their admission, she added.

Her brother-in-law sells fruit. He took care of her family when her husband was too sick to work.

When he died in an explosion, the lives of the family changed. Zahras 15-year-old daughter stopped going to school to help her mother make cushions. She also makes $25 a month. They need help from relatives and friends to survive.

The violence in the community has forced many Hazara children to leave school and begin working as manual laborers, leading to a life of poverty.

One of Nisas sons had to leave middle school to work in a welding business so he could make money. The possibility of getting an education and finding a well-paid job is no more.

I'm Susan Shand.

Ayesha Tanzeem reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

embroider  v. to sew a design on a piece of cloth

cushion  n. a soft object or part that is used to make something (such as a seat) more comfortable

manual  adj. doing or involving hard physical work

weld  v. to join pieces of metal together by heating the edges until they begin to melt and then pressing them together

brother-in-law  n. the man married to ones husband or wife; the man married to the husband or wife of a family member

basic  adj. relating to the most important part of something; simple
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The Sherwin-Williams Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. The Americas Group segment offers architectural paints and coatings, and protective and marine products, as well as OEM product finishes and related products for architectural and industrial paint contractors, and do-it-yourself homeowners. The Consumer Brands Group segment supplies a portfolio of branded and private-label architectural paints, stains, varnishes, industrial products, wood finishes products, wood preservatives, applicators, corrosion inhibitors, aerosols, caulks, and adhesives to retailers and distributors. The Performance Coatings Group segment develops and sells industrial coatings for wood finishing and general industrial applications, automotive refinish products, protective and marine coatings, coil coatings, packaging coatings, and performance-based resins and colorants. It serves retailers, dealers, jobbers, licensees, and other third-party distributors through its branches and direct sales staff, as well as through outside sales representatives. The company has operations primarily in the North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As of February 17, 2022, it operated approximately 5,000 company-operated stores and facilities. The Sherwin-Williams Company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Exxon Mobil Corporation is the largest direct descendent of John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil and one of the worlds largest companies. Its earliest roots lie with Vacuum Oil which got its start in the 1860s. Vacuum Oils primary product was kerosene, an important advancement for heating and lighting in rural America. Vacuum Oil was later merged with Standard Oil of New Jersey which was the parent operation of the Standard Oil empire prior to its breakup. Standard Oil of New Jersey would merge with other independent operators over the next few years until settling on the brand Exxon for most of its operations.

Meanwhile, Standard Oil of New York was operating under much the same impetus, merging and growing, until it became known as Mobil. Then, in 1999, the two giants became one with a merger of equals that on paper had Exxon buying Mobil. Now, the combined company operates under the Exxon, Mobil, and Esso brands as an international vertically integrated energy and petrochemical business.

Today, the company explores and produces crude oil and natural gas and their derivative products globally. As of 2022, it was ranked 6th on Forbes Fortune 500 list and 12th on the Global 500 list but it has held positions from #1 to #10 over the years. In terms of its operations, it is the worlds second-largest oil refiner and the largest refiner outside of China. In terms of reserves, ExxonMobil claimed about 18.5 million barrels of oil and oil equivalents at the end of 2021 and was ranked 15th globally.

ExxonMobil operates through three segments that are the Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces oil and oil equivalents and represents roughly 70% of the income. The Downstream segment gathers, receives, stores, transports and refines oil and equivalents and their derivatives. The Downstream segment also markets and delivers fuel products to consumers and businesses. The Chemicals segment produces the full range of petrochemicals including plastics, resins and synthetic rubber.

ExxonMobil is committed to advancing sustainable and carbon-free energy solutions. The company is targeting 2050 for net-zero emissions and its 2030 interim targets are in alignment with the Paris Accord, the EU's Global Methane Pledge, and US Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. The companys plans include investing $15 billion into reducing greenhouse emissions by 2028.






The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.

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Camping World Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, retails recreational vehicles (RVs), and related products and services. It operates in two segments, Good Sam Services and Plans; and RV and Outdoor Retail. The company provides a portfolio of services, protection plans, products, and resources in the RV industry. It also offers extended vehicle service contracts; roadside assistance plans; property and casualty insurance programs; travel assist travel protection plans; and RV and outdoor related consumer shows, as well as produces various monthly and annual RV focused consumer magazines; and operates the Coast to Coast Club. In addition, the company provides new and used RVs; vehicle financing; RV repair and maintenance services; various RV parts, equipment, supplies, and accessories, which include towing and hitching products, satellite and GPS systems, electrical and lighting products, appliances and furniture, and other products; and collision repair services comprising fiberglass front and rear cap replacement, windshield replacement, interior remodel solutions, and paint and body work. Further, it offers equipment, gears, and supplies for camping, hunting, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, skateboarding, and marine and watersports equipment and supplies, as well as operates Good Sam Club, a membership organization that offers savings on a range of products and services and provides co-branded credit cards. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated through a network of approximately 187 retail locations in 40 states of the United States. It serves customers through dealerships, and online and e-commerce platforms. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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Britain and China pledged to promote London as a center for offshore use of Beijings currency and cooperate in clean energy research and promoting trade as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union.

Officials announced the agreements following an economic dialogue led by Britains finance minister, Philip Hammond, and a senior Chinese economic official, Vice Premier Ma Kai. The event was attended by a delegation of British business leaders and economic officials.

British leaders are looking to China for trade and investment as they try to fashion a new global role and offset reduced access to the other 27 nations of the European common market.

The two sides agreed to promote international use of Chinas tightly controlled yuan and develop yuan-based business in London. That could help to shore up the British capitals status as a global financial center outside the EU.

The two sides will discuss future trade arrangements and push for the conclusion of a China-EU investment agreement, Ma said at a joint news conference.

The economic dialogue is an annual event, but this years gathering at a government guesthouse in Beijing took on special significance following Britains 2016 vote to leave the EU. Hammond was accompanied by the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, British financial regulators and an unusually large delegation of businesspeople for such an event.

Hammond said London is looking for a sustainable future arrangement with the EU. He said that was likely to be more complex than agreements made with Canada or members of the European Economic Area.

It is likely that we will want to negotiate specific arrangements, bespoke arrangements that reflect the long and close trading history, said Hammond.

British officials want an environment which will effectively replicate the current status quo, allowing companies to conduct trade and financial services across borders, he said.

Premier Li Keqiang, Chinas top economic official, expressed confidence Friday during a meeting with Hammond in steady and sound growth of Chinese-British relations regardless of what happens between London and the EU.

We hope the U.K. and the EU will conduct their Brexit negotiations in a way thats mutually beneficial for both sides and result in outcomes that are desirable for both sides, said a deputy Chinese finance minister, Shi Yaobin.

Chinese and British officials also agreed to look at ways to expand Britains role in Beijings Belt and Road Initiative.

Hammond announced the British export finance agency will support up to 25 billion pounds (USD33 billion) of new business along the Belt and Road in Asia. He said a former HSBC Group chairman, Douglas Flint, would serve as the British Treasurys envoy to Belt and Road.

China and Britain are natural partners in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Ma. AP
A Gaza eatery is offering massive discounts to North Korean diners but there is just one problem  there are no North Koreans in Gaza.

Ibrahim Raba, manager of a shawarma restaurant in Gazas Jabaliya refugee camp, says he is offering the 80 percent discounts to show his appreciation for North Koreas rejection of President Donald Trumps recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

He has also placed a large photo of reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the glass door entrance to his restaurant.

A new Kim fan, Raba likes to quote the North Korean leader, saying: Trump proved he is mentally deranged.

And though Raba knows there are no North Koreans in Gaza, he hopes they will come someday, perhaps after joining other foreign aid workers.
It is understandable that we would take Chief Executive Chui Sai Ons early December visit to Beijing to be nothing more than routine, although highly formal, utterly political, and not only because the highlight is an audience with President Xi Jinping. The CEs political agenda is year after year more or less the same. Besides the audience with the President, Chui Sai On is supposed to make a presentation of the 2017 work report, as well as present the MSAR guidelines for 2018, followed by a certain number of meetings with Central Government departments.

Also understandable, is the fact that the public information coming from the audience and the meetings with the PRC government agencies or departments is formal and scant, this way putting down or delaying any guessing games back in Macau at the SAR level. In the coming 2018 year we will be able to have a much more educated guess as to what names the local lingo puts to the north winds blowing over the tiny MSAR. There may be conflicting signs causing concern about the particular special substance that creates the fabric of the special administrative region that brings a sense of being in control.

Macau seems to be played by two opposing forces: inside, there is a trend to deconstruct pieces of legislation, by erasing old stuff or by adding new stuff; at the extreme, regulatory micromanagement will challenge the whole of the system, creating a Swiss cheese; externally, there is a comprehensive option to join bigger realities, bigger projects, larger horizons that one way or another dwarfs MSAR: Hengqin first, today the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area, tomorrow  if Macau is to find a role  the Belt and Road initiative.

Under the China National Tourism Administration, Macau takes part in a new organization, a federation, indeed, of nine cities in the Guangdong Province  Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiamen, Zhaoqin  and the two SARs. The federation is to promote joint branding and market sharing, among other elements, to forge a world-class travel destination. CNTA Li Yaying believes that tourism is changing and that a new era of holistic tourism development has arrived!

There is nothing wrong in looking for opportunities out of the Macau box; no problem to abide by the mantra of diversification; or jump onto the wagon of integration.

What seems, if not wrong, plainly regrettable is the weakening of the rule law, in a general sense, of which lawmaker Sulu Sous suspension is an example of a wrong move, soon to be proven to be a little too problematic to be just the cost of red tape in the development of the Macau Special Administrative Region. What seems odd, if not threatening, is the decision to freeze Ng Kuok Cheongs tabling of a discussion to replace the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (thus fulfilling the Basic Law) on grounds that allegedly NPC Zhang Rongshan had already advised that the proposal without elections followed the Basic Law. Take this as a precedent, and fear.

January, 2018 will begin with the case of Legislator Sulu Sou together with former president of the New Macau Association Scott Chiang scheduled to start on the ninth at the Court of First Instance. They answer to aggravated disobedience to police agents  more or less for having walked in the middle of the road instead of the boardwalk! Sulu Sou, who managed to attain lyrical brilliance with his innocuous paper plane-throwing antics, seems to be in dire straits to find a lawyer.
AUSTRALIA-N. KOREA A South Korean-born Sydney man was charged yesterday with acting as an economic agent for North Korea in Australia by allegedly attempting to broker sales for Pyongyang that included components used in ballistic missiles.

US-MYANMAR Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. plans to impose sanctions on at least one person responsible for the crackdown on Myanmars Rohingya Muslims.

INDONESIA Muslim clerics called for a boycott of American products yesterday in Indonesias largest protest against President Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

AFGHANISTAN Taliban insurgents attacked checkpoints in the southern Helmand province yesterday, killing 11 police, an official said.

SYRIA Government forces have entered small parts of the northwestern rebel-held province of Idlib in one of their deepest incursions into the area where President Bashar Assads government has almost no presence.

PALESTINE Hamas marked the 30th anniversary of its founding with a mass rally of many thousands of supporters, staging a show of strength at a low point in the Islamic militant groups history.

GABON A man stabbed two Danish journalists in Gabons capital, declaring it was in retaliation for U.S. attacks against Muslims, Gabons defense minister said.

SOUTH AFRICA The fight to replace South Africas scandal-prone President Jacob Zuma began Saturday as thousands of delegates of the ruling African National Congress gathered to elect a new leader.

AUSTRIA The new Austrian government led by a conservative and a nationalist party is pledging to tighten the countrys asylum and immigration regulations while maintaining a firm commitment to the European Union.

CHILE Voters are deciding whether to swing the worlds top copper-producing country to the right or maintain its center-left path in a fiercely contested presidential runoff election.

PERU Lawmakers in Peru have launched proceedings to oust President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who refuses to resign after being accused of failing to disclose decade-old payments from a Brazilian company embroiled in Latin Americas biggest corruption scandal.
Major food delivery apps UberEATS, OrderIn, and Mr D Food are fighting fiercely for their share of the South African market.

Speaking to the City Press, OrderIn CEO Dinesh Patel said the apps were currently engaged in a pricing battle.

Right now, we are in a massive pricing war to win customers. We have seen this play out all over the world, said Patel.

He said nobody in the food delivery market was currently profitable, due to the pricing battle.

Mr D Food said it and UberEATS were by far the largest delivery apps in South Africa and had the biggest influence on pricing.

While we are not profitable at the moment, we believe that the necessary scale can be attained in South Africa, said Mr D Food.

David versus Goliath

Uber denied there was a pricing war taking place between food delivery apps in South Africa, and said the competition it has introduced encouraged innovation among competitors.

This came after Patel accused Uber of undercutting independent players in order to push them out of the market.

We are in a David versus Goliath battle, said Patel.

The giants  the Ubers and the big technology companies  go into markets, they undercut everybody to squeeze out the independent players like ourselves and put people out of business, he said.

Patel also stated that UberEATS attempted to poach OrderIn staff when it launched in South Africa, and accused the company of scraping the OrderIn website for restaurant data.

Uber denied Patels allegations, stating they were untrue.

The news comes after UberEATS has continued to expand its operations in South Africa, recently opening its services in Durban.
Prime Minister of Finland: Europe is now too reliant on Chinese technology

Turkey to require insurance from oil tankers when passing through its waters

EU to provide Ukraine with generators and kits to repair power grids

Turkey sentences sect founder to 8,658 years in prison

Xi Jinping urges world to abandon any Cold War mentality

Aliyev rules out talks with Artsakh State Minister

FP: Ukraine's appetite for weapons depletes Western stocks

Putin and Aliyev discuss energy cooperation

Armenian financial technologies to enter international market: VISA and Idram sign memorandum in Yerevan

Incident in Poland causes disagreement between Kyiv and West

Mark Milley urges Kyiv and Moscow to find political solution: Chances of military victory are unlikely

New NATO Secretary General to be announced at Vilnius summit in 2023

Finnish Defense Ministry announces largest batch of military aid to Ukraine

Pashinyan receives Ukrainian businessmen of Armenian origin

Armenian soldier wounded in Azerbaijani shooting

Erdogan: Turkey-Israel relations entered a new phase of development

Mishustin: Cooperation between Moscow and Baku has become truly strategic and allied

Igor Khovaev to visit Baku

Mishustin arrives in Baku

Russian Foreign Ministry: South Caucasus is a strategic transport hub for Eurasia

U.S. general lays flowers at eternal flame at Armenian Genocide memorial

Republicans stand for same-sex marriage rights

Pallone says US State Department should not hesitate to speak about Azerbaijani aggression

Aliyev refuses to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh and threatens Armenia with new aggression

Greek minister doesn't get off plane to meet head of Libya's presidential council

Sergey Lavrov to visit Yerevan

Lebanese parliament fails to elect president of country

Kremlin on Zelenskyy's proposal to hold 'public' talks

National Assembly Speaker: Armenia is extremely interested in establishing strategic relations with Georgia

Canada provides additional military aid to Ukraine

Representatives of defense agencies of CSTO countries discuss crisis response issues

Armenian Defense Minister and American General discuss defense cooperation

Tehran accuses Israel and West of trying to organize civil war in Iran

Oppositionist: No guarantees that war with Azerbaijan can be avoided

Issue of biometric passports to Armenian citizens is temporarily suspended

Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement to be signed till end of year? Pashinyan's associate voices conditions

Erdogan says Russia and US agreed to refrain from using nuclear weapons

Azerbaijani oppositionist complains of torture by police

Kyaram Sloyan and Andranik Zohrabyan posthumously bestowed 'Hero of Artsakh' title

UN Secretary General Guterres welcomes parties' agreement on renewal of food deal

Eurasian Development Bank: Armenia is the leader among EEU countries in terms of economic growth

Greece promises to continue military support to Ukraine

Number of appeals from Azerbaijan to ECHR is growing

Pashinyan: The wheel of processes related to confiscation of illegal property is spinning

Fire hits Baghdad airport

North Korea fires ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan

Istanbul agrees to extend 'grain initiative' for another 120 days

'Hayastan' Fund to build 6 residential houses in Nerkin Khndzoresk village

Vocal as Russophobic propaganda: Azerbaijani singer sings about 'disgusting peacekeepers'

Biden congratulates Republicans on winning majority in House of Representatives

14 freight cars derailed in Kazakhstan, train traffic suspended

Newspaper: Ruben Vardanyan does not hurry to make changes in composition of Karabakh government

Russia attacks Ukraine with missiles in morning: Explosions heard in Dnieper, air defense works in Kyiv region

U.S. National Security Council: It is clear that the party ultimately responsible for this tragic incident is Russia

Gold prices decline

Russian Trade Representative to Armenia: Situation at Upper Lars checkpoint is not related to geopolitical issues

Trade Representative of Russia: Trade turnover with Armenia sets new record

Copper falls in price

Gas explodes in Fatih district of Istanbul, 10 people injured

Oil prices go down

Meteorite that fell in Britain contains key information about how oceans and life formed on Earth

Gamer drinks 12 energy drinks in ten minutes and ends up in hospital

Chinese customs officers accidentally find cockroach unknown to science

Man removes cobra's teeth with manicure pliers and gets arrested

Sweden to provide Ukraine with new military aid worth $287 million

Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania meet conditions for joining Schengen zone

Oil prices may reach $120 a barrel and stay at this level for 2 years

Zelenskyy receives 'signals' that Putin wants direct talks

Security Service of Ukraine puts Ramzan Kadyrov on wanted list

Unidentified men open fire at market in Izeh city in southwestern Iran

Karen Donfried tries to explain State Department's decision to exempt Azerbaijan from 907th Amendment

Philip Reeker says U.S. administration representatives have no access to Nagorno-Karabakh

Rimac Nevera sets speed record for production electric cars

Reeker: Pace and depth of current talks between Yerevan and Baku demonstrate potential to resolve conflict

FBI director considers TikTok threat to US National Security

Bob Menendez says Ukraine supplies Azerbaijan with phosphorus bombs it used in Karabakh

Delegation headed by Speaker of Armenian Parliament is in Tbilisi

Austin: U.S. intends to continue supplying weapons and aid to Ukraine during winter

Armenian politician charged with abuse of office, money laundering

Donfried says Armenia and Azerbaijan have historic opportunity to establish lasting peace
YEREVAN.  In the first eleven months of the current year, a total of 321 Armenian citizens, who cannot travel to Russia due to the law on entry ban to the country, applied to the Armenian State Migration Agency (SMA), with a request that the latter petition to the Russian side to lift this ban on these Armenian citizens; but solely 39 of these petitions were approved.

The number of such applications to the SMA has reduced on a yearly basis.

Over the past three years, a total of 13,249 Armenian citizens applied to the SMA to petition to Russia so that it lift this ban on them, but the Russian side approved only 5,142 of these petitions.

According to Russian sources, about 50 to 60 thousand Armenian citizens cannot return to Russia due to the aforesaid law.

And consistent with March 2016 data, a total of 30 thousand Armenian citizens are banned from entering Russia.
ANTELIAS.  Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church Catholicosate of the Great House of Ciliciain Antelias, Lebanonof the Armenian Apostolic Church participated in the Christian and Muslim religious leaders congress in Lebanon.

The objective of this event was to clarify the collective posture on Jerusalem, the Catholicosate informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The spiritual leaders expressed their positions on this matter and, subsequently, adopted a joint statement disapproving US President Donald Trumps decision to he recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

Also, they called for condemning the US Presidents position, considered Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state, and stressed the importance of defending the sanctuaries of the three religions of monotheism.

On December 6, US President Donald Trump stated that he recognizes Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, and said the US Department of State has been ordered to start transferring the US embassy in Israel, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

But this decision has brought about worldwide reaction.
The Impeachment March by Movement of New Forces party leaderGeorgias former President and former Governor of Odessa Oblast (province) of UkraineMikheil Saakashvili was held Sunday in downtown Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, reported 112 Ukraine TV.

The participants in this march demanded the impeachment of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, an end to political persecutions, and putting pressure on the anticorruption agencies of the country.

Subsequently, the impeachment rally began, during which Saakashvili and several Ukrainian MPs delivered remarks.
In response to Washingtons decision to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday stated about the plan to open a Turkish embassy in East Jerusalem.

We already have announced about recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital city of the Palestinian state; but we didnt have the chance open our embassy [there], since Jerusalem is under occupation, now, Erdogan said. At present, our country is represented in Palestine at the level of a consulate, which is led by the ambassador. In fact, we have already cried out that task; we will open our embassy in the coming days.

On December 6, US President Donald Trump stated that he recognizes Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, and said the US Department of State has been ordered to start transferring the US embassy in Israel, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

But this decision has brought about worldwide reaction.
During a press conference discussing new Justice Department opioid initiatives (noted here), Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to federal marijuana laws and policies in a manner that suggests a change may be afoot. This US News and World Report piece, headlined "Sessions Hints at Shift in Federal Marijuana Enforcement," reports on these details:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday gave his strongest signal yet that the Justice Department's more hands-off approach to marijuana enforcement may soon be changing. Sessions said that the department is looking "very hard right now" at a directive carried over from the Obama administration that effectively encourages federal prosecutors to generally defer to state laws that legalize marijuana use.

"We had meetings yesterday and talked about it at some length," the attorney general said, speaking at a press conference on new measures to combat opioid abuse. "It's my view that the use of marijuana is detrimental, and we should not give encouragement in any way to it, and it represents a federal violation, which is in the law and it's subject to being enforced, and our priorities will have to be focused on all the things and challenges we face."

He added: "We'll be working our way through to a rational policy. But I don't want to suggest in any way that this department believes that marijuana is harmless and people should not avoid it."...

He has been critical of the so-called "Cole memo" from 2013, authored by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, which told Justice Department attorneys that marijuana use in "jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing marijuana in some form  is less likely to threaten federal priorities." As attorney general, he has roundly dismissed research that has linked the use of medical marijuana to reductions in opioid-related deaths. In May, he explicitly asked Congress in a letter to undo a 2014 amendment that has protected medical marijuana providers. "I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana  so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that's only slightly less awful," Sessions said in March during a speech in Richmond, Virginia.

Since April, a task force at the Justice Department has been reviewing the Cole memo and the department's approach to marijuana enforcement. Documents obtained by the Associated Press this summer indicated that the task force recommended largely keeping the Cole memo in place. Nevertheless, Sessions' remarks on Wednesday  reinforced by his continued opposition to a more lenient approach to marijuana enforcement since becoming attorney general, even as the task force was providing him periodic updates on its findings  suggest he may take a different approach.
ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- The Democrat who heads the party's senatorial campaign committee said Republicans need to end what he called a concerted effort to undermine the credibility of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.



I think Republicans should end their concerted effort to undermine the credibility of the Mueller investigation, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview on This Week Sunday.



The Maryland senator also questioned why the White House is concerned about Muellers probe.



The question is, 'What are they afraid of? What is the White House afraid of?' he said.



Mueller has so far charged four people, including Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.



When President Trump was asked Friday whether he would consider pardoning Flynn, he said, "I don't want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet.



After Trumps comment, White House lawyer Ty Cobb said, "There is no consideration at the White House of any pardon for Michael Flynn."



Similarly, Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, in August told USA Today that firing Mueller has "never been on the table."



Van Hollen on Sunday told Stephanopoulos that he takes the president's team at its word that firing Mueller is not under consideration.



I certainly hope that is the case, Van Hollen said.



He also discussed the GOP tax plan, which Congress is expected to vote on early this week. He slammed the 1,000-page bill as huge giveaway to big corporations.



This is a total betrayal of President Trump's economic populist message on the campaign trail, Van Hollen said. Millions of middle-class taxpayers will see their taxes go up, even though Republicans promised that would not happen.

Stephanopoulos also asked Cornyn why a provision was added to the bill at the last minute that could give a tax break to people who earn income from real estate through limited liability corporations, or LLCs, and which could potentially benefit the president and other Republican elected officials who invest in real estate.



"We were working very hard. It was a very intense process," Cornyn said. "What we tried to do was cobble together the votes we needed to get this bill passed, at the same time maintaining the largest tax cuts were going to be seeing since 1986."



Stephanopoulos asked if this is how they got Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., to support the bill. Corker had voted against the Senate version of the tax bill, but said this week that he'll support the final bill.



"Well, the particular provision you're talking about, honestly, is just one piece of a 1,000-page bill which is going to grow the American economy," the Texas senator responded.



Cornyn also discussed Republican Roy Moore's loss in the Alabama Senate race last week.



Stephanopoulos noted that Cornyn was "not a fan of Roy Moore" in the election. "Do you think the GOP dodged a bullet with that loss?" he asked.



"Well, I think the explanation for Alabama was we had a flawed candidate who won the Republican primary and who couldn't win the general election. That's really not a new lesson. That's an old lesson remembered or demonstrated once again," Cornyn said, adding that what his party needs to do is "make sure we nominate electable candidates, good candidates who can win general elections."



Asked about former White House senior adviser Steve Bannon, who backed Moore in Alabama, and his role in 2018, Cornyn responded, Mr. Bannon can do whatever he sees fit. It's a free country.



But I don't think his track record -- particularly now in losing Alabama, one of the reddest states in the country -- particularly commends him for his expertise, Cornyn added.





Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
In 'Matters for Judgement' Kerr writes:

In the end, [James] McCauley led a revolt six weeks or so after Conlon took over. The Registrar rang me in my chambers, said there was a grave crisis at the School, and asked me to go over. And he meant a crisis, there and then.

Alf Conlon was a strategic genius but a reclusive and alienating principal of ASOPA

The staff had had a meeting and had decided that unless Conlon left the School that day they would take some action - I do not think it was actually expressed in the language of a strike; but in reality there was a real risk of teaching ceasing.

McCauley had delivered Conlon an ultimatum, and the Registrar said Conlon had locked himself in his room and was in a state of profound depression. That day at the School he let me in to see him and I said, What's it all about, Alf?

Oh, he said, they just ... dont want me.

And I said, You really shouldn't be here, Alf. I think you should go back and finish your medicine.

He said, I don't want to be thrown out, and I think they mean it. They just won't teach tomorrow. He suggested he be given six weeks to find a means of rationalising why he was going.

The tension among the staff was so great it was doubtful whether they would agree to six weeks. I went out to the others and held some negotiations with McCauley.

As I remember it, McCauley said, Well John, he's got to go, physically, now. As far as we're concerned it can appear publicly for six weeks that hes still Principal but he must not come into the place - he must stay away. So something along these lines was worked out and Conlon accepted it.
As regular readers know, my status as both a lawyer and as a law professor training lawyer, I am always distinctly interesting in stories about the intersection of marijuana reforms and the legal profession. Thus, unsurprisingly, I was intrigued this morning by this lengthy new AP article with the headline that serves as the title of this post. Here are snippets:

Lawyers specializing in the business see themselves at the frontier. That leaves a fascinating opportunity to shape laws and regulations and the daunting prospect of the unknown. Lawyers like things to be settled, Davis said. Its hard to get a lawyer to give you a yes or no answer. In the cannabis industry, there really is no yes or no answer.

Just as entrepreneurs getting into the retail pot industry need a good lawyer, some of those lawyers might be wise to consult an attorney of their own. Lawyers in the burgeoning business are entering a legal gray zone where the drug is permitted for some purpose in most states but illegal under federal law  in the same controlled substances category as heroin. Missteps could lead to prosecution for conspiracy, money laundering or aiding and abetting drug dealers.

Any lawyer that goes into this should be aware that a literal reading of federal law permits such a prosecution, said Sam Kamin, a University of Denver marijuana policy law professor, whose research five years ago found lawyers more susceptible to being disbarred than criminally charged for cannabis-related work. It probably makes sense for a lawyer to at least talk to a legal ethicist or get an opinion from a legal ethicist....

Despite a few instances of lawyers being prosecuted in federal and state court  including a pending San Diego County case  more attorneys are jumping into cannabis law. Legal needs range from financing to permits, real estate, water law, intellectual property, contracts and banking....

There has been a tipping point for many lawyers setting up boutique pot law firms and jumping from old-school law firms as demand for their services trumps fear of legal repercussions and the stoner stigma fades as more states legalize marijuana use. Attorney Chris Davis, who grew up in Berkeley around friends and family who use the drug, found people operating in the shadows who wanted to go legit when he returned to California from New York two years ago. So many people were asking how to go legal and how to worry less, said Davis, executive director of the National Cannabis Bar Association, which has about 300 members in the U.S. and Canada and is growing rapidly. It became impossible to turn people away.
The title of this post is the headline of this new Rolling Stone article. Here are excerpts (with some links from the original preserved):

The pain-relieving properties of cannabis are no longer hypothetical or anecdotal. At the beginning of the year, the National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering released a landmark report determining that there is conclusive evidence that cannabis is effective in treating chronic pain. What's even more promising is that early research indicates that the plant not only could play a role in treating pain, but additionally could be effective in treating addiction itself  meaning marijuana could actually be used as a so-called "exit drug" to help wean people off of pills or heroin.

"We're not just saying opioids make you feel good and so does cannabis, and now you're addicted to cannabis. There are direct reasons why this could actually help people get off of opioids," says Jeff Chen, director of UCLA's new Cannabis Research Initiative. "If there is a chronic pain component, the cannabis can address the chronic pain component. We also find opioid addicts have a lot of neurological inflammation, which we believe is driving the addictive cycle. We see in preliminary studies that cannabinoids can reduce neurological inflammation, so cannabis could be directly addressing the inflammation in the brain that's leading to opioid dependency."

The theory that cannabinoids could decrease cravings for opioids is further supported by a small 2015 study published in the journal Neurotherapeutics, which found that the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD was effective in reducing the desire for heroin among addicts, and remained effective for an entire week after being administered. Similar effects have long been observed in animal studies.

Cannabis, in fact, may be exactly the kind of opioid replacement that politicians and pharmaceutical executives claim to be searching for. "I will be pushing the concept of non-addictive painkillers very, very hard," President Trump said in October, when declaring opioid abuse a national public health emergency. The CEO of Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, recently referred to the possibility of a drug that helps with pain but isn't physically addictive as the "Holy Grail."...

But already, many Americans seem to be replacing their pills with pot. A survey of pain patients in Michigan, published in 2016 in the journal of the American Pain Society, found medical cannabis use was associated with a 64 percent decrease in opioid use. A 2016 study published in the health policy journal Health Affairs found that states with medical marijuana saw a drop in Medicare prescriptions and spending for conditions that are commonly treated with cannabis, including chronic pain, glaucoma, seizures and sleep disorders. And a 21-month study of 66 chronic pain patients using prescription opioids in New Mexico found that those enrolled in the state's medical cannabis program were 17 times more likely to quit opioids than those who were not.

At the same time, opioid-related deaths and overdose treatment admissions appear to be declining by nearly 25 percent in states where patients have access to legal marijuana. That number comes primarily from a 2014 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and has been supported by additional data from the American Journal of Public Health, the American Academy of Nursing, and the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

However, more research is sorely needed. Stanford professor and drug policy expert Keith Humphreys described the studies concerning cannabis legalization and the decrease in opioid-related deaths and hospital admissions as falling victim to a form of logical error known as ecological fallacy. "It's correlation, not causation," he told me, because you cannot use statistical information about entire populations to understand individual behavior.

And researchers are eager for more solid evidence. The Cannabis Research Initiative at UCLA is working on establishing one of the first studies that will directly administer cannabis to patients addicted to opioids, potentially providing a much more comprehensive understanding of how this all works. Chen, the initiative director, says he has scientists, clinics and a study design all lined up, but funding has been a struggle. "You're forced to go an extra ten miles with zero gas in the tank when it comes to cannabis research," he says. Between the lack of support from the federal government and pharmaceutical companies, Chen says he is "pretty much dependent on philanthropy."
I explained in this post last week, "Could Vermont legalize marijuana by traditional legislation in just a matter of weeks?," how notable and valuable it could be, for policy-makers, citizens and researchers, to have a state embrace a distinctive approach to marijuana legalization through the traditional legislative law-making process. As noted in posts link below, Vermont got very close but then failed to be a first in this arena back in May, and thus I am not taking for granted that the state will make marijuana reform history in early January. But this recent Forbes piece by Tom Angell continues to highlight why the Green Mountain State could kick of 2018 with a marijuana reform bang. The piece is headlined "Vermont Will Legalize Marijuana Within Weeks, Officials Indicate," and here are excerpts:

Vermont appears poised to become the next state to legalize marijuana. And, according to top elected officials, it is likely to do so within a matter of weeks.

Last week, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, a Democrat, said she expects "it likely will pass in early January. Days earlier, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, said he is "comfortable" signing a cannabis legalization bill into law in early 2018.

And on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe, a member of the Progressive Party, said he and his colleagues "look forward to working with the governor to make sure that that bill gets to the finish line."

If the tripartisan group of officials follows through and enacts legalization in early 2018, it would make Vermont the first state to end cannabis prohibition by an act of lawmakers. All eight states that have legalized marijuana so far have done so via ballot measures approved by voters....

In Vermont, which operates on a legislative biennium, the Senate has already passed the legalization bill. All that is required to get it to Scott's desk for signing into law is one more House floor vote, and that could happen any day after the legislature reconvenes on January 3.

In 2017, the state fell just short of ending marijuana prohibition. Both legislative chambers approved a legalization proposal, but Scott vetoed it. However, the governor then laid out a few small revisions he wanted legislators to make in order to garner his signature. The Senate quickly acted to make the requested changes, but the House wasn't able to overcome procedural hurdles to pass the revised bill in time during a short special session over the summer. The legislation remains on the House calendar, and can be approved with a simple majority under regular order next month.

Under the bill, Vermonts approach to legalization would differ from the regulatory systems that exist in the other eight legalization states. That's because instead of allowing licensed stores where consumers could purchase marijuana, it would simply enact a noncommercial form of legalization where possessing small amounts of cannabis and growing a few plants at home would be legal. However, the Senate-approved legislation would create a commission to study possible future commercialization.

During the legislative recess, Scott used an executive order to proactively create a marijuana legalization study commission on his own, so there is a chance that the pending bill will be amended to remove its commission provisions before lawmakers vote on final passage. And that could potentially mean that it will take slightly more time than just one additional House floor vote. Part of that bill is no longer needed, Scott said this month, referring to the commission piece.

While saying that he has not yet spoken to legislative leaders about the language, he suggested lawmakers might want to make some changes on the floor, send it back to committee, make some alterations and then well see what they either add or delete and then well see if its the same as what I committed to pushing forward with. But accomplishing those changes likely would not take very long, advocates say, given the consensus between legislative leaders and Scott on getting legalization enacted that seemed to crystalize during the 2017 session....

Matt Simon, the New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, agreed, adding that success in Vermont will likely signal the start of a wave of legislative action on cannabis in other states. "Vermont now finds itself on the cusp of becoming the first state to legalize marijuana through its legislature," he said in an email. "The legislative process is slower than the [ballot] initiative process by its very nature, but this exciting development should bring hope to the millions of reform supporters who live in states that don't allow initiatives. I'm confident that other state legislatures will soon follow their lead."
Saturday, December 16, 2017

Politico magazine has this lengthy (but somewhat superficial) article on the current state of federal marijuana debate and discourse under this full headline: "Jeff Sessions Isnt Giving up on Weed. Hes Doubling Down. Congressional dysfunction may do what the pot-hating attorney general hasnt managed to do all year: Remove protections for the booming legal weed industry." The article is worth reading in full, and here are excerpts from the start of the article that in part explain my "superficial" adjective:

I wont commit to never enforcing federal law, Senator Leahy, Sessions replied [to a question at his confirmation hearing], suppressing a slight smirk. That double negative tightened the knot in every drug policy reformers gut. Exactly how vulnerable were the nascent marijuana industries in the 29 states where it was now legal? Would Sessions, who rarely misses an opportunity to bemoan the scourge of marijuana, sweep aside the paper-thin order imposed by the Obama administration that had stayed the enforcement hand of the Department of Justice? Would SWAT teams arrest wheelchair-bound medical marijuana patients, raid marijuana dispensaries and shut down the high-tech growhouses that supplied them? The dreaded crackdown never materialized. Sessions, perhaps preoccupied with other priorities like keeping his volatile boss from firing him, remained largely inactive on the subject. Meanwhile, a series of incremental advancements on the pro-marijuana front helped to further enmesh the $9.7 billion industry into the commercial fabric of the nation, 60 percent of whose residents support some form of legal pot. California opened the doors to recreational marijuana and issued regulations for outdoor marijuana festivals; Florida began its implementation of a medical marijuana program; and Denver and Las Vegas are vying to become the first city in America to legalize marijuana consumption lounges (think high-end bars with expensive weed choices instead of booze). Sessions, for his part, has spent his time in testy exchanges with DOJ interns and convening meetings with small groups of like-minded anti-pot activists determined to roll back state-level momentum. I do believe  that the public is not properly educated on some of the issues related to marijuana, he told one such group on Friday. But things are suddenly looking rosier for Sessions. Thanks to Congress fumbling over the spending bill, the AGs yearning to battle legal marijuana may get a major boost without him having to lift a finger. Thats because Rohrabacher-Farr, a little-known and even less discussed amendment that protects state-legal medical marijuana programs from federal interference, is close to expiring. If the government shuts down at the expiration of the current continuous resolution on December 22, or if negotiations in an upcoming appropriations conference committee fail to insert it in the final draft of the spending bill  entirely possible given House Republicans hostility to marijuana  Sessions would be free to unleash federal drug agents on a drug, which according to federal drug law, is considered the equal of heroin and LSD. The politics on this issue has shifted so dramatically that reform advocates, instead of quaking in their boots at Sessions saber rattling, are actually itching for the fight. Part of me just thinks: Let em try. There will such a ferocious backlash, Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Portland, Oregon, told POLITICO Magazine in response to a question about a potential Sessions-led crackdown. (Blumenauer replaced Sam Farr as the amendments Democratic co-sponsor after Farrs retirement, so in a turn that does not help its branding efforts, Rohrabacher-Farr is now called Rohrabacher-Blumenauer.) Morgan Fox, communications manager of the Marijuana Policy Project, agreed with Blumenauer: Theres no way that Sessions can start rolling back medical marijuana policies or attacking patients and providers without looking like the bad guy. Still, with the legislative barrier gone, there would be plenty of ways for Sessions to make life difficult for marijuana businesses without creating dramatic footage for the nightly news. Fox worries less about SWAT team raids than the possibility the Department of Justice would quietly send letters to landlords who rented to legal marijuana businesses to threaten them with asset forfeiture. People would be forgiven for thinking that state-legal medical marijuana was a settled issue, but in fact it is hanging by a thread, and Congress is poised to hand Jeff Sessions the scissors.

The rest of this article usefully reviews critical statements by AG Sessions about legalized marijuana, and also discusses the current state and politics surrounding the Cole Memo and the (soon to expire) congressional limit on DOJ spending to prosecute medical marijuana businesses. But I call this article "superficial" because it does not discuss in any detail just whether and how AG Sessions would be able to effectively "unleash federal drug agents," particularly as to players in the medical marijuana arena.

As this excerpt usefully highlights, there are "plenty of ways for Sessions to make life difficult for marijuana businesses without creating dramatic footage for the nightly news," but none of those ways have been used at all by the Sessions-led Justice Department for now 11 months in power. And during those 11 months, Nevada (and soon California) has joined a handful of other active western recreational marijuana states, and swing states like Florida and Ohio and Pennsylvania have seen medical marijuana regulations emerge and an industry start to develop. Especially as an ever-growing number of red states are embracing significant medical marijuana programs (e.g., Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia), it seems there are an ever-growing number of GOP politicians who would be very troubled if AG Sessions started a very serious crack-down on the state-legal medical marijuana industry.

For reasons I somewhat explained/predicted in this post last year, I think AG Sessions' political instincts have led him to (rightly) believe it would not be a good use of his (or the President's) political capital to take on state marijuana reforms aggressively. And, especially with the seemingly anti-Trump outcomes in recent elections in Alabama, New Jersey and Virginia, I do not think the politics are really any easier now. I do think that opponents of marijuana reform are coming to believe and fear that, without an enforcement push by AG Sessions very soon, additional state-level reforms in 2018 and beyond will make curtailing the industry even that much harder in the future. And so I am sure prohibitionists are pushing hard for AG Sessions to do something, anything, to slow the tides of marijuana reforms. So maybe prosecution/forfeiture letters are being written as I type this. Stay tuned.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2017/12/taking-a-lengthy-look-at-the-ever-uncertain-state-of-federal-marijuana-policies-and-practices.html
Which line of longitude passes through the most countries?

The first part of the question is, which line of longitude, a straight line from North Pole to South Pole, passes through the most countries?



Well, my answer last week was wrong. In fact there is quite a wide band, between the westernmost point of Bulgaria at 2221'36.2"E, and the easternmost point of Slovakia at 2233'32.1", which passes through no less than 26 countries. This is 22 km wide at the equator, but obviously narrows as you get closer to the poles. It intersects:



1) Norway

2) Finland

3) Sweden



(Baltic Sea)



4) Estonia (the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa)

5) Latvia

6) Lithuania

7) Russia (the Kaliningrad exclave)

8) Poland

9) Slovakia (the easternmost edge)

10) Ukraine (just)

11) Hungary (just)

12) Romania

13) Serbia (just)

14) Bulgaria (the westernmost edge)

15) Macedonia (just)

16) Greece



(Mediterranean Sea)



17) Libya

18) Chad

19) Sudan (just)

20) Central African Republic

21) Democratic Republic of Congo

22) Angola

23) Zambia (just)

24) Namibia (the Caprivi Strip)

25) Botswana

26) South Africa



(The line is drawn wider than it really is on the map to the left.)

Which line of latitude passes through the most countries?

This is an update from last week's post , where I considered a slightly different version of the first part of this question. I have illustrated this with some nice maps, all taken from Google, but with the latitude and longitude grid developed by Bill Chadwick of the Bracknell District Caving Club (a really neat idea which nobody else seems to have implemented).The biggest settlement this passes through is Lublin, in Poland, whose population is 350,000; I'd say from a glace at the map that between a half and a third of them live on the line. Here it is passing through Europe (Norway and Sweden cut off at the top) - drawn to scale on this map:Three of the westernmost spurs of Bulgaria are south of thirteen countries and also north of thirteen countries, Serbia counting both times.Here's the line passing through central Africa, to scale again, showing how it intersects both Sudan and Zambia. A corner of Libya is visible at the northern edge. The two countries on the southern edge are Namibia and Botswana, with South Africa off the map.This is a lucky confluence of frontiers at different latitudes. To the east, within less than half a degree you lose Slovakia, Serbia, Russia/Kaliningrad, Hungary and Macedonia before you gain Belarus and South Sudan, and then you lose Poland, Chad, Angola and Sweden. To the west, you lose Bulgaria, Ukraine, Zambia and Sudan before you gain Kosovo, and then you lose Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Macedonia.I can't imagine that any meridian that does not pass through Europa and Africa can come close to this total. In the Americas, Asia and Oceania, the countries tend to sprawl east-west as much as north-south, and they are generally bigger anyway.So, that's longitude sorted. What about latitude?I found this much more tricky, but I believe I have identified two parallels of longitude which arguably pass through 27 countries. (Arguably, because one of them passes through what could be considered a 28th country, and the other passes through two territories which belong to different constituent parts of the same kingdom, so possibly should be counted together rather than separately). As far as I can tell, these are the band between 1108'02.4"N and 1108'25.8"N, defined by the northern frontier of Togo and the southern shore of Tobago (so I will call it the Togo-Tobago line); and the slightly wider northern band between 1211'03.7"N and 1211'34.4"N defined by the shores of Bikar Island in the Pacific Ocean (so I will call it the Bikar line).As I list them below, I put the ordering of each country in the form (a/b) where it's the a'th country on the Togo-Tobago line and the b'th country on the Bikar line. If it's a country on one line but not the other, I put an asterisk for the line it isn't on.These are actually really tight strips of the earth's surface. I reckon the Togo-Tobago line is about 700 metres from north to south, and the Bikar line just under a kilometre. Going east from the Atlantic, they hit the African coast at Guinea-Bissau (1/1) (the Bikar line just misses Senegal) and then head inland to Guinea (2/2), Mali (3/3) and Burkina Faso (4/4). The Togo/Tobago line passes through the southern suburbs of Burkina Faso's second city, Bobo-Dioulasso, but misses Cote d'Ivoire.Now we get to a weird bit of colonial map-making. The border between Ghana and Burkina Faso plays hide and seek with the 11th parallel before Ghana (5/*) lurches north in the region of Kulungugu. The border of neighbouring Togo (6/*) also has a peculiar northern kink, just enough to define the northern edge of the Togo-Tobago line. The two lines are shown to scale below.Farther north, the Bikar line hits Niger (*/5) before both lines pass into Benin (7/6), Nigeria (8/7), the northern spike of Cameroon (9/8), and Chad (10/9). The Togo-Tobago line just misses the Central African Republic, and both lines then pass through Sudan (11/10), South Sudan (12/11, a close shave for the Bikar line), Ethiopia (13/12) and Djibouti (14/13, a close shave for the Togo-Tobago line).The Togo-Tobago line passes from Djibouti into the northern part of Somalia (15/*), hitting both Somaliland and Puntland (we'll get back to that later). The Bikar line just misses Eritrea to the north and Somalia to the south, but does intersect the island of Abd al Kuri and its main settlement Kilmia, part of the Socotra archipelago which belongs to Yemen (*/14). The lines on the map here are to scale.Both lines now cross the Indian Ocean, intersecting India (16/15), Myanmar/Burma (17/16), Thailand (18/17), Cambodia (19/18), Vietnam (20/19) and the Philippines (21/20). I have not investigated the various claims on the Spratly Islands, because as far as I can tell none of them is intersected by either line. The Bikar line passes over (or at least very near) the holy hill of Arunachala in Tamil Nadu.That takes us to the Pacific Ocean, where I have gone over the geography of the Marshall Islands (22/21) in some detail. This next map, uniquely, is not from Google but from Wikipedia, showing the various Marshallese atolls and archipelagoes. The lines are not to scale - the distances here are pretty huge.As far as I can tell, the Togo-Tobago line just scrapes part of Ailiningae Atoll - it grazes the southern edge of Sifo Island, completely covers Manchinikon Island, and passes through the middle of Charaien Island. It also grazes Taka Atoll, but passes between the islands of Waatwerik and Lojrong without making landfall. I'm posting the satellite view of Ailiningae Atoll as well as the map view below; doesn't it look beautiful?The tiny island of Charaien, at the eastern end of the atoll, is less than a kilometre from north to south.A little further north and east, the Bikar line is defined by the island of Bikar, part of the much smaller Bikar Atoll, very little of which is above water level.After a long landless passage, over 11,000 km, across the Pacific, we reach the Americas. Both lines make landfall in southern Nicaragua (23/22), and the Togo-Tobago line then dips in and out of Costa Rica (24/*). The lines cross the southern Caribbean to Colombia (25/23) and Venezuela (26/24).The Bikar line finishes its run of countries by passing through Curacao (*/25), Bonaire (*/26) and Grenada (*/27). The two lines are shown to scale in all three maps below.The Togo-Tobago line, true to its name, just scrapes the southern edge of Tobago, the northern and smaller island of Trinidad and Tobago (27/*).I think it's this map, rather than the Togo or Pacific island maps, that brings home just how narrow the Togo-Tobago line is. You can almost see the trucks parked in the plantations.Now for the caveats. First, I don't think it's clear that you can count Curacao and Bonaire separately - while Curacao is a separate constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , and Bonaire is a Dutch municipality, Curacao notably does not have foreign policy or defence powers separate from the Netherlands (and therefore Bonaire); these are surely important attributes if we are distinguishing between states. So the Bikar line ends up with a fairly impressive 26 countries for sure, the 27th being a matter for experts on Dutch constitutional law.Second, my personal view is that Somaliland should be counted separately from the rest of Somalia. Empirically, Somaliland behaves more like and is treated more like a state than is Curacao, so if we count the latter we should count the former as well. It may not have been formally recognised as an independent state by any other country (neither of course has Curacao), but it does have foreign policy and defence capabilities; I have myself attended meetings of Somaliland's diplomatic representatives and ministers with European officials, and am proud to say that I had a small hand in negotiating the 2013 Special Arrangement for Somaliland , so it is clearly engaged in foreign relations; and the co-operation of Somaliland's defence forces with international anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden is not much discussed but quietly recognised by the international community. Given that the Togo-Tobago line passes through both Somaliland, at its frontier with Djibouti, and Somalia/Puntland, just south of Cape Guardafui, which are undisputedly part of Somalia (Puntland is not seeking independence), I personally will count it as the winner with 28 countries.(Incidentally, I hadn't realised that the Doumeira Islands , off the coast of Djibouti and Eritrea, are among the rare parts of the world without any formally recognised sovereignty, though in fact Djibouti is in administrative control. They aretoo far north to make a difference to my count, however.)A final thought - its interesting to compare this with the Datagraver map of world population by latitude and longitude . Their biggest population spike by longitude is a little to the east of mine, around 31 East (Cairo, Kiev, St Petersburg). Their biggest population spike by latitude is around 21 North, which looks like several Mexican cities, plus Nagpur and Hanoi.Trivia question to finish with: how many countries lie entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn?
Time magazine has this notable new article authored by Emily Dufton about an underappreciated bit of marijuana history. The piece is headlined "U.S. States Tried Decriminalizing Pot Before. Here's Why It Didn't Work," and here are excerpts:

Between 1973 and 1978, a dozen states decriminalized the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Pro-pot activists, many of them young veterans of the anti-war and civil-rights movements, argued that marijuana wasnt as harmful as the government said it was, and that laws against it were unjust. In the era of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers, they built on Americas growing distrust of the government to pass less restrictive marijuana laws at the state level. It worked: by 1978, a third of the country lived in states where marijuana possession warranted little more than a fine.

But a multi-million dollar paraphernalia industry followed in decriminalizations wake. By 1977, sales of pipes, bongs, rolling papers and drug-oriented magazines and toys were generating $250 million a year (equivalent to $1 billion today). There was little to no regulation or oversight on this booming new industry, however. Products that seemed directly targeted to kids  including Frisbees with pipes on them and bongs shaped like spaceships  were sold openly, often in corner shops and music stores.

Before long, a counterrevolution unfolded, as an army of concerned parents tied paraphernalias availability to rising rates of adolescent marijuana use. By 1978, nine percent of high school seniors reported smoking pot every day, and children as young as 13 reported that the drug was easy to get. The parent movement sought to close head shops and rescind decriminalization laws, while organizing local groups to prevent adolescent drug use in their communities.

By 1981, the parent movement had effectively overturned many state decriminalization laws, and soon it was guiding the new First Lady in her battle against pot. Unpopular when her husband first took office, Nancy Reagan was encouraged by parent activists to adopt adolescent drug-abuse prevention as her platform, and her approval ratings skyrocketed in response. Despite decreasing rates of adolescent use, Reagan and parent activists continued to declare that adolescent marijuana use was nothing less than a national emergency. This emphasis on the danger of adolescent drug use helped fuel the administrations punitive drug war, especially when new laws were passed in the wake of the crack cocaine epidemic in 1986.

With the White House behind them, it took less than a decade for parent activists to demonize marijuana nationwide. These activists were powerful because of how effectively they shifted the debate. Whereas pro-marijuana advocates supported decriminalization on the basis of an adults right to privacy and freedom, parent activists said that children had a more important right to grow up drug-free. And though many Americans supported decriminalization in the 1970s, once rates of adolescent use started to rise, and when paraphernalia manufacturers sold items to kids, the countrys attitude toward marijuana experienced a swift reversal.
lmao DEAD @ the look of disgust on jessica's face

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All of them, really LOL

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Her face is my permanent look nowadays

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saoirse's face in the 2nd one is my fave

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It gives me life.

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same lol

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THE best RAFAELITE/or/RENAISSANCE/or/IMPRESSIONIS M JUDGEY-NOPE-BITCH FACE

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same

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and yet she said nothing so meh

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this wasn't the impression any of them were giving off in the interview

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Chasdain.  dhal krogo (@VileCinephile) December 17, 2017





:3 I liked the part of the thread where someone pointed out that look of disgust and someone else responded with::3

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Kate, you just, you just gotta stop.



Read the room.



Also, your movie looks like shit.

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damn she kept talking and talking i forgot the original question she was asked and had to rewind LMAO

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she really can't read a room huh



the room got so quiet lmaooo no wonder she kept going and going



Edited at 2017-12-17 05:16 pm (UTC)

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she probably think she has judi dench status or something and they all were dying to hear what she had to say, kept it going and going lol

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i see it more as her getting more and more nervous @ the lack of reaction and just not being able to shut up to overcompensate

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I watched an interview where she talked about how she translated for the director of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." I own the special edition two-set DVD but I mainly watch the movie one. I recently sat down to watch the special DVD and holy shit, homegirl was terrible. On the second disc, she and Jim Carey were interviewed along with the director separately. What pisses me off is that the interview, she continued to repeat what the director said and you could tell he was getting irritated. His French accent that she made it seem like he couldn't speak English and people couldn't understand him, lies. It's all lies.

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big fucking mood (she deadass kept her eyes closed for like 3 secs) pic.twitter.com/wFgXbqAxqf  gabi (@harleivy) December 17, 2017 SCREAMING

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LOVE IT

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I need someone to make me an icon of her disgust

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lmaooo

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then she kept blinking at the fuckery



i love ha

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I feel like she was trying to control herself from going awf lol

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LMAO

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Lmao shady queen, I love it

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I love her

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Lol, I loved her constant blinking in her desperate attempt to keep a neutral face 

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lmao yes Margot!

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Watching the clip she was smiling on most of it?

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lol margot is all of us

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she's so fucking tone-deaf. people who are this heartless and are raising children make me worried for what future attitudes towards sexual violence will be like.

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This fucking disappointment!



Also, I nearly choked looking at Jessicas face. LMAO.

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the way she is doubling down ont this is crazy, the movie is dead. stop digging that hole ffs



Edited at 2017-12-17 05:15 pm (UTC)

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Because she knows she's wrong and just can't admit it for some reason so she feels guilty. It's kinda sad.

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I don't think she feels guilty. she either really doesn't believe Dylan and wants to rub it in after being namechecked or she just really doesn't care that the guy is a pedo because ART

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Had me dying. They didnt really show Annette and Dianes reactions.

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except that they weren't. in the video they were all smiling and nodding and laughing at her stories so those stills are completely taken out of context.

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mte lol

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mte

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This fucking moron lmao Margot's side eye is cracking me up

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I love the look on all of their faces. Margot and Jessica look so pissed.

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Margot ready to cut a bitch

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She's played Harley Quinn and Tonya Harding. I was afraid she was gonna imitate art, ngl.

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they just look like they are listening . Only Jessica looks like she is nhf it , but that might be just her face.

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Mte

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Margot is the one that definitely wasn't here for it - she looked straight pissed to me.

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Yeah ia, I dont see the faces of disgust everyone else is talking about

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Jessica has specifically said she'd never work with Allen, so I believe she really is disapproving.

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They didn't show Jessica's face when Kate is talking about Woody, though. The Woody Allen part is like :30-1:10 and Jessica's face wasn't even shown until 3:00-3:04ish, when Kate mentions working with Sorkin and that Jessica had worked with Sorkin as well. So that really had nothing to do with it.

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ok but there's still nothing in the video above that indicates that. also margot has definitely turned down a role in a woody movie fwiw

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i'm disappointed (but not surprised) that she kept silent tho. but everyone wants to be fucking nice during these gd boring ass roundtables.

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same. They even laughed

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Yeah. I actually watched the whole video (on fast forward because it felt like it was 6 minutes long). I agree that Kate just keeps talking, but the Woody Allen part is like :30-1:10 and Jessica's face wasn't even shown until 3:00-3:04ish, when Kate mentions working with Sorkin and that Jessica had worked with Sorkin as well. So that really had nothing to do with it.



I don't see any particular disgust either, though.



Huge reach for all this, tbh.

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ia

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Jessica Chastain is NOT having any of it. She didn't even crack a courtesy smirk that is done when someone is going on and on about something and you've zoned out.

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She defends Matt Damon though, doesn't she?

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Christmas gifts for skateboarders  Santa Cruz hat

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Whilst dwelling on the seemingly omnipresent threat of global nuclear war is hardly festive  this Santa Cruz Atomic Peace cap could still be a winner as far as a stocking filler goes. I mean, if were all going to die soon, the least you can do is attempt to come through with a nice hat for the apocalypse, right?

The hat youre looking at here is part of an alternatively-themed offering for the Holiday season, whereby Santa Cruz have just released a new limited edition clothing capsule featuring a homage to Jim Phillips original graphic for OG Santa Cruz Skateboards pro Jeff Kendall. Originally inspired by the omnipresent threat of all-out global nuclear conflict that hung like a cloud over 80s America, Phillips original artwork references an 80s interpretation of Atomic Apocalypse with Tron-inspired colours and a partly demolished White House, complete with an ironic peace sign.

Basically, if your gift recipient either skated in the 80s, or is one of those people who for some unknown reason wants to relieve the 1980s (usually a sure sign that you didnt live through that period) then youre onto a winner here.

Might as well check out this Jeff Kendall part too whilst youre at it  just for the sake of chronological clarity of course.




2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #50

Posted on 17 December 2017 by John Hartz

Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... Graphic of the Week... Photo of the Week... SkS Spotlights... Reports of Note... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... 97 Hours of Consensus...

Story of the Week...

Heres whats at stake for the 21 kids suing the Trump administration over climate change

Arguments before the Ninth Circuit will decide whether the case goes to trial.

(Credit: Our Cchildren's Trust)

On Monday (Dec 11), a group of 21 youth plaintiffs currently suing the federal government over climate change will go before a federal court to argue that their case  which legal experts have classified as a groundbreaking piece of climate litigation  should be allowed to proceed to trial.

On the other side of the court will be lawyers for the Trump administration, who will argue that the mere process of preparing for trial  sifting through decades of government documents and communication with fossil fuel companies, among other things  would constitute an overwhelming burden.

Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether the case can move forward to trial  a decision that could shape the future of climate litigation for years to come.

Heres whats at stake for the 21 kids suing the Trump administration over climate change by Natasha Geiling, Think Progress, Dec 11, 2017

Also see:

In Kids Climate Lawsuit, Judges Question Government Effort to Get Case Dismissed by Nicholas Kusnetz, InsideClimate News, Dec 11, 2017

Editorial of the Week...

Photo: Christophe Morin, Bloomberg

Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark's prime minister, left, and Jerry Brown, governor of California, arrive at the One Planet Summit in Paris, France, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron hosts at least four world leaders, three mayors and the governor of California at an event in Paris on Tuesday aimed at breathing life into the global fight against climate change.

Though the Trump White House ignores climate change, the rest of the world isnt neglecting the doomsday issue. A top-level gathering of global leaders in Paris is pushing ahead with plans to cool temperatures and shift economies at a hurry-up pace.

The meeting amounted to a two-fold jab at the White House. Everyone else is on board with an ambitious bid to cut weather-disrupting temperatures and switching to clean fuels. And, by the way, Trump is standing far outside the global mainstream on a turning point issue. To rub it in, Frances president and host adopted a not-so-subtle slogan: Make Our Planet Great Again.

For the record, the White House wasnt invited. That rebuke was earned by the presidents decision to drop out of an international agreement reached in Paris two years ago to set goals and find the money to reduce the undeniable harm of rising atmospheric temperatures.

A global push on climate change thrives without Trump, Editorial Board Opinion, San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 15, 2017

Toon of the Week...

Graphic of the Week...

As the world warms, the overall area of North America covered by snow is decreasing. One reason is because an increasing percentage of winter precipitation is falling as rain instead of snow in many locations. A Climate Central report found that between sea level and 5,000 feet in elevation across the Western U.S., a smaller percentage of winter precipitation is falling as snow.

However, the relationship is more complex at each local level. Rising temperatures can cause some individual storms to produce more snow, where temperatures are still well enough below freezing. Thats because for every 1F rise in temperature, the atmosphere can hold 4 percent more water vapor. In turn, more water is available to fall as snow or rain.

North American Snow Cover on the Decline, Climate Central, Dec 13, 2017

Photo of the Week...

Emmanuel Macron attends the Tech for Planet event in Paris, France Monday. Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

Macron awards US scientists grants to move to France in defiance of Trump, AP/Guardian, Dec 11, 2017

SkS Spotlights...

InterAcadamy Council

In May 2000 all of the world's science academies created the IAC to mobilize the best scientists and engineers worldwide to provide high quality advice to international bodies - such as the United Nations and the World Bank - as well as to other institutions.

In a world where science and technology are fundamental to many critical issues - ranging from climate change and genetically modified organisms to the crucial challenge of achieving sustainability - making wise policy decisions has become increasingly dependent on good scientific advice.

The IAC is client-driven and works on a project-by-project basis. It has developed mechanisms and procedures to guarantee the scientific quality of its reports, the policy-relevance of its recommendations and the absence of regional or national bias. The IAC collaborates closely with the IAP - the global network of science academies, the InterAcademy Medical Panel, the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, and the International Council for Science. The IAC Secretariat is hosted by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Reports of Note...

Arctic Report Card: Lowest Sea Ice on Record, 2nd Warmest Year

Climate scientists say the magnitude and rate of sea ice loss this century is unprecedented in 1,500 years and issue a warning on the impacts of a changing climate.

Older Arctic sea ice is being replaced by thinner, younger ice. NOAA reports that multiyear ice accounts for just 21 percent of the ice cover in 2017. Credit: Thomas Newman/CICS-MD/NOAA

The Arctic experienced its second-warmest year on record in 2017, behind only 2016, and not even a cooler summer and fall could help the sea ice rebound, according to the latest Arctic Report Card.

"This year's observations confirm that the Arctic shows no signs of returning to the reliably frozen state that it was in just a decade ago," said Jeremy Mathis, director of the Arctic program at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which publishes the annual scientific assessment.

"These changes will impact all of our lives," Mathis said. "They will mean living with more extreme weather events, paying higher food prices and dealing with the impacts of climate refugees.

Arctic Report Card: Lowest Sea Ice on Record, 2nd Warmest Year by Sabrina Shankman, InsideClimate News, Dec 12, 2017

Coming Soon on SkS...

One Planet Summit: Finance Commitments Fire-Up Higher Momentum for Paris Climate Change Agreement (UN Climate Change News)

(UN Climate Change News) Climate research has beaten down the best climate denial argument (Dana)

(Dana) From the eMail Bag: Carbon Isotopes - Part 1 - The Basics (David Kirtley)

(David Kirtley) Guest Post (John Abraham)

(John Abraham) New research this week (Ari)

(Ari) 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51 (John Hartz)

(John Hartz) 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Waming Digest (John Hartz)

Poster of the Week...

SkS Week in Review...

97 Hours of Consensus...

Josh Willis' bio page

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Pope Francis has also a painted wooden cross.

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Not long ago, old side-road crosses and wooden painted tomb crosses typical for Detva were enlisted in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Woodcarver Milan Malcek has brought this symbol of the Podpoliansky region in a miniature version into homes for 15 years now.

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Malcek started to carve wooden crosses when he was about 50 years old. Some of them are only a few centimetres, some measure about one metre.

Malcek used to work as an artist for the marketing department of Podpolianske strojarne in Detva.

I got the impulse to create miniatures from the owner of a local folk-art shop when she gave me a small wooden cross and asked me to decorate it, Malcek explained for the TASR newswire. He added that he immediately thought about Detva road-side cross motifs.

I painted some of them and gave them back to her shop. They were sold within a few days, he said for TASR. Then I thought, I can create more, he added.

Miniature crosses are made from linden tree wood and painted with acrylic paint. Currently, Malcek creates one of the most wanted souvenirs from the Podpoliansky region in the kitchen of his small flat in Detva. He is mostly busy before Christmas, when Christmas markets are open all over Slovakia.

His crosses decorate not only Slovak houses but also houses of compatriots in Europe and even further abroad.

Pope Francis has one of them, he got it during an audience, Malcek commented for TASR.
Rent seeking behavior and a code of loyalty are not the ways to operate a successful democratic political party.

In Slovakia, loyalty means that Robert Kalinak must remain interior minister despite years of scandal. (Source: Sme)

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It sure feels like politicians are more cowardly  and tribal  than ever. In many different places, internal party loyalty looks to have surpassed other virtues, like brand, competence and even electoral success. This trend is not only bad for the people these elected officials represent, but the long term health of the very parties they seek to protect.

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In Slovakia, loyalty means that Robert Kalinak must remain interior minister despite years of scandal even as he drags the Smer party down with him. In the United States, the Republican party supported an alleged child molester running for office in Alabama in hopes of maintaining their quantitative advantage in Senate. He lost this week and the party continues to lose reasonable center-right supporters. In the Czech Republic, the Social Democrats (CSSD) may yet support Andrej Babiss government just because they fear risking early elections where they would fare badly. This guarantees they will do horribly whenever the next election is held.
The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Petersburg Products International" LLC, "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, 1837 LLC, Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., Agile Pursuits Inc., Ambi Pur, Arbora & Ausonia, Arbora & Ausonia S.L.U., Avon - Giorgio Beverly Hills, Billie, Braun GmbH, Braun Shanghai Co. Ltd., Celtic Insurance Company Inc., Charlie Banana USA LLC, Corporativo Procter & Gamble S. de R.L. de C.V., DDFSkincare, Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery Shanghai Co. Ltd., Fameccanica North America Inc., Farmacy Beauty, Fater Central Europe SRL, Fater Eastern Europe LLC, Fater Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Fater S.p.A., Fater Temizlik Urunleri Ltd STI, First Aid Beauty, First Aid Beauty Limited, Folgers Coffee, Fountain Square Music Publishing Co. Inc., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette China Limited, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Shanghai Ltd., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay S.A., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, Inversiones Plaza LLC, LLC "Procter & Gamble - Novomoskovsk", LLC "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", LLC Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, Laboratoire Mediflor S.A.S., Laboratorios Vicks S.L.U., Lamberts Healthcare Ltd., Liberty Street Music Publishing Company Inc., Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones C.A., Merck Consumer Healthcare, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, Native, Nature's Best Health Products Ltd., New Chapter Canada Inc., New Chapter Inc., Nioxin Research Laboratories, Noxell Corporation, OUAI, Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Consumer Health Germany GmbH, P&G Distribution East Africa Limited, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding Inc., P&G Health Austria GmbH & Co. OG, P&G Health France S.A.S., P&G Health Germany GmbH, P&G Healthcare Zhejiang Limited, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Investment Management Ltd., P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G Japan G.K., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G South African Trading Pty. Ltd., P&G-Clairol, PG13 Launchpad Alpha Inc., PG13 Launchpad Beta Inc., PG13 Launchpad Gamma Inc., PGT Healthcare LLP, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Pressbox, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chengdu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble China Ltd., Procter & Gamble China Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent Beijing Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deutschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distributing Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Distribution Company Europe BV, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe LLC, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana S.A.U., Procter & Gamble Far East Inc., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finance U.K. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble Ghana Trading Limited, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Technology Innovation Co. LTD., Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care LLC, Procter & Gamble Health & Beauty Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Belgium BV, Procter & Gamble Health Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Ltd., Procter & Gamble Health Poland Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Hellas Single Member Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holding Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Holdings UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Honduras S de RL, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership KKT, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings Inc., Procter & Gamble Indochina Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama S. de R.L., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International Sarl, Procter & Gamble Investment Company UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Italia S.p.A., Procter & Gamble Jiangsu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea Inc., Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble L&CP Limited, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA Pty Ltd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Tianjin Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Mataro S.L.U., Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Philippines Business Services Inc., Procter & Gamble Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo Higiene e Saude S.A., Procter & Gamble Product Supply U.K. Limited, Procter & Gamble Productions Inc., Procter & Gamble RHD Inc., Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services Sarl, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Switzerland SA, Procter & Gamble Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology Beijing Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Trading Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Vietnam Company Limited, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil Ltda., Procter & Gamble do Brazil LLC, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble doo Beograd, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Procter and Gamble Lanka Private Limited, Procter and Gamble SA Pty Ltd., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Recovery Engineering, Redmond Products Inc., Richardson-Vicks, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Riverfront Music Publishing Co. Inc., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Series Acquisition B.V., Seven Seas Limited, Shulton Inc., Snowberry, Snowberry New Zealand Limited, Sunflower Distributing LLC, TAOS - FL LLC, TAOS Retail LLC, THIS IS L, TULA, Tambrands, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving, The Art of Shaving - FL LLC, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Iams Company Inc., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company LLC, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., This is L. Inc., Thomas Hedley Co, US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon Shanghai Academy, VitaminHaus Pty Ltd, Walker & Co. Brands Inc., Walker & Company Brands, Wella AG, Zenlen Inc., Zirh, and iMFLUX Inc..

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This is a current list of the top 250 companies by market capitalization on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Learn more .

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is one of the largest, and most recognizable, stock exchanges in the world. The NYSE is in New York City, New York at 11 Wall Street. The NYSE has been in existence since the earliest days of the United States becoming a nation, in 1792 and is primarily made up of blue-chip companies with large market capitalizations. In fact, many of the stocks that make up the Dow Jones Composite Index (i.e. The Dow) are listed on the NYSE.

This article gives a brief history of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, it covers topics such as what kind of stocks trade on the exchange, what are the listing requirements, how trading is performed, and what the daily price movement of the NYSE tells investors about investor sentiment.

What Were the Origins of the NYSE?

Today, the New York Stock Exchange is known as the center of the financial universe. However, the exchanges origin is far more humble. On May 17, 1792, 24 stockbrokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement creating a centralized exchange to help provide order to the securities market in what was still a young nation. The "Buttonwood Agreement comes from the tree of the same name under which the founders signed the agreement.

An initial benefit of the exchange was how it removed the need for auctioneers when trading commodities like wheat and tobacco and to set a commission rate. The exchange initially focused on government bonds.

However, the exchange had no formal home. Business was usually conducted informally in the local coffeehouses. In 1817, the exchange changed its name to the New York Stock & Exchange Board which later became the New York Stock Exchange. At this time, the exchange adopted a constitution that set the rules for trading. A group of stockbrokers met twice a day at 40 Wall Street to trade 30 stocks and bonds.

Over time, the exchange moved became the financial hub of the country and moved to its current location in 1865.

What Kind of Stocks Trade on the NYSE?

As of June 2022, the NYSE includes approximately 2,400 companies with a market capitalization of over $28.2 trillion. Although the NYSE trades stocks of all market capitalizations, its best known for trading the stocks of large cap companies. These have the benefit of being mature companies in mature industries. And many of these companies reward shareholders with dividends.

However, that also means that many of these companies are better suited for value investors as opposed to growth investors. In bear markets this stability can be a benefit for investors as these stocks tend to perform less bad than more volatile stocks. But in a bull market, these stocks are not likely to provide investors with the growth that they look for.

An interesting fact about how the NYSE and NASDAQ operate is that the companies with the five largest market caps on the NYSE are also listed on the NASDAQ exchange.

What Are the Listing Requirements For the NYSE?

The NYSE has strict guidelines that govern the types of companies that can list on the exchange. Here are the major requirements that all companies must meet:

The company must have at least 2,200 shareholders

The company must trade over 100,000 shares per month

The company must have a market valuation of over $100 million

The company must generate more than $75 million in annual revenue

However, there is at least one advantage of having such stringent requirements. That is the companies that meet the requirements generally find it easier to get more investors funds when they hold their initial public offering (IPO).

Once a company begins trading on the NYSE, it must continue to meet these requirements. If it doesnt it can be delisted. In addition to these requirements, the stock must continue to trade above $1. If the price of a stock drops below $1 for more than 29 consecutive trading days, the stock receives an Initial Price Violation Notice.

At that point, the company has 10 days to provide the exchange with a plan for bringing their shares above $1.

How are Trades Executed on the NYSE?

For over a century, the floor of the NYSE was the place for investors to be. This meant trades were conducted by traders who ran buy and sell orders across the trading floor looking to broker a deal for their clients. But with the birth of the NASDAQ exchange in 1971, the New York Stock Exchange began conducting electronic trading.

However, the NYSE continues to conduct trades in an auction style. Brokers purchase stocks on behalf of their clients or firms. Every order features a broker who will enter the order electronically and a specialist who serves as the market maker for that stock. The specialist posts bid and ask prices and manages the actual execution of the trades. And there are still a handful of stockbrokers who still traffic buy and sell orders physically on the floor of the exchange.

How Does the NYSE Signal Investor Sentiment?

Like its counterpart, the NASDAQ, the NYSE measures the risk appetite of investors. When the NYSE is moving higher over a length of time, it signals that a risk on environment. Conversely when the NYSE moves lower over a significant period, it signals that investors are moving to a risk off position.

Some Final Thoughts on the NYSE

Financial news networks plan their programming schedule around the opening and closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Its still considered a distinguished honor when individuals or groups are invited to ring the opening bell. In fact, Warren Buffett is attributed with saying that in the short term, the stock market acts like a voting machine. A fact that many U.S. presidents will attest to.

The NYSE is the oldest and most recognizable of all the stock exchanges. It also has the most stringent requirements for inclusion. And those requirements must be maintained even after a stock begins publicly trading on the exchange.

Although the NYSE still has a small in-person Trading Floor, much of the trading is done electronically to provide traders with the speed to execute trades.
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.
The following companies are subsidiares of NRG Energy: 3279405 Nova Scotia Company, 3283764 Nova Scotia Company, 7549709 Canada Inc., 7644868 Canada Inc., 7711565 Canada Inc., AC Solar Holdings LLC, Ace Energy Inc., Agua Caliente Borrower 1 LLC, Agua Caliente Solar Holdings LLC, Agua Caliente Solar LLC, Allied Home Warranty GP LLC, Allied Warranty LLC, Arthur Kill Gas Turbines LLC, Arthur Kill Power LLC, Astoria Gas Turbine Power LLC, Bayou Cove Peaking Power LLC, Beheer-en Beleggingsmaatschappij Plogema B.V., Berrians I Gas Turbine Power LLC, BidURenergy Inc., Big Cajun I Peaking Power LLC, Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC, Bluewater Wind Maryland LLC, Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC, Boquillas Wind LLC, Cabrillo Power I LLC, Cabrillo Power II LLC, Camino Energy LLC, Carbon Management Solutions LLC, Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, Chester Energy LLC, Chickahominy River Energy Corp., Cirro Energy Services Inc., Cirro Group Inc., Citizens Power Holdings One LLC, Commonwealth Atlantic Power LLC, Connecticut Jet Power LLC, Cottonwood Development LLC, Cottonwood Energy Company LP, Cottonwood Generating Partners I LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners II LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners III LLC, Cottonwood Technology Partners LP, Delaware Power Development LLC, Devon Power LLC, Doga Enerji Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isi Satis Hizmetleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isletme ve Bakim Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Dunkirk Gas Corporation, Dunkirk Power LLC, EHI Development Fund LLC, EME Eastern Holdings LLC, EVgo Services LLC, Eastern Sierra Energy Company LLC, Ecokap Power LLC, El Segundo Energy Center II LLC, El Segundo Power II LLC, El Segundo Power LLC, Elkhorn Ridge Wind II LLC, Energy Alternatives Wholesale LLC, Energy Choice Solutions LLC, Energy Curtailment Specialists, Energy Plus Holdings LLC, Energy Plus Natural Gas LLC, Energy Protection Insurance Company, Everything Energy LLC, Forward Home Security LLC, GCP Funding Company LLC, GenOn Energy, Geostellar Inc., Gladstone Power Station Joint Venture, Goal Zero, Goal Zero Europe GmbH, Goal Zero LLC, Granite II Holding LLC, Granite Power Partners II L.P., Green Mountain Energy, Green Mountain Energy Company, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, Gregory Partners LLC, Gregory Power Partners LLC, Hanover Energy Company, Huntley IGCC LLC, Huntley Power LLC, Independence Energy Alliance LLC, Independence Energy Group LLC, Independence Energy Natural Gas LLC, Indian River Operations Inc., Indian River Power LLC, Intellastar LLC, Ivanpah Master Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project I Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project II Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project III Holdings LLC, James River Power LLC, Kaufman Cogen LP, LSP-Nelson Energy LLC, Long Beach Generation LLC, Long Beach Peakers LLC, Long Beach Power LLC, Louisiana Generating LLC, MEC Esenyurt B.V., MEC San Pascual B.V., Maplekey UK Finance Limited, Maplekey UK Limited, Meriden Gas Turbines LLC, Middletown Power LLC, Midway-Sunset Cogeneration Company, Midwest Finance Company LLC, Midwest Generation EME LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings I LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings II LLC, Midwest Generation LLC, Midwest Generation Procurement Services LLC, Midwest Peaker Holdings LLC, Mission Bingham Lake Wind LLC, Mission Del Cielo LLC, Mission Energy Construction Services LLC, Mission Energy Holdings International LLC, Mission Energy Wales LLC, Mission Funding Zeta LLC, Mission Midway-Sunset Holdings LLC, Mission Midwest Coal LLC, Mission Minnesota Wind LLC, Mission Watson Holdings LLC, Mission Wind Boquillas LLC, Mission Wind New Mexico II LLC, Mission Wind Owaissa LLC, Mission Wind Pinnacle LLC, Mission del Sol LLC, Montville IGCC LLC, Montville Power LLC, NEO Chester-Gen LLC, NEO Corporation, NRG Acquisition Holdings Inc., NRG Advisory Services LLC, NRG Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Alexandria LLC, NRG Arroyo Nogales LLC, NRG Arthur Kill Operations Inc., NRG Asia-Pacific Ltd., NRG Astoria Gas Turbine Operations Inc., NRG Astoria Power LLC, NRG Audrain Generating LLC, NRG Audrain Holding LLC, NRG Bayou Cove LLC, NRG Berrians East Development LLC, NRG Bluewater Holdings LLC, NRG Bluewater Wind Massachusetts LLC, NRG Bourbonnais Equipment LLC, NRG Bourbonnais LLC, NRG Brazoria Energy LLC, NRG Business Services LLC, NRG CTA Holdings LLC, NRG Cabrillo Power Operations Inc., NRG Cadillac Inc., NRG Cadillac Operations Inc., NRG California Peaker Operations LLC, NRG Capital II LLC, NRG Carbon 360 LLC, NRG Cedar Bayou Development Company LLC, NRG Chalk Point CT LLC, NRG CleanTech Investments LLC, NRG Coal Development Company LLC, NRG ComLease LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance I LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance II LLC, NRG Connected Home LLC, NRG Connecticut Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Construction LLC, NRG Cottonwood Tenant LLC, NRG Curtailment Solutions Canada Inc., NRG Curtailment Solutions Inc., NRG DG Development LLC, NRG Development Company Inc., NRG Devon Operations Inc., NRG Dispatch Services LLC, NRG Distributed Energy Resources Holdings LLC, NRG Distributed Generation PR LLC, NRG Dunkirk Operations Inc., NRG ECOKAP Holdings LLC, NRG ESA Joint Development LLC, NRG El Segundo Operations Inc., NRG Energy Center Eagles LLC, NRG Energy Center Oxnard LLC, NRG Energy Fuel LLC, NRG Energy Fuel Services LLC, NRG Energy Gas & Wind Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Holdings II Inc., NRG Energy Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Inc., NRG Energy Labor Services LLC, NRG Energy Petroleum LLC, NRG Energy Services Group LLC, NRG Energy Services International Inc., NRG Energy Services LLC, NRG Equipment Company LLC, NRG Fuel Cell CA1 LLC, NRG Fuel Resources LLC, NRG Fuel Transportation LLC, NRG GTL Holdings LLC, NRG Gas Development Company LLC, NRG Generation Holdings Inc., NRG Gladstone Operating Services Pty Ltd, NRG Granite Acquisition LLC, NRG Greenco LLC, NRG HQ DG LLC, NRG Holding Leasing Vehicle 7 LLC, NRG Home & Business Solutions LLC, NRG Home Services LLC, NRG Home Solutions LLC, NRG Home Solutions Product LLC, NRG Homer City Services LLC, NRG Huntley Operations Inc., NRG Identity Protect LLC, NRG Ilion LP LLC, NRG Ilion Limited Partnership, NRG Independence Solar LLC, NRG International LLC, NRG Kaufman LLC, NRG Latin America Inc., NRG Lease Co LLC, NRG Lease Development LLC, NRG Limestone 3 LLC, NRG Maintenance Services LLC, NRG Mesquite LLC, NRG Mextrans Inc., NRG MidAtlantic Affiliate Services Inc., NRG MidCon Development LLC, NRG Middletown Operations Inc., NRG Middletown Repowering LLC, NRG Midwest Holdings LLC, NRG Midwest II LLC, NRG Montville Operations Inc., NRG NE Development LLC, NRG Nelson Turbines LLC, NRG New Roads Holdings LLC, NRG NewGen LLC, NRG North Central Operations Inc., NRG Northeast Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Norwalk Harbor Operations Inc., NRG Ohio Pipeline Company LLC, NRG Operating Services Inc., NRG Oswego Harbor Power Operations Inc., NRG Oxbow Holdings LLC, NRG PacGen Inc., NRG Peaker Finance Company LLC, NRG Portable Power LLC, NRG Potrero Development LLC, NRG Power Marketing LLC, NRG Procurement Company LLC, NRG Project Company LLC, NRG Reliability Solutions LLC, NRG Renter's Protection LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions Leasing II LLC, NRG Retail LLC, NRG Retail Northeast LLC, NRG Rockford Acquisition LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment II LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment LLC, NRG Saguaro Operations Inc., NRG Security LLC, NRG Services Corporation, NRG Sherbino LLC, NRG SimplySmart Solutions LLC, NRG Solar Arrowhead LLC, NRG Solar CVSR Holdings 2 LLC, NRG Solar Dandan LLC, NRG Solar Guam LLC, NRG Solar Ivanpah LLC, NRG Solar Ring LLC, NRG Solar SC Stadium LLC, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG South Central Affiliate Services Inc., NRG South Central Generating LLC, NRG South Central Operations Inc., NRG South Texas LP, NRG Sterlington Power LLC, NRG Storage Fabrication & Delivery LLC, NRG Storage on Demand NY LLC, NRG SunCap Leasing I LLC, NRG Telogia Power LLC, NRG Texas C&I Supply LLC, NRG Texas Gregory LLC, NRG Texas Holding Inc., NRG Texas LLC, NRG Texas Power LLC, NRG Texas Retail LLC, NRG Trading Advisors LLC, NRG Transmission Holdings LLC, NRG ULC Parent Inc., NRG Victoria I Pty Ltd, NRG Warranty Services LLC, NRG West Coast LLC, NRG Western Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Wind Development Company LLC, NRG Wind Force LLC, NRG Wind LLC, NRG dGen Advisory Services LLC, NRGenerating German Holdings GmbH, NRGenerating International B.V., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a.r.l., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a.r.l., New Genco GP LLC, New Jersey Power Development LLC, Norwalk Power LLC, O'Brien Cogeneration Inc. II, ONSITE Energy Inc., One Block Off The Grid Inc., Oswego Harbor Power LLC, Pacific Generation Company, Petra Nova CCS I LLC, Petra Nova Holdings LLC, Petra Nova LLC, Petra Nova Parish Holdings LLC, Petra Nova Power I LLC, Pure Energies Group, Pure Energies Group ULC, Pure Energies Installation Inc., Pure Energies Solar Services Inc., Pure Group Inc., RDI Consulting LLC, RERH Holdings LLC, Reliant Charitable Foundation, Reliant Energy, Reliant Energy Northeast LLC, Reliant Energy Power Supply LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Holdings LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC, Restoration Design LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar Holdings LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric of NY LLC, Saguaro Power Company a Limited Partnership, Saguaro Power LLC, San Gabriel Energy LLC, San Joaquin Energy LLC, San Juan Energy LLC, San Pascual Cogeneration Company International B.V., Sherbino I Wind Farm LLC, Solar Partners I LLC, Solar Partners II LLC, Solar Partners VIII LLC, Solar Power Partners, Solar Pure Energies ULC, Somerset Operations Inc., Somerset Power LLC, South Texas Wind LLC, Station A LLC, Sunrise Power Company LLC, Sunshine State Power (No. 2) B.V., Sunshine State Power B.V., TCV Pipeline LLC, Tacoma Energy Recovery Company, Taloga Wind II LLC, Texas Coastal Ventures LLC, Texas Genco GP LLC, Texas Genco Holdings, Texas Genco Holdings Inc., Texas Genco LP LLC, Texas Genco Services LP, US Retailers LLC, Valle Del Sol Energy LLC, Vienna Operations Inc., Vienna Power LLC, WCP (Generation) Holdings LLC, Watson Cogeneration Company, West Coast Power LLC, XOOM Alberta Holdings LLC, XOOM British Columbia Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy BC ULC, XOOM Energy California LLC, XOOM Energy Canada ULC, XOOM Energy Connecticut LLC, XOOM Energy Delaware LLC, XOOM Energy Georgia LLC, XOOM Energy Global Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy Illinois LLC, XOOM Energy Indiana LLC, XOOM Energy Kentucky LLC, XOOM Energy LLC, XOOM Energy Maine LLC, XOOM Energy Maryland LLC, XOOM Energy Massachusetts LLC, XOOM Energy Michigan LLC, XOOM Energy New Hampshire LLC, XOOM Energy New Jersey LLC, XOOM Energy New York LLC, XOOM Energy ONT ULC, XOOM Energy Ohio LLC, XOOM Energy Pennsylvania LLC, XOOM Energy Rhode Island LLC, XOOM Energy Texas LLC, XOOM Energy Virginia LLC, XOOM Energy Washington D.C. LLC, XOOM Ontario Holdings LLC, XOOM Solar LLC, and eV2g LLC.

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The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. Insurances Limited, ADIS A/S, AIB Services Limited, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency Inc., AIS Insurance Agency Inc., AMXH LLC, ARM International Corp., ARM International Insurance Agency Corp., ARMRISK CORP., AS Holdings Inc., ASPN Insurance Agency LLC, Access Plans USA Inc., Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Adm Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Administradora Aon C.A., Admiseg SA, Admix, Admix - Administracao Consultoria Participacoes e Corretora de Seguros de Vida Ltda., Aeropeople Limited, Affinity Group Insurance Services Limited, Affinity Insurance Services Inc., Affinity Risk Partners (Brokers) Pty Ltd, Agenion N.V./SA, Agility Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Alexander & Alexander Holding B.V., Alexander Clay, Alexander Insurance Managers (Netherlands Antilles) N.V., Alexander Reinsurance Intermediaries Inc., Allen Insurance Associates Inc., Alliance HealthCard Inc., Alliance HealthCard of Florida Inc., American Insurance Services Corp., American Special Risk Insurance Company, Anviti Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Aon (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon (CR) Insurance Agencies Company Limited, Aon (DIFC) Gulf Limited, Aon (Fiji) Ltd., Aon (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon (Thailand) Limited, Aon 180412 Limited (in liquidation), Aon ANZ Holdings Limited, Aon APAC Holdings B.V., Aon Acore Sarl, Aon Adjudication Services Limited, Aon Affinity Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Aon Affinity Argentina S.A., Aon Affinity Chile Ltda., Aon Affinity Colombia Ltda. Agencia de Seguros, Aon Affinity Mexico Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Aon Affinity do Brasil Servicos e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Aon Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Americas Holdings BV, Aon Angola Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Antillen N.V., Aon Aruba N.V., Aon Assurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Australia Group Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 1 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 2 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 3 Pty Ltd, Aon Austria GmbH, Aon Bahrain W.L.L., Aon Belgium B.V.B.A., Aon Benefit Solutions Inc., Aon Benfield (Chile) Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Argentina S.A., Aon Benfield Australia Limited, Aon Benfield Brasil Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Canada ULC, Aon Benfield China Limited, Aon Benfield Colombia Limitada Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Benfield Fac Inc., Aon Benfield Global Inc., Aon Benfield Group Limited, Aon Benfield Inc., Aon Benfield Israel Limited, Aon Benfield Italia S.p.A., Aon Benfield Japan Ltd, Aon Benfield Latin America SA, Aon Benfield Limited, Aon Benfield Malaysia Limited, Aon Benfield Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro SA de CV, Aon Benfield Middle East Limited, Aon Benfield New Zealand Limited, Aon Benfield Panama S.A., Aon Benfield Peru Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Aon Benfield Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Bermuda Holding Company Limited, Aon Bermuda QI Holdings Ltd., Aon Beteiligungsmanagement Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Aon Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Aon Botswana (Pty) Ltd., Aon Brazil Holdings LLC, Aon Broking Services SA, Aon Broking Technology Limited, Aon CANZ Holdings B.V., Aon CANZ Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, Tyche, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., Welfare S.r.l, West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc..

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A farmer in Vietnam has been going places with his organic farming after ditching a harmful, old model of vegetable cultivation with pesticides.

Meo began growing veggies in 2013 just to earn some extra income, as his main job was previously in the paddy fields.

The farmer originally used pesticides in growing his vegetables. He then regretted letting his wife sell the produce at the market.

We didnt have the courage to eat the veggies that we grew, Meo admitted.

Following an awareness campaign by the local administration, Meo and his wife decided to switch to farming organic vegetables using new methods, although the previous model was truly profitable.

Meo was the citys pioneer in the field, willing to open his wallet on learning new cultivation techniques and reforming his farm.

I stayed committed to growing clean vegetables, hoping that my products would be sold in restaurants and supermarkets, he said.

Edible on site

After a few months, Meos vegetable farm was ready for harvest.

Local residents started to join hands with the farmer, expanding his veggie field to an area of over 6,000 square meters.

The organic farm, named Thanh Dong, began to produce good yields, thanks to the cooperation of local farmers and the assistance of agricultural engineers.

Though the process can be complicated, the produce is guaranteed to be clean and safe.

The soil is tested by competent agencies, fertilizer comes from natural sources, and water for the plants is thoroughly treated.

The entrance of the Thanh Dong Organic Farm. Photo: Tuoi Tre

All little details have to meet the standards to ensure that the vegetables can be eaten right on the farm.

The facility is also open to tourists and students, for a fee, while Meo is in charge of delivering presentations to visitors.

Surrounding the veggie farm are eateries, hotels, and resorts.

I am invited to other provinces to talk about the farming of organic veggies from time to time, Meo stated.

From farm to the world

After four years of operation, the Thanh Dong farm now covers more than 12,000 square meters, producing tens of metric tons of organic vegetables.

The products are now sold to restaurants, hotels, conventions, and are always sold out despite a rather high price.

According to Nguyen The Hung, vice-chairman of the Hoi An Peoples Committee, Meo is a special farmer as he has pioneered in the field of organic farming without any formal training.

In November, Meo was among the three Vietnamese who were invited to India to attend an international conference on organic farming, which was organized by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

Feeling anxious, the man, being the only Vietnamese farmer, still managed to deliver a speech on his journey in organic farming in front of delegates from 50 countries.

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A new World Bank report, jointly launched on Thursday with Vietnams Ministry of Finance, will support the development of a sound financial reporting institutional framework, by improving the understanding of high-quality corporate financial reporting and auditing.

The report, entitled 'Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC): Accounting and Auditing' and part of a global initiative to improve compliance with internationally recognized standards and codes, focuses on accounting and auditing standards and practices for public interest entities, as well as the institutional framework that underpins the corporate financial reporting system.

As part of the World Bank Groups support for Vietnams Vision 2030 on Accounting and Auditing, we hope that this report will contribute to the successful implementation of the countrys long-term strategy for sustainable and inclusive development, Ousmane Dione, World Bank country director for Vietnam, was quoted as saying on the bank's website.

Linked to complementary reforms in the financial sector, the report recommends that Vietnams accounting law and the law on independent auditing could benefit from simplification during the next revision process.

It also advises that Vietnam fully adopt international financial reporting standards and related guidelines from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee for public interest entities.

We echo the reports point of view that the benefits of IFRS adoption is undeniable. Once IFRS is adopted, the quality of corporate financial reporting will improve significantly through enhanced accountability, transparency and comparability, providing users with useful information for management, governance and investment decision-making. In addition, the IFRS adoption also promotes the international recognition of Vietnam as a full market economy, and eventually the FDI flow, Vu Thi Mai, Vice-Minister of Finance, said.

Therefore, the Ministry of Finance is promptly working on the development of a proposal on updating Vietnam's corporate standards for submission to the governments approval for IFRS adoption, he added.

The report recommends specific policy measures relating to statutory frameworks, accounting standards, public oversight and monitoring, accounting education, and public accountancy organizations, in order to promote transparency and investor confidence, mitigate risks stemming from financial volatility, and foster market efficiency as well as private sector-led economic growth.

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Second-generation children of cross-national marriages born and raised in Taiwan now thirst for learning the language of their Vietnamese mothers.

Many Vietnamese language classes in Taiwan are run by mothers who cannot bring themselves to see their children unable to speak their moms' native language.

As Taiwanese businesses look to Vietnam as a promised land for investment, local women look in the opposite direction for a husband and a life which they believe has more opportunities in store.

According to an education official from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City, over 100,000 Vietnamese women are currently married to Taiwanese husbands, giving birth to some 80,000 second-generation children in Taiwan.

There are an increasing number of women from Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, who enter into cross-national marriages with Taiwanese men, the official said.

When children of such marriages are born, the education system must adapt itself to the multicultural and multilingual scene in society.

According to the official, the compilation of an official textbook of Vietnamese has been finished and a team of teachers are being trained to teach the language subject in schools across Taiwan, starting the next academic year.

Tran Thi Hoang Phuong, a professor of Vietnamese at the National Chengchi University in Taiwan, teaches Vietnamese to online learners using the livestream feature on her smartphone. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The ABC

At an elementary school in New Taipei City about 30 minutes away from Taipei, Vietnamese has been taught as an optional second language to students for six years, despite the fact that Taiwan would not officially include the subject in its general education until 2018.

Forty-five of its students were born to Vietnamese mothers, and their background has been warmly embraced by leaders and teachers at the school alike.

On weekends, we would invite Vietnamese parents to dress in their traditional costumes and come to the school to cook Vietnamese food for all students to enjoy and understand more about Vietnamese culture, the schools headmaster said.

In one of the classrooms, a teacher speaking Mandarin could be heard teaching her students to learn the basic vocabulary of Vietnamese such as doctor, friend, and barber.

It was a language class for students with Vietnamese backgrounds, taught by Huynh My Man, a Vietnamese national who had lived in Taiwan for seven years since her marriage.

According to Man, she spends 45 minutes each week coming to teach students at the elementary school to speak Vietnamese at the invitation of the school board.

The most challenging part is that you only have one class a week, so I try to incorporate games into my lessons to help the students memorize the vocabulary better, Man said.

I also try to include Vietnamese fairy tales to familiarize my students with Vietnamese culture.

According to the headmaster, teaching Vietnamese as an optional second language not only helps students with Vietnamese backgrounds understand the language and culture of their home country but also enables Taiwanese students to learn about a new culture.

Nguyen Lien Huong, a professor of Vietnamese at the National Taiwan University, said she had been impressed by how hardworking and serious students of Vietnamese backgrounds in Taiwan are when it comes to learning to speak their mothers' language.

Some students travel from three to four hours to class, while many have to lie to their husbands families that they spent all those times shopping for food or doing the laundry, Huong said.

Perhaps most representative of such determination is a case of one student who would often bring her kid to class, Huong recalled, and when the child cried she would comfort them by saying, Let me study, honey. I want to be a teacher.

Students at an elementary school in New Taipei City play games during a Vietnamese lesson. Photo: Tuoi Tre

An official status

Starting 2018, Vietnamese will become an official subject taught from the third grade of Taiwans general education, an education official from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The Vietnamese textbooks are jointly compiled by experts from Vietnams research centers and faculties of Vietnamese studies at universities across Taiwan, the official said.

We are working with pedagogical universities in Taiwan and Vietnam to prepare enough teachers for the plan.

Vietnamese brides in Taiwan, most of whom reside in the cities of Kaohsiung and New Taipei, are also being trained to become Vietnamese teachers in the future when the plan comes into effect.

Up until now, over a thousand such Vietnamese brides have registered for training courses to become teachers, according to statistics provided by the education department of New Taipei City.

Applicants must sit through a 36-hour course and further tests before they are qualified for teaching, a New Taipei education official said.

Nguyen Lien Huong, a professor of Vietnamese at the National Taiwan University. Courtesy of Huong

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A number of hospitals and companies in major Vietnamese cities have adopted a Japanese workplace organization method for optimum orderliness, safety and efficiency in recent times.

The 5S mode was developed in Japan and identified as one of the techniques that enabled Just in Time manufacturing, a methodology aimed primarily at reducing flow time within production systems as well as response time from suppliers and to customers and practiced in Japan largely in the 1960s and 1970s.

The approach centers around the Japanese words, Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke, which can be translated as sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain.

The practice is designed to lead to improved processes and ultimately reduced set-up and cycle times, increased floor space, lowered safety incident/accident rates, less wasted labor and improved equipment reliability, according to qualitytrainingportal.com.

Application in Vietnam

The 5S model has been put into practice at a number of hospitals and enterprises in Vietnam over recent years.

Infirmaries in Japan boast a neater, luxury look despite our hospital being on a par with them regarding facilities and equipment. The difference is put down to the 5S approach, Vo Thi Lan Ket, deputy head of the nursing department at Hoan My Hospital in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, said.

Shortly after Kets introduction of the 5S model to the private clinic in 2014, it soon proved to be a cost-effective method which has enhanced the infirmarys cleanliness and orderliness while improving its treatment quality and ensuring utmost safety.

She revealed her hospitals 5S system began with the emergency trolley, an indispensable item at all infirmaries.

The trolley the size of a small refrigerator is now a standard configuration equipped with basic accessories, including emergency drugs, syringes, and airway clearing devices that all make it an emergency cart.

Steps were made to ensure the cart, which had five numbered drawers with four labels, was invariably in its designated place.

Among them, the photo label featured the contents of each drawer, allowing doctors and nurses to open the right one with just a quick look from the outside.

Each drawer was divided into smaller compartments in which medication and tools were stored at a fixed position and had clear labeling.

Orderliness helps save time and prevents mix-ups, which is of the essence to emergency procedures, Ket noted.

Hoan My Hospitals 5S system has applied to up to 85 items in 11 different departments and areas, with many of them being standardized to ensure seamless operation.

One minute for 5S saves one hour of rummaging for files is one of the slogans on the benefits that the method brings to the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City.

The institution opted for its chemical engineering facultys laboratory quarter to start with.

The four-floor building houses up to 1,700 experimenting instruments and a stockroom where hundreds of chemicals are stored, according to Nguyen Thi To Minh, the laboratory quarter overseer.

Staff and students in the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry's chemistry department strictly abide by 5S regulations in the chemical storage room to ensure safety and efficiency. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The 5S model helps us arrange our space and tools properly and minimize unused, expired substances, thereby ensuring greater safety for both lecturers and students, Dr. Nguyen Van Cuong, head of the chemical engineering faculty, observed.

Having students strictly abide by the exacting rules will also help foster their sense of self-discipline and benefit them later upon their graduation, he added.

The system has also been applied to the schools administrative procedures including lecturers dossiers, exam papers and transcripts.

Inspired by the successful application, infirmaries in Ho Chi Minh City and from other provinces have sent their staff to Hoan My Hospital to study its 5S model.

A number of enterprises and banks have also incorporated the approach into their entire system.

The 5S method does not require hefty costs, but the hurdle lies in how to maintain the system, according to Ket.

The coordinator will devise the overall principles, and allow individuals to freely work out their own ways to put them into practice, which will keep them motivated to maintain the system, she added.

Individuals should be paired up so that they can remind each other to keep up the 5S work.

Five to 10 minutes is spent at the end of each working day to rearrange the workspace that individuals are in charge of.

A board has been set up at Hoan My Hospital to monitor the execution and hold regular training sessions.

The implementation of the 5S approach, however, proved more challenging at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City considering the recruitment of new students and fresh training each year.

Military-like discipline

The 5S approach has taken a strong foothold in Japan since its initiation in 1986, followed by Singapores application among its numerous enterprises and organizations.

According to Dao Quoc Cuong, administrative director of Juki Vietnam, a Japanese producer in industrial sewing machines based in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, most Japanese companies in Vietnam practice 5S rigorously with numerous rules on labor safety and the deployment and operation of machinery.

More local companies, particularly joint ventures in supporting industries with foreign groups, have adopted the 5S mode as well.

Many, however, have employed the method perfunctorily without real efficiency, Cuong stressed.

In order to secure a well-paid job at Japanese firms in Vietnam or Japan, many Vietnamese laborers have undergone rigorous recruitment and training programs as required by their employers.

Le Y Nhi, 23, who currently works at a sushi and sashimi producer in Osaka, Japan, revealed she had received 5S training during her internship at a Japanese textile company in Hue City, the heart of central Vietnams Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Staff face dismissal for placing goods on the wrong shelves and penalties for failing to align footwear at the workplace.

Everyone conformed to the rules in a military-like spirit, which placed me under considerable pressure in my early days, Nhi recalled.

Her current company also requires its staff to strictly abide by 5S procedures.

One of the regulations maintains that employees wash their hands properly before having them examined by a device for any remaining bacteria, and repeat the procedure until their hands are free of germs.

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The report, which was based on interviews of 16,000 people aged 15 years old and above in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, showed that the countrys Generation Z was spending an average of VND900,000 (US$40) a month on eating out, or up to a third of certain respondents monthly wage.

Fifty-six percent of the respondents in Ho Chi Minh City claimed to make no money of their own or earn less than VND3 million ($132) a month.

Thirty-five percent of those interviewed estimated their monthly income to be between VND3 million and VND7.5 million ($330).

In the third quarter of 2017, 133 million visits to out-of-home food services were made by Vietnams Generation Z, 25 percent of whom opted for fast food restaurants, the report found.

Street food came next, accounting for 18 percent of the total visits, followed closely by convenience stores at 17 percent.

The survey monitored seven main channels of out-of-home food services, which are full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, street food, alcohol places, convenience stores, hotels and canteens.

Vietnamese youths were found to visit these establishments at any time of the day, for primary meals as well as for quick snacks and drinks.

According to Lozi, a social media focused on dining locations, there were 1,500 bubble tea stores in Vietnam as of July, and the number is fast increasing with eight new stores opened every month in Hanoi alone.

Ngo Van Tan, a 22-year-old from northern Hai Phong City, said his time in college was when he spent the most money on out-of-home food services.

My parents would give me a monthly allowance of VND2-2.5 million [$88-110], 70 percent of which I would spend on eating out, Tan said.

That included primary meals and snacks.

Nguyen Van Tan, a 22-year-old from Hai Phong City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

One visit to such dining services would cost Tan anywhere between VND25,000 ($1.1) and VND300,000 ($13.22), depending on the quality of the meal.

For Bich Ngoc, a 22-year-old accountant for a lighting store in Ho Chi Minh City, her VND4 million ($176) monthly wage could barely afford her habit of eating out of home.

Though I still mostly have dinner at home, I have to spend at least ten days a month eating outside, with each visit costing me VND50,000-100,000 [$2.2-4.4], Ngoc said.

According to Ngoc, she would be able to put aside VND1 million ($44) each month as savings after spending the rest on personal needs.

Both Tan and Ngoc agreed that they enjoyed eating out of home because of the atmosphere of sitting down and chatting with friends over a meal.

Its always more fun to eat with friends, Tan explained.

When we want to meet up for a chat, dining places or coffee shops are often the top choices.

Ngoc added that there are certain dishes that people cannot simply prepare at home, while the various cuisines that Ho Chi Minh City offers are too alluring to pass.

Vietnamese youths habit of eating out of home is demonstrated through the mushrooming of mobile applications and social media platforms dedicated to food and restaurant reviews such as Foody, Lozi and Diadiemanuong.

Food delivery services like Deliverynow or Vietnammm, as well as voucher-hunting applications like JAMJA, Meete, CityMe, are also on the rise in Vietnam.

Many Instagram users have taken advantage of the opportunity to become food bloggers, attracting tens of thousands of followers by writing reviews about food and restaurants.

Vietnams food service industry has never seen such a gilded age, nor has the young generation of Vietnamese emptied their wallet so fast on out-of-home food.

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A fire drill was carried out at a fuel depot in an outlying district of Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

Hundreds of officers from the municipal Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention participated in the exercise at the Nha Be Oil Depot, which is owned by Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), in Nha Be District.

According to the scenario, a thunderstorm caused lighting to strike one of the fuel tanks, resulting in an explosion, followed by an inferno.

The fire quickly spread to nearby areas and could not be put out with on-site firefighting equipment.

After being notified of the fire, the firefighting department dispatched nearly 300 officers and dozens of fire trucks to the facility.

The flames were extinguished after 30 minutes, and the remaining fuel tanks were safe from the fire.

Nearly 300 firefighters were mobilized for the mission. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Colonel Le Tan Buu, director of the citys Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention, the Nha Be depot is an essential facility capable of storing hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of oil, thus ensuring its fire safety is an important mission.

Although the drill was successful, real-life situations can be far more complicated. Officers are required to practice regularly to minimize consequences when disasters occur, Col. Buu said.

Firefighters extinguish the flames at one of the fuel tanks. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A victim of smoke inhalation is being rescued by firefighters. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Many fire trucks were dispatched to the facility. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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Many officials in Vietnam are facing disciplinary actions after their violations in the recruitment and appointment of personnel were revealed by central inspectors this week.

The offenses were announced by the Central Inspection Committee of the Vietnamese Party during its meeting on December 12 and 13.

The first provincial leader to have been put under the microscope was Ngo Van Tuan, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa.

Tuan violated regulations of the Party and state on the organization of personnel between October 2010 and November 2015, when he was the director of the provincial Department of Transport.

In 2011, Tuan issued a decision to establish a board for the recruitment of officials and public servants at the transport department, which was beyond his authority.

He showed favoritism toward Tran Vu Quynh Anh, dubbed a hot beauty by the public, for recruiting her as a civil servant, before promoting her to be the deputy head and head of a division in a short period.

Tuan also proposed that Anh assume the post of the deputy director of the transport department.

Aside from Anh, many other heads of division within the agency were appointed without meeting sufficient requirements and standards.

Meanwhile, Dao Vu Viet, the current director of the Thanh Hoa Department of Transport, was found at fault for setting up extra divisions beyond his authorization and appointing incompetent officials.

The number of these divisions and officials also exceeded the states allowed limits.

Viet, as the leader, is responsible for the errors and shortcomings of the transport department in 2015-16, the inspection committee said in its announcement.

The Central Inspection Committee considered that Tuan and Viets violations are serious, requiring stern disciplinary action.

These wrongdoings have ruined the reputation of the state and Party organs in the province, upsetting local civil servants and residents, the committee said.

The committee has given a written warning to Viet and asked the secretariat of the Central Party Committee to determine another strict penalty for Tuan.

Le Phuoc Hoai Bao, director of the Department of Planning and Investment in the central province of Quang Nam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Bias toward family members

At the gathering, the Central Inspection Committee pointed out the violations of Le Phuoc Hoai Bao, director of the Department of Planning and Investment in the central province of Quang Nam, ordering the removal of his title as a Party member and the termination of all decisions regarding his appointment.

Bao did not honestly list his work experience in the application to become a member of the provincial Party Committee.

The official had poor discipline, failing to participate in Party activities for months, according to the inspection committee.

The agency at the same time listed the wrongdoings of Le Phuoc Thanh, former chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee for the 2010-15 tenure, saying he went against the regulations of the Party and state on personnel.

Thanh appointed and rotated several public servants against protocol, and showed bias toward children of the provincial leaders, including Bao, who is his own son.

Bao was previously appointed as an official at the Chu Lai open economic zone, then the vice-chairman of the administration in Thang Binh District, before becoming the director of the provincial planning department at a very young age. He is now 32 years old.

Thanh also issued decisions to allow Bao to study abroad using the state budget.

Huynh Khanh Toan, Thanhs deputy, was also discovered being involved in the appointment of Bao as a departmental head.

Toan violated regulations of the Party and state by recruiting public servants without any examination, and appointing incompetent personnel, including children of local leaders, the central inspection committee said.

Dinh Van Thu, deputy secretary of the Quang Nam Party Committee, allowed his son, who did not meet relevant requirements and standards, to assume high-ranking positions, according to the committee.

Thu also let the provincial administration admit public servants without organizing an examination as per the rules.

The Central Inspection Committee stated that the offenses of Thanh, Thu, and Toan were serious and decided to carry out the disciplinary procedures against the officials.

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SBS is moving into the branded content space, with Bondi Harvest produced by and starring restauranteur, author and entrepreneur Guy Turland.

Turlands brand includes cookbooks, products, a US cafe and YouTube recipe videos with more than 3.5 million views.

A 10 part series promoting the brand will screen on SBS Food Network in January, touted as the channels third original series, following Andy & Ben Eat Australia and Born to Cook: Jack Stein Down Under.

While other foodie shows showcase talented Aussie chefs, they are all independently produced, but this title is made by Bondi Harvest itself. It isnt clear if the airtime has been commercially purchased in order to screen the series.

Lobby group Save our SBS president Steve Aujard says while the SBS Charter neither allows nor disallows it, there is no community support for branded content nor product placement on SBS.

Its a hidden form of advertising that viewers are subject to and is without safeguards, he told TV Tonight.

Branded content is the thin edge of the wedge in the further commercialisation of SBS and endangers it from fulfilling its Charter obligations.

After recent funding shortfalls SBS sought to increase its primetime advertising and flexibility for product placement, but 62,000 people signed a petition against the move, which was also rejected by Labor & the Greens. A bill supported by SBS was defeated in Parliament.

A spokesperson for SBS said Bondi Harvests branded content is in line with its Charter and advertising and sponsorship under its Codes of Practice.

Given our hybrid model  unique in Australia but not uncommon in other markets  SBS has extensive experience in carefully managing the balance between ensuring the highest of editorial standards, with the need to generate revenue from advertising and sponsorship, they said.

The editorial independence and integrity of SBS remains paramount. SBS maintains full editorial control of its content and schedule at all times.

Bondi Harvest will air in double episodes from January 8 on Food Network.
Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, small and medium enterprises, and corporate customers in Brazil and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Commercial Banking and Global Wholesale Banking. It offers deposits and other bank funding instruments; debit and credit cards; digital prepaid solutions; payment platform; loyalty programs; employee benefit vouchers; payroll loans; digital lending and online debt renegotiation services; mortgages; home equity financing products; consumer credit; and local loans, commercial and trade finance, guarantees, structured loans, and cash management and funding solutions, as well as on-lending transfer services. It also provides funding and financial advisory services related to projects, origination and distribution of fixed-income securities in the debt capital markets, financing of acquisitions and syndicated loans, other structured financing arrangements, and subordinated debt and energy efficiency transactions; advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets transactions; and stock brokerage and advisory, equity, and equity research services. In addition, the company structures and offers foreign exchange, derivative, and investment products for institutional investors, and corporate and retail customers; and provides market making services. Further, it offers instant payment services; range of products and services focused on the agribusiness sector; microfinance services; and online automotive listing and digital car insurance solutions, as well as digital trading platform. Additionally, it provides its financial services and products to its customers through multichannel distribution network comprising branches, mini-branches, ATMs, call centers, Internet banking, and mobile banking. Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer that provides clothing, accessories, and personal care products under the American Eagle and Aerie brands. The company provides jeans, and specialty apparel and accessories for women and men; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections, as well as personal care products for women. It also offers graphic tees and other clothing products under the Tailgate brand name; and menswear products under the Todd Snyder New York brand name. As of January 29, 2022, the company operated 880 American Eagle stores, 244 Aerie brand stand-alone stores, and five Todd Snyder stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong. It also ships to 81 countries through its Websites; and offers its merchandise at 260 locations operated by licensees in 28 countries, as well as provides products through its Websites ae.com, aerie.com, and toddsnyder.com. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
When international choreographer and Auburn native Sean McLeod thinks about where he currently is, and what he's doing there, one word keeps coming to mind: "crazy."

McLeod is in Wichita, Kansas, where he was brought to direct and choreograph Ballet Wichita's production of holiday season favorite "The Nutcracker."

But Ballet Wichita didn't bring McLeod there from New York just to do the same "Nutcracker" it and other companies have been doing for decades. It wanted a new "Nutcracker."

The tall order  to retell a classic Christmastime story  came from the ballet and its new guest artistic director, Karen Brown. A close friend of McLeod's, she was principal ballerina for the Dance Theatre of Harlem from 1973 to 1995 and, until 2017, executive director of Garth Fagan Dance in Rochester. After she accepted her position in Wichita, McLeod said, she asked him to join her there.

Ballet Wichita Board of Directors President Ilex Gelpi said that in McLeod, the board saw an opportunity to "put our company on the map from a professional perspective."

"We felt like the expertise and connections and knowledge that Sean brings, with his specific technique he uses with his dancers and also his choreography skills, would expose our dancers to the professional world of ballet," Gelpi said. "Having New York talent and choreography come in and help has given our dancers a lot of opportunities to grow."

With the blessing of Ballet Wichita, then, McLeod set out to reimagine "The Nutcracker." First, he went straight to its source: E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 book "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."

McLeod's main takeaway from the story was its treatment of diversity. In his opinion, the Land of Sweets depicted in the Tchaikovsky-scored "Nutcracker" ballet is a celebration of different cultures. However, he continued, modern productions have used loaded shorthand to represent those cultures, such as Chinese people sinisterly waving their fingers or Arabian people slithering like snakes.

"Inadvertently, over 200 years, people have ended up being racist with 'The Nutcracker,'" he said. "I thought it was a cool idea to challenge ourselves that maybe we have to change parts of it."

So McLeod set out to research each culture and represent it faithfully in his "Nutcracker." For instance, his Russian candy canes wear traditional dress, not tutus, and dance in Baltic steps.

The opportunity to deconstruct these cultural stereotypes came at an optimal time, McLeod said, as the national conversation on diversity and inclusion continually gains strength.

"(Hoffmann) was celebrating people's culture, so I decided to make that literal," he said. "I decided I would try to use ballet to talk about that."

But McLeod's show does more to earn its billing as a "new 'Nutcracker.'" He set its first act in 2017. He made the previously hinted magic powers of uncle Drosselmeyer much more overt, as he was "really astonished" by the story's resemblance to "Harry Potter," he said. And he saw the Rat Queen, not the Rat King, as the show's more powerful villain, so he teases out that dynamic.

"It has the traditional touches that every 'Nutcracker' has, but it also has a modern flair," Gelpi said. "I think the audience will love it."

Aside from celebrating diversity, McLeod gave himself another goal in adapting "The Nutcracker": not putting anyone to sleep. So far, he said, the reception has been "absolutely tremendous." The show premiered with a tour in Junction City, which was followed by a series of performances for youth audiences. Its main run at Wichita's Century II Concert Hall takes place this weekend.

Ahead of the show's premiere there Friday, performer Hannah Marie Wagner said McLeod's "Nutcracker" is what both the company and the community needed. She would know: Wagner's 16-year career with Ballet Wichita includes 15 years of performing in "The Nutcracker," save for 2015, when she took a break to compete for and win the Miss Kansas beauty pageant crown.

"Everybody is so excited to show their friends and family this brand new 'Nutcracker,'" Wagner said. "It's given so many people a bigger chance to shine than they've ever had."

McLeod said a few audience members have told him how much they appreciated the show, and one of them admitted to wanting to dislike it. However, the first reaction that comes to his mind is a young black boy who saw one of "The Nutcracker's" youth performances. Afterward, the boy ran up to another young black boy in the show and said, "I want to be just like you!" McLeod said.

Just as representation is a concern of McLeod's on the stage, he's mindful of what his creative role represents off of it. Few have been trusted to so liberally adapt "The Nutcracker," he said, and they've been established white choreographers like George Balanchine and Peter Wright. Black artists do not commonly reach that tier in classical ballet, he said  especially not in Wichita.

"'The Nutcracker' is a treasure. Not a lot of people who look like me get to do it," he said. "It's such a huge undertaking that if I paid more attention to it, I would have chickened out."

McLeod said he hopes to bring his "Nutcracker" elsewhere, including Auburn. Its lessened emphasis on the holidays even makes it appropriate for year-round production, he said. Meanwhile, through his New York Institute of Dance Education, McLeod hopes to create a lasting connection with Ballet Wichita  and more opportunities like the one the company gave him.

"I got to create an adaptation of 'The Nutcracker.' I got to come to this wonderful ballet company and share it with marvelous dancers, great sponsors and benefactors," he said. "It's really crazy."

On the web

For more information on Ballet Wichita's production of "The Nutcracker," visit balletwichita.com/the-nutcracker.

For more information on the New York Institute of Dance and Education, visit nyide.com.
Three charged in connection to missing Aberdeen man

As the Aberdeen Police Department continues to investigate the disappearance of Simon Deng in Aberdeen, three people now face charges.
Seven Democrats campaigning to succeed Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham got a little personal on Saturday as they took the stage together for the first time.

They treated one another with respect but responded to questions about their personal and professional backgrounds, policy positions and past mistakes.

The race is wide open because Lujan Grisham is running for governor next year rather than seek re-election in the 1st Congressional District, which covers much of the Albuquerque area.

Voters will choose the major party nominees in the June primary election.

Congress has never heard a voice like mine, said former Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland, whos seeking to become the first Native American woman in Congress.

She described herself as someone whos been on the front lines fighting for Democratic priorities in New Mexico.

Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis pitched himself as a former police officer who learned that cities cant arrest their way out of a crime problem. He also noted that hed be New Mexicos first openly gay member of Congress, and he said his experience at City Hall proves he has the political skills to work in a bipartisan way to pursue solutions to climate change and other priorities.

Retired law professor Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, who has raised more money than any other candidate so far, highlighted her work to help victims of domestic violence secure restraining orders and to safeguard immigrants from deportation sweeps.

Her experience, she said, has taught her the importance of a holistic approach to solving problems.

Former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez said he joined the Army Reserves after 9/11 and that he worked as a member of the Justice Department to address heroin deaths and push for police reforms.

I have a record of having fought for our community  having worked on the issues that are important to our families, Martinez said.

Seven of the eight candidates seeking the Democratic nomination appeared at the forum, held at a union hall in Albuquerques Southeast Heights. Only John Flores, a former journalist, didnt attend.

The field remains fluid. Physicist Dennis Dinge recently dropped out, and Paul Moya, CEO of Millennial Labs, entered the race.

We have a broken economy, and thats my focus today  to fix it, said Moya, who said he started his own business because of the lack of jobs in New Mexico.

Damian Lara, president of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association, described his humble roots, saying he picked crops alongside his mother as a child.

I hope together we can build a better New Mexico, he said.

Edgewood Town Councilor John Abrams said he would make sure that I work as hard as possible to make this the best state, the best district possible.

Chris Ramirez, a reporter for KOB-TV, served as moderator.
Volcano Vistas wrestlers won the Albuquerque Public Schools Invitational on Saturday at Del Norte High School.

The Hawks had three individual champions and scored 169 points, well in front of runner-up Rio Grande (125) and third-place Atrisco Heritage (120).

Freshman Moses Santiago, the No. 2 seed at 106 pounds, beat Tyler Mitchell of Rio Grande with a pin in 62 seconds to open the finals. Junior Joshua Vega had three pins leading up to the final at 120, then decisioned Chris Walton of Albuquerque High 9-4.

The most dramatic of the 14 weights was the 152-pound title match, in which Volcano Vistas Bronson Deatheredge earned a 5-3, sudden-victory triumph over top-seeded Francisco Gomez of Rio Grande.

Atriscos Damion Lopez ran his record to 14-0 with a dominant showing in the 170-pound bracket. The Jags also had a first-place finisher in Ernest Martinez, who registered three pins at 220 pounds.

The host Knights produced a bracket champion at 113 pounds with undefeated junior Frankie Baca. Rio Grande junior Sergio Arellano ran his record to 14-0 with four victories  all by pin, and none of the matches longer than 106 seconds.

Manzano senior Isidro Garcia had an interesting day. He had two technical falls to open the tournament, then prevailed in sudden victory in the semis before he rolled to an easy win in the 132-pound final.

Other champs included a pair of No. 1 seeds from AHS in Javier Pavia at 138 and Ian Catanach at 145; Eldorados Richard Gallegos (15-0) at 160 after outscoring his four opponents 32-4; Manzanos David Chavarria, the No. 2 seed who beat No. 1 Isaiah Chavez of Eldorado 14-10 in a competitive 182-pound final; Cibolas Tony Chacon, who was impressive at 195 pounds; and West Mesa heavyweight Devon Gonzales, who posted three pins.

The next major meet in which the top metro-area schools will be together is the Joe Vivian Classic on Jan. 12-13 at Cibola.
In an article in the Albuquerque Journal, Economist says state misses key to growth, Jeffrey Mitchell, director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research (BBER) at the University of New Mexico, was quoted, Perhaps were in a situation now where we cant look outside ourselves for an excuse or a savior. And we couldnt agree more; our economy is at a turning point, and we can only count on ourselves to build a more prosperous city.

While there has been growth in Albuquerques economy  this month we are on our 48th consecutive month of job growth  families in Albuquerque are still faced with high rates of poverty, high unemployment and racial inequities that are crippling to our citys social and economic future. While these tough, persistent problems can be daunting, surmounting them isnt impossible  or even far-fetched. And that is because Albuquerque and its economy have been changing course, albeit slowly, over the last nearly four years. Since 2014, key institutions have been convening through City Alive and have committed to City Alives shared goal of creating 10,000 new, living-wage jobs in Albuquerque by 2025 through innovation and entrepreneurship. These include the City of Albuquerque, Nusenda Credit Union, UNM, the Albuquerque Community Foundation, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, The BioScience Center and FatPipe ABQ, CNM, Mission: Graduate, Partnership for Community Action, the South Valley Economic Development Center, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and many more. This lofty but achievable goal is backed up by comprehensive strategies, deepening partnerships and connections across our community that are changing systems and building resources to better support businesses at key stages of growth  from starting up, to staying up, to scaling up.

One of Mitchells key observations is that supporting existing firms as they move from small companies with a handful of employees to medium and even large businesses is crucial to fully recovering from the Great Recession. It is an area where Albuquerque needs growth. This transition from microenterprises, main street businesses and startups to second-stage companies is one of City Alives areas of focus.

Once businesses reach second stage, they are established, have consistent revenue, a market-tested product or service and the potential to scale. These businesses have incredible potential to create jobs, increase economic mobility and build wealth in our community. Efforts aligned with City Alive to support the growth of second-stage companies include: the Mayors Prize for Entrepreneurship, which has provided over $600,000 in funding for entrepreneurial support organizations that assist companies as they enter a next phase, and the Tech Navigator program, which is supporting both scientists and entrepreneurs as they navigate funding, patenting and business growth to transfer and commercialize technology.

City Alive is the opportunity for institutions to set a course to address our toughest economic challenges. Every month, City Alives leadership partners, who represent 16 of our communitys key players in the business and entrepreneurship ecosystem, meet to plan, implement and track key systems change to further the success of our citys entrepreneurs. Through these coordinated shifts in education, financial, business, government and nonprofit institutions, City Alive is contributing to an ecosystem in Albuquerque that supports entrepreneurs at all stages of their growth.

The change in our economy and business ecosystem has to be pervasive, extending across organizations and institutions so the economic system moves, degree by degree, creating more opportunity, income, wealth and jobs that reach every household. And what is of paramount importance to all the partners at City Alive is that all this change happens with a focus on racial and income equity, so we, a community as a whole, can prosper.
In cash-strapped New Mexico, there really is no such thing as a small price to pay. There is legitimate competition for every dollar the state spends.

But in the great scheme of things, the $1 million estimated cost to finance improved oversight and accountability in the states scandal-plagued guardianship system that operates largely under court oversight would be money well spent.

To put the request in context, its abundantly clear that the current oversight system hasnt stopped some of the states most vulnerable residents from having their assets stolen, their homes sold off and the wishes of families completely disregarded by commercial guardians and conservators appointed by judges around the state. There have been legitimate complaints of exorbitant fees charged by the industry and families being cut off from their loved ones simply for complaining about the treatment Mom or Dad is getting.

Thats why the State Supreme Court appointed a special commission to come up with recommendations for ways to improve the system. The commission chaired by retired state District Judge Wendy York has proposed 17 changes  separate from modifications proposed in a rewrite of guardianship/conservatorship laws by the Chicago-based Uniform Laws Commission. Among the Uniform Law Commission proposals is a change that would roll back the blanket of secrecy that shrouds guardianships in New Mexico, and allows chicanery, abuse and outright theft to be hidden away.

Nothing better illustrates the problem of a system dominated by insiders than the fact that one of the guardianship industry representatives who spoke to the commission in defense of the system is now facing federal criminal charges for allegedly draining client accounts to finance a lavish lifestyle.

The Supreme Courts commission has some recommendations that simply require better practices for guardians/conservators and the judges who oversee them. But others require about $1 million in state money.

The appropriation would allow the state to purchase computer software that would red-flag unusual purchases and discrepancies in annual reports that guardians and conservators are supposed to file with the court.

Many of the reports have been shoddy, bare-bones documents filed late and then stuffed into court files. Software wont fix that. But with better reporting required by the courts, the new system would allow for electronic filing with some built-in warnings. The new money also would pay for auditors who would investigate discrepancies. Equally important, it would pay for special masters or hearing officers to hear grievances from families whose loved ones are in the guardianship system. Under the current system, these family members have no effective recourse or even a reasonable way to complain in a timely fashion.

The special masters should be able to act as outsiders in a system dominated by insiders to advocate for families where their claims have merit. Just having that avenue of recourse will curb some abuses by those who now operate with impunity.

The Supreme Court can make some changes by rule. But Gov. Susana Martinez and the 2018 Legislature need to step up to the plate, enact statutory changes where necessary and fund the modest amount requested by the commission.

The state is far from rolling in dough, but it has weathered the recent fiscal crisis and now has an estimated $500 million in reserves. The latest projection estimates lawmakers will have about $199 million in new revenue to spend when they convene next month.

The revelations over the past year about the guardianship system in New Mexico have been shocking. The Supreme Court and lawmakers have an opportunity to change many lives for the better, now and in the future.

They shouldnt miss the opportunity.

Town Hall rebroadcast

The second hour of the Who Guards the Guardians? town hall, which took place last March and featured community, local and state leaders, will be rebroadcast at 9 a.m. Monday on KANW-FM 89.1, KANR-FM 91.9 Santa Rosa, KANM-FM 90.3 Grants, KGGA-FM 88.1 Gallup and KIDS-FM 88.1 Grants.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

William Atchison, 21, posted a lot of words on the internet in the years before he killed two Aztec High School students and committed suicide earlier this month.

Some of those words were racist rants, some were cruel and some were a sad commentary on what he apparently viewed as his own miserable life. Many of his words were offensive. And frightening. None of them constituted a crime.

Atchison posted under dozens of names to comment on school shootings, the state of the white race and to criticize minorities, gays and LGBT people.

Atchison, in talking about his interest in mass shootings, also asked if anyone knew where he could buy a cheap semi-automatic rifle.

It was that posting on an online gaming site that prompted FBI agents to open an assessment, which included finding out who actually posted the material.

Once they determined it was Atchison, agents began digging into Atchisons background, and they interviewed him 18 months before he shot and killed 17-year-old Casey Marquez and Francisco Paco Fernandez, 17, two random victims, at Aztec High School.

After looking into Atchison and his internet activities in March 2016, the FBI concluded that the postings didnt rise to the level of a crime  or even to the level of justifying a deeper investigation  and closed their file on him.

It was very generic, not a specific threat, but disturbing enough that we wanted to find out who put it out there, Terry Wade, special agent in charge of the Albuquerque FBI office, said during a press conference after the shooting.

Atchison told agents that he was trolling  an internet term that means posting comments to annoy others. While agents found the comments disturbing, Atchison hadnt made any threats under the law.

There was no evidence that he owned a firearm, and agents found nothing in his background  no criminal history and no membership in domestic organizations advocating violence  to justify moving forward to a preliminary investigation.

If they open a preliminary investigation, agents can conduct surveillance and interview other people. If that turns up evidence of a crime, they can move to a full investigation that would allow them to employ investigative tools, such as seeking search warrants.

In Atchisons case, they never got past the first step and closed the file, primarily because they found no specific threat.

According to federal law enforcement and prosecution manuals, in order for internet comments to constitute a crime, a person has to send a message containing a threat to injure the person of another and intend for the threat to be perceived as a threat. The person doesnt have to take any action to carry through on the threat for it to be a crime  which is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

If Atchisons comments had been a specific threat with a specific target, the FBI would have moved from an assessment to a full investigation.

Even with a preliminary investigation, the agency could have put Atchison on a watch list, so agents would have been notified if he were getting on an airplane or buying a gun.

Wade said agents told the Aztec Police Department about their investigation into Atchison at the time.

The assessment was subsequently closed after it was determined that no crime had been committed, and there was no lawful justification to undertake further investigative steps, Wade said. As frustrating as this is, its important to note that absent suspicion of a crime or necessary legal requirements, the FBI cannot initiate or maintain an investigation.

Police said Atchison legally purchased the Glock 9 mm handgun used in the Aztec High School murders a month before the shootings  almost 17 months after the FBI interview.

Born into a dystopia

Atchison was working at a gas station and living with his parents in a quiet middle class neighborhood in Aztec.

San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen said Atchison didnt have any run-ins with police, didnt even have a parking ticket but was known to annoy people with his political opinions.

He would try to get a rise out of people, Christesen said.

In an internet post reviewed by the Journal  that has since been reposted on some sites Atchison was known to frequent  Atchison, posting under the name of the websites founder, said, I used to think that this was a phase and wed get over it, but I have now come to realize that I was born into a literal dystopia.

In the same post, he criticized LGBGT liberals and African Americans.

Wherever I go I see degeneracy. Pointless materialism, hedonism, sexual decay, dirty (n-word), who do nothing but slowly break down this society etc. its f***ing everywhere. No way to escape it  Go to the store and buy groceries in peace? Nope, heres a group of LGBT liberal filth in line with you 

Aztec is predominately white in conservative northwest New Mexico.

According to the Daily Beast, an online website that tracked Atchisons internet activity, Atchison was very active online, posting at White Supremacist websites, getting banned at other websites for trolling and complaining about the state of his life.

The Daily Beast attributed an online post to Atchison, stating that he had been interviewed by the FBI for making edgy comments.

Atchison was also apparently obsessed with mass school shootings and according to Daily Beast had posted online under the name Adam Lanza, the Newtown, Conn., school shooter.

But he was banned from some controversial sites for his comments, which would have been consistent with his self-description as an Internet troll in various venues.

When officers found Atchisons body after the Aztec High School shootings, he had a thumb drive on him with a note outlining his plan for the day.

If things go according to plan, today would be when I die, the note said.

I go somewhere and gear up, then hold a class hostage and go apeshit, then blow my brains out.

He wrote work sucks, school sucks, life sucks. I just want out of this shit.

FBI needs crime threat

Atchison wasnt the only mass shooter to have been on the FBI radar. Perhaps the best know was radicalized Muslim Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at a nightclub in Florida favored by gay and LGBT patrons, proclaiming his allegiance to ISIS.

But in any case, the FBI needs specific information of a threat or crime to act. When they have it, they can move quickly.

Last September, Michael Anthony Estrada, 24, posted to the Las Cruces Community Watch Facebook page a note saying This is a threat treat me better or Im gonna shoot up conlee elementary tired of no help.

Conlee Elementary school and others went into a lockdown when they became aware of the online threat.

With the help of the public, Las Cruces police located Estrada at a local restaurant where he had posted his message.

Estrada told police I was gonna do it. We could have lost all those kids today if I were someone else.

He was arrested on federal charges and last week pleaded guilty to making interstate communications threatening the school students.

Federal court rulings around the country say the person making the threat doesnt need to have the means to carry it out as long as the threat is specific and meant to threaten.

In October, Sean Stinson pleaded guilty in federal court to making telephone threats to shoot and kill individual members of the Las Cruces Police Department. He was sentenced to 406 days in federal prison.

In 2015, Zachary Milton Hess, 20, of Las Cruces, was sentenced to five years probation and $77,934 in restitution to New Mexico State University for making the threat, while chatting on an internet website, that he was going to shoot up the campus in three days.

In each case, there was a specific threat, federal law enforcement officials point out, that was not present in Atchisons online posts.

A frustrating case

Finding a specific threat isnt always easy.

There have been national cases in which people like Mateen or Atchison came under FBI scrutiny, had the cases closed, then went on to commit horrific crimes.

The FBI can never open an investigation simply on the basis of religion, creed, race, or nation of origin.

In 2013 and 2014, the FBI spent 10 months investigating Mateen, who worked as a contract security guard at the St. Lucie County courthouse.

Fellow employees warned the local sheriffs department that Mateen claimed connections of terrorist organizations Al Qaeda and Hezbollah and wanted to die as a martyr.

The FBI started a preliminary investigation because the tip came from a local law enforcement agency, and because Mateen had access to firearms and worked in a public building.

Mateen, a U.S. citizen, was put on a terrorist watch list that made sure he received special screening at airports and that the FBI agent conducting the investigation would be notified if he purchased a weapon.

Over the course of the 10-month preliminary investigation, agents surveilled Mateen during his daily activities and had confidential informants record conversations with him.

Those techniques failed to turn up anything to indicate Mateen was actively involved with any terrorist group.

They interviewed him twice. He admitted making the claims to his fellow employees of having ties to the two terrorist groups but said it was because they were constantly teasing him about his religion  something those employees later admitted when interviewed by the FBI.

A preliminary investigation can last six months and in Mateens case agents asked for a six month extension.

But in the end they couldnt establish any evidence that Mateen had committed a crime. That conclusion left them unable to get subpoenas or serve search warrants, which require probable cause that a crime or evidence of a crime exist.

When the case was closed in 2014, Mateen was taken off the watch list.

After the nightclub shooting, the FBI began an in-house review of how the investigation was conducted.

They concluded that the agents could have pushed harder in reviewing Mateens involvement on the internet and social media. But after the shooting, they found Mateens internet activity showed nothing that would have moved the original investigation forward.

But they did find Mateen was watching videos of radical Islamic teachers, but to find that information agents would have needed a search warrant for Mateens personal computer. Agents didnt have the probable cause to search his computer during the preliminary investigation.

Then-FBI Director James Comey told the Washington Post that there wasnt much agents could have done differently.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Hundreds of young Americans, including more than 200 New Mexicans, are traveling to Washington, D.C., to demand the passage of a clean Dream Act free of harsh requirements and enforcement provisions before Dec. 22.

The group, many affected by the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program, is traveling by bus and left from the South Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Its estimated that 7,000 people living in New Mexico are benefitting from the DACA program, established under President Barack Obama, that allowed those brought illegally to the country as children to temporarily work, attend college and live without fear of deportation.

That number will dwindle as more and more people lose their DACA protection, as President Donald Trump announced in September that the program would end in March 2018.

Lizzeth Sandoval, a 20-year-old college student and DACA recipient from Las Cruces, responded without pause when asked how many days she has left: 236.

Sandoval enrolled in the program last year and said it changed the way she lives her day-to-day life.

Now that I have DACA, I feel protected, she said. I dont want to live in fear. I dont want to go back to the shadows.

The trip was organized by the New Mexico Dream Team, an affiliate of United We Dream.

The New Mexico group will meet up with more than 1,000 other United We Dream members once in the capitol to call for action from Congress, Dream Team spokesman Isaac De Luna said, particularly on a Dream Act proposed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

The Dream Act is the best bipartisan solution that we have seen, De Luna said. It would protect all the people who currently have DACA, and it would also open up an opportunity for more people who didnt qualify for DACA to gain protection from deportation.

The hope is to get the Dream Act tacked onto a spending bill that Congress will try to pass this week.

New Mexicos congressional delegation has been largely supportive of some form of a DACA fix.

While speaking on the Senate floor earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., argued that not replacing DACA would be disastrous not only for the young people directly affected, but also for the states economy.

New Mexico would lose nearly 6,000 DACA workers and take a $385 million hit we simply cannot afford, he said.

Michelle Soto of Albuquerque came into the United States from Mexico in 2009 when she was 9, two years after the cutoff year to qualify for DACA.

Now 16, she worries that without a DACA replacement enacted, she wont be able to attend college.

I promised my dad when I came from Mexico that I would get an education, that I was going to work hard to be somebody, she said. It breaks my heart that might not happen just because I dont have a nine-digit (Social Security) number.

He died two years after she arrived in the U.S., and her undocumented status meant she was unable to return to Mexico to say goodbye.

With the passage of a Dream Act, she hopes to gain protections and lose the constant fear of deportation.

I want to make him proud, wherever he is, she said.
What do you do if you try to report a scam to the state, only to be referred to a hotline that tries to, well  scam you?

Thats what happened last week to a Los Lunas woman who was in despair over paying $449 in what ended up being a computer scam.

She is hoping her credit card company will cover her loss, but in the meantime, she donned her good-citizen cap and decided to report the incident to the state.

What happened to her next is a weird and twisted journey through a bureaucracy that involves what are now-abandoned state agency phone lines. And the line that is answered by scammers is not a new problem. Its been going on since last summer.

Heres what the woman was told when she called the supposed government information line (1-800-825-6639): Congratulations. Just for calling in today, you may qualify for a $100 retail rebate certificate, reedemable at major retailers like Walmart, Target and many more.  Press 1 now to find out if you qualify.  Its yours to keep for just a small fee.

Clearly a scam because: No. 1, the state does not sell people retail certificates and No. 2, you shouldnt have to pay a fee to win an award.

That phone number was once a general information line for the state, said Wyndham Kemsley, spokesman for the states Department of Information Technology.

Later last week, the message on that line had mysteriously been changed to some sort of garble featuring a man with a British accent saying something about a call restriction, followed by a muffled womans voice talking about a missing element.

As I said, its a twisted tale, but Im walking you through it so you also dont end up using inactive state phone numbers.

The Los Lunas woman started out by calling a number for the Office of Inspector General in the states Human Services Department, a legitimate state agency that investigates fraud in public assistance programs. She left a message, and the person who called her back recommended she call 505-827-6000. That number once belonged to the Attorney Generals Office, but no longer does. Now when you call it, you get a recording directing you to that problem 1-800 number and the changing menu of suspicious taped messages.

So why is this happening?

The Department of Information Technology, created to offer streamlined services to state agencies, said it deactivated both phone lines some time ago. Once it does that, it has no say over how those lines are used, spokesman Wyndham Kemsley said.

We really dont have control over what happens to the phone number after we discontinue it, he said.

However, he said his office was advising the Human Services Department to stop giving out the defunct phone number.

The AGs Office says it took all its phone lines in-house and out of the hands of the information technology department about a year ago because it wanted to make sure its ines were secure and because it could get the same service elsewhere at a better cost.

Bottom line: you can avoid this whole mess by reporting scams to the AGs Office at these phone numbers, which take you directly to the agency: 717-3500 or toll free at 1-844-255-9210.

*****

Back to the poor woman in Los Lunas.

Before she got caught up in the phone mess, she was subject to one of those nasty computer takeover scams. Theres a lesson in this one, when it comes to AOL customers.

When the woman found that her AOL Gold service had been removed after her computer was hijacked, she looked up a number for AOL on her computers search engine but ended up with Damon. Damon took a remote look at her computer, said her problem was that her computer showed lots of activity with entities in Russia and China and referred her to a company that took her $449 in exchange for a bogus anti-hacking service. (Fact check: She knows no one in Russia or China.)

Heres what to know: AOL does not work with third-party companies and wont refer you to any. It has its own tech support services, whose fees are not nearly that amount, said Joe Holden, with the companys fraud department.

Ellen Marks is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. Contact her at emarks@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam.
ALAMOGORDO  Adelaide Mier, local dialysis nurse and clinic manager at Fresenius Kidney Care of Alamogordo, was one of 16 nurses from her company to join relief efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Upon receiving a company email asking for Spanish-speaking nurses who could break away from their clinics for a two week assignment in Puerto Rico, Mier said she felt compelled to help.

I felt it when Hurricane Katrina hit and when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, I thought Gosh, I really need to go help if I can and it turned out they didnt need much help from us because they had enough help in the local areas, Mier said. But this one, it really struck me when I saw on the news the depth of the devastation. Im experienced, I knew I could do a good job, I knew I have a good attitude and if nothing else, I can go over there and help them realize they arent alone.

Around the end of October, Mier took the trip to Puerto Rico to work with residents living with kidney disease who needed access to dialysis.

The clinic that I went to dealt with chronic treatment and those are patients that require treatment three times a week, Mier said. Theyre pretty stable and they just have to come in three times a week to keep them in that stable mode.

Mier said that many dialysis clinics were damaged in the hurricane and during the first 24 hours after the hurricane hit Puerto Rico, the clinic she was at treated all dialysis patients regardless of what clinic they belonged to.

We all know that the dialysis treatment we provide is life-saving, Mier said. If the patients dont receive treatment, not to say theyll die tomorrow but eventually the body would deteriorate from not getting the blood cleaned. Everybody knew the importance of it and they just got it done. I was so proud to hear their stories.

While Mier was in Puerto Rico, bridges and roads were still washed out making it impossible for many patients who live in the mountains to get to the clinic, so the company she works for was chartering helicopters to bring patients in.

They picked up the patients, brought them to us, wed run their treatments and get them taken care of and put them back in the helicopters with some food and took them back home, Mier said. It was the coolest thing ever.

She said one of her hopes upon heading to Puerto Rico was that shed be able to touch lives. One dialysis patient in particular, Gloria, gave Mier the opportunity to complete this task.

As I was putting (Gloria) on treatment, she was telling us how she was so tired and just not feeling good because when the hurricane hit their front door had blown off. They didnt have the means or the funds to be able to replace it, Mier said. Right behind their house is a canal so they were having to deal with large scorpions, spiders and snakes that were coming into the home through the front door, especially at night. So her family was taking turns sleeping so they could sweep the critters out.

With the help of her assigned security detail, Mier was able to get a door put back onto Glorias house.

They were so grateful, Mier said. We noticed while we were there that they had mattresses on the floor in big plastic. I could smell the mold and I asked her and she said they were still a little wet but theyd put plastic on them. I didnt like that. With the mold, what if the spores got into their lungs? So we went to Kmart there and got three roll away cot beds for them.

Mier has one regret during her trip, it was a missed opportunity to take a video of a special moment between the dialysis patients in the clinic and nurses.

I was helping one of the nurses, it was kind of a slow afternoon and this nurse had Marc Anthonys Vivir Mi Vida quietly playing on her cell phone, Mier remembered. Shes getting the site ready to put in the needles, Im on the computer, and she starts to hum the song. The lyrics are, Sometimes the rain comes and cleans us of our pain. Sometimes its just a drop and sometimes it just continues. But why cry, why talk about my pain, just forget about the suffering because thats life. So shes humming, another nurse starts mumbling the words, well then the patient knew the words so he started singing it. The next thing you know, the next patient starts humming it and the next nurse starts humming it and about halfway through the song, the entire clinic was singing this beautiful song. I just stood there in awe just watching them all.

While Mier is now back in Alamogordo, shes already been contacted about going back to Puerto Rico. Shes contemplating another round. As for her time in Puerto Rico, Mier said she feels honored to have gone and grateful to her employers for sending her.

The people of Puerto Rico are strong, they are beautiful and they have such great faith and hope, Mier said. Everybody kept saying to each other Puerto Rico se levanta, which means Puerto Rico will rise up, as opposed to saying Bye, see you later on their way out the door. It was such a phrase that they would say to each other just to keep each others hopes up, and say were together in this and its going to be OK.
LAS CRUCES  A prominent Mesilla resident who was known for promoting arts and culture throughout the town has died.

Longtime resident Lalo Natividad, who was in his early 80s, died Sunday, Nov. 10, after a decline in health in recent years.

Natividad and his longtime partner were known for transforming their Mesilla property into an artistic and architectural icon in the 2,200-person village. And Natividad advocated the arts and historical preservation, helping to revive community events that residents and tourists alike enthusiastically celebrate each year.

He never served in an elected capacity, but he was active as a resident in town affairs.

Mr. Natividad was very involved with many aspects, as far as cultural events in our community, in government, and in preserving the town of Mesilla, said Mayor Nora Barraza. He was a strong advocate for all of those.

Mesilla will miss you

The Mesilla Board of Trustees last Monday held a moment of silence in honor of Natividad. Word spread quickly through the community about his death, and a number of residents expressed grief at the news.

Chris Alexander, another longtime Mesilla resident, paid tribute to Natividad on social media, saying he was a good friend who stood up for the community.

Mesilla will miss you, he wrote.

Natividad wasnt born in Mesilla, but had lived there at least two decades. He served as a firefighter in El Paso and retired in Mesilla, where he lived with his partner of 40 years, Richard Weeks, who died in 2006.

A cultural revival

Natividad and Weeks in the mid-1990s co-founded El Grupo Cultural de Mesilla, an organization that revived a number of celebrations on the historic Mesilla Plaza that continue today. They include the popular Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis de Septiembre fiestas.

He was also known to give tours of the town and his home, which featured Spanish style artwork and artifacts, to visitors.

Former state Rep. Joni Gutierrez, a Mesilla resident, said for a long time she regularly saw Natividad when walking in the neighborhood, but he hadnt been as active in recent years.

She said hell be remembered for his creative contributions to the town.

He made Mesilla a better place by being so creative in expressing himself through the land that he owned, she said. He just added so much richness to our neighborhood.

Gutierrez said Natividad was passionate about the arts and culture.

Mesilla mourns passing of longtime arts advocate Lalo Natividad
December 17, 2017

Bahrain and Israels shared threat perception of Irans growing regional influence has driven Manamas quiet outreach to the Jewish state over the past year. However, the rage from populations across the greater Arab and Muslim world due to US President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has hindered the prospects of formalized Bahraini-Israeli diplomatic relations.

Like the other five Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, Bahrain, whose leadership frequently invokes the Palestinian cause, has never held formal diplomatic relations with Israel. While Bahrain, unlike Qatar and Oman, has never permitted Israel to open a trade office in their country, Manamas unofficial contacts with the Jewish state date back to the mid-1990s.

Earlier this year, Bahraini-Israeli ties reached a watershed when two American rabbis  Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper  spoke during an event at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in California, where they relayed the king of Bahrains opposition to the Arab boycott of Israel, as well as his call for Bahraini and Israeli citizens to have the right to travel freely between the two countries. Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was in attendance, leading pundits to speculate about Bahrain's soon becoming the first GCC member to establish official diplomatic and trade relations with Israel.

On Dec. 9, three days after Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, This is Bahrain, a 24-member Bahraini interfaith delegation, arrived in Israel to discuss normalizing Bahraini-Israeli relations. Bahraini political and religious figures  albeit none from the countrys small Jewish community  comprised the delegation, which sought to showcase the Arab Persian Gulf countrys commitments to religious tolerance and pluralism.

Indeed, the Bahraini government maintains a positive relationship with the countrys small Jewish community, tolerating the GCCs only synagogue. Until 2013, Manamas ambassador to Washington, Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo, served as the first Jewish senior diplomat representing an Arab government. In recent years, officials in Manama have honored Hanukkah with ceremonies despite criticism from Hamas officials.

Trumps Jerusalem decision, however, has severely undermined the delegations efforts in Israel. Palestinian guards at Al-Aqsa Mosque expelled This is Bahrain from the holy site; later, protesters in the Gaza Strip thwarted the delegation from entering the besieged coastal enclave. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces criticized This is Bahrain as shameless, saying, There is no place for people seeking to normalize relations with Israel in Gaza or in any other part of Palestine. In addition, the Palestinian Ministry of Education reportedly decided against meeting with This is Bahrain or receiving any of the delegations members in the occupied territories.

Bahrains state-owned media has attempted to distance itself from the delegation, maintaining that This is Bahrain does not represent official government policy. The delegations trip to Israel sparked controversy with the Bahraini public, underscored by the countrys social media landscape. The US Embassy in Manama went as far as to issue a warning to US citizens that Trumps Jerusalem recognition threatened to spark protests, some of which have the potential to become violent in Bahrain. In response to the crisis, officials in Manama condemned Trumps move, declaring that it "threatens the peace process in the Middle East."

Amid this backdrop of dilemmas and conflicting interests, a major question is whether Bahrain and Israel will establish official diplomatic ties in 2018.

In the next year, the future of Bahrains relationship with Israel will be heavily influenced by other GCC states response to the Jerusalem crisis. Given Bahrains increased dependence on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for internal security and financial support since the 2011 Arab Spring, Bahrains recent outreach to Israel likely received the Saudi leaderships approval.

Moreover, there is good reason to speculate that Riyadh directed Manama to take a lead in the Arab Persian Gulf states quiet yet significant overtures to Tel Aviv, as Bahrain often serves as the first GCC state to take action on behalf of the council, exemplified by Bahrain's severing diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar before other Arab states followed suit just over six months ago.

Although it is unclear how Bahrains leadership will assess the risks and potential benefits of reaching out to Israel, odds are good that other GCC capitals will look at Manamas engagement with Tel Aviv from the viewpoint that pushing back against Iran is a regional priority shared by Manama and Tel Aviv. Had the Trump administration sought to bring Bahrain and Israel closer to firm up the capacity of Americas abilities to collectively counter Tehran, the US presidents dangerous Jerusalem decision undermined any such efforts to promote the formalization of bilateral ties.

Yet even if the current climate throughout the Arab world gives Manama reason to avoid any appearance of being too open to improved ties with Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Israel will more often than not likely wind up in the same boat geopolitically because of Bahrain's and the Jewish states regional challenges in the aftermath of the Islamic States defeat in Iraq and Syria, the ongoing Qatar crisis and the further strengthening of Tehrans clout in the Middle East.
December 15, 2017

US President Donald Trump's Jerusalem proclamation of Dec. 6 sent shock waves throughout the Middle East. Visiting Ramallah one comes away with the impression that the Palestinians are experiencing some sort of a political earthquake. Meetings that took place in recent weeks with US envoy Jason Greenblatt focused on a possible American peace Initiative. And so, the Palestinian leadership was taken by surprise when Trump made his decision on Jerusalem.

A senior PLO official close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reacted to Al-Monitor with anger. This is not a peace initiative, but a declaration of war against the Palestinian people, he said, talking on condition of anonymity. The PLO official said that intense deliberations took place in the presidents office in the immediate aftermath of the US recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The analysis of the Palestinian leadership was that Trump is simply a supporter of the Israeli right wing and that he was influenced by two of his closest Jewish advisers  his son-in-law Jared Kushner and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who is known for his close ties with the settler movement. The Palestinian leadership had warned Greenblatt that any policy move on Jerusalem would be perceived as a casus belli, ending Palestinian willingness to accept US mediation. Obviously, their warning was not taken seriously. And so, the sense of disappointment is double. The declaration reflects the fact that insufficient pressure was put on the White House by their Arab allies, as well as by their friends in the European Union.

Generally, the American move is seen in Ramallah as politically motivated. Apart from Trump's affinity with the Israeli right, he is mostly interested in appeasing his evangelical base at a time when he needs public support over the Russia investigation.

According to the PLO official, there were some concrete conclusions from the deliberations. First, the Palestinians decided to halt all contacts with the US envoys on a US-led peace process, and they will announce publicly that the United States has ceased to be an honest broker. Ramallah canceled Abbas meeting with Vice President Mike Pence in Bethlehem scheduled for Dec. 19.

Abbas met with Jordanian King Abdullah on Dec. 7 to coordinate the political and public protest, the theme of which is the protection of Palestinian and Muslim Jerusalem. The Palestinians also decided to coordinate a sharp anti-US reaction together with Egypt and Saudi Arabia. A special role is attributed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is known to have a close relationship with the White House.

Other steps that Ramallah is planning to take are convening a meeting of the Arab League and encouraging high-level participation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperations campaign to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

The Palestinian intention is to emphasize the controversy both on the political and on the religious angles. Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital is now under attack. Any future diplomatic process must therefore be solely based on the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. Ramallah estimated that Cairo's official response, simply emphasizing that East Jerusalem was the capital of Palestine, was too mellow.

According to the senior PLO official, some senior Fatah officials called to instigate a third intifada. Others pushed for greater unity with Hamas, without taking a common position on a violent reaction. Abbas emphasized that the protest must remain nonviolent and instructed his security forces accordingly. An international public campaign on the Palestinian right to a capital in East Jerusalem and their political and religious rights to Haram al-Sharif is being launched.

A senior Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said that the presidents declaration was a major policy victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the decision as a historical turning point. The Israeli source is aware of the looming dangers of an outbreak of violence in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and he said that Israel would react firmly and with proportion.

The Israeli official is right. Trumps decision to change American policy on Jerusalem is a historical watershed. It is hard to see how the Palestinian side in the years to come (as long as Trump is president) will engage in a realistic peace process under American auspices. Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are becoming the focal point of the Palestinian struggle for independence, and the outbreak of violence may be a matter of time. The US decision plays into the hands of Hamas, while weakening Abbas. At the same time, the US decision also strengthens the political status of Netanyahu, the Likud and the settler movement. As to Jerusalem, it remains the same divided city that it was before Trump's proclamation.
December 17, 2017

The fallout from US President Donald Trumps Dec. 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is just starting to be felt, and Tehran seems ready to capitalize.

Although four Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Dec. 15, it would be a mistake to judge the reaction to Trumps decision simply by the levels of violence on the Arab street just two weeks out.

As Daoud Kuttab writes, the US decision has unified Arab ranks and put Jerusalem at the top of the Islamic agenda. At Arab and Islamic leadership summits, the usual talkers and final statements on Jerusalem will no longer suffice. Muslims around the world, and especially in the Middle East, may ultimately hold their ruling elites accountable for an epic failure of leadership. Two weeks is the beginning of the beginning. This crisis will have a long fuse.

Trumps decision was a windfall for Islamic Jihad, which is likely behind the increased rocket fire into Israel from Gaza. In contrast to Hamas, which has chosen a mainly passive role at the moment regarding the Jerusalem proclamation, Shlomi Eldar explains, sources in Israels security system identify aggressive operational activities by Islamic Jihad. True, the organization did not accept responsibility for the rocket fire on Israel, but the type of rockets fired twice this week on Ashkelon turns the spotlight mainly in Islamic Jihad's direction. While Hamas views Salafist organizations as a real threat to Hamas' sovereignty and rule over Gaza, Hamas has a close relationship with Islamic Jihad. The military wing of the small, militant Islamic Jihad organization, called the al-Quds Brigades (Jerusalem Brigades), is estimated to number between 1,000-1,500 armed fighters. Hamas views these as its 'brothers in arms.

Eldar adds, The military alliance between the two organizations has known ups and downs over the years, but Hamas has never tried to disarm Islamic Jihad. There are two reasons for this: Both groups are supported by the same ally, Iran, and the cooperation between the military wings of the two groups served Hamas goals. It can be estimated that the two organizations cooperate in the underground tunnel digging project. In times of crisis, when facing threats from Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad work together. They combine forces and coordinate their positions.

Eldar concludes, Trumps Jerusalem proclamation disrupted the tacit understanding between the two groups and renewed their war over public opinion in the Gaza Strip. While Islamic Jihad viewed the developments as an opportunity to take over the leadership of the Palestinian struggle, Hamas found itself in a Catch-22. On the one hand, it wants to avoid an all-out war with Israel, and on the other hand, it does not want the Palestinian public to view Hamas as forfeiting Jerusalem  and even preventing other organizations from retaliating. That would be a stigma that Hamas could not tolerate, and that may be why the rockets launched at Israel this week were probably carried out with Hamas tacit agreement.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, one of Washingtons most valued allies, is reeling from the decision. Osama Al Sharif reports that Jordan sees the vague US recognition, which did not mention East Jerusalem by name and only referred to freedom of worship in the Holy City, as threatening its own role as custodian of Muslim and Christian sites in the occupied city.

Sharif said, Abdullahs concerns go beyond the immediate effects of the Trump announcement, which is seen here as having delivered a fatal blow to the two-state solution. The escalation of Jordans diplomatic offensive against its most important financial and military backer underlines its anxiety over the long-term ramifications of the US move.

Trumps decision on Jerusalem represents the gravest challenge to US-Jordan relations since Abdullahs father, King Hussein, backed Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins seizure of Kuwait in 1990. The Jordanian monarchy exists on the razors edge, and cannot ignore the outrage of its citizens on this one. Abdullah cant stomach talk of a Jordan option for Palestine, as Jordan already has a population that is half Palestinian, and has instead chosen to up the ante through a sustained diplomatic offensive and [that is] why he is backing Abbas, who has adopted extreme anti-US positions. But the big question here is: How far would the king go in opposing the US move, and Trump in particular, without risking a backlash that could hurt his strategic relationship with Washington? At a time when Jordan is becoming increasingly dependent on US economic and military aid, estimated at $1.2 billion in 2017, and as Amman and Washington seek to fortify a long-term security agreement, the kings gambit looks risky at best.

Meanwhile, US-Turkey relations have sunk to new lows, if one thought that were even possible. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Dec. 13 in response to the US decision on Jerusalem. At the same time, US national security adviser H.R. McMaster fingered Turkey and Qatar as key sponsors of radical Islamist ideology. The Turkish Foreign Ministry termed McMasters comments baseless and far beyond reality, astonishing and unacceptable.

Cengiz Candar writes that all this means that a train crash between Ankara and Washington is more likely than the two erstwhile but estranged allies' cementing their strategic partnership.

And this brings us to Iran, where Trumps decision on Jerusalem has unified pragmatists and hard-liners. The ultimate irony of the Jerusalem debacle is once again that Iran has been given the upper hand without having lifted a finger, writes Reza Marashi. Indeed, with the peace process dead, most of the world is blaming Trump, Israel and Saudi Arabia for tearing the region apart. But Jerusalem is only the latest in a long line of missteps over the past year that Iran has capitalized on. This has left Rouhani in a position in which he can now work across the political spectrum to reconnect the Islamic Republics ideological goal of opposing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory with its geopolitical goal of avoiding international isolation  with increased international support for both objectives. Iran may not have drawn it up this way, but it will gladly accept the freebies being handed out by Washington, Tel Aviv and Riyadh.
December 16, 2017

Walking into Turkish artist CANANs solo exhibition at Istanbuls Arter Gallery is like entering a surreal, supernatural and fervently feminist world.

Behind Mount Qaf, the sprawling exhibition  which runs through Feb. 18  of two decades of CANANs paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures and more, takes its name from the cosmic mountain of Persian and Arab legend, luring viewers into the familiar realm of allegory before the artist surreptitiously merges the personal, including the use of her own body, with the political.

Mount Qaf is both familiar and otherworldly, but in fact it is a world we all possess: the world inside of us. Myths, fables and dreams are as personal as they are collective  part of our common subconscious, CANAN told Al-Monitor in an interview at the show. Everything in our individual or shared subconscious is  ultimately  political.

It is a bold undertaking at a time of tumult in Turkey, when many artists feel they must tread carefully between the provocative and the socially acceptable. Tens of thousands of people, including writers, journalists and politicians, are in prison under a state of emergency that followed a failed coup attempt last year, and the forces of censorship are palpable.

Rising social conservatism has not overlooked the art world. Islamist protesters who stormed an exhibit in October tried to smash a statue by Australian artist Ron Mueck, outraged that the nude figure was exhibited in a home once owned by an Ottoman caliph.

Turkeys leading feminist artist CANAN has used her own, nude image in her work for two decades yet still felt trepidation when putting together this show. My body is indispensable to my work, it is a source of my artistic material, she said. But I have experienced no trouble. I saw that my anxiety was unfounded.

In Cybele, a heavily pregnant CANAN portrays the Phrygian goddess before she gives birth. The photograph, from 2000 but shown here for the first time, was in response to a debate that continues to recur over whether pregnant women should be seen outside the home.

Like all women, the ideal body has been imposed on me, but it is a serious form of dictatorship. When we begin to challenge that image, when we pursue what we want, when we listen to our desires, we are able to free ourselves of our internal dictator as well as an external, collective dictatorship, she said.

Yet the pressures of the real world lurk nearby. At the entrance, just off the bustling high street of Istiklal, a security guard points visitors to a sign that reads, This exhibit contains sexual and frightening content, which may be disturbing for children.

The show spans three floors, all populated with strange creatures: androgynous jinni, erotic demons and giant plush-toy serpents. It has drawn nearly 50,000 people since opening in September.

Feminism has consistently and uncompromisingly been at the heart of CANANs work, said Nazli Gurlek, the shows curator.

Despite the obvious difficulty women face in Turkey, there is also heightened awareness here, and that makes it possible for the artist, if she believes in what she has to say, to find a way, Gurlek said. CANAN has never self-censored or retracted. She follows the path she believes in.

Even her name, CANAN, is an act of protest. Married while still a university student, she took the last name of her husband as per Turkish civil law and signed most of her works in the 1990s and 2000s as Canan Senol. But when she decided to get a divorce in 2010, she learned that she needed the permission of both her husband and the government to continue using the last name. She then decided to drop the last name and opt for a capitalized first name. I refuse to use this surname that depends on the permission of the husband and the government. I am bored and fed up with facing permissions and impositions in every stage and field of my life, she writes on her website.

The artist found a kindred spirit, flouting the watchful eyes around her in the real-life Martha Arat. Women Bathing at Midnight (2017) is dedicated to Arat, who lived on one of Istanbuls Princes Islands in the 1980s. An Armenian Catholic from Lebanon, the former ballerina became notorious for her transparent clothing and skinny-dipping in the Sea of Marmara. When the islanders gossip became too vicious to bear, she committed suicide. Today, the cove where she once swam bears her name, Madam Martha Cove.

In CANANs film, women dressed in white and crowned with flowers howl at the moon before descending a hill in peals of laughter to shed their clothing and enter the moonlit sea. Evoking a pagan ritual, the act is defiant in a country where government ministers have told women to avoid laughing in public.

Other works are nods to more traditional forms, such as embroidered Ottoman miniatures and the inky 15th century Siyah Qalam drawings preserved at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The three floors of CANAN's exhibit, dubbed Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, reconfigure the ascent of the mythical Mount Qaf, the Sufi summit said to stand at the end of the world. The motif appears in literature, from Dantes climb of Mount Purgatory to Salman Rushdies peak-scaling protagonist in Grimus.

In Islamic cosmology, Mount Qaf is the unattainable mountain, but the notion of reaching a summit to find yourself is found in other mythologies, CANAN said, stressing that her theme is irreligious. The concepts here are with us whether we are religious or non-believers. Arriving at Mount Qaf is the story of self-discovery.

Back on Earth, the plight of those swept up in the post-coup crackdown was on CANANs mind in Theres So Much Evil Out There (2017). A bed, table and scattered feathers line a blindingly white, cell-like room, while the walls are scrawled with desperate, erotic messages.

We have lived through a deeply traumatic period and everyone is looking for a way to heal, CANAN said. It is unacceptable that people have been imprisoned and that expression has been confined. I do not see a difference, whether we are creating prisons for ourselves or people are literally shut in a cell.

She continued, Reaching Mount Qaf is to realize how the mechanisms of power bind us  and then to discard them.
Verizon has now released a report showing off its wireless network highlights for the year 2017. The report, which the company calls its 2017 Wireless Network Milestones covers everything from improvements to Verizons network coverage and reliability to new advancements in both 4G LTE Advanced and preparations for 5G. Although it understandably avoids discussion on the companys financials for the year, with consideration for several flat quarters reported by the company this year, it also covers some industry breakthroughs claimed by the service provider over the past 365 days.

Starting things off, Verizon reports that this year the company was able to reach 953Mbps under real-world conditions using Licensed Assisted Access, as well as being the first to surpass gigabit speeds. Beyond that, the company says that it was the first to deploy Frequency Division Duplex Massive MIMO and that it managed to implement 44 MIMO and 256 QAM across more than 560 markets in the US. Going further, Verizon demoed end-to-end band 48 citizens broadband radio service carrier aggregation and deployed carrier aggregation in around 2,000 markets covered by its network. Taking things further still, the carrier launched a national Cat M1 LTE network specifically designed for use by the IoT. Each of these advancements, meanwhile, was made in support of the incoming 5G networks, in addition to Verizons pre-commercial 5G trials being run over the course of the year  with the company planning commercial 5G network launches beginning the second half of 2018. Verizon also provides some examples of information obtained through those trials. For example, millimeter-wave spectrum performed better than the company expected prior to testing. Using its 28Ghz spectrum, the company was able to consistently penetrate as high as 19 floors in a building. It was able also to achieve median speeds of 1GB per second at distances of over 2,000 feet from a given cell site, which the company says is well beyond what was initially expected, as is the under 10-millisecond latency experienced during testing. Wall and building material penetration are also improving, as is penetration through lowE window glass. Meanwhile, the company has also recently opened a new open innovation lab in New York Citys Silicon Alley. That project will house startups and other entrepreneurs with a focus on advancing 5G at an accelerated pace.

Rounding out its accomplishments for the year, Verizon points out its efforts in the interest of public service. Namely, the company has small cell deployments in the top 25 market and in 90-percent of the top 100 markets with the goal of enabling both consumers and first responders. This year, the company deployed rapid solutions in response to each of 2017s hurricanes and in response to this years wildfires in California. According to Verizon, the companys network in affected areas remain almost completely operation during the emergencies. During Hurricane Harvey, the company claims that 98-percent of its network remains in operation during and after the storm. Hurricane Irma only resulted in five days where its network wasnt performing at its baseline, according to Verizon, although the companys network in Florida never dropped below 90-percent operational. Finally, the company also provided data relief to customers and implemented temporary cell sites and charging stations, in addition to providing more than $15 million in total donations to provide relief in affected areas. The company says it was able to accomplish those tasks while still managing to be rated best overall network performance and reliability, with the fastest available speeds, according to RootMetrics  in addition to being rated best provider for 2017 by J.D. Power.
That's about as much information as you're going to get before all the details are released in Detroit next month. But it looks cool, right? Sort of like a transportation device for rednecks who do rustic furniture on YouTube.Not all of 2019 Silverados will look like this, and that's because the 1500 has gained a trim level called Trail Boss. The front fascia is all black and sinister, drawing more attention to the shrunken LED taillights that sit right next to the hood. The grille is smaller than what we're used to and stands upright.The side is kinda different-looking too. Chevrolet designers have sculpted creases into the doors and the fenders. Speaking of which, the cutouts for the wheels are round and car-like compared to the old square design.At the back, we have fresh taillights that have "Chevrolet" written inside and dual exhaust pipes with rectangular tips.The Trail Boss model gets the usual off-road goodies from the Z71 package, including the tire and suspension upgrades. There's a two-inch lift over the standard model and more rugged appearance.We find it odd how the Silverado looks nothing like any other Chevrolet model, especially the crossovers and SUVs. Perhaps it paved the way for a new generation of rugged 4x4s, or maybe it's just a badass stand-alone core of the brand. It's going to use more high-tensile-strength steel, but GM doesn't want to follow Ford's aluminum leed.Our owners passion for Chevrolet trucks is truly humbling, said Alan Batey, president of GM North America, and global head of Chevrolet. Many of our owners depend on their trucks for work and play, personalize their trucks in astonishing ways and pass their loyalty for Chevy Trucks down from generation to generation.
If, as Samuel Johnson is purported to have said, patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, perhaps the mercantilist parallel in the age of global commerce is a faded bumper sticker once popular around Seattle: If its not a Boeing, Im not going.

That, in part, seems to be animating the current tawdry mud fight between Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus and Delta, with the skirmish lines being drawn in the stuffy bureaucracy of the World Trade Organization. Obscured by the war of the PR departments is that this is really little more than moneyed legal teams striving for the high notes in identifying each others kettles as mere pots.

Arriving in my inbox this week was an analysis from the Business Travel Coalition, an advocacy/lobbying group for transparency in policies related to the managed travel industry. It excoriated Delta Air Lines for its purchase of 100 new Airbus A320neos by pullingwhat elsethe patriotism card. Quoting Commerce department estimates, this buy will supposedly cost some 65,000 American jobs. (Never mind that most A320s for the North American market are built in Mobile, Alabama, not far from Continentals engine factory.) BTC also dinged Deltafairly, Ill admitfor advertising and promotion heavy on commitment to American commerce while it was busy buyinghorrors!European airliners.

This skillet has been simmering awhile but came to a boil earlier this year when Boeing challenged Deltas purchase of Bombardier CS100 single-aisle jets, claiming the airline was getting such a good deal that Bombardier had to be dumping into the U.S. market. The U.S. Department of Commerce agreed and slapped a 300 percent tariff on the Delta buy, effectively killing the deal if not Bombardier itself. Retaliation is the stuff of trade spats and it didnt take Canada long: Last week, it cancelled a $6.5 billion order for Boeing F/A-18 aircraft. It will buy used versions from Australia instead. In the meantime, Airbus stepped up and acquired a no-cash majority position in the CSeries program that will allow Bombardier to leverage Airbuss global heft in marketing and supply-chain economics. Smart move, Boeing.

Now the case goes off to the International Trade Commission, which will determine if Boeings claims of potential damage to the U.S. industry are valid. Core to the argument is government subsidies, which Boeing claims Bombardier got from the Canadian and Quebec governments when the CSeries program ran into trouble. Brazil has filed a World Trade Organization claim on this as well. The pot-kettle silliness arises from the fact that both Boeing and Embraer would have us believe theyre utterly unspoiled by the taint of government payments, laboring as they do in the remorseless hard-scrabble of western capitalism.

Of course, more than a third of Boeings $94.5 billion revenues come from government defense contracts, so there is that. And Good Jobs Firstreports that Boeing has been an aggressive seeker of government subsidies in the form of loan guarantees, tax breaks and bond financing. In South Carolina, for example, it negotiated what could be as much as $900 million in property tax abatements for a new factory there.

And in Seattle, when the state and city were worried about Boeing exporting jobs in 2013, the company was given an $8.7 billion tax break, the single largest that any state has offered in the U.S. The company repaid the community by cuttingmore than 12,000 jobs, or 15 percent of the workforce. The legislature is busy crafting a law to get some of that money back.

The point is this: If youre looking for moral bedrock here, there is none. Its folly to apply white hat/black hat reasoning or to force the discussion into always-buy-American ideology. The reality is that in the global marketplace, aerospace giants are financed, subsidized and sustained by government money in some form and its nave to think otherwise. Its just a fact of business life so youre left to spin it toward European subsidies being socialism run amuck and U.S. subsidies as just good ole Merican capitalism.

Further, Boeing and Airbus have both inked orders for airplanes selling below production cost. They make their money in sustained production programs. Not being privy to the details of Deltas deal with Airbus, we can only guess if it was animated by spite or standard bottom-line thinking. But if businesses are shamed into higher-cost decisions for patriotic optics, they are by definition making themselves less competitive. This is equally true if a local government views a tax break as a promissory note for a full-employment program. If a company cant trim workforce to accommodate productivity gains, it will become uncompetitive.

So the CSeries ITC case is just a bunch of noise to see whose lawyers can pull the wool over the commissions eyes more effectively. The WTO will eventually get involved, Im sure. The buy American argument strikes me as impossibly simple-minded in an industry thats as globalized as aerospace. Why is it better to preserve jobs in Seattle than in Mobile? More than half of the CSeries components are U.S. sourced, so if those companies dont get the business, will Boeing buy components for a type of airliner it doesnt even build?

The quaint view of competition is that it has to do with the best products at the best prices and the great leveler of consumer demand will declare the winner. But competition is multifaceted, bridging into politics, the courts and manipulating public opinion. In my view, thats Boeings top game here. It has decided to invest heavily in its cash-cow 737 series to the exclusion of smaller aircraft like the CS100. So rather than compete with a like product, it will sue the competition. (Nothing new about this. The Wright brothers started it with their protracted suits against Glenn Curtiss.)

Naturally, Boeing has its investors to consider and they ought to be happy indeed. Just this year, its stock price has soared from $153 to $296. Boeing alone accounts for more than 25 percent of the Dows average rise this year. With that kind of market cap ($175 billion), youd think they could afford to fund a piddly 100-seat airliner project. But they probably look on that class of airplane the same way Cessna looked at the Skycatcher.

First Flight Day

Having mentioned the Wright brothers above, Id be remiss in not noting that today is the 114th anniversary of the age of powered flight. The weather on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is remarkably similar this morning: 36 degrees, but a light breeze rather than the gale that lifted Orville Wright 120 feet on the first recorded powered flight, a mere three feet less than the wingspan of Boeing 737. Perhaps due to subsidies, an A320 is six feet shorter.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has obtained many tens of thousands" of Trump transition emails, including emails of Jared Kushner, transition team sources tell Axios.

Trump officials discovered Mueller had the emails when his prosecutors used them as the basis for questions to witnesses, the sources said.

The emails include 12 accounts, one of which contains about 7,000 emails, the sources said.

The accounts include the team's political leadership and the foreign-policy team, the sources said.

Why it matters: The transition emails are said to include sensitive exchanges on matters that include potential appointments, gossip about the views of particular senators involved in the confirmation process, speculation about vulnerabilities of Trump nominees, strategizing about press statements, and policy planning on everything from war to taxes.

Mueller is using the emails to confirm things, and get new leads," a transition source told me.

How it happened: The sources say Mueller obtained the emails from the General Services Administration, the government agency that hosted the transition email system, which had addresses ending in ptt.gov," for Presidential Transition Team.

Taking fight public: Charging "unlawful conduct," Kory Langhofer, counsel for the transition team, wrote in a letter to congressional committees Saturday that "career staff at the General Services Administration ... have unlawfully produced [transition team] private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsel's Office."

The seven-page letter, obtained by Axios, says: "We understand that the Special Counsel's Office has subsequently made extensive use of the materials it obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims."

"We understand that the Special Counsel's Office has subsequently made extensive use of the materials it obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims." The letter says this was a violation of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

against unreasonable search and seizure. "Additionally, certain portions of the [transition] materials the Special Counsel's Office obtained from the GSA, including materials that are susceptible to privilege claims, have been leaked to the press by unknown persons."

The Special Counsel's office said: "We will decline to comment."

The transition sources said they were surprised about the emails because they have been in touch with Mueller's team and have cooperated.

The twist: The sources say that transition officials assumed that Mueller would come calling, and had sifted through the emails and separated the ones they considered privileged. But the sources said that was for naught, since Mueller has the complete cache from the dozen accounts.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with details from the Langhofer letter to congressional committees.

Get more stories like this by signing up for our daily morning newsletter, Axios AM.
17 December 2017 14:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and the ASAN Service are cooperating in the field of e-government, Elmir Valizade, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, said.

Valizade made the remarks at the conference entitled "Technologies and Innovations: Prospects for Economic Reforms and Development" in Baku.

He said that special e-government sections with computers are planned to be created in the centers of the ASAN Service as part of cooperation. Citizens will be able to learn to use electronic services through these sections.

"We are already cooperating with ASAN in this sphere and I think we will be able to hold a presentation within our joint cooperation in the near future," Valizade said.

Currently, 333 e-services of the total number of approved e-services (436) are integrated into the e-government portal.
17 December 2017 12:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

New buses have been delivered to Baku as part of the renovation of the bus fleet, the Baku Transport Agency told Trend.

Twenty buses, brought by Cinar Trans LLC, fully meet the requirements of the Baku Transport Agencys regulatory documents. New buses, which also meet the Euro-5 standard, will improve the quality of passenger service.

As a whole, Cinar Trans LLC brought 65 new buses to Baku in 2017. Eighty five buses are planned to be purchased and brought in 2018.

According to the requirements of the Baku Transport Agency, 350 passenger buses will be brought to Baku in January-June 2018. The length of 20 buses will be 18 meters. New buses will mainly run in the city center.
17 December 2017 10:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Libyas coastal guard has rescued more than 250 illegal migrants trying to leave the North African country in small boats bound for Italy, officials said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

Libyas western shores are the main departure point for migrants mainly from sub-Saharan countries fleeing poverty and conflict trying to reach Europe.

Arrivals to Italy have fallen by two-thirds since July from the same period last year after officials working for the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, Italys partner, managed to cut back human smuggling in the city of Sabratha west of the capital.

That has pushed the trade further east, with the coast guard intercepting several boats off the coast near Qaraboulli and Zliten, two towns located east of Tripoli.

The naval forces Ibn Ouf vessel rescued (on Friday) illegal migrants including women, children and men ... they are from different sub-Saharan and Arab countries, Coast Guard Captain Abdulhadi Fakhal told Reuters.

They were rescued off Qaraboulli and Zliten towns ... and they are about 250 to 270 persons, Fakhal said.
17 December 2017 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria and the upcoming bilateral contacts during a telephone conversation with Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on its website on Saturday.

"The ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, a schedule of political contacts for the upcoming period," the ministry said. "While discussing international issues, they paid special attention to development of the situation in Syria."

The telephone conversation was on Friday, December 14, at the French sides initiative, the ministry added.
Fed up with the U.S. healthcare system, many American physicians are heading to Canada to practice medicine in an environment where they don't have to consider whether their patients will be able to afford treatment, NPR reports.

Here are six takeaways from the report.

1. While U.S. politicians often paint a rosy picture of the Canadian single-payer healthcare system, Peter Cram, MD, an internist from Iowa City, Iowa, who moved to Toronto in 2014, said the system is far from perfect. "Anyone who gives you a sound bite and says this system should be adopted by [the U.S.] ... I think they're being almost disingenuous," he said.

2. While every Canadian is afforded government health insurance, only hospitals and physician visits are covered  prescription medications, dentists, optometrists and some specialists are not. Most Canadians buy additional private insurance to cover those expenses, according to NPR citing Kaiser Health News.

3. The Canadian government also prohibits private insurers from offering plans that may compete with government insurance, which serves as a point of contention with some physicians in Canada, the report states.

4. The two biggest issues with Canadian healthcare involve wait times and health spending, the report states. Canada's provinces spend, on average, 38 percent of their respective budgets on healthcare, according to data from a 2016 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information cited by NPR. The system is largely supported by federal and provincial funds raised through personal and corporate income taxes.

5. Because the majority of Americans maintain higher expectations about what a health plan should cover, the cost of implementing a healthcare system similar to Canada's would be more expensive. Dr. Cram said the quality of care also differs between the two nations; wealthier Canadians receive the same type of care as less affluent residents. "Everyone [in Canada] gets Kmart care. There's no Neiman Marcus care," he said.

6. However, before American lawmakers attempt to change the system, they must answer the question of whether healthcare constitutes a right.

"The U.S. needs to get on with the rest of the world and get an answer on that issue before it answers others," said Robert Reid, MD, PhD, a professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto who has also practiced medicine in Seattle, according to the report.

To read the full NPR report, click here.

More articles on hospital-physician relationships:

Trial for New York physician who allegedly spiked girlfriend's drink with abortion pill delayed

NYU Langone physician found dead of suspected heroin overdose

Physician burnout: Do we have a cure for this disease in modern healthcare?
According to media reports, terrorists with heavy explosives attacked a Pakistan church during a midday service in the city of Quetta just over a week before Christmas. At least eight people were killed and 44 including children were severely injured in the attack.
A prisoner who has been unlawfully at large from Maghaberry Prison has been found in Belfast.

Detectives from the Serious Crime Branch arrested James Valliday in north Belfast around 5am on Sunday.

The 52-year-old had been on the run since November 9.

A 29-year-old woman was also arrested on Sunday on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Both are currently in custody helping police with their enquiries.

Detective Inspector Darren McCartney said: "We would continue to appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of a second remand prisoner, 45 year old Charles Valliday, who also failed to return to Maghaberry Prison on the same date. Charles is described as 5ft 9ins in height, of stocky build, with short, brown hair, protruding ears and green eyes.

"He has a tattoo on his left arm  a bulldog, panther and snake - and a fish tattoo on his right arm.

I would appeal to Charles Valliday to hand himself in without further delay. As he has a history of violence, I would urge the public not to approach him.

Anyone who knows of his current whereabouts or who has any information should contact police immediately on 999.
Ireland's Impact trade union is seeking more clarification before it calls off industrial action by around 79 pilots in pursuit of formal union recognition

Ryanair pilots have suspended a pre-Christmas one-day strike, union bosses have announced.

Impact, which represents Irish-based pilots, has agreed to meet the low-cost carrier's management on Tuesday evening ahead of the planned strike on Wednesday.

Some 117 directly-employed Ryanair pilots are involved in the dispute, making up the majority of the firm's captains in Ireland - meaning any walkout would have severely affected flights.

The dispute is about winning independent representation for pilots in the company, Impact said.

In a statement, Impact said: "Impact has this evening suspended a planned one-day strike of Ryanair pilots next Wednesday after company management agreed to recognise the union as the representative of Irish-based pilots.

"The union has agreed to meet management on Tuesday evening, but says it is available to meet sooner.

"The union asked management to release its Ryanair pilot representatives to prepare for and attend the meeting.

"The union acknowledged the principled determination of Ryanair pilots, which it said had made this breakthrough possible, and said it looked forward to establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management.

"Impact added that it hoped the suspension of industrial action would remove any uncertainty for passengers intending to travel on Wednesday."

Impact said the union would make no further comment until after the meeting with Ryanair on Tuesday.

Ryanair said it would recognise unions for the first time as it also faces challenges from staff in Germany, Portugal, Britain and Italy.

The firm's chief operations officer, Peter Bellew, said: "Let's keep talking. Get people home quietly for Christmas.

"Union meetings planned next week and January."

It is the only time airline boss Michael O'Leary has extended such an invite to union leaders in the 32 years the company has been in business.

In October, Mr O'Leary wrote to his airline's pilots to offer them better pay and conditions after Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights.

The carrier admitted it had "messed up" the planning of its pilots' holidays.
A girl thought to have been abducted by her schizophrenic mother in breach of a judges order after social workers raised concerns has travelled to at least three different countries since vanishing about six months ago, evidence shows.

Three-year-old Elliana Shand, who has been at the centre of private family court litigation, and her mother Jessica Richards, 26, disappeared from their London home during the summer after social services staff at Barking and Dagenham Council intervened.

A judge, who is overseeing Ellianas case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court, and the little girls grandfather Sean Doyle, have appealed for public help finding the youngster and her mother.

Mr Justice Hayden has also outlined evidence gathered about Ellianas life in the last few months in a written ruling on the case.

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In a written ruling overview of the case published on a legal website, the judge says evidence shows Elliana had travelled abroad with her mothers mother, Sharon Shand, since going missing.

Elliana and her grandmother had flown to Jamaica in mid-May, then on to the United States to visit friends, before flying back to London via Sweden in September, he says.

The judge has also been told Elliana, who turns four on Tuesday, might have been to Barcelona and Alicante in Spain too.

Both Mr Justice Hayden and Mr Doyle, 51, have urged anyone with any information about Elliana to call police as a matter of urgency.

The judge says Ellianas mother could be in the grip of auditory hallucinations and might pose a very real risk to the little girl.

Mr Doyle, a Liverpool fan who campaigns for victims of the Hillsborough disaster, thinks Elliana and her mother, who were living in the Barking area of east London, may now be in or around London.

Please think if you have seen them, said Mr Doyle, whose son Craig, 29, of Southend, Essex, is Ellianas father and is separated from her mother.

They both need to be found as a matter of urgency.

Mr Doyle, who was born in Liverpool but now lives in the Wembley area of London, added: This is about Jessica getting the help she needs and Elliana getting a stable home while her mum gets better.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) and Tanaiste Simon Coveney during a press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin (Laura Hutton/PA)

The Irish Governments relationship with the DUP needs to be repaired, a minister said.

Foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney blamed tensions around agreeing phase one of the Brexit deal.

He said he wanted to meet Northern Irelands largest unionist party before the end of the year.

Mr Coveney told Irish broadcaster RTEs The Week in Politics: Because of the tension around trying to get the deal we felt was needed for everyone on this island, yes, of course there is repair work to do.

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The DUP has accused Irish premier Leo Varadkar of politicking over Brexit.

The Taoiseach has said Brexiteers need to acknowledge that they created the difficulties surrounding the Northern Ireland border.

A compromise agreed between the EU and UK has been the subject of a range of interpretations.

Mr Varadkar has said he is confident there will be no hard border on Ireland despite being warned the issue remains a riddle to be solved.

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The DUPs 10 pro-Brexit MPs are supporting Theresa Mays minority Government in crucial votes.

The unionist party scuppered earlier British Government efforts to agree a border deal with the EU.

The problem centred on whether Northern Ireland continued to follow some of the rules of the EUs single market after the separation and the DUP was keen to ensure there would be no divergence from the rest of the UK.

Mr Coveney said the absence of a power-sharing ministerial Executive at Stormont was part of the problem of Brexit.

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If Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree to resurrect the Executive, Mr Coveney said the Good Friday Agreement needed to be looked back at, because that was where the rules were set.

He added: Then there is the prospect of a whole series of other choices  from another election, to the triggering of Intergovernmental Conferences to make decisions on Northern Ireland.

That is not where we want to be. That will cause tension. It will be a very frosty environment to make decisions in so we all have a responsibility, in a practical sense, to find a way forward.
Russia has not been so hostile to the UK and the West since the end of the Cold War, Boris Johnson has said, as he prepares to meet his counterpart in Moscow.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Foreign Secretary accused Russia of destabilising the West through invasions, killings and attempts to interfere in western elections.

He described the falling out as a tragedy, and said his hopes at the end of the Cold War that relations might improve now seemed like a total illusion.

He told the paper: Russia has not been so hostile to the UK or to western interests since the end of the Cold War.

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In the Crimea, capturing a part of sovereign European territory from someone elses country and holding it for the first time since 1945. Add their destabilising activities in the western Balkans.

We literally have Russian fingerprints on an assassination attempt in Montenegro. Look at what theyre doing with cyber-warfare, with attempted disruption of democratic processes in the UK.

Although Mr Johnson said he had seen no evidence that Russian interference had affected the outcome of the EU referendum, he said he had seen evidence of Russian trolling on Facebook.

It is not the first time Mr Johnson has spoken out against Russia, having previously accused the nation of behaving as though there is indeed a new Cold War during a speech in the House of Commons.

He has also attacked them for shutting down investigations into chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

According to the Times, the Foreign Secretary will visit Russia on Thursday to hold talks with his opposite number, Sergey Lavrov.

Despite the strained relationship, he has vowed to find a way to engage with the nation, adding Britain needed to collaborate with Russia in order to defeat Islamist terrorism.

He told the paper he would be pushing very hard to understand how the Russians view the endgame in Syria.

Announcing his Moscow visit in October, Mr Johnson said differences between the countries made it all the more important for them to talk to one another, for the sake of national and international security.
The budget carrier is one of Europe's largest airlines (Nick Ansell/PA)

Ryanair pilots have suspended a pre-Christmas one-day strike, union bosses have announced.

Impact, which represents Irish-based pilots, has agreed to meet the low-cost carriers management on Tuesday evening ahead of the planned strike on Wednesday.

Some 117 directly-employed Ryanair pilots are involved in the dispute, making up the majority of the firms captains in Ireland  meaning any walkout would have severely affected flights.

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The dispute is about winning independent representation for pilots in the company, Impact said.

In a statement, Impact said: Impact has this evening suspended a planned one-day strike of Ryanair pilots next Wednesday after company management agreed to recognise the union as the representative of Irish-based pilots.

The union has agreed to meet management on Tuesday evening, but says it is available to meet sooner.

The union asked management to release its Ryanair pilot representatives to prepare for and attend the meeting.

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The union acknowledged the principled determination of Ryanair pilots, which it said had made this breakthrough possible, and said it looked forward to establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management.

Impact added that it hoped the suspension of industrial action would remove any uncertainty for passengers intending to travel on Wednesday.

Impact said the union would make no further comment until after the meeting with Ryanair on Tuesday.

Ryanair said it would recognise unions for the first time as it also faces challenges from staff in Germany, Portugal, Britain and Italy.

The firms chief operations officer, Peter Bellew, said: Lets keep talking. Get people home quietly for Christmas.

Union meetings planned next week and January.

It is the only time airline boss Michael OLeary has extended such an invite to union leaders in the 32 years the company has been in business.

In October, Mr OLeary wrote to his airlines pilots to offer them better pay and conditions after Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights.

The carrier admitted it had messed up the planning of its pilots holidays.
Tory Brexit rebels risk putting Jeremy Corbyn in power, a prominent Eurosceptic warned as the fallout from Theresa Mays first Commons defeat over Europe continued.

Backbench MP Nadine Dorries, who has said the 11 rebels should face deselection, compared the situation to wartime and claimed her colleagues had a duty to support the Prime Minister.

But ex-cabinet minister Ken Clarke said it was idiotic to call for a purge of Tory Europhiles and absurd to say the revolt was helping the Labour leader.

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The former chancellor also said the current cabinet  which will discuss Brexit over the coming days  was deeply divided on the details about the future trade deal it wants with the EU.

Now we need to get on to a sensible economic future, worked out by people who are prepared to read the brief and know something about trade, investment and business in the modern, globalised, economy, he said.

Ms Dorries hit out at Mr Clarke and his fellow rebels, telling the BBCs Sunday Politics the real heroes were Tories who had backed Remain but were now supporting the Governments Brexit plans.

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She said the rebels were pursuing a tactic of supporting measures to frustrate and delay Brexit.

Ms Dorries, who has voted against her leaders on a series of issues in the past, said the difference now was we have a Marxist government knocking on the door.

She added: We have got a very important job to do, we are in very dangerous times, we are in a situation that has not been seen like this since wartime. They had a responsibility and that responsibility was to support the Government.

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Another rebel, Anna Soubry, used a Mail on Sunday article to claim the Tories have our very own Blue Momentum  a reference to the Corbyn-supporting group which has been blamed for targeting MPs opposed to the Labour leader.

A tightly-knit and co-ordinated group of Conservatives, including some MPs, are working with non-party members to get their hard version of Brexit at any cost, she said. They are using the same pernicious tactics as Corbyns Momentum.

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But Ms Dorries shot back: I think most of what Anna Soubry says is quite often nonsense, I think that is too.

Responding to the deselection calls, Mr Clarke told Sunday Politics: It is utterly idiotic if a few of our association members in various parts of the country start interpreting this as the start of some sort of purge of backbench members of conscience.

Eurosceptics have been voting against the government for the last 30 years and no one on my side of the argument has ever gone round saying that they should be expelled from the party and sent to outer darkness.

Meanwhile Tory peers Baroness Altmann and Baroness Wheatcroft said they were shocked at the vilification aimed at the rebels and dismissed hysterical claims the revolt had helped Mr Corbyn.

We are deeply disappointed that colleagues who have rarely if ever rebelled before but want the best for their country are being lambasted for standing up for their beliefs on this crucial issue, they said in an Observer article.
Palestinian protesters run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes on the Israeli border (AP)

The Israeli military has opened an investigation into the fatal shooting of a paraplegic Palestinian man who was shot in the head during a violent demonstration in the Gaza Strip last week.

Palestinian health officials said Ibrahim Abu Thraya was shot while demonstrating along Gaza's border with Israel.

The area has experienced continued unrest since President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier this month.

Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, blamed Gaza's Hamas rulers for instigating violent demonstrations that posed a "significant threat" to soldiers and justified the use of live fire.

But he said "allegations of the killing of a paraplegic Palestinian rioter are under investigation". He says the probe is expected to take several days.

AP
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Real-life Stories: They Feed On Rats For Survival! Life oi-Syeda Farah

A community from Bihar, India, is known to be still living in poverty, where the residents are believed to be eating rats for their survival!

Though the Government claims that there is aid being provided to the these localities, they seem to continue to live in poverty and hard-to-imagine condition.

Here are some of the details of the bizarre practice of eating rats by these people...

It Takes 15 Minutes To Make The Rat Stew To kill the rat, they battle with it and pin it to the ground before they eventually manage to kill it with repeated blows to the rat's head, after which the locals of this community claim that it takes 15 minutes for them to make the rat stew. About The Community Musahars who are also known as the 'Rat Eaters' are one of India's most marginalised communities around the world. Reports claim that even the browbeaten low-caste Dalits look down on them for their bizarre lifestyle conditions. Why Do They Eat Rats? When media confronted a local as to what makes them eat rats, his answer left many surprised. He said: "We sit at home all day with nothing to do. Some days we get work at the farm, on other days we go hungry or catch rats and eat it with whatever little grain we can get." The Minister Addressed Former Chief Minister Manjhi had addressed the media and revealed about the state of the tribe. He said: "My community is so downtrodden that I think even government records don't yet show its real numbers, which could easily be around eight million." They Do Not Wish To Change Their Lifestyle The Musahars are quite adamant about making some lifestyle changes. They do not wish to change their lifestyles. The former Chief Minister Manjhi revealed: "Some from the older generation still eat rats because it is like any other food they have. Most of the younger generation don't eat it. Things have improved and will further change." What do you think will change this community's practice of relishing rat meat? Will education help? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Story first published: Saturday, December 16, 2017, 12:40 [IST]
Update - 4.51pm: Ryanair have said that pilot unions in Ireland and Germany have agreed to meet them on Wednesday, December 20, to discuss union recognition.

Ryanair has also claimed that they have offered to meet IALPA and their Ryanair pilot committee on Tuesday, December 19, "if that would suit them better".

The airline said in a statement: "The Portuguese pilot union has requested a meeting next week and Ryanair has offered to meet them on Thursday December 21.

"The British and Italian pilots unions have agreed to meet with Ryanair in early January."

Ryanair has again called on IALPA to cancel the threatened industrial action on Wednesday, which they say is "causing unnecessary concern and worry for thousands of Ryanair customers travelling home during Christmas week".

7.31am: Ryanair deadlock continues; airline says it cannot meet union until Wednesday

Ryanair and the pilots union IALPA are locked in a standoff, just days ahead of Wednesdays planned strike.

There were hopes of a breakthrough yesterday when the airline announced that it would agree to their demand for union recognition.

IALPA said it needed an urgent meeting with management to clarify a number of issues before it would call off the action.

But Ryanair says the soonest it can meet is Wednesday - the day of the planned strike.

Aviation journalist Gerry Byrne thinks the pilots are being cautious because Ryanairs offer doesnt meet all their demands.

"It has invited each of them to talks to recognise these unions and the representative bodies for pilots in Ryanair in each of these countries," said Mr Byrne.

"Now thats not what the pilots appear to be looking for.

"What they appear to be looking for is a pan-European representative council."
Argentina has dismissed the head of its navy as part of the investigation into the disappearance of a submarine with 44 crew members on board last month.

State news agency Telam said yesterday that defence minister Oscar Aguad had requested admiral Marcelo Srur step down while authorities look into what happened to the ARA San Juan, which disappeared on November 15.
Like many 12-year-old boys, Daniel Blackman had big dreams of flying in helicopters and going to sea on a battleship.

But when he was diagnosed with Ependymoma in 2015, a condition which causes tumours of his spine, those dreams seemed further out of reach than ever before.

Captain John Stavridis with Honorary Lieutenant Daniel Blackman on the bridge of HMAS Hobart. Credit:POIS Phil Cullinan

Enter Make-A-Wish Australia, who soon began corralling some of the nation's finest for what came to be known as 'Operation Kingsman'.

The operation, which enlisted the help of The Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Federal Police and Hungry Jacks, took Daniel across seas and above towns, from Canberra to New South Wales on an adventure that most boys his age could only dream of.
Some Canberra families are not sending their children to preschool because of a shortage of places in their local early childhood education centres, according to the peak body for public school parents.

ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations president Kirsty McGovern-Hooley said the organisation had heard from parents unable to enrol their children in their local preschool.

Riley Sarmias at Franklin Early Childhood School in 2015. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

Some families had chosen to send their children to early childhood education in another suburb, while others unable to make the drive went without, she said.

"Escorting a child into preschool at 9am a few suburbs away is particularly tricky if a family has older children who simultaneously need to be taken to their local primary school," Ms McGovern-Hooley said.
The number of legal cases awaiting judgement in the ACT Supreme Court has more than halved in the past four years.

However, delays remain a problem with some cases outstanding for a number of years.

Justice Hilary Penfold will retire in 2018. Credit:Rohan Thomson

The backlog of cases causing delays due to the workload of judges has been a long-running issue in the Supreme Court, with the ACT Government forced to appoint a fifth judge to help address the problem.

The reserved judgements list, kept by the Supreme Court and updated monthly, shows 22 matters had been unresolved for more than three months to the end of November.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan claimed the man had been acting "to serve some higher patriotic purpose" to raise funds for the North Korean regime and that, if successful, his attempted transactions could have raised tens of millions of dollars for Pyongyang.

He was arrested at his Eastwood apartment at the weekend. Police are investigating his activities as far back as 2008  the year the North Korean embassy in Canberra closed.

The man, named as Chan Han Choi, is understood to have been South-Korean born, but has lived in Australia for the past three decades and is a naturalised Australian citizen.

The Australian Federal Police has charged a 59-year-old Sydney man with being a broker and economic agent for the rogue North Korean regime, alleging he provided services to a "weapons of mass destruction program" and had tried to arrange the sale of North Korean missile parts and missile guidance technology to third parties overseas.

The charges relate to allegedly brokering the sale of missiles, missile parts and expertise from North Korea to "other international entities" and attempting to transfer coal from North Korea to non-government buyers in Indonesia and Vietnam.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," Mr Gaughan said. Over the weekend, Mr Choi was charged with six offences, including two under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995  the first time anyone has been charged under that law. The other charges relate to alleged breaches of United Nations and Australian sanctions against the North Korean regime.

Mr Gaughan would not say where Mr Choi had been working but said "the evidence suggests there had been contact with high-ranking officials in North Korea". He said he was not a spy, but "an economic agent".

He had been under surveillance for several months as part of Operation Byahaut after the AFP was tipped off by an overseas agency earlier this year. Mr Gaughan stressed that there had been no risk to the Australian public and that no weapons or missile componentry had been imported into this country. "This is black market 101," he said. "We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea," he said. "This was his goal."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was briefed by AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin on Sunday on the "very, very serious matter". Mr Turnbull warned anyone thinking of assisting the rogue state that "the AFP will find you".
Two people have died after drowning incidents on northern NSW beaches over the weekend.

A woman died after she was pulled from the water at a Coffs Harbour beach on Sunday evening, while a 14-year-old boy drowned after getting into trouble off Flynns Beach in Port Macquarie.

People searching at Flynns Beach for the body of a 14-year-old Bronson Rhodes. Credit:Port Macquarie News

The woman and her family of five had been swimming at unpatrolled Diggers Beach about 5.40pm when they all got into trouble in a strong current.

Bystanders were able to get the family back to shore but the 49-year-old woman, an Australian national who had been living in the UK, then lost consciousness.
Hundreds of mirrored boxes containing handcrafted flowers have been inlaid in the ground at Martin Place, as a permanent tribute to the victims of the Lindt Cafe siege in December 2014.

Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson, 38, and Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, were killed during the 16-hour siege carried out by 50-year-old gunman Man Haron Monis.

Hundreds of handcrafted flowers in mirrored boxes have been embedded at Martin Place, in tribute to the victims of the Lindt Cafe siege.

Former NSW premier Mike Baird promised the memorial in January 2015 but its installation was stalled by infrastructure works in Martin Place for the new Sydney Metro Station.

The memorial was designed by Richard Johnson and artist Jess Dare, and was inspired by the mounds of flowers left by mourners who flooded Martin Place in the immediate aftermath of the siege.
Two out of three children in youth detention in Queensland are Indigenous, with the incarceration rates having a "devastating effect" according to an advocate.

Children's Court of Queensland president Judge Michael Shanahan said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth continued to be "grossly over-represented" in the justice system.

Two out of three young people in detention in Queensland on an average day at Indigenous.

In 2016-17, young Indigenous people accounted for 48 per cent of young people who had a charge "disposed of", a higher rate than in previous years.

A defendant is disposed of when all their charges are either proved, dismissed or withdrawn.
It has caused the fastest refugee exodus since the Rwandan genocide. Soon the depopulation of Rohingya from northern Rakhine will be complete. We must make it stop before it reaches that point.

But believe it we must. It has gone far beyond a mere humanitarian crisis. This, the deliberate killing of a specific ethnic group, is genocide.

The extreme cruelty in north Rakhine state revealed by Fairfax Media's south-east Asian correspondent, Lindsay Murdoch, is almost beyond belief.

Myanmar's murder of up to 13,769 Rohingya people  almost half of them in August alone  is a crime against humanity. It very clearly fits that definition, of a deliberate, systematic campaign causing death and human suffering.

Those murdered include at least 730 children under the age of five, Medecins Sans Frontieres has revealed. More than half of those children died after being shot.

The United Nations Human Rights Council last week condemned the "very likely commission of crimes against humanity" by Myanmar security forces. It ignored the denials of the Myanmar government, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been widely criticised for her inaction and refusal to condemn anti-Muslim violence.

Yet the Turnbull government continues to resist the growing calls for it to end Australian Defence Force training and support to Myanmar's military in response to the atrocities. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said Australia is "deeply concerned" by the violence. Yet she has avoided directly condemning either the Myanmar government or military. That is not good enough.

Australia needs to step up and do something about this disaster in its region. We cannot afford to ignore the killings and displacement of around 835,000 Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh.
Imagine if no other country was prepared to accept that Canberra is our capital, to keep happy a neighbour with more international support, and a habit of issuing violent threats. Instead, they all site their embassies in Melbourne, and maintain that is the capital.

That, in a nutshell, was Israel's situation, until Donald Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital, and directed the State Department to begin preparing the lengthy process of moving the US embassy there.

Of course, as with everything involving Israel, it's a bit more complicated, with parts of Jerusalem disputed. However, there is a basic principle of non-discrimination here. As Trump said, in a notably measured and careful speech: "Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital."

In reality, it's not as complicated as those who disagree with Trump's decision make out. As he said, the announcement does not affect final status issues, such as the ultimate boundaries of Jerusalem. It is in fact tantamount to acknowledging west Jerusalem only as Israel's capital and certainly does not preclude the possibility that the Palestinians will have their own capital in the east of the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it will not affect the status of any of the holy sites, including those under Muslim control such as the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound.
Quetta: Two suicide bombers attacked a packed church in south-west Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least eight people and wounding up to 45 before one of them blew himself up and police killed the other.

The gunmen wearing explosives-filled vests stormed the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened, exploding a suicide vest and shooting at the worshippers, said Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province.

A paramilitary soldier and volunteers rescue an injured woman following a suicide attack on a church in Quetta, Pakistan. Credit:ARSHAD BUTT

Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah. He said two women were among those killed.

"There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldn't get inside the services," Jah said. "We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him," he said.
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps have threatened to take their own lives should they be forced back to Myanmar, according to a report Oxfam released on Monday.

The aid group has water and sanitation projects and is distributing food and supplies in the camps near Cox's Bazaar. It interviewed 208 refugees for the report.

Rohingya widow Sobokun Naher, speaks to Fairfax Media in Bagladesh after fleeing the violence in Myanmar. Credit:Kate Geraghty

More than 647,000-odd Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since a military crackdown on their villages in Rakhine state in late August.

Villagers were massacred, their homes slashed and burnt, women gang-raped and babies burnt alive.
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.
Mexico City's 2009 law legalizing gay marriage could be followed this year with a law allowing temporary marriage licenses, according to Baptist Press. Lawmakers will be voting on a proposed bill for a minimum marriage contract of two years that could be renewed if the couple is happy. The licenses would include a pre-divorce agreement on the disposition of children and property if the couple decided to terminate the marriage. "When the two-year period is up, if the relationship is not stable or harmonious, the contract simply ends," said Leonel Luna, co-author of the bill and member of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution. "You wouldn't have to go through the tortuous process of divorce."
Hanukkah Day Six  Be the Light Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

Once the Jewish sages decided to establish Hanukkah as a holiday for the ages, there was a dispute about how exactly the ritual of lighting the Hanukkah menorah should go. Just to recap, we are celebrating the fact that when the Jewish people recaptured the Temple from the Greeks some 2,000 years ago. The Jewish fighters could only find one small jar of pure olive oil in order to light the Temple menorah, the lampstand. Miraculously, that oil, which should have lasted only one day and night, lasted for eight days and nights. Today, we recall the miracle by lighting our menorahs for eight nights.

This is where the sages had a dispute. One sage, Hillel, determined that on every night, another candle should be added and lit. Thus, the first night would only have one candle, and by the eighth night, there would be eight candles burning. Another sage, Shammai, recommended the opposite. He believed that on the first night, we should light all eight candles, and deduct one candle each night until we are left with only one candle on the eighth night.

This dispute was about much more than eight candles and the order in which they would be lit. Underlying each argument was a belief system and a suggestion for perfecting God's world.

According to Shammai, the sagewho advocated deducting a candle each night, the way to make the world a better place is to destroy evil. According to Shammai, the fire of the candles was a symbol of destruction. Shammai believed that we need to burn away the evil in the world. At first, we need a lot of fire. But as we eradicate more evil, less fire is needed until no fire is needed at all.

Hillel, on the other hand, felt that the way to fight darkness is by adding more light. Hillel believed that the complete destruction of evil was an unrealistic and costly venture. Instead, he advocated that we add more goodness and more godliness to the world until evil has no place in it. This is why we light one candle on the first night  we add a little light. We add more and more light until on the eighth night, the whole room shines.

Ultimately, we follow Hillel's opinion. We light our candles by adding another candle each night. However, we need to follow Hillel's advice all year long as well. As God commanded, we need to be light and add light to the world. We do this as we extend warmth and compassion to others; as we shine with kindness and love. In this way, our light will banish all the darkness and create a much better world.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which now raises more than $140 million per year, mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $1.4 billion for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul.
Ozzy Osbourne visits the Ark Encounter, staff say they 'paid some very nice compliments'

English rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and his son, Jack, paid a surprise visit to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky as part of their show, "Ozzy and Jack's World Detour."

The two have been to several exciting locations already prior to the Ark Encounter, such as Stonehenge in England, the Alamo in Texas, and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. However, they were still floored when they saw the life-sized replica of Noah's Ark.

"Ozzy and Jack paid some very nice compliments about the massive ship. On the TV program that aired, you can hear them saying things like, 'Wow, wow, VERY wow.' And 'that is insanely big.' Plus, 'absolutely unbelievable,'" staff member Mark Looy revealed to the Answers in Genesis blog.

Looy added that the Osbournes were very polite to their staff as they walked in and around the park, but because of their frequent use of profanity, the Ark Encounter staff still urged viewer discretion when the episode aired on November 29.

Looy also said they had no clue what the final product of the program would look like before it aired on A&E on November 29, but they were still happy to welcome the Osbournes and others who might take an interest in their biblical exhibit.

"Indeed, we urge atheists, even those who are the most hostile toward Christianity, and people of all other faiths, to visit our attractions, for our Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are all about proclaiming the vital message that the Bible is true from the very first verse," he said.

When Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham posted about their visit on Facebook, several fans shared the same sentiments. "Even though I have little time for Ozzy Osbourne, thank you for allowing them to visit. It is never a waste to have the opportunity to present the gospel," one person commented.

"Thank you for sharing the gospel with them," another added. "Many would have turned them away based solely on their reputation instead of their need for a Savior."
Pope Francis says people shouldn't argue with the Devil because they will lose

There is a popular saying that goes, "There is no arguing with an idiot." Well, according to Pope Francis, the same principle applies to the Devil.

Pope Francis said during a television interview with TV2000 that Satan is not a mere metaphor or a concept, but a real person equipped with dark powers. "He is evil, he's not like mist. He's not a diffuse thing, he is a person. I'm convinced that one must never converse with Satan - if you do that, you'll be lost," he said.

Even the most intelligent person cannot win against Satan, said the Pope, so the best thing they can do is to just turn their backs on him. "He's more intelligent than us, and he'll turn you upside down, he'll make your head spin," said Pope Francis. "He always pretends to be polite - he does it with priests, with bishops. That's how he enters your mind. But it ends badly if you don't realise what is happening in time. (We should tell him) go away!"

Pope Francis has repeatedly warned people against the Devil, according to the Catholic News Agency. Some people might be fooled into thinking that Satan is gone, and there is no way he is still destroying lives in this day and age. Others don't think he even exists. But the Pope said people of faith must always be ready against his attacks.

"The Prince of this world, Satan, doesn't want our holiness, he doesn't want us to follow Christ. Maybe some of you might say: 'But Father, how old fashioned you are to speak about the devil in the 21st century!' But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here... even in the 21st century! And we mustn't be naive, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan," he said.
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Within the Trump administration, the Pentagon is arguably and, perhaps to some, surprisingly one of the most progressive departments when it comes to contemplating the effects of a changing climate.

Well before President Donald Trump, who has called climate change a Chinese hoax, took office, military leaders talked about global warming as a "threat multiplier" worsening drought, famine and other factors leading to war. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress he believes "a changing climate - such as increased maritime access to the Arctic, rising sea levels, desertification, among others - impact our security situation."

Even so, a government watchdog says saying so without taking action is not enough. This past week, the Government Accountability Office released a report on the climate preparedness of the Pentagon, concluding that while it frequently voices concern about how rising sea levels and atmospheric temperatures could affect military activity abroad, it is not doing enough to turn those words into action at foreign facilities.

Beginning in 2014, the Defense Department began surveying those running military installations in order to identify how climate change may affect the bases they oversee.

But the GAO found only a third of the plans it reviewed - for such things as construction or renovation of piers, hangars and other infrastructure - properly addressed flooding, drought, winds, wildfires and other effects commanders identified in that survey.

"While the military services have begun to integrate climate change adaptation into installations' plans and project designs," the report said, "this integration has been limited."

The watchdog also found the military's review was "incomplete and not comprehensive" because dozens of overseas sites were exempt from completing the vulnerability assessment - and because the Pentagon doesn't consistently track the estimated cost of climate impact.

Some ways of adapting to a warming planet are apparent. For Navy bases, for example, piers need to built higher to avoid being inundated by future flooding.

But in other cases - like a desert base potentially facing more intense drought - how does a commander adapt? The Pentagon isn't giving its leaders at overseas bases enough guidance on how to do that, the GAO concluded.

"We believe that there are opportunities to improve that," said Brian Lepore, director of defense capabilities and management at the GAO, who led the team that wrote the report.

Lepore and his colleagues visited 14 military facilities and interviewed leaders of 31 more.

John Conger, a senior policy adviser with the Center for Climate and Security and former deputy comptroller at the Pentagon, said the Defense Department would "lose the forest for the trees" if it focused too closely on tracking estimated costs. "It can only benefit DoD to become more resilient to climate impacts, but it isn't clear that applying their effort to accounting for climate costs would help that," Congers said.

But Conger thought the report was correct to say more guidance is needed.

"GAO's most important conclusion is that DoD needs to update lower-level guidance to show installations officials how to implement the overarching direction that they incorporate climate impacts into their plans," he said.

GAO, an agency that audits federal programs for lawmakers, undertook this report at the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and five Senate Democrats.

Among Cabinet members in the Trump administration, Mattis holds views on climate change that are most closely in line with the scientific community, which sees global warming as a real and dire threat.

"Climate change is impacting stability in areas of the world where our troops are operating today," Mattis told senators earlier this year. "It is appropriate for the Combatant Commands to incorporate drivers of instability that impact the security environment in their areas into their planning."

Even Congress, controlled in both chambers by a Republican Party deeply skeptical of mainstream climate science, has shown a willingness to give the Defense Department wide berth on the issue.

In July, a climate-change provision in a defense reauthorization bill, requiring the Pentagon to assess the vulnerabilities of the 10 bases most threatened by climate change in each service, survived a 185-to-234 vote in the House to strip it out. On Tuesday, Trump signed the authorization bill into law.
Jeff Allen sat inside his truck Thursday afternoon, taking shelter from the steady wind whipping across Flagstaffs brown, snow-less landscape. The owner of Allens Tree Sales, Allen has been selling Christmas trees in Flagstaff for 29 years.

With less than two weeks to go until Dec. 25, it hardly looks like wintertime in Flagstaff and Allens sales have taken a hit as a result.

"It just doesn't feel like Christmas," he said. "People I don't think are in the mood."

At the same time, Forest Service offices in the area have seen steady, and even growing demand for Christmas tree cutting permits on the national forest. Despite only allowing tree cutting in a small area more than an hour and a half from Flagstaff, the Coconino National Forest sold out of its 600 permits in just four days.

To complicate the picture even more, Misti Warner-Andersen, co-owner of Warners Nursery and Landscaping, said not only have her sales been down this year, but shes seeing a trend of customers abandoning live trees all together in favor of artificial ones.

As Christmas creeps closer, heres the latest on tree sales, this years drop in supply and cutting opportunities still available.

DRY WEATHER HURTS TREES, TREE SALES

So far this season, Allen said his business is down at least 10 percent from normal. Last year, he sold out of trees by Dec. 15, but this year he still has plenty left in his three in-town lots, Allen said. Without any snowfall this winter, he said he hasn't seen the customers from Phoenix who usually come up to Flagstaff to play in the snow, then stop and get a Christmas tree before they head home.

Warner-Andersen said Christmas tree sales have been down at her store as well. She and her staff have been puzzled, and were guessing maybe its the warm weather, or the fact that at least one weekend in December didnt fall on a payday, Warner-Andersen said.

We're not sure what's going on," she said.

The dry weather combined with below-freezing temperatures at night are especially hard on the Christmas trees, because it dries them out, Warner-Andersen said. Warners employees try to cover the trees with frost blankets but theyve already had to pull some off the shelf and chip them, she said.

SUPPLY DOWN, PRICES UP

The lack of snow in Flagstaff isnt the only factor making tree sales a struggle this year for people like Allen and Warner-Andersen.

Christmas tree vendors across the country are facing a rough season due to a shortage of supply that has its roots in the Great Recession. As people cut back on Christmas tree purchases, many vendors went out of business, got bought up or cut back on planting new trees, Allen said. Now, when that batch of trees should be getting to maturity, there arent enough of them.

Warner-Andersen said she wasnt able to order as many trees as she wanted from suppliers in the Northwest year. Allen said he didnt have a problem getting trees, a fact he attributes to his longstanding relationship with his tree vendor, but he said prices have skyrocketed.

A tree that would have cost him $12.50 five years ago is now going for $30. Trucking is going up, too, he said.

Warner-Andersen said she has had to raise her prices the past two years. This year she raised the price on just two tree sizes between $3 and $5, but last year it was more than that, she said.

The shortage will continue or worsen in the next few years, both local sellers said. Allen said he expects it will be harder to get a tree over 8 feet tall next year because growers are cutting into next year's stock to satisfy demand now, which means the trees that would normally get to grow taller are getting cut.

CUT YOUR OWN GAINING IN POPULARITY

The Christmas tree permit program has always been a popular one on the Coconino National Forest, said Kim Newbauer, the forest's timber sales contracting officer. Next door, the Kaibab National Forest has seen increasing demand for its Christmas tree tags as well, spokesman David Hercher wrote in an email.

This season, Hercher said he met people from as far away as California who came to cut a tree on the Kaibabs north district.

The price is certainly hard to beat: cut-your-own tags run just $15, while prices for trees at Warner's, for example, range from $24.99 to $89.

Even so, the Kaibab doesnt usually sell out of Christmas tree tags, Hercher wrote. As of Thursday, the forest had about 180 cutting tags still available.

Unlike the Coconino, the Kaibab allows Christmas tree cutting anywhere on the district and doesnt restrict what species can be cut. Removal of small trees helps with overall forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction across the district, Hercher wrote.

MILLIONS OF TREES BUT JUST A FEW HUNDRED PERMITS?

Theres a reason why, despite the millions of trees on the Coconino National Forest and high demand for tree cutting permits, only 600 permits are offered in a couple select areas far south of Flagstaff.

Each of the three districts on the forest is responsible for determining how many tree permits should be offered and where, Newbauer said. District staff look for areas with a good supply of trees ranging from saplings to 10 feet tall, then estimate how many trees and what type could be removed from the area to leave it in a healthier condition, Newbauer said.

The Mogollon Rim Ranger District, which generally covers the southeast part of the Coconino National Forest, is the only district that has had the time and resources to complete that environmental analysis in recent years, he said. Permit holders are allowed to cut one fir or ponderosa tree up to 10 feet in height.

The Flagstaff Ranger District, closest to Flagstaff, used to offer Christmas tree cutting permits for an area dominated by pinyon pine trees. But after a few dry years in the early 2000s, pine beetles decimated almost all of the drought-stressed pinyon pine trees on the district, Newbauer said. Since then, the districts staff have been so busy with other major projects like the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project that they havent had the time to identify another suitable location for tree cutting, he said.

The Red Rock Ranger District also offered Christmas tree tags for pinyon pine until about five years ago when people began saying there werent any good trees left in the designated cutting area, Newbauer. Since then, the district staff have had to dedicate so much time to managing recreation on the district that they havent been able to scope out another area that could work for Christmas tree cutting, Newbauer said.

The Coconino as a whole used to issue about double the number of permits it does now, and would like to increase that number in the future, Newbauer said.

Mainly, we don't have time to get out and find good areas on other districts right now, he said.
After crossing the Naf river Rohingya refugees walk to entered Bangladesh border area at Anjumanpara in Coxsbazar, Bangladesh.

Slowly but surely, the world is taking notice of the crisis affecting Myanmar's Rohingya population, a mostly Muslim minority who have lived in the country for hundreds of years.

The question now is exactly what can governments do to halt what the United States recently called ethnic cleansing?

With escalating attacks on Rohingya villages in the state of Rakhine by Myanmar's security forces and Buddhist civilians, an estimated 35,000 Muslim refugees per day have fled mostly to neighboring Bangladesh, the United Nations said in September. International say the situation could be considered genocide.

At least a million Rohingya reside in largely Buddhist Myanmar, which has marginalized the ethnic group for decades, in large part by refusing to officially recognize them.

"There is a long history of [an] apartheid state in Myanmar, said Yusuf Iqbal, founder of Americans for Rohingyas. He said the Muslim minority is frequently "used as a pretext for military aggression."

Amid the crisis, many international observers have criticized Myanmar's leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to halt the violence. That pressure intensified last month, after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the violence ethnic cleansing.

"Myanmar is not a trustworthy partner in this negotiation," Adem Caroll, director for the nonprofit advocacy group Burma Task Force, told CNBC recently. "It is troubling because the Myanmar government officials have said on the record that they will not take back the displaced people of Rakhine state."

With the U.S. and the international community appearing to be on the same page, a number of questions about the festering crisis remain unclear. History suggests that when "ethic cleansing" and "genocide" are invoked, such as in Bosnia and Sudan, it is usually accompanied by a worldwide call to action.

The plight of the Muslim minority has been magnified by the behavior of Myanmar's military. A recent Human Rights Watch report documented evidence of mass rape by the military as part of what the organization called a "mass campaign of ethnic cleansing."

"'Ethnic cleansing' is not really a legal term, but regardless of the term we give it, there needs to be international action, concrete actions against the atrocities committed," said Richard Weir, Asia fellow at Human Rights Watch.
watch now

Power has been restored to the world's busiest airport in Atlanta after an outage caused travel chaos for passengers, with more than a thousand flights canceled during the power cut. A power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport grounded operations on Sunday, stranding thousands of passengers. The outage lasted nearly 11 hours before power was finally restored around 11:45 p.m. E.T. The disruptions continued on Monday with more than 400 flights canceled to or from the Atlanta airport. Airlines canceled 1,183 flights on Sunday, according to plane-tracking website FlightAware. During the outage, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop on flights, meaning planes are held at their departure points. Planes also were not departing the airport. The airport handles some 275,000 passengers a day. Travelers posted photos on social media of fellow passengers sitting on the airport floor, dark departure halls, and staircases that were brought up to planes to disembark passengers after the electricity outage prevented the use of gates and jet bridges.

watch now

The power outage hit Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines particularly hard. The airline said it canceled close to 1,000 mainline and regional flights due to the outage and diverted 48 flights to other airports. It also canceled 300 flights scheduled for Monday. Southwest Airlines canceled the remainder of its flights to and from the Atlanta airport on Sunday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said some international flights were sent to other airports. Power was restored to terminals and for "all essential" airport activities shortly before midnight said Georgia Power, the airport's electricity provider. The company had said it "believed" the outage was caused by a fire that damaged an underground facility and affected substations serving the airport. Power to airport trains had been restored on Monday morning, the utility said. Tweet More than 104 million travelers passed through Atlanta's airport last year, making the Delta Air Lines hub the world's busiest for passenger traffic, according to Airports Council International. The airport handles around 2,500 arrivals and departures, according to the airport's figures.

Potential fines

The lack of electricity complicated efforts to get passengers off planes. Such delays can be costly for airlines. Airlines can face fines of up to $27,500 per passenger if a domestic flight is on the tarmac longer than three hours. "Any flights that exceed the tarmac delay rule will start running up big numbers," said Gary Leff, a travel expert who writes the View from the Wing blog. He added that compensation given to travelers could be used to lower fines. Passengers described the mayhem as confused travelers grappled with a lack of information and Tami Litvak, a former flight attendant whose flight from Richmond, Virgina, to Atlanta was grounded on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson for several hours, told CNBC that she has "been through a few emergencies" but "nothing as chaotic as this, ever." She said disabled passengers were carried off the plane and during a long walk to the terminals, some volunteers carried senior citizens. Litvak said she found a room at an airport Marriott, where travelers eager to grab a snack and find a place to sit, swarmed the hotel's lobby.  CNBC's Ted Kemp contributed to this article
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Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
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HARTFORD  Rising energy costs and stagnant incomes mean that 320,000 low-and-moderate income households throughout Connecticut had trouble keeping their homes warm this year, according to a new report that says those families cant afford to pay about $450 million.

Things are getting worse; theyre not getting better, said Roger Colton, a consultant who prepared the annual report for Operation Fuel, Inc., which last year provided $3.3 million in energy assistance for nearly 7,900 households throughout the state, including 2,024 in Fairfield County, 243 in Litchfield County and 2,472 families in New Haven County.

The per-house gap was $1,404, an increase of about $160 over 2016. That is a structural affordability problem, Colton said.

The affordability gap was a 13-percent increase over 2016, Colton said during a morning news conference in the Legislative Office Building, detailing price hikes in fuel oil and natural gas. At the same time incomes have remained constant, he said.

Only 3 percent of customers contribute one dollar per billing period on their utility bills, said Brenda Watson, acting director of Operation Fuel. The chief source of energy assistance is the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which gave nearly $79 million last winter.

Colton is concerned that Congress could cut the program entirely this winter.

Operation Fuel is one of those program that when you donate to it, you know that money is going to go to help people in your community, said state Rep. Lonnie Reed, D-Branford, co-chairman of the legislative Energy & Technology Committee. As we all know, people are having more and more trouble paying their bills.

The inability to afford home energy has enormous impacts on Connecticut residents, Watson said. Our applicants have reported to us that theyre keeping their thermostats at temperatures that are unsafe; that they are cutting back on basic necessities to pay energy bills. Often applicants are late or behind in rent payments or mortgage payments to keep warm.

She said that better coordination of services, including clean energy programs, energy-efficiency programs, solar and so-called microgrid utility developments, combined with reduced prices for lower-income residents.

Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, said he recently sat in on a meeting with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who warned that at best, the state can hope for no cut to the LIHEAP program, and there will certainly be no rise in benefits. Please check the box, he said of his monthly bills. Youll end up helping your neighbor.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter:@KenDixonCT
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BRIDGEPORT  Police officers traveled to Wethersfield Thursday for the funeral of Thomas J. Lattanzio, the suspended police officer who took his life in Seaside Park over a week ago.

Chief Armando Perez attended the service, along with members of the departments honor guard and a busload of officers on a city bus.

In an obituary published this week, Lattanzios family said that the 17-year-veteran of the Bridgeport Police Department was born in Hartford and always wanted to become a police officer.

Tommy worked undercover in some of Connecticut's worst neighborhoods. One particular assignment that was expected to last a few months lasted nearly two years since Tommy excelled in this capacity. He loved the group environment that being on the narcotics team entailed and was a joy to to have around the office, the obituary read.

Lattanzio was survived by his mother Lorraine; a sister and brother-in-law, three nieces and many cousins, aunts and uncles, according to the obituary. It said his father died in 2001.

People who knew him told Hearst Connecticut Media that he lived with his cat.

An autopsy concluded that Lattanzio took his own life. Officers found him dead Dec. 4 in his car, which was parked near the sandy beach that lines the east side of Seaside Park.

It is a tragic loss and a difficult time for the department, said Av Harris, Bridgeport police spokesman.

Harris said there are peer support teams within the department and from other departments being provided to those who need it.

We still have a tough job to do to serve this community and keep Bridgeport safe, and that is what our officers are doing every day out in the neighborhoods, Harris added. We appreciate the support we are getting from the community.

At the time of his suicide, Lattanzio had been suspended on paid leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation stemming from arrests at a party on Oct. 21. The probe involved complaints of excessive force against Lattanzio and another officer. The departments Office of Internal Affairs hasnt issued a final word on his conduct.

In the obituary, his family issued theirs: Tommy stayed dedicated, passionate and above all professional from the top of his hat to the tip of his shined shoes. He always did the right thing and was the epitome of a good cop.

Following Lattanzios death, a black banner has hung over the entrance to police headquarters at 300 Congress Street. Thursday, it was dusted with snow.

At the curb, colleagues getting off the night shift boarded a blue municipal bus chartered for the funeral. Waiting for the bus to take off for Wethersfield, they hugged and talked to each other.

Instead of flowers, Lattanzios family asked for donations in his name to the animal shelter, writing in his obituary that he loved animals.

Beyond the badge, Lattanzio is remembered as not just an animal-lover, but an avid concert goer with a love for music.

Tommy will be remembered for being a great guy with a huge heart. The BPD suffered a profound loss and he will never be forgotten by his brothers and sisters in blue, the obituary read.

Checks can be sent to Bridgeport Connecticut Animal Control at 236 Evergreen Street in Bridgeport. For more information, call 203-576-7727 or email animal.shelter@bridgeportct.gov.
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HARTFORD  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says Connecticuts future economic growth is in the major cities that need it, and not in suburbs that dont want it.

With the exception of Stamford, which had the advantage of being 47-and-a-half square miles, our state has not treated its urban environments well, Malloy, that citys former 14-year mayor, said Friday during a question period during the inaugural meeting of the state Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth.

He said Stamford had a larger tax base and could thrive despite neglect from the state.

When you talk about major cities with populations over 100,000 occupying 16 square miles or less ... and then you assume somehow and some way theyre going to be able to pay through property taxes enough money to go it alone, or go it alone with too small of a contribution from state government, that formula does not work, Malloy said. And thats what weve assumed since the end of the Second World War in our state, to our loss.

Now, young people want to move into vibrant cities, he said.

We could have urban environments that could attract the employers and attract the workforce ... in more than one city in our state, he said. We could certainly do it in New Haven. We certainly could do it in Hartford. Those dollars have to come from somewhere, and somebody has to make that investment and decide that thats a sufficiently important investment to make.

Many of the suburbs, Malloy said, are a different story.

People in New Canaan dont want their community to grow, he said. People in Norwalk and Stamford are happy to have their communities grow. Why arent we supporting the communities that want to grow and have those jobs?

Malloy warned that the states normal flow of replacement jobs from companies that first move from New York to Fairfield County and then expand to other areas of Connecticut, is being drastically hindered by the states transportation crisis, which needs an infusion of investment.

For example, using the existing revenue structure for the Special Transportation Fund, where the gas tax is the primary source of revenue, would need a 28-cent (per gallon) increase in that tax alone to keep up with the debt-service costs to help pay for the Hartford (Interstate-91/84 junction) viaduct replacement and other related projects, he said. Another option would be to put tolls just on I-84, which could generate $200 million a year and act as a user fee to help offset the debt-service costs associated with fixing I-84 by the drivers who are actually using that highway.

Bob Patricelli, co-chairman of the commission and former CEO of Womens Health USA, said that with only two-and-a-half months to present private-sector suggestions on strengthening the states fiscal future, the panelists will have to limit themselves.

Were in business to propose structural reform, he said.

The 13-member group has a March 1 deadline to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.

kdixon@ctpost.com
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Cosan Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in fuel and natural gas distribution, logistics, lubricant, sugar, and ethanol businesses in Brazil, Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia, and internationally. It operates through RaAzen Energia, RaAzen CombustAveis, ComgAs, Cosan LogAstica, and Moove segments. The company's RaAzen Energia segment produces and markets products derived from sugar cane, including raw sugar, anhydrous, and hydrated ethanol, as well as activities related to energy cogeneration from sugarcane bagasse. Its RaAzen CombustAveis segment engages in the distribution and marketing of fuels, primarily through a franchised network of service stations under the Shell brand in Brazil; petroleum refining; operation of fuel resellers, and convenience store businesses; and production and sale of liquefied petroleum gas, and automotive and industrial lubricants. The company's ComgAs segment distributes piped natural gas to customers in the industrial, residential, commercial, automotive, and cogeneration sectors in SAo Paulo. Its Cosan LogAstica segment provides logistics services for transport, storage, and port loading of commodities, primarily for sugar products; and leases locomotives, wagons, and other railway equipment. The company's Moove segment produces and distributes lubricants under the Mobil brand. It operates a network of approximately 7,270 service stations and 1,726 convenience stores, as well as 68 distribution terminals and 68 airports supplying jet fuel. The company was founded in 1936 and is based in SAo Paulo, Brazil.
Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide Wi-Fi access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; Juniper Paragon Automation, a modular portfolio of cloud-native software applications; and Juniper Apstra to automate the network lifecycle in a single system. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and country music entertainment experiences. The Company's core holdings* include a network of five of the top 10 largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. These convention center resorts operate under the Gaylord Hotels brand and are managed by Marriott International. The Company also owns two adjacent ancillary hotels and a small number of attractions managed by Marriott International for a combined total of 10,110 rooms and more than 2.7 million square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure destinations across the country. The Company's Entertainment segment includes a growing collection of iconic and emerging country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry; Ryman Auditorium, WSM 650 AM; Ole Red and Circle, a country lifestyle media network the Company owns in a joint-venture with Gray Television. The Company operates its Entertainment segment as part of a taxable REIT subsidiary. * The Company is the sole owner of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. It is the majority owner and managing member of the joint venture that owns the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides bandwidth infrastructure solutions for the communications industry in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company operates in six segments: Fiber Solutions, Transport, Enterprise Networks, Zayo Colocation (zColo), Allstream, and Other. The Fiber Solutions segment provides dark fiber, and fiber-to-the-tower and small cell mobile infrastructure services for carriers and other communication service providers, Internet service providers, wireless service providers, media and content companies, large enterprises, and other companies. The Transport segment offers lit bandwidth infrastructure solutions comprising wavelength, Ethernet, wholesale IP services, and SONET services through its metro, regional, and long-haul fiber networks for carriers, content providers, financial services companies, healthcare, government entities, education institutions, and other medium and large enterprises. The Enterprise Networks segment provides connectivity and telecommunications solutions comprising Internet, wide area networking products, managed products, and cloud based computing and storage offerings to medium and large enterprises. The Zayo Colocation (zColo) segment offers data center infrastructure solutions consisting of colocation space, and power and interconnection services to a range of enterprise, carrier, cloud, and content customers. The Allstream segment provides cloud VoIP and data solutions, such as voice offerings; and unified communications, as well as telecommunications services, including Ethernet, and IP/MPLS VPN solutions. The Other segment provides network and technical resources to customers in designing, acquiring, and maintaining their networks. Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.
The Allstate Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. The company operates through Allstate Protection; Protection Services; Allstate Health and Benefits; and Run-off Property-Liability segments. The Allstate Protection segment offers private passenger auto and homeowners insurance; specialty auto products, including motorcycle, trailer, motor home, and off-road vehicle insurance; other personal lines products, such as renter, condominium, landlord, boat, umbrella, and manufactured home and stand-alone scheduled personal property; and commercial lines products under the Allstate and Encompass brand names. The Protection Services segment provides consumer product protection plans and related technical support for mobile phones, consumer electronics, furniture, and appliances; finance and insurance products, including vehicle service contracts, guaranteed asset protection waivers, road hazard tire and wheel, and paint and fabric protection; roadside assistance; device and mobile data collection services; data and analytic solutions using automotive telematics information; and identity protection services. This segment offers its products under various brands including Allstate Protection Plans, Allstate Dealer Services, Allstate Roadside Services, Arity, and Allstate Identity Protection. The Allstate Health and Benefits provides life, accident, critical illness, short-term disability, and other health insurance products. The Run-off Property-Liability offers property and casualty insurance. It sells its products through call centers, agencies, financial specialists, independent agents, brokers, wholesale partners, and affinity groups, as well as through online and mobile applications. The Allstate Corporation was founded in 1931 and is based in Northbrook, Illinois.
AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of August 27, 2022, it operated 6,168 stores in the United States; 703 stores in Mexico; and 72 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
RBC Bearings Incorporated manufactures and markets engineered precision bearings and components in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Aerospace/Defense and Industrial. The company produces plain bearings with self-lubricating or metal-to-metal designs, including rod end bearings, spherical plain bearings, and journal bearings; roller bearings, such as tapered roller bearings, needle roller bearings, and needle bearing track rollers and cam followers, which are anti-friction products that are used in industrial applications and military aircraft platforms; and ball bearings include high precision aerospace, airframe control, thin section, and industrial ball bearings that utilize high precision ball elements to reduce friction in high-speed applications. It also offers mounted bearing products include mounted ball bearings, mounted roller bearings, and mounted plain bearings; and enclosed gearing product lines, including quantis gearmotor, torque arm, tigear, magnagear & maxum, and controlled start transmission. In addition, the company produces power transmission components include mechanical drive components, couplings, and conveyor components; engineered hydraulics and valves for aircraft and submarine applications, and aerospace and defense aftermarket services; fasteners; precision mechanical components, which are used in various general industrial applications; and machine tool collets that are used for holding circulars or rod-like pieces. It serves automotive, tool holding, agricultural and semiconductor machinery, commercial and defense aerospace, ground defense, construction and mining, oil and natural resource extraction, heavy truck, marine, rail and train, packaging, food and beverage, packaging and canning, wind, and general industrial markets through its direct sales force, as well as a network of industrial and aerospace distributors. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut.
The following companies are subsidiares of Rite Aid: 1515 West State Street Boise Idaho LLC, 1740 Associates LLC, 4042 Warrensville Center RoadWarrensville Ohio Inc., 5277 Associates Inc., 5600 Superior Properties Inc., Advance Benefits LLC, Apex Drug Stores Inc., Ascend Health Technology LLC, Bartell Drugs, Broadview and WallingsBroadview Heights Ohio Inc., Design Rx Holdings LLC, Design Rx LLC, Design Rxclusives LLC, Drug Palace Inc., EDC Drug Stores Inc., Eckerd Corporation, Edgehill Drugs, Elixir Holdings LLC, Elixir Insurance Company, Elixir Pharmacy LLC, Elixir Puerto Rico Inc., Elixir Rx Options LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions of Nevada LLC, Elixir Savings LLC, Envision Pharmaceutical, First Florida Insurers of Tampa LLC, GDF Inc., Genovese Drug Stores Inc., Gettysburg and Hoover-Dayton Ohio LLC, Grand River & Fenkell LLC, Harco, Harco Inc., Health Dialog, Health Dialog Services Corporation, Hunter Lane LLC, ILG  90 B Avenue Lake Oswego LLC, JCG Holdings USA Inc., JCG PJC USA LLC, K&B Alabama Corporation, K&B Incorporated, K&B Industries, K&B Louisiana Corporation, K&B Mississippi Corporation, K&B Services Incorporated, K&B Tennessee Corporation, K&B Texas Corporation, LMW  90B Avenue Lake Oswego Inc., Lakehurst and Broadway Corporation, Laker Software LLC, Maxi Drug Inc., Maxi Drug North Inc., Maxi Drug South L.P., Maxi Green Inc., Munson & Andrews LLC, Name Rite LLC, P.J.C. Distribution Inc., P.J.C. Realty Co. Inc., PCS Health Systems, PDS-1 Michigan Inc., PJC Lease Holdings Inc., PJC Manchester Realty LLC, PJC Peterborough Realty LLC, PJC Realty MA Inc., PJC Revere Realty LLC, PJC Special Realty Holdings Inc., PJC of Massachusetts Inc., PJC of Rhode Island Inc., PJC of Vermont Inc., Perry Distributors Inc., Perry Drug Stores Inc., RCMH LLC, RDS Detroit Inc., READs Inc., RediClinic, RediClinic Associates Inc., RediClinic LLC, RediClinic US LLC, RediClinic of DC LLC, RediClinic of DE LLC, RediClinic of Dallas Forth-Worth LLC, RediClinic of MD LLC, RediClinic of PA LLC, RediClinic of VA LLC, Richfield Road  Flint Michigan LLC, Rite Aid Drug Palace Inc., Rite Aid Hdqtrs. Corp., Rite Aid Hdqtrs. Funding Inc., Rite Aid Lease Management Company, Rite Aid Online Store Inc., Rite Aid Payroll Management Inc., Rite Aid Realty Corp., Rite Aid Rome Distribution Center Inc., Rite Aid Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Rite Aid Transport Inc., Rite Aid of Connecticut Inc., Rite Aid of Delaware Inc., Rite Aid of Georgia Inc., Rite Aid of Indiana Inc., Rite Aid of Kentucky Inc., Rite Aid of Maine Inc., Rite Aid of Maryland Inc., Rite Aid of Michigan Inc., Rite Aid of New Hampshire Inc., Rite Aid of New Jersey Inc., Rite Aid of New York Inc., Rite Aid of North Carolina Inc., Rite Aid of Ohio Inc., Rite Aid of Pennsylvania LLC, Rite Aid of South Carolina Inc., Rite Aid of Tennessee Inc., Rite Aid of Vermont Inc., Rite Aid of Virginia Inc., Rite Aid of Washington D.C. Inc., Rite Aid of West Virginia Inc., Rite Investments Corp., Rite Investments Corp. LLC, Rx Choice Inc., Rx Initiatives LLC, Rx USA Inc., The Bartell Drug Company, The Jean Coutu Group PJC USA Inc., The Lane Drug Company, Thrift Drug Inc., Thrifty Corporation, Thrifty PayLess Inc., and Tonic Procurement Solutions LLC.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Clean Harbors: Ace/Allwaste Environmental Services of Indiana LLC, Altair Disposal Services LLC, Aquilex Finance LLC, Aquilex Intermediate Corporate Holdings LLC, Aquilex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Aquilex LLC, Baton Rouge Disposal LLC, Bridgeport Disposal LLC, CARBER Holdings Inc., CB Canada Acquisition Inc., CB Canada Holdings Inc., CB US Holdings Inc., CH International Holdings LLC, Car-Ber Investments Inc., Clean Harbors Andover LLC, Clean Harbors Aragonite LLC, Clean Harbors Arizona LLC, Clean Harbors BDT LLC, Clean Harbors Baton Rouge LLC, Clean Harbors Buttonwillow LLC, Clean Harbors Canada Inc., Clean Harbors Caribe Inc., Clean Harbors Chattanooga LLC, Clean Harbors Clive LLC, Clean Harbors Coffeyville LLC, Clean Harbors Colfax LLC, Clean Harbors Deer Park LLC, Clean Harbors Deer Trail LLC, Clean Harbors Development LLC, Clean Harbors Disposal Services Inc., Clean Harbors El Dorado LLC, Clean Harbors Energy Services ULC, Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Services Corp., Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Services LP, Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Western Ltd., Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc., Clean Harbors Exploration Services Inc., Clean Harbors Exploration Services LP, Clean Harbors Exploration Services ULC, Clean Harbors Florida LLC, Clean Harbors Grassy Mountain LLC, Clean Harbors India LLP, Clean Harbors Industrial Services Canada Inc., Clean Harbors Industrial Services Inc., Clean Harbors Innu Environmental Services Inc., Clean Harbors Kansas LLC, Clean Harbors Kingston Facility Corporation, Clean Harbors LaPorte LLC, Clean Harbors Laurel LLC, Clean Harbors Lodging Services LP, Clean Harbors Lodging Services ULC, Clean Harbors Lone Mountain LLC, Clean Harbors Mercier Inc., Clean Harbors Pecatonica LLC, Clean Harbors Production Services ULC, Clean Harbors Quebec Inc., Clean Harbors Recycling Services of Chicago LLC, Clean Harbors Recycling Services of Ohio LLC, Clean Harbors Reidsville LLC, Clean Harbors San Jose LLC, Clean Harbors San Leon Inc., Clean Harbors Services Inc., Clean Harbors Surface Rentals Partnership, Clean Harbors Surface Rentals ULC, Clean Harbors Surface Rentals USA Inc., Clean Harbors Tennessee LLC, Clean Harbors Westmorland LLC, Clean Harbors White Castle LLC, Clean Harbors Wichita LLC, Clean Harbors Wilmington LLC, Clean Harbors of Baltimore Inc. (DE Corp.), Clean Harbors of Braintree Inc., Clean Harbors of Connecticut Inc. (DE), Confined Space Services L.L.C., Cousins Waste Control LLC, Crowley Disposal LLC, Cyn Oil Corporation, Debusk Industrial Services Company LLC, Disposal Properties LLC, Emerald Services Inc., EnviroSORT Inc., EnviroSORT Inc., Eveready, Evergreen Holdings, GSX Disposal LLC, Global Vapor Control Inc., Green View Technologies Inc., HPC PetroServ Inc., Hilliard Disposal LLC, HydroChem Canada ULC, HydroChem Industrial Cleaning LLC, HydroChem LLC, HydroChemPSC, IISG Central Region LLC, IISG Gulf Coast LLC, IISG Real Estate LLC, Industrial Service Oil Company Inc., Inland Industrial Services Group LLC, Inland Waters Pollution Control Services LLC, Inland Waters of Ohio LLC, Jesco Industrial Service LLC, LJ Energy Services Holdings LLC, LJ Energy Services Intermediate Holding Corp., Lonestar Sylvan Inc., Lonestar Vacuum Inc., Lonestar West, Lonestar West Enterprises LLC, Lonestar West Inc., Lonestar West Services LLC, Murphy's Waste Oil Service Inc., Northeast Casualty Insurance Company, Omnichem LLC, PMS Industrial Services LLC, PSC Industrial Holdings Corp., PSC Industrial Inc., PSC Industrial Outsourcing LP, PSC Industrial Outsourcing of Michigan LLC, PSC LDAR Services LLC, Peak Energy Services, Philip Services/North Central LLC, Plaquemine Remediation Services LLC, Power Vac Construction L.L.C., RMF Aquilex Corp., Roebuck Disposal LLC, Romic Environmental Technologies, Rosemead Oil Products Inc., SK D'Incineration Inc., Safety-Kleen, Safety-Kleen Canada Inc., Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company, Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company of Puerto Rico Inc., Safety-Kleen Inc., Safety-Kleen International Inc., Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., Safety-Kleen of California Inc., Sawyer Disposal Services LLC, Seaport Environmental LLC, Service Chemical LLC, Speed Industrial Corporate LLC, Speed Industrial Service Catalyst LLC, Speed Industrial Service LLC, Speed Industrial Service of Beaumont LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Lake Charles LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Louisiana LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Texas LLC, Spring Grove Resource Recovery Inc., The Solvents Recovery Service of New Jersey Inc., Thermo Fluids, Thermo Fluids Inc., Tri-vax Enterprises Ltd., Tulsa Disposal LLC, Universal Environmental, Veolia North Americas U.S. Industrial Cleaning Services Division, Versant Energy Services Inc., Versant Energy Services LP, and Vulsay Industries Ltd..

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The following companies are subsidiares of Community Health Systems: AF-CH-HH LLC, ARMC L.P., ASC JV Holdings LLC, Abilene Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Abilene Hospital LLC, Abilene Merger LLC, Access Center Services LLC, Affinity Cardio-Thoracic Specialists LLC, Affinity Cardiovascular Specialists LLC, Affinity Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Affinity Health Systems LLC, Affinity Hospital LLC, Affinity Orthopedic Specialists LLC, Affinity Physician Services LLC, Affinity Radiation Therapy Services LLC, Affinity Skilled Nursing LLC, Alabama HMA Physician Management LLC, Alaska Physician Services LLC, Alice Regional Hospital Community Alliance Inc., Alliance Health Partners LLC, Ambulance Services of Dyersburg Inc., Ambulance Services of McNairy Inc., Amory HMA LLC, Amory HMA Physician Management LLC, Angelo Community Healthcare Services Inc., Anniston HMA LLC, Arizona ASC Management Inc., Arizona DH LLC, Arizona Medco LLC, Arkansas HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Arkansas Medical Imaging JV LLC, BH Trans Company LLC, Bartow HMA LLC, Bartow HMA Physician Management LLC, Batesville HMA Development LLC, Batesville HMA Medical Group LLC, Bayfront Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, Bayfront HMA Convenient Care LLC, Bayfront HMA Healthcare Holdings LLC, Bayfront HMA Investments LLC, Bayfront HMA Medical Center LLC, Bayfront HMA Physician Management LLC, Bayfront HMA Real Estate Holdings LLC, Bayfront HMA Wellness Center LLC, Bayfront Health Imaging Center LLC, Beauco LLC, Beaumont Regional LLC, Biloxi H.M.A. LLC, Biloxi HMA Physician Management LLC, Biloxi Health System LLC, Birmingham Holdings II LLC, Birmingham Holdings LLC, Birmingham Home Care Services LLC, Blackwell HMA LLC, Blackwell HMPN LLC, Blackwell Home Health & Hospice LLC, Bluefield Holdings LLC, Bluffton Health System LLC, Bluffton Physician Services LLC, Brandon HMA LLC, Brandon Physician Management LLC, Brandywine Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Bravera Urgent Care LLC, Brazos Valley Surgical Center LLC, Brevard HMA ALF LLC, Brevard HMA APO LLC, Brevard HMA ASC LLC, Brevard HMA Diagnostic Imaging LLC, Brevard HMA HME LLC, Brevard HMA Holdings LLC, Brevard HMA Hospitals LLC, Brevard HMA Investment Properties LLC, Brevard HMA Nursing Home LLC, Brooksville HMA Physician Management LLC, Brownsville Clinic Corp., Brownsville Hospital Corporation, Brownwood Asset Holding Company LLC, Brownwood Hospital L.P., Brownwood Medical Center LLC, Bullhead City Clinic Corp., Bullhead City Hospital Corporation, Bullhead City Hospital Investment Corporation, Bullhead City Imaging Corporation, Bullhead Medical Pl, Bullhead Medical Plaza Ltd., CDI JV LLC, CHHS, CHHS Holdings LLC, CHHS Hospital Company LLC, CHS Kentucky Holdings LLC, CHS PSO LLC, CHS Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, CHS Realty Holdings I Inc., CHS Realty Holdings II Inc., CHS Realty Holdings III LLC, CHS Realty Holdings Joint Venture, CHS Receivables Funding LLC, CHS Tennessee Holdings LLC, CHS Virginia Holdings LLC, CHS Washington Holdings LLC, CHS-ASC LLC, CHS/Community Health Systems Inc., CHS/Community Health Systems Inc. Political Action Committ, CHSPSC ACO 1 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 10 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 11 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 12 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 13 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 14 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 15 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 16 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 17 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 18 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 19 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 2 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 20 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 21 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 22 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 23 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 24 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 25 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 26 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 27 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 28 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 29 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 3 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 30 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 4 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 5 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 6 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 7 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 8 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 9 LLC, CHSPSC ACO Holdings LLC, CHSPSC LLC, CHSPSC Leasing Inc., CP Hospital GP LLC, CP Premier Urgent Care JV LLC, CPLP LLC, CSMC LLC, Cadence Solutions Inc., Cahaba Orthopedics LLC, Campbell County HMA LLC, Cardiology Associates of Spokane LLC, Carlisle HMA LLC, Carlisle HMA Physician Management LLC, Carlisle HMA Surgery Center LLC, Carlisle Medical Group LLC, Carlsbad Medical Center LLC, Carolinas Holdings LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings General LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings II LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings L.P., Carolinas Medical Alliance Inc., Cedar Park Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Cedar Park Health System L.P., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Center for Adult Healthcare LLC, Center for Medical Interoperability Inc. D, Center for Pain Management LLC, Central Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Central Polk LLC, Central States HMA Holdings LLC, Champion Sports Medicine Birmingham LLC, Chester HMA LLC, Chester HMA Physician Management LLC, Chester Medical Group LLC, Chester PPM LLC, Chesterton Surgery Center LLC, Chestnut Hill Health System LLC, Citrus HMA LLC, Clarksdale HMA LLC, Clarksdale HMA Physician Management LLC, Clarksville Endoscopy Center LLC, Clarksville Health System G.P., Clarksville Holdings II LLC, Clarksville Holdings LLC, Clarksville Home Care Services LLC, Clarksville Imaging Center LLC, Clarksville Physician Services G.P., Clarksville Surgicenter LLC, Cleveland ASC Holdings LLC, Cleveland Home Care Services LLC, Cleveland Hospital Company LLC, Cleveland Medical Clinic Inc., Cleveland PHO Inc., Cleveland Tennessee Hospital Company LLC, Clinton HMA LLC, Clinton HMPN LLC, Clinton Home Health & Hospice LLC, Coast Imaging LLC, Coatesville Hospital Corporation, Cocke County HMA LLC, Coffee Hospital Management Associates Inc., College Station Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, College Station Diagnostic Clinic, College Station Hospital L.P., College Station Medical Center LLC, College Station Merger LLC, College Station RHC Company LLC, Collier Boulevard HMA Physician Management LLC, Collier HMA Facility Based Physician Management LLC, Collier HMA Neurological Vascular Medical Group LLC, Collier HMA Physician Management LLC, Commonwealth Health Cancer Network LLC, Commonwealth Health Clinically Integrated Network LLC, Commonwealth Health IDTF LLC, Commonwealth Physician Network LLC, Community GP Corp., Community Health Investment Company LLC, Community Health Physicians Operations Holding Company LLC, Community Health Systems Foundation, Community Health Systems Inc., Community Information Network In, Community Insurance Group SPC LTD. Cayman Islan, Community LP Corp., Compass Imaging LLC, Credentialing Verification Services LLC, Crestview Hospital Corporation, Crestview Professional Condominiums Association Inc., Crestview Surgery Center L.P., Crestwood Clinic Services LLC, Crestwood Healthcare L.P., Crestwood Hospital LLC, Crestwood Hospital LP LLC, Crestwood Occupational Medicine/Convenient Care LLC, Crestwood Physician Services LLC, Crestwood Surgery Center LLC, Crossgates HMA Medical Group LLC, Crystal River HMA Physician Management LLC, DCF, DFW Physerv LLC, DH Cardiology LLC, DHFW Holdings LLC, Dallas Phy Service LLC, Dallas Physician Practice L.P., Deaconess Health System LLC, Deaconess Holdings LLC, Deaconess Hospital Holdings LLC, Deaconess Metropolitan Physicians LLC, Deaconess Physician Services LLC, Deming Home Care Services LLC, Desert Hospital Holdings LLC, Detar Hospital LLC, Detar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Diagnostic Imaging Centers of NE, Diagnostic Imaging Management of Brandywine Valley LLC, Diagnostic Imaging of Brandywine Valley LP, Dukes Health System LLC, Dukes Physician Services LLC, Dupont Bus, Dupont Hospital LLC, Durant H.M.A. LLC, Durant HMA Home Health LLC, Durant HMA Physician Management LLC, Dyersburg Clinic Corp., Dyersburg HBP Medical Group LLC, Dyersburg Hospital Company LLC, EGF LLC, EL MED LLC, East Georgia HMA Physician Management LLC, East Georgia Regional Medical Center LLC, East Tennessee Clinic Corp., Easton Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., El Dorado Home Care Services LLC, El Dorado Surgery Center L.P., Eligibility Screening Services LLC, Empire Health Services, Emporia Clinic Corp., Emporia Hospital Corporation, Enterprise Clinic LLC, FMG PrimeCare LLC, FSED Management of Northwest Arkansas LLC, FSED Management of West Florida LLC, FWBH LLC, Fallbrook Hospital Corporation, First Choice Health Plan of Mississippi LLC, Firstcare , Florida Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Florida HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Florida West Coast Health Alliance LLC, Flowood Mississippi Imaging LLC, Flowood River Oaks HMA Medical Group LLC, Foley Clinic Corp., Foley Hospit, Fort Smith HMA LLC, Fort Smith HMA PBC Management LLC, Fort Smith HMA Physician Management LLC, Forum Health, Frankfort Health Partner , Franklin Clinic Corp., Franklin Hospital Corporation, GRB Real Estate LLC, GRMC Holdings LLC, Gads, Gadsden HMA Physician Management LLC, Gadsden Region, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gaffney Clinic Company LLC, Gaffney H.M.A. LLC, Gaffney HMA Physician Management LLC, Gateway Medical Services Inc., Granbury Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Granbury Hospital Corporation, Granbury Mammography JV LLC, Grandview Medical Group Research LLC, Greenbrier VMC LLC, Greenbrier Valley Anesthesia LLC, Greenbrier Valley Emergency Physicians LLC, Gulf Coast HMA Physician Management LLC, Gulf South Surgery Center LLC, Gulfmed Inc., HIM Central Services LLC, HMA, HMA ASC Holdings LLC, HMA ASCOA Holdings LLC, HMA Bay, HMA CAT LLC, HMA Employee Disaster Relief Fund Inc., HMA Fentress County General Hospital LLC, HMA Hospital Holdings LP, HMA Lake Shore Inc., HMA MRI LLC, HMA Professional Services Group LP, HMA Santa Rosa Medical Center LLC, HMA Services GP LLC, HMA-TRI Holdings LLC, HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HOF ASC Holdings LLC, HP LRHS Land LLC, HTI Tucson Rehabilitation Inc., Haines City HMA LLC, Haines City HMA Physician Management LLC, Haines City HMA Urgent Care LLC, Hallmark Healthcare Company LLC, Harrison HMA LLC, Harton Clinic Company LLC, Hartsville ENT LLC, Hartsville HMA Physician Management LLC, Hattiesburg Home Care Services LLC, Health Education Services LLC, Health Management Associates, Health Management Associates LLC, Health Management Associates LP, Health Management General Partner I LLC, Health Management General Partner LLC, Health Management Information Technology LLC, Health Management Intellectual Properties LLC, Health Management Physician Associates LLC, HealthTrust Purchasing Group L.P., Healthwest Holdings Inc., Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund II LP, Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund III LP, Hernando HMA LLC, Highland Health Systems Inc., Highway 90 Development LLC, Hill Country ASC Partners L.L.C., Hill Regional Clinic Corp., Hobbs Medco LLC, Hood Medical Group, Hood Medical Services Inc., Hospital Laundry Services , Hospital Management Associates LLC, Hospital Management Services of, Hospital of Fulton Inc., Hospital of Morristown LLC, Hot Springs Outpatient Surgery Center G.P., INACTCO Inc., IOM Health System L.P., Imaging JV Holdings LLC, Intermountain Medical Group Inc., Jackson HMA LLC, Jackson HMA North Medical Office Building LLC, Jackson Home Care Services LLC, Jackson Hospital Corporation, Jackson Tennessee Hospital Company LLC, Jamestown HMA Physician Management LLC, Jefferson ASC Holdings LLC, Jefferson ASC LLC, Jefferson County HMA LLC, Jennersville Regional Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Jourdanton Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Jourdanton Hospital Corporation, Kay County, Kay County Clinic Company LLC, Kay County Hospital Corporation, Kennett HMA LLC, Kennett HMA Physician Management LLC, Key West HMA LLC, Key West HMA Physician Management LLC, Key West Home Health LLC, Key West Private Care LLC, Keystone HMA Property Management LLC, Kirksville Academic Medicine LLC, Kirksville Clinic Corp., Kirksville Home Care Services LLC, Kirksville Hospital Company LLC, Kirksville Missouri Hospital Company LLC, Kirksville Physical Therapy Services LLC, Knox Hospital Company LLC, Knoxville Center for Behavioral Medicine LLC, Knoxville HMA Cardiology PPM LLC, Knoxville HMA Development LLC, Knoxville HMA Family Services LLC, Knoxville HMA Holdings LLC, Knoxville HMA Homecare DME & Hospice LLC, Knoxville HMA JV Holdings LLC, Knoxville HMA Mission Services LLC, Knoxville HMA Physician Management LLC, Knoxville HMA Wellness Center LLC, Knoxville Home Care Services LLC, Knoxville Rehabilitation Hospital LLC, Knoxville Tennessee Turkey Creek MOB LLC, Kosciusko Ambulance Services LLC, Kosciusko Medical Group LLC, LHT Knoxville Properties LLC, LRH LLC, La Porte Clinic Company LLC, La Porte Health System LLC, La Porte Home Care Services LLC, La Porte Hospital Company LLC, La Porte Occupational Health Services LLC, La Porte and Starke EMS LLC, Lake Shore HMA LLC, Lake Shore HMA Medical Group LLC, Lake Wales Clinic Corp., Lake Wales Hospital Corporation, Lake Wales Hospital Investment Corporation, Lake Wales Imaging Center LLC, Lakeway Hospital Company LLC, Lancaster Clinic Corp., Lancaster HMA LLC, Lancaster HMA Physician Management LLC, Lancaster Hospital Corporation, Lancaster Imaging Center LLC, Lancaster Medical Group HMA LLC, Lancaster Medical Group LLC, Lancaster Out, Langtree Endoscopy Center LLC, Laredo Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Laredo Texas Hospital Company L.P., Las Cruces ASC-GP LLC, Las Cruces Home Care Services LLC, Las Cruces Medical Center LLC, Las Cruces Physician Services LLC, Las Cruces Surgery Center L.P., Las Cruces Surgery Center  Telshor LLC, Lea Regional Hospital LLC, Lebanon HMA LLC, Lebanon HMA Physician Management LLC, Lebanon HMA Surgery Center LLC, Lehigh HMA LLC, Lehigh HMA Physician Management LLC, Little Rock HMA Inc., Live Oak HMA LLC, Live Oak HMA Medical Group LLC, Lone Star HMA L.P., Lone Star HMA Physician Management Inc., Longview Clinic Operations Company LLC, Longview Medical Center L.P., Longview Merger LLC, Louisburg HMA Physician Management LLC, Lower, Lufkin Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Lutheran Health Imaging LLC, Lutheran Health Network Investors LLC, Lutheran Health Network of Indiana LLC, Lutheran Health Quality Alliance LLC, Lutheran Medical Group LLC, Lutheran Medical Office Park Phase II Property Owners Association , Lutheran Medical Office Park Property Owners Association , Lutheran Musculoskeletal Center LLC, Lutheran/TRMA Network LLC, MCSA L.L.C., MDSave Inc., MEDSTAT LLC, Madison Clinic Corp., Madison HMA LLC, Madison HMA Physician Management LLC, Madison Health System LLC, Marion Physician Services LLC, Marion Regional Healthcare System, Marshall County HMA LLC, Marshall County HMPN LLC, Martin Clinic Corp., Martin Hospital Company LLC, Mary Black Health System LLC, Mary Black HealthNetwork Inc., Mary Black MOB II Limited Partnership, Mary Black Medical Office Building Limited Partnership, Mary Black Physician Services LLC, Mary Black Physicians Group LLC, Mat-Su Regional ASC GP LLC, Mat-Su Regional Surgery Center L.P., Mat-Su Valley II LLC, Mat-Su Valley III LLC, Mat-Su Valley Medical Center LLC, Mayes County HMA LLC, Mayes County HMPN LLC, McKenna Court Homes LLC, McNairy Clinic Corp., McNairy Hospital Corporation, Medical Center of Brownwood LLC, Melbourne HMA LLC, Melbourne HMA Medical Group LLC, Mercy Cardiovascular Cath Lab LLC, Merger Legacy Holdings LLC, Mesquite HMA General LLC, Metro Knoxville HMA LLC, Michigan City MOB LLC, Middlebrook ASC LLC, Middlebrook Property Partners LLC, Midwest City HMA Physician Management LLC, Midwest Regional Medical Center LLC, Mississippi HMA Holdings I LLC, Mississippi HMA Holdings II LLC, Mississippi HMA Hospitalists LLC, Moberly Hospital Company LLC, Moberly Medical Clinics Inc., Moberly Physicians Corp., Mooresville HMA Investors LLC, Mooresville HMA Physician Management LLC, Mooresville Home Care Services LLC, Mooresville Hospital Management Associates LLC, Mooresville PPM LLC, Morristown Clinic Corp., Morristown Surgery Center LLC, Munroe HMA HMPN LLC, Munroe HMA Holdings LLC, Munroe HMA Hospital LLC, NC-DSH LLC, NOV Holdings LLC, NRH LLC, Naples HMA LLC, Natchez Clinic Company LLC, Natchez HBP Services LLC, Natchez Hospital Company LLC, National Healthcare of Leesville Inc., National Healthcare of Newport Inc., Navarro Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Navarro Hospital L.P., Navarro Regional LLC, New Cedar Lake Surgery Center LLC, Newport Physician Clinics Inc., North Okaloosa Clinic Corp., North Okaloosa Home Health LLC, North Okaloosa Medical Corp., North Okaloosa Surgery Venture Corp., Northampton Cardiology Clinic LLC, Northampton Clinic Company LLC, Northampton Hospital Company LLC, Northampton Physician Services Corp., Northampton Urgent Care LLC, Northern, Northwest Allied Physicians LLC, Northwest Arkansas Employees LLC, Northwest Arkansas HBP Services LLC, Northwest Arkansas Hospitals LLC, Northwest Arkansas Paramed Transfer LLC, Northwest Benton County Physician Services LLC, Northwest Cardiology LLC, Northwest HBP Medical Services LLC, Northwest Hospital Cardiac Diagnostics L.P., Northwest Hospital LLC, Northwest Imaging Associates LLC, Northwest Indiana Health System LLC, Northwest Physicians LLC, Northwest Sahuarita Hospital LLC, Northwest Urgent Care LLC, Northwest-Sparks Quality Alliance LLC, OPS Dupont LLC, Oak Hill Clinic Corp., Oak Hill Hospital Corporation, Oklahoma City ASC-GP LLC, Olive Branch Clinic Corp., Olive Branch Hospital Inc., One Boyertown Properties L.P., Open Air of MSLOU L.L.C., Oro Valley Hospital LLC, Osler HMA Medical Group LLC, PBEC HMA Inc., Pacific Group ASC Division Inc., Pacific Physicians Services LLC, Palmer-Wasilla Health System LLC, Palmetto Tri-County Medical Specialists LLC, Parkway Regional Medical Clinic Inc., Pasco Hernando HMA Physician Management LLC, Pasco Regional Medical Center LLC, Payson Healthcare Management Inc., Payson Hospital Corporation, Peckville Hospital Company LLC, Pecos Valley of New Mexico LLC, Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Personal Home Health Care LLC, Petersburg Clinic Company LLC, Petersburg Hospital Company LLC, Phoenixville Hospital Company LLC, Phoenixville Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Physician Practice Support LLC, Piedmont Surgical Center of Excellence LLC, Piney Woods Healthcare System L.P., Polk Medical Services Inc., Ponca City Home Care Services LLC, Poplar Bluff Physician Management LLC, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center LLC, Port Charlotte HBP Services LLC, Port Charlotte HMA LLC, Port Charlotte HMA Physician Management LLC, Porter Health Services LLC, Porter Hospital LLC, Porter Physician Services LLC, Pottstown Hospital Company LLC, Pottstown Hospital Corporation, Pottstown Imaging Company LLC, Pottstown Memorial Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Preferential Health Network Inc., Premier Care Super PHO LLC, PremierC, Professional Account Services Inc., Punta Gorda HMA LLC, Punta Gorda HMA Physician Management LLC, Punta Gorda Medical Arts Center Association Inc., QHG Georgia Holdings II LLC, QHG Georgia Holdings Inc., QHG Georgia LP, QHG of, QHG of Barberton Inc., QHG of Bluffton Company LLC, QHG of Cl, QHG of Enterprise Inc., QHG of Forrest County Inc., QHG of Fort Wayne Company LLC, QHG of Hattiesburg Inc., QHG of South Carolina Inc., QHG of Spartanburg Inc., QHG of Springdale Inc., QHG of Texas Inc., QHG of Warsaw Company LLC, ROH LLC, Rankin Cardiology Center LLC, Regional Cardiology Group LLC, Regional Clinics of Longview, Regional Employee Assistance Program, Regional Hospital of Longview LLC, Rehab Hospital of Fort Wayne General Partnership, Revenue Cycle Service Center LLC, River Oaks Hospital LLC, River Oaks Management Company LLC, River Oaks Medical Office Building LLC, River Region Medical Corporation, Riverview Regional Medical Center LLC, Rockledge HMA Convenient Care LLC, Rockledge HMA LLC, Rockledge HMA Medical Group LLC, Rockledge HMA Urgent Care LLC, Rockwood Clinic Real Estate Holdings LLC, Ronceverte Physician Group LLC, Rose City HMA LLC, Rose City HMA Medical Group LLC, Roswell Clinic Corp., Roswell Hospital Corporation, Russell County Clinic Corp., Russell County Medical Center Inc., Ruston Clinic Company LLC, Ruston Hospital Corporation, Ruston Louisiana Hospital Company LLC, SACMC LLC, SEPA Integrated Provi, SJ Home Care LLC, SS ParentCo. LLC, Salem Clinic Corp., Salem Home Care Holdings LLC, Salem Home Care Services LLC, Salem Hospital Corporation, Salem Medical Professionals Inc., Samaritan Surgicenters of Arizona II LLC, San Angelo Community Medical Center LLC, San Angelo Hospital L.P., San Angelo Medical LLC, Santa Rosa HMA Physician Management LLC, Santa Rosa HMA Urgent Care LLC, Scott County HMA LLC, Scranton Cardiovascular Physician Services LLC, Scranton Clinic Company LLC, Scranton Emergency Physician Services LLC, Scranton GP Holdings LLC, Scranton Holdings LLC, Scranton Hospital Company LLC, Scranton Hospitalist Physician Services LLC, Scranton Quincy Ambulance LLC, Scranton Quincy Clinic Company LLC, Scranton Quincy Holdings LLC, Scranton Quincy Home Care Services LLC, Scranton Quincy Hospital Company LLC, Scranton Quincy QRFS LLC, Sebastian HMA Physician Management LLC, Sebastian Home Care Services LLC, Sebastian Hospital LLC, Sebastopol LLC, Sebring HMA Physician Management LLC, Sebring Hospital Management Associates LLC, Select Specialty Hospital - Tucson LLC, Select Tucson Holdings LLC, Seminole HMA LLC, Seminole HMPN LLC, Seven Hills Community Medical Center Condominium Association Inc., Sharon Clinic Company LLC, Sharon Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, Sharon Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Sharon Regional HBP Medical Group LLC, Shelby Alabama Real Estate LLC, Shelbyville Clinic Corp., Shelbyville Home Care Services LLC, Shelbyville Hospital Company LLC, Siloam Springs Arkansas Hospital Company LLC, Siloam Springs Clinic Company LLC, Siloam Springs Holdings LLC, Silver Creek MRI LLC, SkyRidge Clinical Associates LLC, Solis Mammography at Navarro Regional Hospital LLC, South Abilene Radiology LLC, South Arkansas Physician Services LLC, SouthCrest L.L.C., Southeast, Southeast HMA Holdings LLC, Southern Health Network Inc., Southern Texas Medical Center LLC, Southsi, Southwest Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Southwest Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Sparks PremierC, Spokane Valley Washington Hospital Company LLC, Spokane Washington Hospital Company LLC, Spring Hill HMA Medical Group LLC, Springdale Home Care Services LLC, Sprocket Medical Management LLC, St. Joseph Health System LLC, Starke HMA LLC, Starke HMA Medical Group LLC, Statesboro HMA Medical Group LLC, Statesboro HMA Physician Management LLC, Statesville HMA LLC, Statesville HMA Medical Group LLC, StrokeCareNow LLC, Summit Surgical Suites LLC, Supply Chain Shared Service Center LLC, Surgi, Surgical Center of Carlsbad LLC, Surgicare Outpatient Center of, Surgicare of Clarksville LLC, Surgicare of Independence Inc., Surgicare of Sherman Inc., Surgicenters of America Inc., Susitna ASC Holdings LLC, Susitna Surgery Center LLC, Tennessee HMA Holdings LP, Tennessee HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Tennova Medical Park Property Owners Association Inc., Tennyson Holdings LLC, Terrell Medical Center LLC, Texas Bay Area Clinical Services Inc., The Sleep Disorder Center of Wyoming Valley LLC, The Surgery Center LLC, The Vicksburg Clinic LLC, Timberland Medical Group, Tomball Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Tomball Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Tomball Texas Holdings LLC, Tomball Texas Hospital Company LLC, Tomball Texas Ventures LLC, Tri-Irish Inc., Triad Healthcare LLC, Triad Holdings III LLC, Triad Holdings IV LLC, Triad Holdings V LLC, Triad Hospitals, Triad Indiana Holdings LLC, Triad Nevada Holdings LLC, Triad of Alabama LLC, Triad of Arizona L.P. Inc., Triad of Phoenix Inc., Triad-, Triad-ARMC LLC, Triad-Arizona I Inc., Triad-El Dorado Inc., Triad-Navarro Regional Hospital Subsidiary LLC, Triad-South Tulsa Hospital Company Inc., Tucson Home Care Services LLC, Tug Valley Healthcare Alliance Inc., Tullahoma HMA LLC, Tullahoma HMA Physician Management LLC, Utilization Review Services LLC, VHC Medical LLC, Valley Advanced Imag, Valley Advanced MRI LLC, ValleyCare Cardiology Group LLC, Valparaiso Home Care Services LLC, Van Buren H.M.A. LLC, Van Buren HMA Central Business Office LLC, Vanderbilt-Gateway Cancer Center G.P., Venice HMA LLC, Venice Home Care Services LLC, Vero Beach Florida ASC LLC, Vicksburg Healthcare LLC, Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Victoria Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Victoria Hospital LLC, Victoria Texas Home Care Services LLC, Victoria of Texas L.P., Virginia Care Company LLC, Virginia Hospital Company LLC, VirtualHealthConnect LLC, WA-SPOK DH CRNA LLC, WA-SPOK DH Urgent Care LLC, WA-SPOK Kidney Care LLC, WA-SPOK Medical Care LLC, WA-SPOK Primary Care LLC, WA-SPOK Pulmonary & Critical Care LLC, WA-SPOK VH CRNA LLC, WA-SPOK VH Urgent Care LLC, WHMC LLC, Warren Ohio Hospital Company LLC, Warren Ohio Physician Services LLC, Warren Ohio Rehab Hospital Company LLC, Warsaw Health System LLC, Washington Clinic Corp., Washington Hospital Corporation, Washington Physician Corp., Weatherford Hospital Corporation, Weatherford Texas Hospital Company LLC, Webb County Texas Home Care Services LLC, Webb Hospital Corporation, Webb Hospital Holdings LLC, Wesley Health System LLC, Wesley HealthTrust Inc., Wesley Physician Services LLC, West Grove Hospital Company LLC, Western Arizona Regional Home Health and Hospice LLC, Wilkes-Barre Aca, Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Hospital Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Ventures LLC, Wilkes-Barre Clinic Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Community Resi, Wilkes-Barre Holdings LLC, Wilkes-Barre Home Care Services LLC, Wilkes-Barre Hospital Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Intermountain Clinic LLC, Wilkes-Barre Personal Care Services LLC, Wilkes-Barre Radiation Oncology LLC, Wiregrass Clinic LLC, Women & Childrens Hospital LLC, Womens He, Womens Health Partners LLC, Womens Health Specialists of Carlisle LLC, Woodland Heights Medical Center LLC, Woodward Clinic Company LLC, Woodward Health System LLC, Woodward Home Care Services LLC, Yakima HMA LLC, Yakima HMA Physician Management LLC, York Anesthesiology Physician Services LLC, York Clinic Company LLC, York Pathology Physician Services LLC, York Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, York Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Hospital Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Laboratory Services Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Outpatient Services Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio PSC LLC, and Youngstown Ohio Physician Services Company LLC.

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Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides newborn, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology, and other pediatric subspecialty care services in the United States and Puerto Rico. It offers neonatal care services, such as clinical care to babies born prematurely or with complications within specific units at hospitals through neonatal physician subspecialists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and other pediatric clinicians. The company also provides maternal-fetal care services, including inpatient and office-based clinical care to expectant mothers and unborn babies through affiliated maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, as well as obstetricians and other clinicians, including maternal-fetal nurse practitioners, certified nurse mid-wives, ultrasonographers, and genetic counselors. In addition, it offers pediatric cardiology care services comprising inpatient and office-based pediatric cardiology care of the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent patient with congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, as well as adults with congenital heart defects through affiliated pediatric cardiologist subspecialists and other related clinical professionals; and specialized cardiac care to the fetus, neonatal and pediatric patients. Further, the company provides other pediatric subspecialty care services through pediatric subspecialists, such as pediatric intensivists, pediatric hospitalists, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric ophthalmologists, as well as pediatric ear, nose, and throat physicians; and support services in the areas of hospitals, primarily in the pediatric emergency rooms, labor and delivery areas, and nursery and pediatric departments. As of February 17, 2022, it operated a network of approximately 2,700 physicians. The company was formerly known as MEDNAX, Inc. and changed its name to Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. in July 2022. Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Sunrise, Florida.
Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. provides water and wastewater treatment systems and technologies, and mobile and emergency water supply solutions and contract services for industrial, commercial, and municipal water treatment markets in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Integrated Solutions and Services, and Applied Product Technologies. The Integrated Solutions and Services segment offers capital systems and related recurring aftermarket services, parts, and consumables, as well as long-term and short-term service contracts, and emergency services for treating process water, utility water, and wastewater. This segment also provides odor and corrosion control services and drinking water treatment systems for municipalities. It serves manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotech, power, microelectronics, chemical processing, food and beverage, and refining industries. The Applied Product Technologies segment offers advanced filtration and separation products, such as VAF self-cleaning filters, Ionpure electrodeionization systems, and Vortisand filtration systems, as well as filter presses and related consumables, and aftermarket products for customers in the microelectronics, pharmaceutical, and power end markets. It also offers disinfection solutions, including chemical and non-chemical disinfection technologies comprising low and medium pressure ultraviolet, ozone, onsite hypochlorite generation, and chlorine and chlorine dioxide systems for municipal drinking water, industrial, light manufacturing, commercial, and aquatics markets. In addition, this segment offers wastewater technologies, including biological treatment, clarification, filtration, nutrient removal, biosolid, and field-erected biological wastewater treatment plant solutions. Further, it offers aquatics and electrochlorination solutions. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. provides telecommunications services in Latin America and internationally. The company offers wireless and fixed voice services, including local, domestic, and international long-distance services; and network interconnection services. It also provides data services, such as data centers, data administration, and hosting services to residential and corporate clients; value-added services, including Internet access, messaging, and other wireless entertainment and corporate services; data transmission, email services, instant messaging, content streaming, and interactive applications; and wireless security services, mobile payment solutions, machine-to-machine services, mobile banking, virtual private network services, and video calls and personal communications services. In addition, the company offers residential broadband services; IT solutions for small businesses and large corporations; and cable and satellite pay television subscriptions. Further, it sells equipment, accessories, and computers; and offers telephone directories, wireless security, call center, advertising, media, and software development services. Additionally, the company provides video, audio, and other media content through the Internet directly from the content provider to the end user. It sells its products and services under the Telcel, Telmex Infinitum, and A1 brands through a network of retailers and service centers to retail customers; and through sales force to corporate customers. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 286.5 million wireless voice and data subscribers. America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products, and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, digital twin and simulation software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services. The company sells its solutions primarily through independent distributors in relation with its direct sales force. It serves discrete end markets, including automotive, semiconductor, warehousing and logistics, and other discrete markets, as well as general industries comprising printing and publishing, marine, glass, fiber and textiles, airports, and aerospace; hybrid end markets, such as food and beverage, life sciences, household and personal care, and tire, as well as eco industrial, including water/wastewater, waste management, mass transit, and renewable energy; and process end markets comprising oil and gas, mining, metals, chemicals, pulp and paper, and others. Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
TransUnion provides risk and information solutions. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Markets, International, and Consumer Interactive. The U.S. Markets segment provides consumer reports, actionable insights, and analytics to businesses. These businesses use its services to acquire new customers; assess consumer ability to pay for services; identify cross-selling opportunities; measure and manage debt portfolio risk; collect debt; verify consumer identities; and mitigate fraud risk. This segment serves various industry vertical markets, including financial services, insurance, tenant and employment, collections and services, technology, commerce and communication, public sector, media, and other markets. The International segment offers credit reports, analytics, technology solutions, and other value-added risk management services; and consumer services, which help consumers to manage their personal finances and consumer credit reporting, insurance and auto information solutions, and commercial credit information services. This segment serves customers in financial services, retail credit, insurance, automotive, collections, public sector, and communications industries through direct and indirect channels. The Consumer Interactive segment provides credit reports and scores, credit monitoring, identity protection and resolution, and financial management solutions that enable consumers to manage their personal finances and take precautions against identity theft. This segment offers its products through online and mobile interfaces, as well as through direct and indirect channels. The company serves customers in approximately 30 countries and territories, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, India, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as TransUnion Holding Company, Inc. and changed its name to TransUnion in March 2015. TransUnion was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
SFL Corporation Ltd., a maritime and offshore asset owning and chartering company, engages in the ownership, operation, and chartering out of vessels and offshore related assets on medium and long-term charters. The company is also involved in the charter, purchase, and sale of assets. In addition, it operates in various sectors of the maritime, and shipping and offshore industries, including oil, chemical, oil product, container, and car transportation, as well as dry bulk shipments and drilling rigs. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned six crude oil tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, 35 container vessels, two car carriers, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drilling unit, two chemical tankers, and four oil product tankers. It primarily operates in Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands. The company was formerly known as Ship Finance International Limited and changed its name to SFL Corporation Ltd. in September 2019. SFL Corporation Ltd. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for New York Community Bank. New York Community Bank is the nations 47th-largest financial institution and its largest thrift. As a thrift, the bank specializes in real estate and consumer accounts specifically real estate loans and savings accounts and has limited exposure to other forms of business banking. Among the benefits to consumers are interest-bearing checking and saving accounts that come with higher-than-average interest rates.

New York Community Bank was founded in 1859 to serve Queens County, New York. It operated under that name, growing all the while, until 2000 when it changed its name to better reflect the business. The company IPOd in 1993 and has made multiple acquisitions in the time since. As of 6/30/2022, the bank had $63.1 billion in assets and $41.2 billion in deposits.

New York Community Bank operates in greater New York City, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. The company provides deposit products ranging from interest-bearing checking and money market accounts to savings accounts, IRAs, and CDs. Brands under the companys umbrella include AmTrust in Florida and Arizona, Ohio Savings Bank, Garden State Savings Bank, and Atlantic Bank.

The bank offers a wide range of real-estate-related loans including but not limited to multi-family loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and consumer loans and mortgages. Investment products include annuities, mutual funds, and life insurance. Customers include individuals, small businesses, and organizations and are served through a network of more than 230 branches, and 300 ATMs, online, mobile, and by phone. Many of the locations are open 24 hours and 6 days a week although those hours are not available at all branches. Clients can access their accounts digitally 24/7.

New York Community Bancorp and its underlying business carry investment-grade credit ratings from all the major rating agencies. The credit outlook in the 4th quarter of 2022 was stable as it had been for some time. In New York, it is a leader in the multi-family market specializing in lower-cost housing in rent-controlled areas. As of June 30, 2022, the multi-family loan portfolio accounted for more than 75% of all investments. The company has a stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan that help to sustain a high level of ownership.






New items at the DeMary Memorial Library in Rupert:

Mystery: River Whispers by Rachelle J Christensen. A Mystery lies beneath the current.

LP-Fiction: In this Moment by Karen Kingsbury. A beloved high school principal who starts a Bible Study to improve the lives of his struggling students, only to become the national focus of a controversial lawsuit.

LP-Fiction: Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark. Television producers Laurie Moran investigation of the unsolved Met Gala murderin which a wealthy widow was pushed to her death from the famous museums rooftop.

LP-Fiction: The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans

LP-Fiction: Past Perfect by Danielle Steel

LP-Fiction: Second Chance Girl by Susan Mallery

LP-Fiction: A Snow Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

J-Audio: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Audio: Testimony by Scott Turow

Audio: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Audio: The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Mitie Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides strategic outsourcing services in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in eight segments: Business Services, Technical Services, Central Government & Defense (CG&D), Communities, Care & Custody, Landscapes, Waste, and Spain. The company provides security services, such as manned guarding and technology-backed monitoring solutions, fire and security systems installations, vetting and front-of-house services; and general, specialist, and technical cleaning services in offices, buildings, transport and logistics hubs, and high-security environments. It is also involved in the provision of technology-backed engineering; maintenance, repair, and mechanical and electrical project activities; energy, carbon, and water management services; air conditioning and disinfection solutions; telecoms and energy services; and remote asset monitoring, and digital and connected workplace solutions. In addition, the company provides facilities management services across central government and defense contracts; decarbonization solutions; and engineering services. Further, it offers integrated facilities management services to devolved public sector customers, which focuses on community environments in healthcare, schools and universities, emergency services, and local authorities; portering services; public services in immigration, criminal justice, and healthcare; horticultural and winter landscaping services; and waste elimination, reduction, recycling, and treatment solutions. Mitie Group plc was incorporated in 1936 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
Ingredion Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells starches and sweeteners for various industries. It operates through four segments: North America; South America; Asia-Pacific; and Europe, Middle East and Africa. The company offers sweetener products comprising glucose syrups, high maltose syrups, high fructose corn syrups, caramel colors, dextrose, polyols, maltodextrins, and glucose syrup solids, as well as food-grade and industrial starches, biomaterials, and nutrition ingredients. It also provides edible corn oil; refined corn oil to packers of cooking oil and to producers of margarine, salad dressings, shortening, mayonnaise, and other foods; and corn gluten feed used as protein feed for chickens, pet food, and aquaculture, as well as fruit and vegetable products, such as concentrates, purees and essences, pulse proteins, and hydrocolloids systems and blends. The company's products are derived primarily from processing corn and other starch-based materials, such as tapioca, potato, and rice. It serves food, beverage, brewing, and animal nutrition industries. The company was formerly known as Corn Products International, Inc. and changed its name to Ingredion Incorporated in June 2012. Ingredion Incorporated was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Westchester, Illinois.
Paycom Software, Inc. provides cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solution delivered as software-as-a-service for small to mid-sized companies in the United States. It offers functionality and data analytics that businesses need to manage the employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement. The company's HCM solution provides a suite of applications in the areas of talent acquisition, including applicant tracking, candidate tracker, background checks, on-boarding, e-verify, and tax credit services; and time and labor management, such as time and attendance, scheduling/schedule exchange, time-off requests, labor allocation, labor management reports/push reporting, and geofencing/geotracking, and Microfence, a proprietary Bluetooth. Its HCM solution also offers payroll applications comprising better employee transaction interface, payroll and tax management, Paycom pay, expense management, mileage tracker/fixed and variable rates, garnishment management, and GL concierge applications; and talent management applications that include employee self-service, compensation budgeting, performance management, position management, and Paycom learning and content subscriptions, as well as my analytics, which offer employment predictor reporting. In addition, its HCM solution provides manager on-the-go that gives supervisors and managers the ability to perform a variety of tasks, such as approving time-off requests and expense reimbursements; direct data exchange; ask here, a tool for direct line of communication to ask work-related questions; document and checklist; government and compliance; benefits administration/benefits to carrier; COBRA administration; personnel action and performance discussion forms; surveys; and affordable care act applications, as well as Clue, which securely collect, track, and manage the vaccination and testing data of the workforce. Paycom Software, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Kaibab National Forest has released a story map that showcases historic cabins available for members of the public to rent as part of the popular Rooms with a View cabin rental program.

The Kaibab National Forest offers four locations as part of the statewide program, which provides visitors to national forests in Arizona with a unique recreational opportunity to experience an overnight stay in a historic Forest Service cabin.

The Esri Story Map, titled Kaibab National Forest Historic Cabin Rentals, is a web application that allows map products to be combined with narrative text, images and other multimedia. According to Mark Christiano, GIS coordinator for the Kaibab National Forest, it was the perfect tool to highlight the forests spectacular cabin site locations and make a broader audience aware of the opportunity to experience stays in these special places.

All maps tell stories, they chronicle discovery and conquest, documenting an understanding of the patterns and interrelationships that underlie human and natural systems, Christiano said. But this new platform from Esri  story maps  allows us to go to the next level with our story telling. Story maps weave a narrative through photos, text and interactive maps that mash together to allow us to tell the stories of the Forest Service in a fun and interactive way. We hope this is the first of many more story maps to come from the Kaibab.

The cabin story map can be viewed at http://arcg.is/KNFCabinRentals and is also available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab.

The story map takes viewers on a photo-filled tour through the forests four cabin locations  Jumpup Cabin and the Big Springs Cabins on the North Kaibab Ranger District, Hull Cabin on the Tusayan Ranger District, and Spring Valley Cabin on the Williams Ranger District.

The most recent addition to the Kaibabs cabin offerings is Jumpup Cabin. Built in 1906 and situated at the mouth of Jumpup Canyon, the historic cabin offers a panoramic view of Kanab Creek Wilderness and easy access to the remote and challenging Ranger Trail No. 41.

The Big Springs Cabins, adjacent to the most abundant water source on the Kaibab Plateau, are about an hour drive from the Rainbow Rim Trail, a winding 18-mile hiking and mountain biking trail that offers stunning views from five scenic overlooks along the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Hull Cabin, located just a mile south of the Grand Canyon, is the oldest surviving historic cabin near the Grand Canyons south rim and was built in the late 1880s as part of a sheep ranch that was later acquired by the Forest Service for use as a ranger station.

Spring Valley Cabin, a short drive from both Flagstaff and the south rim of the Grand Canyon, was the residence for rangers working at a nearby guard station, and while it is the original 1917 design, has many upgrades and amenities.

We have received incredible feedback from members of the public about their experiences at our historic cabins, said Liz Schuppert, recreation, lands and minerals staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. These are places to which people feel connected and want to bring their children and grandchildren. And, not only can you create memories that will last a lifetime, but you can also help ensure the future preservation of these amazing sites.

Fees charged for renting these historic sites go back to maintaining the cabins as well as to making other Forest Service cabins available to the public as part of the Rooms with a View cabin rental program. All reservations for cabin rentals must be made through www.recreation.gov.
The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc..

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Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. operates as a risk and compliance solutions company worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Capital Markets - Software Solutions (CM-SS), Capital Markets - Compliance and Communications Management (CM-CCM), Investment Companies - Software Solutions (IC-SS), and Investment Companies - Compliance and Communications Management (IC-CCM). The CM-SS segment provides Venue, ActiveDisclosure, eBrevia, and other solutions to public and private companies to manage public and private transaction processes, extract data, and analyze contracts; collaborate; and tag, validate, and file SEC documents. The CM-CCM segment offers tech-enabled services and print and distribution solutions to public and private companies for deal solutions and SEC compliance requirements. The IC-SS segment provides clients with the Arc Suite platform that contains a comprehensive suite of cloud-based solutions and services that enable storage and management of compliance and regulatory information in a self-service and central repository for accessing, assembling, editing, translating, rendering, and submitting documents to regulators. The IC-CCM segment offers clients with tech-enabled solutions for creating and filing regulatory communications and solutions for investor communications, as well as XBRL-formatted filings pursuant to the Investment Act, through the SEC EDGAR system. This segment also provides turnkey proxy services, including discovery, planning and implementation, print and mail management, solicitation, tabulation services, shareholder meeting review, and expert support. Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Rogers Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells engineered materials and components worldwide. It operates through Advanced Electronics Solutions (AES), Elastomeric Material Solutions (EMS), and Other segments. The AES segment offers circuit materials, ceramic substrate materials, busbars, and cooling solutions for applications in electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EV/HEV), wireless infrastructure, automotive, telematics and thermal solutions, aerospace and defense, mass transit, clean energy, connected devices, and wired infrastructure markets. This segment sells its products under the curamik, ROLINX, RO4000, RO3000, RT/duroid, CLTE Series, TMM, AD Series, DiClad, CuClad Series, Kappa, COOLSPAN, TC Series, 92ML, IsoClad, MAGTREX, XTremeSpeed RO1200, IM Series, 2929 Bondply, 3001 Bondply Film, and SpeedWave names. The EMS segment provides engineered material solutions, including polyurethane and silicone materials used in cushioning, gasketing, sealing, and vibration management applications; customized silicones used in flex heater and semiconductor thermal applications; and polytetrafluoroethylene and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene materials used in wire and cable protection, electrical insulation, conduction and shielding, hose and belt protection, vibration management, cushioning, gasketing and sealing, and venting applications. This segment sells its products under the PORON, BISCO, DeWAL, ARLON, eSORBA, Griswold, XRD, Silicone Engineering, and R/bak names. The Other segment provides elastomer components; and elastomer floats for level sensing in fuel tanks, motors, and storage tanks for applications in the general industrial and automotive markets under the ENDUR and NITROPHYL names. Rogers Corporation was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona.
The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan.

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MURTAUGH  Murtaugh School has received a nationwide award for helping close the achievement gap among at-risk students.

The Idaho State Department of Education announced Thursday the school is among two in the Gem State to be named a National Title I Distinguished School.

Its the biggest award the Murtaugh School has ever won. And only seven Idaho schools  including Dworshak Elementary School in Burley in 2012  have ever gotten it.

School district Superintendent Michele Capps found out about the award on Thanksgiving Day. She said its a huge honor.

The biggest secret is, of course, hiring the best teachers and support staff, she said. Thats the most important ingredient.

Another factor: We are also very progressive, Capps said. For six years, the school has provided one mobile computing device per student. Plus, weve been doing some innovative teaching strategies and I think that has done a lot, too.

The distinguished schools, including Murtaugh, will be honored in February at a national Title I conference in Philadelphia. A couple of Murtaugh teachers will accept the award during the event.

Title I schools qualify for federal funding to provide extra services due to having a high percentage of students living in poverty. Thats based on free and reduced-price school lunch numbers.

More than 75 percent of Murtaugh students are from economically disadvantaged households.

About seven years ago, Murtaughs middle school was identified for having an issue with math achievement, Capps said.

Instead of having three separate schools, the school district restructured to be considered one kindergarten through 12th grade campus so funds for boosting achievement could be used for the entire school.

Murtaugh has nearly 400 students, and more than 20 percent of them come from outside the school districts boundaries, Capps said. Also, were having a lot of people moving back into the community and building homes here.

The state is recognizing four schools this year  including Murtaugh  for their results in helping at-risk students.

Harold B. Lee Elementary School in Dayton is the other Title I Distinguished School Award recipient. Lincoln Elementary School in Rexburg and Garwood Elementary School in Rathdrum are Idahos nominees for the National Blue Ribbon School Award.

Theyll each receive a $15,000 award from state Title I funds.

This is truly one of the best parts of my job, recognizing Idaho schools and educators for outstanding efforts in helping their students achieve regardless of background, economic status or prior performance levels, state superintendent of public instruction Sherri Ybarra said in a statement Thursday. With skill, hard work and individual attention, these educators accomplish amazing things.

Murtaugh School is being recognized specifically for helping to close the achievement gap.

Once identified as among the lowest-performing schools in Idaho, the school is now in the top quarter of all Idaho schools in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in both English language arts and mathematics, according to the statement.

To qualify for the Title I Distinguished School Award, a school must have at least a 35 percent poverty rate among students families, demonstrate high academic achievement for at least two consecutive years, and meet or exceed state criteria for student achievement for two consecutive years.

Our test scores have increased significantly in the last several years, Capps said. Now, Murtaugh is in the top tier among all Idaho schools.
Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. is a mortgage-focused REIT externally managed by Invesco Advisors Ltd. Invesco Advisors LTD is a subsidiary of Invesco which is a leading wealth manager and investment company for individuals, high net-worth clients, institutions, public entities, corporations, and governments. The firm created Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc to focus its decades of experience in the mortgage markets to generate a steady stream of cash for its investors.

The company was incorporated in 2008 in order to acquire, finance, and manage a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and mortgages. Invesco believes that achieving the full potential of the mortgage market requires a blend of discipline, structure, and creativity because of long-term structural changes in the way real estate transactions and ownership are handled. The units of Invesco Mortgage Capital tend to yield high-double-digits and have paid more than $26 per unit on a split-adjusted basis since the dividend was initiated.

The objective is to provide risk-adjusted returns through dividends and capital appreciation using the combined strengths of three key Invesco groups; the in-house real estate team, the Worldwide Fixed Income team, and subsidiary WL Ross & Co. Invesco Mortgage Capital is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. As of Q3 2022, Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc held $4.9 billion in assets, $4.7 billion of which were listed as agency RMBS.

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. elected to be taxed as a REIT and so distributes at least 90% of its income to shareholders each year. The fund seeks to generate a high level of income while maintaining a stable portfolio and book value within a dynamic market. The investment strategy is opportunistic and not limited to a single type of mortgage security and so provides greater diversification than most other REITs as well.

Invesco invests in a blend of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) that are and are not guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or federally chartered corporation. The fund also invests in credit risk transfer securities, residential and commercial mortgage loans, and assorted real estate-related financing. Among the opportunities, the fund is pursuing are commercial real estate loan origination, securitizing residential mortgages, and risk-sharing arrangements with federal housing authorities.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. It also develops, manufactures, and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition, it focuses on the central nervous system, pain, respiratory, and oncology areas. Its products in the central nervous system include Copaxone for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; AJOVY for the preventive treatment of migraine; and AUSTEDO for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea associated with Huntington disease. The company's products in the respiratory market comprise ProAir, QVAR, ProAir Digihaler, AirDuo Digihaler, and ArmonAir Digihaler, BRALTUS, CINQAIR/CINQAERO, DuoResp Spiromax, and AirDuo RespiClick/ArmonAir RespiClick for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its products in the oncology market include Bendeka, Treanda, Granix, Trisenox, Lonquex, and Tevagrastim/Ratiograstim. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has a collaboration MedinCell for the development and commercialization of multiple long-acting injectable products, a risperidone suspension for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
TWIN FALLS  After testing the waters in September for creating a local City Club, the new groups first official event  a Republican gubernatorial forum  is slated for January.

Three candidates  U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Boise businessman Tommy Ahlquist  were invited to participate in the Jan. 15 event at Canyon Crest Dining and Events Center in Twin Falls. Little and Alquist are confirmed thus far.

The forum is the kick-off for the City Club of Southern Idaho. Non-partisan city clubs address public affairs and help communities stay informed about complicated issues through topic-driven forums and civil debate.

A handful of community leaders, including Times-News Publisher Travis Quast and College of Southern Idaho president Jeff Fox, talked about the potential for a city club for more than a year. The colleges Constitution Day event this fall was a trial run.

The response was overwhelming, Quast said Friday. Now, the group is moving forward with getting a City Club fully up-and-running. Our goal is to have four events a year.

Dates havent been finalized for other forums.

Quast said hes excited the club will host a gubernatorial candidate forum as its first official event. The upcoming 2018 election is an important topic for the Magic Valley and Idaho, he said.

Seating is limited for the forum and attendees must purchase tickets in advance. A moderator will lead the forum and attendees will be able to submit questions to ask the gubernatorial candidates.

City Club organizers are looking to continue to solicit feedback from the community about what theyd like to see from the club.
CynergisTek, Inc. provides cyber security, privacy, and compliance services in the United States. The company identifies, measures, and tests security and privacy risk of organization, as well as verifies and validates their programs to meet compliance and business objectives through IT audits, technical testing, and risk and program assessments; develops policies, procedures, and playbooks to help build out a risk management program; and verifies the processes, people, and technology are working effectively. It also provides insights to the ROI of an organization's security investment; resources to help organizations prioritize, implement, and execute initiatives to strengthen their security and privacy programs; and on-going management and oversight organization's security and privacy programs to address or give alerts when an issue arises. It serves primarily in the healthcare industry, as well as education, financial services, government, internet and media, and manufacturing industries under the CynergisTek, Redspin, and Backbone Consulting brands. The company was formerly known as Auxilio, Inc. and changed its name to CynergisTek, Inc. in September 2017. CynergisTek, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is based in Austin, Texas.
Average Idahoans dont have a good understanding of how zebra and quagga mussels found in Idaho waters will not only damage the economy but also endangered species. Idahos economic impact of these invasive species is close to $1 billion while Coeur DAlenes economy could be hit with a $400 million loss. Whats at risk? Irrigation systems and power generation from reservoirs; salmon runs due to fewer nutrients in the water; encrusted fish ladders make it difficult for salmon to utilize; wild sturgeon would have little to feed on, so numbers would surely be reduced; and other aquatic species may not survive an invasion.

Native to lakes in south Russia and Ukraine, the mussels were accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes in 1986 from foreign vessels and began reproducing rapidly in Lake Erie. Commercial and private watercraft have since spread these invaders throughout major U.S. and Canadian waterways east of the Rocky Mountains. So far, the Columbia River drainage system is free of this species. But in order to keep it that way, we must step up boat inspections.

These mussels can grow as large as one to two inches over their five-year life span. Zebra mussels can release up to 1 million eggs in one spawning, attach to hard surfaces and reach populations of 75,000 per square foot. They feed by filtering water, removing nutrients from a gallon of water per mussel per day. This makes the water very clear but leaves little nutrients for native fish.

The Salmon Tract south of Twin Falls has been developing a canal system that is 140 feet above much of the irrigated land and will be able to pressurize irrigation water without pumps. And Twin Falls Canal Co. has a siphon across Rock Creek Canyon that could be a maintenance nightmare should mussels invade nearby waters. Also, some Idaho waterways could be closed to boating as other states have done for prevention purposes.

Nevada, Utah and Montana have found quagga and zebra mussels in their waters. This puts even more pressure on Idaho to protect the headwaters of the Columba River. With Idaho in the Columbia River Basin, what happens in these head waters will impact Portland and everywhere in between? So far, the Idaho Department of Agriculture has been able to hold back this invasion. They established the Invasive Species Council and a supplemental fund for boat inspection stations and staff. In 2009, Idaho established a boat sticker fee to help fund the program and inspections started that year. More money was authorized last year to beef up inspection systems and extend station inspection hours. Further funding needs will come from the general fund and increase of out-of-state boat registration fees. This is not the first time Idaho has faced such a challenge, as much more was spent for the control of milfoil aquatic weed in our lakes.

Last summer, a working group traveled around the state and visited with citizens and inspectors to identify holes in the system. The group determined a leader in the governors office was needed to better coordinate activities between other state entities like Department of Ag, Fish and Game, Parks and Recreation, and individual counties. Its important for all parties to work across state lines including Canada. Canada has a big stake in this issue since boats traveling from Idaho enter their country.

I attended a January conference in Louisiana and listened to experts about the impact quagga and zebra mussels have in U.S. waters. A quick response plan must be in place to address the potential impact. Idahos 2009 plan needs to be updated to address current information, problems and solutions. Canada tried to kill an entire lake to stop the invasion and it was unsuccessful. We need to learn from others.

There is currently one part-time station on the main entry from Nevada (Highway 93). I believe this is not an effective way to control entry of these mussels and we will need to expand hours and identify other points of entry. The importance of a coordinated effort of all agencies, bordering states and Canada, as well as the need to beef up our inspections will be a major focus this next legislative session.
Cyclone Ockhi, which has been categorised as a very severe cyclonic storm by the Indian Meteorological Department, originated off the south-western coast of Sri Lanka before its landfall into the southern coast of Kerala during the early morning hours of November 30. At this stage, several fishermen from Thiruvananthapuram, particularly from coastal hamlets of Poonthura, Vettucaud, Valiyathura, Panathura, Vizhinjam, Pozhiyoor and Thumba, were already at sea and were therefore caught in the middle of the eye of the storm when it struck.

In the aftermath of Ockhi, as these communities begin to try and move on with their lives and attempt to re-establish some sense of normalcy, there remains considerable anguish and understandable frustration among members of these communities regarding the manner in which the crisis was managed.

The first point of distress stems from the fact they were not warned in advance of the impending arrival of the cyclone. While much of this anger is currently directed towards the local state administration, it must be pointed out that the task of making such initial predictions and issuing warning bulletins in this regard rests with the IMD, which is under the aegis of the Central government and as per standard protocol, is required to implement a four-stage cyclone warning system, in such cases.

As per this four stage system, the IMD first issues a special bulletin called the pre-cyclone watch indicating any early potential indication for cyclonic disturbances. At the second stage, a cyclone alert is issued 48 hours prior to any expected time of commencement of such disturbances. Next and most importantly, a cyclone warning is required to be issued at least 24 hours in advance of the cyclones expected landfall. Finally, a post landfall outlook is issued 12 hours prior to the landfall and continues till such time as the cyclone continues.

As per the standard operating procedure followed by the IMD, regarding storm intensity and the corresponding suggested action in the event of a cyclonic storm, a total suspension of fishing operations is recommended in the IMDs warning bulletin which is then subsequently passed on to the relevant local authorities.

Based on these bulletins, it appears that while Cyclone Ockhi made its landfall over the southern coast of Kerala early morning of November 30, the actual cyclone warning was only issued at 12 noon Nov 30, completely inconsistent with the protocol of the IMD, which is expected to issue such a bulletin at least 24 hours prior to the expected commencement of the disturbance.

By the time the bulletin had been issued, passed on to the local state departments concerned and the necessary warning raised, fishermen who had ventured into the sea the previous night had already been caught oblivious by the cyclone and in the ensuing turbulence, many lost their lives and even today, nearly 100 fishermen continue to remain missing. It would therefore appear that there may have been some inadequacies in either our existing infrastructure to predict calamities such as Ockhi or alternatively, negligence on the part of the relevant officials of the IMD. It is an absolute priority to have a detailed enquiry into these circumstances.

The second point of anguish for the people of my constituency relates to the concerns about the approach of the rapid response teams of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard during the management of search and relief operations... I would also like to request that a detailed enquiry and a comprehensive review is conducted into protocols followed by these outfits during Cyclone Ockhi. Such a review would help identify deficiencies, if any, in the approach adopted by these forces and the resources at their disposal, such as the lack of iceboxes to preserve the bodies of fishermen found at sea. Some fishermen have complained that the Navy refused to pick up corpses because of the lack of on-board facilities to accommodate them.

Third, it is also imperative that this enquiry provides a comprehensive review of our existing infrastructure to monitor and predict such natural calamities.

We are already aware that the Government has spent an estimated Rs 20 crore on the installation of a Doppler radar on the premises of Vikram Sarabhai Space Station in Thiruvananthapuram. However, given the delay in the issuance of bulletins by the IMD, these appear to be currently either underutilised or worse, not functioning at all.

Such an enquiry would also allow us to understand if we are making use or incorporating findings from cutting edge advance warning systems across the world such as the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.

As mentioned earlier to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, there is also an urgent need to review the deployment of search and rescue aircraft and vessels by the Coast Guard and the Navy in the vicinity of Thiruvananthapuram. Given the number of serious incidents in these waters, it is a matter of concern that most of the available resources are located in Kochi, some distance (and travel time) away from Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari.

(Excerpts from letter sent to the Prime Minister)

I have submitted to the Defence Minister, a proposal for the development of a marine equivalent of the Indian Territorial Army. Like the TA, this force would be an auxiliary voluntary outfit, whose membership would be drawn directly from members of fishing and coastal communities. The invaluable experience and expertise of these individuals would complement efforts of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

(Excerpts from letter sent to the Prime Minister)
Screngrabs from the pictures and video at Aaradhya's school annual day function.

Mumbai: Genes made headlines when Suhana Khans brilliant acting prowess was on display in a school play, the video of which had gone viral earlier this year.

And it seems the performance genes have also been passed on to another star kid, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchans daughter Aaradhya.

On Saturday, Aaradhya was the star attraction at a group performance during her school's annual day function.

The little girl looked extremely confident as she lead her co-performers and pulls off her cute dance moves, notably the one flapping her wings', with ease.

She is also seen as the only one accompanying the teenage performers at the end of the act, before running off in a jiffy.

Aaradhyas Annual Day performance from a few minutes ago. She was clearly in charge and I especially love the ending pic.twitter.com/yxNK1YR1Sw  Bewitching Bachchans (@TasnimaKTastic) December 16, 2017

Aaradhyas surely got the moves! At her Annual Day Function a few minutes ago pic.twitter.com/9Q7wlDKXHB  Bewitching Bachchans (@TasnimaKTastic) December 16, 2017

Her parents Aishwarya and Abhishek seemed extremely proud of her, cheering on from the crowd.

Abhishekand Aishwarya at the annual day today pic.twitter.com/YKwlWVgE9p  Bewitching Bachchans (@TasnimaKTastic) December 16, 2017

Abhishek and Aishwarya siting in the audience during Aaradhyas Annual Day function pic.twitter.com/SUR3LjtUDX  Bewitching Bachchans (@TasnimaKTastic) December 16, 2017

Aaradhyas grandmothers, Jaya Bachchan and Brinda Rai were also present to witness the magic.

Her grandfather, Amitabh Bachchan, however, was absent as he is shooting for 'Thugs of Hindostan' in Thailan, but did give a shoutout by raving about the sell out crowd and sharing pictures on Instagram.

Mukesh Ambani, who is seen along with Abhishek and Sachin Tendulkar's wife Dr Anjali Tendulkar in one of the pictures, owns the school, which is definitely a star kid-studded one.

Shah Rukh Khans son AbRam and Hrithik Roshans sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan also study in the school, with the two stars also being spotted arriving for the annual day function.
People are forced to use more than one medicine for treatment of either single ailment or multiple co-morbid conditions. If some of the fixed drug combinations (FDCs) are useful, a large number available in the country are irrational and useless and potentially dangerous. On many occasions manufacturers go for FDCs with the objective of generating prescriptions and to make profits. Ideally drugs have to be administered as individual items based on the specific requirement of each patient. It enables the prescriber to select specific drugs in specific doses for specific durations to individual patients in certain specific conditions. However, on certain special occasions or situations we may have to unite together certain drugs for better results, convenience and certain other benefits. When two or more drugs are combined together in a fixed ratio into a single dosage, it is known as Fixed Dose Combinations or FDCs. Maximum FDC preparations comprise vitamins, cough suppressants, anti-diarrhoeal, iron preparations, antacids, analgesics and tonics.

Clinical studies and research find that combination medicines are useful and effective in the management of certain diseases. In certain cases FDCs help to improve the quality of life and also the efficacy of the medicine. They also help to reduce te number of pills taken by the patient at a time. FDCs available for the treatment of various ailments range from nutritional deficiency to cardiovascular diseases. In certain cases FDCs help to simplify treatment regimens, improve patient adherence and facilitate implementation of interventional programs and prevent the development of drug resistance. Most effective treatment against malaria is a combination of drugs using artemisinin derivatives. Artemisinin-based combination therapy is the quickest and most reliable way of clearing malaria infection. Here use of a combination of drugs shortens the treatment course. WHO has recommended phasing out monotherapy in the treatment of malaria.

Certain situations where FDCs are beneficial to the patients

(i) Where two or more drugs have a synergistic action. It means that the combination acts to have a better therapeutic response than the individual drugs if used separately.

(ii) Where there is a corrective action. That is, one drug may act to reduce the incidence, intensity or severity of adverse effects caused by the other.

(iii) Where the combination helps for enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

(iv) Where combination will enhance patient compliance.

(v) Where the combination can reduce the dose of individual drug.

(vi) Where it decreases the development of drug resistance.

(vii) Where the combination drug is cheaper than individual drugs because of reduced cost from packaging to distribution and sales.

The Bad and the ugly

Take the case of antihypertensive drug atenolol. There is an allegation that when atenolol could not generate enough sales, it was mixed with alprazolam (used to treat anxiety and panic disorders) to create an expensive 'novel' product. The same is the case with combinations like nimesulide (anti-inflammatory) with paracetamol. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory diclofenac is generally taken three times a day. Why is it mixed with famotidine (used to treat ulcers) which is usually given once in a day (bet time)? Mebendazole (anti-worm) is taken either two or three times a day for three days as an anthelmintic (destroyer of parasitic worms). Pyrantel is another anthelmintic taken as a single dose. Why these two are mixed and marketed as FDC? Whether clinical studies were conducted either at the time of approval or in post-marketing stages in the country?

Ampicillin and cloxacillin combinations are available in plenty in various dosage forms like capsules, dry syrups, injections or kid tablets in the country. Both of them belong to the same group of penicillin and act by same mechanism without any synergism. The fixed ratio takes the flexibility of changing one or other antibiotic. The two can be concurrently used wherever needed. Similarly many FDCs of amoxicillin and cloxacillin are available in the market. Is there any rationale in promoting, marketing and prescribing such FDCs?

Drugs like ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac and paracetamol belong to a single category of drugs - Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). Paracetamol has both analgesic and antipyretic actions equally. Ibuprofen and diclofenac have mainly anti-inflammatory action in addition to their analgesic and antipyretic effects. All these effects are produced by inhibition of synthesis of prostaglandins. Since the mechanism of action is same, there is no synergism.

There is a need to weed out irrational and unethical combinations for the safety of patients. Drug authorities, particularly at the state-level, had endorsed approval for the production and marketing of FDCs. India needs an effective mechanism to assess and prove that the FDC is rational and genuinely necessary.

Pharma policy 2017: Impact on FDCs

The draft of the Centres Pharmaceutical Policy 2017 published recently does not specifically mention the issue of FDCs. However, the policy takes up issues of generic prescription and dispensing, which has an indirect impact on FDCs. The new policy prescribes bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA 7BE) tests to ensure quality of medicines. The Central Drug Regulator will conduct regular annual audit of laboratories which are accredited to conduct BA/BE tests and certify results. Besides, the Central Drug Regulator shall also get all manufacturing units inspected at least once annually through an accredited network of third party inspectors/agencies (national/international) empanelled by it. Self-certification of manufacturing units can also be considered as an effective mechanism till such time that Central Drug Regulator develops capacity for annual inspections.

Parliamentary committee report and its impact on fixed combinations

The 59th Standing Parliamentary Committee that investigated the functioning of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in 2012 observed that the CDSCO had skewed priorities, according primacy to the propagation and facilitation of the drugs industry, due to which, the interest of the biggest stakeholder, i.e. the consumer has never been ensured. The committee pointed out that some State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) have been issuing manufacturing licenses for FDCs without prior clearance from the Drugs Control General. About two-thirds of FDCs are manufactured and marketed without the license of DCGI. Medicines banned or used under strict regulations were also found widely used as FDCs.

In September 2014, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr C.K.Kokate for examining applications for rationality, safety, and efficacy of the FDCs.

The Committee classified FDCs under 4 categories

namely:

Category a  FDCs considered as irrational.

Category b  FDCs requiring further deliberations with subject experts;

Category c  FDCs considered as rational.

Category d  FDCs requiring further generation of data.

The Committee submitted its final report  Evaluation of cases of FDCs to the Centre in February 2016. The Centre banned 344 FDCs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 the next month. Out of them over 60 are combinations of antibiotics. The ban of 344 combinations affected about 7,000 brands of many firms, including major manufacturers like Abbott Healthcare, Macleods Pharma, Pfizer, Mankind, Alkem, IPCA, Medly, Glenmark, Franco Indian, Woekhardt and Aristo.

The ban dented annual sales to the tune of Rs 500 crore to Rs 100 crore to certain firms. In December 2016, the Delhi High Court stayed the ban of 344 FDCs citing technical reasons. The subsequently directed all High Courts to stop hearing all cases against the ban of the 344 FDCs and forward the cases to Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to classify FDCs and submit it to the Court.

(Dr. K.G. Revikumar is well known pharmacist)
Hyderabad: Top Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy was arrested by the Jharkhand police in Achampet of Nagarkurnool district on Saturday. Mr Ghandy had come to attend trial at the Junior First Class Magistrate Court there. The case pertains to an attack on the Amrabad police station and he was charged with possessing explosives to help the Maoists. The case has been pending since March 2010.

As soon as Mr Ghandy came out of the Achampet court, a police team from Jharkhand which was waiting outside whisked him away. Ghandy was later produced before a court in Hyderabad where the Jharkhand police secured a transit warrant and took him to Bokaro in a case pending against him since 2007.

Mr Ghandy was released on bail three days ago from a Visakhapatnam jail, where he was kept since April in connection with a few cases.The Revolutionary Writers Association and the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) condemned the arrest of Ghandy and termed it an illegal detention. Mr Ghandy has to appear before another court in Bellampalli of Mancherial district of Telangana state on December 20. He was planning to return to Mumbai, his native city, after that.
The operation ended in two hours with the police apprehending the director and the brothel organisers and rescuing two actresses, police said.

Hyderabad: A prostitution racket was busted by the North Zone task force on Saturday night, after raids were conducted on Taj Deccan Hotel in Banjara Hills. The police and arrested a film casting director and a brothel organiser and rescued two well-known actresses from Tollywood and the Bengali film industry. The raids were conducted shortly after midnight following a tip-off. The operation ended in two hours with the police apprehending the director and the brothel organisers and rescuing two actresses, police said.

The brothel organisers were identified as Monish Kadakia, a 56-year-old casting director and event manager of Bollywood and Tollywood, a native of Maharashtra, and Dabbera Venkat Rao, 40, a brothel organiser from Guntur. The organisers collect Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 from customers, said P. Radhakrishna Rao, DCP, commissioners task force, and added that the bookings were done online.

The police apprehended the two men and seized Rs 50,000, six condom packets, three mobile phones and a car from them. Star hotels in the city have become an adda for brothel organisers. Hotel managements often go scot-free in high profile prostitution cases.

There will be no action against the hotel managements as their role has not been established, said A. Venkateswara Rao, DCP, West Zone. The hotel managements do not have any idea about the activities going inside the rooms. So, there will not be any case against them, said V. Ravinder, inspector Punjagutta.

Using hotels for prostitution is not new. The law says that one can make them accountable as their place is being used for the commission of the offence, be it hotel, lodge or an apartment. However, a good part of exercising law is also done by the other side. The management should be cooperating with the laws provided to stop this menace. The law in this regard is adequate which includes sealing the place, but it is never done, said Sunitha Krishnan, a social activist and chief functionary and co-founder of Prajwala, an NGO that rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates traffickking victims.
Hyderabad: The police in all the districts bordering Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra have been put on alert following the Adivasi unrest in the state. The intelligence agencies have asked the police in the Bhadradri Kothagudem, Kumaram Bheem, Mancherial, Jayashankar, Khammam, Nirmal, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nagarkurnool districts to be on alert. The warning comes in wake clashes between Adivasi and Lambada groups in pockets of Adilabad and Kumaram Bheem districts.

Following the advisory the police in these districts have intensified patrolling on highways and pockets dominated by the Adivasi and Lambada groups.In some districts prohibitory orders banning assembly of four or more persons have been clamped as a precautionary measure.

The intelligence agencies suspect that left wing extremist groups or Maoists might use the opportunity to spread unrest. The Maoists movements are mostly reported in the forest bordering Telangana state and Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh. The police believes that Maoist sympathisers could mingle with the crowd and resort to violence, spearhead rallies or instigate people.

Though the police had officially denied that Adivasi community members from Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are extending support to the cause of their counterparts in Telangana state, the intelligence agencies are gathering information on this aspect too. On Saturday, a high-level meeting of police officials discussed the violence in Adilabad. The police officials also reviewed the protests reported in other parts of the state carried out by activists condemning the Utnoor violence.

Only one officer gets posting

In the wake of the violent incidents and clashes between Adivasis and Lambadas in Agency areas, the Telangana state government on Saturday removed collectors and superintendents of police serving in the affected districts. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, reviewing the situation, took a serious view of the violent incidents that had occurred in the last few days. The GOs effecting the transfers were released soon after. Adilabad collector Dr Jyoti Buddha Prakash has been replaced by Vikarabad collector D. Divya.

Ranga Reddy collector M. Raghunandan Rao has been given full additional charge as Vikarabad collector. Asifabad collector M. Champalal has been replaced by Warangal rural collector Patil Prashant Jeeven. Warangal Urban collector Amrapali Kata has been given full additional charge as Waran-gal Rural collector. Nirmal collector K. Ilambarithi has been replaced by Hyderabad joint collector M. Prashanti.

Karimnagar range DIG Ravi Varma has been replaced by P. Pramod Kumar, joint CP, special branch, Hyderabad. Adilabad SP M. Srinivasulu has been replaced by Nirmal SP Vishnu S. Warrier. He also has full additional charge as Nirmal SP.

Asifabad SP Sunpreet Singh has been replaced by Nagarkurnool SP Kalmeshwar Shinge-nawar. Sunpreet Singh has been posted as SP of Nagarkurnool.

Barring Mr Singh, none of the transferred collectors and SPs were given other postings. The CM held discussions with ministers and party leaders to find a solution to the ongoing tussle between Adivasis and Lambadas. He is expected to call a meeting with prominent leaders of both communities in a day or two., to resolve the issue amicably. The CM will discuss what measures can be taken to protect the reservation benefits to both communities.
Democrats are swooning over their success at snatching a U.S. Senate seat from the Republicans in ruby-red Alabama. And they are showering love on African-Americans, especially African-American women, who were fundamental to Doug Jones win over the reprehensible Roy Moore, just as they were for the victory of Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam over Ed Gillespie last month. How nice. Now, its time to pay up.

Right now, there is a push by the Congressional Black Caucus, civil rights groups and others to ensure that the seat being vacated by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., on the Senate Judiciary Committee goes to one of the chambers two black Democrats: Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif. They are also lawyers. There hasnt been an African-American on the committee since Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Ill., who served one term (1993 to 1999).

Its time for another strong African-American voice to be heard on the Judiciary Committee. Given the results of Virginia and Alabama, that voice should be a black womans. It should be Harris.

You might know her because of the hair flip seen around the world in reaction to a male Senate colleague mansplaining the rules during an Intelligence Committee hearing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on June 7. But the episode demonstrated the steely seriousness of the first-term legislator.

Before winning her seat in November 2016, Harris was the California attorney general. Before that, she was San Francisco district attorney. In both jobs, Harris focused on preventing or reducing recidivism among first-time, low-level drug offenders in the state. As part of her ongoing work on criminal-justice reform, she visited the Central California Womens Facility, which she told me in July is the largest womens prison in the world. We could be a lot smarter as a country on how were dealing with policy around keeping communities safe, Harris said in an interview for a Washington Post podcast. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, she would have a say in that.

The committee has oversight of the Justice Department and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is wasting no time rolling back the civil rights advances of his predecessors. Even more important, the committee considers nominations to the federal bench, including justices to the Supreme Court, which could have one, maybe two, openings during President Donald Trumps term.

As we saw in that Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Harris questioning was as forceful as it was precise. Just what the Judiciary Committee needs from Frankens replacement.
Hyderabad: Upbeat over the huge response from the public to inauguration of the first World Telugu Conference (WTC) in the state, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has directed ministers and officials to maintain the tempo of the five-day event till the valedictory session on December 19.

He asked them to visit venues in the city which are hosting the WTC events. He asked them to review the arrangements and interact with the participants and the public to keep up the tempo. The ministers have been directed to attend programmes as special guests at the four venues. On Saturday, the ministers, accompanied by officials, sprung into action and made a beeline on Saturday to attend the programmes.

Deputy CM Kadiam Srihari attended a programme in Ravindra Bharathi, while finance minister Etala Rajender attended another programme in Indira Priyadarshini auditorium. Deputy CM Mohd Mahmood Ali, health minister C. Laxma Reddy, power minister G. Jagadish Reddy and cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav too visited various venues and participated in literary and cultural programmes.

Mr Rajender, accompanied by civil supplies commissioner C.V. Anand and Chief Secretary S.P. Singh, visited LB Stadium, Ravindra Bharathi and Lalithakala Thoranam and inspected the arrangements. They interacted with the participants and had lunch with them.

The minister appreciated Mr Anand for making food arrangements at all the venues comprising of 30 varieties of the Telangana cuisine.The participants expressed happiness over the Telangana cuisine offered at these venues. They said that all the food items were delicious. The aim of the WTC is to restore the glory of TS language, history, culture, literature and cuisine. We are getting positive feedback from all the venues, Mr Rajender stated.
Chennai: As crimes against women and girl children are shockingly rising every year, especially, sex crimes, most urgent measures have to be taken. Hence, the following queries are raised, said Justice N. Kirubakaran.

They are:

Q What are all the reasons for the increase of sex crimes against women and girl children in India?

Q What are all the problems faced by the police authorities while dealing with the complaints involving sexual violence against women and girl children and prosecuting the case properly?

Q What is the rate of conviction in rape cases throughout the country and Tamil Nadu for the past 10 years?

Q What are all the steps taken, including making use of latest technology like DNA fingerprinting taken to effectively investigate and prosecute the culprits to get a conviction to prove certainty of punishment in cases of offences against women and girl children?

Q Why not the Central and State governments shall install CCTV cameras in public places, junctions and malls to have surveillance to prevent offences being committed especially against women and to detect the offenders in case of commission of offences and to prove the guilt of the accused to the hilt as the brutality of the murder was exhibited by the CCTV clippings captured in the closed-circuit TV fixed in the locality while Shankar was murdered in the busy market area at Udumalpet on March 14, 2016, in the name of honour killing?

Q Why not the central and state governments establish a centre for DNA fingerprinting and diagnostics to

investigate crimes effectively and prove the culpability of the offenders in India, which is the second most populous country with thousands of offences committed every minute?

Q Whether the victims of sexual violence are given proper counselling and support system to overcome the trauma and mental agony and paid compensation?

Q Is it a fact, in spite of the rise in complaints of sexual violence, many cases are not reported by the victims fearing stigma and exclusion by society and family?

Q Whether alcoholism is one of the main reasons for the spurt in offences against women and children?

Q Whether sexual violence against women is due to fall in sex ratio due to female infanticide and foeticide?

Q What are all the reasons for gang rapes of women, including toddlers, as more such cases are reported in the recent time?

Q Whether more sexual violence against women is due to sex starvation among Indian men in view of various prohibitions/prescription regarding sex on the ground of culture, religion, morality and ethics?

Q Whether sex offences/crimes against women and girl children are due to lack of knowledge and understanding about sex?

Q Are sex crimes, especially rape is committed due to the wrong impression of the male that women are their objects of pleasure and to prove their dominance and control over women?

Q Is it a fact that the rise in sex crimes is due to easy accessibility and availability of pornographic materials through the internet and smartphones which are easily available to all?

Q Is it a fact that nowadays films and serials shown on the television give tips/clues/ideas for the men, especially, youngsters and juveniles indulge in sexual violence against women and girl children?

Q Whether the Central and State governments have taken steps to introduce Age-Appropriate Sex Education in school curriculum itself to educate students/youngsters about sex to clear their doubts and wrong notions?

Q Why not the Central and state governments include a subject moral education to teach moral and ethical values and equality of women and girl children in the society to the students especially to boys?

Q Why not the Central and State governments sensitise the public, especially young men about the punishment and stringent laws for sexual assault on women and children?

Q Why not the film stars and celebrities, prominent personalities in the society be roped in, to advise the boys and youngsters to treat the women and girl children equal to men and boys by way of short films, issuance of pamphlets, commercial advertisements, seminars, lectures etc.,?

Q Why not Central government appoint a committee/commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with psychiatrists, psychologists, women activists and others to look into the various reasons, especially psychological/mind connected reasons for increase in sex crimes against women and children and to give recommendations suggesting remedial and preventive measures

to be taken by the central government including suitable amendments in laws?

Q Why not the government appoint well-trained counsellors/psychologists in every school or for 5 schools, so as to note anti-social and narcissistic personality disorders and identify potential sex offenders and give appropriate counselling with the co-operation of the parents discreetly, to avoid stigma on the children?

Q Whether all the states and Union Territories formulated a uniform scheme for providing victim compensation in respect of rape/sexual exploitation of physically handicapped women?

Q Is it a fact that many false complaints alleging sexual assault are being filed for various reasons to wreak vengeance against the opposite party?

Q Why not government distribute modern devices/gadgets for women, which could be used by the women at times of distress or while facing sexual violence?
Honnavar: The 'attack,' on a Hindu girl allegedly by two Muslim youth which had increased the communal tension in Honnavar on December 13 has now received an unexpected twist!

Police have found that the reason for the injury was not any 'attack.' It was in reality injury marks which the girl had inflicted on herself with thorns after she got scared due to sexually harassment by a man.

It was rumoured that on December 13, the high school girl was waylaid by two men who came on a bike to Magod Kudlagadde at Honnavar. They allegedly injured the girl's palms with a knife and escaped when they saw a vehicle approaching. The rumours also stated that the two persons were Muslims.

The police who were investigating the case, took the girl for counselling. The revealtion came as a shock even to the police. The girl stated that when she used to walk to her school situated about 8 kms from her house, one Ganesh Naik used to follow her for the past 5-6 months and harassed her by asking to come with him in his car or on his two wheeler. The girl was under shock due to this harassment.

When the girl was on her way to school last Friday, Naik appeared before her and threatened her again. The girl who was scared and told her mother who in turn said this to a gram panchayat member and a senior leader of the village. He had assured that he would summon Naik and warn him.

Meanwhile the girl did not go to school for about 4 days as Honnavar witnessed communal tension. She decided to go to school on Thursday and she came to know that there was a test on Thursday.

The girl left home on Thursday morning. However she was scared that Naik might sexually assault her and decided to commit suicide. She decided to hurt herself and took the thorns of a lemon plant and injured her palms. But soon she realised that it was a mistake and decided to go to school.

But as she was injured the girl asked her friend to bring a bandage. The shop owner saw the injury. Without asking her for the details, the shop owner is said to have claimed that he had seen two unidentified persons of whom one had a beard and alleged that the two were behind the injury.

Other villagers too belieived the theory. The girl who was already scared, then narrated the same story before the police.

The police who inquired and conducted a medical examination found that the injury was due to thorns, To confirm this the police held counselling and the girl narrated the real story. The narration has been registered before the court too.

The press statement by the superintendent of police stated that the police have registered a case under POCSO against Ganesh Naik. Naik is missing and the police are searching for him.

Meanwhile police have asked the public not to pay heed to rumors and stories that might harm the peace of the region.

Honnavar normal but shops remain shut

Though there were no fresh incidents of violence in Honnavar in uttara Kannada district, normalcy has not yet returned as the shops remained closed on Saturday and Sunday too.

Honnavar and Kumta have been tense since the beginning of this month. The situation worsened after the group clash on December 6 and the mysterious death of a teenager, Paresh Mesta. Family members had alleged that his death was a murder and saffron outfits have been claiming it to be a murder by 'Jehadis.' Protest by saffron outfits against this murder had turned violent in Kumta and Sirsi.

"Police officials are targeting Hindu organisations and innocent Hindus. Based on the directions of the Bhatkal and Kumta MLAs, police officials are booking cases and arresting Hindu youth in Honnavar and Kumta region who were not involved in any incidents. People are unhappy with this move by the authorities and so they have voluntarily decided to shut the shops till this tyranny ends," a BJP leader told Deccan Chronicle.

"Traders are unhappy with the police. The voluntary bandh is likely to continue for a few more days," he added.
Visakhapatnam: The Karur Vysya Bank (KVB), a well-known private sector bank in the country, celebrated its 101st Founders Day in Vizag on Saturday.

KVB is one among the few private banks which crossed 100 years. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu was the chief guest of the programme attended by the banks customers, business partners, shareholders and employees.

Mr Naidu dedicated the "Digital Village" app facilitated by Karur Vysya Bank in Andhra Pradesh. KVB has adopted Bandarupalli, a remote unbanked village in Guntur district and set up a digital branch there. Cashless transactions are ensured and all banking transactions are conducted in a digital mode. KVB provided free Wi-Fi connection to the village. KVB donated `1 crore as part of its CSR.
KOLLAM: The judicial commission led by Justice P.S. Gopinathan will examine witnesses, based on the statements and petitions on the Puttingal temple tragedy, at its sitting December 19  21 at the Ashramam Government Guest House here. Nearly 100 persons including those associated with the temple, social workers, the injured, and the residents have given statements and petitions, K. Vasudevan, a retired sub-judge and secretary to the inquiry commission, told this paper. It had earlier examined official witnesses at its headquarters in Kochi and recorded statements of A. Shainamol who was the Kollam district collector at the time of the blast.

The judicial probe was announced by the former government on the fateful day of April 10 by appointing N. Krishnan Nair as the commission. The retired judge resigned on personal grounds in December 2016, and the present government in February 2017 named Mr Gopinathan. There are 59 defendants in the cases registered, out of which seven had died during the investigation.
Kochi: Pampadumpara in Idukki district would have remained in its anonymity but for the North Korean helmsman Kim Jong-Un. The place has been now brought to the national attention as the CPM local leadership has decided to erect two huge flex boards of the North Korean leader in connection with Nedungandom area committee meeting of the party. The posters caught the attention of the social media has been grabbed with both hands by political opponents of the CPM to lampoon the party. Sambit Patra , a spokesperson of the BJP, said CPM adopting Kim as his poster boy is in tune with the politics of murder practiced by it in Kerala.

In a twitter message he said Kim Jong-un finds place in CPMs posters in Kerala!! No wonder they have converted Kerala into killing fields for their opponents! Hope the left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS, BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda. The Congress MLA V.T. Balaram also took a dig at the CPM for making Kim a poster boy of the party propaganda and placing him along with the other leaders of the communist pantheon. The Idukki district leadership of the CPM however distanced itself from the controversial posters and said that it was erected without knowledge of the district leadership. CPM Idukki district secretary K.K. Jayachandran said they came to know of the incident through the media and the instructions have been to the cadres for removing the flex boards.
Srur is the fifth senior officer to have been relieved of his functions so far over the ARA San Juan's disappearance. (Photo: AFP)

Buenos Aires: Argentina dismissed its naval chief on Saturday, the most high-profile officer to be fired a month after a submarine went missing with 44 crew members on board.

"The defense minister asked him to retire. It's a political decision," a navy officer said on condition of anonymity about the decision to remove Admiral Marcelo Srur during an ongoing investigation into the sub's disappearance.

Srur is the fifth senior officer to have been relieved of his functions so far over the ARA San Juan's disappearance.

Military sources say President Mauricio Macri is willing to retire most of the naval leadership.

The government is also creating an internal investigative commission that will be headed by retired captain Jorge Bergallo, father of the ARA San Juan's second commander, Jorge Ignacio Bergallo, government sources told state news agency Telam.

An international search operation has so far failed to locate the vessel. The 43 men and one woman who were aboard are believed to have died in the tragedy.

But families of the missing have pressed the government to continue the search, which has not yet been officially closed.

Some relatives claim the navy has been hiding information, and have called for a parliamentary investigation. On Friday, they protested in Mar del Plata, where the submarine was based, and Buenos Aires.

Relatives have focused their anger on the condition of the three-decade-old sub, which had undergone a seven-year refit to extend its service, and the navy's guardedness since the start of the search operation.

The navy has a poor reputation in Argentina. During the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, some navy units served as detention and torture centres, and an estimated 30,000 people disappeared.

The loss of the San Juan is the first major tragedy to hit the navy since the Falklands War in 1982. Argentina, which refers to the islands as Las Malvinas, lost the war to Britain.

The navy has been fiercely criticized for its handling of the operation since first reporting the submarine overdue at Mar del Plata on November 16.

It was only several days into the tragedy that navy officials acknowledged the San Juan had reported a problem with its batteries in its final communication on November 15.

And nearly 10 days later, the navy confirmed there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem.

A criminal probe has been opened to find those at fault, on orders from a judge in the city of Caleta Olivia, a port in Patagonia where maritime cases are usually heard.

A British oceanographic vessel and an Argentine one were exploring the ARA San Juan search area with sonar equipment on Saturday, the navy said, while warning of "very adverse weather conditions" expected this weekend.

At the peak of search operations, more than a dozen countries provided military assets, oceanographic vessels and planes.

The ARA San Juan is one of the South American country's three submarines, but only one of them, the ARA Salta, is operational. The ARA Santa Cruz was removed from service for having serious failures that require a complete overhaul.

Depths plummet from 200 meters (650 feet) to more than 3,000 meters on the edge of the Argentine shelf.

Experts say the sub would begin to break up once it drops below about 600 meters due to the water pressure.
Musharraf had in November announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties. (Photo: File)

Karachi: Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as "patriotic, former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan's "safety and security, according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general, who is on self-exile in Dubai, had in November said that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah.

"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," the ARY News channel quoted him as saying.

Musharraf said the two groups have large public support and good people and no one could object if they formed a political party.

The LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed, while the JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

Read: Pervez Musharraf says he likes Hafiz Saeed, is 'biggest supporter' of LeT

JuD chief Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack, had in November unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

The former military ruler further said that so far the two groups have not approached him but if they desire to enter into an alliance with his party, he has no objection.

Musharraf had in November announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharraf's Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, then toppled prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan for nine years, is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan. He unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.

He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharif's control anymore."
How did he do it? Thats the question I was asked more than once by European friends the day after Alabamas Senate election: How did Doug Jones win? The question was not idle. In many ways, the electoral challenge Jones faced in Alabama was strikingly similar to the challenge facing European politicians of the center-left and even  or maybe especially  the center-right: How to defeat racist, xenophobic or homophobic candidates who are supported by a passionate, unified minority? Or, to put it differently: How to get the majority  which is often complacent rather than passionate, and divided rather than unified  to vote?

This was the same question asked after the victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French elections, and part of the answer, in both cases, was luck. Nobody predicted a Roy Moore sex scandal. Nobody predicted that the French political establishment would fold so quickly either. Frances previous, center-left president was so unpopular that he discredited his party; Frances center-right leader, Francois Fillon, was knocked out of the race by a scandal. Macron wound up as the leader of a new centrist coalition, the electoral arithmetic was in his favor, and he won.

But beyond luck, both Macron and Jones also tried to reach across some traditional lines, in part by appealing to traditional values. Macron, fighting a nationalist opponent in the second round of the elections, openly promoted patriotism. Instead of fear and anger, he projected optimism about France and its international role. He spoke of the opportunities globalization brought to France instead of focusing on the dangers, and he declared himself proud to be both French and a citizen of the world. He wasnt the only European to take this route: Alexander Van der Bellen, the former Green Party leader who is now president of Austria, used a similar kind of campaign to beat a nationalist opponent. Van der Bellens posters featured beautiful Alpine scenes, the Austrian flag and the slogan Those who love their homeland do not divide it.

In Alabama, Jones used remarkably similar language. Jones Facebook ads (archived by ProPublica) used the slogan restore honor and civility, emphasized his background in law and order and, like Macron and Van der Bellen, projected patriotism instead of nationalism. I believe the United States of America is a land of laws, justice, freedom, equality and opportunity, he said. He also described his own fight against racism as an important civic achievement with benefits for all: I prosecuted KKK terrorists, getting justice for the four young girls who were murdered. Join our campaign and bring civility and compassion back to Alabama.

Of course, there were other factors in all of these victories. A successful voter turnout operation in Alabama, for example, as well as more-targeted advertising, helped Jones win. Macron was also helped by timing: French awareness of the Russian and online alt-right role in the U.S. election strengthened the resolve of both media and voters to ignore their attempts to influence the result in France.

Still, if they hadnt reached for something higher, victory might have eluded them. Modern democracy is by definition an exercise in coalition-building, whatever the voting system. In big, diverse, complicated countries, where people have vastly different interests and backgrounds, politicians seeking national office (or in the United States even statewide office) have to find common denominators as well as specific messages for particular groups. The nation that we all share, our common history and aspirations, is the most obvious.

As these elections prove, an appeal to national pride doesnt have to be xenophobic or close-minded. At least some Alabamians  as I know from my family there  voted for Jones because they want to see their state as part of an American story that includes the civil rights movement and the emancipation of women. They want to live in an America that is tolerant and open. An appeal to that strand of the American tradition can win them over. Even Europeans, many of whom live in countries that really are  unlike the United States  defined by a single ethnic group, can be reached by this kind of appeal. You can be French, Polish or Dutch and still be a citizen of the world. You can love your country because its a part of an international community. And you can refuse to let xenophobic nationalists define what it means to be patriotic, too.
The scandal-hit parent company of high street discount chain Poundland will this week face key creditors and insurers at a meeting that could determine the future of its British retail operations. Poundland is already under intense pressure after Atradius - one of the credit insurers on which suppliers rely to ensure they get paid - reduced its cover for the group. Reliable industry sources say another credit insurer, Euler Hermes, is also considering cutting cover. - The Sunday Times

Britain's biggest mortgage lender Lloyds has been accused of immoral behaviour for using billions of pounds of cheap central bank funding to boost profits rather than increase lending. The high street bank has been the biggest user of a 140bn Bank of England fund launched after the Brexit vote to boost the supply of cheap funding to the real economy. Lloyds has maxed out what it can draw under the Term Funding Scheme (TFS), having borrowed 20bn of the 100bn lent so far. - Sunday Telegraph

Britains banks have written to Theresa May and Philip Hammond warning that a Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU post-Brexit is not ambitious enough and that alignment with EU rules on finance is crucial. The open letter from UK Finance, which represents major banks and other financial institutions, said the government must place the City at the centre of Brexit trade talks or risk dealing a major blow to the economy. - Observer

The Mail on Sundays call for tough regulatory action on companies that charge people for receiving unwanted mobile phone texts has received further parliamentary support. Earlier this month the newspaper revealed how thousands of people are unknowingly paying to receive pestering text messages - a practice Labour MP John Mann described as a national scandal.

Ministers will outline plans this week to boost the download speeds of 1m rural homes and businesses to a level fast enough to stream music and films. The aim is to ensure that forgotten premises in remote areas receive an adequate broadband service by 2022 at the latest. At present, 1.1m properties are unable to access download speeds of at least 10 megabits per second (Mbps), the minimum needed to meet the typical needs of a family, according to the industry watchdog Ofcom. - The Sunday Times

High Street retailers want access to shoppers bank details in order to provide services such as faster refunds and in-store access to balances, according to new research. Nearly a third of retailers will be ready to start taking advantage of reforms coming into force next month known as Open Banking, the Accenture study found. - Sunday Telegraph

Amazon could face an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority over complaints that its premium service is failing to deliver on time in the run-up to Christmas. Amazon Prime claims to offer unlimited one-day delivery but customers have contacted the advertising regulator to say it is falling short of what is promised. - Observer

A register naming and shaming companies whose shareholders have protested over fat cat pay is expected to be launched this week. The idea for the list, which will be published online, came from Prime Minister Theresa May who said in August that it would help expose corporate greed and attempt to restore trust in capitalism. Any FTSE All-Share company where at least one in five shareholders vote against pay policy will appear on the register, which is expected to include a number of household name businesses. - Mail on Sunday

The Nigerian government is suing JP Morgan for $875m (660m), alleging the Wall Street banking giant acted as the middleman in an illegal oil deal and made payments to a convicted money launderer. Papers filed with the High Court in London claim that in 2011 the bank transferred money to a company controlled by Dan Etete, a former oil minister in the Nigerian government. He had previously been convicted of money laundering by French courts and is being pursued by Nigerian authorities. - The Sunday Times

The chairman of the London Stock Exchange, Donald Brydon, is expected to survive an audacious attempt by an activist investor to bring about an abrupt end to his two and a half years at the helm of the group. Brydon faces a vote this week on his future after a row with the Childrens Investment Fund (TCI), which owns 5% of the exchange, over boardroom changes. - Observer

The Government has been accused of dragging its heels over plans to encourage more people to save for retirement through a works pension. Steve Webb, the former Pensions Minister who oversaw the introduction of auto-enrolment in late 2012, says the recommendations announced today to extend the regime to more workers are shockingly lethargic. - Mail on Sunday

Uber employed a global network of CIA-trained spies, used illegal wiretaps and hacked a rivals database to steal trade secrets and lure away drivers, according to an explosive letter unsealed by a California court on Friday. The 37-page letter from a disgruntled former intelligence executive was made public as part of a suit brought by Waymo, Googles sister company, which alleges Uber stole parts of its self-driving car technology. - The Sunday Times

Jigsaw, the womenswear retailer, is at the centre of a takeover scrap between two South African companies to clinch a deal before Christmas. Foschini, which already owns Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, is going head to head with Truworths, owner of shoe chain Office. Their appetite for UK deal-making is in stark contrast to larger South African rival Steinhoff, which faces a fire sale of assets in the wake of an accounting scandal. - Sunday Telegraph

The chair of housebuilding firm Persimmon has resigned over his role in orchestrating a 100m-plus bonus for the companys chief executive, as critics accused the firm of benefiting from the taxpayer-backed help-to-buy scheme. The huge share award worth around 110m was attacked by politicians, charities and corporate governance experts, who described it as obscene, corporate looting and a reward based on taxpayer subsidies. Persimmon is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the governments help-to-buy programme, which has lifted sales and boosted house prices across the UK. - Observer

Insurance giant Aviva is facing open-ended losses that may in theory run to billions of pounds thanks to a bizarre investment product sold in the pre-internet 1980s that lets its owners profit from moves in financial markets after they have happened. It is pitting the FTSE 100 firm against a 28-year-old Frenchman, Max-Herve George, who lives in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad. He says Aviva  which looks after pensions for millions of Britons and has many UK private investors  could owe him more than a billion euros over his lifetime. - Mail on Sunday
Agriculture is the fabric out of which Idaho was made. Woven by the sweat and sacrifice of our farmers, ranchers and dairymen and reinforced by innovation and technology  this industry has cultivated Idahos history as our state has grown to feed the world.

Agriculture is Idahos original small business and our farmers, ranchers and dairymen are our original entrepreneurs. It defines not only our states economy  but our heritage and values of hard work and sacrifice, faith and family and a dedication to something larger than ourselves.

I understand farmers, ranchers and dairymen because like them Im also an entrepreneur. Over the years Ive started and built several businesses.

Ive personally signed my name on numerous bank loans, and Ive signed the front of thousands of paychecks. Ive dealt with ridiculous government regulations, felt the intense pressure of payroll obligations and woken-up in the middle of the night startled with worry about how Im going to make this work for my family and my employees.

I know hard work.

I know business. And I know Idaho agriculture needs someone who will always stand up for them. Im running for governor so I can listen and work to do everything in my power to improve Idahos agricultural economy. And I will always be there for the farmers, ranchers and dairymen who built our state and defined its very values in the process.

Starting day one, Ill fight to remove burdensome regulations facing all areas of agriculture.

I know firsthand that over-regulation harms business, but for agriculture, its especially detrimental. Take sage grouse, for example. We can no longer protect sage grouse at the expense of farmers and ranchers. And while I support efforts to strengthen Idahos position on this issue and work with all stakeholders for a solution  that solution must protect the rights and economic interests of Idaho farmers and ranchers. And if the federal government wont work with us, then I support fighting them through all means necessary, including litigation  until we have an Idaho solution.

And you bet Ill do the same on any other regulation that harms our agricultural community.

I will also fight to protect Idahos water for farmers, ranchers and dairymen and make sure Idaho maintains sovereignty over its water. Ill work closely with the agricultural community to ensure rec

harge efforts continue, storage options are pursued and water rights are protected. And while I will work with all stakeholders and listen to all ideas and concerns, I do not support bad ideas like breaching dams or proposals that arent in Idahos best interest.

Rising healthcare costs are another challenge facing Idahos agricultural community and all Idahoans. And I promise not to stop until health care premiums and costs are lowered for Idahos families and businesses.

I was an ER doctor for 18 years and can tell you definitively that I can and will lower health care premiums and costs  and Ive released a plan outlining how to do just that. Im tired of listening to Idahos career politicians talk and talk about these skyrocketing costs.

Its time they get out of the way and let those of us whove worked in the industry take action.

Another shared priority with Idaho agriculture is keeping our kids  yours and mine  in Idaho. That starts with education and includes creating a robust economy with high-paying jobs. Our public education system must prepare Idaho kids for Idaho jobs and when governor, I will not stop fighting until it does.

Simply put, I know hard work and I know business. And I know Idahos values.

Ill fight to remove known burdensome regulations facing agriculture and fight until healthcare premiums are lowered. Ill fight to keep our kids at home in Idaho and Ill fight to protect our water for agriculture. But most importantly  I will always stand up for Idaho agriculture. Because from grain and potatoes to sugar beets, cattle, dairy and more  listening to and fighting for Idahos agricultural businessmen and women cements not only Idahos core values and past heritage  but cements a cornerstone of Idahos economic future.
Bajaj is developing an all-new 400cc DOHC (Double Over-Head Camshaft) engine which is expected to churn out around 40bhp of power. The engine is said to feature in-house developed ECU, triple spark technology and transmission. Currently, Bajaj is using the SOHC (Single Over-Head Camshaft) engine on the Dominar 400.

With the development of the new engine, Bajaj might introduce the bigger Pulsar RS 400 to rival the likes of recently launched TVS Apache RR 310 and the KTM RC 390. The new 400cc motorcycle will be the flagship offering from Bajaj.

Recommended Video The Emflux Motors Model 1  Indias First Electric Motorcycle

Previously we had reported that Bajaj is working on the higher capacity Avenger and the new 400cc engine could be used in the bigger Avenger. The new-gen cruiser motorcycle is expected to come with premium features such as ABS and slipper clutch.

The report also suggests that Bajaj could also create a new brand of 400cc motorcycle as with the case of Dominar 400. Apart from the 400cc engine, the company is also working on a new 110cc engine for its new commuter motorcycle.

The new 110cc commuter motorcycle from Bajaj will rival the likes of Honda Livo, Dream Yuga, TVS Victor, and Hero iSmart 110. Previously, Bajaj had revealed that some major launches are slated for 2018, and we could see the new 400cc engine being unveiled in 2018.

DriveSpark Thinks!

Bajaj is known for its value for money premium motorcycles such as the Pulsar RS200, Pulsar NS200 and the Dominar 400. Now, the company is working on a 400cc engine for its new flagship offering which is likely to be introduced in 2018. Bajaj might also launch an all-new brand in the 400cc segment.
According to recent studies and research reports, there is an unhealthy effect on us due to excessive use of social media. Facebook, biggest social networking website has once again come under fire from different quarters, who criticize the business model of Facebook. People spending more than two hours on social media are believed to be having socially isolating behaviour.

Facebook has refuted all such claims saying it has invested more than a million dollars in the social behaviour and social research. The facebook was created for communication, and if it is used actively for messaging family and friends, then there is no such thing as an adverse effect on the people. If someone just visits Facebook to scroll through others post and feed which is also called passive use, then it may have some social adverse effect on the people.

Well, in that case, most of us fall in the passive group who are just able to scroll past our post feed.Social media has been accused of past too of creating an only attention-grabbing model of business, which many suggest is a wrong model for a responsible business.

Facebook

What started as a friends profile network on the college campus has become the biggest social media giant in the universe. It has unexpectedly multiplied its offering and services since the time it was launched. It has acknowledged the negative effect of social media but defends itself saying people affected are using it in wrong way.

It says that there is compelling research on the topic but that does not represent the whole story. As there both good and bad sides of a technology and it is entirely dependent on the way we use it. Facebook research director and research scientist in a blog post said that Facebook employs social analysts and social psychologist to understand the way Facebook can be made a better place for everyone.

So, According to Facebook, you should actively engage on the platform; sharing, messaging, commenting and talking with close family and friends.You should not be a passive user of the platform. They believe it is a platform to share joy and happiness with closed ones and friends.

Future of Social Media

Technology is our choice of the tool which we can employ to do good in the society, but that is not the always case as we all know. It might be prudent decision to allow yourself to have a proper social media routine before it becomes an inseparable limb.

there is the negative effect of social media as observed in many research reports, so it becomes a responsibility of the websites and users alike to maintain order and activity on the web which reduces such behaviours.

Facebook acknowledging the effect of social media on the society is a small yet powerful boost in the right direction of generating a platform of active engagement and less addiction. The social media addiction is a real thing and if not addressed at the right time with the right approach, it can become a menace to the society.
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Charming Charlies suppliers held up millions of dollars worth of inventory before the critical holiday season, forcing the cash-strapped retailer into bankruptcy court after years of declining sales and merchandising mistakes, court records show.

Houston-based Charming Charlie, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, explained in the filings that many of its vendors refused to ship merchandise unless it paid upon delivery. As much as $45 million in inventory is now stranded in distribution centers and ports, and the company has reported it has only $700,000 in cash.

Charming Charlie has three San Antonio locations, at The Rim, Alamo Quarry Market and the Village at Stone Oak.

Usually retailers have always tried to file after the holiday because they could get the Christmas sales, said Reshmi Basu, reporter with Debtwire, a debt market intelligence service. In this case, the vendor issues were so big that they couldnt wait.

Moodys Investors Service on Tuesday slapped a junk-bond rating on an outstanding $150 million loan to the company and said it would no longer monitor it.

The Chapter 11 filing could mark a turning point for Charming Charlie, which grew with abandon even as other retailers closed stores to account for online shopping and other changes in consumer preferences. Court filings show how the chain of about 390 jewelry and accessories boutiques, founded in 2004 by Houston entrepreneur Charlie Chanaratsopon, has for years been collapsing under its own weight during an especially challenging time for the entire industry.

Now, the company is seeking court approval of $20 million in new financing, as well as a $35 million asset-backed loan. It said the additional funding will let it meet its financial obligations during the bankruptcy process as it restructures its debt and operations.

As part of the overhaul, the company plans to close roughly 100 store locations, primarily in Texas, Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, Maine and Rhode Island. It also intends to invest more heavily in its website to boost e-commerce sales and rethink its merchandise.

Company executives could not be reached for comment.

Charming Charlie stores, glitzy and inexpensive, mimic the rainbow with clusters of merchandise grouped into 26 colors. That strategy, the company said, became a problem when customers rejected accessories in certain shades, forcing the company to resort to markdowns that ate into profit margins.

In 2014, it attempted to refine the brand by eliminating some product categories. The company said the move resulted in a dramatic decline in foot traffic, eroding the profitability of what had become a disproportionately large store base.

At the same time, the specialty retail sector became even more competitive as e-commerce giants such as Amazon, as well as direct-to-consumer upstarts and other players, jockeyed for market share. Adam Melvin, an analyst at S&P Global, said that dynamic compounded the companys missteps in merchandising and marketing.

Those did occur at the wrong time, he said. As a result, its challenges were accelerated.

Late last year, Moodys downgraded its rating on the Charming Charlies debt, warning the company would likely have to amend its payment terms as its performance deteriorated. It noted that the company, a relatively small player despite its fast growth, struggled to compete against companies with larger operations, wider selections and deeper pockets.

This summer, Charming Charlie devolved into crisis mode as cash flow slowed to a trickle. The company said in court filings that lenders, questioning its creditworthiness, had already begun to cut off shipments or refuse to release them.

At the end of October, CEO Chanaratsopon and then-president Steve Lovell both stepped down as the company negotiated with lenders to obtain $4.5 million cash needed to obtain some of the holiday inventory that suppliers had been withholding.

Chanaratsopon, who now serves as non-executive chairman of the board, still controls about 70 percent of the company along with other members of his family. Private equity firm Hancock Park Capital holds most remaining shares.

Basu said the company has focused on shoring up its finances and targeting struggling stores for closure. It hasnt released details of its new strategy.

Its too soon to tell what theyre doing to do, Basu said.
SALEM, Ohio  A group of woodland owners who believe they have been overcharged for their property taxes can appeal the values to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals.

The Ohio Supreme Court released a decision Dec. 7 that said landowners can challenge their Current Agricultural Use Value before the appeals board, because the values are considered a final determination and are part of Ohios law that allows for appeals.

A group of landowners from 20 Ohio counties had previously appealed their CAUV values to the Board of Tax Appeals, arguing their taxes were too high because the state used too low of a cost for clearing woodlands, and that the boards rules were unreasonable.

The plaintiffs include landowners from Miami, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, Richland, Medina, Hancock, Champaign, Adams, Athens, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington counties.

Clearing costs

The state calculates the CAUV on woodlands by considering the cost to clear the land for farmland, and was using values as low as $500 per acre in 2013 and 2014.

Attorney Jack A. Van Kley, who represents the landowners, said the actual cost is closer to $3,500 an acre.

The (tax) department has not properly investigated how much it cost to clear an acre of woodland, he said.

Related: Kasich signs budget with farm tax reform.

According to the court, the law provides that any rule adopted and promulgated by the tax commissioner may be filed with the board of tax appeals by any person who has been or may be injured by the operation of the rule.

The rules

The court agreed with the Board of Tax Appeals, however, that the landowners did not show evidence that the rules for calculating CAUV were unreasonable.

The landowners appeal boils down to a challenge to the tax commissioners application of the rules, rather than a challenge to the reasonableness of the rules themselves, the court wrote.

Van Kley said he was pleased with the decision, because it allows the plaintiffs to continue their main appeal about values, before the Board of Tax Appeals.

This is an important victory for landowners in Ohio, he said. This is an important decision that should make the department realize it has to be reasonable in setting CAUV values.

Van Kley said the appeals have already been re-filed with the board, and he is waiting on a hearing date.

Courts decision

The primary decision, that CAUV values can be appealed before the Board of Tax Appeals, was agreed to by Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, Justices Terrence ODonnell, Sharon L. Kennedy, Judith L. French, and William M. ONeill.

Justice Patrick F. Fischer concurred in judgment only. Justices ODonnell and Fischer dissented from the rejection of the rule-making claim.

Justice ODonnell wrote the landowners did in fact demonstrate that the CAUV journal entries were unreasonable, because the commissioner failed to follow the rules when he produced them.
The National Farmers Union has held talks over the issue of poor mobile coverage and broadband connectivity many people in rural areas receive.

Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands held talks with the NFU on Friday (15 December).

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe was among the group of members meeting the Minister. He explained his experience of IED tagging and members issues with poor broadband and mobile connectivity to explain the challenges affecting the farming industry.

According to an NFU survey from 2016, 85% of farmers have an unreliable outdoor mobile phone signal, 82% of farmers have an unreliable indoor mobile phone signal and only 6% of farmers have access to superfast download speeds.

Ofcoms Connected Nations 2017 Report released on Friday (15 December 2017) states that 1.1m premises still dont have access to decent broadband.

This means that 17% of rural homes and businesses are unable to receive decent broadband and 82% cant receive a 4G signal.

It is an improving picture for rural areas, but progress appears slow and the digital divide is still significant, holding back the countryside economically and socially.

The new figures show that 17% of premises in the UKs rural areas cannot receive a download speed of at least 10Mbit/s compared to just 2% of urban premises.

Sail pace broadband

The NFU explains that 4G services are important for farmers who need to use data services, for example to help transmit data from livestock IED readers. Voice coverage is also essential for efficient and safe farm businesses.

It is calling on government to make the digital economy universal by ensuring the rollout of superfast broadband to all farmers and growers and their rural communities, alongside complete mobile phone coverage.

This will mean ensuring that there is necessary regulation in place and there is a competitive rural market.

The farming union states that it is essential to lay the foundations for 5G coverage for farming now; and that the full delivery of the governments Agritech and Industrial Strategies depend upon it.

In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond promised increased government spending on emerging technologies. It will invest more than 500m in a range of initiatives from artificial intelligence, to 5G and full fibre broadband.

The NFU submitted six key asks ahead of the budget announcement, which included a plea for the roll-out of superfast broadband and emerging technologies such as robotics.

The rollout is seen as a chance for farmers to utilise emerging digital technology, improve productivity and assist rural businesses to compete with their urban counterparts in an ever-increasing sense of uncertainty.

The NFU's Spotlight on Farm Broadband and Mobile Networks sets out the solutions to deliver this.
Campaign putting spotlight on stress levels in farming gets new boost
This past September, October and November, volunteers with the Flagstaff International Relief Effort (FIRE) screened more than 5,000 people for hepatitis and liver cancer in Dornod province in eastern Mongolia.

According to FIRE, Mongolia has the highest rate of liver cancer and among the highest rates of hepatitis in the world. The province of Dornod has twice the national average of liver cancer, make it 12 times the international average.

"Hepatitis Free Mongolia," is a collaboration between FIRE, the Flagstaff Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar, funded by Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.

FIRE's innovative screening project includes: hepatitis B and C testing, vaccination for hepatitis b as needed, blood testing for liver cancer, ultrasound examination, FibroScan examination, physical exam, and counseling by specialists.

In addition to screenings, FIRE held a community awareness fair and engaged in advocacy meetings with business and government leaders to raise awareness of hepatitis, screenings and treatments. FIRE trained local health care workers with shadow training led by visiting specialists and classroom trainings endorsed by the Ministry of Health. FIRE donated 20 computers, one computer for every hospital in the province, to encourage online continuing education.

For more information, visit fireprojects.org.
Designs Okay, But Where's Money For Amaravati?

The Chandrababu Naidu government, which has been giving a lot of hype to the designs of government buildings in Amaravati, the new capital city, is surprisingly silent on the mobilisation of funds for the constructions.

For the last few months, Naidu has been dodging over the finalisation of designs in the name of fine tuning and approval by the people.

Though the government has taken up some infrastructural activities like laying of roads etc, there has not been any movement in the construction of the buildings.

Even in the lands allotted to the private institutions, not much work has been done and they are still on paper.

Reason is simple: Naidu doesnt have money to start the works.

The cabinet has finalised the designs for Secretariat, the assembly and the high court buildings, but without money, he cannot even lay the foundation stone, let alone start the constructions.

According to latest reports, the construction of these buildings might get delayed by another six months, since the expected loan from the World Bank has not been forthcoming.

The World Bank authorities are learnt to have written to the state government that it would consider releasing the loan amount only after ensuring that the government first implement the rehabilitation measures for the displaced farmers.

The World Bank also wanted a firm assurance from the Naidu government that it was taking all environmental-friendly measures and protecting the water bodies.

So, it would take another six months to give clarifications to all the queries raised by the World Bank, say authorities.
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Haiti - Education : D-1, 6th Youth Rally for Education for Sustainable Development





Organized at the initiative of the Haitian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, the 6th Edition of the Youth Rally for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) will be held in the commune of Ganthier, (West), from Sunday 17 to Thursday, December 21, 2017 announced Friday in a press conference, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, Minister of National Education who assumes the presidency of this event.



This activity, which is held every two years, intends to encourage behavioral changes. It will mobilize around 200 young people from UNESCO Associated Schools in the public and private sector from Haiti's 10 school districts, to work on cultural and natural heritage sites around of Lake Azuei, likely to be affected by climate change and participate in conferences and workshops on ESD. The Youth Rally aims to contribute to providing young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to build a sustainable future and to reflect on the problems of their environment and their citizen involvement.



Flagship activity by its innovative and utilitarian character, the Youth Rally of Haiti was recognized by UNESCO as the best national practice for all countries at the first edition in 2007 (Youth Rally Memory). In addition, the international coordination of the Network at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris awarded the Haitian Network, in November 2013, the Peace Navigators' Trophy for its dynamism and the richness of its activities.



Jean Coulanges, Permanent Secretary at the National Commission welcomes the progress made since the beginning of these actions and the level of maturity of several young people who invest in civic actions and serve as educators for other young people. It invites other actors in society to support young people in these kinds of promising initiatives for the revival of citizen awareness.



Jocelyn Pierre, President of the Central Committee of Students of the Network, in terminale at the high school Alexandre Petion, welcomed this action of the Ministry and the National Commission for the full development of young people and a citizen awareness in addition to allowing young people to learn to dialogue, to exchange, to respect the point of view of the other, the sense of sharing and solidarity.



Kesler Bien-Aime, Culture Specialist at the Commission, gave an update on the various activities planned during the four-day Rally: Conferences on Climate Change, Biosphere Reserves, Waste Management and Citizen Involvement , ecosystems, practical work on site, guided tours are among the planned activities.



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Closure of Haiti's Consulate in Montreal

The Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal informs the Haitian community and the general public, that its offices will be closed from December 22, 2017 to January 2, 2018, during the end of year celebrations. Services will resume as usual, Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 9:00 am. In case of emergency, the following numbers will be available: 514-561-6479 and 647-712-1968. The Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018.



Entrepreneur of the Year, congratulations of the CCIH

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CCIH) salutes and congratulates the winners of the Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year competition https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23002-haiti-economy-winners-of-the-8th-edition-digicel-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2017.html and the winner Dr. Barry Beauvais of the Haitian Center for Investigation and Treatment of Infertility (CHITAI). The CCIH also wishes to applaud Taino Aqua Ferme (agriculture and environment category) and United Shipping & Logistics (emerging category).



Agriculture : certifications of 95 executives

In order to strengthen its organizational performance, the Ministry of Agriculture with the technical support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the financing of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) proceeded this week to the certification of 95 of its executives in the areas of planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.



Multidimensional security

Ambassador Leon Charles, acting Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the Organization of American States (OAS), had a working session with Dr. Paz y Paz, Head of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security of the OAS to monitor ongoing projects in Haiti on the theme of Multidimensional Security.



Cooperation Canada-Haiti

On Thursday, Heidi Fortune, the Minister of Justice, received in his office the Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, Andre Frenette who renewed his country's determination to work to strengthen cooperation with Haiti, particularly in the field of Justice and the rule of law.



Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

Friday, Jean Michel Lapin, the Director General of the Ministry of Culture accompanied by the Ministry's Technical Directors, was visited by the Cultural Attache of the American Embassy in Haiti, Adair Hamilton, with whom he discussed around the "Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation for the year 2018".



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2017/12/17 | Source

/Yonhap

Korea's record low birthrates seem to start having worrying effects on the labor market as it has led to a decline in the working-age population between 15 and 64.

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The Korea Labor Institute said in a research paper last week that the number of newly employed workers next year is estimated at 296,000, about 10 percent less than this year's 324,000, due to dwindling numbers of economically active people and a retiring baby-boomer generation.

The institute said it typically estimates the number of newly employed workers at more than 300,000 in times of a positive economic outlook. "But we may see an age when the number falls to the 100,000 range", it added.

Yet the institute does not expect the job market for young people to improve despite an impending labor shortage.

Due to the difference in working conditions between big and small businesses, the labor market imbalance is expected to continue. Young people typically refuse to work for smaller companies or lack the qualifications.

A researcher at the institute said, "We need to take aggressive steps to employ less active members of the working-age population, such as women and senior citizens, to prepare for a labor shortage over the long term".
Published on 2017/12/16

The premise of "Memories of the Alhambra" is augmented reality and mystery and it also takes place, at least for a bit, in Spain. I'm not sure how this all fits together, but apparently it will by September of 2018.

-Yours, Lisa, who is admittedly a little confused by the premise

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"Memories of the Alhambra" (2018)

Directed by Ahn Gil-ho

Written by Song Jae-jeong

Network : tvN

16 Episodes

Synopsis

A thriller about the mysteries surrounding an augmented reality (AR) game. The owner of an investment company travels to Spain and stays in cheap hotel run by an ex-guitarist.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/09
Thanksgiving is going to be expensive. Here's how to save.

With inflation on the rise, supplies for Thanksgiving dinner will be more expensive and harder to find than ever, here's what to know and how to save
Pierre Bourne isnt taking any losses any time soon, and according to Drakes most recent revelation, the young producers hot streak will continue as the pair has been cooking some things up in the lab.

It was last month that Pierre revealed to Billboard that he would be spending the rest of 2017 and parts of 2018 working on several full-length efforts, including his own and Drakes, touching on his time on the Boy Meets World Tour, and the mentorship hes received.

The Boy Meets World Tour was awesome, the Atlanta-based artist and producer told the publication. Being able to be on stage and all of the venues sold out, I never thought I could do something like that. It put my mind through a lot. Drakes a really good guy, he showed me a lot being out there. Really just got me excited for the future, it was dope.

In the same sit-down hed go on to reveal that he was hoping to get Drake to hop on a track on his forthcoming Pierre 4 project before revealing he was putting his hands on Drakes own effort in addition to projects from Playboi Carti.

Looks like that Drake collaboration has already come to fruition as the More Life rapper recently stepped into Pierre Bournes live session and took the time to respond to a fan inquiring about said collab.

Drake you gone send Pierre that verse tho?????

Drakes simple and reassuring reply read, Me and Pierre already got one.

More than likely, this indicates an appearance on whatever forthcoming effort that Drake has got coming up as that brief hiatus he once described may be nearing its final dates.

Check out the full exchange below.

Drake
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
This School Dropout Now Owns Four Houses; Know Her Secret Here
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A majority of President Donald Trump's voters surveyed by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) believe he should continue to serve as president even if it's proven that his campaign conspired with Russia to sway the 2016 election.

Just 14 per cent of Trump voters said he should resign in the event that special counsel Robert Mueller or the congressional intelligence committees find that his campaign colluded with Russia. On the other hand, 77 per cent of Trump voters believe he should remain in office if the collusion claims are proven true. When Democrats and independent voters were factored into the results, 37 per cent of respondents said they believed Trump should stay in office if his campaign team colluded with Russia.

The survey also found that 52 per cent of respondents believe members of Trump's campaign team worked with Russia to help him clinch the presidency. The results were split along partisan lines: while 86 per cent of those who voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton believe the Trump-Russia allegations, just 13 per cent of Trump voters do.

These polls come as special counsel Robert Mueller continues the FBI investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, including whether members of Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the election in his favour. Mueller is also looking into whether Trump sought to obstruct justice when he fired FBI director James Comey in May.

So far, the special counsel's office has charged four individuals in Trump's orbit in connection to the Russia investigation: former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former adviser and Manafort associate Rick Gates, early foreign-policy adviser George Papadopoulos, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump has repeatedly denied colluding with Russia and called Mueller's probe a "Democrat hoax." When reporters asked Trump on Friday whether he would consider pardoning Flynn, who was charged on December 1 with one count of making false statements to investigators about his Russian contacts, Trump replied cryptically.

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

"I don't want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet. We'll see what happens. Let's see," Trump said. "I can say this: When you look at what's gone on with the FBI and Justice Department, people are very, very angry."

PPP surveyed 862 registered voters earlier this week on a range of issues including voters' thoughts on the Trump-Russia investigation, the president's job performance, sexual harassment allegations, and fake news. The surveys sampled 43 per cent Democrats, 33 per cent Republicans, and 24 per cent independents.

Read more:

 May tackles new Brexit Rebellion

 Philip Hammond and Mark Carney are in China to secure 1 billion of trade deals

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2017. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Ireland's Impact trade union said the strike by Ryanair pilots has been suspended

Ryanair pilots have suspended a pre-Christmas one-day strike, union bosses have announced.

Impact, which represents Irish-based pilots, has agreed to meet the low-cost carrier's management on Tuesday evening ahead of the planned strike on Wednesday.

Some 117 directly-employed Ryanair pilots are involved in the dispute, making up the majority of the firm's captains in Ireland - meaning any walkout would have severely affected flights.

The dispute is about winning independent representation for pilots in the company, Impact said.

In a statement, Impact said: "Impact has this evening suspended a planned one-day strike of Ryanair pilots next Wednesday after company management agreed to recognise the union as the representative of Irish-based pilots.

"The union has agreed to meet management on Tuesday evening, but says it is available to meet sooner.

"The union asked management to release its Ryanair pilot representatives to prepare for and attend the meeting.

"The union acknowledged the principled determination of Ryanair pilots, which it said had made this breakthrough possible, and said it looked forward to establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management.

"Impact added that it hoped the suspension of industrial action would remove any uncertainty for passengers intending to travel on Wednesday."

Impact said the union would make no further comment until after the meeting with Ryanair on Tuesday.

Ryanair said it would recognise unions for the first time as it also faces challenges from staff in Germany, Portugal, Britain and Italy.

The firm's chief operations officer, Peter Bellew, said: "Let's keep talking. Get people home quietly for Christmas.

"Union meetings planned next week and January."

It is the only time airline boss Michael O'Leary has extended such an invite to union leaders in the 32 years the company has been in business.

In October, Mr O'Leary wrote to his airline's pilots to offer them better pay and conditions after Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights.

The carrier admitted it had "messed up" the planning of its pilots' holidays.
Apollo House, an unused office block in Dublin, was occupied in protest over the issue of homelessness a year ago

The homelessness crisis in Ireland has worsened, campaigners claimed.

This autumn there were 1,463 families accessing emergency accommodation, including children.

It is a year since Apollo House, an unused office block, was occupied in Dublin in protest.

The Irish Housing Network said: "Public support for Apollo House turned the building into a symbol of resistance to the housing crisis and its causes.

"For the first time in a long time, people could take meaningful, practical action against the State's shocking disregard for public well-being.

" One year on, we would like to illustrate the situation now faced by those residents and activists as the housing crisis continues to worsen."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said dozens of permanent and temporary beds were due to be made available to ensure there was shelter available to everyone who needed it in Dublin over the winter.

Last year up to 40 homeless people lived in the once empty Apollo House civil service building. The Nama-controlled property in central Dublin was occupied by activists in the middle of December.

The Irish Housing Network said hundreds of people from all parts of society volunteered their time, expertise and experience to make the building a home for those who needed it.

A total of 205 people were given assistance accessing accommodation over the 27 days of the "occupation", with 40 residents, who would otherwise be homeless, living in Apollo House at any given time, the group said.

"It was unfortunate that the then-Minister for Housing did not give any guarantees in writing that all residents would be housed in appropriate settings with the support they needed.

"In trying to maintain contact with former residents it has become clear to us that many of the promises made were made in bad faith and an attempt to quickly end what had become a very embarrassing situation for the government."

Mr Varadkar has said 3,800 more social homes were due to be built next year to help take people off the streets.

On Saturday more than 400 former and current inter-county hurling, football and camogie players, came together in 13 different locations in Ireland and abroad to show solidarity with the homeless by sleeping rough for a night.

The events included a nationwide minute's silence for those who have died on our streets.

This was led by prominent campaigner Fr Peter McVerry at the GPO in Dublin, who congratulated the players on their efforts and said the crisis was worsening by the day.

Former Wexford hurling captain Diarmuid Lyng led the Wexford sleep-out.

"The thing that struck me most was hearing the chorus of voices on the street sincerely dissatisfied with the Government's response to what is fast becoming a humanitarian concern.

"People who spoke to us said that they accepted that they have a role to play too in their own behaviours, how they contribute to the issue, but fundamentally they feel that at a structural level, we are creating this problem by becoming economic slaves to vested interests in this land.

"Accepting that is accepting of a miserable inequality for all concerned. This magical country with its beautiful people shouldn't be subjected to that reality."

He said the Government must act in the interests of its citizens and improve levels of social protection.
Many wily politicians of yesteryear made a career of giving it out large off the back of the lorry in Kilahulla Upper - and then doing the exact opposite back in Dublin.

There's still a lot of that "two-toned approach to politics", with some politicians achieving success by telling potential voters what they think they would like to hear. But the net is tightening for those charlatans.

Reality is if a politician tells a meeting in Kenmare or Kilmeaden about something contentious, that politician had better know that the news will be in Dublin before they have time to get home. With camera phones, texts and tweets, it's hard to be one thing locally and another thing nationally. And that reality has borne in on even the most mendacious among the majority of usually honourable politicians. It's hard to play both sides when the news is bad.

But there are exceptions and the "rubbery deal on Brexit and the non-border", which again comes under the microscope at an EU leaders' summit in Brussels, is one such exception. A bit like the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in the North, this one does allow people on many sides of the divide to insist it has taken us where we want to go.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney have good grounds to say that it will mean there can be no return of the Irish Border. Theresa May can insist that Brexit still means Brexit.

The Northern Unionists can argue that the North will be exiting the EU just like England, Scotland and Wales. The European Union can equally argue that it has protected the integrity of the EU's single market and customs union.

Now, the reality is that several of those statements are diametrically opposed to one another on a day-is-not- night and black-is-not white basis. But, for the moment, all concerned have decided to allow things muddle along to the next phase.

The draft Brexit border deal was done last Friday morning. But by Sunday morning, UK Brexit Minister David Davis was busy saying the deal was "not legally binding - but a declaration of intent."

Well, that of course, a bit like our buddy on the lorry at Kilahulla Upper, was intended for home British Tory brexiteer consumption. But it was also a great example of another bad habit when dealing with EU affairs - giving legal answers to political questions.

The main point is that the deal unveiled is a "political fix". It was never intended as a legally water-tight document to be litigated at the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Political deals are far more akin to a deal done at a fair. Sure, you can probably weasel out and renege.

But there are consequences for that kind of dishonourable behaviour. You might not, these days, get an ash plant down on top of the head. But your chances of dealing again would be impacted.

So that EU-UK deal, accepted by Dublin and Belfast, guaranteeing no hard-border after Brexit stands for now.

But much now turns on what kind of EU-UK post Brexit trade arrangement emerges in the next phase of the negotiations. Even allowing for the snail's pace of the current talks picking up a lot, that still has us waiting on the Brexit "white smoke" in mid 2018.

John Downing is an Irish Independent political correspondent
Limousin, Charolais and Belgian Blues shared the top honours at a very successful Fat Stock Show and Sale at Kanturk Mart, where the top four beef animals sold for a combined 9,150 while a charity sale of an Angus bull raised 5,000 for palliative care in the area, writes Martin Ryan.

Supreme Champion of the Show, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, Kanturk, was awarded to a Limousin heifer which weighed 685kg.

She was exhibited by Robert McGivern, Carrigtwohill, bought by Gerald Ryan, Banteer for 2,600

The Reserve Champion, sponsored by North Cork Co-Op Creamery, Kanturk went to a Charolais heifer, exhibited by James Lenihan, Mountcollins, Co Limerick.

Expand Close The champion home breed heifer at Skibbereen fatstock show weighed 745 kilos, sold of 2,200 euros & is pictued with owners Denis, John & Tess Cahalane, Castlehaven, Michael O'Regan, Skibbereen, purchaser, Sean Hickey, Castlelans Vets, joint sponsor, Abraham Kingston, mart chairman, Marguerite Lynch, Shane Anglim & Mike Deasy, Bank of Ireland, joint sponsors. Photo O'Gorman Photography. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The champion home breed heifer at Skibbereen fatstock show weighed 745 kilos, sold of 2,200 euros & is pictued with owners Denis, John & Tess Cahalane, Castlehaven, Michael O'Regan, Skibbereen, purchaser, Sean Hickey, Castlelans Vets, joint sponsor, Abraham Kingston, mart chairman, Marguerite Lynch, Shane Anglim & Mike Deasy, Bank of Ireland, joint sponsors. Photo O'Gorman Photography.

Weighing 655kg, she was purchased by Jerry Murphy, Rossacon for 2,100.

The award for the Best Beef Heifer Born in Duhallow, sponsored by Twohig's SuperValu, Kanturk went to a Charolais weighing 725kg, which sold for 2,050. Exhibited by Frank Hayes, Castlecor, Mallow, she was purchased by Tom Kelly, Ballyclough, Mallow.

The runner-up was a Belgian Blue heifer exhibited by Denis O'Sullivan, Gooseberry Hill, Meelin, Co Cork, weighing 665kg and bought by Daniel O'Keeffe, Ovens for 1,740.

There was an excellent showing of cattle with 120 entries in the fat stock classes at the show which was held in conjunction with the regular weekly sale entry of over 550 head which met with a full clearance.

Seamus O'Keeffe described 2017 as "the best year ever" for the North Cork centre where total throughput for the year is expected to reach 33,000 head.

"We had a throughput of 28,500 head last year and thought that it would be difficult to beat, but we are already over 31,000 head for 2017 and a few weeks left to the end of the year", he said.

The final weanling show and sale for 2017 is being held today and the last cattle sale of the year takes place on Tuesday, December 19.

The sale centre is well located in a good store cattle rearing region of the country and particularly noted for the quality of replacement stock for the dairy herd produced on the farms in the region.

A 480kg Angus bull named 'Seamus', sponsored by Kanturk Mart, raised a total of 5,000 for Marymount palliative care in the memory of "one of the nicest people", a friend and colleague of the office staff at the mart, the late Geraldine Burke whose untimely passing, following an illness, has left a void in the area where she had been greatly appreciated by the farmer clientele of the mart.

Mart customers, who were invited to guess the weight of the animal over the previous weeks, contributed 3,380 while the sale of the animal raised a further 1,620.

Other winners:

Best Beef Bullock sponsored by Charleville Foods - Belgian Blue weighing 735kg owned by Edmond O'Connor, Kilbrin, and bought by James Horgan, Ballyhea for 2,400.

Best Beef Cow sponsored by David O'Sullivan, Ballydesmond - Limousin cow weighing 900kg, owned by William O'Connor, Kiskeam, and bought by Jack O'Connor, Cullen for 2,200.

Best Pen Of Cattle sponsored by Philpott's Tyre Centre, Kanturk - Limousin Heifer, weighing 565kg owned by Jeremiah Twomey, Donoughmore, and bought by Thomas O'Callaghan, Burnfort for 1,470.

Best Pen Of AA / He Bullocks sponsored by Buckley's Cafe, Kanturk - David Breen, Kanturk.

Best Pen Of AA / He Heifers sponsored by Kanturk Credit Union -exhibited by Liam Kelly, Ashford, bought by Jerry Murphy, Rossacon.
Qatari company Baladna, which is creating a dairy industry in the desert to help the country to cope with a boycott by other Arab states, is planning an initial public offer of its shares (IPO) to raise funds and bring in strategic investors, sources familiar with the matter said.

The privately-owned firm has chosen QNB Capital, the investment banking arm of Qatar National Bank QNBK.QA, to arrange the IPO for the first half of 2018, said the sources, who declined to be named because the matter isnt public.

Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

One source said the IPO might value the company, which flew 3,400 cows into Qatar during the initial weeks of the boycott to address a shortage of fresh milk, at about 2 billion riyals ($550 million).

However, the sources said the valuation process had not been completed. Baladna and QNB Capital declined to comment.

The IPO plan underlines one way in which Qatar is seeking to strengthen its economy in the face of the boycott by building up domestic companies to develop local production of key goods and services.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June. This closed Qatars border with Saudi Arabia, across which most of its fresh food had been imported, and disrupted shipping routes through the Gulf.

Expand Close Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon / Facebook

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Whatsapp Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

In response, the Qatari government has been giving logistical and other support to companies such as Baladna to foster domestic production.

Qatars 2018 state budget, released this week, includes a plan to award 29 billion riyals of contracts to support growth in the private sector.

Baladna, owned by Qatari businessmen Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat, is looking to bring in a mix of strategic, institutional and retail investors with the IPO, one of the sources said.

The listed firm would hold assets including Baladnas farm, the milk production business, and the bottling operation, the source said.

Expand Close Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon / Facebook

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Whatsapp Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

Qatars stock market was hit hard by the global financial crisis at the end of the last decade, and there have been only three IPOs since 2010. Qatari conglomerate Investment Holding Group was the latest, in August this year.

Following its initial airlift of cows, Baladna plans two sea shipments - each of 3,300 animals - into Qatar by February, its chief executive told Reuters last month. Another consignment of 3,000 cows is on the cards but not yet ordered.

Expand Close Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon / Facebook

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Whatsapp Cows are seen at Baladna farm near Al Khor, Qatar, November 28, 2017. Picture taken November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

To cope with the harsh climate in Qatar, where the temperature can approach 50 degrees centigrade in summer, Baladnas cows are housed in sheds that are cooled by fans and jets of mist.

By next June, the company says, it expects to raise production of fresh milk and yoghurt to 500 tonnes a day, enough to meet 100 percent of domestic demand for those products with 100 tonnes left over for export.
Animal lovers who aim to save turkeys from the plates of Christmas carnivores are refusing to let financial worries and other setbacks knock the stuffing out of them.

For the campaign to rescue as many birds as possible over the festive season has been stepped up by a Co Down charity.

And its volunteers have actually increased the number of animals they've kept alive by 50% compared to last year.

Twelve months ago the Nut House Battery Hen Rescue and Rehoming centre plucked 40 turkeys to safety.

But the charity's organiser Barbara Mladek says that number of poultry is paltry compared to the 61 birds which have so far been spared this Christmas.

It really is a feather in the charity's cap, according to Barbara, who has added 'Mama Hen' to her name by deed poll and who insists there is nothing underhand about the turkey rescues.

The charity buys turkeys from farmers who would otherwise kill them to sell to shops and stores.

The rescued birds are then given new homes - and more secure futures - in Barbara's rescue centre on the Nut House Road near Moira.

She says the fact that more turkeys are off the menu this year is like an early Christmas present.

The charity, which is sponsored by the Pets at Home shops, has used its own funds to purchase some of the turkeys, but it has also received donations from the public wanting to sponsor a bird, at an average cost of 10 a month.

"It's amazing that even when money is tight people are still able to find that little bit extra to save turkeys," added Barbara

And she has revealed that the idea for saving turkeys was given free range with the help of social media last year.

But it wasn't just vegetarians like Barbara who rallied behind the threatened animals.

A message on Facebook urged families who were purchasing a Christmas turkey for the Yuletide table to do so from a farm and buy a second one to give - alive - to the rescue charity.

Barbara was planning to scale back on the rescues this year because some of the 2016 birds had not survived due to genetic problems.

"That hit me really hard. It was awful watching them go downhill and realising there was nothing that we could do," said Barbara.

"Recently it became apparent that farmers would have surplus turkeys that they wouldn't be able to sell to shops and I wanted to save them."

Barbara says her determination to keep going with her charity work was increased by the large number of animal cruelty cases.

Her rescue centre is now providing a safe environment for more and more animals, with Barbara's premises now home to nearly 300 poultry including the turkeys, hens and ducks.
The new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme has been welcomed by the farm organisations but some observers cautioned that a lack of ambition could limit its effectiveness.

Fears of a repeat of the 'cash-for-ash' debacle which toppled the North's power sharing executive has "spancelled" the scheme, industry sources maintained.

A reduction in the RHI support from 5.66c/kWh to 3.02c/kWh after 10mW, and back to 0.5c/kWh after a further 10mW, meant the scheme will be most suitable to small and medium-sized energy users.

However, these reservations did not detract from the importance of the RHI scheme's establishment, and the farm organisations welcomed the initiative's introduction by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten.

But the IFA's James Murphy warned that the scheme must be operational by early 2018, and be adequately funded.

Mr Murphy claimed that a budget of 100 million was required for the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) element of the package.

"Increased uptake of renewable energy offers enormous economic and environmental potential for Ireland and has been shown to positively impact regional competitiveness, innovation and diversification of economic activity in rural areas," said Mr Murphy.

Heat energy accounts for 45pc of all primary energy usage in Ireland and 33pc of the country's CO2 emissions.

The SSRH aims to increase the energy generated from renewable sources in the heat sector by approximately 3pc, this is equivalent to 200,000 tonnes of oil equivalent.

Biomethane

ICSA president Patrick Kent said the RHI scheme was a positive first step but he expressed disappointment that biomethane injection from anaerobic digesters is not included in Phase 1 of the programme.

However, he said that ICSA was hopeful that following a meeting with Minister Naughten that this would change in later phases.

Mr Kent said anaerobic digesters had the potential to provide a win/win solution in terms of climate change, improved farm revenues and more efficient farming systems.

"ICSA is anxious that biogas opportunities are progressed as early as possible in the New Year and we expect that the consultation process will be expedited," said Mr Kent.

Meanwhile, Paddy O'Toole of Quinns of Baltinglass said the RHI scheme's introduction was "a very positive development".

He predicted that farmers would react positively to the initiative which he said had now put a framework in place to facilitate the production and use of biomass crops.

"I am delighted with the news that the scheme is now finally in place," Mr O'Toole said.
The Government should introduce an emergency Vat cut for apartment builders as a way to solve the housing crisis in Dublin, according to Construction Industry Federation (CIF) ceo Tom Parlon.

Introducing a Vat cut for new apartment blocks for a time-limited basis of two to three years would immediately knock as much as 20,000 off the price for first-time buyers, claimed Parlon.

"We have an emergency situation in housing. It's a social and economic crisis that the Government is going to have to face up to. We previously had an emergency budget. There are ways and means of doing everything."

Parlon said that having to pay 13.5pc Vat "in one big lump on a 200-unit apartment block is madness".

He added: "That apartment block is going to generate 100,000 of income for the Revenue through levies and taxes anyhow."

Parlon said his organisation met with the IDA last week to discuss the lack of supply of one- and two-bed apartments for young, single workers who want to live close to their employment in the growing number of tech firms in Dublin's city centre.

"The cost of accommodation is going to be a challenge into the future.

"If you look currently at the amount of office development that is under construction there is in excess of 40,000 work spaces being created over the next six months, so we are going to need dozens of blocks of at least 100 apartments apiece in the inner city that are not currently being built," he said.

Parlon insisted that the construction sector has the capacity to build enough houses.

"I believe that we have. In sectors where the money is available - whether it be hotels, student accommodation or commercial blocks of offices - the industry is turning out stuff at a very high rate.

"But it is just not happening on the housing side. If you do the sums on the residential it just doesn't work," he said.

"Building houses and apartments is not rocket science. We have the capacity to do it and if the money and the planning is right then the industry will be able to build them very quickly."

But he said in the current environment only high-end apartments that cost between 500,000 and 1m are viable to build at the moment, the construction chief claimed. "Builders cannot afford to build an apartment that they can sell for 250,000," he said.

A Government working group is due to report soon on changes that could be brought to planning guidelines brought in during 2015.

Among the changes that the construction industry is calling for to make it more economic to build apartments is car parking provision.

"Currently, apartment builders need to provide space for car parking in the city centre, adding up to 50,000 per unit to the cost. And this is often for people who don't have or want cars," he said.

The industry is also pushing for changes to the height cap in the city, as well as rules on dual-aspect apartments and the number of apartments allowed on each floor per lift shaft. "If the Government is forward thinking, they will know that the right design is what is important when you are building apartments."

He said such changes, alongside a 4pc Vat reduction for two years on apartments could have a huge impact.

But Parlon said hold-ups in planning and local authority offices are also having a big impact on the supply of housing and the provision of necessary infrastructure to open up building land.

"There is an ingrained inertia in officialdom, be it in local authorities or planning authorities," he said.

"It's not that they can't do it when they want to. In Donegal when they had the big weather alert, and roads and bridges were washed away, they were able to get around planning issues and roads and bridges were built quickly.

"But it doesn't seem to extend to getting some common sense on other stuff."
Dublin-based ecommerce company eShopWorld has appointed industry heavy-hitter David Power as chief solutions officer as it aims to fulfil its goal of becoming a 1bn turnover company by 2020.

Earlier this month the company, which was founded in 2010, reported that sales volumes over the Black Friday to Cyber Monday extended weekend were up 75pc on the same period in 2016, delivering double-digit-million euro of sales over the four-day discount weekend.

Total volume sales over the weekend increased from 60,000 units to over 105,000 on the comparable weekend in 2016, with sales by value up 70pc.

Power has 20 years' experience in high growth, technology-led companies. He joins eShopWorld from Wonga, where as CTO he led an international technology team and spearheaded the company's evolution and growth over a three-year period.

Earlier in his career he founded Distinct, a product and services company focused on building an "analytics as a service" platform.

The platform was acquired by FTI Consulting in 2013, with Power appointed senior managing director.

Often named as Ireland's fastest-growing technology company, eShopWorld expects to record a 100m increase in online sales in 2017, up from over 200m in 2016.

The company works with some of the world's most recognisable lingerie, fashion and sportswear brands, managing the ecommerce requirements of five of the top 10 apparel brands, in over 200 global markets.

In March 2017, eShopWorld announced plans to create 250 highly-skilled roles over a three-year period. It has a recently leased a second office in the Swords area to accommodate continuing growth.

eShopWorld was valued at 300m earlier this year in a deal which saw Asendia, a joint venture with La Poste in France and Swiss Post, increase its stake in the company to 50pc from 40pc. Most of the remaining stake is owned by founder Tommy Kelly.
Despite new competition in the market from the highly-rated Qatar Airways, as well as existing rivalry from another award-winning airline in Etihad, Emirates is reporting rising load factors and a buoyant 2017 on its Dublin to Dubai route.

It's a lucrative service given that in addition to passengers, Emirates' workhorse Boeing 777s carry anything from Irish-produced Botox destined for Australia to racehorses, with three Irish thoroughbreds carried Down Under and taking the top three prizes in this year's Melbourne Cup.

This column highlighted the fact earlier in the year that the UAE carrier, which has 44 giant Airbus A380s plus Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order, has looked at bringing the A380 - with its showcase on-board bar for business passengers - to Ireland.

Despite this, country manager Enda Corneille believes Dublin wouldn't be ready to accommodate the aircraft, which can carry 500-plus passengers, "until 2019 at the earliest", citing pressures on infrastructure with the ever-expanding transatlantic network from Aer Lingus.

The heavy hint coming from the airline would be that a third daily service could be an option, even seasonally, if passenger numbers remain high enough to sustain it.

And Corneille believes that while much effort is going into attracting a Chinese market that still has yet to take off, we could be missing a trade trick by not pushing Irish-Middle Eastern business links to the same extent. Still, there is set to be a major announcement in January regarding overall Irish trade and other links with the UAE, which stood at a quite low but growing 1.4bn in 2016, so watch this space.

British Airways is expanding its Irish operations from just London Heathrow and London City with a new destination - Manchester. The good news is that it'll be operating a business as well as an economy cabin to the north of England from Dublin.

The Manchester service, commencing in May, will be operated using Embraer 190 aircraft.

The IAG-owned airline is investing heavily across its network, and will be offering high-speed wifi across its fleet - both short and long-haul - over the next two years.

BA believes on-board connectivity will be a big selling point, becoming the first airline to offer on-board internet access using Europe's first ever 4G high-speed in-flight network.

It aims to have 90pc of its fleet connected by 2019 and says customers will be able to use their own devices to browse the internet, access email and check social media. The airline believes it will also be fast enough to stream video content from the likes of Netflix and YouTube.

It's also following carriers such as United Airlines and Qatar Airways in developing options for a new seat in Club World long haul with direct aisle access, so stepping over a sleeping fellow passengers will be a thing of the past from next year.

Miles & More - the popular reward programme run by the Lufthansa Group - is getting a major shake-up. It's good news if you're a frequent flyer, or are on a higher-priced ticket, in the latest push by an airline to bump up revenues.

Up to now award miles, which could be redeemed against products, for further flights or upgrades, were based on booking class and length of route travelled.

From next March they'll be calculated on the price of your flight (plus any additional fees charged) and your frequent flyer status. Miles & More participants will get at least four award miles per euro spent, rising to six depending on frequent flyer service.

The scheme applies to Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines as well as partner airlines United Airlines and Air Canada. The company says it'll mean a doubling of miles for passengers and will also apply to other airlines including Adria Airways, Air Dolomiti, Croatia Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines.

Ethiopian airlines - which flies four times a week from Dublin Airport to Los Angeles and Addis Ababa - is offering 10pc discounts to travellers who book via its newly-launched app.

It's currently only available to Android users on the Google Play Store. It will allow users to book flights, check in and can issue boarding cards as well as check the status of flights.

Of interest to Irish business travellers is the onward connectivity from Ethiopia, with 55 African destinations (including Cape Town) and 26 international cities including Chengdu in China.
Irish hydrocarbon explorer Falcon Oil & Gas has moved a step closer to exploiting a massive Australian gas field that it claims to have found in the Northern Territory.

The company - led by industry veteran Philip O'Quigley - has been unable to further investigate its potential find since last year, when the local government in the area put a moratorium on the controversial practice known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

The Dublin-headquartered company owns a 30pc share of the huge Beetaloo Basin shale gas field, 600 miles south of Darwin. The two companies have declared a major discovery that they claim could help tackle Australia's growing energy shortages.

Last week, Justice Rachel Pepper, who is overseeing a scientific inquiry into the issues surrounding the moratorium on behalf of the Northern Territory government, published a crucial draft final report on the matter.

The report said that while risk was inherent in the onshore shale gas industry, it could be reduced to acceptable levels.

"No industry is completely without risk," said the Pepper report. "And the development of any onshore shale gas industry in the NT [Northern Territory] is no exception. But having considered the most current available scientific literature and data from a wide range of sources, and noting the recent and continuing technological improvements in the extraction of onshore shale gas, the conclusion of this Inquiry is that the challenges and risks associated with any onshore shale gas industry in the NT are manageable."

Origin, Australia's largest integrated energy company farmed in to Falcon's acreage and is paying for and operating a nine-well drilling programme at Beetaloo, the last four of which will be drilled if the moratorium is lifted. Origin has estimated a contingent resource of 6.6 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable gas. That is up to 100 times the size of Ireland's Corrib gas field and comparable to some of the biggest shale gas fields in the world.

Over the past number of days shares in the Dublin-based explorer have risen from just above 18 pence sterling to around the 23 pence mark on Friday, having already risen four-fold over the course of the year. But the company must wait a number of months more before it finds out if the Northern Territory government is to go along with the recommendations in the report and lift the moratorium.
Jim McAdam, MD of Muitihog and Andrew Bourg, investment director of the BDO fund

Tractor business Multihog has raised 7m of equity in a funding round led by the BDO Development Capital Fund.

The money will be used to drive Multihog's international expansion plans in Europe and North America, and support the development of new products.

Dundalk-based Multihog makes a range of multi-purpose tractors used for jobs including snow ploughing and street cleaning.

Its chief executive is Jim McAdam. Alongside the BDO fund, participants in the fundraising include Enterprise Ireland and the Davy Stockbrokers EIIS fund.

Andrew Bourg, investment director of the BDO fund, said that Multihog's products "travel very well internationally".

He added: "The direct customer feedback that we did during our due diligence was very, very strong... they're competing and winning internationally against best-in-class companies."

Companies in the BDO fund portfolio include internet telephony firm Blueface and security business Netwatch. It achieved strong exits from software firm Version1 and beauty business Lifes2Good.

Bourg said BDO has started talks with potential investors in a successor fund to the current entity, and wants to assemble a 75m-100m warchest.
Ryanair has offered to meet with the Impact trade union ahead of a threatened 24-hour strike this week by a number of pilots. Stock Image: Bloomberg

Ryanair has offered to meet with the Impact trade union ahead of a threatened 24-hour strike this week by a number of pilots.

However, the strike has not been officially called off and uncertainty remains for passengers booked on certain flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The union had warned industrial action would go ahead unless company management arranged to meet before Wednesday - the day of the planned strike.

After the dramatic decision to recognise union representation for the first time, the company yesterday released a statement saying it had now agreed to a meeting on Tuesday with Impact, to which the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) is affiliated.

"Ryanair today confirmed that the German pilot union, and Impact/IALPA, have agreed to Ryanair's offer of meetings to agree union recognition on Wednesday, December 20. Ryanair has also offered to meet Impact/IALPA, and their Ryanair pilot committee on Tuesday, December 19, if that would suit them better," read the statement.

Union chiefs had earlier insisted the strike action would go ahead unless management agreed to meet before Wednesday.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, a senior union source insisted the get-together between both sides would have to be before the Wednesday deadline.

He said there were serious concerns that Ryanair management could renege on their commitments.

"There's history between the two organisations. Up until the latest company announcement, it had a very public and vehement attitude it wouldn't talk to unions.

"Essentially, they had a 'not over my dead body' approach to union recognition. Taking what they say - based on trust - is not a sensible thing to do."

He stressed it was vital that both the company and the union meet so the next phase in resolving the dispute could be agreed. Other sources suggested pressure from shareholders resulted in the dramatic decision to agree to union recognition.

It's the biggest industrial relations climbdown in the airline's 32-year-history.

"They don't care if there's a union or not a union, so long as the share price is robust," another source added.

CEO Michael O'Leary has said the radical U-turn to recognise trade unions was a bid to avoid travel chaos for customers during Christmas week.
Tesco Ireland is investing 70m in its stores between this year and 2018, with 31m earmarked for a massive new shop in Liffey Valley.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Tesco Ireland chief executive Andrew Yaxley revealed that the company has embarked on the significant investment programme after returning the business to growth.

"You can only start to spend that investment when you've turned your core business around," he said.

"It's pointless building new stores or refitting stores when you haven't fixed your core."

"Testament to the fact we are moving forward on the journey is that we are going to spend 31m in Ireland developing a new shop," he added.

The new 'retail centre' in Liffey Valley will comprise a 60,000 sq ft Tesco store with five ground-floor retail units, a first-floor cafe and a number of kiosk units. It will employ 150 people and open in May.

During 2017 the company upgraded the produce section in more than 107 stores reflecting a focus on fresh food. In addition, 57 stores had major revamps including produce, beer, wine and spirits, hardware, and customer service, with a further 40 due to take place in 2018.

Yaxley joined Tesco Ireland in 2015 at a time when like-for-like sales were down 6.3pc. In October, Tesco Ireland reported a statutory like-for-like sales increase of 1.1pc and revenues of 1.23bn in the 26 weeks ending August 26.

In the second quarter like-for-like sales were up 2pc - its best quarter since its second quarter 2010.

The retail giant opened its first new shop in four years in Swords last May.

"The opening of a new store in Swords was one of my proudest moments," said Yaxley. "It was the first store we'd opened in around four years. As retailers, we like to open up shops and Swords marked a turning point, that we're back opening new stores."

Tesco Ireland now has 149 shops employing 14,000 people.

Yaxley said that while Ireland is one of the most competitive markets in Europe, he would like to see more openings here, particularly of the smaller Tesco Express format, aimed at the convenience market.

Tesco also continues to invest in its grocery home shopping business, which is seeing significant growth.

It also operates 19 click-and-collect sites and this month opened its first click-and-collect site in Kilkenny.
As the much-hyped next wave of IT solutions, the Internet of Things (IoT) can, in theory, create a huge number of opportunities for Irish exporters across sectors. Over the last three years, however, it has become clear that, while IoT projects generate huge amounts of data, that is not always an advantage - 99pc of data generated by IoT technologies is useless and 99pc of the remaining 1pc may potentially be useful but value cannot be extracted in a meaningful way.

Can the remaining 0.01pc actually make a difference to a business?

IoT is the slightly grandiose moniker given to a collection of technologies and equipment that connects things, as opposed to people, over the internet. An IoT project usually involves sensors, cloud, connectivity, and lots of data and analytics. There the futuristic pitch ends, as many IoT applications are more practical than first impressions might suggest.

One of the most prominent Irish early movers in the area is Davra Networks. "IoT simply means connecting assets that have not been connected before in order to tell management what is happening in their business," said chief executive Paul Glynn.

All Irish exporters active in IoT must ensure that the data they generate belongs to that crucial 0.01pc. Many companies working in IoT sell on a Software-as-a-Service monthly subscription model. If the data generated is not moving the dial for clients, monthly payments will soon stop, and the large upfront costs incurred at the beginning of a project written off.

A number of Irish companies have found innovative ways to make themselves essential by delivering that 0.01pc of meaningful data, saving lives and securing energy along the way.

Davra Networks has implemented a potentially life-saving solution for a Mexican mining company. Mines contain reservoirs of water to help minimise dust. If those reservoirs overflow, lives are lost.

Davra's platform monitors reservoirs and builds in local weather data, opening pumps to prevent floods. "We build a digital twin of the reservoir - a digital version of a physical asset that changes the way it acts in the real world," said Glynn.

A second fast-growing Enterprise Ireland-supported company active in the space is Asavie, which works with some of the world's leading mobile network operators (including AT&T and Telefonica) and hardware manufacturers (including Dell and MultiTech).

Asavie makes secure connectivity simple for thousands of businesses, notably in the energy sector. In a critical and highly-regulated sector such as energy supply, having visibility and control of communications at all times is essential. Asavie has helped a global energy intelligence management company to securely connect thousands of industrial companies to energy utilities in order to offer on-demand, real-time energy demand response services that do just that.

Beyond those examples is a wave of innovative Irish companies ready to capitalise on the anticipated explosion in demand for IoT technologies. Cubic powers the IoT strategy of global companies including Audi and Panasonic while Taoglas delivers world-class antenna technology, and Druid Networks uses cellular IoT technology to work on Sweden's zero car accident initiative, providing connectivity for high-speed trains, planes and container ports.

Analysts consider the IoT wave to be still in its early adopter stage, creating lots of potential for Irish companies, higher education institutes and the public sector to collaborate on the development of solutions.

Enterprise Ireland's IoT cluster works with Dublin's local authorities on the SmartDublin project and is exploring partnerships in areas including ports and harbours, search and rescue technologies, and drones.

The most important thing companies can do is focus on that 0.01pc of data that makes them essential while others succumb to the hype.

Robert Bushnell is senior development adviser in digital technologies at Enterprise Ireland
Aisling Byrne, Nu Wardrobe; Paddy Healy, Size/U and Vincent Farrelly, AquaRoot, who will go forward to the Climate Launchpad European finals in Cyprus. Photo: Orla Murray.; (left) a computer representation of the size-calculating onesie produced by Size/U

IT was a trip to India and seeing the 'dark side' of the fashion industry which prompted Dubliner Aisling Byrne to co-found The Nu Wardrobe, an online platform which allows fashionistas to share and swap clothes.

By paying a service fee ranging from 2 to 5, users can borrow an outfit, instead of buying an item which may be only worn once and which may have been produced in a country with lax environmental and labour standards.

The company is one of three Irish finalists in a European-wide initiative called the Climate Launchpad, a green business ideas competition which is aimed at finding good ideas to help reduce harm on the environment.

The competition is funded by Climate-KIC, which is managed by Sustainable Nation Ireland, based in the IFSC. A not-for-profit, Sustainable Nation was established by government to promote Ireland as a hub for sustainable business.

The three Irish firms travel to the grand final in Cyprus next month, where a top prize of 10,000 is on offer, along with the opportunity to meet investors.

Byrne says thenuwardrobe.com can currently be used by university students, but she hopes to expand the idea globally.

"Myself (and co-founder Ali Kelly) had spent time in India where we could the dark side of fashion. When we got back we wanted to engage in sustainable way, but it's very expensive.

"We started by running a swap shop in Dublin where people could swap their clothes, instead of buying new pieces.

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"We did a trial for the Trinity Ball and 300 people signed up. It was an indication that people didn't want to spend money on something they'd only wear once."

Nu Wardrobe launches in nine universities on Monday.

By year-end, Aisling hopes to have 4,000 subscribers, and Cyprus could provide a valuable link-up with investors.

"I think what we'll need to move outside of Ireland and the UK is to secure 50,000, to build the native technology and prove the product works, and then 750,000 to build it out," she says.

The eventual winners of the Climate Launchpad will get access to funding, top-level corporate mentoring and a fast-track to scaling the business across Europe and beyond.

The Irish finalists were whittled down from a list of 13, with ideas proposed ranging from an online platform allowing farmers to trade their fruit and vegetables directly with consumers (socialfeedia.ie) to plans to extract electricity from tidal currents (Wateramp).

In the past, proposals have come from companies keen to produce edible insects and insurance companies which reward you for taking the bus.

The second finalist going to Cyprus is Size/U, which aims to produce a "giant onesie" which contains embedded sensors which allows your body size to be accurately measured. While you might believe you're a slim fit, the technology will be able to inform the retailer of your exact measurements. It's aimed at reducing the amount of clothing being sent back to online retailers.

"It costs around 100 to return an item of clothing between shipping, handling, cleaning and returning the item to the shelf," Paddy Healy says.

"My co-founder Eoin Matthews came to me with the problem that in the online retail sectors there's a massive amount of returns.

"Size/U is a wearable product, essentially a giant onesie, which has embedded sensors and measures the human body.

"It measures whatever we deem fit, and for online shopping it could be your waist, chest or arm length."

The firm has developed a 'sock' prototype, and said it would need up to 50,000 to develop a full body onesie.

Aideen O'Hora from Sustainable Nation Ireland, says the competition is aimed at startups and those with a good idea who need help bringing it to market.

"It's for somebody who has an idea which could be at the back of an envelope, or a bit more fleshed out, but they need a bit of help," she said.

"The ideas are quite broad and span the whole climate innovation spectrum. They've had terrific support from our entrepreneur in residence, and external resources including the National College of Art and Design which came in for a session on product design.

"You find that entrepreneurs can have a terrific idea, but can't take it forward. We're giving them business skills to help develop the idea and their team."

The third finalist going to Cyprus is AquaRoot Ireland, founded by Vincent Farrelly, which aims to reduce water consumption and chemical use in food production. His system mimics a tree root network and uses 3D printing where an expandable foam forms a network of pipes.

"With standard irrigation systems, you have to put plants near the pipes," he says. "With Aquaroot, the farmer can print about a hectare of land in about an hour using a cylinder attached to the back of a tractor.

"It's like an expandable foam which expands to 50 times its size. You put seed in the pipe, and flow nutrient water through it and the plant grows.

"We expect to use about 40pc less water and chemicals, and there's savings in time as well. It could also be applied in arid regions."

It will last for one growing season, and because it's biodegradable, it will naturally break up or be ploughed back into the land.

He expects to launch the project in September next year, and plans to focus on crops grown in greenhouses.

While no Irish firm has won the European finals, many have gone on to secure investment and grow their business.

Sustainable Nation also continues to provide support after the event.
Set up in 2011 by pharmacist Brian O'Donoghue, Virginia Medical Supplies manufactures and distributes blister packs that make it easy for patients to take the right doses of the right medicines at the right time. Located in Virginia in Co Cavan, the company employs 15 staff and has an annual turnover of more than 2.8m.

"Our core business includes the manufacture of a range of blister packs which dispensing pharmacists can populate with the number and type of tablets a patient is due to take each day. Branded as Nu-Life, each pack contains a number of different pods depending on the number of times a day tablets are to be taken and are colour coded to identify different days of the week," says Brian.

Each pack comes complete with a sheet with the name and description of each drug in lay person's language as well as a picture of each drug.

This is so patients have a better understanding of what they are taking and why - which in turn helps ensure a higher level of compliance with what has been prescribed.

"Medication non-adherence and non-compliance, where patients take too little or too much medication - or worse still take the wrong medication - has become a growing concern for clinicians, healthcare systems, and governments around the world because of the potential negative effects on both individual patient health outcomes as well as health service budgets," says Brian.

"Recent data indicates that medication non-adherence is costing EU governments an estimated 125bn a year as well as contributing to the premature death of nearly 200,000 Europeans annually," he adds. Brian demonstrates how his blister packs are uniquely resealable. In the event that a patient, for example, experiences an increase in their blood pressure during a course of medication and some or all of their medication needs to be increased or changed, then the pharmacist can take off the seal of the weekly blister pack, make the required changes to the medications and then reseal the pack.

"In the past, packs could not be resealed and all the medication ended up getting thrown out. Our packs eliminate this costly wastage" he insists. A further design feature includes a range of packs with removable pods enabling a patient remove a day or two days dosage if they are travelling, for example, rather than taking their full week's supply.

"Our blister packs are also very beneficial in the event that a patient ends up in hospital or in a nursing home in the case of the elderly.

"They simply take the blister pack with them so that the nurses or doctors can immediately understand what medication they are on. In the past, patients would often arrive to the hospital with a biscuit tin full of different tablets making it difficult for the medical team to know what they had been prescribed," says Brian.

In addition to blister packs, the company has also developed a cloud-based software platform which allows pharmacists and doctors as well as nursing home and hospital staff to engage more effectively in a patient's care.

"We will also soon be launching our new Nursing Home Mobile App which will help revolutionise medication administration in nursing homes. This will not only ensure each patient receives the correct dosage but will enhance efficiency, productivity and reporting within the entire system," says Brian.

"What makes our products so effective and relevant is that they have been developed based on extensive feedback from a large number of patients, nurses and doctors as well as my own experience as a pharmacist," he says.

Brian is a third-generation pharmacist and continues to own and run two pharmacies under the brand name O'Donoghue's Total Health pharmacy, the first of which was set up by his grandfather up more than 110 years ago.

When Brian was growing up he helped his own father in the business before qualifying as a pharmacist himself in 2005 from John Moores University in Liverpool. Once qualified, Brian took over the family business and immediately trebled its size. Three years later, he bought a second pharmacy, this time in nearby Ballyjamesduff.

"I was always interested in developing new products and services that would improve the health and well-being of patients as well as make life easier for pharmacists -and it was this that led me to come up with the idea for the new blister packs," says Brian. However, his idea was not an overnight success.

"There were existing packs on the market at the time but these lacked many of our innovative features. But it did take time to win over customers," says Brian. "For example, the first batch of 90,000 packs we made took over a year and half to sell - whereas today we are selling 150,000 a month."

Brian's customers now include 1,000 retail pharmacies, 750 in the Republic and 250 between the North and the UK as well as an increasing number of hospital pharmacies and nursing homes throughout the country.

At home he is keen to see the HSE recognize the many tangible benefits of his products and software. And having begun exporting, he now has his sights set on expanding even further into markets such as France, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Continuing to innovate, he has also invented a semi-automated pill-dispensing machine. Aptly named, HB-160 after his grandfather, Hugh Barny, these machines will be used by pharmacies to fill up to 160 blister packs at a time.

Full of energy and with a passion to improve the quality of life of patients, Brian O'Donoghue is not a man who likes to stand still.

As well as the above products, he continues to run the two pharmacies and has even taken on the distribution rights for Ireland and the UK for a product called Salin Plus, a natural salt-based therapy that relieves the symptoms of chronic respiratory issues including asthma, sinusitis, COPD, snoring and sleep apnoea.

"Our mission now is to become the main manufacturer and distributor of monitored dosage systems in Ireland and the UK and to become the recognised market leader internationally in the design and supply of medicinal and lifestyle products and services that improve the quality of life of patients around the world," he adds.

virginiamedical.ie

If you have a business thats worth talking about, please contact Sean at

seangallagher@independent.ie
After completing a degree in software engineering, Fabio Molle's career path took quite a different direction after one fateful night.

His Funky Christmas Jumpers business shipped to 45 countries last year, with 80pc of the company's sales stemming from customers based in Ireland or the UK.

The jumpers even have a celebrity fanbase, with the likes of Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Rory McElroy wearing the founder's very own creations. Independent.ie takes five with Fabio.

Expand Close Fabio Molle the man behind Funky Christmas jumpers / Facebook

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1) What don't we know about Funky Christmas Jumpers?

The idea came from a Christmas night out in Dublin with friends. We wanted the classic festive jumpers but really struggled to find any good ones. So we thought, why not just create our own? We got started on some marketing and design and Funky Christmas Jumpers was launched in 2008. My background is in software engineering, so for this to now be my full time job was unexpected but I cant complain.

To our surprise people were actually buying them so we continued to make new designs. We now have three online stores in Ireland, the UK and US and ship to fifty countries worldwide. Theres only only one full time employee, myself, but I have brilliant freelance designers, manufacturers and account managers.

2) How successful have FCJ been over the last few years?

Weve gone from an idea between friends to a global, stable business, with a range of celebrities wearing our designs. This was a huge surprise, stemming from some Twitter outreach that became free publicity for us.

Ryan Tubridy wore a Funky Christmas Jumper four years in a row on the Toy Show which was amazing. Niall Horan wore one recently, which meant his fans quickly caught on to the trend. Weve also had Harry Styles, Rory McIlroy and Tony Hawk. The list goes on!

I love the fact were creating a community of people internationally who love our jumpers and through word of mouth theyre letting the rest of the world know about us. Currently we have a pretty even split between Irish and UK customers, amounting to around 80pc of sales, with the remaining 20pc from around the globe. In the future it would be brilliant to see become a more even split globally.

Id say our main competitors are the big department stores like John Lewis and Marks and Spencers. They sell their Christmas jumpers at a cheaper cost because they can, so as a small independent business you worry about getting bumped off the market by these huge companies.

3) What's the FCJ target market?

Our target market is a mixed age group of graduates and families, ages ranging anywhere from 25-50. I also like to think of the expat community as a key market, literally spreading the Christmas jumper cheer. To me, Christmas jumpers are somewhat of an Irish tradition, so those living global lives have spread our designs to brand new markets.

From 2012-2015 we had pop up stores on South William Street in Dublin and tourists would go mad for them. I could actually track the direct link between those who came to visit and a small surge in sales from their country.

4) Does FCJ fear the impact of Brexit?

Im pretty confident about FCJs future despite Brexit. Exchange rates have been continuously fluctuating since the UK decided to leave the EU, but we use TransferWise to move payments from our UK site (where were paid in sterling) back to euros in Ireland. Its reassuring to know Im getting the best rate in these uncertain times and that the transfer to my euro account is so fast. While I dont believe the business can ever be entirely safeguarded, I dont think Brexit will have huge implications for us. The currency risk is minimised because with TransferWise Im consistently getting a good market rate.

5) Why has FCJ made the move away from traditional banking?

There are three main reasons FCJ moved away from traditional banking: cost, time and flexibility. I shifted international payments from my bank to TransferWise in 2016. Wed endured years of losing thousands on the mark up in the exchange rate from non-Euro customers.

As with any small business, you watch where all your money is going and its frustrating to see it disappear with unfair foreign exchange fees. The traditional banking system is also notoriously slow, annoying when youre waiting days for payments that can actually be done in minutes. With our US site I use TransferWises borderless account that allows me to get paid in dollars and transfer into whatever currency at the best rate - its been an absolute game changer. More than anything, its made me realise how many people dont know there are alternatives to their bank when making international payments and how much this needs to change.

Head of business product at TransferWise Stuart Gregory said that it's great to see Irish businesses benefitting from "the convenience and bottom line savings TransferWise offers".

"Were committed to making money move around the world without borders - eventually as easily and cheaply as email - and nobody needs this more than small businesses who frequently operate across multiple markets," he said.

"We launched the borderless account for businesses and freelancers earlier this year in response to demand from our community. Its great to see business customers like Fabio taking advantage of our service."
Executives at HNA Group, the Chinese conglomerate that owns Irish-founded aircraft lessor Avolon, are planning to buy more shares in Avolon's immediate parent.

HNA co-chairmen Chen Feng and Wang Jian are planning to increase their stakes in Bohai Capital after the Shenzhen-listed leasing unit's stock reached 30pc less than its 2017 peak.

Twenty-four officials at HNA and its subsidiaries plan to buy 87 million yuan (11.2m) of Bohai Capital shares from the market within three months, according to statements filed to the Shenzhen stock exchange on Wednesday. The purchases are meant to reflect confidence in the leasing unit, according to the statement.

The move comes amid mounting concerns about HNA's debts - jitters that prompted the company last week to go on a round of media interviews to say its finances are under control.

Bohai Capital shares were nearing a three-year low after the company scrapped a bond offering, citing "big fluctuations in the market".

"It looks like they are buying shares in Bohai Capital to shore up confidence," said Anne Zhang, executive director for fixed income, currencies and commodities at JPMorgan Private Bank in Asia.

"The group has been under pressure from recent headlines and is escalating efforts to calm down investor concerns."

A representative at Bohai Capital didn't provide further details about the purchases beyond what the statements said but said they had nothing to do with the cancelled bond.

Bohai's flagship assets are Avolon and Seaco - a container-leasing business.

"Bohai Capital has scale and diversification with one of the youngest owned fleets in both aircraft and container leasing as well as strong, long-term contracted cash flows in both businesses," the company said in a statement.

Avolon recently sought to emphasise its financial independence from HNA.

Chief financial officer Andy Cronin said Avolon was unlikely to make further loans to its immediate parent and HNA unit, Bohai. He also highlighted other safeguards about Avolon's relationship with the debt-laden Chinese conglomerate when speaking at a Goldman Sachs aircraft-leasing conference, according to a note from the bank. "Avolon downplayed HNA's influence and stressed protections in place, which may calm some concerns temporarily," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote.

Bloomberg
Comedian Al Porter made his first appearance this week since allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him.

Porter has stood down from his roles as presenter of Today FM and pantomime star at Dublins Olympia Theatre since the allegations of inappropriate behaviour, and said that he was completely taken aback by the reports.

Porter reportedly visited a dress rehearsal of the pantomime Polly and the Beanstalk, which he originally co-wrote, in the Olympia Theatre on Thursday evening before its opening night on Friday, the Sunday World reported today.

It was a closed performance and was not open to the public.

He met members of the cast and wished them well, a source told the Sunday World.

Al sat through the rehearsal and seemed to enjoy it.

Following the allegations, Porter announced he was 'standing aside from his role' in the pantomime.

The original performance was co-written by Al Porter and Karl Spain, but the final version now just has Karl Spains name on it, the source told the Sunday newspaper.

Since the allegations emerged, St Patrick's Hospital has said it was investigating a complaint following claims made by a former patient about Porter.

It has also emerged that gardai are investigating Porter (24) in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a man in his late teens.

The male teenager has alleged that the incident occurred at a social event in Dublin city centre in the last year.
A hospital has apologised to the family of a six-year-old girl who died three days after she was brought in suffering from low blood sugar.

Aibha Conroy had been in hospital in August 2011 and diagnosed with hypoglycemia - but was not referred on for specialist care before she was again admitted on December 11 that year with low blood sugar.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told Aibha, from Gowla, Connemara, Co Galway, had a cardiac arrest in A&E at University Hospital Galway.

She was ventilated and intubated and transferred to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, where her life support was disconnected after three days. She died on December 14, 2011.

The apology was read to court yesterday as part of the settlement of an action by Aibha's parents and younger sister against the HSE over her death.

University Hospital Galway said it deeply regretted what had happened and apologised to Kathleen and John Conroy and their family "for the failure to refer Aibha to Crumlin Children's Hospital for investigations" following her admission in August 2011.

"University Hospital Galway, together with its clinical and nursing staff, wish to extend their sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the Conroy family on the death of their daughter Aibha," UHG general manager Chris Kane said in a statement.

The statement added that the hospital, its clinical and nursing staff, extended their sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the family.

"The hospital acknowledges and greatly regrets the huge trauma and suffering of the Conroy family resulting from the death of Aibha."

The details of the settlement are confidential.

The family's solicitor Damien Tansey said that the Conroy's were "delighted that this is over".

The Conroys' entire mission, he said, was to ensure the same thing did not happen to another family.

"Losing a daughter at six-and-a-half years was an enormous tragedy and the Conroys were concerned primarily that the necessary expertise would be hired in to UHG so when another kid like Aibha presented with hypoglycemia the necessary expertise was there."

"The Health Board challenged them all the way. You may recall an inquest was held earlier, and it was the longest inquest in the history of the State," he added.

"For the entire of the inquest the HSE challenged the Conroys and sought to represent matters as no guilt or negligence on their part.

"Today and earlier a settlement was negotiated and it was a term of that settlement that liability was admitted."

Declan Buckley SC, for the HSE, had told the court that a consultant paediatric endocrinologist has now been appointed to the Galway hospital and will take up a position there in June 2018.

Des O'Neill SC, for the Conroys, said Aibha had presented at UHG on three occasions during 2011 - and in August a diagnosis of hypoglycemia had been made.

However, she was not referred on for expert analysis and there was no endocrinologist in Galway at the time.

Approving the settlement, the judge said the family had been "very sensible and noble" in relation to the case.
'Its a struggle': Trainee doctors emergency taxed up to four times a year as they change placements

Trainee doctors have described how they are struggling to pay rent and pay off loans as they are emergency taxed up to four times a year.

The non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) change jobs between two and four times a year for their training programme.

They must await their P45 tax form each time they leave a posting - meaning they are emergency taxed for up to six weeks at a time.

The financial difficulties this imposes is driving doctors out of the service, trainee doctors have claimed.

Dr Barry Singleton (27), who is currently based in Tallaght training to be an anaesthetist, described the process as "frustrating" and "a struggle". His training as an NCHD will take six years to complete.

Barry said his main issue is the acceptance that trainee doctors "will be emergency taxed and thats the way it is."

"There is no sense of urgency when you move hospital, you get the feeling they dont think it is important," he said.

"You put in so many years in college and you finally get a job, youre earning money and you feel you can now meet the various commitments, it feels like it is completely unnecessary.

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Whatsapp Dr Barry Singleton described the process as "frustrating" and "a struggle".

"It really feels like the HSE aren't looking out for us, but you don't want to complain because I feel people aren't very sympathetic to doctors," he added.

The young Dublin man said the issue creates resentment to the HSE as an employer.

"When I finished in Tallaght on January 9, I received my overtime payments from the hospital in March so I didnt have my P45 to give my new employer.

"By the time I got the P45 form Tallaght, it was March. Its very hard to get a P45 on time, so were emergency taxed for one or two months at a time.

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"I have a loan to pay, and thats before you add on rent. You dont expect to run into these financial problems. Everyone thinks doctors are well-paid, and we are well-paid, but this isnt very practical and your wage isnt much good to you when youre being emergency taxed for the second month in a row.

"You end up struggling to pay off loans and rent.

"I appreciate it's a significant undertaking for the HSE to address the issue, but centralisation is the only way I can see of solving the issue."

Dr Lisa Cunningham said the situation means a trainee doctor needs to have a "good bank of savings".

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The mum-of-two is currently training as an NCHD in St Vincent's A&E in Dublin, while her husband and two children live in their home in Mayo.

She has completed almost three years of her training, and has just 18 months left before she becomes a consultant.

"It's totally frustrating, and it's even worse when you have the responsibility of kids and paying a mortgage.

"You have to wait for a P45, which you get from your last employer after your last pay packet, which is sometimes a month after you've left.

"I've been emergency taxed for up to three months at a time.

"I'm waiting for a deposit from one landlord, to pay the next, all while paying a mortgage and childcare at home.

"Then you've the responsibilities of bills, it's really frustrating.

"There is no onus from them to get your P45 quicker, and there is no communication between the hospitals. You're going between different set-ups and systems. Some places you get paid monthly, other places you get paid every two weeks.

"The HSE have been saying they'll centralise the NCHD payroll since 2011."

Lisa described Revenue as "a godsend" and said some NCHDs need to ring them every few weeks for information and help.

"You really need to be financially savvy, or have an accountant to make sure you're up to date," she added.

An IMO spokesperson told Independent.ie that they believe the situation is making it difficult for doctors to commit to the training process.

"At a time when the Irish public health service is experiencing unprecedented difficulties in retaining NCHDs, the fact that these doctors are frequently liable for emergency tax every time that they take up a new posting within that service is one more, of many, factors driving doctors out of the service," they said.

Revenue said the upcoming modernisation of the PAYE scheme, which begins in January 2019, should help the NCHDs' situation.

As part of the modernisation, employers will need to calculate and report their employees pay and deductions as they are being paid, as part of the normal payroll process.

It will eliminate the need to file forms P30, P35, P45, P46 and P60 and mean that Revenue, employers and employees will have the most up-to-date information relating to pay and tax deductions.

Meanwhile, a HSE spokesperson told Independent.ie; "I been advised that centralisation of NCHD payroll is being progressed in line with that for other HSE staff."
HELL has not frozen over, but change has suddenly swept like a hurricane through Ryanair. The dramatic announcement yesterday that it will recognise unions is arguably the single biggest change in the airline's 32-year history.

It also wiped more than 1.5bn from the stock market valuation of the company.

Ryanair's chief people officer Eddie Wilson wrote to unions in Ireland, Italy, Spain, the UK and Germany yesterday inviting them to talks in order to recognise them as the representative bodies for Ryanair pilots in each of those countries.

But strike action in Ireland planned for Wednesday by staff Ryanair pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (Ialpa) remains a possibility unless the airline's management and trade union Impact meet before then.

Ryanair has told the union that the company is unable to meet them until Wednesday and insisted that the "sensible" thing was for the strike to be called off and the meeting to be held that day.

Mr O'Leary held a conference call yesterday with chief pilots across Ryanair's almost 90-strong base network. He told them the offer of union recognition was genuine.

A pilot-rostering fiasco in September that forced Ryanair to cancel tens of thousands of flights and ground aircraft into next year has proved to be the catalyst for the massive union U-turn by Ryanair.

And just as that debacle resulted in a global media frenzy, so too has yesterday's announcement.

Pilots and unions across Europe have been methodically tightening the screws on Ryanair for months, demanding union recognition, the right to bargain collectively, and better working conditions.

Ryanair, headed by chief executive Michael O'Leary, had insisted for weeks after the roster revelations that the airline had seen off the crisis. But while it tried to put the lid on one, another was brewing.

The pilots and unions, like lions in the tall grass, smelled blood. They knew they had a chance they might never have again, and pounced. It was never clear they would succeed in their effort to force change at Ryanair. Had they wavered at all, their cause would have been quickly lost.

The situation moved rapidly in the early weeks, from September to October.

News broke from early morning to late at night, with the Irish Independent getting the inside scoop on many of the moves pilots were making as they engineered what would be the most sensational climbdown ever by Ryanair.

Mr O'Leary had repeatedly vowed neither he nor Ryanair would ever deal with unions. Agitated pilots and unions were dismissed by the airline as being no more than desperate rabble-rousers who weren't even employed by Ryanair, or represented staff at competing airlines.

But it was clear there was a groundswell of support among Ryanair pilots to stand their ground and initiate change, no matter how much Ryanair wanted to deny it.

Mr O'Leary had incensed his own pilots following the airline's annual general meeting in September, in the midst of the rostering failure, by dismissing the complexity of their work. He later insisted his comments had been taken out of context.

In early October, he penned a letter to his 4,200 pilots, urging them not to leave for rival airlines. This from the billionaire chief executive who once described pilots as "glorified taxi drivers".

Meanwhile, Ryanair went on a hiring scramble. It needed to shore up its pilot numbers, especially as its fleet continues to expand.

Seasoned pilots, meanwhile, were busy making sure they would be on solid legal ground if they decided to take industrial action. It was an arduous task given the 87 bases in the Ryanair network. But across Europe, they linked up with unions, forming Ryanair councils under those unions' umbrellas so that when they took action they would have legal and organisation backing.

Pilots were carefully plotting the strategy that would lead to this week's events. They just thought it would take a lot longer.

Weeks ago, the Irish Independent was aware that strikes close to Christmas were a real possibility and were being considered if Ryanair didn't proactively respond to pilot demands.

While publicly Ryanair dismissed the pilot movement, it was clearly concerned.

The extensive reporting in this newspaper - including reports that revealed the significant resolve of pilots to achieve their aims - led to Ryanair initiating legal against this reporter and INM, the publisher of this newspaper.

The airline's communications became erratic.

Replies from the airline to business-like queries from this newspaper regarding the pilots' efforts to unionise as well as the threat of strikes, were increasingly personalised, and lacked the tone one would expect from a large corporation in its dealings with anyone.

Meanwhile, the airline drafted in its own former executive, Peter Bellew, in an effort to help quell the pilot dissent.

He was working as chief executive of Malaysia Airlines, but parachuted from there to join Ryanair as its chief operations officer. He probably played a pivotal role in Ryanair's unprecedented announcement yesterday.

But as it came clear pilots had organised across Europe and were preparing industrial action, Ryanair started to threaten them. That incensed them ever further.

The airline said that any of its pilots or cabin crew who went on strike would be hit with pay cuts, changes to working rosters, and no promotions.

Pilots who spoke to the Irish Independent were incredulous. Their organisers told them to stand firm in the face of the onslaught, and stressed they would fall if they became divided or wavered. But it was under Ryanair management that the ground was moving. The sheer momentum behind Ryanair's pilots across Europe had reached critical mass.

Once the pilots in Ireland announced they would strike next week, the Portuguese followed suit. Pilots in Italy were already set to strike yesterday, and Ryanair staff pilots in Germany who were union members were preparing behind the scenes to strike next week.

There was a chain reaction under way. For Ryanair, the danger was it would completely lose control of the situation. The fuse had been lit. But Ryanair, like a scene from a movie with only seconds left to avert catastrophe, has clipped the right wire. The countdown had stopped. Or so it seemed.

That first contact meeting between the airline management and Impact needs to happen before Wednesday to avert the 24-hour strike.

For now, pilots and unions remain cautious. They've never been in this situation before with Ryanair. It's like two teenagers fumbling around at the disco for the first time. No one's quite sure what to do or what happens next.

Momentous

But it's clear that for pilots and trade unions, this is a momentous shift in attitude by Ryanair. But what will be the outcome? What will Ryanair yield to? Will both sides be able to have constructive negotiations that can achieve acceptable results for both sides?

And make no mistake, the floodgates are open.

Ryanair's Eddie Wilson said yesterday that the airline was also open to union recognition for cabin crew and baggage handlers. International unions yesterday called for exactly that to happen. And it all leaves one big question: what now for Michael O'Leary? He's been an exceptional businessman, certainly one of Ireland's most dynamic ever.

In a 2010 interview with the Irish Independent, he insisted he would soon leave the airline. But he signed a five-year contract in 2014. Asked by the Irish Independent at the time if he would stay on after the contract ends in 2019, he shrugged.

"I might not be the right CEO in five years' time. The board might want me to go."

It will be interesting to see if his current term will be his last. Whatever his legacy, yesterday, all changed, changed utterly.
Members of the Phibsboro Fire Brigade unit with their latest rescue

A swan who became trapped in a lock on the Royal Canal had a lucky escape after members of Dublin Fire Brigade arrived on scene.

The fortunate swan was plucked to freedom after a watch from Phibsboro worked out a strategy to release the animal from the lock without causing injury.

A Watch from Phibsboro were called to a Swan in distress at Binn's Bridge this evening. The swan became trapped in a lock and @KildareAnimals requested our assisstance. Swans need 100mtrs to take off. The swan is being assessed and looked after by Aideen from @KildareAnimals pic.twitter.com/TDZ3aP3FxG  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 17, 2017

"Swan in distress at Binn's Bridge this evening," Dublin Fire Brigade wrote on Twitter alongside images of the rescue.

"The swan became trapped in a lock and @KildareAnimals requested our assisstance. Swans need 100mtrs to take off."

Dublin Fire Brigade reporrted that the swan is now being assesed and looked after by Aideen from Kildare Animal Foundation.
The Government's relationship with the DUP needs to be repaired, Tanaiste Simon Coveney said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney blamed tensions around agreeing phase one of the Brexit deal.

He said he wanted to meet Northern Ireland's largest unionist party before the end of the year.

Mr Coveney told RTE's The Week in Politics: "Because of the tension around trying to get the deal we felt was needed for everyone on this island, yes, of course there is repair work to do."

The DUP has accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of "politicking" over Brexit.

The Taoiseach has said Brexiteers need to acknowledge that they created the difficulties surrounding the Northern Ireland border.

A compromise agreed between the EU and UK has been the subject of a range of interpretations.

Mr Varadkar has said he is confident there will be no hard border on Ireland despite being warned the issue remains a "riddle to be solved".

The DUP's 10 pro-Brexit MPs are supporting Theresa May's minority Government in crucial votes.

The unionist party scuppered earlier British Government efforts to agree a border deal with the EU.

The problem centred on whether Northern Ireland continued to follow some of the rules of the EU's single market after the separation and the DUP was keen to ensure there would be no divergence from the rest of the UK.

Mr Coveney said the absence of a power-sharing ministerial Executive at Stormont was part of the problem of Brexit.

If Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree to resurrect the Executive, Mr Coveney said the Good Friday Agreement needed to be looked back at, because that was where the rules were set.

He added: "Then there is the prospect of a whole series of other choices - from another election, to the triggering of Intergovernmental Conferences to make decisions on Northern Ireland."

"That is not where we want to be. That will cause tension. It will be a very frosty environment to make decisions in... so we all have a responsibility, in a practical sense, to find a way forward."
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has admitted that the "success" of the Government will be determined by its ability to tackle the housing crisis next year.

In an article in the Sunday Independent today, Mr Donohoe said that "serious inroads" would be made in the area of housing in 2018.

Describing the housing issue as the "most pressing problem of a generation", Mr Donohoe said the Government "must and will build more homes, tackle housing waiting lists and reduce homelessness" next year.

He also said the Government "will do all it can" to avoid the economy overheating next year, and anticipated that more people can expect a pay rise and tax cuts in the years ahead.

However, in the article, he effectively staked the Government's reputation on resolving the housing issue.

His comments followed an impassioned debate in the Dail last week in which Fianna Fail said the next election would be about housing and not the economy or Brexit, on which there was "almost universal acceptance of and approval for the policy thrust and direction".

It would be about tackling homelessness; those on housing waiting lists; those paying crippling rents; those unable to afford a home; those facing repossession or eviction; and children who are "having their childhood stolen".

In that debate, Fianna Fail's housing spokesman, Barry Cowen, also went so far as to say his party "will not be seen as part of the establishment''.

He added: "The Irish people must regain a bit of trust in the political and democratic system and see that we are not all the same. We can do things differently."

Today, Mr Donohoe writes: "I believe we cannot live up to the expectations of a modern democracy if we do not do all we can to ensure that everyone has shelter and a roof over their heads." He added: "Our success in this area will be a mark of our success as a caring, compassionate country."

In his article, Mr Donohoe also addressed positive developments related to the rapidly growing economy, which last quarter recorded a growth rate of 10.5pc year on year.

He writes: "More people found work and left the dole queues. Emigrants returned home and new people came to live here. And while there is still much to do, we improved, and invested more in, public services and our country's infrastructure."

He believed it was possible next year to achieve full employment, and that the State's books would be "broadly" balanced, meaning a reduced cost in servicing debt, leaving more money for public services.

He also predicted tax cuts and pay increases in the "years to come" as well as further capital expenditure and public service investment "to help our society heal" such as increased spending on transport, health and education.

In the debate on family and child homelessness, which was attended by just 19 TDs, Mr Cowen said it was "time for an extraordinary solution to an extraordinary crisis" and he said that his party would bring forward a significant new proposal to tackle the housing crisis early next year.

He said: "It is now time for me and others like me to say that there is a different direction in which we can go in order to help ameliorate the current situation."

This related to a need for the Housing Authority to "take control" of the issue, to be given terms of reference and a funding mechanism to "ensure the job can be done properly". The authority, he said, could go "off-balance sheet" with 51pc investment from private sector elements, such as credit unions, pension funds and Irish private equity funds that wish to invest in capital projects.

This could be complemented with government-backed funds in which citizens could invest. "The 49pc from the State could include the acres of land not being used."

Mr Cowen acknowledged the "economy is improving", that the deficit will be a thing of the past, which would allow the Government to promote growth in industry and innovation, leading to an increase in revenues, which could be reinvested in areas that have been subject to under-investment in recent years.

However, he said the Government's success, "when it is ultimately adjudicated upon" would not necessarily be on the economy or on Brexit: "It will be adjudicated on how it has performed and met the challenge in respect of those who are less-well-off, the poor, the disadvantaged and those who have been left behind through no fault of their own."

The Dail debate heard that there will be 1,463 families and 3,194 children in emergency accommodation on Christmas Eve. It was also stated that, since 2011, when Fine Gael took office, the number of children in emergency accommodation has increased by more than 300pc.

Since 2016, when the current Government took office, the rate has increased by more than 20pc.

Since Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy was appointed, the number of children in emergency accommodation on a given night has risen by 299. The length of time children are spending in emergency accommodation has increased, from six months in 2014 to two years on average now.

While there was some praise for measures which the current administration has put it place, there was also a view that government housing policies were not working.

There was also criticism of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's recent statements that the level of homelessness in Ireland was, relatively, better than internationally; and also his view that while a citizen had a right to a home, he did not believe that everybody should be housed for free.
The following statement was made by Fianna Fail TD for Wicklow, Pat Casey, in the Dail during a debate on child and family homelessness last Thursday:

As most people know, I worked in my family hotel in Glendalough all my life until I became a full-time politician, elected by the people less than two years ago. After more than 40 years in the hotel business, through three recessions in the 1970s, 1980s and the most recent crash, I never witnessed until this year what I am about to outline. The Glendalough Hotel is located in a rural part of Wicklow, 50km from Dublin, which we are all aware is the epicentre of the child and family homelessness crisis.

On several occasions this year, my hotel has accommodated families with children who have been sent by Dublin local authorities because they have no homes available in one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe.

These families arrive in the late afternoon and early evening after picking up their children from their Dublin primary schools. They have made a journey of over an hour by car after spending the morning ringing hotels, seeking a booking. Eventually, having no choice but to pick my hotel some 50km from their home city, the family, that is, mother and father and two primary school children, arrive tired, a little embarrassed about arriving not as tourists, but economic refugees.

The team at the hotel makes every effort to welcome these guests, while at the same time realising that this is not why they pay their taxes. These families should not be forced to endure this. Both the family and staff make every effort to pretend that this situation is normal, so that it does not cause any further stress. When food has been made available, the Irish family is allocated a room and the parents try to get their children settled and hopefully able to do some normal activities such as homework, showering and watching TV, all in a hotel room, before putting them to bed.

The next morning, these families have no choice but to get up very early in the morning since the parents must get their children ready for school in their little uniforms for Dublin city schools, and make that long journey back to our nation's capital. One of the parents then makes contact with Dublin local authorities once again to see if any accommodation can be made available. The parent is then told again that no housing is available but there is a list of suitable hotels to ring. The parents then begin the long process of ringing Dublin hotels, then hotels farther afield until, once again, they reluctantly book into our hotel and begin to arrange transport.

I have seen this happen to my fellow citizens and families with young children day in and day out through 2017. Our hotel has accommodated families for up to three to five days in a row. Each day, the same process is undergone and there is the same humiliation and struggle. I do not know what else I can say about this experience. It makes all of us at the hotel ashamed that this is the Ireland we live in. Glendalough is a place of inspiration, tranquillity and a reminder of the historic achievements of Ireland's ancient past. Sadly, it is now part of our story of modern Ireland's shameful present.
Ryanair will publish a contingency plan on their website tomorrow ahead of a threatened 24-hour pilot strike on Wednesday.

Airline chiefs yesterday offered to meet with the Impact trade union ahead of the strike.

However, the strike has not been officially called off and uncertainty remains for passengers booked on certain flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The airline are now notifying passengers on their official website that they will "publish contingency plans to minimise these disruptions for our customers, on Mon 18 on our website."

They added; "We apologise sincerely to our customers for any worry or concern that this threatened action, during Christmas week by a small number of very well paid pilots, may cause them.

"Rest assured that we will do everything we can to minimise disruption for our customers."

The union had warned industrial action would go ahead unless company management arranged to meet before Wednesday - the day of the planned strike.

After the dramatic decision to recognise union representation for the first time, the company yesterday released a statement saying it had now agreed to a meeting on Tuesday with Impact, to which the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) is affiliated.

"Ryanair today confirmed that the German pilot union, and Impact/IALPA, have agreed to Ryanair's offer of meetings to agree union recognition on Wednesday, December 20. Ryanair has also offered to meet Impact/IALPA, and their Ryanair pilot committee on Tuesday, December 19, if that would suit them better," read the statement.

Union chiefs had earlier insisted the strike action would go ahead unless management agreed to meet before Wednesday.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, a senior union source insisted the get-together between both sides would have to be before the Wednesday deadline.

He said there were serious concerns that Ryanair management could renege on their commitments.

"There's history between the two organisations. Up until the latest company announcement, it had a very public and vehement attitude it wouldn't talk to unions.

"Essentially, they had a 'not over my dead body' approach to union recognition. Taking what they say - based on trust - is not a sensible thing to do."

He stressed it was vital that both the company and the union meet so the next phase in resolving the dispute could be agreed. Other sources suggested pressure from shareholders resulted in the dramatic decision to agree to union recognition.

It's the biggest industrial relations climbdown in the airline's 32-year-history.

"They don't care if there's a union or not a union, so long as the share price is robust," another source added.

CEO Michael O'Leary has said the radical U-turn to recognise trade unions was a bid to avoid travel chaos for customers during Christmas week.
Trevor is delighted with the positive feedback his music has received

An Irish politician has released a Christmas song entitled 'A Christmas Kiss', ahead of his upcoming album release.

Fianna Fail councillor Trevor Gilligan has released his single, saying it's his way of wishing his family and friends a Happy Christmas.

"Writing a Christmas song is every songwriters dream. It's not easy. Christmas Kiss may not be up there with Wham! or Paul McCartney, but for a first attempt, it aint bad and I'm proud of it. I suppose it's my way of wishing my friends and family a Happy Christmas," he said in a statement announcing the song's release.

Mr Gilligan who is a councillor on South Dublin County Council representing the Clondalkin area told Independent.ie the song was penned a number of years ago.

He is also due to release an album next week called helloWorld.

"I said that to myself a few months ago I don't want to go through this year and not have an album released," he said.

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While politics and music may not immediately seem like the most obvious mix he said both have played a significant role in his life for many years.

The politician-turned-musician lists Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Jamiroquai, Pharrell and Timbaland as his music influences and said he has been likened to Calvin Harris.
Gardai in Balbriggan are investigating

A young man lost his life in a single-car collision in Dublin this morning.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the fatal collision on the Adelaide Road in Glenageary.

The incident occurred at approximately 7am.

The driver of the car, a man in his late 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was the sole occupant of the car.

Garda forensic collision investigators are at the scene and the road is currently closed to traffic.

Local diversions are currently in place.

Anyone travelling on the Adelaide Road between 6.30am and 7.30am this morning is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station 01-6665000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
An undercover reporter was urged to hand over cash on the spot to take up a Scientology course and was told psychiatrists or counselling do not work to combat mental health issues such as depression.

"You're likely depressed, irresponsible and unstable as a person" - This was the analysis given by a staff member in the Church of Scientology in Dublin after an Independent.ie reporter took a 'personality test' this week.

The reporter, who is not experiencing any mental health issues, took the test at the new Scientology centre in Firhouse.

She was asked "how much money do you have on you?" and was told to enrol in a course that would help her "overcome ups and downs" for 75.

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With only the 'personality test' as evidence of the reporter's perceived well-being, members of the religion brought the reporter into a private room to urge her to do the course and "do it now", telling her "things will get worse and worse" if she didn't.

The new Scientology centre in Firhouse opened in October. A number of protests - organised by ex-members of the religion and south Dublin locals - have taken place in recent weeks due to concerns about its establishment.

Scientology is a religion based on the seeking of "self-knowledge" and "spiritual fulfilment".

However, it has been surrounded in controversy as ex-members of the religion have made allegations of mistreatment and predatory financial practices, which have been strenuously denied by the church.

Concerns have also been raised that the personality tests could be used to potentially manipulate vulnerable people suffering from mental health problems.

The President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland urged anyone concerned about their mental health to get advice from a health source "they trust".

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Dr John Hillery told Independent.ie: "We would recommend that people get information regarding their health from sources they can trust, such as their GP.

"The evidence is there that psychiatry works and the treatments are based on years of training and research. We don't comment on individual organisations and psychiatrists wouldn't make such statements [saying certain forms of therapy don't work] about anyone or any organisation."

The personality test consisted of 200 questions and the results were calculated by a scientologist in the centre. The entire process took over an hour.

The Church of Scientology has just 87 members in Ireland, according to the 2016 census.

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Inside the new south Dublin centre, people can take a personality test which scientologists claim will help a person discover their "true potential".

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Based on the results, the reporter was advised that she is more than likely depressed, is unstable, irresponsible and quite a nervous person.

There are a choice of three columns on the answer sheet and the participant is asked to give a plus (+), middle (m) or minus (-) sign. The plus means mostly 'yes or decidedly so', middle means 'uncertain' and minus means 'mostly or decidedly no'.

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Some of the questions in the Oxford Capacity Analysis Test included; "Do you intend two or less children in your family even though your health and income will permit more?"; "Is the idea of death or even reminders of death abhorrent to you?" and "Are you in favor of color bar and class distinction?"

The female scientologist advised the reporter to sign up for a 'Personal Values and Integrity Course' for 75 to improve her well-being.

The course purports to teach people the "secret" of efficiency and how to turn "bad control" to good.

It takes seven days to complete, with the person attending the centre for two-three hours every day.

In the audio below, the reporter was told that if she didnt enrol for the course and "make changes now", her sadness would get "worse and worse".

After completing the test, the reporter was brought into a room and a female scientologist gave the following advice:

Scientologist: What do you think would happen if you carry on without doing anything about it [the feelings of sadness] What do you think?

Reporter: I dunno... depression maybe?

Scientologist: Yeah, so if you dont do anything it won't be better, it will just get worse and worse. Do you know what I mean?

Reporter: Do you mean suicide?

Scientologist: I wouldnt say that, but if someone is that sad, it is not just going to jump up by itself. You need to work on it. This is how it is in life. Nothing stays the same, but if you do something about it you can change it, or just leave it as it is and slowly, slowly, slowly get more sad; less light, more darkness.

Reporter: Can I have a think about it [signing up]?

Scientologist: You should do it now because if you think about it, it is not going to happen.

Reporter: It is more the money side, Im only working as a waitress now so I have to think about it financially.

Scientologist: How much money do you have on you because you can start making payments now?

Reporter: I dont have cash.

Scientologist: You can pay by card.

Reporter: I dont have my card on me either.

Scientologist: Ok. Do you understand how important it is to change it, and that will be the key for you - to change it?

Reporter: I only live over the road, so I can come back.

Scientologist: When will you be back Are you working today Are you walking?

Another female scientologist told the reporter that scientology is the best way to improve yourself and advised that psychiatrists and other forms of counselling don't work.

The four scientologists the reporter met all had European accents and were likely aged in their early 30s.

Depressed is a strong word, sometimes it really is the person is very depressed or simply youre just not as happy as you used to be... Right now seems a very low point. Is that true... You have any particular things happen? one female staff member said.

In a nutshell people in the past have tried psychology, psychiatrists and self-improvement books and so on but none of it has been fruitful in terms of results... You dont want to waste a lot of money because some of these things are really expensive. People come from all walks of life because we have practical solutions so the actual solutions that you can apply to your own life right now.

Local reaction

Some residents and politicians have raised concerns about the Scientology centre after it opened a Winter Wonderland event in December, featuring fairground rides and childrens activities.

"It's kind of scary now, why would you put a Winter Wonderland there. I don't like the idea that you put something fun into something that is meant to be a cult," one local said.

However, some residents said the centre "didn't bother" them and said it was nice to have a free event for kids in the area.

"I don't really have any views on it, the building itself is very impressive and the Winter Wonderland looks lovely," another local said.

A number of protests have taken place outside the 1,200-seat facility since it opened in October.

The facility was previously used by the Victory Outreach Centre as a Christian church before the Church of Scientology bought it for a reported 6m.

While scientology doesn't have a big following in Ireland, its founder L Ron Hubbard lived in Dublin's Merrion Square for a short time in the 1950s.

Hubbard was an author best known for his science fiction and fantasy stories.

The organisation says its purpose in Ireland is to "hope for a better world and for happier lives, and to share the practical solutions that turn those hopes into reality".

In response to questions about the validity of the advice and analysis given, the Church of Scientology said:

"The donation requested for this course is not great, but you claimed not to have it - which was the context in which you were asked about the money you had. We also provide a very similar course on-line for free.

"The services offered by the Church of Scientology are for people who are honestly seeking to improve themselves. Our courses provide tools to help people lead better lives. Tens of thousands of people participate in these courses every week.

"We are a not for profit organization and the donations we request help the Church fund its spiritual and humanitarian mission and support its staff and of course, that includes our Church and Community Centre here, in Firhouse.

"We opened our Church in Firhouse as a community hub for local activities and events.

"It is the mission of all Scientology organisations to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground for cooperative efforts."

If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, please contact The Samaritans free helpline on 116 123.
Little Sinitta, bottom right, and her father John, left and top middle. Photo: Facebook

A Dublin man who lost his five-year-old daughter to a rare illness is bringing Christmas cheer to his companys customers this year as he attempts to give something back.

John Hollands daughter Sinitta died after a battle with a very rare condition which doctors described as similar to the syndrome malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy.

She required 24/7 care and she constantly suffered seizures. She died in 2011, just two months after her fifth birthday.

It was just after her birthday in April, she passed away in June, John told Independent.ie.

We were always grateful to have the five years. We had been told 'youll bring her home and youll find her dead', we were told 'the next seizure could be the final one'. So we always had that in the back of our heads and we were grateful to have had her. Its a tough one to know your child is going to pass away.

Weve all lost loved ones, but when you lose someone at five years of age You realise that theres not much in life that can get you down now. Theres nothing worse than what youve gone through.

This year, John, sponsored by his company Kefron, is dressing up to raise awareness about Jack and Jill.

I was a Christmas tree two weeks ago, an elf last week, and the next week Ill be dressed up as Santa.

I decided that Im either going to be miserable about it or live on in her memory. Thats what this is all about  the outfits and the decorations. Its all about bringing joy back to people for such a brilliant cause.

The company I work for is going to give a large donation to Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation. Im working in it, going shopping, going to visit kids.

Its to give back and raise a little bit of money. Its unbelievable the reaction of kids. I go out of my way to speak to kids and for the smile on their faces.

Its not just about the money. Its about bringing the awareness to everyone about what Jack and Jill do.

For the first year and a bit we had no respite at all. I was a very stubborn father, I didnt want anyone to have her, and when Jack and Jill came along they explained what they did and how they did it, and straight away I said yes.

Sinitta needed to be peg fed through her stomach for up to two hours everyday, and required anti-seizure medication. When she was in pain she required sedative medication to help her sleep.

She had uncontrollable seizures, and had them for five years pretty much every day.

Because she was always like that, its a very tough one to explain, it became normal for us, we never looked at Sinnita as being sick. I always looked at Sinnita and said thats just who she is.

I looked at the person, rather than looked at her being sick.

He added: I worked in Guinness for five years before she was born, I gave up working to care for her the minute she got out of hospital.

Sinitta, if you spoke to anyone in Jack and Jill, she was the apple of my eye. If I was there, Sinitta was there, until Jack and Jill gave us that feeling that I could go for dinner with my wife and know that someone was there to give the care.

John is raising awareness about the Jack and Jill, an organisation which provides nursing care and support for children with severe neurological development issues, as well as offering some respite to the parents and families.

Its the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life, watching your child getting sicker and sicker and gradually pass away.

She started to cough up blood from her lungs. We didnt know what was going on. Sinead, Jack and Jills liaison nurse, was giving us advice about it.

It was a tough few years with the blood, and we found out she started to burst blood vessels in her lungs and the doctors had to seal those off.

John added: It would have been a lot harder. With Sinead and Jack and Jill we never felt alone, we always felt there was someone we could call.

For more information on Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, see here
UNICEF estimates that an average of 353,000 babies are born around the world each day. Here in Ireland, we account for approximately 200 of that daily rate. Women may have given birth since the dawn of time, but while biology is the same the world over, birth customs can vary hugely from country to country...

Finland

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Since the 1930s, expectant mothers have been provided with a box by the Finnish State. The box is filled with (among other things) bodysuits, outdoor gear, a sleeping bag, bathing products, nappies, bedding and toys. Also contained within the box is a small mattress - making the box baby's first bed. The maternity package is designed to give all children in Finland an equal start in life, regardless of their background, and is credited with helping Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

Throughout the decades, the contents of the baby box has changed to reflect changing times, including the falling in and out of favour of disposable nappies and the removal of bottles and soothers to promote breastfeeding. The scheme was originally available only to low-income families but that changed in 1949 when the box was made available to all mothers-to-be, as long as they attended medical pre-natal checks. The box thereby not only provided mums with essentials for taking care of their babies, but steered them towards medical care and away from a previously very high infant mortality rate. Even today, 95pc of expectant Finnish mothers still opt for the maternity box, in spite of the availability of a cash-grant alternative. The gender-neutral contents make it suitable for either boy or girl. It's no surprise really that Finnish mothers are considered amongst the happiest in the world.

Spain

Anna, originally from Barcelona but living in Ireland with her husband and two children, explains that natural birth is very much promoted in Spain. C-section rates are typically quite low. Mothers and fathers are both expected, if possible, to attend ante-natal classes and significant discussions take place around birth plans. Most births are midwife-led and doctors are only called upon in the event of complications. In keeping with their close-knit family ties, births where all the family are present are on the rise, though Anna adds that this is very much dependent on the birth being categorised as low-risk. The Spanish are generally considered very family-oriented and most of the support that a woman receives after giving birth will come from her family.

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Veering away from the traditional, a more unusual and probably lesser-known ritual which takes place in Northern Spain, involves the placing of babies on a mattress for El Salto del Colacho (meaning the 'Devil's Jump'). During this ritual, a person dressed as El Colacho (the Devil) jumps over the babies to cleanse their souls.

Gambia and Senegal

Midwife Montserrat, who spent time in both Gambia and Senegal, was initially very surprised when she saw the reactions of new mothers in both countries to their newborn babies. Montserrat discovered that the behaviour and custom came about as a result of a high infant mortality rate. Typically, in Gambia and Senegal, women gave birth either at home or in poorly-equipped hospitals, and conditions largely led to the high mortality rate. It became customary for the women to turn their heads away from the baby once the child was born. Superstition led them to believe that they could fool the 'gods' into thinking that the child was not important and so the gods would let the child live. The women feared the baby would be taken away if they appeared too happy.

Poland

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Marta, who is from Poland originally but now lives in Ireland with her husband and their four children, says that pregnancy is much more medically managed in Poland, with more frequent hospital visits and many more scans - to a point that Marta believes is almost excessive. C-section rates are very high while breastfeeding rates and levels of support are one of the most obvious differences Marta sees between the two countries. Bottle-feeding is very unusual in Poland and Polish women who are struggling with breastfeeding, or may need to stop for medical reasons, will usually persist until every option has been exhausted.

Lactation consultants are more readily accessible in Polish hospitals, something which Marta found was very different in her experience of Irish maternity hospitals. One notable difference Marta found during childbirth in Ireland was the flexibility around birthing positions. Polish women typically give birth in "gynaecological birthing chairs" and are discouraged from considering any other positions. While provisions for paid maternity leave in Poland are in excess of Ireland's 26 weeks, a lack of job security makes it difficult to avail of the full entitlement.

Asia

Many parts of Asia, including Malaysia, China and Singapore, practice "confinement" for 30 days after giving birth. Mum of two Cindy, from Malaysia, lives in Hong Kong and explains that the older generation believed that after giving birth, a woman's pores were open, so it was important not to catch a cold which could lead to swelling, arthritis or rheumatism in later life. While the stringent practice of not showering or washing one's hair during the period of confinement is largely a thing of the past, a new mum is confined to the house wearing long trousers and slippers for a month after giving birth. Some women hire a confinement lady to stay with them for the month. The confinement ladies prepare food for the mothers (according to the Chinese, certain foods and drinks are forbidden, such as cold water and fruits). They also clean and take care of the new baby so that the new mother can rest and recover.

The Netherlands

Homebirths are very popular in the Netherlands - they make up approximately 55pc of all births planned. Births in Holland are generally midwife-led and most women will not see a gynaecologist during their pregnancy. Mothers who opt for a hospital birth are unlikely to receive an epidural as they are only given one if it's convenient to the anaesthesiologist's schedule. A huge benefit to all mothers is the Dutch 'Kraamzorg' maternity home care system. This service is available to all mums, irrespective of whether they have had a hospital or home birth. A professional maternity nurse calls to the home of the new mum for eight to 10 days, helping her with breastfeeding, bathing and caring for the baby. The nurse also helps to take care of other children, as well as prepare meals and perform light housekeeping.

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Germany

Elke is a mother of two from Germany. She explains that there are many options available to an expectant mother, depending on her preference. A midwife is assigned to a mum at the beginning of her pregnancy and midwife-led units called 'birth houses' are available to low-risk mums. In labour, homeopathic pain relief options are available to mothers who don't want medical pain killers.

Elke says that Once your baby is born and you are at home, the midwife who was assigned to you at the beginning of the pregnancy calls to see you once a day for five days. Following that, she calls every second or third day and eventually just once a week. She will treat any birth injuries and provide creams or ointments at no cost to the new mother. Baby is also checked at every visit and the midwife helps mum to learn all the new skills required to take care of baby. This midwife is available to you for six months, whenever you need help or support.

France

And finally to the country where women are pregnant that little bit longer. Deirdre from Ireland lives in France with her husband and three children. She explains that a pregnancy is deemed 41 weeks long in France - because they count from the first day of supposed conception. Toxoplasmosis is a big fear for pregnant women, Deirdre adds, largely because of the rare manner in which they tend to eat their meat. Hospital stays are also longer, with women typically staying in for almost a week after the birth of their baby. Breastfeeding rates, while rising, are still lower than many of their European counterparts and those who do it tend not to breastfeed for very long.

Family and mothers-in-law are generally the main source of support and a lot of emphasis is put on the importance of the parents' relationship. Deirdre found she was actively encouraged to put baby in her own room once she turned one month old. She also finds that there is a lot of pressure on women to regain their figure but, on a very positive note, every woman in France, after childbirth, is entitled to a series of physiotherapy sessions to aid with pelvic floor recovery.
Cooking the biggest meal of the year can be a challenge, so ensure your Christmas dinner is a stress-free experience by using Neven's expert timings and tips

Salmon terrine with prawns

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This salmon terrine will not only look impressive but will taste far superior to anything you can buy. It can be made well in advance - up to two days is fine - and can be kept in the fridge until you're ready to slice it. The filling itself is so delicious that it could also be eaten as a dip. If you really want to push the boat out and showcase Irish shellfish, use Dublin Bay prawns.

This salmon terrine will not only look impressive but will taste far superior to anything you can buy. It can be made well in advance - up to two days is fine - and can be kept in the fridge until you're ready to slice it. The filling itself is so delicious that it could also be eaten as a dip. If you really want to push the boat out and showcase Irish shellfish, use Dublin Bay prawns.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

2 tbsp white wine or rice vinegar

2 tbsp caster sugar

4 celery sticks, trimmed and very finely diced

675g (1  lb) smoked salmon, sliced

2 x 275g (10oz) cartons of soft cream cheese

1 x 200g (7oz) tub of creme fraiche

Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon, plus wedges to garnish

2 tbsp creamed horseradish

225g (8oz) hot smoked salmon fillets

100g (4oz) cooked peeled prawns

4 tbsp snipped fresh chives

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus extra sprigs to garnish

2 tbsp cracked pink peppercorns

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Light brown soda bread, to serve

Method

1 To prepare the pickled celery, put the vinegar and sugar in a bowl and add 2 good pinches of salt. Mix in the celery and set aside for an hour, then drain and chill until needed.

2 Oil a 1.2 litre (2 pint) loaf tin, then line with a double layer of cling film, leaving plenty hanging over the sides. Neatly cover the base and sides of the tin with most of the smoked salmon in a slightly overlapping layer with some overhanging the sides, reserving the rest for the bottom of the finished terrine.

3 Put the cream cheese and creme fraiche in a food processor with the lemon rind and juice, horseradish and half of the hot smoked salmon fillets. Whizz until well blended, then turn out into a bowl. Fold in the prawns, herbs and pink peppercorns.

Flake in the rest of the hot smoked salmon and season with salt and pepper.

4 Spoon a third of the cream cheese mixture into the terrine and gently smooth it out into an even layer. Sprinkle over half of the pickled celery, then cover with another third of the cream cheese mixture. Add the rest of the pickled celery and spread the remaining cream cheese on top. Lay the reserved smoked salmon on top, then neatly fold over the overhanging salmon. Cover with the cling film to enclose completely. Chill overnight or for up to two days.

5 To serve, place it in the freezer for 30 minutes before you want to cut it, as this will make sure that you get nice smooth slices. Carefully invert onto a platter, then cut using a sharp knife that has had its blade dipped into a jug of hot water. Put a slice on each plate with a lemon wedge and dill sprigs to garnish. Have a separate basket of the soda bread to hand around.

Lobster bisque

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This is an extremely rich soup, so only serve it in small amounts

if you want your guests to have any room left for other courses.

You can substitute the lobster for crab for a less intense flavour.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

350g (12oz) frozen cooked lobster, thawed

1 tbsp rapeseed oil

50g (2oz) butter

1 small onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 celery stick, diced

 small fennel bulb, diced

1 fresh bouquet garni

4 ripe tomatoes, quartered

4 tbsp brandy (Cognac if possible)

2 tsp tomato puree

900ml (1  pints) fish stock

150ml ( pint) dry white wine

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Lightly whipped cream, to garnish

Fresh micro herbs, to garnish

Method

1 Cut the lobster in half lengthways, then open it up and remove the tail meat, removing and discarding the intestinal tract and stomach. Twist and remove the claws, then using the back of a knife, crack the claws and remove the meat. Chop the tail and claw meat and reserve. Put the shell in a polythene bag and smash into small pieces.

2 Heat the oil and half of the butter in a large pan and stir in the onion, carrot, celery and fennel. Add the lobster shell and bouquet garni, then cover and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.

3 Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, then increase the heat and pour in the brandy - it should reduce immediately. Add the tomato puree, stock and wine and bring to a simmer, then cook gently for 30 minutes, until slightly reduced. Season to taste.

4 Pass the soup through a fine sieve into a bowl, then ladle into a food processor. Add the remaining butter and the reserved lobster meat, reserving some to garnish. Whizz until blended, then return to a clean pan. Reheat gently, then ladle into bowls and add a quenelle of the whipped cream to each one. Finish with a small mound of the reserved lobster meat and a sprinkling of the micro herbs to serve.

Sausage Stuffing Roll with Dried Cranberries

Everyone has their favourite part of the Christmas meal, but for many it's the stuffing. The practical shape of this clever roll means it takes up very little space in the oven, as it can be slid in alongside a larger roasting tin. However, it can also be used to stuff the bird. Whatever you decide to do with it, it can be prepared up to three days in advance as long as the sausages are nice and fresh, meaning all you need to do on the big day is remember to pop it into the oven.

Ingredients

100g (4oz) butter

1 onion, finely chopped

300g (11oz) good quality sausagemeat

175g (6oz) fresh white breadcrumbs

50g (2oz) dried cranberries

1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 tsp chopped fresh mixed herbs (use a mixture of sage, rosemary and thyme)

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 200C (400F/gas mark 6).

2 Melt the butter in a saute pan set over a medium heat, then add the onion and saute for about 5 minutes, until softened. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the sausagemeat, breadcrumbs, dried cranberries and herbs, then season generously.

3 Shape into a large roll, then wrap in a layer of parchment paper and tin foil, twisting the ends securely to seal. Cook in the oven for about 45 minutes, until cooked through and tender. Unwrap just before cutting into slices to serve.

Christmas Herb & Onion Stuffing

This is a really good recipe for the buttery, fresh herb stuffing that everyone seems to love. I have been making it for years, having as a young child watched my mother Vera prepare it. If you prefer, it can be cooked and served in a separate dish (rather than inside the bird itself), which makes it crispier and more golden. However, I tend to use it to stuff the cavity and neck of the bird so that it soaks up all the delicious juices while cooking.

Makes enough to stuff 1 x 4.5-5.4kg (10-12lb) turkey

Ingredients

175g (6oz) butter

2 onions, finely chopped

500g (18oz) fresh white breadcrumbs

25g (1oz) fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs, leaves finely chopped

15g ( oz) fresh thyme sprigs, leaves only

15g ( oz) fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves finely chopped

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1 Melt the butter in a frying pan set over a low heat, then add the onions and saute for about 10 minutes, until softened but not coloured. Tip into a bowl and mix in the breadcrumbs and herbs, then season generously. Leave to cool completely.

2 Use the stuffing to three-quarters fill the cavity of the bird, then secure the flaps of skin over the cavity with a metal skewer. Use the rest of the stuffing to fill the crop of the neck end. Start at the neck end, where you'll find a flap of loose skin. Gently loosen this away from the breast and you'll be able to make a triangular pocket. Pack the stuffing inside as far as you can go and make a neat round shape on the outside, then tuck the neck flap underneath the bird and secure it with a small skewer. Cook as per the instructions for roasting the turkey (see above).

Roast Turkey with Streaky Bacon

This is the easiest way to roast a turkey, and fortunately, for many people it's also the best. Forget about having the time to brine it or trying to turn it over while it cooks - this method is absolutely foolproof.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

1 x 4.5-5.4kg (10-12lb) oven-ready turkey (preferably free-range), at room temperature

1 quantity stuffing (see page 29, optional)

100g (4oz) butter, softened

15-18 rindless streaky bacon rashers

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Small bunch of fresh herbs (to include parsley, sage and bay leaves), to garnish

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 190C (375F/gas mark 5).

2 Turn the turkey breast side up and pack the neck cavity loosely with stuffing (if using), then tie the top of the drumsticks together with string. Smear with most of the butter and season generously, then place the bacon over the breasts to cover them completely. Weigh the turkey to calculate the required cooking time, allowing 20 minutes per 450g (1lb) plus 20 minutes extra.

3 Lay a large sheet of foil lengthways over a large roasting tin, leaving enough at each end to wrap over the turkey, then lightly butter the foil. Repeat with another sheet of foil, but this time laying it across the tin. Place the stuffed turkey in the centre of the foil, breast side up, then wrap loosely to enclose but still allowing air to circulate around the turkey.

4 Put in the oven and cook according to your calculated cooking time, carefully unwrapping and basting the turkey every 40 minutes. For the final hour, fold back and remove the foil, keeping the ends of the drumsticks still covered in foil to prevent them from burning. Baste well and return to the oven. The turkey should be a rich, dark brown colour. To make sure it's cooked, insert a fine skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear, but if they are still pink, return the turkey to the oven and check again every 10 minutes, until you are happy that the turkey is cooked right through. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Cover with foil and leave to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes (up to 30 minutes is fine).

5 To serve, garnish the turkey with the bunch of herbs in the neck cavity and bring to the table. Carve into slices and arrange on warmed plates with all the trimmings.

Braised Peas with Bacon

This is a great way of making frozen peas or petits pois more interesting. Keep a bag in the freezer for emergencies and you'll have a lovely vegetable side dish in no time at all. It does reheat well, but as it takes so little time to make, it's possibly worth doing just before serving, as the mint will discolour a little otherwise.

Serves 8-10

Ingredients

1 tbsp rapeseed oil

4 rindless streaky bacon rashers, diced

2 leeks, trimmed and finely chopped

2 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

100ml (3  fl oz) dry white wine

150ml ( pint) chicken or vegetable stock

450g (1lb) frozen garden peas or petits pois

25g (1oz) butter

1 tbsp roughly torn fresh mint leaves

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1 Heat the oil in a large pan set over a medium heat. Add the bacon and saute for about 5 minutes, until crisp. Scoop out onto a plate lined with kitchen paper and set aside.

2 Tip the leeks into the pan along with the spring onions and garlic. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, until softened, tossing occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer.

3 Add the stock and peas or petit pois and simmer for 3 minutes. Return the bacon to the pan with the butter and mint and season to taste. Allow to just heat through, then serve immediately in a warmed dish.

Golden Crunch Roast Potatoes

While turkey may be the star of the Christmas table, if you get your roast potatoes right, then frankly you could serve chicken nuggets and most people would still be happy as Larry. Let's face it, we are all about the potatoes as a nation! This recipe also works for 900g (2lb) of parsnips - simply blanch for 3 minutes instead and cook for about 45 minutes. Try to use beef dripping for the best flavour. Check out James Whelan Butchers online for an award-winning dripping that can be delivered straight to your door.

Serves 8-10

Ingredients

1.5kg (3, lb) floury potatoes, such as Rooster, Desiree, King Edward or Maris Piper

4 tbsp beef dripping, goose or duck

fat (from a jar or left over from a roast)

Sea salt

Handful of fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 190C (375F/gas mark 5).

2 Wash and peel the potatoes, reserving the peel. Cut the potatoes in half or into quarters, depending on their size. Put them in a large pan of salted boiling water along with the peel - it's easiest if you can put this in a muslin infusing bag. Parboil for 8 minutes.

3 Meanwhile, put the beef dripping, goose or duck fat in a large roasting tin and put it into the oven to heat. Drain the potatoes and discard the peel, then put them back in the pan and shake gently to rough up the edges. Take the roasting tin out of the oven and put on the hob over a gentle heat. Put the potatoes in one by one - they should sizzle as they hit the pan - and baste all over. Season with salt.

4 Roast in the oven for about 1 hour, until golden and crunchy, keeping an eye on them and basting with a little more fat if they begin to look dry. Add some fresh rosemary sprigs (if using) about 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Serve immediately, as these do not appreciate hanging around.

Ham with Sticky Apricot & Ginger Glaze

This ham is a firm favourite in our house over the festive season, whether served hot or cold. It can be cooked and left in the fridge for up to a week, making it extremely handy.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

5.25kg (11 lb) leg of gammon, on the bone

4 celery sticks, roughly chopped

2 onions, sliced

5cm (2in) piece of fresh ginger, sliced

1 small bunch of fresh thyme

1 tbsp black peppercorns

4 whole cloves

2 star anise

1.5 litres (2  pints) dry cider

1 tsp ground ginger

For the glaze: 175g (6oz) good-quality apricot jam or conserve

100g (4oz) light brown sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

4 star anise

4 pieces of preserved stem ginger, cut into small matchstick-sized strips

Method

1 Soak the gammon in cold water for at least 6 hours (or overnight is best), then drain.

2 Preheat the oven to 120C (250F/gas mark ). Use a large deep roasting tin with a rack that's big enough to hold the ham. Put the celery, onions, fresh ginger, thyme, peppercorns, cloves and star anise in the tin and pour over the cider, then put the rack on top. Sit the ham on the rack and cover with a large tent of foil, sealing it well. Put on the hob over a high heat and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, then transfer to the oven. Cook for 12 hours or overnight - you can now leave it for one or two days before finishing the recipe. Alternatively, leave to rest and cool down for at least 30 minutes.

3 Raise the oven temperature to 180C (350F/gas mark 4).

4 Now make the glaze. Put the apricot jam or conserve in a small pan with the brown sugar, lemon juice and star anise. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved, then add the stem ginger and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until reduced to a thick glaze, stirring to ensure it doesn't catch at the bottom.

5 Carefully peel away the skin on the ham, leaving the layer of white fat intact. Using a sharp knife, score the fat diagonally into a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat. Put into a clean roasting tin and rub with the ground ginger, then brush the glaze on top. Roast in the oven for about 45 minutes, until golden and sticky. Transfer to a platter and leave to rest for 15-20 minutes. Carve slices from the ham and use as required, warm or cold.

Cranberry relish

Once made, this will keep covered in the fridge for up to one week. If you want to make it in advance, leave it to cool and freeze in a food bag for up to one month.

Makes about 600ml (1 pint)

Ingredients

25g (1oz) butter

1 small onion, finely sliced

 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

120ml (4fl oz) ruby red port

500g (18oz) fresh or frozen cranberries

200g (7oz) light brown sugar

Method

Melt the butter in a pan set over a medium heat. Add the onion and rosemary and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Pour in the port and allow it to bubble down. Add the cranberries and simmer for 810 minutes, until the cranberries have softened. Stir in the sugar until it has dissolved. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve at room temperature.

MacNean Frangipane Mince Pies with Brandy Butter

These can be made up to three days in advance or frozen and refreshed in a moderate oven set at 180C (350F/gas mark 4) for 8-10 minutes before glazing.

Makes 18

Ingredients

For the brandy butter:

150g (5oz) icing sugar, sifted

100g (4oz) butter, softened

3 tbsp brandy (preferably Cognac)

For the pastry:

175g (6oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting

100g (4oz) cold butter, diced

50g (2oz) caster sugar

1 egg yolk, plus beaten egg to glaze

 tbsp cream

 tsp lemon juice

For the frangipane: 100g (4oz) butter

100g (4oz) caster sugar

2 large eggs

100g (4oz) ground almonds

1 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp dark rum

1 vanilla pod, split in half lengthways and seeds scraped out

For the filling and topping: 1 x 400g (14oz) jar of mincemeat

25g (1oz) flaked almonds

Apricot jam, to glaze

Icing sugar, for dusting

Method

1 To make the brandy butter, cream together the icing sugar and butter. Beat in 1 tbsp of boiling water and the brandy until smooth. Put in a dish, cover and chill until needed.

2 To make the pastry, put the flour, butter and caster sugar in a food processor and blend for 20 seconds. Add the egg yolk, cream and lemon juice and blend just until the pastry comes together. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.

3 Preheat the oven to 200C (400F/gas mark 6).

4 To make the frangipane, put the butter and caster sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand-held mixer, beat until soft and creamy. Scrape down the sides, then add the eggs and continue to beat. Add the ground almonds, flour, rum and vanilla seeds and mix briefly.

5 Roll the pastry out thinly on a lightly floured work surface and cut into 18 x 6.5cm (2in) circles and use these to line the bun tins. Spoon a teaspoon of mincemeat into each tartlet and top with the frangipane. There is no need to spread the mixture flat, as it will level out in the oven (but don't overfill the tins). Sprinkle a few flaked almonds on top of each one. Bake in the oven for 15-17 minutes, until cooked through and light golden, watching carefully. Remove the mince pies from the tins and allow to cool a little on a wire rack.

6 Dilute the apricot jam with a little water and bring to the boil, then brush the top of each warm tartlet with this glaze. These are best served warm with a light dusting of icing sugar.
The cream of Champagnes, classic whites and characterful reds to see you through your festive meal in fine style.

My whole family adores Christmas and, apart from a few years when we had goose to ring the changes, it is generally as traditional as can be - with smoked salmon to start, roast turkey and ham with all the trimmings for mains, sherry trifle and Christmas pudding for dessert, and cheese to finish.

We always start with Champagne and generally work our way through white and red wine, with a glass of port to go with the blue cheese. So my Christmas wine selection this year ranges from the diehard classics everyone enjoys to a few more unusual options that you might like to try if you're having a smaller number of people for dinner.

The most important thing is to go with a wine that you love: there's no need to get caught up in what's right or wrong; it's all about keeping the day special for you.

Torres Fransola

13.8pc, 26 from all good independent off-licences

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You may be used to Sauvignon Blanc from France and New Zealand, but this one from Spain is well worth trying. With peach and melon on the nose as well as the usual grapefruit and herb notes, it is textured on the palate due to partial fermentation in oak, but still deliciously fresh.

Philippe d'Albecourt Champagne Brut NV

12pc, 14.99 from Aldi

If you have a small number of people, a half bottle of Champagne may be the perfect solution and this is a particularly nice one. Made from the three Champagne grapes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, blended in equal quantities, this has an inviting nose of toasty brioche and a rich, satisfying palate. Very good value.

Beaumont des Crayeres

12pc, 29.95 (reduced from 36.95) from O'Briens and obrienswine.ie

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A fantastic reduction for a top-quality Champagne, this blend of 60pc Pinot Meunier, 25pc Chardonnay and 15pc Pinot Noir is complex and weighty with generous aromas of toasted brioche and notes of hazelnut wrapped over a creamy, fresh palate.

Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Gran Cuvee NV

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12.5pc 47.99 from Donnybrook Fair, Searsons, 64 Wine, Baggot Street Wines, The Wine Centre, Mitchell & Son, The Corkscrew, Green Man Wines, James Redmond & Sons, Jus de Vine, Clontarf Wines, Terroirs, all Dublin; and wineonline.ie

This tastes as good as it looks. Produced in Lombardy, using the Champagne method, it is considerably posher than Prosecco. With a nose of baked pastry, fresh lemon and a touch of apricot, it is complex on the palate, with a creamy texture and minerality balancing the pear and softer notes of wild honey.

Mount Horrocks Nero D'Avalo 2015

13.5pc, 37.99 from Blackrock Cellar, James Redmond & Sons, both Dublin, and wineonline.ie

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I tasted this wine when Stephanie Toole visited Dublin a few months ago, and I immediately made a note: "Will go great with roasted turkey skin." So we're not talking insipid bird - this is an organic wine with bright, juicy fruit, fresh acidity and smooth tannins that will also pair beautifully with duck, goose, stuffing and honey-roast ham.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV

12pc, 65.99 from 64 Wine, Baggot Street Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Fallon & Byrne, Donnybrook Fair, Green Man Wines, Redmonds, Mitchell & Son, Terroirs, all Dublin; Red Nose wine, Clonmel; World Wide Wines, Waterford; O'Briens and leading independent off-licences

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This is a favourite with wine critics, and for good reason. Rounded and elegant, with a mature and nutty nose, it has deliciously French flavours of peach, nectarine, frangipane and rich brioche with fine, persistent bubbles. Make sure the bottle has the name 'Charles' on the label.

Domaine des Baumard Savennieres Clos St Yves

2014 13pc, 25.95 from 64 Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Searsons, Donnybrook Fair, Whelehans Wines, all Dublin; Worldwide Wines, Waterford; Vanilla Grape, Kenmare; The Wine Shop at no. 1 Pery Square, Limerick; and searsons.com

For a more unusual white with a bit of texture, Savennieres, made from Chenin Blanc, combines a weightiness with naturally high acidity, making it perfect to serve with scallops, lobster and turkey. A special wine to savour.

Louis Latour

Montagny Premier Cru La Grande Roche 2016, 13pc, 30.50 from Redmonds of Ranelagh; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; La Touche Wines, Greystones; Shiels Londis, Malahide; The Grapevine, Glasnevin, all Dublin

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Sometimes only the classics will do and when it comes to whites, you're looking at the wonderful wines of Burgundy. Montagny is in the southern part of the Cote Chalonnaise, and this wine has delicate aromas of honeysuckle with a creamy palate of fragrant peaches balanced with lively citrus acidity.

Conde Valdemar Reserva

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2010 13.5pc, 17.50 from Nolans, Martins, Shiels londis, Coolers, McHughs, Drinkstore, Sweeneys, Kellys, Jus de Vine, Lilac Wines, Mitchells, The Grapevine, The Ice Box, all Dublin; Egans, Portlaoise; 1601, Kinsale; Cosmo, Tuam; the Malt House, Trim; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny; O'Briens nationwide

Rioja is always a popular wine at Christmastime and with its rounded palate of bramble fruit, plums and hints of vanilla, this award-winning wine goes particularly well with duck and goose. Named 2018 NOFFLA Red Wine of the Year.

Crozes-Hermitage 2015 Domaine des Lises

13.5pc, 33 from 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin

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There is something truly pure about a Syrah from the northern Rhone and, while many of them may need a bit of time in the bottle, this flavour-packed wine is ready for drinking now, with its generous palate of juicy blackberries, plum and pepper, and linear note of graphite.

Contrapunto Albarino

13pc, 12.95 (reduced from 18.45) from O'Briens

Albarino is on trend at the moment and is always a good choice when you're looking for a wine style that will suit most palates. This one also happens to be vegan. With aromas of peach and a distant floral note, this is vibrant on the palate, with plenty of fruit and pure, racy acidity. Great with fish, shellfish or goats' cheese, it's a crisp white that can also go with turkey.

Teac Mor Pinot Noir 2013

14.5pc, 39.95 from O'Briens and obrienswine.ie

Pinot Noir is a classic match for turkey and this grape variety, which requires a long, slow ripening period, is particularly suited to the cool Russian River Valley of Sonoma County in California. With a perfumed nose, this top-quality Pinot (with an Irish name, to boot) has a dominant character of succulent cherries layered with mineral notes, spice and a touch of vanilla.

Taylor's 325th Anniversary Limited Edition Tawny

36.00

20pc, from 64 Wines, Green Man Wines, Mitchell & Son, Grapevine, Jus de Vine, McHughs, Kellys, Gibneys, Sweeney's, Clontarf Wines, Higgins, Whelehan Wines, Grape & Grain, Terroirs, The Wine Library, D-Six, L Mulligan, Next Door SCR, all Dublin; Callan's, Dundalk; The Parting Glass, Enniskerry; O'Donovan's, Pettitt's SuperValu, Wexford; and O'Briens.

You may only drink Port once a year, and if that is the case, make it a good one. This top quality tawny Port is rich and opulent, with bright mulberry fruit, and dense flavours of butterscotch, nuts and raisins.

Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut

12.5pc, 19.99 from Lidl

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At a price that means you can have more than one glass, this is ideal for a crowd. Slight floral notes, crisp lemon and apple flavours on the palate, a creamy texture and characteristic touch of biscuit on the finish.
Christine Keeler who has died at the age of 75. Photo: PA

In death, Christine Keeler was finally treated with the dignity she never received in life.

On a sub-zero morning, beneath a low, dazzling sun, she was cremated in a quiet family ceremony in north-west London, under the name Christine Margaret Sloane.

There was little mention of the 1963 Profumo Affair, when her liaison with John Profumo, the War Secretary, rocked the country.

Forty close friends and family members gathered at West London Crematorium in Kensal Green Cemetery to hear Seymour Platt, her son, pay tribute to his mother.

Platt, who works in Ireland as a business analyst for an engineering firm, had arranged the funeral with Lorraine, his wife. "I never knew Christine Keeler," he said. "I knew her as Mum, and then as Chris."

Platt recalled his mother's intense laugh and her great commitment to fairness, to standing up to anyone, however big.

Desmond Banks, her friend and lawyer, remembered how much she loved reading.

"She had been reading Zola and Daphne du Maurier - but she couldn't stand Steinbeck," he said, "She'd just read The Scapegoat by du Maurier. 'That's significant!,' she said to me, laughing."

Banks recalled how, over the last year, Keeler had increasingly suffered from emphysema at her home in Bromley. But, still, she was full of plans to move to Notting Hill and go on a cruise.
With money in the bank, a generous window for travel and (in most cases) no kids, a honeymoon is a golden opportunity - it could be decades before you get a trip like it again.

1. Open the atlas (and a bottle of wine)

Start your planning by cracking open Google Maps, the Atlas and a bottle of wine. Do this at least 10 to 12 months ahead of your wedding, and keep it loose. Where have you always wanted to go? Safari? The Seychelles? A lost weekend in Paris? Write the ideas down, and have fun - it's a wishlist, not a worry-fest.

Pol's Picks: Check itaa.ie/offers for specials from Irish travel agents.

2. Set your budget

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Someone has to pay for this.

If that someone is you, bear in mind that the average honeymoon in Ireland costs between 4,000 and 8,000 per couple. That's not a must (you can get a better holiday for less, and a worse holiday for more), but it is realistic.

Several tour operators, including Abbey Travel, Sunway and Trailfinders, do honeymoon gift lists that wedding guests can pay into. It beats getting a third toaster, anyway.

Pol's Picks: Sunway (sunway.ie) had seven nights at the four-star RIU Cancun Hotel in Mexico from 1,289pp, all-inclusive. A similar package in the Dominican Republic was priced from 1,279pp.

3. Think twin or triple centre

Roughly two thirds of Irish honeymoons take in two or more destinations, typically combining a beach, cruise or safari with a city break.

Travel agents will have suggestions based on the best connections - Emirates flies direct from Dublin to Dubai, for example, where onwards connections are readily available to Indian Ocean honeypots like Sri Lanka, the Maldives or Mauritius (which is making a comeback, incidentally). Turkish Airlines offers great connections via Istanbul, and lots of Irish couples twin Las Vegas with Cancun, or Florida with a Caribbean cruise.

Pol's Picks: Trailfinders (trailfinders.ie/honeymoons) had a five-star, half-board package twinning three nights in Dubai and seven in the Maldives from 8,299pp.

4. Save in South Africa or Thailand

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In terms of honeymoon travel tips, South Africa is a hugely popular destination, offering both a world-in-one-place appeal (try safari, whale-watching and Cape Town for starters) and a juicy euro/rand exchange.

Thailand also offers surprising value, both in packages and on the ground. Sri Lanka and Vietnam are similar - compared to the Maldives, when guests on island resorts pay handsomely (in US dollars) for their captivity.

Pol's Picks: GoHop.ie had a 17-day South African honeymoon taking in Cape Town, a safari and the Eastern Cape from 1,920pp. Car hire is included. Travel is best from May-October (dry season).

5. Pick the trip you both want

One person's idea of paradise (a fortnight on the beach) can be another's idea of hellish boredom. Similarly, one partner's idea of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure (climbing Kilimanjaro, say) is another's nightmare.

A honeymoon is for two, so choose one that suits you both. Another tip - when combining a beach and city break, put the beach first. It's nice to fly and flop after a hectic wedding, and you don't have to carry your shopping halfway around the world.

Pol's Picks: Classic Resorts (classicresorts.ie) had 10 nights in Phuket and Khao Lak, including a jungle safari, from 1,539pp based on four-star full-board.

6. Consider a cruise

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Cruising has its stereotypes, many of them accurate, but it also offers a surprising diversity of ships and itineraries, all-inclusive pricing and the opportunity to visit several destinations without packing and unpacking for each. Think of it as a floating resort - from the Norwegian fjords to the Arabian Gulf and the sun-splashed Caribbean, there's a little something for everyone.

Pol's Picks: Tour America (touramerica.ie) had an 11-night fly/cruise combining four nights in Orlando with a seven-night Caribbean cruise from 1,069pp (Ref. 509108).

7. Get expert advice

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You wouldn't do your own wedding make-up. Or shoot the photos. So why take it upon yourself to organise your honeymoon?

We've all spent hours online trying to save 5 on a Ryanair flight. It just isn't worth it - especially if you're trying to run a wedding at the same time. Call at least three tour operators for quotes, and ask straight up for upgrades and add-ons (you're worth it). A good travel agent will know the best weather windows, the visa and vaccination requirements, and the red flags (zika, for instance). They'll also bend over backwards for your business - you are spending thousands, after all.

Pol's Picks: Cuba Travel had a 10-night, five-star trip to Havana and Varadero from 2,085pp (cubatravel.ie). ClickAndGo.com had a seven-night, four-star Cuba trip from 1,326pp.

8. Book early

Book your honeymoon as far ahead as possible. Late bookings will make you worry, and any savings will be tempered by limited choice of rooms, next-best resorts or crummy layovers. That goes double for peak travel periods like July, August and Christmas.

To control your costs, consider an all-inclusive resort (Mexico and the Dominican Republic are popular here, as is Club Med), but do so with your eyes open - some all-inclusive packages only allow meals at the hotel's main restaurant.

Pol's Picks: Other tour operators doing honeymoons include Travelmood (travelmood.ie), American Holidays (americanholidays.com), Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.ie) and Stein Travel (steintravel.ie).

9. Don't scrimp

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Given the choice of a 14-day holiday in a four-star hotel, or a 10-day holiday in a five-star hotel, go for the five-star every time. This is your honeymoon, after all. Likewise, consider business class for your outbound flight, or an ocean-view suite.

Instead of splashing on long-haul flights, why not scoot to Paris or Rome and spend three or four nights in an amazing hotel? Italy is a popular destination for wedding and honeymoon combos, and it knows a little about luxury, too.

Pol's Picks: Italy.ie has a 16-night honeymoon taking in Rome, Sorrento, Florence and the Tuscan Coast from 2,550pp. Topflight (topflight.ie) had a 14-night Sorrento and Sicily combo, with accommodation in Sicily at the five-star Grand Hotel Mazzaro Sea Palace, from 2,599pp.

10. Check your passport

It sounds obvious, but the name on your passport must match the name on your travel documents. If it doesn't, you can expect name change charges at best, and delays that have nasty knock-on consequences at worst.

If you're booking travel in advance, do it under your maiden name and wait until after your honeymoon to change your passport. You should also check that both passports are in date for your trip - bearing in mind that some destinations, like Dubai, Cuba, Turkey and Thailand, require six months validity.

Pol's Picks: Check dfa.ie for passport queries, including late renewal options.

Top tip

What visas and vaccinations do you need for your destination? Check months in advance, and if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant, think twice about travel to a zika-affected region.

NB: All prices subject to availability.
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Brendan O'Connor Opinion Mid-life Crisis: Meeting my match in the flight queue

I could sense the tension from behind me. I had got up and started the queue for boarding the plane. I know, Im that person. But someone has to do it. And what with everyone carrying a small suitcase on these days, Im more relaxed standing there, knowing I will get my bag into the overhead, than I would be sitting down.
Hildegarde Naughton was walking up the stairs from the committee room area in the parliamentary building.

She had just signed-off on the Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

The report's central finding was that the Government should legalise unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. Naughton considers herself pro-life, but the expert information provided by the committee's witnesses resulted in her view changing on some issues.

As she was coming up the stairs she walked by her Fine Gael colleague Senator Paul Coghlan, a Kerry politician with strident anti-abortion views.

"Slaughter, slaughter," he said as Naughton walked by. She said nothing. She didn't want to engage.

Coghlan insisted he was not speaking to Naughton but to another group of people, and suggested he has nothing but respect for his colleague from Galway.

However the episode will remind many in Fine Gael of the bitter in-fighting that plagued the party in the lead up to the vote on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill in 2013.

The legislation enacted a 1992 Supreme Court ruling, only enacted 20 years later as the Government scrambled to act following the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar.

The mere mention of abortion generally results in TDs cowering in corners of Leinster House rocking back and forth.

But now they will have to put their heads above the parapet and take a position on an issue that affects thousands of Irish women every year.

Abortion is our Brexit. For the past three decades, abortion has been the political issue no Government wants to deal with but knows it should. Independent Minister Katherine Zappone forced former Taoiseach Enda Kenny to commit to a referendum on the Eighth Amendment in return for her support of his minority Government.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has promised to hold that referendum next year, most likely in May or June.

Minister for Health Simon Harris expects to get approval to bring legislation to the Dail in the new year to legislate for unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.

When the Dail resumes in January a vote will be held on legislation to hold the referendum to remove the Eighth Amendment. A bill will be published in tandem with the referendum.

The public will then be asked to vote on removing the Amendment, in the knowledge that politicians will replace it with legislation allowing abortions for up to 12 weeks.

This weekend, deputies will weigh up their opinions based on personal views and the political impact of backing either side of the debate.

Varadkar said he will hold an extended parliamentary party meeting to discuss the party's stance on abortion. He will be greeted with a variety of views.

Fianna Fail will have a similar internal struggle, and Sinn Fein is expected to discuss the party's stance at a special ard fheis, where the main item on the agenda will be replacing Gerry Adams as party leader.

At present, Sinn Fein only supports abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

However, it will be Government ministers who will sign off at Cabinet on the wording of the referendum and accompanying legislation. They are guided - but only guided - by the cross-party abortion committee's findings. One minister this weekend conceded it would be difficult to diverge from the committee's recommendations, as the Government itself asked the committee to compile the report.

Fine Gael ministers are far from aligned on their views on legislating to allow abortion up to 12 weeks. Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty, Minister for Arts Josepha Madigan, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Junior Education Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor are in favour of abortion up to 12 weeks.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Minister for Rural Affairs Michael Ring and Junior Minister for Defence Paul Kehoe would find it difficult to vote in favour of holding a referendum on the same grounds. Minister for Health Simon Harris is understood to be "likely" to support the committee's findings.

The Taoiseach is yet to state a definitive position but his spokesman said Mr Varadkar is in "listening mood".

One Cabinet minister said he expected "casualties" among his colleagues once the realities of the abortion referendum sink in. The minister said he could see colleagues seeking to block the referendum.

"This abortion thing is going to unravel. It will fall apart in the Dail. This 12 weeks thing is dangerous," the minister said.

"If we are whipped on this, there will be causalities."

Among the junior ministerial ranks, opinion is equally divided. There is confusion about whether Fine Gael members will be whipped for votes on abortion.

There will be two important votes in the coming months: one on the wording of the referendum, and a second, should the referendum pass, to legislate for abortion up to 12 weeks.

At January's Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on abortion, it is expected that members will vote on whether they should by whipped on either or both votes.

It is likely members will seek a free vote, to avoid a scenario which would result in resignations. However, the Dail and Seanad numbers suggest there could be issues with passing the wording of the referendum and future legislation if members are not whipped.

Sinn Fein's current position means it would not be able to support abortion up to 12 weeks. A strong contingent in Fianna Fail will not support it either. The majority of Independents will have difficulties with the proposal while left-wing TDs are expected to back the change.

Potentially, TDs opposed to a referendum on unrestricted abortion could prevent a vote happening but - much like with Brexit - most politicians want people to have their say.

If the referendum passes they will have to support the passing of new laws legislating the will of the people on abortion.

So the TDs who support the public's right to vote, but are opposed to a significant change to the country's abortions laws, will be left to legislate for an abortion regime they are against.

All this could again leave the Irish parliament with a similar dilemma to that faced by British politicians after the Brexit referendum.

The country may vote in favour of radical new laws on a divisive area of public policy, but the make up of the parliament could mean politicians will be able to delay, if not fully prevent, the implementation of legislation that underpins the referendum result.
Legendary former Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer and wife Debbie OLeary leave church after their wedding at Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion, at the Plaza de la Iglesia, in Marbella, Spain. Photo: Solarpix.com

Peter and his bride Debbie are jetting off to Barbados

Peter Stringer and Debbie O'Leary on their wedding and inset, Debbie in Dubai

Rugby star Peter Stringer and wife Debbie OLeary are celebrating their one year wedding anniversary on the sandy beaches of Dubai.

The former Ireland star wed the marketing professional in an intimate outdoor ceremony in Marbella last year.

The blonde beauty posted a lust-worthy snap to Instagram on Wednesday of the clear seas and blue skies of the United Arab Emirates.

Both husband and wife posted tributes on Instagram to commend the special day.

D U B A I // #travel #love snapchatmrsdebstringer A photo posted by Debbie Stringer (@debbieoleary) on Jun 8, 2016 at 12:44am PDT

This day last year. Happy Anniversary, wrote OLeary.

The couple, who have been together for seven years, have recently returned from a relaxing trip island hopping across Greece.

F R I D A Y // // It would be pretty nice if every Friday started like this A photo posted by Debbie Stringer (@debbieoleary) on May 13, 2016 at 3:26am PDT

Stringer renewed his contract earlier this year with Sale Sharks in the United Kingdom, where he and his sweetheart are based.

Nadia Forde, Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell were among the famous faces to attend the couples Spain wedding.

Expand Close Legendary former Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer and wife Debbie OLeary leave church after their wedding at Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion, at the Plaza de la Iglesia, in Marbella, Spain. Photo: Solarpix.com / Facebook

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Whatsapp Legendary former Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer and wife Debbie OLeary leave church after their wedding at Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion, at the Plaza de la Iglesia, in Marbella, Spain. Photo: Solarpix.com

Forde (26) moved to Japan in April with her boyfriend Dominic Day, who is signed to Japanese rugby team Toyota Verblitz.
With hundreds of new homes set to be built on the west side, a swelling university population and year-round tourism, Flagstaff is far from a sleepy mountain town. The trajectory of the citys population reflects that fact as well. The latest figures show the citys population has soared from 45,000 in 1990 to more than 71,000 people today.

Considering Flagstaffs somewhat isolated location and lack of substantial local food production, one might stop and ask, Where exactly does Flagstaffs food come from?

Northern Arizona Universitys FEWs project, which stands for Food, Energy, and Water systems, is trying to answer this question.

The idea of the project is to manually map the location of grocery stores, restaurants and power infrastructure throughout the city. That data will be entered into a database and then displayed through an interactive map interface, said Benjamin Ruddell, an associate professor at NAUs School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems. Ruddell heads the project, which is funded by a $463,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

He wont be doing the work alone, though.

He and the projects manager are hoping to recruit volunteers to help with the task of mapping the local food system.

Ruddell has experience with large-scale mapping, having already published a virtual map of how Flagstaffs water travels on a national scale. But unlike the water supply, which is run by the city, the local food system is privately controlled and composed of many owners and businesses, many of whom might not be aware of each other. Ruddell pointed out that it is important for these different stakeholders to know each other, especially if they need to work together during an emergency.

Beyond simply mapping the sources of food, Ruddell said he and his team are also going to get to know the people behind these businesses and industries.

We are going to try to have a conversation on how to improve the existing system, he said. Hopefully once that conversation gets started and everyone knows each other, something useful can come out of that.

The focus of the FEWs project is to provide the community with comprehensive and essential information without any agenda for how the data is used.

Were public servants. Were educators, researchers and scientists. Were simply collecting informationand then starting a conversation, Ruddell said.

Further discussion could include identifying alternate suppliers and routes of travel during emergencies, which could be used to reconnect food suppliers during the emergency.

This important research can only be achieved through the efforts of volunteers. As of right now, applications are still open at Fewsion.us under the education tab. All applicants must be over 18. Because the project will continue over several months, volunteers on the team will be compensated for their time.

Julia Collier is one active member of the community interested in volunteering for the project.

I became interested in the FEWs Project because I think it is vital that we map the food, energy, and water systems that the community depends upon, Collier said.

Project Manager Sean Ryan is responsible for recruiting potential volunteers and educating the public about the project.

I think this a great opportunity for citizens to connect and contribute to cutting-edge research that can make a difference in local policies and issues related to food, energy, and water, Ryan said. In the end, mapping the resources that are involved with food, energy, and water will provide the community with more accurate metrics for understanding costs, vulnerabilities, and resilience, and this will help determine the most beneficial choices for policies and decisions made by stakeholders.

Editor's note: This version has been edited after the story's publication in print.
Claiming that its continued military buildup in the West Philippine Sea is normal, China has shown the world that it cannot be trusted.

This, even after the international tribunal in The Hague had already ruled that its expansive claim in the South China Sea is illegal and in fact has no basis.

Recent satellite sightings showed images of Chinese construction of radar installations and fortifications on man-made islands. The Chinese piled up rocks and soil on the protruding reefs and shoals to convert them into islands. Why? Because their nearest coastal line in Hainan is some 800 nautical miles from disputed waters also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Call it ingenious engineering but its more an evil design to advance Beijings ambitious plan to claim sole rights to explore the possible oil, gas and mineral underneath the South China Sea to the exclusion of other parties who have more right to these resources. Two weeks ago, a pompous China issued a statement saying it is unhappy the Philippines signed a joint exploration contract in the disputed waters with Taiwan. But who cares if the Chinese are unhappy people when they cannot get their way through bullying their smaller neighbors?

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Chinas posture is a threat to the vital sea lanes through which trillions of dollars in commercial cargo carried by international vessels pass. China has crossed the red line and its time to sound the alarm bells. The new expression is no longer beware the Greeks bearing giftsan allusion to how Athens overran and captured Sparta by leaving behind a large wooden Trojan horse containing soldiers. The Spartans pulled in the Trojan horse as a war trophy into its fort. And while the Spartans slept, the Greeks came out of the giant wooden horse, opened the gates to the enemy and laid siege to the city.

To make a long story short, theres always a lesson to be learned from history: Beware the Chinese bearing gifts. The Duterte administration should not be complacent simply because the Chinese has given weapons to fight the Maute/ISIS terrorists, funds to rebuild war-torn Marawi and more funds for infrastructure projects like building two new bridges across the Pasig River to ease vehicle traffic on Edsa.

There are more than strings attached to these gifts. These are ropes with which to hang ourselves.

Our Tsinoy taipans are doing their best to contribute to the progress of our country. Industrialist Lucio Tan, George Ty, Ramon Ang, John Gokongwei , Andrew Tan are investing in much needed projects from housing to airport. They are already doing their share so we do not have to depend on a domineering China.

Battle in the Senate

On another front, the battle lines are forming in the impending impeachment trial in the Senate of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. That the articles of impeachment are going to be forwarded by the Senate to the House is a foregone conclusion. What is going on now is how the senators will vote. There are presently 19 senators in the upper chamber. Senator Leila de Lima is detained on alleged drug trafficking while Alan Peter Cayetano has moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs as Secretary.

Counting heads, Senators Ping Lacson, Richard Gordon, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva , Sherwin Gatchalian, Greg Honasan, Nancy Binay, Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto would probably vote to convict and impeach Sereno given the evidence presented by the House prosecution panel.

Voting along partisan lines, the Liberal Party members in the SenateSenators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Magdalos Antonio Trillanes III would unlikely to go with the majority which needs at least 17 votes. A preponderance of evidence does not necessarily mean a sure conviction.

Known as knowledgeable lawyers, Senators Joker Arroyo and Miriam Defensor Santiago dissented to acquit the late Chief Justice Renato Corona. Senator Bongbong Marcos also cast his vote to acquit Corona.

There are questions whether detained Senator De Lima can vote in the impeachment trial. The answer, according to observer-lawyers, is no because De Lima has to be present in the Senate to hear the arguments in the case.

Why is the numbers game so crucial in the Sereno case? While Sereno has made enemies within the high court, the Duterte administration needs a majority there given the case elevated to the SC on the constitutionality of a one year extension of martial law in Mindanao.

The petition was filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and a group of congressmen who challenged the vote to extend martial law up to December 31, 2018.

The oppositors claimed that the Constitution only provides the extension of a proclaimed martial law up to 60 days.

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Rob Lowe wrote as the caption: "Helping earlier today. You do what you can, but when its time.. you GO." Photo: Instagram/ @robloweofficial

Celebrities have shared their fears as a raging wildfire spread towards their homes and triggered a new wave of evacuations in a wealthy California community.

The devastating fire has been burning across parts of the state for more than two weeks, but on Saturday, it began pushing towards the celebrity enclave of Montecito.

Mandatory evacuations were put in place around Montecito and neighbouring Summerland, as well as parts of Santa Barbara city, as powerful winds brought gusts of up to 60mph.

West Wing actor Rob Lowe shared shocking photos on Instagram of the fire raging just yards away from his home, as he urged his followers to "pray for Santa Barabara".

In another post, the star, who has also appeared in comedy series Parks And Recreation, revealed he had been helping the firefighters who have been battling to get the wildfire under control, but added: "when it's time... you GO."

Several celebrities are known to have homes in Montecito, which is in the coastal foothills north-west of Los Angeles, including Drew Barrymore, Patrick Stewart and Ellen DeGeneres.

Chat show host Oprah Winfrey also lives there, and tweeted: "Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters. #peacebestill"

A follower asked her how her home was faring, to which she replied: "So far still standing. Praying for the Promised Land and everyone else's land. firefighters on the defense."

The wildfire, which has been named Thomas Fire, is the third-largest in California history, covering 404 square miles, and has destroyed more than 700 homes.

It began on December 4 in Ventura County, spreading into Santa Barbara County, and has killed a firefighter who was trying to battle the flames.

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Several US stars have been forced to flee their homes since then, including Chrissy Teigen, Paris Hilton and Chelsea Handler.

Heiress Hilton wrote on Twitter: "This wildfire in LA is terrifying! My house is now being evacuated to get all of my pets out of there safely.

"Thank you to all the firefighters who are risking their lives to save ours. You are true heroes!"
When Harry Potter fans were gifted a new chapter of the books written by a robot early this week, they probably didnt think it could get any better. However an artists effort to put those words into illustrated form has gone well and truly viral, and it isnt difficult to see why.

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Botnik Studios used predictive keyboard technology to produce a single chapter of Harrys escapades, called Harry Potter And The Portrait Of What Looked Like A Pile Of Ash, which it released to the world on Tuesday.

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The extra chapter was odd, to say the least, proving that perhaps human authors are safe from robots for now.

Each turn of phrase provided an opportunity for Megan Nicole Dong to show off her comedic drawing skills. The director at Nickelodeon Animation told the Press Association: I thought that the chapter Botnik Studios put together was so brilliant and unexpected, and I hadnt laughed that hard in a very long time.

I usually have sketching supplies with me, so I just started drawing some of my favourite moments.

The results proved popular with Twitter users, gaining more that 1,000 likes per tweet. So without firther ado, here are the best bits of her drawing rampage:

There was a very vain Ronald Weasley.

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Ron Rons shirt was just as bad as Ron himself.

Ron as a spider

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Ron was going to be spiders. He just was. He wasnt proud of that, but it was going to be hard to not have spiders all over his body after all is said and done.

Harry tearing his own eyes out

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The quote that inspired this one is a doozy: Harry tore his eyes from his head and threw them into the forest.

Voldemort raised his eyebrows at Harry, who could not see anything at the moment.

Hermione and the condiments

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Not so handsome now, thought Harry as he dipped Hermione in hot sauce.

The Death Eaters were dead now and Harry was hungrier than he had ever been.

Pumpkins falling out of Professor McGonagall

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Several Long pumpkins fell out of McGonagall.

Dumbledores independent beard

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Dumbledores hair scooted next to Hermione as Dumbledore arrived at the school.

Dong, a huge Harry Potter fan, said her favourite character to draw from the chapter was probably Ron (he did a lot of fascinating things in this chapter), and the polite death eaters.

Shes also pleased with the response from Twitter users, who are sharing her work across the internet. Im really flattered by the positive reaction to my silly doodles  laughed while doodling these little fan drawings, and Im glad that other people could laugh at them too.
North Korea will seek the extradition of anyone involved in what it says was a CIA-backed plot to kill leader Kim Jong Un last month with a biochemical poison, a top foreign ministry official said.

Han Song Ryol, the vice foreign minister, called a meeting of foreign diplomats in Pyongyang on Thursday to outline the North's allegation that the CIA and South Korea's intelligence agency bribed and coerced a North Korean man into joining in the assassination plot, which the North's Ministry of State Security has suggested was thwarted last month.

The North's state media have been running stories about the plot since last week.

The security ministry has vowed to "ferret out" anyone involved in the alleged plot, which it called "state-sponsored terrorism".

Mr Han took that a step further on Thursday with the extradition statement.

"According to our law, the Central Public Prosecutor's Office of the DPRK will use all available methods to start to work to demand the handover of the criminals involved, so as to punish the organisers, conspirators and followers of this terrible state-sponsored terrorism," he said.

Expand Close North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol speaks during a meeting at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang / Facebook

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Whatsapp North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol speaks during a meeting at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang

North Korea claims the primary suspect is a man it has identified only by the ubiquitous surname Kim.

It says he is a North Korean resident of Pyongyang who worked in the Russian Far East for a time.

State media said he was involved in the timber industry in Khabarovsk, which is one of the primary places North Koreans can go overseas to work.

The North further said that a South Korean agent named Jo Ki Chol and a "secret agent" named Xu Guanghai, director general of the Qingdao NAZCA Trade Co Ltd, met Kim in Dandong, on North Korea's border with China, to give him communications equipment and cash.

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The North also said "a guy surnamed Han" taught Kim how to enlist accomplices.

Expand Close North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol, center, speaks during a meeting at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang / Facebook

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"These terrorists plotted and planned in detail for the use of biochemical substances including radioactive and poisonous substances as the means of assassination," Vice Minister Han said, reading from a prepared statement.

"These biochemical substances were to be provided with the assistance of the CIA... while the South Korean Intelligence Service was going to provide necessary support and funding for this attempt at assassination on our supreme leader."

In statements for foreign distribution, North Korea often refers to its leader without naming him, instead using the phrase "supreme leadership" or "supreme dignity".

The last time that Mr Han appeared to brief foreign diplomats in Pyongyang was last December, to present North Korea's response to the latest round of UN sanctions after the September 2016 nuclear test.
Australian police said on Sunday they had arrested a man accused of working on the black market to sell missile components and coal on behalf of North Korea, the first charges ever brought in Australia over the sale of weapons of mass destruction.

The man had been charged with two counts under an act preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, police said, and with another four under legislation enforcing United Nations and Australian sanctions against North Korea.

The Sydney man was identified by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other media as 59-year-old Chan Han Choi, who they said had been living in Australia for more than 30 years and was of Korean descent.

He was arrested in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood on Saturday and was due to face court later on Sunday, police said. He came to the attention of authorities earlier this year, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

"This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose," AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters.

"This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil," he said.

Police will allege the man tried to broker the sale of missile components, including software for the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, as well as trying to sell coal to third parties in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Gaughan said the trade could have been worth "tens of millions of dollars" if successful.

Cash-strapped North Korea has come under a new round of stricter United Nations sanctions this year after pressing ahead with its missile and nuclear programmes in defiance of international pressure.

Tensions have risen dramatically on the Korean peninsula because of the North's ballistic missile launches and its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, as well as joint military drills between South Korea and the United States that the North describes as preparation for war.

Pyongyang claimed that its latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November had the range to reach all of the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged North Korea on Friday to carry out a "sustained cessation" of its weapons testing to allow talks about its missile and nuclear programmes.

However, the North has shown little interest in talks until it has the ability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, which many experts say it has yet to prove.

Gaughan said the man had been in touch with high-ranking North Korean officials but no missile components ever made it to Australia. He also said there was no indication officials in Indonesia or Vietnam had been involved in the attempted coal sales.

"This is black market 101," Gaughan said.

"We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea," he said.

The man faces up to 18 years in jail if convicted. He did not apply for bail and will next face court on Wednesday.
Rebecca Dykes, who was murdered in Beirut, Lebanon, her body was found on the side of a motorway on Saturday, the BBC reported. Photo: Family Handout/PA Wire

Lebanese police are investigating whether a British embassy worker strangled and dumped by the side of a motorway was sexually assaulted.

Rebecca Dykes's family said they have been left "devastated" following her death in Beirut early on Saturday morning, while embassy staff are said to be shocked.

Expand Close Rebecca Dykes, who was murdered in Beirut, Lebanon, her body was found on the side of a motorway on Saturday, the BBC reported. Photo: Family Handout/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rebecca Dykes, who was murdered in Beirut, Lebanon, her body was found on the side of a motorway on Saturday, the BBC reported. Photo: Family Handout/PA Wire

The victim, believed to have been aged 30, was strangled with a rope and found dead by the side of a road in the east of the capital, police said.

Authorities looking into her exact cause of death are investigating whether Ms Dykes, who had been due to fly home for Christmas, was sexually assaulted.

A family spokesman said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

"We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time."

Ms Dykes was working as a programme and policy manager with the Department for International Development and as policy manager with the Libya team at the Foreign Office (FCO), according to her LinkedIn page.

She had previously worked as an Iraq Research Analyst with the FCO.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter said: "The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news.

"My thoughts are with Becky's family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. We're providing consular support to her family & working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation."

Ms Dykes, a University of Manchester graduate, also had a masters in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London.

She was a former pupil of Malvern Girls' College and Rugby School and had spent time at a Chinese International School.

A Department for International Development spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

"There is now a police investigation and the FCO is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities."

The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities.

"Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

"We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."
Supporters of former Georgian president and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili march on a street in Kiev, Ukraine December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Supporters of former Georgian President and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili clash with police in Kiev, Ukraine, December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Supporters of former Georgian President and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili clash with police as they try to break into the building of the International Art Centre in Kiev, Ukraine, December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Ukrainian police clashed with backers of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili on Sunday and prevented them from forcing their way into Kievs October Palace after a rally against President Petro Poroshenko.

The confrontation, which included the firing of tear gas canisters, was the latest chapter in the former Georgian presidents stand-off with Ukrainian authorities that led to his detention and release from custody last week.

The October Palace, a cultural center, became a symbol of revolt when it was a key location in the 2013-14 pro-European uprising that ousted a Moscow-backed president and installed Poroshenko, who promised to eliminate widespread corruption.

Saakashvili, president of his native Georgia in 2004-2013, moved to Ukraine after an uprising there and served as a regional governor in 2015-16 before falling out with Poroshenko, whom he accuses of failing to stamp out endemic graft and being corrupt himself. Poroshenko denies the accusations.

Expand Close Supporters of former Georgian President and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili clash with police in Kiev, Ukraine, December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko / Facebook

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Whatsapp Supporters of former Georgian President and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili clash with police in Kiev, Ukraine, December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Sundays scuffles at the October Palace were an offshoot of a larger, peaceful opposition rally in which several thousand people marched through central Kiev earlier in the day, calling for Poroshenkos impeachment.

The situation was relatively calm at the Palace after darkness fell with a large number of riot police blocking the entrance to the center, whose doors protesters had earlier tried to break through, some throwing stones and other objects.

We have to be calm, keep the peace, Saakashvili told a few hundred of his supporters, who remained outside the building.

No serious injuries were reported in the clashes.

Expand Close Supporters of former Georgian president and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili march on a street in Kiev, Ukraine December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko / Facebook

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Whatsapp Supporters of former Georgian president and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili march on a street in Kiev, Ukraine December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Saakashvili accused the authorities of engineering the situation to provoke violence. Earlier, he had called on protesters to set up a headquarters in the building. But later, he condemned any attempt to seize administration buildings.

Interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko held Saakashvili responsible for the clashes.

Despite all the provocations as a result of which Mikheil Saakashvili wants to spill the blood of Ukrainians, he has not succeeded, he said in a post on Facebook.

The comments continue a long-running blame game that has included prosecutors accusing Saakashvili of assisting a criminal organization, charges he says are trumped up to undermine his campaign to unseat Poroshenko.

Police said the attempt to charge into the October Palace occurred while a childrens concert was going on inside.

Ukrainian lawmaker Serhiy Leshchenko, who attended the rally, joined other opposition MPs in condemning Saakashvilis actions. This behavior could destroy the remnants of trust among like-minded political associates and alienate society, he said on Facebook.
Two suicide bombers have attacked a church in the Pakistani city of Quetta, killing eight people and wounding 42 others.

Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the southwestern Baluchistan province, said hundreds of worshippers were attending services at the church ahead of Christmas. He said the attackers clashed with security forces, with one assailant killed at the entrance while the other made it inside.

Baluchistan police chief Moazzam Ansari praised the response of security forces guarding the church, saying the attacker who made it inside was wounded and unable to reach the main building. "Otherwise the loss of lives could have been much higher," he told reporters.

Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said a search is under way for two suspected accomplices who escaped.

Wasim Baig, spokesman for Quetta main hospital, confirmed the attack's toll, updating earlier accounts from officials.

No one immediately claimed the attack. Muslim extremists have targeted Pakistan's small Christian minority in the past.

Local television showed ambulances and security patrols racing to the scene while women and children were being led out of the church's main gate.

Hospital officials said two women were among the dead while another five women and two children were among the wounded.

A young girl in a white dress sobbed as she recounted the attack to television, saying many people around her were wounded.

Aqil Anjum, who was shot in his right arm, told The Associated Press he heard a blast in the middle of the service, followed by heavy gunfire. "It was chaos. Bullets were hitting people inside the closed hall".

Dozens of Christians gathered outside a nearby hospital to protest the lack of security.

Pakistan's president and other senior officials condemned the attack.
Investigation: Honey and Barry Sherman, whose bodies were discovered at their $5.4m house in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Reuters

One of Canada's richest men and his wife have been found dead inside their mansion in what police believe may have been a double suicide.

Barry Sherman (75), the billionaire founder of pharmaceutical giant Apotex, and his wife, Honey, were discovered hanging side by side near their indoor swimming pool in Toronto.

Canada's National Post and Toronto Sun newspapers reported that police were looking into the possibility of a double suicide or murder suicide.

A police source said: "Forensics need to be done and post-mortems on the bodies, but at this stage it appears there was no forced entry and no evidence of anybody else in the house."

Their $5.4 million (4.6m) six-bedroom home had been put up for sale 18 days ago and an estate agent discovered the couple.

The National Post reported that Mr Sherman, who drove a "beat-up old car" and did not fly business class, failed to show up for work last Thursday. This was "an unusual occurrence for the work-obsessed man", according to friends.

Mr Sherman, with a fortune estimated at $3.2bn, was a prominent donor to Justin Trudeau's ruling Liberal Party.

During Canada's 2015 national election campaign, he held a fundraiser at the couple's home, where guests included Mr Trudeau.

The event later became the subject of a probe by Canada's lobbying commissioner as to whether Mr Sherman breached rules against fundraising and lobbying.

Earlier this year, Apotex sought a judicial review in a bid to quash the investigation, which the company called an "unanchored fishing expedition".

Mr Sherman was also involved in a series of lawsuits, including a decade-long battle with cousins seeking compensation over allegations he cut them out of the company that made him rich.

A judge dismissed that lawsuit in September, but the cousins reportedly planned to appeal the ruling.

Mr Sherman began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1967, when he bought Empire Laboratories, a company established by Louis Winter, his uncle.

In 1974, Mr Sherman founded Apotex, now the world's seventh-largest drugmaker that exports more than 300 generic drugs to more than 115 countries. He stepped down as chief executive in 2012, but stayed on as chairman.

"All of us at Apotex are deeply shocked and saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time," the company said in a statement.

Privately held Apotex says it is the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical firm.

Mr Sherman and his wife, who have four children, were known for their philanthropy. He donated tens of millions of dollars to the United Jewish Appeal, and Mrs Sherman was a board member of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

 Telegraph

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian contacts with US President Donald Trump's campaign has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, according to people familiar with Mr Trump's transition organisation.

But the investigators did not directly request the records from Mr Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration (GSA), a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to those familiar with the Trump transition organisation.

The tens of thousands of emails in question pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials. Many of the emails that Mr Mueller's investigators have now include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top government posts, said those familiar with the transition.

On Saturday, Kory Langhofer, general counsel for the transition group, sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing that the GSA had improperly provided the transition records to Mr Mueller's investigators. In the letter to the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and the Senate Homeland Security committees, Mr Langhofer contends that the disclosure by GSA was "unauthorised" and it considers the documents private and privileged and not government property.

Mr Langhofer also said that a GSA official appointed by Mr Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mr Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's lawyers. According to Mr Langhofer, the assurance was made by then-GSA general counsel Richard Beckler, who was in hospital in August and has since died. A copy of the letter was viewed by the Associated Press.

But late on Saturday, another GSA official present for the conversation told Buzzfeed News that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails to Mr Mueller's team. The GSA has provided office space and other aid to presidential transitions in recent years and typically houses electronic transition records in its computer system.

GSA deputy counsel Lenny Loewentritt told Buzzfeed that Mr Beckler did not make a commitment to the transition team that requests from law enforcement for materials would be routed through transition lawyers.

Mr Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the agency would not hold back records from law enforcement. Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on the government servers are subject to monitoring and auditing, he told Buzzfeed, and there is no expectation of privacy.

The documents were provided to Mr Mueller's team by the GSA in September in response to requests from the FBI, but the transition was not informed at the time, according to people familiar with the transition organisation. Officials with Trump for America learned last Wednesday that GSA officials had turned over the cache of emails to Mr Mueller's team.

Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now co-operating with Mr Mueller's investigation. Mr Flynn was fired by Mr Trump in February for misleading senior administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

It is unclear how revelatory the email accounts maintained by the GSA will be for Mr Mueller. Several high-level Trump advisers sometimes used other email accounts to communicate about transition issues between Election Day and the inauguration.

Mr Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, and Mr Flynn's lawyer, Robert Kelner, declined to comment. Jay Sekulow, a lawyer on Mr Trump's personal legal team, referred questions to the transition group. Spokespeople for GSA did not immediately respond to AP's emailed requests for comment.

The media site Axios first reported on the transfer of the emails to Mr Mueller's team.

AP
Guwahati, Dec17 (IBNS): A forest guard died in an attack by a rhino in lower Assams Manas National Park on Sunday morning, officials said.

The incident took place between the Maut Camp and Rhino Camp inside the national park at around 8.30 a.m..

Park field director Hiranaya Sarma said the incident happened while four forest guards came out from their base camp (Rhino camp) for buying food items from a nearest market.

When the forest guard team came out from their base camp, an adult male rhino attacked the group in which a forest guard named Lankeswar Lahkar (53) died on spot. Later postmortem was conducted. The victim was hailed from Tihu area, Sarma said.

Two more forest guards had lost their lives in rhino attacks inside the national park last year.

Under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 programme, a total of 27 rhinos were translocated by the Assam forest department to the 950 sq km national park since 2008, ten were killed by poachers while three had died of natural reasons.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Srinagar, Dec 17 (IBNS): A civilian was killed in Army firing during an ambush in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said on Sunday.

According to reports, 21 RR of Indian army shot dead Asif Iqbal, a driver by profession, during an ambush at Thandipora Kralpora area of Kupwara on late Saturday night.

Police officer told India Blooms that Asif was "mistakenly" killed after forces laid an ambush in the area following intelligence inputs about the movement of militants.

Asif Iqbal was rushed to a nearby hospital for advanced treatment at Kralpora where from he was referred to a Srinagar hospital, but he succumbed on the way.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintend of Police Kupwara Shamsheer Hussain, while confirming the killing, said it was a case of mistaken identity.



(Reporting by Saleem Qadri)
Ahmedabad, Dec 17 (IBNS): A day before the Gujarat Assembly Election result, re-polling is underway at six station in four constituencies of the state.

Fresh voting is being held at two booths each in Viramgam and Savli constituencies and one each in Vadgam and Daskroi constituencies.

The re-polling was announced by the Election Commission on Saturday.

However, the EC did not specify the reason for the re-poll.

The second and last phase of Gujarat poll ended on Thursday.

Poll results will come out on Monday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ruling Gujarat since 1995.
Srinagar, Dec 17 (IBNS): The Indian Army on Sunday said that a driver was killed in cross-fire in Thandipora village district of Kupwara on late Saturday night.

Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said the driver was killed in cross-fire.

He said that the Army laid an ambush in the village late last night after information about the presence of militants in Thindpura village.

"At around 2255 hours, the ambush party observed suspicious movement of three persons near a nallah (drain) in Thindpura village. The individuals were challenged by troops, however, they did not respond," said the spokeserson.

Thereafter, he said, militants opened fire towards the army ambush party, which was retaliated to.

"In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, s/o Mohd Iqbal Bhat, resident of Thindpura was killed due to Gunshot wound. It is learnt that he was a sumo taxi driver," he said.

The spokesperson said that investigations are in progress.

Jammu and Kashmir police has lodged an FIR against the Army and started investigations.

"Kupwara police has lodged an FIR in Police Station Kralpora and investigation has been started. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family," police spokesperson said.

Asif Iqbal Bhat, son of Muhammad Iqbal, was seriously injured after being hit by a bullet in Thandipora in Kralpora area of the district on Saturday night.

"He was shifted to Sub District Hospital Kralpora for treatment where from he was referred to Srinagar Hospital for further treatment where he succumbed to his injuries," said a police spokesperson.

Earlier, SSP Kupwara Shamsher Hussain, said that the killing of the driver was a case of mistaken identity.

The killing has triggered massive clashes in the area with people demanding that a murder case be registered against the Army.

Meanwhile, Independent Legislator Sheikh Rasheed was detained at Kralpora police station after he led a march against the killing of the driver.

Reacting to the killing, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the "poor taxi driver was killed by the Army while taking an ailing patient to a hospital."

"Asif Iqbal a poor taxi driver from Kupwara killed in Cold Blood by Army while taking an Ailing patient to hospital & then labelled as a case of mistaken identity by the killers! How long will R (our) blood be spilled mercilessly with impunity? we r (are) not even allowed toProtest such barbarism!" he tweeted.

Former Chief Minister of state Omar Abdullah lashed out at the government over the killing of poor sumo driver.

"My appeal to government to conduct transparent probe and bring culprits to justice," Omar said in a statement.



(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
Srinagar, Dec 17 (IBNS) Army on Sunday paid homage to one of their young soldiers who lost life in snow fury in Kashmirs frontier sector of Naugam in Kupwara district on Dec 11.

In a press statement to IBNS the Army said in a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen JS Sandhu, Corps Commander, Chinar Corps and all ranks paid homage to the solider.

In a show of solidarity, officials and representatives from other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the deceased soldier.

Late Sepoy Koushal Singh was part of an Operational Team which was serving in the formidable heights along the Line of Control and got swept away during a snow slide along with another soldier.

Concerted efforts of the specially equipped Avalanche Rescue Teams, which have continued despite the inhospitable terrain and weather conditions, have led to the recovery of the body of the soldier after five days.

Koushal Singh was only 19 years old and had donned the uniform in 2016. He hailed from Village Batla Deonia of Samba district in J&K. He is survived by his parents and siblings.

The mortal remains of the soldier were flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be laid to rest with full military honours.

(Reporting by Saleem Qadri)
Chennai, Dec 17 (IBNS) Tamil Nadu's main opposition DMK leader MK Stalin has accused the ruling AIADMK of distributing Rs 100 crore among voters to try to win a byelection in Chennai's RK Nagar, media reports said on Sunday.

In a letter to the Election Commission, Stalin wrote: "Tamil Nadu is witnessing the large-scale distribution of money to the tune of more than Rs 100 crores by the ruling AIADMK party to the voters for the by-election to RK Nagar Assembly Constituency."

The seat was earlier represented by late AIADMK supremo and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Jayalalithaa on Dec 5 last year.

According to media reports, Stalin claimed that AIADMK spent Rs. 6,000 on each voter and took the help of the police to carry out the operation to keep control of the seat.

Stalin has urged the Election Commission to take action against AIADMK candidate E Madhusudhanan.

Earlier in April, the Election Commission had cancelled the by-elections in RK Nagar after cash for vote videos surfaced.
Guwahati, Dec 17 (IBNS): Security forces on Sunday had apprehended two NDFB-S militants in Assams Chirang district, officials said.

Chirang district Superintendent of Police (SP) Shankar Raimedhi said that on the basis of intelligence input about movement of NDFB-S militants at Sishubari in Manas forest area under Amguri police station, Chirang police had launched a search operation.

"When security personnel had reached the area two suspects had tried to flee from the area and they were apprehended after police chasing them," the top police cop said.

Security personnel had recovered one 7.62 mm SLR rifle, one magazine, 6 rounds live ammunition and one No. 36 HE Hand Grenade from their possession.

The nabbed militants were identified as Khagen Basumtary alias B. Kharsang (26) and Ashok Narzary alias N. And (24).

"Both are 42nd Batch Myanmar trained cadre of NDFB-S and were inducted into Chirang dist few days back from Taka Camp, Myanmar," Chirang SP said.



(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Guwahati, Dec 17 (IBNS): The troops of Assam Rifles on Saturday night had apprehended an illegal arms dealer in Nagaland, officials said.

Officiating PRO, HQ IGAR (N) Lt Col Angshuman Chakrabarti said that based on intelligence input, Mokokchung Batallion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) had launched an operation in general area Tuli along with police representative a person named T R Temjen.

Security personnel had recovered one Chinese grenade and 40 cases of IMFL worth approximately Rs 1.20 lakh.

Later, the apprehendee along with the recovery items were handed over to Tuli police station.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
The governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded about $6 million to three School of Medicine researchers on Nov. 30. One award is meant to support translational research that has already shown early stage promise; the other two are smaller, proof-of-principle grants meant to allow researchers to test potentially important ideas in the stem cell field at the earliest stages of discovery.

Anthony Oro, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology, received $5.6 million to support his work in developing new treatments for children with a blistering skin disease. The award will be used to develop technologies necessary to scale up production of a patients own genetically corrected induced pluripotent stem cells to clinically useful levels.

Our team will work with the newly formed Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine and the Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine to develop a clinically robust and widely available treatment, Oro said. We hope our efforts will also facilitate other normal and genetically corrected tissue replacement therapies that the center aims to develop at Stanford.

Two other faculty members  assistant professor of medicine Guillem Pratx, PhD, and professor of genetics Hiromitsu Nakauchi, MD  received about $235,000 each as part of the agencys Discovery Inception grant program. Pratx will use the award to develop a sensitive and noninvasive way to track the movement and location of stem cells injected into the body, and Nakauchi is working to develop novel ways to grow blood stem cells outside the body for study and transplantation.

Exploring and testing new ideas increases the chances of finding treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. Without [the institutes] support many of these projects might never get off the ground, said Maria Millan, MD, president and CEO of the institute, in a statement. Thats why our ability to fund research, particularly at the earliest stage, is so important to the field as a whole.

In total, the agency awarded about $16.4 million at the meeting to support 17 projects.
Guwahati, Dec 17 (IBNS) : Hailing from a poverty-stricken family of lower Assams Dhubri district along Indo-Bangladesh border, Momina Khatun, who was allegedly abducted 25 years ago, has been found in Pakistan through social media.

The family members of Momina had reported her missing cases at Golakganj police station but didnt find any clue about her whereabouts.

Later the family members were informed that Momina was abducted by human traffickers.

Finally Momina was traced about her whereabouts and the family members were informed that she is now staying in Pakistan and became a mother of three children.

Recently, Mominas younger child 15-year old Sufiyan had contacted with the family members of the lady in Golakganj through Facebook and said his mother wants to come back in India.

Momina Khatun is now a Pakistan national and she was sold by a person in Pakistan 25 years back, a local villager of Golakganj said.

Now the question raised whether the Union government will take any initiative to provide visa and other required documents to Momina and her children to come back to her native land and meet family members.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Quetta, Dec 17 (IBNS): At least nine people were killed in a deadly suicide bomb and gun attack on a church in Pakistan on Sunday, media reports said.

The attack on the Methodist Bethel Memorial Church in Quetta, about 65 km from Afghanistan border, also left over 50 others injured, said Pakistan media reports.

A spokesperson at Civil Hospital, Dr Waseem Baig, told Geo News that nine of the wounded are in critical condition.

Map: https://annatopia.wordpress.com/2006/04/13/on-afghanistan/

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti told Geo News that two suicide bombers stormed the church, one of whom was shot dead at the entrance. The other suicide bomber blew himself up outside the church hall.

"The terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. The police and FC guards present stopped this from happening," said Bugti.

He tweeted: "By the grace of Almighty, 02 Suicide Bombers stopped on entrance of Church in #Quetta. LEAs took 16 mins to complete the op. CCPO & DC #Quetta along with IG Police #Balochistan lead the operation from forefront."

"God Forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," he said.

By the grace of Almighty, 02 Suicide Bombers stopped on entrance of Church in #Quetta. LEAs took 16 mins to complete the op. CCPO & DC #Quetta along with IG Police #Balochistan lead the operation from forefront.  Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) December 17, 2017

Quetta DIG Abdul Razzaq Cheema said two terrorists were on the run after the attack and a search operation was under way, reported Geo News.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the official spokesperson of Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted: Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations / create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts
Just a few days after it declined India's request for consular access to former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan has said it is processing the visa applications of his mother and wife.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed," tweeted Dr Mohammad Faisal, the spokesperson of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Earlier, in December, it was reported that the neighbouring country had allowed Jadhav's mother and wife permission to meet him on December 25, in the presence of an official of the Indian high commission.

However, it is yet to respond to New Delhi's request for a sovereign guarantee to ensure their safety and security during their stay in Pakistan.

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"We have sought a sovereign guarantee from the government of Pakistan to ensure the safety and security of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother. Also, during their stay in Pakistan, they should not be questioned or harassed," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said.
Close to 2,000 assistant teachers in government primary schools across Uttar Pradesh, who secured jobs under the disabled quota, are now under the scanner of education department for submitting "fake" certificates during the hiring process.

State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) recently found that the documents submitted by 1,932 teachers are "suspicious". Now, all of them have been asked to present themselves before SCERT committee with all their documents for verification.

According to sources, the applicants submitted fake handicap certificates to join the basic education department as assistant teachers. Due to them, several disabled persons who deserved the job lost the opportunity to become teachers.

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The scrutiny process by the SCERT was started after an order of the high court, which asked it to find out government teachers who got jobs on the basis of fake certificates. Following the HC instruction, SCERT found 1,932 suspicious recruitment under the handicapped reservation provision.

Now, SCERT has started examining original documents of each teacher. It is also conducting their physical test to verify their eligibility. So far, verification of 1,121 teachers has been completed while the remaining 811 are yet to be examined. As of now, 234 teachers have been declared guilty.

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All the BSAs in UP have been asked to make a list of teachers in their respective districts who have not presented themselves before the committee for verification. "We have got the instruction to prepare a list of teachers who have joined the service under disabled quota. We have informed all the blocks to compile a report of these teachers," Agra BSA Archna Gupta told TOI.
The Indian Army is all prepared to handle any situation in the Doklam sector. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Abhay Krishna said that any mischief in the area will be dealt with in a proper way. He was asked about China reportedly stationing its troops in Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a stand-off for over two months earlier this year after the Chinese army tried to build a road in the area claimed by Indian-ally Bhutan. Read More

Here are the top news of the day:

1) Interpol Turns Down NIA Request For Red Corner Notice Against Controversial Preacher Zakir Naik

Interpol has turned down National Investigation Agency's (NIA) request for a red-corner notice against controversial televangelist Zakir Naik, citing the ground that no chargesheet was filed against the accused at the time of submission of the request. Read More

2) Not Just Cars, Saudi Women Will Also Be Allowed To Ride Motorcycles And Trucks!

Seems like Saudi Arabia is swiftly moving towards giving its women the rights they needed for a long time. Three months after the kingdom announced a historic decision to end a ban on women driving, it said women will be able to drive trucks and motorcycles. Read More

3) Over 53,000 Disabled, Elderly And Widows In Uttarakhand Lose Pension For Lack Of Aadhaar Card

Neero Devi lays out two crisp Rs 500 notes on the floor of her one-room house in Rajawala village, 20km from Dehradun city. "This is all I have to last us for the month," says the 62-year-old widow as she puts the sum, her monthly pension from the government, back in her tattered purse. Read More

4) Pakistan's ISI Tried To Honeytrap Three Indian Officials In Islamabad, Authorities Foil Bid

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) set up a honeytrap for three officials of the Indian high commission in Islamabad to extract sensitive information from them, TOI has learned. The officials, whose names are being withheld because investigations are still on, were recalled from Pakistan earlier this week after they revealed the ISI plot and are currently being questioned. Read More

5) In A Case Of Honour Killing, 17-Year-Old Girl Tied To Bed, Shot, Burnt In Rajasthan

In a case of honour killing, a 17-year-old girl, studying in Class XII, was shot dead and burnt allegedly by her father and other relatives at Samrathpura village in Dholpur district of the state. Read More
This is not we wanted to see before a wonderful festival that we all have celebrated for years. This is about Christmas and a Hindu Right-wing group that has threatened against celebrating it. Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) has issued a warning to Christian schools in Aligarh to not celebrate Christmas in institutions where Hindu students are in majority, claiming that it is a step towards "forced conversions".

Talking to TOI, HJM city president of Sonu Savita claimed that Hindu students studying in Christian schools are "being asked to bring toys, gifts and celebrate Christmas". He claimed that "this was an easy way to lure them to Christianity".

"We are in talks with the parents' organisations too. We'll appeal them to oppose these activities," Savita said, adding that the Manch will be issuing letters to all Christian schools on Monday to refrain from such celebrations.

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"If the schools fail to follow our directives, we will stage protest outside these institutions," HJM state secretary Sanju Bajaj said.

SN Singh, director of Aligarh's Ingraham Institute, said, "No school forces any student to celebrate any particular festival." He said the HJM's demand is unprecedented and "strange". He added if they receive any directions from them, they will approach the local administration and ask for police protection during the festival.

bccl/representational image

Advocate Osmand Charles, a prominent Christian resident of the city, said, "The statement of HJM has come as a shock for Christians in Aligarh. There is also a fear among the members of the community, as same kind of aggressive posturing was done by the right-wing organisations during their ghar wapsi programme, spreading insecurity among the minorities."

He said, "We are shocked after the incident in Satna where a priest was arrested, a carol singing group was detained and their car was burnt. Now, our boys are also hesitant to go out for carol singing."

ap/representational image

Aligarh district magistrate Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashoda said he was not aware of such warning issued by the Manch. He said, "We will not allow such kind of activities and take action against those who try to disrupt celebrations."

Aligarh SSP Rajesh Pandey said, "We have not received any complaint but appropriate action will be taken once we do."
A few Army regimental centres have taken to publicly destroying mobile phones of recruits if they are caught using them in violation of rules to send a stern message down the ranks that indiscipline will not be tolerated during training programmes.

This unusual measure to enforce discipline at some regimental centers, where recruits undergo 11 to 12 months of training to become soldiers, has come to the fore after a video of such an incident went viral a couple of days ago.

Also Read: The Government Has Named 42 Apps "Chinese Spyware", Including Big Names Like TrueCaller

The video, which was even uploaded on the China Global Television Network website on Friday to depict the Indian Army in a bad light, shows the mobile phones of around 50 recruits being smashed to smithereens with rocks and stones in front of them at the Mahar Regimental Centre at Saugor in Madhya Pradesh.

TOI

Justifying the disciplinary action, which was taken three to four times more since the video in question was filmed in September 2015, Army officers said "such unusual measures" are taken if recruits repeatedly disobey orders that no mobile phones are permitted during physical training, drill and weapon-training classes.

"The Army is all about discipline, which is critical in the face of enemy. Recruits cannot flout discipline with impunity. The recruits are usually let off with a warning at first. Their phones are confiscated for some days if they continue to disobey orders," said a senior officer.

"But if all this does not work, then their phones are destroyed as a clear message to them. The Army trains its soldiers for war. If they are allowed the latitude to disobey in peace, they could do the same during war," he added

BCCL/representational image

The recruits at the Mahar Regimental Centre have to deposit their mobile phones with their "platoon havaldars" and take them for use as and when required. "The centre has also set up several STD phones for recruits who want to contact their families," said another officer.

Enforcing discipline over the unauthorised use of mobile phones along forward areas or sensitive establishments is a cause of concern for the Army. A soldier, Naik Kathiresan of 19 Madras, for instance, had shot dead a young officer, Major Shikar Thapa, after he was scolded for using a mobile phone during guard duty in a forward post near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in July.

BCCL/representational image

As a general rule, the Army does not allow "smartphones with cameras" in many of its establishments and units around the country. The armed forces also regularly issue instructions to ensure all personnel maintain cyber security in light of mounting espionage attempts through malicious software to steal data from smartphones as well as computers.

Troops posted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China were also recently asked to delete a number of mobile applications like WeChat, Truecaller, Weibo, UC Browser and UC News from their phones or reformat them to guard against online espionage attempts from across the border.
The Indian Army is all prepared to handle any situation in the Doklam sector. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Abhay Krishna said that any mischief in the area will be dealt with in a proper way. He was asked about China reportedly stationing its troops in Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a stand-off for over two months earlier this year after the Chinese army tried to build a road in the area claimed by Indian-ally Bhutan.

India feared that the road, if completed, would allow China to cut off its access to its North Eastern states. The standoff ended in September after the two countries mutually agreed to withdraw their troops from the area.

ALSO READ: Govt Rubbishes Reports Of China Building Road Near Disputed Doklam Site

Stating that he would not name anyone specifically, Lt Gen Krishna said the Indian Army is in high spirits and ready to take on any mischief.

"We are totally prepared, geared up; let anybody do any mischief and he will get it back nice and proper," he told reporters.

ALSO READ: Army Gets Ready To Push Back Chinese Troops If They Again Create A Situation Like Doklam

Lt Gen Krishna was speaking at the Eastern Command headquarter at Fort William in Kolkata after a wreath-laying ceremony on 'Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971, which led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

The road-building effort by China and the presence of its troops at the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan had led to an eyeball-to-eyeball face-off between New Delhi and Beijing for 73 days from June 16.

Reports have said that China still has troops stationed a few hundred metres from the tri-junction in Doklam sector. Asked if the reports were verified, Lt Gen Krishna said a lot has been stated about them and he has nothing more to add.

"The Indian Army is always in very high spirits, we are always ready to take on any mischief by anybody. I am not going to name anybody specifically.

"Territorial integrity is ingrained in our blood and for that, we will go to any extent to ensure the territorial integrity," he said. Asked if India was prepared for a two-front war, Lt Gen Krishna said the country was "undoubtedly" ready for any eventuality.
An aircraft can cover a longer distance in lesser time than a ship can. So it comes as no surprise that Navies of the world increasingly rely on fixed and rotary wing machines for fighting wars at sea. Indian Navy is no different. In fact it's the only Asian navy to continually field an aircraft carrier for the past 50 years.

Now, the aviation arm of the Indian Navy is getting another boost. The Indian Navy is looking to double its aircraft fleet in the coming decade to nearly 500, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba said today.

"We have a naval air wing, which has 238 aircraft at the moment. It has a combination of fighters, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, both-long range and short range. And we have a plan in place...in a decade's time this Naval air wing will grow to close to 500 aircraft of different types," Lanba said at a press conference.

Lanba reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy here.

ap

Replying to a query on the issue of Sabi Giri, an Indian Navy sailor, who was discharged from service for undergoing a sex change surgery, the naval chief said the force cannot take her into direct employment, but is willing to accept her if she comes through any agency as a contract staff.

Defending the termination of the sailor's employment, Lanba said the Navy is a gender-neutral service but Giri's actions violated the rules.

"Specifically to the issue of Giri, he was inducted as male in the Navy. And there is no provision in the Navy or in the rules and regulation where you can go and do what he has gone and done. That's why he has been dismissed from the service for violating the rules and regulations.

bccl

"We told the court that we cannot do that (take her into employment). And we have told the court that if a private party is willing to employ her, come as a contract worker in the Navy (as an employee of the private party, not as Navy's direct employee)," he explained.

"We are a gender-neutral service. We make no distinctions based on gender. We induct both men and women. They both have rigorous training and same rules and regulations are followed," he added.

bccl

The Navy chief said the defence wing is committed to the government's 'Make in India' programme and currently as many as 34 ships and submarines are under construction in Indian shipyards.

Meanwhile, Air Force Academy said, in a statement, at that 105 flight cadets passed out today as Flying Officers, including 15 women officers. The officers include two fighter pilots, it said.
North Korea dictator seems to have found his own set of followers in India. A local unit of CPI (M) has used his photo for a party gathering. This gave a chance to BJP spokeperson Sambit Patra started his day on a quirky note. Patra tweeted a CPI-M poster spotted somewhere- that has a picture of North Korean depot Kim Jong-Un on it. The poster showed ruling CPM colours prompting Patra to lash out at the party.

According to reports, local CPM leadership has passed the buck to the organisers of the event.

Kim Jong-un finds a place in CPMs posters in Kerala!! No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents! Hope the left is not planning to launch :rocket: missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda! (sic) he tweeted on Sunday.

Kim Jong-un finds place in CPMs posters in Kerala!!

No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents!

Hope the left is not planning to launch  missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda! pic.twitter.com/6LHf1dVtAy  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) December 17, 2017

BJP has alleged that as many as 120 BJP workers, 84 in Kannur alone, have been killed in Kerala since 2001.

Meanwhile, are reacting with shock on the internet.

Shocking! Is it even real!

The new 'poster hero' in Kerala for CPIM -North Korea's Kim jong un? https://t.co/n8dHz4bK2c  Dr. S. Raghavachari (@DrSRaghavachari) December 17, 2017
Niger has succeeded in mobilizing several billions to finance its economic and social economic plan after donors pledged $23 billion, a sum over exceeding the sub-Saharan countrys target of $17 billion.

The Rennaissance du Niger conference held in Paris on Thursday was meant to gather $17 billion necessary for the implementation of the countrys Economic and Social Development Program (PDES) for the next for year (2017-2021).

Niger got more than expected, a total of $23 billion pledged by donors including multi-bilateral and bilateral partners.

The World Bank heads the string of pledges with a total of $2.5 billion. The African Development Bank (AfdB) follows with $1.2-billion pledge. The European Union also promised to support the program with 1 billion.

Other major pledges include $200 million from the Saudi Fund, $100 million from the OPEC fund and $75 million from the Kuwait Fund.

The Community of Saharan countries, CEN-SAD pledged 152 million while regional development financing institution, BIDC promised to lay down $200 million.

Niger can also rely on its bilateral partners among whom France, Denmark and Italy.

Paris through the voice of its Ambassador in Niamey promised 400 million with 335 million to be channeled through its Development agency, AFD.

The Danish government will support with 65.5 million while Italys future contribution is expected to reach 100 million.

The Nigerien government also received pledges from interna-tional firms, which are eager to inject $10.3 billion in several economic sectors to include agriculture, transport, mining and energy.

Supported by the UNDP, Niger over the 2017-2018 period could reach a 5.2 % economic growth.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has commence the work to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfil critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

The air-launched variant of the BrahMos, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test fired from a Sukhoi-30 combat jet on November 22, marking a major milestone to enhance the precision strike capability of the air force.

twitter/youth congress

Official sources, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the work to integrate the BrahMos missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft has begun. A timeline for the project is being set.

The project is expected to be complete by 2020.

The fleet of 40 Sukhoi jet will undergo structural modifications at the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for integration of the missile on them.

The 2.5-ton missile flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8 and has a range of 290 km.

bccl

The range of the missile, an Indo-Russia joint venture, can be extended up to 400 km as certain technical restrictions were lifted after India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) last year.

BrahMos missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Su-30 fighter aircraft.
Ahead of Christmas, armed terrorists today attacked a Catholic church, killing at least four people and injuring 20 in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, media reports said.

The attack targeted the church where prayers of Christian community were being held, the Express Tribune newspaper reported quoting Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.

A loud explosion and gunshots were heard, it said.

afp

The paper said that at least two people were killed.

According to eyewitnesses, a number of people have sustained injuries.

reuters

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

reuters

Citing the police, Geo News reported that an exchange of fire is ongoing between terrorists and security personnel. The media personnel have been directed to stay away from the site.
We all love babies for their cuteness but hate their stinky diapers, when they cry and shout and become impossible to handle. What if you can get the cuteness minus all the problems?

A Spanish company has come to your rescue, at a trade fair in Bilbao, northern Spain, they showcased "Reborn Babies".

One doll that looked exactly like a human baby was for almost 600 euros ($670), was made with special technology. It appeared that the doll could breathe or suck on a pacifier.

The company also makes baby chimpanzees, tiny mermaids and infants with elf-style pointed ears.
The Irish Air Line Pilots Association, part of Impact trade union, had insisted on a meeting before calling off the strike by its pilot members in Ryanair in order to clarify issues and make progress.

However, Ryanair said in a statement: The Impact union promised to call off the strike if Ryanair conceded recognition. Theyve gotten our offer of recognition in writing and were happy to meet them next week, which itself is the first act in recognising Ialpa.

The sensible course of action is for Ialpa to meet with Ryanair next Wednesday, but call off the unnecessary threats of disruption to the Christmas flights of thousands of customers.

There was widespread surprise that a company so vehemently opposed to unions would issue a statement yesterday morning in which it said it had written to the pilot unions in Ireland, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal inviting each of them to talks to recognise these unions as the representative body for pilots in Ryanair in each of these countries.

It did add the proviso that it would require unions to establish committees of Ryanair pilots to deal with Ryanair issues, as Ryanair will not engage with pilots who fly for competitor airlines in Ireland or elsewhere.

Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary said the airline wanted to remove any worry or concern that they may be disrupted by pilot industrial action next week.

If the best way to achieve this is to talk to our pilots through a recognised union process, then we are prepared to do so, he said, adding that recognising unions will be a significant change for Ryanair.

Mr OLeary said management will now deal with our pilots through recognised national union structures and we hope and expect that these structures can and will be agreed with our pilots early in the new year.

Impact trade union, through the Ialpa, represents those pilots directly employed by the airline who were threatening to strike next Wednesday.

On the back of the correspondence from Ryanair, it insisted an immediate meeting between management and the union was now necessary.

Impact has indicated its availability to meet with Ryanair management today  or at any time over the coming weekend  to discuss these matters, it said, just hours before Ryanair confirmed its determination that there would be no meeting before Wednesday.

Yesterday, Ryanairs shares dived by more than 7.5%, meaning 1.5bn was instantly wiped from the airlines value  as investors tried to get to grip on the costs implications for Ryanair.

However, in the context of Ryanair still being valued at around 18bn even after yesterdays shares plunge, the effects may be limited, according to Brian Lucey of Trinity College Dublin.
Spouses of H-1B visa holders may no longer be able to obtain work permits if a change proposed by the Trump administration takes effect next year as planned.

The change was outlined on Thursday and is intended to be introduced in 2018, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

Spouses and children of foreign H-1B visa holders are issued H4 visas. A rule brought in during the Obama presidency in 2015 made it possible for spouses, mostly women, to obtain work permits.

Prior to this, these foreigners were not allowed to work or obtain a Social Security number. Since the rule was modified, a total of 41,526 people have been given work permits, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Obama changes are being challenged in court right now as an overstepping of executive authority.

Since the election of Donald Trump a year ago, the US has been clamping down on H-1B visas which are used to bring in about 85,000 people a year to work in the country. Many of them are Indians who work in the technology industry.

In October, the government issued new guidelines making it tougher for existing H-1B holders to renew their visas, specifying that they would have to go through the same process for renewal as they did to first obtain the visa.

The number of applicants for H-1B visas fell this year for the first time in four years. In April, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services received 199,000 applications, compared to 236,000 received in 2016.

Another new stricture on H-1B visas, is that computer programmers would not be presumed to be eligible for an H-1B visa. Rather, details of qualifications need to be supplied so that it could be determined whether the individual is fit to do the specialised task for which the visa is sought.

This guidance means that H-1B visas will go to very high-skilled and higher-paid professionals, with low- and mid-level jobs presumably to go to American workers instead.
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, will not greenlight Moroccos membership at Abuja summit this Saturday, postponing the announcement to early next year during an extraordinary summit.

Heads of the States of the regional economic grouping are holding this Saturday their 52nd summit that was moved from Lome to Abuja because of the Turmoil in Togo.

Early in June, the leaders at a meeting in the Liberian capital agreed in principle to allow the North African country to join the block after Rabat made the request.

The kingdom has ratified all protocols but leaders of the 15-member regional organization have not yet stamped Moroc-cos integration officially.

The Abuja meeting did not inscribe Moroccos membership bid on the agenda due to pressing regional issues and demand by the heads of state to get much time to go through the impact report of Moroccos future membership.

The political crisis in Togo, the much delayed electoral process in Liberia and the political situation in Guinea Bissau and sev-eral pressing issues will be the gist of discussions at the Abuja meeting.

On the other hand, the leaders requested much time to study an 80-page report on the impact of the kingdoms member-ship. The report requested by the heads of states in Monrovia was only handed to the leaders on December 7.

Both sides, Morocco and the organization, reportedly agreed to postpone the membership ceremony to an extraordinary summit to take place early next year.

A source knowledgeable of Moroccos bid under condition of anonymity told Moroccan Le360.ma that the report is largely in favor of the kingdom.

The source noted that Morocco will contribute to peace and security and will help attract foreign investments in the re-gion.

The experts according to the source also note that the king-dom is not an alien to the region as it stands out as the sec-ond economic partner of the region, right behind continent gi-ant, South Africa.
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The Watchers |  

The Thomas Fire in California is burning for the 13th day in a row and has now grown to 259 000 acres (104 813 ha), making it the third largest wildfire in the history of California. As of December 16, the fire is only 40% contained and is still growing. One firefighter has lost its life.

Since the fire started on December 4, a total of 95 000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. New evacuations were ordered Saturday, December 16, as wind gusts up to 105 km/h (65 mph) brought it toward Montecito, the wealthiest community in Santa Barbara County, Summerland, and a portion of Santa Barbara City.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff has issued [evacuation orders]. . .

A complete list of evacuations and road closures may be found at: http://www.countyofsb.org/ and http://www.readyventuracounty.org/

Authorities remind the public to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. "Please continue to adhere to road closures and evacuation orders. Drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel in the area," the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office said.

As of early December 16, the Thomas Fire has grown to 259 000 acres (104 813 ha), making it the 3rd largest wildfire in the history of California. The only fires larger than this one were the Cedar Fire in 2013 at 273 246 acres (110 578 ha) and the Rush Fire in 2012 at 271 911 acres (110 083 ha).

So far, the fire has destroyed 746 single family residences, 2 multiple residences, 2 mixed commercial/residential, 17 commercial structures and 242 other minor structures. 185 single family residences were damaged, 2 mixed commercial/residential and 42 other minor structures. 18 000 structures are still threatened.

A total of 8 370 firefighters are battling the blaze, 973 engines, 92 water tenders, 32 helicopters, 161 hand crews and 77 dozers. Firefighting costs have surpassed 100 million USD.

One firefighter (32) has died on Thursday, December 14 from burns and smoke inhalation.

For a larger image, click here.

Thomas Fire from space on December 16, 2017. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS.

Firefighters in Santa Barbara County will continue constructing direct fireline where possible with support from air resources, working to tie into the Tea Fire and Jesusita Fire footprints, authorities said Saturday.

Crews will remain engaged in structure defense operations. The threat to the communities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Summerland and Montecito will continue.

In the eastern Ventura County, firefighters will improve the fireline that has been established to keep the fire out of the outlying areas of Fillmore. Indirect line extending north from Fillmore will continue, in preparation for future firing operations. To the north, fire spread within the areas of Bear Haven and the Day Fire will be closely monitored.

Fireline construction north of Camino Cielo connecting to the lighter fuels of the Zaca Fire footprint will continue. Fire growth to the west, north, and east will continue where lines have not been established.

On the north side of the fire, direct line construction and firing operations will continue in Rose Valley.

North to northeast winds, gusting between 40  65 km/h (25  40 mph), developed last night and this morning. With the northerly winds, relative humidity recovery was limited.

By this afternoon, the northerly winds will diminish but are expected to increase yet again late this afternoon and evening. Relative humidity will drop into the single digits and low teens once again.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the Santa Barbara zone.

Via The Watchers

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

CGTN: California wildfire becomes states 3rd-largest, more evacuate
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Puerto Ricos governor, Ricardo Rossello Nevares, sent a letter to all the members of Congress yesterday, begging on bended knee for a supplemental disaster aid appropriation.

That he had to write this letter is a profound embarrassment to the United States, since he had to remind the federal legislators that the 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico are US *citizens*.

No governor, he said, should be in the position of having to negate hope after a catastrophic disaster, owing to the inaction of Congress.

He pointed out that American citizens living in Puerto Rico have been struck this year by two of the most catastrophic hurricanes in the modern history of the Island.

Some 150,000 Puerto Ricans have been forced to leave the islands for the mainland because of lack of basic services like electricity and potable water, or 4.4% of the population!

Only 64% of the electricity has been restored, and clean water is also still not available to everyone.

But here is the kicker. Not only is it doubtful that Puerto Ricans will get the aid they deserve as Americans, but the tax bill the Republican Plutocrats are in the process of passing screws them over big time.

The bill treats American firms investing in and operating in Puerto Rico as though they are in a foreign country.

Euronews reports,

Rossello said the compromise bill includes a 12.5 percent tax on intangible assets of U.S. companies, such as a pharmaceutical patent produced in Puerto Rico, and a minimum of a 10 percent tax on companies profits abroad. They are treating Puerto Rico as a foreign jurisdiction so they are levying a full tax, he said.

Puerto Ricos problems come in some part from congressional tax policy. The islands lost their favorable tax status in the 1990s with the contract on America GOP congress, and also suffer from lack of favorable treatment in shipping tariffs.

I fear there is only one explanation for why Puerto Ricans, who are US citizens, are being treated this way by the Republican Party. It is that the GOP is latently white supremacist and that colors how they see such matters.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Al Jazeera English: Puerto Ricans frustrated over lack of aid
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By Moritz Pieper | (The Conversation) |  

Standing on the Russian military airbase at Khmeimim on his December visit to Syria, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will withdraw the bulk of its forces from Syria following the successful intervention in Syrias armed conflict.

This is Putins second withdrawal announcement within two years. And just like the first, in March 2016, this one is unlikely to lead to a genuine military pull-out.

Far from a genuine withdrawal, the first surprise announcement was followed by a reshuffling of Russias air contingent. It represented a draw-down of the air contingent at Latakia and a replacement of some of Russias tactical aviation with combat helicopters. But the 2016 announcement was also a diplomatic manoeuvre.

First of all, it was a public warning to Assad that Russia was not going to reconquer all of Syria for him, a nudge that Moscow had entered the war to help Assads troops get back on the offensive and reconquer territory themselves. As far as Putins domestic audience went, the mooted withdrawal reframed Russias military intervention as a victory. But it also reminded Assad just how much he depends on the Kremlins help  a reliance that endures to this day, virtually guaranteeing Russia a seat at the table for any international negotiations over Syrias future.

No surprise then that, on a secret visit to Sochi in November 2017, Assad expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Syrian people to you, Mr President, for our joint success in defending Syrias territorial integrity and independence and to those institutions of the Russian state that provided assistance  primarily, the Russian Defence Ministry that has supported us throughout this operation.

Without Russian air support, Assads forces could not have secured the recapture of Aleppo in December 2016 or declared victory over the so-called Islamic State in early November 2017. Assad knows that he owes his survival to the Kremlin.

Taking the lead

Russias diplomatic heft made a decisive difference too. Whereas the International Syria Support Groups UN-brokered peace talks stalled, Russia organised talks to negotiate a ceasefire in Syria together with Iran and Turkey. The trilateral talks were convened in Moscow in December 2016, paving the way for talks in Astana, Kazakhstan in early 2017 and the creation of de-escalation zones in the summer of 2017.

With the Astana process, Turkey, Iran, and Russia have effectively sidelined the Geneva peace talks on the future of Syria and, by the same token, the major Western powers. Western initiatives on the future of Syria are conspicuously absent. A joint Trump-Putin statement on Syria of November 11 2017 only reiterates the unsurprising talking point that there can be no military solution to the Syrian conflict.

The Astana group met again in Sochi in November to discuss a post-conflict political settlement for Syria. It was also in Sochi that Putin announced that Russias military operation in Syria would near its end. Russia remains the unofficial leader of this trilateral format  and Putins second withdrawal announcement, just like the first one in March 2016, is a sign of political leverage in Syrias post-conflict scenario planning.

At the same time, the pull-out order also has domestic priorities in mind.

Playing to the crowd

With Putin recently confirming he will run for re-election in March 2018, the Kremlin is sending a soothing public signal to give the impression that the Syrian venture was a temporary and surgical operation, terminated in an orderly manner. But based on other information that is emerging, an impression is all it is.

A recent AP report suggests that Russian private contractors have fought alongside the regular army accountable to the Ministry of Defence. The practice of using mercenaries in conflict situation has been common practice on the part of the US government in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is also reminiscent of the Russian volunteer soldiers supposedly on vacation who fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

These methods help to keep the official death toll low in both Ukraine and Syria, easing the pressure of Russian public opinion while ensuring that Russias presence in Syria will outlast the regular armys exit.

Securing oil and gas fields recaptured from Islamic State militias could be their longer-term purpose. And in addition, Putin stated that Moscow will continue to operate the Khmeimim airbase as well as its naval base in Tartus, making it fairly easy to reactivate Russian aircraft depending on military and political circumstances.

So on the face of it, the Kremlin conveys a message of managed retreat by declaring mission accomplished as Putin has ordered a military pull-out of Russian troops from Syria. But Russias post-conflict position in the country is bolstered politically and militarily more than ever. Whatever the future of Syria will look like, Russia is there to stay.

Moritz Pieper, Lecturer in International Relations, University of Salford

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Russias Putin visits Syria airbase and orders start of pullout  BBC News
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The complaint was constipation. In the exam room, a quiet girl stood in a too big johnny, her eyes staring down at the floor. The 13-year-old was here with her aunt. Like over 50,000 children before her, shed made the fifteen hundred mile plus journey from El Salvador to escape the violence of government and gang fighting, perhaps not knowing Mara Salvatrucha and the other gangs hung out only a few blocks away from the health center.

Her heart and lungs sounded fine, and her abdomen was soft with good bowel sounds. An inspection of her backside revealed sheets of condyloma cascading over her perineum and obstructing her rectum. In the cramped room with the community health worker we discussed additional testing, the need for referrals to the hospital, and future follow up. The rape and abuse of this child and these children as they make their perilous journey to a better life was just an unspoken given to be addressed in time. I could feel my cell phone vibrate in my white coat as I washed my hands and walked back to my computer.

I clicked on her medical record as I glanced at my wifes daily reminders and queries: Who in my family was coming to Christmas dinner, could I pick up the appetizers I wanted, and had I talked to our daughter about harassment and personal boundaries, the current topic of our progressive society. I slipped the phone back into my pocket. I typed out referrals to pediatric/general Surgery and pediatric infectious disease and sent them into the cloud of seamless care. I called upstairs to our pediatric department the old-fashioned way and plugged her in for a new patient appointment.

As I typed my note, I thought about what family meant to those who had the strength and courage to leave everything they know behind for the dream of something better. I thought about boundaries: intimate, personal, work, government and how they could mean everything or nothing depending on who held the power. And I thought about stuffed mushroom caps and hot artichoke dip and visions of sugar plums.

In the bipolar world we navigate daily, thankfulness is our lifeline. This year (and every day) Im thankful for the community health workers who will do more for my patients and this young girl as they guide her through the complexities of the health care system than I ever will. Im thankful for the MAs, nurses, techs, administrative staff and physicians on the other end of my clicks who will coordinate, care and support her through her journey of treatment and recovery.

And Im thankful for a hospital president who despite every economic driver, political incentive and government cutback to stop, continues to put community and compassion in our mission.

Jeffrey Collins is an urgent care physician and chief medical officer, MD Now.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
CASE NO: 2639

ADJUDICATION BY THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS COUNCIL ON THE COMPLAINT OF TANYA TOAILOA AGAINST KIWIBLOG

FINDING: NOT UPHELD WITH DISSENT 8:1

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE DECEMBER 18, 2017

Overview

On 8 November 2017 the online commentary site Kiwiblog published a contribution by David Garrett headed Guest Post: Pasifika is Bollocks. The post was made after the recent Tongan/Samoan rugby match and the associated public disturbances including fighting between Tongans and Samoans, as reported in the media. Among other points made, the guest post stated Samoans and Tongans hate each other with a vengeance. It also claimed the recent events described above disproved the implications of the term Pasifika, i.e. that underneath cultural differences, Pacific Islands people are all one big happy family.

The Complaint

Tanya Toailoa says the guest post is inflammatory, racist and irresponsible. She notes that assertions made by the piece are factually wrong i.e. that all Samoans and Tongans hate each other; and that they all are aware of historical reasons for Tongan/Samoan enmity. She does not accept that the article is acceptable, is fair comment or just an opinion. She wants the article removed from the site. The complainant cites two Press Council Principles: Comment and Fact; Discrimination and Diversity.

The Response

David Farrar, editor of Kiwiblog, says that from time to time he publishes guest posts offering a variety of points of view. This does not mean he, as editor, agrees with all the opinions expressed, as in this case.

He responds that in relation to Principle 4, Mr Garretts article is clearly an opinion piece, and that no reasonable person could regard his assertions as factual. Principle 7 provides that race is a legitimate subject for discussion where relevant, and the context of the piece was extensive media coverage of Tongan/Samoan disturbances.

Mr Farrar says his offer of a right of reply to the complainant was the appropriate response to the complaint; and believes agreeing to the complainants request for removal of the article would have a chilling effect on the ability of publications to allow strong opinions to be expressed.

Discussion and Decision

A search of the Internet reveals that there are traditional stories of past Tongan and Samoan rivalry, and unverified accounts of recent incidents, including some involving rugby matches. Apart from that is hard to find a basis for Mr Garretts surprising claim that Tongans and Samoans hate each other. In fact he contradicts himself by noting you would never know it at pan-pacific gatherings  at least until cocktail hour. Mr Garretts guest post is unpleasant, grossly exaggerated and provocative for many readers and possibly intended to be so. It is not surprising that many people commented online about the guest post, both positively and negatively.

Sporting events worldwide can provide an emotional environment where racial prejudices are revealed and unruly behaviour occurs. The Press Council believes the media are entitled to report these occurrences, and commentators to express their opinions. The complainant certainly has a legitimate contrary opinion to Mr Garrett. She has been given the opportunity to express that in a balancing Kiwiblog opinion piece, but has to date not taken that up.

On Principle 4, Comment and Fact, the Council believes the article is an opinion piece and marked as such by the heading Guest Post. The contentious statements in the guest post are assertions, and we accept the editors submission that they are clearly Mr Garretts opinions. The facts of the historical basis and recent history of Tongan/Samoan rivalry are publicly (although perhaps not widely) known and do not appear to be contested.

The Press Council Principle 7 notes that issues of race are legitimate subjects for discussion where relevant. In this case Samoan/Tongan sporting rivalry was an essential part of the news story sparking the opinion piece. Given this context, we consider that dealing with the Tongan/Samoan issue in an opinion piece could not be considered gratuitous emphasis on race.

The complaint is not upheld, with one member Hank Schouten dissenting from this decision.

Press Council members considering this complaint were Sir John Hansen, Liz Brown, Jo Cribb, Tiumalu Peter Faafiu, John Roughan, Hank Schouten, Marie Shroff, Christina Tay and Tim Watkin.

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Police leave the neonatal intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Medical Center in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Sunday morning. / Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan



The deaths of four newborn infants on Saturday night have triggered a police investigation at Ewha Womans University Medical Center. The Seoul hospital was questioned months ago about a controversial "insect fluid" given to a baby.



Four pre-term infants in incubators in the neonatal intensive care unit at the major hospital in Yangcheon-gu died between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Before their deaths, medical staff noticed the infants were not breathing normally and that their abdomens were disproportionately swollen. Staff performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but failed to save their lives.



Hospital officials told Yangcheon police that the deaths "do not seem to have originated from a contagious cause." Investigators from Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and officials from National Forensic Service searched the hospital on Sunday. The forensic service plans to perform autopsies on Monday.



The hospital said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, "four infants encountering a cardiac arrest almost at the same time is rare." They said the infants died one by one while receiving the emergency treatment between 9:31 p.m. and 10.53 p.m.





Ewha Womans University Medical Center President Chung Hye-won, center, leaves a press conference after issuing an apology, Sunday. / Yonhap
By Stephen Costello



The Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI), inherited and embraced by the Moon Jae-in administration, remains a logical structure around which to build its relationships in the region. In fact it may be the most well-grounded and widely-supported external initiative by this government.



Among the reasons for this are its overlapping infrastructure and development imperatives with the Chinese Belt and Road (B&R) plans, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asia Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the rail connections between South Korea and China and Russia, and the long-planned Korea-Japan bridge/tunnel.



The NAPCI's geostrategic, political and security dimensions have not been as well appreciated, however. It is entirely possible that these interconnected economic development projects will be the basis for solving and moving beyond the North Korea nuclear and missile programs. This is likely whether they are realistically and smartly promoted by President Moon or must wait for the next occupant of the Blue House or White House.



Feelings of unease and dread have seeped into many South Koreans since the new U.S. administration provoked the current crisis this year. One writer noted that, due to the intentional raising of fears and talk of war, and the lack of diplomatic imagination, many feel they live on an island, rather than a peninsula. The North Korea crisis has long had this effect, and the deals that were effective in addressing it, including the U.S.-DPRK deal and ROK-DPRK engagement of the 1990s, were dependent on a road map that led directly to NAPCI and its matching ambitious projects.



As scholars and diplomats have pointed out for decades, South Korean presidents have long seen the regional benefits, as well as the peninsular benefits, of any successful South-North cooperation. The Sunshine Policy was just a modernization of long-understood principles of how regional interests could be helped by inter-Korean cooperation. At the time, Kim Dae-jung had the international and strategic background, the first non-ideological and non-Cold-War government, and the luck to be in office during three of Bill Clinton's six years of activism toward the DPRK.



The basis of that 1998-2008 engagement was that the South-North initiative was driven primarily by economic development. That was the case then, and it remains the case today. The abandoned light water reactor project made this clear. The Mt. Geumgang agreement and Gaeseong Industrial Complex were both confidence-building demonstrations, and they would have lead inevitably to more sustainable and internationally-connected industrial policies in the DPRK. But they would do so only if the engagement projects proceeded with political support from the top. Fatally, that support evaporated in 2001 on the U.S. side.



After President Moo's visit to China last week, it is useful to imagine how Korean leverage could be used to effectively get China fully cooperating on a big project they support, rather than trying to get them to support a failed project cooked up on the other side of the world by amateurs.



Under those previous deals, South-North and North-U.S. cooperation would quickly and necessarily involve explicit and binding security dimensions. A peace treaty to end the Korean War, normalization of relations, end of U.S. hostile policy (ongoing since 1953), and even some inter-Korean military cooperation all provided this. A denuclearization plan would always be baked into any comprehensive agreement. The number of governments and NGOs with large stakes in any serious and workable plan is significant.



In the U.S., its national interests have been cast in two broad ways over the past 20 years. On one hand, the U.S.-North engagement of 1994-2001, and robust South-North engagement from 1998-2001, were understood to be aimed at a renaissance in regional economic development. This is how they were understood by many stakeholders. Perhaps the most vulnerable yet interested stakeholder at the time was North Korea. These elements were also quite obvious. This is the logical basis for the Moon government's Northeast Asia initiative, with its focus on comprehensive, connected and common.



On the other hand, there was always another view of U.S. interests, primarily anchored in the U.S. Republican Party. In that view, which preceded Bill Clinton and continues in more extreme form today, North Korea is grouped with China and Russia as primarily communist. Its missile and nuclear weapons programs are to be viewed as threats rather than defenses, and diplomacy is rejected in favor of coercion. This view emerges from the U.S. Cold War, from its bureaucratic history, and from political/power dynamics, and it conceives of the North Korea problem as exclusively a matter of coercion in both its analysis and the range of actions to address it.



For those who view the problem in military terms, or who still cling to the communist vs. non-communist division as the most important reality, the NAPCI will seem naive at best, and a surrender to China at worst. Among this group, a large contingent views the U.S. confrontation with China and North Korea as so great that it should determine U.S. actions on the Korean Peninsula, regardless of South Korean interests. During the 17 years since the U.S. reversed its working engagement with North Korea, this group has expanded. It now includes the great majority of policy and journalist positions in Washington.



For these reasons, any discussion of NAPCI in Washington, in which South Korea and its wide range of supporters propose to advance ambitious plans while at the same time wholeheartedly embracing President Trump's global diplomatic and economic isolation, military coercion, and refusal to negotiate with North Korea, will be dismissed. People may politely agree with the "spirit" or with the economic underpinnings, but they will know that the NAPCI is a nonstarter as long as Seoul can't become a more independent player.



A key slice of Seoul's potential friends in Washington, including the most important congressmen and senators, and experienced former diplomats, will be terribly frustrated. They will see that the NAPCI is exactly what Kim Dae-jung and Clinton were doing successfully, and that the new proposals are grounded again in sound economic, political and security logic.



But they will know from the news that it will go nowhere as long as Seoul gives up its independence to a distracted and incapable Washington, with its extreme strangulation policy toward North Korea. They will wish Seoul was able to act as a real friend to the U.S., and take up leadership when the U.S. cannot.



Stephen Costello (scost55@gmail.com) is a producer of AsiaEast, a web and broadcast-based policy roundtable focused on security, development and politics in Northeast Asia. He writes from Washington, D.C.




New associates

Brian MacDonald has joined First Interstate Bank as a Financial Service Representative III.

Alice Laverdiere, PT, ATP / SMS has joined Community Medical Center as a physical therapist specializing in pediatric and neonatal therapy. With over 30 years of experience, she was most recently the manager of rehab services at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California. In addition to working in a hospital setting, Laverdiere also has been involved in wheelchair service delivery and training in developing countries, as a separate focus area and interest.

Morrison-Maierle and its subsidiary, Systems Technology Consultants, announce new additions to its Missoula office:

Cynthia Suminto is now working in the companys Missoula office as a structural engineer intern. She will be working with the team responsible for the structural design of commercial, residential and educational buildings. A native of Jakarta, Indonesia, Suminto graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in civil/ structural engineering in 2015 and 2017 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before coming to Morrison-Maierle, she had a six-month internship with BakerRisk Engineering in Houston, Texas.

Clayton Anderson has joined the Corporate IT team. He is based in the companys Missoula office. His new position involves providing hands-on IT support for the companys Missoula and Kalispell offices. Anderson graduated from the University of Montana College of Technology in 2011 where he received an associates degree in applied science with a focus on network management. He also acquired A+, NET+, and Cisco CCENT certifications. He worked at Glacier Bancorp Inc. and then Missoula County before coming to work for Systems Technology Consultants.

Garth Stevens has joined the firms Missoula office as a Senior Electrical Engineer in the Buildings Group. Currently he is helping with all the technical aspects of electrical project setup, project review and project oversite. Stevens received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Montana State University in 1988 and is licensed in Washington, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. After graduation, he worked for Boeing in the Seattle area for five years and then returned to Montana and worked for Associated Construction Engineering in Missoula. From there he worked for Design 3 Engineering for their Billings office, but worked remotely from his home in Stevensville for 21 years.

David Foss joins Systems Technology Consultants in their Missoula office as its newest Computer Technician. Foss graduated from the Community College of the Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base in 2016 with an associates degree in information technology. He also earned his certification in CompTIAs Security+. At Systems he will help monitor client computer systems, provide preventative network maintenance and troubleshoot issues for their clients computer systems. Before coming to work for Systems, he worked for the Air Force as a Cyber Transport Systems Specialist for a year.

Promotions

Timothy Geyer has been promoted to a Financial Service Representative I with First Interstate Bank.

Shelia Hall has been promoted to Financial Service Representative II at First Interstate Bank.

Laurie Clouse has been promoted to a Financial Service Representative III with First Interstate Bank.

Certification

Jon Riley of Bankers Life in Missoula graduated from the Top Gun program. Riley completed the American College Essentials of life course, certified in long-term care and completed "Flight School" in Chicago. Riley is also a graduate of Life University, a special course on life insurance. Riley was also just highlighted as Agent of the Month. He is known for his outstanding customer service and his strong work ethic.

Recognition

The ERA Lambros Real Estate Top Producers for the month of November were Adam and Brittni Hertz in the Missoula office, the McQuirk Group for commercial, Cheryl Smith for the Hamilton office, Bessie Evans for the Florence office, Jodie Hooker for the Polson office and Angela Vande Garde for the Libby office.
Prolotherapy is a procedure where a natural irritant is injected into the soft tissue of an injured joint. Supporters believe that it may provide significant relief for joint or back pain. The disruption to the lives of those who experience joint and back pain can be serious. From missed work to decreased mobility, the impact of back and joint pain can affect nearly every aspect of someones life. In this article, we examine what prolotherapy consists of, what someone should expect from this procedure, and how effective it is in reducing pain.

What is prolotherapy? Share on Pinterest Prolotherapy involves injecting irritants into an injured or inflamed joint to stimulate healing.

Prolotherapy is a procedure where a natural irritant is injected into the soft tissue of an injured joint. The irritant kick-starts the bodys healing response. Prolotherapy is not a surgical treatment. Because of this, it is also known as a regenerative joint injection or non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction. Doctors mainly use prolotherapy to treat injured joints and ligaments. While it is most commonly used for the back, doctors may also use prolotherapy in the following areas of the body: knees

hips

shoulders

other joints and ligaments In some cases, people with chronic conditions, such as degenerative disc disease or arthritis, may wish to use prolotherapy to help ease their pain. Although prolotherapy has been in existence since the early 1900s, its overall effectiveness is still questioned. Despite this doubt, many members of the medical community believe it to be a safe alternative or additional treatment for back and joint pain.

How does it work? Prolotherapy is an injection that contains a potential irritant, such as a dextrose solution. The irritant is thought to trigger the bodys healing response. Once activated, the body will start to strengthen and repair damaged ligaments in the joint. The strengthening of the ligaments, over time, helps to stabilize the joint. Once the joint is better supported, the pain can disappear. Prolotherapy usually requires several shots at the site of the injury or weakened area to be effective. An individual can expect anywhere from 4 to 15 shots per session, and for several sessions to occur over the course of 3 to 6 months. The injection must be precise so that the irritant is placed at the area or areas requiring ligament repair.

What to expect Share on Pinterest A patient will need to be assessed for suitability before being recommended for prolotherapy. Before receiving prolotherapy, a doctor will assess a person with joint or back pain to work out if they are a good candidate for the therapy. Not all people are suitable for the procedure. People with chronic conditions, for example, may not see any effects from the prolotherapy so a doctor may suggest other alternatives. During or before an assessment, a doctor will likely examine X-rays or other imaging results. The images will help them decide if the procedure is feasible, given the location and severity of the injury. If the person is taking anti-inflammatory medication, this should be stopped 2 to 3 days before the procedure. Continuing to take anti-inflammatory medication may prevent the procedure from working. On the day of the prolotherapy, it is important that a person eats well. Often, doctors recommend that the person undergoing prolotherapy eats a protein-rich meal. During the procedure, doctors prepare the persons skin with rubbing alcohol or another sterilizing solution. They may then apply numbing cream to the skin to reduce discomfort from the injection site. In extreme cases, where the person is in considerable pain or discomfort, additional sedation may be used. Once prepared, the doctor will use a long, thin needle to deliver the irritant solution to several different points around the target area in the back or joint. The number of injections used depends on the area or joint affected.

Benefits Medical professionals who support the use of prolotherapy believe that the strengthened joints will mean the pain is reduced. Also, the improved strength of the joint will help with stability and improve overall movement and function of the back and joints. Prolotherapy is an all-natural, permanent treatment, as it relies on the body repairing itself to reduce pain. In contrast, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief. Similarly, surgical options do not always work to stabilize a joint fully.

Risks and side effects There have been few reported side effects from prolotherapy. In rare cases, the worst side effect is an infection at the site of an injection. A potential infection will show through fever and pain, and it is usually easy to treat with antibiotics. Another side effect may be temporary swelling or pain where the injection occurred. Immediately following the procedure, the affected joint may feel worse before beginning to feel better. Prolotherapy has not been researched extensively. This may mean that there are side effects that have yet to be discovered.

Success rates Share on Pinterest Though studies on prolotherapy have shown high rates of success, further research is needed. According to the available research, people who receive prolotherapy experience high rates of success. However, the study groups involved are often small in size, and the amount of research that has been done so far is not substantial. For example, one study conducted and published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine used only 13 participants. Another study tested 38 knees in participants, while a third study used 90 participants. Still, the results of these small studies indicated an overall success with the prolotherapy procedure. As with any procedure, the skill of the doctor performing it will impact how well it works. Also, how an individual responds to the treatment is likely to vary. Groups such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Administration do not currently recommend prolotherapy for third-party compensation.

Costs Prolotherapy can be quite costly for an individual. Many insurance companies will not cover prolotherapy, so individuals have to pay for their treatment. Costs seem to range from around $250 to $600 for the procedure. The exact cost depends on the site of the injections, who does it, and if any additional treatment is required.
Most of us have suddenly thought, Wait  did I actually lock the door? For some people, this might lead to locking up with more intention next time. But for others, it may be an anxiety disorder. Researchers say its all about being afraid of losing control.

Share on Pinterest Are you quite sure youve locked the door? If you need to check repeatedly, it may all be about your fear of losing control.

I once had a neighbor who checked the door of his flat a dozen times before leaving for work and walked round and round his car as many times when he arrived back home, to make completely sure that everything was right.

I often imagined the terror he must live with all the time, going through imaginary scenarios of break-ins or the car ignition being left on.

This particular case may have been an instance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an uncontrollable checking behavior and recurring, bothersome thoughts.

However, many of us are exposed to sudden bursts of uncertainty. Did we switch off the gas before leaving for our holiday? Worse still, did we leave one of the children behind?

Absent-mindedness and the rush of getting to wherever we need to go can result in these lapses of memory and the sudden shock when we realize that were not sure if we did everything we should have.

New research from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, has suggested that such a fear of losing control can result in recurrent checking behavior. This, say the researchers, may be at the core of many anxiety disorders, including OCD.

Weve shown that people who believe theyre going to lose control are significantly more likely to exhibit checking behavior with greater frequency, says study co-author Adam Radomsky.

The scientists hope that the new findings allow them to find better ways of treating OCD and other anxiety disorders at their core.

[W]hen we treat OCD in the clinic, Radomsky explains, we can try to reduce [the patients] beliefs about losing control and that should reduce their symptoms.

The researchers findings were recently published in the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.
Officials say the device was known as an "unexploded ordnance," or an explosive weapon that did not explode and still posed a...
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon implied to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and other reporters Sunday that hed be open to discussing an extension with the team (Twitter link). Why not stay with one organization? said Rendon, who has been a member of the franchise since it chose him sixth overall in the 2011 draft. The Scott Boras client has turned into an elite-level player since then, and hes only two years away from free agency (hell make a projected $11.5MM in 2018). Unsurprisingly, general manager Mike Rizzo suggested earlier this week that the Nats would be interested in locking up Rendon before hes able to leave.

More on Washington and two of its division rivals:
Actor John Dumelo was presented with an interesting cake during his recent trip to Lusaka, Zambia.

The actor, on his arrival in that country as a guest judge of the 2017 Miss Zambia pageant, was presented with a cake that had the inscription Welcome To Zambia Future President of Ghana.

John Dumelo shared a photo of him, receiving the cake, on Instagram and said: I was presented with this lovely cake on my arrival to Zambia.... #humbled .

The actor, a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly declared his intentions of becoming president of Ghana.

Many of his Instagram followers believe the cake is a prophecy that he will one day become the First Gentleman of Ghana.

The 2017 edition of the Miss Zambia pageant came off at the Government Complex in Lusaka.

Organized by Platinum-Events-Productions Africa, the pageant was won by Musa Kalaluka.
Top Ghanaian musicians are set to perform at the first edition of Ghana National Herbal Awards on January 6th 2018, in Kumasi.

The Ghana National Herbal Awards which is being organised by Nyamedua Herbal, a non-governmental organization will provide the platform to improve Ghanaian herbal products.

The award scheme also seeks to create awareness, loyalty, recognition and prestige for the herbal industry.

Musicians including Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, Kofi Nti, gospel musician Ernest Opoku, Mary Agyemang and others will be performing at the event.

A statement issued by Mr. Nyedua, the Ashanti Regional Director of Traditional Medicine Practice Council indicated that the event would promote locally made products to consumers and facilitate the discovery of new and interesting products.

We know that in Ghana the condition for start-ups is not conducive but there are people who defy all odds and we think its time we recognize and reward these people.

Setting up a business has never been easy but we need to encourage the youth to go into entrepreneurship. Its about time Ghana also sits up to appreciate our products, he said.

He also called on other agencies and the ministries to support such initiatives so as to encourage more people.
Cheap! A dynamic word that means different things to different people at different times. Depending on what your needs are, cheap may be your favorite term always. For online shoppers and lovers of ecommerce, cheap is directly linked with discounts and usually the best place to get them is on the websites or social media.

With different methods of administering these discounts, online shoppers now have the upper hand. Do you know how to get discounts? If not, you may be losing out on some great deals. The same item on sale in the physical shop for Ghc 200 can be bought online for Ghc 160. The question you may be itching to ask is how? Lets find out. Jumia Travel, Africas leading online travel website looks at a few hot tricks to get everything at a discounted price.

Shop the less busy hours - What is the best time to shop? This is often quite difficult to ascertain. However, experts say the best time to shop is off peak hours. Usually very late at night or early in the morning especially if you want discounts. The reason for this is simple. During off peak hours, many customer service agents will have enough time to explain all deals and lodge all complains. If you are lucky, you get some good discounts as compensation. Alternatively, many companies and online shops intentionally drop rates at those times because many people are not online to access them. If you really want good discounts, shop during less busy hours.

2. Compare - How do you know an item or a hotel is expensive or cheap if you only know the price of one. The best way to get discounts is to compare the prices with other items or hotels. If the price of a room at hotel A is Ghc 400 and that of hotel B is Ghc 440, then straight away you know that the best way to get a cheap price is by going for A. You can even go further and compare with more hotels to see if you can get something cheaper. This is what online booking websites like Jumia Travel gives you. To get discounts, compare!

3. Subscribe to newsletters - Mostly when we visit websites and see pop-ups that say sign up or subscribe to receive our weekly newsletters, we quickly get irritated and close the tab. Hold on! Newsletters are great because they almost always come with some goodies. Often, shops send out discount vouchers and advertize reduced rates in their newsletters. If you subscribe, you will never miss out on any promotion or discount sale. The information will get to you as fast as it is out there and then you can enjoy. Save more by just subscribing.

4. Search - The one and only sure way to find anything is to search for it. Even the bible highlights this. Seek and you shall find is a powerful verse in the bible and should be applied when shopping online . If you want cheap discounted rates or prices, then go ahead and look for them. Go to your favourite online shop or booking website regularly and surf through their social media pages to find these amazing deals. Use search engines as well by typing keywords. You will be amazed what you can find by searching. Sometimes, sellers want to make discounts difficult to find and therefore only loyal customers. If you want the discount, then you have to find it.

5. Shop out of season and in advance - This may sound very familiar right? Booking or shopping in advance or out of season. If you want to travel in December, maybe you should try making the booking in January or February to get the best discounts. Alternatively, you can try shopping out of season when not many people are interested. When its peak season and everyone is buying, the demand will force prices to go up and you may have to pay twice or thrice the regular amounts. To enjoy big discounts, try shopping or booking when demand is low. You will be dazzled by how cheap your favourite hotel is around that time.
Mr. Benito Owusu Bio, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called on stakeholders in natural resource governance to ensure greater law enforcement and compliance with regulations.

He said this would lead to the reduction or total elimination of revenue mismanagement and leakages in the sector.

Mr Owusu was speaking at the opening of a forum on the Eight Civil Society Annual Parallel Review of the Natural Resources and Environment Sector in Accra.

The two-day event was on the theme: 'Safeguarding the Environment for Posterity for Whom the Bell Tolls.'

He said law enforcement was a fundamental problem in the natural resource sectors and needed to be addressed.

Mr Owusu called for the need to reform the country's mining practices and urged the media to play its watchdog role to ensure that laws were enforced.

'We cannot afford to allow a few people to exploit our collective natural resource wealth for their own benefit,' he added.

Mr Owusu said the ban on small scale mining would soon be lifted, but 'we cannot go back to our old ways of irresponsible mining, which threaten our water bodies, marine ecology and the industries that depend on water.'

The Deputy Minister commended the Operation Vanguard Operatives, who continue to serve in various mining spots, arresting, foiling and deterring illegal mining activities.

'We will continue to be ruthless with such illegal mining activities if that is what it takes to restore sanity in our forest and mining sectors,' he said.

Mr Owusu said good governance in the natural resources sector had been a challenge to ensure effective social justice, accountability, transparency, effective participation of citizens and the private sector, and inter-sectoral coordination.

He said it was, therefore, welcoming that the Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Programme (NREG) was introduced to address some challenges in the mining, forest and environment sectors.

The NREG programme, he said, had brought progress in the country's natural resources sector.

Mr Owusu said through this programme, the country developed the National Climate Change Policy and Strategy, a New Forest and Wildlife Policy and the Mineral and Mining Policy.

'Some major progress, including the increases in minerals and forest revenues were seen and these were important progress, which set the country on a path to better manage our resources,' he said.

The artisanal logging industry and the mining industry were, however, not fully addressed in this programme.

Mr Owusu said it was not in doubt that small scale mining had an important place in the economy and wealth generation, adding that it was that latent potential that the Multilateral Integrated Mining Project sought to harness to improve the economy without the negative environmental, social and health impacts.

He commended Kasa Initiative Ghana, organisers of the event and the various coalitions for their sustained engagement on the natural resource discourse.

Mrs Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, the Chairperson of Kasa Initiative Ghana, said the objective of the NREG programme was to address the governance failures, which led to the decline in the quality of the forests and environment.

She said it was also to help the nation appreciate the costs associated with the development options in the extractive sector, which impacted negatively on natural resources.

The Kasa Initiative provided a platform for Civil Society to work together to transform the mining sector from its current state of irresponsible mining to a responsible sector that could contribute to the sustainable development objectives of the country.

She noted that environmental degradation was increasing even with the NREG interventions and that Ghana was confronted with uncontrolled logging, fishing and pollution of rivers, especially through the mining activities.
16.12.2017 LISTEN

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the University for Development Studies (UDS) has launched the Ghana Inclusive Development Research Network in Accra.

The Network which is the first of its kind in the country is the initiative of the two institutions and will provide a forum for selected research teams to receive mentorship, capacity-building, and networking between academics and policy-makers.

It will provide small financial grants, technical support, mentoring and policy engagement and networking opportunities for ten Ghanaian research teams who propose successful research projects in line with defined research areas.

The research areas that the network will focus on include inequity; poverty; child poverty; and social protection.

Sarah Hague, UNICEF Ghana's Chief of Policy, said the objective of the network is to promote a platform for researchers and connect them with policy makers.

This, she said, will fill a gap in terms of supporting academia to promote the issue of genuinely inclusive development in the country.

Sara Hague said as the gap between rich and poor has never been greater in Ghana than it is today, the country needs research input to tackle the issue as expected.

She said inequality is at its highest level in Ghana and that the network presents a reliable pool of researchers whose work can be used to inform national debate on the gap between rich and poor and provide a platform on which to connect journalists to review researchers.

Prof Gabriel Ayum Teye, the Vice Chancellor of the UDS, said research findings remain the most reliable source of direction for the development of the country.

He said forming a research network is a formidable initiative that should be commended and supported even by all.

Pro Teye said given the issues of increasing inequality and persistent poverty in Ghana, there is the need for the country's academia to support national dialogue.

With a call for proposals earlier this year, the organisers were overwhelmed by the response, receiving well over 100 team applications and this shows the appetite of the academic community for networking support.

Some of Ghana's most well-known academics and professors have signed up to support the network and mentor the research teams who will work over a period of one year to produce research papers and feed results into national policy-making.

GNA

By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA
16.12.2017 LISTEN

Parents have been entreated to spend quality time with their children rather than solely committing their time to making money to help curb the vices in society.

Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, the National Coordinator of International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS (INERELA+) Ghana, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a forum to climax the 16-day Advocacy to end violence against women and girls on the theme: 'Advocacy on Sexual and Gender Based Violence ''.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford said it was not beneficial for parents to make money at the expense of their children, adding that the future of the country depended on the care given to the present generation.

'We want parents to get closer to their children and bring them to themselves. We want parents to stop chasing money and wealth and look at the future generation that we have brought into the system because you can get all the money, you can build all the nice houses but if your child becomes wayward then where are we going?

'Lack of parental care is one of the contributing factors leading to increase in social vices amongst the youth,'' she said.

The stakeholder's forum was attended by clinical psychologists, religious and community leaders, legal practitioners, government agencies, health workers, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, and the media to deliberate on measures to help curb the menace.

(INERELA+) Ghana is a faith based organisation actively involved in reducing the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS among religious leaders and their congregations.

It also targets lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender/transsexuals among others who live with HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford said the organisation's encounter with the communities in Accra including Nima and Mamobi, showed that a lot of male children were getting into homosexuality, which could be largely blamed on parental negligence.

She, therefore, urged parents to be sociable to their children to encourage free flow of information adding that unfriendly parents sometimes made their children to become rebellious, as they kept matters to themselves.

The stakeholders, after a fruitful discussion, developed an action plan to help salvage gender-based violence.

The Action Plan is to intensify community and school outreach, provide counselling for victims of violence, give biblical sermons in churches, host sensitisation programmes as well as support victims of gender-based violence.

Mrs Yaa Fosuah Asare, a Legal Practitioner, called for a nationalistic approach to solving the issue of sexual and gender-based violence.

The 16-day Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is marked globally between November and December, every year, to raise awareness about violence inflicted on women and girls across the world. GNA

By Kwamina Tandoh/Dennis Osei Gyamfi, GNA
The long and winding road that led the 33-year-old founder of the "dark web" site Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, to life in prison without parole in 2015 is inextricably caught up in the history of the bitcoin.

The Silk Road was a former digital marketplace where illicit drugs were sold from 2011 to 2013 until law enforcement caught up with Ulbricht. The Silk Road was able to exist because the "dark web" is invisible to Google's search engines and a person needs special software to get to it, according to Wired magazine.

But Silk Road also existed because of the bitcoin. (See related story.)

When Ulbricht created Silk Road, he was partially inspired by the bitcoin itself, which was intended to be a digital currency that was completely anonymous. Goods and services can be purchased online using bitcoins, and the idea is that no one knows who owns the bitcoins or how much they own, even though the blockchain, or ledger, for all bitcoin transactions is available to anyone on the bitcoin network.

The bitcoin was released into the world on Halloween in 2008. No one knows the inventor of the bitcoin. The person or persons went by the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

The bitcoin's rise was the culmination of decades of work among a small group of computer scientists and activists concerned with privacy and the existing monetary system, San Francisco-based cryptocurrency researcher Harold Wu said last week.

"This was essentially two months after Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. There was a distrust of big banks, central banks. This was a new form of money independent of institutions people had become skeptical of," Wu said.

Satoshi Nakamoto also released a white paper explaining the bitcoin system and the reason for its creation. Satoshi Nakamoto cited the inherent problem of trust in the current banking system. The bitcoin, as Satoshi Nakamoto envisioned it, would eliminate the need for a centralized bank. It would also redefine privacy, as everyone on the bitcoin network would be able to see the ledger that accounts for who owns bitcoins and how the bitcoins are moved around on the network.

In order to make bitcoins worthwhile, Satoshi Nakamoto set up the bitcoin system so that the bitcoins can only be mined for so long. Satoshi Nakamoto intended for this to make bitcoin like gold  something that would hold its value because it would be a finite resource.

Thanks to Satoshi Nakamoto's design, there will only be 21 million bitcoins created in the world, according to New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper.

There are over 16.7 million bitcoins already released, according to blockchaininfo.com.

A few years after unleashing the bitcoin network into the world, Satoshi Nakamoto signed off permanently. To this day, no one knows the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.

But Satoshi Nakamoto's legacy lives on. Other cryptocurrencies have since cropped up. So have other "dark web" networks, like the former Silk Road, where illicit goods and services are sold.

"Money is always about faith," Wu said. "In bitcoin, institutions are not backing it up. What is backing it up is the network. A lot of people have assumed the bitcoin network wouldn't survive the first year, much less eight years, which it's done. It's engendered faith for people who believe in it."
All Nations University has been adjudged Oil and Gas Institution of the Year, at the just-ended 2017 edition of Ghana Oil & Gas Awards and Exhibition (GOGA).

The prestigious awards ceremony was organized by GOGA at the Kempinski Gold Coast City in Accra to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of both local and international companies and institutions that are directly or indirectly involved in Ghana Oil & Gas sector.

The event focused on the human developments, technologies, financial packages, insurance products, best practices and others, while the renowned private university was honoured the Oil & Gas Institution of the Year, 2017, in human development and best practices.

Dr. Theophilus Oware, Senior Assistant Registrar  Advancement and Technology and Nana (Dr.) Baah Boakye, Dean of School of Engineering received the award on behalf of the University.

The president and founder of All Nations University, Dr. Samuel Donkor, who was delighted with the successes chalked by the university, expressed his profound gratitude to the entire faculty for their immense contributions to the development of the various departments especially that of Oil and Gas.

I must say I am very happy with what we have achieved so far as an institution, we did this with a strong team effort from everybody and I must commend the faculty members for their immense dedication and unflinching support, he said.

Dr. Donkor in an interview with Citi News LAO indicated that the university has invested over US$300,000 to revamp the oil and gas engineering labs as well as other engineering disciplines.

Notable amounts of financial investment have gone into training and hiring of qualified senior faculty members at the department, we have already spent $300,000 to restructure and revamp our engineering laboratories to make it one of the best and standardized in the country for our students to have the best of practical tuition.

The President of the University, however, advised prospective students to choose All Nations University due to their foresight and higher educational successes chalked.

Currently, All Nations University is only University in Ghana to run an Oil & Gas Engineering programme and our aim is to train both local and international engineers to participate in the development of oil and gas industry. Again, All Nations University is the only university in Ghana and Sub Sahara Africa to successfully design, build and deploy a satellite (cubeSat) into orbit (GHANASAT 1) by our trained engineers so there are a million reasons why we stand out among all other universities, he stated.

Dr Donkor also reiterated his universitys commitment towards helping the government fight illegal mining which has bedevilled the nation.

The next mission of the university is to collaborate with Government, and corporate bodies to design and build GhanaSat 2 to address issues such as oil spillage, illegal mining, land and water pollution and other issues facing the Ghanaian society. We know and believe the GhanaSat 2 will assist the country with every data and information on all these problems and challenges.
16.12.2017 LISTEN

The Chief Labour Officer, Eugene Koletey is urging aggrieved workers of Goldfields Ghana to return to the negotiation table over the planned retrenchment exercise of the company.

According to him, their grievances cannot be resolved through protests but amicably through negotiation with the management of the company.

Speaking on , Mr. Koletey revealed that an earlier planned meeting between the two parties did not take place after management of the company declined to attend.

He said the management's stance must not encourage workers to stage protests over the matter, but follow due procedure.

The Union informed us that there were thorny issues that were not raised so we wrote back to management requesting that they go back to the union to iron out their differences. When we saw that that was not done, we wrote back to request the parties to come for us to engage them, which we were anticipating that last Tuesday we will meet for a discussion on the union. The union representatives were there but management declined, he said.

The way forward is an engagement. The Union and management have to still come to the table for a discussion for us to reach a consensus. It is not a matter of threatening words, it is not a matter of demonstration, you still have to come to the negation table, he added.

There is an ensuing impasse between management and staff of Goldfields Ghana Mine, as the company says it is changing its business module, and will be forced to lay off some workers.

Goldfields Ghana Limited told Citi Business News this week, that it will lay off about 1,500 workers this month, as part of measures to change its business model, and make the company profitable due to the relatively short lifespan of the mine.

But the Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, Abdul Moomin Gbana, said the reasons given by Goldfields was inconsistent with the facts on the ground .

Goldfields claims the life of the mine is 5 to 6 years, and based on the limited time, they cannot invest in mining fleet It can actually run for a number of years and you don't necessarily need to replace the fleets that Goldfields claims it wants to do. Records available to us indicates that, contrary to their claim of the life of the mine of 5-6 years, they have over 15 years of mine and so the question is, if your choice of contract mining is based on a limited life of mine and your own website projects 15 years, then, the question is, who are you misleading, he said.

The workers have since petitioned parliament to look into the matter, but Mr. Kolotey believes they must still engage his office to amicably resolve the matter.

He noted that the workers can proceed to the National Labour Commission if they are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the expected negotiation.

Where you cannot agree between the two, the law provides that you go to the National Labour Commission which is an independent body to look at the issue and bring finality to the matter, he said.

Meanwhile, an Industrial Relations Expert, Kofi Davor, has suggested that workers of Goldfields Ghana can proceed to court if they feel dissatisfied about results from the various labour arbitrations on their impasse with the management of the company.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citfimonline.com/Ghana

The post Negotiation, not protests will resolve Goldfields impasse  Chief Labour Officer appeared first on Ghana News .
Section 11 of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Act 2004 (Act 672), provides that, the Principal Officers of the University shall include: the Vice Chancellor (VC); the Pro Vice Chancellor (Pro VC); the Registrar; the Finance Officer (FO); and the Librarian.

Three (3) of the above five (5), constituted themselves into a 'Super Principal Officers Alliance', and sidelined the remaining two (2), as a result of disagreement over whether the interest of UEW and for that matter Ghana, should be supreme, or the interest of the Principal Officers.

Three (3) of the Principal Officers opted to put their personal interest first before Mother Ghana, and the minority two (2) remaining Principal Officers, thereafter, existed only ceremoniously.

One of the two (2) minority Principal Officers, was presented with Ghc 25,000 before the legal tussle of UEW kicked off. He didn't decline it outright, but just made a reasonable enquiry as to what the said payment was for. The answer he got was that it was his share. Share for what job done, he queried? The rest was silence! He politely told the presenter that he wasn't interested, and was contended with his 'poverty'.

I wouldn't bore you with more juicy and seductive offers from the 'three (3) musketeers' that were put before the 'sacrificial duo' (the 2 minority Principal Officers).

Currently, the Ag. VC of UEW, Rev. Fr. Prof. Afful-Broni, who was then the Pro VC, has declined to receive the allowance of VC, but rather choose to continue receiving the allowance of his previous position, thus, the allowance of a Pro VC. If this is not sacrifice, then what else?

When the '3 musketeers' were in office, each of them made sure that they traveled abroad, at least once a month. This was a subtle avenue of siphoning public funds.

The per diem for each of these officers on a foreign trip, was US$1,000.

Each travel lasted an average of ten (10) days. This translates into short-changing UEW and for that matter the Republic of Ghana, US$30,000 every month on the 3 officials per diem alone on foreign travels. Readers may add the air tickets, hotel accommodation, etc., and draw a conclusion.

Within the week beginning 10th December 2017, the Institute of Educational Development & Extension (IEDE) of UEW, paid a honorarium to all its staff.

I don't carry out extra duties at IEDE, so I did not receive this payment. However, a colleague of mine who does extra work at IEDE, received over Ghc 2,000. Almost every 'employee' at IEDE, received this honorarium payment.

The Ag. VC administration could have sat on this fund that has been disbursed to all IEDE staff, just like what the '3 musketeers' were doing, but the Catholic Priest administration, choose not to do so.

Rev. Fr. Prof. Afful-Broni (the Ag. VC), is not rich, but contended with his legal earnings. Greed is not in his DNA.

I know some staff of IEDE in particular, and UEW in general, who mistakenly believe that they are serving individuals at UEW, and not the State, therefore, since certain individuals are no longer at the helm of affairs of UEW, they will not recognise the authority of the Ag. VC. To such individuals, I urge them to check their payslips for the first time and find out who pays them.

To those UEW staff who also look at me in a weird manner, I strongly advise them to go to Satan himself, or Kwaku Bonsam, or Antoa shrine and obtain 'high voltage eyes' and return to Winneba and check me out. Insha Allah, blindness will greet them with glee!

I honestly and sincerely advise the '3 musketeers' supporters who received the IEDE honorarium payment, that it is only reasonable that they hand over that money to the '3 musketeers', since they used to be the ones pocketing that money.

The former UEW UTAG Secretary, who is supposed to know better, but unfortunately has been blinded by greed, left the shores of Ghana on a Fulbright Fellowship, without authorisation from the Ag. VC. Naturally, he should be dismissed from UEW, and the Fulbright Fellowship Secretariat, written to by UEW to disassociate itself from him.

I expect his comrade in arms, the 'foot soldier' he left behind, to move heaven and earth to get him off the hook, but I will advise him not to waste his time. The College Principal who released him, should be the one being held responsible for his salary, or job security, and not the Ag. VC, who played no role in the former UEW UTAG Secretary's total disrespect for authority.

To all UEW staff, be assured that there are better and brighter times ahead. The recent IEDE honorarium payment to all staff, is evidence of this brighter future. Invigilation, excess marking, and all other claim rates, are expected to be adjusted upwards and paid to all claimants, promptly. The era of claims being paid three (3) months after submission, is over.

The '3 musketeers' blind supporters are free to go and hand over the difference between the old rates and the new rates to the '3 musketeers'. This is just basic common sense.

Some readers have complained about the style I use to put my views across. It has to be noted that, every human being has a flaw, and I accept that as my shortcoming. Nowhere in my writings have I stated that am perfect.

I have however tried as much as possible to keep it at 'normal temperature' in this write-up.

May God help all of us to overcome our shortcomings, including the '3 musketeers', to overcome their greed, which has unfortunately led to their downfall.

Please, UEW Governing Council Chairman, I wish to apply for the position of Finance Officer, so let the advert out!

I expect them to appeal the High Court, Winneba decision. In law however, if there is a procedural anomaly in the filing of a case against an individual (respondent), the respondent's legal representative (lawyer), is supposed to enter a conditional appearance as provided under the High Court (Civil Procedures) Rules 2004 (CI 47) Order 9, Rule 7, and raise the defective procedural issue, and do no more. This will be a 'technical knockout'.

Failure of the respondent's lawyer to do this means that he has tacitly agreed that there was no procedural defect (s). The respondent on appeal after loosing the first instance case where the procedural defect was not raised, will only be wasting the court's and everyone connected to the case time and a heavy fine awaits them.

From the onset of the UEW legal impasse, I had expected one of them whom I previously held in high esteem, to have adopted a much more quieter and behind the scenes diplomacy, pleading for mitigation, and not braying for litigation and subtly hiring some UTAG executives to do his bidding.

I always warn people I offer a free ride in my car that, I never head straight to my intended destination. I have to make detours here and there, before finally arriving at my destination. In a similar vein, I have to make a detour here.

With regards to the petition seeking to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) from office, Koku Anyidoho and Mahama Ayariga, have argued that President Nana Akuffo Addo could have shelved the petition. I put it to them categorically, that this would have been unconstitutional.

Where in the Constitution 1992 is it provided that on receipt of a petition seeking to remove the Chairperson of the EC from office, the President should shelve it?

If President Atta Mills previously shelved a petition submitted to him seeking the removal of the then Chief Justice (CJ), then two (2) issues fell for determination.

In the first place, President Mills might have received 'sound legal advice', that led him to conclude that there was nothing of substance in that petition to satisfy any of the requirements spelt out under Article 146 (1) of the Constitution 1992, to warrant its forwarding to the CJ, so hence, the confinement of that petition to the dustbin.

In the eyes of the Constitution 1992, this is unconstitutional.

Under Article 146 (6) and (7), the President's constitutional duty, was to appoint a Committee, acting in consultation with the Council of State to inquire into the petition and make a recommendation to the President as to whether the CJ should be removed from office or not, and nothing else!

Secondly, probably based on flawed legal advice, the President acted unconstitutionally by shelving that petition.

Anyidoho and Ayariga, there goes your flawed arguments!

Alhassan Salifu Bawah

(son of a peasant farmer)
My attention has been drawn to some uncouth and unfortunate comments made by some faceless persons against one of the most active grassroots politicians in Ghana, Alhaji Abubakar Rahman(Alhaji Short).

These shallow minded propagandists who mostly share their lying propaganda through WhatsApp and Facebook claim they come from the Upper West Region, the region where Alhaji Short is the party Chairman. These propagandists sought to castigate the Upper West Regional Chairman with false information. They also sought to play tribal politics in the region and I want to respond to each of the allegations that they made and let the whole world know how dishonest, misleading and unreliable some information/ write_up are especially against Alhaji Short.

The first lie they raised was that the regional chairman, Alhaji Short, has made Upper West a Waala and sissala Region leaving out the Dagaabas. This statement is quite unfortunate and unethical especially coming from people who claim to be a son and daughters of the region. Let us critically look at the appointments made by the president and you will see that the Dagaabas have most of the appointments from the region. A few of those appointments are:

Dagaaba appointments:

1. Interior minister

2.Minister of State at Agric ministry

3.Deputy minister of roads and highways

4. CEO Ghana railway authority

5. Deputy CEO cocoa processing company

6. Deputy CEO SIF

7. Regional Coordinator_School feeding

8.Regional security liaison officer

Now, let's check the WAALA APPOINTMENTS too:

1.Regional Minister

2. Council of State Member

3. Ambassador to Burkina Faso

4.Masloc Regional Director

5. Deputy CEO Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company Limited

Let us consider the SISSALA APPOINTMENTS too:

1. Deputy regional minister

2. Council of state member

3. Youth Employment regional Director

From the above, it is extremely clear that nobody can say the Regional Chairman is making Upper West a Waala/Sissala region. The Dagaabas have the chunk of appointments. Besides Out of the Eleven(11) MMDCEs in the upper west region, only one(1) is a Waala, four(4) are Dagaabas, five(5) are Sissalas and only one(1) as a Lobi.

The second lie these faceless lying propagandists spread is that the party, I mean the NPP, in Upper West is not united. This is a completely false allegation. There is no region that is more united than Upper West. For the past twelve (12) years, the regional chairman has consistently rallied members of the party together. The fact that some individuals for various selfish, personal and unjustifiable reasons disagree with leadership does not mean disunity. The regional executives and all constituency executives have worked together and that is what brought the splendid performance in 2016 elections, from zero to five seats.

The third lie is that Upper West has non_functional TESCON. What an elementary assumption! This is absolutely not true. The facts are there to show how the champion regional chairman, Alhaji Short, has contributed immensely to the growth of TESCON in the various institutions in the region. As an appreciation for the love and commitment for Regional Chairman's contribution to the growth of TESCON at UDS_Wa campus and Wa Polytechnic, TESCON at the two reputable institutions gave him awards which are verifiable.

The fourth baseless allegation is embezzlement of funds. This is quite unfortunate since true party people in the region know that this man has sacrificed his personal resources to run the party in the region especially when we were in opposition. This allegation, like the others, is baseless and should be totally disregarded.

The last one fabrication which totally beats my imagination is the buying of motorbikes for ladies. It appears to me that those making those baseless and completely distorted allegations are very ignorant about the man they are talking about.

I can confidently conclude that those making those fruitless allegations are only interested in deforming and assassinating the golden character of the national chairman hopeful. Those who live in Wa and its environs and know this man very well don't associate these kinds of ungodly, immoral and unreligious traits with the regional chairman who is leading the race to become the next national chairman of the NPP. In fact, he is not into such things. This particular allegation reinforces my point that those who make those allegations know very little about my regional Chairman. Fortunately, their desperate attempt to find a way to tarnish his image has totally misfired.

The Regional Chairman, Alhaji Short, has been the chairman for 12 good years. He has been a Council Member for 12 good years. He is a member of the National Disciplinary Committee and currently the chairman of the Regional Chairmen Caucus. He has 12 years of grassroots experience as Regional Chairman and 12 years of national experience as a Member of the National Council. He is trusted and can always be trusted. The detractors and lying propagandists will fail in stopping him from becoming the national chairman of our great party, God willing.

God bless Alhaji Short, God bless NPP, God bless Ghana.

By :

Bawah Chakilia Latif

Acting Communications Director of Young Patriots of Sissala East Constituency.
Former First Lady Lordina Mahama has fulfilled her annual pledge of putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in society. This she did by visiting and donating food items to the Osu Children's Home and Christ Faith Forster home at Frafraha in Accra.

It was all joy at the Osu Childrens Home and Christ Faith foster Home when the former First Lady arrived. Management and children of the homes could not hide their joy upon seeing her. Upon arrival, she shared candies to the children and interacted and danced with them as they sang Christmas songs.

Mrs Mahama pledged her continuous support for the less privileged in the society; adding that the festive season cannot pass by without these kids also having the cause to celebrate.

Assorted food items such as bags of rice, cartons of fruit juice, cooking oil, biscuits and toiletries among others were presented to the Osu Children's Home and Christ Faith Forster home orphanages.

The Manageress of the Home Mrs Chritiana Addo expressed gratitude to Mrs. Lordina Mahama for her continues support. She stated that with the support from the former First Lady, the children at the home are going to have enough to eat and drink during this festive season.

Acting Manager of the Christ Faith Foster home, Kofi Adu- Boahene was full of praise for the former First Lady saying she has always supported the home, especially during festive seasons.

These two orphanages are part of seven others in the Brong Ahafo and Northern Region who benefit from these yearly donations. The other five orphanages include Anfaani and Tamale Childrens Home, Let Kids smile at Nkoranza, Frank May and Bethesda at Techiman.

Former First Lady In A Chat With One Of The Children

Former First Lady In A Group Picture With Children Of Osu Home

Former First Lady Lordina Mahama Presenting Food Items To The Osu Children's Home

Mrs Lordina Mahama Presenting The Food Items To Manager Of The Osu Home, Mrs Christiana Addo

Mrs Lordina Mahama Sharing Candies To The Children Of Osu Children's Home
The Majority in Parliament is kicking against a proposed amendment to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constitution to bar dual citizens from contesting for national executive positions.

The proposal which is to be considered at Sundays delegates congress in Kumasi has drawn a backlash from diaspora associations of the party.

NPP Member of Parliament for Bantama, Daniel Okyem Aboagye says the proposal will be shot down.

Not every member of the parliamentary group was aware of this. Obviously, this is not something that the parliamentarians will support; of course not me, as person, especially, givven my background as someone who is coming from the States.

"Because most of us went to America to get education, exposure and bring all the experiences back to Ghana, Mr Aboagye told JoyNews.

He noted that the party cannot ignore the immense role and contributions of external branches in the US, Australia and the others.

So what is the point of saying that they cannot contest for national positions. If they want to contest, we should allow them there is no way we are going to give up on our external branches as a party, the Bantama MP assured.

He further noted that, members of the external branches of the party support us in many waysthey support us financially and if there is any attempt to propose such an amendment, it will be shut down.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
17.12.2017 LISTEN

A Kumasi-based private legal practitioner, Sulley Sambian has ensured the freedom of a youth activist of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhassan Sibdow Hafiz, by voluntarily paying a court fine of GHC3,000 slapped on the convict.

A Tamale Circuit Court on August 28, 2017 sentenced Alhassan Hafiz to a fine of 250 penalty units or in default serve four years for defrauding his employer of an amount of Ghc 98,587.

The convict, Alhassan Sibdow Hafiz during the trial pleaded guilty and claimed he used the money to finance the NPPs campaign efforts ahead of the 2016 polls.

The former Sales Manager of As-Sahabah Limited, was sentenced by the court presided over by Justice William Joseph Twumasi Appiah based on his own plea to the charge of defrauding.

The convict however filed an appeal at a Tamale High court seeking to overturn the Circuit courts decision.

Sulley Sambian, who heard about the convicts predicament voluntarily paid the Ghc3,000 fine and Alhassan Sibdow Hafiz was released from prison.

In a Citi News interview, the lawyer said he was alarmed by the convicts dilemma, hence his intervention.

Sulley Sambian is the chief Solicitor of a private law firm, Sambian &co based in Kumasi.

He was called to the bar in 2002 and worked with Akufo Addo, Prempeh&co for two years.

He was part of the legal team led by Obiri Boahene that freed the five NPP youth activists from Tamale who were sentenced for life with one of them, Yahuza sentenced to death.

Politically, Sulley Sambian has also declared his intention to contest the NPP Northern Regional Secretary position.

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP activist freed from prison after lawyer pays fines appeared first on Ghana News .
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), will today [Sunday] hold an extraordinary national delegates conference to consider various proposed amendments to the party's Constitution.

The event to be held in Kumasi is a follow up to the Annual National Delegates Conference in August this year, at which various proposals were made for amendments to the party's constitution.

Over 5,000 delegates including founding fathers and patrons of the party, Members of Parliament on the party's ticket, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and national officers of the party, are expected at the conference.

The NPP deferred the amendment of its constitution to the extraordinary national delegates conference when it held its Annual National Delegates Conference in August.

Indications are that, some members of the party have called for a review of the party's electoral college system to ensure that the same number of delegates who vote for the party's national executives, also vote for the selection of their presidential candidate.

Some NPP members have also reportedly called for a review of requirements for qualification to the constituency and regional executive position.

They want only persons who have gone through the ranks of the party at the local level, to be given the chance to vie for such positions.

Disagreement over amendments

Already, there have a number of concerns raised over some of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

For instance, the NPP-USA branch, this week, issued a strongly-worded statement accusing some persons in the party of hijacking the process.

No room for division

The Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has called on delegates to ensure that they resolve any lingering issues they might have before they leave the Conference.

Mr. Blay said the NPP can take a step closer to retaining power in the 2020 general elections if the Conference is conducted in a peaceful manner.

This is a family gathering; a meeting to see how best to ensure that our party is strong and formidable for future elections, Mr. Blay said.



By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP holds extraordinary Delegates Conference today appeared first on Ghana News .
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has dissociated itself from reports suggesting that it charged expatriates between $100,000 to $25,000 dollars for seats close to the President at an awards ceremony.

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak who made this allegation had indicated that the fees charged at the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards (GEBA) were not the kind of fees approved by Parliament, adding that the monies were also not accounted for in the Internally Generated Funds [IGF] of the Ministry's accounts.

Mr. Speaker, I have worries about the IGF of the Ministry and how they go around, mobilizing resources on the IGF, and secondly Mr. Speaker, this item that I am going to mention in the breakdown of the Ministry's IGF, was not included, yet they are bringing the budget excluding that collection. On 23rd September, 2017, the Ministry wrote to Ghana Expatriate Business Community for them to be informed that they are planning to organize an award ceremony for expatriate businesses that are in Ghana, and Mr. Speaker, shockingly enough, part of what was said was that, if you want to sit with the President, you have to pay 100,000 dollars. If you want to sit behind the President you have to 75,000 dollars. If you want to sit on another table called red circle, you have to pay 50,000 dollars. If you wanted to sit on the yellow circle, you have to pay 40,000 dollars, and if you wanted to sit on the green circle, you have to the 25,000 dollars.

Mr. Speaker, this is very worrying because so far as I am concerned, the fees and charges that we approve in this house did not say that if we wanted to interact with the President you have to pay 100,000. Mr. Speaker, this gives credence to all that we have been hearing in the media that access to the President is very difficult, Mr. Muntaka said on the floor of Parliament.

Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka,Member of Parliament for Asawase

The Trade Ministry, in a statement, however rejected these claims, saying it played no role in determining prices for seats at the event.

The Ministry clarified that it only facilitated the implementation of the new initiative [GEBA] by the Millennium Excellence Foundation, an entity noted for organising world class events.

According to the Ministry it had no hand in resource mobilisation for the event, as it had been decided that the Foundation would take that responsibility.

As a Government that believes in the private sector as the engine of growth, the Government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry welcomed the initiative to collaborate with the Foundation to see to the birthing of the initiative.The Ministry consequently signed an MoU with the Foundation that spelt out the roles of both parties. Resource mobilisation to ensure that the event was organised at no cost to the taxpayer was the sole responsibility of the Foundation

The Ministry only wrote letters to introduce the Millennium Excellence Foundation to sponsors and solicited support whilst the Foundation prepared the sponsorship package kits and presented it to potential sponsors at a later date.It is very worrying for people who are expected to know better (especially if some happen to be leading members of the august House of Parliament) to conveniently join the streets wagon in pursuit of petty partisan parochial interests to churn out deliberate falsehood to perpetuate the fallacy that access to the President has to be secured with financial inducements, excerpts of the statement said.

The full text of the statement is below

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE BASELESS ACCUSATIONS RELATING TO THE GHANA EXPATRIATE BUSINESS AWARDS (GEBA) 2017

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has learnt with disdain the baseless allegations flying in the media (including social media platforms) that the Ministry charged expatriates between 25,000 and 100,000 dollars to offer them seats close to the President at the recently held Ghana Expatriate Business Awards (GEBA). The GEBA was the brainchild of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, an entity noted for its prowess and credibility in the organisation of world class events such as the Millennium Excellence Awards and the Accra Marathon. Upon the conception of the novel idea, the Foundation informed the government, through the Presidency and further sought partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the organisation of the first ever award event targeted at recognizing and rewarding the contributions of the expatriate and naturalised expatriate community to the socio-economic advancement of the country over the decades. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the first of its kind in Africa. As a Government that believes in the private sector as the engine of growth, the Government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry welcomed the initiative to collaborate with the Foundation to see to the birthing of the initiative. The Ministry consequently signed an MoU with the Foundation that spelt out the roles of both parties. Resource mobilisation to ensure that the event was organised at no cost to the taxpayer was the sole responsibility of the Foundation As a serious and experienced event organiser, the Foundation came up with a sponsorship programme as would be done by any serious-minded event organiser which included series of fundraising dinners and sponsorship packages. Non-mischievous minds with a basic knowledge of event organisation will know that as is the case with all fundraising activities, there are different sponsorship categories and packages with their attendant benefits. As to how one chooses to categorise them (whether presidential circle or platinum down to the least package) is only a matter of semantics, nomenclature and ingenuity. It is very worrying for people who are expected to know better (especially if some happen to be leading members of the august House of Parliament) to conveniently join the streets wagon in pursuit of petty partisan parochial interests to churn out deliberate falsehood to perpetuate the fallacy that access to the President has to be secured with financial inducements The two documents being paraded in the social media and some other platforms, that is the Ministry of Trade letter and the Millennium Excellence Foundation Package have nothing in common as they were not presented to sponsors at the same time. The Ministry only wrote letters to introduce the Millennium Excellence Foundation to sponsors and solicited support whilst the Foundation prepared the sponsorship package kits and presented it to potential sponsors at a later date. Without any show of disrespect or attempt to tag individuals and organisations as not being corporate responsible, on the so-called for sale Presidential Table  were the Award winning MD of Tigo/Airtel (Roshi Motman), Amar Hari (IPMC), Salem Kalmoni (Japan Motors), Ashok Mohinani (Polygroup), H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, Hon Alan Kyerematen, Amb. James Victor Gbeho, Hon Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, Mr. Yofi Grant of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and Amb. Ashim Morton who did not pay a pesewa to be seated on the for the highest bidder Presidential Table. People who know or ought to know better should desist from mischief and propaganda and rather learn to commend individuals and institutions that come up with initiatives such as the GEBA that has the capacity to boost the countrys FDIs. It is gratifying to us as partners that all the wild and unsubstantiated falsehoods has not included anything to the effect that any company that won an award did so by virtue of its ability to pay  a testament to the commendable work of the event validators, the reputable KPMG. A technical team defined the criteria for evaluating the award categories. This technical team consisted of personnel from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the Registrar General's Department, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Private Enterprises Federation, the Ghana Free Zones Board and the Millennium Excellence Foundation. KPMG acted as an independent party to evaluate, analyse and validate the data to determine the winners. Their role as Event Statisticians required them to ensure that the defined criteria and process for determining the winners were strictly adhered to. KPMG concluded that the award winners won on the basis of the criteria and process defined by the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards Technical Team. The GEBA has come to stay as an event to be held every other year to appreciate the contributions of the expatriate and naturalised expatriate community to the growth of the country. An investigative report by a competent security agency of the country has put to rest the spurious allegations that one has to pay his or her way to have access to the Presidency. Let no one attempt to resurrect a dead issue through GEBA. The Ministry of Trade and Industry as one of the major drivers of the industrial transformation agenda of government will continue to endorse and support worthy initiatives as GEBA that is championed by proven credible individuals or organisations to help accelerate socio-economic advancement of Ghana.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Muntaka lied, no one bought seats beside Nana Addo  Trade Ministry appeared first on Ghana News .
17.12.2017 LISTEN

The Peoples National Convention has described as unfortunate the arrest of its national chairman Bernard Mornah by the Police Saturday.

Mr. Mornah and twelve other people were picked up and placed in cell for staging an unapproved demonstration.

They were part of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity movement who were staging a demonstration to draw attention to the political crisis in Togo.

In a statement, the PNC said: This news comes to the PNC as a shock since such arrest could be a tantamount to an afront on our democracy to curtail citizens of their freedom and right of expression.

We are doing everything humanely possible to rescue our National Chairman out of the situation.

BERNARD MORNAH ARREST UNFORTUNATE. PNC TREASURER.

It has come to our notice that our National Chairman Bernard Mornah has been arrested and detained at the Nima police Station on the 16th December, 2017 for an act described as an illegality by the police for his participation in a public match/procession.

This news comes to the PNC as a shock since such arrest could be a tantamount to an afront on our democracy to curtail citizens of their freedom and right of expression.

We are doing everything humanely possible to rescue our National Chairman out of the situation.

We also wish to add strongly that, the PNC is not aware and did not sanction our National Chairman involvement in the that public match or procession.

PNC NATIONAL TREASURER.

Akane Adams.
Work on grizzly bear recovery in the North Cascades Ecosystem has been halted even as the continental United States two largest grizzly populations near removal from Endangered Species Act protection.

North Cascades National Park Superintendent Karen Taylor-Goodrich told the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee on Wednesday that her staff had been asked to stop work on its environmental impact statement by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's office.

The order also stalls discussions with Canadian wildlife managers who oversee a similar grizzly recovery process in British Columbia, she said.

We were in the process of evaluating public comment, Taylor-Goodrich said of the stop order. Were in year three of the process and all the public scoping has been done. The draft EIS went out for public review in spring and weve received about 127,000 comments.

The North Cascades Ecosystem includes the national park and large swaths of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee national forests, totaling 9,800 square miles. It holds an estimated five to 10 grizzly bears, which the IGBC considers the most at-risk grizzly bear population in the U.S. today. The Canadian portion supports another six grizzlies.

In comparison, the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem between Missoula and Glacier National Park covers about 12,000 square miles and supports about 1,000 grizzlies, the largest single population in the lower 48 states. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem around Yellowstone National Park covers 9,200 square miles with about 700 grizzly bears.

Grizzly bears qualified for federal protection as a threatened species in 1975. Recovery plans lay out the steps public land managers will take to bring a threatened species to a stable and sustainable population level. That can involve setting rules for motorized recreation or timber harvesting in the bears core habitat.

So few grizzlies inhabit the North Cascades Ecosystem that one of its main recovery tasks has been to analyze all reports of potential bear sightings within 72 hours. At the same time, increased interest in the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail has drawn thousands of backpackers through the region over the past decade.

In July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published its final rule removing Greater Yellowstone grizzlies from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. It expects to publish a similar rule for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem bears next summer.

Delisting would hand over grizzly management authority to state wildlife agencies, and opens the possibility of classifying grizzlies as big-game animals for hunting. The Yellowstone delisting rule already faces six lawsuits arguing the bears still need federal protection.

Interior Department officials did not respond to a request for comment about the North Cascades work stoppage on Friday.

At Wednesdays Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee meeting in Missoula, WildEarth Guardians wildlife program director Bethany Cotton asked the committee to request to restart the North Cascades review.

Theres been a lot of really positive work taken by the (National) Park Service and FWS, Cotton told the committee members. Dont disregard all those public meetings, and the significant support for restoring grizzlies in the North Cascades.
The Employment Tribunal in the UK has unanimously dismissed the case involving a Ghanaian employee, Mark Arthur, and the Ghana International Bank PLC.

The tribunal, presided over by Employment Judge Glennie, dismissed the two complaints of automatic unfair dismissal and failure to pay holiday pay on withdrawal against the bank.

Among the reasons cited by the tribunal was the fact that one of evidence given by the complainant, which was the transaction involving the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, could not be further interrogated as he is not a party to the case, and the tribunal has not heard any evidence from him.

The Tribunal observes that there is at the centre of this case a transaction involving an account holder with the Respondent, namely the King of the Ashanti people, his Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to whom we will refer as the King. The King is not a party to this case and the Tribunal has not heard any evidence from him. The Tribunal has not been called upon to reach any judgment about the significance of any actions on the King's part and we have not done so, the judgement read.

The case generated a lot of buzz in Ghana after the name of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II popped up during the trial.

Click here to read the full judgment of the tribunal.

Background

The Asantehene's name popped up in the UK media , in a suspected money laundering case, after he sent a bank official to deposit a cash amount of 350,000 on his behalf.

According to the UK's Telegraph, when Osei Tutu II, summoned Mark Arthur to his multi-million-pound residence in Henley-on-Thames and handed him a bag containing almost 200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 in US currency with consecutive serial numbers, the bank official felt it inappropriate to ask too many questions.

However, the subsequent deposit of the cash at the Ghana International Bank, triggered a money laundering alert in the City of London and cost Mr. Arthur his job.

Asantehene money laundering claims baseless  Ghana Intl. Bank

The Ghana International Bank has since clarified that there is no suggestion of money laundering allegations against the Asantehene .

A statement from the UK-based bank, asserted that, the ongoing litigation between the bank and a former Executive Director, Mark Arthur, concerned breaches of the Bank's internal policies and UK laws.

These breaches were said to have happened when Mr. Arthur carried out a transaction on behalf of the Asantehene, reportedly involving 350,000.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mark Arthurs case against Ghana Intl. Bank PLC dismissed appeared first on Ghana News .
The Ghana Police Service has explained that it arrested the Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah because he disregarded their advice not to hold a planned march on Saturday.

According to the Police, Mr. Mornahs decision to hold the march against their advice could have occasioned a breach of peace and unlawful assembly.

Bernard Mornah and about 12 other people were arrested by the Nima Police on Saturday morning when they gathered as members of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity movement to hold a peaceful march to draw the attention of local and international authorities to the political crisis in Togo.

Reports say Mr. Mornah, who is the leader of the movement, failed to inform police about their action on the Kanda Highway today [Saturday], hence the action by police.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim.



Bernard Mornah arrested

The Police, in a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs ASP David Eklu said they arrested a total of 19 people on Saturday.

They also admitted that Mr. Mornah had duly notified them of the action and had initially been granted permission to carry out the march.

The leader of the group, Mr. Bernard Mornah had earlier on served notice to the police of their intention of embarking on a demonstration of support of some Togolese nationals in Ghana who have been agitating for what they termed a change in government in Togo.

The police initially indicated their preparedness to provide the required security for the demonstration but based on an information received by the police that another group had planned to disrupted the demonstration as well as other operational exigencies the police had to handle, the leader of the group Mr. Bernard Mornah was advised to suspend the demonstration but he failed to heed the advice and went ahead to organize the group who assembled at Kawukudi park ready to embark on the demonstration, the statement from the police said.

Copy of the letter pre-informing the police about the march

The police, in that statement copied to citifmonline.com failed to disclose details about the supposed group that planned to disrupt Mr. Mornahs groups march, however, it called on the public to cooperate with it during the Christmas season to ensure peace and security throughout the period.

The Police administration is once again appealing to persons or group of persons who intend to embark on any public event especially during the Christmas period to cooperate with the police to ensure the security of the demonstrators as well as members of the public

Counsel for Mr. Mornah, Raymond Atuguba had earlier written to the police to demand clarification about the detention of his client and details of any legal actions to be taken against him after what he terms as an illegal arrest.

It is unclear if Mr. Mornah is being processed for court.

26 Togolese arrested for illegal protest in Accra

In October 2017, 26 Togolese nationals were arrested for attempting to stage an unlawful demonstration over the political situation in their country.

According to the Accra Regional Police Operations Officer, Chief Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, about 300 Togolese had to be dispersed lawfully at the Kawukudi Park because their intended action was in clear breach of Ghana's public order act.

That was the second time that Togolese in Ghana have tried demonstrating in solidarity with efforts back home by the opposition to have presidential term limits.

Togolese crisis

Togo's opposition parties have over the past few months been demanding a return to constitutional term limits for the Presidency, and also for President Faure Gnassingbe to step down.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for nearly 50 years.

The anti-Gnassingbe protests, that have seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets across the country, have resulted in over 15 people killed and scores injured.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mornah disregarded our advice not to hold march  Police appeared first on Ghana News .
Peoples National Convention (PNC) chairman has accused the government of conniving with Togolese authorities to suppress voices protesting against human right abuses in that country.

Bernard Mornahs accusations come in response to his arrest alongside 17 others for embarking on a rally Saturday against the Togolese government to draw attention to the human rights abuses being perpetrated by authorities.

Speaking to Joy News, Mr. Mornah said the police behaved in an unprofessional manner and that their actions suggest that the Ghana government supports the abuses in Togo.

What is happening suggests that that the government support the undemocratic happenings in Togo, they support the abuses and killings of our brothers and sisters, he said.

He also described the Rambo-style of their arrest as uncouth, unreasonable, and that it defies any reasonable thinking that the police in recent times can behave like that.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mornah and security analyst Irbard Ibrahim who was also among those arrested have since been released on bail.

Mr. Mornah says the arrests were uncalled for.

Listen to Attached Audio:



Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com| Oswald K. Azumah
Rwanda has banned smoking of water-pipe tobacco, popularly known as shisha, starting Friday.

Rwanda becomes the second country in Africa to ban shisha smoking after Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli imposed the ban in July last year.

CANCER

Other countries with similar bans are Pakistan, Jordan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

The Rwanda Health ministry has also outlawed the importation, advertising and smoking of shisha within its territory over health concerns.

In a public notice effective December 15, 2017, the ministry warns of sanctions to those who flout the ban arguing that shisha tobacco smoking is damaging, addictive and dangerous on human lives.

The smoke that emerges from a water-pipe contains numerous toxicants known to cause lung cancer, heart diseases, just to name a few, reads the communication from Health Minister Diane Gashumba.

World Health Organisation (WHO), in a recent advisory note to regulators, revealed that smoking shisha posed grave health risks.

In a single session, it said, shisha smokers can inhale smoke of 100 or more cigarettes.

SMOKE

Cigarette smokers typically take eight to 12 cigarettes with a 40 to 75 millimetre puffs and inhaled 0.5 to 0.6 litres of smoke unlike shisha smoking sessions which typically last 20 to 80 minutes, during which the smoker may take 50 to 200 puffs which range from about 0.15 to 1 litre each, it said.

Shisha smoking has become increasingly popular among young people in Africa, including in Kenya.

It goes by several names including hookah tobacco, maassel, narghile and argileh and comes in several flavours including fruity, minty, rich and creamy.

The highly toxic tobacco substance is smoked using a hookah (waterpipe).

The smoke exposes the user to the addictive chemical nicotine as well as tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.

HEART

People are drawn to it for being 'cool', with patrons flocking to shisha parlours saying it is harmless.

A common belief is that the risks of tobacco are reduced since it is purified as it passes through the water.

On the contrary, WHO insists that even after it has been passed through water, the smoke produced contains high levels of toxic compounds including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals.

Shisha smoke is associated with increased risk of disease cancer, heart and lung complications.

It is also known to cause problems during pregnancy among female smokers.

The side effects may not be immediately noticeable but just like cigarettes, the harmful fumes slowly damage certain parts of the body of a shisha smoker over time.



The post Rwanda govt bans shisha smoking appeared first on Ghana News .
Police in Gabon arrested dozens of people on Sunday over a knife attack in the capital apparently committed in retribution for "US attacks against Muslims", officials said.

The men detained were mostly traders and sellers in the popular market in Libreville where the attack occurred on Saturday -- and all are from west Africa, according to an AFP correspondent.

They were taken to police headquarters were they are due to be questioned, an official said.

"Operations are ongoing," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told AFP. "We are not commenting at this stage."

Two Danish nationals working for the National Geographic channel were wounded in the attack, he said.

Police said the assailant is a 53-year-old Nigerian man who, according to witnesses, shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the attack.

The man, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, said in his first statements that he "acted in retaliation for US attacks against Muslims and America's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital," Defence Minister Etienne Massard said Saturday.

Residents said the man was from the Muslim Hausa/Fulani community of northern Nigeria and sold smoked meat from a cart in the city and in the market.

"We are still gathering information," Bilie By Nze said.

The market in Libreville, popular with tourists, was shut down after the incident and remained closed on Sunday, with security forces manning the gates.

Authorities have said the attack appeared to be politically motivated, but have not publicly classified it as terrorism.

Gabon, a small French-speaking former colony with 1.8 million inhabitants, has so far been spared the Islamist-inspired attacks that have taken place in some neighbouring countries.
Three 'controversial' proposals submitted for amendment in the governing New Patriotic Partys (NPP) constitution have been withdrawn.

This follows an appeal by president Akufo-Addo in an address at the party's extraordinary delegates' conference ongoing in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

President Akufo-Addo while addressing the thousands of delegates gathered from various parts of the country and the party's branches in other countries, said some of the proposed amendments will be a disaster if adopted.

His remark caused the majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu to withdraw two of the parliamentary group's proposals.

The proposals are;

For Members of Parliament to appoint constituency executives and For party members with dual citizenship to be disqualified from contesting for any party position For the flagbearer of the party to be considered as the leader of the party

Disagreement over amendments

There had been some disagreements over some of the proposals after they were made through an 11-member committee, chaired by First Vice Chairman, F.F. Antoh.

The NPP-USA branch for instance kicked against the proposal to disqualify persons with dual citizenship from contesting any party position.

In a strong-worded statement, it accused some persons in the party of hijacking the constitutional review process.

Meanwhile, the acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay, has called on delegates to ensure that they resolve any lingering issues they might have before they leave the Conference.

Mr. Blay said the NPP can take a step closer to retaining power in the 2020 general elections if the Conference is conducted in a peaceful manner.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Controversial NPP constitutional amendment proposals withdrawn appeared first on Ghana News .
17.12.2017 LISTEN

The Sagnarigu District Assembly in the Northern Region has formed a Task Force mandated to monitor and manage the recent spate of meningitis that has so far killed several students of second-cycle institutions and hospitalized others.

The taskforce christened the District epidemic preparedness team is tasked to visit the dormitories and dining halls of all secondary schools in the district to ensure that there is proper ventilation.

The taskforce includes health personnel from the districts health directorate, assembly members and other major stakeholders from the education sector.

The Sagnarigu District Chief Executive, Mariam Iddrisu in a Citi News interview, described the epidemic as a human security threat, hence the move to curtail its widespread in the area.

Basically, the district epidemic preparedness team is mandated to meet on a quarterly basis or during an outbreak or whenever there is a threat of an outbreak. And currently we have an outbreak following stories from other places.

As the district that habours the Northern Regions education ridge enclave, she called for a multifaceted approach in tackling the situation in Saagnarigu.

We brought ourselves together to discuss and also adopt strategies that we can put in place to ensure that the district is not hard hit by the meningitis outbreak.

We agreed that there was the need to carry out health education in all the secondary schools within the district. And then again we also saw that there is the need to alert all hospitals within the district to be in readiness for early treatment so that even if we get an outbreak or a case we will not record deaths. 

Mariam Iddrisu emphasized that, As the District Chief Executive I think that the lives of the people are my responsibility so if we can avoid or prevent deaths from early treatment it becomes necessary to alert all hospitals to be in readiness.

We also saw the need to alert members of the surveillance team to look out for certain signs and symptoms in their catchment areas.

The Sagnarigu District Chief Executive disclosed her administrations preparedness to build sick bays in all second cycle institutions in the district to guarantee the students health.

According to her, the district has enough vaccines to cater for victims of meningitis in case of any outbreak.

Tamale Senior High School (Tamasco), Northern School of Business (NOBISCO), Business Secondary School (BISCO), Tamale Islamic Senior High School as well as tertiary institutions such as the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale City campus, Tamale Technical University, Bagabaga and Tamale Colleges of Education and the Northern Regional Education Directorate are in the Sagnarigu district.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sagnarigu Assembly forms taskforce to tackle meningitis appeared first on Ghana News .
17.12.2017 LISTEN

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched a migration competition to engage young people on migration issues as part of strategies to reduce irregular migration among young people in West Africa.

The competition, dubbed: 'Make it Happen in Africa,' aims at promoting and highlighting local and regional opportunities for the West African youth.

Madam Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, the Country Director of IOM-Ghana, Benin and Togo, made this known when the Media Alliance for Migration (MAM), a network of young media professionals championing the cause of migration, and Media Response, paid a courtesy call on her in her office.

The competition opened on November 23 and expected to close on December 27, this year. It would receive submissions from youth in Ghana, Niger and Senegal.

Contestants are to visit the Facebook page of IOM Regional Office, West and Central Africa, to upload a photo, drawing, video or a song that they think represented new opportunities, innovative or creative ideas for the future of African youth.

They would also have to share the entry with friends and gain more likes for a possibility of winning a laptop, a mobile phone or a camcorder in early part of January, next year, when winners would be announced.

Madam Lopez-Ekra said IOM had opened a Migration Information Centre in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional Capital, for young people to access information on migration.

She said the tendency for young people to find out more was an inevitable characteristic, which inspired them to explore adding; 'There is the need to find ways to manage their curiosity.'

She said the number of young detainees who were recently brought from Libya by the IOM was an indication of youthful exuberance and curiosity.

Mr Abubakari Seidu Ajarfour, the Interim President of MAM, pledged the network's support to reducing the irregular migration among Ghanaians, especially the youth.

Mr Samuel Dodoo, the Executive Director of Media Response, said the organisation was ready to support the network to fight irregular migration.
17.12.2017 LISTEN

A Ho High Court presided over by Justice Eric Baah, has dismissed a petition by Mr Wisdom Gidisu, former Member of Parliament for Krachi East challenging the election of Mr Michael Gyato as Member of Parliament for the Constituency in the 2016 general elections.

Mr Gidisu sought the court to cancel the parliamentary results of six polling stations in the Constituency on grounds of over voting.

He claimed there were imperfections at the R/C JHS at Katanga, L/A Primary School, Lapas, L/A Primary Njare 'A', L/A Primary Njare 'B', L/A Primary Banka and L/A Primary, Tokoranu and prayed the court to annul the results.

The court however said the petitioner failed to establish a case for cancellation of the results and dismissed the petition on lack of merit.

Justice Baah said though over voting, bribery and other electoral misconduct could be grounds for cancellation of election results, the law did not allow for cancellation of the entire constituency results if the said over voting would not affect the total result of the Constituency.

He said the case involving the six polling stations were 'entry mistakes' by electoral officers and not over voting except a single case at the R/C JHS at Katanga.

The Judge said the petitioner also failed to define over voting and that on the face of the 'pink sheet' failed to prove a case of over voting, saying, 'the failure of the petitioner's agents to report any irregularities is an indication that nothing untoward happened.'

He said the use of voter's register as benchmark for determining over voting by the petitioner was problematic because not all voters on the register turned up and verified to vote.

Justice Baah therefore charged the Electoral Commission to work on a statutory definition of over voting ahead of the 2020 general elections to assist the court in expeditious handling of such cases and also urged it to train its workers well in election conduct and management.

He awarded a cost of GH 25, 000.00 against the petitioner-GH 20,000.00 for the first respondent and GH 5,000 for the second respondent, the Electoral Commission.

Earlier, counsels for the first and second respondents requested cost of GH 70, 000.00 and GH 50,000.00 respectively.

GNA

By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA
Action Aid Ghana has held a day's mentorship programme for selected school girls in the Tamale Metropolis enabling them to interact with role models to learn from their experiences on various issues affecting young girls.

Issues discussed at the mentorship programme focused on early marriages, teenage pregnancy, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene and leadership, which formed part of efforts by the ActionAid to empower the school girls and adequately prepare them for the future.

Some of the role models the girls interacted with were drawn from the Young Urban Women (YUW) group, which is a network of young ladies in Tamale, who have been trained in various vocations amongst other rights issues.

A total of 289 girls drawn from six schools in the Tamale Metropolis including; Kpanvo Presby Junior High, Choggu Nuru Islam Primary, took part in the event.

The event, which formed part of the ActionAid Ghana's efforts at promoting quality girl child education, was to equip girls with requisite knowledge and skills to amongst others be assertive.

Madam Beatrice Yanman Biije, General Programme Officer of ActionAid Ghana, who spoke and also interacted with girls said the mentorship session exposed the girls to real life stories since the facilitators were more experienced in matters relating to the growth and development of the girl-child.

Madam Yanman Biije underscored the importance of empowering the girl-child in the area of education, saying it was paramount to the country's development.

Mohammed Rukaya, a member of the Young Urban Woman (YUW), who also facilitated the event, spoke about early marriages saying they posed challenges to the girl-child hence the need to empower girls especially through education.

GNA

By Kamara Osman Faisal, GNA
Voting recreationists throughout Montana must look at the methodical, well planned and rapid taking of OUR public lands by politicians within our state and federal government.

Three state politicians now in office are Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Greg Gianforte and Matt Rosendale, state land board member, all of whom openly support transferring our public lands. In an interview with the Missoulian (11/7/2017) Rosendale outlined his thoughts on better management of Forest Service lands and privatizing them as well as supporting transfer of public lands alongside of Gianforte during a pre-election meeting in the Metals Bank building in Butte, which some of our members attended. Rosendale, originally from New Jersey, also thwarted a easement proposal by the three-generation Keogh family on land near Whitehall even though everyone that attended testified for the proposal.

More recently, Sen. Steve Daines introduced legislation that would reduce wilderness study areas, which are 100 percent public lands, under the guise that it would create more public access. The public comment period on this is on a fast track. His bill would open access for oil and gas drilling and other development.

Now, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is reducing the National Monuments in Utah as well as eying the Badger Two Wilderness area in Montana, again all public lands. Since the Trump administration has opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to gas and oil companies, one wonders if other National Wildlife areas, and wilderness areas will be axed.

All of these taking actions are being well funded by out-of-state interests and are firmly founded in their plank in both the state and national Republican platforms. Sen. Jon Tester has always worked to retain public lands.

The rapid takeover of public lands is continuing as we speak and most recreational voters either don't understand what is happening or they don't realize it.

Under the Trump administration these "takings" will make America Great Again for the rich and dishonest.

-- Tony Schoonen, Butte, director, Public Lands and Water Access Association
London, Dec. 16, GNA - Two years after the Paris climate agreement, the financial shortfall facing the Green Climate Fund to help developing countries switch from fossil fuels to greener energy sources and adapt to the effects of climate change is still causing headaches for the international community.

This is because there is now a gap of $2 billion following President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement.

In addition, experts have warned that the $100 billion annual climate fund that the developed countries pledged in 2009 to start providing by 2020 would not be forthcoming.

A report by Standard and Poor noted: 'It is very unlikely that governments would be willing, or able, to risk deteriorating their creditworthiness by stretching their budgets and debt burdens to fund the implementation costs.'

The One Planet summit held in Paris on Tuesday focused on the second anniversary of the global climate accord, which saw nearly 200 governments agree to end their heavy reliance on fossil fuels and limit further global warming.

Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, a Congolese climate negotiator, said many projects that vulnerable communities needed were simply not attractive to the private sector.

He told Climate Home News: 'We know that public finance will not be sufficient and it needs to be used to leverage where the real money is.

'But for some of us in the developing countries, where we don't have a strong business environment for private investment, having clarity on levels of public finance is what gives us comfort.'

The importance of the One Planet gathering was highlighted by the presence of over 60 world leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who spearheaded the summit, called for urgent action to deal with the financial shortfall.

'We are here not for words but for deeds because we are facing an ongoing emergency,' he said.

The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, called for more money for climate-friendly infrastructure.

'Finance is the difference between winning and losing the war,' he said

During the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP 23) in Bonn last month, Seyni Nafo, Adviser to the Malian President and Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, told Climate Home News: 'Uncertainty on climate finance.

'Where are we seriously, on the $100 billion?

'We haven't reached yet a confidence crisis, but [African Heads of State] are becoming a bit anxious now.

'We feel that as a region we have done everything we could.

'We have put everything on the table.

'We are demonstrating leadership, seriousness on this issue.

'Actually, we don't have a choice.

'We simply feel that, that same level of commitment is not there [among the developed countries],' Mr Nafo added.

Although the US has pulled out of the Paris Agreement, President Trump's climate Adviser, David Banks, said America wanted to stay as a 'global player' on energy.

Earlier this year, President Trump urged multilateral banks to back developing countries to access fossil fuels such as coal cleanly and efficiently.

'There are 1,600 new coal plants being built around the world, and demand for coal and gas is growing,' he said recently in Bonn.

'It's in the global interest that, if these fuels are going to be used anyway, it must be done as cleanly as possible.

'Keeping gas and coal in the ground robs poor countries of their natural wealth.

'And universal access to affordable energy is the way to lift people out of poverty,' Mr Banks said, arguing that unemployment was leading young Africans to migrate.

'Having no electricity and therefore no industry is far more of a problem in people's lives right now than climate change,' he added.

'The United States would like to see the World Bank policy on coal changed.'

The US move is being backed by coal producers in Africa such as Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

A spokesman for South African electricity provider Eskom said the country would 'be using fossil fuels for a very long time to come'.

GNA
17.12.2017 LISTEN

Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Defence, has inaugurated a 13-member Governing Board of the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG) to provide the required policy guidance and leadership for effective and efficient programme implementation.

Major General C.B Yaache (Rtd) is the Chairman of the Board, with members including Brigadier General M.K Asante, Director of Legal Services, General Headquarters (GHQ,) Mrs Adwoa Sarfo, the Defence Minister's Nominee, Mr W.O Boafo, Defence Minister's Nominee, Colonel M. Atintande (Rtd), Director Veteran Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Group Captain S.K Fianya, Representative of GHQ, Public Affairs and Col. Richard W.K Bosrotsi (Rtd) Volta Regional Chairman, VAG.

The others are Ex-Warrant Officer (WO 1), Robert Kuma, Greater-Accra Regional Chairman, VAG, Ex-CPO I A. Osei-Bonsu, Western Regional Chairman, VAG, Ex-WO I Imoro Haruna Alhassan, Northern Regional Chairman, VAG and Ex-WOI, George Appiah, Ashanti Regional Chairman, VAG.

The rest are Capt. Ben Edmund Duah (Rtd), Acting Executive Director, VAG Headquarters and Mr Daniel Nonah, Representative of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Board members took three oaths namely; the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Secrecy and Oath of Office, administrated by the Director of Legal Services, GHQ.

The Board was constituted in accordance with the VAG Act 844, 2012, and charged with the duty of formulating policies and objectives, and supporting and reviewing the performance of the Administration to give true meaning to the Act.

This effectively made VAG an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Defence, rather than a voluntary private Association of liked-minded persons.

The Act is to grant VAG the legal locus and the capacity to enable it to better serve the interest of the Military Veterans.

Mr Nitiwul said the Government was determined to change the status quo and see that VAG run its affairs in line with best practices and to the benefit of all military veterans.

'The welfare of our veterans, therefore, attracts the greatest attention of government,' he added.

Mr Nitiwul reiterated the President's commitment to uplifting the welfare and well-being of veterans and assured them that their concerns would receive the utmost attention.

He said efforts would also be made to enable the VAG, under the Ministry, to do what it took to improve on the welfare and upkeep of military veterans.

Mr Nitiwul urged the new Board to live up to expectation and move the affairs of VAG farther, adding; 'General Yaache, l have no doubt that by the end of your tenure as Chairman, you and other members will have provided the required direction and guidance to improve and increase the welfare of veterans.'

He expressed the hope that they would not hesitate to take advantage of the abundant opportunities available and the public goodwill that they currently enjoyed to prosecute the new agenda.

Maj. Gen Yaache (Rtd) thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the trust reposed in them, and pledged to work relentlessly to execute their functions in an effective and efficient manner.

He urged his colleagues to approach the responsibilities ahead with commitment and determination, saying that with unity and mutual respect, the desired objectives of the administration would be achieved.

He commended the previous Board for its efforts and activities to promote the interest of the veteran saying; 'We will also continue from where you left off.'
17.12.2017 LISTEN

The Late Professor Francis Kofi Ampenyin Allotey, a renowned professor of Mathematics and Scholar of Nuclear Physics, has been celebrated posthumously with the coveted 2017 African Genius Award.

The late professor was awarded among 12 other personalities for his immense contribution to mathematics and science globally at the Second Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Awards held in Accra on Saturday night.

It was on the theme: 'Celebrating the Contribution of African Genius to the Making of Civilisation'.

Mr. Francis Kojo Anu Allotey, the Son of Prof. Allotey, received the award on behalf of his father, accompanied by family members. He was presented with a plaque and citation.

The late Prof. Allotey was born in 1932 in Akyemfo Nkusuku in the Central Region and had been a phenomenal inspirer and influence in the study of Physics and Mathematics in schools, colleges and universities in Ghana and across the world. He was also a Consultant in Informatics Development.

Other awardees on the night included Prof. Akua Kuenyehia, a former Judge of the International Criminal Court, Ghana's first female professor of Law and one time Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, who picked the Award in Leadership.

Dr Thomas Owusu Mensah, a renowned inventor with the US and worldwide patents in Fiber Optics, picked an award in Science, Technology and Innovation, while Prof. Ablade Glover, a Contemporary Ghanaian Artist, picked an award in Visual Arts.

The rest include Dr Daniel Amponsah, popularly known in the showbiz industry as Egya Koo Nimo, picked the Performing Arts Award for his pioneering work in traditional music, while Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, who has achieved global reputation for the treatment of spine deformity and special expertise in the treatment of scoliosis, kyphosis, and spine reconstruction, picked an award in Medicine.

Prof. Opanyin Kofi Agyekum, an internationally recognised Akan Scholar, was awarded for Language, Prof. Kwame Gyekye, picked an award in Philosophy, Dr. Raphael Armattoe, was also posthumously rewarded for his exploits in Physiology and Elijah Djan picked an award for the Young Icon Category for making bricks from paper.

The Award Scheme is a platform to celebrate excellence and recognise the contributions of African genius in the field of entrepreneurship, performing arts and leadership, as well as medicine, science, mathematics and technology.

The ceremony should have come off last year but was postponed to this year due to the general election.

Prof. Kwesi Quartey, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed worry over frequent migration of young Africans to seek greener pastures in Europe and the Americas due to bad governance.

He said the vision of Ghana's First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was still relevant to the cause of the Continent and urged young ones to strive to make an impact.

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Minister of Environment, Science and Innovation, who was the special guest speaker for the occasion, lauded the vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He noted that though his (Dr Nkrumah's) political ideology may differ from his, he believed that those who wanted to develop the society through science and technology should go into the mind of the former leader and discover the totality of his development agenda.

The night was characterised by patriotic songs from Harmonious Chorale who gave renditions of Ephraim Amu's Edikamfo Mbo and Ghana Nyigba by Kojo Tsibu, while the Drama Troupe of the Methodist University College performed chorography and sang melodious songs to entertain the audience.

GNA

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
17.12.2017 LISTEN

A move by a break-away group of the Church of the Lord Brotherhood to get a Ho High Court decision on the ownership of temples and parcels of land in Aflao and Sogakope overturned has suffered a setback.

The court had ruled that these rightly belong - are the bona fide property of the mother church.

The Apostle Kobla Fiadonu-led faction disagreed, claimed the trial court judge was wrong and took the matter to the Appeal Court.

The three-member panel, presided over by Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, with Justices Cecelia H. Sowah and L. L. Mensah, as the other members, was however unconvinced and upheld the earlier ruling.

Apostle Fiadonu, who was the deputy to the Primate - overall head of the Church of the Lord Brotherhood had left the church because of reforms introduced in May 1998.

He saw the decision to allow members to wear shoes to the temple and stop the practice of segregation - isolating and confining women in their menses to a place in the temple called the 'tent' as crossing the red lines.

He instigated other senior members in some branches in the Volta Region and other West African French speaking countries to exit, to form the Church of the Lord Brotherhood International.

Attempts to persuade him to have a change of mind and rejoin the parent church were unsuccessful and he was subsequently dismissed both as member and minister of the church.

In 2009, the break-away group filed a court suit, asking among other reliefs, for a declaration to take possession of a parcel of land and a building on it at Sogakope.

The mother church would not let go its property, made counterclaims for title and recovery of possession of temples and parcels of land in Aflao and Sokagope and the case was decided in its favour.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, the group headed to the Appeal Court, seeking to reverse the judgement.

The appellate court, in its ruling said 'having so practically, effectively and doctrinally broken away and elected a purported crusading leader, chosen a headquarters in Aflao, given a new name to their group, re-organized the annual delegates' conference and limited itself to one corner of Ghana, that is parts of the Volta Region, the plaintiff should allow the defendants' church to operate in peace'.

It added that the group 'has no theocratic, factual or legal basis to disturb the progressive stand taken by the leadership to do away with man-made rules of the Church of the Lord Brotherhood'.

'We think as an appellate court, we should not disturb the findings of fact, and indeed the law as expounded by the learned trial judge as we affirm same.'

GNA

By Sampson Adu-Poku, GNA
The Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG) successfully elected their new executives for on Saturday, 16th December, 2016 to steer the affairs of the Association for the next four years.

The election which was held at the Academic City -Accra is the first in the history of the Association since it used to be run by interim executives.

The Association promises to be a vibrant one with the new set of executives who seem to be well-known in the Art and Tourism industry and possess a variety of knowledge to cushion its image.

Some members who were obviously enthused about the turn-out of the elections disclosed to Ghanacreativearts.com , that they are satisfied with the new leadership list because they are very optimistic of a better rebranding for the Association.

Below are the names of the executive-elect

PRESIDENT: William Asiedu

VICE PRESDENT: Francis Doku

SECRETARY: Mic Yamoah

TREASURER: Frank Kwabena Owusu

ORGANISER: Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah (Attractive)

PRO: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah and Kwame Dadzie (Run-off )

RESEARCH OFFICER: David Mawuli.

The Public Relations officer position saw a tie between the two contenders namely Kwame Dadzie and Eugene Osafo-Nkansah, The Electoral Commission will set a new date to hold re-election for the PRO position.

GhanaCreativearts.com
14 December 2017, GENEVA  Renowned global experts on the migrant and refugee crisis representing the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue (hereinafter the Geneva Centre), the International Catholic Migration Mission (ICMC), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Permanent Delegation of the Sovereign Order of Malta have today called for increased coordination and cooperation among decision-makers in the Middle East and North Africa region and in Europe to address the causes and the consequences of the migrant and refugee crisis.

This joint call to action to dialogue and alliance building was made during a panel debate organized by the Geneva Centre on 14 December 2017 at the United Nations Office in Geneva on the theme of Migration and human solidarity, a challenge and an opportunity for Europe and the MENA region.

The Geneva Centres Executive Director H. E. Ambassador Idriss Jazairy acted as a moderator to the meeting and in this capacity spoke first. He called upon all member States of the United Nations to contribute to the realization of the UN Global Compact on Migration. He warned that the realization of global human mobility would fail if multilateralism and consensus-building would be replaced by unilateralism and the fortification of societies. He stated that the migrant and refugee crisis can be solved through dialogue, alliance building and multilateral diplomacy. In this regard, Ambassador Jazairy said there must be a sharing of responsibility for hosting displaced people to address the plight of people on the move and to support countries in the Arab region in their efforts to provide refuge and protection to people on the move.

The moderator of the panel debate invited the Chairman of the Geneva Centre H. E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim to open the conference. IOMs Senior Regional Advisor for the MENA region Mr. Hassan Abdel Moneim was also invited to deliver an opening statement on behalf of IOMs Director General H. E. Ambassador William Lacy-Swing.

Ambassador Jazairy then invited the speakers to address their guiding themes for the debate in the following order: i) Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission Monsignor Robert J. Vitillo: Intensifying dialogue and practical cooperation between Christians and Muslims in response to refugee movements and other forms of forced migration; ii) the Founder of Inter Press Service and Director for International Relations of the European Center for Peace and Development Dr. Roberto Savio: Migrants, religion and populism; iii) the Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta H. E. Ambassador Marie-Therese Pictet-Althann: An alternative to the liquid graves of the Mediterranean iv) The Director of the Norwegian Refugee Councils Europe office Mr. Edouard Rodier: EU and the refugee and migrant crisis: Solutions and challenges ahead; v) Head of IOMs Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division Ms. Dina Ionesco; Role of IOM in responding to the adverse impact of climate change and vi) UNHCR Senior Protection Officer on Mixed Migration Ms. Christine Goyer: Role of UNHCR in enhancing refugee protection in the Middle East.

Migration and human mobility are permanent human realities

The Chairman of the Geneva Centre H. E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim stated that the increase in the numbers of people on the move around the Mediterranean Sea is not sustainable in the long run, either for Europe or the Arab region. He noted that the rise of populism in Europe and the rise of violent extremism in the MENA region threaten the long-stability of the region. The surge of violence begotten by conflict - he said - has resulted in the forced displacement of at least 10 million people.

Dr. Al Qassim likewise sounded the alarm that the adverse impact of climate change and environmental degradation in the Sahel region could stir an even bigger migrant and refugee crisis in the future. In conclusion, the Geneva Centres Chairman called for a new common agenda that unleashes the potential of global human mobility and to coordinate the efforts of countries in Europe and in the MENA region to respond with one voice to the current crisis.

IOM Senior Regional Advisor for the MENA region Mr. Hassan Abdel Moneim stated in his opening intervention that the world lives in an era of unprecedented human mobility. Migration is  he said - a fact of life and a reality as old as humankind. He noted that IOM has more than 20 years of experience in implementing development-oriented interventions that move beyond humanitarian response by addressing the root causes of forced migration before, during and after crisis.

In view of these observations, Mr. Moneim added that IOM has produced strategic framework document on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience covering prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and partnerships. These elements  he said  are key to IOMs approach in providing a holistic and inclusive response to the multiple factors involving people on the move. We must all stand ready to aid migrants, and to ensure social inclusion into all policies. Migration is not a problem to be solved, but a human reality to be managed, concluded Mr. Moneim in his intervention.

Dialogue and cooperation between Christians and Muslims key to address the refugee and migrant crisis

Monsignor Robert J. Vitillo assessed the need for enhanced efforts between Christians and Muslims in jointly addressing the adverse impact of the refugee and migrant crisis. He observed that dialogue and practical cooperation among Christians and Muslims can create points of convergence and eliminate the tensions arising from a lack of direct familiarity with people whose cultures, faith traditions, and ethnic identities may differ from our own.

Monsignor Vitillo remarked that HH Pope Francis has spared no effort to join other religious leaders in a just and equitable response to forced displacement of peoples. The efforts of HH Pope Francis to address the plight of Syrian Muslim refugee families in the Greek island of Lesbos and the human rights situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar are concrete efforts by the Catholic Church to put their faith into practice. He concluded his intervention stating that the International Catholic Migration Commission is driven by the need to promote dialogue and cooperation between Christians and Muslims.

In her intervention, H. E. Ambassador Marie-Therese Pictet-Althann informed the audience regarding the Sovereign Order of Maltas humanitarian activities in addressing the plight of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. In this regard, she noted that the medical teams of the Sovereign Order of Malta has assisted more than 50,000 people in rescue operations at sea. Ambassador Pictet-Althann also remarked that the Sovereign Order of Malta carries out humanitarian activities in countries of origin, transit and arrival such as Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. It also provides counselling  she said - to refugees in overcoming challenges of daily life in host countries.

Ambassador Pictet-Althann concluded her intervention stating that cooperation in the humanitarian field of faith-based institutions also creates a bond of mutual trust and confidence among people of different religions.

Promoting mechanisms to protect people on the move are needed more than ever

Dr. Roberto Savio spoke on the misuse of religion and the rise of populism and xenophobia. He said that the decision of the US government to withdraw from the Global Compact on Migration contradicts the founding ideal of the US as a country built by migrants. Dr. Savio added that President Trump has set a perfect example for other countries in Europe to ignore the decisions of the European Union to address the plight of migrants. Nationalism, populism and xenophobia are back with growing popular support and politicians openly riding them, highlighted Dr. Savio. He concluded his intervention stating that a viable Europe relies on its ability to celebrate diversity and integrate migrants and refugees into its societies.

In his intervention, Mr. Edouard Rodier assessed the response of the European Union in relation to the refugee and migrant crisis. He said that people on the move leave their home societies as a result of armed conflict, violence, starvation, misery and persecutions. Those who are reaching Europe are claiming for a better life: a life where without fear, where fundamental rights are protected, where dignity is restored, he remarked.

Efforts to promote the protection of people on the move and contribute to the ongoing global efforts to enhance global mobility are needed more than ever. In this regard, Mr. Rodier added that while we appreciate the political sensitivity of the topic, we need to acknowledge that solutions cannot be found in denial of this fact: migrations are here to stay. He concluded his intervention calling upon Europe to take back its leading role in the defence of refugees rights in light of the decision of the US government to withdraw from the Global Compact on Migration.

In this regard, the moderator of the debate Ambassador Jazairy added that the former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel should be given the Nobel Peace Prize for her endeavours to respond to the plight of refugees and migrants and for welcoming more than one million displaced people to Germany.

In addition to these observations, Ms. Goyer observed that armed conflict, violence and sectarian strives have led to increasing levels of displacement across the Middle East and North Africa region. She underlined that 28% of displaced people worldwide are in the MENA region including 2.6 million refugees, 15.1 million IDPs and returnees, and an estimated 372,500 stateless people.

In relation to the efforts of UNHCR to address the plight of people on the move, Ms. Goyer noted that the worlds leading refugee agency has provided support to inter alia processing individual biometric registration for refugees, registration and documentation of births, enhancing national asylum legislation, access to livelihood opportunities and the establishment of community centres and mobile teams in the region in pursuit of sustainable protection responses.

In her intervention, Ms. Ionesco stated that the adverse impact of drought, environmental degradation and ecological crises in the MENA region contribute to the rise of people on the move. The multicausality of migration  she said  must be recognised by decision-makers and reflected in migration policies to address the causes and consequences of displacement of people. The Global Compact on Migration has not adequately addressed  she noted - the adverse impact of climate change.

In this regard, IOM has identified that drought, desertification, heat stress, rising sea levels and lack of water access will trigger forced population movements in the MENA region. These elements  she said  must be recognised by decision-makers in order to respond to the multidimensional factors that underpin forced climate migration.

A new system of values and principles conducive to peace and stability must guide decision-makers

Following the intervention of the panellists, the moderator opened the floor to the audience. H. E. Ambassador George Papadatos  the Head of European Public Law Organizations delegation in Geneva  asked the participants to identify a short political message that they would send to global policy-makers. In this regard, Monsignor Vitillo referred to the message of His Holiness Pope Francis on the occasion of the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2018 in which he called for the need to Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees. Ms. Ionesco added her voice to the debate stating that peoples destiny is connected. People must understand  she said  that we have one earth but it is how we treat the planet and the people concerned that make up the connections. Lastly, Ambassador Pictet-Althann added that all parties concerned must be on board and agree on a common framework so as to advance the agenda of the Global Compact on Migration.

In addition to these observations, the Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Sudan H. E. Ambassador Mostafa Osman Ismail Elamin noted that migration and movement is not going to stop. It is going to continue as life is going on. The root-causes of forced displacement of people - H. E. Ambassador Ismail Elamin said  are man-made and related to political regime changes. In this regard, he referred to the situations in Myanmar, Iraq and Syria as examples of countries facing unprecedented levels of forced displacement of people owing to political issues. He called upon the United Nations to play a stronger role in establishing peace and stability.

In relation to the observations made by the Ambassador of the Sudan, Dr. Savio said the world is undergoing a crisis of multilateralism. He called upon decision-makers to resort to alliance building and dialogue with global civil society actors to build a system of values and principles conducive to peace and stability in the world. Ambassador Jazairy noted  in this regard  that the Sudan was guided by the principles of human solidarity and international justice when Khartoum provided refuge and protection to refugees from Eritrea and South Sudan despite that the country was under heavy international sanctions.

The Director of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Ms. Alexandra Bilak added that the phenomenon of internally displaced persons has not received the political attention that it deserves. This issue  she noted  was excluded in the Global Compact discussions on migration and refugees. The majority of people who are displaced today are internally displaced people whom cannot benefit from an international protection framework owing to their status. In this regard, Ms. Bilak called upon decision-makers to pay greater attention to address the plight of internally displaced persons.

The Director of the African Centre Against Torture Mr. David Koros noted in his intervention that migrants and refugees face torture and other forms of ill-treatment at detention and refugee camps particularly in transit countries such as Libya. He called upon decision-makers and international organizations to not turn a blind eye to situations in which migrants and refugees face grave human rights violations.

The adoption of the Geneva declaration on Mobility and Human Solidarity: An additional opportunity to identify new solutions to the migrant and refugee crisis

The Geneva declaration on "Mobility and human solidarity will be adopted on 18 December 2017 on the occasion of the 2017 International Migrants Day. This declaration has been signed by the following representatives:

 Geneva Centre: H. E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim and H. E. Ambassador Idriss Jazairy

 International Catholic Migration Commission: Monsignor Robert J. Vitillo

 Norwegian Refugee Council: Mr. Edouard Rodier

 European Centre for Peace and Development: Dr. Roberto Savio

 Sovereign Order of Malta: H. E. Ambassador Marie-Therese Pictet-Althann

 International Press Syndicate: Director General and Chief Editor Mr. Ramesh Jaura

 UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order: Professor Alfred de Zayas

 African Centre Against Torture: Mr. David Koros

 Journalist and author based in Norway: Mr. Halle Jrn Hanssen.

The Geneva Centre will issue an announcement on 18 December on the adoption of the declaration in which further details will be provided to media and other relevant stakeholders.

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UNWTO convened observatories from around the world to discuss advances in effectively monitoring sustainability in tourism at destination level. The 2017 Global International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) Meeting was held on the 13th and 14th of December at UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid,

The event started with an Observatory Mentoring Breakfast, in which INSTO Members shared experiences with interested destinations. It was followed by two days of experience sharing on regular monitoring of tourism impacts; opportunities deriving from geospatial analysis for tourism measurement; the importance of fostering catalytic areas; and the circular economy in tourism.

Further to these thematic blocks, participants shared information on different operational and technical structures of destination monitoring systems; geospatial analysis and opportunities deriving from location intelligence for more accurate and timely trend analysis; participatory approaches and local community satisfaction; efforts and links between local monitoring efforts and global development goals; as well as shared consumption and interconnected value chains and the role of circular business models for improving resource management in tourism.

"The UNWTO Network of Observatories is one of the contributions of the tourism community to express its commitment with the global cause of sustainable tourism that will guide the development of the sector in the years to come, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, closing the event.

The measurement of tourism impacts at the destination level has been a key area within the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

UNWTO has been promoting the measurement of tourism through sustainable tourism indicators since the early 1990s. In order to support destinations to jointly learn and further advance the monitoring of tourism impacts at the destination level, the UNWTO International Network of Tourism Observatories was created in 2004. As of December 2017, INSTO includes 21 Observatories worldwide committed to regular and timely measurement of tourism at the destination level.
In a 30-minute presentation to more than 300 researchers including members of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Kenton Dashiell acknowledged the efficient mechanism of the IITA-managed Cassava Weed Management Project (IITA-CWMP) in the core areas of partnership creation, research, and dissemination of innovations to farmers.

Dr Dashiells presentation, which focused on IITAs Partnership for Delivery strategy, highlighted IITAs renewed commitment to impact on farm levels and how the Institute is responding to Africas agricultural realities in the context of food security and wealth creation.

He noted that IITAs scaling out approaches were based on excellent research at IITA and highlighted the role of partners as a critical component to the research and delivery continuum.

Other projects which featured in the presentation were the Ag Results project on the control of aflatoxins, N2Africa, the IITA Business Incubation Platform, and the IITA Youth Agri-Business program.

The IITA Cassava Weed Management Project, which began in 2014, has five componentsthree focusing on research and two on delivery and effective project management.

All these components are integrated in a research-for-development model, according to Dr Alfred Dixon, Project Leader, Cassava Weed Management Project today.

Three and a half years down the line, the project has developed an integrated weed control package that is now being disseminated to farmers at scale using diverse platforms such as traditional and social media, on-farm demonstration, extension agents, and spray service providers.

The integrated weed management technology is today showing farmers the best approaches to control weeds in cassava farming systems, making farming cassava less burdensome, and increasing yields.

The project intends to reach at least 125,000 farmers in its lifecycle of 5 years.

Dr Dashiell who oversees a portfolio of projects said the vison of the Partnerships for Delivery Directorate was to ensure that the excellent research being generated is delivered at scale, support policy dialogues, and promote youth and private sector entrepreneurship.

About IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africas most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
17.12.2017 LISTEN

Currently there is increase in the number of young ones especially females passing out of vocational and technical institutions. To meet them half way, there is the need for them to be supported to open their own businesses either at home or in markets and stores. This would lead to them working to feed themselves and their families. A study has shown that a whole lot of qualified seamstresses are not in a positions to purchase their own sewing machines and other equipment.

For this reason, the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian services a Ghanaian non-governmental organization has begun donating sewing machines across the country at separate ceremonies to some freshly trained seamstresses to be able to pursue their trades independently. The sewing machines were donated with funds from the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates.

In addition to the donation of sewing machines, The Islamic Council for Deployment and Humanitarian Services [ICODEHS] has opened a new training center, known as ICODEHS Training Center at Alajo in the Greater Accra Region. The establishment of the center was supported by the Carter Center of the United States of America.







The Executive Chairman of ICODEHS Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim was full of praise for those who provided funds for the center and the offer of sewing machines and called on officials and trainers to put the center to good use by turning out well qualified trainees. The trainees were also advised to take their lessons seriously to qualify to be of help to themselves, the society and the nation as a whole.

Apart from sewing machines ICODEHS has donated a number of Deep Freezers to some women in the country to enable the store soft drinks and other food items for sale. Most of the beneficiaries are full of praise to ICODEHS and the donors in Dubai for the support.

ICODEHS is also noted for providing boreholes to institutions including mosques towards solving their water needs.

The building of schools has been the stock in trade of ICODEHS. Schools have been built throughout the country by the organization with funds mainly from United Arab Emirates

Again the organization is currently donating computers to schools across the country to assist them acquire knowledge in Information Communication Technology. As of now some schools in Accra precisely Achimota, Baatsona and some parts of the country.

ICODEHS was established by Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim in 1991 as Book development organization. But it later developed into becoming an organization which combined book writing and construction of mosques, schools, clinics, wells and support for orphans. ICODEHS has now moved into distribution of sewing machines and computers. With this write we recommend to the government agencies concerned with the less privileged to contact the ICODEHS to offer help to the needy.

ICODEHS HQ,ACCRA Sheikh M Ibrahim Chairman ICODEHS

Executive Director eanfoworld for sustainable development [email protected]/[email protected] 0244370345/0208844792/0274853710
17.12.2017 LISTEN

She has been served with a letter of invitation to meet a committee set up by the CJ after a said prima facie case was established against her, yet, she hasnt been served with a copy of the petition as well as a copy of the prima facie findings against her. Even at her behest, the CJ is hesitant to.

What happens to the Procedural fairness of the impeachment process?

From the beginning of this impeachment saga, we were told the petitioners were twenty 22 in number constituting workers of the Electoral Commission. This figure was later revised to 17 and now we are told they are only two petitioners, and these two are said to be faceless and nameless people whose identity is under protection for national security reasons.

In the case of Lauretta Lamptey (former Commissioner of CHRAJ), the petitioner was not a matter of secrecy, and his identify was not a national security issue. Richard Nyamah who was then speaker for the pressure group Nationalist Forum remains walking evidence whose petition took the former CHRAJ boss out of her position. Why is Charlotte Osei being treated differently?? What is preventing the current CJ from disclosing the identity of these petitioners even when the accuser the (EC Chair person) has formerly written to demand for it?

It is emerging that these so called faceless and nameless petitioners are drivers at EC. Really?? A driver in Ghana abreast with issues of violations of procurement processes and issues of contracts and administrative lapses at the EC and to think about contracting a lawyer to file a petition on their behalf as a way of initiating impeachment process against the EC boss?? This is Incredible! Only the NPP government can explain which schools these drivers attended.

We are also being told that these two faceless and nameless petitioners are representing the remaining 15 petitioners. Question is, which aspect of our laws can such a situation be founded?? Which part of article 146 or any other section of our constitution permit for a power of attorney on behalf of a petitioner or another in the petitioning processes??

We are told not to read political incursions into this matter. We are also told to pretend that nothing ever happened prior to the 2016 election concerning the naked attacks on the person of Charlotte Osei at her appointment. We are told to forget about what Kennedy Agyapong and Otiko Gyaaba said when Charlotte Osei was appointed the EC Chair. We are told to have confidence in the court which found a reason to free the Delta 8 when they physically ransacked and interrupted a live court proceedings but went ahead to incarcerate the montie3 which merely made derogatory remarks about the court in a radio station. We will surely fail to read political incursions into this matter because we dont know how to do it.

But the third party judge in whose silent observation I take solace is posterity. In humility and clear mindedness, we keenly observe with enthusiasm how Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and his cousin Sophia Akufo handle this matter, and we have not forgotten that if for any reason Charlotte Osei chooses to visit the Supreme Court, she will be meeting Gloria Akufo, the second cousin of the president. This is what we voted for!!

We are watching!!

Email; [email protected] , Facebook: suaka peter, tweet; @suakapeter. WhatsApp; 0200922728
Murtala Mohamed was determined to break up Nigeria. His coup of July 28,1966 was aimed at pulling out the North from Nigeria until other variables intervened. By the time he assumed office as Head of State in August 1975 after the July 30, 1975 coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon, Mohamed was a born again believer in Nigeria.

He was genuinely concerned about the drift of Nigeria into stagnation via incompetence, negligence and ineffectiveness that had inordinate ambition of some military officers as its undercurrent. As pointed out by General Theophilus Danjuma recently, the task of clearing the Cement Armada that blocked our seaports under General Gowon was given to then Colonel Shehu Musa Yar'Adua who was one of the architects of the Coup that ousted General Gowon. This is a supportive evidence of this desire on the part of General Mohamed to clear the Augean stable.

The postponement in 1974 of return to civilian rule by General Gowon among other important reasons set in motion the variables that led to his being removed from office in 1975. And on coming to office, one of the major objectives of General Mohamed led junta was to hand over the reigns of Government to the civilians.

General Mohamed at this point was majorly concerned about how to pull Nigeria out of the woods. His newly found patriotism was burning like a wild fire devoid of any sentiments that he had had hitherto. He was thinking Nigeria rather than his North. He was scanning all possible candidates for the coming election that would give Nigeria the next civilian leader and was thinking of who would deserve the mantle and lead Nigeria to the Promised Land.

Having seen many civilians worked in General Gowon's Executive Council of which he was a member, General Mohamed was very impressed with the sage, Obafemi Awolowo. One way or the other, his deputy, General Olusegun Obasanjo- Onyejekwe found out about his enormous respect for Chief Awolowo. General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe, according to Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a.k.a Ebino Topsy, in "NOT HIS WILL", had reportedly "whispered" into General Mohamed's hears not to consider Chief Awolowo as the next President of Nigeria.

"NOT HIS WILL" is a book that was written by Ebino Topsy in response to an earlier book written by General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe titled "NOT MY WILL." The book by General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe was deemed full of untruths that Chief Babatope had to write a rebuttal which title was derived from General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe's own book title.

If Colonel Buka S. Dimka's coup of February 13, 1976 had not been successful, and General Mohamed had not been assassinated, it is possible that may be the trajectory of Nigeria's History would have been different from what it is now. No one knew how things would have panned out with him in charge of the transition process.

But with General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe in charge, he followed up on his desire to destroy the chance of Chief Awolowo to lead Nigeria and thereby deny the country the blessings that could have resulted therefrom. Apart from actively campaigning against Chief Awolowo as evident in his infamous statement that "the best man did not have to win the election," he took many steps that effectively shut out the sage from winning.

Some of these steps include the removal of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Darnley Arthur Alexander before the hearing of the suit brought to challenge the results of 1979 elections by other political parties. Obasanjo-Onyejekwe was suspicious that Justice Alexander could not be manipulated to support Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Justice Alexander was replaced with Justice Atanda Fatai William.

Other steps taken by Obasanjo-Onyejekwe to ensure that Chief Awolowo never became the President include the spurious midnight single handed "amendment" of the 1979 Constitution by him without the Supreme Military Council (SMC). Obasanjo-Onyejekwe had removed the clause from the Constitution that allowed for ELECTORAL COLLEGE if there was not a clear winner. He had sensed that Chief Awolowo might win the votes if it came to that.

Eventually, Justice Fatai Williams gave a judgement on September 26, 1979, that pronounced to Nigerians that there is something like a two-thirds of a human being that could give two-thirds of a vote in two-thirds of a state that could be rounded up mathematically to a whole human being, a whole vote and a whole state! The Judgment was so egregious that the Court itself insisted that it (the particular Judgment) should never be cited as a reference or precedent for other cases. According to the seminally brilliant Seyi Olu Awofeso, it was "the day the Law died in Nigeria."

During the June 12 crisis spearheaded by General Ibrahim Babangida, when Nigerians were insisting that the obvious winner of that election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola be installed accordingly, General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe was all over the place singing perfidiously, that Chief Abiola "is not the Messiah" Nigerians have been waiting for.

The previous image and dubious reputation of General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe as the first Military man to put in place a "democratic experiment" in Africa was deployed to malign, mangle and manacle Chief Abiola's victory. General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe's perfidy doused the agitation for the restoration of the June 12 mandate. It scuttled the struggle until General Sanni Abacha railroaded him into prison for treason or attempted coup, calling General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe "a coward with a big belly."

After failing in his diabolical Third Term Agenda in the months leading to the 2007 elections, an act which was obviously against the General Abubakar Abdulsalaam 1999 Constitution, General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe had blamed his Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for his misfortunes.

General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe was so bitter about his failed heinous agenda that he set out to destroy his erstwhile Vice President and deny Alhaji Atiku the Presidency in 2007. He manipulated the process so fraudulently that his preferred candidate, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was so embarrassed that he confessed after the election that he was rigged in. In fact, Alhaji Yar'Adua's exact words were "massively rigged!"

In putting together the sickly regime of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe had played out proven and dependable hands who could help pilot the Nigerian ship such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Donald Duke et al. He had left no stone unturned to characteristically subvert the process as he did 28 years earlier against Chief Awolowo.

General Obasanjo-Onyejekwe's machinations in 2007 set up the misfortune of a Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to succeed the sluggish, sickly, sloven and shabby tenure of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. The incompetence of Dr. Jonathan created a conducive atmosphere for the re -emergence of an obvious but dangerous plague, an exceptionally traumatizing tragedy and decapitating misfortune in the mold of an omnivorous political vampire called General Mohammadu Buhari

Now 2019 is around the corner. Nigeria is comatose. There is unending murders on the Nigerian streets, villages and farms by Government backed ethnic cleansers. There is hunger across the land in a manner that has never been witnessed before. Unbridled nepotism, the worst of its genre is unleashed. Anger spurned by fear, exasperation fueled by desperation and bestiality inflamed by dehumanization are threatening to explode the polity.

And in the midst of this, General, Chief, Dr. Olusegun Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo-Onyejekwe is at it again. He is not helping with ideas and solutions. He is engaged in personal vendetta against those that might help to rescue the situation. He is contaminating the public space with his vindictive rant. He is acting as an avowed enemy of the Nigerian State. He is pouting as a committed enemy of the suffering Nigerians.

As James Arinloye aptly surmised:

"In 1979, OBJ gave us a stupid president (Shehu Shagari). In 2007, he gave us a sick president (Umaru Musa Yar'Adua). In 2011, he gave us a silly president (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) and in 2015 a shady, shoddy and shrinking president (Muhammadu Buhari)."

(Parentheses mine).

Nigerians have to pay attention to events in our History so as to avoid another dangerous mistake like Mohammadu Buhari in 2019. Nigerians have to evaluate the attestations of narcissistic egomaniacs like Dr. Obasanjo - Onyejekwe as decisions are arrived at about 2019. Chief Obasanjo-Onyejekwe has contributed immensely to the problems of Nigeria.

As 2019 approaches, Nigerians should not be mentally and literally blinded to the realities around them. The squalor is mind boggling. The indiscipline is demobilizing. The moral decadence is disorienting. The audacity of hypocrisy is hypnotizing. The arrogance of impunity is paralyzing. The impudence of incompetence is crippling. Corruption has metastasized in about thirty months under Mohammadu Buhari. Cow thieves in power are chasing around and harassing chicken thieves. No thinking mind should forget all this.

It is time to get serious.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently explain to Nigerians why the government decided to withdraw the sum of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, if his government is to avoid the intense secrecy and lack of accountability and oversight of the spending on Boko Haram that characterised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The money was approved by the governors during a meeting last Friday of the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale, the organization said: Nigerians should have some sense of what it is the government is doing in our name, especially against the background of the declaration by the authorities that the anti-insurgency war has ended and the Boko Haram terror group defeated, as well as the unresolved questions on how over $2bn was spent by former Jonathan administration to fight Boko Haram. The government also ought to tell Nigerians whether and how the legal requirements for approving the extra-budgetary allocations were met.

The organization said that, As a government presumably pursuing a change-agenda, Buhari should do things differently from the former Jonathan administration including by proactively engaging the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the fight against Boko Haram and the use of the public funds so far invested to prosecute it.

The statement read in part: The Nigerian people do not have sufficient information at hand to evaluate, much less influence, the governments policies, strategies and funding to end Boko Haram insurgency. Nigerians need to know the level of success that has been recorded against Boko Haram, and the security situation in the North-east, as well as the amount of public funds that have been invested to combat terrorism.

The success of Nigerian constitutional democracy ultimately depends upon an informed citizenry. The government should therefore emphasise transparency over secrecy on the spending on Boko Haram. Buhari should keep Nigerians up-to-date about what hes doing to end Boko Haram, including by explaining why $1bn is needed at this time to fight the insurgency.

Indeed, the health of our democracy depends upon the governments willingness to ensure that the policies and programs it pursues in the interest of national security are truly relevant and effective in keeping us safe.

The vitality of citizens check on governmental powers, especially on the spending of our commonwealth, depends upon the availability of information. The citizens need to know about governmental actions and policies in order to exercise their checking power including at the polls. The only effective restraint upon executive policy and power may lie in an enlightened citizenry.

Transparency in the spending on Boko Haram would also have an indirect effect on other branches in the sense of setting an example and changing the background tone of government. Such disclosure helps to ensure governments adherence to the rule of law and promote confidence in the lawfulness of governmental action.

Since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency, Nigeria defence and security budgets have increased significantly yet there has been no resolution of the conflict; and troops in the front line have reportedly complained of lack of military equipment and resources to fight Boko Haram insurgents and restore full security. For instance, in 2014 about N340billion (US$1.7billion) was allocated to the military. Funds allocated to the military was the largest in Nigerias federal budget in 2014.

In October 2014, the National Assembly approved a request to borrow US$1billion as an additional amount for purchase of military equipment. In 2015, about N375billion (US$1.8billion) was allocated to the military in the federal budget. In 2015, an interim report of the presidential investigations committee on arms procurement under the Jonathan administration revealed an extra-budgetary spending to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional spending of about $2.1 billion under the Jonathan administration.

The investigation indicated that about $2.1 billion was inexplicably disbursed into the office of the National Security Adviser in procurement of arms to fight Boko Haram insurgency, but was not spent for the purpose for which the money was disbursed.

The lack of transparency and accountability in military spending, during the administration of former president Jonathan, has led to the inability of the military to adequately protect people against the violation of their rights by Boko Haram in the northeast of Nigeria.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which Nigeria is a key member, has accountability, economic and social justice and popular participation in development as part of the fundamental principles in the Revised Treaty ECOWAS. In a similar way, the Charter of the Commonwealth, which Nigeria is also a member, has as its core principles mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legitimacy, and responsiveness.

Article 1(c) of the UN Convention Against Corruption states the purpose of the treaty to include the promotion of integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property. As a state party to the Convention, Nigeria is obliged to take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.

Some persons alleged to have embezzled funds meant for the fight against Boko Haram insurgents are currently being prosecuted while other people are being investigated. It is important for the government to accelerate this process by ensuring that the investigation and prosecution of all persons alleged to have embezzled our commonwealth is not delayed.

A speedy prosecution will serve as a deterrent and ensure that Nigerians, particularly those in the northeast whose human rights have been violated, are not denied justice and reparation. The government should provide all investigating and prosecuting agencies with adequate funding and manpower required for speedy investigation and prosecution of corruption linked to the fight against Boko Haram.



SIGNED



Timothy Adewale

SERAP deputy director

17/12/2017

Lagos, Nigeria

Emails: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Demonstrators in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid on Sunday marked seven years since a street vendor set himself on fire in a move that touched off the Arab Spring uprisings.

Stallholder Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight on December 17, 2010 in a deadly protest over unemployment and police harassment that spiralled into the overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Tensions were running high as unemployed protesters and activists marched through the streets angry over the lack of jobs and opportunities that continue to plague Sidi Bouzid.

Some 40 members of radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir were detained for trying to hold an unsanctioned rally and unfurling banners critical of the authorities, security sources said.

On Saturday evening, security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators after they blocked some roads with tyres in the symbolic cradle of the revolution.

The mood was sombre at an official event to mark the occasion on Sunday, with allegations from organisers that the authorities were trying to downplay the key date in Tunisia's recent history.

The protests that began in Sidi Bouzid unleashed a wave of revolt that continues to reverberate around the Middle East.

Tunisia has emerged from the upheavals as the one relative success story and has been praised for its steps towards democracy, but it is still dogged by political and economic turbulence.
BA-GJA-Executives

17.12.2017 LISTEN

The Brong Ahafo branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is looking forward to increase its membership.

In a speech delivered at the swearing-in of the newly-elected regional executives on Friday, December 15, 2017, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of the GJA, Larry Paa Kwesi Moses said it is the priority of the association to increase its membership from next year.

It is very sad to note that despite the proliferation of the media in the region, the regional branch of the association has only 31 members, which I strongly believe, is not the best and I am entreating those who are not members to register for their own good.

Its the priority of the association to increase its membership, and from next year, my administration is going to intensify membership drive in the various districts and Municipalities in the region to convince media practitioners who are not members on the need for them to join the association, he said.

He added that a lot of benefits are there to be grab as the association under the presidency of Dr. Roland Affail Monney has signed memoranda of understanding with some development partners who will from 2018 sponsor deserving members to undertake top up courses both at home and abroad.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of GJA also called on Journalists to endeavour to demonstrate a high sense of professionalism and civility in their reportage.

He concluded by calling on members to bury their differences, forge ahead in unity and help identify and address challenges that confront the association.

Source: Newshuntermag.com
17.12.2017 LISTEN

Aspiring National Chairman of NPP in the upcoming National Delegates elections, Mr Fred Amankwah-Sarfo has noted with much concern that the rank and file of the party should be mindful of the decisions they make today as posterity will judge our decisions in no distant.

He made this observation with regards to Constitutional amendment by the New Patriotic Party the ruling government in an interview with Kessben FM's John Awuni in Kumasi today.

Earlier this year, the NPP through it's acting General Secretary, Mr John Boadu invited proposals for Constitutional amendments in the party's governing Constitution as they sought to realign the party and fill loopholes in the party's current Constitution.

This announcement sparked debate within the party circles with several proposals coming from different quarters within the party.

The aspiring National Chairman has maintained that it is time to deepen participatory democracy in the party and broaden the party's base from the Polling Station level through to the apex.

Mr Amankwah-Sarfo who was one of the proponents of the Constitutional amendments has observed that, the party is about to take yet another critical decision that will faction the forward match of the party.

The aspiring National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party stated that some of the proposed amendment has a tendency of creating animosity between party members if accepted. He is therefore urging delegates to make far reaching decisions that will deepen participatory democracy in Ghana and the rest of Africa political parties to emulate.

The NPP is a beacon of democratic processes, efforts should therefore be made to enhance this.

He has therefore called on all delegates who will be affirming the recommendations of the Constitutional Amendment Committee to be very circumspect in the decisions they make at the Party's National Extraordinary Delegates Conference scheduled for the purpose of approving the Proposed Constitutional amendments on Sunday 17th December, 2017 at the Heroes Park in Kumasi - Ashanti Region.

Mr Fred Amankwah-Sarfo who is a contender in the 2018 national chairmanship position is a Corporate Executive in Residence at the University of Ghana Business School. He is a member of the Association for Information Systems and the West Africa Representative for Sysmac Consultancy Ltd.

Mr. Amankwah-Sarfo is an experienced, dedicated, self-motivated and results oriented, business development consultant, an Information System Ph.D Doctoral Researcher, holds the University of Ghana Pan African Doctoral Academy certificates in Leadership for the Emerging African Scholar and Managing the Doctoral Process, Fred is the President of the Federation of African Doctoral Researchers (FADR) and the Acting President of the Doctoral Researchers Association of Ghana (DRAG), an Ex-President of Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), a member of the University of Ghana Council and Judicial Committee of GRASAG and the Disciplinary Committee for Junior Members. He mentors PhD and MPhil students in the Department of Operations and Management Information Systems at the University of Ghana Business School.

He has a twenty-five (25) years corporate experience in providing cutting edge ICT systems design, development, implementation and evaluation.

Mr. Amankwah-Sarfo is a Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE) and holds a Masters degree in Management of Information Systems (MBA-MIS) and BSc in Business Admin (HRM) from the University of Ghana. He has an excellent track record in leadership, cyber security, strategic information systems, business development and policy analysis. Fred was the Head of Business Development and Innovation at the Ghana Indian Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), research and innovation, training and consultancy institution. He is the Executive Director of PowerLinks Co. Ltd, Board Chairman for TekPro Co. Ltd, and the Director of Operations and Business Development of MTI Gh Ltd.

Mr. Amankwah-Sarfo is confident in negotiations, dialogue and consensus building in an atmosphere of mutual respect. He contributes significantly in development and leadership of the University of Ghana and identifies sources of research funding and to the process of securing grants and other forms of research funding and support.

- John Awuni

Kessben FM
17.12.2017 LISTEN

"...Surely, this is an important matter... Must we conclude it is a sign of laziness that caused the issuance of the statement without a single date?... On what date and how did the Ghana Police Service "initially" indicate "their preparedness to provide the required security"?... On what date and how...", (Prof Lungu, 17 Dec 17).

We greatly appreciate all the work the good people in the Ghana Police Service do every day, serving the public, protecting the peace.

In the matter of the arrest of Mr. Bernard Mornah of the People's National Convention (PNC) party at Kawukudi Park, Nima, Accra, Saturday, 16 Dec 17; and Ghana Police Service statement published on Ghanaweb 17 Dec 17 (and other media about the matter):

We read with astonishment and sadness the statement issued by the Ghana Police Service and signed by "SGD DAVID EKLU ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE".

Surely, this is an important matter.

Surely, this matter is not just of Ghanaian national interest, but of interest to Africans all over the continent, and afar.

Sadly, and quite unprofessionally, the entire statement on this important matter does not cite a single date any event occurred.

Must we conclude it is a sign of laziness that caused the issuance of the statement without a single date?

Or, must we conclude it is a sign that the police is hiding information that is not in the interest of the Ghana Police Service, information the People of Ghana require the make a fair and balanced assessment of the events in contention?

Tell us about "earlier on", Ghana Police Service.

What actual date does "the leader of the group Mr. Bernard Mornah had earlier on served notice to the police of their intention to embark on a demonstration...", connote?

On what date and how did the Ghana Police Service "initially" indicate "their preparedness to provide the required security"?

On what date and how was "the leader of the group Mr. Bernard Mornah...advised to suspend the demonstration"?

Substantively, is it a fair, accurate, and complete statement that the Bernard Mornah notice was about his group's "...intention to embark on a demonstration in support of some Togolese nationals in Ghana who have been agitating for what they termed a change in government in Togo...".

Where are copies of the written records, Ghana Police?

So it goes, Ghana!

SOURCES/NOTES:

Why we arrested Bernard Mornah and others over Togo rally - Police explain, (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Why-we-arrested-Bernard-Mornah-and-others-over-Togo-rally-Police-explain-610401).

Visit www.GhanaHero.Com/Visions, for more information.

SUBJ: Bernard Mornah Arrest Statement by Ghana Police Service is Unprofessional

Support Fair-Trade Oil Share Ghana (FTOS-Gh) Campaign/Petition:

https://www.change.org/p/ghana-fair-trade-oil-share-psa-campaign-ftos-gh-psa/

Brought to you courtesy www.GhanaHero.com1 December, 2017.

(Powered by: www.GhanaHero.Com).
Kamal-Deen Abdulai, the National Nasara Coordinator of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has showered praises on the party for a successful extraordinary Conference held today at the Heroes Park of Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Capital.

Kamal-Deen who is also aspiring to become the party's next National Youth Organiser in an interaction with the press praised the organisers of the program for how well the program was planned.

He also thanked all delegates for comporting themselves throughout the processes.

The ruling party used the extraordinary conference to make some changes in their constitution. This is coming at the back of several proposals written by individuals and groups for some sections of the party's constitution to be reviewed.

The party held its annual delegates conference on 26 Aug 2017 at cape coast. At the conference a special ad hoc committee was formed to look into all proposals submitted by groups and individuals to synchronize them into a single well thought through document.

Following that decision, a national extraordinary conference was held at Kumasi today to decide on the proposals.

Kamal-Deen then used the opportunity to wish all the delegates a safe journey back to their destination.

Kwasi Frimpong,

Press Aide to Kamal-Deen
Groupe Nduom and Coconut Grove Regency Hotel have held their annual Carols Night service at the forecourt of the hotel.

The heart-warming festival of 9 lessons and carols afforded employees, stakeholders, and guests an opportunity to dance, worship God amidst hymns and carols.

Gracing the occasion was the Winneba Youth Choir with soothing musical renditions.

The President and Chairman of Groupe Nduom, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom expressed his appreciation to God for His mercies and favours and wished everyone happy holidays.

The General Manager of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Accra, Mr. Ralph Ayitey assured customers that the hotel will continue to offer quality services that exceeds their expectation.

He used the occasion to commend Dr. and Mrs. Nduom for their efforts in building Coconut Grove Hotels Ghana and promoting the hospitality industry in the country.

Maame Adwoa Nduom, the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Nduom, treated the gathering to her sterling eloquence as she took to the stage to read the second lesson of the night which was taken from Genesis 22:1518.

Employees, stakeholders, and guests who were gathered at the event ceased the occasion to reflect on the goodness of the Lord throughout the year and expressed their gratitude in singing and dancing.



By: citifimonline.com/Ghana

The post Groupe Nduom, Coconut Grove hold Carols Night service appeared first on Ghana News .
Infectious diseases still play a significant role in the health of Ghanaians. These diseases, some of which are highly contagious, are fortunately preventable and treatable. Their control however demands sustained and well-financed public health measures. A lack of such measures, their inadequate finance or incomplete implementation can lead to deaths.

It must be noted that some of these diseases are endemic to certain areas of the country while others occur everywhere. Some like meningitis tend to be seasonal while others like malaria may occur year round. What is common to all these diseases is that they are often found in places where people live in close proximity with each other. Our boarding schools and universities are such institutions that come to mind.

And so does OccupyGhananote with concern the outbreak of infectious diseases in senior high schools in various parts of the country with at least 8 fatalities this year. In particular, we refer to the outbreak of H1N1 Flu in Kumasi Academy where 4 students have died and many others taken ill and hospitalised, and Meningitis in Koforidua Sec. Tech., Damango Snr. High School, and most recently Bawku Sec. Tech. School.

The questions that arise from these events are whether Ghana has adequate and well-financed public health measures to deal with these outbreaks and if these measures, if available, are implemented properly.

In a nutshell, these measure should include:

 a vaccination or prophylaxis program to protect against contracting these diseases,

 practices that help in protecting one from contracting them,

 a centre manned by trained professionals that monitors the incidence and outbreaks,

 a good reporting system that allows outbreaks to be reported,

 a team that responds to these reports of outbreaks,

 an incident manager to supervise the management of each outbreak,

  an effective way of quarantining affected individuals or communities,

 an effective way of tracking down individuals who may be carriers,

 a clear way of reassuring the public about the measure taken and their safety and those of their families

 a program to treat the sick and

 measures to get the outbreak under control.

From all the reports of what happened in Kumasi Academy a few weeks ago, several issues become apparent:

 there is a reporting system that allows outbreaks to be reported to the Ministry of Health/ Ghana Health Service (GHS),

 the response from the GHS was adequate,

 it is unclear if autopsies were done on all 4 deceased students,

 diagnosis of the cause was rapid,

 quarantining of the affected students and areas was not good. The president visited the school in that period,

 there seems to be no vaccines available for the H1N1,

 there was a breakdown in adequate communication to the community about the outbreak and the measures being taken.

Considering these listed observations, what has happened at several schools so far, and the fact that we have entered the annual season for meningitis and outbreaks are expected in the meningitis belt, we respectfully ask the Minister of Health to provide answers to the following questions:

 Are our public health measure against infectious diseases well-funded?

 What steps has the ministry taken to protect the public and SHS students from meningitis?

 Have teachers and school staff been educated about meningitis?

 Have students been immunised against meningitis and other preventable infectious diseases?

 Is there an effective communication strategy with the public and the media and who are the frontline communicators?

 Are the response teams allowed to quarantine affected individuals or even communities? Do we need the help of the military for that?

 Is there always an incident manager designated to manage the control of these outbreaks?

 What steps have been taken to enhance sanitation and hygiene and reduce congestion in schools?

 Could the GHS publish protocols to deal with outbreaks for schools?

Infectious diseases, though devastating in their effects, are also controllable and preventable. Lets all work together to get a handle on them for a healthier Ghana for God and Country.

OccupyGhana
I stuck to what the coaches ...
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []
I cannot believe whats happened over a simple case of a wedding cake! Seriously, find another bakery!

This homosexual couple was not oppressed; they were offended! They are trying to force their fellow American to do something he doesnt want to do, and they are willing to destroy the very fabric of this country to achieve that goal.

Being oppressed means laws exist that limit ones freedom. Being offended means someone hurt your feelings. Get it? Stop confusing the two. Get yourself a dictionary.

Cathy Garcia

Legacy of sacrifice

I was born in 1940, and had an uncle and two cousins who served in World War II.

I was hoping your paper would have mentioned Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, but to no avail. Lest we forget what this war was about, genocide is still occurring in the world. This is part of our history, which is slowly being forgotten.

I had a brother who served in Vietnam and studied Chinese. He was sent to Okinawa, where he spent his three years in the Navy. (When my daughter was stationed with the Air Force, she showed me where my brother spent those years. It is a block house with no windows and one door.) When he arrived back in the U.S., he didnt get off the ship before changing clothes so he wouldnt be spit on or physically attacked. As one of the Vietnam vets stated, They werent mad at us, they were mad at the war.

Thank you for just hearing me.

Anne Turner

Try real issues

It would be nice if Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the City Council paid as much attention to the real problems here as they do to climate change. You know, things like crime, potholes, missing street signs, and attracting new business and jobs. Things that affect the average person. Not climate change, which the average person is not really worried about.

But what can one expect from a very liberal mayor and his cronies in City Hall? A mayor and City Council more concerned about removing statues and changing locations of the Christmas tree, even though residents want the tree exactly where it has been for years.

Sabine Maytum, Universal City

Irresponsible bill

Re: "Trump signs bill that boosts GI pay, front page Dec. 13:

It is irresponsible to pass a massive, deficit increasing tax cut at the same time as a huge increase in defense spending. We've seen this twice before, and we can't afford to do it again. After Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush did it, our debt increased significantly. Yes, the GIs deserve more, and yes, our military is depleted after years of deployment after deployment. But it is irresponsible to pass revenue-negative tax cuts at the same time. For the sake of future generations, we should all be begging our legislators to vote AGAINST approving the final tax bill.

Thomas N. Lee
This Real News Network interview with Craig Aaron, president of Free Press, discusses this weeks Federal Communications Commission decision to unwind net neutrality, and what comes next. Aaron suggests the fight for a free and open internet isnt over despite this weeks huge setback.

AARON MATE: Its The Real News. Im Aaron Mate. Is the internet as we know it dead? Thats the question after a major decision by the Federal Communications Commission. By a margin of three to two, the FCC voted to appeal rules that guaranteed equal access to all web content. Under net neutrality, service providers on the internet were barred from favoring a certain content with higher speeds and more visible access. With net neutrality gone, that means that what you see and how you see it on the web could very much change. Dont write off net neutrality just yet. Those who waged the grassroots campaign to win it in the first place, are now leading an effort to save it.

Craig Aaron is president of the group Free Press, one of those groups that fought for net neutrality, and is now within the charge to protect it. Craig, welcome. What is the significance of yesterdays vote?

CRAIG AARON: Thanks for having me. Yesterdays vote at the Federal Communications Commission is significant, because it represents the first time the FCC has completely abdicated any responsibility to serve the public. The rules the FCC passed yesterday tear down strong net neutrality rules, clear protections that were instituted in 2015 during the Obama administration, and they really defang the agency all together leaving them unable to step in if and when a powerful phone or cable company decides to start interfering with the internet. It opens the door to blocking, slowing down content, creating pay-to-play fast lanes that only the biggest media companies can afford. Its a very dangerous decision, but I do not believe it will be the last word in this fight.

AARON MATE: Before we get to the fight, what do you see as the most immediate implications should the repeal of net neutrality go into effect, and what it could mean for average consumers who consume web content?

CRAIG AARON: I think one of the real dangers here is how hard it is going to be for the average consumer to know whats going on. What getting rid of these rules does is it allows phone and cable companies to start manipulating your internet experience in all kinds of ways, some of which you wont actually be able to see, or you wont know is happening. Maybe youre trying to watch this show and youre getting the spinning wheel of death, and you cant figure it out. Is it your internet connection? Do you need to pay for faster speeds? Is something else going on? You start to notice that, all of the sudden, Fox News is coming through just fine. These are the kinds of things that were concerned about, as well as a whole set of deals these companies want to strike, where they offer preferential treatment to their own content, and most of these are big, multifaceted media companies, as well as those who might pay.

Suddenly, we start to change the fundamental nature of the internet. It stops looking like that free and open space where youre in control, and starts looking a lot more like cable television, where your company pick and choose the channels for you, starts pricing out different tiers, and makes it a lot harder for independent voices to be heard, and a lot harder for new and innovative companies to compete with the big guys.

AARON MATE: Do you believe the internet companies when they say  Theyve offered some assurances that theyre not going to be offering tiered packages, not going to be charging people more to access things like Google and YouTube. Do you trust their assurances?

CRAIG AARON: No. I dont trust the cable companies. These are companies, these are the most hated companies in the country for a reason. You cant trust them to show up at your house when they say they will at 10:00 a.m., and I dont trust their assurances that theyre not going to mess with the internet. The reason why is because when theyre talking to their own investors, when theyre talking to each other at trade shows, when theyre under oath in court, they make very clear that they do intend to discriminate. Were already seeing them starting to scrub their pledges and their terms of service to allow fast lanes and paid prioritization.

The other reason I dont really believe them is, if they have no intention of violating the spirit of these rules, then why are they spending millions and millions of dollars to overturn them? It just doesnt make any sense. Clearly there are things they want to do that the public is not going to like.

AARON MATE: Let me put to you the reason that I hear said most often, especially by the man responsible for all this, FCC chair Ajit Pai, a former lawyer for Verizon. He says that these regulations are making it hard to do business. Theyre trampling the free market, and undoing them will free up much needed capital for these companies to invest in better broadband, in better infrastructure to provide services to their customers.

CRAIG AARON: Yeah. The evidence just doesnt support any of those claims. Since these rules were put into place, investment is up overall among cable and telecom companies. Its also up, in a big way, in the whole internet ecosystem. Its clear that these, and these are multibillion dollar companies that make investment decisions for a lot of reasons, but theres zero evidence that these rules and regulations have held them back in any way. Moreover, the problem is that the way they make money in a world without net neutrality is by profiting off of scarcity. If youre going to see someone a ticket to the fast lane, then you have to have a slow lane theyre trying to avoid. All the incentives line up for these guys to start messing with content, offering special treatment for themselves, for select corporate partners, and slowing down everybody else. It really is a zero-sum game.

In a fair system, all these companies would be doing is just building big open pipes and all of us can go out and create whatever we want and compete with everybody else. Thats the internet we should have. Thats not the internet that Comcast, Verizon and AT&T are interested in building, and Ajit Pai, unfortunately, has shown no concern for any of the evidence in the record, and he seems to be motivated ideologically to just do away with any regulations, and do whatever he can to serve the biggest companies out there no matter the cost.

AARON MATE: Lets go to Ajit Pai. He was speaking yesterday before the vote at the FCC, and part of his argument was that the net neutrality rules that were imposed fix a system that was not broken.

AJIT PAI: This decision was a mistake. For one thing, there was no problem to solve. The internet wasnt broken in 2015. We were not living in some digital dystopia. To the contrary, the internet is one thing, perhaps the only thing, in American society that we can all agree has been a stunning success.

AARON MATE: Thats Ajit Pai, the FCC chair, and he was saying, Craig, that these regulations, these net neutrality regulations messed with something that already was a stunning success.

CRAIG AARON: Yeah. The evidence just doesnt support any of those claims. Net neutrality has been a part of the internet since its inception, and didnt become an issue until under the first Bush administration  Excuse me, the second Bush administration, George W. Bushs administration, they began moving to undo and change the rules to benefit the cable industry. Weve been having a big political fight since 2005 over what those rules should look like. The internet has been thriving in a world in which net neutrality has been largely protected, and where we had an FCC that was usually willing to step in when they saw a problem. They lost some of those efforts in court when they were challenged by the big companies, but net neutrality has been the rules of the road for the internet forever. This idea that the 2015 decision was some break from what came before is completely false.

What the Obama administration ended up doing, and lets be clear, Obama and the FCC only did it after immense public pressure, was to just codify those rules and just build in all those expectations that people had, and make sure that the FCC actually had the authority to step in when there was a problem. Thats what was in dispute. Not whether we should have net neutrality, but whether the FCC could do anything about it when these companies started acting badly. What Ajit Pai is saying is, were not going to do anything about it anymore, and thats the change here.

AARON MATE: Right. Interestingly, the open internet rules were inactive in 2015. Since then, theyve been challenged in court. Several courts have upheld them.

CRAIG AARON: Thats right.

AARON MATE: Im wondering if that sets a precedence now for the legal challenge that will follow that FCC repeal yesterday?

CRAIG AARON: Yeah. I think it does, and thats important history. Ever since the net neutrality was thrown in jeopardy by a Supreme Court decision in 2005, there have been a series of court fights every time the FCC has tried to go forward with a half measure, or pretend its authority exists in some other part of the law, the courts have rejected the FCCs rules. When they finally passed strong and clear rules, resting on clear authority, something called Title 2 of the Communications Act, the courts upheld that decision. Theyve actually done it twice so far. Thats a case that could go to the Supreme Court still, but thats the first time the rules were ever upheld.

Now you have Ajit Pai coming in, and the thing is, when it comes to administrative law, its not enough to say that Donald Trump is president and we want to trash everything. You actually have to build a legal case. You actually have to present evidence that there was a reason to change these rules. You actually have to show that the public interest is being served somehow by this decision. I dont think Ajit Pai can do that. Were certainly preparing our lawsuit right now. Well be filing it in the next couple of weeks, to challenge these rules in court. Im sure we wont be alone. I expect this will go to federal court sometime next year, a challenge, and I think its a challenge we can win.

AARON MATE: One more clip of Ajit Pai making that case for why it is in the public interest to change the rules.

AJIT PAI: What is responsible for the phenomenal development of the internet? It certainly wasnt heavy-handed government regulation. Quite to the contrary. At the dawn of the commercial internet, president Clinton and a Republican Congress agreed that it would be the policy of the United States to, and I quote, preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the internet unfettered by federal and state regulation. This bipartisan policy worked.

AARON MATE: Thats Ajit Pai, the chair of the FCC, speaking for the vote to repeal net neutrality. Craig, what I found interesting here was he says that what has has been responsible for the boom of the internet has not been government regulation, and he suggested that it was all about encouraging the free market. What he left out is that the internet was created with public funding, which to me, then, would lend credence to the view that the internet should be regulated and distributed in the service and the interest of the public.

CRAIG AARON: Yeah. And thats just the start of the things he left out. He likes to talk about these Clinton era of bipartisanship, but what happened during that era was they passed a bill in 1996 that updated the Communications Act, and of course, that contains Title 2of the Communications Act, the thing hes trying to strip. So that very legislation is what set out the legal structure that were trying to protect. Its very clear if you look at that legislative history, if you look at how the internet actually developed, it was because we had a neutral network, that knew competitors could emerge.

Whether its Google in a garage, or Facebook in a dorm room, they could only succeed initially because they could get on that internet that was an even playing field. Thats why the companies that care most about something like net neutrality arent the big guys who can afford to buy themselves out now. Its the upstarts, its the little guys, its the independent content producers, its the independent musicians, because they know that thats their only chance. Otherwise, you have to go and beg AT&T, or Comcast or Verizon for permission for a spot on their network, for a spot in their fast lane, for their permission to innovate.

Thats not the internet we want. Thats not what created the internet we have, and Ajit Pai can pretend otherwise, but it simply flies in the face of all available evidence, and anything the public wants. There has never been an issue gotten more attention or more public opposition than what Ajit Pai is trying to do right now at the FCC. He is choosing to ignore it, but there are a lot of other politicians out there, politicians who need to run for office, who may take a different view.

AARON MATE: Speaking of public opposition, Craig, as we wrap, talk about the protest that weve seen around this FCC repeal vote and what you expect to see going forward.

CRAIG AARON: Its been absolutely incredible. The last three weeks has been nothing like weve seen before. We have seen a huge groundswell of opposition. There were 22 million comments filed at the FCC. Thats more than any other issue, ever. There have been a million calls to Congress, just in the last few weeks. Some offices are telling us thats more calls than theyre getting on taxes. Theyre running 6,000 to 1 against Ajit Pai. We saw protests erupting everywhere. There were 700 protests in all 50 states last week. There were hundreds of people outside of the FCC on multiple days, this week, including yesterday, a huge protest of racial justice activists around the issue of net neutrality. So the public is speaking out. Politicians are starting to get that message and see that this is becoming a truly potent issue. Thats why Im actually so confident that Ajit Pai isnt going to prevail here. Theres going to be a fight in court. Theres going to be a fight in Congress too. Were pushing Congress right now to throw out these rules. They have the power to do so, and well be going in 2018 to get them to just toss out what this FCC has done. There are already, I think, 20 senators now whove agreed to support that legislation. And I expect to see a lot more in the days ahead.

AARON MATE: I think 2018 is the key date because right now, with the Republicans controlling Congress, thats unlikely, but that could change in 2018.

CRAIG AARON: I think thats right, were seeing Republicans move. So theres a reason for optimism.

AARON MATE: Craig Aaron, president of Free Press. Thank you.CRAIG AARON: Thanks a lot.
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She now spends much of her time in Asia and is currently working on a book about textile artisans.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a new rule on Friday that shelves a previous rule that would have set minimal living conditions for hens that produce eggs certified as USDA Organic.

Under this new rule, chickens that produce organic eggs need not be treated any more humanely than those raised on factory farms.

On January 19, 2017 the day before Trump was inaugurated the USDA had adopted a rule that would have set some basic animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry products. In addition to avian living conditions, the rule included provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter, and expanded and clarified requirements for livestock care and production practices, and for mammalian living conditions. The measures were initially due to come into effect in March, but were delayed by the incoming administration..

According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, 60% of those surveyed believe it is highly important that the animals used to produce organic food are raised on farms with high standards of animal welfare. And 83% of consumers who identify themselves as regularly buying organic eggs say its highly important that hens who produce organic eggs are allowed to move freely outdoors.

Now, regardless of their beliefs that animal welfare is important, I honestly dont know whether consumers understand that the organic label doesnt certify that animals are raised according to sustainable, humane farming practices. But many of the big farming interests that seek organic certification want consumers to think so. As the Washington Post reports:

[Mark Kastel of the Cornucopia Institute, which has long sought stricter standards and stricter enforcement from the USDA] and others accused those large nominally USDA Organic farms of fooling consumers regarding animal welfare at their facilities. They are trying to trick the public and sell their products at a premium under a deficient organic label, said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. They want the profit that comes from the halo effect of the organic label, but they dont want to adhere to common-sense animal welfare standards. I dont think consumers think that organically raised animals are living in a giant confinement shed.

And Friends of the Earth also criticized last weeks USDA decision, according to Oregons The Bulletin,

Trumps decision to cave to a handful of powerful agribusiness interests by scrapping the organic animal welfare rule is a slap in the face to organic farmers and to the millions of consumers who have put their trust into the organic label, said Lisa Archer, the food and agriculture program director for Friends of the Earth.

What Do the Producers Say?

Well, it depends on which ones you ask. According to The Bulletin, Smaller producers who provide open yards for egg-laying hens have complained that the loophole lets competitors reap the premium price of organic eggs without substantially changing their operations.

Exactly.

And, what about the behemoths themselves? Over to The Bulletin:

Livestock and poultry companies, however, complained that the rules went beyond the intent of the original law establishing organic certification, which covered only feed and medicine.

I see.

Organic Standards Co-Opted

Okay, I confess, I share the outrage over allowing producers to charge a premium price for a factory-farming product. But I do realize the organic label has long been co-opted, and that merely buying organic doesnt really mean ones buying the humanely, sustainably-raised food that one wants to eat. (Nor, I should mention, is it in any way locally-produced but thats another discussion.)

Yet deficient, watered-down organic standards arent a new problem. And I wonder where the previous administration was during its eight years in power and why it took until the very eve of Trumps inauguration for the USDA to promulgate the (extremely modest) standards that were just shelved.

I also think its a bit rich that the Organic Trade Association sued the Trump USDA for its slow pace in enacting the January 2017 rules, as the Bulletin mentions:

The Organic Trade Association, which has sued the USDA over its slow pace on enacting the rules, said it was dismayed at Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdues announcement. The lawsuit is still pending.

This groundless step by USDA is being taken against a backdrop of nearly universal support among the organic businesses and consumers for the fully vetted rules that USDA has now rejected, the association said in a written statement.

The current USDA crew may have since January delayed implementing some last-minute rules. But their predecessors had eight years to establish standards. Why werent they in place much, much, earlier?

This failing, by the way, isnt limited to the USDA, but applied to many other regulatory initiatives undertaken by the previous administration. The failure to promulgate regulations until late in the day meant that these were ripe for overturn if any Republican won the 2016 election (especially if backstopped by a Republican-controlled Congress). Trump and Congress have seized the authority provided by the Congressional Review Act to advance its deregulatory agenda (see here, here, here and here). These draconian procedures could not have been invoked if rule-making procedures had been completed earlier in the previous administration. Additionally, other initiatives, such as the Clean Power Plan, would have been less vulnerable to scuttling if theyd been implemented earlier.

The survival of these regulatory initiatives wouldnt solely be due to superior legal arguments, either. One reason the fiduciary rule has not been killed outright is that companies had taken steps to comply with it, and once these steps are taken and considerable investments made they have no wish nor incentive to see a policy reversal, and in fact, actively resist such a change (see my further discussion in Fiduciary Rule: Helps Not Hurts Wall Street, So Full Rescission Unlikely). So, although Trump clearly had this rule in his deregulatory crosshairs, the Labor Department has gone forward with the new rule (albeit subject to some delays).

Back to the chickens and their eggs. The previous administration is now enjoying a reputation for regulatory innovation thats not supported by its record. So its not surprising this should extend to something as basic as chickens and eggs.

The sad standard for what qualifies to be called an organic egg didnt miraculously hatch last week. Too little was done, too late, before Trump became president, and in part is the reason were where were at today.
(Natural News) In an effort to curb opioid use, the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital implemented the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in mid-2015. Under this, doctors can no longer impose narcotics on patients with impunity, and must make an effort to find and write prescriptions. Come 2017, and the results can already be seen: prescription opioid use has dipped among colorectal surgery patients.

The change came as part of the hospitals attempts to improve the quality of care being received by colorectal patients, which in itself falls under the ERAS protocol. Before this dramatic turnaround could occur, the doctors comprising the colorectal team compared opioid prescription and usage before and after the introduction of the ERAS protocol.

We decided to compare narcotic use among our own patients. We found that narcotic medication was not necessarily needed for pain control after surgery. We also found that we could significantly decrease the number of prescriptions we were writing. And, when narcotics were prescribed, the doses were much lower, explained Dr. Atif Iqbal. He added that patients would only leave the hospital with opioid prescriptions if absolutely necessary. (Related: Prescription opioid deaths surpass gun-related deaths Big Pharma literally killing more people than GUNS)

Following the enforcement of the ERAS protocol, the total amount of opioids used decreased by 87 percent, while the total number of doses dropped from 1,254 miiligrams to a mere 23 mg. Inpatients had also been positively impacted by this new rule, as the usage of opioid-dispensing, post-surgery pain pumps was reduced to seven percent from 63 percent.

As-needed oral narcotics were prescribed for about two-thirds of patients, compared to 90 percent. The average medication dose also decreased by nearly half. The amount of patients prescribed narcotics after discharge also decreased from 85 percent to 55 percent, Iqbal added. Fewer patients are receiving oral narcotics during their hospital stay.

More importantly, we are discharging even fewer patients with prescriptions for narcotic pain medication. Often, patients become addicted after taking legally prescribed narcotics.

Indeed, hospitals too play a part in driving the opioid epidemic. Though rather than being complacent about it for fear of rocking the boat, other hospitals have opted for a similarly proactive approach.

For instance, at the University of Michigans Michigan Medicine, a group of surgeons created new guidelines for gallbladder surgery patients based on a study they conducted last year. Shortly after, they found that patients werent feeling increased levels of pain despite receiving less medication than before.

Speaking to KHN.org, former director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli commented: This really shows in a very methodological way that we are dramatically overprescribing. Not only do we have to reduce the supply to prevent future addiction, but we really have to minimize opportunities for diversion and misuse.

If more hospitals were to take this route, then beating the opioid crisis may become close to feasible. Of course, doing so wont solve the problem straight away, if at all. Still, its as good a place to start as any.

Visit Opioids.news to stay up to date on all media discussing the continuing opioid epidemic.

Sources include:

UFHealth.org

KHN.org
(Natural News) Is the United States government developing technology that could be manipulated to cause the destruction of the very people it claims to protect? The Guardian is reporting that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. militarys most secretive organization, is developing doomsday genetic extinction technology that could have catastrophic results if it falls into the wrong hands.

DARPA is reportedly investing $100 million in this gene drive technology, claiming that it will be used to eradicate destructive pests like malaria mosquitoes and invasive rodents. Though The Guardian rightly points out that this technology could be the stuff of nightmares, all known current scientific research is supposedly only aimed at pest control.

It is important to note, though, that the only information that has come to light about DARPAs plans was revealed in emails released under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) rules. It is entirely possible that far more is involved in the program than has been revealed by the government.

Cutting edge technology like Crispr-Cas9 can be used to slice into DNA strands, and then either insert, change or remove specific genetic traits. If, for example, scientists were to alter the sex-ratio of certain mosquitoes in this way, it would be a simple matter to eradicate them completely. (Related: CRISPR gene editing found to cause hundreds of unintended mutations, warn scientists.)

The problem with this technology is two-fold: Firstly, scientists have no way of knowing what the ecological effects would be of eradicating entire species. Experts have warned that this type of human interference could threaten peace, food security and entire ecosystems. (Related: Discover the extent of the damage humans have already caused to our planet at Environ.news.)

One United Nations (U.N.) source told The Guardian, You may be able to remove viruses or the entire mosquito population, but that may also have downstream ecological effects on species that depend on them. My main worry is that we do something irreversible to the environment, despite our good intentions, before we fully appreciate the way that this technology will work.

Friends of the Earth reported last year that scientists, conservationists and environmental groups had unanimously rejected the use of gene drive technology to cause the extinction of targeted species:

Members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including NGOs, government representatives, and scientific and academic institutions, overwhelmingly voted to adopt a de facto moratorium on supporting or endorsing research into gene drives for conservation or other purposes until the IUCN has fully assessed their impacts.

The second, and probably most alarming concern is that rogue nations might use this type of technology as a bio-weapon. While the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is currently discussing what restrictions, if any, should be placed on the use of this type of technology, it stands to reason that countries like North Korea, which do not respect the authority of the U.N., are highly unlikely to abide by any restrictions it might decide upon. As it is, sanctions the U.N. has already placed on that country are being belligerently and completely ignored by those in positions of power.

The fact that the technology is being developed by a military agency has raised concerns around the globe. As one U.N. diplomat said, Many countries [will] have concerns when this technology comes from Darpa, a U.S. military science agency.

Experts have also expressed concerns that any scientists who receive grants to work on this type of technology are now likely to change their projects to be narrowly focused on meeting the aims of the military, rather than a broader type of scientific research.

Canadas Global Research Centre notes that interest in the development of gene drive technology for military use increased dramatically after the release of a report by an elite group of scientists known as Jason last year. A second report was commissioned this year to examine potential threats this technology might pose in the hands of an adversary, technical obstacles that must be overcome to develop gene drive technology and employ it in the wild, according to Gerald Joyce, the reports co-chair.

The U.S. military  especially DARPA  has already spent an obscene amount of money on the development of synthetic biology, with sources estimating this to be in the region of $820 million between 2008 and 2014, alone.

DARPA claims that it needs to get ahead of the curve, with the potential threat of gene drive technology being utilized by a country not friendly to U.S. interests increasing since the costs associated with gene-editing toolkits have seen dramatic reductions.

This convergence of low cost and high availability means that applications for gene editing  both positive and negative  could arise from people or states operating outside of the traditional scientific community and international norms, a DARPA official said. It is incumbent on Darpa to perform this research and develop technologies that can protect against accidental and intentional misuse.

One thing is for sure: The government is playing a dangerous game  one for which future generations may have to pay the price.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com

GlobalResearch.ca

FOE.org
(Natural News) A bakery and ice cream shop in Ohio has filed a lawsuit against Oberlin College & Conservatory near Cleveland after the schools vice president and dean of students, Meredith Raimondo, outlandishly accused the shops owner of being a racist simply for calling the police on three black males who attempted to steal several bottles of wine from his store, which has been in business since 1885.

According to reports, the trio of dark-skinned thugs not only tried to steal from Allyn Gibson, the owner of Gibsons Bakery, but they also physically assaulted him, with reports indicating that they actually punched and kicked him. All three plead guilty back in August to attempted theft and aggravated trespassing, despite initially claiming that they had merely tried to use fake identification cards to illegally purchase alcohol (which later turned out to be a lie).

As is becoming all too common amongst anti-white racists these days, the three black criminals, as they were being confronted by Gibson for their criminal activity, immediately fired false accusations at him that he was a racist and was racially profiling them for standing up to their thievery. And the anti-white, criminal enablers at Oberlin College apparently agree with this sentiment, the schools Student Senate having passed some meaningless resolution declaring that Gibson has a history of racial profiling and discriminatory treatment.

Racism cant always be proven on an Excel sheet, stated junior and vice chair of Oberlins Student Senate, Kameron Dunbar, to the Chicago Tribune, implying that Gibsons refusal to roll over and allow a pack of criminals to rob him blind is akin to lynching them while wearing a pointy white hat.

Why not give Oberlin College a call or show up at her office to share your thoughts on her racist coddling of blacks who commit crimes?

But the real kicker is how self-loathing Oberlin College matriarch Meredith Raimondo decided to handle the situation. Rather than take a stand against black crimes, which last time we checked still matter, this race traitor actually took the side of the three thugs by declaring that Gibsons bakery is a RACIST establishment with a LONG ACCOUNT of RACIAL PROFILING and DISCRIMINATION.

Raimondo further encouraged anti-white, racist groups like Black Lives Matter to protest, and even helped facilitate the canceling of classes in order for white-hating students to organize and launch their crusade to take down the family-owned business. In his lawsuit against the school, Gibson also alleges that Oberlin used student tuition money to pay for one of the black thugs defense attorneys, even going so far as to hire a limousine to take him to a meeting with this lawyer.

I have not taken a paycheck since this happened more than a year ago, Gibson, who did absolutely nothing wrong, is quoted as saying to the Associated Press. Sometimes you have to stand up to a large institution. Powerful institutions  including Oberlin College  and their members must follow the same laws as the rest of us.

A total of 40 people have reportedly been arrested for shoplifting at Gibsons since this incident conveniently occurred last year on November 9, just one day after the election of Donald Trump as president. According to The Gateway Pundit, just six of these individuals were black, but somehow the shop is still racist.

Those who live in the area and wish to speak personally with Meredith Raimondo to share their thoughts on the matter can find her at her campus office in Wilder Hall, Room 105. She can also be reached by email at [email protected], or by phone at (440) 775-8462.

Sources for this article include:

Oberlin.edu

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com

ChicagoTribune.com
Thousands of firefighters and people who wanted to pay their respects lined Interstate 15 to watch fallen firefighter Cory Iverson's funeral procession make its way to El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley Sunday.

"Today has been a day that I am struggling to find words to try and describe," Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham told NBC 7. "Cory Iverson made a decision to seek a profession where he put others first and by doing that that comes at great consequence to his family."

Honoring a fallen brother.

Firefighters line the Miramar Rd exit from I-15 for final stretch of funeral procession for Cory Iverson #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/Kwt8zdzD3y  Steven Luke (@stevenlukenbc) December 17, 2017

Mecham traveled with the procession from Ventura County Sunday morning. "We were never alone for 203 miles today," he said. "For 203 miles not a single overpass did not have multiple fire engines standing in salute."

Iverson, 32, was a Cal Fire Engineer from Escondido. He was part of a strike team made up of five engines with Cal Fire San Diego that were in an active area of the Thomas Fire in Fillmore, California when an accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Iverson died in the accident. It was revealed Saturday that he died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

"It's just heartbreaking," Ventura County resident Lauren Jayne told NBC 4 LA. "Everybody's working so hard, and there's so little we can do except for to just be human and to try and do something kind."



The procession left around 10 a.m. from the Ventura County Medical Examiner's office, traveling southbound on Highway 101. It then moved onto State Route 134 and Interstate 210 before continuing south to Interstate 15 arriving in San Diego around 1:20 p.m.

The procession ended at the El Camino Memorial Park cemetery in Sorrento Valley around 2:12 p.m.

Natalie Pomiak decided to honor Iverson's sacrifice by coming out to watch his procession. "Were so grateful and thankful for all that they do and they put themselves [through] to protect us," she said.



Somber salute from fellow firefighters in Ventura County. Funeral procession for fallen @CALFIRESANDIEGO firefighter Cory Iverson, 32  father and husband. He will be laid to rest in San Diego County. Part of strike team that battled #ThomasFire. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/q0gH6PBLvt  Gene Kang (@GeneNBCLA) December 17, 2017

Scripps Ranch resident Christine Bowen agreed. "Weve lived in the community for 20 years, so we have been part of fires in the past and its a big deal, and we want to bring this fallen firefighter home," she told NBC 7.



Iverson's remains will stay at the El Camino Memorial Park until his memorial service on Dec. 23. The service will be held at The Rock Church on Rosecrans Street in Point Loma at 10 a.m.

Iverson Family Photo

Iverson is survived by his wife, Ashley, and their two-year-old daughter. His wife is pregnant with a second child, expected in May.
Republican Sen. John McCain is returning home to Arizona after being hospitalized for the side effects of his brain cancer treatment and likely will miss a crucial vote on the GOP tax package, President Donald Trump said Sunday.

The office of McCain said the senator will undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and he looks forward to returning to Washington in January.



Trump told reporters he had spoken to McCain's wife, Cindy, after her husband had spent about a week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

"They've headed back, but I understand he'll come if we ever needed his help, which hopefully we won't," Trump said. "But the word is that John will come back if we need his vote. And it's too bad. He's going through a very tough time, there's no question about it. But he will come back if we need his vote."

Sen. McCain has responded well to treatment he received for a viral infection and continues to improve, Dr. Mark Gilbert, Chief of Neuro-Oncology at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Cancer Institute, said in a statement Sunday.

Now in his sixth Senate term, McCain, 81, underwent surgery in mid-July to remove a 2-inch (51-millimeter) blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. A statement issued last Wednesday by the senator's office said he was at Walter Reed receiving treatment for the "normal side effects of his ongoing cancer therapy."

His daughter Meghan McCain tweeted Sunday: "My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona."

Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate, and McCain and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., missed votes last week. The 80-year-old Cochran had a non-melanoma lesion removed from his nose earlier this week. He is expected to vote this coming week on the tax bill.

Republicans secured the support of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker last Friday. They likely will pass the bill by a narrow margin in the face of unified Democratic opposition. As a backstop, Vice President Mike Pence would be available to break a tie.

After his summer surgery, McCain rebounded quickly, returning to Washington and entering the Senate on July 25 to a standing ovation from his colleagues.

In a dramatic turn, he cast a deciding vote against the Republican health care bill  a move that drew the wrath of Trump and conservatives. McCain's vote scuttled the seven-year effort by the GOP to dismantle much of President Barack Obama's health care law.

But McCain's condition has appeared to worsen in recent weeks. He suffered a minor tear in his right Achilles tendon, forcing him to wear a walking brace. McCain eventually began using a wheelchair, and members of his staff pushed him where he needed to go.

As a Navy pilot, McCain lived through a July 1967 fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. The following October, his plane was shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi. He spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. McCain also has survived several bouts with melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer.
The Pentagon said that it had a secret program that lasted for five years that investigated unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, according to multiple reports published Saturday.

The program, which only a few officials knew about, ran from 2007 to 2012, according to reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and received $22 million in annual funding from the U.S. Department of Defense budget. It investigated sightings by military pilots of flying objects that "maneuvered so unusually and so fast that they seemed to defy the laws of physics," Politico reported.

The Times' included a Youtube video that suggests the footage was taken from a Navy fighter jet and shows an "unidentified aerial phenomenon."

The Pentagon acknowledged the existence of the program.

"The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ended in the 2012 timeframe," Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Ochoa said in an email to Reuters. "It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change."

According to the reports, officials claim the program is still in existence in some form today and sightings are still being investigated. But the Pentagon did not confirm or deny that.

"The DoD takes seriously all threats and potential threats to our people, our assets, and our mission and takes action whenever credible information is developed," Ochoa told Reuters.

Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, who represented Nevada from 1987 to 2017, was a strong supporter of getting funding for the program, as he had a fascination for face phenomena, according to the Times.

On Twitter Saturday, Reid linked to the Times' story, writing, "The truth is out there. Seriously."
Boston residents turned in 64 unwanted, unloaded guns at several locations on Saturday as part of a regional gun buyback program.

Each gun will be exchanged for a $100 Visa gift card - no questions asked.

The program was announced on Friday by Mayor Marty Walsh and Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and members of the medical community at City Hall.

It was a joint effort crossing multiple agencies and states, including Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Boston officials agreed that more needs to be done to get guns off the streets.

"Every day when were out at these crime scenes, theres way too many guns on the streets," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. "And together, working with these hospitals, working with the communities around New England, we can really send a strong message.
Six people are dead and at least 14 more have been wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend, according to police.

The weekend's first fatality occurred at around 3:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the 5600 block of South Emerald Avenue in the city's Englewood neighborhood, authorities said.

A 20-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man were sitting in a car when a person in a dark-colored Audi opened fire, striking both victims, according to police. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, and the man was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his leg.

A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed while riding in a car on Chicagos Southwest Side early Sunday, according to police.

The shooting occurred around 6:49 a.m. in the 5100 block of West 47th Street in the citys LeClaire Courts neighborhood, authorities said. Someone in a white vehicle rear-ended the car in which the teen was a passenger, then opened fire, according to police. The boy, who investigators said they believed was delivering newspapers at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The city's most recent fatal shooting occurred in the 5300 block of North Cumberland at approximately 4:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon. A 29-year-old man was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

No other information was immediately made available, and no one is in custody.

The rest of the weekend's shootings occurred as follows:

Friday

Two people were the unintended victims of a shooting at approximately 4 p.m. Friday afternoon in the 7800 block of South Ashland Avenue, according to police. After a physical altercation between two people at a gas station, another person opened fire, officials said. A 28-year-old man was struck in the ankle, and a 13-year-old boy riding a nearby CTA bus was shot in the neck, according to police. The teen was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in serious condition, while the man was taken to Holy Cross where his condition was stabilized.

At around 11:10 p.m. Friday, two 20-year-old men were shot in the 800 block of West Windsor Avenue, according to police. Authorities said they were walking on the sidewalk when someone in a white vehicle exited the car and opened fire before fleeing eastbound from the scene. One man was shot in the left leg and the other shot in the right leg, officials said. Both were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where they were listed in stable condition.

Saturday

A 39-year-old man was shot just before 9 p.m. Saturday in the 1700 block of South Wood Street, officials said. He was walking on the sidewalk when he heard shots and felt pain, according to police. Authorities said he took himself to Stroger Hospital and was listed in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the left ear.

Authorities said a man and a woman were killed and another man was wounded in a shooting at around 9:40 p.m. Saturday night. The three victims were traveling southbound in the 5900 block of South Richmond Street when someone opened fire from the sidewalk, according to police. A 25-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were pronounced dead on the scene, officials said, while a 20-year-old man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

Sunday

Two people were injured in a shooting in the 10200 block of South Commercial Avenue early Sunday, according to police. Around 12:33 a.m., authorities said the victims were sitting in a parked car in an alley when shots were fired. A 22-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and a 29-year-old man was shot in the left knee, officials said. Both were taken to Trinity Hospital where they were listed in stable condition.

Authorities said a man was found dead outside a Humboldt Park home on Chicago's West Side early Sunday. Officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 4000 block of West Iowa Street at around 1:54 a.m. to find a man in a driveway with a gunshot wound to the head, according to police, who said he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Less than 20 minutes later, a 37-year-old man was shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, according to police. The victim was walking on the sidewalk in the 2500 block of West Potomac Avenue when someone opened fire from a nearby vehicle, striking him in the chest, authorities said. The victim took himself to St. Mary's Medical Center and was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, according to police.

Around 2:23 a.m., a 36-year-old man was walking in the 5500 block of South State Street when a male offender approached on foot and opened fire, according to police. Officials said the victim took himself to Provident Hospital, and was later transferred to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A man was shot in the arm in the 300 block of South Homan at approximately 2:13 p.m., police said. He was taken by ambulance to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition.

Two people were shot in the 5600 block of West Madison at approximately 2:32 p.m., police said. A 23-year-old man was shot in the left leg and he is in stable condition at Mt. Sinai. A 20-year-old man was shot in the buttocks and was self-transported to West Suburban in good condition.

In other incidents of violence, a man was found with "severe head trauma" on the sidewalk in the 1100 block of North Ashland Avenue just before 2 a.m. Sunday, according to police, who said he was pronounced dead on the scene. At around 3:15 a.m. Sunday, a man was stabbed during a fight in the 7000 block of South Jeffery Avenue, according to police. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition with a stab wound to the abdomen, officials said.

No one is in custody in connection with any of these incidents, according to police, who continue to investigate.
People forced to flee hard-hit Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria were invited to a special celebration in Hartford Saturday.

Joyous songs filled City Hall in Hartford as part of an event called Parranda de Esperanza. The celebration was filled with food, music and fun.

Its meant to be an escape for people who have endured so much after the devastating hurricane and a reminder of the holiday culture back home.

Parranda is usually when friends go house to house spreading holiday cheer with carols in Puerto Rico. This time the songs were sung to an audience, many of whom have just left that hard-hit island.

"We realized that we were going to have a lot of families here in the state for the first time ever," explained organizer Ana Valentin-Jackson.

Its estimated hundreds of people fled Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hit and have settled in Connecticut.

Jorge Torres just arrived in Hartford last week. He tells NBC Connecticut he came here to be with family, after enduring challenging conditions back home.

Torres was among those attending the event which was organized by members of the CICD Puerto Rican Day Parade.

"Were all trying to help our families back home and many of us are involved in the hurricane relief efforts up here," Valentin-Jackson said.

So at least for tonight a much needed break and a reminder of the strength of the community.

"Its great. To see people together and talking about stuff they have been through and everybody come together at the holidays, make a bad time a good time,"said Hartford resident Kristy Alicea.
Leaders of a South Texas county battered by Hurricane Harvey plan to build a new courthouse to replace the more than 60-year-old structure destroyed by the storm.



The Aransas County Commissioners Court on Friday approved seeking a request for qualifications for architectural services.



It's part of the process to design and build a new courthouse in Rockport, a city of about 10,000 located 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi.



Harvey made landfall in the area Aug. 25.



The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports Aransas County Judge Burt Mills Jr. later toured the courthouse and found the structure flooded and severely damaged.



Federal authorities determined the courthouse, built in 1956 and recognized by the Texas Historical Commission, was damaged beyond repair.



Mills says the commission has approved allowing demolition of the building.


As a string trio played, a long stream of mourners filed past the body of the late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to say goodbye to their leader of seven years.

His body lay in repose in a closed casket draped with the American flag, behind velvet ropes, and with two guards.

A string trio played, a long stream of mourners filed past the body of the late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to say goodbye to their leader of seven years. Sam Brock reports.

A crowd gathered at City Hall early Friday, with thousands waiting to pay their respects. Inside the rotunda, where the maximum capacity is 3,000 people, mourners included former Mayor Willie Brown, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Acting Mayor London Breed, city staff, community activists, Lee's friends and more.

Some people prayed, others made the sign of the cross and still, others bowed three times  once to acknowledge heaven and earth, then to acknowledge the person who has passed away and finally for Lee's family. They also moved into a side hall to write their condolences.

San Francisco will honor late Mayor Ed Lee, who died suddenly Tuesday, in two public memorials.

Lee, 65, was San Francisco's first Asian-American mayor and presided over the city as it climbed out of a recession and into a boomtown driven by tech.

He died early Tuesday after collapsing at a Safeway, leaving the city reeling from shock and dealing with the logistics of selecting a new leader. The medical examiner has not released a cause of death.

A crowd gathered at City Hall early Friday, with thousands waiting to pay their respects for Ed Lee. Some people prayed, others made the sign of the cross, and still others bowed three times  once to acknowledge heaven and earth, then to acknowledge the person who has passed away and finally for Lees family. They also moved into a...

"I'm here to pay my respects to Ed Lee," said Matthew Saccomanno, 20, a nursing student at San Francisco State University. "He was a great mayor. He was a great man with a great heart."

Saccomanno said he respected the mayor for trying to make life affordable in an increasingly unaffordable city, and for tackling climate change, an issue important to young people.

[BAY JG] Mayor Ed Lee Remembered at San Francisco City Hall

"He actually had the ability to listen," Brown said. "Most politicians cannot listen. And I suspect that people reacted because he actually looked them in the eye, he heard their name that they gave him, he gave them his name and he absolutely listened to the next words they said."



Earlier Friday, a police motorcade escorted the body to City Hall, where a giant American flag has been hoisted up by the ladders of two firetrucks.

[BAY MC] Life and Times of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

The funeral procession drove through several San Francisco neighborhoods, including Glen Park, where Lee lived. Police officers lined the steps and saluted, giving Lee full honors as his casket was carried up the steps and into City Hall just a few minutes before 7 a.m.

People who worked with Lee fondly recalled that their mayor always arrived for appointments a few minutes early. So, of course, on a solemn a day as Friday, he would be brought to City Hall similarly early. It was sort of a signature of the kind of person he was, they told NBC Bay Area.

[BAY JG] Procession Held For Late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

The last mayor to lie in repose in the rotunda was George Christopher, who led the city from 1956 to 1964 and died in 2000. Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, both assassinated in 1978, also laid in repose in the rotunda.

Lee was elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015 after being appointed to serve the remainder of former Mayor Gavin Newsom's term in 2011. He was a civil rights lawyer and longtime San Francisco administrator known for his corny sense of humor and dedication to public service.

San Francisco Mayor Ed lee was sworn in Jan. 9, 2012 and he laid out his vision for the city. He also did something that no other mayor has done before.

Supporters say Lee didn't receive enough credit for working to build affordable housing and battling homelessness. Critics say Lee didn't do enough to stand up to tech companies after he lured the industry to San Francisco with a tax break in 2011.

The casket will be on display until 7 p.m.

San Francisco will host a public memorial for Lee on Sunday.
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 []
A San Diego County firefighter died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries while battling the massive Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, a medical examiner determined Saturday.

Cal Fire Engineer Cory Iverson, 32, of Escondido was part of a strike team made up of five engines with Cal Fire San Diego that were in an active area of the Thomas Fire in Fillmore, California when an accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Iverson was killed in the accident. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office said Saturday Iverson died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

Cal Fire said they are conducting an investigation into the incident, which will provide insight into the circumstances surrounding the death.

A procession will be held Sunday starting at 10 a.m., transporting Iverson's remains from Ventura County across several Los Angeles and San Bernardino county freeways before entering San Diego County via southbound Interstate 15 at about 1:20 p.m.

The procession will continue to travel along I-15, passing SR-78 at about 1:45 p.m. and Camino Del Norte at about 1:50 p.m. before exiting at Miramar Road at 2 p.m.

Iverson's remains are expected to arrive at El Camino Memorial Park on Carroll Canyon Road at 2:12 p.m.

A memorial service will be held for Iverson at The Rock Church on Rosecrans Street in Point Loma next Saturday at 10 a.m.

Iverson leaves behind his wife, Ashley and their two-year-old daughter. The couple was expecting their second child in May.

Those who knew Iverson said the top priority right now is to take care of his family. Online fundraising efforts are underway to do just that.

An online fundraising page was created by a close friend and co-worker of Iversons widow to assist the family with funeral costs and other expenses they may have. In it's first few hours live, the page had already raised $20,000 for the Iversons.

By Saturday afternoon, the page was nearing $300,000.

Cal Fire San Diego County Firefighters Benevolent Fund has also set up a donation page for Iversons family. Donations can be made here.



Iverson's remains were taken in a procession to the coroner's office Friday. Along the way, firefighters stood in salute on a freeway overpass and on top of fire department vehicles lining the side of a street.

The 32-year-old had spent most of his life fighting fires. Iverson was an eight-year veteran of Cal Fire and had previously spent seven years with Harmony Grove Fire Department.

Iversons friends and co-workers said theyre heartbroken over his death.

I can only imagine the pain that his family and his are going through, said Cal Fire Capt. John Heggie. My hearts shattered knowing what happened to him and knowing what his family is going through.

They described him as a model firefighter and happy man who was always in a good mood, whether he was at the fire station on or the lines.

To put it bluntly, hes the kind of man youd want your daughter to marry and the type of fireman youd want your son to grow up to be, Heggie added.

Following Iversons death, 17 San Diego-based firefighters with Cal Fire were taken off the Thomas Fire lines so they could return home to grieve the death of their colleague.

The death is the second attributed to the fire, which was in its 12th day of burning Saturday and spanned both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The blaze had exploded to 259,000 acres, surpassing the 2007 Zaca fire to become the state's fourth-largest wildfire on record.

Cal Fire estimated firefighting costs were nearing $104 million.

Firefighters had the blaze 40 percent contained with full containment expected Jan. 7, 2018.
Jurors have awarded nearly $3 million in damages to a teenager molested by a Southern California teacher.

Thursday's verdict came in a personal injury lawsuit against the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.

David Park taught at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights. He's acknowledged sexually abusing two students and served prison time.

The suit was filed on behalf of a girl who was molested at 15. She's now 18. Her lawyers say she suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress.

Jurors found the school district only partially liable. Park was found more culpable but was dropped from the suit, reducing the actual award of $8 million.

The district says the verdict mostly blames Park but serves as a reminder that it must be vigilant in protecting students.
A newborn puppy has a second chance at life after a woman found a pup tied to train tracks and left to die.

Rabecca Cruz, a wedding and real estate photographer, was out snapping photos of a home in Pasco County when she heard a distress call from an animal.

"I walked over to the train tracks and found the newborn puppy," Cruz said.

When she tried to pick up the puppy, she realized that the animals front right leg was bound with twine to the tracks.

Cruz freed the puppy and immediately took her to the vet.

Also a volunteer at a local wildlife animal rescue organization, Cruz says things like this are not so uncommon.

The pup is now happy in a good, loving home after being adopted by a friend of Cruz.

Cruz says the Pasco County Sheriff's Office was alerted about the incident and is now involved in the case.
A birthday party ended tragically after a pickup truck slammed into a group of partygoers riding horses in Northwest Miami-Dade.

The group was celebrating Ricardo Guerreros 24th birthday at El Rancho on 122nd Avenue when witnesses say a few of them decided to go out on five horses.

The car just run over like all the horses, and my brother he flew like over there, said Guerreros sister, Gabriela.

Witnesses on scene say the driver of the Ford F-150 was speeding.

"He was riding one of the horses and some guy he didnt have his lights on, and he literally didnt see them and hit them," Andreina Martini told NBC 6.



Guerrero was airlifted to the hospital, while his sister and her boyfriend were transported by ambulance.

Two of the five horses died at the scene.

Family members say Guerrero will remain hospitalized for two more days, and the other two victims will be discharged Saturday night.

The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene. Authorities have not yet said whether or not he will face any charges.
The Manhattan district attorney announced Friday that three ancient sculptures are being returned to their rightful owners in Lebanon as he forms a new antiquities trafficking unit that will track stolen artifacts from around the world.

At a news conference in his office, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. stood by the treasures once owned by private collectors and valued at more than $5 million.

They were stolen from a temple during the Lebanese civil war that started in 1975 and lasted 15 years, and confiscated in New York in the past few months.

A marble torso from about the 4th century B.C., sold by an antiquities dealer, was seized in November. Another marble torso from the 6th century B.C. was recovered in October. And a bull's head from about 360 B.C. was recovered from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was on loan from a collector.

They're the latest looted artifacts to be returned from New York, considered the U.S. hub of antiquity sales that are fueled by the city's concentration of wealth.

Matthew Bogdanos, who leads the DA's new antiquities trafficking unit, said ancient works found in war-torn lands easily end up in the hands of dealers who are "less than scrupulous" in determining their origin.

Lebanese Consul-General Majdi Ramadan said the Manhattan prosecutor's efforts "will mark the end of a long trail of theft and illicit trading."

Vance said that since 2012, his office has recovered several thousand trafficked antiquities collectively valued at more than $150 million. Members of the new anti-trafficking unit will work with foreign governments as well as investigators from the Department of Homeland Security.
What to Know Gov.-elect Phil Murphy posed with a cardboard cutout of Gov. Chris Christie on a beach over the summer

Murphy was at an event hosted by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, an organization that supported him during his campaign

Christie came under fire last summer after photos emerged of him on a beach outing while state parks were closed for a government shutdown

New Jersey governor-elect Phil Murphy posed for photos with a cardboard cutout of Chris Christie lounging on a beach last summer.

Murphy was at a gala hosted by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance Thursday night when he posed with the cutout brought out by organizers.

While on a diplomatic trip to Puerto Rico on Friday, Murphy told NJ Advance Media that he was standing near the cutout at the event and "couldn't resist."

Christie came under intense criticism after he was photographed with his family on a beach closed to the public over the Fourth of July weekend because of a government shutdown.

[NATL-NY] Jersey Shore Sand Sculpture Mocks Gov. Chris Christie

Murphy got some pushback for posing with the cutout. Christie himself responded to the cutout after an event in Newark on Friday, according to NorthJersey.com.

"I think someone's got to remind him that the campaign is over," Christie reportedly said, calling it "disappointing because we've been so open and so welcoming to him."

NBC 4 has reached out to Christie's office and Murphy's representative for comments.

The Democratic governor-elect succeeds the Republican governor on Jan. 16.
What to Know 267,500 acres consumed by Saturday. 40 percent of the blaze is contained.

1,000 structures have been destroyed.

Cost associated with the Thomas fire is $110,000,000.

This article is no longer being updated. For the latest information on the Thomas Fire, click here.



The massive Thomas Fire exploded to 267,500 acres by Saturday evening after it scorched through Ventura and Santa Barbara County for a 12th day. Fire crews have been able to contain the monstrous blaze by 40 percent and expect it to be fully contained by Jan. 7, 2018, with the cost of the extensive fight expected to reach $110 million.

Dry heat and Santa Ana winds have posed a threat for firefighters as conditions have been fueling the blaze since it first began on Monday, Dec. 4. A red flag warning will remain in effect through Sunday evening, with experts expecting gusts of winds to reach up to 40 mph.

The northerly "sundowner" wind was driving the fire south and west.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said at a news conference. "And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations."

The flames destroyed nearly 1,000 structures and the cost associated with battling the fire is $110 million, according to Cal Fire. One Cal Fire engineers life was claimed by the fire after 32-year-old Cory Iverson of Escondido died battling the inferno.

The wind-driven blaze, which has been dubbed as the states third-largest wildfire ever, prompted mandatory evacuations for some 95,000 people in the flames path.

Evacuation orders are still in effect for the areas of Sespe Creek to the west, Burson Ranch to the east, the Los Padres Forest boundary to the north and the Fillmore City limits to the south.

By around 10 a.m., new mandatory evacuations were issued for the areas north of the 101 Freeway, south of the 192 Freeway, west of Toro Canyon Road and east of Summit Road. The 101 Freeway was closed at Seacliff Road to allow people to evacuate.

The Santa Barbara Zoo, which is near the mandatory evacuation zone, announced it was putting some animals in crates to prepare for possible evacuation. The zoo has about 150 species of animals, including a pair of Amur leopards, a critically endangered species.

Everything about the fire has been massive, from the sheer scale of destruction that cremated entire neighborhoods to the legions attacking it: about 8,400 firefighters from nearly a dozen states, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters.

Numerous schools announced closures in wake of the fire:

Fillmore Unified School District

Santa Paula Unified School District

Ventura Unified School District

Briggs Elementary School

Mupu Elementary School

Oxnard Union HSD

Rio Elemantary School

Santa Clara Elementary School

Ventura Charter School

California State University, Channel Islands Goleta campus will remain closed through Dec. 23.

All VCOE-operated schools in the Ojai Unified and Ventura Unified School Districts will be closed through Dec. 22.





The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An employee at Pep Boys in Salem, New Hampshire, was greeted by an unexpected guest as he started work on a customers vehicle Friday.

It was the first car of the day to pull into the garage.

Roberto Valles thought the oil change would be like the thousands of others hes done, but it wasnt.

"I was in shock," he said Friday afternoon.

He was greeted by a small owl that had caught a ride under the hood on the engine of a car.

"It was very cute," Valles said.

Once he realized the owl was alive, he yelled to his coworkers.

"I thought he was playing around with me, I walked over and it was sitting right there," said Pep Boys employee Anthony Dilendick. Ive never seen anything like that in my life.

The employees then called Salem Police.

"I thought maybe it was hit by a car and it was in the grill," said Animal Control Officer Corie Bliss. "I wasnt expecting it to be sitting there."

Bliss says its a Red Morph Screech Owl native to New Hampshire, but apparently still not comfortable in such frigid temperatures.

"It was really cold, so it probably went up there to warm up or it couldve been chasing a mouse," Bliss explained.

While the owl recovers at a rehab facility, the Pep Boys crew is looking forward to telling the story about this wild animals wild ride.

"It definitely made my morning," Valles said.

"Im sure no one else will believe it, but weve got pictures to prove it," Dilendick said.

The guys say one wrong move and the owl wouldve been burned badly or even killed.

But police say the animal is expected to be just fine and will soon be released back into the wild.
A state trooper shot and killed a driver who dragged him following a traffic stop in Wilmington, Delaware, according to investigators.



Police say the trooper was on patrol Friday shortly before 4:30 p.m. when he spotted a burgundy Honda Civic strike a pole on Boxwood Road near Centerville Road. The vehicle fled the crash scene and continued driving erratically.

The trooper followed the driver, identified by investigators as Adam Radcliffe, 30, of Wilmington, to the Kirkwood Plaza Shopping Center. As the trooper walked over to his vehicle, Radcliffe allegedly sped off. Police say Radcliffe continued driving, dragging the trooper as he was attached to the passenger side door.

The vehicle continued speeding down the access road for Kirkwood Plaza before turning left onto Farrand Drive. The Trooper then took out his weapon and opened fire, striking Radcliffe, police said. Radcliffe continued speeding down Farrand Drive into the neighborhood, according to investigators.

Troopers began searching the area and found the Honda Civic off of Hammond Place at the end of Farrand Drive where it drove through a fence into a small creek.

The troopers removed Radcliffe from the vehicle and performed CPR. Responding medical personnel transported him to Christiana Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The 37-year-old trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the hospital and later released. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The trooper has been with the Delaware State Police for 11 years and is assigned to Troop 6 patrol.

If you have any information on the incident, please contact Detective M. Csapo of the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit by calling 302-741-2729. You may also call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.


A dying man's wish to see the new "Star Wars" movie came true, thanks to local fire departments and medics.

Ron Villemaire has stage four colon cancer and is in hospice care in Bedford, New Hampshire, his daughter, Elizabeth Ngo, said Friday. He's a huge "Star Wars" fan, but can't get to a theater and sit in a seat.

After a public plea from Ngo, the Bedford and New Boston fire departments made it happen Saturday. They took him by ambulance to a theater and transferred him to a hospital bed, allowing him to see the film comfortably. Medics were on hand while he watched "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

"We decided to partner to make his dream come true," New Boston Fire Chief Dan MacDonald said. He said the movie theater manager and a representative of a group that dresses up as "Star Wars" characters talked to Villemaire, who "just couldn't believe it." People also donated money to help with the outing.



Villemaire was joined by family and friends  as well as Darth Vader and stormtroopers.



Villemaire, a U.S. Air Force veteran, also was greeted by representatives thanking him for his service.
A Chula Vista councilmember and former Chula Vista mayor is calling for the resignation of a local labor leader amid allegations of sexual assault.

Mickey Kasparian, the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 135 and president of the San Diego Working Families Council, is accused by a county government employee of repeated sexual assaults.

The allegations have led his accuser, Melody Godinez, to file a lawsuit that claims he sexually assaulted her on several occasions beginning in May 2014.

In a letter sent to executive boards of organizations in which Mickey Kasparian is involved, democrats calling for the investigation said they want to practice what they preach as progressives. NBC 7s Rory Devin has more.

Kasparian denies the claims, calling them categorically and completely false.

In a statement to NBC 7 this week, Kasparian said, in part: The absolute truth here, as respected female labor leaders have confirmed, is that Ms. Godinez has been repeatedly inappropriate in the past, and has also threatened revenge against me personally.

As for the selective release of her testimony, this is not just the latest attempt at character assassination, it is a desperate attempt to hide the real truth. To be very clear, I have never  not once  been alone at any time with Ms. Godinez as she suggests. There are no truth or facts to anything she has said. Zero, he added.

On Friday evening, Kasparians longtime colleague, Chula Vista City Councilmember Steven Padilla, who also served as mayor from 2002 to 2006, posted a message on Facebook calling for Kasparian to step down from his leadership roles.

I believe the time has come to put the interests of his membership and the party before his own. I believe he should focus his efforts full time on addressing the accusations against him. The issue has become a huge distraction and will only impair his ability to give his full attention to his members and constituents, Padillas statement said, in part.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher has also publicly asked Kasparian to resign.



NBC 7 first reported on sexual harassment allegations against Kasparian about a year ago, when a female employee filed a civil lawsuit against the UFCW.

In a lawsuit, Mickey Kasparian, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, is accused of gender discrimination and political retaliation by a former employee. NBC 7s Omari Fleming reports.
America's top diplomat stepped back Friday from his offer of unconditional talks with North Korea, telling world powers the nuclear-armed nation must earn the right to negotiate with the United States.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's declaration before the U.N. Security Council marked a stunning reversal after he proposed discussions with Pyongyang without preconditions earlier this week. That overture was almost immediately rebutted by White House officials.

Still, Tillerson had planned to reiterate his call at a special U.N. ministerial meeting on North Korea at the council Friday morning. His prepared remarks suggested only that North Korea would have to undertake a sustained halt in its threatening behavior before talks could begin. But Tillerson changed the script.

"North Korea must earn its way back to the table," Tillerson told the foreign ministers. "The pressure campaign must and will continue until denuclearization is achieved. We will in the meantime keep our channels of communication open."

The debate over offering North Korea unconditional talks reflects the differences within the Trump administration as it runs out of time to prevent North Korea from perfecting a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U.S. mainland. President Donald Trump has vowed to prevent such capability, with military action if necessary.

So far, U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea and diplomatic isolation haven't compelled Kim Jong Un's government to stop its nuclear and missile tests, or to seek negotiations.

Seeking to increase the pressure further, Tillerson called on China and Russia, the powers with closest ties to North Korea, to go beyond U.N.-mandated economic sanctions.

Tillerson said that continuing to allow North Korean laborers to toil in "slave-like conditions" for wages used to fund nuclear weapons "calls into question Russia's dedication as a partner for peace."

He said that with crude oil still flowing into North Korean refineries, the U.S. also questions China's commitment to "solving an issue that has serious implications for the security of its own citizens."
The Marlboro, Massachusetts fire department brought holiday cheer to the less fortunate families in their town on Sunday.

Firefighters delivered Christmas meals, complete with staples, including ready-to-cook ham and bread.

Every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas, they make it a mission to help out those in town who need it most.

Firefighter Bob Dolan said it's a way to give back and pay it forward.

Natascha Coira is a single mother of two children who works 40 hours a week, but she's still struggling to make ends meet.

"It's stressful and tough and sad sometimes," Coira said.

When she heard the surprise knock at her door, she was brought to tears knowing her and her kids will have a decent meal come the holiday.

"It's really hard, it's really hard," she said through tears.

For firefighters who usually see people in a crisis, playing Santa Claus is a nice change.

"From our family to your family," said one firefighter. "That's our message."
Connecticut police were searching for a missing snowmobiler Sunday.

The unidentified rider was last seen at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Police said the snowmobile was found at a pond in Griswold.

Dive teams were in the pond searching Sunday morning, according to police.

No other information was immediately available.

The unidentified rider was last seen at 6 p.m. Saturday. Police said said the snowmobile was found at a pond in Griswold. Dive teams were in the pond searching, according to police.

This story is developing.
A 10-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while sledding behind his home in Winchester, New Hampshire.

Witnesses told police that the child was seen sledding down a hill behind his home on Michigan Street in Winchester when he reached the bottom of the hill. He continued onto the street and was struck by a vehicle.

A woman who did not see the accident but heard it, ran to the scene and immediately began CPR on the boy after he had been struck by the vehicle. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and continued lifesaving efforts which were continued by medical personnel while enroute to Cheshire Medical Center.

The boys family was notified of the incident and was at the hospital shortly after he was brought there, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle is cooperating fully with police. Police do not believe speed or impairment were factors in the accident.


California drought gave Sierra Nevada mountain range 1 inch height in four years

California : Drought in California may be a nightmare for many farmers and land linked humans, but it apparently resulted in the growth of Sierra Nevada Mountain range by an inch, according to new data from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The growth in the mountain range has been registered in a time frame of nearly four years with the help of 1,300 GPS stations.

The reason behind gain in height is loss of water. The Sierra Nevada mountain range lost about 10.8 cubic miles of water in those four years (for reference, this was enough amount of water to fulfill needs of Los Angeles for next 45 years).

Why did California's Sierra Nevada mountain range rise nearly an inch between 2011 and 2015? Find out: https://t.co/jTLr8CyE80 #AGU17 pic.twitter.com/23CSnP5ABS  NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) December 13, 2017

Scientist Donald Argus, a JPL researcher involved in the study, explained how precipitation trends could cause mountains to shrink or grow.

When rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation build up on the surface, mountains tend to give way and lose some height. But when there is a lack of water on the surface, similar to what happened in this decades California drought, the opposite happens, as mountains grow a bit taller due to the loss of water weight.

Its like a bathroom scale, Argus told the Sacramento Bee on Thursday.

Well, there is also another theory which states another big reason behind the growth of Sierra Nevada mountain range.

A second theory suggested that intense groundwater pumping had caused the height increase in the Sierra Nevada. As explained by the Sacramento Bee, farmers in Californias Central Valley had engaged in groundwater pumping during the drought, which resulted in parts of the valley floor sinking.

NASAs study confirmed that this also contributed to the height increase, but not as much as the lack of water and snow from 2011 to 2015.
Woolly mammoth skeleton sold for $645000 at French auction

Paris : 10,000 years old woolly mammoth skeleton, the most intact one till date, has been sold for a mammoth price of about $645,000 at a French auction.

It is the largest of its kind in private hands and has more than 80% original bones in the structure. The rest is resin used to complete the assembly.

The ancient set of bones was discovered in Siberia about 10 years ago by a professional hunter and has an estimated value of $530,000, said France-based auctioneer Claude Aguttes.

With signs of decay in teeths, the scientists believe that it may have been a factor in its death if it was unable to graze.

Melting permafrost has led to an increasing number of mammoths being discovered, David Gelsthorpe, curator of Earth Science collections at Manchester Museum, told the BBC.

"The permafrost in Siberia particularly is melting at a very rapid rate because of climate change," he said.

"So not only are we getting these incredible skeletons coming out, but also pretty much as they died as well. We're getting things like fur, the skin, the muscles, the organs - and even the last meal."

Woolly mammoth belong to the early age of human being, with many of them dying around 10,000 years ago.

The last surviving group lived on an island in the Arctic Ocean and survived until 4,000 years ago.

Human hunting and climate change are considered as prime reasons behind their extinction from the Earth.
Siddaramaiah is chief guest at Indo-China Friendship event? I have declined says former CM

Rahul Gandhi invites Siddaramaiah for sprint during Bharat Jodo Yatra and this happens next [watch]

2018 Karnataka polls probably my last says Siddaramaiah

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

He said in 2013 too. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections could probably his last.

"Most likely the forthcoming assembly election will be the last election for me," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Raichur in north Karnataka.

However, he maintained that he would remain active in politics, but not contest assembly polls.

Earlier during the 2013 assembly polls, Siddaramaiah had said it was his last election.

Conceding that he had during the 2013 polls stated it would be his last election, the Chief Minister said he was contesting to stop BJP from getting back to power.

"Looking at elections and the political system, I had felt it is enough. But looking at communal politics by the BJP, I felt I should stand in election. Also, the high command said that I should contest," he said.

"I have the responsibility to see to that BJP does not come back to power, so I'm contesting," he added.

The Congress has announced Siddaramaiah would be the party's face during the 2018 Assembly polls.

He said he would contest the Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru district and added there are 20 constituencies other than Varuna from where he could win.

"Chamundeshwari is the constituency that gave me political strength and a rebirth, so I felt I should end from there," he said.

Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won from the constituency five times and seen defeat twice.

Siddaramaiah represents Varuna in Mysuru after it became a constituency in 2008 following delimitation.

Speculations are rife that the chief minister is keen on fielding his son Yatindra from Varuna.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 6:02 [IST]
Varanasi to light up for Deep Deepavali, a festival of lights that is not Diwali

Varanasi lights up with 8 lakh lamps on Dev Deepawali; PM shares pics too

To boost connectivity in North-East, PM Modi to inaugurate first greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh

Argentinian woman robbed by unidentified person in Varanasi

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

A woman from Argentina was allegedly manhandled and robbed by 3 youths while meditating on the opposite bank of Ganga on Saturday.

The victim has lodged an FIR with Bhelupur police station under section 394 of IPC against three unknown persons.

According to reports, the Argentine woman has been living in Bhadaini area for over a decade and working with an NGO.

The woman had gone to the opposite bank of Ganga by a boat for meditation in the evening. Seeing her alone in lonely place, 3 youths robbed money and also slapped her when she opposed.

The incident comes days after a Japanese tourist Akihiro Tanaka was also drugged and robed by some fake tourist guide on December 14.

According to Sigra police, Tanaka had reached Varanasi from Agra by bus on Thursday morning and later he reached Sarnath area.

At Sarnath he met a youth who introduced himself as Rameez Khan and said that he is a tourist guide. After becoming familiar with Tanaka he took him to different sites in Sarnath and later the duo reached ghats along the river Ganga.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 19:18 [IST]
Doklam: One motorable road complete, second to be constructed by March 2021

Don't allow next Doklam in Arunachal, says BJP MP; claims China has encroached upon 60 km of state

Doklam: Ready to take on any Chinese mischief says GOC-in-C

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Any mischief by the Chinese will be dealt with firmly, the Indian Army has said on the Doklam issue. The statement was made by the General Officer, Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lt. Gen. Abahy Kumar.

He was asked about China reportedly stationing its troops in Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a standoff for over two months earlier this year after the Chinese army tried to build a road in the area claimed by Indian-ally Bhutan.

India feared the road, if completed, would allow China to cut off its access to its northeastern states. The standoff ended in September after the two countries mutually agreed to withdraw their troops from the area.

Stating that he would not name anyone specifically, Lt Gen Krishna said the Indian Army is in high spirits and ready to take on any mischief.

"We are totally prepared, geared up; let anybody do any mischief and he will get it back nice and proper," he told reporters here.

Lt Gen Krishna was speaking at the Eastern Command headquarter at Fort William here after a wreath-laying ceremony on 'Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971, which led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

The road building effort by China and presence of its troops at the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan had led to an eyeball-to-eyeball face off between New Delhi and Beijing for 73 days from June 16.

Reports have said that China still has troops stationed a few hundred metres from the tri-junction in Doklam sector.

Asked if the reports were verified, Lt Gen Krishna said a lot has been stated about them and he has nothing more to add.

"The Indian Army is always in very high spirits, we are always ready to take on any mischief by anybody. I am not going to name anybody specifically.

"Territorial integrity is ingrained in our blood and for that we will go to any extent to ensure the territorial integrity," he said.

Asked if India was prepared for a two-front war, Lt Gen Krishna said the country was "undoubtedly" ready for any eventuality.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 5:48 [IST]
MP: FIR registered against cop who aimed gun at Congs Kamal Nath at airport

India

oi-Madhuri

A FIR has been registered on Sunday against a police constable who had pointed a loaded rifle at senior Congress leader Kamal Nath at Chhindwara airstrip in Madhya Pradesh. A SIT is also formed to investigate the case.

According to police, Kamal Nath was about to leave for Delhi having addressed a public meeting about 4.30pm. He was boarding his private plane when some other policemen at the airstrip saw the constable Ratnesh Pawar's rifle pointed at an angle which could have been a threat to Kamal Nath's life. This created panic among them and they swiftly acted to whisk the constable off the airstrip.

This incident came to light after Madhya Pradesh's former Advocate General and Rajya Sabha member, Vivek Tankha took to Twitter and condemned the incident. "A Police man loads his rifle to fire at Kamal Nath ji in Chhindwara airstrip. Is this politics of hatred. Should be condemned in strongest terms." (sic) Tankha tweeted.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 10:14 [IST]
Zakir Naik wants Indian Muslims to migrate to Kerala, a state he mastered in radicalising

The crimes of Zakir Naik: Extolling every Muslim to be a terrorist, paid Rs 50k per Islamic conversion

Prosecutions story may be attractive but should be backed by evidence

India to seek fresh red corner notice against Zakir Naik

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

India has decided to file a fresh petition before the Interpol after the agency rejected a red corner notice against radical Islamic preacher, Dr Zakir Naik. An NIA official informed OneIndia that they would make a fresh request for the red corner notice.

We have filed a chargesheet against Naik and hence will make a fresh request the official also said.

Moments after the news broke out, Naik in a video message said, " truth has a fantastic way of coming out. It came out internationally and it would be out in India soon."

In a major setback for the Indian agencies, the Interpol had cancelled the red corner notice issued against Zakir Naik.

The Interpol stated in the letter, "after a thorough examination, the commission found that the data challenged raised questions as to compliance with applicable roles. As a result, it considered that the retention of this data in the Interpol information system was not compliant with the Interpol's rules and decided that it should be deleted."

The decision was sent to the Interpol General secretariat which deleted the data from the Interpol's files in November 2017.

The Indian agencies had sought from the Interpol to issue a red corner notice in a bid to extradite Zakir Naik and bring him to India. The request was sent after he was chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency in a terror related case.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 5:43 [IST]
Kim Jong-Un in Kerala? BJP asks if Left will launch missiles on BJP offices

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

In the latest instance of poster war in India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Sunday shared a picture on his Twitter that featured North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Posting a photo of the poster, which Patra claims belongs to the CPM, he said, "No wonder they have converted Kerala into killing fields for their opponents".

"Hope the Left is not planning to launch missiles at the RSS, BJPoffices as their next gruesome agenda!" BJP spokesperson said.

"Kim Jong-un finds place in CPM's posters in Kerala!! No wonder they have converted Kerala into Killing fields for their opponents! Hope the left is not planning to launch :rocket: missiles at the RSS,BJP offices as their next gruesome agenda! (sic)" he tweeted on Sunday.

According to the BJP leaders, 51 party activists have been killed in CPM attacks in the district since 1973. Three BJP activists were killed in the district after Pinarayi Vijayan became the chief minister in May 2016.

Last month, a 28-year-old RSS activist, Nenmini Anand, was hacked to death by unknown assailants. Following his murder, BJP president Amit Shah had alleged that CPM workers were behind the attack.

Top BJP leaders, including party chief Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have participated in "Jan Rakshha Yatra" organised by the party in Kerala.

Shah blamed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the political killings in the state and said that "More than 120 BJP and RSS workers have been murdered in Kerala so far. CM Vijayan is directly responsible for it."

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 19:42 [IST]
Bharat Jodo Yatra will proceed to Srinagar, come what may, says Rahul Gandhi as march enters Maharashtra

Meet Rahul Gandhis inner circle

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Rahul Gandhi who took over as Congress president on Saturday has a long and difficult road ahead. He has been tasked with reviving the grand old party.

To help him run the party and also strategise, Rahul Gandhi has with him five persons considered to be part of his inner circle. The five persons part of Rahul Gandhi's inner circle are Kaushal Vidyarthee, Kanishka Singh, K B Byju, Alankar Sawai and Sachin Rao.

Kanishka Singh:

He quit his job in New York and entered politics in 2003 as part of Sheila Dixit's election campaign. He predicted that the 2004 polls would be won by the Congress under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. This brought him closer to Rahul. He is said to be an expert in studying caste and community compositions.

K B Byju:

He is in charge of Rahul Gandhi's security detail. He quit his job as an SPG officer in 2010. He also oversees the media and logistics.

Kaushal Vidyarthee:

He is the main point of contact when anyone needs to get in touch with Rahul Gandhi or vice versa. He has often been criticised for being only good with the internet and not being able to understand the ground level situation.

Sachin Rao:

An MBA in corporate strategy and international business from Michigan Business School, Rao manages the organisation setups of the Youth Congress and NSUI. He also heads the committee which oversees the elevation of leaders of both these organisations.

Alankar Sawai:

He is a former bank employee and is in charge of documentation and research for Rahul Gandhi. Sawai was earlier looking after the social media team. He accompanies Rahul on every visit outside Delhi.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 6:08 [IST]
Pro-China government in Nepal: Strategic worries for India

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

With the communist coalition set to form the government in Nepal, the worries for India in the South Asia region seem to be mounting. India now finds itself cornered in the diplomatic battle with China in the region.

The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and the Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Centre coalition, which will form the government in Nepal, is known for its ties with Beijing. The Left's big win would in all probability mean that KP Oli will become prime minister.

India, which had a strong influence on Nepal, seems to be losing its grip. In the hindsight, it now seems that the 2015's Madhesi protest, which was seen to be backed by New Delhi, has not worked out in favour of India. It has in fact taken Nepal closer to China.

Nepal, so far, depended only on India for the supply of fuel and petroleum products. During the Madhesi protest, all supplies from India were blocked and New Delhi did not seem like doing much to resolve the crisis. The Himalayan country, which is landlocked between India and China, faced acute petroleum crisis. Then Prime Minister KP Oli publicly declared that India's blockade of Nepal was in support of the cause of Madhesis. Oli turned to China for help and Beijing gladly reciprocated. Oli visited China in March 2016 and signed a commercial agreement for the alternative supply of petroleum products.The 2017 campaign also saw Oli call for Chinese investment in Nepal.

But all is not lost for India. Nepal and China share border which is treacherously mountainous and it is very difficult to transport oil through such a region. It would require massive overhauling of existing infrastructure so that petroleum products can be transported from China to Nepal. This would in-turn increase the cost of the product. India, on the other hand, has established road links with Nepal and the fuel supply to the Himalayan nation has been going on for years. Nepal by no means can totally do away with depending on India. But the fact that Nepal is beginning to lean towards China ought to ring alarm bells in among India's foreign policymakers.

Nepal also must not forget that India was the first country to respond when a devastating hit the Himalayan country on 25 April 2015. Modi government mobilised resources and manpower to ensure relief reached within hours. Besides this, India and Nepal share a special relationship with an open border and Nepalese nationals living and working in India. India and Nepal also have strong cultural and religious ties.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 6:00 [IST]
Pune: Woman raped by Autorickshaw driver, friend

India

oi-Madhuri

A 23-year-old woman was allegedly raped by an auto rickshaw driver and his friend in Kondhwa in Pune for two days before dumping her in camp area.

The incident happened when the woman reached Sun City society in Kondhwa at around 10 pm with an intention to meet her estranged husband. She hailed an auto rickshaw to travel to Kothrud. The rickshaw driver asked her if she was alone and had a mobile phone. When the woman said she did not have a phone, the driver called up his friend. His friend then dragged her out of the auto and took her to a shed and raped her repeatedly.

This didn't end here, on December 14, the driver's friend took her to Handewadi in Hadapsar and forced her to consume alcohol, before raping her. She was later dumped in the Camp area.

According to police, the woman, who is a divorcee and works as a domestic help, left her house in Yerawada after having a fight with her brother.

After receiving the victim's complaint, the Kondhwa police arrested the autorickshaw driver, and his friend. Both are residents of Siddharthnagar in Kondhwa.

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Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 9:42 [IST]
Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh

His contributions ignored: Why Rajnath Singh said Netaji was first PM of India

Rajnath Singh attacks Karnataka govt over Gauri Lankesh murder, accuses it of 'dividing' society

India

pti-PTI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of trying to "divide" the society and lashed out at it on the law-and-order front, citing the killings of right-wing activists and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Addressing a public meeting here as part of the BJP's ongoing statewide "Parivartana Yatra", organised to "expose the misdeeds" of the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, due early next year, he said the Congress regime believed in spreading enmity between different communities.

"Rudresh, Kuttappa and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta were murdered in cold blood. Even Gauri Lankesh was killed. If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated," Singh said.

RSS activist Rudresh was hacked to death here early this year and a similar fate awaited local Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader D S Kuttappa in Kodagu district in November, 2015.

Veteran journalist Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside her residence here in September, leading to a national outrage.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week. The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mesta's death, for which the BJP has blamed the "jihadi elements".

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

"There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide the Indian society," he added.

Singh said the Karnataka government gave reservations to Muslims, even though there was no such provision in the Constitution.

"Reservation based on religion is a deception with the people of the state. The Constitution does not allow it," he added.

The Union minister said the country was scaling new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Despite the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, various international economic organisations have projected a high economic growth rate for the country."

"They have even recommended such economic reforms," he added. Regarding border security and internal peace, Singh said the way the Dokalam stand-off with China was resolved showed that India was a strong country.

"Even China realises that India is not the same anymore," he added.

Singh said the country had taken the terrorists in Kashmir head-on and curbed their activities substantially. Karnataka's growth would be rapid if the BJP was voted to power in the state, he added.

PTI
Balochistan: 8 killed, 44 injured as terrorists storm Church in Quetta

International

oi-Madhuri

Gunmen attacked a Catholic church during Sunday mass at Quetta in Balochistan killing eight people and injuring 44 injured.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Government sources said at least 20 injured as of now and fears a hostage situation.

Emergency has been declared in local hospitals. Around four gunmen are believed to be on a suicide mission.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church. "One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church.

"The security forces foiled their plan," he added.

Balochistan's Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked.

Ansari said that police assigned to the church's security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.

"Security forces have cleared the church," he added.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal condemned the terror attack, saying Pakistan's resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorists.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terror attack.

"The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)
Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawah, Hafiz Saeed most patriotic, says Musharraf

International

oi-PTI

Calling terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) "patriotic", Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he is ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan's "safety and security", according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general, who is on self-exile in Dubai, had last month said that he was the biggest supporter of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned terror outfit Jamaat-ud Dawah.

"They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic. They have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan in Kashmir...," Pakistan's ARY News channel quoted him as saying.

Pervez Musharraf went on to say that the two terror groups have "large public support and good people" and that "no one could object if they formed a political party."

The Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT was banned following the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed, while the Jamaat-ud-Dawah or JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai terror attacks, had last month unveiled his political ambitions by formally announcing that his group will contest the general elections in Pakistan in 2018 under the banner of the Milli Muslim League.

Musharraf further said that so far the two groups have not approached him, but "if they wish to enter into an alliance with my party, I have no objection."

Pervez Musharraf had last month announced the formation of a grand political alliance in Pakistan after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties.

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Mr Musharraf's Pakistan Awami Ittehad alliance.

Pervez Musharraf, who plotted the Kargil conflict, toppled Pakistan's then prime minister Nawaz Sharif soon after in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled over Pakistan as a military dictator for nine years. He is facing a slew of court cases in Pakistan. He also unsuccessfully contested 2013 elections after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.

He claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under "Nawaz Sharif's control anymore".

PTI
Good news for Indian IT professionals: US to conduct 2nd lottery for H-1B visa

Spouses of H1-B visa holders set to be barred from working in US

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

An Obama era rule which extended work authorisation to the spouse of a H-1B Visa holder is all set to be revoked by the Donald Trump administration. This move could affect thousands of Indian workers and their families.

Since 2015, the spouses of H-1B, or high-skilled, visa holders waiting for green cards have been eligible to work in the US on H-4 dependent visas, under a rule introduced by the previous Obama administration.

In 2016, more than 41,000 of H-4 visa holders were issued work authorisation. This year till June more than 36,000 H-4 visa holders were issued work authorisation.

The H-1B programme attracts foreign specialised workers to come to the United States for employment, many of them from India and China.

"DHS is proposing to remove from its regulations certain H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorisation," said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a latest regulation.

According to the notice, the changes is being made in light of President Trump's 'Buy American and Hire American' order issued earlier this year.

According to CNN, while changing the rule wouldn't prevent spouses of H-1B holders from pursuing other avenues for work authorisation, it could deter a number of high- skilled immigrants from staying in the US if their spouses can't easily find work.

The Wall Street Journal said such a proposal dismayed supporters of the programme.

"This announcement places into jeopardy thousands of hardworking, contributing individuals who have started their own businesses and often have US citizen children who will needlessly be forced to revert to a status of inactivity," Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney who worked for the Obama administration, told the daily.

As well as dropping the rule allowing spouses to work, the Department of Homeland Security statement mentioned plans for other changes to the H-1B visa program. They include revising the definition of what occupations are eligible for the program "to increase focus on truly obtaining the best and brightest foreign nationals", CNN said.

That would be a standard potentially far above what is currently understood under the law. The Obama-era rule allowing spouses to work already faces a legal challenge. A group called Save Jobs USA filed a lawsuit in April 2015 arguing that it threatens American jobs.

The Trump administration's plans to overhaul the H-1B program has caused particular alarm in India, which accounts for 70 per cent of all H-1B workers. The H-1B is a common visa route for highly skilled foreigners to find work at companies in the U.S. It's valid for three years, and can be renewed for another three years.

It's a program that's particularly popular in the tech community, with many engineers vying for one of the programme's 85,000 visas each year.

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Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies to its west across the Mediterranean Sea; its location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has contributed to its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious diversity. It is part of the Levant region of the Middle East. Lebanon is home to roughly six million people and covers an area of 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi), making it the second smallest country in continental Asia. The official language of the state is Arabic, while French is also formally recognized; the Lebanese dialect of Arabic is used alongside Modern Standard Arabic throughout the country.
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After spending her life savings to buy her first car, Kat Corazza was thrilled to have her own set of wheels.

About one week before the October wildfires, Corazza, 18, became the proud owner of a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle.

Corazzas grandfather, Phil Nelsen, found the vehicle for her at Napa Nissan. She paid $4,000.

Even though the college student doesnt have her drivers license yet, the last time I saw my car I was so excited to learn how to drive it, she said. Her grandfather was going to teach her how to drive.

Unfortunately, those plans are now on hold.

Corazzas car had been parked at her great-grandparents house on Westgate Drive in the Silverado area. On the night the wildfires swept through east Napa, her Bug became another casualty of the flames.

The fire raged down Atlas Peak, burned down her great-grandparents house and in the process burned and melted the side of Corazzas Beetle.

I was more horrified about the house, she said, but at the same time, I got really lucky that my car didnt catch on fire. Two other vehicles at the house were completely destroyed in the fire.

The heat scorched the drivers side of Corazzas vehicle, melting the glass window, mirror, headlight and door handle.

The burn marks left the cream-colored Bug looking like, well, a toasted marshmallow.

If I had a dollar for every time someone said my car looked like a toasted marshmallow I could probably have it fixed by now, Corazza said wryly.

On the lighter side, friends have joked that her car is no longer a bug, but a cockroach, because it survived the fire. Another friend suggested Photoshopping a picture of the car between two giant graham crackers.

Joking aside, the good news is that the engine and inside of Corazzas car appears to be undamaged. The entire other side of the car is perfect, said Corazza. Its crazy.

However, her auto insurance didnt cover this fire damage. Now shes faced with the unknown costs of a repair bill.

Its too bad, said her grandfather. She never even drove the car, he said. Shes just heartbroken.

To help Corazza fix her car, her grandmother Mimi Nelsen started a GoFundMe account for the teen.

I want to try and fix it, but her family has a lot on their plate right now, Corazza said. Her great-grandparents recently found a house in American Canyon to move into temporarily, and she has moved to Sacramento to attend American River College.

Its been hectic, Corazza said.


Cover: Escape from the Chicken Coop (my 7th CD of the century)

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Add that to being the very least qualified, and most self-disqualified, candidate ever to sneak into the Presidency with a plurality, and it is as I have been saying since the name-calling and subornation of violence in his campaign: the GOP is going to have to get rid of him before the midterm elections or they will lose both Houses of Congress. The longer that clock ticks, and in particular if Trump, Pence, Kushner, Trump Jr. and others are indicted, the worse the massacre is going to be.

It is not too early to talk about an unprecedented crisis in Presidential succession: If Trump is indicted, and must resign, Vice President Mike Pence would assume the presidency. But as Shareblue Media has reported,





If Pence cannot become President because of that, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is third in line. However, as Huffington Post reports,





The fourth in line is the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. That person is Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). As USA Today reported

(click here)



in 2014, "When the GOP-controlled Senate takes office in January, Utah's Orrin Hatch is slated to get a new title and some cool perks.

Hatch is set to become Senate president pro tempore, a constitutional office that makes him third in line to the presidency behind the vice president and speaker of the House. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president and is usually the most senior member of the majority party.

Hatch, who first arrived in the Senate in 1977, will get a security detail, a small staff and an office at the Capitol, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Plus, if there is a national emergency, he'll be scurried off to some secret undisclosed location. The current Senate president pro tempore is Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Hatch, who has said his current term that ends in January 2019 will be his last, played down his new role in the Utah newspaper story."

He's 83 years old, and though his health apparently remains good, he really doesn't want to be President.

The fifth through eighteenth men and women in the line of succession to the White House





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From Strategic Culture

Secret police are characteristic of dictatorships, or so goes the conventional thinking on the subject. Police in democracies operate for the most part transparently and within a set of rules and guidelines that limits their ability to gratuitously punish citizens who have done nothing wrong. If a policeman operating under rule-of-law steps out of line, he can be held accountable. That is also conventional thinking.

But what happens when an ostensibly "democratic" police force becomes corrupted and starts doing things that are outside its zone of responsibility, and does so to benefit a political relationship that will in turn protect those who have broken the law under cover of carrying out their official duties? That is the characteristic of what we have been calling a "deep state," where forces drawn generally from the political class and security services conspire together to control what the public is allowed to know while also manipulating nuisances like elections to make sure that the "correct" outcome emerges.

Indeed, deep state operating in a democracy or republic is far more dangerous that the secret police in a dictatorship. That is because in a system where the forces of the state are all-powerful, nearly everyone expects that what they read and what the government says is all a lie. In a democratic system there is what intelligence officers would refer to as plausible denial, which means that even when the government is behaving very badly much of the public will believe that it is acting honorably because they want to trust that the system works. And when the deep state includes management of the media, many citizens will likewise believe what they are reading or hearing is honest reporting, even when it is not.

Due to the events of the past year in particular, many Americans have become convinced that there now exists something like a secret police operating in the United States that is a fusion of some political dealmakers with certain politicized elements in the intelligence and security services. However one regards President Donald Trump and his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, there is nevertheless something odd in terms of how they have been investigated and, in the case of Flynn, legally entrapped to convict him of lying to the FBI to force him to cut a deal with the Special Counsel inquiry headed by Robert Mueller.

Consider how, even though meeting with Russians is not illegal, Trump and his associates have been subjected to secret investigation of their Russian ties for nearly two years without any revelations apart from the fact that it was Israel, not Russia, that colluded to undermine White House policy. FBI Director James Comey's antics during the primaries and electoral campaign, in which he first exonerated and then complained about Hillary Clinton while at the same time validating a dossier full of largely questionable information about Donald Trump's dealings with Russia provides clear evidence of an organization that has lost its bearings and has become a politicized agent of an incumbency that has itself become corrupted and believes itself to be above the law. And then there is the Central Intelligence Agency's own John Brennan working with the FBI to undermine the Trumps, illegally digging up dirt from the liaison intelligence partners in Europe and the Middle East.

America's law enforcement empire has all the characteristics of secret police in a dictatorship. It is not transparent in its actions, has a history of bending the rules to obtain convictions, and its officers are rarely held accountable. It has also been politicized. And to be sure, one should recognize that there are two additional factors driving the growth and transformation of the national security state in the U.S. First is the intense dislike that the top levels of the American intelligence and police agencies have for Donald Trump personally, a contempt that Trump himself has largely earned by his scorn for much of the government that he inherited. Second is the "trust the authorities" culture that has grown up since 9/11, reinforced by fear-mongering on the part of the government to justify executive overreach and enabled through anti-terror legislation that has unleashed the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency (NSA) to act with impunity while suffering no consequences whatsoever.
From No More Fake News

Some people say Trump is nothing more than another Globalist puppet. Is that the whole story? Is Trump worse than his supporters want him to be, and better than his enemies claim he is?

Trump is unpredictable. He shoots his mouth off.

No one is sure what he might do next.

That is not the Deep State's version of what a president is supposed to be.

Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama -- they were good boys. Globalists. The intelligence establishment and the military industrial complex knew "the situation" was well in hand. Trump is the strange intruder. The "crazy one."

If his swaggering indifference to the Deep State's agenda is merely a pose -- a formidable acting job -- then why is he subjected to withering attacks every day, even from his own Party? After all, he has surrounded himself with Goldman Sachs big shots -- can't they be relied on to keep him in check? What's the problem?

Well, one huge problem is he keeps attacking mainstream media. He lashes out and calls them Fake News. He takes every opportunity to accuse them of lying. No president in modern history has dared to work that angle. Understand that the intelligence establishment -- a major component of the Deep State -- uses major media to shape public perception on an ongoing basis. Gunslinger Trump is upsetting that applecart, at a time when public trust in mainstream news is, all on its own, eroding. He isn't supposed to be piling on.

If Trump's attacks on The News are a carefully crafted theatrical ploy, somehow designed to serve the Deep State, where is the payoff?

I keep bringing up Trump vs. the Media, because, for the past 35 years, working as a reporter, I've seen the media damage and the mind control, the brainwashing and the corruption, the collusion between The News and the Deep State, and the resulting destruction of human life. Just to name two areas of major crimes: viciously lying war press coverage, and viciously lying medical coverage. Anyone -- especially a president -- who wades in and disrupts the seamless hypnotic flow of mainstream news, whatever his motives, deserves praise.

For the record, I believe Trump is, and will be, a complete and utter disaster for the environment, as regards corporate pollution. I see no evidence he will lessen medical crimes. He is out to lunch, when it comes to appointing people to forward his agendas and support his presidency. Who on his team ISN'T talking out of school? Who isn't betraying him? Why did he extend the utterly failed war in Afghanistan? Some of his most ardent supporters saw, in him, a foreign policy man with the guts and intelligence of Ron Paul. They certainly aren't happy.

The big lynchpin issue is immigration. It always was. Ideologues from the Left, and the Deep State, are outraged, because they want open borders. Forever. Their masters, who are far more cynical and calculating, are forcing the unending migrant flood as a method for erasing separate nations -- a prime plank in the Globalist platform. Any fool should be able to see this. It has nothing to do with "humane" motives. The heaping of financial burdens on states and nations, as an outcome of the migrant flood, is also intentional. So is the resultant crime.

These are not illusions. How serious Trump is about stemming the flood -- that is up for grabs. But the fact that he has spoken out, time and time again, even if you assume he is lying about what he intends to do, has galvanized people all over the world. They are waking up to the resurrection of sovereign nations, as opposed to a one world-nation, under the ministrations of Globalist utopian tyrants. If Trump's stance on the immigration issue is merely a con, it has certainly had a massive blowback effect against the new world order.

For those who claim that top-down control of the planet is a given, with no exceptions, why didn't the controllers make sure someone other than Trump was elected in 2016? If these controller-gods are so powerful, why didn't they dump the flaccid useless Hillary Clinton and nominate a dynamic Democrat who would have taken Trump to the cleaners? Why didn't they launch a really convincing Trump dossier and cut him off at the knees before the election?

For all the "Hegelian dialectic" people, who insist that Trump was put into office to whipsaw the public to the other side, after the socialist Obama had done his assigned job: consider the fact that any corporatist Republican candidate could have served that function -- instead of a fast-talking, shooting-from-the-hip, swaggering narcissist cowboy Crazy, who suddenly began spouting anti-Globalist pro-nationalist rhetoric to a worldwide audience.

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From Greg Palast Website

By Gary Flowers and Greg Palast for Richmond Free Press

Imagine a wonderful parting gift from Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Imagine if Gov. McAuliffe put an end to Virginia's strange and inexplicable participation in a GOP voter suppression trick that reeks of Jim Crow.

Since 2013, this stealth voter purge program has cost tens of thousands of Virginians of color their right to vote. It's called Interstate Crosscheck.

Interstate Crosscheck is the suspect computer program created by Kris Kobach, former Kansas secretary of state and a Trump administration appointee as vice chair of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, also known as the Voter Fraud Commission.

President Trump, who is unfit to serve, alleged that millions of Americans were registered or "voting many, many times" in two or more states in the same election -- a felony.

In June, Gov. McAuliffe laughed off these claims of mass voter fraud as nonsense and denounced the Election Integrity Commission as "a tool to commit large-scale voter suppression."

Furthermore, the governor flatly refused to hand over Virginia's voter files to Mr. Kobach.

What Gov. McAuliffe did not say -- and apparently did not know -- is that Virginia already had turned over the files to Mr. Kobach months earlier.

In January, Virginia's Elections Board sent Mr. Kobach the voting records of 5,629,081 Virginians, including their birth date and Social Security data.

Worse, last year, the state Department of Elections tagged 73,798 Virginians as "duplicate" voters based in part on Mr. Kobach's suspect list.

Mr. Kobach, using his Crosscheck computer-matching program, has generated a list of an astonishing 3.1 million Americans that he has tagged as suspected "duplicate" voters or registrants.

What is not so laughable is that 28 states have removed hundreds of thousands of voters named on Mr. Kobach's secret lists. Not surprisingly, almost all of the Crosscheck states are Republican controlled. A surprising exception: Virginia.

So who are these Virginians discovered by Mr. Kobach who dare to register to vote in two states at once?

Despite official resistance, a Rolling Stone magazine investigations team obtained Virginia's Crosscheck list of the accused. For example, according to Crosscheck, James Cross Barnes III of Arlington is "potentially" the same voter as James Elmer Barnes Jr. of Fayetteville, Ga. And James Anthony Barnes is supposed to be the same person as James Ratcliffe Barnes Jr.

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This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

When retired General Wesley Clark reported in March 2007 that, according to his source, the U.S was going to attack seven countries in five years[1], he was announcing to the world an acceleration of pre-planned, cataclysmic, criminal warfare.

We were warned in advance, but most of us paid little attention. Lies and crimes of imperial overlords are always well masked, and the post 911 wars are no exception. The Military Industrial Media Complex sold us these wars, and they will write the histories of these wars as well. Most of us will remain oblivious to reality, as long as we are the ones not being slaughtered. The unstated, criminal logic is that "The 'Other' always deserves what he gets".Canadians seemingly accept the notion that Syria deserves to be destroyed. It is an insane idea, but unconsciously at least, Canadians accept it.

Canadians' tacit consent for their government's criminal warmongering would be withdrawn if there was any truth in mainstream media war messaging, but the media conglomerates won't be dissolved overnight, the CBC will continue to vomit war propaganda, and an informed public won't emerge anytime soon. Consequently, Canadians still think that al Qaeda blew up the World Trade Center Buildings, they still think that the "War on Terror" is legitimate, and they still think that our military is fighting for freedom and democracy.

Syria and its allies know better. They are the ones destroying the terrorists. They are the ones waging the real war on terror, and they are the ones fighting for freedom and democracy.

Shame on us for thinking otherwise.

The following formula is used to "take out" countries. Each step was employed against non-belligerent Syria.

Illegal regime change announcements are publicly disclosed, coupled with evidence-free atrocity stories, and a demonization campaign against the "prey" country's leader. War is portrayed as a "humanitarian" undertaking.

Deadly sanctions are imposed which target civilians. The illegal sanctions amount to mass murder, impoverish the country, and create desperation.

Proxy mercenary terrorists are deployed, many flying different banners, and branded in different ways, all with a view to concealing the fact that they are all Western-supported, sectarian terrorists, including ISIS.

(The notion of "going after" your own terrorists is a perfect ruse, because it provides cover for destroying 7 countries in five years.)

Proxy terrorists destroy the country and perpetrate an overseas holocaust.

Coalition forces illegally provide air support for terrorists and bomb civilian infrastructure.

The "end game" is to erase the country and its identity.

Each of us can do something to make a positive difference. Sharing the truth about Syria disempowers the diabolical North American Military Industrial Media Complex that is enslaving us all. The following interview is a window into the Syria that our governments want to disappear.

Carla Ortiz, Reverend Ashdown, and Mohammad Alrefai discuss Syrian realities

Note

[1] General Wesley Clark and Amy Goodman,Global Warfare: "We're going to take out 7 countries in 5 years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan &Iran.." Democracy Now! 2 March, 2007. Global Research 30 January 2017 (https://www.globalresearch.ca/we-re-going-to-take-out-7-countries-in-5-years-iraq-syria-lebanon-libya-somalia-sudan-iran/5166) Accessed 15 December, 2017.

All of the post-9/11 wars were sold to Western audiences through a sophisticated network of interlocking governing agencies that disseminate propaganda to both domestic and foreign audiences. But the dirty war on Syria is different. The degree of war propaganda levelled at Syria and contaminating humanity at this moment is likely unprecedented. I had studied and written about Syria for years, so I was not entirely surprised by what I saw.

(Excerpt from Preface, Mark Taliano's book "Voices from Syria", Global Research, Montreal, 2017)

The original source of this article is Global Research

Copyright Mark Taliano, Global Research, 2017
Americans are gung-ho on getting in shape; 70 percent say they want to take steps to improve their health, according to a new study from UnitedHealthcare.

Those steps usually stop at the gym door. More than six in 10 workers dont take advantage of subsidized gym memberships and other wellness benefits, even though nearly three-quarters of employers offer them. This lack of physical activity takes a toll on worker well-being  and drives up health costs.

Employers may think they cant force their workers to exercise. But indeed they can  by subtly integrating more physical activity into the 9-to-5 routines. Office spaces that nudge employees to move around are proving that they can provide a hefty boost to workers health and productivity.

Most Americans are sedentary. The typical person sits 13 hours a day. Only one in five exercises enough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All this sitting makes people sick. Inactivity increases the risk of costly chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression and stroke.

These diseases devastate workers and their families. They also harm businesses bottom lines. Lost productivity due to poor worker health costs the economy $84 billion a year.

To recapture these costs, companies are changing up their office layouts to encourage workers to get up and move more, a philosophy known as active design. For instance, firms create multiple work areas, so employees have to travel to different rooms depending on whether theyre making calls, conducting meetings or compiling reports.

Consider the offices of architecture firm Gensler in Newport Beach, Calif., with workspaces spread around, often on different floors. Employees are encouraged to change locations regularly by walking around the office, climbing stairs, even riding on company scooters and bicycles.

These nudges toward movement may sound trivial. But they have a huge impact on health and productivity. Workers who take a five-minute stroll every hour exhibit increased energy levels, an elevated mood, less fatigue and fewer food cravings.

Other companies encourage workers to shun the elevator and use the stairs by designing visually compelling, inviting staircases. The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee headquarters in Chattanooga includes a monumental staircase with multi-story outdoor views in each of its buildings. The insurance giant reasoned that workers would eagerly take stairs that offer picturesque views of the Tennessee River.

Views of a musty stairwell with no natural light? Not so much.

Many employers also provide workers with sit-stand desks. Allowing workers to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day is among the simplest ways to improve worker health. Employees love this flexibility. Seventy percent of full-timers admit that they dislike sitting all day.

Reducing the amount of time spent sitting at work lowers the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Cutting sitting time by just three hours a day can increase life expectancy by two years.

Other firms are experimenting with active design by adding outdoor workspaces, healthy onsite food options and light, airy rooms. Natural lighting has been linked to improved moods and better sleep quality  nearly one more hour per night. That makes for a more engaged and productive workforce.

These investments in smart design pay off. When companies improve the health of their sickest workers, those employees become 11 percent more productive, according to a new study.

Americans say they want to make their health a priority  but often fail to follow through. Their employers can help, often unbeknownst to them, by adopting the principles of active design.


Prayer of Thomas Merton

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Readings for Third Sunday in Advent: IS 61:1-2A, 10-11; LK 1: 46-50; 53-54; I THES 5: 16-24; JN 1: 6-8, 19-28.

Three years ago, I had an important spiritual experience that's relevant to today's liturgy of the word. I had the privilege of visiting the hermitage of St. Thomas Merton, the great Trappist mystic. (See my reflections here.)

It all happened in New Haven, Kentucky, just down the road from the Maker's Mark distillery -- far from any great urban centers and nearer to places with names like Bardstown, Paint Lick, and Gravel Switch. The experience inspired counter-cultural thoughts about Christmas. It made me struggle with the question (still unresolved for me): is it possible to once and for all break with this annual orgy of consumerism so counter to the gospel's commitment to the poor?

At Fr. Louis' Gethsemane, twenty of us sat in a circle in his living room absorbing the Life Force that still hovers over his simple cinderblock cabin. Trappist Brother Paul, the convener of the Merton Study Group responsible for the event, marvelously channeled "Louie's" spirit by reading Brother Paul's own poetic reflection on Matthew's words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

Paul's thoughts connected nicely not only with Merton, but with this morning's readings for this third Sunday of Advent. There, John the Baptizer, his predecessor Isaiah, and Jesus' own mother Mary reiterate the essential connection between Jesus' gospel and standing in solidarity with the poor not only in spirit, but in actual fact. As Christmas approaches, the sentiments of the Baptizer, Isaiah and Mary suggest counter-cultural ways of commemorating the birth of the prophet from Nazareth. I wish I and my family were strong enough to entertain them seriously.

For me those culturally eccentric suggestions began emerging when in the course of his remarks, Brother Paul recalled Sister Emily Dickinson's words that reflect the mystical dimension of Matthew's (and presumably Jesus') understanding of both spiritual and physical poverty. As for the former, Brother Paul defined spiritual poverty as the emptiness reflected in Monk Dickinson's words,

"I am nobody.

Who are you?

Are you nobody too?

. . . How dreary to be somebody."

Those words almost paraphrase what John the Baptist says in today's Gospel selection. When asked who he is, the one identified by Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived (MT 11:11) says in effect, I am a poor man in Emily Dickinson's sense. I'm a nobody -- merely a voice out of nowhere. I am "a voice crying out in the wilderness." Only an empty vessel can be filled with the Holy Spirit.

So forget about me, John says, and focus on the one who is to come. His words will set you on fire that will sear everything in you that is not of the Spirit Jesus embodies -- everything that separates you from your brothers and sisters, especially material wealth. That kind of self-denial and openness to Jesus' Holy Spirit is the very definition of Matthew's spiritual poverty.

And the specific message of the One to come? (And here's where material poverty enters the picture.) Jesus announces the Divine Spirit's preferential option for the actually poor and its rejection of the materially rich. That bias towards the actually poor is reflected in today's first reading. As remembered by Luke in Jesus' preview of his own career, the words of the prophet Isaiah read:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (LK 4: 16-22)

Here Jesus' focus is real poverty and people subject to captivity and oppression.

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Thermoplastic Elastomers Market Poised to Rake in US$15.3 billion by 2012 - 2018

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Transparency Market Research, in its latest research report states, the global thermoplastic elastomers market will grow at a CAGR of 6.4% in terms of revenue from 2012 to 2018. This market was valued at $9.9 billion in 2011, and is expected to reach $15.3 billion by 2018. Additionally, the volumes of global thermoplastic elastomers market are expected to reach 4,879.7 kilo tons by 2018 from 3,480.4 kilo tons in 2011. This growth in terms of volume is expected to be at CAGR of 5.0% from 2012 to 2018. The report titled, Thermoplastic Elastomers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth And Forecast 2012 - 2018, is available for sale on the companys website.Browse the full Thermoplastic Elastomers Market (SBCs, TPOs, TPUs, TPVs & COPEs) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth And Forecast 2012 - 2018The thermoplastic elastomers market (TPE) is expected to grow at a fast rate in the coming years. The primary factors driving the growth of this market are increasing demand for high performance and light weight material by the ever-expanding automobile industry. The other significant contributor to TPE market is the move by several end use industries to replace PVC with thermoplastic elastomers. Excellent processability, good UV and chemical resistance, recyclable, bondability, and good adhesion makes thermoplastic elastomers a commonly used material in many industries. Owing to such worthy properties, this material is extensively used in automobile industry, sealants, gaskets, medical and healthcare items, automotive interior parts, sporting goods, and many more places. However, strict regulatory framework and volatile nature of raw material prices are the two inhibitors negatively affecting this market.Request Report Brochure @In terms of consumption, styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), a type of thermoplastic elastomer, constitutes about 48% of TPE segment. SBC is largely used in footwear industry for better quality of shoes, and is used in roofing houses, and paving in buildigs. However, this segment is likely to be sluggish as its market is reaching its maturity. On the other hand, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate of CAGR of 6.6% from 2012 to 2018.Request For Report Table of Contents (TOC):Until 2011, Asia Pacific was the biggest market for TPE accounting for more than 40% of global demand. Growth in China and Indias automobile sector is expected to push this demand in the region further at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2012 to 2018. The report further provides an overview of competitive landscape with profiling of big players in the industries such as Dow Chemical Company, BASF, Sinopec, Bayer, Kraton, Huntsman Corporation, LCY Chemical, Dynasol, Nippon, Yantai Wanhua, TSRC, Dushanzi, and LG Chemicals.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Revenues from Styrene Butadiene Rubber Market will Surpass US$18.9 billion by 2012 - 2018-End

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Transparency Market Research, in its latest research report states, the global styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market will grow at a CAGR of 5.7% in terms of volume from 2012 to 2018. This market was valued at 4,600 kilo tons in 2011, and is expected to reach 6,754.8 kilo tons by 2018. This growth is estimated to be at CAGR of 5.0% from 2012 to 2018. In terms of revenue, styrene butadiene market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2011, and is expected reach $18.9 billion by 2018, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2012 to 2018. The report titled, Styrene Butadiene Rubber (E-SBR And S-SBR) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth And Forecast 2012  2018, is available for sale on the companys website.Browse the full Styrene Butadiene Rubber (E-SBR And S-SBR) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth And Forecast 2012 - 2018The growth experienced by styrene butadiene rubber market is fueled by many factors. Tire manufacturing industry is the biggest factor contributing to this industry. Increase in automobile sale across the globe has led to a rise in demand of tires. The tire industry alone constitutes about 75% of SBRs market share, both, in terms of demand and consumption. Styrene butadiene rubber is the most commonly used form of rubber. It accounts for 45% of global consumption. Growing footwear industry at a CAGR of 6.4% and construction industry at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2012 to 2018 are expected to give an additional impetus to the market.Request Report Brochure @Despite such strong market drivers, the market does face its set restraints. Volatile pricing of the raw material, especially butadiene, is a huge challenge for the styrene butadiene market to overcome. The factors further complicating the situation are limited supply of natural rubber and regional constraints on production. This however, has created a significant cross-over opportunity for SBR market. In the coming five years, the demand will shift towards E-SBR and S-SBR. Analysts also predict, S-SBR demand will outpace the supply in the coming three years. Manufacturers have already started installing and expanding S-SBR plants to gain substantial market share.Request For Report Table of Contents (TOC):Asia Pacific holds the biggest market share for styrene butadiene, followed by Europe and North America. According to statistics, Asia Pacific accounted for 45.2% of global demand in 2011, and is estimated to grow at CAGR of 6.6% from 2012 to 2018. It is also one of the market that is promising fastest growth in the coming years. As the automobile industry continues to grow in India and China the demand for tires will remain exponential, thus contributing to SBRs market share in these regions.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Global Bio Pharma Buffer Market Outlook Forecast Report 2017

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Bio Pharma Buffer Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The analysts of this report on the global Bio Pharma Buffer market have developed it with a solitary goal to provide quantitative and qualitative assessment of the current scenario as well as future prospects as far as demand for the same is concerned. It begins with an elaborated overview of the how the global market for Bio Pharma Buffer has evolved in the recent past, which products or services have been performing the best, and how has the stockholders responded to its prosperity. Proven research methodologies that have been used to develop this intelligence report also find a mention right in the beginning chapter.Get Research Summary Of The Report:Next, the report dives into analyzing the most important factors that may drive, restrain, or open new opportunities in the global Bio Pharma Buffer market during the forecast period of 2017-2022. This is a very important section wherein the analysts have reasoned why and which factors must be taken into consideration by the vendors of this market in order to refrain from potholes as well as how to make the most of lesser known trends. Moving forward, the report showcases the importance of various smaller aspects of the market for Bio Pharma Buffer, segmenting it on the basis of application, end users, products, services, components, and others, whichever applicable. In this section, each of the segments have been compared against each other and their fruitfulness have been estimated in terms of US dollar million.Next comes the geographical bifurcation of the global Bio Pharma Buffer market, highlighting the promise each of the prominent regions are making, such as Asia Pacific, North America, The Middle East and Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, South America, and others.Table of ContentsGlobal Bio Pharma Buffer Market Research Report 20171 Bio Pharma Buffer Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Bio Pharma Buffer1.2 Bio Pharma Buffer Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)2 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)3 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Bio Pharma Buffer Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)View TOC (table of content) of the Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Bio Pharma BufferFigure Global Bio Pharma Buffer Production (KL) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Bio Pharma Buffer Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Phosphates TypeFigure North America Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Bio Pharma Buffer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global 4K UHD TV Market Emerging Projects & SWOT Analysis

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This report studies 4K UHD TV in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringSamsungLGSONYSharpPanasonicToshibaSeiki (Tongfang)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of 4K UHD TVTable Product Specifications of 4K UHD TVTable Classification of 4K UHD TVTable Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global 4K UHD TV Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global 4K UHD TV Major Manufacturers in 2016Table R&D Status and Technology Source of Global 4K UHD TV Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global 4K UHD TV Major Manufacturers in 2016Get Sample of this report @Table of ContentsGlobal 4K UHD TV Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of 4K UHD TV1.1 Definition and Specifications of 4K UHD TV1.1.1 Definition of 4K UHD TV1.1.2 Specifications of 4K UHD TV2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of 4K UHD TV2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of 4K UHD TV2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of 4K UHD TV2.4 Industry Chain Structure of 4K UHD TVAbout UsQYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact UsBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global LED Production Equipment Market Research Report 2017 : Aixtron, Delphi Laser, Altatech

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global LED Production Equipment Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The market for LED Production Equipment is forever evolving with the introduction of new products and entrance of new players. Consequently, it is of optimum importance to be aware of latest scenario and future prospects of each aspect of the market for whoever is connected to the value chain. This report on the global LED Production Equipment market aspires to serve as a credible business tool for its targeted audiences such as original equipment manufacturers, government agencies, and research institutes.Order a copy of Free Sample Report @The report starts off with an elaborated assessment of the current scenario of the global LED Production Equipment market, including introduction, overview by region, and market value chain analysis. It then moves into the exploration of various dynamics that will drive or mitigate the prosperity of the global LED Production Equipment market, such as trends, drivers, restrains, opportunities, and challenges. Moving on, the report segments the market into various important aspects, including end users, applications, component, product type, and others, whichever applicable. The analysts of this report have also realized the importance of regional and country-wise data and forecasts, as most of the audiences of this report as expected to be more prominent in certain parts of the world. Some of the key regions generally explored as North America including the U.S. and Canada, Asia Pacific including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia, and European region including the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy.Global LED Production Equipment market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingASM Pacific TechnologyVeeco InstrumentsJusung EngineeringTaiyo Nippon SansoNAURA Technology Group Co., LtdEV Group (EVG)One of the featured aspect of this report is its section on competitive landscape, which has been developed in order to represent the concentration of companies, big or small, and the shares of the demand distributed among them. Besides picking out the top three and top five companies in the global LED Production Equipment market, the report profiles a number of key companies for their business overview, headquarters, recent strategic decisions, product portfolio, and geographical presence.Table of Contents1 LED Production Equipment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LED Production Equipment1.2 LED Production Equipment Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global LED Production Equipment Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global LED Production Equipment Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global LED Production Equipment Segment by Application1.3.1 LED Production Equipment Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.4 Global LED Production Equipment Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global LED Production Equipment Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of LED Production Equipment (2012-2022)Read Complete Table of Content @2 Global LED Production Equipment Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global LED Production Equipment Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global LED Production Equipment Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global LED Production Equipment Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global LED Production Equipment Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers LED Production Equipment Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 LED Production Equipment Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global LED Production Equipment Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global LED Production Equipment Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global LED Production Equipment Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China LED Production Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global LED Production Equipment Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global LED Production Equipment Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America LED Production Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe LED Production Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China LED Production Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan LED Production Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia LED Production Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of LED Production EquipmentFigure Global LED Production Equipment Production (Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Production Equipment Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global LED Production Equipment Consumption (Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Production Equipment Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global LED Production Equipment Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure North America LED Production Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe LED Production Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China LED Production Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Copper Floor Drain Sales Market Report 2017 : McWane, KESSEL AG, ACO

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Copper Floor Drain Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The report Copper Floor Drain Market is a comprehensive industry study featuring qualitative and quantitative analysis. In todays complex business environment, players in the global Copper Floor Drain market need to remain updated about the latest trends. The latest intelligence on the Copper Floor Drain market can help companies form more informed business decisions. Furthermore, knowing the latest market trends will also help companies avoid any unnecessary business risks in the changing landscape of the global Copper Floor Drain market. The research report on the global Copper Floor Drain market presents to readers recent news, key deals, and other trends that are shaping the market. Furthermore, the valuable recommendations provided in the global Copper Floor Drain market report will help companies form a more effective strategy, whether to penetrate a new market or expand their portfolio.For More Info Download Free PDF Brochure :Global Copper Floor Drain market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Copper Floor Drain sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingAliaxis GroupZurn IndustriesWatts Water Technologies (BLUCHER)ACOGeberitMcWaneWediThe research report begins with a brief industry overview. In this section, the report offers definition, specifications, classifications, and applications of Copper Floor Drain. Further to this, key data on the latest industry news and major deals is covered. This will update readers regarding the key events that are shaping the global Copper Floor Drain market. Moreover, the report also provides the latest news and details regarding the regulatory framework of the global Copper Floor Drain market.Lastly, the research report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape of the global Copper Floor Drain market. This section covers the analysis of key companies operating in the global Copper Floor Drain market with their portfolio, production data, company profile, price, revenue, and cost. In addition to this, this section also enlists the contact information of these major firms.Table of Contents1 Copper Floor Drain Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Copper Floor Drain1.2 Classification of Copper Floor Drain by Product Category1.2.1 Global Copper Floor Drain Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Copper Floor Drain Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global Copper Floor Drain Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Copper Floor Drain Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.4 Global Copper Floor Drain Market by Region1.4.1 Global Copper Floor Drain Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Copper Floor Drain Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Copper Floor Drain Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Copper Floor Drain Status and Prospect (2012-2022)Access the Report and full TOC @2 Global Copper Floor Drain Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Copper Floor Drain Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Copper Floor Drain Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Copper Floor Drain Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Copper Floor Drain (Volume and Value) by Type2.3 Global Copper Floor Drain (Volume and Value) by Region2.4 Global Copper Floor Drain (Volume) by Application3 United States Copper Floor Drain (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Copper Floor Drain Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Copper Floor Drain Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationList of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Copper Floor DrainFigure Global Copper Floor Drain Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Copper Floor Drain Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Copper Floor Drain Sales Comparison (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Copper Floor Drain by Application in 2016Figure Global Copper Floor Drain Market Size (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure United States Copper Floor Drain Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Copper Floor Drain Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Copper Floor Drain Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global LED Billboard Lights Market Research Report 2017 : Toshiba, Philips, Osram

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global LED Billboard Lights Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global LED Billboard Lights market provides in-depth region wise and country wise analysis, aspiring to serve as a credible business tool for its targeted audiences. Stakeholders of this report include manufacturers and service providers, raw material suppliers, research institutes, government agencies, and new players planning to enter the market. One of the primary feature of this report is an elaborated section on competitive landscape, which also includes profiles of some of the key companies currently operating in the global LED Billboard Lights market.Request and Download Free Sample Report @The report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of the global LED Billboard Lights market. Qualitative analysis comprises market dynamics, trends, product overview, and country-level market information. Quantitative analysis includes major players with their reported revenue, market size, and forecast in every important region including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. Major country-wide markets for LED Billboard Lights have also been explored, such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Market revenue is provided in terms of US$ Mn from 2015 to 2025 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2017 to 2025 for all the segments, considering 2016 as the base year. The executive summary of the report provides a snapshot of the LED Billboard Lights market with information on leading segments, country wise market information with respect to the market size, growth rate (CAGR %), and growth factors.Global LED Billboard Lights market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingOsramPhilipsGE LightingAcuity BrandsEatonCreePanasonicToshibaThe market overview section comprises impact factors such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities for the global LED Billboard Lights market. These factors would aid the stakeholders in establishing a strong foothold in this market. Furthermore, the market overview section comprises key industry events, product overview, market attractiveness analysis and emerging trend in the latest technologies. The market attractiveness analysis provides a graphical view comparing the growth and market dynamics in various segments and country wise to identify the most attractive market.Table of Contents1 LED Billboard Lights Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LED Billboard Lights1.2 LED Billboard Lights Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global LED Billboard Lights Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global LED Billboard Lights Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global LED Billboard Lights Segment by Application1.3.1 LED Billboard Lights Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.4 Global LED Billboard Lights Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global LED Billboard Lights Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 EU Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)Complete table of content is available at:2 Global LED Billboard Lights Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global LED Billboard Lights Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global LED Billboard Lights Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global LED Billboard Lights Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global LED Billboard Lights Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global LED Billboard Lights Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers LED Billboard Lights Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 LED Billboard Lights Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global LED Billboard Lights Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global LED Billboard Lights Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global LED Billboard Lights Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global LED Billboard Lights Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global LED Billboard Lights Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 United States LED Billboard Lights Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 EU LED Billboard Lights Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of LED Billboard LightsFigure Global LED Billboard Lights Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Billboard Lights Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global LED Billboard Lights Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Billboard Lights Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global LED Billboard Lights Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure United States LED Billboard Lights Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure EU LED Billboard Lights Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China LED Billboard Lights Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan LED Billboard Lights Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Report 2017 : Astrophysics, Garrett

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Security Inspection Equipment market is influenced by a variety of regional and global factors and trends, a critical and elaborate assessment of which is covered in the report. The research presents a granular analysis of industry chain developments, notable trends and emerging prospects, and recent research and development activities shaping the growth trajectory. It further offers insights into the revenue share and size of various segments the global Security Inspection Equipment market and the regulatory landscape prevailing in various regions affecting their growth. In addition, the analysis tracks recent investment trends and governmental policy changes affecting their growth. Furthermore, the study the global Security Inspection Equipment market evaluates the impact of key drivers and restraints on shaping the dynamics.Request a free sample PDF of this research to evaluate more:Recent industry developments likely to offer more room to technological innovations are offered in the analysis. Furthermore, the report offers insights into emerging strategic paradigms and disruptive technologies expected to significantly alter the course of the market in yet unexplored regions.United States Security Inspection Equipment market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Security Inspection Equipment sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingAstrophysicsSmiths DetectionGarrettC.E.I.A.Rapiscan SystemsThe study takes a closer look at prominent business models adopted by players and their attractiveness in the overall regime is highlighted in the study. Recent industry collaborations and government initiatives expected to offer impetus to the global Security Inspection Equipment market are adequately covered in the analysis. To make reliable estimations and forecast about the market sizing of various segments, the report gleans through vast volumes of industry data gathered through primary as well as secondary sources. Business executives, budding entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policy makers seeking clear analysis and concise insights on the global Security Inspection Equipment market can peruse through the report. Emerging players looking to get cues of emerging opportunities in various segments and in untapped regions will find the research helpful. Using SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis, the study estimates the level of competition prevailing in the market and identifies imminent investment pockets in major regions.Table of Contents1 Security Inspection Equipment Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Security Inspection Equipment1.2 Classification of Security Inspection Equipment by Product Category1.2.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (Consumption) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.4 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market by Region1.4.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 The West Security Inspection Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Southwest Security Inspection Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 The Middle Atlantic Security Inspection Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 New England Security Inspection Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 United States Market Size (Value and Volume) of Security Inspection Equipment (2012-2022)To Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.3 United States Security Inspection Equipment Average Price by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.4 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players/Suppliers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion in United States Market2.5 United States Players/Suppliers Security Inspection Equipment Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type3 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 United States Security Inspection Equipment Price by Region (2012-2017)4 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.1 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales and Market Share by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.2 United States Security Inspection Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States Security Inspection Equipment Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Security Inspection EquipmentFigure United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure United States Security Inspection Equipment Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure United States Sales Market Share of Security Inspection Equipment by Application in 2016Figure United States Security Inspection Equipment Market Size (Million USD) by Region (2012-2022)Figure The West Security Inspection Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southwest Security Inspection Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure The Middle Atlantic Security Inspection Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure New England Security Inspection Equipment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
More than 200 physicians are now approved to participate in Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program, including 22 in the Midstate.

Earlier this week, the state Department of Health issued an updated list that doubled the number released last month. Cumberland County, for example, saw five new additions.

In order to be approved, physicians must complete four hours of training on medical cannabis and how it's administered. Once the program is up and running next year, they can recommend patients to use the medicine, which will be grown and dispensed from permitted facilities.

Doctors do not prescribe cannabis products, which are still considered Schedule 1 drugs by the Drug Enforcement Administration, a category that includes other illegal drugs like heroin. Instead, they "certify" patients to use them.

Under the law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf last year, there are 17 qualifying medical conditions that include cancer, HIV, Parkinson's Disease and PTSD. The medicine can obtained as a cream, oil, pill, tincture or a form that can be vaporized or nebulized.

You can view the entire list of approved doctors, sorted by county, below.

Doctors approved to participate in medical marijuana program by PennLive on Scribd
Bystanders rescue man from truck driven into Charlevoix's Round Lake

Several bystanders helped save the life of the driver who ended up in Round Lake in a Nov. 11 incident.
Pizza has been a constant in Brian Kesslers life, from the time he got a job in a pizzeria as a teenager until the day he met his wife in a pizza joint. Read moreIggy's Pizza Shop is now open in Mount Pleasant
Watchdog and Public Service reporter

Thad Moore is a reporter on The Post and Couriers Watchdog and Public Service team and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576.
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
The area had been blocked off by city officials. No one was hurt and nothing damaged. The wall has been menacing passersby for many years. A fix is in the works. Read morePortion of old brick wall by Charleston's Second Presbyterian Church gives way
Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the attack on her husband, Paul, by an intruder in their family home made her think about staying on as the House Democratic leader. She says she almost thought about being leader again because she couldnt give them that satisfaction of intimidating her out of politics. Pelosi spoke to reporters Thursday at the Capitol after announcing she would step aside for a new generation of leaders. She will remain the congresswoman from California. Pelosi says shes not sad about her choice to step aside but feels balanced in her decision. She has no plans to endorse a successor and no desire to meddle with the new leadership's vision. Read morePelosi's big decision: 'Theres a life out there, right?'
Olamide has drawn social media backlash for inviting a police officer attached to the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, to perform at his event.

Olamide posted a flyer to announce Yomi SARS scheduled performance at the fourth edition of Olamide Live in Concert event in Lagos.

The event is currently underway at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The disclosure angered Twitter users, who attacked Olamide for being insensitive.

Yomi SARS has defended his department from allegations of rights abuses which dominated social media discussion this month.

Many users want SARS shuttered and a new department devoid of uncivilised and criminaly-minded persons be created to replace it.

Olamide was amongst the earliest celebrities to join the campaign, which has trended on social media as #EndSARS.

The police acknowledged the gruesome allegations of rights abuses leveled against SARS personnel across the country, but said a minor restructuring will suffice rather than an outright dissolution.

Yomi SARS, whose real name is not immediately known, has defended the action of SARS personnel amidst campaign to shut the department down. Hes also a music artist.

Here are some of the reactions to Yomi SARS scheduled outing as posted on Twitter:

The real shock is not Yomi SARS performing at OLIC. It is that folks actually overrated Olamide's intelligence.  Ifreke Inyang (@Ifreke) December 17, 2017

Yomi SARS started the Oja ti burst song with a description of a random encounter with a SARS officer "Hide your money, your iTunes and your finger print " LOOOL. Nigeria na banter  Ayobami Ayobami (@dondekojo) December 17, 2017

Boycott olic4 to protest against olamide having yomi SARS amongst artists to perform should be a thing. You people shouldn't be stupid. First he couldn't support the movement. Now he's giving you a slap by allowing yomi SARS play in his concert. SMH  CLOTHINGS & SNEAKERS (@Jibsman1) December 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/femiTRIP/status/942348019709685761

https://twitter.com/iamdanzor/status/942381709772943362

https://twitter.com/lusciouspeenut/status/942384926619451394

https://twitter.com/ani_nomso/status/942385816965472257
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has dispelled fears that an implosion is imminent in the party due to the influx of defectors ahead of the 2019 elections.

The former governor of Lagos State spoke on Saturday on the side-lines of the reception organised by the APC for former Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, who defected from Labour Party and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, and others who decamped from the PDP at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He told journalists that the APC possessed the capacity to accommodate all the bigwigs and successfully manage all the challenges that would come with it.

We have a stainless kitchen and we can accommodate as many cooks as possible and because we will have a variety of menu in the political kitchen of planning this future, he said.

We love those big wigs and we can accommodate them all. It is in the same forest that you find a hippo that you find an elephant and you will find a rabbit. In political platforms, you must look for the addition not the minus.

Mr. Alao-Akala, who served as governor from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had moved to the Labour Party shortly before the 2015 general elections.

Other defectors who were received on Saturday include former deputy governor of the state and former Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Government, Ayodele Adigun; and the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of PDP to the House of Representatives. Segun Odebunmi.

Rauf Olaniyan, Ayoola Makanjuola, and Rasaq Gbadegesin were also received into the party along with their supporters.

Those who were at the Mapo Hall to receive the defectors were Mr. Tinubu, Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and his counterpart from Osun and Ondo States, Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Akeredolu.

Segun Oni, a former governor of Ekiti State and Deputy National Chairman (South West), as well as Pius Akinyelure, National Vice Chairman (South West) were also part of the reception.
(In this second part of his investigation into the terrible state of PHCs across Nigeria, Ebuka Onyeji reveals the rot in the system, and the factors leading to the current situation. You can read the first part here).

Out of service read the network signal on the journalists phone at exactly 6:35 p.m. one recent Tuesday evening just as the driver, possibly 18 years old or thereabout, swerved into the muddy road.

After several twists and turns, the vehicle came to what seemed the end of the road. A river? Thats the first suggestion that came to the reporters mind. Stretched at a distance of more than 70 meters, almost twice an Olympic-size swimming pool, the drench of the days rain formed a pool of flood water ahead. This is where the water is rushing to as there was no gutter on both sides of the road.

To the amazement of the journalist-passenger, the youthful driver accelerated into the pool. The vehicle began to soak and abruptly stopped almost midway into the pool. It took the combined effort of the passengers who had alighted and some locals to push the vehicle over to the other side of dry land.

This is the only route in and out of Adikwu-Icho community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. A nights rainfall means the flood pool will get as deep as 4 ft. However, if it rains more than a day, movement becomes impossible because you will need a boat to cross, which is not always handy.

Luckily, the car ignited again after some touches and the driver eventually pulled over by a structure This is the place you are looking for, a passenger pointed to an old building, Thats the Primary Health centre. It could be hardly seen because it was already dark and it was still raining.

Although the journalist was given a warm welcome and a place to spend the night, there was a sense of urgency in the facility. Two women were in labour.

The labour room is quite scanty with very few equipment at least to cover emergency obstetric care services. It also had no functional ambulance to aid referrals. Relatives of patients have to provide their own transport in the event of an emergency.

The husband to one of the expectant mothers, who identified himself simply as Basil, recounted their ordeal in bringing his pregnant wife to the health centre.

It was not easy, me and my brother had to carry my wife who is already in pains because of the pregnancy on our shoulders to cross that flood and get to this side. There was no car or motorcycle that can cross that place because of the water and its already night, I just hope and pray she delivers safely, Basil said.

Clad in white apparel and gloves, a nurse, Grace Diashe, was busy trying to start the standby small generator which powers the facility during deliveries or emergency at night as there was no electricity in the community.

Adikwu-Icho is home to about 2500 people who are predominantly farmers with more than 200 small houses, a typical rural setting.

The silence of the morning was punctured by cries from the new born babies. Buckets were arranged under the roof edges of the building to collect rainwater. This is a tell-tale sign of insufficient water supply. There is not even a borehole in the facility.

About 30 feet away is another health care centre. This one, a beautiful bungalow painted in yellow and ox-blood. It is a N22 million project contracted to Ogason Construction LTD in 2014 by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA. But since it was roofed about a year ago, it has been under lock and key and now covered by bushes.

Such health facilities are meant to be the bedrock of public health services in the country. In 1978, Nigeria, along with other World Health Organisations member countries adopted the declaration instituting the primary health centres as the basic structural and functional unit of public health delivery system.

There has been three major attempts at achieving people oriented PHC in Nigeria. The first attempt was made between 1975 and 1980. A second attempt, led by the late Professor Olukoye Ransome-Kuti, was between 1986 and 1992.

NPHCDA was established in 1992 and it heralded the third attempt.

Despite these attempts, Nigerias primary health care system remained dogged by multiple challenges.

The new health centre complex in Adikwu-Icho is well built but not yet accessible. There were also no equipment and infrastructure when this reporter visited.

Locals blame government and contractors for not involving locals in the project as well as for not planning fo an access road.

Paul Adama, the communitys general secretary, said although the community provided land for the project, it was not carried along during execution.

We dont even have the number of the contractor and I dont think the work he did so far is commensurate with the contract amount, Mr. Adama said.

This our road has been like this since I was born. During dry season it can be manageable and motorable but becomes waterlogged in raining seasons because there is no channel for the water to flow out. The community has been cut off because of this flood.

We have complained severally but nothing has been done. We have two polling units here, the government only come during election period. After their campaign promises, we vote them but they will not do anything.

With this road, tell me how many qualified health workers will be willing to work here. We dont have light, good school and other basic amenities, he added.

The functional health centre, where Mrs. Diashe works, services the health needs of the community. It is a Millennium Development Goals, MDG project of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. This is where the reporter spent the night.

Here, one qualified nurse and three health workers struggle everyday with the challenge of attending to thousands of residents with limited drug supply and no standard equipment.

Worse still, child delivery, pre and post-natal care remain the biggest challenge, health workers say.

Giving a rough mental statistics, Mrs. Diashe estimates deliveries taken in a month to be up to 25, although she was careful not to reveal fatalities.

We dont have a lot of things in our labour room which makes delivery difficult. We dont have enough qualified staff, we need a doctor.

If am carrying out delivery and meet an issue I cannot handle, we normally refer the person to Aliade but its always a challenge because of this road. If we have a doctor here, he will handle all these and will save the life of the mother and child.

Pregnant and nursing mothers in the community normally resort to traditional means due to these challenges, Mrs. Diashe said.

LIKE BENUE, LIKE NIGER

Far away in Niger State, it took the efforts of three men to open the rusted door of a PHC in Gbaye village in Shiroro LGA of the state only to be welcomed by a host of bats occupying the roof of the building. That was after meandering through tall bushes that have taken over the entire compound.

Painted blue outside and yellow on the inside, the facility is well built, with each room well spaced in line with the standard expected of a typical health centre. But the complex was then left unused, and allowed to become a serene home for bats, who seemed unhappy at the sight of strangers.

In some rooms, the PVC ceilings had fallen apart, allowing the bats to have unhindered access to every part of the building.

Yakubu Soma, the security guard at the complex, simply turned the entrance of the building to a farmland.

He complained of not being paid despite his efforts in trying to rid the place of bushes. I was brought about two years ago by an Alhaji (contractor) and he gave me N40,000 to stay and take care of the place but since then, he has not come here or even paid me.

I remove the bushes that fill this place up without being paid. I am tired of staying here. I dont have money to buy chemical to remove these bushes again, Mr. Soma said through an interpreter.

A member of the community, Ittah Dahiru, however, said the place was locked up by the contractor who told him he was being owed by the government despite completing almost 90 per cent of the project.

A 33 minutes phone conversation with Musa Gwadebe, the contractor, gave a new perspective to the controversy.

Although data available on Budeshi, a public procurement data platform, showed that the contract was awarded for N37 million, Mr. Gwadebe said he only received N7.5 million.

PREMIUM TIMES further learnt that the contract was awarded by NPHCDA, with execution oversight by Abdullahi Rikko, the member representing Shiroro constituency at the House of Representatives. The contract was awarded to one Ibrahim Abah.

It was further learnt that Mr. Abah, who does not own a construction company, used his brothers company, Abamatu Resources, to corner the contract. Abamatu Resources in turn subcontracted Mr. Gwadebe to execute the job.

The laws guiding procurement however states that a contractor must own a company and show evidence of previous similar jobs done within before he or she can be considered.

We got the contract in November 2014 and we only received N7.5 million through Abamatu Resources account. As the work progressed to 65 per cent we requested for more money after evaluation of work done but we were told by the person in charge to finish the job as quickly as possible so they can pay us the full balance (N30m).

I then got a loan from the bank and used my house as collateral so I can complete the project on time. We completed the work in March 2015 before the general elections and since then we have been making requests for our money and up till now (more than 2 years) its yet to be paid.

We have traced our file to the audit department of NPHCDA but all we were told is there is no money.

The certificate of my house is in court and Im about to lose it to the people I borrowed money to complete this project. We locked the building up, Mr. Gwadebe said.

The head of audit department at NPHCDA who simply identified himself as Yemi said the board was unable to pay the contractor because the money allocated for the job had since been returned to federal governments account.

At the end of every financial year, all the money for contracts that was not used will bounce back to FGs till another budget is released and that is why we couldnt pay the contractor. His money returned to the government.

We have written to the government to release liabilities to us but they have not responded and that is the issue, Yemi said.

In the midst of all these, however, the well-built PHC in Gbaye village keeps decaying while the people it was meant for are in dire need of its services.

A NATIONAL PROBLEM

The Gbaye case mirrors the situation in several Primary Health Centres, PHCs, built in the last three years across the country by the federal government. Incomplete or completed, many remain unused, in spite of huge need for them.

In most cases, this is because money was appropriated, contracts awarded and construction commenced without a laid out plan to track the project, its sustainability, due consideration of road network and its accessibility to the people as well as proper liaison and linkages with state and local governments where they are sited.

According to the data from Budeshi, the NPHCDA awarded 91 contracts for the construction of PHCs in 2014 and 2015.

The data showed that the new PHCs were awarded mostly at the uniform sum of N21, 986.893.00 to different contractors in many states raising the red flag on whether NPHCDA carried out competitive bidding before the contracts were issued.

WHO IS TO BLAME?

According to Utache Johnson, an official of NPHCDA, it is expected that the local government authorities periodically inform the board on the progress and challenges of PHCs within their jurisdiction.

We are working with contractors and House of Rep members representing each local government. The House members are the ones that normally initiate PHC projects in their various locations. Our job is to execute PHC projects, we now expect the local government authorities to inform us what is needed in these facilities in terms of drugs, staff and equipment so we can come in, Mr. Johnson said.

On abandoned and incomplete projects, he said the agency has field monitors and project supervisors who go to the field to monitor and evaluate the work done on the sites and if the work is abandoned, incomplete or not commensurate with the money released, then we now involve the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the people responsible and they will be charged to court and made to pay.

Henry Ewunonu, a pathologist and member of the Nigeria Medical Association however believes it is the responsibility of the health ministry and the state health commissioners to tackle the challenges facing health centres across the nation.

It is the duty of the honourable minister of health in conjunction with the commissioners of health to plan for human resources, distribution of equipment, drugs and consumables as well as maintenance of the facility. It is not just about building a PHC but making plans for its sustainability. In Gambia, some PHCs are mud houses but they are well equipped and functional.

The Commissioner for Health in Benue State, Cecelia Ojabo, blamed previous administrations for abandoned, incomplete and non-functional PHCs across the country.

This is what we inherited from previous administrations, as soon as we bring PHC under one board we will take over those premises. We cant leave them abandoned and habited by snakes and other reptile. We will take ownership of them and staff them.

We will complete the uncompleted ones and open the locked ones for public use. This government doesnt believe in uncompleted projects, Ms. Ojabo said.

NPHCDA Speaks

Faisal Shuaib, the Director-General of NPHCDA, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, admitted that the state of PHCs across the country is unsatisfactory..

As of today, there is no single person in Nigeria who would tell you he is happy with the status of primary healthcare in Nigeria, unless that person is not in touch with reality.

Our primary healthcare services are sub optimal in most places and that is why we still have high maternal and child mortality indices globally, Mr. Shuaib said.

Reacting to the first part of PREMIUM TIMES investigation which mirrored the terrible state of Primary Health Centres across the nation, Mr. Faisal said his agency is already taking stock of PHCs in poor condition across the nation.

From the people we sent out to carry out a detailed assessment of all of these facilities across the nation. To say, which are the poorly renovated health facilities, which are the dilapidated health facilities, which are the facilities started and completed and those started and not completed? So that we dont keep having people year in year out, saying they want to start a health facility that will not be completed. Such unfinished projects are littered everywhere in the country.

So we are taking stock of them all and prioritise each of them. If a National Assembly member comes to us to say, I want to build a PHC, we will tell them that next to your village is an uncompleted one, can you complete that and probably share credit with your predecessor for ensuring that the health care facility becomes functional?

We also want to be able to sit here at NPHCDA with all the photos of the PHCs to be able to show people who want to see the state of health facilities in their villages. To tell them the number of staff there, the last time it was renovated, if it is a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PHC, or is it a five-star PHC? Such rankings will be available to them. That is the kind of assessment we are doing, so that we move away from a situation whereby we have PHCs that have not been taken over and equipped.

We are like 50 percent of the way in terms of getting all the data that we need to know their locations and status, he said.

In January, the federal government flagged-off a scheme to revitalise about 10,000 healthcare centres across Nigeria, starting with 109, one in each senatorial district.

But about 10 months later, all the eight primary health care centres PREMIUM TIMES visited in Niger, Benue and Nasarawa states in North Central Nigeria had no doctors, drugs or equipment.

On how far the government has gone in the implementation of the revitalisation of 10,000 PHCs, the NPHCDA director said his agency could not renovate 10,000 PHCs within one year. What we did is in every senatorial district, we get one PHC and this brought us 109 PHCs so far.

WOMEN, CHILDREN SUFFER FROM NON-FUNCTIONAL PHCS

A visit to a PHC in Ambana village in Lafia, Nasarawa State provided what appears a clearer picture of the rot in the primary healthcare system.

The PHC is occupied by destitutes, with their belongings littering the abandoned building.

Contracted to Bright steel structures & Co Ltd for N21,986,983.95, the PHC, which was meant to be the bedrock of health services in the community, is in ruins. This has led to continued death of children and women especially during child bearing, residents say.

Two children died of unknown diseases on the day our reporter visited, locals said.

According to the emir of the community, Abubakar Ambana, two women and four under-five children died the previous week.

We can only go to general hospital in Lafia which is not close and we cannot beat emergency situation, that is why we lose people, Mr. Ambana said.

Although Ambana is not far from Lafia, the state capital, its people still lack access to modern healthcare. Child delivery is often done the traditional way.

Aisha Mohammed, a mother of three, said all her children were delivered at home by Ungozoma a traditional midwife. She said she doesnt have any problem delivering in a hospital, only that none is in her community.

Musa Kabiru, an elder in the community, said efforts had been made to reach out to Meyan Ma, the House of Reps member representing the community who initiated the project. But it was unyielding, he said.

When we try to meet oga (Meyan Ma) they say he is in Abuja. We want the government to help us. Our children, mothers and elders are dying, Mr. Kabiru said.

Nobody was found in Meyan Mas house in Lafia and his phone was unreachable.

According to a survey conducted by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in Nigeria one in 13 women dies during pregnancy or childbirth.

Although many of these deaths are preventable, the coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria continue to fail women and children. At present, less than 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.

However, apart from poverty and cultural practices, shortage of primary healthcare services are forcing women in Nigeria to seek the help of untrained traditional birth attendants, despite the serious risks involved.

Some 30 minutes drive from Ambana is another PHC in Ubbe/Ogba, Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa. It was like a recap of what obtained from the last PHC in Ambana, only that the building did not even get to roof stage.

The alternative health centre servicing the community is just some meters away. There are 11 health workers including nurses here, who are forced to use the old, small facility because the new one under construction has been abandoned. The contract for the abandoned PHC was given to Swaleys Nigeria LTD for N18,420,948.

If they had completed that clinic we would have moved in there because this one no longer contains us, Grace Edero, the head nurse said.

She, however, complained that equipment and drugs brought for the abandoned project had been in the custody of the chief of the town who refused to hand it over to the health workers.

When we approached him to give to us so we can use them to treat people, he said he does not know us and could not release them.

They are there rusting away while many people are in need of those drugs and equipment, Ms. Edero said.

It is even worse at Maito village, Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State. The stench oozing out from the nearly dilapidated health centre there can make a healthy person develop serious health challenges.

Directly opposite the decomposing centre stood forlorn two incomplete blocks of building adjacent each other. The buildings are NPHCDA projects of PHC for Maito village which has been long abandoned. It is now fully occupied by goats, hence the use of an old dilapidated building as a health centre.

What you are perceiving is coming from dead bats all over the roof, Mariam Mohammed, the only health attendant at the facility explained covering her nose with a veil.

Its not proper to treat a sick person here, some people will come here and see the environment and go back and that is a challenge. The ceiling of our injection room fell down. As you can see, its wide open.

I have to cover my nose almost throughout the day because of the smell. I dont want to contact disease while treating people. We have complained about this condition and if nothing is done, I will leave.

Apparently, residents shun the facility not wanting to add to their health challenges. Surprisingly, child delivery is done there according to the nurse.

STANDARD PHC

About N96 million was awarded to rehabilitate a PHC in Muye, Lapai LGA of Niger State. It was quite well built with a large open ward, labour room, children and female wards, doctors office and staff quarters, an ambulance, solar power with a well-built gate post.

Of all the PHCs visited, this was the only one that could be rated as standard and open to the public to render health services.

The reporter who arrived at 3:30 p.m. met the centre still open with no one in all the wards and rooms in the facility. It took further probe inside the village to meet the two health workers, a male semi-qualified nurse and an assistant manning the facility.

The facility does not have doctors, qualified midwives, pharmacists, nurses, security or labourers to keep the place clean or even a driver to drive the referral vehicle, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a local health attendant, said.

We treat at least 15 people daily and we dont have shifts thats why we leave the place and go home and attend to certain needs because we cannot afford to be here every hour, its just two of us.

We have meeting every month at the Lapai secretariat, we complain of the staff situation but nothing has been done, Mr. Abdullahi said.

This paper further learnt that the rehabilitation of the centre was awarded when a member of the community was the director of NPHCDA. However since the contract was completed, it has not been commissioned.

Meanwhile, locals faulted the state of the road leading to the community as part of the reasons the facility lacked quality staff.

Muye is at the far end of Niger State and has a boundary with Kogi State. It will take a commuter N1000 to get to the Muye village from Lapai, the nearest town. Not because its far but due to the terrible state of the road.

Most of the staff brought down here always leave, we have not being able to sustain a worker for long due to these challenges, the impact is that people with serious ailment cant be treated here, Mr. Abdullahi said.

HOPE?

There is a glimmer of hope for the countrys decaying primary health care. The federal government has initiated a N28 billion health fund that will target the revitalisation of at least one primary health Centre in each of the 774 local government areas.

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, inaugurated the special intervention which he said will formally roll out in 2018.

Patients and health workers in PHCs like Mrs. Diashe in the Adikwu-Icho health centre hope the government keeps its promise this time around.

++++ You can read the first part of the investigation here. +++++

(This investigation is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Center for Investigative Reporting).
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the recent decision to spend $1 billion of the funds in the Excess Crude Account to fight Boko Haram.

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday told journalists in the State House, Abuja, that the governors agreed at the National Economic Council, NEC meeting, to spend $1 billion from the ECA to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east region.

Mr. Obaseki did not, however, give specifics of how the fund will be spent, a development which has generated public criticism.

Unlike his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayo Fayose, who opposed the decision and said he was not a party to the governors agreeing to make such spending, Mr. Wike did not oppose it or deny he was part of the decision.

Rather, the Rivers governor asked the federal government to also release funds for tackling issues of environmental degradation and security in the Niger Delta.

The governor said the problems of environmental and security challenges in the Niger Delta are as important as the fight against Boko Haram.

He said this during the Annual General Meeting of Okpo Club of Nigeria (Association of Ikwerre Lawyers) on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

Details of his speech were made available to PREMIUM TIMES by the goverors Special Assistant, on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.

Mr. Wike urged the federal government to release the derivation component of the Excess Crude Account to the oil producing states of the Niger Delta.

Niger Delta environmental problems are as serious as the Boko Haram Insurgency, he said. I am not saying that you should not fight Boko Haram. If you can get funds from the National Pool to tackle Boko Haram, then you should go to the pool to get funds to fight environmental problems in Ogoni and other Niger Delta communities.

In its reaction, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, questioned the decision to spend the $1 billion.

The group in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, wants the president to explain the need for such withdrawal since Boko Haram has been reportedly defeated.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other officials of his administration had repeatedly said the terror group has been technically defeated; a statement repeatedly criticised by the opposition.

Nigerians should have some sense of what it is the government is doing in our name, especially against the background of the declaration by the authorities that the anti-insurgency war has ended and the Boko Haram terror group defeated, as well as the unresolved questions on how over $2 billion was spent by former Jonathan administration to fight Boko Haram.

The government also ought to tell Nigerians whether and how the legal requirements for approving the extra-budgetary allocations were met.

As a government presumably pursuing a change-agenda, Buhari should do things differently from the former Jonathan administration including by proactively engaging the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the fight against Boko Haram and the use of the public funds so far invested to prosecute it, Mr. Adewale said.

SERAP expressed worry over the persistence of Boko Haram insurgency despite increased budgetary allocation to the defence sector.

Since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency, Nigeria defence and security budgets have increased significantly yet there has been no resolution of the conflict; and troops in the front line have reportedly complained of lack of military equipment and resources to fight Boko Haram insurgents and restore full security.

For instance, in 2014 about N340billion (US$1.7billion) was allocated to the military. Funds allocated to the military was the largest in Nigerias federal budget in 2014.

In October 2014, the National Assembly approved a request to borrow US$1billion as an additional amount for purchase of military equipment. In 2015, about N375billion (US$1.8billion) was allocated to the military in the federal budget. In 2015, an interim report of the presidential investigations committee on arms procurement under the Jonathan administration revealed an extra-budgetary spending to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional spending of about $2.1 billion under the Jonathan administration.

The investigation indicated that about $2.1 billion was inexplicably disbursed into the office of the National Security Adviser in procurement of arms to fight Boko Haram insurgency, but was not spent for the purpose for which the money was disbursed.

The group urged President Buhari to be transparent in his dealings and asked him to investigate cases of corruption linked to the fight against Boko Haram.

At least one former official, Babachir Lawal, has been indicted for alleged corruption in handling funds meant for Boko Haram ravaged states.

Mr. Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was eventually removed from office by Mr. Buhari, several months after his indictment by the Senate and following public outcry. He is yet to be prosecuted.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday said the Nigerian media must reinvent itself if it must overcome the crisis of confidence, decline in readership, technological disruption and other challenges it is grappling with.

Mr. Osinbajo spoke on Saturday in Lagos at an event organised to celebrate the 50th birthday of ace broadcaster and journalist, Kadaria Ahmed.

We are at the beginning of an explosion of media contents and technological innovations, the vice president said while noting that the Nigerian media has not responded well to these changes and innovations.

Mr Osinbajo said the Nigerian media is not immune to some of the problems holding the country back as corruption has poisoned the trust the people used to have in the media.

Nigerian contemporary press is caught up in a crisis of confidence, he said. The faith in the media is at all time low because faith in all things in the country is at all-time low. The crisis of corruption is systemic and every institution is infected. Justice can be bought so also headlines can be bought.

The combine sales of the major print newspapers are less than that of Daily Times 40 years ago.

Mr. Osinbajo wondered why the media, as the custodian of our collective memory has not archived the happening in the country from at least the return to democratic rule in 1999.

He said rather than blame it on poor finance, the blame should be placed on the absence of vision.

He said media owners should come up with a sustainable business model that can pay journalists well while noting that a poorly paid journalist should not be expected to be ethical.

Comparing the media with the judiciary, the vice president said: wherever you find a judiciary that is poorly paid, you will find a judiciary that is compromised. Same applies to the media.

He also called the press to question on the performance of its watchdog role as enshrined in the countrys constitution when it has failed to put its house in order first, saying that a media house which has not paid its journalists for months should not question a state government which also owes civil servants.

Mr. Osinbajo made the observation while delivering the keynote address of the event titled A Conversation on Media Renewal in Nigeria.

The event also included the launch of a book titled: 50 voices and the presentation of scholarships to 50 undergraduate students from Nigerian universities.

50 Voices is a compendium of some of the most notable interviews from Ms Ahmeds now defunct popular talk show, Straight Talk with Kadaria.

The Chairman of Channels Television, John Momoh, who delivered the opening address said the world today is inundated with information overload but rather than beaten down by the chaos, Nigerian journalists should see the chaos as the antecedent of opportunities.

During the event, former colleagues, friends and family members spent time to pour accolades on Ms. Ahmed.

The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, where Ms Ahmed worked for a while, Wale Babalakin, said Ms. Ahmed was one of the most passionate persons he has worked with.

She did her role so well that I have never reminded her of an assignment or corrected whatever she had done, he said.

I look forward to a Nigeria where Kadaria will gain the status and reputation of Oprah Winfrey, he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of NN24, Tony Dara, said Ms. Ahmed is a quintessential journalist.

She is the best we have and a shiny light to those who want to be journalists in Nigeria, he said.

During a question-and-answer session, Ms. Ahmed, who started her career in journalism with the BBC, took time to explain her work ethics and how she managed to rise to the very top of her profession.

Working for the BBC is also like going back to school, she said.

Ms. Ahmed, who was the Managing Editor of defunct Next Newspapers, also took time to advocate for better welfare for journalists.

She suggested that instead of castigating journalists for demanding and accepting financial gratification from politicians and people they write about, we should rather strive to make sure that journalists are well paid.

Once you have financial independence, your journalism can be well founded. In my case, I can say no because I have a huge safety net. It is easier to have ethics when you can pay your childrens school fees.

So, what we need, rather than just preaching to journalists, is to provide the means that allow them to be independent, she said.
A former President, Goodluck Jonathan, in a birthday goodwill message described President Muhammadu Buhari as a statesman whose unique experience of leading Nigeria at different times, has earned him a special place in history.

President Buhari turned 75 on Sunday.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Mr. Jonathan prayed God to grant the president good health to continue to pilot the affairs of Nigeria.

Your Excellency, you are a man of destiny whose place in history as Nigerias leader, at different epochs in our nations development journey, is guaranteed.

I pray that God Almighty that has kept you alive and healthy will continue to protect and strengthen you as you lend your efforts to the bid to realize our collective dreams for a greater and more prosperous nation, the president said.

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has also, in a Facebook message, congratulated the president.

Happy 75th birthday, President Muhammadu Buhari. Many happy returns, he wrote.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in a statement he personally signed also congratulated the president.

Mr. Dogara praised Mr. Buhari for his uncompromising stance and relentless commitment in introducing deft policies aimed at achieving full economic recovery and growth.

He described the president as a visionary and prudent leader who carved a niche for himself as military Head of State and has brought to bear his long standing pedigree as an incorruptible leader in the discharge of his duties as a civilian president.

On behalf of the leadership and entire membership of the House of Representatives, I wish to join the good people of Nigeria and numerous well-wishers across the globe in wishing Mr. President a happy Birthday, while praying that God continues to keep you in good health and bless you with more fruitful and prosperous years of service to the people and the nation, Mr. Dogara said.

Also, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a statement by Moses Olafare, the director of media and public affairs at the Oonis palace, described President Buhari as an incorruptible leader driven by uncommon discipline.

The royal father eulogised Mr. Buhari as a living extraordinary Nigerian leader globally known for relentlessly dedicated selfless service towards making Nigeria a better place to live in.

The Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II extends the warmest wishes of House of Oduduwa to His Excellency, President Mamadu Buhari as he today gloriously clocks 75th years of age.

Mr President is in no doubt an internationally respected Nigerian leader with a heart of gold who has worked tirelessly to ensure a better society with his unwavering message of justice, compassion, peace and human dignity which has made him an inspiration to people around the world.

Similarly, The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, congratulated Mr. Buhari describing him as a catalyst for Nigerias development.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, Mr. Umahi commended the president for his policies and programmes.

He described President Buharis new age as a sign of blessing from God; adding that at 75, Mr. Buhari has shown uncommon commitment towards developing the nation and uniting her diverse ethnic nationalities under one indivisible entity.

The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, eulogised Mr. Buhari for his patriotic and unrelenting service to the nation.

In the past 75 years of a life of outstanding accomplishment and great personal fulfilment, you are currently serving our nation at the highest levels with an uncommon sense of patriotism and unwavering dedication.

On the auspicious occasion of your 75th birthday anniversary, I join your family, friends, well-wishers and Nigerians to thank Almighty God for your life which has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and enduring fulfilment,

Also, Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Almakura, through his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Elayo, described Mr. Buhari as a man of uncommon credibility and integrity.

He said the achievements recorded so far by the president are clear indication of his vision for a better Nigeria and therefore called on Nigerians to be patient with him.

The governor reiterated his unalloyed loyalty and faith in the presidents change agenda and wished the president abundant wisdom, strength, courage.

The All Progressives Congress has also in a statement signed by its National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, felicitated with Mr. Buhari.

Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said, We attest that under his leadership, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is building a new Nigeria for our progress, peace, unity and prosperity; restoring our country to its deserved standing among the comity of progressive nations; fighting corruption and repairing our value system; diversifying our economic revenue base, creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians; bringing succour to the insurgency-ravaged North-east; reforming the oil, defence, pensions, and other critical sectors and creating a world-class transport system, among others.

Our great party wishes the president many more happy, healthy and rewarding years of service to the nation and party.
Although he occupies the third highest position in Nigeria, over 700 participants in a poll believe Bukola Saraki will most likely leave the ruling party.

Mr. Saraki, the current senate president, was one of the six politicians available as options for participants in the PREMIUM TIMES opinion poll.

All the listed politicians had something in common: they all joined Nigerias ruling APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the build up to the 2015 general election. This fact, may have been responsible for 13.7 per cent of participants (433) saying they believe all of them will return to the PDP.

A total of 3,170 readers participated in the online poll which lasted for five days and was carried out in a way that made it impossible for a respondent to vote more than once from the same computer or mobile device.

The participants were asked a single question: Who among these politicians do you think will go back to the PDP?

About 22.6 per cent of the participants (716 voters) said they believe Mr. Saraki, former governor of Kwara, would go back to the PDP.

Mr. Saraki was closely followed by Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, with 20.6 per cent (652 participants) saying they believe Mr. Kwankwaso will return to the PDP.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, was the voters third choice with 17.6 per cent (559) saying they believe she will return to the PDP.

Of the six politicians suggested in the poll, former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko, was considered least likely to leave the APC as only 2.6 per cent (83) of the respondents said they believe he will do so.

Results for the others include current Minister of Transport and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi (7.7 per cent, 244) and former Governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, (5.5 per cent, 175 voters).

About 9.7 per cent of participants (308) said they believe none of the options will re-join the PDP.

POSSIBLE REASONS

Although participants in the poll were not asked to state the reasons for their stance, the politicians listed not only have a history with the PDP but also various reasons to return or not.

None of them has, however, stated that they plan to return to the opposition party.

Messrs. Saraki, Kwankwaso and Wamakko were among the top politicians, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who in 2013 defected from the PDP to form the New PDP which later merged with the APC.

Mr. Abubakar recently returned to the PDP with the opposition party saying it will work hard to ensure the return of the others before the 2019 election.

For Mr. Saraki, he emerged senate president against the wish of the APC, and with the full support of PDP senators, with whom he still has a close relationship.

Mr. Saraki and his close associate, the current Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, have however expressed continued loyalty to the APC. Mr. Ahmed recently said there was nothing to attract them to return to the PDP.

Mr. Kwankwaso, who governed Kano State on the PDP platform, was considered second most likely to join the PDP. A current senator, Mr. Kwankwaso has a well-documented, seemingly unresolvable dispute with his successor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Several peace meetings by the party including by President Muhamamdu Buhari failed to resolve the dispute. Mr. Kwankwaso recently boycotted a reception held for the president in Kano.

It is believed that APC would have to choose between Messrs. Kwankwaso and Ganduje for 2019. Should the latter, as incumbent governor be favoured, then the senator could actually re-join the PDP.

It is not surprising that about 18 per cent of the participants in the poll believe that Mrs. Al-Hassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba, might return to the PDP. She has openly declared her loyalty to Mr. Abubakar who she called her godfather.

Mrs. Al-Hassan has in recent times said that she would work for Mr. Abubakar, if he eventually declares his intention to run for the presidency in 2019, not minding the effect it could have on her job.

Although 8 per cent of the participants believe Mr. Amaechi will rejoin the PDP, the possibility of that occurring is slim as the minister is virtually at war with his successor as Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike. Mr. Wike is not only a PDP leader, but ensured his supported candidate, Uche Secondus, emerged the national chairman of the PDP at the recently concluded convention of the party.

The poilitician least expected by participants to join the PDP, Mr. Wamakko, successfully handpicked his successor as Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal. Both men are believed to be enjoying a cordial relationship, unlike the Kano situation, thus limiting the possibility Mr. Wamakko will leave the APC.
The Nigerian Prison Service, NPS, has confirmed that majority (66 per cent) of inmates in Nigerian prisons are awaiting trial as at December 15, 2017.

The Controller General of the Service, Jaafaru Ahmed, made the disclosure at the quarterly meeting of the Penal Reform Media Network (PERMNET) in Lagos.

Represented by the spokesperson of NPS, Francis Enobore, the prison boss said As of today December 15, 2017, the current population of prisoners in Nigeria is put at 72,384 with 48,527 of the figure are the awaiting trial inmates. The awaiting trial inmates therefore constitute about 66 percent of the prison population.

While commending the intervention of various stakeholders in the decongestion of the prison, Mr. Jaafaru urged for more collaboration of relevant agencies of government in addressing the plight of awaiting trial inmates.

He said: There is a need for more collaboration among the three arms of the criminal justice system to enhance synergy so that anybody brought to prison as awaiting trial, the case will be determined as quickly as possible. The other arms have to do their part so that there would be quick dispensation of justice.

He also commended Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, for spearheading the campaigns towards the decongestion of prison facilities through advocacy campaigns and consultative meetings.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of PRAWA, Uju Agomoh, listed some factors militating against the decongestion of the prison.

She said: To address the plight of awaiting trial inmates, the stakeholders should address the seeming lack of speedy trial, overuse of imprisonment by the courts, abuse of arrest powers and bail conditions by the police and inadequate prison structures.

The quarterly meeting which was hosted by PRAWA suggested that prison facilities should be mandated to only accept persons into detention for whom there is a legal warrant authorising imprisonment and also speeding up the trial process so that detainees spend less time in pre-trial detention.

The meeting further canvassed issues relating to adaptation of criminal procedure codes so that judges rather than prosecutors make the decision about pre-trial detention.

Permnet is a network of journalists and media experts aimed at Creating Awareness, Advocating for Implementation and Replication of Good Prison and Correctional Practices in Nigeria. The network is a major output of the fourth component of the Prison Reform Project.

Meanwhile, prisoners in Lagos State held a mini product exhibition at an end of the year party put together by the state command in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Ikoyi in Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.

Several products including beads of different shapes, flower vases, clothes shoes and furniture were displayed to the admiration of visitors at the exhibition.

The State Prison Controller, Tunde Ladipo, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to support the clarion call of President Muhammadu Buhari and encourage prison decongestion in whatever manner possible as this remains the only way to create suitable environment for proper inmate reformation and rehabilitation.
Nigerias former Senate President, David Mark, on Sunday slammed the anti-graft agency, EFCC, for levelling unfounded and senseless allegations of fraud against him.



The Nation newspaper had reported earlier in the week that the politician was a guest at the anti-graft office and was grilled by detectives.



Mr. Mark confirmed being invited by the EFCC in a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, on Sunday.



He said he fielded questions relating to 2015 campaign finance for political activities in his home state of Benue.



But he was particularly baffled about another question that bothered on alleged bribery of all Senate members in 2010.



Mr. Mark was Senate President from 2007 until 2015 when the All Progressives Congress took control of the legislature.



He, however, remained a member of the Senate, having been re-elected by his constituents in Benue South Senatorial District in 2015.



He said they alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid over N2 billion into a bank account run by the National Assembly during his days as the president of the Senate.



He said the EFCC further alleged that the money was shared among the 109 Senators (including PDP, ACN, and ANPP) in 2010.



Again, to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Mark is not aware of such transaction. This simply did not make sense to any right thinking member of the society.



Sen. Mark wondered why anybody would think that PDP will pay money into National Assembly account. He however clarified all the issues raised before returning home, Mr. Mumeh said.

The EFCC has refused to speak on the interrogation.

The 2015 campaign finance by the PDP has been a subject of intense interrogation by law enforcement agencies.

About $2.1 billion disguised as national security expenditure was said to have been squandered on electioneering for the fated 2015 re-election bid of Goodluck Jonathan.

The probe, which has seen several former ministers and top administration officials under Mr. Jonathan arrested within the last 30 months, has been deemed by critics as lopsided and an attempt to smother opposition.

This is because law enforcement agencies are believed to have refrained from probing or arresting persons associated with Mr. Buhari or the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The popular Yoruba actress, Funke Adesiyan, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcwg6jen8G2/?taken-by=funkeadesiyan

The buxom actress made this known on Instagram on Sunday whilst also speaking about her motivation to go into politics.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcu6F-GHms4/?taken-by=funkeadesiyan

The actress latest move comes barely 10 months after she lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari describing him as a two-faced tyrant.

The actress has since deleted the post but not before some of her followers shared a screenshot of the controversial post.

Known for her no-nonsense stance on Nigerian politics, the actress won the Oyo State House of Assembly primary election on the platform of the PDP in 2014.

At the time, she was the second entertainer to win a primary election after Desmond Elliot who set the pace by winning the APC primary election for the Lagos State House of Assembly.

While Desmond won his election, Funke lost to her APC opponent by a large margin. She attributed her loss to what she described as the disunited nature of the PDP.

Her re-joining the APC appears to be part of the current political re-alignment in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how two former governorship candidates, ex-governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Teslim Folarin, joined the APC. Both were once of the PDP. Another former governorship candidate, Rashidi Ladoja, however, joined the PDP from his Accord Party. Mr. Ladoja had also been Oyo governor on the PDP platform.
BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With deep sadness, M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB)("M&T") announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert G. Wilmers died suddenly and unexpectedly at home late last night. He was 83.

In accordance with its succession plan, M&T's Board of Directors named lead outside director Robert T. Brady, former Chairman and CEO of Moog, Inc., as M&T's Non-Executive Chairman, effective immediately. M&T's three Vice Chairman, Richard S. Gold, Rene F. Jones and Kevin J. Pearson, maintain responsibility for the bank's day-to-day operations.

Mr. Wilmers has held both positions since May 1983, when M&T had assets of $2 billion. Today, M&T's assets total more than $120 billion. Under his tenure, M&T has completed 24 acquisitions, has grown from 51 branches in one state to 783 branches in eight states plus the District of Columbia and from 2,000 employees to nearly 17,000. Of the largest 100 banks operating in 1983, only 23 remain today and, among those, M&T ranks 1st in stock price growth.

"Bob Wilmers' accomplishments as Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank are surpassed only by his commitment to our community, and every day he worked to fulfill his belief that the bank can only do well if the communities it serves do well," said Mr. Brady. "He will be missed greatlyby his beloved family, by the colleagues whom he respected so deeply, by his incredibly broad network of dear friends, and by all of our neighbors in M&T's communities. Nonetheless, his legacy will live on. The management team he built at M&T is long-tenured and deeply committed to Bob Wilmers' conservative, consistent, community-focused banking philosophy, and they will carry on that legacy, continuing to build M&T as a strong, successful and independent bank."

"He was a remarkable banker, an even more remarkable citizen and a wonderful friend," said Warren E. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and longtime M&T shareholder.

Mr. Wilmers has received many honors and awards for his service to the banking industry, as well as for his leadership and contributions to the Buffalo, N.Y. community, where the M&T Bank is headquartered. These awards include the Greater Buffalo Chamber of Commerce 'Western New Yorker of the Year' Award (1991); State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management 'Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year' Award (1992); The Buffalo News 'Citizen of the Year Award' (1987 and 1994); American Banker 'Lifetime Achievement' Award (2005); American Banker 'Banker of the Year' Award (2011); the 'Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal,' the State University of New York at Buffalo's highest honor, for civic patriotism (2015); and 'Officier of the Legion of Honor' by the President of France (2017).

He has also received honorary degrees from Canisius College (Doctor of Humane Letters in 1988), Niagara University (Doctor of Commercial Science in 1991) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (Doctor of Humane Letters in 2004).

Mr. Wilmers graduated from Harvard College and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. After working in banking in New York, he served in New York City government and then went on to work at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company.

In addition to his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of M&T Bank, Mr. Wilmers also previously served as chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation from 2008 to 2009, Chairman of the New York State Bankers Association in 2002 and as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1993 to 1998.

Mr. Wilmers is survived by his wife of 20 years, Elisabeth Roche Wilmers, his son Christopher and his wife Serena, and his grandsons Dylan and Theodore. He was predeceased by his son Robert G. Wilmers, Jr. Mr. Wilmers is also survived by four step-children: Camille de Wouters (Dr. Antoine van Couter), Guillaume de Wouters (Marta Olalde), Juliette Chevalier (Jerome) and Charlotte de Coupigny (Alexandre), along with eleven step-grandchildren.

"On behalf of the entire M&T family, we extend our deepest condolences to Elisabeth and the Wilmers family," said Mr. Brady.

SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation

Related Links

http://www.mandtbank.com


The Knowledge Project has launched the first Global Knowledge Index, an unprecedented instrument, at the fourth Knowledge Summit, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre on November 21-22, 2017.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/620573/MBRF_Knowledge_Summit_2017.jpg )



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/620572/Knowledge_Summit_2017.jpg )



The Index identifies knowledge as an integral part of human life, affecting its social, economic and cultural aspects, as well as an engine for comprehensive and sustainable human development.

The Index's first edition saw Switzerland take first place with 71.8 points out of 100, closely followed by Singapore (69.5), Finland (68.5), Sweden (68.3), Netherlands (68), the United States (67.2), Luxembourg (66.2), the United Kingdom (65.6), Denmark (65.2) and Norway (64.3).

The Global Knowledge Index is based on a combination of six sectoral indices: pre-university education; technical vocational education and training; higher education; information and communications technology; research, development and innovation; and, finally, economy, in addition to a general sub-index on the general enabling environment. The index is calculated through 133 variables covering various vital sectors in the country, such as enrolment, graduation and drop-out rates in schools; literacy; unemployment; life expectancy at birth; e-government; political stability; regulatory and legal frameworks; patents; private-sector indicators; quality and availability of human resources (students, teachers, professionals and researchers), among other criteria.

Also among the Index's notable results were the Philippines and Azerbaijan ranking fourth and 11th, respectively, in technical vocational education and training, while the UAE ranked second in economy.

Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Advisor of the Arab Knowledge Project, described the Global Knowledge Index as "a major step" in the comprehensive and sustainable knowledge-based development drive in the UAE. In its first edition, the index includes 131 countries, selected based on the availability of reliable and credible data. The Project aims for the index to become a practical tool that supports decision-makers and stakeholders around the world.

The Knowledge Index was released by the Knowledge Project; it is the result of a collaboration between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the supervision of an advisory committee of international experts, including Ahmed El Sherbini of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Anuja Utz of the World Bank; Hugo Hollanders an Economist and Senior Researcher at UNU-MERIT (Maastricht University); Jan Sturesson, Founder of RESTING - Advice from the Future; Laurent Probst, Director, Research and Development Unit, PwC; Leif Edvinsson, Professor of Cognitive Capital, Emeritus, Lund University, Sweden; Milorad Kovacevic, Chief Statistician at UNDP's HDRO; Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC; Jean-Louis Laville of the Higher Institute of Applied and Economic Sciences; Ali Hadi of the American University in Cairo and Sid Ahmed Soussi of the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Note to editors:

To view the full results of the index and to learn more about the Knowledge Project, please visit the following link: http://www.knowledge4all.com

SOURCE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF)
ASIC has permanently banned husband and wife, Shrikrishna and Shilpa Karandikar, from engaging in credit activities.

ASIC's investigation found that from mid-2014 to February 2016, Mrs Karandikar had acted as an intermediary between consumers and the National Australia Bank for the purpose of securing a home loan, contrary to the terms of an ASIC banning order in force against her.

The home loan applications were submitted to the National Australia Bank through her husband's mortgage broking business in Dandenong, Siddhi Vinayak Finance Pty Ltd.

Mr Karandikar was permanently banned from engaging in credit activities for being involved in Mrs Karandikar's contravention of the terms of her 2014 banning order.

ASIC also found that Mr Karandikar had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by certifying that he had completed customer identification forms in the presence of home loan applicants when he had not.

It was found that Mr and Mrs Karandikar therefore were not fit and proper persons to engage in credit activities.

The National Australia Bank identified the misconduct and reported it to ASIC.

ASIC Acting Chair Peter Kell said, 'ASIC will uphold the integrity of its administrative powers in the interest of protecting the public from unscrupulous mortgage brokers.'

Mr and Mrs Karandikar have the right to seek a review of ASIC's decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. ASIC's investigation is continuing.

On 10 July 2014, Mrs Karandikar was banned by ASIC from engaging in credit activities for a period of four years, following an ASIC investigation that found she had submitted false documents to secure a $243,000 home loan for a customer
Singaporean businessman CK Ow has offloaded his Vaucluse harbourfront mansion but the unconfirmed $67 million sale price fell short of his hopes of bettering Sydney's $71 million record price.

There were even reports of $80 million prospects in mid-campaign marketing articles.

Despite the hoopla of attracting interest from potential buyers from as far away as New York, India and Beijing, the deal was struck with a local buyer on Sunday some eight weeks after it quietly hit the market.

The price gain, before costs, reflected 10 percent annual price growth at around $18,000 per sqm.

It formally ranks as Australia's third priciest house sale.

Mr Ow, chairman and chief executive of Singaporean hotel owner and developer Stamford Land Corporation Limited, bought Phoenix Acres, a 3731sq m site with six-bedroom, six-bathroom home at 38B The Crescent 22 years ago for $7,001,000 from the Braham family.

Agents were hoping to better tycoon James Packer's 3300 sqm non-harbourfront mansion, also in Vaucluse which sold in 2015 for $70 million, and in April this year John B Fairfax family's Elaine estate on 7000 sqm in Double Bay that sold for its still standing $71 million record.

Elaine's selling agent Ken Jacobs noted recently Sydney had returned to a "normal trophy market" in which local buyers or people with residency and local businesses have dominated the top purchases.

It was not completely clear why Ow listed the home through the overly ambitious Ray White Double Bay at a time when the Sydney market was showing demonstrable signs of fatigue.

Sadly, I do not spend sufficient time there to enjoy this jewel of a property as my travels take me to many other far reaches of the world," was the official word from Ow.

Fairfax's Domain recently noted attuned agents had concluded foreign buyers had been increasingly turned off Sydneys top-end real estate market by steeper foreign-buyer taxes along with tighter capital controls also making it harder to move funds out of China for top draw acquisitions.

Had Phoenix Acres sold to a foreign buyer it would have incurred around a $700,000 fee to FIRB, plus an extra $10 million in purchase duty and premium property duty payable on foreign buyers, along with a likely annual land tax of around $2 million.

The initial marketing advised the Sydney mansion "is likely to break the Australian house price record."

Post-sale agent spin quickly saw the Ow sale instead pitched as a national "waterfront" record because the $71 million Elaine is on absolute beachfront without any jetty and the $70 million hillside La Mer is a non-waterfront.

There is no confirmation on the near $67 million suggested selling price either, just an advisory "contracts have now been exchanged for a record price making it the highest residential waterfront sale of all time."

The grand Altona in Point Piper held the mantle having fetched $61.8 million in 2016.

The Phoenix Acres site was originally a public park with a wharf ferry service to Circular Quay before the legendary publisher Ezra Norton built his mansion, then known as Albemere, in the mid-1960s.

It set a record $370,000 price when first sold in 1968, having also been the highest then build costing an estimated 250,000 pounds.

The top sales of 2017 were headed by Elaine.

The top 10 sales were in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with one sale north of the Harbour Bridge in 11th place following the $22.45 million sale of Pick a Box Mosman waterfront estate to Vaucluse property developer boss Bryan Rose.

Ken Jacobs has an unsold Rose Bay estate listed with record setting aspirations.

Straddling five land titles with a frontage to Rose Bay beach, the 4000 square metre property belongs to Adrienne Dan, the wife of eminent Sydney neurosurgeon Professor Noel Dan.

It comes with two houses, pool and a tennis court.
ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of West Perth, West Australia-based Anquan Securities & Investments Pty Ltd as it was unable to comply with its licence conditions.



Anquan requested ASIC cancel their licence, which ASIC did with effect from December 11 this year.

As part of the cancellation, ASIC imposed conditions that Anquan for the next 12 months maintain its membership of an external dispute resolution service.



Anquan provided financial services to clients, including authorising representatives to issue interests in managed investment schemes.

ASIC has an ongoing investigation into a number of land developments in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, in particular a development known as 'The Newman Estate'.

The Estate was subject to ASIC action in the Federal Court over the past two years, where interim restraint orders were obtained along with the appointment of liquidators to 23 of the Macro Group Companies.

Anquan's licence was cancelled under s915B(3)(d) of the Corporations Act, which states ASIC may suspend or cancel an Australian financial services licence held by a body corporate, by giving written notice to the body, if it lodges with ASIC an application for ASIC to do so.
Publishing professionals these days might look around, see an industry in a state of flux, and wonder whats going to happen next. PW spoke with administrators at top graduate publishing programs in the U.S. and Canada to see how they are preparing students for an industry that is continually evolving.

John Rodzvilla, graduate program director of the M.A. in publishing and writing and senior electronic-publisher-in-residence at Emerson College in Boston, says that students are focusing on more different types of publishing than in the past: It used to be they were coming in and wanting to do trade; now we have students who are pushing for small press publishing or small literary presses, and theres a lot of interest in self-publishing. But, he points out, students arent necessarily setting out to follow the latest business trends; instead, he says, they are following cultural trends.

Hands-on Experience

The consensus is that students are looking for a more broad-based, practical education that will prepare them for whatever the future of publishing might hold. To that end, Emerson is relying more and more on experiential learning. Instead of internships, for example, it has developed a publishing studio as a place where students can talk directly with publishing professionals.

Andrea Chambers, director of the M.S. program in publishing: digital and print media at the NYU School of Professional Studies, agrees that there is a growing emphasis on experiential learning. We have a very large internship program, she says. And though other schools internship programs start later, NYU wants its students to get a sense of how publishing works the moment they start, with a curriculum designed to give students a broad-based knowledge of all publishing functions.

Chambers says that NYUs program stresses innovation in publishing, embracing new business strategies and business models, integrating digital publishing into the curriculum, and introducing new courses. One such course, on startups, filled up in just one week.

We dont have different tracks, Chambers says. Students need a well-rounded education. They need skills to survive in todays environment. Editors need to know all aspects of the industryhow to work with authors on social media, knowledge of publishing law. Our philosophy is different in that we require students to take courses in all areas.

Assignments are based on what students will be doing on the job. Chambers says: Theyre editing manuscripts; theyre analyzing marketing trends. The final project is creating a business brand for a new media venture. Its very hands-on and practical.

Chambers continues: As e-book sales flatten, we are adapting our curriculum; were discussing other platforms and other forms of distribution, with a new emphasis on audiobooks. Weve added industry visits, podcasts, content and marketing tools. We want our students to be nimble. The industry is in evolution, and they need to understand the reach and power of digital in all aspects.

Suzanne Norman, lecturer at Simon Fraser Universitys publishing program in British Columbia, takes a different view. She prefers to call it the resilience of print rather than a resurgence, saying that its always been there. She adds: Before e-books, weve always had ups and downs. Its more steady in Canada than it is in the U.S.; e-books have gained a little bit this year, and audio is probably a very small percentage, but its growing. Were pulling in elements as theyre happening in a real-time way. But rejigging? Nope.

International Diversity

Sherman Raskin, director of the publishing program at Pace University in New York City, says, What makes us unique is that we train students so that they understand the business. We have students working diligently in books and magazinesat major publishers across the country.

And not just across the country. Raskin is proud of the fact that Pace has connections with two of Chinas largest publishing organizationsChina Publishing Group and Media Publishing Groupand that more than 300 Chinese executives have come to train in his program. He notes that Pace just had two students from Chinas Beijing Graphic Communications come to New York to complete their studies.

Rodzvilla says that, though Emerson has students from Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, and Pakistan and saw continued growth of numbers of overseas students this year, the changes in immigration and visa policies could curtail future growth. We had a weird moment there, he notes. We were in the process of accepting students when all [the first efforts to restrict immigration] happened. This year is going to be the year that shows whats happening. It will be telling.

NYUs Chambers emphasizes the importance of students having an extensive knowledge of the international publishing scene, saying: Our students continue to attend international book fairs and conferences. They recently returned from Frankfurt and are now preparing for the London Book Fair. The Shanghai Book Fair is a possibility as well.

That interest in international publishing is reflected in NYUs students, Chambers notes, 32% of whom are from abroad, including students from China, Europe, India, South America, and two from Kazakhstan.

At Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Marshall Warfield, director of the M.A. in publishing program, says: Im excited about our diversity. Weve got students from Saudi Arabia, one from Mexico, two from India. Some are just out of college, some are looking for career change in their 50s. We even have a student who survived the Rwandan genocide.

Students Goals

Jill Smith, director of the University of Denvers Publishing Institute, notes that its program strives to show students the different kinds of publishing jobs that are available. She says that, though many students come hoping to one day find the next great American novel, it is Denvers responsibility to show them the breadth of career opportunities open to them beyond just working in editorial.

The Denver program lets students try out different skills and determine for themselves whether they really are cut out to be editors or may be better suited to work in another department such as marketing or sales, Smith explains.

Rosemont, too, has added an M.B.A.-level course in financial principles and policies as part of the schools seven core courses.

At Pace, Raskin points out that many of their students are in the humanities. They love writing and critical analysis and want to find an opportunity in publishing to use their skills, he says. They become great editors, marketersthey want a future in publishing.

At SFU, Norman notes a new willingness among students to go out and become entrepreneurs: We have students who want to start their own media companies; theyre not looking for specific roles. Weve had people who want to be in-house editors or designers, as well as people who are looking at peripheral industries like Amazon or Google or other business models. They want to be more of the change: less routed directly into the publishing houses, more options that allow them to change the industry.

Emersons Rodzvilla also sees a growing interest among students in changing the publishing industry. I think theyre trying to figure out whats going onhow publishing can reflect their views, he says. Weve had a lot of discussions on the need for diverse bookson the monoculture that is the publishing industry and how that needs to change. They want to change it, and theyre concerned about how it can change. They want to really push for it.

At Rosemont, Warfield sees an increased desire among his students to make a difference. One, for example, wants to create a platform for veterans to tell their stories. But, he says, what they all want to do after graduation is to go back to their communities or countries of origin, or to work with marginalized groups, and use the skills they learned to help amplify the voices of others. That, Warfield says, makes me proud.

The Job Market

The general feeling is that the job market is strong and will continue to be so. Raskin points out that though the industry is always challenging because of cuts in many areas that eliminate existing jobs, startups and small publishers often pick up the slack.

Warfield shares that optimism, based on the number of emails hes receiving announcing both new positions and internships.

Chambers adds: The market is looking pretty good. Were getting emails from publishers asking us to help fill editorial content jobs and sales positions, theres lots of digital and working on the digital side, there are positions in analytics. And Chambers notes that literary agencies are hiring: It used to be hard to break in, but now theyre hiring assistantstheyre hiring young agents.
Sonys subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform Crackle is to exclusively deliver three BBC series across Latin America and the Caribbean.

BBC Worldwide and Sony Pictures Television Networks have reached an agreement to add the shows Top of the Lake, Top of the Lake: China Girl and Born to Kill to the SVOD service. Top of the Lake: China Girl will be reaching LATAM audiences for the first time.This agreement is a milestone for BBC Worldwide in the region as it enables us to reach the Latin American audiences with some of our acclaimed shows through Sonys SVOD, pointed out Anna Gordon, EVP, BBC Worldwide Latin America/US Hispanic. With this, BBC Worldwide strengthens its position in the OTT market.Since it decided to refocus on over-the-top (OTT) content distribution and withdrew most of its channels from the region , BBC Worldwide has reached content agreements with some of the larger VOD services in LATAM, including Televisas blim and Qubit.tv.Top of the Lake, which aired across the region on Sundance TV, reached an average 2.7 million viewers during its latest season in the UK, while the sequel, Top of the Lake: China Girl, has just received a 2018 Golden Globe nomination.Born to Kill is a new series, which has averaged 2.6 million viewers in the UK, becoming one of the 10 most-watched shows of Channel 4.
Colombias TV authority, ANTV, has fined 150 illegal pay-TV operators since the new set of anti-piracy rules was sanctioned last year.

According to the authority, 130 technical inspections have been carried out since 2016, and 150 local pay-TV providers have been fined for being unable to prove that they have been obeying copyright laws, and equipment has been confiscated in 20 broadcasting stations.The figures were made public during a training session in which Colombias TV authority shared with different industry players the efforts deployed to fight against pay-TV piracy.Following a plan of action launched in April 2016, the TV authority strengthened its partnership with the public attorneys office and allocated more resources to the countrys anti-piracy unit.The strategy was deployed after it was revealed that almost three million homes were getting a pay-TV signal through illegal providers, which was resulting into over $100 million annual losses in taxes.
The Trump administration will release its National Security Strategy on Monday, December 18. This white paper, required by the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act, is the most authoritative guide to Americas allies and adversaries alike about the administrations approach to foreign policy. Likewise, the Pentagon is also scheduled to release its Nuclear Posture Review by the end of the year, which outlines what the role of Americas nuclear weapons in its overall strategy should be. These reports will shed critical light on the White Houses strategic worldview and how the administration will seek to address the rapid deterioration of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime.

Growing Nuclear Threats

North Korea and Irans nuclear programs have dominated headlines in recent years and will no doubt figure prominently in Mondays release. However, the administration should also take note of the growing strategic challenges from existing nuclear states. Pentagon officials reportedly fear that Russia is planning to expand its own arsenal to as many as 8,000 deployed warheads a decade from now. Moscow has also systematically violated arms control agreements throughout its history, but most recently has breached the 1987 INF Treaty by testing and deploying missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers.

Not to be outdone, the Department of Defense reports that China is is developing and testing several new variants of missiles, forming additional missile units, retiring or upgrading older missile systems; and developing methods to counter ballistic missile defenses. Furthermore, as the National Institute for Public Policy noted, China is expanding its strategic nuclear forces; the question is the limit of that expansion, the Obama administration estimated it to be several hundred, while some independent estimates are far higher. The administration should inform this debate with a fresh analysis and detail how it will attempt to reverse Beijings efforts to strategically dominate the Western Pacific.

Furthermore, both the Carnegie Endowment and Stimson Center assess that Pakistan will triple its nuclear arsenal over the next decade, even while it is beset with challenges from radical Islamists. Other states are also considering expanding their nuclear program. Saudi Arabia announced in October that it would domestically extract uranium as part of a self-sufficient nuclear program. U.S. policymakers are concerned that Riyadh has even greater nuclear ambitions. The Daily Beast reported in 2014 that the Saudis have sought to master all elements of the fuel cycle, including enrichment, and in recent years has quietly been developing the engineering and scientific knowledge base to do so, and is hiring the scientists and engineers needed to build the cascades of centrifuges needed to produce nuclear fuel.

North Korea, in a worst-case estimate by the U.S-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, may have enough material for as many as 100 nuclear weapons by the end of this decade. In light of these troubling advances, South Koreas conservative opposition leader, Hong Joon-pyo, is calling for the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the country or creating nuclear weapons of their own. According to recent public opinion polling, 68 percent of South Koreans support the redeployment of U.S. nuclear weapons to the peninsula and 60 percent support South Korea developing nuclear weapons of its own.

A New Approach for a New Century

As the third decade of the twenty-first century approaches, the nuclear world bears little resemblance to the dyad of the Cold War. Instead, there will be several nuclear-armed with significant stockpiles, and several more states that are either nuclear-capable or pursuing capability. For this new environment, the United States needs craft a new approach to defend the United States and our allies and restore confidence in Americas nuclear deterrent.

The simplest and most necessary action that Washington can take is bolstering its missile defense systems. Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council notes that over the past decade, spending on US homeland missile defense has actually decreased by roughly 46 percent from $3.7 billion to $2 billion. If the U.S. is to quantitatively and qualitatively remain ahead of the growing nuclear threat, then it will require substantial re-investment in our missile defense budget. For instance, as Michaela Dodge from the Heritage Foundation observes, the United States will have only 44 ground-based interceptors (GBI) deployed next year, and they are the only U.S. system capable of intercepting an ICBM in the middle of its flight. Current interceptor inventory plans, she warns, do not support sustainment at this level past 2018, leaving the impression that the ballistic missile threat will diminish by then. That is unlikely  The United States ought to plan for sustaining 44 deployed interceptors at a minimum.

An April 2017 report from the Atlantic Council outlined additional measures that the United States can take to rebuild its missile defense capability. A first step would be to complete and fill the planned missile fields in Fort Greely, Alaska, which would allow America to maintain as many as 104 GBIs. The United States could also establish an interceptor site on the East Coast, which would allow for as many as 60 more GBIs. The Trump administration should also consider pursuing new technologies to reduce Americas reliance on the GBI system and create a truly-layered shield against attack, including boost-phase intercept, directed energy, and space-based sensors or interceptors.

President Trump has also pledged to modernize Americas nuclear arsenal. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in November that this effort would cost $40 billion a year for the next 30 years. The CBO finds that the total cost of nuclear forces would represent about 6 percent of all spending on national defense over the 20172046 period. This is a value, however, when one recognizes the unique and essential role that Americas nuclear weapons play in its national security. A bipartisan group of former civilian and military leaders determined in 2014 that Americas strategic forces continue to play an essential role in deterring potential adversaries and reassuring U.S. allies and partners around the world. In light of the looming obsolescence of Americas nuclear arsenal, the panel found that modernization of the force is essential. It is vital that the National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review reiterate this message for fiscal conservatives in Congress, who remain wary of increases to defense spending. In the words of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, America can afford survival.

Finally, while the National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review will likely outline the administrations approach to Iran and North Korea, they should also emphasize the importance of rolling them back to strengthen the global nonproliferation regime. As these regimes advance their nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, other rogue states may feel emboldened to pursue their own such programs, and the faith of U.S. allies in Americas nuclear deterrent may dwindle. The Trump administrations policy should be the complete and verifiable denuclearization of both countries, and it should pursue every method to establish sufficient leverage against Tehran and Pyongyang to compel them to do so.

Conclusion

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy warned that I am haunted by the feeling that by 1970, unless we are successful, there may be 10 nuclear powers instead of four, and by 1975, 15 or 20. His efforts and his successors helped slow the spread of nuclear weapons, but now his nightmare of a rapidly proliferating world is becoming a reality. The National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review will be vital in showing if the president shares Kennedys fear and what his administration will do to address it.

Evan Moore is a foreign policy analyst based in Washington, D.C.
Monrovia set for semistate battle with Lawrenceburg. Here's what to know.

Here's all the information you need to know before Friday's IHSAA semi-state football showdown between Monrovia and Lawrenceburg.
UPDATED at 10:34 A.M. EST on 2017-12-15



The head of Cambodias now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) requested that a court in the countrys capital drop all charges against him while being questioned in his cell in Tboung Khmum province Thursday over allegations he colluded with the U.S. in a bid to topple the government, according to his lawyer.



CNRP President Kem Sokha, who has been held in pre-trial detention at remote Trapeang Phlong prison since his arrest in September for treason, urged a court investigator to dismiss the charges and release him unconditionally so that he can help to solve Cambodias ongoing political crisis, his lawyer, Hem Socheat, told RFAs Khmer Service.



Kem Sokha made his oral submission during the questioning hearing, the lawyer said.



He asked that all the charges against him be dropped and that he be released. His submission was recorded by the court clerk.



Last month, Cambodias Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the CNRP for its alleged role in a conspiracy to overthrow government, essentially eliminating any threat to Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) ahead of a general election in July 2018.



The international community has heaped scorn on Cambodias government for its actions targeting the opposition, as well as restrictions on NGOs and independent media in recent months, saying the legitimacy of next years ballot has been called into question.



Thursdays hearing was the second time Kem Sokha has been questioned with regards to his charges, following a session on Nov. 24.



In both cases, members of his legal team took issue with the investigators line of inquiry, which they said assumed their clients guilt.



Every question put to him was inculpatory in nature, to which we strongly objected, but to no avail, Hem Socheat said of Thursdays hearing.



The evidence presented against Kem Sokha so far is a video recorded in 2013 in which he discusses a strategy to win power at the ballot box with the help of U.S. expertsthough the U.S. embassy has rejected any suggestion that Washington is interfering in Cambodian politics.



Following the Nov. 24 hearing, Hem Socheat said Kem Sokha had testified that his statement in the video was merely an educational speech on the appreciation of human rights and democracy, and said the opposition leader treats his case and the dissolution of the CNRP as politically motivated.



Kem Sokha will be questioned a third time on Dec. 21-22.



EU pressure



Also on Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging Cambodias government to reinstate the CNRP, reverse the Supreme Courts decision to ban 118 of its officials from politics for five years, and release Kem Sokha.



In a statement issued after the resolution vote, lawmakers expressed concern about the general elections scheduled for July 2018, stressing that an electoral process from which the main opposition party has been excluded is not legitimate.



Cambodia benefits from the EUs preferential Everything But Arms scheme, but if authorities do not respect fundamental rights, these tariff preferences must be temporarily withdrawn, they said.



Members of parliament also asked the European External Action Service and the European Union Commission to prepare a list of individuals responsible for the dissolution of the opposition and other rights violations in Cambodia, with a view to imposing visa restrictions and asset freezes on them.



The resolution followed a call on Tuesday by the Committee on Foreign Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives for a list of individuals and businesses in Cambodia who should be subject to sanctions and a pledge to review trade agreements with the country as part of a bid to pressure its government to reverse restrictions on democracy ahead of next years general election.



Both the EU and the U.S. have announced that they will withdraw funding for the election unless Cambodia can ensure a free and fair ballot.



Cambodias government did not immediately comment on the European Parliaments resolution, but CPP spokesperson Sok Ey San on Thursday called U.S. threats of sanctions ruthless and inhumane.



It simply shows the deliberate ambition to exert pressure on Cambodias government, because they are siding with their puppet [the opposition party], he said.



Such measures are nothing short of an intention to promote capitalist ideology in Cambodia and the rest of the world. Its very ruthless and inhumane to impose punitive measures that lack legal basis.



Hun Sen maintains that his country is governed by a multi-party democracy and has said elections will proceed as planned, regardless of international recognition.



Top monk criticized



Meanwhile, NGOs and members of the Buddhist clergy on Thursday condemned Cambodias top monastic leader, Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, for using his title to campaign for the ruling party in the majority Buddhist country.



A day earlier, at the 26th National Conference for Monks held at Chaktomuk Hall in the capital, Tep Vong praised Hun Sen and urged his fellow monks to vote for the CPP in July.



The Cambodian government, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, has done many great things that we need to appreciate, he told followers at the event.



We have Buddhism. We have peace, unity, and prosperity. If we lose them we will die. The opposition has never won an election anyway. The winner of the election is pre-determined.



On Thursday, political analyst Lao Mong Hay told RFA he was not surprised by Tep Vongs remarks, noting that his title was bestowed on him by the CPP-led government.



He has to promote the CPP, he said.



Yoeung Sotheara, legal and monitoring officer at the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), also expressed concerns over monks getting involved in politics.



Venerable Chhim Sophy, a senior student at Cambodias Pannasastra University, rejected Tep Vongs appeal for the CPP, saying top monks should remain neutral and let the people decide which party and leader to vote for.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.



Correction: An earlier version of the story erroneously stated that Kem Sokha had been questioned at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday challenged the U.S. and EU to act on threats to freeze his overseas assets and those of other government officials seen as restricting democracy in the country, amid a crackdown on the opposition, NGOs, and the media ahead of general elections next year.



On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging Cambodias government to reverse a Supreme Court decision to dissolve the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and ban 118 of the partys officials from politics for five years, as well as release CNRP President Kem Sokha from pre-trial detention, where he is being held on charges of plotting a rebellion.



Members of parliament also asked the European External Action Service and the European Union Commission to prepare a list of individuals responsible for the dissolution of the opposition and other rights violations in Cambodia, with a view to imposing visa restrictions and asset freezes on them.



The resolution followed a call earlier this week by the Committee on Foreign Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives for a list of individuals in Cambodia who should be subject to sanctions and a pledge to review trade agreements with the country as part of a bid to pressure its government to end a months-long crackdown on democratic freedoms in the lead up to the July 2018 ballot.



Both the U.S. and EU have announced that they are withdrawing funding of the election next year, and last week Washington leveled visa restrictions on individuals responsible for undermining Cambodian democracy in response to the September arrest of Kem Sokha on charges of attempting to topple the government and the Supreme Court decision to dissolve the CNRP for its alleged role in the conspiracy.



The Supreme Court rejected a bid by the opposition to reverse its ruling Friday, saying its decision could not be appealed.



Hun Sen on Friday dismissed the U.S. and EU resolutions as mere recommendations that were unlikely to result in actual sanctions, during a speech in the capital Phnom Penh.



A resolution passed by the U.S. Congress does not mean that the Trump Administration has to follow, just as a resolution passed by the European Parliament does not bind the European Commission to implement it, he said.



You [the opposition] need to familiarize yourself with that. Dont give yourself false hope every day, week, and month like that. Wait and see, and youll find out that the world cannot just do whatever you wish.



The prime minister went a step further and encouraged the U.S. and EU to freeze the assets of Cambodian officials from his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP).



You dont need to just threaten us, just do it now if you are brave enough  but dont ever think that such sanctions would hurt us, he said.



How many CPP officials have their assets outside of Cambodia? They wouldnt be so damn stupid as to keep their assets overseas. I dont have any assets to keep outside Cambodia. All my assets are in Cambodia, in the form of schools, temples, wells and irrigation canals.



Visa restrictions



With regard to Washingtons announcement of visa restrictions, Hun Sen said he wasnt planning on traveling to the U.S. anyway.



The only the trip I made to the U.S. was  in 1992 to lobby the U.S. Congress to fund the UNTAC operation in Cambodia, he said, referring to the United Nations body that governed his nation after the Paris Peace Accords ended civil war there a year earlier.



Apart from that, I have never had any other reason that I would need to go to the U.S. or other countries again. I dont even have enough time to travel across Cambodia, let alone the U.S. or other countries.



However, Hun Sen added, he would consider allowing the U.S. to continue deporting Cambodian nationals convicted of felonies back to Cambodia and reinstate cooperation in the recovery of the remains of American servicemen missing in action since the Vietnam Warboth of which he suspended earlier this yearif Washington agrees to lift visa sanctions on top Cambodian Foreign Ministry officials.



The U.S. had imposed those sanctions in August in response to Cambodia suspending the acceptance of deported Cambodian felons, and Hun Sen retaliated by ending cooperation on recovering American remains.



Hun Sen also called out Kem Sokhas daughter, Kem Monovithya, and CNRP lawmakers living in self-imposed exile who are planning to lobby the U.N. Security Council over the deterioration of democracy in Cambodia as slaves of a foreign country.



There are five permanent members in the U.N. Security Councilnamely China, Russia, France, the U.S. and the U.K.and if only one member vetoes, that would be it, he said.



May I also ask those who remain in the country not to be fooled by those who have fled the country. Dont be too hopeful. You have to study the mechanism of the U.N. first.



Industry concerns



But while Hun Sen suggested sanctions would do little to affect him or his government, union leaders expressed concerns that the prime minister was playing a dangerous game with Cambodias U.S. $7 billion garment industry, which enjoys the benefits of preferential trade status with the U.S. and EU.



We dont agree with the prime minister that sanctions wouldnt hurt us, Ath Thon, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union, told RFA.



We dont even know what makes the government so sure that there would be no impact on the garment sector, should the EU and U.S. impose sanctions. Cambodian laborers are not skilled workers. If they lose their jobs, they wont find other ones easily.



Ath Thon noted that Cambodia relies heavily on the garment industry and said that if sanctions are implemented, more than 70 percent of those employed in the sectoror around 600,000 workerswould be impacted immediately. The EU alone accounts for around 40 percent of Cambodias exports.



We are gravely concerned, he said. Workers will be financially frustrated and will start to migrate to other countries for work.



I think the government must make efforts to reverse the current situation in order to avoid this crisis.



Cambodia is home to some 740,000 garment and footwear workers, who produce goods for global brands such as Marks & Spencer, H&M, and Adidas. They make up a significant portion of the countrys 8.3 million registered voters, and Hun Sen has been visiting factories regularly in recent weeks to gain their support in the lead up to the July ballot.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Students, NGO officials, and diplomats held a remembrance service in Vientiane on Friday to commemorate a prominent civil society leader who vanished five years ago at a police checkpoint outside the Lao capital, while rights groups worldwide demanded to know his whereabouts.

The group gathered at the Participatory Development Training Center (PADETC) to mark the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, who founded the nonprofit center devoted to sustainable social, economic, and environmental development.

Sombaths widow, Ng Shui Meng, who has repeatedly called on the Lao government to answer questions surrounding the fate of her husband, thanked the center for continuing to believe in Sombath's vision and ideas.

Sombath went missing on Dec. 15, 2012, when police stopped him in his vehicle at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Vientiane. He was then transferred to another vehicle, according to police surveillance video, and has not been heard from again.

Rights groups suspect that government-linked organizations or criminal elements may have abducted Sombath, who received the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership  Asias equivalent of the Nobel Prize  for his work in the fields of education and development.

Though authorities have denied any responsibility, Sombaths abduction is widely acknowledged to be an enforced disappearance  the arrest or detention of an individual by state officials or their agents followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the person or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty.

Lao officials have yet to state a reason for his disappearance or make any progress in the case, which has drawn criticism from European and U.S. development partners and aid donors, as well as attention from the United Nations.

Five years on, Sombaths disappearance highlights the glaring problems of enforced disappearance, widespread rights violations, and the culture of impunity protecting government officials in Laos, said Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a statement issued on Friday. The government needs to end its cover-up and explain what happened to Sombath.

Sombaths disappearance will be a stain on the Lao governments reputation until his fate is explained and those responsible are fairly prosecuted and punished, he said. Donor governments, U.N. agencies, and multilateral organizations should keep raising concerns with Lao leaders until there are credible answers about Sombaths fate.

Andrea Gioretta, head of the Asia desk Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, said that the Lao government has prevented people from speaking out about Sombaths disappearance.

The Lao government intentionally suppresses the Lao people from speaking out about Sombath Somphone, he said at the ceremony in Vientiane.

Anne-Sophie Gindroz, a the country director for Laos for the Swiss aid agency Helvetas, who was expelled from the country by authorities in December 2012 after making statements critical of the government, told RFA earlier that the Lao government eliminated Sombath on purpose to suppress dissidents and spread fear among the Lao people.

And it has been very effective, she said. As a result, Laotians have been more afraid and silent. Even though they are so unhappy with the government, they always keep quiet.

Never ask questions

RFAs Bangkok bureau was unable to reach the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week to inquire about the status of the case.

A high-ranking police officer responsible for Sombaths case at the Ministry of Public Security would not answer RFA's questions as to whether authorities still are investigating the matter.

When another RFA reporter called him at a different time, he said, Never ask questions about Sombath Somphone.

Also on Friday, more than 120 rights organizations worldwide, including Amnesty International, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), and Lao Movement for Human Rights, called on the Lao government for information about Sombaths whereabouts.

On the fifth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned organizations, express outrage at the Lao governments failure to independently, impartially, effectively, and transparently investigate Sombaths disappearance, reveal his whereabouts, and return him to his family, said a statement issued by the groups.

The Lao governments continued silence and obfuscation of the facts around Sombaths enforced disappearance have subjected his family to five years of fear and uncertainty over his fate and whereabouts, which remain unknown to this day.

Ng Shui Meng speaks at a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 7, 2017. Credit: RFA Denial, denial, denial

At a press conference on Dec. 7 in Bangkok to mark the fifth anniversary of Sombaths disappearance, Ng called on the Lao government to reveal the truth about her husbands fate.

We still need an answer from the Lao government about where Sombath is [and] whether he is still alive or dead, and we will keep asking this question until we get the answer, Ng told RFAs Lao Service at the event.

For me its almost like the response is one of denial, denial, denial until people get tired of the case, until maybe all the family members are tired of the case, and then the case will slowly, literally disappear, and Sombath will be forever disappeared, she told attendees at the conference.

She also said that witnesses she declined to name recently came forward to say they had spotted Sombath at a police holding facility in Vientiane a few hours after he was stopped at the police checkpoint, and that his jeep was seen in the facilitys parking lot the same evening.

Asia Times reported that Ng obtained new CCTV footage showing Sombaths vehicle being driven by an unknown individual toward central Vientianne on the same evening.

This newly public information demonstrates the inadequacy of the official investigations into Sombaths disappearance and the contours of a cover-up by Lao authorities, HRW said in the statement it issued on Friday, referring to Ngs comment about information from the witnesses.

The authorities have repeatedly dismissed concerns raised by Sombaths family, foreign governments, and human rights groups about whether the government investigation was serious, HRW said.

Robertson said at the press conference in Bangkok that none of the representatives from 12 NGOs working in Laos who attended the event spoke openly about Sombath.

At the same news conference, Malaysian lawmaker and APHR chairman Charles Santiago said there is no doubt in his mind that Sombath was forcibly disappeared.

[I]ts clear to me after looking a hundred times at the video that was shown earlier that it is the states action of an enforced disappearance, he said. Its obvious that the state is involved.

Laos has signed but not ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, an international human rights instrument of the U.N. intended to prevent such disappearances.

Reported and translated by RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Dozens of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Bosnia-Herzegovina's capital, Sarajevo, to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Around 100 protesters took part in the rally on December 17 organized by members of the Palestinian diaspora in Bosnia and other groups, carrying signs in English criticizing Trump and Israel, and calling Jerusalem the capital of Palestine.

Many of the demonstrators originally came to Bosnia when it was part of the former Yugoslavia and remained after putting down roots in the Balkan country.

Trump announced earlier this month that Washington would recognize Jerusalem -- whose status as capital is also claimed by Palestinians -- as Israel's capital and that the U.S. Embassy would move to the ancient city from Tel Aviv in a few years.

The controversial move sparked strong condemnation from many world leaders and led to protests in several places around the world.

Since the Bosnian war ended in 1995, Bosnia has been split into two entities -- Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosniaks and Croats.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Palestinians regard it as the capital of their future state. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and declared all of the city as its capital, a move never recognized by the international community. Most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Trump said the decision only reflected the reality on the ground and that it did not indicate the United States was giving up its position as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish.

Before we get started, a few announcements: The newsletter is now biweekly, rather than going out only on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here.

And I will also be launching Talking China In Eurasia, a new podcast. Im joined by the Royal United Services Institutes Raffaello Pantucci to talk about Xi and Putin. Listen to the first episode here or below.

Xi Gets Pragmatic About Russia At The G20

It was light on optimism, but U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping injected a healthy dose of pragmatism back into the U.S.-China relationship with their meeting in Bali at a time when global anxiety is rising over Russias war against Ukraine.

Finding Perspective: The meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit was far from a breakthrough, but it did repair some damage from the recent backslide in relations between both countries and send some signals that the world isnt necessarily destined for Cold War 2.0.

The more than three-hour talks saw some blunt exchanges over contentious issues like Taiwan and North Korea, but the two leaders also pledged more frequent communications and decided that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Beijing for follow-up talks in 2023.

Of particular note, Biden raised Russias invasion of Ukraine and threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons. Both leaders reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought, according to a White House readout.

While far from a sea change for Chinese policy, thats notable. The credibility of Beijings claims to be neutral on the Ukraine war continue to come under scrutiny, and China has shown discomfort of late with the Kremlins nuclear saber-rattling.

Xi made similar comments after a November 4 summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and during another G20 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the French readout.

Why It Matters: Xi is not abandoning Putin, but this marks the latest shift for Beijings balancing act over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Four Chinese officials briefed on the February 4 meeting between Xi and Putin, where they declared a no-limits partnership, told the Financial Times that Putin didnt tell Xi the truth about the invasion and that Beijing was caught off guard by it.

What Xi knew about Putins war plans has been a topic of debate, and there is evidence to support both the idea that Xi was aware and that he was caught off guard.

Many analysts are of the opinion that Xi knew about Putin's decision to invade but expected a quick victory, which perhaps was what Putin believed at the time.

Others point to a steady stream of dismissals from Chinese officials and experts about the likelihood of an invasion in February and the fact that Beijing did not evacuate its citizens from Ukraine  like Western nations did  as evidence that China was not expecting a war.

China certainly has its own interests in keeping a distance from Moscows war and using that space to do some upkeep with the West. But perhaps the most important point here is that even if Putin did blindside Xi, China has stuck with Russia despite its battlefield failures, political isolation, and the atrocities its troops are accused of committing.

Again, this is pragmatism more than anything else. As Chinese experts often say, even if Russia is looking unattractive these days, why would Beijing abandon its main anti-Western partner as China continues to be in the crosshairs of rising American pressure?

Read More

 Want to hear more about Russia and Chinas complex relationship amid the Ukraine war? Then tune in to the debut of Talking China In Eurasia today at 2 p.m. CET/ 8 a.m. EST. You can listen live here and find the episode on RFE/RLs website and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

 Condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine and its global fallout is shaping up to be the key theme of the G20, with the Financial Times reporting that a joint communique from the summit takes aim at Moscow.

Expert Corner: The Future Of The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Readers asked: Did Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs recent trip to Beijing breathe new life into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? How do Islamabad and Beijing really feel about the project after all these years?

To find out more, I asked Filippo Boni, an expert on China-Pakistan relations at the Open University in Britain:

Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China was high on symbolism and relatively low on substance. While the two sides were keen to reaffirm and emphasize the strength of their strategic partnership, no significant new commitment was made. Apart from a few memorandums of understanding and attempts from the Pakistanis in the run-up to the trip to address some of CPECs issues  including payments to Chinese independent power producers  nothing major came from the visit. This is despite Sharif's attempts at revitalizing CPEC since April and the very close ties he enjoys with the Chinese leadership.

The outcome of this visit is not entirely surprising, especially if interpreted against the backdrop of Pakistan's current domestic predicaments. The security situation for Chinese nationals has deteriorated, the economy is struggling, and political instability is at one of its highest points in recent years. All these dynamics, coupled with the global scaling down of Belt and Road Initiative financing, have likely impacted Beijing's lack of commitment to new projects.

After almost 10 years and $25 billion worth of projects, there seems to be a general consensus on both sides that the first phase of CPEC  the one focused primarily on energy projects  was largely successful. The same cannot be said for the second phase, including the slow progress on the development of Special Economic Zones, and for the port of Gwadar, where little progress has been made for the ports full commercial functioning.

Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. 'Sweep It Under The Rug'

Recent allegations of China operating 54 overseas police stations have fueled controversy around the world and sparked investigations, but in Hungary and Serbia the new findings are being met with swift denials by authorities, despite growing evidence.

The Details: My colleagues Akos Keller-Alant from RFE/RLs Hungarian Service, Mila Durdevic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service, and I reported on the fallout from these revelations and the slew of probes launched in many European countries recently.

The stations are overseas operations of the public security bureaus from two Chinese provinces and are used to persuade citizens to return to China, including through pressure on family members at home. While most of those involved appear to be suspected of crimes such as telecommunications fraud or corruption, dissidents have also reported that the stations have been used to monitor and threaten them.

Fourteen governments have already launched investigations into the overseas police stations, and the Dutch and Irish governments have ordered China to shut down the facilities in their countries.

But in Hungary and Serbia  two countries where Beijing is said to operate such facilities and whose governments prize their warming political and economic ties with China  officials appear to be trying to sweep it under the rug, as one analyst characterized it, despite growing scrutiny from opposition lawmakers in each country.

2. Global Ripples Hit Central Asia

Political and economic shocks from Moscows war in Ukraine, coupled with added strains from tensions between Beijing and Washington, are taking their toll around the world, especially in Central Asia, where countries in the region are closely tied to both China and Russia.

What It Means: As RFE/RLs Uzbek Service reported, Vladimir Norov, the countrys foreign minister, warned about geopolitical tensions affecting stability in the region and beyond while addressing his counterparts at an Organization of Turkic States meeting in Samarkand.

The breakdown in global cooperation is felt particularly strong in Central Asia. While some economies have been able to benefit by becoming a new home for businesses and capital relocated from Russia, others are seeing investment dry up and their economies coming under strain.

World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde recently warned that Uzbekistan needs to continue with its market reforms in order to withstand the global economic shocks that are to come.

RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service also reported that the countrys government is trying to court more investment but that questions remain from investors about Kyrgyzstans stability and investment climate. According to official statistics from January to June of this year, China is the leading source of foreign investment, with $129 million during that span.

3. The Tech In Moscows Iranian Drones

A new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, looked into electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 drone, which Russia has used in its war in Ukraine, and found that theyre far from homegrown.

What You Need To Know: The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

The investigation also found drone components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm.

The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China.

The international tech in the drone not only highlights the complex ecosystem that allows firms and buyers to circumvent sanctions slapped on both Iran and Russia, but also the close networks between Chinese and Western tech companies that still exist, despite a recent push to break some of those linkages.

Across The Supercontinent

On The Mainland: The watchdog group Freedom House recently launched a new project called the China Dissent Monitor, which tracks protests and other forms of dissent inside China. Read it here.

Censored: Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by European Council President Charles Michel that was set to criticize Russia's illegal war in Ukraine and call for reduced European dependency on China, Reuters reported.

Backtracking: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has softened his countrys stance toward China, moving away from his predecessor Liz Trusss decision to label it a threat.

One Thing To Watch

How long will Chinas stringent COVID policies stay in place?

New infections are rising as a winter wave hits and popular frustration continues to boil over inside the country as investor confidence stays dented over the measures. New footage also showed crowds of residents in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou escaping a compulsory lockdown and clashing with police.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
WASHINGTON -- An American stockbroker who made a fortune in the Russian market in the 1990s and 2000s and later co-founded a posh Moscow nightclub before leaving the country died of blunt force injuries suffered as a result of a fall from a Washington, D.C. building.

The findings, released on November 16 by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), confirm that Dan Rapoport died on August 14 after falling from a height, but do not conclusively explain the circumstances leading up to his death.



Washington police told RFE/RL that an investigation into his death had ended and declined further comment. Earlier this year, a police spokeswoman told RFE/RL that foul play was not suspected, but that final conclusions were pending the autopsy.

Rapoport's untimely death triggered much speculation because he had voiced support for ardent Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny before leaving Russia and, while living in Kyiv in recent years, had been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Washington metropolitan police found Rapoport's body on August 14 on the sidewalk outside 2400 M Street, a nine-story apartment building in the northwest part of the city.



The medical examiner's report said Rapoport, 52, died of multiple blunt force injuries due to fall from height and described the death as sudden/unexplained. The report also said the manner of his death was undetermined.



The OCME said no other information would be immediately released.



A preliminary police report said officers responded to a report of a jumper on the evening of August 14, and the man, later identified as Rapoport, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.



The apartment building has an open rooftop with a pool, running track, and seating area for residents.

The police report said officers found $2,620 in cash on Rapoport when they discovered his body on the sidewalk, along with headphones, a cracked cell phone, a Florida drivers license, and other items.



He was wearing flip-flops, perhaps indicating he had been at the pool on the roof prior to falling.



Brianna Burch, a police spokesperson, told RFE/RL in August that there did not appear to be anyone with Rapoport at the time and there were no listed witnesses. In follow-up correspondences with RFE/RL through early November, the police continued to say they did not suspect foul play.



Rapoport had recently moved back to Washington after spending several years working in finance in Ukraine. He told RFE/RL in an interview in Washington in June that business had been tough due to the countrys high political risk and war with Russia.



While some friends said they did not believe he would have committed suicide, others said he had appeared depressed.



Go-To Location



A native of Latvia and a fluent Russian speaker, Rapoport emigrated with his family to the United States in 1980. After graduating from a U.S. university, he moved to Russia in the early 1990s as a wave of privatizations swept across the country.



The sale of former state-owned companies created a booming stock market, minting a new generation of millionaires, Russian and foreign.



Rapoport was respected within Russian financial circles, where he worked for more than a decade at a local brokerage called CenterInvest, making his way up to managing partner. He claimed his clients included some of the nation's wealthiest tycoons.

In 2007, he opened a swanky nightclub in downtown Moscow called Soho Rooms, which became the go-to location for Moscows elite.



In 2012, he left Russia and returned to the United States, saying the stock brokerage industry that had made him a fortune "had died" as commission fees shrunk with improvements in technology.

But in a media interview prior to his departure, he also criticized the direction Russia had taken under Putin and expressed support for Navalny, who was jailed last year on what Western governments say were trumped-up charges.

It has really become unbearable to live in Russia, Rapoport told media outlet FinParty in June of that year. We are all now dependent on one ruler. If this person decides that you will give birth to his child, then you will give birth, and if he decide to put you in prison, then you will serve time.

He told FinParty that he would give up his American citizenship and return to Russia if Navalny became president, saying the opposition leader was sincere in his desire to fight corruption.

He is a real hero of our time and deserves respect, Rapoport said of Navalny.

Rapoports frustration with Russia and his decision to leave may have been triggered by pressure on his businesses, friends and family have said.

Under Putin, the raiding of profitable businesses by -- or with the help of -- the nations security services has flourished. Rapoport allegedly lost his stake in Soho Rooms when his partners teamed up with security officials.

"Our flight to Washington is in 12 hours. It's sad to leave Russia, but for thoughtful people, living here has become unbearable and disgusting," Rapoport wrote on his Facebook page on June 13, 2012.

When Rapoport moved to Washington, where he said his parents lived, he set up a company called Rapoport Capital to advise and assist technology startups as well as venture capital funds on fundraising options.

In 2016, four years after leaving Russia, Rapoport set up an office in Kyiv and opened a private equity fund. It was tough going. Ukraines economy struggled amid an ongoing war with Russia-backed separatists in two eastern regions and the slow implementation of Western-backed reforms.

In social-media posts over the ensuing years, he was a vocal supporter of Ukraine and an outspoken critic of Putin.

Rapoport gained a degree of publicity in January 2017 after The New York Times reported that the daughter and son-in-law of newly elected President Donald Trump had purchased a mansion owned by him and his first wife. The mansion was located in an exclusive neighborhood of the U.S. capital.

In 2018, the open-source investigative organization Bellingcat reported that Rapoport, who was Jewish, had been the creator of a fictional persona named David Jewberg, who was frequently quoted in Ukrainian media as a senior Pentagon analyst.

With reporting by Todd Prince in Washington, D.C. and Mike Eckel in Prague
Among the many interesting aspects of the recent coal miners' strike in Kazakhstan's central Qaraghandy region was the reappearance of Kazakhstan's opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP).

The OSDP has been quiet for many months.

The OSDP participated in Kazakhstan's March 2016 parliamentary elections but took only 1.18 percent of the vote in a poll dominated by, and some say organized to favor, pro-presidential parties.

After that, media coverage of the OSDP practically vanished.

The recent coal miners' strike to demand higher wages and better working condition from manager ArcelorMittal Temirtau gave the OSDP an opportunity.

Starting on December 11, the miners chose to stay underground in protest, which prevented the authorities from moving to quickly break up the strike, as would likely have happened if the protest took place on the surface.

The protest lasted about four days and was increasingly covered by Kazakhstan's media.

With so much attention on the event, the OSDP released a statement of support for the striking miners on December 14.

The statement said the OSDP "considers the socioeconomic demands of the striking miners of ArcelorMittal Temirtau to be absolutely fair and expresses our full support for them."

The statement called on the management of ArcelorMittal Temirtau to "listen to your miners and meet their just demands."

It also urged Kazakhstan's government to "cease the habit of serving the interests of big business and under no circumstances resort to repressive measures regarding the striking [miners]."

Kazakhstan's state media did not report on the OSDP statement but curiously, Russia's Interfax did.

The OSDP website shows the party is active and apparently the party's youth wing is increasingly responsible for party activities, a sign, perhaps, that the opposition party will not soon simply fade away, at least anytime soon, as other Kazakh opposition parties already have.

There is reason to believe the OSDP could become, if not a big player, at least a player in Kazakhstan's politics.

In the 2007 elections to the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, the OSDP received nearly 5 percent of the vote, coming in second to the ruling Nur-Otan party that won all 98 seats available.

The OSDP's chances in elections were reduced after 2007.

In the 2012 and 2016 Mazhilis elections the pro-government Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak-Zhol and the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan won a small number of seats.

The two parties' presence in the Mazhilis creates a facade of a multiparty parliament. Both parties, despite one being nominally a "democratic" party and the other nominally a "communist" party, completely support the president's policies.

Judging from its website, the OSDP has not given up hope that it could participate in future elections.

Back in 2004, and prior to that, Kazakhstan's parliament did have opposition parties represented in parliament, so there is precedent.

And change is coming to Kazakhstan in the not-too-distant future. President Nursultan Nazarbaev will turn 78 in July and many groups are already making preparations for what happens after Nazarbaev, including, it seems, the OSDP.

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL
Russian authorities say three alleged militants have been killed in a counterterrorism operation in the North Caucasus region of Daghestan.

The National Antiterrorism Committee said on December 17 that the operation was launched after security agencies received information that militants suspected of committing "terrorist crimes" were hiding in a private house in the village of Gubden in the Karabudakhkent district.

The committee said that security forces surrounded the house where the group was holed up and killed the three alleged militants in an ensuing exchange of fire.

No casualties were reported among law enforcement personnel and civilians, a statement said.

One suspect was identified as Ali-Gadzhi Khamutayev, which the NAC blamed for the murder of eight civilians and an attack on a convoy of the Russian Interior Ministry.

Daghestan and other mainly Muslim republics in the North Caucasus are the site of frequent fighting between government forces and militants whose insurgency stems from two post-Soviet separatist wars in Chechnya.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS
Oksana has never vaccinated her 4-year-old son, convinced that such preventative measures against potentially lethal diseases do more harm than good.

"There is a lot of data that children who were vaccinated actually contracted diseases," explains the 30-year-old mother from Kyiv, without providing specifics. "There's also been lots of information about vaccinated children dying," Oksana adds, declining to divulge her surname out of fear that her comments could trigger negative reactions among her friends.

Such notions, shared by a minority of parents in Ukraine, may be putting the Eastern European country of 45 million on the brink of a major health crisis, experts warn.

"Ukraine is on the verge of a measles epidemic," says Yevhen Komarovsky, a leading pediatrician in the Ukrainian capital in discussing the respiratory disease that can spread very easily through contact with infected mucus and saliva.

"If we take into consideration the [low] level of vaccination, then the mortality rates are practically miraculous," Komarovsky notes. "We are still very lucky." However, he warns that "in 2018, unfortunately, the situation should get worse."

According to 2016 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ukraine ranks last in terms of measles-vaccination coverage in Europe.

The WHO also warns that it takes only a small percentage of unvaccinated kids to create the breeding grounds for measles outbreaks.

Health Crisis Looming

The numbers suggest the country is well on its way to a health crisis.

Cases of measles are 20 times higher in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to data from Ukraine's Health Ministry. Two children died in Ukraine in 2017 from the disease, which the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) says is one of the biggest killers of children in the world.

Some experts suggest the media shares some blame for the situation, for allegedly fanning the flames of fear in Ukraine. In particular, media outlets are accused of blurring the facts on a measles-vaccination campaign in the east of the country in 2008 that was linked to one death at the time, although health officials have rejected any connection.

In the past, Ukraine suffered shortages of vaccines amid delivery disruptions in part exacerbated by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where more than 10,300 have died in fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists since 2014.

But Ukraine has turned the corner, explains Fyodir Lapiy, Kyiv's chief immunologist. "We currently have over 600,000 doses of vaccine. This is enough to give to all the children who have scheduled vaccinations and for those who missed their target date," Lapiy explains, adding that a fresh batch of vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella -- often included in one injection -- are scheduled for delivery in 2018.

The vaccine, purchased by the Ukrainian government, is free to children, Lapiy stresses.

Tumbling Vaccination Rate

Tetyana, a mother of two toddler girls, says she decided to have them vaccinated, unlike some of her fellow mothers in Kyiv. "I have friends who don't vaccinate their children. They say that vaccinations will kill the best defense against diseases, their [children's] immunity systems," explains Tetyana, who declined to give her last name.

Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF's representative in Ukraine, has written that "myths about vaccinations being potentially harmful," has in large part "meant that Ukraine's coverage against measles dramatically dropped from 97 percent in 2007 to 42 percent in 2016."

Officially, Ukraine says the rate of those who refused measles vaccinations in 2017 was only 7.4 percent.

Numbers from WHO say that less than 50 percent of 1-year-olds were vaccinated against measles in 2016.

That puts Ukraine dead last in Europe.

And the actual numbers could be worse, because there are suspicions that the number of children vaccinated against measles may be higher "on paper" than in reality.

"Among the so-called vaccinated are, in fact, many unvaccinated children; that is, those who are vaccinated only on paper, because their parents have purchased [fake] certificates of vaccination [from doctors]," Lapiy explains.

By law, parents are supposed to provide a certificate of immunization before their children start school.

2008 Death Blamed

The data suggests that vaccinations began to dip in 2008, around the time of a widely reported incident in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk.

Anton Tyshchenko, a 17-year-old, died from a measles vaccine in May that year. The serum was developed in India and apparently wasn't tested in Ukraine, according to the findings of two investigative commissions. They also found the boy did not actually need a vaccination at all because he had already been immunized twice.

Some in Ukraine linked his death to the serum, although government officials as well as WHO and UNICEF insisted there was nothing wrong with the vaccine.

Despite such denials, the incident seems to have ignited an antivaccination fervor in Ukraine.

At the time, Vyacheslav Kostylev, head of the League of Civil Rights Protection, a nongovernmental organization, said the number of people asking for legal help on how to refuse vaccinating their children was growing.

Now, Ukraine seems to be paying the price for parents' decision to opt out of vaccines.

In the first 10 months of 2017, 2,381 cases of measles were recorded in Ukraine, according to data from the Health Ministry.

That compares to only 102 cases in 2016 and 105 in 2015.

Two children also died of complications from the disease in the Odesa region in 2017, according to the ministry.

Modern medicine's ability to bring diseases like measles to heel means parents are underestimating the threat, Komarovksy says. "People are no longer afraid of measles, they are now afraid of the vaccinations."

A survey by UNICEF in 2012 showed that as many as a third of Ukrainian parents were against vaccinations.

According to a statement from WHO, "where immunization rates fall below 95 percent, the number of susceptible individuals grows each year and this increases the risk of a large outbreak with possible tragic consequences."

As the numbers rise, Ukraine's vaccine vacillators may have a change of mind, as Oksana appears to have done. She now says that she and her husband will probably vaccinate their children against measles, considering the number of cases rises in Kyiv.

The couple will, however, proceed cautiously. "We will buy a Belgian-[produced vaccine] and have it done in a private clinic," Oksana says. "We don't trust the doctors at the ordinary [state-run] polyclinics."

Written by Tony Wesolowsky with material from RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent Natalya Saska in Kyiv
Police and protesters skirmished in central Kyiv on December 17 as several thousand people took to the streets of the Ukrainian capital to call for the impeachment of President Petro Poroshenko and the resignation of the countrys top prosecutor. Many protesters were supporters of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who is now an opposition leader in Ukraine. Demonstrators later attempted to enter a concert hall near Independence Square after Saakashvili told them he plans to set up his headquarters there, but police and National Guard forces moved to prevent them from going inside. Saakashvili distanced himself from the incident. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
KYIV -- Police and protesters have clashed in central Kyiv as several thousand people took to the streets of the Ukrainian capital to call for the impeachment of President Petro Poroshenko and the resignation of the country's top prosecutor.

Kyiv police said at least 32 security officers were injured in confrontations with protesters who attempted to storm the October Palace concert hall near Independence Square -- the site of the months-long 2013-14 protests that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych.

Many protesters were supporters of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who is now an opposition leader in Ukraine.

Protesters attempted to enter the concert hall after Saakashvili said he planned to set up his headquarters there. But police and National Guard forces moved to prevent them from going inside. The ensuing clashes included the firing of tear gas and the use of fire extinguishers.

Police accused protesters of throwing firecrackers and deploying an "unknown gas," adding that criminal investigations had been opened into attempted seizure of a public building, threats and violence against law enforcement officers, and impeding law enforcement work.

Saakashvili distanced himself from the attempt to storm the October Palace, saying that he wanted to "rent two rooms there" and that the clashes were "President Poroshenko's game and provocation."

"I denounce any [attempts] to break windows, because, once there are millions of us, these doors and these windows will open themselves. We don't need to break them, people," Saakashvili added in an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

WATCH: Ukrainian Police Clash With Saakashvili Supporters in Kyiv

The actions of the protesters outside the building drew rebukes from Western diplomats in Kyiv.

Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk said on Twitter that "attempts to seize and damage public buildings are an abuse of the right to peaceful protests."

Meanwhile, British Ambassador Judith Gough said she "completely" agreed with Waschuks criticism.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv echoed the comments in a Twitter statement.

We agree with our colleagues from Canada and the U.K. Attempts to capture and destroy public buildings are an abuse of the right to peaceful protest, it wrote.

Amid a heavy police presence, the demonstrators earlier on December 17 marched through central Kyiv toward Independence Square.

They urged parliament to adopt legislation on presidential impeachment and called on Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko to step down.

The authorities have accused Saakashvili of abetting an alleged "criminal group" led by Yanukovych, who fled to Russia after his ouster in February 2014. They also have suggested that Saakashvili's protests are part of a Russian plot against Ukraine.

Ukrainian police on December 5 tried to detain Saakashvili, who denies the charges against him, but supporters crowded around a police vehicle where he was held and then freed him.

He was again detained three days later, but a judge on December 11 turned down a request by prosecutors to place him under house arrest.

Lutsenko has said he will appeal the judge's ruling and that Saakashvili will likely be extradited to Georgia, where he is wanted on charges linked to his time as president.

"We have an official request from the country, which we do not have the right to refuse," Lutsenko told reporters on December 15.

However, Russian state-run TASS news agency quoted senior Georgian officials as saying the Caucasus country had not issued an extradition request.

While Saakashvili was in custody, thousands of people demonstrated in central Kyiv to demand his release and to call for Poroshenko's resignation.

Saakashvili was president of Georgia from 2004-13. He lost his Georgian citizenship in 2015 when he accepted Ukrainian citizenship and took the post of Odesa governor.

Saakashvili resigned the position in November 2016, complaining of rampant corruption, and has since becoming an ardent opponent of Poroshenko.

In an interview with Current Time TV, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, Saakashvili said on December 12 that corruption had inflicted far greater damage on Ukraine than Russia had.

He added that he had no ambitions himself to become Ukraine's president, saying the position should always be held by an ethnic Ukrainian.

The authorities "really think that it's enough to shout 'Russia' and 'agents of the enemy,' and everyone will just buy that. People are not stupid. They didn't buy it earlier, they're not buying it now," Saakashvili also said.

After Yanukovych was ousted, Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, and fomented a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
The Kremlin and the White House say that U.S. intelligence services helped Russia thwart a series of terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg by tipping off Moscow about the purported plot.

In an unusual public airing of details about counterterrorism cooperation, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call earlier on December 17 for information that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provided on the alleged planned attacks.

The call, which the White House said was initiated by Putin, was the second between the two leaders in a four-day span and came two days after Russian authorities said they had detained seven suspected Islamic extremists accused of planning bombings in Russia's second city.

The Kremlin said in a statement that the information from the CIA helped track down and "detain terrorists" and that Putin "assured" Trump that Russian security services would relay to their U.S. counterparts any information about terrorist threats to the United States and its citizens.

The Kremlin added that Putin had asked Trump to pass along his thanks to CIA Director Mike Pompeo, which the White House said the U.S. president had done.

"No Russian lives were lost and the terrorist attackers were caught and are now incarcerated," the White House said in a statement.

"President Trump appreciated the call and told President Putin that he and the entire United States intelligence community were pleased to have helped save so many lives."

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to improve relations with Moscow and that counterterrorism efforts in Syria and elsewhere could serve as a cornerstone of better ties.

But relations between Moscow and Washington continue to be mired in tension over what U.S. intelligence agencies say was a Russian campaign to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russian interference in Ukraine, and mutual accusations of violating arms-control agreements.

Multiple U.S. investigations are under way into the alleged election meddling and whether associates of Trump colluded with Moscow. Putin denies that Russia interfered, and Trump says there was no collusion.

The White House readout said that Trump stressed to Putin in the call "the importance of intelligence cooperation to defeat terrorists wherever they may be."

"Both leaders agreed that this serves as an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together," the White House said.

In a December 14 news conference in Moscow, Putin offered a positive assessment of Trump's presidency, citing growing markets, and said that he hoped U.S-Russian ties will recover.

But he also repeated Moscow's denial that it interfered in last year's U.S. presidential election and its accusation that Washington had violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

Washington alleges that Russia has developed a missile that violates the treaty.

In a December 14 telephone call following Putin's press conference, Trump thanked the Russian president for his comments "acknowledging America's strong economic performance," a White House readout said, adding that they also discussed North Korea's nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

Earlier on December 17, Trump's ambassador to Russia said on Twitter, "I think we will expect to see further improvements in the U.S.-Russia relationship."

"The American people expect it and demand it, and the Russian people expect it and demand it as well," U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman added in the tweet posted by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

The detentions of the seven suspects in the alleged planned bombings in St. Petersburg was announced by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on December 15.

The agency said they were suspected members of the extremist Islamic State group and that they were being directed from abroad via the messaging app Telegram. It said a raid on an apartment in St. Petersburg had uncovered a cache of weapons, explosives, and extremist materials.

The FSB released footage that has been aired on Russian television in which one of the suspects, identified in the Russian media as Yevgeny Yefimov, says he was tasked with preparing homemade explosives packed with shrapnel.

A St. Petersburg court on December 17 ordered three of the suspects to remain in custody until January 14, Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Two of the men are from Russia's southern North Caucasus region, while the third is from the ex-Soviet republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia.

The press service for St. Petersburg's court system said the three men deny the allegations and claim that "weapons were planted on them."

Yefimov and a fifth suspect -- Anton Kobyets -- were previously ordered to remain in custody by a St. Petersburg court.

The status of the other two suspects cited in the FSB statement was not immediately clear.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, TASS, RIA Novosti, and Interfax
12:11

Controversial writer Taslima Nasreen says the condition of religious minorities is much better in India than in neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The exiled Bangaldeshi author alleged that atrocities are committed against Hindus and Buddhists in Bangladesh.

"Though I have never been to Pakistan, but have read that members of religious minorities there are being converted and persecuted," the 55-year-old writer told PTI in an interview.

The author was in the city for the Indore Literature Festival on December 15.

She said, "The condition of religious minorities is much better in India as compared to these two nations. The Constitution of India is same for all."

"However, I am not saying that minority communities do not have any problem in India," said Nasreen, who had fled Bangladesh in the early 1990s after right wing Muslim outfits issued death threats to her.

"I am a citizen of Europe but India appears to be home to me. I am thankful to the Indian government to have given me permission to stay here. I want to work for the betterment of the Indian society," the writer of the much-acclaimed book 'Lajja' (Shame) said.

On her write-up in an online magazine over the killing of a Muslim labourer in Rajasthan, Nasreen denied that she had equated the Hindu community with terror group Islamic State after the incident.

"It is totally wrong to say that I, in my article, equated the entire Hindu community with the ISIS. I had mentioned one particular incident (about the posting of video on social media of the killing of a Muslim labourer). I am quite upset with these false allegations," she said.

She alleged that some people were distorting a part of her article and intentionally fanning bitterness and hatred against her on social media.

Hailing Indian laws and their implementation, she noted that the accused in the Rajasthan killing incident was arrested and sent to jail.

A 48-year-old Muslim labourer, from West Bengal, was hacked and burnt to death in Rajasthan's Rajsamand earlier this month.

Nasreen, meanwhile, alleged that in Bangladesh, the people who committed excesses on minorities were roaming free.

"The society and the environ you love, you want to see it free from violence and bitterness. That is why I write indiscriminately against extremists of every religion," the writer said.

Advocating a common civil code across the world, Nasreen said due to religion-based laws, women were facing harassment and discrimination. -- PTI
By almost every measure, San Franciscos economy boomed during Mayor Ed Lees six-year tenure, adding jobs, companies, housing and office space. Of course, that also exacerbated the citys well-known issues: income disparity, congestion and transportation, and lack of affordable housing.

Whoever takes over at City Hall will inherit a vastly different climate than what Lee faced in January 2011 when the city and country were emerging from a brutal recession and local unemployment stood at 8.9 percent, higher than it was during the dot-com bust. Its now an impressive 2.7 percent, among the lowest in the country.

San Francisco under Lee became even more of a mecca for technology, cementing its cachet as the nations startup capital. The number of venture-backed startups here more than doubled during his administration, while the number of tech jobs tripled.

San Francisco and Silicon Valley dont have a hard border, or even a soft border, said Terry Connelly, dean emeritus of Golden Gate University. Theyre one and the same. Thats a big change, and that happened under Ed Lee.

How much credit does Lee get for the transformation? San Francisco already had a strong tech sector and would doubtless have rebounded from the recession no matter what. But experts say Lees business-friendly policies, especially the controversial Mid-Market Twitter tax break, were instrumental in accelerating progress.

Having an economic policy to create jobs and systematically support the tech industry was a big catalyst for economic growth, said Colin Yasukochi, director of research and analysis at real-estate broker CBRE. That started with the payroll tax abatement in the Mid-Market area.

Shortly after Lee took office, Twitter, then a private company with 800 employees, threatened to leave San Francisco for nearby cities that didnt tax payrolls  and stock options. (Though the tax on stock options had been on the books for years, the city hadnt enforced it.) Lee shepherded an exemption to the payroll tax for companies located in the blighted Mid-Market area.

The Twitter tax break caused a lightbulb to go on for a whole bunch of people in Mountain View, Palo Alto and elsewhere, Wow, we could actually put an office there; they wont hassle us and might actually welcome us, said Paul Saffo, a longtime tech observer and futurist. San Francisco became a part of Silicon Valley, rather than on its edge.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

In fact, in the past few years, about a third of demand for San Francisco office space has come from non-San Francisco companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco and Adobe that expanded their presence here, Yasukochi said. Most major Silicon Valley firms have opened offices in the city and have grown them over time, to take advantage of the live-work environment that appeals to younger workers who are highly coveted and recruited by these tech companies, he said.

Facebook has historically forced San Francisco startups it acquired like Instagram to move to its Menlo Park campus. In September, it signed a lease at 181 Fremont St. with room for 2,000 to 3,000 employees. A team from Instagram, which once had an office in South Park, will be the first to move in next year.

Between homegrown companies and firms moving north, techs overall share of the citys commercial real estate has grown. In 2013, tech companies accounted for about a third of the Class A space occupied by the citys 100 largest companies; now they have half of it, said Yasukochi.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

While Salesforce and Twitter already were forces to be reckoned with when Lee took office, other tech stalwarts were in their infancy. Airbnb raised $7.2 million in late 2010 and had booked a total of 1 million room nights by February 2011. This year alone, it expects to book more than 100 million home stays. Uber, now the worlds most valuable startup, raised $11 million in February 2011 when it was still an app for hailing black cars. Uber didnt start giving rides in peoples personal cars until the summer of 2012, when rival Lyft, which raised $6 million in the fall of 2011, started its service.

Growth, of course, has its costs. For San Franciscans, thats literally true. Since 2011, home prices almost doubled, apartment rents rose by a third, and office rents more than doubled. The gap between haves and have-nots loomed bigger than ever  not because the poor got poorer, but because the rich got richer, said Sung Won Sohn, economics professor at Cal State Channel Islands.

While the city ramped up permits and construction of new housing post-recession, the totals fell far short of the 5,000 new units a year that experts say are needed to keep pace with growth. San Francisco added a net total of just 269 additional units in 2011, but then saw steady increases: 1,317 in 2012; 1,960 in 2013; 3,514 in 2014; 2,954 in 2015; and a robust 5,046 in 2016, according to the citys Planning Department.

Whoever ends up running City Hall will confront these perennial challenges, but without the tailwinds of a recovery from one of the countrys worst recessions.

Geographically constrained with almost no room to spare, San Francisco, the states smallest county, cant go it alone, Saffo said.

The most important thing Lees successor can do is to push the region to think across boundaries and come up with regional solutions, he said. Want affordable housing? Make it easier for people to live in the East Bay and rapidly get to work in Silicon Valley and S.F. Going up (with high rises) is a linear solution at best. Going outward is exponential.
JOHANNESBURG  The fight to replace scandal-prone South African President Jacob Zuma began Saturday as thousands of delegates of the ruling African National Congress gathered to elect a new leader, with Zuma acknowledging failures that have threatened the partys future.

The reputation of Nelson Mandelas liberation movement has been battered during the tenure of Zuma, whose second term as party president is expiring. The new ANC leader is likely to become South Africas next president in 2019 elections.

The two clear front-runners are Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former chair of the African Union Commission and Zumas ex-wife. The selection is expected to be announced Sunday.

Voters are frustrated with the ANC as Zumas administration has been mired in scandal and corruption allegations. Africas oldest liberation movement, which celebrated its 105th anniversary this year, led the fight against the system of white minority rule known as apartheid and has governed South Africa since the first democratic elections in 1994.

Observers say the party needs to restore its reputation or it could be forced into a governing coalition for the first time. Party divisions run so deep that analysts say either outcome, Ramaphosa or Dlamini-Zuma, could mean the end of the ANCs dominance as members of the losing faction could form a new party.

We must attend to enormous challenges facing our movement, Zuma told the gathering, which opened with emotional appeals for unity.

He pushed back against allegations of graft, asserting that theft and corruption in the private sector is just as bad as in government and that being black and successful is being made synonymous to being corrupt.

But Zuma said greed is posing a serious threat to the party and pointed out warnings that the ANC could implode.

The president defended the partys worth despite the challenges, saying it continues to stand for millions of people on the fringes of society.

Zuma didnt endorse a successor, saying any of the seven candidates would make a first-class president. He said he met with them and all agreed to abide by the partys selection.

Zuma could carry on as head of state until 2019, when his term ends, or he could step down or be ousted before then by the new party leader ahead of the general elections. He said I bear no grudge against those who already have urged him to step aside.

Under Zuma, unemployment has risen to nearly 30 percent and economic growth has slumped, briefly dipping into recession this year. More than 55 percent of the country lives below the poverty line.

Ramaphosa, who helped negotiate an end to apartheid and has become one of the wealthiest men in a democratic South Africa, has pledged to crack down on corruption and get the economy back on track. Dlamini-Zuma, a doctor and former government minister and an ally of the president, has promised to bring more black South Africans into the fold through radical economic transformation.

Some South Africans worry, however, that Dlamini-Zuma would be influenced by her ex-husband and perhaps shelter him from prosecution. Others were excited by the idea of her taking charge.

Now I want a woman president, said Lerato Godi, a delegate from North West province.

Krista Mahr is an Associated Press writer.
Mishawaka youth give needy families reason to be thankful

Their effort was more challenging but also more important this year because of inflation.
Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Nov. 30, 2017 shows the test-firing of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on Nov. 29, 2017. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday that he did not believe the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) newly developed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) posed a "capable threat" to the United States.

"It is not yet shown to be a capable threat against us right now," said Mattis at a briefing in Pentagon.

The United States is still examining the forensics, which will "take a while," Mattis added.

Also on Friday, U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson told the UN Security Council that the United States will continue its "pressure campaign," mainly in the form of economic sanctions, until denuclearization is achieved on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.S. top diplomat also asked for "a sustained cessation" of the DPRK's weapons testing before "talks can begin" between the two countries, a rhetoric seemingly different from his remarks on Tuesday, which stated that the United States was ready to talk with the DPRK "without preconditions."

Pyongyang successfully test-fired a newly developed ICBM in late November, drawing strong condemnation from the international community.

The latest launch by the DPRK came a week after the United States redesignated the DPRK as a "state sponsor of terrorism" and slapped a new round of sanctions against the Asian country.
Kinsa thermometers are connected to an app where parents can track their child's symptoms and medications, and see if other students in their child's school are sick.
Three new crew members for the International Space Station are on their way to the orbiting outpost, where they will begin their six month expedition by ringing in the New Year circling Earth.

Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, Norishige "Neemo" Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and astronaut Scott "Maker" Tingle of NASA launched on board Russia's Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Sunday (Dec. 17). Their Soyuz FG rocket lifted off from Pad 1/5, also known as "Gagarin's Start," at 2:21 a.m. EST (0721 GMT or 1:21 p.m. local Kazakh time).

About 8 minutes and 45 seconds after leaving the ground, the Soyuz entered Earth orbit, beginning a two day journey to the station. Shkaplerov, Kanai and Tingle are scheduled to dock the Soyuz to Russia's Rassvet module on Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 3:43 a.m. EST (0843 GMT). [Cosmic Quiz! Do You Really Know the International Space Station?]

Once on board, the three Soyuz MS-07 crewmates will join the station's 54th contingent, already underway. Expedition 54 commander Alexander Misurkin and his flight engineers Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei have been on the station since Sept. 12.

Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and astronauts Norishige Kanai of JAXA and Scott Tingle of NASA are seen prior to boarding their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for the launch to the International Space Station on Dec. 17, 2017. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

About four hours after the Soyuz MS-07 launch, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft that launched Friday (Dec. 15) is scheduled to arrive at the space station, bringing with it supplies and science experiments, as well as decorations and gifts, for the Expedition 54 crew.

"We [already] have a Christmas tree aboard and there is a new Christmas tree arriving soon," said Shkaplerov during a press conference on Saturday. "We have packages and gifts from our families and friends. And packages on board the ISS labeled to open on Dec. 25 for U.S. crewmembers and Dec. 31 for us from Russia."

On New Year's Day, as is the case every day, the station will circle Earth 16 times, leading to multiple opportunities for the crew to celebrate the arrival of 2018. [How Russia's Soyuz Space Capsules Work (Infographic)]

"We start at about 10 o'clock in the morning when we pass the first spot [on Earth] where they celebrate New Year's, around Easter Island," said Shkaplerov. "We have Neemo on our crew, so we are going to celebrate New Year's for Japan time. Then in Russia, when we get to Europe, using Greenwich time, as we use for our time on the station."

"Then we'll wake up early in the morning and congratulate our crewmates from the United States," he told reporters.

The New Year will bring with it a busy several months for Shkaplerov, Kanai and Tingle, with extravehicular activities (EVAs, or spacewalks) and experiments.

"Five U.S. EVAs and a Russian EVA planned during your 168 days," said Kirk Shireman, International Space Station (ISS) program manager, addressing the Soyuz crew during a pre-launch meeting on Saturday. "You also have a very, very robust scientific program; over 329 investigations, 85 of which are new and never have been performed on ISS."

"We also hope that you'll spend some time and enjoy the best view in this part of the solar system and look down on this beautiful planet that we live in," he added.

Shkaplerov, 45, is making is third trip to the space station. He previously logged just over a year  365 days and 13 minutes  on two missions: Expedition 29/30 in 2012 and Expedition 42/43 in 2015.

Kanai, 42, and Tingle, 52, are on their first space missions. Kanai is Japan's 11th astronaut to fly in space since 1992. Tingle is the seventh member (out of nine) of NASA's 20th group of astronauts to fly since their selection in 2009.

"On the brand new side of it, there is a part of it that makes me a bit anxious," Tingle said prior to the launch. "As a first flight, there's a large part of it that's the first time I am ever going to see this, and I'm very excited."

Shkaplerov, Kanai and Tingle were originally slated to stay on the station until April, but after a schedule adjustment, they are to return to Earth in early June. They will serve on the Expedition 54 crew through late February, when they'll become the first members of the Expedition 55 crew with Shkaplerov in command.

Soyuz MS-07 is the 53rd Soyuz to fly to the International Space Station since 2000 and 136th since the first flight of Russia's Soyuz-class of spacecraft in 1967.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebookand on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2017 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
A used SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station for the second time Sunday (Dec. 17), delivering more than 2 tons of NASA supplies just in time for Christmas.

The uncrewed Dragon capsule was captured by astronauts using the space station's robotic arm at 5:57 a.m. EST (1057 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed 252 miles (405 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean, between Australia and Papua New Guinea. [See photos for the Dragon cargo ship launch]

A recycled SpaceX Dragon cargo ship approaches the International Space Station on Dec. 17, 2017 to be captured by astronauts via a robotic arm. It is the second delivery flight to the station for the Dragon capsule. (Image credit: NASA TV)

"It's a great day to see Dragon back on ISS again," spacecraft communicator Leslie Ringo radioed the International Space Station (ISS) crew from NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. SpaceX launched the Dragon capsule Friday (Dec. 15).

"It's a beautiful spacecraft and we're looking forward to digging into it and getting some science on board," astronaut Joe Acaba of NASA replied from the station. Acaba assisted crewmate Mark Vande Hei, who controlled the station's arm during the Dragon capture.

Sunday's arrival marked the second cargo delivery mission for this SpaceX Dragon capsule. It last visited the station in April 2015. SpaceX also reused the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Dragon, with the booster landing on a pad to mark the company's 20th successful landing. SpaceX has developed its reusable rocket technology to lower the cost of spaceflight.

For this mission, SpaceX's 13th station resupply flight for NASA, the Dragon delivered nearly 4,800 lbs. (2,177 kilograms) of supplies and scientific gear for astronauts on the space station. Dragon will stay at the space station until mid-January, when it will return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, allowing SpaceX and NASA to recover experiment results and other gear.

Today's Dragon arrival capped a busy day for the International Space Station. Just hours earlier, at 2:21 a.m. EST (0721 GMT), a Russian Soyuz rocket launched three new crewmembers toward the orbiting lab from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, Norishige "Neemo" Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and astronaut Scott "Maker" Tingle of NASA launched aboard a Soyuz space capsule and will join the station's Expedition 54 crew later this week. The trio is scheduled to dock at the space station early Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 3:43 a.m. EST (0843 GMT).

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Harare, Dec 15, 2017 (SPS) - Zimbabwean President ,Emmerson Mnangagwa, has reiterated his country's unwavering support and solidarity with the struggle and right of the Saharawi people to independence, emphasizing the promotion and consolidation of relations between Zimbabwe and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

On Wednesday, welcoming the special envoy of Saharawi President Brahim Ghali, member of the Polisario Front National Secretariat, Mohammed Yeslem Baysat, President Mnangagwa affirmed that Zimbabwe and SADR maintain excellent long-standing relations.

Recently, Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Walter Mzembi reiterated Harare's commitment to the Saharawi cause, in a letter to his counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, in response to the latter's message of congratulations on the occasion of the appointment of Mzembi as Minister of Foreign Affairs of his country.

"I reassure you of the unwavering support and commitment of my country for the Saharawi cause," wrote the Zimbabwean Minister, stressing that "Zimbabwe will continue to demand Morocco to respect Security Council resolutions concerning the holding of a referendum, which will allow the self-determination of the Saharawi people ".

The minister reiterated the availability of his department to work closely with his Sahrawi counterpart in the African Union and various international fora. (SPS)

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T wo police officers are fighting for life in hospital after a car ploughed into them in north London.

The PCs, a woman and a man who are both aged in their 30s and based in the Brent borough, were returning to their marked police vehicle on the North Circular Road in the early hours of Sunday morning when a car collided with them.

Emergency services raced to the crash near Brent Park in Neasden at 3.40am.

The white Maserati car sustained serious damage and the driver, aged in his 50s, stopped at the scene. A woman travelling in the car also sustained injuries.

Scotland Yard said he was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to provide a breath specimen.

The road was closed until about 10am as officers investigated the incident which is not terror-related.

A statement posted on the Brent MPS Twitter account said the officers had been taken to Resus at a north London hospital after the collision and remained there in a critical condition.

Next of kin have been informed.

In a series of posts, officers said: Emergency services and police are dealing with a road traffic collision on A406 North Circular Road in which two police officers sustained injuries. Road closures are in place, and we advise motorists to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

A406 remains closed while investigation continues. Closure is still between A406 East bound, Drury Way to Neasden Lane, NW10. Please continue to avoid the area. Both officers remain in Resus in North London Hospital.

A406 East bound re-opened, traffic flowing, very heavy residule traffic in the area. Officers remain in critical condition, next of kin in attendance. Thank you for your kind words.

The arrested man remained in custody at a north London police station on Sunday morning.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "The male officer sustained serious injuries; we await a further update as to his condition.

"The female officer sustained a number of fractures. Her condition is described as serious but stable.

"The woman who had been in the car, aged in her 40s, remains in hospital. She was not seriously injured."

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information should contact the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Alperton on 020 8991 9555 or via Twitter @MetCC or to give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. 
B ritons now back Remain over Leave by ten points in the biggest lead since the Brexit referendum, a new poll has found.

The BMG research poll for the Independent found that there has been a swing of people who now want to remain in the European Union since the June 2016 referendum.

Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed were favoured staying in the EU, while 41 per cent backed Brexit.

After people who said they did not know were pushed for an answer or excluded, the survey found 55.5 per cent in favour of Remain and 44.5 per cent backed Leave.

Either measure gives the pollster's biggest margin in favour of remaining since the June 2016 referendum backed Brexit.

Theresa May hails 'important' Brexit step

Prime Minister Theresa May recently won a go-ahead for trade talks with the EU after a difficult few weeks for her Government. The first stage of the deal saw Britain agree to pay a divorce sum of between 35 billion and 39 billion.

Agreement was also reached over the rights of EU citizens and the Northern Ireland border.

BMG Research head of polling Michael Turner told the Independent the shift in favour of Remain had predominantly come from people who did not vote in the referendum, rather than Leavers changing their minds.

The PM and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in April this year. / Bloomberg via Getty Images

"The last time Leave polled ahead of Remain was in February 2017, and since then there has been a slow shift in top-line public opinion in favour of remaining in the EU," he said.

"However, readers should note that digging deeper into the data reveals that this shift has come predominantly from those who did not actually vote in the 2016 referendum, with around nine in 10 Leave and Remain voters still unchanged in their view.

"Our polling suggests that about a year ago, those who did not vote in the referendum were broadly split, but today's poll shows that they are now overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in the EU, by a margin of more than four to one."

The poll was carried out before Theresa May secured agreement in Brussels to move on to the next phase of withdrawal talks - and also before she suffered the embarrassment of a Commons defeat over her Brexit legislation.

Boris Johnson: Commons defeat will not stop Brexit

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mrs May vowed that her plans for Brexit will not be derailed and claimed that her Government was proving the doubters wrong after EU leaders agreed to move on to the next phase of the Brexit negotiations.

Mrs May said talks would now begin on an "implementation period" immediately after the formal date of Brexit but backbench Tory Eurosceptics have already issued warnings that they will not accept arrangements which closely resemble continued EU membership during the transition to a new relationship.

Boris Johnson called for the Prime Minister to strike a deal with Brussels that would allow the UK to ditch EU laws, warning that being unable to diverge from the bloc's regulations would leave the UK a "vassal state".

Mrs May hit out at anti-Brexit campaigners who "want to talk Britain down".

She said: "Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job.

"In the face of those who want to talk Britain down, we are securing the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for our whole United Kingdom.

"And my message today is very clear: we will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people."

The Cabinet will thrash outs its stance on a post-Brexit trade deal over the coming days, with Mrs May under pressure from Brussels to provide clarity on the UK's desired "end state" for the relationship it wants with the EU.

The Brexit "war cabinet" - a sub-committee of senior ministers chaired by Mrs May - will meet on Monday, with a meeting of the full Cabinet scheduled for Tuesday.

Mrs May said: "Brexit allows us to seize the exciting opportunities outside the EU - with Britain in control of our borders, and setting our own laws - while building the new European economic and security relationship that I have proposed.

"So we will approach these discussions with ambition and creativity."

Mr Johnson used a Sunday Times interview to set out his vision for a UK-EU trade deal that would "maximise the benefits of Brexit" by allowing Britain the freedom to diverge from Brussels' laws.

He called for a deal that "gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way".

The Prime Minister made agreeing an implementation period a priority to give businesses and families the time they need to adapt to a new relationship with the EU.

The EU's negotiating guidelines make clear that the bloc expects the UK to observe all of its rules - including on freedom of movement - and accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) during this time.

It also set up a potential clash with London over the Prime Minister's hopes of negotiating early trade agreements with countries outside the EU, stating firmly that the UK will stay in the single market and customs union during transition and will "continue to comply with EU trade policy", which bars deals by individual states.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said a transition deal would "replicate the status quo" and that, although "technically" the UK would not be in the customs union or single market, it would effectively keep the same rules during an implementation period until the terms of a new deal can be put in place.

But he faced a backlash from prominent Brexiteers for his comments - even though the Prime Minister has already suggested in her Florence speech that the "framework" for the implementation period "would be the existing structure of EU rules and regulations".

Former Brexit minister David Jones condemned the Chancellor, claiming he "appears only too ready to do Brussels' bidding" by signalling acceptance of the EU's position.

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith accused Mr Hammond of "undermining" Mrs May, while prominent backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said the EU's position would reduce the UK to the status of a "colony".

Mrs May has also been warned she will face a string of defeats in the House of Lords over Brexit unless she adopts a more conciliatory approach to peers as they consider legislation on the UK's withdrawal.

:: BMG Research interviewed a representative sample of 1,509 adults living in Great Britain between December 5 and 8. Data are weighted.
S enior Labour figures have clashed over whether there should be a second referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.

Deputy leader Tom Watson was seemingly at odds with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott on the need for a second poll.

A BMG research poll for the Independent has found that Brits now back Remain over Leave by ten points in the biggest lead since the Brexit referendum,

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics Mr Watson said "you shouldn't rule anything out" when engaged in "complex negotiations".

Shadow home secretary: Diane Abbott / PA

His comments came after shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show that "the Labour Party doesn't support a second referendum".

Mr Watson said: "We've not said we want a second referendum, what we actually want is a negotiated settlement.

When asked about a second Brexit referendum, Tom Watson said: 'You shouldn't rule anything out' (Photo Leon Neal/Getty Images) / Getty Images

"The point about the vote this week was we don't want power to be taken away from unelected bureaucrats in Brussels, as the debate went in the referendum, to be given to the executive or unelected bureaucrats in Whitehall.

"We want Parliament to have a say on it."

Theresa May hails 'important' Brexit step

When pushed on whether Labour would rule out a second referendum he said: "When you're in complex negotiations on behalf of the nation you shouldn't rule anything out.

"What I am trying to say to you, I don't think it is likely at all, it would be more likely that we try and renegotiate the deal should Parliament reject it."

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said that Labour would "honour the referendum result".

He said: "The Labour Party has not said that we will have a second referendum.

"We will honour the referendum result, but we last week got a final vote for Parliament on the deal.

"That is the democratic guarantee that now is there because of Labour Members of Parliament and 11 Conservatives joining with us."

Mr Gardiner said after Brexit the UK had to remain "closely aligned with our major trading partner" - the EU - which could mean continued membership of the single market.

He told Sky News' Sunday with Niall Paterson: "We haven't swept either the single market or a customs union off the table. We have said we are not fixated on the structures, what we want are the benefits."

Ms Abbott also told Marr that Britains businesses, the NHS and schools would be in a "terrible position" if the number of "eastern European migrants" stopped post Brexit.

She said that the Government should be listening to the concerns of the public sector and their fears of a "collapse" in the number of EU migrants moving to the UK.

She said: "The health service they're very worried about a collapse in the number of EU migrants coming here.

"Social care would be in a terrible position, the health service, finance, education, so we will be listening as the Government should be listening to what business and the public sector says about its needs for labour.

"At this point both business and public services like health and education are saying we do indeed need these eastern European migrants that are coming here.

"The reality is that business, the CBI, the Institute of Directors but also health, education and social care they say that they need these European migrants and we have to listen to them."

Asked to elaborate on shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer's call for easy movement, Ms Abbot said Labour would put in place a "fair and reasonable" system to manage migration.

She added: "It will be relatively less bureaucratic than some of the proposals the Government have made."

She added: "We will have to see how this negotiation goes. It may involve a visa system, but we have to see how these negotiations the Government's undertaking go."
A girl thought to have been abducted by her schizophrenic mother in breach of a judge's order has travelled to at least three different countries since disappearing about six months ago, evidence shows.

Three-year-old Elliana Shand, who has been at the centre of private family court litigation, and her mother Jessica Richards, 26, disappeared from their London home during the summer after social services staff at Barking and Dagenham Council intervened.

A judge, who is overseeing Elliana's case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court, and the little girl's grandfather Sean Doyle, have appealed for public help finding the youngster and her mother.

Mr Justice Hayden has also outlined evidence gathered about Elliana's life in the last few months in a written ruling on the case.

In a written ruling overview of the case published on a legal website, the judge says evidence shows Elliana had travelled abroad with her mother's mother, Sharon Shand, since going missing.

Elliana and her grandmother had flown to Jamaica in mid-May, then on to the United States to visit friends, before flying back to London via Sweden in September, he says.

The judge has also been told Elliana, who turns four on Tuesday, might have been to Barcelona and Alicante in Spain too.

Both Mr Justice Hayden and Mr Doyle, 51, have urged anyone with any information about Elliana to call police as a matter of urgency.

The judge says Elliana's mother could be "in the grip of auditory hallucinations" and might pose a "very real risk" to the little girl.

Mr Doyle, a Liverpool fan who campaigns for victims of the Hillsborough disaster, thinks Elliana and her mother, who were living in the Barking area of east London, may now be in or around London.

"Please think if you have seen them," said Mr Doyle, whose son Craig, 29, of Southend, Essex, is Elliana's father and is separated from her mother.

"They both need to be found as a matter of urgency."

Mr Doyle, who was born in Liverpool but now lives in the Wembley area of London, added: "This is... about Jessica getting the help she needs and Elliana getting a stable home while her mum gets better."
A UK council has plans to allow bodies to be disposed of through water cremation turning all but the bones into liquid that gets poured down the drain.

Sandwell metropolitan borough council near Birmingham in the West Midlands wants a crematorium that can dispose of the dead using a technique which involves placing the corpse in a torpedo-like metal chamber where it is liquefied and flushed down the drain, the Sunday Times reports.

The plans have been delayed by water company Severn Trent which has refused to give a trade effluent permit to the council, apparently arguing that it only covers waste disposal and not dissolved bodies.

The technique, which is already used in parts of Canada and the US, is said to be more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation and uses less energy and produces fewer greenhouse gases.

Rowley Regis crematorium has been given permission from the council to fit the 300,000 Resomator, or water cremation device, but Severn Trent has to give a permit before it can dispose of waste down the drain, according to the newspaper.

It takes three hours for the machine to fill a pressurised tank with an alkaline solution that is heated to 152C and to dissolve flesh and tissues into a tea-coloured liquid and soften the bone.

The bone is ground to powder and given to the family in an urn while the liquids pH level is tested and then once approved is poured down the drain at about 330 gallons per dead body.

Sandwell council, the service provider Resomation and Water UK, the industry trade body, are working together to explore all the options" to get the machine installed, the Sunday Times reported.

Resomations founder Sandy Sullivan, 61, told the newspaper that the machines are built in a workshop in West Yorkshire and that he had already sold four of them to America where they were operating in Florida, Minnesota, California and soon to be in Chicago.

A funeral home in Florida, Anderson McQueen advertises the service as the new flameless cremation option and said that he gives the freedom to honour your loved one in a way that is right for you.

Mr Sullivan, who is a biochemist, said there was no technical reason why the liquid cant go down the drain and that it was organic, sterile and had no DNA in it.

A Water UK source told the Sunday Times it had serious concerns about the publics acceptability of liquefied remains going into the water system.

A spokesman for Sandwell council told the newspaper: The funeral industry is evolving and modernising and we want to offer people more choice. Water cremation is the next phase in this evolution and would give people a more environmentally friendly option."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 01:42:54|Editor: Jiaxin

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Sebastian Kurz (L), leader of the People's Party, and Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Freedom Party, attend a press conference in Vienna, capital of Austria, Dec. 16, 2017. The People's Party and the Freedom Party will form a coalition government for the coming five years. Sebastian Kurz will be the chancellor and Heinz-Christian Strache will be the vice chancellor. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

VIENNA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the two parties that will form Austria's next coalition government have presented the program for their upcoming five-year term in office to the media on Saturday.

Sebastian Kurz of the People's Party and Heinz-Christian Strache of the Freedom Party, who will serve as Austria's chancellor and vice-chancellor respectivel, addressed the media at a joint press conference in Kahlenberg in Vienna.

Kurz said that in recent years Austria has been overtaken in its position by other countries, and the new government must now attempt to make things better again, adding there are too many rules and regulations, that must become fewer but must be adhered to by all.

Economic matters are one of the major items on the agenda, Kurz said, no new taxes would be implemented, and cutbacks would instead be made within the system. Reforms in areas such as minimum incomes and increased flexibility of working hours would also be addressed.

The soon-to-be chancellor said the government will be aiming to reduce taxes to 40 percent by the end of the legislature period.

A toughening of refugee policy, particularly with the need for quicker processing, and a tougher stance on illegal immigrants including quicker deportations, are also a main goal.

Kurz spoke out against the current refugee quotas in European states, saying on some days more refugees arrive than can be distributed.

He said Austria will continue to maintain a pro-European Union stance, as well as remain in the other organizations it is presently involved with. Despite euro-skepticism from the Freedom Party in the past, Strache too acknowledged the coalition would remain true to the European project.

Strache said no miracles could be performed by the new coalition, though with many small steps the summit can be reached. He noted that for many things only small adjustments will be needed, and sometimes none at all.

He said the two parties have very good chemistry, and shared common ground on about 75 percent of their governing program.

On Friday, Austria's center-right People's Party and right-wing Freedom Party agreed to govern together for the next five-year term.

On Saturday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen had meetings with Kurz and Strache and was presented with the coalition agreement.
A knifeman has claimed he stabbed two Danish journalists in Gabon's capital Libreville in retaliation for US "attacks on Muslims" and its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The attack occurred on Saturday while the journalists were shopping at an artisan market, a site popular with tourists.

The stabbings were carried out by a 53-year-old Niger national who screamed "Allah Akbar," Gabon's defence minister Massard Makaga said. The attacker, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, was immediately arrested.

When questioned by the police, he said he acted "in retaliation for the attacks of the United States against the Muslims and the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Mr Makaga said.

One of the journalists has been left in serious condition according to Mr Makaga.

It is believed to be the first attack of its kind in the West African country where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully.

"Everything will be done to ensure that the author and his possible accomplices are punished with the utmost rigour that the law allows," said the minister who denounced the act as "abominable, cowardly and ignoble." Mr Makaga said such acts are contrary to the Gabonese way of living together and "detrimental to social peace."

The journalists, a man and a woman who reportedly work for National Geographic, were rushed to a hospital.

The man was operated on and is currently in intensive care, said government spokesman Alain Claude Bilie By Nze.

Oil-rich Gabon is known for its wildlife, including most of Africa's remaining forest elephants, which are being heavily targeted by traffickers.

Gabon is ruled by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has been in power for nearly half a century.

US President Trump declared earlier this month that Jerusalem was Israels capital and promised to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The decision was widely condemned by leading world figures and sparked mass protest amongst Palestinians who claimed that the US decision jeopardised the hope of finding peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
O ne of the biggest wild fires in California's history could rage on until January, officials have said.

Residents of downtown Santa Barbara including some celebrities were forced to flee the city leaving it a ghost town as surging winds drove the Thomas fire towards the city and the nearby wealthy enclave of Montecito.

The mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighbouring Summerland came as winds that had eased a day earlier roared back at around 30mph, with gusts to about 60mph.

Firefighters sprayed water on to hotspots sparked by wind-blown embers. Firefighters also drove to the historic San Ysidro Ranch in yellow fire trucks as heavy smoke rose from the coastal hills, blotting out the blue skies.

Authorities said they were hoping to have the blaze contained by 7 January.

Celebrities share videos of California wildfires on Instagram

A portion of Santa Barbara was under mandatory evacuation. At the city's zoo, workers began putting some animals into crates and kennels, to ready them for possible evacuation.

In downtown Santa Barbara, Maya Schoop-Rutten, owner of Chocolate Maya, said she saw through the window of her chocolate shop smoke suddenly appear after strong winds blew through.

"It was absolutely incredible," she said. "There was a huge mushroom of smoke that happened in just a matter of a few minutes."

Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered.

"It's a ghost town. Everything is shut down," Ms Schoop-Rutten said. "It's very, very eerie."

The 404-square-mile Thomas Fire was moving rapidly westward and crested Montecito Peak, just north of Montecito. Known for its star power, the enclave boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities.

Man takes a photo of the raging fire / AP

"It is right above the homes," fire spokesman Jude Olivas said.

Ms Winfrey expressed her dismay on her Twitter account.

"Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters," Winfrey tweeted. It was not clear if the former talk show host was in Montecito.

West Wing actor Rob Lowe shared shocking photos on Instagram of the fire raging just yards away from his home, as he urged his followers to "pray for Santa Barabara".

In another post, the star, who has also appeared in comedy series Parks And Recreation, revealed he had been helping the firefighters who have been battling to get the wildfire under control, but added: "when it's time... you GO."

Pierre Henry, owner of the Bree'osh Bakery in Montecito, said he got a text to evacuate on Saturday morning as the fire approached homes.

"The worst was the smoke," Mr Henry said. "You couldn't breathe at all and it became worse when the wind started. All the ashes and the dust on the street were in the air. It was very, very frightening."

The morning passed with no homes damaged or destroyed as firefighters dealt with "extreme and erratic" fire behaviour, Mr Olivas said.

There was a spot of good news down the coast. Emergency officials announced that the same fire that was burning about 25 miles south-east of Montecito was 40% contained. Evacuation orders for the city of Ventura were lifted.

As the northerly "sundowner" wind was driving the fire south and west, firefighters could only hope it would calm back down.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told a news conference. "And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations."

Mr Olivas said 400 fire engines were sent to protect homes in the area. The fire is now the third-largest in California history. It has burned more than 700 homes and killed a state firefighter.

Cory Iverson, 32, died Thursday from burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced on Saturday.

Since the fire began on December 4, about 95,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation zone near Santa Barbara on Saturday was 17 miles long and up to five miles wide and the new expansion encompassed about 3,300 people.

Authorities said they were hoping to have the blaze contained by 7 January.
G ame of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season (15)

Savage battles, a zombie dragon and an unbearably tense standoff between Tyrion and Cersei (played by Richard Dinklage and Lena Headey, the star turns in this sensational HBO series) feature in these seven breathless episodes. Winter is  most definitely  here

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Doctor Who: The Complete Series 10 (12)

It was the finest Doctor Who series in some considerable time and that was in huge part down to Pearl Mackies engaging turn as assistant Bill Potts, as well as thanks to outstanding episodes such as The Return Of Doctor Mysterio and Smile. Peter Capaldi will be much missed as the timetravelling doctor.

32.99, Amazon, Buy it now



Baby Driver (15)

Edgar Wrights slick heist thriller is exquisitely soundtracked (songs include Cary Thomass B-A-B-Y and The Damneds Neat Neat Neat) and stars Ansel Elgort as the baby-faced getaway driver ferrying villains (including Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx) from their bank jobs.

10, Amazon, Buy it now

Logan (15)

Hugh Jackman delivers an Oscar-worthy turn as a jaded Wolverine in this surprisingly poignant slice of Marvel action, which is reminiscent of the John Waynes swansong, The Shootist. Sir Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant and Richard E Grant also star.
On November 29th North Korea launched yet another new ballistic missile design; the Hwasong-15 (HS-15). This comes after the July 3rd launch of the first Hwasong-14 and a second Hwasong-14 launch on July 28. North Korea described both tests as successful and proof that North Korea had a working ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) design. None of that was true. What North Korea did do in 2017 was to launch the two-stage Hwasong-14 (HS-14) ballistic missile that went higher (2,800 and 3,700 kilometers) than an ICBM normally goes (about 1,200 kilometers) but did not have enough momentum to go very far and the second stage (or what was left of it) came down in the ocean 930 kilometers from where it was launched. To be a working ICBM Hwasong-14 would need rocket motors in the first and second stages that could fire longer (carry enough fuel or be efficient and reliable enough) to keep it going at that orbital (where low orbit satellites regularly operate) altitude long enough for a third stage to separate and use a reliable guidance system and re-entry vehicle able to handle the heat of high-speed descent to the surface.

The Hwasong-15 seemed to deal with some, but not all, of these problems. Hwasong-15 was a similar but enlarged Hwasong-14 design that went up to 4,400 kilometers but still did not demonstrate any evidence of a guidance system that would take a third stage (carrying one or more warheads) accurately to a target. The U.S. said its sensors indicated the Hwasong-15 missile broke apart as it fell back to earth. It is unclear if that was deliberate because the North Koreans know the South Korean are able to retrieve wreckage of North Korean missiles that falls into the ocean. This debris is analyzed and has revealed much about North Korean capabilities.

North Korea is, as usual with its many recent long-range ballistic missiles, missing a lot of key components but managing to keep the media spotlight on the few features that did work and imply that the missing capabilities will appear in due course. Like many North Korean assurances (about their economy, their ability to feed their population and much else) due course actually means; eventually but not yet and maybe never. North Korea knows that this is not a popular subject for the mass media and has been able to get away with this sort of thing for decades. Looking at the North Korean ICBMs from a historical perspective provides a more accurate, less scary and more humorous take on the North Korean ICBM threat.

For example Hwasong-15 was not new tech but similar to the American Cold War era Atlas SM-65. This was one of the last U.S. liquid fueled ICBMs and the last one the U.S. Army was allowed to operate. SM-65 was a 117 ton, two stage liquid fueled missile with a max range of 9,000 to 14,000 kilometers (depending on the version}. Only 350 of the SM-65 were built and it was retired as an ICBM in 1965. Twenty SM-65s were converted to satellite launchers and later versions of Atlas were built to just launch satellites and continued doing so into the 21st century.

The point is that the HS-14/15 technology is 60 years old (or 50 if you are Russian and 40 if you are Chinese). The difference is these three countries had far more human and material resources than North Korea ever will. In addition North Korea has to operate under growing economic sanctions and a crumbling economy. In addition what North Korea has shown off so far is, from an engineering perspective, the easy part. Getting a multistage liquid fuel rocket to go straight up was first demonstrated a century ago and by the 1960s the early designs were being replicated by eager high school students. What is not easily duplicated are technologies for controlled re-entry (into the atmosphere), heat shields to protect the entry vehicle (carrying one or more nuclear weapons), flight controls for the reentry vehicle to hit the target area (or multiple targets if more than one warhead is carried in the reentry vehicle). Finally you need nuclear bomb components that are miniaturized and sturdy enough to continue operating reliably in a vacuum, under intense gravity and temperature variations as well as intense vibrations. This applies to the mechanical and electronic components of the nuclear explosive itself as well as the reentry vehicle control and guidance system.

North Korea said their HS-15 could reach all of the United States and that is true if it has the missing technologies (especially the guidance system) capable of handling that. But ICBM missile tests so far indicate that North Korea was continuing to spend a lot of money on ballistic missiles that provide spectacular photos for the media but never evolve into something that consistently works as an actual weapon. The North Korean approach is scary and you dont have to show much progress to get the foreign news organizations interested. North Korea has been exploiting this for all of 2017. For example on May 14 they conducted a ballistic missile test involving what they described as a Hwasong-12 (KN-17) IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile) in its first successful test. This missile apparently used a rocket engine similar to the one used in Hwasong-14 and was tested six times in 2017, only two of them successful. Hwasong-12 is a single stage SCUD (liquid fuel) type ballistic missile that has long been in development. It is used on a tracked mobile launcher and is rumored to have a warhead with a guidance system capable of hitting a large, moving ship (like an aircraft carrier) at sea. There is no proof of that at all, but makes for great headlines. In theory the Hwasong-12 could have a max range of over 4,000 kilometers but the last test in September took the missile out to about 3,700 kilometers. Since then, nothing. All attention switched to the Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15. In large part that was because of the use of gimbaled engines and similarities with the Russia RD type liquid fuel engine.

To create a fully functional HS-14 or HS-15 ICBM North Korea would need more than a dozen test launches to ensure the missing technologies were now present and working. The missing techs are the more difficult ones that require more engineering and scientific resources than the basic multi-stage rocket. Nothing as exciting as rockets blasting off when it comes to reentry vehicle and its contents. Until North Korea succeeds in that last endeavor and conducts multiple tests that obviously work will there be any hope of a serious threat. But then comes yet another challenge.

Even with a reliable Hwasong-14 or 15 ICBM North Korea would need more than a dozen of them, launched simultaneously, to have any chance of getting past the existing American GBI (Ground Based Interceptor) anti-missile missiles based in Alaska. The 22 ton GBI anti-missile missiles have already proved more reliable than anything North Korea has shown off. In addition American intel analysts know that to do a successful attack North Korea would have to make a massive effort to prepare (load fuel and the like) that many missiles for simultaneous launch. That effort would be difficult to hide and if discovered would risk triggering a preemptive attack. The fact that North Korean artillery and rockets could do a lot of damage to the South Korean capital Seoul which is within range of thousands of North Korean big guns and rockets may scare the South Koreans into a state of perpetual hesitation. But if North Korea makes a serious threat of nuclear attack against the United States, Seoul is no longer much of a deterrent. The North Koreans know all this and they also know they dont have to create a credible ICBM threat against the United States to get what they want. The North Koreans are basically running an extortion effort. In effect the North Koreans are demanding cash and commodities to keep their fragile economy (and rather more robust police state) operating. In short, the offer is, pay up and we will tone it down. Even that outcome is doubtful as North Korea has reneged on all the similar peace deals it has made since the 1990s.

North Korea has never been known to deploy a long-range missile that had not been successfully tested. What is catching headlines has been a series of demonstrations featuring larger and larger missiles that function as media events but not systems that can reliably launch a satellite or deliver a functioning warhead (conventional or nuclear) to a distant technology. This scan sort of works because it hasnt actually paid off yet. None of the potential marks (victims expected to pay) has offered to make any deal that exchanges cash and other assets got North Korean promises to behave. The only response North Korea has gotten is South Korea and Japan increasing their defense spending, especially when it comes to anti-missile systems. Worse, South Korea and Japanese are seriously considering the need to develop nukes themselves. Both these nations are in a much better position to do so and quickly. Both nations already have reliable ballistic missiles and South Korea is building more while Japan can easily modify its satellite launchers to deliver a warhead. The North Korean threat works both ways and while the North Koreans can pretend to ignore that, the reality is still there and more reliable and effective that what North Korea is promising someday, eventually and so on.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, reacting to Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen's case verdict, said on Saturday that dual standard of law will not be accepted and the decision "speaks for itself".

"The decision speaks for itself," said the former prime minister while addressing media in London. "Everything we have said about double standards is being proven right."

Nawaz further said that such dual standards will not be tolerated and he would run a strong campaign against it.

My struggle is for the supremacy of law and constitution and I will pay whatever price it takes but wont let things continue the way they are at present.

Referring to the Panama Papers verdict which led to his disqualification from the office of prime minister, Nawaz said, "My imaginary salary was considered an asset, but transactions worth thousands of pounds conducted through Niazi Services, which Imran Khan has confessed to himself, are not being considered as assets".

"The [Supreme Court] bench gave an explanation on Imrans behalf," added Nawaz.

"Imran petitioned against me and sat back while the bench fought the case on Imrans behalf, however, when we petitioned against Imran, the bench became Imrans advocate," claimed the PML-N chief.

Expressing his dissatisfaction at the Panama Papers verdict which disqualified him from holding public office, Nawaz said that a sitting prime minister was disqualified on the basis of an iqama, but an individual who has confessed [to his wrongdoings] has been let off the hook.

This deal wont be accepted in Pakistan, he said. Around two weeks back, I had said that Nawaz will be disqualified yet again in the verdict of the reference against Imran and Tareen, and that is exactly what has happened.

Nawaz, along with his daughter Maryam, will be arriving back in Pakistan on Sunday morning.

The former prime minister had departed for London on December 4 after being exempted from appearing before the court to attend to his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on Friday, ruled that Tareen cannot be termed honest and stands disqualified for life as per Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. It also said the PTI leader used suspicious terms in his statements to the court, besides not declaring his offshore company.

However, the chief justice ruled that Imran is not disqualified as a parliamentarian as the petitioner was not directly affected in the foreign funding case.

The three-member bench had reserved the verdict in the disqualification petition against the two PTI leaders on November 14.

Judgment by the apex court stated that Imran wasn't bound to declare his offshore company, declared his London flat in an amnesty scheme and that his former wife Jemima gave Imran the funds for buying the Bani Gala estate.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 02:07:58|Editor: Jiaxin

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Former AU Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma attends the conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 16, 2017. The 54th national congress of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) began on Saturday in Johannesburg with a call for unity. The conference is expected to elect the party president, chairperson, secretary general and other party leaders. (Xinhua/David Naicker)

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 54th national congress of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) began on Saturday in Johannesburg with a call for unity.

The conference is expected to elect the party president, chairperson, secretary general and other party leaders.

Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and former AU Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are vying to succeed Jacob Zuma as the ANC leader and become the party's candidate for the 2019 presidential polls.

Addressing the conference, Zuma called for party unity while acknowledging the public discontent with the state of the ruling party and the country.

Zuma said the less than expected performance of the ANC in the 2016 municipal elections show that people are not happy with the the party.

He noted that the economy is fragile and underlined the need to fight poverty, inequality and unemployment.

"Improved policy implementation which will be the key focus on this conference will improve employment and investment outcome," Zuma said.

"We must tread carefully but act, because of the serious economic challenges facing our country currently," he said.

The ANC leader also said their research have revealed that people are not happy about corruption, crime an unemployment in South Africa.

"Let me emphasize that we need to find ways of protecting the ANC from corporate greed and ensure that the decisions we take are informed by the policies of the ANC and are not dictated to by business interests."

The corporate should not influence the election of the party leaders, Zuma said, while expressing concerns about fractional fights, gate keeping and vote buying in the party.
The intersectionality of homelessness is often forgotten when we discuss the issue. Perhaps this is a symptom of its misrepresentation as being purely a product of alcoholism and addiction, such that homelessness is often misconstrued as being the fault of those of who have been made homeless. It is obvious, however, that homelessness is often a consequence of increasingly exorbitant housing and healthcare prices, and a fragile economy where many do not feel secure in their employment. Another possible reason for our unrepresentative idea is that a lot of homelessness is hidden, and what we do see masks its true demographic.

More often than not, the people we see on the streets of Cambridge are white males, between the ages of 25 and 50. This is a far-cry from reality. Where are the women, children, elderly, minorities, and families? With the difference in rates at which homelessness rises between different ages, genders, and social backgrounds, we need to remember that despite what we see, homelessness is a highly varied experience, and therefore cannot be addressed with one-size-fits-all strategies.

A study published by Homeless Link, the national membership charity for organisations working directly with people who become homeless in England, found that over half of those approaching councils for help are under the age of 25. Additionally, the main cause of homelessness amongst young people is that their parents are no longer willing to house them, with the main driver being the irretrievable breakdown in that relationship. Nearly half of young homeless people become homeless for this reason.

Homeless youth are more likely to remain homeless in the long term. This fact is a product of both the psychological effects of the experience, and a range of other factors. These include the fact that nearly 6 in 10 are not in education, employment or training, and lack the skills to live independently. Measures need to be put in place that ensure that they are in a good position to get the physical and mental stability that they specifically require.

This can come in the form of caseworkers who act as a pillar of support, not only in the quantity of time spent with them, but also the quality. It is not enough to check up on youth in need regularly. We can also try to help them find support, whether that involves therapy, or reaching out to their family if they have any. Obviously this applies to all branches of social work, yet this needs to be emphasised particularly when it comes to homeless youth.

Yet Homeless Link reports that only 19% of cases receive government aid, and this figure is dropping with increasing benefit sanctions. The most common move-on option, for example, is emergency accommodation provided by No Second Night Out (NSNO), an organisation dedicated to helping the homeless population across England, due to its wide availability. Others seek hostels and foyers; however, these options have become increasingly inaccessible due to welfare reforms.

Women are the minority in the homeless population, with only 26% of clients of single homeless services being female. Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, reports that there are high levels of vulnerability to mental ill-health, drug and alcohol addiction, and experiences of sexual abuse amongst homeless women. In particular, homeless women are more likely than men to have mental illness as a result of physical and sexual abuse.

A report, based on research conducted amongst 160 homeless women across England, revealed that approximately 20% of homeless women were made homeless after escaping from violence. 70% of this was from their partners. If schemes to reduce homelessness do not recognise these different levels and natures of risks, it will result in women not getting the treatment that they need. In particular, post-traumatic treatments and increased security against ones abuser are essential to some womens process of recovery. Some may inevitably face triggers when finding a job, which can in turn hinder the process of getting back on ones feet.

The needs of homeless women are far from being acceptably met. Crisis research showed that the majority of homeless women have negative experiences of approaching local authorities, with many being turned away at the door or deterred by front-line staff from making a homelessness application. A woman I encountered on the street in Cambridge tells me that she was turned away by local shelters, which seemed only to be taking in men. While the claim goes unverified, it is a reminder that we must question the assumption that there is equality within the Cambridge homeless shelter community. The problem escalates still: female rough sleepers are at incredibly high risks of sexual and verbal abuse. Plus, the need to make themselves invisible to avoid such encounters leaves them at greater risk of remaining unfound and thereby prolonging the problem.

Underpinning the neglect of these subjective issues is the governments fallacious cost-cutting strategy to weed out measures which target issues that do not affect the largest population group. This leads to insufficient measures for minorities of gender, age, and ethnicity. We need to realise that this is counter-productive, in that allocating misdirected manpower for the sake of the majority is a sure-fire way to ensure that we make the best use of our resources. Why should we distribute manpower in a way that does not fully harness our resources, in order to combat limited resources?

On 4 March this year, the Government announced that it would scrap housing support payments for under-21s, a cut first put forth under David Camerons administration and only implemented recently. A study by Shelter, a housing charity with over 85,000 volunteers, showed that five households are now being made homeless every hour, and perhaps with no savings for taxpayers. Plus, with its abandonment of homeless youth in particular, LGBT youth or those who face difficult family situations are disproportionately at risk of being made homeless.

Research by Heriot-Watt University showed that the study would save just 3.3 million, a figure that is easily trumped by the knock-on costs if just 140 young people become homeless, meaning that taxpayers will have to pay more money overall, the Independent reports.

This is precisely the mentality described above which results in the neglect of certain population groups. The problems mentioned above extend to various other groups, including the elderly, amongst which rates of homelessness are on the rise. This can be attributed to rising healthcare and housing costs, with a report published by the Homelessness Research Institute in 2010 predicting that homelessness amongst people age 65 and older will more than double by 2050.

Imagine an elderly couple, put out of work through no fault of their own, and having to give up a house they have lived in for longer than some of us have been alive. When they are forced onto the streets, and unable to receive the help that they need to get a house under policies designed based on inaccurate homelessness statistics, and which end up costing taxpayers more, it forces us to ask whether people have a right to have a house, and how to change the way we approach the issue.

Homelessness is more subjective and complex than is often realised. However, even to recognise that fact is the first step towards granting people their right to a home in a way that actually works.
The CUSU Womens Campaign has issued an open letter against the invitation to Caroline Criado-Perez to speak at the Women of the World (WOW) Festival.

Criado-Perez, a feminist famous for the Keep a Woman on Banknotes campaign, was invited by the organisers of the festival, which is due to take place on Sunday 26th October at 10:30am at the Cambridge Junction, part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas.

In the letter, the Womens Campaign express their disappointment at the invitation because of her beliefs on trans people, especially women.

While they recognise the online bullying that Criado-Perez has faced from misogynist trolls, the Womens Campaign argue against her suitability as a candidate to speak at the festival, which claims to be committed to celebrating women of all kinds.

The Womens Campaign refers to her exclusion of trans women from her feminist politics, her limited and narrow-minded understanding of what it means to be a woman under the patriarchy and her attitude which offers cis womena privileged voice.

The letter reports an incident in December 2013, where Caroline Criado-Perez appeared on Womans Hour and claimed: Its right that white women obviously recognise their voices are heard more than women from minority communities. But certain people are using intersectionality as a cloak to abuse other women.

The letter goes on to state that the message sent out by the event, especially by including Criado-Perezis that you deem the safety and comfort of particular groups of women to be above those of others in our community.

They continued, It is ironic and painful that someone invited to speak on the topic of online harassment has persistently attacked trans people and other feminists online, including members of the Womens Campaign.

Sandy Rushton, Trinity Hall JCR Womens Officer, commented: The experiences and voices of marginalised groups of women should be prioritised at events like this, not sidelined in order to make space for speakers who so vocally exclude trans women from their feminism.

And Amelia Horgan, CUSU Women's Officer, told TCS that "Caroline Criado-Perez, through her rejection of theory that values trans identity and experience, has shown herself to be no ally to trans women. The Women's Campaign supports all women, and does not tolerate transphobia or transmisogyny.

"We're not calling on the University to dis-invite Caroline Criado-Perez but we want them to acknowledge the real hurt and damage they have caused by giving her this platform."

The Women of the World Festival website states: "There are platforms for women of all ages to have their say". It also confirms Criado-Perez will be speaking specifically on women, the world wide web and "tackling trolls".

This incident follows the eruption of the no platform debate throughout Cambridge, which included debates about pro-life campaigners at the Freshers Festival, as well as the invitation of speakers to the university, such as the Israeli Ambassador, Daniel Taub, and the cancelled event with Nigel Farage.

Any person connected to the University of Cambridge can read and sign the open letter here.
This startup uses body heat to mine crypto - for when robots take our jobs While many love to speculate about the sheer number of jobs that robots and artificial intelligence are going to replace in the near future, no one seems to be coming up with any solid alternatives. One forward-thinking Dutch startup, however, believes humans should start using their bodies to produce capital... but not in the way you're imagining. The Next Web

Google Brain co-founder teams with Foxconn to bring AI to factories Andrew Ng, co-founder of some of Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O)-owned Google's most prominent artificial intelligence projects, on Thursday launches a new venture with iPhone assembler Foxconn to bring AI and so-called machine learning onto the factory floor. Consumers now experience AI mostly through image recognition to help categorize digital photographs and speech recognition that helps power digital voice assistants... Reuters

US Congress is trying to define what artificial intelligence actually means What is artificial intelligence? We have an answer for you, but apparently it wasn't good enough for the United States Congress. A new bill (pdf) drafted by senator Maria Cantwell asks the Department of Commerce to establish a committee on artificial intelligence to advise the federal government on how AI should be implemented and regulated. Quartz (also, Artificial intelligence is killing the uncanny valley and our grasp on reality)

Inside China's vast new experiment in social ranking In 2015, when Lazarus Liu moved home to China after studying logistics in the United Kingdom for three years, he quickly noticed that something had changed: Everyone paid for everything with their phones. At McDonald's, the convenience store, even at mom-and-pop restaurants, his friends in Shanghai used mobile payments. Cash, Liu could see, had been largely replaced by two smartphone apps: Alipay and WeChat Pay. Wired

Metal Gear Solid V - Graphics Study The Metal Gear series achieved world-wide recognition when Metal Gear Solid became a best-seller on the original PlayStationalmost two decades ago. The title introduced many players to the genre of "tactical espionage action", an expression coined by Hideo Kojima the creator of the franchise. Though in my case the first time I played as Snake wasn't with this game but with the Ghost Babel spin-off on GBC, a lesser-known but nevertheless excellent title with an impressive depth. Adrian Courreges

How long before sodium batteries are worth their salt? Today, lithium is the active ingredient in batteries that power smart phones, laptops, and cars. But because of the price of lithium, researchers have been looking for another, more abundant element that could replace it. Several start-ups and established companies have tackled the idea of developing rechargeable batteries in which the active ingredient is sodium, lithium's neighbor on the periodic table. IEEE Spectrum

Writing a CHIP-8 emulator with Rust and WebAssembly Over the past couple of months I've been exploring the potential of WebAssembly; initially looking at compilation options and performance, and more recently the migration of D3 Force Layout to WebAssembly using AssemblyScript. I wanted to try my hand at creating a more complex WebAssembly application, which is why I've been spending my evenings working on a CHIP-8 emulator ... and learning Rust! Scott Logic

Engineers just unveiled the first-ever design of a complete quantum computer chip Practical quantum computing has been big news this year, with significant advances being made on theoretical and technical frontiers. But one big stumbling block has remained - melding the delicate quantum landscape with the more familiar digital one. This new microprocessor design just might be the solution we need. Science Alert

Estonia, the digital republic Up the Estonian coast, a five-lane highway bends with the path of the sea, then breaks inland, leaving cars to follow a thin road toward the houses at the water's edge. There is a gated community here, but it is not the usual kind. The gate is low---a picket fence---as if to prevent the dunes from riding up into the street. The entrance is blocked by a railroad-crossing arm, not so much to keep out strangers as to make sure they come with intent. The New Yorker

PepsiCo makes biggest public pre-order of Tesla Semis: 100 trucks PepsiCo Inc has reserved 100 of Tesla Inc's new electric Semi trucks, the largest known order of the big rig, as the maker of Mountain Dew soda and Doritos chips seeks to reduce fuel costs and fleet emissions, a company executive said on Tuesday. Reuters

Army to direct commission cyber officers Within a week or so, the first-ever U.S. Army Cyber Direct Commissioning Program board will meet to select up to five candidates for the first year of a five-year pilot program, said Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone. Nakasone, commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command, discussed the CDCP during a Dec. 6 media roundtable at the Pentagon. He said so far that over 50 applications have already been received. Army.mil

VESA defines new standard to help speed PC industry adoption of high dynamic range technology in laptop and desktop monitor displays The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced it has defined the display industry's first fully open standard specifying high dynamic range (HDR) quality, including luminance, color gamut, bit depth and rise time, through the release of a test specification. Vesa
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday that his country has the highest economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite the sanctions imposed against it. | Read More
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 02:23:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAPE TOWN, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will introduce free higher education and training for poor and working-class undergraduate students at public universities, starting in 2018, President Jacob Zuma announced on Saturday.

Zuma said in a statement that he made the decision after having amended the definition of poor and working-class students.

Students categorized as falling in this class will be supported through government grants instead of loans, Zuma said.

The definition of poor and working class students will now refer to currently enrolled technical vocational education and training (TVET) college or university students from South African households with a combined annual income of up to 350,000 rand (about 26,700 U.S. dollars) by 2018 academic year, Zuma explained.

Zuma also announced that there will be no tuition fee increment for students from households earning up to 600,000 rand a year during the 2018 academic year.

The government, he said, will increase subsidies to universities from 0.68 percent to 1 percent of the GDP in the next five years to address the overall underfunding of the sector.

Zuma made the announcement as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) kicked off its 54th conference in Johannesburg, at which a successor to Zuma will be elected.

At the TVET college sector, the ANC policy objective is to produce 30,000 artisans each year until 2030. In the university sector, the policy objective is to increase public university enrolment by 70 percent to 1.6 million students by 2030.

The ANC-led government further aims to increase the number of university students studying towards maths and science degrees to 450,000 by 2030.

He reaffirmed that education remains an apex priority of the government's pro-poor policies and a central pillar of its fight against the socio-economic legacy of apartheid and colonialism and its resultant triple challenge of race, gender and class-based poverty, inequality and unemployment.

South Africa's major universities were hit by student protests in 2015 following tuition fee hikes. Protesting students also demanded free higher education, an overdue promise made by the ANC.

Free education is a promise made by the ANC. In its congress in 2007, the party made a resolution, pledging to have free education in seven years. The ANC has been criticized for failing to keep its promise.
DENSO Acquires InfiniteKey, Inc. to Advance Keyless Automotive Experience

- Replacing keys with smartphones will enable a broad range of mobility, including ridesharing and driverless services -

KARIYA, JAPAN, Dec, 15 2017; DENSO, one of the world's largest automotive technology, systems and components suppliers, has acquired Holland, Mich.-based InfiniteKey, Inc., along with several key patents and R&D resources. The acquisition provides foundational pieces to developing phone-as-a-key technology and increases DENSO's lead in developing and deploying smartphone-based automotive access, a critical component of the company's strategy to create a future with frictionless mobility. This type of technology will become increasingly important for automakers, as ridesharing and driverless services progress beyond the need for keys.

"When we consider the future of mobility, the customer experience is always at the forefront of our design. Eliminating the need for physical keys will create a headache-free experience for car owners, and ridesharing and driverless services users," said Bill Foy, senior vice president of Engineering, DENSO International America. "This acquisition brings us one step closer to making this experience a reality and advancing vehicle access technologies."

InfiniteKey has developed advanced techniques for microlocating smartphones relative to vehicles using standard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This technology allows automakers to rely on phones as passive keys, in the same way they rely upon dedicated passive key fobs today. Unlike key fobs, however, phones as passive key systems enable a broad range of mobility services, such as ridesharing and driverless services.

"This acquisition demonstrates DENSO's aggressive approach to supporting startups and technologies we view as significantly valuable for the future of the transportation industry," said Tony Cannestra, director of Corporate Ventures, DENSO International America. "Whether it's through direct investment or acquisition, DENSO will find a way to support and partner with companies to help transform mobility."

Kevin Virta, CEO of InfiniteKey, expressed his team's enthusiasm for joining forces with DENSO. "Becoming part of DENSO, with its global reach and world-class engineering, means our phone-as-a-key technology can reach the broadest possible penetration in the automotive market," said Virta. "We are looking forward to making significant contributions to DENSO's efforts to lead the way in automotive technologies of the future."

InfiniteKey has been acquired by DENSO International America, DENSO's North American regional headquarters, and is now a satellite office. DENSO completed its transaction of InfiniteKey in October 2017. Terms were not disclosed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 03:03:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ROME, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 15.3 million Italians plan to travel for the end-of-year holidays, up 7.7 percent compared to 2016, Italian hotel and tourism association Federalberghi revealed on Saturday.

Christmas and New Year's travel will post turnover of 9.9 billion euros, up 13.3 percent over last year, the business group reported.

Calling this upward trend "a luminous streak", Federalberghi president Bernabo Bocca said "the germ of the economic recovery lies in tourism and its continuing good performance".

At least 84 percent of holiday travelers plan to visit locations in Italy, staying away from home an average of 3.9 nights.

The average expenditure per person will be 684 euros at Christmas and 603 euros at New Year's, Federalberghi found.

A majority of holiday travelers plan to visit another Italian city (32 percent), followed by mountain locations (25.9 percent) and artistic sites (22.9 percent). The rest are visiting the seaside, a lake, or a thermal bath resort, while the 16 percent who are going abroad plan to visit other European capitals.

The Federalberghi report was based on research by ACS Marketing Solutions and interviews with over 3,000 people conducted December 1-6.

As well, Confcommercio business association has reported that Italians will spend an average of 166 euros per capita on Christmas presents this year, up slightly from 164 euros in 2016.

The lion's share of presents will come in the form of food (73.5 percent), followed by toys (48.7 percent), clothes (47.1 percent) and books (43.5 percent).

Confcommercio added that smart phones, jewelry, and travel are on the rise as gift items.

And 47.8 percent of consumers shop for their Christmas presents online -- up from 28.3 percent in 2012 and 3.8 percent in 2009.

Confcommercio represents over 700,000 Italian businesses with almost 2.7 million employees, according to its website.
The approximate location where a man attempted to rob a 95-year-old veteran in West Allis, Wis., on Dec. 4, 2017. (Screenshot via Google Maps)

95-Year-Old Vet Wrestles Burglar, 51-Year-Old Daughter Chases him Over 2 Fences and Through 12 Yards

A World War II veteran faced off with an intruder to his home. But not only did the 95-year-old came out on top, but his 51-year-old daughter successfully chased the burglar down.

Fred Bennett, retired Marine and retired firefighter, was sitting in his living room in West Allis, Wisconsin, at about 7:45 p.m., Dec. 4, watching TV.

Suddenly, his chihuahua Hugo started barking toward the hallway. Bennett stood up and walked toward the bedroom door. He opened the door, but it wouldnt open all the way, TMJ4 reported. He leaned in and saw a man standing flat against the wall.

I was almost standing nose to nose with him, Bennett told Journal Sentinel. That was a shocker.

One of the Greatest Generation, Bennett shouted at the man, What are you doing here? Get the hell out of here, he told WISN.

But the intruder demanded Bennetts wallet threatening to kill him and his dog otherwise, Bennett said.

Bennett wouldnt have any of it.

I wasnt scared, he said. I was so damn mad.

The veteran pinned the burglar against the door, who took advantage of the position to reach into Bennetts back pocket and take his wallet.

But Fred Bennett had stretched his stamina further yet, wrestling the intruder to the ground, calling for his daughter, Mary Bennett.

Mary rushed down the stairs in mere instants. I dont remember my feet touching the steps, she said.

Barefoot, wearing her yoga outfit, she threw her hands around the intruder, trying to keep him in place.

They struggled through the house to the kitchen. The man bit her arm in the process, she said.

Mary managed to get the wallet back. But the man drew back his fist and threatened to punch her. She let go of him.

The intruder apparently decided it was time to leave. He ran out of the door. But he wasnt alone.

Mary gave a chase.

I was mad because of what he did to my dad, she said.

The chase was actually funny, Mary said. The burglar was a middle-aged man and was escaping the crime scene at a mere jog.

I could have caught him at any point, Mary said. But I didnt want to tackle him because nobody knows Im out here.

And so the chase continued.

We jumped over two fences and ran through 12 yards, Mary said. Along the way, she was knocking on windows and yelling to neighbors to call 911 and that she was chasing a robber.

She later learned some people indeed called the police and that her trail of alarm may have helped police to follow the chase, she said.

She started to hear police sirens. Then she saw a squad car. That was her cue to pounce on the man. He wasnt really fleeing at that moment as his leg got caught on the top of a picket fence.

I got a hold of him, Mary said.

Now the man changed his tune, saying he was sorry and pleading for her to stop.

Bennett held the man until police arrived and took him into custody. He fought for your freedom, and youre doing this, Mary scolded the man.

Police found on the burglar nine silver and gold cufflinks with valuable stones, suspecting they had been stolen from another home. Police are looking for their rightful owner.

Gary Wells, 53, of Milwaukee was charged with felony burglary by the Milwaukee County district attorney on Dec. 12.

Mary said her fathers reaction may had come from his service background. But she was a bit surprised by her own reaction.

It was just reflexes, she said. I guess it rubbed off from my father.

She said, however, she wouldnt had done the same if the intruder had a gun.

After it was all over, I thought, boy, that was a dumb thing I did, Fred Bennett said, with a laugh.

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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested 59-year-old Sydney man Chan Han Choi on Saturday, Dec. 16, for allegedly acting as an economic agent for the North Korean regime. It is the first time a person has been charged under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act in Australia. (AFP)

Australia Arrests Man Accused of Trying to Sell Missile Parts for North Korea

MELBOURNEAustralian police said on Sunday they had arrested a man accused of working on the black market to sell missile components and coal on behalf of North Koreathe first charges ever brought in Australia over the sale of weapons of mass destruction.

The man had been charged with two counts under the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995 (Cth) that prevents the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, police said, and with another four under legislation enforcing United Nations and Australian sanctions against North Korea.

The Sydney man was identified by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other media as 59-year-old Chan Han Choi, who they said had been living in Australia for more than 30 years and was of Korean descent.

He was arrested in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood on Saturday and was due to face court later on Sunday, police said. He came to the attention of authorities earlier this year, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose, AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters.

This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australian soil, he said.

AFP charges Sydney man with being an economic agent in support of North Korea. More at: https://t.co/5AmcNvMNzq  AFP (@AusFedPolice) December 17, 2017

Police will allege the man tried to broker the sale of missile components, including software for the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, as well as trying to sell coal to third parties in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Gaughan said the trade could have been worth tens of millions of dollars if successful.

Cash-strapped North Korea has come under a new round of stricter U.N. sanctions this year after pressing ahead with its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international pressure.

Tensions have risen dramatically on the Korean peninsula because of the Norths ballistic missile launches and its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, as well as joint military drills between South Korea and the United States that the North describes as preparation for war.

Pyongyang claimed that its latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November had the range to reach all of the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged North Korea on Friday to carry out a sustained cessation of its weapons testing to allow talks about its missile and nuclear programs.

However, the North has shown little interest in talks until it has the ability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, which many experts say it has yet to prove.

Gaughan said the man had been in touch with high-ranking North Korean officials but no missile components ever made it to Australia. He also said there was no indication officials in Indonesia or Vietnam had been involved in the attempted coal sales.

This is black market 101, Gaughan said.

We are alleging that all the activity occurred offshore, and was purely another attempt for this man to trade goods and services as a way to raise revenue for the government of North Korea, he said.

The man faces up to 18 years in jail if convicted.

By Alana Schetzer

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Honey and Barry Sherman, Chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc., were found dead in their Canadian home on Friday, Dec. 15 in an incident police are calling 'suspicious.' Photo taken during (UJA) fundraiser in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 24, 2010. (The Globe and Mail/Janice Pinto/via Reuters)

Billionaire Couple Found Dead in Toronto Mansion

'Suspicious', Investigators Say

A Canadian billionaire couple were found dead in their mansion in Toronto, Canada, on Friday, Dec. 15, in an incident investigators are treating as suspicious.

According to a National Post report, the bodies of pharmaceutical magnate Barry Sherman, founder of Apotex Inc, and his wife Honey were discovered near their indoor pool, hanging side by side.

The two bodies were found at 50 Old Colony Road in the North York area of Toronto after police received a call around 11:45 a.m. in regards to a medical incident at the home, Toronto Police Constable David Hopkinson told reporters at a press conference, according to an ABC report.

Canadian police say theres nothing conclusive that can be said about the pending investigation, but since they are not canvassing widely for suspects, states National Post, this suggests investigators believe the deaths of the Shermans may be suicide or murder-suicide.

Forensics need to be done and post-mortems on the bodies, but at this stage it appears there was no forced entry and no evidence of anybody else in the house, a police source told National Post.

Authorities will conduct post-mortem examinations on Saturday and are treating the deaths as suspicious, a Toronto Police spokesman said. No suspects had been identified, said police, who have issued few details about the circumstances of the deaths that have shaken people in Canadas political, business, and philanthropic circles. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his condolences to their family and friends, and to everyone touched by their vision and spirit. Barry Sherman, 75, was a prominent donor to Canadas ruling Liberal Party, drawing on a fortune that Forbes estimated at $3.2 billion dollars. Canadian advocacy group Democracy Watch criticized Sherman last year for involvement in a fundraiser for the Liberals while registered as a government lobbyist, Reuters reported. Sherman was a successful businessman who turned a small drug company into a pharmaceutical giant and, together with his wife, became renowned for their generosity. He liked to make money because he loved giving money away  and he did, he gave away very generously, Senator Linda Frum, a family friend, told the National Post. The Jewish community and the broader community in Toronto are going to be devastated by this loss because they were among the most active and generous philanthropists, said Frum, who two weeks ago awarded a Senate medal to Honey Sherman for the couples philanthropy. Sherman was also involved in a series of lawsuits, including a decade-long battle with cousins seeking compensation over allegations he cut them out of the company. National Post reported the couples bodies were found by a real estate agent and friend to the couple. Judi Gottlieb was helping them sell their home, which was on the market for $6.9 million. The Shermans were very dear friends of mine for many, many years and were all in shock, the agent wrote in an email in response to media requests for a comment on the unusual timing of putting up the property for sale, National Post reports. More than this, Im not prepared to talk about. Barry Sherman founded generic drugmaker Apotex in 1974, then built it into one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical makers. It exports to more than 115 countries and produces approximately 25 billion doses per year, according to its website. He stepped down as CEO in 2012, but stayed on as chairman. The Shermans, who had four children, were major donors to hospitals, universities and Jewish organizations. Honey Sherman sat on the boards of several hospitals, charitable and Jewish foundations, and last month was awarded a Senate medal for community service. She immigrated to Canada as a child when Jewish Immigrant Aid Services relocated her family shortly after the Holocaust, according to a profile of the couple on the Jewish Foundation of Greater Torontos website. Devastating news about the deaths of prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community, philanthropists and great friends of Israel, Israeli consul general Galit Baram wrote on Twitter Friday. Devastating news about the deaths of prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community, philanthropists and great friends of Israel, Barry and Honey Sherman. It is a pity for those who are gone and no longer to be found.     . @IsraelinToronto @IsraelMFA  Galit Baram (@GaliBaram) December 15, 2017 Deeply shocked to learn of the deaths of Honey and Barry Sherman, such remarkable people, said former Ontario premier Bob Rae, according to National Post. Grappling with this terrible news. Reuters contributed to this report. And while youre here  We have a small favor to ask of you. More people are reading The Epoch Times than ever, but ad revenues are plummeting across the media. If you can, please share this article on Facebook so you can help The Epoch Times. It takes less than a minute. Thank you very much!
Chinas Amazon Battles Alibaba Online

JD.com is No. 2 in China but hardly known in the west

Sales at Chinese online retailer JD.com Inc. reached 127.1 billion yuan ($19.1 billion) during Singles Day week in November, the biggest annual shopping event in China.

To fully grasp the magnitude of that figure, consider the biggest shopping event in the United States: Thanksgiving weekend. According to Adobe Analytics, this years Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday generated a combined $14.5 billion, online and in stores, for the entire country.

China has the most consumers in the world, and its also where online and mobile shopping has the greatest penetration. JD.com is Chinas second-biggest e-commerce company behind Alibaba, and so far, it is largely unknown in the West.

But among all Chinese companies, JD.com has the closest resemblance to Amazon.com. And its gaining market share from leading e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

Privately held, Beijing-based JD.com controls 33 percent of all retail e-commerce in China, as of the second quarter 2017. It competes with Alibabas Tmall unit, which has a 51 percent market share, according to eMarketer. Alibaba has a hugely successful business-to-business operation, but in retail ecommerce, its Tmall has been ceding market share to JD.com. Three years ago, JD.coms market share was a paltry 17.7 percent, while Tmalls market share had a commanding 55 percent in 2014.

Most Amazon-Like

Alibaba is widely known as Chinas biggest internet retailer. But it operates like eBay, offering e-commerce solutions to other third-party businesses to sell to consumers. Alibaba generates the bulk of its revenues not from product sales, but from platform fees, sales commissions, and online advertising.

JD.coms business model is completely different from Alibabas. Founder and CEO Richard Liu has built JD.com as a vertical operation very similar to Seattle-based Amazon. JD.com has warehouses across China, with logistics operations that manage the sourcing and shipping, and it has built a sprawling network for its so-called last mile delivery service to reach customers doors. The company has also been extensively testing robotics and drone-delivery services, in some respects more successfully than Amazon. Earlier this year, JD.com unveiled a drone that can deliver items as heavy as a metric ton.

Like Amazon, JD.com is known for its fast shipping. In Chinas large urban areas, consumers can receive many items on the same day if they place an order before 11 a.m. Similarly to Amazons next-day or two-day Prime service, JD.com offers next-day delivery on most products, and users can also choose to receive their purchases at a delivery window.

Beating Alibaba

Back in 2011, Alibaba founder Jack Ma wanted JD.com to open a storefront on Alibabas platform to avoid direct competition, according to sources interviewed by The Information.

Liu rejected the overture, and during the last several years, he has built up JD.com to become Alibabas chief rival. The company has enlisted the help of other powerful companies in its fight with Alibaba.

Last year, JD.com formed an alliance with Walmart, the worlds biggest brick-and-mortar retailer. JD.com hosts Walmarts Chinese e-commerce storefront, which has proven beneficial for both companies.

The two companies work closely on inventory management and customer service. Chinese online shoppers, through JD.com, have access to around 1,700 U.S.-made products carried by Walmarts 400 China-based stores.

We bring the online traffic to Wal-Mart, JD.coms international president, Winston Cheng, told CNBC Television in August. In turn, Walmart is offering space in their stores for our inventory  so we have expanded our fulfillment capabilities as a result of that.

Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings is another partner of JD.com and a minority shareholder. Tencent allows JD.com to aggressively promote its goods within Tencents WeChat, the worlds biggest social networking platform, which has almost 1 billion monthly active users.

WeChat and JD.com both have access to customers shopping preferences, which JD.com uses to make targeted suggestions and advertisements to WeChat users. JD.com also grants WeChat customers certain discounts if they use WeChats mobile payment app.

JD.com has been aggressive in making acquisitions in recent months. In June, it invested around $400 million in London-based Farfetch, an online marketplace startup for luxury goods. China is a crucial market for luxury goods, and JD.com could benefit from having the trust of Chinese consumers worried about the authenticity of luxury goods.

Big Sales, No Cash Flow

On Nov. 30, JD.com acquired Tqmall, a Chinese e-commerce platform for aftermarket automotive parts (Tqmall is not affiliated with Alibabas Tmall), according to a Caixin report.

JD.com reported a blowout third quarter 2017, with a 39 percent increase in revenues year-over-year. On its Nov. 12 earnings call, the company said it expects fourth-quarter revenue growth to remain in the 35 to 39 percent range.

But the company maintains negative cash flows as it builds up inventory and invests in new warehouses and logistics capabilitiesexpenses its competitor Alibaba largely doesnt have. Free cash flow during the third quarter was negative 9 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) due to inventory purchases, capital expenditures, and marketing costs.

Can JD.com ever overtake the formidable Alibaba?

JD.coms bigger rival said it recorded 168 billion yuan ($25 billion) in sales on Singles Day. Those figures have since been questioned, with noted Chinese short seller Muddy Waters Research tweeting on Nov. 20 that it believes Alibabas Singles Day sales figures are fake, citing a blog post research showing transactions that were never shipped or delivered.

Alibaba also supposedly employed questionable tactics to undermine JD.coms business. JD.coms chief financial officer, Sidney Huang, said on the companys third quarter analysts call that certain apparel and general merchandise merchants have recently left its platform.

This is mainly due to the coercive tactics from our competition, Huang said, which, if proven true, would be illegal and clearly against the merchants will.
Father Speaks out After Son Was Allegedly Subjected to 13 Unneeded Major Surgeries

Ryan Crawford tried to get custody of his son for years as he watched the boys mother, Kaylene Bowen-Wright, subject the child to hundreds of doctor visits and 13 allegedly unneeded major surgeries over the course of eight years.

Now, Bowen-Wright has been arrested and charged with injury to a child, according to Star-Telegram. The mother is accused of pretending that her son was sick with many illnesses, including cancer.

The boys father told CBS that he tried to get custody for three years. He failed each time because the mom claimed in court each time that the boy was on his deathbed.

As soon as she would get on the stand to testify, each and every time, she would just start crying, basically saying hes in a coma, Crawford told CBS.

Crawford dated Bowen-Wright briefly and the relationship resulted in a pregnancy.

The dad told Star-Telegram that the trouble started before the boy was born, with Bowen-Wright calling him from different hospitals to say she was admitted. Matters got worse after the couples son Christopher was born prematurely in 2009 at 33 weeks.

She was always saying Christopher was sick. Every single week. Every single month, Crawford told Star-Telegram. She would always say, Somethings wrong. He has this. He has that.

This condition persisted for eight years. Medical records show that Christopher was taken on 323 doctors visits and subjected to 13 major surgeries. He had a feeding tube and had an oxygen supply round the clock.

I figured that one day that that would be the end cause, Crawford told CBS referring to how he thought the mom may kill her child one day.

The courts always fell for Bowen-Wrights act and sided with her. In 2012, a judge barred Crawford from visiting his son because he refused to believe in Crawfords account.

Every time I went to court, they made me feel like I was the worst human ever, Crawford told Star-Telegram.

He is now going to court to get custody of the child. The boy appears healthy.

I am so sorry that I wasnt able to be there to stop the harm that has been done unto you, the dad told CBS.

Dallas Childrens Medical Center suspected that Bowen-Wright was faking her childs illness during a recent visit. The hospital called Child Protective Services, triggering an inquiry that resulted in the moms arrest.

CPS believes the mother has Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental condition where a caregiver fakes illnesses of the person in their care to satisfy a lust for sympathy and attention.

Bowen-Wright hosted several fund-raising drives for her child on the internet and a local TV station aired a segment in 2014 to help raise funds for the boys condition.

The fundraising, the doctor shopping. Those are certainly common elements of our cases, said Matthew Gilbert, the regional director of investigations for CPS told CBS. These investigations are very rare. They dont come up very often.

Crawford told Star-Telegram that his boy has been taken off allergy medications.

You would think my son would be so screwed up. Obviously mentally, hes going to need some counseling, Crawford said. But he is so sweet, so nice, so playful. You wouldnt think that he had gone through all this abuse.

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First-Graders Letter to Santa Spurs Donation Drive

An elementary school students letter to Santa Claus inspired a blanket-drive and a flood of donations after her teacher shared it on social media.

The first-grader at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Edinburg, Texas, was asked to write a letter to Santa about something they wanted or needed after they were taught the difference between the two, reported ABC news.

Ruth Espiricueta, the teacher of the class, began reading the students letters and was shocked by one of them.

The 7-year-old girl wrote: I have [been] good this day. This Christmas I would like a ball and a food. I need a [blanket].

The teacher asked the first-grader about her letter to Santa the next day. Espiricueta said the little girl wanted a ball, rather than a doll, so she could play with her brother. She also told her teacher that she wanted eggs for food, reported the news station.

I had no idea she was going through hard times being that she is always at school with a big smile, Espiricueta said. Her act of unselfishness made me realize that I needed to share this with others.

Espiricueta said she was saddened by the letter and decided to help fulfill at least one of her students Christmas wishes. The teacher posted the letter to social media on Dec. 13 in the hope of inspiring charity for families in need.

Espiricueta told ABC news that there were other students who also asked for necessities, including food, towels, blankets, pillows, a bed, clothes, shoes, and a stove.

This makes me very sad, she wrote in a Facebook post. When your students ask for food, blankets, or a bed instead of toys. As a teacher, it breaks my heart when I hear them ask for things that we sometimes take for granted.

I was heartbroken because no one should ever go hungry or be cold on winter nights, Espiricueta told ABC news.

Some of my students were not even excited about Christmas because they know that their parents can not afford to buy a Christmas tree or gifts for them, she said.

The letter inspired people to donate to the students in need at the elementary school. The school principal also started a donation drive, with a goal of collecting 724 blankets to give to each student. So far, 616 blankets have been donated, reported ABC news.

She is happy her friends will also be receiving a blanket to stay warm, Espiricueta told the news station.

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Juanita Fitzgerald narrowly avoided spending her 94th birthday in jail after getting arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, for refusing to leave the premises of a facility she had been evicted from. (Lake County Sheriff)

Florida Woman Escapes Spending 94th Birthday in Jail after Arrest for Not Paying Rent

Instead of spending her 94th birthday in jail, as reports indicated, an elderly Florida woman arrested for refusing to leave a residence she had been evicted from, found herself in a much happier place on her special day, News 6 reported.

Juanita Fitzgerald was at the Lake County Jail on Dec. 14, just one day ahead of her 94th birthday, The Epoch Times reported, but to her surprise ended up in a motel room in Tavares, Florida, on Dec. 15, after her story triggered widespread attention.

Fitzgerald was evicted from the National Church Residences Franklin House senior living facility in Eustis, Florida.

The elderly woman had fallen three months behind on her rent, according to police.

A representative for National Church Residences, which owns the Franklin House where Fitzgerald has lived since April 2011, told News 6 that Fitzgerald admitted to staff she held back the rent because she thought she was going to die soon.

The official added that her organization tried to help by reaching out first to her family and then to a number of agencies, including the Homeless Coalition, LiveStream Behavior Center, the United Way of Lake County, Family and Childrens Services of Lake County, the Area Agency on Aging, and other housing programs.

Fitzgerald refused the assistance, Twinem said, and the police documents WTFV reporters reviews apparently show she resisted the eviction.

The documents allegedly show the woman had been made well aware the day prior of her being evicted (Tuesday), and that she was repeatedly asked to leave the property, or face arrest for trespassing.

Officers arriving at the scene on Tuesday, Dec. 12, encountered the woman in the lobby of the facility.

She refused to comply with police requests to retrieve her belongings and vacate the premises.

After several times telling Juanita to get her belongings and leave, she refused officers commands and stated, Unless you carry me out of here, Im not going anywhere, the court documents stated.

Then the 5-foot-tall, 100-pound woman is said to have intentionally slid onto the floor and resisted police efforts to pick her up and escort her out of the building. She also grabbed at the officers, even removing glasses from one of the deputys faces, News 6 reported.

The body cam footage of responding officers shows the tense moments as officers lead Fitzgerald out of the building and toward their vehicle.

Officers eventually managed to remove her from the premises, insert her into the police vehicle, and transport her to the Lake County Jail, where, according to booking records, Fitzgerald is being held on the charge of trespassing after warning on a $500 bond.

Fitzgerald likely would have spent Friday, Dec. 15and her birthdayin prison, were it not for a caretaker who worked with some of her neighbors at Franklin House.

I just couldnt let her stay in jail any longer, Nicole Lett told News 6 reporters, adding that she was moved to act after seeing the News 6 piece on Fitzgerald.

Lett picked Fitzgerald up from the Lake County Detention Center on Thursday evening and brought her to the hotel.

Shes 94 and shes still feisty as ever, Lett told News 6. She doesnt want peoples help, she wants to be on her own. But unfortunately, she needs the help right now because she doesnt have anything anymore.

Despite the act of kindness that has suddenly fallen into her lap, the plucky nonagenarian still faces a Dec. 27 court date and charges of tresspasing.

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A jury found Sandra Mendez Ortega, 19, guilty of theft but then paid her $60 because they felt sorry for her. (Fairfax County Sheriffs Office )

Jurors Pay Fine for Illegal Immigrant They Just Convicted of Jewelry Theft

A jury in Virginia found an undocumented housemaid guilty of stealing $5,000 in jewelry from the homeowner, but felt sorry for the criminal, and chipped in to pay her fine.

Sandra Mendez Ortega, 19, is an undocumented immigrant. Legally she should not be in the U.S. at all. But she is here, and for a time she had a job working with a house-cleaning company.

Ortega was assigned to clean the house of Jeff and Lisa Copeland. While she was cleaning their home, she stole three rings worth a total of $5,000.

Lisa Copeland discovered the rings were missing in September 2016. She reported the theft, and police questioned three women, all from the same company, who had cleaned her home at one time or another.

At first all three denied knowing anything about the thefts.

One of the missing rings was her grandmothers engagement ring. Another was her wedding ring. The third ring was of little value. Copeland did not even know it was gone until all three rings were returned.

Eventually, Ortegas conscience started to bother her. She returned the three rings and confessed to the police.

Ortega, now 19, is pregnant with her second child. She left school after sixth grade. At the time of her trial, she was unemployed.

The jury looked at her with sympathy, despite the fact that she was a thief, an illegal immigrant, and had gotten pregnant with a second child despite already having one she couldnt care for.

They voted that she was guiltybut also voted that she should only be fined $60 for her crime.

Jury foreman Jeffery Memmott told the Washington Post, The general sentiment was she was a victim, too.

Juror Janice Woolridge said, Justice had to be done.

But, she added, Theres also got be some compassion somewhere. Young people make bad decisions. We just couldnt pile on any more.

So the members of the jury, who had just found this person guilty of a felony, pulled out their wallets, pooled their resources, and paid her fine.

Two of the women (jurors) were crying because of how bad they felt, Jeffrey Mammot explained. One lady pulled out a $20 bill, and just about everybody chipped in.

The jurors collected $80, so Ortega actually earned $20 for her day in court.

Speaking through an interpreter, Sandra Ortega said, I became happy when I heard they wanted to give me that (money.) Thank you very much to all of them, God bless them, she said.

Homeowners Outraged

Lisa and Jeff Copeland, who hired Sandra Ortega and trusted her with free run of their home, were outraged by the outcome.

While she might have come across as a victim to the jurors, there is more to Sandra Ortega than those jurors were able to see.

Ortega did spend eight days in jailbut she posted the $1,000 bond required to get out. She might have been unemployedor not legally employedbut she was not without resources.

Lisa Copeland thought the jury needed to look at both sides of the case. I just pray that theyre never in my shoes, she told the Washington Post.

Copeland said she couldnt understand why the jury didnt want to convict Ortega even though she confessed.

The fact that she confessed, and they didnt want to convict her? I dont get this. Thats basically saying its okay to steal.

Copeland was also irritated that the jury was not told that Ortega had posted bond, or that she was in the country illegally.

I think its relevant to the case, Copeland told Fox News.

Her husband Jeff Copeland expressed similar sentiments.

It really irritates me that she came here and committed a felony, he told the Washington Post.

People are coming here because there is opportunity here. But when they come here and commit crimes, thats where youve got to draw the line.

The worst part, to Lisa Copeland, was that Ortega did not accept responsibility or apologize.

The police said that they had Ortega write a letter of apology, but Copeland said she never received any apology, written or verbal.

If she had accepted accountability, I would be okay with all of this, Copleand concluded. The fact that she wont accept accountability makes it wrong.
An anti-Brexit protester demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, on Dec. 13, 2017. (Reuters/Simon Dawson)

More Than Half of Britons Now Want to Stay in EU: Poll

EDINBURGHA poll has found that 51 percent of Britons would now keep European Union membership while 41 percent want to leave the bloc, a near reversal of last years referendum result.

The BMG poll of 1,400 people for The Independent published on the newspapers website on Saturday came as Britain moves into a second phase of negotiations on exiting the EU, which will focus on trade.

The Independent said the lead for remain over leave was the biggest in any poll so far since the vote in June 2016.

The head of polling at BMG, quoted in the Independent, said that the reason for the change was a shift in opinion among those who did not vote in last years referendum, while around nine in 10 leave and remain voters were unchanged in their views. The survey was carried out from December 5 to 8.

In the referendum last year, 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the EU and 48 percent voted to remain.

Mike Smithson, an election analyst who runs the www.politicalbetting.com website who is also a former Liberal Democrat politician, said on Twitter it was the biggest lead for Remain since (the EU referendum).

Prime Minister Theresa May this week secured an agreement with the EU to move Brexit talks on to trade and a transition pact, but some European leaders warned that negotiations, which have been arduous so far, could now become tougher.

By Elisabeth OLeary
Neighbor Shoots Dog That Attacked and Injured 6-Year-Old Boy

A 6-year-old boy is injured after he was attacked by a dog in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina on Dec. 16.

The child, whose name was not released, was playing outside his home on Anastasia Court when he was attacked around 4:30 p.m Saturday evening, according to NBC affiliate WCNC.

The dog, which was being walked by its owner, broke loose from its collar and pounced on the boy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.

The child was sent to Carolinas Medical Center, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

During the incident, a neighbor shot and killed the dog to stop the attack. According to WCNC, the dog was later pronounced dead and will be transported to a shelter for further testing of rabies.

| WBTV Charlotte

Authorities had not revealed the breed of the dog at the time of writing.

According to CBS affiliate WBTV, the dogs owner was identified by authorities and citations will be issued. Animal Care and Control also said the dog had no previous history of violence.

A 6-year-old boy was injured Saturday afternoon when he was attacked by a dog in northwest Charlotte, officials said. https://t.co/Gbc5g19GSw pic.twitter.com/83thDJl7fo  WSOCTV (@wsoctv) December 17, 2017

The investigation is ongoing.

Recently, another incident involving a dog attack happened in Illinois when an elderly woman was mauled to death by a pit bull, forcing police to kill the animal.

The incident took place on Komensky Ave and 116th St. in the Chicago suburb of Alsip, Illinois.

The victim is a 77-year-old woman. The dog who attacked her was her pet, police said.

77-Year old woman mauled and killed by her pet dog. No prior incidents with dog reported to police. #Alsip @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/eXDF7p9HF7  Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) December 12, 2017

CBS Chicago reported that police were called to the home at around 3:30 p.m. after someone reported that a person was being attacked by a dog in the backyard.

The dog was aggressive when police arrived and had to be killed, Alsip police said.

There were no previous complaints involving the dog.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

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French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R) reacts with the panda baby "Yuan Meng" during his visit to the ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France on Dec. 16, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ZooParc de Beauval)

PARIS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday visited Yuan Meng, the country's first-ever panda cub, while he was celebrating his 40th birthday with family at Beauval zoo in central France, the zoo said in a statement.

"The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron came to celebrate his 40th birthday at the ZooParc de Beauval, with his family, during a private visit ... to Yuan Meng, the baby panda godson of Brigitte Macron," the zoo added.

During a naming ceremony on Dec. 4, French First Lady, new panda's godmother, announced with Chinese officials that the four-month-old cub's name was Yuan Meng which means "dream comes true" in Chinese.

Born on Aug. 4, the baby panda had been called as "Mini Yuan Zi", referring to his father Yuan Zi, who arrived with his female partner Huan Huan in central France's Beauval zoo in January 2012.

The panda baby, who will return home at the age of three, can be seen by visitors to the zoo as of Jan. 13.
The Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, taken from an airplane in January 2008. (David B. Gleason/Wikimedia Commons)

Pentagon Admits to Funding Alien Research Program

Pentagon officials confirmed that millions in government money supported a program to collect information on unexplained aerial phenomenon.

The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification program continues today, but without government money, according to military intelligence official Luis Elizondo, via The New York Times. The program received government funding starting in 2007 until it was defunded in 2012.

Program workers collected materials recovered from UFOs, examined people who experienced physiological symptoms after encountering UFOs, and spoke to members of the military who filed reports on seeing strange objects.

The New York Times published footage of Navy pilots encountering UFOs, recovered as part of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification program. The article described how they encountered a highly advanced aircraft that could travel extremely fast and hover over water, as well as move in ways they never saw an aircraft move. It was reports like these not getting enough attention that caused Elizondo, who led the program from within the Pentagon, to resign. He was frustrated with the program getting low priority by the Department of Defense, according to the Times.

In his resignation letter, Elizondo said more attention should be given to the many accounts from the Navy and other services of unusual aerial systems interfering with military weapon platforms and displaying beyond-next-generation capabilities. He also asked, Why arent we spending more time and effort on this issue? in the letter, via the Times. He has since named a successor and said that the program continues.

Robert Bigelow asegura que los extraterrestres viven entre nosotros, en la Tierra  Grandes Medios https://t.co/x7lNFqXn0p pic.twitter.com/I2cI5WY6Lp  Magnifico (@polom101) June 8, 2017

Robert Bigelow provides the expertise to operate the program, along with the facilities. He runs Bigelow Aerospace and works with NASA. Bigelow found financial success with a chain of cheap, long-stay hotels, CBS reported. He funneled that money into his aerospace and UFO passion. Bigelow mentioned his grandparents had a UFO encounter while he was growing up in Nevada. That gave him the motivation to explore the topic further.

There has been and is an existing presence, an ET presence. And I spent millions and millions and millions  I probably spent more as an individual than anybody else in the United States has ever spent on this subject, said Bigelow, via CBS.

This isnt the first time such a program existed. In 1947 the Air Force started to investigate claims of over 12,000 UFO sightings, the Times reported. The program, which included the code-named Project Blue Book, ended in 1969 with 701 phenomena still unexplained.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, January 15, 2016 and President Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City on May 17, 2016. (REUTERS/Ivan Sekretarev/Pool/Lucas Jackson)

Putin Thanks Trump for CIA Tip-Off to Russia to Prevent Church Terrorist Attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Donald Trump on Sunday to thank him for information that allowed Russia to prevent a terrorist attack at a church, it was reported.

The CIA provided information to Russian law-enforcement agencies to prevent a planned attack at the Kazansky Cathedral in Russias city of St. Petersburg, Reuters reported, citing the Interfax news agency.

Russian officials were able to arrest the plotters of the attack.

According to state-run media, the Russian Federal Security Service arrested members of a cell tied to the ISIS terrorist group. They had plans to attack other sites in Russia.

Putin also said that he would alert U.S. authorities if Russia got any information about an attack thats being planned in the United States, Reuters reported.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed Sunday that Trump spoke with Putin, The Associated Press reported.

The White House stated that Trump also spoke with Putin last Thursday about how the two countries can work together to resolve North Koreas nuclear program, Politico reported.

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Worker of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries block a road during a demonstration near the facility in Neot Hovav, southern Israel December 17, 2017. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)

Strike Briefly Shuts Down Israel Over Teva Pharm Job Cuts

JERUSALEMIsraels main public-sector labor union went on a half-day strike on Sunday, closing the airport, the stock exchange, banks and all government ministries as part of a protest against mass layoffs planned by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

The debt-ridden Teva, one of Israels largest companies and the worlds largest generics drugmaker, last week said it would cut its global workforce by more than a quarter, or 14,000 jobs.

Some 1,700 jobs will be cut and a manufacturing site will be closed in Israel, prompting anger from unions and politicians, who believe Tevas employees should not pay for the companys failed investments abroad.

Sunday is the beginning of the Israeli work week. Hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike until 12:00 pm (1000 GMT) and many held solidarity rallies outside Teva facilities.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange said the trading day would be shortened, opening at 1 pm and closing as usual at about 4:30 pm.

All departing flightsmainly from Europeat Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport between 8 am and at least 12 pm were either canceled or delayed. Similarly, no flights will be allowed to land until after 12 pm.

Trains and buses were initially supposed to strike as well, but the Histadrut labor federation decided to allow public transit to operate so that soldiers could get back to their bases, as they typically do on Sunday mornings.

We are fighting on behalf of Tevas workers to save Israels industry  and to convey the message that layoffs are the last and not the first step in the public and private sectors, said Histadrut chief Avi Nissenkorn.

He called the current crisis the fault of Tevas management and board, adding: It is the states responsibility to prevent thousands of Israeli families from paying the price for this.

Saddled with nearly $35 billion in debt since acquiring Allergans Actavis generic drug business for $40.5 billion, Teva made a series of changes after Kare Schultz joined as its new chief executive on Nov. 1.

Its two-year restructuring plan is intended to reduce Tevas cost base by $3 billion by the end of 2019, out of an estimated cost base for 2017 of $16.1 billion.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Schultz last week, asking that he keep layoffs in Israel to a minimum. Schultz said Teva would maintain its headquarters in Israel.

By Steven Scheer

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Caption: Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan hold a rally and parade in Taipei to show support for the more 200,000 people who have filed criminal complaints against former Party leader Jiang Zemin on July 17, 2016. (Chen Po-chou/The Epoch Times)

Taiwanese Government Forbids Chinese Officials Involved in Persecution of Falun Gong from Entering Taiwan

The Taiwanese government took a big step forward in protecting human rights when it recently denied entry to at least three human rights violators from China who were planning to visit Taiwan.

On Dec. 10, the Taiwanese newspaper the Liberty Times reported on its website that a joint task force consisting of different Taiwanese government bodies denied at least three Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials and members of their professional exchange groups from entering Taiwan, because they were involved with the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners inside China.

The joint task force included Taiwans National Immigration Agency and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwans top government agency in charge of China policy. They said any CCP officials with ties to the 610 Office, an extralegal Party organization created for the sole purpose of carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, would not be allowed to enter Taiwan, according to the Liberty Times. Based on information it has gathered, the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association, an organization representing local Falun Gong practitioners on the island, has submitted to the task force a list of officials who are involved in the persecution.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline with meditation exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. It was introduced to the public in China in 1992. The practice quickly reached a high level of popularity in China, with over 70 million practitioners, according to a state survey in 1999though practitioners estimated the number was over 100 million. Fearing the popularity of the discipline would jeopardize the CCPs rule, then Party leader Jiang Zemin initiated a nationwide persecution, subjecting practitioners to torture in prisons, labor camps, and brainwashing centers.

While Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China are targets of severe persecution under the CCPs one-party rule, adherents in Taiwan are free to practice their faith. Since the Republic of China was established in Taiwan in 1949, the relationship between China and Taiwan has been frosty, as the Chinese regime regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should eventually reunite with the mainland, either voluntarily or by force.

The move shows that Taiwan upholds human rights, and how its valuing and upholding humans rights have been put into concrete actions, said Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister of MAC, in an interview with the Taiwan branch of the New York-based New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD).

I believe every country in the world has similar practices, Chiu added.

We strongly approve of what the government has done, said Theresa Chu, human rights lawyer and spokesperson for the Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Working Group in Taiwan, in an interview with NTD.

We believe the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has in fact made a response to the Trump administration, [by showing] how the Global Magnitsky Act is needed everywhere in the world.

In 2016, the U.S. Congress enacted the Global Magnitsky Act, allowing the U.S. government to impose visa bans and targeted sanctions on individuals anywhere in the world who are responsible for committing human rights violations in their respective countries.

Many Taiwanese legislators have also voiced their approval of the governments action. Wang Ding-yu, a legislator in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said, We also call on countries around the world who support democracy and human rights: dont welcome these people, in an interview with NTD.

Let them know that, you can persecute other people, but you will have no place to go in the world, Wang added.

Zhu Xinxin, formerly an editor at the state-run Hebei Peoples Radio Station who now resides in Taiwan, also applauded the Taiwanese governments commitment to human rights, In an interview with NTD, Zhu said, I believe the international community and people in China, through this incident [in Taiwan], will remember that they should track down these criminals.

Zhu added that their crimes should be exposed publicly for the world to see.
Twin Suicide Bombers Attack Church in Pakistans Quetta Ahead of Christmas, Killing Eight

QUETTA/ISLAMABADTwo suicide bombers attacked a packed Methodist church in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least eight people and wounding up to 45 before one of them blew himself up and police killed the other, officials said.

The gunmen wearing explosives-filled vests stormed the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened, exploding a suicide vest and shooting at the Christian worshippers, said Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province.

Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah. He said two women were among those killed.

There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldnt get inside the services, Jah said. We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him, he said.

Jah said the venueBethel Memorial Methodist Churchwas on high alert as Christian places of worship were often targeted by Islamist extremist over Christmas.

Another police official, Abdur Razaq Cheema, said two attackers escaped from the scene.

No one has claimed responsibility.

Baluchistan has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich regions resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination.

The Taliban, Sunni Islamist terrorists and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the ISIS terrorist group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan.

The violence has fueled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistans southern deep-water port of Gwadar.

Pakistan has launched several military offensives over the last decade against the Islamist terrorists who want to install their own harsh brand of religion.

Although beaten and dispersed, the terrorists have shown resilience to launch spectacular attacks. Early this month, three Taliban suicide bombers attacked an agriculture college in northwestern Peshawar city, killing eight students and a guard.

By Gul Yousafzai and Asif Shahzad

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The crime took place on a road in Beirut, Lebanon. (Google Maps screenshot)

UK Embassy Worker Found Dead in Beirut: Reports

A UK embassy worker was found dead in Lebanon, local police said.

The body of Rebecca Dykes was discovered on the side of a road on Saturday, police told the BBC. She had been strangled, sources were quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

Local station Al Jadeed TV reported that shed also been sexually assaulted, though there has been no confirmation from the embassy.

UK National found dead in Lebanon named as UK embassy employee Rebecca Dykes pic.twitter.com/4Byuyg2q13  The Daily Star (@DailyStarLeb) December 17, 2017

An investigation into her death is underway.

We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca, her family said in a statement. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We request that the media respect our privacy.

She was working in Beirut as a policy manager for the Department for International Development since January of this year.

A spokesperson with the UK Department for International Development said that our thoughts are with Beckys family and friends at this very upsetting time.

There is now a police investigation and the FCO [Foreign Office] is providing consular support to Beckys family and working with the local authorities, it statement said.

Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office said its in contact with Lebanese officials.

Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family, a spokesman told the newspaper. We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.

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Fresh Corn Season Might Be Over, but You Can Still Have Delicious Cornbread Using Frozen Corn
Wisconsin Man Gets 6 Months in Prison in Serious Abuse Case: Reports

A Wisconsin man who was accused of abusing his infant daughter was sentenced to six months in prison, according to reports.

Richard A. Root, 21, of Oshkosh, was convicted of beating the 2-month-old, breaking more than 20 bones and causing brain bleeding, the Oshkosh Northwestern reported.

The prison term was part of a seven-year probation term for child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, according to the report.

20 broken bones: Oshkosh father accused of physically abusing 2-month-old daughter: https://t.co/tT7DqHc84a pic.twitter.com/qJ0XfvG23M  FOX6 News (@fox6now) March 9, 2017

Winnebago County Circuit Judge Thomas Gritton told Root to avoid drugs and alcohol, and he has to keep a steady job or attend school full-time. He also needs to undergo counseling, the paper reported.

He pleaded no contest to the abuse of the 2-month old, according to Fox11. The crime took place in March of this year.

Fox11 reported that the child had serious injuries when she was taken to Aurora Medical Center emergency room. They include a broken leg and a broken arm.

Root told police that he snapped due to a lack of sleep, according to the Fox affiliate.

It was reported that after the baby was treated at the hospital, she was released into the care of a relative.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 03:48:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Saturday through his Twitter account that Iran is "a serial missile exporter in the region."

Anwar Gargash, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the defensive nature of Iran's missile program has been exposed for being "a blatant lie."

Gargash stated in English (he usually tweets in Arabic) as "jittery Iranian reactions to evidence showing its culpability in the missile attacks on Saudi Arabia expected."

"Iran's missile program is both aggressive and exportable," added the minister, who regularly comments on geopolitical issues in the Middle East through social media channels.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of providing and operating ballistic missiles for the Shiite Houthi rebels which they have been fighting militarily in a pan-Arab coalition since March 2015 in order to restore Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was ousted by Houthis in September 2014.

Earlier the week, the UAE called on international community "to more forcefully address Iran's threat."

On Nov. 23, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said that the Islamic republic provides "advisory assistance" for Houthi militants, Tasnim news agency reported.
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Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. 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Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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The Williams Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises Transco and Northwest natural gas pipelines; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region, as well as various petrochemical and feedstock pipelines. The Northeast G&P segment engages in the midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation activities in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment comprises gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region, which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins; and operates natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation and storage facilities in central Kansas near Conway. The Gas & NGL Marketing Services segment provides wholesale marketing, trading, storage, and transportation of natural gas for natural gas utilities, municipalities, power generators, and producers; risk and asset management; and NGL marketing services. The company owns and operates 30,000 miles of pipelines, 29 processing facilities, 7 fractionation facilities, and approximately 23 million barrels of NGL storage capacity. The Williams Companies, Inc. was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 05:18:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed Shu'ayb, the first deputy speaker of the Libyan eastern-based House of Representatives (Parliament), on Saturday formally submitted his resignation.

"I have long expressed my desire to resign on more than one occasion, but it was rejected, and even protested by those I respect and appreciate," Shu'ayb wrote in his resignation letter.

"Special circumstances finally made it difficult for me to carry out my duties to the fullest," he added.

"I would like to express my appreciation and respect to all those who have provided support. I offer great apologies for any failure to carry out my duties. At the same time, I wish all the success for you and for our country's security," Shu'ayb said.

Mohammed Shu'ayb is the head of the Parliament's political dialogue committee, which signed on behalf of the Parliament the UN-sponsored Libyan political agreement in the Moroccan city of Skhirat in 2015.

Despite the agreement and appointment of the Government of National Accord, Libyan remains politically divided amid insecurity and chaos.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 06:23:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The deadly wildfire that has scorched the U.S. state of California for nearly two weeks still raged on Saturday and threatened a wealthy community northwest of Los Angeles, prompting new evacuations in Santa Barbara County.

The so-called Thomas Fire, now ranked the third largest wildfire in modern history of California, was moving rapidly and now took aim at the hills above Montecito, known for its luxury resorts and mansions of celebrities.

Taking advantage of a lull in winds in last Wednesday to Friday, firefighters cleared contained areas along the westernmost edge of the giant blaze to stop the wildfire from approaching communities at foothills, Tony Pighetti, a captain of the Santa Barbara fire department, told Xinhua.

However, fueled by a new blast of Santa Ana winds which were predicted to hit the area through Sunday with gusts of 65 mph (110 kph), the Thomas Fire moved northward fast Saturday morning, with flame seen on top of hill over the town.

Kelly Hoover, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman, said authorities dispatched hundreds of crews to Montecito, checking the communities door to door and ordering residents to leave the evacuation zone.

She warned that the situation was really dangerous for their lives since the Santa Ana winds mixed with the Sundowner, a northerly offshore wind in Santa Barbara.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), told reporters at a news briefing on Saturday morning.

"And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations," he added.

A sundowner is particularly dangerous during wildfire season because the air heats and dries as it descends from the mountains to the sea.

Pictures posted on Twitter pages showed that platoons of fire trucks awaited orders with their engines running in parking lots of public schools, churches and other designated safety zones Saturday morning.

Santa Barbara branch of Cal Fire tweeted a video at noon, showing fire engines from Portland of the state of Oregon provided structure protection at the historic San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, a luxury resorts community dated from 1893.

Montecito, a small oceanside city located between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific seashore with about 20,000 residents, were empty since from last week the fire scorched the southern Ventura County.

The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry down-slope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California in fall and winter. They are known as "devil winds" for fanning regional wildfires.

Fanned by the unusual Santa Ana this winter, the Thomas Fire till Saturday morning has scorched about 259,000 acres and 700 homes in Southern California since it ignited on Dec. 4.
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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 07:03:35|Editor: Yamei

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HELSINKI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A feature story published by the leading Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat about the intelligence operations of the Finnish defense forces has resulted in a strong condemnation from Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto.

The story published on Saturday focused on the role of what is known as a signaling experiment unit. The newspaper had obtained highly classified documents about the unit.

The feature concluded the operations of the unit are targeting mainly Russia. One of its duties is to observe any mobilization by Russia in areas close to Finland. The unit also maintains large data bases of information regarding jamming.

Hours after the story was released, Sauli Niinisto said in a statement the action by the newspaper may damage Finland's relations with foreign powers. The president said a police investigation was under way about the way secret documents had been used.

Esa Makinen, managing editor of Helsingin Sanomat, defended the newspaper's publication. He said the decision to stamp something "secret" is comparable to a decision to give someone income support and such a decision should be reviewed.

The managing editor raised the issue whether all the current secrecy is justifiable.

Makinen said that the main aim of the feature story was to bring the unit into public discussion. He said publicity may be "difficult first, but later it usually improves the operation".

He said that as all documents about the unit are secret, the media has to use secret documents if it wants to go beyond what officials say.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 08:03:42|Editor: Mengjie

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Two firefighters work at a fire spot in Carpinteria, California, the United States, Dec. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The ferocious wildfire raging in the U.S. state of California for nearly two weeks grew more volatile on Saturday, threatening a wealthy community northwest of Los Angeles and prompting new evacuation orders in Santa Barbara County.

The so-called Thomas Fire, now ranked the third largest wildfire in modern history of California, was moving rapidly and now took aim at the hills above the unincorporated Santa Barbara County community of Montecito known for its luxury resorts and mansions of celebrities.

Under Saturday's orders, the evacuation zone for Thomas Fire has been expanded to 17 miles (28.9 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8.5 kilometers) wide.

Taking advantage of a lull in winds in last Wednesday to Friday, firefighters cleared contained areas along the westernmost edge of the giant blaze to stop the wildfire from approaching communities at foothills, Tony Pighetti, a captain of the Santa Barbara fire department, told Xinhua.

However, fueled by a new blast of Santa Ana winds which were predicted to hit the area through Sunday with gusts of 65 mph (110 kph), the Thomas Fire moved northward fast Saturday and the flame has been seen on top of hill over the town.

Kelly Hoover, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman, said that authorities dispatched hundreds of crews to Montecito, checking the communities door to door and ordering residents to leave the evacuation zone.

She warned that the situation was really dangerous for their lives since the Santa Ana winds mixed with the Sundowner, a northerly offshore wind in Santa Barbara.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), told reporters at a news briefing on Saturday morning.

"And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations," he added.

A sundowner is particularly dangerous during wildfire season because the air heats and dries as it descends from the mountains to the sea.

Pictures posted on Twitter showed that platoons of fire trucks awaited orders with their engines running in parking lots of public schools, churches and other designated safety zones Saturday morning.

Santa Barbara branch of Cal Fire tweeted a video at noon, showing fire engines from Portland of Oregon state provided structure protection at the historic San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, a luxury resort dated from 1893.

Montecito, a small oceanside city located between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific seashore with about 20,000 residents, were empty since from last week the fire scorched the southern Ventura County.

The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry down-slope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California in fall and winter. They are known as "devil winds" for fanning regional wildfires.

Fanned by the unusual Santa Ana this winter, the Thomas Fire has scorched about 259,000 acres, destroyed 1,000 structures and killed two people including a firefighter in Southern California since it ignited on Dec. 4.

In Cal Fire's list of the top 20 largest wildfires in the state dates back to 1932, only two fires have burned more acreage in California so far this century: the Cedar Fire of 2003, and the Rush Fire of 2012, which burned 273,246 and 271,911, respectively.

A 32-year-old firefighter from San Diego county died Thursday from burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced Saturday by the Ventura County medical examiner's office.

National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan was quoted by ABC news channel as saying that they never seen the red flag warnings were issued for straight 12 days before.

"This has been the longest duration event that we have had a red flag warning out without any breaks," he said.

Red flag warnings were instituted by the weather service in 2004 and are intended to alert fire agencies to hot, dry and windy conditions that foster wildfires.

The National Weather Service warned that red flag conditions would be in effect in the Santa Barbara County mountains till Sunday morning.

To contain the Thomas Fire, about 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states have been battling on fire lines for 13 days, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters. And the firefighting costs approached 89 million U.S. dollars.
Firefighters water down the burning embers from an overnight fire near a home in Fillmore, California on December 15, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP PHOTO)

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The ferocious wildfire raging in the U.S. state of California for nearly two weeks grew more volatile on Saturday, threatening a wealthy community northwest of Los Angeles and prompting new evacuation orders in Santa Barbara County.

The Thomas Fire, now ranked the third largest wildfire in modern history of California, was moving rapidly and now took aim at the hills above the unincorporated Santa Barbara County community of Montecito known for its luxury resorts and mansions of celebrities.

Under Saturday's orders, the evacuation zone for Thomas Fire has been expanded to 17 miles (28.9 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8.5 kilometers) wide.

Taking advantage of a lull in winds in last Wednesday to Friday, firefighters cleared contained areas along the westernmost edge of the giant blaze to stop the wildfire from approaching communities at foothills, Tony Pighetti, a captain of the Santa Barbara fire department, told Xinhua.

However, fueled by a new blast of Santa Ana winds which were predicted to hit the area through Sunday with gusts of 65 mph (110 kph), the Thomas Fire moved northward fast Saturday and the flame has been seen on top of hill over the town.

Kelly Hoover, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman, said that authorities dispatched hundreds of crews to Montecito, checking the communities door to door and ordering residents to leave the evacuation zone.

She warned that the situation was really dangerous for their lives since the Santa Ana winds mixed with the Sundowner, a northerly offshore wind in Santa Barbara.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it," Mark Brown, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), told reporters at a news briefing on Saturday morning.

"And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations," he added.

A sundowner is particularly dangerous during wildfire season because the air heats and dries as it descends from the mountains to the sea.

Kyle Cox, 7, uses a hose to water down the burning embers from an overnight fire near his home in Fillmore, California on December 15, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP PHOTO)

Pictures posted on Twitter showed that platoons of fire trucks awaited orders with their engines running in parking lots of public schools, churches and other designated safety zones Saturday morning.

Santa Barbara branch of Cal Fire tweeted a video at noon, showing fire engines from Portland of Oregon state provided structure protection at the historic San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, a luxury resort dated from 1893.

Montecito, a small oceanside city located between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific seashore with about 20,000 residents, were empty since from last week the fire scorched the southern Ventura County.

The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry down-slope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California in fall and winter. They are known as "devil winds" for fanning regional wildfires.

Fanned by the unusual Santa Ana this winter, the Thomas Fire has scorched about 259,000 acres, destroyed 1,000 structures and killed two people including a firefighter in Southern California since it ignited on Dec. 4.

In Cal Fire's list of the top 20 largest wildfires in the state dates back to 1932, only two fires have burned more acreage in California so far this century: the Cedar Fire of 2003, and the Rush Fire of 2012, which burned 273,246 and 271,911, respectively.

A 32-year-old firefighter from San Diego county died Thursday from burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced Saturday by the Ventura County medical examiner's office.

National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan was quoted by ABC news channel as saying that they never seen the red flag warnings were issued for straight 12 days before.

"This has been the longest duration event that we have had a red flag warning out without any breaks," he said.

Red flag warnings were instituted by the weather service in 2004 and are intended to alert fire agencies to hot, dry and windy conditions that foster wildfires.

The National Weather Service warned that red flag conditions would be in effect in the Santa Barbara County mountains till Sunday morning.

To contain the Thomas Fire, about 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states have been battling on fire lines for 13 days, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters. And the firefighting costs approached 89 million U.S. dollars.
In the last 125 years The Star has published thousands of recipes, many of those during the holiday seasons. Looking back, those recipes offer a glimpse into the past  what ingredients were available (citrus-forward recipes emerged with Tropicanas rise in the 50s), what kitchen innovations home cooks were obsessed with (before the Instant Pot, The Star ran many microwave recipes in the 80s, including for turkeys) and how certain dishes and ingredients reflected the news of the time (using shortening instead of butter during the Second World War).

We dug back through more than a centurys worth of Star recipes to see what they could tell us about life in Toronto over the years.

1900s: The Ice Box Years

During the formative years of the paper, recipes were found under Madge Mertons Page, which was the pen name for Star reporter Elmina Ella Susannah Elliott Atkinson. On Dec. 1. 1900, Merton praised the new oven thermometers that were now attached to oven doors, resulting in more accurate temperature readings and tastier roasted birds (she then offered tips on roasting an eight-pound turkey).

A Dec. 30, 1905, recipe for turkey mayonnaise in a jelly ring offered a suggestion for leftovers: a jelly mould of whisked aspic and heavy cream on a bed of watercress with a big dollop of chopped turkey, celery and mayonnaise in the centre. Refrigerators wouldnt be in homes for another decade, so the recipe calls for literally putting the mould on ice.

1910s: Wartime Christmas

The outbreak of the First World War resulted in higher food costs and scarce ingredients. On Dec. 14, 1916, recipes encouraged using buttermilk as it was cheaper than regular milk for muffins, scones and cakes. A year later, War Menus were developed by the Canadian government to discourage the use of wheat, bacon and beef, so that those ingredients could be shipped to troops overseas. For Christmas dinner, The Star published a recipe from the government that used margarine, which was previously banned in Canada due to protests from dairy farmers but had been temporarily legalized due to butter shortages.

1920s: The Trendy Banana Candle Salad

A feature in the Dec. 22, 1926 edition marked the first appearance of the infamous holiday Candle Salad  it also popped up in other publications at the time, including the L.A. Times (1921), Womens World Magazine (1924) and Good Housekeeping (1927). Its comprised of a peeled banana placed in the centre of a pineapple ring on top of a bed of lettuce. A pimento pepper is then placed atop the banana to resemble a flame, and a strip of green pepper on the bananas side to represent a handle. Food history site Food Timeline says the recipes popularity is likely due to influence from the burgeoning Dole pineapple company in Hawaii.

1930s: Escapism on a dime

In a decade when any kind of cheer was a welcome respite from The Great Depression, food editor Marie Holmes Cooking Chat column put out economical recipes that emphasized appearance as much as taste. On Dec. 23, 1934, the paper featured Christmas Canapes (star-shaped slices of bread spread with cream cheese topped with pimento and parsley); The Dec. 24, 1934 edition touted decorative plates of mint and cranberry jellies to liven up the dinner table; and on Dec. 21, 1936, printed a how-to on making festive popcorn balls decorated with red and green food colouring.

1940s: Staying Strong on the Home Front

Many of our allies need Canadian food to help them fight this war, writes Holmes in her Dec. 16, 1943 column. (At home) there will be plenty, but without extravagance, and Christmas dinner can be made festive because of extra care in cooking and serving. As turkeys were sent to the troops, Holmes suggested roasting chicken, duck, goose or beef instead. Nuts were also scarce, so plum puddings would have to omit them. Butter was rationed, so cookie recipes from the Dec. 15, 1943, column included raisin cookies and bran cocoa squares using shortening.

Recipes at this time also had a focus on. Families needed to be healthy to keep up with the war effort, and, as Holmes wrote in her Dec. 6, 1940, column, the prevalence of electric appliances such as the vacuum had led to more sedentary lifestyles and thus, the need to consume more fruits and vegetables for producing health and energy requirements without the burden of surplus weight. Thus, light and dainty Christmas salads of celery curls stuffed with beet relish and pears stuffed with cranberry-orange-relish were introduced that year. Frozen peas and asparagus also popped up in recipes and adjacent ads, as the canned stuff was sent to soldiers overseas.

1950s: Celebration of Citrus

In food editor Margaret Carrs Cooking Chat column, holiday desserts included fruit: fruit jellies, fruit-nut snowballs, cranberry and date cookies, orange sugared walnuts, orange eggnog, and on Dec. 23, 1953, a Christmas Tree Salad of grapes, diced pineapples, maraschino cherries, ginger, apple, orange, grapefruit and almonds mixed with whipped cream and served in lettuce cups. The prevalence of orange juice in recipes no doubt coincided with the Tropicana juice companys emergence years earlier.

The mass production of refrigerators prompted Carr to create a Dec. 17, 1956 recipe for macaroni and frankfurter bake meant to be frozen and reheated on Christmas Day. The turkey also got a new look in the Dec. 26, 1957 edition as Carr details deboning the bird then rolling it into a log: quicker and easier to for father to carve, and a perfect recipe to test out the new wave of electric stoves.

1960s: International Flavours Go Mainstream

The influx of Chinese immigrants to Canada during this decade coincided with more Chinese restaurants popping up in cities and a greater appreciation for Asian-inspired dishes amongst readers. A Dec. 15, 1960, ad for Philadelphia Cream Cheese included yuletide snacks recipes that included an Oriental Philly Dip that mixed cream cheese with soy sauce, grated onion, lemon juice and ginger. Carrs Dec. 17, 1960, column recommended a new cookbook for the giving season called Secrets of Chinese Cookery by Tsuifeng and Hsiangju Lin and included a recipe for sweet and sour pork balls.

Recipes had a greater global bent, either inspired by travel (this was the supposed Golden Age of Flying) or the increasingly multicultural makeup of Toronto. Theres a recipe for Yugoslavian poteca (walnut-stuffed Christmas bread  Dec. 13, 1963), Austrian coffee cake (Dec 23, 1968) and even curried turkey-mushroom casserole (Dec. 24, 1962). Carrs Dec. 2, 1963, column recommended a new 745-page cookbook called Fare Exchange by Dorothy Allen Gray that collected recipes from Canadians of different nationalities.

1970s: Career girls and Bachelor Nation

The Sunday Cook column featured recipes from a wide range of home cooks that demonstrated shifting demographics. Career girls living alone in the city cooked filet of sole for friends (Dec. 18. 1971), bachelors made pot-roasts and full turkey dinners for friends and coworkers, and York University students whipped up anchovy and boiled egg appetizers. Another entertaining spread in the Dec. 8 1976 edition featured specialized recipes on what to make if youre an empty nester (tea-time fruitcake balls), single (easy party sandwiches), part of a working couple (quick quiche), or homemaker (salad with whipped cream dressing). Hanukkah recipes started appearing with a spread on Nov. 25, 1972, featuring obligatory latkes, heizenblozen (sweet fried dough) and a pudding thats prepared a month in advance.

1980s: Marvellous Microwaves

Food coverage greatly expanded in the paper and featured more recipes from local restaurants, readers, cookbook authors and celebrities, such as Sharon, Lois and Brams Elephant-Bite Brownies (Dec. 7, 1980). Hollywood also seeped into recipes as food writer Jim White created a Victorian Christmas menu inspired by the 1981 movie The French Lieutenants Woman, starring Meryl Streep in her first leading role.

Madame (Jehane) Benoit, the Canadian equivalent to Julia Child, released a four-volume Encyclopedia of Microwave Cooking in 1985. Included in his Dec. 18 gift guide, food writer David Kingsmill wrote the book undoubtedly will become a standard reference in the field of microwave cookery and The Star regularly republished her microwave recipes, such as one for plum pudding on Dec. 9. 1987.

Also, a reprinted recipe from Newsday that ran on Dec. 22, 1986, suggested cooking an under-16-pound turkey in the microwave in 15- to 20-minute intervals. We dont recommend trying it.

1990s: Rise of Celebrity Chefs

The creation of The Food Network in 1993 catapulted chefs from the kitchen into millions of homes. Food editor Marion Kane gave readers a look at the influential chefs, restaurateurs and personalities that defined Torontos dining scene. A Dec. 1, 1993, feature included holiday recipes from the citys top female chefs (who also spoke about sexism in kitchens in this piece) at places such as Yorkvilles Four Seasons, Splendido, Mildred Pierce and the still-going-strong Scaramouche.

Kane also recommended The Dave Nichol Cookbook as a gift that year. Nichol, best known as the face of Loblaws, was responsible for creating the PC Insiders Report magazine that introduced iconic eats such as the PC Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie that debuted in 1988. In 1994, she touted cookbooks from other local authors such as then-Star contributor Bonnie Stern, and Naomi Duguid, who continues to rack up culinary writing awards to this day.

In December 1998, five fans got to meet Emeril Lagasse in The Stars test kitchen for a bread pudding taste test published Dec. 16. A month before, on Nov. 11, 1998, The Star announced its food section would be available on this new thing called the World Wide Web.

2000s to present: Best of The 6

The new millennium saw food editor Jennifer Bain reaching beyond turkey and stuffing and toward multicultural communities in Scarborough, Markham, Richmond Hill and Etobicoke to capture what GTA residents and restaurants were really cooking.

After all, in 2011 the census reported that just under half of Torontos population identified as being a visible minority (that number inched just past 50 per cent in 2016).

The Dec. 18. 2002 edition reported on a Mexican Christmas fiesta thrown for Mexican newcomers and farm workers that featured chicken tamales and champurrado (chocolate atole) using ingredients that had yet to seep into the mainstream, such as tomatillos and masa. A Dec. 17, 2009 feature included recipes from families celebrating fall and wintertime holidays, be it Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali or St. Lucia Day, with recipes for Tri-colour Christmas Latkes and Holiday Chai Spice Ladoos (Snowballs).

The annual Cookie Calendar, which was started in 2007 and features 24 cookie recipes for the month of December, also diversified in 2012 with recipes from readers ranging from chai snickerdoodles to peanut butter-bacon cookies. The 2014 edition included recipes from the citys Greek, Chinese, Danish and Persian bakeries, showing just how far Toronto has come in the last century and a bit.

karonliu@thestar.ca

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A lawyer for an Inuk activist suffering from acute liver failure says several supporters have volunteered to be her organ donor, but the search for a viable match is being stalled by an Ontario transplant programs six-month sobriety requirement.

According to friends and family, Delilah Saunders was sent to a Toronto hospital in critical condition after having been denied a spot on a transplant waiting list because she hadnt remained sober for the previous six months.

Lawyer Caryma Sad, who is representing Saunders, said the 26-year-old womans condition has slightly improved and she seemed more like her usual self on Sunday as she and her family awaited further test results to find out if she is on track to make a recovery or still needs a liver transplant.

Were still in that wait-and-see game, but by all accounts, she looks stronger and in better spirits, Sad said. Shes an incredible and resilient person, so if anyones going to fight through this, its hopefully going to be Delilah.

Read more:

Indigenous womans liver assessed in Toronto after outcry over earlier transplant refusal

Liver transplant rules violate my rights, dying man says

After being diagnosed with acute liver failure about a week ago, Saunders was transferred from the Ottawa Hospital to Toronto General Hospital on Thursday to be assessed in a transplant clinic.

Sad said friends, family and even strangers have offered to donate parts of their liver to Saunders, but none of the candidates have been screened because of an Ontario organ donation agencys policy requiring patients with alcohol-related liver damage to abstain from substance use for a minimum of six months.

If a transplant is needed, the first step will be determining her eligibility, she said. (There are) things that could be happening in the background, but shes not on the list yet.

The Trillium Gift of Life Network, which provides organs for transplants in Ontario, says its abstinence policy is used across Canada and the United States.

A spokesperson for Trillium has confirmed the agency plans to launch a pilot project to suspend the six-month requirement and provide transplants to almost 100 patients with alcohol-related liver disease.

Transplant physicians have said there is a critical organ shortage and research has shown that some alcoholics resume drinking after a transplant, leading to liver failure.

Sad said several potential donors have offered to help Saunders with full awareness of her history of alcohol use, making the arbitrary criteria even less applicable.

She said she is prepared to challenge the policy in court if necessary, and while her chief concern is Saunders well-being, she thinks the case has the potential to help hundreds of patients in similar situations.

Delilah is an advocate in every other respect, so I think that would please her very much . . . if this can have a broader impact, she said.

Saunders case is the latest in a series of clashes over the transplant policy, and has drawn national attention with demonstrations being held in several Canadian cities.

Amnesty International has thrown its support behind a campaign for Saunders inclusion on the waiting list, and praised her for her work advocating for the human rights of Innu and other Indigenous women.

Ossie Michelin, a friend of Saunders who helped organize the campaign, said her personal struggles and Indigenous rights advocacy are intimately connected.

We knew from the very beginning that this is what shed want us to do. Shed want us to fight, Michelin said. We just keep thinking about all of the people who do not have a support network like Delilah.

Saunders began advocating for the rights of missing and murdered Indigenous women following the murder of her sister, Loretta, in 2014 in Halifax, and according to Michelin, she started drinking around the same time.

Saunders had been sober for several months before relapsing shortly after giving emotionally charged testimony before the National Inquiry into Murder and Missing Women and Girls at Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton in October, Michelin said.

Loretta was gone in an instant, he said. Her mom was saying this time shes losing her child, but this time its happening in slow motion right in front of her.

Correction  December 19, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled the surname of Caryma Sad.

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A timeline of the Spadina subway extension.

1985  A TTC report calls for an ambitious program of subways to be built over the next 28 years, including expanding the Spadina subway north. At this time it runs only to Wilson Ave.

1988 to 1994  Its terribly difficult for people to get in or out of this area to go to work, said York Centre MPP Greg Sorbara in 1988. Metro council approves a $160 million plan to extend the Spadina subway 1.6 km to Sheppard Ave., despite York region politicians calling for it to go further north to York University. Metro council goes back to the idea, but finally rejects it in 1994.

1995  The TTC announces that it wont survive if it funds the extension, among other projects. Then-premier Bob Rae said the province will take over the TTC if Metro council rejects the extension to York University. That summer, Rae and the New Democratic Party of Ontario are ousted in a provincial election by the Progressive Conservatives. The extension is shelved.

1996  The Spadina subway is extended to Sheppard Ave. and the Downsview station (now Sheppard West) officially opens.

1999 to 2004  The TTC renews its interest in expanding the line further to not only York University, but also Vaughan. Politicians tout it as a way to spur the economy in the suburbs and help ease congestion. Critics call it a potential money pit the city cannot afford. In 2004, the city expects it to cost $1.5 billion and take five to eight years to build.

2006 to 2008 Toronto and York Region councils approve municipal funding for an extension. In March 2006, the province commits $670 million with the condition the line extends past York University to Vaughans future downtown. The two extra stations are expected to push the total cost up from $1.5 billion to $2 billion and distance from 6.2 km to 8.6 km. Ottawa commits $697 million, but doesnt deliver the funds until 2008, delaying the project start date by 16 months.

2009  TTC starts construction in November on the extension and aims to complete the project by 2015 and within an increased budget of $2.6 billion.

2012 to 2014 The project is plagued with setbacks including the death of a construction worker in 2012 followed by a four-month long investigation, an unusually harsh winter in 2013, tunneling issues under York University, and difficulties with contractors and subcontractors. The TTC says it faces critical scheduling issues pushing the completion date to 2016.

March 2015  The Star learns the extension is a further $400 million over budget, pushing the $3 billion mark. Shortly after, the TTC fires two senior managers in charge of the extension.

September 2015  TTC CEO Andy Byford describes the expansion as an albatross around my neck.

January 2016  Construction claims and other expenses push the cost up to $3.2 billion and official opening to the end of 2017, two years later than expected.

December 17, 2017  More than 30 years after the idea was first put forward, the Spadina subway bursts through the citys northern border, connecting York University and Vaughan with Toronto.

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When Ausma Malik considered running for Toronto city council, she thought about what it would be like to again knock on doors, wondering every time if when they open the person on the other side would pledge support or spew hateful barbs.

After being the target of a co-ordinated campaign of hate and Islamophobia during the 2014 election where she ran and decisively won a seat at the Toronto District School Board, Malik appears to be the first hijab-wearing Muslim woman to be elected to public office in Canada.

Now, shes set her sights on council.

When nominations open for the 2018 municipal election in May, Malik will sign her name to run in a downtown ward with the support of local progressive incumbents who say she is both competently qualified for the work and uniquely positioned for the job.

In a city where the majority of its 2.6 million residents  or just over 51 per cent  identify as a visible minority, according to the latest federal census data, the current 45-member council that represents them is only 11 per cent visible minorities.

If youre first of one kind of representation, you never want to be the last and I want there to be more  more young people, more women, more people of colour, Black, Indigenous people in leadership positions who are working for everybody, Malik said in an interview. I think thats really exciting to me in putting myself forward for city council and hopefully to invite a new face of council in 2018.

The 33-year-old condo dweller, wearing a plum purple hijab inside a Queen St. West coffee shop, flat white and croissant in front of her, notes other disparities  only a third of council members are women and just two are under the age of 35.

When we dont have those voices being represented at council, there is a huge gap and a distance between the reality that people are facing, the solutions that are possible at council and how those are actually realized and executed, she says.

With a just-released decision on new ward boundaries creating four new wards, Malik says she plans to run in one half of a divided Ward 20 (Trinity-Spadina), now represented by newcomer Councillor Joe Cressy  a fellow NDP voice who ran a joint campaign with Malik and friend Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) in 2014.

Beyond wanting progressive city-builders on council, Cressy said what Malik brings in terms of diversity is important: We represent a city that when you look at us as city councillors we dont reflect that city. So, how open are we? And how able are we to respond to issues that affect all religious and ethnic groups in our city if we dont have a lived experience that can speak to them?

Downtown Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale), the only racialized woman on council and also the only openly LGBTQ member, said she too would welcome Malik in the chamber.

Shes not just hard working, shes also a person with incredible integrity, Wong-Tam said.

Maliks political sensibilities are rooted in student activism from her days at the University of Toronto and have been stoked through community outreach, working on education policy for the Ontario NDP, labour organizing at the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario and on staff at the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Malik is the third of four children. Raised in Mississauga, she has lived downtown for more than a decade. She identifies as a proud feminist, Muslim and woman of colour and has become comfortable behind a microphone speaking out against misogyny, Islamophobia and racism as a private citizen and as a trustee.

She talks about the challenge of living in increasingly vertical communities and the pressure on both youth and seniors for whom the city is increasingly unaffordable. She just as easily pivots to her favourite Netflix shows and Slack channels she follows.

During the 2014 election, Malik was one of several candidates who was targeted by Islamophobic attacks that left her repeatedly explaining she does not support terrorist organizations or want sharia law. Flyers anonymously circulated in the ward accused her of backing both the Toronto 18 cell and Hezbollah.

Is SHE the person you want to choose YOUR childrens curriculum? one flyer read.

At the doors and during debates there were genuinely scary experiences that took a psychological toll, Malik said. She stopped canvassing alone and at one public event was ushered out a different door while an angry group that had been heckling her waited for her outside.

There was also the man she met one day while knocking on doors who approached and asked if she was Ausma Malik. Yes, she said, bracing herself for what would come next.

Hed been tearing down the hateful flyers around the community, he told her, pulling door hangers from his neighbours front doors. His family, he said, were Holocaust survivors and it reminded him of the stories they told him of anti-Semitism and what hate does.

That act of generosity and that human connection and also knowing that people saw the campaign for what it was ... it was an amazing experience and affirming, she says now.

In an open, nine-way race, more than 16,000 people picked Malik to be their trustee for Ward 10 (Trinity-Spadina). She won with 40 per cent of the vote.

Though in recent months she has given public talks on the hate-fuelled campaign against her, she said it took time to be ready to talk about it.

In one, she quoted Muhammad Ali: There is no pleasure in fights, but some fights are a pleasure to win  this is one of them.

She says she didnt realize the larger significance of her win until later.

The Star reached out to several national Muslim associations and searched media clippings but was also unable to confirm if any other hijab-wearing women have been elected to public office. Several women who wear a hijab have run as candidates for political office and there are Muslim women who do not wear a hijab who have held provincial and federal seats across the country.

Council today is largely full of longtime politicians, some who have been seated for decades, and who have opposed electoral reform that advocates say would even the playing field.

Wong-Tam, who has herself been subjected to hate-filled letters and attacks as a councillor, said what happened to Malik on the campaign is something no one should face and that it can be a barrier to entry.

I do think that its very important for people to recognize that its not easy for racialized communities to step forward and run for public office, she said.

Kofi Hope, executive director for the CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals and a community activist, met Malik more than a decade ago as students pushing back against race-based policing following what became known as the Summer of the Gun. He said Malik worked behind-the-scenes to organize and build support for those putting themselves in the spotlight on that debate.

Shes a great leader because shes also known how to be a great team player, Hope said. Being a change agent and a change maker and someone committed to social justice is her occupation, is part of her life, but politics is her calling.

Malik avoids saying anything pointedly critical of the job Mayor John Tory is doing (Tory plans to run for a second term), saying only the mayor has a role to be more bold and to work for everyone. She said she is glad there are vocal progressive councillors currently pushing important issues.

Im committed to the city and to our neighbourhoods, Malik says of her own ambitions. Im someone who will have the courage and commitment to honour their vote, to take my responsibility seriously.

And she said: I invite the conversations that I get to have on the doorstep.

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It was a late spring day in Peterborough when Sue James started cleaning out the office that served as the epicentre for a long and arduous journey: seeking justice for hundreds of General Electric retirees who believe years of exposure to toxic substances made them sick.

The cleanup was a hopeful gesture, a prayer that the journey was near completion. So much had happened already in 2017: most notably, the completion of an exhaustive study detailing decades of exposure to toxic substances at the factory and a commitment by the provincial workers compensation board to review 250 denied claims for a range of devastating cancers.

James, whose father died of a tumour in his lung and four on his spine after three decades at the factory, felt almost ready to exhale.

But not quite.

A year on from a Star investigation that revealed the extent of toxic exposures at one of Canadas oldest industrial facilities, workers say they have scored some important victories. But they say not all the necessary solutions have materialized yet  testing the patience of some, and trying the spirit of those who have led a decades-long fight.

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For the group of retirees  many of whom have had battles with cancer or watched loved ones fall victim to it  time is at a premium.

As well as having some high points, its been an emotional rollercoaster, James said. Weve lost a lot of people this last year.

As part its 2016 investigation, the Star reviewed hundreds of pages of documentation that showed unsafe levels of toxic substances at the facility between 1960 and roughly 1980, as well as repeated warnings by government inspectors about poor housekeeping, shoddy ventilation and lack of personal protective equipment.

But it wasnt until 2004 that an intake clinic sought to identify potential occupational diseases amongst retirees. Of the 660 compensation claims subsequently made for a range of occupational diseases  including brain, bowel and lung cancer  around half were denied, abandoned or withdrawn for apparently insufficient evidence.

This September, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) announced it would review more than 250 previously denied claims  which workers call one of their biggest wins to date. Of the 47 completed reviews, 30 denials have already been overturned  some 64 per cent.

Over the past year, retirees have also met with Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn regularly to discuss solutions for ailing employees and family, including ideas like presumptive legislation that could make it easier for workers to win compensation claims for occupational diseases.

Roger Fowler, 71, who is seeking to have his denied claim for cancer of the rectum overturned, says Flynn has gone so far as to call him personally on numerous occasions to provide updates on his file.

Developments like these are what give Steve Crossley, whose father-in-law Ed Condon died of a massive brain tumour after 42 years at GE, some hope.

When we started in this, I look at it like we were in a smart car stuck in the mud, he says. I think were on the highway now.

But when the Star met with a dozen GE families this December, all of them agreed there is more to be done.

Mark Quades parents spent most of their lives working at General Electric. He lost them both before they turned 50.

For many years, Quade says he harboured a quiet anger at the working conditions, including exposure to asbestos, which he believes contributed to their death  his father, Victor, from a massive heart attack at age 48, his mother, Louise, of cancer at 49.

Knowing what I know, Im bitter. Im ugly over it. I lost my parents at a very young age, he told the Star.

But coming from Trenton, where GE had moved some of its operations, Quade had never connected with the tight-knit group of Peterborough workers. When his wife urged him to read about their struggle, he was initially reluctant.

I said, I dont want nothing to do with General Electric, he recalls. What am I going to do, hire a lawyer to fight (them)?

But the injustice gnawed at him, as did the memory of his mothers last day of work  the day she crumpled over from a sharp pain in her back.

Thats when they found a tumour, he says. The doctor said, make sure she has a good Christmas.

She died five months later.

This fall, Quade finally decided to reach out to the group of Peterborough retirees. Over the past year, James says theres been a significant uptick in GE workers and or surviving family members getting touch about diseases they believe are work-related  aided in large part by information sessions co-ordinated this spring by the Ministry of Labour.

Christine Arnott, the WSIBs spokesperson, said the board has also received 108 phone calls since September resulting in 41 new claims being filed.

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, which provides expert research to establish whether illnesses are work-related, is also trying to provide assistance to 104 workers or their families who are filing new claims or whose claims are being considered by the WSIB for the first time.

Quade, who is filing a new claim on behalf of his mother, says he is worried that funding for OHCOW  which plays an essential role in building the evidence required to submit claims  still hasnt materialized.

OHCOWs request for additional money from the province to process new claims, first submitted in June, is currently being reviewed. A letter sent this December from the organization to the Ministry of Labour says the lack of funds has created significant frustration for staff and workers.

Promises made to OHCOW and to the workers that they would be given timely assistance to support their cases have not been forthcoming, says the letter obtained by the Star.

Labour minister Flynn said he was pleased with the progress that WSIB has made to date in reviewing GE Peterborough worker cases.

The GE Peterborough worker community has been the driving force for this, and Jeff (Leal, MPP for Peterborough) and I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them through this process and beyond. If cases that have been rejected by the WSIB require further work by OHCOW, we are willing to explore that option, Flynn added.

Time, workers say, is ticking. This year, General Electric announced it would close its sprawling Peterborough plant, which made some of the worlds biggest motors for more than a century  and served as the citys economic engine.

GE has long maintained that health and safety have always been its number one priority and that the company has always followed the best health and safety practices based on the best knowledge available to us at the time. In a statement to the Star, GE Canadas director of communications Jenna LaPlante said the company continues to co-operate with the WSIB as it re-examines compensation claims.

While Quade is new to the GE Peterborough group, some of its core members are now gone.

Last year, the Star profiled Diane Carl, whose husband Art worked at GE for four decades and died of colon cancer that spread to his liver, lung and brain. His claim will now be reconsidered, but the breakthrough has come too late for the wife who advocated tirelessly on his behalf. She passed away three months before the WSIB review was announced.

Each time this happens, it takes a little piece of your heart away, said James.

James is still orchestrating the meetings she hopes will someday become redundant. Although the wheels of justice have started turning, workers say the pace can still be frustrating when the dignity of their loved ones is at stake.

After decades of disappointment  sometimes by the very institutions meant to protect them  trust is often in short supply.

We have showed you what we did for a living, said Jim Dufresne, a 71-year-old prostate cancer survivor who for many years formed part of the factorys so-called labour gang assigned to the dirtiest tasks in the plant.

Now show us what you do, government.

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Dozens of jailhouse letters convicted killer Dellen Millard wrote to a girlfriend who was on his court-ordered no-contact list became crucial evidence at his first-degree murder trial, which ended Saturday with a guilty verdict.

One question, however, remains unanswered: How did those letters get out of jail?

The handwritten notes to Christina Noudga  65 in total  were seized by police in her bedroom in 2014  while Millard was awaiting trial for the murder of a 32-year-old Hamilton man killed in May 2013 while trying to sell his pickup truck.

He would later be charged for the murder of his former lover Laura Babcock, a 23-year-old Toronto woman who vanished in the summer of 2012.

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The motive for that murder was the bad blood between Noudga and Babcock, who were both sleeping with Millard at the same time, court heard.

Laura Babcocks father, Clayton Babcock, says the first-degree murder conviction of Dellen Millard and Mark Smich in the death of his daughter does not ease the pain of her loss. The two men were automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years. (The Canadian Press)

Millard and his close friend Mark Smich were found guilty for Babcocks murder and were also convicted in 2016 for killing Bosma and burning his body in an animal incinerator. They got rid of Babcocks body the same way.

The jailhouse letters to Noudga became evidence in both murder trials.

So far Ive done what I can to separate you from this mess. But it is a very real possibility that you will be called as a witness, Millard wrote in one of the letters.

Watever (sic) you may believe, it needs to be put aside, this is what happened: The night Laura disappeared. I came over to your place early in the morning. I did not text or call, it was a surprise. I tapped on your window, which I do sometimes. You came back to (my home) with me. I told you Laura was over, doing coke with Mark in the basement. We went to say goodnight to them. You saw (underlined) her alive, with Mark, and there was coke on the bar.

He then told Noudga to say that Babcock had overdosed probably from mixing her perscriptions (sic) with Marks coke.

The discovery of Millards letters in Noudgas house prompted the Hamilton police to launch an investigation. It also became a complex ordeal in a Hamilton court beginning in the spring of 2014, with fingers pointed at one of the defence lawyers representing him early on in the Bosma case: Deepak Paradkar.

Pre-trial hearings on the matter concluded with Paradkar handing over Millards defence to another lawyer.

Mr. Paradkar agreed to withdraw, as he appeared to be the only counsel who could be implicated in the transporting of the Millard/Noudga letters out of the jail, reads an agreement signed by Justice Stephen Glithero.

Photographs of the letters  taken by police in Noudgas house  show numerous open yellow envelopes with Deepak Paradkar Solicitor Client Privilege written on them.

Paradkar denies any wrongdoing.

My position is Ive never done anything ethically wrong or been involved. I really have nothing to do with this issue, he told The Canadian Press.

My position is clear: I deny or refute any suggestion that Ive done anything unethical or untoward in any case, including this one. I deny any wrongdoing.

Smichs lawyers wanted the transmission of the letters to be part of the Bosma case to try to show Millards manipulation ability, court documents say. The judge eventually ruled against that.

Three other lawyers visited Millard in jail following his arrest in May 2013: Ravin Pillay, Michael Pierce and Christopher Tarach.

Pillay was cleared of any wrongdoing and went on to represent Millard at the Bosma trial. Tarach did not respond to requests for comment, while Michael Pierce said in an email that he will not be commenting on anything pertaining to Dellen Millard.

While jurors at both murder trials saw some redacted letters, they were never told how Millard got them out of custody. Any mention of the transmission of the letters was carefully edited out before being presented to the jury. A publication ban also prevented the media from reporting on where and when the letters were written until the jury in the Babcock case reached a verdict.

When asked by The Canadian Press about how he got the letters to Noudga, Millard replied in a written statement that he was not available for comment.

Noudga, who was arrested on April 10, 2014 and charged with accessory after the fact to murder, told police she received Millards letters from his mom who got them from Deepak, according to court documents. She later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of obstructing justice.

Noudga, who now lives in Poland, didnt return requests for comment.

Hamilton police tried to interview Millards mother, Madeleine Burns, but she refused to talk, court documents say.

There is no evidence that Millard mailed the letters out of jail, which are monitored by staff, according to court documents.

A security manager at the Hamilton jail where Millard was being held told police that if the letters were not mailed, the only way they could get out is by the lawyer, according to notes made by Det. Sgt. Matt Kavanagh, one of the lead detectives in the Bosma case.

Hamilton police, which according to court documents closed the investigation after several of the people involved refused to be interviewed, also declined to comment.

Taking letters out for a client from jail is not illegal, said Daniel Brown, the Toronto director of the Criminal Lawyers Association. The problem, he said, is if a lawyer knowingly helps a client communicate with a person against a non-communication court order.

It could be anything from obstructing justice to assisting to be a party to violate a court order, Brown said. Its not just unethical, its likely criminal.

No one is facing charges in relation to the letters.

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After a decades-long battle for compensation, the voices of ailing General Electric Peterborough workers are finally being heard.

About 64 per cent of previously denied claims of occupational disease made by former employees at one of Canadas oldest industrial operations have now been overturned, the Star has learned.

The reversals are part of an ongoing review by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which committed to re-open 250 rejected claims for a range of devastating illnesses, following a Star investigation into hazardous working conditions at the Peterborough factory. Of the 47 files reviewed to date, the WSIB has now approved 30.

Earlier this year, health researchers Bob and Dale DeMatteo published a comprehensive report which found that GE Peterborough workers were exposed to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals in their workplace between 1945 and 2000, at levels hundreds of times higher than what is now considered safe.

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WSIB spokesperson Christine Arnott said the boards review is considering new information or evidence that was not available when an original claim decision was made, including the DeMatteo report.

We want to make sure our decisions reflect the best available scientific evidence and current knowledge of historical exposures, she said.

A significant part of the evidence that originally weighed against the 660 claims made by GE Peterborough workers between 2004 and 2016 was a health study conducted by General Electric in 2003. That study, which was later submitted to the WSIB, claimed there were no excess cancer rates at its factory when controlling for factors like age and smoking. Around half of workers claims were subsequently denied, abandoned or withdrawn for apparently insufficient evidence.

For years, former GE workers disputed the studys findings, including what they called inaccurate descriptions of the factory and working conditions.

Roger Fowler, 71, a 22-year employee of GE Peterborough who developed cancer of the rectum in 1992, had his compensation claim denied in 2009 after he appealed all the way to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. In several instances, the decision seen by the Star accepts evidence contained in the GE health study over Fowlers testimony about his personal exposure to asbestos.

Fowlers case has now been reviewed by the WSIB. While the board cannot overturn tribunal decisions, it has prepared a request for reconsideration on Fowlers behalf.

Earlier this year, GE workers union Unifor commissioned renowned occupational health expert and chair of the U.S. Department of Labors Advisory Board on Toxic Substances Steven Markowitz to review the 2003 GE health study.

Markowitz was paid an honorarium to complete the review by Unifor, which describes the adjunct professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine as having impeccable credentials. Markowitz is also the director of City University of New Yorks Barry Commoner Center for Health and Environment, the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, and serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors of the U.S. National Toxicology Program.

In a copy of the review obtained by the Star, Markowitz described GEs study as being of mediocre quality and too poorly conducted to instill any faith in its results. He also pointed to methodology flaws that may have misrepresented the exposure risks workers faced on the job.

In an emailed statement to the Star, GE Canadas director of communications Jenna LaPlante said its Peterborough health study was produced as a direct response to workers and their union and was conducted with a transparent and collaborative approach.

All parties, including local experts, were consulted and their input was invaluable to GE in ensuring that the study would deliver conclusions that were strictly based on available data and applicable scientifically accepted research principles, LaPlante said, adding the company continues to co-operate with the WSIB as it re-examines compensation claims.

GE has long maintained that health and safety have always been its number one priority and that the company has always followed the best health and safety practices based on the best knowledge available to us at the time.

The Markowitz review describes numerous issues with the 2003 evidence submitted by GE  including the studys methodology, its lack of independent peer evaluation, and its failure to disclose who funded and had influence over how the report was conducted.

According to the review, the methodology used in the GE study  which compared the death rate of exposed workers to that of the general population  was not the preferred method in occupational epidemiology as it excludes workers who got cancer but survived. Markowitz also noted the study did not explain why the methodology was chosen or explain some of its limitations.

He also found the controls used by GE to establish workers mortality from lung cancer may have falsely diminished the results, and therefore compromised the validity of the research.

While he said the study made considerable effort to describe the factorys setup and the potential risks of exposure to harmful chemicals across the plant, Markowitz wrote he was not confident those descriptions were grounded in reality.

That is because the GE study did not include any air sampling or environmental data, and claimed that ventilation and other health and safety practices would have safeguarded workers  despite the fact measures historically taken by factories often had quite limited success in mitigating exposures.

The effectiveness of ventilation and widespread use of personal protective equipment during the relevant decades of exposure, 1940-1970, is not supported by data and at odds with my long experience in occupational medicine, Markowitz found.

At the time of the Stars investigation, a GE spokesperson said its health study was conducted with a widely accepted method by a respected PhD in epidemiology.

Sue James, who worked at the plant for 30 years, said the studys findings have always clashed with workers experiences. Last year, she helped compile a list of all the former colleagues at the plant she knows who became sick or died of cancer. The list contained more than 200 names.

We dont need a genius to figure out all this, said Marilyn Harding, who worked at the plant for most of her life alongside her husband Gerry. She survived breast and bladder cancer; Gerry died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.

Just look at the body count we have.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 09:48:59|Editor: Yurou

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CARACAS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government on Saturday rejected what the U.S. State Department said on the South American country's need for humanitarian aid.

In a statement on Friday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the U.S. government was deeply concerned over the humanitarian situation facing the Venezuelan people due to the lack of food and medicine.

She said the United States stood ready to send reliefs immediately, if only the government of Venezuela would accept international humanitarian assistance.

Nauert added that the U.S. economic sanctions against Venezuela do not ban American people from providing food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people.

The Venezuelan government dismissed the U.S. statement as "laughing at the international community by offering humanitarian aid to Venezuela...persisting with its attempts of destabilization."

It meanwhile criticized the situations concerning health care, nutrition and social services in the United States, saying 21 percent of children in the United States live in poverty, at least 41 million people go hungry and 18 million are exposed to contaminated water.

The Venezuelan government also demanded that Washington cease "its political and economic hostility, as well as threats to the security and integrity of the country."
The trial seemed utterly ordinary. A 19-year-old maid swiped a womans three rings  worth at least $5,000 (U.S.)  from a house she was cleaning in Fairfax City, Va., but later returned them after police questioned her. She was charged with felony grand larceny.

What the jury did was extraordinary. They felt bad for the young woman, pregnant with her second child, and agreed that she had made a dumb, youthful mistake. Reluctantly, they convicted her of the felony. But the fine they imposed was her daily pay as a maid, $60. And then they took up a collection and gave her the money to pay the fine.

The general sentiment was she was a victim, too, said the jury foreman, Jeffery Memmott. Two of the women [jurors] were crying because of how bad they felt. One lady pulled out a $20 bill, and just about everybody chipped in. Memmott then contacted the public defender in the case and went to the home of Sandra Mendez Ortega. He gave her the jurys collection, which totalled $80.

Justice had to be done, said another juror, Janice Woolridge, explaining why the panel imposed a felony conviction. But theres also got be some compassion somewhere. Young people make bad decisions. We just couldnt pile on any more.

The two-day trial was held in July, but the sentencing was last Friday before Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Robert Smith. Mendez Ortegas attorney, assistant public defender Michael Cash, asked the judge to defer the case and not enter a conviction or sentence in light of the defendants actions and the jurys response. Smith declined, entered the conviction and imposed the $60 fine. Numerous veteran criminal lawyers, on both the prosecution and defence sides, said they had never heard of a case where a jury paid a defendants fine.

A happy holiday story, right? Well, what if youre the woman whose rings were stolen? Although she was not pleased when the jury returned from their deliberations with only a $60 fine for the felony conviction, crime victim Lisa Copeland was appalled when she learned that the jury had also paid the fine.

I just pray that theyre never in my shoes, Copeland said. She said Mendez Ortega never accepted responsibility for the theft. If she had accepted accountability, I would be OK with all of this. The fact that she wont accept accountability makes it wrong.

Copeland said Mendez Ortega told a series of lies from the start and then unfurled a tragic life story that persuaded the jury to impose the $60 fine. I was outraged, Copeland said. I was just flabbergasted. I didnt think $60 equated to the crime at all. She did not know that the jury had taken up a collection for Mendez Ortega until she was contacted by a reporter.

The case began in September 2016, when Copeland discovered that her engagement and wedding rings were missing from the container where they were usually kept. The engagement ring had been her grandmothers, made in 1943, and the two rings were appraised at $5,000 in 1996, Copeland said. Copeland didnt realize that a third, inexpensive ring had been taken until it was turned in.

Fairfax City police investigated and interviewed the three women who had cleaned the home. All three denied taking or seeing the rings, court records show, and no one was charged.

But after the interviews, Mendez Ortega reportedly felt bad about the theft, admitted to her boss that she had the rings and turned them over to him. The police were contacted and Mendez Ortega confessed to them as well, saying she returned the rings after learning that they were valuable. The police had her write a letter of apology to Copeland, in Spanish, which said in part, Sorry for grabbing the rings. I dont know what happened. I want you to forgive me.

Copeland said she has never seen that letter and that Mendez Ortega has never apologized to her in person. Never saw it, Copeland said. Never heard about it until the trial, during sentencing.

After Mendez Ortega was arrested, she spent eight days in jail until she was released on $1,000 bond. The jury was not told that. The jury also was not told that Mendez Ortega apparently is not in the country legally, as Copeland said she was told by prosecutors, because it was not relevant to whether she stole the rings.

It really irritates me that she came here and committed a felony, said Jeff Copeland, Lisa Copelands husband. People are coming here because there is opportunity here. But when they come here and commit crimes, thats where youve got to draw the line.

At trial, the facts were not really in dispute. The jury did not hear from Mendez Ortega during the case in chief, but they were already sympathetic to her. We didnt feel she should have been tried and convicted, said Memmott, the foreman. We tried every way we could to find some way of not convicting her. But the legal standard was very clear. Two other jurors agreed that the felony conviction was appropriate, given the facts and the law.

Lisa Copeland was amazed. The fact that she confessed, she said, and they didnt want to convict her? I dont get this. Thats basically saying its OK to steal.

During the sentencing phase, Mendez Ortega took the stand. She faced a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. She told the jury she had dropped out of school after sixth grade, that she first became pregnant at 15 and that she was pregnant again at 19 and had no job, according to court records.

The whole time, she was telling the sob story, Lisa Copeland said, I looked at my husband and said, Ive heard enough of this. 

She noted that after Mendez Ortega took the rings, she lied to the cops, she lied to her employers. She didnt turn in the rings  she made somebody else do it. She confessed but claimed that the rings were in the bathroom. And then she tried to blame her boss.

When the jury went back to deliberate on a sentence, the jurors said they quickly agreed that no jail time was appropriate and that only a small fine should be imposed. We all came to the conclusion, Memmott said, we should fine her the amount she made for a days work.

We came up with the least we could do, Woolridge said. And then we decided we wanted to help her out. So we got some money together.

The degree of empathy that was shown by these citizens, said a third juror who asked to remain nameless, and the serious way everybody took their responsibility, was really remarkable.

Memmott said he and his wife went to visit Mendez Ortega at her home in Falls Church. We talked to her, offered to help her with anything we could, Memmott said. She declined.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mendez Ortega said after her sentencing, I became happy when I heard they wanted to give me that money. Thank you very much to all of them, God bless them.

Assistant Fairfax Commonwealths attorney Marcus Greene had asked the jury to consider jail time for Mendez Ortega and argued against Cashs motion that the verdict be deferred. He said the jury had considered the felony conviction to be part of the punishment and that Mendez Ortega did not return the rings until after being questioned by police. He declined to comment on the jurys actions.

Cash, Mendez Ortegas attorney, said he was thrilled that the jury felt sympathy for my client and that they took it upon themselves to help despite finding her guilty. I think the jury saw this case for what it was: a teenager who had never been in trouble before who made a really bad decision but then tried to make it right when her conscience got the better of her.

Jeff Copeland said, The punishment was she didnt get paid for the day she stole from us. But then she did get paid for it. Thats changed my whole view of it.

She made $20 out of it, too, Lisa Copeland added.

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WASHINGTONThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tried to play down a report Saturday that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been barred from using seven words or phrases, including science-based, fetus, transgender and vulnerable, in agency budget documents.

The assertion that HHS has banned words is a complete mischaracterization of discussions regarding the budget formulation process, an agency spokesperson, Matt Lloyd, said in an email. HHS will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. HHS also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.

The Trump administration reportedly told multiple divisions within the HHS that they should avoid using certain words or phrases in official documents being drafted for next year's budget.

Lloyd did not respond to other questions about the news report, which was published late Friday by The Washington Post. The article said CDC policy analysts were told of the forbidden words and phrases at a meeting Thursday with senior officials who oversee the agencys budget. Other words included entitlement, diversity and evidence-based.

In some cases, The Post reported, alternative phrases were suggested. Instead of science-based, or evidence-based, The Post reported, the suggested phrase is CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.

The news set off an uproar among advocacy groups and some Democratic officials, who denounced any efforts to muzzle federal agencies or censor their language.

The Times confirmed some details of the report with several officials, although a few suggested that the proposal was not so much a ban on words but recommendations to avoid some language to ease the path toward budget approval by Republicans.

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A former federal official, who asked not to be named, called the move unprecedented.

Its absurd and Orwellian, its stupid and Orwellian, but they are not saying to not use the words in reports or articles or scientific publications or anything else the CDC does, the former official said. Theyre saying not to use it in your request for money because it will hurt you. Its not about censoring what CDC can say to the American public. Its about a budget strategy to get funded.

A former CDC official, who asked not to be identified, said some staff members were upset because the purported ban suggested that their work was being politicized.

I dont know exactly who said what in the meeting, but I have to assume this came from HHS people, because theyre the ones who have to make the budget, the former official said. Ive also heard that some of the words might have been a little misconstrued.  Science-based and evidence-based might not have been considered as unusable as the others.

Some people also said that some effort to tone down language might make sense when appealing for funding from Republican conservatives in Congress.

The CDC budget documents are circulated to other agencies and Congress and submitted to the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump administration. The budget office did not respond to a request for comment.

There seemed to be confusion around the public health agencies about whether the ban originated at the agencys parent department, Health and Human Services, or inside the CDC itself; and whether such a ban would apply beyond budget documents. The Food and Drug Administration was quick to note that it had gotten no such instruction.

An agency spokesperson, Jennifer Rodriguez, said, We havent received, nor implemented, any directives with respect to the language used at FDA to describe our policy or budget issues. The National Institutes of Health referred inquiries to Health and Human Services.

Since the Trump administration has taken office, officials at the countrys premier disease-fighting agency have privately complained that it has come under various pressures, most involving U.S. President Donald Trumps America First stance and his dislike of foreign aid rather than basic science itself.

Although Trumps first skinny budget proposed deep cuts in medical work done overseas, it is not clear that he was going to get his way. Many legislators have recognized the value of detecting and fighting outbreaks abroad before they reach U.S. shores, and the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which was created by President George W. Bush, is a favourite with Christian conservatives in Congress. Many of the hospitals helped in Africa were founded by Christian missionaries. As a former Indiana representative, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence was among the agencys strongest backers.

Even during the Obama administration, CDC officials were required to clear most statements through Health and Human Services.

Under Thomas Price, Trumps first secretary of Health and Human Services, the department seemed preoccupied with killing the Affordable Care Act. Price resigned in September after he was criticized for his expensive air travel. During his early tenure, the CDC was run by an acting director, Dr. Anne Shuchat, who had been deputy to the former director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden.

Since Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald was appointed director in July, the agency has kept a relatively low profile. In previous years, for example, Frieden would typically have held by now a news conference about the coming flu season and might have, for instance, publicly addressed other issues like the dangers of water contamination in post-hurricane Puerto Rico, human infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria on pet-store puppies and Mexican papayas, or even the risk of Madagascars plague outbreak spreading.

Critics were quick to denounce the CDC for its action. Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former surgeon general, expressed concern.

Whether this is a directive from above is not clear, he said. But for CDC or any agency to be censored or passively made to feel they have to self-censor to avoid retribution  thats dangerous and not acceptable. The purpose of science is to search for truth, and when science is censored the truth is censored.

Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Center for Science and Democracy, based at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said he believed scientists at CDC will need assurance that they can continue their work without political interference.

I dont know if it will ever be clear who said what in this particular case, Halpern said. The fact that the agency began controlling what scientists can say to reporters a few months ago doesnt suggest they want to be open and honest with the public.

With files from The Washington Post

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MEXICO CITYThe former head of Mexicos powerful teachers union was transferred early Saturday from custody to house arrest while she fights a years-old legal case involving alleged money laundering, a move that prompted speculation about a possible political deal ahead of next years elections.

Elba Esther Gordillo was moved before dawn from a medical clinic where she was being held to her penthouse apartment in a tony neighbourhood of Mexico City, where a 24-hour guard was to be posted.

Images in local media showed Gordillo, 72, being moved on a stretcher covered by a white sheet. The exact nature of her health status was not immediately clear, but her lawyer has said she suffers from a chronic degenerative condition.

Gordillo was arrested in 2013 on suspicion of embezzling millions of dollars from the union. A money laundering charge is still pending nearly five years later, and she has not been convicted.

Foro TV quoted her attorney Marco Antonio del Toro as saying the legal case against her does not have the slightest basis and her innocence will be established in time.

In recent days, the federal Attorney Generals Office dropped its appeal of a court order granting Gordillo house arrest.

That came shortly after a political party she founded joined a coalition with the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, ahead of July 1 elections.

Del Toro denied there was any political deal behind the scenes. This is absolutely a legal issue. It has no connotation of a political order, he said, according to Foro TV.

PRI presidential candidate Jose Antonio Meade echoed that sentiment this week, saying that correlation is not coincidence, correlation is not causality.

The National Alliance Party that Gordillo helped create had moved to distance itself from the former union boss after her arrest.

Before her fall from grace, Gordillo, commonly referred to as the teacher, was known for her lavish lifestyle  designer clothes and handbags, properties in Southern California worth millions of dollars  as well as for being a behind-the-scenes political power broker in Mexico.

Gordillo was arrested after she tried to mobilize union members against educational reforms that sapped much of the syndicates power when they were implemented by the nascent administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is also from the PRI.

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PARISChic, svelte, feline.

This is the caricature of la Parisienne, the well-heeled woman who embodies the essence of the worlds most fashionable city. Think Coco Chanel, Catherine Deneuve and Ines de la Fressange: paragons of style, arbiters of taste. To make the cut, you have to be many things. Until recently, one of those things was thin.

Not any more.

On Friday, the city of Paris formally launched a campaign against grossophobia, or fat shaming. Mayor Anne Hidalgo convened the conference after the stunning success of a book, On Ne Nait Pas Grosse (You Are Not Born Fat), published this year. The book was written by Gabrielle Deydier, a teacher and journalist who has long struggled to find steady employment because of her weight.

Fat phobia is a reality lived by so many citizens, Hidalgo said in a statement Friday. The city of Paris is unveiling this phenomenon and engaging.

That may very well be the case, but this is still a city where the reigning power breakfast is an espresso and a cigarette. If youre feeling indulgent, you can maybe allow yourself a drop of milk in your coffee. Come nighttime, the cocktail hour of apero- where you might have some nice red wine, and possibly some nuts or a little nibble of cheese  can absolutely count as a meal. And, of course, many Parisians walk everywhere they go, and climb steep flights of stairs back to tiny apartments that cost the arms and the legs they otherwise exhaust.

Obesity is far less visible here in the French capital than it is in much of the United States or Britain. According to a 2017 report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, drawing on data up to 2015, only 15.3 percent of the French population is obese, compared with 26.9 percent and 38.2 percent of the British and American populations, respectively. The predominant view in Paris is that you are born thin, and if you do your job right, nothing will ever change.

But it is because of this view, Deydier argues in her book, that fat people  and especially fat women  are stigmatized in French society. She cites multiple personal experiences with discrimination in the workplace and says she has even had trouble finding long-term accommodation as a result of irregular work.

I think we have a problem with minorities in general in France, she said in one interview this year after her book was published. We say we are politically correct, but in fact we are not at all. The biggest problem is that people generally do not consider fat phobia to be on the same level as other discriminations because they think that if someone is fat, its their fault and that they should change.

This is especially the case for French women, Deydier says, who live in a society with an aggressive ideal of femininity. There is this feeling that women have to be perfect in every way, she said in another interview. The ideal of the perfect female body is even on display in the French language, in which the word for pregnancy literally translates as fatness.

But this standard of French femininity is known far outside France. In the United States, for example, books such as French Women Dont Get Fat are periodic bestsellers. In fact, myths such as that of the lithe, stylish French woman and her perfect body are part of the rhetoric that is most often used to shame American women, said Jes Baker, an American blogger and body activist who also spoke in Paris on Friday.

Fat is not wrong, she said. What is wrong is the way we address fat. Its time for change, and this conversation is happening all over the world.

It is finally happening in Paris.

On Friday, the city hosted a rare plus-size fashion show in the lavish expanse of the Hotel de Ville, Pariss city hall. While such fashion shows are fairly common in the United States, they are not in France, where the annual couture events remain something of a religious riteand mostly the province of rail-thin fashion editors and the even-thinner models they applaud.

In any case, the choice of venue was significant, as the Hotel de Ville is often used for those other shows. On Friday, however, with Rihannas music on blast, the models came walking down the aisle, modeling a variety of styles.

They received a standing ovation.

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WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said Sunday that he is not considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller even as his administration was again forced to grapple with the growing Russia probe that has shadowed the White House for much of his initial year in office.

Trump returned to the White House from Camp David and was asked if he would consider triggering the process to dismiss Mueller, who is investigating whether the presidents Republican campaign co-ordinated with Russian officials during last years election.

The president answered: No, Im not.

But he did add to the growing conservative criticism of Muellers move to gain access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, yielding attacks from transition lawyers and renewing chatter that Trump may act to end the investigation.

Its not looking good. Its quite sad to see that, my people were very upset about it, Trump said. I cant imagine theres anything on them, frankly. Because, as we said, theres no collusion. Theres no collusion whatsoever.

On Saturday, the general counsel for the transition group sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing Muellers investigators had improperly obtained thousands of transition records.

The investigators did not directly request the records from Trumps still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration, a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to those familiar with the Trump transition organization.

A spokesman for Mueller said the records were obtained appropriately.

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, said Peter Carr.

But many Trump allies used the email issue as another cudgel with which to bash the probes credibility. Members of the conservative media and some congressional Republicans have begun to systematically question Muellers motives and credibility while the president himself called it a disgrace that some texts and emails from two FBI agents contained anti-Trump rhetoric. One of those agents was on Muellers team and has been removed.

Michael Caputo, a former Trump campaign aide, called the investigation an attack on the presidency and told CNN there are more and more indications that the Mueller investigation is off the rails.

The talk of firing Mueller has set off alarm bells among many Democrats, who warn it could trigger a constitutional crisis.

Some Republicans also advised against the move, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas who deemed the idea a mistake.

The rumour mill overshadowed the Republican tax plan, which is set to be voted on this week. Although Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was doing a victory lap on the tax bill on the Sunday talk show circuit, he first had to field questions on CNNs State of the Union about whether believed Trump would trigger the process to fire Mueller.

I dont have any reason to think that the president is going to do that, but thats obviously up to him, said Mnuchin.

Mnuchin added that we have got to get past this investigation, its a giant distraction but declined to elaborate on how he would want it to end. Marc Short, the White House director of legislative affairs, was also peppered with questions about Muellers fate during his own appearance on NBCs Meet the Press and again urged a quick end to the investigation but insisted that Trump has not discussed firing Mueller.

Theres no conversation about that whatsoever in the White House, Short said.

The tax bill measure would give the largest breaks to the richest Americans but Trump has attempted to sell the bill as a Christmas present for middle-class Americans in part because it would trigger job growth.

As a candidate, I promised we would pass a massive TAX CUT for the everyday working American families who are the backbone and the heartbeat of our country. Now, we are just days away. . . , Trump said in a tweet from Camp David, where he spent the weekend.

The White House and Republicans on the Hill are eager to claim a victory at the end of what has been a disappointing legislative year for the party that controls the White House and both houses of Congress. At the same time, the GOP is reckoning with a brewing intraparty war that helped cost it a Senate seat in Alabama.

Roy Moore, the former chief justice of Alabamas supreme court, lost a special election on Tuesday, handing Democrats their first Senate seat in Alabama in a generation and cutting Republican control of the Senate to just two, 51-49.

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Trumps gift to Israel: a grenade, Burman, Dec. 8

This column by Tony Burman is full of extreme and unsustainable accusations.

There is no apartheid in Israel. Arab citizens comprise more than 20 per cent of the country and Arabs have the right to study, worship and protest peacefully, as do all other citizens.

Arabs and Israelis work and study alongside each other at Israels fine hospitals and universities. Israel currently has two Arab Supreme Court justices, who sometimes rule against Israeli Jews.

Arab East Jerusalem residents could be citizens but choose not to because many prefer to continue seeing Israel as the enemy.

If Arabs are allowed to live in any part of Israel, why would it be illegal for Israel to build homes for Jews in the eastern part of Jerusalem? Should it be free of Jews? Most of the Jewish holy sites are in East Jerusalem. Should Jews should not be allowed to go there?

Should Israel, or any other country, choose its actions based on the veto riot, meaning that it cant do the right thing simply out of fear of violent reactions? Is this a fair or logical way to determine any foreign policy?

Sara Miller, Queens, New York

It might interest your readers to know that despite hatred of U.S. President Donald Trump by many leftists and despite rejection by the EU, the UN, the Arab coalition and most Muslim countries, the fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel is just a fact, not something that can be disputed, and certainly not something Israel will negotiate away.

What is so interesting is how the Western liberal media tries to depict this as some diabolical conspiracy, some triumphant evangelical Christian act, some vote-getting act, when it is really just a simple fact about 3,000 years old.

This fact was confirmed in 1949 by the newly minted state of Israel, affirming the fact that Jews created Jerusalem, that it was never the capital of any other country and was never very important to any other faith.

I hope Canadian politicians come to realize the fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and really ought to be acknowledged by our Parliament.

Andria Spindel, Toronto

Tony Burman compares Israel to Apartheid South Africa, although it has none of the laws that defined Apartheid. All Israels citizens are equal by law.

Burman also claims Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem are illegal by international law, although no such law exists nor did any court of law make such a determination.

And claiming Arab residents of East Jerusalem cannot get citizenship is false. In fact, more and more are applying for citizenship.

Dr. S. Thomson, Arlington, Mass.

Columnist Tony Burman is wrong. Israel is a vibrant democracy, like Canada, not perfect and with flaws. But its people  Jews, Arab Muslims, Christians and other ethnic groups  have the right to freedom of expression.

As expressed in Israels Declaration of Independence: The State of Israel will . . . ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or gender . . .

Arabs attend the same universities as other Israelis and work in all fields: law, medicine, hi-tech, sports, etc.

Burman states, With a population of 860,000, 37 per cent (of Jerusalems residents) are Palestinians, but they are defined as residents not citizens by the Israeli government.

In actuality Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are entitled to citizenship but most choose to forgo that right. Accepting citizenship would mean they would have to give up the illusion that Israel is the enemy. Still, there are increasing numbers of Palestinians who choose to become Israeli citizens.

Burman states, Most of the world considers East Jerusalem as Israel-occupied territory . . . Israel has built settlements in East Jerusalem, now home to about 200,000 Jews. They are considered illegal under international law.

This is absolutely false. Various scholars and judges have the opinion that no part of Jerusalem is occupied. No court has ever given such a ruling.

Steven Sherman, Kibbutz Tzuba, Israel

U.S. President Donald Trumps announcement only recognized Israels capital being in western Jerusalem. Nothing changed on the ground. No options were removed from serious negotiations, should the Palestinians ever engage in them. The actual embassy move may take years.

Israel is not an apartheid state. Precisely because Israel considers itself sovereign in all of Jerusalem, Arab residents have the option of taking Israeli citizenship. Many have done so, particularly when the possibility looms of any division of the city.

Richard D. Wilkins, Syracuse, N.Y.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 10:29:06|Editor: Yurou

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A man was struck and killed by a train at a station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in the U.S. city of San Francisco on Saturday, resulting in the disruption of the service throughout the system for a few hours, local media reported.

BART spokeswoman Cheryl Stalter said the person was pinned under a train and was killed early Saturday morning, without disclosing the identity of the victim.

The accident caused a major delay in downtown San Francisco, while the direct service into the city center from another two lines was also suspended.

"Stn closure at POWL due to a major medical emergency, trains will not be stopping at POWL stn," the BART authorities said via the official Twitter account.

The last similar incident was reported in August this year when a person on the tracks at BART's Bay Fair station was killed. The incident prompted a nearly two-hour closure of the Bay Fair station with only single-tracked train services maintained during the closure.

BART is a main rail transportation system for the San Francisco Bay Area, a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun estuaries in California.

About 7.68 million people live in the nine-county Bay Area which contains many cities, towns, airports, as well as regional, state and national parks.

An average 430,000 trips were recorded on weekdays for the BART system, and about 129 million people choose it as their daily commute service every year.
LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne operates as a luxury goods company worldwide. The company offers champagnes, wines, and spirits under the Clos des Lambrays, Chateau d'Yquem, Dom Perignon, Ruinart, Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Veuve Clicquot, Ardbeg, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Glenmorangie, Krug, Mercier, Chandon, Cape Mentelle, Newton Vineyard, Cloudy Bay, Belvedere, Terrazas de los Andes, Bodega Numanthia, Cheval des Andes, Woodinville, Ao Yun, Clos19, and Volcan de mi Tierra brands. It also provides fashion and leather products under the Berluti, Celine, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, FENDI, Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Moynat, Patou, and RIMOWA brands. In addition, the company offers perfumes and cosmetics under the Acqua di Parma, Benefit Cosmetics, Cha Ling, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Fresh, Givenchy Parfums, Guerlain, KVD Beauty, Kenzo Parfums, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Officine Universelle Buly, Parfums Christian Dior, and Perfumes Loewe brands; watches and jewelry under the Bulgari, Chaumet, Fred, Hublot, Repossi, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co., and Zenith brands; and custom-designed yachts under the Feadship brand name, as well as designs and builds luxury yachts under the Royal Van Lent brand. Further, it provides daily newspapers under the Les Echos brand; Belmond, a luxury tourism service; home other activities under the Belmond, Cheval Blanc, Connaissance des Arts, Cova, Investir, Jardin d'Acclimatation, La Samaritaine, Le Parisien, and Radio Classique brands; and selective retailing products under the DFS, La Grande Epicerie de Paris, Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche, Sephora, and Starboard Cruise Services brands, as well as operates Jardin d'Acclimatation, a leisure and amusement park. The company operates 5,556 stores. LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne was incorporated in 1923 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
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Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial.

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IDEX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides applied solutions worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Fluid & Metering Technologies (FMT), Health & Science Technologies (HST), and Fire & Safety/Diversified Products (FSDP). The FMT segment designs, produces, and distributes positive displacement pumps, small volume provers, flow meters, injectors, and other fluid-handling pump modules and systems, as well as offers flow monitoring and other services for the food, chemical, general industrial, water and wastewater, agricultural, and energy industries. The HST segment designs, produces, and distributes precision fluidics, rotary lobe pumps, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, roll compaction and drying systems, pneumatic components and sealing solutions, high performance molded and extruded sealing components, custom mechanical and shaft seals, engineered hygienic mixers and valves, biocompatible medical devices and implantables, air compressors and blowers, optical components and coatings, laboratory and commercial equipment, precision photonic solutions, and precision gear and peristaltic pump technologies. This segment serves food and beverage, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical, cosmetics, marine, chemical, wastewater and water treatment, life sciences, research, and defense markets. The FSDP segment designs, produces, and distributes firefighting pumps, valves and controls, rescue tools, lifting bags, and other components and systems for the fire and rescue industry; engineered stainless steel banding and clamping devices for various industrial and commercial applications; and precision equipment for dispensing, metering, and mixing colorants and paints used in retail and commercial businesses. IDEX Corporation was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
The following companies are subsidiares of HP: 3Com, 3PAR, ABB CADE, AOME Holdings Ltd., Albacore Holdings Jersey Ltd, Alpha Holding One B.V., Alpha Holding Two B.V., Anatolus Holding B.V., Apogee, Apogee Corp, Apogee Corporation Ireland Limited, Apogee Corporation Jersey Limited, Apogee Corporation Limited, Apogee Europe Limited, Apogee France Holdings SAS, Apogee France SAS, Apogee Germany Holding UG, Apogee Group Limited, Apogee Rentals Limited, Apollo Computer, AppIQ, Applied Optoelectronic Tech, ArcSight, Arnon Holding B.V., Arteis, Artivision Technologies, Aruba Networks, Atos Origin, Atos Origin Middle East group, Autonomy Corporation, Avantek, BAS - Burosysteme GmbH, BT & D Technologies, Balreed Digitec Group Limited, Balreed Digitec North Limited, Balreed Digitec SE Limited, Balreed Digitec UK Limited, Bamberga Holding B.V., Bitfone Corporation, Bluestone Software, Boonton Radio, Bristol Technology Inc., Bromium, Bromium UK Limited, CEC Europe Service Management, CGNZ, CaLan, China HP Co. Ltd Hangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd., China HP Co. Ltd. Chengdu Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Guangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Jiangan Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Nanjing Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, Choose Packaging, City Docs Limited, City Docs Solutions Limited, Colorado Memory Systems, Colubris Networks, Colubris Networks, Compaq Cayman Holdings Company, Compaq Cayman Holdings General Partnership II, Compaq Information Technologies, Compaq Information Technologies LLC, Computing and Printing Global Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Consera Software, ConteXtream Inc, Convex Computer, David Vision Systems GmbH, Dazzle, Digipro Limited, Division, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), EEsof, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, ElseWare, Eon Systems, Eucalyptus Systems, Eunomia Holding B.V., ExcellerateHRO, Exstream Software, Extreme Logic, F&M Scientific Corporation, F. Smith & Co Office Equipment Limited, F.L. Moseley Company, Flame Holding B.V., Fortify Software, Four Pi Systems, GNA Biosolutions GmbH, HP Austria GmbH, HP Belgium BV, HP Bilgisayar ve Baski Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 01 Tambore, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 2 Sorocaba, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 3 Porto Alegre, HP Canada Co. HP Canada Cie, HP Canada Licensing L.P., HP China Holding B.V., HP Chongqing Co. Ltd, HP Chongqing Manufacturing Export Procurement and Settlement Co. Ltd, HP Colombia SAS, HP Computing and Printing Middle East FZ-LLC, HP Computing and Printing Nigeria Ltd, HP Computing and Printing Systems India Private Limited, HP Computing and Printing d.o.o., HP Deutschland GmbH, HP Deutschland Holding GmbH, HP Europe B.V., HP Europe B.V. - Abu Dhabi Branch, HP Europe B.V. Regional Dubai Branch, HP Europe BV Amsterdam Meyrin Branch, HP Finland Oy, HP France Holding SAS, HP France SAS, HP Global Trading B.V., HP Global Trading B.V. Kazakhstan Branch, HP Health Solutions Inc., HP Health Solutions Spain Sociedad Limitada, HP Hewlett Packard Group LLC, HP Inc AP Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Argentina S.R.L., HP Inc Bulgaria EOOD, HP Inc Chile Comercial Limitada, HP Inc Costa Rica Limitada, HP Inc Czech Republic s.r.o., HP Inc Danmark ApS, HP Inc Gulf, HP Inc Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Magyarorszag Kft., HP Inc Peru S.R.L., HP Inc Polska sp. z o.o., HP Inc Romania SRL, HP Inc Slovakia s.r.o., HP Inc Thailand Ltd., HP Inc Tunisie SARL, HP Inc UK Limited, HP India Sales Private Limited, HP Indigo B.V., HP Indigo Ltd, HP Information Technology R&D Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP International Pte. Ltd., HP International Pte. Ltd. Taiwan Branch, HP International Sarl, HP International Trading B.V., HP International Trading B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, HP Israel Ltd, HP Italy S.r.l., HP Jade Holding LLC, HP Japan Inc., HP KSA Ltd., HP Korea Inc., HP Licensing Holding LLC, HP Luxembourg S.C.A., HP Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., HP Nederland B.V., HP New Zealand, HP Norge AS, HP Onyx Holding L.P., HP PPS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Australia Pty Ltd, HP PPS Costa Rica Limitada, HP PPS India Operations Private Limited, HP PPS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Maroc, HP PPS Philippines Inc., HP PPS Sales Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Services India Private Limited, HP PPS Singapore Sales Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Sverige AB, HP Pakistan Private Limited, HP Panama Sales and Distribution S. de R.L., HP Print Services Ireland Limited, HP Printing Korea Co. Ltd., HP Printing Shandong Co. Ltd., HP Printing and Computing Solutions S.L.U., HP Printing and Personal Systems Hellas EPE, HP Production Company Limited, HP Puerto Rico LLC, HP R&D Holding LLC, HP R&D Singapore Pte. Ltd., HP Schweiz GmbH, HP Scitex Ltd, HP Singapore Private Limited, HP Solutions Creation and Development Services S.L.U., HP South Africa Proprietary Limited, HP South Africa Trust, HP Taiwan Information Technology Ltd., HP Technology Holdings LLC, HP Technology Ireland Limited, HP Technology Israel Ltd, HP Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP Technology Vietnam Company Ltd, HP Trading Kunshan Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Dalian Branch, HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Zhangjiang Branch, HP UK Development Limited, HP US Digital LLC, HP USA Manufacturing LLC, HPCP  Computing and Printing Portugal Unipessoal Lda., HPI Bermuda Holdings LLC, HPI Brazil Holdings LLC, HPI Federal LLC, HPI J1 Holdings LLC, HPI Luxembourg LLC, HPQ Holdings LLC, Heartstream, Hewlett-Packard A.O., Hewlett-Packard Angola Lda., Hewlett-Packard Company Archives LLC, Hewlett-Packard Copenhagen B.V., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Hewlett-Packard Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard G.K., Hewlett-Packard Global Holdings B.V., Hewlett-Packard Global Investments B.V., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Solutions Europe BV, Hewlett-Packard Ireland 1 Limited, Hewlett-Packard Ireland Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Japan Holding B.V., Hewlett-Packard Japan NK Holdings C.V., Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd. Qatar Branch, Hewlett-Packard Lisbon B.V., Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC Libya Branch, Hewlett-Packard Mercator B.V., Hewlett-Packard Sunnyvale B.V., Hewlett-Packard West Indies Limited, Hewlett-Packard World Trade LLC, Hiflex Software, HyperX, IBRIX, IndiGo, Indigo America Inc., Iseo Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, Knightsbridge Solutions, Kopiervertrieb Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, Lefthand Networks, Limited Liability Company HP Inc, Logoworks, Lyra Holding B.V., MacDermid ColorSpan, ManageOne, Manzana Bidco Limited, Manzana Holdings Limited, Melodeo, Mercury Interactive, Metrix Network Systems, NUR Macroprinters, Neoware, Nihon HP Nin-I Kumiai, Novadigm, NuView ManageX, OOO Hewlett-Packard RUS, Office Perfection Limited, OneFlow Systems Limited, Opelin, Opelin, Open Skies, Opsware, Opsware, Optimization Systems, Optotech, OuterBay Technologies, OuterBay Technologies, PERSIST Technologies, PIXACO, PROLIN, PT Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Palm, Palm, Peregrine Systems, Perigee Holdco UK Limited, Perigee Midco UK Limited, Perseus Holding B.V., PipeBeach, Poly, PolyServe, PrinterOn America Corporation, Printware Limited, Qosnetics, RLX Technologies, Regor Holding B.V., SPI Dynamics, Samsung Printing Solutions, Scitex, Scitex Vision, Scope Communications, Security Force Software, Shunra Software, Shunra Software, Silverwire Holding, Simpress Comercio Locacao e Servicos Ltda, Snapfish, StorageApps, Stratavia, Synstar, Tabblo, Talking Blocks, Tall Tree Insurance Company, Technology Partners, Telegra, Teradici Corporation, Teradici Inc., Teradici UK Limited, The Danwood Group Limited, The Technology Partners, Tower Software, Tower Software Engineering Pty Ltd, Transoft Networks, Trellis Software & Controls, Triaton, Trinagy, TruLogica, Trustgenix, VeriFone, Verifone, Versatest, Vertica Systems, Vital Technology Pte Ltd, Voltage Security, VoodooPC, Xact Document Solutions Limited, and Xera-Logic Group Limited.

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Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, struts/pylons, nacelles, and related engine structural components; and wings and wing components, including flight control surfaces, as well as other structural parts. This segment primarily serves the aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or engine OEMs of large commercial aircraft and/or business/regional jet programs. The Defense & Space segment provides fuselage, strut, nacelle, and wing aerostructures primarily for U.S. Government defense programs, including Boeing P-8, C40, and KC-46 Tanker. This segment also engages in the fabrication, bonding, assembly, testing, tooling, processing, engineering analysis, and training on fixed wing aircraft aerostructures, missiles, and hypersonics works, such as solid rocket motor throats, nozzles, re-entry vehicle thermal protections systems, forward cockpit and cabin, and fuselage work on rotorcraft aerostructures. The Aftermarket segment offers spare parts and MRO services, repairs for flight control surfaces and nacelles, radome repairs, rotable assets, engineering services, advanced composite repairs, and other repair and overhaul services. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. has a strategic partnership with Sierra Space to enhance access to commercial space economy of the future. The company was formerly known as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems Holdings, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.
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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 10:39:08|Editor: Yurou

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HAVANA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Ministry of Higher Education (MES) and the University of Harvard signed Saturday a memorandum of understanding to expand their collaboration relations.

The document was inked by MES Vice Minister Aurora Fernandez and Mark C.Elliott, Harvard's vice provost of international affairs.

This agreement aims to promote academic links through the training of graduate students, the development of scientific researches and through joint publications.

Fernandez said the memorandum is the result of months of negotiations.

She said despite the current tense diplomacy between the two countries since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, the agreement will contribute to expanding the academic ties between Harvard and Cuban academic institutions.

Mark C. Elliot said that universities of Cuba, as well as Harvard, pursue high quality standards and the goal of improving society.

"At Harvard we are very proud of the work done in Cuba in terms of academic and research development," he said.

Elliot said that despite the difficult moment for the U.S.-Cuba relations, the collaboration between university institutions must be boosted.

The United States broke off formal relations with Cuba over half a century ago for ideological reasons. Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro resumed the diplomatic ties in 2015.

At present, the bilateral ties are going through rough times since Trump vowed to roll back the deal with the island, and withdrew over half of the staff in the U.S. embassy in Havana as well as reinforcing the economic measures against Cuba.
How many steps will it take to walk off Thanksgiving dinner?
Ukraine-based Interpipe, a leading global steel pipe and railway wheel producer, has reached a key milestone in its Middle East operations, with over a million tonnes of pipe products delivered to its various customers in the region over the past decade.



The company's milestone coincides with the 10th anniversary celebration of its Dubai office, said a statement.



Regional customers and partners attended the reception, where an awards ceremony was held to celebrate Interpipes strong ties and successful cooperation with its strategic partners in the region, it said.



The company also summed up the results of a 10-year development, and discussed further cooperation with its partners, it added.



Since 2007, the company has made significant investments in its production facilities, including developing and commissioning a state-of-the art steel-melting complex, Interpipe Steel, built from scratch; the launch of new finishing lines for both line pipes and oil country tubular goods (OCTG), and the modernisation of testing units at all production assets.



The last company enhancement, dated 2017, is a modernisation of lines for premium OCTG production. The total amount of the investments into pipe and steel production has reached about $800 million.



Over the last decade, Interpipe has strengthened its R&D division and improved steel grades, expanded its size range, offered new services and developed new premium connections for complicated drilling conditions.



Just recently, this year, the company launched its latest innovations and started production of the premium UPJ-M connection, which corresponds to the highest requirements for the premium products of a new generation.



Andrey Burtsev, commercial director for Middle East, Africa and Asia markets, Interpipe, said: Ten years ago we opened our Middle East hub in Dubai in order to be closer to our customers, provide high-level service and expand our business in the market.



During these years of cooperation, a lot has been accomplished with the joint efforts of Ukrainian and Middle East companies. Interpipe maintains a strong presence in the oil and gas industry with 58.5 per cent of its pipe supplies used in regional oil and gas projects over past 10 years, he said.



Namely, the largest share in total supplies accounts 25 per cent for the UAE, 18 per cent for Turkey and 13 per cent for Egypt, he added.



Burtsev continued: A total of 41 per cent of our pipe exports in the region cater to the construction industry.



Our products have been used in a number of prominent construction projects including the Dubai Marina development in the UAE, King Fahad Medical City in Saudi Arabia and Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey, he said.



Our largest share of pipe supplies for construction industry is in the UAE followed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, representing 30 per cent, 22 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. The Middle East remains a top priority market in terms of further development, he added.



Oleksandr Balanutsa, the Consul General of Ukraine in Dubai, said: I am proud to open todays reception as a token of respect to Ukraines partners in the Gulf countries.



Ukraine has a strong political and economic relationship with the UAE. Last year the trade turnover between the two countries reached $610 million. The results of 2017 will exceed last years recorded economic activity, Balanutsa said.



We also intensify our political dialogue and enhance strategic cooperation in space technologies development, aircraft building, energy and metal industries, and agriculture. The outcomes of the recent visit of the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko to the UAE are another testament to these positive dynamics. Im also confident that a visa-free agreement between our two countries will help bring the cooperation between Ukraine and UAE to a new level. We are pleased that prominent Ukrainian companies such as Interpipe contribute to the economic and infrastructure development of the Middle East, Balanutsa concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai said it has become the first UAE airline to provide direct air links to the Tanzanian city of Kilimanjaro, thus expanding its network in Africa to 12 destinations with 14 flights a week.



With this launch, the Dubai budget airline is offering six flights a week to the Tanzanian city, three of which are via a stop in the capital, Dar es Salaam.



The inaugural flight of flydubai touched down yesterday (December 15) landed in Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at 7.45am (local time) carrying a delegation led by Sudhir Sreedharan, the senior VP, Commercial Operations (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) for flydubai.



It was met on arrival by Prof Makame Mbarawa MB, Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Gregory George Teu, Chairman of the Board of Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO), the Board of Directors of the Kadco, the Regional Commissioners for Kilimanjaro and Arusha, representatives of the District Commissioners, Members of Parliament, Tanzania Tourist Board, together with representatives of the local tourism industry.



As part of the inaugural programme, flydubai showcased its brand new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, which had been unveiled for the first time at the Dubai Airshow in November.



The service to Kilimanjaro sees the total number of flydubais destinations in Tanzania increase to three, along with Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, said the statement from flydubai.



The carrier began operations to Tanzania in 2014 and has become increasingly popular among travellers from Dubai and the GCC as a tourist destination, and is seeing a steady growth in passenger numbers, it stated.



The airport is located in Northern Tanzania and is a major gateway to the Kilimanjaro region, a main international tourism destination that includes Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.



Only a few international carriers operate to Kilimanjaro and flydubai will be the first airline to provide direct air links from the UAE.



CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: "With our debut service to Kilimanjaro, we are responding to a growing demand for travel between the UAE and Tanzania. flydubai is the first UAE airline to offer direct air links to Kilimanjaro with the aim to connect this market to Dubai and beyond, and offer travellers more choice and flexibility."



"Passengers will have the opportunity to connect from Dubai onwards to more than 250 destinations" he added.



Lauding the new operations, Makame said: "I am very glad to welcome flydubai to our Gateway to Africas Wildlife Heritage. On behalf of the Government and the Kadco Management we would like to thank you for working tirelessly together to make this new service possible and no doubt this route will be a success.



On the debut flight, Sreedharan said: This marks our 12th destination in our network in Africa and the third point in Tanzania. Our service to Kilimanjaro follows an increase in passenger demand and reflects flydubais commitment to open up underserved markets."



"We look forward to offering six weekly flights on this route and to connecting travellers from across flydubais network with the Kilimanjaro region and vice versa," he noted.



Emirates will codeshare on this route and as part of the Emirates flydubai partnership, passengers will have greater choice for onward travel from Dubai to hundreds of destinations across the world.



Presently flydubai operates flights to twelve destinations in Africa, including Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Asmara, Djibouti, Entebbe, Hargeisa, Juba, Khartoum and Port Sudan, as well as Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.-TradeArabia News Service
I will be arriving at San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport on a Copa flight arriving at 8:13 AM on January 12th and I would like to take the 10:00 AM bus leaving downtown San Jose for Puerto Viejo. I have a couple of questions:

1. How likely is the Copa flight to be on time?

2. How much time should I allow to get through Customs?

3. Is there a bank ATM I can use at the airport?

4. I've been allowing about 30 minutes for the Bus TUASA ride from the airport to downtown San Jose. Is that enough time? If I'm only able to get large denomination bills from the airport ATM, will I be able to use them to pay my bus fare, or can I use US dollars to pay the fare?

5. I've budgeted about 15 minutes to walk between the downtown airport bus terminal and the MEPE bus terminal. Is that adequate?

6. At that time of morning should I be prepared for rain?

7. On the bus trip to Puerto Viejo, are there any stops along the way where I can get food for lunch?

8. If this time schedule does not work out, is there an alternative way for me to connect with the 10 AM bus to Puerto Viejo?

Thanks.

Larry Currie
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 11:24:14|Editor: Yurou

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LIMA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The impeachment motion against President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is leading Peru to a political crisis with unpredictable consequences, warned constitutional expert Raul Ferrero Costa on Saturday.

Speaking to Radio Programas del Peru (RPP), Ferrero Costa also said the impeachment of Kuczynski, who is accused of involvement in Latin America's biggest corruption scandal linked to Brazil's construction company Odebrecht, must follow the correct legal process.

"This is the most important case in our 21st century history and we are taking it forward with great haste," said the expert.

The expert made the comment after Peru's Congress on Friday launched the impeachment process against Kuczynski, a former Wall Street banker.

The Congress, dominated by the opposition Popular Force (FP), voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion to consider impeachment against Kuczynski for "permanent moral incapacity", by 93 votes to 17.

Kuczynski will address the Congress on Thursday in response to the motion, having a chance to defend himself before lawmakers decide his fate.It will need just 87 votes to oust Kuczynski.

Earlier this week, Odebrecht sent Congress a requested report which showed a total of 4.8 million U.S. dollars in consulting fees to companies owned by Kuczynski or a close business associate of his.

Kuczynski has rejected calls for his resignation over allegations of corruption. He flatly denied any wrongdoing late Thursday, saying all the consulting contracts with Odebrecht were legal and were signed by his business partner.

Last month, Kuczynski also denied having received money from Odebrecht to fund his 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns.

According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Odebrecht paid 29 million U.S. dollars to Peruvian leaders and presidential candidates from 2006 to 2014, in order to be awarded major public work contracts.

Kuczynski, 79, was elected in 2016 after campaigning on a pledge to clean up corruption and secure a political stability in Peru. Due to the Odebrecht corruption scandal, his predecessor Ollanta Humala is being held in custody and Alejandro Toledo is living as a fugitive in the United States.

In response to the parliamentary approval of the impeachment motion against Kuczynski, Peru's former foreign minister Allan Wagner said the process was being rushed through by the opposition FP out of political motives.

"We cannot allow...democracy to be eroded which cost us a lot to recover. The investigation and punishment of those guilty of corruption...must absolutely continue, however," he noted.

The FP party is led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori.
I was in Vietnam May 2016 and it was quite hot, maybe not as hot as August, but still hot.

But at least it is dry (well, dry from rain and not from sweating a bit...), so you should be ok throughout Vietnam.

Hanoi and halong bay will be certainly ok, that time of year not many cruises are cancelled.

For trekking you could head to Sapa. Getting a local guide will cost you around $25 for the trek, inclduing food and staying overnight at the home of the guide. So it is a good budget option. So for these 3 places you could put around 8 days aside.

Ninh Binh would be an option as well, especially if you head out to Pu Luong.

The caves at Phonh Nha could be another option.

In Hoi An you have the chance to visit this beautiful Acient Town and also have a chance for some beach time. Diving and snorkel trips to the nearby Cham islands are available as well.

Nha Trang further south is also an option. It is probably the most popular beach resort area in Vietnam, though it has mixed reveiws.

There are some other lovely areas like the Central Highlands, and for beaches Con Dao is a great option, though you can only get there from HCMC or the Mekong Delta.

But whatever you decide, I would aim to cover around 4 places, 5 tops. This way you do not rush and you have a chance to experience the places rather than just ticking boxes.

Hope this helps a bit.
Dear TAs

I'm travelling to Japan for close to 3 weeks Dec/Jan with my 70 years old mum. We'll be flying into Tokyo (plan 5 days stay) and then travel to Kyoto. I'm hoping to do a detour before we arrive in Kyoto for a 2 days/night trip. Only problem is I can't decide where to go. Hoping for a bit of Japanese countryside/onsen/ryokan stay. Would be grateful for some suggestions.

Many thanks
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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 11:49:17|Editor: Yamei

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LUSAKA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people have died of cholera in the Zambian capital of Lusaka since the outbreak of the waterborne disease in the country in October, health authorities said on Saturday.

Twenty-nine new cases of cholera were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections to 760 since the outbreak of the disease in Zambia, the Ministry of Health said.

Only 57 patients are currently receiving treatment in hospitals although most of them have already been treated and discharged, said Stanslous Ngosa, head of the Communications and External Relations in the ministry.

Ngosa added that the ministry has continued with control measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the further spread of the waterborne disease with the coming of the rainy season.

The health ministry, in collaboration with other departments, has banned the sale of ready-to-eat foodstuffs on the streets in an effort to curb the epidemic.

Cholera mainly occurred in the densely populated slums in Chipata and Kanyama sub-districts of Zambia while isolated cases have also been reported in other parts of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 11:54:19|Editor: Yamei

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- People in San Francisco in the U.S. west coast state of California voluntarily turned over about 280 firearms in a gun-for-cash campaign Saturday, the event's organizer said via its official twitter account.

The annual Gun Buy Back campaign, sponsored by San Francisco-based violence prevention group United Playaz, encouraged San Franciscans to bring in their firearms in exchange for money, in a show of their support for efforts to oppose gun-related violence.

By the end of the activity, the organizer tweeted that it has received 271 firearms, including five automatic weapons, an AD automatic rifle, and even a cannonball.

According to the campaign rules, gun owners will not be asked about the source of the weapons in their hands, so as to encourage more people to turn over their firearms.

The firearms collected this year more than doubled that of last year, and all the weapons will be disassembled, ground up and melted down by specialists at the Police Department.

Gun violence has been a major national concern in the United States as tens of thousands of related deaths and injuries occur annually.

The general public in San Francisco are particularly upset about gun-related violence in the country after a mass shooting in Las Vegas in October this year, when a gunman opened fire on a crowd of concert-goers at a music festival, which killed 58 people and injured more than 50 others.

The incident is the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in the United States.
- Jubilee Party governors took over majority of the leadership positions following the election in the Council of Governors

- Salim Mvurya and Anne Waiguru were elected Chair and Vice-Chair, an outcome that did not sit well with Kenyans

- Most people claimed Mvurya was awarded for his loyalty and 'corrupt' Anne Waiguru did not deserve that position for her role in the KSh 790 million NYS Scandal

Salim Mvurya, the Kwale governor who won his seat on a Jubilee ticket after defecting from ODM, was elected the incoming Council of Governors Chairperson.

He will assume the position in six months after Turkana's Governor Josphat Nanok (ODM) completes his one year term.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

To deputise Mvurya, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was elected but this move did not go down well with Kenyans who judged the two leaders for their past histories.

READ ALSO: We know their red bus; the driver is a drunk and the conductor is a thief - Babu Owino tears into UhuRuto

President Uhuru with the second batch of Kenyan governors since the devolved government was introduced. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook.

READ ALSO: Where is Raila Odinga?

Mvurya's appointment was pushed for by President Uhuru Kenyatta, a move that is now being interpreted as Uhuru rewarding Mvurya for his loyalty.

Check out some of the reactions to the appointments as Jubilee Party swept up majority of the seats in the Council leadership:

READ ALSO: Kuingia Mombasa rahisi, kutoka matanga-hii ndiyo sababu

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru. Photo: Anne Waiguru/Facebook.

Waiguru's election was bashed based on her alleged role in the theft of KSh 790 million from the National Youth Service during her tenure as cabinet secretary of Devolution.

She was accused of being the mastermind to the grand theft.

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ODM's Narok Senator, Ledama ole Kina, did not hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction either:

READ ALSO: Rayvanny parades new Mzungu girlfriend barely days after parting ways with Tanzanian baby mama

President Uhuru with Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya during a past function. Photo: PSCU

READ ALSO: Relief for Sossion as court lifts government order asking him to quit KNUT leadership

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
In this episode of Morning Edition, many have expressed concern over the path of some of our
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 12:09:21|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. lawyer for President Donald Trump's transition team on Saturday accused Special Counsel Robert Mueller of improperly obtaining tens of thousands of Trump transition emails and called it "unlawful conduct" during an investigation into the alleged Russian meddling in last year's presidential election.

Kory Langhofer, counsel to Trump for America (TFA), said in a letter to several congressional panels that Mueller's team obtained these emails from the General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that hosted the transition email system.

In the seven-page letter, he accused Mueller's team of "unlawfully producing TFA's private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsel's Office," according to a TheHill news daily report.

The lawyer urged the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee "to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives."

Mueller's probe into the alleged Russia meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections entered a new phase earlier this month when former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
The United Nations is calling on all parties in the Afghan conflict to facilitate health workers in conducting Mondays urgent polio vaccination campaign in a volatile southern district with the highest number of polio virus cases of any district in the world.



U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer warned Sunday the situation in Shahwalikot district in Kandahar province puts hundreds of thousands of children at risk. He said a polio vaccination campaign throughout the district is more urgent than ever



Afghan officials last week reported a new case of wild polio virus, raising the number of cases in Kandahar to five and the nationwide total to 12 in 2017.



Afghan authorities with support from UNICEF and WHO are to vaccinate thousands of children in Shahwalikot starting Monday.



The outbreak of polio in Shahwalikot means that Afghanistan remains one of only three countries in the world that is still polio-endemic and polio eradication is at risk globally, Lanzer noted.



I call on the authorities and all people with influence, including the leaders of the communities in Shahwalikot, to ensure that this polio vaccination campaign takes place by helping health workers, facilitating their task and protecting them and their supplies so that all children are protected against polio.



Shahwalikot has been the scene of deadly clashes between Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents. Southern Afghan provinces, including Kandahar, have been hub of insurgent activities.



Lanzer said that International humanitarian law stipulates clear responsibilities for all warring sides to facilitate the anti-polio drive.



Together, with the support of all actors on the ground, we can help Afghans rid themselves once and for all of this terrible disease, emphasized the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator.



Afghanistan and Pakistan officially are now the only two nations across the globe to have reported wild polio virus cases so far this year, though the numbers of cases have dipped to historic lows. Pakistani authorities have reported six cases so far in 2017.



Nigeria is the third country in the world with ongoing wild polio-virus transmission, but so far this year no new cases have been reported.
Authorities have recaptured an American man who escaped from an overcrowded and understaffed prison on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, police said Sunday.



Christian Beasley, 32, is believed to have escaped during heavy rain last Monday from the Kerobokan penitentiary in Bali's provincial capital, Denpasar, by sawing through a ceiling and then climbing over a 6-meter (20-foot) -high wall behind the prison.



The head of the prison, Tonny Nainggolan, said earlier that another American inmate, Paul Anthony Hoffman, 57, who has been serving a 20-month sentence since July for robbery, was captured while trying to escape along with Beasley.



Beasley was arrested in August at a post office in Bali's Kuta tourist area while allegedly trying to pick up a package containing 5.7 grams of hashish. He stood trial and the verdict was due last Tuesday, a day after his escape.



Bali police detective Made Pramestia said Beasley had reached the neighboring tourist island of Lombok by boat on the day of his escape.



Pramestia said Beasley was recaptured on Saturday in an alley near a beach on Lombok after a five-day manhunt.



An investigation was underway to determine if prison guards were involved in the escape, said Surung Pasaribu of the local office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry. He also said there is a shortage of guards at the prison, which was built to accommodate about 300 people but has nearly 1,600 inmates.



It was the second escape from the prison since June, when four foreign inmates escaped through a drainage tunnel.



Two of them, Bulgarian Dimitar Nikolov Iliev and Indian Sayed Mohammed Said, were recaptured in East Timor days later and were returned to Bali. The two others, Shaun Edward Davidson of Australia and Tee Koko King bin Tee Kim Sai of Malaysia, are still at large.



Jailbreaks are common in Indonesia, where prisons are overcrowded with people convicted of drug crimes as part of the government's anti-drug crusade.
The multinational joint task force fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria says it will hold some 200 former terrorists until Cameroon can construct a rehabilitation center where they will be socially integrated before returning to their communities. The ex-terrorists are currently at the barracks of the multinational joint task force in Mora, on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria.



Soldiers of the Mora camp of the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram sing what is now their regular song after a successful operation. They have just returned from the border with Nigeria with 12 fighters whom they say handed themselves over to the military. Among them is Soule Bupaga, a 22-year-old Nigerian.

He says his wish is to return to his village (at Sanda Wajiri, near Kerawa) in Nigeria and that he regrets all the killings even though they were forced to carry them out. He says what he did was not good.

There are nearly 200 former fighters detained in the camp. Some were arrested during fighting and others handed themselves over to the military. Cameroonian ex-fighter, 26-year old Gouma Wamwha, says he decided to report to the military after he escaped from a Boko Haram training camp in the Nigerian border town of Gambarou, but was barred from entering his village in the Cameroon town of Kolofata.

He says he escaped from a Boko Haram camp with a motorcycle he was given to monitor and report to his former superiors each time a suspected group of people or a strange vehicle was seen approaching.

Midjiyawa Bakari, governor of Cameroon's far north region says the government will continue to protect the ex-fighters. He says they have secured land in the border town of Meme were all former fighters will be assisted in reintegrating to society.

He says the ex-fighters have committed to assisting the military in bringing back their peers who are still either hiding in the bush because they are afraid of the military or are still under Boko Haram control.

200 other former Boko Haram fighter are taken care of in the Mozogo local council by the government of Cameroon and UN agencies. Their relatives are not ready to accept them in their villages for fear they may once again be infiltrated by the terrorists. The population says some of them may be spies or have been brainwashed with Boko Haram ideology.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is incredibly useful, but it also causes lung cancer after long-term exposure. Fifty-five countries around the world have banned the use of asbestos, but not the United States, China, Russia or India. Indonesia has not banned asbestos either, but a recent court case suggests that its days there may be numbered. VOA's Kevin Enochs reports.
Controversy is swirling around the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. This new non-profit organization has come under intense criticism from health agencies and anti-tobacco campaigners who accuse it of acting as a smoke-screen for Big Tobacco, a charge vigorously denied by the foundations president.

Derek Yach, who created and heads the foundation, was one of the architects of the World Health Organizations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which came into force February 27, 2005.

He said he believes the provisions of the Convention were still valid and have been largely successful in preventing people from smoking and in slowing the increase in kids through higher taxes, marketing and so on.

But, he told VOA that the Convention focuses little attention on trying to get the billion current smokers in the world to quit the habit.

To actually accelerate the decline in the billion smokers, we need to have better cessation, harm reduction and better product regulation, he said. And, I think those elements, I do not think have got the energy that we actually require.



Yach said more than seven million people globally die prematurely each year from tobacco. He said his foundations mission was to wean these smokers away from their deadly addiction by using new harm reduction tools such as e-cigarettes and vaping.

If these products have an impact, he said, we need to have independent research to show that they should be given more support.

So, our work will not be to simply push them out, but to do high quality research to look at the negative and positive sides.

Philip Morris is a producer of an e-cigarette-type product and is pushing hard into the vaping market.

The foundation is being subsidized by a $1 billion grant from tobacco giant Philip Morris, to be paid in $80 million yearly increments over the next 12 years. This eye-popping amount of money makes people like Vince Willmore, Vice-President of Communications at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, cringe.

He told VOA that the alliance between the foundation and Philip Morris has no credibility.

This foundation is really a smoke-screen designed to promote Philip Morris business interests and undermine real efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use around the world.

It is hard to take Philip Morris seriously that they want a smoke-free world when they are marketing cigarettes as aggressively as ever and they are fighting real solutions to reduce smoking.

If Philip Morris really was serious about bringing smoking rates down, he said, it would embrace proven solutions, such as higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free policies, advertising bans and graphic health warnings on cigarette packages.

He said that The actions of Philip Morris show that they are the main cause of the problem and not part of the solution

Yach assured VOA that he had not gone over to the dark side.

He suggested that some people could never understand that profitability and public health can actually work together.

He said his relationship with Philip Morris was not based on trust. I am not naive enough to believe that Philip Morris is doing this because of the warm fuzzy feeling that they want to lower the death rates.

No. What they want to do is have a product that is less risky and that makes them profits. That is the beginning and end of it.

Yach recognizes that many of his former colleagues at the World Health Organization disagree with his approach. He said he shared their passion to rid the world of tobacco products entirely, but with one billion lives hanging in the balance, we urgently must do more to cut the adult smoking rate, he said. Too much is at stake.

WHO would not comment for this article. However, it did issue the following statement, which calls into question the tobacco harm reduction work of the foundation.

The tobacco industry and its front groups have misled the public about risks associated with other tobacco products. This includes promoting so-called light and mild tobacco products as an alternative to quitting, while being fully aware that those products were not less harmful to health.

WHO noted the many conflicts of interest involved in the foundations alliance with a tobacco company funding a purported health foundation.

It stated that WHO will not partner with the foundation. Governments should not partner with the foundation and the public health community should follow this lead.

Foundation Chief Derek Yach told VOA that stringent safeguards were in place and that he had set up a legal firewall to insulate the foundation from the influence of the tobacco company.

These are legally binding agreements under U.S. laws, he said. If they are found to be inappropriately influencing, adversely influencing, we would lose our tax exempt status and under the law the foundation would be closed.

Despite his many protestations, Yach acknowledged that he had a tough time dealing with his tobacco business partner.

When I go into meetings with Philip Morris, I feel I have to hold my nose and that is something I suspect will continue for a long time, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 12:24:23|Editor: Yamei

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) have been killed in Khogiani of the eastern Nangahar province over the past two days, an army spokesman in the eastern region ShirAqa Karimi said Sunday.

The security forces, according to the official, raided the hideouts of IS militants in parts of Khogiani district, as a result five insurgents were killed.

Two of their bodies have been left in the battle ground, the official added.

IS group has yet to make comment.
The Pentagon acknowledged Saturday that its long-secret UFO investigation program ended in 2012, when U.S. defense officials shifted attention and funding to other priorities.

But whether the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program has continued to investigate UFO sightings since its funding ended five years ago could rank as an unexplained phenomenon.

The New York Times reported Saturday that the hush-hush program, tasked with investigating sightings of unidentified flying objects, ran from 2007 to 2012 with $22 million in annual funding secretly tucked away in U.S. Defense Department budgets worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

Its initial funding came largely at the request of former Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat long known for his enthusiasm for space phenomena, the newspaper said.

Yet according to its backers, the program remains in existence and officials continue to investigate UFO episodes brought to their attention by service members, the newspaper said.

Other issues pursued

The Pentagon openly acknowledged the fate of the program in response to a Reuters query.

"The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ended in the 2012 time frame," Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Ochoa said in an email.

"It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DoD to make a change," Ochoa said.

But the Pentagon was less clear about whether the UFO program continues to hover somewhere in the vast universe of the U.S. defense establishment.

"The DoD takes seriously all threats and potential threats to our people, our assets, and our mission and takes action whenever credible information is developed," Ochoa said.

What is less in doubt is Reid's enthusiasm for UFOs and his likely role in launching the Pentagon initiative to identify advanced aviation threats.

"If you've talked to Harry Reid for 60 seconds then it's the least surprising thing ever that he loves UFOs and got an earmark to study them," former Reid spokeswoman Kristen Orthman said in a message on Twitter.

Or as Reid himself said in a tweet that linked to the Times' story: "The truth is out there. Seriously."
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey hopes to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem in the future..

"Because it is under occupation we can't just go there and open an embassy," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling party in the city of Karaman.

"But, inshallah [God willing] those days are near and... we will officially open our embassy there," he said, without giving any precise timeframe.

The comments come just days after Erdogan hosted a summit of leaders of Muslim-majority nations to denounce U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Erdogan has spearheaded opposition among both Muslim and European leaders to oppose the decision.

East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel following the 1967 war - a move that has not been recognized by the international community.

Turkey currently has a general consulate in Jerusalem, and has full diplomatic relations with Israel but, like all other nations, its embassy is in Tel Aviv.
The political party of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called for "angry protests" during the visit to Jerusalem next week of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

"We call for angry protests at the entrances to Jerusalem and in its Old City to coincide with the visit on Wednesday of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and to protest against [U.S. President Donald] Trump's decision," Fatah said Saturday.

Trump angered Palestinians this month when he announced that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing a delicate policy that has been in place for decades. Palestinian leaders reacted by canceling their plans to meet with Pence. He is still expected to meet with Israeli officials.

Both Palestinians and Israelis claim Jerusalem as their true capital. But the dispute over Jerusalem has meant that government functions are conducted elsewhere: Tel Aviv, for Israel, Ramallah, for the Palestinian National Authority.

Trump's announcement was met with anger in Palestinian communities, spurring thousands of Palestinians in the Middle East and elsewhere to stage demonstrations against the decision.

Trump also announced the U.S. Embassy would move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, further fraying the nerves of Palestinians and their supporters. Israel's diplomatic community is based in Tel Aviv, although some nations, including the United States, have consulates in Jerusalem.

U.N. resolution

In the United Nations, Egypt was said to be circulating among members of the Security Council a draft resolution that would render null any decisions on Jerusalem's legal status. The measure was expected to go to a vote as early as next week.

Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., has condemned the draft resolution.

As Jews around the world are celebrating Hanukah, the liberation of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, the Palestinians continue to try to reinvent history, Danon said in a statement. No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel. Together with our allies, we will continue to fight, once again, for historical truth.

Reuters news service said the measure had broad support among Security Council members. But as one of five permanent members of the Security Council, the United States could veto the bill and ensure its failure.

A resolution in the 15-member Security Council needs nine "yes" votes to pass. But any one of the five permanent members  the U.S., France, Britain, Russia and China  can defeat a resolution with a single "no" vote.

On Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said two Palestinian protesters died in clashes with Israeli soldiers at the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

A third incident was reported north of Jerusalem, with the person shot in the chest by Israeli troops, according to the health ministry.

Police said a fourth Palestinian was fatally shot after stabbing an Israeli border police officer near a checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramallah.
Interpol has canceled the Red Corner Notice it issued on the request of the Indian government against controversial Islamic scholar Zakir Naik, citing insufficient evidence against Naik. But Indias National Investigative Agency (NIA) said it will file a fresh request.

Naik has been accused of hate speech, promoting terrorism and money laundering, and investigations against him are underway in India. Naik, who is currently in Malaysia where he has permanent residence, denies these charges.

In a video message after the Interpol decision, Naik said he was relieved to hear that.

But I would have been much more relieved if my own Indian government and Indian agencies, they gave me justice and cleared me of all the false charges. I am sure, Inshah Allah (God willing) it will soon happen, for truth has a fantastic way of coming out.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Naik said that one of the reasons Interpol canceled the Red Corner Notice against Naik was that the Indian government's request was based on political and religious bias.

But a spokesperson for NIA said that the Indian request was rejected because it was submitted before an application to indict Naik had been submitted.

Now that we have filed an application in a Mumbai court to indict him, we will send a fresh request to the Interpol. We hope that the Interpol will now issue him (Naik) a notice, Alok Mittal told the media.

The notice works like an international arrest warrant.

The Indian government has declared Naik a fugitive. In November, his organization, called Islamic Research Foundation, was banned for five years under Indias anti-terror law.

But Naik launched counterattacks on Prime Minister Modis government. In an interview with a Kuwaiti television station earlier this year, he said he was targeted by Modis Hindu nationalist party because of his popularity.

While Naik denies spreading religious or communal hatred, he made headlines when a man involved in a terrorist attack in Dhaka last year said that he was inspired by Naiks speeches. Twenty-nine people were killed in that attack in the Bangladeshi capital in July 2016.

Naik was in Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack and went to Malaysia from there. He has not returned to India since then.

VOAs Urdu Service also contributed to this report
Iran on Sunday criticized French President Emmanuel Macron over his tough stance toward Tehran and said Paris would soon lose its international credibility if it "blindly follows" U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tensions between Iran and France have risen in recent months after Macron said Tehran should be less aggressive in the Middle East, citing in particular its involvement in Syria's civil war.

Macron, unlike Trump, has reaffirmed his country's commitment to the deal Iran signed in 2015 with world powers under which it curbed its disputed nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of most international sanctions.

However, he has been critical of Iran's ballistic missile tests and wants to raise the possibility of new sanctions over the program, which Tehran calls solely defensive in nature.

"To sustain its international credibility, France should not blindly follow the Americans... The French president is now acting as Trump's lapdog," Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Velayati also criticized U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who last week presented pieces of what she said were parts of an Iranian missile supplied to the Tehran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen. She described the objects as conclusive evidence that Tehran was violating U.N. resolutions.

"This claim shows she lacks basic scientific knowledge and decency. She is like her boss [Trump] as he also says baseless, ridiculous things. Iran has not supplied Yemen with any missile," Velayati said.

'Fingerprints'?

Tasnim news agency quoted the spokesman for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Ramezan Sharif, as saying on Sunday that "they show a cylinder and say Iran's fingerprints are all over it, while everyone knows that Yemen acquired some missile capabilities from the Soviet Union and North Korea in the past."

France took a cautious stance on Haley's report. "The United Nations secretariat has not, at this stage, drawn any conclusions. France continues to examine the information at its disposal," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Alexandre Giorgini said on Friday.



Saudi Arabia, who has long accused Iran of smuggling missiles to the Houthis and has intervened against them in Yemen's war to try to restore its internationally recognized government, welcomed Haley's report.

Iran has one of the Middle Easts biggest missile programs and some of its precision-guided missiles have the range to strike its arch-regional enemy Israel.

Israel has also called for world powers to take punitive steps against Iran over its missile ambitions.

An Israeli cabinet minister said last month that Israel has had covert contacts with Saudi Arabia amid common concerns over Iran.

Velayati said on Sunday that reported meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials were no threat to Iran as both countries were "weak and insignificant."

Last month, the Revolutionary Guards warned Europe that if it threatens Tehran, the Guards will increase the range of missiles to above 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
The Israeli military said Sunday it has opened an investigation into the fatal shooting of a paraplegic Palestinian man who was shot in the head during a violent demonstration in the Gaza Strip last week.

Ibrahim Abu Thuraya, 29, was shot while demonstrating along Gaza's border with Israel, Palestinian health officials said, during days of unrest sparked by President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier this month. Abu Thuraya is being hailed as a hero and his death has emerged as a rallying cry among Palestinians against Trump's dramatic declaration, which they largely saw as siding with Israel.

"We were telling him not to go (to the border), but he would not listen to us. He said 'this is Jerusalem; if I don't go to defend it, who will?'" said Raed al-Komi, Abu Thuraya's half-brother.

Following Trump's decision, the Palestinians called for three "days of rage" in which thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem turned out to protest. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, called for a third Palestinian uprising. Violence broke out in several flashpoints and erupted again on Friday, including along the Gaza border fence, where Abu Thuraya was killed.

The Israeli military said thousands of protesters were rolling burning tires and throwing stones at soldiers in separate locations along the fence. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, blamed Hamas for instigating violent demonstrations that posed a "significant threat" to soldiers and justified the use of live fire.

Still, he said "allegations of the killing of a paraplegic Palestinian rioter are under investigation." The probe is expected to take several days, Conricus said.

Hundreds of neighbors, friends and officials, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, have visited a mourning tent erected for Abu Thuraya in Gaza's al-Shati refugee camp, which was adorned with photos of him in a wheelchair hoisting up the Palestinian flag and flashing a "victory" sign. In a reflection of how his death has been embraced by a swath of Gazan society, posters from the many Palestinian political factions and diverse community organizations lined the tent's sides.

Abu Thuraya lost his legs in an Israeli airstrike during a 2008 war between Israel and Hamas. Al-Komi said he was assisting in the evacuation of people hit in a separate strike when the second airstrike occurred. He had since used a wheelchair.

Abu Thuraya, a fisherman before his injury, participated in several border demonstrations following Trump's announcement. As other demonstrators ran away from tear gas fired by Israeli troops, Abu Thuraya wheeled himself closer to the frontier, according to Ahmed Yaghi, a protester.

Jerusalem's status has been a central issue in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump's announcement upended decades of U.S. foreign policy and countered an international consensus that Jerusalem's status should be decided in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. It drew widespread criticism from U.S. allies in the Arab and Muslim world, as well as in Europe and beyond.

Also Sunday, the military said two projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel. Since Trump's announcement, there has been an uptick in rocket launches from Gaza.
Pakistani senators have again raised concerns about Pakistan's role in the Saudi-led counterterrorism coalition and have demanded that the government provide the rationale for being part of it.

The senators are seeking clarification amid concerns that Pakistan's involvement in what's known as the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) could introduce to Pakistan the sectarian conflict and regional rivalry that exists between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia.

Parliament's upper house on Friday urged the government to reveal the terms of reference, or TOR, under which Pakistan agreed to participate and allowed its former army chief, General Raheel Sharif, to lead the Muslim military alliance.

Fighting for influence

Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting for influence in several countries in the region, including Iraq and Yemen, and Pakistani lawmakers are concerned that the competition could spread to Pakistan, which has a big Shiite minority among its more than 200 million population.

They also warn that the country's involvement could lead to domestic problems as the Shiite minority is against Pakistan picking sides in the Shiite-Sunni regional rivalry.

Farhatullah Babar, a prominent lawmaker who belongs to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, told VOA that over the past few months, the government has been asked several times to clarify Pakistan's role in the Muslim counterterrorism coalition and it has failed to provide a satisfactory response.

"Unfortunately, the parliament is kept in the dark and we do not know under what terms and conditions Pakistan has agreed to be a part of this coalition," Babar said.

"The question is: Who exactly is framing our foreign policy?" he added.

Sharif's role as the former chief of the country's powerful military and his subsequent appointment as the first chief of the Saudi-led military coalition have caused concerns that Pakistan's military might become involved in a regional sectarian conflict.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has insisted that the country's involvement in the coalition does not contradict its long-standing policy of neutrality in the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Sensitive issue

Sartaj Aziz, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs, was summoned to the Senate in June, where he promised lawmakers that the terms of reference for Pakistan's role in the coalition would soon be shared with the country's legislative body.

"The government never shared it [TOR] with us nor provided any satisfactory answer to our queries," Babar said.

Babar has told local Pakistani media that lawmakers, because of the sensitivity of the issue, are hesitant to scrutinize the issue further.

Pakistan Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani was quoted by local media as saying that he could not challenge the country's powerful military on the issue.

"I will go missing ... if I give a ruling on this [military alliance]," Rabbani was quoted as saying by the country's Dawn newspaper.

The Saudi-led Muslim countries' military alliance was launched last month in Riyadh, where the defense ministers of the 41 member countries attended the inauguration ceremony.

"The meeting [in the Saudi capital] marks the official launch of the IMCTC and strengthens the cooperation and integration of member countries in the coalition," the official statement of the inaugural session read.

Sunni vs. Shiite

Critics of the alliance maintain that it unites dozens of Sunni Islamic countries that could be viewed as a force against Shiite majority states.

"The question here is: Will the Sunni Islam's majority Saudi-led military coalition take Iran's concerns and reservations into consideration? That is a big issue and cannot be dismissed," Babar said.

Others view Pakistan's role in the coalition as a positive.

Nasser Janjua, a retired military general, told Dawn in March that the country's involvement and Sharif's appointment was a positive development for the Muslim world.

"General Raheel Sharif will use his experiences and knowledge to remove internal misunderstandings among Muslim countries," Janjua said.
First-term U.S. Representative Ruben Kihuen, a Nevada Democrat who is at the center of sexual harassment allegations, announced Saturday he would not seek re-election.

Kihuen's announcement came a day after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether Kihuen "may have engaged in sexual harassment" with a campaign aide and a lobbyist.

"I want to state clearly again that I deny the allegations in question," Kihuen said. "I am committed to fully cooperating with the House Ethics Committee and I look forward to clearing my name."

The freshman congressman said the accusations would be a distraction during a re-election campaign.

"Therefore, it is in the best interests of my family and my constituents to complete my term in Congress and not seek re-election," Kihuen said.

Former aide's allegations

A former campaign aide said Kihuen propositioned her for dates and sex despite her repeated rejections during his 2016 campaign. A lobbyist told the Nevada Independent that he touched her thighs and buttocks and made unwanted sexual advances while he was a state senator.

Ethics Committee leaders said Friday that the fact the committee was investigating the allegations did not indicate any violation had occurred and that the committee would make no further public statements pending completion of its initial review.

Kihuen's decision may not be enough for some of his colleagues. The top House Democrat, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, has called on Kihuen to resign, a request that he has resisted. Kihuen also apologized after the first allegation was made public, but said he didn't remember the events the way the former campaign aide had described.

A native of Mexico and the first Latino to represent Nevada in Congress, Kihuen represents the state's 4th Congressional District, which stretches north from the Las Vegas metro area into sparsely populated central Nevada.

Kihuen is among a growing number of lawmakers whose political careers have been thrust into uncertainty or ended altogether by allegations of sexual misconduct. On Thursday, Representative Blake Farenthold, a Texas Republican, said he would not seek re-election amid sexual harassment allegations that he has denied.

Representative Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican, abruptly resigned last week over revelations that he'd asked two staff members to act as surrogates to have his child, offering one $5 million.

Also, Representative John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, retired weeks after former aides shared allegations of habitual sexual harassment. Senator Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, announced he would step down after he was accused of improper behavior by at least eight women and his support from fellow Democrats collapsed.
Jordan's most influential businessman, the Palestinian billionaire Sabih al-Masri, returned to his home in Riydah after being detained by Saudi authorities and is expected to be allowed to leave the country soon, sources close to the family said on Sunday.

Masri's detention, which follows the biggest purge of the Saudi kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history, has sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories, where the billionaire has major

investments.

A Saudi citizen of Palestinian origin, Masri is also the chairman of Amman-based Arab Bank, one of the Middle East's largest financial institutions. He was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after he chaired meetings of companies he owns, sources said.


Pope Francis is appealing for the liberation of six nuns who were kidnapped a month ago from their convent in Nigeria.

Francis made the appeal Sunday while addressing faithful in St. Peter's Square. He prayed that the nuns and "all the other persons who find themselves in this painful condition" be free in time to return home for Christmas. He then led the tourists and pilgrims in the square in prayer of the nuns.

He said he was joining in an appeal made by Nigeria's bishops for the six Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Christ, whom he said were kidnapped about a month ago from Iguoriakhi, Nigeria.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 13:09:27|Editor: liuxin

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GUANGZHOU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Convention on Exchange of Overseas Talent, a recruitment fair to be held in China's southern Guangzhou City next week, is expected to attract more overseas talent to China.

A total of 109 government delegations and 99 universities, scientific research institutions and enterprises will bring around 2,000 projects and more than 10,000 jobs for overseas talent during the fair.

So far, more than 2,500 overseas researchers and students, including foreigners have signed up to participate, with around 60 percent having a doctor's degree.

The convention will be held between Wednesday and Thursday in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong Province.

China's economy has entered a period featuring medium-high growth rather than fast growth, along with upgraded economic structure and innovation.

"The changes in the world's second-largest economy are pushing up demand for skilled workers," said Cai Yifei, associate researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In 2016 alone, more than 432,000 foreign-educated Chinese returned to the country, up 58.48 percent from 2012.
A power outage at the international airport in the southern U.S. city of Atlanta has disrupted all flights in and out of the hub.

The outage began around 1 p.m. At 7:32 p.m., the airport tweeted that power had been restored to one concourse, and that officials expected the outage to be fully resolved by midnight.

The Federal Aviation Administration implemented a "ground stop'' for flights headed to the airport. A ground stop means that flights headed to Atlanta are held on the ground at their departure airport until Monday evening.

Incoming flights  domestic and international  are being diverted to other regional airports.

According to the website FlightAware, which tracks flights in real time, departures from the airport were delayed for approximately an hour and 30 minutes.The site said as of Sunday evening, 776 flights were cancelled to and from Atlanta, and another 525 flights were delayed. An additional 134 flights scheduled for Monday have also been canceled.

From the scene: A VOA reporter stranded in Atlanta sent this short video.

Fox News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the outage was caused by a construction crew accidentally cutting a power line. But the airport said on its Twitter account that was not confirmed. Georgia Power, the area utility, said a fire damaged in an underground electrical facility that serves the airport. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 2,500 daily arrivals and departures, bringing more than 250,000 passengers through the airport on an average day.
Its a beautiful day in this rural hamlet, bright and breezy, alive with the prosperous thrum of the annual rice harvest. But its hard to escape the feeling that were being watched  because we are.

A police officer stands posted near the entrance of the home of a provincial opposition party official, eyeing Voice of America journalists as they enter. The interview is abandoned for the time being. Six hours later, a different officer has taken his place, still watching.

At the home of another opposition member, shortly after journalists arrive, a portly official with the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) pulls up and interrupts, wearing a cowboy hat and a scowl. The interviewee had been explaining that he was nervous because he thought he was being watched.

Later, the same local official accuses VOA reporters of practicing journalism without a letter of permission, and reports their presence to his party boss, complaining that they had been interrogating people.

This is just a taste of the surveillance that opposition party members at the lowest levels have been under since the government-engineered dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on November 16, rendering Cambodia a de facto one-party state.

But for them, the surveillance is just the beginning.

In interviews with VOA, more than two dozen former members of the opposition described barrages of threatening phone calls, court summonses and visits by police.

This harassment was to induce them to defect to the CPP and renounce their former allegiance. This was a key plank of a campaign Prime Minister Hun Sen announced October 22, two weeks after his government filed a motion to dissolve the CNRP and render it effectively illegal, on the ground that it had attempted to topple the government.

The premier dubbed it the win-win policy, a reference to his 1990s push to eliminate the Khmer Rouge by promising its fighters that they could keep their positions and the resources they had accumulated only if they defected to the CPP.

You are a chicken egg

International media coverage of this years political crackdown has focused on its effects on the partys top leaders. Village and commune officials, however, many of whom do not speak English and have few resources and connections to draw on, bore the brunt of the pressure to defect  pressure that often deployed the full force of the countrys police, administrative structure and judicial system.

According to interviewees, threats against them increased over the course of November, as the prime ministers defection campaign initially found few takers. Those who could afford to flee Cambodia did. The deadline for defection was extended several times.

Finally, in a climactic address to ruling party officials in late November, Hun Sen ordered his loyalists to obtain defections by any means.

So do this work as soon as possible, and try to do it day and night, mobilizing any forces [necessary] to make this work successful, he said in the speech, which was later leaked online. Break the legs of the CNRP at the local level.

Although the government-imposed deadline for defection has now passed, the surveillance continues, according to interviewees; the surveillance now apparently is designed to ensure that the party cannot reconstitute its local networks, and members cannot easily support each other.

Oum Sam Oeun, a district official in Takeo who resisted defection, said that whenever more than three opposition supporters went to a coffee shop, the CPP-aligned village chief immediately showed up.

Quoting a Khmer proverb about the futility of opposing the powerful, the village chief told him, You are a chicken egg. You cannot go up against a stone.

Broken legs

The most vulnerable targets, commune councilors, reserve candidates and grass-roots organizers, almost invariably have the fewest options.

Unlike their CPP counterparts, who have spent years enmeshed in a party apparatus that amply rewards the loyal, CNRP officials often have few resources other than small farms and few social ties outside their immediate communities. They cannot flee.

Meng Sopheary, the CNRPs head of electoral affairs, tried to collect information about the intimidation of local party officials. She told VOA she stopped after the dissolution of the party because too many members had fled or were afraid to communicate with her.

However, it is clear that the harassment has been pervasive and widespread.

In Kampong Chhnang province, all of the 42 councilors who ultimately defected to the CPP were under surveillance by police, who would show up outside their homes and watch them, provincial party chief Keo Thai said. Three commune councilors fled the country, while the rest hid at relatives houses.

One person, the chief of Chronouk commune, was sued after signing an official document November 17, the day after the CNRP was officially dissolved. He agreed to defect so the case would be dropped, Keo Thai said.

In Battambang, three commune councilors were summoned by police to discuss a personal matter, while another one was served with papers accusing him of murder, according to provincial chief Chea Chiv, who said that all them ultimately defected.

In another case, the deputy chief of Prekloung commune was accused of a crime for displaying a CNRP banner after the formal dissolution of the party, but was told that the charges would be dropped if he defected, Chea Chiv said. The deputy chief defected.

In Preah Sihanouk province, commune councilors were subject to visits from police and local administrators and threats of prosecution or jail time if they did not defect, Sisowath Thomico, a member of the CNRP steering committee, told VOA shortly after returning from a trip to assess the situation there in late November.

Anybody with a weak point, whether it was an open court case, a relative in trouble with the law or a personal vice, was vulnerable to being pressured into defecting, he said. The dozen people who ultimately defected felt that they had no choice.

It was a way to protect themselves, to get away from being imprisoned or killed, Sisowath Thomico said. As far as the other people are concerned, those who have no weaknesses whatsoever, they just fled away, to see their family [in other areas] and to keep their family from pressure.

In one case, a deputy commune chief in Battambang was summoned to court over a three-year-old family land dispute he had believed was resolved. Horn Chhoy, 65, said he was told that if he defected, the case would be dropped. Instead, he chose to flee.

I know they dont have good intentions, he told VOA by telephone from a location he declined to disclose. Now white becomes black and black becomes white.

The egg and the stone

Keo Eat is a chicken egg. He is poor and has always been poor. He spent his childhood under the Khmer Rouge regime and his teenage years in a border refugee camp. From there, he was tapped as a foot soldier in the civil war of the 1980s. The only reward he took from his two decades of fighting were the tattoos that cover his stomach and back and are intended to protect him from harm.

As peace took hold in the 1990s, he demobilized and managed to obtain a tiny plot of land, where he and his wife eked out a living farming rice. They had almost no money, but they found meaning in the grass-roots organizing they threw themselves into on behalf of the fledgling Sam Rainsy Party, which had begun challenging Hun Sens government on an anti-corruption platform.

As the years went by, that party merged into the bigger CNRP, which began to pose a serious electoral threat to Hun Sen, gaining nearly 50 percent of the countrys vote in the 2013 national elections. In Takeo, Keo Eat was drafted as a candidate for local office. The 52-year-old says he was approached by the ruling party with job offers several times, but he refused.

His years of hard work seemed to be paying off after nationwide local elections in June this year, which saw an unprecedented influx of opposition party members into positions in commune councils across the country. Keo Eat became a deputy commune chief.

Then the drive to dissolve the CNRP began. At least four times in October and November, Keo Eat says he was visited late at night by delegations of provincial police and soldiers, who surrounded his house and photographed it from multiple angles. Terrified, he and his wife huddled upstairs with their sick baby granddaughter.

After the party was dissolved on November 16, local police forced the family to take down the CNRP banners they had displayed. They mostly complied, but Keo Eat defiantly turned one of them inward instead of taking it down.

The head of Prey Khla commune came to him and asked him once again to defect.

Still, I did not, Keo Eat recalled.

On November 23, the ruling party delivered its final blow: Local police delivered Keo Eat a summons ordering him to appear in court on charges of incitement, which carries a penalty of two years in prison.

The charges stemmed from an incident during the local election campaign in May, when a CPP and a CNRP parade collided and Keo Eat allegedly called the ruling party stupid. A CPP commune councilor promptly sued him and five other opposition officials, seeking $5,000 in compensation from each. But after they appeared in court, they thought the case had been dropped.

After receiving their court summonses, Keo Eat and his co-accused frantically consulted with their families and party higher-ups.

You get jail for five years or salary for five years  which one is better? Keo Eat asked his district party boss, Chan Leap, as they wrestled with the decision.

In addition to his fear of being jailed, he had no obvious source of income other than the $170 monthly salary paid him as a commune official. He said he might have to become a migrant construction worker or a laborer in some richer mans rice field.

When the officials were first sued in May, the CNRP had provided them with moral and legal support, finding them a lawyer and paying for the gasoline they needed to ride their motorbikes to the provincial capital.

Now there was no more party to help them. Even being seen with other ex-CNRP members could get them in trouble.

I couldnt solve this problem for them, Chan Leap said. I didnt know how to find a lawyer. So I prepared them to defect. Of the six men who were served summonses, provincial CNRP officials suggested the three highest-ranking men join the CPP, and work within the system to keep the others out of jail.

In an interview with VOA on November 25, Keo Eat said he was still agonizing over what to do.

I dont know what to decide, he said. If I dont defect, it will be hard to solve. And nobody can help me now.

On November 26, in the last few hours before the final deadline, Keo Eat agreed to join the CPP. I decided to defect, just to stay alive, he said.

Traitors must be watched

The day after he defected, Keo Eat sat with his wife and granddaughter underneath his stilted house, bewildered and shirtless, his protective tattoos on full display.

He said he wanted to speak honestly about his situation but was terrified of getting himself into trouble.

I think they knew there was no pressure that could force me to defect except for the court, he began.

Then a large man pulled up on a motorbike. Keo Eat and his wife fell silent. The visitor was Pheung Phan, the acting CPP chief of Prey Khla commune.

Tomorrow we will go to take the oath of loyalty, he told Keo Eat. You can write it out and then I will watch you swear.

After the official drove away, Keo Eat said he no longer wanted to discuss his political views or the circumstances of his defection.

His wife, however, asked if she could be interviewed. Fast-talking and sharp-minded, Keo Sarin has been a passionate CNRP supporter for as long as her husband.

Im just a citizen and I have the right to speak, she said fiercely, urging a reporter to switch on a voice recorder.

But after launching into a torrent of speech describing her feelings about the government, she glanced at her husband again and stopped talking. Her face contorted. She asked to retract her statements, for the sake of her familys safety.

Now my husband is a CPP official, she said.

A short drive down the road from Keo Eats house, Pheung Phan sat alone behind his desk in the Prey Khla commune office.

He demanded to know if journalists had obtained a letter of permission to be in Prey Khla. Then he placed a phone call to his boss, the party chief for the district.

VOA has come to interrogate me, he said, using a term widely used by the Khmer Rouge to refer to their torture sessions.

He hung up the phone and said he had been told not to answer any questions.

He [the district party chief] said, No VOA coming around here,  Pheung Phan said.

Contacted later for comment, Takeo Provincial Court spokesman Lim Sokhan, a CPP appointee, said summoning Keo Eat and his colleagues at the height of the defection campaign was simply procedure, and was not intended to pressure them.

However, Sun Thorn, the deputy police chief of Takeo province, readily confirmed that ex-CNRP officials were all under surveillance.

He said this was justified because they were traitors for supporting the political opposition.

It is normal that traitors must be watched, he said.

We just only follow what Samdech Techo says, he added, using Hun Sens formal title. I agree with Samdech Techo. Thats it. Village and commune authorities also follow Samdech Techo because the villages and communes belong to Samdech Techo.

A feeling of utter defeat

Although Hun Sen appears to have gotten his way for the moment, questions remain about the long-term viability of creating what is effectively a single-party state.

How loyal will the ruling partys reluctant new foot soldiers be? Without a free and fair electoral process, what will serve as a release valve for the nearly 50 percent of Cambodians who voted for the CNRP in the June elections?

The premiers first win-win policy was so successful that Hun Sen often touts it as his biggest accomplishment. He is in the process of building a lavish Win-Win Monument in Phnom Penh, commemorating himself.

In the 1990s, the Khmer Rouge defectors were leaving behind what had become a desperate scramble for existence, fighting for their lives in deteriorating, malaria-ridden jungle strongholds.

Todays opposition supporters had been enjoying a constitutionally guaranteed right to express themselves politically, against a background of increasing prosperity. It is a right Cambodians have increasingly taken for granted in a country that has not known war in a generation.

It is not clear whether these defections will be true defection with minds, ideas and hearts 100 percent, political commentator Meas Nee said. Due to pressure, some defected just for safety, but their hearts and minds dont change.

Jonathan Sutton, a doctoral researcher at the University of Otago who studies Cambodian politics, said it was unlikely the 2,603 new defectors would be given positions of trust or power within the CPP.

Theyll be sort of in between  it really is a case of being between a rock and a hard place, Sutton said.

Calming Hun Sens fears

Still, the defection campaign likely helped calm Hun Sens fears of future pro-democracy protests by demolishing the CNRPs local networks and publicly humiliating its officials within their communities, Sutton said.

That is certainly the case in Takeo, where a senior provincial party official said the CNRPs structure had been destroyed since October.

The official said he had refused multiple attempts to get him to defect, including harassment from police and offers of a lucrative advisory position to the government. Unlike the defectors, he had no obvious weaknesses and has a profession that provides a steady income.

Still, despite his relatively privileged position, he was afraid to give his name or discuss politics in public. Even being interviewed at his home did not feel entirely safe to him. He suggested that perhaps journalists could try visiting him in disguise.

Eventually, the official agreed to speak  in a hut surrounded by grass 20 meters behind his house.

He said that despite having tried his best to maintain my dignity, he felt utterly defeated.

I spent all of my time, my efforts, my money, to support the party, he said. Now I have nothing. I feel nothing.

He said goodbye, and journalists picked their way back along the scraggly underbrush to the street.

A police officer was still there, watching.
The U.N. refugee agency is mounting a multi-million dollar operation aimed at keeping thousands of Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh warm during the winter ahead.

The U.N refugee agency reports on Sunday it will start distributing the first of nearly 200,000 items of warm clothing to help recently arrived Rohingya refugees weather the colder climate ahead.



More than 646,000 Rohingya, fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar, have arrived in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh since the end of August. The UNHCR says it is worried about their squalid living conditions and lack of protection from myriad risks, including their ability to survive the cooler temperatures in the weeks and months ahead.



UNHCR spokesman, Babar Baloch, said winters in Bangladesh are milder than in other regions. But, he notes temperatures dip low at night and the Rohingya dont have adequate clothing and shelter to protect themselves.



Children, who are 55 percent of Rohingya refugee population, are particularly vulnerable. So are the women and they represent more than half of all refugees in Bangladesh. An estimated 10 percent are either disabled or have serious medical conditions or are older persons at risk, he said.



Baloch said UNHCR is working to improve the quality of shelters in the camps and has distributed thousands of new shelter kits as part of this strategy. He says the refugees also are receiving core relief items, including blankets, kitchen sets and solar lights.



He said UNHCR is distributing cooking fuel composed of compressed rice husks to replace firewood. He says this will protect both children and the environment.



He explained refugee children gathering wood in adjacent forests are vulnerable to attacks and rape. At the same time, he says gathering firewood degrades the environment by stripping back swathes of woodland.
The Kremlin said Sunday that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency provided Russian authorities with information that thwarted a series of Islamic State bombings planned in St. Petersburg.

Moscow said Russian President Vladimir Putin called U.S. President Donald Trump to thank him for the CIA information, a call the White House confirmed.

Russia said the intelligence was significant enough for its Federal Security Service to track down seven suspects last week who were planning suicide bomb attacks Saturday on the two-century-old Kazan Cathedral and other sites in Russia's second largest city. Three more were arrested Sunday who authorities said were linked to the planned attack.

Authorities said they confiscated a large number of explosives used to make homemade bombs, automatic rifles, munitions and extremist literature.

Law enforcement agencies said the suspects had been using the messaging app Telegram to communicate with Islamic State leaders outside Russia. In October, a Russian court fined Telegram $14,000 for refusing to provide security officials with information about an April attack on St. Petersburg's subway that killed 16 people and injured more than 50.

The state news agency RIA Novosti broadcast a video showing a man identified as Yevgeny Yefimov confessing that he planned to carry out Saturday's St. Petersburg attack.

"My job was to make explosives, put it in bottles and attach pieces of shrapnel,'' Yefimov said in the video.

Later, Yefimov told a St. Petersburg court that the cathedral was an intended target.

Moscow said Putin asked Trump to express his gratitude to the CIA and that Russia in turn would hand over information it learns about possible terrorist attacks in the U.S., as it says it has in the past.

Sunday's call between the two leaders was their second in four days and comes at a contentious point in U.S.-Russia relations.

U.S. sanctions are still in place protesting Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, while the U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election to help Trump win.

Criminal and congressional investigations are underway in the U.S. about the Trump campaign's links to Moscow. Putin has often denied Russian interference and Trump has frequently disparaged the investigations as an excuse by Democrats to explain his upset victory over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
A court to try alleged war criminals in South Sudan's conflict was one step closer to reality Friday, the fourth anniversary of the day hostilities began.



South Sudans Council of Ministers and the African Union agreed last week to the contents of a document that defines the roles of the so-called "hybrid" court, according to Elizabeth Deng, a Nairobi-based researcher for Amnesty International.



This is the document that would specify the criminal jurisdiction of the court, that would define the crimes that the court has the competency to investigate and prosecute. The statute would describe the structure and the composition of the court and the appointment procedure for the courts staff, Deng told VOA's South Sudan in Focus.



A 2015 peace deal between South Sudan's government and rebel groups called on the AU Commission to establish the court to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of violating international or applicable South Sudanese law since the conflict erupted in the capital, Juba. Progress has been excruciatingly slow.



Over the past two years, the feeling of Amnesty International has been that the government of South Sudan has been a significant factor in delaying the court's establishment. They have been dragging their feet and reluctant ... to ensure it is established quickly, Deng said.



Parliament is expected to deliberate on the hybrid court statute next. It is not clear when a vote will take place.



Jehanne Henry, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the step by the Council of Ministers appears to be progress, but the parliament must act next and act quickly.



Sending the document to parliament is a step, but it is not necessarily a step that moves this thing forward unless it is followed up by a lot of other steps, Henry told South Sudan in Focus.



'We must learn lessons'



A policy analyst at the Juba-based Sudd Institute said the conflict has dragged on far too long and cannot continue.



Zachariah Diing Akol said all South Sudanese must stop and reflect on what the nation has gone through and learn from it.



If it was just the individuals -- two, four or 100 -- we would not be where we are today. What is the power of a few individuals? All of us have fought in one way or the other. All of us must learn lessons, Akol said.



Akol said the suffering caused by the war has robbed South Sudanese of their livelihoods and dignity.



Lives have been lost and they continue to be lost. Sources of livelihood of people are destroyed, people dont do what they used to do; they are relying on others and that is not a comfortable position to be in," Akol said.



Calls for peace from refugees



Meanwhile, hundreds of South Sudanese living in Uganda gathered Friday in Kampala to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the fighting and called on the warring parties to end the conflict.



Martha Nyayiey Gatluak, 22, said she fled to a camp run by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) when war erupted in December 2013. Gatluak spent a year in the camp and later fled to Uganda with her family.



I am calling on our leaders to bring us back together, Gatluak said. "From 2013, we dont party together, we sit in our separate ways. There is a lot of hatred in us, we dont love each other the way we used to. We should have peace in our country so we can go back as South Sudanese, not as tribes."



The fighting that erupted in Juba in late 2013 quickly spread to other parts of the country and took on ethnic overtones. The International Crisis Group said at least 100,000 people were killed during the first weeks of fighting.



The conflict led to a humanitarian crisis that has forced more than 4 million South Sudanese to flee their homes, with many relocating to Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.



Peaceful dialogue urged



Elizabeth Nyakui Yien, 44, one of those who gathered in Kampala, urged South Sudans leaders to end the war through peaceful dialogue.



My message to the government or the [rebel] IO is that they should think twice because our life is at stake, we are not able to get the basic needs. My children do not go to school and there is not enough food that we get from the U.N., Yien told South Sudan in Focus.



And as the countrys leaders gather next week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to try to revive the peace deal, South Sudanese refugees at Ugandas Morobi settlement say they want their leaders to hear the cries of the more than one million South Sudanese refugees and work towards genuine and lasting peace.



Modi Charles Sekwatoloko, a refugee leader at the settlement, said the refugees want peace more than anything else. He said the countrys leaders must cast aside their differences and be prepared to make concessions.



They [the refugees] have experienced the suffering here, so they feel if our leaders could really come down and reconcile themselves, then they give us that peace, we shall rejoice, Sekwatoloko said.

Mugume Davis Rwakaringi, Simon Peter Apiku contributed to this report.
A huge wildfire ravaging the area around Los Angeles has now been deemed the third largest in California history, with the damage eclipsing that from a devastating 2013 fire by more than 800 hectares (3 square miles).

Emergency officials say 8,000 firefighters from a dozen states are in California to help battle the blazes, with helicopters and bulldozers to aid in the effort.

The cost of the firefighting operation is estimated at close to $89 million.

Fire officials said Saturday that the Thomas Fire, which started December 4, had now burned nearly 105,000 hectares (400 square miles), leaving a footprint larger than those of some cities. The fire was thought to be 40 percent contained, but fire officials said about 18,000 structures were threatened, and that high winds could kick up new blazes by flinging embers far from the heart of the inferno.

Santa Barbara area

In the mountains near Santa Barbara, winds were gusting up to 64 kilometers an hour (40 mph). More than 1,000 buildings have already burned in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Among the threatened communities was Montecito, the wealthiest city in Santa Barbara County, where the average home price is more than a $1 million and residents include television and movie stars. The area was under evacuation orders, and freeway off-ramps leading to Montecito were closed.

At the Santa Barbara Zoo, which is near the mandatory evacuation zone, employees began preparing the animals for possible evacuation. The zoo is home to more than 100 species, some critically endangered. Other zoos will take the animals for as long as needed.

Everything is fine right now. The wind has shifted in our favor, spokesman Dean Noble told The Associated Press. However, we just dont want to get caught by something unexpected.

Mark Brown, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told reporters Saturday that the flames would become unstoppable once they took hold on Santa Barbara's parched mountainsides where so-called "sundowner" winds kick them west toward the sea.

At the moment, a canyon lies between Montecito and the flames. But Brown said if the flames took hold in the canyon, it would be too dangerous for firefighters to try to intervene.

"When the sundowners surface in that area and fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it. And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable positions," he told the Los Angeles Times.

The hillsides above the village have been treated with fire retardant, and in some cases brush and trees have been cleared in the hope of starving the fast-moving flames.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey owns a home in Montecito. On Saturday, she tweeted, "Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters."

Poor air in L.A.

Meanwhile, life in the Los Angeles area is dry, hot and ashy. While the flames are northwest of the city, smoke hangs in the air across the city, which is situated in a basin and has a long-standing smog problem.

JJ Jackman, a Los Angeles-based project manager for an event-planning company, said the poor air quality had caused breathing problems for a friend who lives on the northwest side of town, near the blazes.

"She sounded like she had a cold," Jackman said in an email after seeing his friend Saturday morning. "Said it was from breathing bad, bad air for the past week. ... I think it's safe to say you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't affected or doesn't know someone affected by this mess."

An unusually wet winter led to exceptional vegetation growth this year, and and a dry summer turned the lush vegetation into tinder. Seasonal winds, the ones driving the fires, limited the amount of controlled burning that could be done ahead of time.

Red flag warnings  meaning conditions are ideal for the spread of wildfires  are in effect through Sunday for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as parts of Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino counties, all part of the greater Los Angeles area.

The only upside, residents said, is that the fumes in the air have made for some beautiful sunsets.

Firefighter down

On Thursday, a firefighter was killed battling a large wildfire north of Los Angeles.

California forestry fire chief Ken Pimlott said Cory Iverson, an engineer from San Diego, died while battling the Thomas Fire. Iverson, 32, had been with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since 2009.

His death was the second blamed on the Thomas Fire. A 70-year-old woman died last week while fleeing the blaze.

With numerous massive fires near San Francisco and Los Angeles, 2017 has been one of the worst wildfire seasons ever in California.

Experts blame global warming, a recent extreme drought and the hot, dry winds that blow down from the California mountains every fall.

California Governor Jerry Brown has warned residents that such devastating fires will be "the new normal" in the state.
Taliban insurgents have killed at least 14 Afghan troops and injured several others in a pre-dawn attack in southern Helmand province.



Officials said Sunday insurgents stormed police outposts around the provincial capital of Lashkargah, but security forces repelled the attack and ensuing fierce clashes inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban.



A Taliban spokesman claimed the attack and gave a much higher death toll for government forces.



Later, a suicide bomber in neighboring Kandahar province detonated his explosives-laden vehicle near a NATO convoy.



Provincial police spokesman, Matiullah Helal, told VOA, the blast killed a woman passerby and wounded five other civilians, but did not harm any foreign troops.



The Taliban routinely carry out guerrilla raids and suicide bombings, mainly targeting Afghan security forces and convoys of NATOs Resolute Support mission, which comprises mostly U.S. forces.
Near the end of his first year in office, President Donald Trump could be on the verge of his first major legislative victory: an overhaul of Americas tax code and a partial repeal of former President Barack Obama's signature health care law.



As a candidate, I promised we would pass a massive tax cut for the everyday working American families who are the backbone and the heartbeat of our country, Trump tweeted Sunday. Now, we are just days away.



Congressional Republicans appear to have the votes to permanently slash corporate taxes, temporarily cut taxes paid by wage and salary earners, and increase Americas national debt by up to $1.5 trillion. The thousand-page bill was revealed Friday after days of bicameral negotiations yielded a final version of the legislation that gained the support of several Republican holdouts.



I have decided to support the tax reform package, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee announced in a statement. This bill is far from perfect  but after great thought and consideration, I believe that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make U.S. businesses domestically more productive and internationally more competitive and is one we should not miss.





Republicans are betting that eight consecutive years of U.S. economic growth can be extended and accelerated with a major dose of stimulus in the form of tax cuts.



Democrats argued the tax package is unfair and unwise.



The bill is written to give massive, permanent tax breaks to the rich and corporate interests, many of which ship U.S. jobs overseas, said California Congressman Mike Thompson, delivering the Democratic weekly address. It does give a handful of temporary tax cuts to some middle-class taxpayers but actually raises taxes on millions of middle and working-class families.



Its the height of hypocrisy for Republicans to vote for a tax cut that would add at least $1 trillion to the deficit after spending eight years railing against the national debt, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California wrote on Twitter.

History provides a less-than-clear picture of the impact of tax cuts. The U.S. economy expanded briskly after tax cuts in the 1980s, but had even higher growth rates after a tax hike in the 1990s. Tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 were followed by several years of moderately robust growth, then a major recession.



Republicans insisted Americans will be better off with a reduced tax burden.



Everybody is going to benefit, but I think the greatest benefit is going to be for jobs and for the middle class, Trump told reporters on Saturday. Our economy is doing fantastically well. But it has another big step to go, and it cannot take that step unless we do the tax bill.



Democrats contended the bills benefits are heavily skewed to the wealthy and that Americas poor and elderly will pay a heavy price under the Republican agenda.



Now they [Republicans] have blown a big hole in the debt, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said on ABCs "This Week" program. And if you look at their budget, it is right there  their plan for dealing with that is to cut Medicare by $500 billion and Medicaid by over $1 trillion.



Barring last-minute defections or absences among Republicans, Congress could send the tax bill to the White House for Trumps signature as early as Wednesday. Minority Democrats cannot block the bill on their own, but have pledged to make it a major campaign issue in next years midterm elections.

Republican Senator John McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July, has returned to his home state of Arizona for rehabilitation after being treated for a viral infection. His office said in a statement he was expected to be back in Washington in January.

Trump said he spoke with McCain's wife, Cindy, and that he believes McCain would come back and vote if Republicans need him to.
A man stabbed two Danish journalists in Gabon's capital, declaring it was in retaliation for U.S. attacks against Muslims and leaving one reporter in serious condition, Gabon's defense minister said.

The attack Saturday occurred while the journalists were shopping at an artisanal market, a site popular with tourists. It is the first of its kind in this West African country where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully.



The stabbing was carried out in Libreville by a 53-year-old Niger national who screamed "Allah Akbar," said Gabonese Minister of Defense Etienne Massard Makaga. The attacker, who has lived in Gabon for 19 years, was immediately arrested.



When questioned by the police, he said he acted "in retaliation for the attacks of the United States against the Muslims and the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Makaga.



"Everything will be done to ensure that the author and his possible accomplices are punished with the utmost rigor that the law allows," said the minister who denounced "an act abominable, cowardly and ignoble." Makaga said such acts are contrary to the Gabonese way of living together and "detrimental to social peace."



The journalists, one male and one female reportedly working for National Geographic, were rushed to a hospital.



The man was operated on and is currently in intensive care, said government spokesman Alain Claude Bilie By Nze.



Oil-rich Gabon is known for its wildlife, including most of Africa's remaining forest elephants, which are being heavily targeted by traffickers.



Gabon is ruled by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has been in power for nearly half a century.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in Ukraine Sunday while trying to storm Kyiv's October Palace following a rally against President Petro Poroshenko.



The crowd, which was dispersed with tear gas fired by police, is the latest in support of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili, who was released from custody last week after having been detained and accused of trying to stage a Russia-sponsored coup.



No serious injuries were reported from the demonstration, and the situation was relatively calm after nightfall.



"You have to show them that you are brave, but very, very calm," Saakashvili told the crowd Sunday. "I will stand by you to the very end."



Clashes with police outside the cultural center known as the October Palace followed a more peaceful rally earlier in the day to call for the resignation of Poroshenko.



Ukrainian authorities decided last week to release Saakashvili from police custody for the duration of the probe into accusations of abetting an alleged "criminal group" led by former President Viktor Yanukovych  who was pushed from power in 2014 and fled to Russia  and staging protests as part of a Russian plot against Ukraine.



Saakashvili, 49, is also wanted in his native Georgia, where he served as president from 2004 until 2013, for alleged abuse of power.



Saakashvili became a regional governor in Ukraine in 2015 at the invitation of Poroshenko. However, the two men later had a falling out, with Saakashvili accusing the president of corruption and calling for his removal from office.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 13:59:35|Editor: Yamei

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yi Dai Yi Lu, or Belt and Road Initiative, is one of the few Chinese phrases 24-year-old Mohd Syamin Bin Zainol is able to speak in Chinese after taking part in a railway workshop.

However, he is enthusiastic about the prospects of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the first artery railway built in the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

"I hope to become an engineer for ECRL since the railway project will considerably improve the transportation infrastructure in my hometown," said Syamin, a native of the Malaysian state of Pahang, in which the ECRL will traverse.

The workshop, organized by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Malaysia Rail Link and Pahang University, aims to help Malaysia cultivate railway talent, as the country is in an infrastructure expansion boom.

The CCCC, a leading transportation infrastructure group that also builts a landmark bridge in the northwestern state of Penang, will lead the construction of ECRL.

Fang Zhenru, CCCC's ECRL project director, said as the Malaysian government puts more efforts in enhancing railway transportation, a large number of professional talents will be needed. "Cultivating local talents will help achieve win-win results, and boost employment," said Fang.

According to the plan of CCCC, by 2022, more than 3,600 professionals related to the railway industry are expected to graduate from the workshops.

The joint railway talent cultivation workshop is only part of the expanding railway cooperation between Malaysia and China, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting countries along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Aside from the 688-km ECRL which will cost 55 billion ringgit (13.5 billion U.S. dollars), a Chinese consortium also won the contract for the electrified double-tracking project of the railway line between Gemas and Johor Baru in southern Malaysia. As for the high speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Chinese companies also have long expressed interests.

There is a reason for China's dominance in Malaysian railway projects. Construction giants like the CCCC not only bring the best technologies they can offer, but also create enormous new job opportunities.

Besides, China also helped Malaysia in financing the projects. In the case of ECRL, the Export-Import Bank of China financed 85 percent of the railway with soft loans, while the Malaysian government provided the remaining 15 percent.

The CCCC's president Liu Qitao told Xinhua that more than 80,000 new jobs will be created during the construction period of ECRL, while some 6,000 jobs will be retained after the completion of the project.

As Malaysia's transport minister, Liow Tiong Lai knows better about Chinese-made rolling-stock. After visiting the headquarters of China Railway Rolling-stock Corp. (CRRC) in Changsha earlier this year, Liow pledged that Malaysia will purchase more Chinese-made trains.

First of all, it is because of the high quality and low maintenance fee, he said, adding that it also took into account about CRRC's localization efforts, including a rolling-stock assembling factory in the Malaysian state of Perak.

When attending the foundation-laying ceremony for ECRL, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yong praised the ECRL as a "flagship project" jointly built by the two countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, which will boost economic transformation and balanced development of different regions in Malaysia.

He also expressed hope that the two countries could seize the historic opportunity brought by the initiative to achieve win-win results and joint development.

In a broader sense, railway cooperation between China and Malaysia also embodies China's commitment to help develop railway infrastructures in the Southeast Asian region.

A report released by HSBC in November, said that major rail lines, under construction or to be developed under the Belt and Road Initiative, will increase the volume and efficiency of intra-regional trade, and increase the productivity of the region with more efficient transportation.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has hit the delete button on domestic rules protecting net neutrality.

The FCC voted 3-2 on Thursday to end the 2015 Open Internet Order and enact the Restoring Internet Freedom initiative, which is widely seen as giving internet service providers (ISPs) more power to selectively limit internet access while favoring certain data streams.

In large part, this is an internal battle within the United States over consumer choice and how the internet will operate. Nonetheless, it also could have a significant impact beyond America's borders, especially for those who routinely interact with U.S.-based internet services in their daily or professional lives.

Though you may not see the changes overnight, many critics say that, in the long run, internet users around the world may not know what products or services they are missing out on because of the rollback of net neutrality in the United States.

What is net neutrality?

Coined in 2003 by Columbia University professor Tim Wu, the phrase "net neutrality" refers to the principle that ISPs should treat all data provided to customers equally and without restriction to block out competitors. In essence, it keeps ISPs from choosing which data gets streamed at a faster rate and which websites are blocked or throttled.

Net neutrality was made official policy in 2015 through new FCC regulatory rules that treated ISPs as a public utility following extensive industry and public debate.

Why does net neutrality matter?

Net neutrality is the law in more than 40 countries, including the United States and the European Union. But with the shackles for U.S.-based ISPs off, equality in cyberspace may disappear.

Companies or individuals willing to pay more may get a freer, faster internet service, which could lead to two classes of internet user: one rich in money and information, the other poor in both.

The ending of net neutrality in the U.S. could be the beginning of the end of the open, interoperable, free internet, said Quinn McKew, deputy executive director of ARTICLE 19 in the United Kingdom.

It is now a question of how much, not if, freedom of expression online will be undermined around the world as a result of this shortsighted decision to enrich the entrenched near-monopolies who control internet access in the United States," McKew said.

For example, if a company from the Balkans, Russia or Central Asia develops its own video-streaming service, an ISP may slow its delivery because the provider has a competing service of its own unless the company agrees to pay additional fees to have its product streamed at higher rates.

And obviously its not only about entertainment.

The Public Library of Science (PLOS), a U.S.-based nonprofit open-access publisher and advocate dedicated to progress in science and medicine through a transformation in research communication, warned that allowing ISPs to sort traffic based on content, sender and receiver, opens the door for corporate and government censorship that would greatly hinder access to scientific information around the globe.

"If you want to promote any other culture in the U.S., and you start driving lots of [internet] traffic through the U.S., and you have to go through these ISPs, they can throttle you," according to Dwayne Winseck, a professor at Carleton University in Ottawa and director of the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project.

Or, as Andrew McDiarmid, a senior policy analyst for the Center for Democracy and Technology, put it: I think its a case that the U.S. remains a model for internet policy for the world. Not having it here may make it less likely to have it in other places.

Could dismantling it affect human rights?

As with many things, the United States is seen as a global leader on the internet. Thus, many critics fear that a loosening of its regulatory system may embolden others to crack down on a completely open internet.

Estelle Masse, senior policy analyst at Access Now, a digital-rights advocacy group, said the repeal of net neutrality rules would make the U.S. an outlier on an issue of critical importance to the future of the internet, both as an engine for innovation and a platform for human rights, to the detriment of users.

Some critics say the erosion of net neutrality in world leaders such as the United States could prevent events such as the 2010 Arab Spring, when social media played an integral part in the movement to overthrow oppressive regimes.

Americans arent the only ones who would be harmed by a U.S. decision to repeal net neutrality rules, Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, said in response to the move to end net neutrality.

He says that as the most economically advanced country in the world, such a move by the United States could give the green light to repressive countries like Iran to continue applying the same policies.

The internet is the most valuable invention of the 20th century, and we should all be fighting to keep it free. As the birthplace of the internet, the U.S. should be carrying the torch on net neutrality, not following in the footsteps of autocrats, he said.

Could there be any benefits for foreign countries?

One of the arguments for rolling back net neutrality is that it hindered investment and innovation that threatened to harm the internets continued ability to grow and evolve to meet consumers needs.

The ruling could end up being a boon to innovators outside the United States if American entrepreneurs find they are at a disadvantage because large companies are spending heavily to dominate fast-lane internet access.

Jennifer Yeh, a policy counsel at Free Press, a Washington-based public interest group that advocates for an open internet, noted that while the decision may limit supply of new content and developments for users outside the United States, it could push innovators to leave for better opportunities elsewhere."

To that end, it appears as though some are ready to pounce on the opportunity.

Maybe I shd [should] invite newly disadvantaged US startups to EU, so they have a fair chance, tweeted Neelie Kroes, the European Union's commissioner for the digital agenda, during the debate in the United States on ending net neutrality.
The U.S. Defense Department hailed success on the battlefield by Afghan forces and urged Taliban insurgents to embrace "peace and political legitimacy" through a negotiated settlement with the government in Kabul.

The comments came this week in the Pentagons semiannual report to Congress, the first since August 21 when President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan and the South Asia region.

The Pentagon said in the report given to Congress on Friday that U.S. and Afghan sources indicate this fighting season has been more successful than the last."

During this reporting period [June 1, 2017, to November 30], the Taliban was unable to threaten any provincial centers, lost control of key districts, and the ANDSF retained control of all major population centers," it said, referring to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan had said in early summer that the conflict was in a "stalemate" as Afghan security forces struggled to hold back the Taliban and other extremist groups in the country.

The report said the major change in U.S. policy under Trump from our previous strategy is the shift from a time-based approach to a conditions-based one.

This strategy is a clear signal of U.S. resolve and a break with the previous administrations focus on a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, it added.

Our purpose in Afghanistan remains the same, the report said. It is to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a safe haven from which terrorist groups can plan and execute attacks on the United States, or our allies, and citizens abroad.

It said the goal remains the same as in 2001: a stable, independent Afghanistan at peace with its neighbors.

The objective of the campaign is to convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield. The war will end in a comprehensive, Afghan-led political settlement that will include all parties, including the Taliban.

The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield. They must know that their only path to peace and political legitimacy is through a negotiated settlement with the Afghan government, it said.

The Pentagon said it has a willing and able partner in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

In conjunction with the new U.S. strategy, he launched with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan a process to create and monitor reforms in four priority sectors: governance, economic development, security, and the peace process.

It cited Ghanis long-term plan to seize the initiative in the fight against insurgent and terrorist forces, further professionalize the ANDSF, modify the ANDSF force structure, and compel the Taliban to seek reconciliation.

Under its new South Asia Strategy, the Pentagon said the United States has deployed modest numbers of additional forces to support the train, advise, and assist and for counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan.

The United States has about 14,000 uniformed personnel in Afghanistan, an increase of some 3,000 from the previous reporting period, it said.

It cautioned, though, that our commitment is enduring but not unlimited. Our support is not a blank check.

As long as the Afghan government continues to show real progress and make real reforms, we will continue to support them as our strategic partners in the fight against international terrorism.

The United States has been in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion to drive the Taliban from power after it said the group's leaders were sheltering al-Qaida militants responsible for the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.

U.S. forces have remained as part of a NATO-led coalition since, although active combat operations were turned over to Afghan forces in 2014, and international troop levels have fallen from a peak of more than 100,000 to about 16,000.
An employee of Britain's embassy in Lebanon was found murdered Sunday.



The body of Rebecca Dykes was reportedly found on the side of the road. Police sources told the British media that Dykes appeared to have been raped before she was killed but that the crime did not appear to be politically motivated.



A statement from Dykes' family said they were "devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca."



"We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time," the family said.



Dykes had been working in Beirut for nearly a year as the program and policy manager for the Department for International Development, according to the BBC.



Local police say that an investigation, including a second post-mortem, is being carried out. British authorities said they were in contact with local police.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday told reporters he's not considering firing Robert Mueller, even as his lawyers accused the special counsel of illegally collecting tens of thousands of emails from Trump's presidential transition team.

"No. I am not," Trump said when asked if he was considering such a move. Of the emails, Trump said, "I can't imagine there's anything on them, frankly. Because, as we said, there's no collusion."

The emails in question came from the computers of 13 senior Trump transition officials and cover the period from the time Trump was elected in early November 2016 to when he took office Jan. 20, 2017. The messages include discussions about national security and Trump's possible initial international goals, along with assessments of would-be appointees to the new administration.

A spokesman for the special prosecutor defended the legality of the collection.

"When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," the spokesman said early Sunday.

Mueller asked the General Services Administration, the government agency that manages federal property where the Trump transition team worked and whose computers it used, for the emails. The agency, without informing the Trump transition team, turned them over September 1.

Kory Langhofer, a lawyer representing the transition team called Trump for America, complained Saturday to Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees that Mueller had gotten the emails, even though it was "aware that the GSA did not own or control the records in question."

The Trump attorney said Mueller's prosecutors have "extensively used the materials in question" in their ongoing probe of whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to help him defeat his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Langhofer said prosecutors were aware that some of the materials were protected from disclosure because they involved private discussions between Trump transition attorneys and officials working on the transition to power.

Asked for comment about the emails, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "We continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expect this process to wrap up soon."

White House officials say there is no consideration being given to firing Mueller. One key Republican lawmaker, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, said Sunday it would be a "mistake" for Trump to oust him, although some Republicans have called for Mueller's dismissal.

Mueller's months-long investigation has already resulted in guilty pleas from two Trump aides  former national security adviser Michael Flynn and foreign adviser George Papadopoulos  for lying to federal investigations about their contacts with Russian officials. The investigation has also led to the indictments of two former key campaign officials  Michael Manafort and Rick Gates  in connection with their lobbying efforts for Ukraine that predates Trump's successful run to the White House.

Trump has regularly disparaged the Mueller and congressional investigations of his campaign's links to Russia, and Republicans have increasingly criticized the Mueller probe as biased against Trump. Mueller dismissed one key FBI investigator from the probe when it was discovered he had exchanged negative comments about Trump in emails with another FBI official connected to the probe.

"There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven," Trump told reporters Friday, although none of the investigations has been concluded.

Mueller also is investigating whether Trump obstructed justice by firing former FBI director James Comey in May. Comey was leading the Russia investigation before Mueller was named to replace him.

Comey testified to a congressional panel that before he was fired, Trump urged him to drop his investigation of Flynn, a former Army general who served in Trump's White House for less than a month before Trump fired him for lying to Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during the transition period.
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December 12th Movement leader Coltrane Chimurenga says they fully support new President Emmerson Mnangagwa following the removal of former president Robert Mugabe from power. he speaks with VOA Studio 7's Blessing Zulu on the sidelines of the Zanu PF Extra Ordinary Congress held Friday.
Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa appealed Friday to his ZANU-PF party to unite ahead of next year's elections.

Mnangagwa spoke to about 6,000 delegates at a ZANU-PF congress after delegates endorsed him as the party's leader and its candidate for the 2018 elections.

The party was divided for years over who should succeed longtime president Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa took office less than a month ago, after the army forced Mugabe to step down.

The new president spoke of the challenges the country faces as his government tries to revive a moribund economy.

"The task at hand is that of rebuilding our great country," he said. "The government will leave no stone unturned to fully explore rich resources."

Mnangagwa did not castigate his predecessor, whom he had worked with for more than 50 years before being fired, purportedly for showing disloyalty to Mugabe.

Mnangagwa appealed for patience on economic matters, and he asked businesses and officials to shun corruption and unreasonable price increases.

'Turn over a new leaf'

"Let us look forward with hope and love. Let bygones be bygones," he said. "However, let those who have been forgiven should not think we have forgotten. Let us turn over a new leaf and renew ourselves."

As Mnangagwa was speaking at Robert Gabriel Mugabe Square, several of his former allies were appearing before a judge at Harare Magistrates Court.

The defendants face criminal nuisance charges for wearing ZANU-PF hats on social media after being kicked out of the party.

They included Ignatius Chombo, who was finance minister when Mugabe fired Mnangagwa as vice president on November 5, triggering the events that led to Mugabe's downfall. This was the second time Chombo had been arrested since Mnangagwa came into office.

Lovemore Madhuku, Chombo's attorney, said, "It is very likely that we may be under military rule. This is exactly the way the courts were operating under President Mugabe. And we see just that. Unless there is a signal to change, we will just be in for a very difficult scenario."

Madhuku wants the court to dismiss his client's case, saying Mnangagwa was trying to punish all those who supported former first lady Grace Mugabe, who was Mnangagwa's main rival in the fight to succeed Robert Mugabe.
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The Aerion AS2 shown in this illustration would be the world's first supersonic business jet. It is being developed by Lockheed Martin, partnering with Aerion Corp of Reno, Nev. (Handout)

For 27 years, until its retirement in 2003, the Concorde was a flying symbol of glamour and speed, a sleek embodiment of technological prowess and supersonic power that ferried the wealthy from New York to London in 3 hours while they dined on veal medallions and creme caramel.

Its excess, though, led to its demise. The plane was too expensive and carried too few passengers to be sustainable. After a fatal crash, the fleet ceased operation with one last flight from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles International Airport, as the pilot raised a glass of champagne and toasted his passengers: To your first Mach 2  and the last.

On Friday, however, leaders of Lockheed Martin and the Aerion Corp. announced a deal to build a speedy business jet that they vowed would engineer a renaissance in supersonic travel. Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, the companies said they would build a civil jet, capable of flying as fast as Mach 1.4, or about 60 percent faster than a typical commercial airliner.

With operations projected to start in 2025, the AS2, as the jet would be called, would be able to fly as many as 12 passengers, and shave as much as three hours off the seven- to eight-hour trips between New York and London, so business executives could make a daily commute back and forth across the Atlantic.

The memorandum of understanding between the two companies represents a departure for Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin. The company is the largest defense firm in the world, known primarily as a maker of weapons and military aircraft, including the F-16, F-22 and F-35.



The AS2 is designed to carry 12 people at a maximum cruising speed of Mach 1.4. (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)

That legacy in building supersonic fighter jets, as well as the SR-71 surveillance jet  capable of traveling three times the speed of sound  is what made Lockheed such a good partner, the companies said.

Although Lockheed is focused on defense, it did build the first operational business jet, the Lockheed JetStar, which flew in the 1960s and 70s.

We do believe new material and new technologies are making civil supersonic flight a realistic near-term possibility, said Orlando Carvalho, the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Despite the struggles of the Concorde  a commercial airliner capable of flying about 100 people  Brian Barents, the executive chairman of Aerion, said he believes the demand would be there for a comfortable, fast-

flying jet designed for corporations and the ultrawealthy.

We strongly believe that speed is the next frontier in civil aviation, and we will begin that journey with a supersonic business jet, he said.

Reno, Nev.-based Aerion forecasts building 300 jets in the first 10 years of production, and the comfort of the jets would rival other business jets on the market.

One of the problems with supersonic travel is the sonic booms they create. The United States bans commercial airliners from flying at supersonic speeds over land. Such speeds are permitted over water, however. NASA and several companies are working on ways to lessen the impact of sonic booms, reducing the bone-rattling cacophony to mere rumbles.

But the even bigger hurdle may be persuading people to pay a premium for the extra speed and convenience.

Some very wealthy people are going to have to say, I want the speed. I want my own Concorde,  said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, a consulting firm. The fact that it doesnt fly as fast as the Concorde, which could hit Mach 2, might also put a crimp in the ego factor.

He predicted governments could also be a customer, making Lockheed Martins involvement essential. There are absolutely no options for rapid delivery of essential personnel  soldiers or diplomats or doctors, he said. Theres nothing faster than the fastest civil jet.

Since Lockheed Martin has traditionally shied away from civil markets, Aboulafia said the question is, will it actually come through with the large pile of cash needed to bring [the jet] to market?

Aerion and Lockheed, however, were optimistic.

This really is the dawn of a new era, said Aerion Chairman Robert Bass. As our motto says, Its about time. 
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:04:36|Editor: Yamei

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Security forces raided Taliban hideouts in Tabar area of Sangcharak district in the northern Sari Pul province Saturday night, killing seven insurgents, Nasratullah Jamshidi, a spokesman for the army in the northern region said Sunday.

Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces, according to the official, raided Taliban hideouts in Tabar area on late Saturday night, killing seven insurgents on the spot and injuring two others.

According to the official, the security forces have also pounded militants' positions in Dawlat Abad and Shirin Tagab districts in the neighboring Faryab provinces.

Taliban outfit has yet to make comments.
[This story has been optimized for offline reading on our apps. For a richer experience, you can find the full version of this story here. An Internet connection is required.]



Khairos Hassans granddaughter Ladan, 13, stands behind a tree as guests visit their home in Dagahaley, in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Her friends were rushing to say goodbye. They gathered in the sliver of shade outside her mud hut, next to the pile of bags packed with everything Khairo Hassan had accumulated as a refugee.

Im going to miss you, said one woman, who kissed her cheeks.

We hope you are safe there, said a girl who hugged her, while Hassans eyes filled with tears.

In three days, Hassan, 44, would be leaving this sprawling refugee camp for Mogadishu, Somalia, one of the most dangerous cities on the planet, with two of her daughters and her granddaughter. She hated the idea. Every week, it seemed, Islamist extremists there grew more brazen. In October, a truck bomb had killed 512 people, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks anywhere since Sept. 11, 2001.

Hassan was traveling through a U.N. program called "voluntary repatriation," which provides hundreds of dollars to refugees in Kenya who choose to go back home. But there was nothing voluntary about her journey to Somalia.



Hassans neighborhood in the sprawling refugee camp of 250,000 is seen from above. Hassan had left Somalia in 2010, after the Islamist group al-Shabab had seized control of her town, Dinsor. Her husband had been fatally shot in the street. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Instead, her return was a sign of how a strained international aid system has broken down amid the biggest global refugee crisis since World War II.

The problem started when the United Nations, squeezed by growing demands for aid, slashed food rations in this camp of 250,000. That left the refugees little option but to buy food on credit from local markets.

Hassan, a widow, had borrowed $400 over several months to purchase rice, beans, milk and noodles to feed her family. It was an impossible sum in the Dadaab camp, where she made $3 a month selling bananas. Her creditors began to threaten her with arrest or violence.

Unwittingly, the United Nations created the only viable mechanism for people like Hassan to pay off their debts: by moving to a war zone.

If everything went as planned, in three days, before Hassan boarded a plane to Mogadishu, a U.N. official would give her about $150 per family member for their return to Somalia. She would immediately hand that cash to her creditors.

I need this debt to be over, Hassan said.

Asked about the practice, the United Nations said it was aware that mounting debt could motivate some refugees to return to Somalia. But officials said they did not know how prevalent a factor it is.

This is something we are looking into, said Denis Kuindje, the head of protection at the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Dadaab.

The United Nations' voluntary repatriation program started offering the payments in 2016, after Kenyan authorities threatened to shutter Dadaab, one of the world's oldest refugee camps. Some refugees began to pack up and head for neighboring Somalia, which has suffered near-continuous war since the early 1990s. The U.N. assistance was meant to help them get settled.

But Hassan would start her new life in Somalia with almost nothing.



Women wait outside of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Dadaab. The United Nations unwittingly created the only viable mechanism for refugees to pay off their debts: by paying them to move to a war zone. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Now, as more people trickled into Hassans hut to say goodbye, a man in a shiny red robe slid through the crowd, entered her room and sat on her bed, his leather shoes resting on her dirt floor. His name was Bashir Ali. He was one of the shopkeepers to whom Hassan owed money.

When are you going to pay me? he asked, twirling a large white smartphone in one hand.

Hassan was getting angry. The previous night, the radio had reported another attack in Mogadishu. Her 19-year-old son, Noor Mohammed Isak, who would be staying behind in Dadaab, had shown her pictures of dead bodies on his phone. Her head throbbed, and she wondered if she had malaria, or if it was stress.

I told you I will, she told the shopkeeper. As soon as they give me the money, it will be yours.

Packing to go

The next day, Hassan and the girls took the first step of their journey to Somalia.

Inside her hut, Hassan rolled up her thin mattress and tied it with a headscarf. She packed a Koran with gold lettering on the cover. Her daughter Falhado, 14, was surrounded by friends who hugged her.

I hope she isnt killed, one friend, Sahro Hassan, 14, said after stepping away from Falhado.

The family crammed into a beat-up silver taxi, which drove off in a burst of dust. Hassan watched as her corner of the camp disappeared in the rearview mirror, heaps of sun-bleached wood, metal and plastic.

She had left Somalia in 2010, walking for 16 days, after the Islamist group al-Shabab had seized control of her town, Dinsor. Her husband had been shot and killed in the middle of the street. Her neighbor had been slaughtered in his house. One of her daughters had disappeared after an unhappy marriage, leaving her baby for Hassan to raise.

Hassan didn't expect to stay long in Dadaab, a string of makeshift encampments in the desert of eastern Kenya, about 50 miles from the Somali border. But the situation back home never improved. Last year, al-Shabab was one of Africa's deadliest terrorist organizations, killing more than 4,200 people. This year, because of conflict and drought, Somalia reached the brink of famine.

Now, Hassan was heading back, despite her friends warnings. There were few functional schools in Somalia, they said. Some of those who returned from Dadaab had been killed, they said.

Hassan listened and responded: What other choice do I have?



Khairo Hassan, 45, sits on her bed in her hut. Hassan, a widow who made $3 a month selling bananas, had borrowed $400 over several months to buy food for her family, and her creditors began to threaten her with arrest or violence. The mounting debt left her little choice but to return to Somalia. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)



Hassans oldest daughter, Sokoro Mohammed Isak, wipes away tears as she sees her family get into a taxi that will take them to the airport for their flight to Somalia. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

The taxi took them to a bus, and the bus took them to a large concrete shelter in the camp where Hassans family and 27 other refugees were told to wait. They were almost all traveling to Somalia for the same reason  to use the U.N. stipend to pay off their debt.

Adey Ali, a single mother of two, owed $600, which she had spent on food and medicine for her children. Mohammed Usman owed $180. Another woman owed $250.

This is debt-motivated repatriation, Ali said.

Across Dadaab, the United Nations had posted signs that read, Return is your choice. Officials had set up information desks where families considering repatriation could ask questions and where U.N. officials could determine whether they were indeed going back voluntarily. It is a violation of international law to force refugees to return home if their lives will be at risk.

But U.N. fieldworkers are aware of how the financial package encourages refugees to return to Somalia. Hassan, Ali and several other returnees said they mentioned in their repatriation interviews that their debts were the primary reason they were participating in the program.

We know its the money on their mind, said Abdi Fatah Sadik, a senior repatriation officer with UNHCR in the camp, who is responsible for interviewing would-be returnees.

The United Nations also acknowledges the devastating effect of the decrease in food rations over the past year. U.N. officials say they instituted the cutbacks because donors such as the United States and European countries have not kept pace with surging demand for aid around the world.

Refugees in Dadaab now receive only 70 percent of their nutritional requirements, according to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). Nearly all of that comes in the form of sorghum, an American government donation, which most Somalis do not eat. The result has been an increase in malnutrition, according to the WFP.

We cant pretend people will eat a lot less and remain at the same health level, said Paul Turnbull, the agencys deputy country director in Kenya.

To fill the gaps, refugees such as Hassan headed to Dadaabs markets, run mostly by other refugees and stocked with produce and meat from outside the camp. As in Somalia, they can make purchases using a system of credit known as deen, based on trust between members of the same clans. Except, eventually, they hit their limits.

The U.N. doesnt give enough food, so they come here, said one shopkeeper named Sheikh Hussein, who sells rice, milk and beans. We know eventually theyll find a way to pay.

Ali, the single mother, said her creditors sent Kenyan police officers to her hut. She spent seven hours in jail until two clan leaders came to bail her out. But first they asked her: How will you pay your debt? she recalled.

I told them, There is only one way. I will enlist in repatriation,  she said.



Posters explain the repatriation process inside of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Dadaab. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)



Hassan waits in line to receive her money at the airstrip in Dadaab. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Hassan received a different threat. One of the three men to whom she owed money had confronted her a few months ago, she said.

If you dont pay me, theres going to be a fight, he told her. She signed up for repatriation shortly afterward.

At the concrete shelter, Hassan and the girls unrolled their mattresses and sprawled out in the heat. In a bag, Falhado had brought a notebook full of English homework, with the teachers comments in the margins. Splendid, one said. Brilliant, said another.

Shamso, 11, Hassans younger daughter, carried sandals that said, Beautiful Girl. Ladan, 12, her granddaughter, held a plastic bag that said, See the World.

After a few hours, they were taken to an office to provide fingerprints, sit for pictures and hand over their refugee cards. While Hassan was standing at a table, her cellphone rang. She fished it from her blue handbag.

Hello, she said.

It was another one of her creditors.

I heard you are leaving soon, he said.

Her eyes widened with anger.

You will get your money, she said.

The plane back home

The bus arrived the next morning, pink with a yellow bolt down the middle and stars painted on the windows. Their plane was on its way.

Before this week, Hassan had never been on a bus. Now, she was inside of one, bouncing along the dirt road that sliced through the camp.

She had never flown in a plane before, either. What is to keep that metal box from crashing into the ocean? she asked.

The bus came to a stop in front of Dadaabs airstrip. Hassan and the other refugees walked down the steps.

Their bags were weighed. The familys belongings came to 136 pounds.

Stand over there, a U.N. official said, indicating a small office, and the 32 refugees lined up where they were told.

Inside, a man at a desk was sitting in front of a pile of white envelopes. Hassans name was called. The man reached into one envelope and pulled out $100 bills. He counted them out loud.



A woman hands money through a fence at the airstrip in Dadaab. U.N. officials had even allowed a money changer onto the airstrip, so that the refugees could pay their debts in the local currency. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Six hundred and 30 dollars, he announced at the end, and Hassan took the envelope from him.

Ive never seen this much money, she said in a monotone, leaving the office. I wish I could keep it.

But her son and her 28-year-old daughter were still in Dadaab. Most of the refugees had relatives remaining in the camp, and they would be hounded about the debt if it wasnt paid.

About 100 yards away, Hassan could see a crowd of men at the fence along the airstrip.

She walked up to Adey Ali, the woman who owed $600.

Should we ask if we can pay our creditors? Hassan asked.

Ali approached the UNHCR official in charge, a young man named Mokhtar Abdullahi.

Can we please pay our debts now?

Okay. One at a time, he responded.

The U.N. officials knew what was going on; they had even allowed a money changer onto the airstrip, so that the refugees could pay their debts in the local currency.

Minutes later, the refugees were at the fence, slipping bills through the barbed wire.

This is it, Ali said, as she passed $400 to her sister, who would then pay the creditor.

Hassan pushed $200 to one of her creditors wives and then gave the rest to her 19-year-old son, who would pay off the remainder of the debt that evening.

Im free now, she said, and lifted both hands in the air in mock triumph.

Seconds later, the plane landed in a roar.

Its like a dream, Shamso yelled.

Hassan wiped sweat from her forehead, collected her things and walked toward the runway, waving at her relatives who were still standing by the fence.

Take care of yourself, she shouted to her son.

Hassan walked up the stairs and let a security officer pat her down. She chose a seat in the fifth row and leaned her forehead against the headrest in front of her. A flight attendant buckled her in.

Around her, some of the children started to wail.

Dont cry. Dont cry, said a U.N. airline official. Youre going home.



Hassans girls watch as their plane lands in Dadaab. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)



Hassan boards the plane that will take her from Dadaab to Mogadishu. (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

Back in danger

Three weeks later, back in Mogadishu, Hassan was staying at a red tin house on the edge of the city, in a sprawling displacement camp.

A nephew had helped her find a temporary room in the house. But she had run out of money, and she was getting ready to move again, this time to a tent made of sticks and plastic. It was far too dangerous to move back to Dinsor, her home town.

In Mogadishu, gunshots and small blasts echoed throughout the day and night. The girls were afraid to walk outside.

They are not used to this kind of fighting, Hassan said. I dont know if they will get over it.

Shamso could barely sleep. The 11-year-old had nightmares in which animals chased her. When she woke up, she covered her head with a blanket.

In Dadaab, we never heard gunshots, she said.

Hassan was supposed to receive $800 from the United Nations upon arrival  $200 per family member  but for some reason, that money had not been sent. For at least six months, though, she would receive a small stipend to buy food.

She wondered what would happen after that money ran out, where their food would come from.

In Mogadishu, the returnees from the Dadaab camp had formed a committee to lobby the Somali government and the United Nations for more help.

Coming back was a huge mistake, said Abukar Mohammed, the spokesman for that committee. Like many other returnees, he was planning to go back to Dadaab.

For now, Hassan was still trying to imbue the lives of her daughters and granddaughter with some sense of normalcy. They ate together each morning. They took turns washing clothes. The girls were attending a temporary school with a placard outside that said, Education for children affected by drought.



Hassans granddaughter, Ladan, right, walks to school with Hassans daughter Shamso, 12, in Mogadishu, where (Adriane Ohanesian/For The Washington Post)

In the classroom, which had a tin roof and no windows, the sound of gunfire punctuated the school day. Shamso recoiled when she heard the shots.

Asli Hassan, her teacher, tried to calm the students.

I tell them, Its okay. I tell them, Its normal. 

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From left: David Schiller, retired assistant special agent in charge of DEAs Denver field division, and McKesson CEO John H. Hammergren. (Photos by Mark Abramson for The Washington Post and David Maxwell/Bloomberg/Illustration by The Washington Post)

After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history.

The team, based out of the DEAs Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nations largest drug company, McKesson Corp. By 2014, investigators said they could show that the company had failed to report suspicious orders involving millions of highly addictive painkillers sent to drugstores from Sacramento, Calif., to Lakeland, Fla. Some of those went to corrupt pharmacies that supplied drug rings.

The investigators were ready to come down hard on the fifth-largest public corporation in America, according to a joint investigation by The Washington Post and 60 Minutes.

The DEA team  nine field divisions working with 12 U.S. attorneys offices across 11 states  wanted to revoke registrations to distribute controlled substances at some of McKessons 30 drug warehouses. Schiller and members of his team wanted to fine the company more than $1 billion. More than anything else, they wanted to bring the first-ever criminal case against a drug distribution company, maybe even walk an executive in handcuffs out of McKessons towering San Francisco headquarters to send a message to the rest of the industry.

David Schiller said his team was demoralized when the case against McKesson was downgraded. (Mark Abramson/For The Washington Post)

This is the best case weve ever had against a major distributor in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Schiller, who recently retired as assistant special agent in charge of DEAs Denver field division after a 30-year career with the agency. I said, How do we not go after the number one organization? 

But it didnt work out that way.

Instead, top attorneys at the DEA and the Justice Department struck a deal earlier this year with the corporation and its powerful lawyers, an agreement that was far more lenient than the field division wanted, according to interviews and internal government documents. Although the agents and investigators said they had plenty of evidence and wanted criminal charges, they were unable to convince the U.S. attorney in Denver that they had enough to bring a case.

Discussions about charges never became part of the negotiations between the government lawyers in Washington and the company.

It was insulting, Schiller said. Morale has been broken because of it.

The result illustrates the long-standing conflict between drug investigators, who have taken an aggressive approach to a prescription opioid epidemic that killed nearly 200,000 people between 2000 and 2016, and the government attorneys who handle those cases at the DEA and the Justice Department.

None of McKessons warehouses would lose their DEA registrations. The company, a second-time offender, had promised in 2008 to be more diligent about the diversion of its pills to the street. It ultimately agreed to temporarily suspend controlled substance shipments at four distribution centers and pay a $150 million fine.

Within the ranks, we feel like our system was hijacked, said Helen Kaupang, a DEA investigator and supervisor for 29 years who worked on the McKesson case in Denver before retiring in September.

While the fine set a record for drug distributors, it is only about $50 million more than the compensation last year for McKesson board chairman and chief executive John H. Hammergren, the nations third-highest-paid chief executive. McKesson has 76,000 employees and revenue of almost $200 billion a year, about the same as ExxonMobil.

The Justice Department declined repeated requests for comment.

The McKesson settlement was a groundbreaking conclusion to a successful multi-district investigation into the role of a distributors failure to detect and report suspicious orders, many of which were tied to independent and small chain pharmacy customers ordering opioid medications, the DEA said in a statement. More importantly, McKesson accepted responsibility and accepted terms beyond the requirements of the [Controlled Substances Act].

A senior agency official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the fine was a significant penalty, the company agreed to an independent monitor, and the case prompted McKesson and other distributors to be more diligent about reporting suspicious orders.

We could have fined them out of existence, or indicted the company and put them out of business, the official said. Id rather have one of the largest drug distributors be the poster child for detection and reporting of suspicious orders.

At the time of the settlement, McKesson said it had instituted significant changes to its program designed to flag suspicious orders of narcotics. We continue to significantly enhance the procedures and safeguards across our distribution network to help curtail prescription drug diversion while ensuring patient access to needed medications, Hammergren said in a statement.

The company also has said that addressing the opioid problem requires the cooperation of everyone involved  doctors, pharmacists, distributors and manufacturers.

In a recent interview, Geoffrey E. Hobart, McKessons lead attorney, said that the prospect of criminal charges or a $1 billion fine against the company were never raised by government lawyers during nearly three years of negotiations.

While I am not privy to any of the government team discussions that may have taken place behind closed doors in this particular settlement, I can tell you that the DEA investigators, the U.S. attorneys offices and others would have had plenty of opportunity to raise their views during the process, said Hobart, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Covington, one of the most influential law firms in Washington. While individual DEA investigators and agents are entitled to their opinions, their agency may ultimately take a different view.

McKesson had multiple chances to correct their behavior, retired DEA program manager Jim Geldhof said. (Mark Abramson/For The Washington Post)

If the lawyers for the government believed there was criminal conduct here, they would have told me about it, Hobart added. That would have increased the leverage they had, and that never happened.

DEA investigators, agents and supervisors who worked on the McKesson case said the company paid little or no attention to the unusually large and frequent orders placed by pharmacies, some of them knowingly supplying drug rings.

Instead, the DEA officials said, the company raised its own self-imposed limits, known as thresholds, on orders from pharmacies and continued to ship increasing amounts of drugs in the face of numerous red flags.

They had multiple chances to correct their behavior going back to the Internet pharmacy days. They promised everyone they were going to correct their behavior, and a year or two later, they were doing it again, said Jim Geldhof, a DEA program manager who worked on the McKesson case in Detroit before retiring in 2015 after a 43-year career. He is now advising law firms suing opioid manufacturers and distributors, including McKesson.

The DEA agents and investigators contend that lawyers stationed at the chief counsels office in the agencys Division of Diversion Control were intimidated and retreated from the battle with McKesson and its legal team, which included a former top DEA official from that division.

Schiller said DEA lawyers would repeatedly ask: Why would you go after a Fortune 50 company thats going to cause all these problems with Ivy League attorneys, when we can go after other [DEA registration holders] that are much lower, that are going to put up no fight?

And I said, Thats exactly why you want to go after McKesson. Theyre the prize. Theyre the ones that are going to send a message to the thousands of mom-and-pops, to other big distributors, to the manufacturers, that this is no longer acceptable. 



Within the ranks, we feel like our system was hijacked, said Helen Kaupang, who worked on the McKesson case. (Mark Abramson/For The Washington Post)

The pills kept coming

In 2008, McKesson paid a $13.25 million fine for failing to report hundreds of suspicious hydrocodone orders from Internet pharmacies  even after being warned by the DEA three years earlier that it was shipping excessive amounts of the drug commonly called Vicodin. The online pharmacies took orders from customers who had obtained bogus prescriptions, resulting in criminal prosecutions.

By failing to report suspicious orders for controlled substances that it received from rogue Internet pharmacies, the McKesson Corporation fueled the explosive prescription drug abuse problem we have in this country, then-DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement announcing the settlement.

As part of its agreement with the Justice Department, McKesson pledged to temporarily suspend distribution of narcotics from two of its 30 distribution centers and to improve its system for monitoring and reporting suspicious drug orders.

McKesson caught the attention of the DEA again in 2012, when state and local law enforcement began to investigate Platte Valley Pharmacy in Brighton, Colo., a suburb 25 miles northeast of Denver on the banks of the Platte River. The population was 38,000.

Pharmacist Jeffrey Clawson was selling as many as 2,000 pain pills per day.

With state and local law enforcement, the DEAs Denver field division began a criminal investigation into Clawson, making undercover buys and monitoring the size of his drug purchases.

Most of the drugs came from McKessons warehouse in Aurora, northeast of Denver, records show. Under federal law, McKesson is required to notify the DEA about any orders of unusual size, frequency or pattern and hold off on shipping the drugs until those issues are resolved.

But McKesson filled 1.6 million orders from the Aurora warehouse and reported only 16 as suspicious between June 2008 and May 2013. None of the 16 involved Platte Valley, and the company reported them only after the DEA began its investigation.

We would have a pharmacy in a small town out in Colorado, 200 miles from Denver, that is getting the same number of pills or perhaps exceeding a pharmacy that is located next to a medical center in the city of Denver, said Kaupang, the DEA investigator who worked on the Colorado case. There was no legitimate reason for that pharmacy in that little town in remote Colorado to be getting hundreds of thousands of pills over a several-year period. None. There was no justifiable reason.

And yet, the pills kept coming.

Clawson ordered so much oxycodone that he repeatedly bumped up against thresholds McKesson had set for his pharmacy. The company raised those limits and sent him more, DEA agents and investigators said.

The company would raise thresholds so pharmacies could order more pills without setting off suspicious monitoring alarms inside the company, Kaupang said. Did they think we wouldnt look at them again? I dont know. But they almost acted that way.

Hobart, McKessons lawyer, denied that the company raised thresholds to avoid scrutiny.

Schiller and his DEA colleagues in Denver believed they had enough information, at a minimum, to bring an administrative complaint against McKesson that could result in stiff fines and the revocation of the Aurora distribution centers registration to handle controlled substances.

In December 2012, the DEA asked attorneys at headquarters to issue an immediate suspension order against McKesson, an enforcement tool reserved for the most serious threats to public health and safety, Schiller and Kaupang said.

But the immediate suspension order was never approved. Schiller said lawyers at DEA headquarters told him he needed more evidence that the drugs from the warehouse were posing an immediate danger to public health and safety.

They said, You dont have enough evidence to prove its an immediate danger, but they created the lack of immediacy because they delayed the case for nearly a year, Schiller said. They were just looking for an excuse not to issue the order.

The senior DEA official contended that the Denver field division did not submit documents supporting the request for the immediate suspension order until February 2013. Agency lawyers in headquarters did not believe the companys threat to the public could be considered immediate because too much time had passed, the official said.

The investigators tried again in March 2014, this time seeking an order to show cause that would bring McKesson to a hearing, where the DEA could argue for the need to halt drug shipments from Aurora before an administrative law judge.

But DEA attorneys declined to approve that request, as well. Schiller said he was told that he still needed more evidence  even after he said the team submitted eight boxes of documents to the attorneys.

It still wasnt enough, Schiller said.

The senior DEA official said that settlement negotiations with McKesson had begun and the show-cause order would have interfered with the talks.

At the same time the administrative case against McKesson was languishing, the criminal case against Clawson was moving ahead.

A Colorado grand jury had indicted him in 2013 along with 14 others on drug trafficking charges. The indictment noted that McKesson was the main supplier of Platte Valley Pharmacy and said that the company had an obligation to report suspicious orders of narcotics to the DEA.

From 2008-2011, the percentage increase for oxycodone 30 mg orders supplied by McKesson to Platte Valley Pharmacy was approximately 1,469%, the grand jury wrote.

Clawson was convicted on drug trafficking charges and is serving a 15-year sentence. McKesson was not charged in the indictment.

When the Drug Enforcement Administration went after McKesson, a Fortune 5 company, it was the biggest case they had ever brought against a drug distributor. But according to former DEA special agent in charge agent David Schiller, things quickly went downhill behind-the-scenes. (60 Minutes)

The gloves came off

As Schillers team was examining the Aurora warehouse, he took steps to broaden the investigation beyond Colorado to determine whether McKesson was ignoring the agreement it had reached with the Justice Department in 2008 to tighten its procedures. Schiller and the Denver DEA division took the lead as eight divisions in other parts of the country began to collect information on McKessons activity.

In all, the DEA would pursue administrative cases involving 12 McKesson distribution centers. A DEA memo outlined the investigative findings:

Supplied controlled substances in support of criminal diversion activities.

Ignored blatant diversion.

Pattern of raising thresholds arbitrarily.

Failed to review orders for suspicious activity.

Ignored own procedures designed to prevent diversion.

In addition to Aurora, investigators found that McKesson warehouses in Livonia, Mich., and Washington Court House, Ohio, were supplying pharmacies that sold to criminal drug rings, according to internal government documents obtained by The Post and 60 Minutes.

As they were working on the administrative cases, Schiller and Joseph T. Rannazzisi, who led the DEAs diversion office during part of the McKesson case, said investigators also were compiling information in preparation for a potential criminal case against the corporation for knowingly supplying the corrupt pharmacies.

In the summer of 2015, on two occasions, I was briefed by my staff, and talked to the Denver field division, and they believed they had more than enough to go after the corporation criminally, said Rannazzisi, who now works as a consultant to lawyers suing drug companies.

John F. Walsh, then the U.S. attorney in Denver, said he had discussions with Schiller and others about possible criminal charges against McKesson.

We were not presented with a case that had adequate evidence, said Walsh, now a partner at WilmerHale, a global law firm.

Schiller said that his team had amassed more than enough evidence and presented it to Walsh.

I said, We have everything we could possibly want on a silver platter,  Schiller said. We had corrupt pharmacies that were being supplied by McKesson, and they were turning a blind eye to everything that was going on.

In a recent response to The Post, a McKesson spokeswoman said, We categorically deny any criminal intent or the violation of any criminal law in our handling of opioids, and in our discussions with the government, they never suggested otherwise.

In October 2014, Schiller requested a meeting at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Va. On one side of the table were DEA Chief Counsel Wendy Goggin and Clifford Lee Reeves II, the associate chief counsel. On the other side sat Schiller and his agents and investigators.

The meeting started off on a cordial note as they began to review the facts of the case.

And then the gloves came off, Schiller said. It was one of the most stressful conversations Ive ever had in my life.

Reeves declined to comment, and the DEA declined to make Goggin available for an interview.

They were attacking the things we did, how we did it, Schiller recalled. Not one time did they say, All right, heres what else we need. Its been a great case. We know about the previous settlement. That never came up. It was, We are going to settle. 

Former DEA investigator and supervisor Helen Kaupang describes the sudden pressure on the Drug Enforcement Administration to become "friendlier" with the drug industry. (60 Minutes)

I have a bad feeling

With a settlement looming, representatives of the nine DEA division offices descended on the agencys headquarters a month later, in November 2014, to make sure that their attorneys knew they wanted take a hard line against McKesson.

It is clear that [McKesson] does not appreciate the gravity or extent of their violations, the group wrote in an internal document obtained by The Post and 60 Minutes.

They demanded four-year surrenders of McKessons DEA registrations to distribute controlled substances in Washington Court House, Livonia and Aurora, as well as two-year surrenders in Methuen, Mass., and Lakeland, Fla.

The company balked. McKessons lawyer, Hobart, called the proposed surrenders a dealbreaker, according to an internal Justice Department memo.

McKesson insisted that its registrations be suspended rather than surrendered, the memo said. A surrender would cost the company accreditations it needed for state regulatory boards, and McKesson would have to reapply for DEA registrations when the penalties expired. That would trigger a new round of inspections of company operations.

A suspension would allow each warehouse to keep its registration.

McKesson wanted something else as part of a settlement: A provision that would allow the Livonia and Washington Court House distribution centers to continue to send drugs to facilities that serve the federal prison system, Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. McKesson holds a $31 billion federal contract to supply VA centers and other sites.

But some DEA officials wanted to take a hard line with the company because it had already been sanctioned for its behavior in 2008, documents show.

Notwithstanding, their bad acts continued and escalated to a level of egregiousness not seen before, Imelda L. Paredes, a DEA official working on the case, wrote in a memo on March 30, 2015. They were neither rehabilitated nor deterred by the 2008 [agreement].

She also noted that McKesson received an exception for VA in 2008. She said that allowing McKesson to continue to distribute narcotics was inconsistent with the public interest.

How then, can the Government say it is inconsistent with the public interest for McKesson to distribute to the general public; however, they are good enough to serve veterans?

McKesson and government officials argued that punishing the company would disrupt the flow of drugs and hurt veterans. But Paredes and other DEA officials said there would be no disruption if the contract was turned over to one of McKessons competitors, Cardinal Health or AmerisourceBergen.

Find other distributors, Paredes wrote.

The next day, Schiller wrote to Paredes, saying he had heard that the DEA and the Justice Department were on the verge of settling instead of taking the company to court.

I have a bad feeling about this, he wrote to her on March 31, 2015.

Paredes replied that she was being overruled by lawyers in the DEAs legal office.

Im totally against settling, but how do we hold their feet to the fire if counsel refuses to litigate? Paredes wrote. Our attorneys have us over a barrel with their refusal to go to court.

Paredes, who has left the DEA, declined to comment.

Schillers fears were justified. The same day that Schiller wrote to Paredes, Arthur G. Wyatt, chief of the Justice Departments Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, recommended in an internal document that McKessons registrations should be suspended but not surrendered. It was a big win for the company. Wyatt said that the assistant U.S. attorneys working on the case believed that suspensions were satisfactory in light of the overall scope of the settlement.

In September 2015, McKesson and the government reached a tentative settlement. McKessons registrations would be suspended in Aurora for three years, in Washington Courthouse for two and in Livonia for two. The company would be barred from distributing for one year one type of narcotic, hydromorphone, from its Lakeland, Fla., warehouse.

There would be no criminal charges. No administrative case. No $1 billion fine.

The case took more than a year to come to a conclusion. In January, the Justice Department announced that it had finalized a deal with McKesson that included the $150 million fine and the four warehouse suspensions. The company also agreed to increase staffing and retain an independent monitor to assess its compliance.

Schiller said he and his team were left demoralized.

Its on the front lines of everybodys dinner table conversation, kids, adults, he said. McKesson was at the forefront. But DEA wasnt going to go after them? We were going to settle. How do you settle? How do you say its okay, just Here, write this check this time and  and close this place for a little bit, sign this piece of paper. 

In Washington, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has begun an investigation into how drug distributors, including McKesson, sent 780 million pills over six years into West Virginia  433 doses for every man, woman and child in the state. Sen. Claire D. McCaskill (D-Mo.) has also launched an investigation into the role of drug distributors and manufacturers in the opioid epidemic.

Across the country, 41 state attorneys general have banded together to sue the opioid industry.

One of the things we have to do is begin to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable, said Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), whose state suffers from the second-highest drug overdose rate in the nation. Right now, when you see a fine for the McKesson company for a hundred-fifty million when they make a hundred million a week in profits, that isnt going do it.

She noted that it was state attorneys general who had won a settlement against the tobacco industry for more than $200 billion in the 1990s.

This in many ways reminds me of the situation with Big Tobacco, Hassan said. I think its one of the reasons you see attorneys general around the country beginning to file lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry, to hold them accountable for the cost of this terrible epidemic.

Alice Crites contributed to this report.

Read more

The drug industrys triumph over the DEA

How drugs intended for patients ended up in the hands of illegal users

Drug industry hired dozens from DEA as crisis grew


Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham and executive editor Ben Bradlee leave court after a ruling allowing The Post to continue publishing the Pentagon Papers. (AP)

Former columnist

I met Katharine Graham exactly once. It was at a white-tie dinner in Washington, a year or so before she died in 2001.

Four decades separated us in age. She had long since stepped down as publisher of The Washington Post, and I had recently been named editor of the Buffalo News  the first woman to hold that top newsroom job at my hometown paper.

She was, by then, an icon  and certainly an idol of mine. So I searched to find something to chat with her about, and managed to let her know that I admired her. Though I doubt that I used the words courage or inspiration, I wish I had.

Now, through Meryl Streep's portrayal of Graham in the new movie "The Post," a new generation of women  and girls  will get the chance to meet her, too. Maybe they'll even be intrigued enough to seek out her Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography, "Personal History," which tells the story of an insecure widow who inherited control of a newspaper and rose to meet challenges she never anticipated, changing the world along the way.

Whether they encounter her on the screen or on the page, theyll find that Graham has plenty to say to them, especially at this fraught moment in the history of women in America.



Meryl Streep portrays Katharine Graham in a scene from The Post. (Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox /AP)

"The movie is about a woman finding her voice," producer Amy Pascal recently told Post film critic Ann Hornaday.

Referring to the reckoning on sexual misconduct that dominates todays headlines, Pascal added, And whats happening right now is women realizing they havent had a voice in a very long time.

At the films premiere last week in Washington, many of the luminaries in attendance had a connection to the story or the newspaper that told it: Post owner Jeffrey P. Bezos and publisher Fred Ryan; former chairman Donald Graham; Judith Martin, also known as Miss Manners; Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein; and even Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the secret papers revealing the U.S. governments shameful lies about the Vietnam War  first to the New York Timess Neil Sheehan.

(Why, then, isn't this story primarily about the Times, which broke the Pentagon Papers story and won the Pulitzer Prize for it? Tom Hanks, in an onstage chat with The Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, made it simple: "Well, they didn't have Katharine Graham, in all honesty. If they'd had a Katharine Graham, it would be  we'd be calling it 'The Times.' ")

But also in the audience were many prominent media women who know all too well what it feels like to be the only woman in a boardroom, or who have struggled to assert their hard-won authority in jobs never held by a woman before.

For them, the narrative is personal.

A famous 1971 photo of Graham, with the Post's executive editor Ben Bradlee, leaving a Washington courthouse "was emblazoned on my mind," said Susan Goldberg, editor in chief of National Geographic magazine. Goldberg wasn't even in high school when the Supreme Court ruled against the Nixon administration's effort to restrain the Times and The Post from further publication.

The image became a touchstone over the years as Goldberg faced many days  many years  when she was the only woman in the room or the only woman around the table of decision-makers. She was the first female editor of the San Jose Mercury News, the first female editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the first woman in charge of Bloombergs Washington bureau, and the first woman in her current job.

Well be in a much better place as a society when there are fewer female firsts, and having a woman in charge  whether in journalism or law or finance or politics  is less notable because it is just the normal course of doing business, Goldberg told me.

Sexual harassment is, of course, as much about power as about sex. Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was able to prey on aspiring actresses because he had so much control.

The antidote, then, is not only finding one's voice. It's also creating a world  no, insisting on a world  where women hold power, too.

"The answer to creepy men is being the boss" was how Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker magazines, put it last week as she promoted her new book at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington.

These days, there still arent enough woman in authority  not in news organizations, not in Hollywood, not in business, not in politics.

Decades later, its still hard for women to speak their truths and to be fully heard. But more and more, thats changing.

At the end of The Post, Katharine Graham leaves the Supreme Court and moves through a crowd of young women, their faces aglow with admiration for the woman who screwed up her courage, took on a big fight and won.

The literal truth of this triumphant scene is debatable, but as metaphor it is dead on. And it couldnt be more timely.

For more by Margaret Sullivan, visit wapo.st/sullivan
A chalkboard in the lobby at Ballou High School in the District is pictured on May 11, 2016. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

The D.C. State Board of Education may call for an independent investigation of public and charter schools amid allegations that Ballou High School in Southeast Washington improperly graduated students who were chronically absent and didn't grasp basic reading skills.

The board is expected to vote on the matter Wednesday at its monthly meeting.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education and D.C. Public Schools are already investigating citywide graduation policies to determine whether schools are following protocols.

The State Board of Education is an elected nine-member panel that sets broad policies governing graduation requirements, academic standards and teacher qualifications.

If approved Wednesday, the measure would not automatically lead to a new investigation, but would serve as a recommendation to the mayor or the D.C. Council to open another inquiry.

Joe Weedon, Ward 6 representative on the State Board of Education, said the resolution would call for an agency unrelated to schools, such as the D.C. auditor or inspector general, to investigate graduation practices. He said the inquiry would look at all D.C. public and charter schools, not just Ballou.

Were a little uneasy that [the Office of the State Superintendent of Education], the chancellor and the D.C. Public Charter School Board are all under  or tangentially related to  the mayor, and they all have an interest in graduation rates rising, Weedon said. So we need to make sure its an impartial investigation. We need to really understand whats going on.

D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson acknowledged Friday in front of the D.C. Council that the school system graduates a high number of chronically absent students, a practice that "doesn't align" with city policy. But he said he thinks that students who graduate have rightfully passed their courses and earned their diplomas.

I believe that our students earned their diplomas by reaching a level of mastery deemed appropriate by our teachers, Wilson testified.

The State Board of Education meeting is open to the public and is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Old Council Chambers, 441 Fourth Street NW.
Columnist

American private high schools are buzzing about something called the mastery transcript  a way to replace traditional letter grades with digital, evidence-based records of each students academic achievements and character strengths. And it would be used in the college admissions process.

When schools such as Andover, Miss Porter's, Chapin and Holton-Arms  where annual tuition is more than $40,000  start talking about changing college admission procedures, commentators understandably wonder if they want to muscle out those of us who could only afford the neighborhood high school.

My Post colleague Catherine Rampell has concluded the mastery transcript "would have at least one pernicious effect: It would probably help mediocre (generally rich) prep school kids and hurt high-achieving (generally less well-off) public school students."

She is wrong about that. The most selective colleges reveal annually what percentage of their incoming students are from private high schools. Already under fire for not admitting enough low-income students, they would never let their percentage of rich kids increase.

The Mastery Transcript Consortium includes 160 private schools and plans to admit public schools soon. It is smart and brave of those educators to challenge the standard American A-to-F slapdash assessments and commit to subject mastery for each student. Some of the best teachers I know want to make sure every student learns the essentials no matter how long it takes. Just putting a grade on a report card at the end of the school year feels to them like giving up.

That mastery approach is absent from nearly all of our high schools, including those that cater to senators and billionaires children. Why cant we adopt the same attitude toward learning high school math, science, history and English that we do toward young students learning to read? Most elementary schools have specialists to get every child over that hurdle, while we shove students who struggle in high school courses off to the next grade with just a concerned look and a low mark.

Advocates of mastery learning want to encourage projects  such as designing a school building or reenacting the Constitutional Convention  that dont lend themselves to report card grades. They hope their new transcript will spotlight character traits ignored by the traditional grading system. A panel at each school would have final say on each students transcript. Individual students and families could choose to use the new mastery transcript or stick with the old one.

The consortium says it has organized around the development and dissemination of an alternative model of assessment, crediting and transcript generation that will demonstrate a mastery of skills, knowledge and habits of mind by presenting evidence that is then assessed against an institutionally specific standard of mastery.

Attempts to do that in the past have failed because they devoured so much time. But D. Scott Looney, head of Clevelands Hawken School and founder and board chair of the consortium, said the old system provides almost no feedback for the student to figure out how to improve, so some extra time would have great value in augmenting the quality and depth of dialogue between the student and teacher.

Looney said college admissions officers could read the resulting online transcript in two minutes. If they wished, with a few more clicks they could see some of the students actual work.

He said each school would decide how it wants to measure mastery. Independent measures of achievement, such as Advanced Placement and SAT exams, would remain. We could learn a great deal from the schools that try this.

But that wont make the college admissions system more rational or less stressful, because the most sought-after colleges will still be selective, and many applicants will still be disappointed. Looney acknowledged colleges wont accept the new transcript unless it helps them decide who the best applicants are from each high school.

Looney said some schools have so many straight-A students that the transcript could help separate the true geniuses from dogged grade-grubbers like me. Maybe, but when a student finds a classmate beat her out of a place at Yale University because of better habits of mind, its going to hurt just as badly.
Micheline Dumont-Ugeux, second from left, along with fellow Belgians Andree de Jongh, left, and Elvire de Greef, visit the Ministry of Defense in London as guests of the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society on Jan. 6, 1967. The three were awarded the George Medal for helping Royal Air Forces troops escape from occupied Europe during World War II. They are pictured talking to Group Captain Bill Randle, second from right, and Air Commodore Denis Crowley-Milling, whom they had helped to escape. (Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas/Getty Images)

Micheline Dumont-Ugeux, a major figure in the Belgian underground resistance during World War II who helped hundreds of Allied troops evade capture by Nazi forces as they sneaked across mountaintops and international borders, died Nov. 16 at her home in Saint-Siffret, France. She was 96.

Her death was announced by a funeral home in Uzes, France. The cause was not disclosed.

Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux joined the Belgian resistance in 1942, the same year her parents and sister were arrested by the German Gestapo for their underground work against Nazi occupiers of their homeland.

Known by her code name of Lily, she spent three years, often at great risk, as a leader of a secret organization known as the Comet Line. The clandestine escape network rescued at least 750 Allied airmen whose planes had been shot down over Europe and enabled the men to escape across Belgium, France and Spain.

Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux personally helped at least 250 of them, including many Americans, reach freedom, often outwitting Nazi agents at every step of the way. The Comet Line was one of the most successful resistance efforts of the war. Many of the groups leaders were women.

In her early 20s at the time, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux was barely five feet tall and carried false identity papers, shaving six years off her age.

Her face was round and artless, British intelligence officer Airey Neave later wrote in a book about her. She looked no more than 15, an advantage that she used to the full.

Soon after she joined the Comet Line, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux was partly in charge of logistics in Brussels, organizing safe houses, working with photographers to produce identity cards and, most important, leading airmen on the way from the countryside to the French border, former Washington Post journalist Peter Eisner wrote in his 2004 book, The Freedom Line.

Trained as a nurse, she helped airmen recover from their wounds, and also taught them French phrases and European manners.

Keep your hands out of your pockets, she advised, after seeing Americans casually jangle their pocket change as they walked along. No European does that.

She told Americans how to smoke cigarettes in the European style, to avoid being detected, and how to wear a beret. She warned them never to switch their knife and fork from one hand to the other while eating.

At times, if Gestapo agents were lurking nearby, she would embrace an airman she barely knew and appear to be locked in a passionate kiss.

In 1943, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux spent six weeks helping Robert Z. Grimes of Portsmouth, Va., a B-17 pilot, recover from a leg wound after he was shot down over rural Belgium. She found a doctor who extracted a two-inch piece of shrapnel without anesthesia, as Grimes held a towel between his teeth.

When one of her underground colleagues was arrested, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux moved quickly to take Grimes to a different safe house, directing other members of the Comet Line to clear out all the mens clothing, razors and other telltale evidence from the previous house.

After Grimes had recovered enough to walk without assistance, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux handed him over to other resistance fighters, who took him across the French border, then to Paris and on to the Basque region. Two days before Christmas, Grimes forded a river in the middle of the night, even as another American airman walking behind him lost his footing and drowned.

Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux had to be on constant alert for Nazi spies seeking to infiltrate her group. Despite precautions, dozens of members of the Comet Line were arrested or executed, and many Allied aviators were caught and sent to prison camps.

The Gestapo knew of Mrs. Dumont-Ugeuxs identity, but she spent only two days in custody, in 1944. She was released because her interrogator assumed that she was too young to be a threat.

One time, she unmasked a Nazi agent posing as an English-speaking pilot by asking questions using American slang  which left the collaborator speechless. In 1944, while she was working for the resistance in Paris, she realized that Jean Masson, a trusted member of the Comet Line, was a double agent working for the Gestapo.

She followed him around Paris, confirming her suspicions. Then Masson noticed Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux and began to walk toward her.

When she looked back, he was following, ever faster, Eisner wrote in his book. When Lily reached a Metro station, she bounded down the stairs and out of sight, skidding around the rounded corners of the tunnel. . . . As she vaulted around each level and down into the subway, she knew Masson was still following her.

She blended into the crowd and boarded a subway train, crouching low.

As the car doors closed and the train pulled out of the station, Eisner wrote, Jean Masson was turning in circles, glimpsing faces in the windows and on the platform, but he was unable to see Lily.

Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux fled Paris and crossed the Pyrenees Mountains on foot before reaching Madrid. She received an officers commission in the British army and returned to Brussels for the rest of the war.

A resistance assassin was assigned to kill Masson, but he shot another man instead. Masson was later arrested and was executed after the war.

Aline Micheline Dumont was born May 20, 1921, in Brussels. She spent much of her childhood in the Belgian Congo (now Congo), where her father was a doctor.

After her family members were arrested in 1942, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux tried to visit them in prison, only to be told, These are not your parents. We arrested the entire family.

Her father died in a German prison camp in 1945.

That year, she married another resistance fighter, Pierre Ugeux, who later became director of the Belgian public power utility. He died in 2009.

Survivors include three children.

After the war, Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux helped found a group of former Comet Line agents and organized a trip to the United States and Canada, where they met aviators they had rescued. Grimes, who spent 30 years as an Air Force officer and later became a public school administrator in Prince William County, died in 2010.

Britain awarded Mrs. Dumont-Ugeux the George Medal, which is presented to people who demonstrated acts of great bravery in noncombat roles during the war. A British document, once marked Top Secret, praised her heroism with the Comet Line.

Her name became a legend amongst the countless airmen who had been shepherded across Brussels by the famous Lily, it noted. Mlle. Dumont pursued those ideals of patriotism and duty with unflinching determination, fearing nothing and ready to sacrifice all, with the result that through her gallantry and devotion countless airmen were able to escape from the enemy.
Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Georgette Gigi LePelch, seamstress

Georgette Gigi LePelch, 83, a self-employed seamstress and dress designer, died Oct. 13 at her home in Chevy Chase, Md. The cause was a brain hemorrhage, said a son, Patrick LePelch.

Mrs. LePelch was born Georgette Trudel in Alma, Quebec, and moved to the Washington area in 1958.

She was active in two Catholic Churches in the Washington area, Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, Md., and the parish of Saint Louis de France in Washington.

Ira Tublin, physician

Ira Tublin, 88, a physician who practiced in Silver Spring, Md., from 1956 to 2000, specializing in internal medicine, nephrology and geriatrics, died Oct. 2 at his home in Silver Spring. The cause was complications following a stroke, said his wife, Marilyn Tublin.

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Dr. Tublin, a Baltimore native, was a former chief of medicine at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and was instrumental in establishing the kidney dialysis unit at the hospital.

He was a teacher at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., and at George Washington University.

From 1959 to 2005, he was the physician at Camp Airy, a nonprofit camp run by Jewish charities of Baltimore.

Dorothy Dolly Chapin, teacher, magazine writer

Dorothy Dolly Chapin, 80, former head of the English department at National Cathedral School and later a writer for People magazine, died Oct. 19 at her home in Washington. The cause was lung cancer, said a family friend, Jane Siena.

Mrs. Chapin was born Dorothy Newman in Shanghai, the daughter of a U.S. Navy admiral and physician, and grew up on Navy bases around the world.

She settled in Washington in the mid-1960s and taught at National Cathedral School from 1966 to 1976. She then was a writer-reporter for People, covering politics and the White House, interviewing public figures and writing profiles under the byline Dolly Langdon; the surname was her fathers first name. She retired in 1985.

Mary Smalhout, volunteer

Mary Smalhout, 102, a State Department typist and administrative assistant in the late 1930s and 1940s and a Montgomery County volunteer in later decades, died Oct. 23 at her home in Bethesda, Md. The cause was dementia, according to the death certificate, said her son, James Smalhout.

Mrs. Smalhout was born Mary Mullis in Unionville, N.C. She worked in London and the Netherlands for the State Department before settling in the Washington area in 1947. She was also a National Park Service volunteer on the C&O Canal and was active in Girl Scouts and the Womans Club of Bethesda.

Sidney Mintz, federal officer

Sidney Mintz, 99, a federal officer whose specialties included personnel research, management and development with several agencies, died Oct. 10 at a hospital in Rockville, Md. The cause was sepsis, said a daughter, Barbara Cox.

Mr. Mintz, a resident of Gaithersburg, Md. was born in Detroit. He began at what then was the Veterans Administration after World War II, then moved on to the Navy Department, the Atomic Energy Commission and the Treasury Department, where he retired in 1974. His work included training and performance evaluation. He was a cabinet maker and a bridge player.

Luster Payton, Marriott executive

Luster Payton, 63, a Navy lieutenant commander who retired in 1990 and later was a senior purchasing manager with the Marriott Corp., died Oct. 29 at his home in Olney, Md. The cause was congestive heart failure, said a brother, Ronald Payton.

Lt. Cmdr. Payton was born in Fayetteville, N.C. He joined the Navy in 1976 and became a public affairs officer. In 1993, he settled in the Washington area. He had spent the last 24 years with Marriott.

Elsie Bliss, writer, editor

Elsie Bliss, 88, a writer and editor with several federal agencies who retired in 1995 from the marketing and numismatic division of the U.S. Mint, died Nov. 2 at a care center in Kensington, Md. The cause was Alzheimers disease, said a son, Marshall Cohen.

Ms. Bliss, a longtime resident of Silver Spring, Md., was born in Louisville. At retirement, she had worked about seven years for the Mint. Earlier, she had been a writer and editor with the Navy, the Smithsonian and Federal City College, a precursor to the University of the District of Columbia. She moved to Washington in 1961 and worked in George Washington Universitys human resources research office.

Stephen McDonald, association executive

Stephen McDonald, 56, who had been vice president of government affairs for the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) since 2002, died Sept. 26 at his home in Rockville, Md. The cause was coronary artery disease, said a brother, Vincent T. McDonald.

Mr. McDonald was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in the Washington area since 1976. Before joining SEMA 20 years ago, he was a government affairs consultant and legislative assistant for law firms and a State Department staffer.

 From staff reports
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: Greg Butcher and Diana Handy look for birds during the Christmas Bird Count on Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, DC on December 16, 2017. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

Sara Fuentes bent down to look at tracks in the snow, light imprints of tiny claws tracing a delicate path through the woods.

Mourning dove, said Zach Slavin, who had been looking for birds with Fuentes and several other volunteers.

The National Audubon Societys Christmas Bird Count, now in its 118th year, began as a counterpoint to the holiday tradition of hunting parties competing to see who could kill the most. Now, its the longest-running wildlife census in the world, providing data that is used to better understand birds, changes in population and habitat, and the reasons for those shifts. Last year, more than 73,000 people observed more than 56 million birds in the annual counts.

In Washington, volunteers gathered by the footbridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island on Saturday morning just as the sun was rising, tinting the Potomac River pink and golden. Long wakes of glinting ripples followed a flock of mallards through the water.

Belted kingfisher! Slavin called out, pointing to a tree. American goldfinch!

1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Photos of the Christmas Bird Count on Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C. View Photos The National Audubon Societys annual bird count, now in its 118th year, began as a counterpoint to the holiday tradition of hunting parties competing to see who could kill the most. Now its the longest-running wildlife census in the world. Caption The National Audubon Societys annual bird count, now in its 118th year, began as a counterpoint to the holiday tradition of hunting parties competing to see who could kill the most. Now its the longest-running wildlife census in the world. Carolyn Van Houten Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Its like a veil lifted, Fuentes said, as she, Slavin and Heidi Moyer stood with binoculars pointed up, seeing not a pattern of bare branches crisscrossing the blue sky but a world teeming with birds.

You cant unsee them, said Slavin, a 30-year-old program manager in the Audubon Societys citizen science department who started working there for environmental reasons and got hooked on birds. These absolutely beautiful gems  so delicate and fragile.

Occasionally, that means happening upon things they wish they could unsee  not everything in remote corners of Washington is a beautiful revelation. But mostly it means, as it did Saturday, moments like looking up to find a bald eagle soaring overhead, lit from beneath by the rising sun.

Roosevelt Island  named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, a president who was a conservationist and a birder  is a place of unexpected contrasts: A great blue heron stood silhouetted against Georgetowns waterfront across the river. Wood ducks paddled beneath a bridge thundering with unseen trucks overhead. It was quiet enough on the crest of the island to hear the tiny feet of a white-breasted nuthatch scratching the bark as it hopped down a tree  until an airplane roared overhead, all but obscuring the sky in the final moments before its landing at the airport nearby.

The frozen early stillness on the island turned bustling as the morning went on. Volunteers set up cones for a timed race, and runners hurried past, some unhappy to find people standing stock-still midtrail staring up and pishing, making sounds mimicking small birds warning cries to flush them out. (The first year or two, I felt really self-conscious on the Mall making weird noises at a bush, Slavin said.)

Others were curious. Seen any good ones? a race volunteer asked. Any pileated woodpeckers?

Not yet, they told him, listing some other birds as he cautioned a runner, Mind the tree roots just there. He cheerfully dismissed their sparrow sightings as LBJs. (Birder slang: little brown jobbies.)

As she walked on, staring up at branches overhead, Fuentes said, That would be nice if we had people to warn us about roots.

And cheer us, Slavin said, clapping heartily like the race volunteers they had passed who were urging on runners. Good job, good job!

They spied woodpeckers, knocking away, but not the pterodactyl-esque pileated one they had hoped to spot. William Young, who has led the count in this corner of Washington for more than 25 years and was walking with other volunteers at Gravelly Point nearby, had really hoped to see a snowy owl.

Mostly, they saw just what they wanted to see: the typical rather than the extraordinary, a snapshot of bird life in Washington in winter.

Volunteers in their section of the D.C. count on Saturday saw nearly 3,000 birds, with 60 different species, including red-tailed hawks, mergansers, grebes, cormorants, vultures, peregrine falcons, a surprising number of buffleheads, a goldeneye, a loon, and an orange-crowned warbler.

They admired cardinals, fat and fluffy little wrens, and cheered when they saw a herring gull.

A man tugging at a leash on the island told how his dog had startled a wild turkey there once. It flew  heavily, awkwardly  straight up into a tree in alarm, he said. They laughed and walked on in the frosty woods as he called, Happy hunting!
In May 2014, while sitting at his desk eating a bag of nuts, the man bit down and cracked a tooth. In desperate need of a dentist, he Googled and found the offices of Bilal Ahmed, who had a practice in Northwest Washington.

Ahmed told the patient that the tooth had to be extracted and that he had to use nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, for sedation during the procedure.

The patient said he woke to find his anesthetic mask askew and the dentist forcing him into oral sex. Prosecutors later determined that the 31-year-old was not Ahmeds only victim.

In D.C. Superior Court on Friday, Ahmed was sentenced to 16 1 /2 years in prison for sexually assaulting five patients and one employee between 2010 and 2014.

[Dentist charged with sexually assaulting patients during procedures]

Ahmed, 45, was arrested last year and charged with the string of attacks in his offices at Universal Smiles, at 2311 M St. NW in the Districts West End. The office is closed and Ahmeds license has been revoked. In May, he pleaded guilty, with charges including first-degree sexual abuse of a patient, four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a patient and three misdemeanor charges of sexual abuse. Ahmed will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Marcus-Kurn said Ahmed preyed on male patients he had identified as being gay.

He lured his victims and gained their trust with his fancy Georgetown office and white physicians coat, she said. His pleasure was momentary, but his effects will be forever with his victims.

In court Friday, four of Ahmeds former patients and one former employee spoke of feeling betrayed after trusting the dentist, only to be sexually assaulted while they were sedated.

One victim recounted to Judge Zoe Bush at the sentencing that while he was attending medical school in Washington, he was assaulted by Ahmed in 2010. I was mortified at being sexual assaulted by another doctor, he said, adding that Ahmed telephoned him the next day just to ask me if I was okay.

One victim said he lived in silence even as he watched a growing number of women go public with their stories of sexual assault and harassment nationwide as part of the #MeToo movement.

I thought no one would believe me. No one believes gay men can be raped, he told the judge.



Bilal Ahmed, 43, hides his face as he leaves D.C. Superior Court with his attorneys, Peggy Bennett and Barry Coburn, on Jan. 28, 2016. Ahmed was sentenced on Dec. 15, 2017, to more than 16 years in prison for sexually assaulting five patients and an employee when he had a dental practice. (Keith Alexander/The Washington Post)

One person whom Ahmed assaulted in 2014 received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered panic attacks, prosecutors said. Some patients, prosecutors said, have not returned to any dental office.

Ahmed sat at a courtroom table next to his attorneys as the victims spoke, covering his face with his right hand.

Ahmed is a husband and father of six whose 3-year-old son died in June in an accidental fall from a window.

Ronald Weiner, a forensic mental-health expert who examined Ahmed after his arrest, said at the sentencing that he believes the former dentist, who said he was sexually assaulted as a child, would not reoffend after therapy.

Walking to the lectern with a cane after recently suffering a heart attack, Ahmed, standing next to his attorney, apologized to his victims, the judge and his family. I feel the shame, he said. To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:09:38|Editor: Yamei

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KABUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Six children sustained injuries in a blast that occurred in Shah Walikot district of the southern Kandahar province on Saturday, local media reported on Sunday.

The incident, according to Tolo television channel, happened in a village in Shah Walikot district on Saturday, injuring six innocent children including four girls and two boys.

Landmines and unexploded devices left over from the past wars kill and maim more than 50 people every month in the conflict-hit Afghanistan.
The first police officer in the country ever charged with a terrorism crime offered no evidence in his own defense, leaving a jury Friday to puzzle out his motivations and his interest in the Nazis and Islamist terrorism.

Nicholas Young, a 37-year-old Alexandria, Va., native and Muslim convert, was a police officer for the D.C. Metro system before his arrest last summer. During a trial in federal court in Alexandria, his attorneys argued that he was entrapped by the FBI into lying about the supposed travel to Syria of an informant he knew as "Mo" and then sending gift cards he thought would be used by the Islamic State.

Prosecutors pointed to Young's collection of radical literature and paraphernalia, to his participation in Nazi reenactments, and to pro-extremist comments made online and in person, to prove that he had a predisposition to backing terrorism. At one point, Young's Facebook profile photo was of a prominent Islamic State fighter. And he twice encountered undercover operatives who were investigating his friends' radical views.

He yearned to be a terrorist, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg told jurors in closing arguments. This is what he wanted to be, if he could only have the opportunity where he wouldnt get caught.

Young had a law enforcement manual in his home listing terrorism warning signs, FBI agent Nicholas Caslen testified, many of which matched aspects of the defendant's life. Young owned over 70 pieces of body armor, used multiple cellphones, modified his truck, had anti-government tattoos and bumper stickers, expressed belief in anti-government conspiracies and in the illegitimacy of law enforcement, visited suspicious Internet sites and owned terrorist propaganda and extremist literature. One picture in the booklet, distributed by the Justice Department, was of a novel by the neo-Nazi leader William Pierce. Young owned two books by Pierce, Caslen testified. An ex-roommate, Arlington police officer Ian Paul Campbell, said Young had given him a book by Pierce for his 30th birthday.



Nicholas Young at his graduation from the Police Academy. Family photo)

An undercover FBI operative recalled Young making anti-Semitic statements, and Campbell said Young once told him there could be an alliance between Muslims and white supremacists against the Jews.

A fellow Metro police officer, Jo Dill, testified that she was already suspicious of Young when she asked him at one point what he thought of the caliphate declared by the Islamic State.

He thought it was a good thing for that part of the world, she said.

Defense attorneys argued their client was being prosecuted for his personality rather than his actions.

This is a complete travesty, defense attorney Nicholas Smith said in his closing argument. In this country we are not prosecuted for who we are, for having repellent views.

Smith objected at every occasion to the use of the Nazi evidence, prompting rebukes from Judge Leonie M. Brinkema for not following proper procedure, and repeatedly demanded a mistrial.

In his cross-examination of people who knew Young over the years  law enforcement agents and friends  Smith implied his client was vulnerable after the death of his father in 2007 and looking for friendship.

The white-supremacist novel, he suggested, was given as a joke. Youngs Nazi reenactment was cosplay, or putting on a character. I never saw politics mixed in with the reenactments, Fairfax County police officer Jamie McNulty, another former roommate, testified.

A picture of Young in a white robe, wearing a kaffiyeh and holding a gun, showed souvenirs McNultys father had brought back from working in Iraq. Along with Nazi and right-wing paraphernalia, Young, who friends described as a history buff, collected a plethora of military items from around the world.

The suspicions Metro officers had about Young, Smith said, were based on newspapers and a Koran in a break room, as well as his beard.

Smith said the informant known as Mo exploited Youngs interest in international politics to prod him into discussing the Islamic State. Young discouraged Mo from joining the Islamic State at some points and criticized the group. When he was interviewed by FBI agents about Mo, he said he believed his friend might have in fact joined the Islamic State.

If hes gone theres nothing to worry about, Young said in an interview played in court. Hes not coming back.

But he also suggested to Mo in emails shown in court that various rebels should unite with the Islamic State. The only way forward now is with the group you are with, he wrote.

Young twice went to Libya to fight against dictator Moammar Gaddafi, and the prosecution and defense sparred over his motivations. When he came back, an FBI intelligence analysis determined that he probably had not broken the law, Caslen testified. But in later emails to Mo, Young said the Libyan rebels he met were very like-minded to the informants group  leading the FBI to conclude in retrospect that Young had been going to Libya to fight with Islamist radicals, Caslen said.

The defense pointed out that after his trips to Libya, Young was asked by someone to send night-vision rifle scopes and responded that it would be illegal to mail them, according to emails produced in court.

In one message shown in court, Young appears to suggest that messaging app codes he sent were sent not for terroristic purposes but so the brothers will make contact with their families. But when an FBI agent posing as Mo responded that the cards would go to brothers from Sudan seeking to fight in the path of Allah, Young responded: Glad it came through. Getting rid of device now. Gonna eat the sim card.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gibbs argued that the FBI employed about as light a touch as they possibly could in pursuing Young, because they knew anything more overt would spook him. Young used various email accounts and was paranoid about surveillance.

Left unexplained by the government was a question Smith raised in his closing. If Young was considered so dangerous, what was he doing on the force? Smith asked. Why was he never fired?
A fire broke out early Sunday in the 3200 block of N Street NW in Georgetown. (Photo by Ashley Beaty)

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in an apartment house on a residential street in the heart of the Georgetown neighborhood of Northwest Washington.

The fire was reported shortly before 1 a.m. on the second floor of a building in the 3200 block of N Street NW, according to the D.C. Fire and EMS department.

One person was taken to a hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.

Fire officials said the blaze was confined to the second floor of the building.
After Larry Johnson said goodbye to his children, gently handing his 6-month-old baby to a woman waiting on the other side of a doorway, he walked to a side of the room and sat down. Other incarcerated parents were saying goodbye to their kids, too, and someone asked the 23-year-old father if he was okay.

Before he had a chance to respond, his 7-year-old son, Lamari, and 3-year-old daughter, Tatum, came running back into the room, calling Daddy! and throwing their arms around him. Minutes later, another daughter, Sincere, who is only a year old, wobbled back through the doorway to get one last hug.

His children didnt want to leave.

For the past two hours, the kids had climbed on Johnsons lap, played board games and opened presents in a room of about 10 incarcerated parents and their children for a holiday party last week at the Arlington County Detention Facility. Johnson had not seen his children since his sentencing on April 21 for drug charges.

It was wonderful, he said of the visit.

The Arlington jail has held these special events for at least 10 years to allow children a contact visit with their parents. The rest of the year, a glass barrier separates inmates and visitors. The night of the party was the first time Johnson had held his infant son.

[In a Maryland prison, Girl Scouts get to visit their moms]

Incarceration ripples beyond the individual offender and affects families and whole communities, said David Murphey, a research fellow and director of the Child Trends databank, which tracks child well-being across the nation. About 8 percent of children nationwide have lived with a parent or guardian who was incarcerated, compared with 8.5 percent in Virginia, according to the 2016 National Survey of Childrens Health data.

Children with parents in prison or jail may have anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping or may experience bullying in school, Murphey said, adding that a childs reaction depends on his or her situation.

If someone is incarcerated, it is also likely that they have a minor child, Murphey said, referencing numbers from the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics that, in 2007, showed that 52 percent of state inmates and 63 percent of federal inmates reported having children.

The parents at the event Tuesday completed a parenting program, consistently obey the rules in the facility and comply with their treatment plans to be eligible for the rare contact visit with their children. Red and green ornaments and snowflakes hung from the ceiling, families sat at tables with red plastic tablecloths, and there were gifts from the Salvation Army in Arlington and Offender Aid and Restoration under a paper Christmas tree decoration on a wall.

"You can see how much it means to them," said Maj. Jimmie Barrett, director of corrections for the county sheriff's office, as he watched Johnson play with his children. La'mari touched his own hair and then his father's, realized it felt the same, and smiled. "Daddy, I got a Barbie!" Tatum yelled.

Therapist Camille Watkin said she makes sure the inmates know that the intense feelings they experience after seeing their children are normal emotions. The contact visit with children motivates parents to really focus on their goals while incarcerated, Watkin said.

You look at their faces, wanting to hold on, but understanding they have to let go of their children . . . this takes strength to do this, for your children to see you in this situation, Watkin said, adding that the event teaches incarcerated parents to find strength in vulnerability.

As Johnsons kids flew paper airplanes around the room, Lindsey Coles 3-year-old son, Kallen, crawled under the tables while she chased him. Cole, 27, is in jail for violating the terms of her probation after an earlier drug charge. She hadnt seen Kallen or her 7-year-old son, Aiden, in 11 months, she said.

Its crazy watching them grow up through pictures, she said.

Charmece Morrison was overcome with emotion as soon as she saw her daughters, ages 13 and 16. She wrapped them in her arms and cried. Morrison, 38, is in jail for violating the terms of her probation. Her earlier charge was obtaining money by a false pretense.

[Parents incarceration hurts children, families, report by Casey Foundation finds]

Theres nothing like that . . . to hug them, touch them, thats more than $1 million, she said. This is something that will get me through the hard times.

At the table next to Morrison, Tina Thomas caught up with her 17-year-old daughter, Christina Holmes. Holmes told her mother, who is 47, about the colleges shes applying to, how she is navigating the financial aid forms and some celebrity gossip.

Do you know Kylie Jenner is pregnant? Holmes asked her mother. Thomas appeared shocked. Ive got to get you some magazines, Holmes said.

She usually talks to her mother by phone, and said she hopes to have her stuff together by the time her mother is released so she can help her, too, she said. Thomas is in jail for grand larceny and possession of burglary tools.

When they talked in person before, it was through glass and their conversations were short, Holmes said. But on Tuesday night, they talked for two hours while Holmes decorated a stocking.

Sitting with her daughter, Thomas said, Its a really free moment even though Im in here.
A young girl was shot Saturday afternoon in Southeast Washington, apparently while children were playing with a gun, according to D.C. police.

The shooting happened in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, said police spokesman Hugh Carew. Police said it appears the gun went off while a small group of juveniles was playing with the weapon. Their ages were not given.

The girl, a toddler, was conscious when she was taken to a hospital, he said. A police official confirmed she was struck in the leg.

The shooting happened inside a three-story apartment building behind a gated cul-de-sac on Pomeroy.

Police received a call alerting them to the shooting at 3:10 p.m., Carew said.

Reached by phone, Paul Trantham, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission member who represents another Southeast neighborhood, expressed frustration at the rate of gun violence and what he sees as the relative lack of action from city authorities.

This has got to stop, he said.

It was not clear who owned the gun or how the children got it.


Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld finds his Back2Good initiative fielding mixed reviews from riders. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

More than a year after Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld launched his service-focused Back2Good initiative, riders have found themselves living a dual reality: Statistics point to improving performance, with fewer breakdowns, delays and safety incidents, but the experience has been marred by service cuts, curtailed hours and higher fares  making them feel like theyre paying more for less.

Back2Good was billed as a customer-oriented effort to win back trust, with a renewed focus on rail-car maintenance and station improvements such as deep cleaning, better lighting and amenities such as free WiFi. The goal was modest: First, we will get back to good. And eventually, we will restore Metro to the world-class transit system it once was, Wiedefeld wrote in a memo about the program.

But riders say things are more complicated than the $400,000 marketing campaign could have communicated.

For example, the new 7000-series trains are a welcome replacement for their clunky ancestors, commuters say, but they cannot make up for the fact that Metro is running fewer trains in the system.

Amid budget cuts in June, Metro reduced rush-hour train frequencies on five of six lines and raised fares. Those changes were paired with an aggressive preventive maintenance push that cut operating hours significantly for nights and weekends.

Is Metro back to good? Voting is closed on this poll User Poll Results: Is Metro back to good? Yes No Almost Pardon the interruption! We need to verify that you are an actual person. Yes No Almost View Results This is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Washington Post users as a group or the general population.

In interviews with more than 60 riders who use the system regularly, customers expressed an array of reactions from cautious optimism to dismay at the state of the system in Wiedefelds second year. While Metro touts safety improvements and reliability gains made over the past 12 months, riders said that the systems status remains fragile  that any unexpected problem could send their commute spiraling  and that no amount of free WiFi, station painting or revamped lighting will make a difference.

Riders, for example, were recovering from disruptions caused by a two-week, partial shutdown on the Red Line for a crossover replacement when Metro announced Tuesday that a defective communications cable, responsible for transmitting critical speed and location information to control centers, would shutter a portion of the line over the weekend.

Theres no reason why we should still have delays after we endured a year-long stretch of mess, Red Line rider Damien Martinez, 29, of Northeast Washington, said about Metros year-long SafeTrack maintenance program.

Turning to a metaphor, Martinez said, You cant cover it up with paint; you still see cracks.

[After SafeTrack, Metro to shift focus to rail cars  the biggest cause of delays]

Katherine Kortum, chair of Metros Riders Advisory Council, which serves as a liaison to the Metro board, described a sense of qualified hope after Wiedefelds second year.

It feels like were on an uphill swing now, but it feels like it wouldnt take much to get us going backward again, she said.

Statistics show that rush-hour ridership is stabilizing on the nations second-busiest subway, a testament to improving performance in the eyes of agency officials. Breakdowns related to rail cars have fallen about 40 percent, according to the agency. And by fall, statistics showed that 88 percent of rail customers trips were on time.

Metro retired its oldest and least reliable rail cars, and introduced dozens of new 7000-series cars  which totaled 456 by early December, nearly enough to make up all of Metros eight-car trains. And in critical safety areas  red-signal overruns, rail fires and derailments, Metro recorded decreases. (One exception: Arcing drove the number of smoke and fire incidents up 14 percent, according to Metros most recent vital-signs report).

From a customer perspective, I do know that were providing better service, Wiedefeld said following Thursdays board meeting. We were in a stage last year, two years ago now, where we were telling people not to use the system. Were beyond that. But we will have issues, as with the Red Line or the entire system, where we have to do major capital projects.

Though statistics point to fewer breakdowns on the system, failures related to rail cars remain the leading cause of delays. Compared with last year, when failures prompted 1,288 offloads, there were 757 offloads by mid-December of this year, Metro spokeswoman Sherri Ly said.

Meanwhile, riders actually spent more time in track-related slowdowns this year, Metro said  despite Wiedefelds goal to cut the percentage of unplanned track delays in half. Metro blamed the problem on new foul-time requirements, which prevent trains from entering certain tracks while works crews are in place.

The amount of time spent in track-related delays is up 14 percent this year, with the foul-time delays making up more than a quarter of the slowdowns, Ly said.

Board chairman Jack Evans described Metros position as improved relative to 2016, which was largely focused on addressing urgent safety problems.

We were in free fall, Evans said. I would say, in the last year, we stopped the free fall and now were better. Were not anywhere near where we want to be. But were better.

And despite the continued, day-to-day disruptions, some riders applauded Wiedefeld for his safety focus.

Greg Storer, 33, of Edgewater, Md., who rides the Orange Line from New Carrollton station to downtown Washington for his job with the federal government, said he would rather have the agency focus on quality than quantity.

[I just cant seem to get a break: After a year, Metros chief still faces an uphill climb]

Metros done a good job earning my trust back over the past several months. I think the 7000-series trains are cleaner; [there] seem to be fewer problems. That overall has improved the quality of the ride, Storer said. To me, the trade-off is better  that the service is better instead of reduced quality of service running late hours.

Among the most noticeable improvements over the past year, noted by at least a dozen customers: the 7000-series trains, which were lauded for being cleaner, more spacious and  a departure from past series  carpetless.

Its got a nice, colorful floor, observed Madeline Guay, 27, of Hyattsville, Md. The seats are comfortable.

But for many customers, the conclusion of SafeTrack was expected to bring a noticeably better commute. Instead, weekday track work continues to snarl trips and close stations, causing daily frustration for riders. Dozens of new trains glimmer from station platforms, but they continue to run on old, herky-jerky technology, stuck in manual mode with the rest of the fleet after the fatal collision near the Fort Totten station in 2009.

Meanwhile, customers who commute during off-peak hours said that they have been left behind, with interminably long waits between trains.

The trains look great, but what does it do for me? said Franklin Urena, 44, of Northwest Washington, who commutes from Columbia Heights to Dunn Loring, Va., where he works late-night shifts. The Back2Good, I dont know where or when its happening.

Sometimes, after finishing a shift, Urena arrives at the station to see that the last train of the night has departed  10 minutes earlier than scheduled. With Metros new weeknight closing time of 11:30 p.m., that leaves him few alternatives.

[Metro audit shows Red Line defect similar to the one that caused deadly 2009 collision]

And in the meantime, everything is more expensive, Urena said. If I have to wait because its delayed, they should be saying, Were not gonna charge you. 

There also is fear about what could happen in coming months and years because of the agencys precarious finances.

I think most people who follow [Metro] know that theyre at the edge of a cliff when it comes to funding, Kortum said. Were a little wary of what comes next.

Agency leaders have warned that, without a permanent source of dedicated funding each year, the system could be forced to further cut service and raise fares.

Wiedefeld has asked for $15.5 billion over 10 years  including $500 million in annual, dedicated funding  to meet the systems safety and reliability needs, but so far, no regional consensus has been achieved.

[Bad news for Metro riders: Arcing insulators are back with a vengeance]

The agency says that it has performed well, given the circumstances.

Given Metros recent history over the past five years of declining reliability that eventually necessitated an unprecedented systemwide shutdown, followed by a tough year of SafeTrack, we have made significant gains, Ly said in a statement reflecting on Back2Good.

But we cannot cut our way out of budget issues, Ly said. We need to increase revenue by increasing ridership and letting customers know that notable improvements were made in track and train reliability, which has resulted in markedly improved on-time service.

In the latest survey, 74 percent of rail customers indicated that they were satisfied, according to Metros vital signs report  up from 66 percent a year ago. Among the top complaints of those who werent satisfied: service reliability, including consistency of trains arriving when expected and ride quality.

After dealing with sporadic disruptions for a year under SafeTrack, Janel Herbert of Sterling, Va., thought that her commute from Wiehle-Reston East station to Judiciary Square station would be faster. Instead, she said, her morning struggles only grew as Metro raised prices and increased headways.

The wait is longer. And the price went up, Herbert said. You pay more and its not as good.

Crowding prevented C.J. Libassi, 30, from boarding two trains in a row amid Red Line problems at Union Station on Tuesday.

Is it better than it used to be? I mean, its not catching on fire, said Libassi, a policy analyst who lives on Capitol Hill. Thats a low bar.

Asked if he thought the system had improved during Back2Good, Robert Sherman, 44, a waiter who lives in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington, gestured to a pile of discarded bottles, assorted paper and other refuse that had gathered on the Glenmont track at the Gallery Place stations Red Line platform.

Look at that pile of trash down there, he said. Ive been watching that pile grow for the last month.

He saw it as evidence of apathy among some at Metro.

In a week of disruptions, a Red Line rider from Germantown, Md., had an almost comical take on the state of affairs. Jon Rayer, 26, works as a software developer downtown and rides in from the Shady Grove station five days a week. Lately, he said, the eight-minute headways have grown to 10 or 12 minutes.

Other than the delays, he said, everything seems to be fine.

Martine Powers contributed to this report.
COLORADO

A.F. Academy plans sex assault office redo

The U.S. Air Force Academy is restructuring and expanding its sexual assault office after an internal investigation concluded it was crippled by poor management and derelict in its duties, the schools top official said.

The academys superintendent, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, said he plans to require better qualifications for office staff and put more emphasis on preventing assaults, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Saturday.

The academy released a report last month saying the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office was hampered by infighting, rumors and shoddy record-keeping. The report was harshly critical of the director, Teresa Beasley.

The report said Beasley should be fired, but she resigned.

She has claimed the academy made her a scapegoat for sexual assault problems.

 Associated Press

NEW YORK

New York City voters can register online

New York Citys mayor has signed legislation to enable all city voters to register online.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the bill he signed Saturday is one step toward fixing the citys antiquated electoral system.

Under the new legislation, the city will create an online portal and mobile app for voters to register or update their registration. The City Council passed the bill last month.

New York state voters can already register online through the Department of Motor Vehicles, but only if they have a drivers license or other DMV-issued identification. Many New York City residents dont drive and dont have identification from the DMV.

 Associated Press

Ski lift malfunction strands dozens; 5 injured: A ski lift malfunction on opening day at a Pennsylvania ski resort stranded dozens of people and left five with minor injuries. Around 10 a.m. Saturday, a chair carrying skiers and snowboarders slipped along the haul rope and slid backward into another chair, officials with Tussey Mountain ski resort in Centre County, about 82 miles northwest of Harrisburg, said. That caused a domino effect to several other lift chairs. Officials said the lift was stopped and the ski patrol and emergency responders started to evacuate people from the lift with ropes. More than 50 people were stranded, and it took more than an hour to get everyone down, officials said.

Arrested priest extradited from Philippines to North Dakota: A priest accused of molesting two boys in the 1990s has been extradited from the Philippines to North Dakota to face charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office for North Dakota announced Friday that Fernando Laude Sayasaya is back in the United States and will face child sexual abuse charges in Cass County. Amid the allegations, Sayasaya went to the Philippines in 1998 and didn't return. A Philippines court ordered his extradition in 2010. He appealed, lost and was ultimately arrested last month.

Kayaker trying to conquer 5 Great Lakes halts for weather: A Missouri kayaker who is trying to paddle around all five Great Lakes has stopped her journey because of the rigors of wintry weather. Traci Lynn Martin said she paddled 3,582 miles since March and completed lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan. In a Facebook post, Martin said Saturday "it's not safe" and "it's going to get worse."

 From news services


The view down an alley off the Queens street where Nazi collaborator Jakiw Palij lives. (Celeste Sloman/For The Washington Post)

The last surviving Nazi collaborator ordered to leave American soil lives in a redbrick Queens rowhouse on a bustling stretch of 89th Street, just around the corner from a Chipotle with a distant view of the Manhattan skyline.

It has been 14 years since a federal court in New York stripped Jakiw Palij of his U.S. citizenship for concealing his service as an armed guard in a brutal labor camp in eastern Poland, where 6,000 Jewish prisoners were later shot in pits on a single day in 1943. An immigration judge ordered Palij deported to Germany, Poland, Ukraine or any other country that would take him.

But the three countries have repeatedly declined to accept him, allowing 94-year-old Palij to spend his retirement in the comfortable Jackson Heights neighborhood where he has lived for years, with bicycles hitched to street signs and Christmas wreaths tacked to front doors.

Now, in a race against time, lawmakers and Jewish groups have been increasing pressure on the Trump administration to remove him. Legislators have written to the State and Justice departments, and protesters have regularly gathered outside Palijs house with signs that read, His hands are drenched in blood. Two members of Congress are pushing for a hearing.

[From the archives: Nazi hunters to take on other war crimes cases]

Since 2005, eight Nazi collaborators under deportation orders have died on U.S. soil after being rejected by their native countries and Germany. A ninth died a few months after the U.S. government launched a deportation case; Germany had already declined to take him.

The cases  in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts and Missouri  wound through the court system for years, involving more than 25 federal prosecutors.

Palij is the last living defendant.

In September, every member of the New York congressional delegation penned a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, demanding that he step in before Palij dies here. More than 80 members of the New York State Assembly also have pushed for Palijs deportation, sending a letter in June to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

[Read the letter members of Congress sent to the State Department]

Victims of the Holocaust, the people living in Queens, families of veterans, I think for all of us, it is really painful and sad that . . . someone who stands in direct opposition to every value we have here in America of tolerance and risking lives against evil, can live here for so many years, hiding in plain sight, said Long Island Rabbi Zev Friedman, who lost more than 200 family members in Poland during World War II. It goes against everything that we believe in.



Rabbi Zev Friedman, at his home in Lawrence, N.Y., is among those demanding the removal of Palij. (Celeste Sloman/For The Washington Post)

The demands to remove Palij have generated a swift response from federal officials. In an October letter to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the State Department said that it had reached out again to the governments of Germany, Poland and Ukraine and was turned down. Senior officials in Berlin then pressed the issue with their counterparts at Germanys Interior Ministry.

[Read the letter from the State Department to Sen. Gillibrand]

"We remain hopeful that ongoing engagement with our allies will eventually result in Mr. Palij's long overdue removal," wrote Charles Faulkner, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs.

Last month, the Justice Department responded to members of the New York State Assembly, with Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd writing, The Department agrees fully that Palij should not live out his last days in this country.

[Read the Justice Departments response to members of the New York State Assembly]

Those pushing for Palijs removal want the White House to get involved.

The 13 years that Mr. Palij has stayed in this country since he was stripped of his U.S. citizenship and ordered to be deported is 13 years too many, said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). The State Department and the entire Trump administration ought to treat this with the attention it deserves and try everything at their disposal to carry out the court order and remove this former Nazi guard from our country.

Thomas Yazdgerdi, special envoy for Holocaust issues at the State Department, said that U.S. diplomats have been raising the issue in Germany for years to members of Chancellor Angela Merkels cabinet and other top officials. Yazdgerdi said that members of Congress and the White House should unite behind the effort to deport Palij.

Its going to be difficult, unless this is bumped up to a very high level, for this to be resolved, he said.

Palij declined to comment when a Washington Post reporter went to his home earlier this month. In 2003, Palij told the New York Times that he was forced into service and did not take part in any killings during the war.

I was never a collaborator, Palij said.

In court documents at the time, Palijs lawyer wrote, The government seeks to strip an infirm old man of his citizenship.

The case against Palij was brought by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), a former unit in the Justice Departments criminal division that spent decades hunting Nazi collaborators who had concealed their activities during the war, immigrated to the United States and, in most cases, gained U.S. citizenship.

Federal law does not give the government jurisdiction over crimes committed abroad during World War II, but prosecutors can take defendants to federal court for denaturalization proceedings and then to an immigration judge for a deportation order. It is up to foreign governments to decide whether the defendants should be admitted.

Prosecutors who worked at OSI said that Germany bears most of the responsibility.

Germany has an obligation to take back people who were serving in the name of the German government, said attorney Neal Sher, who led OSI from 1982 to 1994. There is only one word that comes to mind that sums up and explains their attitude, and that is duplicity. Time after time, they advanced ridiculous arguments as to why they could not take back people who had committed crimes in the name of the German people.



John Demjanjuk emerges in May 2011 from a Munich court after a judge sentenced him to five years in prison for charges related to 28,060 counts of accessory to murder. He died in 2012, at 91. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Over the years, nearly 30 Nazi defendants from the United States have gone back to Germany. Some were German citizens; others fled to Germany before they were denaturalized in the United States. Most went on to live in freedom. Four were prosecuted, most notably former death camp guard John Demjanjuk, who was eventually convicted of being an accessory in the murders of more than 28,000 people at the Sobibor camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

[Convicted Nazi criminal John Demjanjuk dies at 91]

But Germany has turned away a series of other U.S. defendants. German officials, according to interviews and documents obtained by The Post, have told the U.S. government that they would admit only ex-Nazis who held German citizenship or those who had been criminally charged in Germany.

Palij is from a Polish village in what is now Ukraine. In denying Palij, the German ambassador to the United States wrote in 2006 that the German Government believes the responsibility for admitting such persons lies with the state whose citizenship they hold.

A German government official said in an email to The Post last week that the Federal Republic of Germany is not a position to accept Jakiw Palij into Germany as he is not a German national and there is no legal ground in the German Residence Act to provide a reason for stay.

Faulkner, with the State Departments Bureau of Legislative Affairs, criticized that policy in his letter to Gillibrand.

The United States has made it clear to German authorities that we do not accept that position as having a valid legal basis, he wrote.

Germanys stance has long frustrated Justice Department lawyers, who said they had to race against the clock to successfully pursue cases against elderly war criminals and then watch as one after another died on U.S. soil.

Missouri defendant Michael Negele, who used a guard dog to patrol the infamous Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin, died in 2005. New York defendant Mykola Wasylyk, who stood guard in a watch tower at a slave-labor camp in Poland, died in 2010.

Pennsylvania defendant Theodor Szehinskyj, an armed guard in camps in Poland and Germany, died in 2014  14 years after a federal judge found that Szehinskyj had participated in the Third Reich's "closed culture of murder."

Germany has a moral responsibility to accept Jakiw Palij, said former federal prosecutor Jonathan Drimmer, who oversaw Palijs case in 2003. Germany has made important steps in bringing people to justice within Germany, but the persistent refusal to take men like Palij is difficult to accept or defend. . . . If we want to stop genocide, we have to pursue the perpetrators until their last dying breath.

In 2008, Shers OSI successor, attorney Eli Rosenbaum, flew to Germany to help mark the 50th anniversary of the German agency that coordinates the investigations of suspected Nazi war criminals. In a speech to scholars and prosecutors, Rosenbaum pleaded for help.

At the time, five Nazi collaborators were under deportation orders in the United States.

The nonacceptance of what to us is a clear moral obligation is a great disappointment, Rosenbaum said. If Germany does not act to admit these men . . . they will likely get to spend the rest of their lives in my country, which is the adopted homeland of so many thousands of Holocaust survivors and is a country whose families sacrificed 200,000 of their sons in order to bring to an end the nightmare of Nazi inhumanity in Europe.



Friedman displays a brick that came from the factory that his family owned in Poland before World War II. (Celeste Sloman/For The Washington Post)

Palij immigrated to the United States in 1949 after telling U.S. investigators that he had worked on his fathers farm during much of the war. He sailed into Boston, became a U.S. citizen and, in 1966, bought his house in Queens.

He lived quietly for years until OSI historians found that Palij had served as an armed guard in Trawniki, Poland, which had a labor camp for Jewish men, women and children as well as a training camp for armed Nazi recruits who would spread out across Poland to guard concentration camps and Jewish ghettos.

In 2001, Drimmer and an OSI investigator showed up at Palijs house, sat down at a dining room table and talked about Palijs wartime activities, which Drimmer had listed on a yellow legal pad.

At the end of the interview, Palij signed a sworn statement, acknowledging his service during the war.

District Judge Allyne R. Ross stripped Palij of his citizenship in 2003, citing Palijs statement and five volumes of historical documents submitted by prosecutors. Palij does not submit a single affidavit affirming his innocence, Ross wrote in her opinion.

A year later, an immigration judge ordered Palij to leave the country.

Friedman, the rabbi from Long Island, has organized protests in front of Palijs house every year since. As the dean of Rambam Mesivta, a private Jewish high school on Long Island, Friedman has involved a generation of students.

Its wildly unfair that this Nazi gets to evade justice and live in this great country for all these years, and thousands of people, Americans and Jews, all died, said 15-year-old Avi Koenig. They couldnt live their lives while he gets to.

In November, on the 79th anniversary of Kristallnacht  when violence against Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues swept Nazi Germany  Friedman and dozens of students stood in front of Palij's house, chanting and holding signs that read, "Your neighbor is a Nazi."



Deflated balloons hang above the street where Palij lives. (Celeste Sloman/for The Washington Post)

Friedman has been organizing protests to deport Nazi war criminals for more than two decades.

His parents met and fell in love on a forced-work detail at a factory near Krakow, Poland, during the war. At night, they were confined behind the barbed-wire fences of the Plaszow concentration camp, where thousands of people were shot and killed. After the war, newly orphaned, they married in a displaced-persons camp in Germany.

Friedmans mother wore a dress stitched out of a white American parachute that she shared with other brides.

In his Long Island home, sitting near a portrait of his immigrant parents posing next to a Torah rescued from the war, about 15 miles from Palijs house in Queens, Friedman said that it is long past time to bring Palij to justice.

Get him out, Friedman said. He doesnt belong here.

Nover is a graduate student at George Washington Universitys School of Media and Public Affairs. Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:09:39|Editor: Yamei

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KABUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least six Taliban militants were killed following an airstrike in eastern Afghan province of Paktika on Saturday, the country's defense ministry said on Sunday.

"Afghan National Army (ANA) Air Force launched airstrikes in Barmal district, Paktika province, killing six terrorists," the ministry twitted.

The district is bordering Pakistan.

Afghan security forces and the coalition troops have beefed up security operations and airstrikes against militants as the war-weary people are facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country.

The militant group has yet to make comments.
THE CACOPHONOUS and frequently confusing debates over the Russia investigations by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and several committees of Congress tend to obscure some big and virtually uncontested truths: that the regime of Vladimir Putin intervened in the 2016 election with the intention of harming U.S. democracy; that it will almost certainly seek to do so again; and that there has been no concerted effort to defend the country from this national security threat.

We say "virtually uncontested" because the principal dissenter from this consensus, which unites U.S. intelligence agencies and a large bipartisan majority in Congress, is President Trump  who continues to shove away the conclusive proof about Russia's actions compiled by American intelligence professionals and to obstruct efforts by his Cabinet and staff to respond to them.

A comprehensive report by Post reporters Greg Miller, Greg Jaffe and Philip Rucker contains dismaying evidence of the resulting dysfunction. Mr. Trump has never held a Cabinet-level meeting on the Russian intervention or on how to prevent its recurrence. At the National Security Council, it is understood that to bring up the Russian threat is to risk enraging the president. The same goes for the CIA officials who conduct Mr. Trump's daily intelligence briefing; they sometimes leave material on Russia out of the oral session, so as not to send the session "off the rails," in the words of a former senior official.

The reasons for Mr. Trumps denialism, like those for his curiously obsequious public treatment of Mr. Putin, are disturbingly unclear. His aides cast it as a matter of egotism, a refusal to accept that his electoral triumph was the product of anything other than his own talents. Mr. Mueller and the congressional committees are investigating whether the president or his campaign actively colluded with Moscow or whether the president has other compromising ties with Russians. So far, no conclusive proof of such connections has surfaced.

What is clear is that, whether out of venality or vanity, Mr. Trump is failing to protect the country against a serious threat. Ensuring that future elections are not compromised requires comprehensive action across the government; former CIA director Michael V. Hayden, who served under President George W. Bush, compared it to the response demanded by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. State election systems, many of which were probed by Russian cyberattackers, must be hardened; social media platforms must be pushed to erect protections against propaganda shoveled by armies of bots. Most importantly, Mr. Putin's regime must be effectively deterred, which will happen only if he concludes that the potential costs of interference are greater than the gains.

For now, the opposite is true, according to The Post's reporting. Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified in October that not only is the administration not doing enough to stop Russian interference, but "we are not able to fully grasp the technical dangers that are out there." Meanwhile, intelligence from inside the Kremlin indicates that Mr. Putin believes he has pulled off one of the greatest covert operations in history, one that was "more than worth the effort," as one U.S. official put it.

Mr. Trump is still intent on restoring good relations with Mr. Putin rather than fighting a threat he refuses to believe in. To cover up his past actions, or satisfy his ego, he is exposing the American political system to unacceptable danger.
THE NEXT time someone jokes about "fake news," stop them in their tracks and remind them that a record number of journalists around the world sit behind bars today for the crime of seeking the truth. In its annual survey, the Committee to Protect Journalists found that 262 journalists are imprisoned for reasons connected to their work, an increase over last year's historical high of 259.

By far the worst offender, for a second year, is Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on journalists since the failed coup attempt in July 2016. Turkey has 73 journalists in prison for their work, according to the CPJ, and other sources say the total may be higher. Mr. Erdogan claims to be rooting out the network of the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, once an ally in Turkish politics who now lives in Pennsylvania and is in Mr. Erdogan's crosshairs as the alleged instigator of the overthrow attempt.

The CPJ noted that Turkish authorities accused some journalists of terrorist activity based on alleged use of a messaging app, ByLock, or because they had bank accounts at certain institutions. In March, CPJ reported , an Istanbul court ordered at least 19 journalists released who had been jailed in the aftermath of the coup attempt, "but the prosecutor appealed and the journalists were rearrested before they left the jail. The judges who ordered their release were suspended."

China also continued to be dangerous territory for inquiring reporters. Forty-one are in prison there for their work, the survey showed. The ruling Communist Party has a history of repressing free speech and punishing journalists and dissidents, but there have also been periods of relative relaxation. Now, under President Xi Jinping, China appears to be heading back toward demanding strict obedience from the media. Those who don't heel, such as Lu Yuyu, are thrown in jail. Lu is an Internet journalist who collected information about protest outbreaks, such as those against land expropriation, wage arrears, official corruption and pollution; for that, he is serving a four-year sentence in Yunnan province.

In third place is Egypt, where President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, the general who overthrew a democratically elected president, has used draconian counterterrorism laws to sweep up journalists and hold them for prolonged periods, often without trial. According to the report, of the 20 journalists in Egyptian jails, 12 have not been convicted or sentenced for any crime. The CPJ noted that broad and vague anti-terrorism laws are being used ever more frequently to intimidate journalists worldwide, often conflating coverage of terrorist activity with condoning it.

Illiberalism is rising in many corners of the world, and when journalists are arrested, it is often a sign of worse to come. Unfortunately, President Trump echoes the rhetoric of despots in these countries with his combative slogan of fake news. Whats not fake at all is that journalists everywhere are under increased threat because of rulers who take encouragement from Mr. Trumps malice.
Sen. John McCain left the nations capital Sunday to spend Christmas in Arizona with his family as he battles brain cancer, giving his Republican Party one less vote as it is expected this week to attempt to push through a contentious tax plan along party lines.

President Trump told reporters Sunday that McCain and his wife, Cindy McCain, have headed back [to Arizona], but I understand hell come if we ever needed his help, which hopefully we wont. He added: But the word is John will come back if we need his vote. Its too bad. Hes going through a very tough time, theres no question about it. But he will come back if we need his vote.

Trump said he spoke to Cindy McCain by phone Sunday. I wished her well. I wish John well, he said.

McCain was hospitalized Wednesday while receiving chemotherapy treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda and at the nearby National Institutes of Health. He received a diagnosis this year of glioblastoma, an aggressive, malignant brain tumor that can cause headaches, seizures, blurred vision and other symptoms.

In a brief statement, the senators office provided an assessment from Mark Gilbert, chief of neuro-oncology at the National Institutes of Healths National Cancer Institute.

Senator McCain has responded well to treatment he received at Walter Reed Medical Center for a viral infection and continues to improve, Gilbert said, according to the Associated Press. An evaluation of his underlying cancer shows he is responding positively to ongoing treatment.

News of McCain's travel first emerged Sunday afternoon after his daughter Meghan McCain tweeted about the family's holiday plans.

Thank you to everyone for their kind words, she wrote. My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona. If youre feeling charitable this Christmas @HeadfortheCure or @NBTStweets to help find a cure for brain cancer is what I recommend.

McCain, 81, missed several Senate votes last week while at Walter Reed. He voted for the initial version of the tax plan, which includes sweeping tax cuts and initially passed the Senate with 51 votes. Without McCain, Republican leaders have a razor-thin margin to pass the final version, which has been in House-Senate negotiations and cannot afford any more defections.

But for Republicans, the bar to pass the legislation isnt quite as high as initially feared. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said last week that they will vote for the measure after indicating earlier that they would not.

McCain has been in good spirits while receiving treatment, Ben Domenech, Meghan McCains husband, said in an appearance Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation.

Im happy to say that hes doing well, said Domenech, a conservative writer. The truth is that as anyone knows whose family has battled cancer or any significant disease, that oftentimes there are side effects of treatment that you have. The senator has been through a round of chemo and he was hospitalized this week at Walter Reed.

McCain, Domenech added, remains one of the toughest men on the face of the earth, as you know.
President Trump appeared to back the claims of a lawyer for his presidential transition team that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III improperly obtained Trump associates emails, saying Sunday that a lot of lawyers thought that was pretty sad.

Trump also said he has no plan to fire Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the presidential election, including the possibility of coordination with the Trump campaign. Muellers investigation has resulted in charges against two people and guilty pleas by two others, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Not looking good. Its not looking good, Trump said when asked whether Mueller had received the transition documents improperly.

A lawyer for Trumps transition team contends that Mueller should not have been able to obtain a trove of emails from the period between Trumps 2016 election victory and his Jan. 20 inauguration without the consent of transition officials.

The batch of emails totaling thousands of pages of communications was provided to Mueller by the federal General Services Administration, the lawyer representing the organization known as Trump for America said in a letter delivered to congressional investigators Saturday.

This morning we sent a letter to Congress concerning the unauthorized sharing of private and transition emails with the Mueller team, lawyer Kory Langhofer said in an interview Saturday.

A spokesman for Muellers team rejected the allegations of impropriety.

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, said Peter Carr, a spokesman for Muellers office.

The letter from Langhofer is the latest in a series of legal and public relations moves by Trumps allies to attempt to undermine Muellers investigation and portray it as politically motivated.

Its quite sad to see that. My people were very upset, Trump told reporters at the White House about the transition emails upon his return from a weekend trip to Camp David.

I cant imagine theres anything on them, because as we said theres no collusion, Trump said. There was no collusion whatsoever.

Some of the presidents supporters have urged him to fire Mueller, but the White House has consistently said there is no discussion about getting rid of the special counsel.



Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III departs after a meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 17. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

No, Im not, Trump responded Sunday when asked if he intended to fire Mueller.

[Inside Trumps legal team: Trying to protect the president from Muellers killers]

The letter from Langhofer, who was counsel to Trump for America, alleged that career employees of the GSA improperly provided privileged communications to investigators working for Mueller.

Transition documents are private property, not government records, the transition team contends. The letter invokes federal law and what Langhofer calls decades of precedent to argue that Mueller overstepped.

The transfer of transition documents is unlawful conduct that undermines the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, the letter said, and will impair the ability of future presidential transition teams to candidly discuss policy and internal matters that benefit the country as a whole.

The letter was sent to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as well as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Trump transition alleges that the handover was done by career staff at the General Services Administration and suggested that those employees may have had political motives.

But some legal experts challenged Langhofers charge that anything improper occurred.

Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who teaches white collar crime at George Washington University Law School, said it was not at all surprising that Muellers team sought Trump transition emails. It would be almost prosecutorial misconduct for them not to, he said. He said it was also not surprising that Mueller would ask GSA for emails sent using government accounts.

Its not your personal email. If it ends in .gov, you dont have any expectation of privacy, he said.

But he said if Trumps team had a valid legal claim, there is a standard avenue to pursue  they would file a sealed motion to the judge supervising the grand jury and ask the judge to rule the emails were improperly seized and provide a remedy, like requiring Muellers team to return the emails or excluding their use in the investigation.

You go to the judge and complain, he said. You dont issue a press release or go to Congress. It appears from the outside that this is part of a pattern of trying to undermine Muellers investigation.

Eliason said he could think of no apparent privilege that would apply to emails sent between private citizens who have not yet joined the government, as Trumps team suggested.

[Trump calls conduct at the FBI disgraceful in latest criticism of bureau]

Trumps lawyers were given a courtesy notice that the transition team lawyer planned to register a complaint, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The transition team lawyer learned of the records being provided to Mueller by GSA on Tuesday when a member of the transition was being interviewed by investigators and was shown a copy of their own email using transition account.

One White House adviser disputed pundits and lawyers claims that the only way the transition could object was to file a motion before the chief judge overseeing the grand jury.

This wasnt a subpoena pursuant to a grand jury. GSA just turned them over, the adviser said.

The presidents lawyers are scheduled to meet with Mullers team later this week for a status conference. His lawyers are expected to ask the special counsel if there are any other outstanding questions or materials that the team needs before it brings its probe to conclusion.

Democrats were quick to challenge the charge that either GSA or Muellers team acted improperly.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the senior Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the 1963 Presidential Transition Act simply does not support withholding transition team emails from criminal investigators.

The Presidents lawyers have said they want to fully comply with Special Counsel Muellers investigation, so it is odd that they now suggest they would have withheld key documents from federal investigators, Cummings said in a statement.

On Sunday, a Republican aide to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said the specific issues raised in Langhofers letter should be dealt with by the legal system  not Congress.

To the extent the letter raises issues on how to improve subsequent transitions, the Committee takes the letter under advisement, the aide said in an email.

[FBI director defends bureaus integrity as GOP lawmakers press him on Trump, Clinton probes]

The GSA provided facilities to the Trump transition team in the weeks before Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. Langhofer claims that GSA had assured Trump for America that while it retained copies of transition records, it would not release them without consulting the organization.

GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt disputed Langhofer's claim in an interview with BuzzFeed News Saturday. He told the news site that members of the transition team were informed that by using devices provided by GSA, materials "would not be held back in any law enforcement" requests.

GSA did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.

Muellers team, Langhofers letter said, has extensively used the materials in question, including portions that are susceptible to claims of privilege, and without notifying TFA or taking customary precautions to protect TFAs rights and privileges.

This story has been updated to include analysis of Langhofers letter from a legal expert, a response from a key Democratic congressman and additional context.

Mike DeBonis, Rosalind S. Helderman and Carol Leonnig contributed to this report.
The race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the African National Congress went unresolved Sunday, as ANC officials delayed a vote more than 24 hours to settle internal disputes over who was allowed to participate.

The winner of the party presidency will be the ANC nominee for president of South Africa in 2019, and will face the tremendous task of winning back the support of voters disenchanted with the rampant corruption that has marked the years with Zuma at the helm.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and former government minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma emerged as the two remaining candidates at the party conference late Sunday. Five other candidates bowed out, and no candidate was nominated from the floor. The two are now competing for a majority of delegates from ANC branches throughout South Africas nine provinces and from the partys Womens and Youth League.

Ramaphosa founded the politically influential National Union of Mineworkers and led the union through strikes that shocked the apartheid-era economy. He left politics in the 1990s and entered the private sector, where he became one of the countrys richest people.

Dlamini Zuma served as health minister in the cabinet of Nelson Mandela and at one point served as his doctor, said Carien du Plessis, the author of Woman in the Wings: Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Race for the Presidency. Dlamini Zuma later served as minister of home and foreign affairs before leaving domestic politics to lead the African Union Commission.

She and Zuma divorced in 1998. They have four children together.

Zumas term as president of the republic continues until 2019, but a winner could face intense pressure to remove him early. The ANCs National Executive Committee recalled former president Thabo Mbeki in 2008 after he lost the ANC presidency to Zuma.

The sooner Zuma leaves from national, state presidency the better for the ANC for election 2019, said Susan Booysen, a professor of governance at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

The ANC, a banned political organization during the apartheid years of the 20th century, led the resistance to white minority rule. After his release from prison, Mandela guided the party to victory in the first all-race elections in 1994. The party has remained firmly in the presidency since then, but its share of the electorate has decreased in each of the past three elections.

Read more

Two sisters pursue different lives in post-apartheid Manenberg, South Africa

Oscar Pistoriuss shockingly lenient murder sentence more than doubled

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Moments before the would-be assassin tried to kill the mayor of this small and picturesque riverside town in the Sauerland hills of western Germany, he told him why.

He was thirsty, he said, as he pressed a foot-long butchers knife to the mayors throat. But rather than help his fellow German, the mayor had taken in hundreds of refugees.

Two weeks later, the gash in Mayor Andreas Hollsteins neck has largely healed. But the sense of profound shock in this tightknit community remains. And the debate over his decision to make this economically precarious town a German model for the acceptance and integration of asylum seekers has only escalated.

Since the attack, Hollstein  who credits the quick response of the immigrant family that runs the kebab shop where he was ambushed with saving his life  has been defiant.

Some people may not like his humanitarian-based approach, he said while sitting in his office overlooking the towns imposing 12th-century castle, and a few on the extreme right may be angry enough to try to kill him.



Ahmet Demir, the 27-year-old kebab shop owner who, with his parents, halted the knife attack on Altena Mayor Andreas Hollstein. (Griff Witte/The Washington Post)

But Hollstein said he had no regrets about taking in 450 asylum seekers, 100 more than was required under German rules for distributing the influx of more than 1 million people in 2015 and 2016.

It was the right thing to do, said the blond, bespectacled and youthful-looking 54-year-old, a scar forming beneath his left ear where the blade pressed in. Id do the same thing tomorrow.

[As Germany struggles to form a government, asylum rules emerge as a key dividing line]

That puts Hollstein, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkels center-right Christian Democratic Union, sharply at odds with the political moment in Europe.

Across the continent, politicians wary of a voter backlash against those seeking a haven from war or persecution have sharply toughened both their rhetoric and their policies. Just this week, European Council President Donald Tusk proposed giving up on forcing countries to take in refugees after two years of largely failed efforts.

Yet if Hollstein is out of step with the political mood, the attack on him is in keeping with the times.

Two years ago, the leading candidate for mayor of the western German city of Cologne, Henriette Reker, was stabbed in the neck as she campaigned in an election she would win days later while recovering in the hospital. Police said her assailant was motivated by opposition to her pro-refugee politics.

Last year in Britain, Jo Cox, a 41-year-old member of Parliament and passionate advocate for Syrian refugees, was shot and stabbed to death in her northern English district. A right-wing extremist who shouted "Britain first!" during the attack was convicted of her murder.

And on Tuesday, German federal prosecutors charged a soldier with plotting to assassinate top politicians, including the justice minister, and to frame refugees for the crimes.

The growing trend toward violence comes amid a public discourse that has become far more poisonous and accepting of extreme measures against refugees and their supporters, said Dierk Borstel, an expert on the far right at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Its a big problem for security services. The police used to know about the people who could be violent. There was tight observation, said Borstel, whose university is a short drive from Altena. But now the circle has expanded, and people who havent been previously suspected are committing these acts. So its very hard to control.

Police have said little about the man charged with the attempted murder of Hollstein beyond his first name, Werner. But locals in Altena described him as a middle-aged town resident who largely kept to himself and had fallen on hard times.

[German mayor stabbed in neck for pro-refugee stance, saved by kebab shop owner]

On the night of the attack, Hollstein had stopped for dinner at City Doener, a favorite neighborhood gathering spot where native-born Germans, Turkish immigrants, Arab refugees and many others feast on sizzling kebab sandwiches piled high with veggies and hot sauce.

He had just placed his order when a man approached and asked if he was the mayor.

Yes, I am, Hollstein said he responded. Why?

With that, the man pulled out his knife and lunged, while berating the mayor for having taken in foreigners.

In a flash, Ahmet Demir, 27, was out from behind the counter where he had been making kebabs, and was trying to wrest the knife away.

I was just shocked, said Demir, who has lived in the area since his family immigrated to Germany from Turkey when he was 2 and who has long worked with his parents at the family restaurant. Theres never been anything like this in Altena. No crime. No fighting. Its quiet here. Its safe.

Demirs father, Abdullah, joined him within seconds. His mother, Hayriye, dashed to the police station down the road. An officers gun fixed on the perpetrator, it took several minutes of commands to drop the knife before he complied and let the mayor go.

In my mind, I knew it was a life-or-death situation, Hollstein said. I was lucky that [the Demirs] were there to help me. Without them, there was no chance.

The next morning, his three-inch neck wound wrapped in bandages, Hollstein was back at town hall insisting he would not be intimidated. He would continue to do his job without police protection, he said, and to pursue a high-octane strategy for integrating refugees that has won the town a national award.

Hundreds of residents gathered for a candlelight march that evening. Merkel condemned the attack and called Hollstein to express her hopes for a fast recovery. Cards and emails poured in from thousands of well-wishers around the world, including the mayors of Barcelona, Milan and New York.

But mixed in with the mail were more than 100 letters of the sort Hollstein has grown accustomed to in the past several years.

Im sorry this man wasnt successful in killing you, said one. Now we will kill you.

Klaus Laatsch, a local spokesman for the far right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), said the attack on Hollstein was a really bad thing. But he can understand the anger.

"If you drive around Altena, it's a very sad place," said Laatsch, whose party this fall became the first from the far right to enter the German Parliament in more than half a century. "And the mayor's the one who's responsible for a lot of the problems."

[In shadow of Germanys climate conference, a village disappears to make way for coal]

Like many small and once-mighty industrial towns in Germany, Altena has suffered as factories have moved away. A population of 32,000 decades ago has dwindled to just over 17,000 today.

When asylum seekers from the Middle East, Africa and Asia began making their way to Europe in large numbers several years ago, Hollstein saw an opportunity: The town had surplus housing that would otherwise be knocked down. It had schools on the verge of being shuttered because of under-enrollment. It had employers looking for young workers to train.

Hollstein, whose grandmother fled to Altena from her home in Kaliningrad as Soviet troops advanced during World War II, said he also thought the town had a humanitarian imperative to act.

We cant solve everyones problems here in Europe, he said. But we can do what we can do. And it was very clear to me that we could do more.

Beyond taking a higher share of refugees than required, Altena has stood out for its aggressive efforts to integrate the newcomers. At the town hall, a team of four helps to connect asylum seekers with jobs, guides them through the German bureaucracy and coordinates the work of an unusually large cadre of volunteers.

But these days, the refugees need a lot less help than they used to.

Theyre independent. Theyre self-sufficient, said Esther Szafranski, a 50-year-old Altena resident and volunteer. The kids all speak German very well, and the adults are catching up.

Among them is Nazeer Mohseni, a 29-year-old Afghan who fled a conflict zone more than two years ago and traveled six months to reach Germany. He now speaks the language, has a German girlfriend and walks the steep streets of Altena delivering mail as a postal trainee.

When I leave at 9 a.m. for my rounds with my letters and packages, everyone greets me with a smile and says, Guten morgen,  said Mohseni, who bears the scars of a bomb blast he survived five years ago. I feel very good here. Theres security.

But when I saw what happened to the mayor, I said to myself: How can this happen in Germany? 

Luisa Beck contributed to this report.

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Pakistani Christians assist an injured worshipper after suicide bombers attacked a Methodist church in Quetta on Sunday. (A. Calvin/AFP/Getty Images)

At least 9 Christian worshippers were killed and 50 wounded when two suicide bombers attacked a church in the southwestern city of Quetta on Sunday, a local hospital spokesman said. The Islamic State, which has a presence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, quickly claimed responsibility.

One attacker detonated an explosives-laden vest at an entrance to the churchs main hall. A second attackers vest failed to detonate and he was killed by security forces, according to police and government officials. Nearly 400 worshippers were gathered inside Bethel Memorial Methodist Church for early-morning prayers. Photos from the scene showed debris and pools of blood near the pulpit, which was decorated with a Christmas tree.

Moazzam Jah Ansari, a provincial police chief, told reporters that the area around the church had been secured. The Associated Press reported that "a search was underway for two suspected accomplices who escaped," citing Quetta's police chief, Abdur Razzaq Cheema.



Pakistani Christians hold banners and candles during a protest in Karachi on Sunday after a suicide bomber attack on a church in Quetta. (Rizwan Tabassum/AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking by telephone from Quetta, eyewitness Salim Masih said he was in the churchs main hall when the attack began.

I was in the middle [of the church] when suddenly we heard shots being fired and people crying outside the hall, Masih said. Then everyone was trying to escape. Suddenly, a huge explosion occurred outside the hall that broke windowpanes.

I didnt see the attackers because I was trying to save my kids. I kept them in my arms, he said.

Christians make up about 2 percent of Pakistans population. Sundays attack raises questions about their safety, and that of other religious minority groups, going into a season of festive gatherings. Over the past several years, there have been several attacks by extremist groups on churches, including a twin suicide bombing in the northwestern city of Peshawar in September 2013 that killed 85.

The Islamic State's regional affiliate, known as Islamic State in Khorasan, has claimed other attacks in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, mostly targeting Shiite Muslims, but this is the first time it has taken responsibility for attackinga church. In August 2016, claimed an attack that killed 60 lawyers in Quetta, devastating the city's legal community.

Pakistani officials have been pointing to success in reducing violence in Baluchistan, a sparsely populated and rugged province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. But Sundays bombing was one of a string of brazen attacks in the provinces biggest city.

Baluchistan Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that quick police action averted a much worse attack on Sunday.

God forbid, if the terrorists could have succeeded in their plans, more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake, Bugti said on Twitter.

Bugti was joined by Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Army chief Qamar Bajwa in condemning the attack and calling for religious tolerance.

Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:09:40|Editor: Chengcheng

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Lassina Zerbo, executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 8, 2017. Lassina Zerbo told Xinhua that China's construction of nuclear activity monitoring stations was evidence of its commitment to the global cause of nonproliferation. (Xinhua/Liu Xiang)

VIENNA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's recent contribution to nuclear nonproliferation is in line with its increasing global role, a senior official said.

Lassina Zerbo, executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), told Xinhua that China's construction of nuclear activity monitoring stations was evidence of its commitment to the global cause of nonproliferation.

These stations are part of the global system under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to monitor potential nuclear tests around the world. China established its first CTBTO-certified station in December 2016, which Zerbo called a "great milestone." A fifth station is planned to be technically certified this week.

Having five monitoring stations certified within one year is "excellent work", Zerbo said.

The development indicates China's larger influence on nonproliferation, which is in accordance with an increasing global leadership role, he added.

The CTBTO official said China's status as a developing country should be noted when examining the progress it has made. How China has dealt with affairs in the United Nations fits well into the concept of partnership in the developing world, he said.

With a population of over 1 billion in a world of some 7 billion, Zerbo called China's emergence from poverty by mastering advanced technologies an industrial miracle against all odds.

The Burkina Faso national, recalling his trip to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, said he was impressed by the transformation of a fishing village into a booming city with vast infrastructure and a dynamic economy.

"I wish many of our African countries could be on that path," he said.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/12/2017 (1796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHURCHILL  Peering out the window of a propeller plane, Remi Foubert-Allen looks at the barren tundra between his hometown of Churchill and Gillam. Amid frozen lakes and clusters of birch trees, he sees opportunity.

Ive been put in a position, thankfully, that I feel I can help out our small little town, says the ambitious 26-year-old, who today is launching a temporary lifeline for Manitobas Arctic port. I want nothing more than to see the community succeed.

Foubert-Allen is leading a crew of employees from Gillam north to Churchill, carving out an overland path for specialized vehicles along the frozen muskeg, at some points running parallel to the Hudson Bay Railway, which washed out in multiple sections this May.

DYLAN ROBERTSON / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Remi Foubert-Allen looks out the window of a propeller plane, somewhere between Churchill and Gillam, where the sections of the Hudson Bay Railway washed out this spring.

By next month, that path will allow machinery, building supplies and food to reach the town of 900. The convoys will arrive as often as every three days, at a cost much cheaper than existing flights. Theyll also send up materials that cant easily fit on existing flights, such as residents cars stranded down south.

The first journey kicks off today, after weeks of plotting out a trail, which can now be seen on the commercial flights to Churchill. Employees are still plowing snow along the trail with lightweight machines called groomers, which are wide-track machines used by ski hills.

They are flooding dips in the ground with water that will freeze and create a somewhat stable trail that can be accessed by specialized vehicles. The trail will span lakes, rivers, the boreal forest, tundra and taiga, until it reaches the Hudson Bay coastline.

The 270-kilometre trek is expected to take 30 hours, at an average cruising speed of about 10 km/h.

Todays trek is the first, and Foubert-Allen anticipates a journey of two and a half days, though they might reach Churchill by Monday.

Theyll let the trail sit over Christmas, so the flooded parts freeze firm and the relocated snow settles into place. Theyll then be using Foremost Delta 3 vehicles, which look like a cross between a fire engine and an army tank, using monster-truck tires.

The project will employ at least 24 people this winter, mostly locals. Foubert-Allen envisions the line running on 70-hour cycles, with 30-hour trips and some moments to unload on each end.

Each journey will have drivers work in eight-hour shifts, with one sleeping while the other one drives, plus some support staff. The trucks are equipped with heat, radios, GPS devices and a small area to cook food.

You have to be mentally and physically strong; its not for the weak, said, Foubert-Allen, whos done similar deliveries in northern Manitoba.

After doing two or three days of hauling, a simple task like changing a tire or fixing a broken hydraulic line becomes a huge job.

He credits his grit with two years working in Alberta oil sands, which allowed him to buy a home in Churchill, where his great-grandfather settled in 1929.

I know people have their doubts, but well prove them wrong. I think we have a pretty good team behind us, said Foubert-Allen, who expects to turn 27 somewhere along the trail, on Jan. 17.

These trails were commonly known as cat trails in the 1960s, because they were used by Caterpillar-brand construction vehicles. Theyre still common in parts of the Arctic, and used on Antarctica.

They differ from ice roads, which is when lakes naturally freeze solid and vehicles  sometimes including large trucks  can cross them.

Residents have welcomed the news with so much enthusiasm the Town of Churchill put out a statement Friday, warning residents the trail is only meant for specialized vehicles.

The group departed Winnipeg Friday, taking 60,000 pounds of supplies  from dog kibble and Christmas presents, to construction supplies  toward Gillam using highway trucks.

This morning, the Fox Lake Cree First Nation is hosting a traditional ceremony to open the road.

Hes promised the group he will respect their land. Come summertime, I dont want anyone to see a trace that we were there. Im gonna have to look at that for the rest of my life, he said. The tundras very sensitive.

The project is being run by Remote Area Services, in connection with Winnipeg-based Polar Industries, which has helped craft specialized sleighs for the route.

Dylan Robertson/Winnipeg Free Press A section of the Hudson Bay Railway is seen from the window of a propeller plane, somewhere between Churchill and Gillam,

Last month, the federal government pledged $100,000 for the project, through the Churchill Region Economic Development grant, which Ottawa launched in late 2016 to backstop job loses, after layoffs at the Port of Churchill.

Currently, freight shipments from Winnipeg cost $1.14 per pound, or $1.05/lbs. from Thompson. Thats three times the price of shipping goods by train, and more than double what Foubert-Allen believes his group will charge.

In Ottawa, Energy Minister Jim Carr says the money should help businesses stay open by lowering their sky-high shipping costs, while bolstering connections to Canadas north.

Its all part of a strategy, to give people in Churchill some hope, said Carr, who handed the cheque to Foubert-Allen earlier this month on a visit to Churchill.

That was a highlight of me, of that trip, was meeting him, seeing his equipment, and hearing his passion.

Churchill has long been a services hub for Nunavuts western Kivalliq region, which local companies used to supply by buying goods in Winnipeg and transferring them along the rail line to barge shipments.

Foubert-Allens goal is to run a similar route north to Arviat next year, though he says Nunavut poses more of a challenge.

Once youre halfway between Churchill and Arviat, youre on the moon, he said, explaining that without any trees, only GPS devices can distinguish between the ground and Hudson Bay.

By giving employees practice along this years easier track, Foubert-Allen hopes to provide years of winter employment to people who rely on the summer port seasons and autumn tourism.

Carr said such a route would be part of Canadas longer-term Arctic strategy.

Theres all kind of potential developing north of Churchill, and people are thinking more and more seriously about it, he said. Some modest investment can make a big difference.

Foubert-Allen had planned a route to Nunavut as his original goal, but a month after Mays washout, he started planning a possible route between Gillam and Churchill, with his father Dwight.

We just kept it extremely quiet, until we knew the rail line was not going to be fixed, he says. Being born-and-raised locals, we didnt want to divert any attention and much-needed publicity away from the rail line.

Hes still optimistic the railway and port will be in local hands by the spring, and repaired shortly after.

Im still hoping that by the 2018 summertime, Ill be greeting waves of smiling tourists as they step off the train, he said. This isnt a permanent solution, but we got a Band-Aid one.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/12/2017 (1796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Charles Harold Spence was a rising public figure in Winnipeg in the 1950s and early 1960s with a high-profile job and a seat on city council. Spence also had a secret: he was gay. When this became public knowledge following an all all-night police surveillance operation, his public life came to an abrupt end.

Born in 1925 and raised in Poplar Point, Man., Spence settled in Winnipeg after serving with the Navy during the Second World War. He then worked a series of sales jobs, hawking everything from office stationery to life insurance.

During this time, Spence became politically active.

Heimskringla archives A Charles Spence ad that ran in Winnipegs Icelandic newspaper, Heimskringla, during the 1958 Winnipeg civic election campaign.

In 1952, he served two years as president of the Young Conservative Association of Greater Winnipeg and in the 1953 provincial election was the Progressive Conservative candidate for Lakehead, running against Premier Douglas Campbell. He lost, as expected, but the campaign gained him notoriety and political points within the party.

By 1956, Spence was living in the West End with his mother, Florence Garton, and found more stable employment with the Manitoba Division of the Canadian Red Cross. He started out as an organizer of its blood donor clinic division and within a couple of years was the programs director.

Spence tried his hand at politics again in 1958 by running for Winnipeg city councils Ward 2, which comprised of the West End. He received the endorsement of the Civic Election Committee (CEC) which was a right-leaning, pro-business, informal civic party that had a majority caucus on city council.

Spences election platform was thin on policy, but he did take aim at those with whom he would be working.

Winnipegs Icelandic newspaper, Heimskringla, noted at one campaign rally: Spence said it is a disgusting experience for a person witnessing a session of city council from the gallery, to note the waste of time and effort at the taxpayers expense, while some aldermen engage in personal bickering in order to gain publicity advantageous only to themselves.

On Oct. 22, 1958, the 33-year-old Spence defeated incumbent councillor Hank Scott.

The Winnipeg Free Press interviewed Spence the following day. He said, I am not going to be one of these aldermen who sits and says nothing for the first six months of his term. The reporter also thought it was worth noting that Spence would be  one of the most eligible bachelors on city council, to which he replied So far, Ive escaped marriage.

Spence proved to be an outspoken member of council and not above engaging in some of the behaviour he had criticized others for during his campaign.

Personal style aside, Spence gained enough trust amongst his CEC colleagues that in 1960 they made him a member of the citys Board of Police Commissioners which was made up of councillors and civilians. It was considered a plum appointment as it generated a great deal of publicity and power over police department matters, including its budget.

It wasnt long before Spence began taking the department and chief Robert Taft to task over a wide range of issues. Most seemed minor, such as criticizing the expense involved in washing police cars in-house and the use of ghost cars for catching traffic violators. He also worked to claw back additional pay and fees that some members of the police department received.

Spence experienced a major dichotomy between his public life as a conservative politician on the one hand, and his private life and queer sexuality on the other hand. In the early 1960s, these elements of his life would have been virtually impossible to reconcile or synthesize Scott de Groot

One of the more contentious issues was demanding the police commission see in advance, and edit if need be, a draft of the police chiefs introduction to his departments annual report. For Spence, it was a matter of making sure the department and commission were speaking with one voice. To the chief, and editorials in the Free Press and Tribune, it was an attempt by the politician to censor the chief.The chief and Spence were constantly at odds and it was portrayed as a running public feud in the newspapers.

After Spence had been on the commission for just six months, alderman Peter Taraska, a senior member of the CEC caucus, publicly questioned whether their appointment had been a mistake, stating: (Spence) makes these petty complaints that never get anywhere or do any good but they are debated and reported in the papers and the police are made a laughing stock. We cant afford to have this sort of nonsense going on in our police commission. He called on them to remove Spence at their next caucus meeting.

Many thought Spences constant criticism of the department was petty retaliation for having been caught for speeding on a couple of occasions during his time as a commissioner. Scott de Groot, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Winnipegs department of history, says to understand Spences fraught relationship with the police, we have to look at the broader social context of a gay man living in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s.

De Groot has researched the gay liberation movement in Canada, including the case of Charles Spence, and notes Spence surely would have been aware of tactics used by police to investigate and punish those suspected of being homosexual. If he had not already been targeted himself, Spences lovers and the queer people he socialized with may have been subjected to police surveillance and regulation.

In the end, the CEC chose not to remove Spence from the commission and reappointed him in 1961 after he was re-elected to council.

During that second year, Spence was a more experienced politician and appears to have lightened the tone of his criticisms. He did, however, revisit the same slate of issues he had concerns with the year before and this time managed to get a majority of is fellow commissioners to support the changes he sought. He also got promoted to vice-chair of the police commission.

The end of Spences public career came at the hands of the police department he oversaw.

Based on testimony given at his preliminary hearing and subsequent trial, two Winnipeg police detectives noticed Spences car at the CNR station at 9 p.m. on the night of July 1, 1961. It was parked there because Spence had been at Grand Beach attending the caterers picnic on behalf of the City of Winnipeg that day.

One detective testified the fact the car belonged to Spence and that it was there because he was away on city business was known to him.

The West Wood apartment building at 780 Ellice Ave., where Charles Spence lived with is mother.

They watched Spences vehicle and at 12:05 a.m. Spence and another man got in and drove to a nearby gas station on Main Street. There, the two men parted and Spence drove off alone onto Graham Avenue.

The detectives then parked behind a hotel near the old bus station, which at the time was on Graham Avenue, where the True North Centre is currently under construction, and kept Spences vehicle under close surveillance.

They observed Spence circle the block a number of times and on one pass noticed there was another man in the car with him. Police tailed Spences car but lost it in traffic, so they went to stake out the apartment block on Ellice Avenue at Home Street where Spence lived with his mother. A little while later, Spence and his passenger arrived and entered the building.

Detectives continued to watch the building and about an hour later, at 2:35 a.m., the man left the building alone on foot. They followed him for a while before stopping to question him.

The man, a part-time catering employee for the City of Winnipeg, told police he had been walking on Hargrave Street when Spence pulled alongside and asked if he wanted to go back to his place. The man agreed and got into the car.

The two men sat in Spences living room for about a half an hour before going into the bedroom. There, Spence asked the man to perform a sexual act on him. The man refused, and after necking for a while he asked Spence to drive him home. Spence refused, so the man left.At 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, 1961, more than a month after the incident, police arrived at Spences apartment to arrest him. The charge was that he, on July 2, 1961, attempted to commit an act of gross indecency against a male person.

De Groot notes the definition of gross indecency was very vague and, Dating back to the Victorian era, these laws were value-laden, and they didnt differentiate between consensual and non-consensual sexual acts.

Even in 1961, de Groot believes there was a very real possibility that if found guilty, Spence could have faced a jail sentence of a few months and/or a hefty fine.

After his arrest, Spence was taken to the Rupert Avenue police station and questioned. According to one detectives testimony, Spence denied knowing the man and said he couldnt remember if he picked anyone up on Hargrave Street that morning. He then asked for a lawyer.

Gordon Goldsborough Collection After his arrest, Coun. Charles Spence was held at the Rupert Avenue police station.

After the questioning ended, one detective claimed Spence said: I heard of a lot of things in politics before, but not anything like this.

Spence was returned to his cell and held until nearly 6 p.m. when his bail of $1,000 was set.

That same day, Spence issued a statement to the press saying he was stepping down from the police commission: As a very serious charge has been laid against me by the City of Winnipeg Police I do feel in all fairness I should not sit on the commission and would ask to be excused from meetings until this is dealt with.

Spence stayed out of the public eye and away from council duties until late August when he appeared at the city magistrates court for a hearing. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected to have a trial by jury.

At noon on Aug. 29, 1961, Spence delivered his letter of resignation from council to Mayor Stephen Juba.

In it, he thanked colleagues for the kindnesses and co-operation shown to him during his tenure and wrote, Since my election to City Council, I have always tried, to the best of my ability, to properly represent the citizens of Winnipeg both in Council and the various Committees to which I have been appointed.

As perhaps a reference to the reason for his arrest, he included, I have been conscious for some time that my attempts to represent the citizens have not been received kindly by certain departmental heads of the City.

Spences trail at Court of Queens Bench began on Feb. 5, 1962.

The Crown called four witnesses: the man Spence picked up and three police detectives. It attempted to call more, said to be able to establish a pattern of behaviour on the part of Spence, but Justice Ralph Maybank refused to hear them. The defence called no witnesses.

Winnipeg Tribune Archives Charles Spence was held at the Rupert Avenue police station after his arrest.

Maybank then gave a 30-minute long charge to the jury. He pointed out the star witness, the man Spence picked up, by his own admission was an accomplice in the alleged crime and could just as easily be charged himself. He warned: It is extremely dangerous to convict someone on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. That is an old principle of our law and it has been declared forcefully in innumerable cases.

An hour later, the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. Maybank asked Spence to rise and told him he was free to go.

A Tribune reporter spoke briefly to Spence after the verdict. Spence said his priority was to look for a job, reminding him that, Ive been out of work for about six months since I resigned from council. He then speculated about running for re-election and possibly launching one or more lawsuits.

In the end, Spence did not run for public office again or take anyone to court. In fact, those words spoken in the courtroom appear to be the last of Charles Spences public life.

It seems curious that a man who was not afraid to speak his mind did not speak out publicly about what happened to him or hit out at those he felt responsible for his arrest.

De Groot says one reason may have been that Spence did not want to come to terms with his sexuality.

Spence experienced a major dichotomy between his public life as a conservative politician on the one hand, and his private life and queer sexuality on the other hand, adding, In the early 1960s, these elements of his life would have been virtually impossible to reconcile or synthesize.

Spence and his mother soon left Winnipeg, disappearing from the Henderson street directory a couple of years after the trial. The only hint of where they went can be found in the July 1964 obituary of Spences uncle Rupert, which states he died while holidaying at the home of his nephew Charles H. Spence of Oakville, Ont.

In 1980, Spence and his mother reappear In the Henderson Directory living together again in the West End of Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Tribune Archives Winnipeg Police Chief Robert Taft, left, and Mayor Stephen Juba during

Florence Garton died on April 16, 1987. Her obituary includes mention of her son and the fact that he was a former city alderman and police commissioner.

Charles Spence died later that year, on Nov. 25, 1987, at the age of 62. His obituary includes his naval service, his work with the Fort Rouge Legion and that he had been a manager at Adams Furniture, a retail store on Portage Avenue. There is no mention of his time on council or the police commission.

As recently brought to light by the federal governments apology to the gay community for the witch hunt that saw hundreds of civil servants drummed out of their jobs because of their sexuality, Spences case is, sadly, not an isolated one.

For de Groot, Spences brief time on the police commission was an example of someone trying to fight back against that system.

Spence often represented himself as a modernizer  as moving forward with an agenda to bring certain police policies and practices into the modern era, de Groot said. He did resist in some ways the repression and regulation of queer people in Winnipeg at the time. Because of this, he is worth remembering.

Christian Cassidy explores local history at his blog, West End Dumplings.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/12/2017 (1796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The oldest known Manitoban has died.

Elder Sarah Harper, who lived her 111 years on Bunibonibee Cree Nation hundreds of kilometres north of Winnipeg, died Saturday night.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson, who has known Harper all her life, shared the news online. In a statement Sunday afternoon, she offered condolences to Harpers family, many of whom attended the centenarians final birthday last August.

DOUG THOMAS PHOTO A party was held Aug. 24 for Cree elder Sarah Harper to mark her 111th birthday. The northern resident, who was believed to be the oldest person in Manitoba, has died.

(Harper) was a lady full of compassion, North Wilson said. She was a gift to the generations of her family that were able to know her. It was an honour to celebrate her long life.

North Wilson was among the dozens who descended on Bunibonibee on Aug. 24 to celebrate Harpers 111th birthday. The joyous affair featured local band Raven Hawk playing a medley of country and western songs, while well wishers gathered round to hear Harper tell the secret to living a long life.

She says to be happy and keep a smile on your face, said Rose Knott, Harpers granddaughter. Knott translated her grandmothers words from Cree for the gathering.

Im very happy to still be here, Harper said. Im glad they are here to celebrate my birthday.

At the birthday bash, Bunibonibee Chief Timothy Muskego described Harper as a pillar of support, especially for the communitys children and youth.

Indeed, Harper was a constant through so much of Manitobas history.

In reflecting on the history of our communities, our treaty regions and on the history of Manitoba, Canada and the world, it is amazing what (Harper) has lived through, North Wilson said in August. At the time of her birth, Manitoba was the postage-stamp province and the great majority of what is now northern Manitoba was part of the Northwest Territories.

Harper, who was born Aug. 24, 1906, was the oldest Indigenous person in Manitoba, and believed to be the oldest person in the province. She was also, according to Wikipedias list of Canadian supercentenarians, the third-oldest person in Canada.

Her life is featured in author Gerald Kuehls book Portraits of the North. Kuehl, who met with Harper in 2003, told the Free Press via email in August that Harpers dark intelligent eyes stood out to him.

She has much wisdom from now over 110 years of experience and reflection, he said. She was raised in the traditional lifestyle of her people and did not attend residential school. She lived through very tough times with her people, a period when, as she said, It was always difficult getting enough to eat.

Harpers death will have a broad impact, North Wilson said.

The ripples from losing an elder with the knowledge collected over such a long life will be felt throughout the north, she said. Manitoba has just lost a great woman who was a bridge to her traditional way of life and language.

Premier Brian Pallister offered his well wishes online Sunday.

Saddened to hear of the passing of Sarah Harper, he wrote on Twitter. Our sincere condolences to her family, friends and the community.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:19:42|Editor: Yamei

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CHENGDU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have busted a cross-border drug gang, seizing 37 suspects, including four from Myanmar who had swallowed 183 packets of drugs to smuggle, authorities said Sunday.

Yinbin City police, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, caught the four smugglers in May when police officers found them behaving suspiciously during a regular check.

Police carried out X-rays and discovered a number of thumb-size shadows on their stomachs. The four suspects eventually excreted 183 plastic drug packets, weighing a total of 916 grams.

The drugs included heroin, methamphetamine and yaba (a stimulant composed of methamphetamine and caffeine), police said.

The investigation found the four men had been asked smuggle the drugs from Myanmar to Chongqing, and promised 260 yuan (40 U.S. dollars) for each packet successfully transported.

The other gang suspects were caught by police in Chongqing City and Yunnan over the past few months. Among the 37 suspects, six were Burmese.

So far, police in the case have seized more than 440 grams of methamphetamine, 26 grams of yaba, over 1 kg of heroin and eight guns.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/12/2017 (1796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Raul Castro promised a better life for Cubans when he launched timid economic reforms and opened a few doors to private business. But after a decade in power, he will likely retire in the spring with the economy in recession for the second year in a row, and economic outlook that is worse than when he took control.

There is little hope that the economy will finish 2017 with positive growth, Cuban economist Pavel Vidal warned in the latest issue of Cuba Standard magazine.

Our GDP (gross domestic product) forecast for 2017 is in the range between -1.4 per cent and -0.3 per cent.

Vidal heads the team that created the magazines independent index for evaluating the Cuban economy, the Cuba standard economic trend index, that correctly predicted the islands recession last year.

Castro has said he will retire as president of the Councils of State and Ministers in February, when a new parliament selects a new national leadership. But he is expected to retain the job of first secretary of the powerful Communist Party of Cuba.

Although Castro started a limited string of reforms in a bid to jump-start the stalled economy he inherited from his late brother Fidel, he has been stymied by resistance from bureaucrats and lack of foreign investment.

In many ways, Raul Castros 10-year presidential rule, ending in February 2018, has been utterly disappointing, said Richard Feinberg, a Cuba analyst at the Brookings Institution. Cubas economy is stagnant and economic reform has stalled.

The Cuba Standard report said positive results in agriculture, the sugar harvest, construction and tourism contributed to an uptick in GDP in the first semester of this year, when the government claimed a 1.1 per cent GDP growth. But that was not enough to make up for the overall loss of Venezuelan oil subsidies, low sugar and nickel prices, and damage caused by hurricane Irma.

The government has not published official damage estimates for Irma, a Category 5 storm that lashed the northern coast of central Cuba in September. But Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca has said they total many millions.

The Castro government also stopped issuing licences for new private businesses. Coupled with U.S. President Donald Trumps new policies, the move could cause the first contraction of that sector since it was expanded in 2010.

The Cuba Standard report noted although there is no data to support its analysis, its very probable Trumps decision to limit U.S. travel to Cuba and business deals with its military, as well as mysterious incidents suffered by U.S. diplomats in Havana, will dampen the foreign investment and tourism sectors  including family restaurants and bed and breakfasts.

Although U.S. business relations with Cuba before Trump were mostly limited to airlines and cruise ships, the Obama administrations efforts to normalize relations had reduced the perception of risk for investors, lenders and exporters who were betting all U.S. sanctions on the island would soon be lifted.

Growing tensions with the United States, and the poor performance of the economy, have dampened investors enthusiasm.

The Cuba standard business confidence index, which hit a high of 65.3 per cent in 2015, has dropped by more than half  and experts predict 2018 will be even worse.

The Cuban government, meanwhile, is also under pressure to pay the debt it recently renegotiated with the Paris Club and other international lenders. The island faces financial limitations at this time, said Malmierca, repeating the same mantra of the past two years.

Restrictions on foreign credits and a shortage of hard currency revenues will likely force reductions in imports, the Cuba Standard report noted.

Cubans should get ready for more shortages, especially hard-felt during the upcoming holiday period, experts said.

China, Cubas largest trade partner, already announced a 29.8 per cent cut in exports to the island over the past year because of Havanas debt woes, Reuters reported.

Although Castro managed to diversify the islands trade and investment partners, after two five-year terms in power he will leave behind an economy that produces fewer goods and is even more dependent on the export of services such as medical personnel.

Following Vidals assessment, under Raul Castro, manufacturing, retail and services like education and public health all dropped. All sectors of the economy that produce goods, with the exception of construction, lost ground from 2008 to 2016. The biggest growth was in tourism and telecommunications, he wrote.

Castro also has failed to resolve one of Cubas main problems: its two currencies. The many different exchange rates between the Cuban convertible peso, known as CUC; the national peso, known as CUP; and the U.S. dollar make it impossible to be sure that the governments economic data are true.

The postponement of monetary reform (to unify the two currencies) has in no way been favourable, the Cuba Standard report said. The price paid by the economy during all this time, in terms of transaction costs, competitivity, accounting transparency, and inefficient allocation of resources, is incalculable.

The slow pace and limited scope of the reforms launched by Castro have been noted even in Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Doubts, fears of the ghosts of the market and muffled domestic resistance can be seen in the delays in negotiations and stumbling blocks for foreign business people to hire Cuban workers and services, one journalist wrote about the reforms. Without prosperity, socialism will always be a utopia.

 Miami Herald
Source:Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:24:32|Editor: Mengjie

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Contestants participate in the Future Engineer Project, a competition of engineering for youths, in east China's Shanghai, Dec. 16, 2017. Over 10,000 students from primary schools and middle schools took part in the city's annual competition. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:39:44|Editor: Mengjie

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JALALABAD, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Up to nine Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and five others injured after government forces stormed the militants' positions in Haska Mina district of the eastern Nangarhar province over the past 24 hours, provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogiani said Sunday.

According to the official, the government forces targeted the militants' positions from ground and air in Haska Mina and adjoining areas, killing nine militants on the spot and wounding five others.

Good quantity of arms and ammunition were also destroyed in the raids, the official asserted.

IS militants are yet to make comments.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 14:54:48|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony received a loud ovation, with a smattering of boos, during his video tribute and introduction before the Thunder vs New York Knicks game on Saturday.

The video package featured highlights of Anthony's nearly seven seasons with the Knicks, including clips from his 62-point game, multiple game-winning shots, as well as community service he did for New York.

The Thunder lost to New York 111-96.
'RHOBH' Star Camille Grammer Opens Up About New Cancer Diagnosis (Exclusive) The reality star also dishes on her wedding plans with fiance David C. Meyer.

Camille Grammer is taking it day by day.

ET's Brice Sander caught up with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star at the reality show's premiere party at The Doheny Room in West Hollywood, California, on Friday, where she opened up about her recent cancer diagnosis.

"I'm doing well, I'm healing. In some pain and discomfort this evening, but I'm here," Grammer told ET. "I'm here to promote the show and support it."

On Thursday, the 49-year-old reality star revealed that she had been diagnosed with a second type of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, which was luckily discovered early and removed.

"We are cancer free," she shared. "Well, we are in remission. I have to wait a week or two for my pathology reports to come back. But as far as I know, the doctor said that she removed everything that she found."

Grammer was also diagnosed with stage two endometrial cancer in 2013 and underwent a hysterectomy a year later.

Now, she's thankful to be in remission and is also celebrating her recent engagement. Grammer got engaged to lawyer David C. Meyer in October and showed off her new bling on the red carpet.

When asked how she knew he was the one, she replied, "Because I got butterflies again."

"He made me smile, he's smart, we're contemporaries, we understand each other," she gushed. "I'm very impressed with who he is as a person. I admire him and I think the feeling is mutual."

Grammer was previously married to Frasier star Kelsey Grammer from 1997 until 2011 -- though she revealed that getting married again does scare her.

"Of course it does, how could it not?" she expressed. "My first go at it didn't turn out that well. But you know what, I believe in love and I like having a lifetime partner. I like the thought of growing old with someone."

As far as wedding planning goes, Grammer said that they've "started, but we're going away together this Christmas and we're going to talk more."

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"My maid of honor is going to be away with us, so I'll see her [and get] all the details down," she shared.

Meanwhile, Grammer is back for the eighth season of RHOBH, which premieres on Dec. 19. When asked why she decided to return to the show, she said that it was "the right time" and, with her involvement with the Foundation for Women's Cancer, hopes to raise awareness for cancer.

"I'm using this platform for good," she explained, stressing the the importance of men and women to get checked.

"Knowledge is key, and awareness is key, and that's what I'm doing," she continued. "I'm obviously very passionate about this. I've had my second below the belt cancer and my mom is fighting her third cancer, so I grew up with this -- watching my grandmother go through cancer and fight it, and watching my mom and self. So, again, I am very passionate about this cause, giving back and raising awareness."

Season eight of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

For more on Grammer and what you can expect in the upcoming episodes, watch below!

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Responding on Twitter to revelations made by director Peter Jackson that Harvey Weinstein and Miramax allegedly called actress Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd a nightmare and prevented their casting in Lord of the Rings, another filmmaker says he experienced the same thing when trying to make his movie.

Bad Santa director Terry Zwigoff says Weinstein and his brother Bob would hang up the phone whenever he mentioned the Oscar-winning actress for his 2003 film.

I was interested in casting Mira Sorvino in BAD SANTA, but every time I mentioned her over the phone to the Weinsteins, Id hear a CLICK, Zwigoff wrote. What type of person just hangs up on you like that?! I guess we all know what type of person now.

He ended the tweet with an apology to the actress, simply saying,Im really sorry Mira.

I was interested in casting Mira Sorvino in BAD SANTA, but every time I mentioned her over the phone to the Weinsteins, I'd hear a CLICK. What type of person just hangs up on you like that?! I guess we all know what type of person now. I'm really sorry Mira. https://t.co/9U0PsL2yS5  Terry Zwigoff (@realzwigoff) December 16, 2017

Mr. Weinstein denies speaking with Terry regarding casting. That was a Dimension film (Bob Weinstein) and Harvey had nothing to do with it, Harvey Weinsteins lawyer said in a statement to EW.

Zwigoffs comments come after an interview published Friday by New Zealand publication Stuff, where Jackson categorized the comments by Harvey and Bob Wesinsteins Miramax in the 90s about the actresses as a smear campaign.

I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998, Jackson said. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing. I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.

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In a statement provided to EW about Jacksons claim, representatives for Harvey Weinstein said, in part, Mr. Weinstein has nothing but the utmost respect for Peter Jackson. However, as Mr. Jackson will probably remember, because Disney would not finance the Lord of the Rings, Miramax lost the project and all casting was done by New Line. While Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film they had no input into the casting whatsoever.

Jackson and wife and producing partner Fran Walsh later refuted Weinsteins statement.

Aspects of Harveys denial are insincere. He is basically saying that this blacklisting couldnt be true because New Line cast the movie. Thats a deflection from the truth, they said in a statement obtained by EW, later adding, We have no direct evidence linking Ashley and Miras allegations to our Lord of the Rings casting conversations of 20 years ago  but we stand by what we were told by Miramax when we raised both of their names, and we are recounting it accurately.

Weinstein, via his attorney, is standing firm that this is untrue in a statement to EW and says he flew Judd to NYC around that time for casting in Good Will Hunting and pushed for her to get a leading role in it, while also maintaining that Sorvino was working on Mimic at this same time which is a Miramax film.

In October, Judd went public with claims that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her in the 90s, when, she alleges, he invited her to his hotel room and greeted her in a bathrobe, asking for a massage and to take a shower with him. I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, Judd said to The New York Times. It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining. Sorvino, meanwhile, told The New Yorkers Ronan Farrow that Harvey Weinstein behaved inappropriately with her around the same time. He started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around, Sorvino claimed of an incident in a Toronto hotel room around the release of Mighty Aphrodite in 1995.

Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex  as well as claims that he retaliated against women who rebuffed him. Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein, his representatives said in a statement released in October. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously cant speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance.

With additional reporting by David Canfield
Bey Logan has been a familiar, larger-than-life figure on the Asian film scene for more than two decades. A burly martial arts expert who speaks good Cantonese, Logan has long courted attention and attracted gossip.

Now, the spotlight has turned into a harsh one as he fends off allegations of sexual misconduct, both on his own part and in connection with disgraced U.S. mogul Harvey Weinstein, with whom Logan had a close working relationship. Hong Kong online magazine HK01 this week published a series of reports in which seven Asia-based actresses accused Logan of unwanted sexual advances and misbehavior. Another actress, JuJu Chan, has told Variety that Bey forcefully kissed her against her will .

Logan, who goes by the nickname The Beast, denies any criminal misconduct and any knowledge of Weinsteins alleged assaults. But he has issued a public statement in which he admits that his past conduct towards women has been flawed.

Logan, 56, was born in Britain but moved to Australia as a youth. A fan of martial arts and action films, he settled in Hong Kong in 1995, at the tail end of the local cinema industrys so-called Golden Age.

Logan found executive jobs with Media Asia Group (1998) and Emperor Multimedia Group (2001). While at Emperor, he scored writing and acting credits on the Jackie Chan-starring Hollywood movie The Medallion and appeared on screen in another Chan vehicle, Rob-B-Hood.

He ran his own company, Shankara Productions, in partnership with Maggie Q, the martial artist and actress who was then also based in Hong Kong and had yet to break into the big time. In 2003, he joined Australian-U.S. sales agent Arclight Films as its Hong Kong representative.

Miramax and later The Weinstein Company were active in Asia at this time, and in 2005, Logan became TWCs vice president of acquisitions and co-production. It is unclear when he and Weinstein first met, but in September, Weinstein described Logan as a friend and colleague whom he met possibly as long as 25 years ago.

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Logans fanboy knowledge of action films and his voluble persona helped him develop TWCs Asian theatrical and DVD brand, Dragon Dynasty. He provided commentary and behind-the-scenes insights on dozens of Weinstein/Dragon Dynasty disc releases.

He was a knowledgeable production executive with ambitions in screenwriting. But there were also persistent rumors that he brought women to Weinstein. One executive who worked with Logan on multiple occasions and co-produced one of Logans Hollywood-Asian crossover titles told Variety that he recalls advising Logan a decade ago to stop pimping.

Logan denies such allegations. In his public statement, he acknowledges behavior towards women about which he now feels remorseful. His social media accounts are liberally filled with photographs of him with his arm around Asian actresses, including both celebrities such as Gong Li, Zhou Xun and Tang Wei (pictured), and also aspiring unknowns.

I have had a too carefree attitude towards physical encounters with women. I have made inappropriate comments lightheartedly or after a few drinks. I now see I was wrong and I have made mistakes for which I cant forgive myself, and must live with them, Logan said in his statement.

As for Weinstein, Logan said he was shocked at the allegations that have piled up against the Hollywood mogul. Throughout the years I have known Harvey, I have not witnessed, nor did anyone describe to me, any details of alleged sexual assaults, Logan said.

In 2007, TWC appeared ready to establish a $285 million fund to develop, produce and distribute two dozen Asian movies, which would have set Logan up as a heavyweight producer and executive. But whether the funds never really existed or were simply pulled by investors hit by the global financial crash, the fund apparently backed only a single movie that made it to the screen, Shanghai, on which Logan was a consulting producer.

Shanghai, made on a reported budget of $45 million, earned less than $10 million worldwide. TWC was also forced to leave behind $2 million worth in sets in China after the Chinese government suddenly canceled the companys permit to shoot on the mainland.

TWC subsequently pulled back from Asia somewhat, and Weinstein became a less frequent visitor to Asia. Logan was shifted from staff to a consultancy role in 2009, and started his own production company, B & E, with his soon-to-be second wife, Elizabeth Yang, a high-powered Hong Kong lawyer who has left him following this weeks accusations of sexual harassment.

From 2009 to the present, while maintaining the B & E label, Logan has been a consulting producer on TWCs Asian productions and acquisitions. That became a busier role from 2013, in advance of TWCs production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Logan oversaw the production in New Zealand and is an uncredited writer on the picture. It earned $38.5 million from theatrical releases in 2016 in China and Hong Kong, and played on Netflix in the rest of the world.

TWC has announced no further projects in the region since last year. Its Netflix TV series, Marco Polo, was canceled after its second season.

But Logan continues to use his association with Weinstein. As recently as last month, he was at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, handing out business cards that still sported the logos of B & E, memorabilia and publishing company Reeleast, and The Weinstein Co.

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Zack Ward was just 13 when he filmed the Christmas classic A Christmas Story. And 34 years later, hes still making money off of it  money he puts aside for his mom.

The actor, 47, played bully Scut Farkus in the 1983 film, about a young boy named Ralphie and his quest to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun is the perfect Christmas gift. And while the royalty checks are still coming, theyre not nearly as much as fans would expect.

Youre going to be so disappointed, Ward said in an interview with Page Six when asked about how much he still earns from the film, which is played on TV every holiday season. It's basically about $1,800 every two years  and it comes in in Canadian money because we shot in Canada.

Though it may be in Canadian dollars, Farkus still moves it all to a special account hes set up for his mom, in case she needs it in the future.

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story was a moderate success when it was first released, but had become a cult hit since. Since 1997, its annually aired around-the-clock on TBS or TNT Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A Broadway musical of the film was created by Dear Evan Hansen songwriters (and La La Land Oscar winners) Benj Pasek and Justin Paul in 2011. That stage show is being adapted for A Christmas StoryLive, which airs on Fox this Sunday starring Matthew Broderick, Jane Krakowski, and Maya Rudolph (among others).

All the popularity of the title hasnt stopped Ward from being recognized.

So many people come up to me and are like, You got your ass kicked by Ralphie, and it makes them so happy, he said. I think theyre connecting to themselves as that little kid who had a bully and when they saw Scut Farkus get beaten up, they were just like, Yeah! They greet me with a lot of love. Its usually very kind.

Ward also gets a lot of free beer and free hugs  though wasnt able to keep Farkus iconic coonskin cap.

Its incredible to be a part of something that is lightning in a bottle like that, the actor, who has since appeared on American Horror Story, added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 15:04:50|Editor: Jiaxin

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CANBERRA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Australia's minister for health on Sunday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Harold Holt, who on this day 50 years ago disappeared off Victoria's south coast while swimming in the surf.

Holt, an ocean lover who was just two years into his first term as Australian prime minister, was swimming off Cheviot Beach on Dec. 17, 1967 when he disappeared in rough waters and was presumed dead.

On Sunday, a 50-year ceremony was held at the beach from which he disappeared, and Greg Hunt, minister for health and federal member for Flinders - the electorate in which Holt was lost - paid tribute to Australia's popular 17th prime minister.

"A beautiful service was held today to commemorate the loss and celebrate the life of Harold Holt - an extraordinary Australian and prime minister," Hunt said in a video posted to his social media channels.

"He ended the White Australia Policy, he brought Indigenous Australians into the full, true status of the Australian family, and he brought the first Australian women into the ministry.

"It was a magnificent life, a tragic loss, but a day to commemorate and celebrate the life of one of the great modernists of the Australian Parliament."

Holt was a well-liked Liberal prime minister who, before taking the top job, had served in Canberra for more than three decades.

In addition to relaxing the controversial White Australia Policy (which banned people from emigrating to Australia if they weren't from Europe), Holt was also a strong advocate of Australia's post-war immigration scheme - which paved the way for Australia to become the multicultural melting pot it is today.

Holt was 59 years of age at his disappearance, while his body was never recovered.
Decades before the slew of sexual misconduct allegations arose against Harvey Weinstein, actor Jason Priestley allegedly had a run-in with him that led to Priestley punching the disgraced movie mogul in the face.

On Friday, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star, 48, recounted the incident on Twitter after it was first revealed by actress Tara Strong, who suggested Weinstein might have tried to derail Priestleys career after the fight in the same way Weinstein allegedly had done to whistleblowersMira Sorvino and Ashley Judd.

According to Priestley, the alleged fight occurred at the Miramax after party for the 1995 Golden Globes.

Harvey told me I had to leave I was leaving when he grabbed me by the arm and said What are you doing? I said You told me leave, Im leaving,  Priestley wrote when asked by a fan if there was more to Strongs story. I didnt say you had to leave he replied. You just told me to leave right over there I tell him once again.

That when things got heated, Priestley said. He then grabs me tighter and says Why dont we go outside and talk about this,  Priestley recalled. That was all I needed to hear.

Im not going anywhere with you I said as I pushed him back and punched [Weinstein] with a right hand to his face, Priestley wrote. Suddenly, there were security guards pulling us apart and I was escorted out of the party

Of course there is more to the story... 95 Golden Globes... at the Miramax Party... Harvey told me I had to leave... I was leaving when he grabbed me by the arm and said  what are you doing? I said  you told me leave, Im leaving

 Jason Priestley (@Jason_Priestley)

December 15, 2017

I didnt say you had to leave he replied. You just told me to leave... right over there I tell him once again. Getting heated now. He then grabs me tighter and says why dont we go outside and talk about this. That was all I needed to hear,

 Jason Priestley (@Jason_Priestley)

December 15, 2017

Im not going anywhere with you I said as I pushed him back and punched him with a right hand to his face. Suddenly, there were security guards pulling us apart and I was escorted out of the party...

 Jason Priestley (@Jason_Priestley)

December 15, 2017

Priestley did not say if had had any other interactions with Weinstein, or if the producer had retaliated in any way.

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A representative for Weinstein did not respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on the alleged incident.

Harvey Weinstein

Over 50 women have accused Weinstein, 65, of sexual misconduct since The New York Times and The New Yorker documented decades of alleged sexual misconduct and sexual assault involving a number of women in detailed articles in October.

Two of those women are Sorvino and Judd, whose names made headlines again this week when director Peter Jackson claimed that Weinstein and his producing brother Bob attempted to prevent the two women from starring in his Lord of the Rings franchise when he pitched his initial plans for the film to their studio.

I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998, Jackson said, speaking with New Zealand publication Stuff. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing.

I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list, he said.

Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd

In response to Jacksons claims, Sorvino wrote on social media that she was heartsick over the news.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick, she added.

Judd also responded to the allegation saying, I remember this well.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick https://t.co/ljK9NqICbm

 Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino)

December 15, 2017

I remember this well. https://t.co/wctEhESAS9

 ashley judd (@AshleyJudd)

December 15, 2017

Talks with Miramax for Lord of the Rings ultimately fell apart due to contractual reasons, Jackson went on to say. The blockbuster film franchisewould ultimately be developed through NewLine

A spokesperson for Weinstein said in a statement to PEOPLE that while Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film [Lord of the Rings] they had no input into the casting whatsoever. It went on to add that until Ashley Judd wrote a piece for Variety two years ago, no one at the Company knew that she had a complaint and she was cast in two other films by Mr. Weinstein [Frida and Crossing Over] and Mira Sorvino was always considered for other films as well.

Weinstein has also denied any accusations of sexual assault.

Mr. Weinstein has never at any time committed an act of sexual assault, and it is wrong and irresponsible to conflate claims of impolitic behavior or consensual sexual contact later regretted, with an untrue claim of criminal conduct. Weinsteins attorneys, Blair Berk and Benjamin Brafman, previously said in a statement to PEOPLE. There is a wide canyon between mere allegation and truth, and we are confident that any sober calculation of the facts will prove no legal wrongdoing occurred.

Nonetheless, to those offended by Mr. Weinsteins behavior, he remains deeply apologetic.
Georgina Chapmans Marchesa fashion line will be returning to the New York Fashion Week runway in February for the first time since news broke of sexual harassment allegations against her estranged husband, film mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Chapman separated from Weinstein not long after the allegations of sexual harassment and assault broke as she was presenting the brands bridal collection, and has remained in hiding since, with the brand conspicuously absent from red carpets and its spring/summer preview canceled. But Page Six reports that Marchesa, which has been worn on the red carpet by dozens of stars, will be returning to NYFW in February for the first time since Weinsteins allegations broke.

Marchesa will host its fashion show on February 14  the final day of New York Fashion Week  at 4 p.m. shortly before the Marc Jacobs presentation.

The brands last show happened earlier this year in N.Y.C. during Bridal Fashion Week on the same day the New York Times exposed Weinsteins scandal, which led to his termination from his company.

Looking for more style content? Click here to subscribe to the PeopleStyle Newsletter for amazing shopping discounts, cant-live-without beauty products and more.

Despite the controversy, Chapman and her business partner Keren Craig have had vocal support from friends including Meghan McCain, who wore a Marchesa dress to her November wedding. The scandal erupted and everybody was like, are you going to keep the dress? And I was like why should the two women designers be punished for a mans disgusting behavior, McCain told PEOPLE. I just didnt wanna feel like the people who had worked there and make their livelihood should be punished as well.

Earlier this week, actress Alyssa Milano opened up about how Chapman, her longtime friend, was doing in the wake of her exs very public scandal, which led to some backlash from the always outspoken Rose McGowan on Twitter.

Georgina is doing very well, Milano told Todays Megyn Kelly. Shes an amazing mother. Shes an amazing woman, and I think her priority right now is focusing on how to raise those two children to the best of her capacity given the situation.

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You make me want to vomit. You actually gave me a body flashback. Well done, fake one - People https://t.co/XCdTWyp4dd  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) December 8, 2017

McGowan quickly fired back at her former Charmed co-star saying, You make me want to vomit. You actually gave me a body flashback. Well done, fake one.

She continued in a separate tweet writing, Alyssa, maybe you and Georgina can call up Camille Cosby.

The star also retweeted another Twitter user, who credited Marchesas rise in the fashion world to Weinsteins money.

I'm saying Georgina Champan's company was 100% funded by Weinstein money. No one knew who she was in the fashion world before she married him.

I'm saying Weinstein bullied abused women to wear his wife's clothing line.

I'm saying she knew who and want she married and why.  KillingMyCareer (@MelaynaLokosky) December 8, 2017

The disgraced movie mogul checked into a luxury resort in Arizona in October, shortly after the scandal broke. His team set him up at a secure place to get him the help he needs  he knows and wants help, a source told PEOPLE at the time.

A spokesperson for Weinstein previously told PEOPLE in a statement that any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.

Tell us your thoughts about Marchesa returning to NYFW in February in the comments below.

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Peter Jackson isnt accepting Harvey Weinsteins denial that he played a role in encouraging the Lord of the Rings director to avoid casting Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino.

Published Friday, Jackson revealed to New Zealand publication Stuff that Judd and Sorvino were removed from casting discussions after Weinstein and brother Bob allegedly informed him the actresses were a nightmare, as part of what he now believes was a Miramax smear campaign.

In a statement to EW, Harvey Weinsteins representatives side-stepped these claims, saying, Mr. Weinstein has nothing but the utmost respect for Peter Jackson. However, as Mr. Jackson will probably remember, because Disney would not finance the Lord of the Rings, Miramax lost the project and all casting was done by New Line. While Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film they had no input into the casting whatsoever.

Now, Jackson and producing partner and wife Fran Walsh are firing back. Read their full statement below:

Aspects of Harveys denial are insincere. He is basically saying that this blacklisting couldnt be true because New Line cast the movie. Thats a deflection from the truth.



In the 18 months we developed the Lord of the Rings at Miramax, we had many casting conversations with Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and their executives.



During this period, no offers were made to actors because that occurs after a film is greenlit, and Miramax never greenlit these films.



However, many conversations occurred internally regarding potential casting. Fran Walsh and I recall that Morgan Freeman, Paul Scofield, David Bowie, Liam Neeson, Natascha McElhone, Claire Forlani, Francesca Annis, Max von Sydow, and Daniel Day Lewis were some of the names discussed with Miramax for possible roles in The Lord of the Rings movies.



Amongst the many names raised, Fran and I expressed our enthusiasm for Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino. In fact, we met with Ashley and discussed two possible roles with her. After this meeting, we were told by Miramax to steer clear of both Ashley and Mira, because they claimed to have had bad experiences with these particular actresses in the past.



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Fran Walsh was in the same meeting, and remembers these negative comments about Ashley and Mira as clearly as I do. We have no reason to make it up.



This type of comment is not unusual  it can happen with any studio on any film, when different actors names come up in conversation  but once you hear negative feedback about somebody, you dont forget it.



We were not in a position to offer Ashley or Mira a role in the movies, but we attempted to have their names added to a list, for when casting began. Each role can have many actors names listed for future auditions and meetings.

In these film maker/studio relationships, there has to be consensus in casting choices  either side can generally veto suggested names for various reasons, and in pre-Lord of the Rings days, we didnt have the power to override the studio on casting choices.



The movies changed hands from Miramax to New Line before casting actually got underway  but because we had been warned off Ashley and Mira by Miramax, and we were naive enough to assume wed been told the truth, Fran and I did not raise their names in New Line casting conversations.



Nearly 20 years later, we read about the sexual misconduct allegations being made against Harvey Weinstein and we saw comments by both Mira and Ashley, who felt they had been blacklisted by Miramax after rejecting Harveys sexual advances.

Fran and I immediately remembered Miramaxs negative reaction when we put their names forward, and we wondered if we had unwittingly been part of the alleged damage to their careers, at the hands of Miramax.

We have no direct evidence linking Ashley and Miras allegations to our Lord of the Rings casting conversations of 20 years ago  but we stand by what we were told by Miramax when we raised both of their names, and we are recounting it accurately.

If we were unwitting accomplices in harming their careers, Fran and I unreservedly apologize to both Ashley and Mira.

In October, Judd went public with claims that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her in the 90s, when, she alleges, he invited her to his hotel room and greeted her in a bathrobe, asking for a massage and to take a shower with him. I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, Judd said to The New York Times. It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining. Sorvino, meanwhile, told The New Yorkers Ronan Farrow that Harvey Weinstein behaved inappropriately with her around the same time. He started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around, Sorvino claimed of an incident in a Toronto hotel room around the release of Mighty Aphrodite in 1995.

Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex  as well as claims that he retaliated against women who rebuffed him. Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein, his representatives said in a statement released in October. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously cant speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance.

A representative for Weinstein did not immediately reply to EWs request for comment regarding Jackson and Walshs statement.

Sorvino and Judd both reacted to Jacksons Stuff interview earlier Friday; Sorvino said she burst out crying at the confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, while Judd recalled meeting Jackson and Walsh about the movie and then abruptly never heard from [them] again.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick https://t.co/ljK9NqICbm  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) December 15, 2017

Peter & Fran had me in - showed me all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything. They asked which if the two roles I preferred, and then I abruptly never heard from hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter. https://t.co/iXKuK6Xqtx  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

With additional reporting by David Canfield
Peter Jackson gave an interview to the New Zealand publication Stuff in which he recounted being told by Harvey and Bob Weinsteins Miramax in the 1990s that Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino were a nightmare.

Saying he had no direct experience or knowledge of the sexual allegations against Harvey Weinstein, which were made public and led to the Hollywood moguls downfall earlier this year, Jackson did tell Stuff he crossed paths with the Weinsteins-backed company Miramax in the 90s, when he was pitching The Lord of the Rings, and that he was given some unusual advice.

I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998, Jackson said. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing. I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.

Ashley Judd alleged Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her in the 90s, when, she claimed, he invited her to his hotel room and greeted her in a bathrobe, asking for a massage and to take a shower with him. I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, Judd said to The New York Times. It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining. Sorvino, meanwhile, told The New Yorkers Ronan Farrow that Harvey Weinstein behaved inappropriately with her around the same time. He started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around, Sorvino claimed of an incident in a Toronto hotel room around the release of Mighty Aphrodite in 1995.

They are among the dozens of women to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Harvey Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex  as well as claims that he retaliated against women who rebuffed him. Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein, his representatives said in a statement released in October. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously cant speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance.

Story continues

In a statement provided to EW about Jacksons claim, representatives for Harvey Weinstein said, Mr. Weinstein has nothing but the utmost respect for Peter Jackson. However, as Mr. Jackson will probably remember, because Disney would not finance the Lord of the Rings, Miramax lost the project and all casting was done by New Line. While Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film they had no input into the casting whatsoever.

Secondly, until Ashley Judd wrote a piece for Variety two years ago, no one at the Company knew that she had a complaint and she was cast in two other films by Mr. Weinstein [Frida and Crossing Over] and Mira Sorvino was always considered for other films as well. There was no indication that Mira Sorvino had any issues until Mr. Weinstein read about the complaints in the news.

As recently as this year, Mira Sorvino called Mr. Weinstein and asked if her husband could be part of the SEAL television series [Six] he was producing and Mr. Weinstein cast him; when Christopher Backus received a better offer, Mr. Weinstein allowed him to amicably break his contract to pursue the opportunity.

On Friday, Judd and Sorvino reacted to Jacksons comments. Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying, Sorvino tweeted. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick https://t.co/ljK9NqICbm  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) December 15, 2017

Judd, tweeting out a link to the Stuff story featuring Jacksons comments, said simply, I remember this well.

I remember this well. https://t.co/wctEhESAS9  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

Judd later added, Peter & Fran had me in  showed me all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything. They asked which if the two roles I preferred, and then I abruptly never heard from hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter.

Peter & Fran had me in - showed me all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything. They asked which if the two roles I preferred, and then I abruptly never heard from hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter. https://t.co/iXKuK6Xqtx  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

Jackson also made comments about how difficult Harvey Weinstein was to work with. It previously became public knowledge that Weinstein threatened to derail the Lord of the Rings franchise if Jackson didnt turn his pitch into a single film. He added, speaking to Stuff, that he had no interest in working with Weinstein and his brother. My experience, when Miramax controlled the Lord of the Rings  was of Weinstein and his brother behaving like second-rate Mafia bullies, Jackson said. They werent the type of guys I wanted to work with  so I havent.
As one of the most anticipated movies of 2017, everyone has been buzzing about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, including the fashion industry. Not only did the stars include winks to the film (from little details, like Daisy Ridleys star brooches at the films London photocall, to cosmically huge nods) in their red carpet style, but tons of designers were inspired by the film to recreate special capsule collections dedicated to a galaxy far, far away. Before you get in line for the film tonight, get caught up on the most major red carpet moments and the capsule collections youll want to shop to show your Jedi pride.

The star of the film, Daisy Ridley, played up the celestial theme at the movies world premiere in L.A. by wearing literal stars on her strapless Monse dress with carwash style skirt.

Lupita Nyongos stylist Micaela Erlanger told PeopleStyle she picked this Halpern dress for the star at the L.A. premiere because she brought the galaxy with her!

Carrie Fishers daughter Billie Lourd attended and paid tribute to her late mom with a braided updo reminiscent of the one Princess Leia wore in Episode IX.

New addition to the cast Kelly Marie Tran wore a pair of Christian Louboutins designed with her character in mind to the films L.A. premiere and happily showed them off.

And at the European premiere in London, Ridley took some shoe-spiration from her character Rey in a Christian Louboutin PVC sandal with sparkly heel and lace-up ankle straps, which is actually a part of a larger collection Louboutin designed for the launch of the film.

Christian Louboutin

The storied shoe designer created a commemorative four-piece collection honoring four of the films heroines including Rey (Daisy Ridley) with a clear sandal with brown ankle strap, Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) with a purple pointy-toe pump, Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) with a metallic curved-heel pump and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) with a gold ankle-strap sandal.

To get a pair for yourself, head to charitybuzz.com/StarWars where a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Starlight Childrens Foundation.

Rag & Bone

Marcus and Mark talk details about our limited edition #starwars collaboration. The collection is officially available tomorrow in select stores and on rag-bone.com. #ragandbonexstarwars @hamillhimself @starwars A post shared by rag & bone (@ragandbone) on Nov 30, 2017 at 6:49am PST

Another high-profile brand, Rag & Bone, created a line of apparel and accessories that gives cute nods to the film and references the movies theme of opposing powers between the light and dark side. While just about every single piece is sold out (you can still grab these boots!) it did get the approval of the man himself, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who attended the launch event.

Columbia

#TestedTough in a galaxy far, far away... A post shared by Columbia Sportswear (@columbia1938) on Dec 4, 2017 at 8:02am PST

Durable enough to withstand a Wampa attack and warmer than a tauntaun. A post shared by Columbia Sportswear (@columbia1938) on Dec 7, 2017 at 5:02pm PST

Columbia designed a limited-edition collection of Star Wars-inspired coats to add some cool to your winter wardrobe. You can channel Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Leia Organa in strikingly-similar coats and parkas that the brand said are durable enough to withstand a Wampa attack and warmer than a tauntan. While all three styles are sold out online, you can check the inventory in a store near you.

Clarks

Force of Nature. Step forward as yourself. You are a force to be reckoned with. Click link in bio to shop the collection. #TheLastJedi #ClarksNature #StarWars A post shared by Clarks Shoes (@clarksshoes) on Dec 5, 2017 at 5:14am PST

Clarks designed a womens and girls collection of Nature V boots called, Force of Nature to celebrate the films positive female role model, Rey. The boots are available for $160 for women and $120 for girls at clarksusa.com now.

I Didnt Really Know What I Was Auditioning for Says Lupita Nyongo on Her Star Wars Audition

Asos

Add some intergalactic edge to your going out-out look with Star Wars at ASOS A post shared by ASOS (@asos) on Dec 13, 2017 at 9:40am PST

Asos created both womens casual wear and red-carpet worthy pieces, plus a menswear line that all give subtle nods to the film. The mens line features asymmetric shapes and ticker-tape trims inspired directly from the movie while the womens features comfy knits with graphic BB-8 tees to a galaxy-printed dress.

Torrid

Torrid also designed a mix of fancy and casual pieces, with a Star Wars line ranging from print PJs (so you can go to bed dreaming of a galaxy far far away) to a Princess Leia-inspired cape and Kylo Ren skater dress. Youll find every type of clothing inspired by every character in this collection.

State Bags

The wait is over - Star Wars Collection 2 has landed. Mark your calendars, the countdown to Star Wars premier on Dec. 14th begins today! #STATEforStarWars #GiveBackPack A post shared by STATE Bags (@statebags) on Nov 28, 2017 at 9:04am PST

Star Wars Collection 2 has landed and the Princess (Leia) is here. Countdown to the Star Wars premier on Dec. 14th starts now! #STATEforStarWars #GiveBackPack A post shared by STATE Bags (@statebags) on Nov 28, 2017 at 5:39pm PST

And finally, State Bags created a special collection of bags inspired by all your favorite characters in the movie. There are Darth Vader & Storm Troopers backpacks, C-3PO & R2-D2 designs and Princess Leia & Ewok prints.

What are you most excited to buy first?
Star Wars: The Last Jedi may be one of the most critically acclaimed entries in the franchise (IndieWire gave it an A- and called it it the most satisfying Star Wars film in decades), but its passionately dividing fans in a way most Star Wars films dont. Unlike the universally beloved reception to The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi isnt every fans up of tea.

Read More: Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Rian Johnson and Mark Hamill Break Their Silence on Lukes Storyline

The Last Jedi currently holds a negative 57 percent Rotten Tomatoes user score after over 83,000 responses, which pales in comparison to the 88 percent The Force Awakens ended up with after over 200,000 user scores. But while the Rotten Tomatoes user score indicates a more-negative fan response, the IMDb score is currently at 8.0 (even with The Force Awakens) and received an A CinemaScore (also equal to The Force Awakens and Rogue One).

All of these metrics are based on reactions from the movies first 24 hours of release, which is often attended by the most die-hard fans. While CinemaScore grades and Rotten Tomato user scores hardly give a definitive answer as to how a movie is being received, it is obvious that The Last Jedi is dividing the Star Wars fandom.

[Editors note: Spoilers for The Last Jedi follow.]

One reason The Last Jedi is proving so divisive: Rian Johnsons script is reckless with any number of fan theories that came out of The Force Awakens. A fan who spent the last two years obsessing over Reys parentage (is she a Skywalker? Or maybe shes a Kenobi?) was likely disappointed when a conversation between the character and Kylo Ren revealed theres nothing special about her parents. By the end of The Last Jedi, we learn that Reys parents were commoners from Jakku who probably sold her off for some drinking money. That revelation is probably not the answer fans were expecting.

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Read More:Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Carrie Fisher is Responsible For Writing These Emotional Final Leia Quotes

Other theories that went out the door applied to Supreme Leader Snoke. Fans had been debating the true identity of First Order Supreme Leader Snoke for years, with some suggesting he was the evil Darth Plagueis, who ended up being the mentor to Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. But in the end, Snoke isnt terribly important to the saga; Kylo Ren assassinates him with ease during a tense confrontation in which Snoke is tormenting Rey. It couldnt have been easy for Snoke conspiracy theorists to witness the character exit the franchise with zero fanfare.

The Last Jedi is clearly screwing with the expectations assembled by The Force Awakens, and its either thrilling fans or making them frustrated. Fortunately, The Empire Strikes Back wasnt universally embraced when it first opened, either, and it ended up being the most beloved entry in the franchise. As Yoda might say, patience you must have.

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From Esquire

Nothing but the best people, Chapter the Infinity.

I realize that, at this point, theres a certain reluctance on the part of, well, normal experts to take a gig with Camp Runamuck. Hell, that state of affairs existed almost as soon as this administration* was birthed at the Royal Wedding of Stupid and Mean over a year ago. However, now that weve had a year to watch these birds in action, people are hiding under their beds when the phone rings and, if youre an actual expert in anything, that seasonal job at Crate and Barrel is looking awfully good right now. So, as CNN explains, we end up with people like this guy at Homeland Security.

Frank Wuco has served as the White House adviser to DHS since January and now leads a team tasked with helping to enforce President Donald Trump's executive orders, including the administration's travel ban. Before that, he hosted a conservative talk radio show in Florida for several years and appeared as a guest on other talk radio shows. CNN's KFile reviewed more than 40 hours of audio of Wuco's show and his other appearances.

Pro tip: when you become president, do not hire local conservative talk-show hosts. If you do, youre likely to find your DHS peddling auto glass and male-enhancement potions on the side. And, as you might expect from a guy whose qualifications included arguing down Bob On Car Phone, Wucos opinions occasionally swerve into the unconventional and hit it head on.

On the radio, Wuco said Obama knew nothing of the "black American experience," defended the initial speculation in the media that Muslim extremists were responsible for the mass killing in Norway, and said that gay people had hijacked the word "gay" from happy people... Wuco also used his platform as a radio host to promote the debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the US. In August 2011, Wuco hosted Jerome Corsi, author of "Where's The Birth Certificate: The Case That Barack Obama Is Not Eligible to Be President." On his website, Wuco promoted the discussion by calling Obama's then-recently released long-form birth certificate "a questionable document." Wuco said Corsi's book "laid it out in very significant detail, not just why it's important that (Obama) present better credentials on his status as a natural born citizen, but a lot of the things that surrounded it and where it is important as to the constitutionality of just being able to get your name on the ballot." Later, Wuco asked Corsi why people were disengaged with the birth certificate issue, saying Corsi made "a good case" for, and asked why Americans didn't seem to care about "the significance of this."

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This man has access to the personal data of God knows how many of his far less insane fellow citizens. No, Mr. Senior Adviser, I dont want to replace my windshield.

And then, as The Hill tells us, the president*s choice to head the Food and Drug Administration is one of those crank zillionaires who finds a new idea and spends all of their time out in the yard playing with it.



Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that O'Neill, a libertarian and associate of billionaire Peter Thiel, who is close to the Trump team, is under consideration for the FDA position. The agency oversees the approval of new drugs and is responsible for ensuring their safety. O'Neill lacks a medical background, traditionally a prerequisite for the job, and has raised eyebrows with his past comments about overhauling the agency. The most attention has fallen on O'Neill's comments in a 2014 speech, where he called for changing the FDA's mission so that it no longer considers whether drugs are effective when deciding whether to approve them. Instead, O'Neill said the agency should only consider whether drugs are safe

And, I suppose, that all drugs should be sold out of the back of a circus wagon with lovely ladies dancing the hootchie-coo and a half-blind fiddle player sitting on a keg of hard cider. Hell probably get around to that because brother ONeill has plans for the future.

He also has an interest in anti-aging products and has spoken of "immortality" as a possibility. "You can tell a lot about an era by listening to what people whine about," O'Neill said in the same 2014 speech. "If we invest wisely in life extension technologies, in 40 years, we'll all be able to annoy our friends with complaints like 'immortality almost never works.'"

Of course, when ONeill wakes up in the year 3535, he will discover that hes the only living soul left in the country because everyone else died of unregulated patent medicines centuries earlier.

Now, it does look like the Republicans in Congress are noticing that the clown car is full up, so maybe ONeill doesnt get this job, but who found him in the first place? This is a guy who thinks people should be allowed to sell their kidneys. Knowing this administration*, I wouldnt count on getting paid for yours.

Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page.



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Photo credit: Getty

From Cosmopolitan

A woman in rural Virginia is believed to have been mauled to death by her two dogs, however some close to the victim say her dogs never would have attacked her, and that she had recently received death threats.

KTLA reports that Bethany Lynn Stephens of Goochland, Virginia, had been gone for a day since she left to walk her dogs, so her father went out in search of her. What he found was two dog guarding what he first believed was an animal carcass.

"Much to his horror, discovered that it was not," said Goochland County Sheriff Jim Agnew at a news conference on Friday.

Stephens was a petite woman, 5-foot-and weighing little more than 100 pounds; the dogs are said to have a combined weight of double that.

"The dogs clearly, at least in our estimation in a dark night, had something to do with this. It was an absolutely grisly mauling," Agnew told reporters. "In my 40 years of law enforcement, I've never seen anything quite like it. Hope I'd never see anything like it again."



Officials from the county's animal control department and sheriff's office tranquilized the dogs on the scene. The dogs appeared to have been bred for fighting, Agnew said.



"We spent a lot of time there at the scene and made some observations that, out of respect for the family, we're not releasing," Agnew said.

However, some are not convinced the dogs are responsible. Barbara Norris, described as Stephens' best friend, told WRIC that she didnt believe the dogs would harm Stephens.

I wasnt able to see the body, so I cant tell you what happened. I cant tell you if it was a blunt force or if it was a mauling, but I know those dogs didnt do it, she said.

Other friends echoed the statement, and added that before Stephens died, she had received death threats. (Agnew said authorities do not believe Stephen was the victim of a homicide, because there were "no strangulation marks.")



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Dr. Amy Learn, a local vet (who didn't know Stephens or her dogs), told WTVR that dogs don't typically attack their owners "out of the blue," and that many questions remain unanswered in the case.

Was there somebody else there? Were they being attacked by somebody, were they trying to defend themselves and their owner from somebody else, from a wild animal? Was it actually something else that attacked the owner? Were there stray dogs, coyotes [or] something else in the woods, she said.

The dogs are currently held at Goochland Animal Control and the Sheriff's Office said it is seeking to have them both euthanized.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 15:14:53|Editor: Lu Hui

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BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese prosecutors nationwide indicted 22,268 people in 8,257 cases involving property violations via Internet or telecommunication in the first nine months.

A Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) investigation department statement has called for quicker efforts to deal with cyber and telecom fraud, and to tackle the problem at its root.

The statement called on the country's prosecutors to better understand the harm of such violations, calling for a heavy-hitting approach. It also requires timely and sufficient work in collecting evidence.

It called on procuratorial agencies to strengthen communication with banks, Internet and telecommunication enterprises and administrative authorities to reduce personal information leaks.

According to the SPP, between January and September, prosecutors also lodged accusations against 710 people in 334 cases of computer-related crimes, such as hacking computer systems.

Earlier this year, seven people were sentenced to prison in eastern China's Shandong Province in a telecom fraud case linked to the death of a teenager.

Xu Yuyu, a high school graduate from Linyi, died of cardiac arrest in August 2016 after being defrauded out of 9,900 yuan (1,500 U.S. dollars), which she intended to use to pay university tuition fees.
Idris Elba Introduces Girlfriend to Prince Charles After Gushing About Royal-to-Be Meghan Markle Idris Elba Introduces His New Girlfriend to Prince Charles

Idris Elba introduced his new girlfriend, Sabrina Dhowre, to the future head of British royal family on Thursday in London.

The former Miss Vancouver  who wore an elegant black dress with her hair tied back in a low bun  shook the royals hand and launched into a brief smile-filled conversation.

Just prior to the dinner, Elba, 45, spoke to Sky News about Charles soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, who is set to marry Prince Harry.

Elba had nothing but good things to say about the actress, stating she would be a beacon to the people of England.

Meghan Markle, as a person, regardless of her color, is a role model, he told Sky News. As a strong woman marrying into our royal family, shes going to be a role model for any woman.

The point is that of course our society is one of mixed heritage and its nice to see Meghan within the Royal Family, he continued. Its great.

Elba added, And of course shes going to be a beacon and of course shes going to be someone that people look towards.

Meghan is slowly being integrated into the royal family, most recently by Queen Elizabeth herself at the annual staff Christmas party at Windsor Castle, which the American actress attended.

The party was held in a set of rooms, including the Waterloo Chamber, St. Georges Hall and the Grand Reception Room  an area of the castle Meghan and Harry will become even more familiar with as they plan their wedding in May.

The Christmas party is always held there. Theyll hold the wedding reception there, too. It is a well-proven system and arrangement, a former staffer told PEOPLE.

The news of the holiday party came as the palace announced Meghan will be joining the royal family at their Christmas festivities at the Queens country home, Sandringham  making her the first unmarried partner to be on the guest list.
Immigration groups are pushing Congress to protect Dreamers before the end of the year

Immigration advocacy groups are pressuring Congress to protect immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children before the year ends.

As legislative days slowly run out before the winter break, immigrant rights and progressive groups are demanding that lawmakers pass legislation to protect the so-called Dreamers, who had been shielded by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program until President Trump began winding it down in September.

While there is bipartisan support for a legislative fix for Dreamers  though there are some real differences in opinion on what a solution should look like  immigrant advocacy groups are focusing their fire on Democrats because they are considered allies of the immigrant community.

Ben Wikler, the Washington Director of Moveon.org, a progressive advocacy group, said Thursday morning that if Democrats do not act to protect immigrants this month they will be scorched by a grassroots uprising hot enough to boil snow. He added, The Dreamer deadline is December. No excuses.

Since the Trump Administration first declared that the Obama-era program would begin winding down in September, the official line has been that Congress has until March 5  when the protections officially end  to put forth a legislative solution. There is no crisis. There is no emergency. The president has given us until March to address it, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said recently.

This is urgent! Dreamers are losing protection every day. RT to tell @SenateGOP we must pass the #DreamActNow. pic.twitter.com/qRwS2wYqMs  Martin Heinrich (@MartinHeinrich) December 15, 2017

Related article: The White House is seeking a major shift of opinion on immigration

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But in reality, immigrants have already been affected the programs end.

The left-leaning Center for American Progress estimates 122 people who have benefited from DACA, which allows them to work, go to school, and live in the U.S. without fear of deportation, lose those protections every day. After March 5, that number is estimated to jump to 1,000 people per day, according to the National Immigration Forum.

Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, one of the fiercest immigration advocates in the Congress, said Wednesday that around 12,000 people have already lost their status as a result of the changes implemented by President Trump. There have also been reports of DACA beneficiaries being detained by federal immigration authorities. And even if Congress does pass a legislative solution for DACA, the National Immigration Forum and the Niskanen Center estimate that it could take at least seven months to implement it.

We cannot wait until March, Gutierrez said in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The DREAM Act and the protections of the DACA program are not light switches we can turn on and off.

Immigrant groups have been upping the pressure on Congress since relief under DACA ended, including a massive show of force in November when immigrant rights advocates stormed a Senate office building and marched to the front of the Capitol. Last week, thousands rallied at the Capitol demanding a legislative fix for the nearly 800,000 immigrants who have benefited from the program. Around 200 people were arrested during that action. A group of around 150 immigrants from the black and Asian/Pacific Islander communities also delivered petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures calling for the passage of the Dream Act, bipartisan legislation that would offer DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship.

Dreamers can't wait until March. 122 DACA recipients lose status every day that we don't act. Congress must take action and vote on a clean #DreamActNow, before the end of the year. pic.twitter.com/PUTXpjORiu  Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 14, 2017

Related article: The Trump administration wants to block H-1B Visa spouses from working in the U.S.

This week, groups began projecting the stories of immigrants on a 22-by-13 foot jumbotron that faces the Capitol building. And on Wednesday, groups opened a pop-up headquarters on the Mall from which advocates will work and continue to pressure Congress to act for the next two weeks. The immigrant rights community has done everything, says Denea Joseph, a 23-year-old DACA recipient who participated in recent actions on the Hill. If this isnt enough of an indication of how much people need this as a condition of their own survival, Im not sure what it will take.

There are two major legislative hurdles facing Congress before lawmakers leave town. Yet while the tax bill is likely to pass both chambers along party lines, Republicans may need the support from their colleagues across the aisle in order to pass a spending package. That could give Democrats some leverage to request that some of their demands be met in exchange for votes. If Republicans are able to pass the bill along party lines that would extinguish Democrats chances of forcing their colleagues hands.

For their part, Democrats have a substantial list of priorities they believe should be included in the spending deal including money to fight the opioid crisis, funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program, disaster relief, and passage of the Dream Act.

Some Democratic lawmakers have said they will not vote for a spending bill that does not include DACA language. At least one Republican, Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, has also said he will not vote for the spending legislation if there is no DACA fix. But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi squashed the idea that the whole caucus was on board at a press conference last week. Democrats are not willing to shut government down, she said.

More than 12,000 #DREAMers like Brittany have already lost their DACA status. We need the #DREAMActNow because they can't wait any longer. pic.twitter.com/hafjE8soAH  Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) December 14, 2017

Related article: These celebrities have a Thanksgiving message for Ivanka Trump

But the California Democrat did say that Democrats willing to stay in Washington until there is a fix for Dreamers. Other lawmakers agree. I am prepared to be engaged until the very end, says Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who sits on the House Judiciarys immigration subcommittee.

Republican leaders want spending bill and the legislative fix for DACA will be separate, but if something is not done before the end of the year, some immigration advocates worry nothing will happen.

Were increasingly convinced that if we dont enact the Dream Act by the end of the year, its not going to happen and that any spending package that emerges heading into the rest of the fiscal year will include funds that could be used to deport Dreamers, Frank Sharry, an immigration advocate and the executive director of Americas Voice said last week.

Jonathan Jayes, a DACA recipient and a co-founder of the UndocuBlack Network, which advocates for undocumented black people, says life without protection for Dreamers will be tough. His DACA expires in 2019. Whether or not we pass the Dream Act, folks will continue to fight, continue to survive and find a way to thrive, Jayes says. But I know that our livelihood and existence in this country is going to continue to be difficult, as it is now.
Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd have responded to the news that Harvey Weinstein actively blacklisted them

During the watershed Harvey Weinstein saga that the media uncovered in recent weeks, we learned that Weinstein sexually harassed and abused many women throughout his entire career, but we also learned that he intentionally tried to ruin the careers of the women who rejected him. Director Peter Jackson revealed that Weinstein went out of his way to blacklist and smear the names of Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino when Jackson was casting Lord of the Rings with Weinstein.

In the late 1990s, Jackson pitched his ideas for the Lord of the Rings films to the then-Weinstein helmed studio, Miramax. The director contends that Weinstein explicitly told him NOT to work with Judd or Sorvino.

I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998, Jackson told New Zealand publication, Stuff. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing. I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.

Judd tweeted I remember this well in response to Jacksons revelation, while Sorvino revealed that she never knew she was being actively blacklisted by Weinstein, but long suspected it.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick, Sorvino shared on Twitter.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick https://t.co/ljK9NqICbm  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) December 15, 2017

I remember this well. https://t.co/wctEhESAS9  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

In an excerpt from Ronan Farrows New Yorker article from October 10th, 2017, Sorvino revealed that she rejected Weinstein when he showed up at her apartment in the middle of the night and reported him to a female employee at Miramax. During that interview, Sorvino expressed her concern that perhaps Weinstein had purposefully stalled her career after she rejected and reported him.

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There may have been other factors, but I definitely felt iced out and that my rejection of Harvey had something to do with it, Sorvino confided to the New Yorker.

I have a piece in @hollywoodreporter (link in bio) it speaks to a way forward, not just dwelling on what was done to us by men like Harvey Weinstein but what we can do to prevent it in the future... A post shared by Mira Sorvino (@mirasorvino) on Dec 9, 2017 at 5:25pm PST

We are #TheSilenceBreakers. Tune into @nbcnightlynews tonight for my interview on being included with this tremendous honor. #timepersonoftheyear A post shared by Ashley Judd (@ashley_judd) on Dec 6, 2017 at 2:00pm PST

Sorvino was able to confirm a long-held suspicion that Weinstein actively derailed her career, but Judd was already aware that Weinstein tried to blacklist her and has talked about it before. Its a shame that it took a mans corroboration of the facts for people to listen.
Tyra Banks opened up about sexual misconduct in the fashion world

Stories of sexual misconduct may be trending, but theres nothing fashionable about it. Tyra Banks just shared her thoughts on sexual misconduct in the fashion industry. She expressed her belief that stories of bad behavior will start to spread in the near future. And once it starts, people will have a lot to say.

With the powerful #MeToo movement, many men in power have been outed for inappropriate behavior in the workspace. Women have bravely stepped forward with allegations and stories of traumatic experiences in the television, film, and music industries. Banks believes that its only a matter of time before #MeToo hits the fashion industry.

I think when that spigot opens, its probably going to overflow because the fashion industry is, I think, laden with it, Banks told BuzzFeed News. Ive been very fortunate to not have to encounter anything like that, but the stories Ive heard left and right  I mean, Ive heard a lot. So I think once that opens, its going to really flow.

A veteran of the fashion game, Tyra Banks began her career at the age of 15 and has been trailblazing ever since. With 20 plus years of experience as a model, actress, and TV/talk show host, Banks says shes never experienced sexual misconduct firsthand in the industry. Still, she says that sadly, its common in the fashion world.

Banks continued:

Ive been in the presence of people that have done that. I just havent experienced it personally, but Ive heard millions of stories, not millions, but a lot of stories, she said.

For instance, when I would go on a go-see and was at a photographers apartment in Paris, Id go, show them my portfolio. I leave, no problem. And then within that same hour, a girl reports, Oh my god, he tried to do this or tried to to [sic] that. And Im like, Oh my god, I was just there.'

Thinking about so much... A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on Nov 25, 2017 at 3:24pm PST

We can only hope that these stories, should anyone choose to share theirs, illuminate the truths that have been hidden for so long.
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Whether youre cruising the tool aisle at a home center or searching the countless retailers online, youll find an overwhelming array of cordless drills. CR is here to help narrow your choicesdown to the 30-plus models weve purchased and tested, for starters.

We perform the bulk of our tests on a benchtop instrument called a dynamometer. It measures torque under different loads that we use to derive scores for power, speed, and run time. If you were to add up all the energy expended by the drills in our ratings and apply it to the real world, you could drive 79,292 1-inch-long #8 wood screws into pine.

Across the board weve seen drills improve in the last decade, says Frank Spinelli, who oversees cordless drill testing for Consumer Reports. Spinelli also notes that as a group, drills are getting lighter and more powerful every year, though there are still clear differences among models.

Check out our cordless drill ratings for detailed results of all that effort. There youll find models from contractor favorites DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee, as well as brands for the average homeowner: Black+Decker, Greenworks, Hitachi, Panasonic, Porter-Cable, Ridgid, Skil, and Worx. We also tested models from Kobalt (available at Lowes) and Ryobi (Home Depot).

For more on drill types, see CRs cordless drills buying guide.

Here are 10 models for the dedicated DIYer, from weekend warrior to future master carpenter. Theyre broken down into three categoriesgeneral use, heavy duty, and light dutyand listed alphabetically, not in order of CR rank.

Go to Consumer Reports' 2018 Holiday Central for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider tips on shopping, and much more.

Bosch PS32-02

CRs take: One of only three brushless models in our general-use category, this Bosch delivers solid performance at under 2 pounds, less than half the weight of a number of heavy-duty drills we tested. The slim, pistol-grip profile makes this 12-volt model comfortable to handle, and the downsized package still accommodates features such as a built-in LED light and bit storage. If youre upgrading from an old 18-volt drill and dont find yourself doing lots of heavy-duty work with your drill, this is a well-rounded option.



Whats included: Two 2.0-amp-hour (Ah) batteries, five bits, and a soft-sided case



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Makita FD07R1

CR's take: This brushless Makita weighs just over 2 pounds and stands barely 6 inches tall. Despite its slim profile, the Makita packs a serious punch, making it a solid alternative to some of the larger, 18- and 20-volt models. It comes with two batteries and a rapid charger, which tops off an empty battery in an impressive 60 minutes, so youll never be without a drill. Also nice, the battery mounts to the bottom of the drill, so unlike the Bosch, it stands upright.



Whats included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit

Ridgid R82005K

CRs take: If you dont harbor a lust for power tools but recognize that you need a drill of some sort, this is the one to buy. For $100, you get everything you need and nothing you dont. Like the 12-volt Bosch above, this model has a pistol-grip profile, making it both comfortable and small enough to toss in the junk drawer. Plus it comes with a three-year warranty for the tool itself as well as the battery. Thats among the longest for drills in our ratings.



Whats included: Two 1.5-Ah batteries



Black+Decker BDCDDBT120C

CRs take: This bargain-priced drill has a big 20-volt battery that seems like a mismatch for its small -inch chuck and lightweight 2.5-pound body. Its half the weight of some of the largest 20-volt tools in our ratingsgood for handling but perhaps not so terrific for power. It comes with a lone battery that takes nearly 4 hours to charge vs. only 30 minutes for some other models in our ratings.



Whats included: One 2.0-Ah battery and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit

DeWalt DCD791D2

CRs take: This 20-volt drill from DeWalt (featured in the video above) is neither as brawny as the biggest 18-volt drills we tested nor as balanced as the best 12-volts. But by splitting the difference between those extremes, this model may be the Goldilocks of cordless drills for some users. That means its compact enough that you wont tire when swapping out an overhead light fixture but forceful enough to bore holes in hardwood without bogging down. Its well worth considering if youre torn between voltage ratings.



Whats included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a hard-sided case

Kobalt (Lowe's) KDD 1424A-03

CRs take: Exclusive to Lowes, this 4-pound bruiser is a whole lot of drill for the money. One way Kobalt keeps costs down is by giving you only one battery, albeit a big 24-volt unit. Consider buying a second battery, $50, for larger projects and always keeping one on the charger. This model will drill plenty of holes fast and perform well enough to serve as a tackle-any-task option for the average homeowner.



Whats included: One 2.0-Ah battery, a removable side grip, a single Phillips bit, and a hard-sided case

Milwaukee 2705-22

CRs take: By pairing a powerful, brushless motor with a giant 5.0-Ah battery, this drill leaves you feeling like you could build a deck in an afternoon. (If you tried, theres little doubt the drill could keep up.) That huge battery makes the drill heavy; at 4.65 pounds, its more than double the weight of some stellar 12-volt models CR tested. And with so much of the weight concentrated in the battery, which snaps onto the base of the handle, it can feel unbalanced. The clutch has 14 settings, so you can dial back the beast for more delicate tasks such as tightening a cabinet pull. Of course, if thats all youre doing, a screwdriver will work just fine.



Whats included: Two 5.0-Ah batteries, a removable side grip, and a hard-sided case

Ridgid R86116K

CRs take: If you dont mind a drill on the bulkier end of the spectrum, you may want to check out this model. Its one of the few drills in our ratings with a built-in hammer-drill setting. Thats a handy function for projects such as drilling into masonrythink fastening a ledger board to the foundation of your house to build a deck. (If you dont know what a ledger board is, you probably dont need this drill.) The Ridgid also has an astonishing 115 clutch settings, which allow for precise control when driving screws. And its as quick, if not quite as powerful, as the very best drills in our ratings.



Whats included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a hard-sided case

Ryobi P1815

CRs take: Ryobi is a brand sold exclusively at Home Depot. This drill, like many of the brands offerings, provides quite a bit for the money, including a charger and two 18-volt batteries. The batteries also power an exceptionally broad slew of tools, including traditional power tools, such as a circular saw, an impact driver, and a work light, as well as some unique offerings like an electric air inflator, pruning shears, and even a leaf blower.



Whats included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a soft-sided case

Worx WX176L

CRs take: This unique drill falls in our light-duty category because of the limitations of its fixed, -inch chuck. But it blurs the lines because its powered by a 20-volt battery, which would otherwise place it in the heavy-duty class. Its a one-off design with two chucks, allowing you to load two bits at once and easily switch from drilling to driving by rotating the wheel at the business end of the tool. The dual chuck might be more of a liability than an asset for some. The mechanism makes the tool a little unwieldy and difficult to maneuver in tight spacessay, inside a sink cabinetwhich is why youd want a light-duty drill in the first place.



Whats included: Two 1.5-Ah batteries, a single Phillips bit, and a soft-sided case





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2018, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Jones could play a tremendous role in engaging political and community leaders to get behind efforts to organize the states growing auto industry

Currently, the Mercedes Alabama plant is the only non-union plant owned worldwide by Daimler AG, Mercedes parent company. Photograph: Sascha Schuermann/AFP/Getty Images

Union organisers are hoping that the surprise election of Democrat Doug Jones to a Senate seat in Alabama this week could be a big win for organized labor in a state that has long fought to curtail their power.

As big auto factories have set up shop in southern states Republican politicians have worked hard to defeat the unions, particularly the United Auto Workers which has lost a number of key battles to anti-union forces. Jones is pledging to do something different: use his Senate office to actually help workers organise.



On the stump in Alabama, Jones bragged of growing up in a union family as the grandson of unionized steelworkers both employed by US Steel in Birmingham. Jones himself worked a summer job as a member of the steelworkers at US Steel Fairfield Works in order to pay his way through college.



Doug is one of those unique guys that comes from a working-class background made good by going to law school, said Daniel Flippo, the steelworkers director for Alabama.



After law school, Jones worked as a lawyer at the firm of Drake Whitley, where he represented unions.



The steelworkers run deep in his family, said Flippo. To have a senator from the state of Alabama that has those roots means a lot. You dont see that often and that is why we worked so hard on this campaign.



Jones has already told labor leaders that he is going to hire a full time labor liaison to coordinate his efforts on behalf of Alabamas labor movement. Joness office could play a tremendous role in engaging political and community leaders to get behind efforts to organize the states growing auto industry.



Once a stronghold of organized labor, Alabama traditionally boasted a unionization rate that was twice that of its southern neighbors and on par even with some states in the North.



With wall-to-wall unionization at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Goodyear, United Steel, and in the coal mines of Northern Alabama, many there still have fond memories of organized labor and hail from union families like Jones.



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In 1993, Alabamas union membership peaked at 14.7%. However, in recent years, Alabamas unionization rate has dipped to a mere 8.1% of the states population belonging to a union.



As the states Senator, Jones has pledged to organized labor to use his office and platform to help workers seeking to organize in the states growing auto industry.



Already, Joness victory has created a renewed sense of whats possible among those engaged in the uphill struggle to organize a 6,000-person Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa County, where Jones won by 57%.



Were happy about it, said Mercedes worker Kirk Garner, who has been involved in efforts to organize the plant since 1997. Thats one more tool that we will have and I think it will help a lot with Doug having a union background.



Many of Garners co-workers worked to elect Jones to the Senate and the confidence in their ability to win in tough fights could help give new energy to the UAWs drive at the plant, which has been gaining ground in recent months.



Currently, the Mercedes Alabama plant is the only non-union plant owned worldwide by Daimler AG, Mercedes parent company.



The company claims that it would remain neutral in its attempt to organize the plant. However, the UAW has long contended that Mercedes has illegally retaliated against workers and filled multiple National Labor Relations Board complaints to protest the firings of pro-union workers.



In 2014, the National Labor Relations Board found that Mercedes illegally restricted the ability of workers to distribute pro-union literature.



Workers at the plant say that in order for workers succeed in unionizing, pressure will have to be applied to Mercedes to remain totally neutral.



Now with an ally in Jones, workers at the plant say they feel more optimistic that they can bring to bear the type of pressure needed to organize the plant.



Its gonna require a lot of pressure, said Garner.
WireImage

The model at the centre of one of the most high profile sexual assault cases against Harvey Weinstein has said she feels "vindicated" after suffering years of condemnation for speaking out.

Ambra Gutierrez, born in Italy, was introduced to Weinstein at a theatre reception at Radio City Music Hall, after which the film mogul reportedly took her back to his Tribeca office.

There, he allegedly began asking her about her breasts then tried to force himself on her, trying to slip his hand up her skirt. Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual assault.

Gutierrez immediately reported the incident to New York police, who persuaded her to work with them on a sting operation: wearing a mic, she recorded him apologising to her for his behaviour to her while at the same time trying to coax her into a room at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. The disturbing audio was published earlier this year.

The @NewYorker publishes the incriminating audio recording of Harvey Weinstein with model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. pic.twitter.com/cX455s8VUb  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 10, 2017

Yet Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. decided not to prosecute, claiming officers had failed to gather enough proof. She was allegedly silenced with a $1m contract and a non-disclosure agreement from Weinstein.

I felt like I was going crazy, Gutierrez told the New York Post. No one believed me...[but] My life is finally coming back to me. I feel vindicated.

After years of depression and dealing with an eating disorder, Gutierrez began to receive new-found support after the explosive report in the New York Times published in October this year, which published allegations against Weinstein by high profile stars such as Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan and Gwyneth Paltrow.

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I cried. I couldnt believe it. It was a shock for me, Gutierrez said. Its crazy how much [that piece] changed my life.

I have people saying so many nice things, saying that Im brave. Now I can go anywhere and feel like Im safe . . . It feels like Im starting to get two years of my life back.

The rights to Guiterrez's life story have reportedly been bought by Archstone Pictures.

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.
How is it that airlines keep screwing up simple things like company policy and established TSA rules?

The latest travel blunder belongs to American Airlines. When Sara showed up with her husband and young son for their flight from Boston to Arizona, the gate attendant stopped them for having too many bags and tried to charge them a $150 fee to check a cooler filled with frozen breast milk.

SEE ALSO: Some jerk just diverted a flight by naming his hotspot 'bomb on board'

Salow told ABC 15 that she and her husband had shown up with four carry-on items: a stroller, a diaper bag, a backpack, and the aforementioned cooler.

"I'm like, 'This is a diaper bag, which I thought was exempt; [that backpack is] his personal item and we have the cooler  I didn't have a personal item,'" Salow told ABC 15. Most airlines  including American  allow passengers to travel with one carry-on and one "personal item," which for most people usually amounts to a small suitcase and a backpack, briefcase, or purse.

Additionally, Salow told the news station that she'd looked into what she could bring with her ahead of time. American Airlines exempts certain items from the carry-on policy, including strollers, diaper bags.

Further, TSA rules exempt breast milk from the "no liquids" policy, and American recognizes that  though ABC 15's report notes that the airline's website didn't specifically list breast milk as exempt until Dec. 14.

Despite all of that, Salow told ABC 15 that the gate attendant tried to make her pay a $150 fee to check the cooler.

"We were pretty mad. I immediately started crying," she said. "It was humiliating, they kept telling us it was because we were basic economy passengers; it really felt demeaning."

The couple ended up leaving their cooler behind. The airline later issued a statement in response to the incident, apologizing to Salow.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - Argentina dismissed its naval chief on Saturday, the most high-profile officer to be fired a month after a submarine went missing with 44 crew members on board.

"The defense minister asked him to retire. It's a political decision," a navy officer told AFP on condition of anonymity about the decision to remove Admiral Marcelo Srur during an ongoing investigation into the sub's disappearance.

Srur is the fifth senior officer to have been relieved of his functions so far over the ARA San Juan's disappearance.

Military sources say President Mauricio Macri is willing to retire most of the naval leadership.

The government is also creating an internal investigative commission that will be headed by retired captain Jorge Bergallo, father of the ARA San Juan's second commander, Jorge Ignacio Bergallo, government sources told state news agency Telam.

An international search operation has so far failed to locate the vessel. The 43 men and one woman who were aboard are believed to have died in the tragedy.

But families of the missing have pressed the government to continue the search, which has not yet been officially closed.

Some relatives claim the navy has been hiding information, and have called for a parliamentary investigation. On Friday, they protested in Mar del Plata, where the submarine was based, and Buenos Aires.

Relatives have focused their anger on the condition of the three-decade-old sub, which had undergone a seven-year refit to extend its service, and the navy's guardedness since the start of the search operation.

- Poor reputation -

The navy has a poor reputation in Argentina. During the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, some navy units served as detention and torture centers, and an estimated 30,000 people disappeared.

The loss of the San Juan is the first major tragedy to hit the navy since the Falklands War in 1982. Argentina, which refers to the islands as Las Malvinas, lost the war to Britain.

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The navy has been fiercely criticized for its handling of the operation since first reporting the submarine overdue at Mar del Plata on November 16.

It was only several days into the tragedy that navy officials acknowledged the San Juan had reported a problem with its batteries in its final communication on November 15.

And nearly 10 days later, the navy confirmed there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem.

A criminal probe has been opened to find those at fault, on orders from a judge in the city of Caleta Olivia, a port in Patagonia where maritime cases are usually heard.

A British oceanographic vessel and an Argentine one were exploring the ARA San Juan search area with sonar equipment on Saturday, the navy said, while warning of "very adverse weather conditions" expected this weekend.

At the peak of search operations, more than a dozen countries provided military assets, oceanographic vessels and planes.

The ARA San Juan is one of the South American country's three submarines, but only one of them, the ARA Salta, is operational. The ARA Santa Cruz was removed from service for having serious failures that require a complete overhaul.

Depths plummet from 200 meters (650 feet) to more than 3,000 meters on the edge of the Argentine shelf.

Experts say the sub would begin to break up once it drops below about 600 meters due to the water pressure.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 15:24:54|Editor: Jiaxin

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KABUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Afghan intelligence agency personnel arrested 10 suspected militants within a day, the country's primary intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Sunday.

Ten suspected militants were arrested within the past 24 hours across Afghanistan and they have been shifted to concerned departments for questioning, the NDS said in a statement, adding one kidnapper was also captured over the period.

Without providing details, the statement also said that the NDS personnel freed one person from Taliban custody.

The NDS personnel have also launched three special operations elsewhere since early Saturday.

Afghan security forces have beefed up military operations against militants as the Taliban militants and Islamic State (IS) fighters are attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country.
A major power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday prompted officials to order all flights headed there to be grounded at their departure points or diverted.

It would take nearly 11 hours for power to be restored.

The electricity outage, which occurred just before 1 p.m. local time, affected multiple terminals and delayed hundreds of flights, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to HuffPost.

While the airports flight control tower operated normally during the outage, airport equipment in the terminals did not, according to the statement. The disruption prompted FAA officials to order a ground stop, which meant that flights headed to airport were held on the ground at their departure airport.

A fire at one of the airports underground electrical facilities caused the outage, according to a statement from Georgia Power, the utility company servicing the airport. Officials were continuing to investigate what caused the fire on Monday.

There is no evidence to suggest that the fire was caused deliberately, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said during a news conference Sunday night. Even so we are taking this matter extremely seriously in making sure that after this fire event occurred, that the airport is safe and secure to begin operating.

Nearly 1,200 flights arriving to or departing from the airport were canceled on Sunday, according to flight data website FlightAware. At least 400 flights had been canceled on Monday as of 8 a.m. ET, the site reported.

Hartsfield-Jackson, located about 9 miles south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, has been named the busiest airport in the world. Roughly 275,000 passengers use the airport each day, according to the airports website.

(Photo: Ramin Talaie via Getty Images)

Until power was restored Sunday night, all arriving international flights were diverted to other airports, tweeted U.S. Customs and Border Protection. By 3:30 p.m. Sunday, approximately 80-100 aircraft were parked on the airports taxiways and a runway, the FAA confirmed to HuffPost.

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Hours after the outage began, passengers on inbound flights reported being stuck on the tarmac and unable to disembark while passengers waiting to fly into the Atlanta airport complained of significant delays.

Literal pandemonium at the @ATLairport with power completely out and electric exit doors unable to open. Baggage claim stuck, passengers can go no where! Which means traffic cant either. GBI and other law enforcement on site now. Talk about delays! #atlanta  Ciara Leilani (@CiaraLeilani) December 17, 2017

Stuck in Ft. Lauderdale because the power is out at the Atlanta airport. How on earth can the busiest airport on earth have power down and no backup generators up and running? This makes ATL airport designers look dumb as hell!  Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) December 17, 2017

People waiting for outbound flights in Atlanta described chaos and confusion, while tweeting photos of fellow passengers sitting in dark terminals, including Rachel Kent, who arrived at the airport moments after the lights went out.

Kent, 28, told HuffPost that the airports lights flickered and then went out moments after she entered the airport after disembarking from a Southwest flight from Milwaukee.

Everyone had their phone flashlights on using that to walk, Kent said. People were getting mad ... People were talking like, Whats going on? Is this the apocalypse?

@wsbtv pitch black in the terminals at ATL airport pic.twitter.com/PIiUkdFHhD  Rachel (@rachkay00) December 17, 2017

Laurie Simon, who was trying to get home to Minnesota, reported on Twitter that travelers were evacuating out of Terminal D at approximately 3 p.m. local time. Simon also reported seeing smoke in the terminals while firefighters began to come in. She said she was fortunate enough to find a room at a hotel nearby the airport with power.

Hartsfield-Jackson representatives did not respond to HuffPosts request for information regarding evacuations.

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BREAKING: @atlairport closed. All passengers evacuated as terminals fill with smoke, firefighters come in. Still no official comm from ATL. pic.twitter.com/GiUinOtYEO  Laurie Simon (@laurieMsimon) December 17, 2017

More footage from evac of @ATLairport this afternoon. Hearding of frustrated, anxious passengers; no explanations from airport staff. pic.twitter.com/WlfxwGxplX  Laurie Simon (@laurieMsimon) December 17, 2017

Georgia Power said the outage was the result of a fire that caused extensive damage to an underground electrical facility.

The fire was safely extinguished by fire crews before Georgia Power could enter the area to assess damage and begin repairs, Georgia Power released in a statement to HuffPost. The event impacted not only the underground facilities, but also substations serving the Airport and, while the cause is not yet known, Georgia Powers system responded by isolating areas where equipment wasnt operating correctly to ensure safety and minimize damage.

No passengers or personnel were harmed by the fire, the company added.

Power was restored to the airport at 11:45 p.m. Sunday for flight operations:

UPDATE: Power has been restored on all concourses. 5,000+ meals are being delivered to passengers. Trains will be operational soon.  Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) December 18, 2017

All passengers who were stranded at the airport during the outage received a night of free parking for their troubles.

As a result of the outage, Delta said it was canceling about 300 flights on Monday, on top of the 900 cancellations on Sunday. United Air Lines also warned that travel on Monday may be affected, Reuters reported.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Byron Kaye and Elouise Fowler SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia should introduce a law forcing religious leaders to report child abuse, including Catholic priests told of abuse during confession, said a report on Friday which detailed institutional abuse, particularly in the Catholic Church. One the country's top catholics, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, said such a law would undermine a central tenet of Catholicism, the confidentiality of the confessional, and warned that any priest breaking the seal of confession would be excommunicated. The 17-volume document from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse marks the end of one of the world's biggest inquiries into child abuse and leaves it to the government to decide whether to enact its recommendations. The five-year investigation found "multiple and persistent failings of institutions to keep children safe, the cultures of secrecy and cover-up, and the devastating affects child sexual abuse can have on an individual's life", the commission said in a statement. The report detailed tens of thousands of child victims, saying their abusers were "not a case of a few rotten apples". "We will never know the true number," it read. In a statement, the Vatican said the report "deserves to be studied seriously" but made no mention of its specific suggestions. "The Holy See remains committed to being close to the Catholic Church in Australia  lay faithful, religious, and clergy alike  as they listen to and accompany victims and survivors in an effort to bring about healing and justice," the statement said. The inquiry spanned religious, government, educational and professional organizations but heard many accounts alleging abuse cover-ups in the Australian Catholic Church, including allegations of moving priests suspected of abuse between parishes to avoid detection. Of survivors who reported abuse in religious institutions, more than 60 percent cited the Catholic Church, which demonstrated "catastrophic failures of leadership", particularly before the 1990s, the report said. The Vatican statement said Pope Francis had made clear that "the Church is called to be a place of compassion, especially for those who have suffered, and reaffirmed that the Church is committed to safe environments for the protection of all children and vulnerable adults." The Royal Commission report said clergy told of child abuse in the confessional should be required by law to report it and called for the Catholic Church to make celibacy voluntary for clergy, adding that it contributed to child abuse. "I would feel terribly conflicted, and I would try even harder to get that person outside confessional, but I cannot break the seal," Hart told reporters. "The penalty for any priest breaking the seal is excommunication, being cast out of the church, so it's a real, serious, spiritual matter, and I want to observe the law of the land ... but as part of my identity as a priest, I have to observe the seal of the confession." A similar recommendation was made during Ireland's 2009 child abuse inquiry, leading to a mandatory reporting law in 2015. Some U.S. states have similar requirements. The Australian report also called for a National Office for Child Safety and national child safety standards, child abuse reporting and record keeping, which would cover all institutions engaged in child-related work. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the inquiry had "exposed a national tragedy" and that the government would consider the recommendations and respond in full next year. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, said in a statement that he was "appalled by the sinful and criminal activity of some clergy, religious and lay church-workers (and) ashamed of the failure to respond by some church leaders". The inquiry heard previously that the Australian Catholic Church had paid A$276 million ($212 million) in compensation to thousands of child abuse victims since 1980. ($1 = 1.3040 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Philip Pullella in Rome,; Editing by Michael Perry and Andrew Heavens)
Sebastian Kurz, head of Austrian People's Party - AP

Austrian conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz reached a coalition deal with the anti-immigration Freedom Party on Friday, paving the way for Austria to become the only western European country with a far-right party in government.

The agreement, two months after a parliamentary election dominated by Europe's migration crisis, ends more than a decade in opposition for the Freedom Party (FPO), which last entered government in 2000 with the People's Party (OVP) that Kurz now leads.

Kurz's party won the Oct. 15 election with a hard line on immigration that often overlapped with the Freedom Party's. The FPO came third with 26 percent of the vote.

"We can inform you that there is a turquoise-blue agreement," Kurz said in a joint statement to reporters with FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache, referring to their two parties by their colours.

Strache and Kurz said the details of their deal would be made public on Saturday, after a meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen and discussions with their parties' leadership structures.

"We want to reduce the burden on taxpayers ... and above all we want to ensure greater security in our country, including through the fight against illegal immigration," Kurz said, touching on core issues for both parties.

Profile | Sebastian Kurz

In 2015, when more than a million refugees and other migrants arrived in Europe, Austria took in more than 1 percent of its population in asylum seekers, one of the highest rates in the EU. Many voters felt their country was overrun, and both parties have pledged to prevent a repeat of that influx.

Strache and Kurz have pledged to restrict new arrivals' access to many social services for their first five years in the country, and to provide recognised refugees with only a "light" version of regular benefits for five years.

While other far right parties in Europe have gained ground this year, entering parliament in Germany and making France's presidential run-off, the Freedom Party is going further by entering government and securing key ministries.

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A person familiar with the talks said before Friday's announcement that the far-right party was poised to secure the Interior, Foreign and Defence Ministries.

Unlike France's National Front, the FPO has backed away from calling for a referendum on leaving the European Union, but Kurz has still secured a guarantee that there will be no Brexit-style referendum in Austria, a person familiar with the talks said.

Profile | Sebastian Kurz

Kurz has sought to head off potential criticism by offering assurances that his government will be pro-European. He also plans to shift responsibility for some EU issues from the Foreign Ministry to his office, the person familiar with the talks said, giving him greater control over EU policy.

When the FPO last entered government under the late Joerg Haider, who praised Hitler's employment policies, other EU countries imposed sanctions on Vienna in protest. There is unlikely to be a similar outcry this time, given the rise of anti-establishment parties across the continent.

Kurz, who is just 31, campaigned on the promise of bringing change to Austrian politics despite heading a party that has constantly been in power in various coalitions for the past 30 years. Many of the policies he and Strache have announced, such as cutting taxes and spending, have been proposed with few details so far.

"We ask for your understanding that we can only provide more detailed information tomorrow," Kurz said
Vienna (AFP) - Austria's incoming right-wing chancellor Sebastian Kurz joined eastern and central European countries on Friday in backing EU President Donald Tusk's rejection of mandatory refugee quotas.

Tusk called the troubled scheme "ineffective" and "highly divisive", in a letter to EU leaders before a summit in Brussels that entered its second day Friday.

Eastern European states like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, which have refused to take part, agree with Tusk but other including Germany and Greece do not.

"Tusk is right when he says that mandatory migrant quotas in the EU haven't worked," said Kurz, 31, who is expected to replace centre-left Chancellor Christian Kern next week.

"I will work towards changing this erroneous refugee policy," Kurz, currently foreign minister, told the Austria Press Agency, calling for a "system change".

He said it was "positive that Tusk and other European states are pressing first and foremost for decent border protection and spending more EU funds on this".

The quota scheme to share 160,000 migrants around the bloc, agreed by a majority of EU leaders in 2015, is to help frontline states Greece and Italy. So far only some 32,000 have been relocated.

The EU has since stalled on formulating plans for a permanent mechanism for future crises.

EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos called Tusk's remarks "unacceptable" and "anti-European". They also drew stinging criticism from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Talks among EU leaders in Brussels that ran into the early hours of Friday failed to narrow the gap between eastern and western bloc members on the issue.

The stubborn divide contrasted however with broad agreement to continue shoring up Europe's external borders through cooperation deals with third countries like Turkey and Libya.

Kurz moved his party to the right to come first in elections in Austria in October. Local media expect him to unveil a coalition deal with the populist far-right on Saturday.
Passively reading Facebook posts  without posting messages or responding to comments  makes users feel bad about themselves, some studies have discovered. The surprising development is that Facebook itself is getting the word out about the negative news.

A 2015 study at the University of Michigan, for example, found that students who simply read Facebook posts for 10 minutes were in a worse mood by the end of the day than test subjects who posted messages or commented on friends posts. Researchers theorize that users who only read posts may be constantly comparing their own lives to others posts and feel as if theyre coming up short. Or consumers may simply be missing out on the kind of human interaction necessary for a healthier state of mind, some observers speculate.

In general, when people spend a lot of time passively consuming information  reading, but not interacting with people  they report feeling worse afterward, said an unusual Facebook company blog post Friday written by the companys director of research, David Ginsberg, and Facebook social psychologist Moira Burke.

The research appears to be bad news for Facebook. But, in fact, the findings support the companys push to get users to be more active on the site, the blog noted.

Research has also found that interacting with people  especially sharing messages, posts and comments with close friends and reminiscing about past interactions  is linked to improvements in well-being, Facebook said.

Facebooks own research with Carnegie Mellon University found that people who sent or received more messages, comments and timeline posts reported improvements in social support, depression and loneliness, Facebook said. The positive effects were even stronger when people talked with their close friends online.

Not all research has reached similar conclusions. A study by Oxford and the University of California, San Diego, researchers found that face-to-face interactions contributed to a sense of well-being rather than contacts via computer. The negative associations of Facebook use were comparable to or greater in magnitude than the positive impact of offline interactions, which suggests a possible tradeoff between offline and online relationships, stated the abstract of the study.

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One commenter to the Facebook blog post noted that its no surprise your conclusions  encouraging active Facebook use  are aligned with Facebooks business interests. [CEO Mark] Zuckerberg has been desperate to boost engagement for years ... and this gives Facebook cover to nag us into sharing, commenting, and posting more than ever  for our own good!

The company is delving into the debate amid a flurry of negative news about Facebook, including accusations of being a mindless engine for Russian fake news during the 2016 presidential campaign. Former Facebook Vice President Chamath Palihapitiya told Stanford University graduate business students last month that social media is destroying society.

The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops that we have created are destroying how society works, Palihapitiya said. No civil discourse. No cooperation. Misinformation. Mistruth. And its not an American problem. ... This is a global problem. Palihapitiya said he feels tremendous guilt for the role he played in making Facebook so prominent. In the back, deep, deep recesses of our mind, we kind of knew something bad could happen.

Facebooks first president, Sean Parker, also warned last month that the site was built to exploit peoples psychological weaknesses. God only knows what its doing to our childrens brains, he told an audience in Philadelphia.

After a stern rebuke from Facebook, Palihapitiya cranked back his comments. I genuinely believe that Facebook is a force for good in the world, he said on his Facebook page. My comments were meant to start an important conversation, not to criticize one company  particularly one I love.

Related Coverage

Here's How Facebook Could Be Regulated

The Fakebook Inside Facebook

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It seems unbelievable, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi is finally here. And although this film didnt borrow the plot of The Empire Strikes Back the way The Force Awakens borrowed from A New Hope, there were still plenty of references to previous Star Wars films throughout.

Still, the references this time out werent all super-obvious. Sure, there are some things you noticed right away, and in a sense, nearly everything, from X-Wings to big lumbering walkers could be considered a reference. But somehow, despite making some big, very classic callbacks, The Last Jedi managed to have easter eggs that were mostly thematic, or, very, very deep-cuts. And a lot of those deep cuts surprisingly came from the much-maligned Star Wars prequels.

Heres a guide to all the best easter eggs in the film. Including one function of blasters that you cant believe hasnt been seen since 1977.

Full spoilers for The Last Jedi follow. You have been warned.

Millennium Falcon Lucky Dice

Luke finds a pair of dice when he boards the Falcon. This references the fact that dice are hanging from the dashboard of the ship in A New Hope. Seemingly, these were introduced as a visual gag back in 1977. But in The Last Jedi, theyre actually kind of a plot point.

Green Milk

Luke doesnt drink the famous Star Wars blue milk in The Last Jedi, but he does drink green milk. And this milk is harvested straight from an alien creature native to the island of Ach-to. This probably is supposed to reference the Lukes blue milk on Tatooine in A New Hope, but it also begs a more important question. Is green milk straight from an alien monster nipple even remotely pasteurized?

Darth Sidious

Luke Skywalker refers to the late Emperor Palpatine by what was arguably, his true name, Darth Sidious. Because this was revealed to the the Sith Lord name for Palpatine in Episodes I-III, this is one of a few references to the Star Wars prequels, but an interesting one. Writer/director Rian Johnson could have simply had Luke say the Emperor, but he didnt. The prequels happened, people. And even Luke Skywalker acknowledges that fact.

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Laser Swords!

Heres another prequel shout-out. When Luke mocks the idea of him coming in and saving the day like an old-fashion hero, he refers to his lightsaber as a laser sword. This references Episode I: The Phantom Menace when Anakin Skywalker tells Qui-Gon Jinn I saw your laser sword.

Lukes Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

And, the prequel references keep coming! In The Last Jedi we learn that Luke basically caused Ben Solo to totally turn to the Dark Side of the Force because Luke briefly saw a dark future for the young would-be Jedi. And, because he saw that depressing future, Luke briefly considered killing Ben in his sleep. But, because of this vision, Ben woke up and turned on Luke anyway. Similarly, in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker had a vision of his wife, Padme Amidala, dying in childbirth. Everything Anakin did in Sith was in attempt to prevent that vision of the future from happening, which of course, just caused it to happen.

I failed you, Ben

Was The Last Jedi a secret love-letter to the prequels? Maybe? When Luke Skywalker faces down with Kylo Ren on Crait, he tells him I failed you Ben. Similar words were spoken by someone named Ben in Revenge of the Sith. In the middle of a lightsaber duel, Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi said to Anakin Skywalker I have failed you, Anakin. I have failed you.

Jedi Tree

Yoda and Luke discuss a bunch of ancient Jedi relics, including an ominous and prominent tree. What is this tree all about anyway? Arguably, this is the original Force Tree, which sounds goofy, but is totally canon. In The Clone Wars animated series there is a tree called The Great Tree near the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. This tree is literally one with the Force. And then, in the comic book Shattered Empire, Luke actually tracked down part of the same tree and replanted it on Yavin IV. Obviously, the tree on Lukes island isnt the same exact one, but it seems to reference the same concept: a tree that represents the living Force.

Luke Versus the Walkers

When Luke Skywalker faces down a bunch of First Order walkers toward the end of the movie, it seems very new. But, in fact, Luke Skywalker has faced down similar walkers before. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke took down a single walker all by himself with just a lightsaber and a hand grenade.

Set For Stun

Back in A New Hope, one of the Stormtroopers uses a seldom-seen setting on their blaster; the stun setting. Blue circles shoot out of their weapons, kind of like the smoke rings the caterpillar would blow in Alice in Wonderland. Weirdly, we havent seen the stun setting since then. But in The Last Jedi stunning is back in a big way. When a mutiny happens on the Resistance flagship, all the good guys start shooting at each other. But theres not shooting the red blaster bolts. Instead, the friendly blue stun circles have returned.

Leias OG Blaster

In another call back to the earliest moments of A New Hope, Leia busts out her old blaster from the very first scenes in that classic movie. We havent seen this exact weapon since that time. Is it the exact one? How did she get it back from the Stormtroopers who took it from her all those years ago? Who cares. This is one of the coolest easter eggs in the movie. And even better that she uses it to stun Poe Dameron.

R2-D2 Remembers Everything

This one is obvious. R2-D2 plays the famous Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi hologram recording for Luke, to try to cajole him into getting back into the fight for the good guys. Its a nostalgic touch, to be sure. But it also is a solid reminder of the fact that R2-D2s memory has never been erased. Who knows what other stuff R2-D2 has shown Luke over the years?

Here They Come!

Theres a lot of familiar music in any new Star Wars movie, but when the Falcon shows up to help the Resistance on Crait, a classic piece of John Williams music plays. Chewie is piloting and Rey is taking out TIE Fighters using the big quad guns. And the whole time, the same music from A New Hope plays that scored a similar scene when Han and Luke fought TIE Fighters off. Usually, this track is called TIE Fighter Attack, but often called Here They Come! in older soundtrack listings. (Leia says Here they come in the original movie right before the fighters attack.) In terms of making everyone in the audience feel like a kid (including the kids) this moment, with this exact music, was the sweetest reference of them all.

Binary Sunset

In the most heartbreaking moment of the film, Luke Skywalker watches the sunset on the planet Ahch-to, and instead of one sunset, he sees too. This references his iconic scene in A New Hope, back when he was young and full of hope. Perhaps, the scene that defines Skywalker the most, always looking to the futurethe horizon.

The Last Jedi is out in wide-release now.

Read Next: Rian Johnson Explains Last Jedi Plot Twists

Written by Ryan Britt

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By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would not be derailed from leaving the European Union, laying the groundwork for difficult meetings this week in which she will try to unite a divided cabinet behind her vision for post-Brexit Britain. May was applauded by European Union leaders in Brussels on Friday after securing an agreement to move previously-deadlocked talks forward onto the topic of interim and long-term trading arrangements. The progress has gone some way to easing concerns of businesses and investors who fear Britain could crash out of the bloc without an exit deal, or that May's fragile government could collapse under the pressure of delivering Brexit. "Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job," May wrote in the Sunday Telegraph. "My message today is very clear: we will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people." But May can expect some difficult exchanges this week when she and senior ministers discuss the so-called "end state" of the Brexit negotiations for the first time since Britain voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June 2016. The type of long-term relationship the country should have with the EU is a vexed question at every level in Britain, including within May's cabinet where some want to keep close ties with the EU and others want a more radical divorce from Brussels. Mindful of the need to keep both sides happy, May has so far plotted a careful path. May says she wants a wide-ranging free trade deal with the EU and a more outward-looking trade policy, but has largely steered clear of the more contentious issues such as whether Britain should stay aligned with EU trading rules and the future role of European courts. Meetings expected to take place on Monday and Tuesday are likely to force those issues out into the open. One of the key pro-Brexit voices in the cabinet, foreign minister Boris Johnson, has set out his own view ahead of the meetings, warning May that Britain must avoid becoming subordinate to the EU. "What we need to do is something new and ambitious, which allows zero tariffs and frictionless trade but still gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way in the future, he told the Sunday Times newspaper. He said that mirroring EU laws would leave Britons asking "What is the point of what you have achieved? because we would have gone from a member state to a vassal state." (Reporting by William James; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Rebecca Dykes, 30, had been working for the Department for International Development

A young British embassy worker has been found murdered in the Lebanese capital Beirut after reportedly being strangled and reportedly sexually assaulted.

Rebecca Dykes, 30, from London, who had been working for the Department for International Development, was killed after leaving a bar with friends on Friday night.

She had been out in the lively Gemmayzeh neighbourhood of Beirut for the farewell party of a colleague at the British embassy and had left just before midnight with a friend.

The two then parted ways, leaving Miss Dykes to either walk or take a taxi to her home five minutes away.

She had not been drinking as she had an early flight to catch home early the next morning for the Christmas holidays.

She was abducted some time after and killed. Her body was found dumped on the Metn highway several miles away.

Police sources told the Telegraph the first autopsy revealed the cause of death as strangulation, however a second postmortem examination is to be carried out later.

They said they did not believe the attack to be politically motivated.

One friend told the Telegraph: "It's horrific. We had no idea what happened to her until we got a call today to go to the police station to give statements."

Miss Dykes had been working in Beirut as the programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development since January 2017.

Beirut killing

She had worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2010, previously on Libya and Iraq. She is thought to have grown up in Hong Kong, but attended Malvern St James Girls boarding school in Worcestershire before later studying anthropology at Manchester University and International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London.

Friends described her as "warm" and "clever". "She was just finding her feet in Beirut, she was just getting to know the city," on said.

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Miss Dykes spoke fluent Mandarin having worked as a teacher in China and Hong Kong for four years prior to joining the Foreign Office.

In a statement her family said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened."

Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador to Lebanon, said: "The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news. My thoughts are with Beckys family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss.

"We're providing consular support to her family and working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation."

A spokesman for the Department for International Development where she worked said: "Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

"There is now a police investigation and the FCO (Foreign Office) is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities."

Such incidents are rare in Beirut, despite the fragile security situation in the country.

Since the end of the country's 15-year civil war in 1990, Lebanon has become more stable.

It saw record numbers of tourists this year and attracts increasing numbers of holidaymakers looking to enjoy its Mediterranean beaches and hot climate.
By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A raging California wildfire on Saturday became the state's third largest blaze on record, with more devastation possible from a resurgence of the harsh winds that have fueled the deadly fire since the beginning of the month.

The so-called Thomas Fire has destroyed more than 1,000 structures, including about 750 homes, in coastal communities in Southern California since erupting on Dec. 4, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.

Authorities described the current conditions as "critical fire weather," including returning winds and extremely low humidity. Coastal Santa Barbara and more sparsely populated inland areas were of special concern, authorities said.

Mandatory evacuations were in place in several Santa Barbara County communities, including Carpinteria and Montecito, and parts of Ventura County, including the city of Ventura, which was hit hard in the first days of the fire.

The cost of fighting the blaze has already reached $104 million, with more than 8,000 firefighters working around the clock, and helicopters and airplanes being used to drop retardant on the flames.

The vast landscape charred by the blaze, centered fewer than 100 miles (161 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, reached 259,000 acres (104,800 hectares) early on Saturday, surpassing the 257,314 acres (104,131 hectares) destroyed by California's Rim Fire in 2013, authorities said. The Rim Fire had ranked as the state's third largest on record.

The Thomas Fire is only 40 percent contained and it threatens 18,000 structures, officials said, including some in the wealthy enclave of Montecito just outside the city of Santa Barbara. The blaze is chewing up tall grass and bone-dry brush as it spreads along the scenic Pacific Coast.

The hot Santa Ana winds have propelled the fire's expansion, at times sending embers far ahead of its main flank. They were forecast to remain strong through Saturday evening in the Santa Barbara County mountains, the National Weather Service warned. Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) were expected.

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From Saturday night through Sunday evening, the winds could lash neighboring Ventura County, the Weather Service said. The cause is unknown.

Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, 32, died on Thursday while battling the flames near the Ventura County community of Fillmore. Fire officials said Iverson, the blaze's first fatality, left behind a pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter.

The Thomas Fire was one of several major blazes that broke out in Southern California this month, although the others have been contained.

The blazes forced many schools to close for days, shut roads and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. The fires were also responsible for poor air quality throughout Southern California.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Mary Milliken)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 15:39:56|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Nawas Darraji and Mahmoud Darwesh

TRIPOLI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two years after Libyan political rivals signed a UN-sponsored political agreement in Morocco, there are many future scenarios expected amid difficulty to implement the due, with obstacles of substantial disagreements over articles concerning the executive authority and army leadership.

Moussa Faraj, head of the dialogue committee of the Tripoli-based Higher Council of State, believes that the expiry of the agreement is linked only to the Presidential Council and the Government of National Accord.

"In all cases, the term of the government shall terminate immediately upon the formation of the executive authority according to the constitution, or the end of the specified term, whichever is closer," Faraj told Xinhua.

"The (eastern-based) House of Representatives did not approve the government so far. Therefore, the political agreement continues until elections are held under the constitution," Faraj said.

Libya's political factions signed a UN-sponsored agreement on Dec, 17, 2015, which appointed the Government of National Accord and the Higher Council of State, or consultative council.

House of Representatives member Omar Ghaith believes that the political agreement, despite its shortcomings, remains possible framework for a political settlement in the country.

"I believe the agreement is fragile and flawed from the beginning, and needs to be drafted in such a way as to ensure it is implemented in accordance with a binding map to all parties," Ghaith told Xinhua.

"Over time, the agreement has become the only framework with the absence of an alternative. If we agree that Dec. 17 is the end of the agreement, what is the future of Libya?" Ghaith said.

Ghaith warned against more dispute on legitimacy that may lead to former parties appearing again on the grounds if the current political parties of the agreement are expired. Thus, problems and political alignment would appear again.

Ali Sweih, member of the Tripoli-based Higher Council of State, stressed that there is no other alternative to the agreement, and those who oppose it "did not come up with an agreed solution or a program to end the division."

"We supported the agreement because it is the remaining hope for the Libyan people. The people are tired of the politicians and their false promises," Sweih said.

"Unfortunately, people have reached a stage where they do not care about the Skhirat agreement or anything else. They just want to improve their living and economic situation and restore stability to the country that has been exhausted by rivalry of politicians," Sweih added.

The House of Representatives in November adopted the UN-proposed formula for amendment of the political agreement. However, the Higher Council of State rejected the formula, and announced possibility of holding early elections.

Moussa Faraj, head of the council's dialogue committee, said the council did reject the amendment, but added that the agreement had positive and constructive aspects.

"The objection was mainly to the second article of the proposal, which included the mechanism of choosing the presidential council. The article restricted the choosing to one party, the House of Representatives, and eliminated the council," Faraj told Xinhua.

"According to the provisions of the political agreement, the link between (the Council and the House of Representatives) is consensus. The current stage cannot tolerate unilateral security, political and economic decisions. Moreover, a unilateral division to choose the presidential council violates the consensus and partnership of the next stage," Faraj explained.

Parliament member Omar Ghaith responded Faraj's argument by saying that the Council should determine its position quickly and that the country's interest should prevail over political objectives of some parties.

"As for the parliament, UN Envoy Ghassan Salame was told not to wait too long, and that the issue with the council should be resolved quickly. Salame informed us that he has extensive contacts with the council to solve the problem of rejecting the proposal," Ghaith said.

Ghaith stressed that a majority of the members of the council agree to the proposal, with the exception the mechanisms of the formation of the presidential council. "They want to share the selection of the presidential council with the House of Representatives. There are proposals to increase the number of candidates through the list of nominations from 10 to 25. These proposals are not approved yet."

"We are trying to resolve the matter and avoid such a step, which we may be forced to do. We demand that the Higher Council of State gives priority to the supreme interest (of the country) and not force us make a move that we don't want. We want to agree to unify the institutions through a single government that will lead us to elections, which will end all forms of division and fragmentation," Ghaith said regarding concerns that the parliament might unilaterally include the amendment of the agreement into the constitutional declaration without prior approval of the Higher Council of State.

Moussa Faraj said the agreement does not allow one party to take any unilateral actions. "There is no alternative to consensus, which may be possible if everyone is convinced that the Libyans are partners at home and that the current stage is a stage of consensus and partnership, not a demanding stage," Faraj said.

The House of Representatives is preparing to hold a decisive session next week to discuss inclusion of the amendment of the agreement into the constitutional declaration, an interim constitution, without approval of the Higher Council of State.

Article 12 of the Additional Provisions of the political agreement states that any amendments requested by the House of Representatives or the Higher Council of State shall be made by a Joint Committee and shall be voted on separately.

"There is no agreement or consensus on the mandate of General Khalifa Haftar (commander of the eastern-based army) to run the country. This is not possible legally or popularly. If this happens, the situation in Libya would be confused, because the army commander may have authority in the east of the country, but not in the west where armed militias will not accept him. The south is also divided over the army," Ghaith said regarding options available in case the agreement fails, and the chance of the army taking over the country.

Ali Sweih believes that the amendment and restructuring of the presidential council and removal of ministers from the government may be a solution in the event of delayed amendment of the political agreement.

"Betting on the military solution is stupid and an attempt to bring Libya into a dark tunnel again. We will not use weapons against each other, especially that the situation has improved with reconciliation between tribes and cities and re-cohesion among the Libyan people, plagued by armed conflict over the past few years," Sweih said.

In the popular circles in Libya, there is a possibility of resorting to the authorization of the eastern-based army to take over the country, in the event of failure of the political agreement.

Youth rallies in the east of the country have launched large-scale campaigns to collect 2 million signatures to mandate General Haftar to run the country amid political division.
Yaounde (AFP) - Cameroon's main opposition party on Thursday accused the government of having "militarised" two regions shaken by unrest among the country's anglophone minority.

"The Northwest and Southwest regions are heavily militarised," the head of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Jean Tsomelou, said in an interview with AFP, describing the situation as "worrying."

"We have observed troop movements in both regions. The government has spoken of thousands (of troops) who are in the Southwest and Northwest," he said.

"Abuse has been committed" against local people, he said.

In September and October, "live fire was targeted against people who were simply carrying a message of peace," he charged.

English-speakers account for some 20 percent of the nation's population of 23 million. The minority dates to the emergence of Cameroon in 1960-61 as France and Britain wound down their colonies in west Africa.

Anglophones have long protested against what they perceive to be a bias in favour the French-speaking majority.

Since November 2016, resentment has fed demands for autonomy or a separate state to which the government has responded with a crackdown, including curfews, raids and restrictions on travel.

International monitors say at least 20 and possibly 40 people have been killed since late September.

In turn, separatists have begun an armed campaign, targeting police and soldiers. Ten were killed last month alone, the authorities say.

"We condemn loss of human life on both sides," said Tsomelou, a francophone senator, adding that his party would send a delegations of MPs and senators to the two anglophone regions to urge people to be "calm and wait for a peaceful solution."

He singled out Cameroon's 84-year-old president, Paul Biya, for sharp criticism, saying he "let the situation degenerate" in the two regions in order to justify his crackdown.

"It's a problem that could have been resolved by dialogue," he said.

On December 1, Biya lashed the secessionists as "a band of terrorists" and vowed to carry out every measure "to incapacitate these criminals."
By Chris Helgren TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police said they were investigating the mysterious deaths of Barry Sherman, founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex Inc, and his wife, Honey, one of the nation's wealthiest couples whose bodies were found in their mansion on Friday. Police said they learned of the deaths after responding to a midday (1700 GMT) medical call at the Sherman's home in an affluent section of northeast Toronto. Two bodies covered in blankets were removed from the home and loaded into an unmarked van on Friday evening. "The circumstances of their death appear suspicious and we are treating it that way," said Constable David Hopkinson. Homicide detectives later told reporters gathered outside the home that there were no signs of forced entry. Their neighbors, business associates and some of Canada's most powerful politicians said they were saddened by the deaths. "Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter. Toronto Mayor John Tory said in statement he was "shocked and heartbroken" to learn of the deaths, noting that the couple had made extensive contributions to the city. "Toronto Police are investigating, and I hope that investigation will be able to provide answers for all of us who are mourning this tremendous loss," Tory said. The Shermans recently listed their home for sale for nearly C$7 million ($5.4 million). A real estate agent discovered the bodies in the basement while preparing for an open house, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported, citing a relative. Sherman, 75, founded privately held Apotex in 1974, growing it by introducing large numbers of low-cost generic drugs that took market share from branded pharmaceuticals. He stepped down as chief executive in 2012 but remained executive chairman. Forbes has estimated Sherman's fortune at $3.2 billion. Apotex is the world's No. 7 generic drugmaker with 11,000 employees and annual sales of more than C$2 billion in more than 45 countries, according to its website. The couple was known for their philanthropy, giving tens of millions of dollars to hospitals, universities and Jewish organizations, CBC reported. "They were extremely successful in business, but also very, very giving people," former Ontario Premier Bob Rae told CBC. "It's going to be a very, very big loss." The Globe and Mail reported in February that Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd was investigating a complaint about a 2015 political fundraiser that Trudeau had attended. (Writing and additional reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver; Editing by Jim Finkle, Leslie Adler and Paul Tait)
(Photo: mphillips007/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The atmosphere is tense on Capitol Hill, as members of Congress and their staff anxiously await more sexual harassment revelations in their ranks.

People are freaking out, one Democratic Hill staffer said.

HuffPost spoke to more than a dozen members and aides, all of whom said there are rumors flying about when the next bombshell is coming.

With the expectation that there will be more scandals, Democratic and Republican leaders in the House have expanded the pool of members designated to serve on subcommittees that investigate ethics issues from 20 to 30 members, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In recent days, the House Ethics Committee has opened investigations into Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.).

Members and aides on the Hill also anticipate publication of a story in a national news outlet that details which members offices have settled cases of sexual harassment using taxpayer dollars. Such a report could lead to a number of retirements or resignations, with numbers as high as 20 members swirling.

Whether or not the story drops or the resignations happen, its clear that the reports against members like Farenthold, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and others have put the Capitol on edge. Aides are passing around names of who may be next and sharing stories about harassment theyve experienced but may not have revealed in the past.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
We can just imagine CDC personnel still shaking their heads after finding out that they can't use certain terms in official documents for next year's budget. According to The Washington Post, the Trump administration has prohibited the CDC from using "vulnerable," "entitlement," "diversity," "transgender," "fetus," "evidence-based" and "science-based" -- terms you'd expect to be part of CDC's everyday vocabulary. The censorship comes almost a year after barring the EPA from sharing info with the public and having it remove all references to climate change on its website.

CDC's senior officials in charge of its budget have apparently revealed the new edict to the agency's policy analysts in a 90-minute meeting. WaPo's source said attendees couldn't believe what they were hearing, especially since the administration didn't even offer an explanation. While the CDC could come up with workarounds, this will make it a lot tougher for its divisions to report about their work in a factual manner and could ultimately impact the funding of health initiatives.

Can you imagine working on reproductive health or diseases affecting pregnant women like Zika and not being able to use the word "fetus?" How will a health worker focusing on LGBT issues refer to transgender health concerns without being able to use the word "transgender?" "Vulnerable" is commonly used when referring to diseases and populations.

And then there's "science/evidence-based." It's typically used to indicate treatments, programs and approaches backed by available evidence from scientific research. It's also a term used to discredit pseudoscience and quack medical theories. In fact, there's a medical approach called "evidence-based medicine," which the National Institutes of Health describes as "conscientious, explicit, judicious and reasonable use of modern, best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients."

The government wants the agency to replace instances of "science-based" or "evidence-based" in their documents with "CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes." Dr. Gleb Tsipursky wrote on Scientific American that by using that poor alternative for "evidence-based," the administration is saying that it "wants doctors to shift away from treating people based on the best scientific research, and instead use the fuzzy standard of 'community wishes.'" Tsipursky, who calls the censorship part of the administration's war on science, leads Pro Truth Pledge, which aims to fight fake news and alternative facts.

WaPo's source believes the agency's scientists and subject matter experts "will not lay down quietly." But unless they can convince the administration to lift the ban on those words ASAP, then CDC's officials already have a rewrite to attend to: the White House sent back budget drafts with the words "vulnerable," "entitlement" and "diversity" for correction.
Two cousins charged in the brutal murder of four men in Pennsylvania in July pleaded not guilty at their arraignment hearing Thursday.

Cosmo DiNardo, 20, is charged in four deaths and his cousin, Sean Kratz, 20, has been charged in three. Both pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of criminal homicide, abuse of corpse, robbery and conspiracy in the fatal shootings of Dean Finocchiaro, 19, Mark Sturgis, 22, Tom Meo, 21, and Jimi Patrick, 19, whose bodies were discovered buried on a farm in Solebury, Pennsylvania, in July.

DiNardo reportedly admitted to killing the four missing men in July as part of a plea deal and told investigators where the bodies could be found. In exchange for DiNardo's cooperation, prosecutors took the death penalty off the table. His cousin did not agree to a plea deal, however.

RELATED: Investigation into the four missing Pennsylvania men



According to WPVI, DiNardo's not guilty plea earlier this week was a procedural decision that would allow him the opportunity to maintain his innocence by affording him the option to stop cooperating with the investigation. However, WPVI has confirmed DiNardo is still cooperating with police.

Bucks County District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub also filed paperwork this week that would essentially allow them to pursue the death penalty against the two men if they are convicted, Fox 29 reported. However, the district attorneys office told the local station that the filing would not interfere to DiNardos plea deal, assuming he pleaded guilty, and was completely normal.

"We made an agreement with Cosmo DiNardo, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub told the outlet. We're the district attorney's office: We honor our agreements. So should Mr. DiNardo decide to uphold his end of the bargain, we will not seek the death penalty against him."

SEE ALSO: Cosmo DiNardo who confessed to killing four men now says he's killed before

"DiNardo is the admitted killer," Weintraub continued. "We look forward to challenging the evidence and the aggravators at the appropriate time."

Story continues

Local authorities say Kratz has been giving conflicting narratives surrounding the killings but also said DiNardo was responsible for the deaths, CBS reported.

DiNardo reportedly told police he crushed he attempted to set three of the bodies on fire before burying them and crushed one of the victims with a backhoe after shooting him, according to the outlet.

An attorney for the Finocchiaro family said: The day of reckoning is coming ... and the family looks forward to that day, ABC News reported.

When DiNardo asked if he had anything to say about the deaths, he replied, "I'm sorry."

Dinardo and Kratz's trial date has not yet been confirmed.
(PHILADELPHIA)  A cow in Philadelphia apparently wanted to be away from the manger, as it escaped twice Thursday morning from a churchs live nativity scene.

Stormy, a 7-year-old brown and white Hereford, was back munching hay at Old First Reformed Church of Christ by 7:15 a.m. after two sets of adventures on snowy downtown streets.

Police first got reports of a cow near an Interstate 95 on-ramp around 2 a.m. Thursday.

One of the state police troopers who responded has a cattle ranch in New Jersey and knew how to handle the situation, WPVI-TV reports . Officers put a rope on the cow and walked her to a nearby parking lot with police vehicles helping shepherd Stormy back to church. Some lanes of the highway had to be shut down as the cow was wrangled.

But for Stormy, all was not calm and bright. She fled again around 6 a.m., despite Rev. Michael Caines best efforts to stop the 1,500-pound animal. She then ambled toward a major thoroughfare as the morning rush got underway.

If youre in the area of 4th and Market, beware of traffic delays. A cow is loose. Again. No, we cant believe we are tweeting this either, the police department tweeted just before 7 a.m.

This time, the bovine was tracked down on the fourth floor of a parking garage about a block south of the church.

By late morning, Stormy was loaded into a trailer to head back to the Manatawna Saul Farm, which is a high school 4-H club that owns her.

Scott Moser, who helps the students with the animals, told The Associated Press because Stormy figured out how to push open the gate  despite its beefed up latch system  it seems to have become a bit of a game for her.

They decided to use her understudy, a cow about half her size named Ginger.

As for Stormy, Moser said she has never been a troublemaker before.

Shes a very calm cow, he said. Nothing really fazes her.
Firefighting crews continued to make slow progess in their efforts to contain Southern Californias massive 259,000 acre Thomas Fire in Montecito, California, on December 16.

After nearly two full weeks of burning through large swathes of the states southern region, crews had managed to bring the blaze  the third largest in state history  to 40 percent containment.

Despite the progress, high winds and persisting dry conditions could still mean big advancements for the fire. Officials have said that the northwestern edge of the blaze near Montecito, where this video was filmed, is still very dangerous, according to the LA Times. Credit: Dave Zaniboni, Santa Barbara County Fire via Storyful
Bodies covered in blankets were removed from the Shermans' home on Friday: Reuters

A pharmaceutical billionaire and his wife have been found dead at their home in circumstances described as suspicious by Canadian police.

The bodies of Apotex founder Barry Sherman and his wife, Honey, were discovered dead in the basement of their Toronto home by officers responding to a medical call. They were found by a real estate agent.

Their deaths were being treated as "suspicious", Constable David Hopkinson, from the city's police force, told reporters.

Our investigators are inside investigating and taking apart the scene, he said.

Until we know exactly how they died we treat it as suspicious and once a determination has been made with the pathologist and the coroner then we move forward from there.

The couple had recently put their house up for sale with an asking price C$7m (4m).

Toronto's mayor, John Tory, said it was shocked and heartbroken by Mr and Mrs Shermans deaths, paying tribute to the pair on Twitter.

Barry and Honey were kind, good people who will be greatly missed," he said. "The philanthropic and economic contributions they have made to Toronto put them in a class of their own."

He added: "I hope that investigation will be able to provide answers for all of us who are mourning this tremendous loss.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted his condolences to friends and family of the Shermans.

Mr Sherman, 75, founded Apotex in 1974, turning it into the one of the largest worlds largest pharmaceutical producers which employed more than 10,000 people.

He was estimated to have a personal fortune of around C$4.7bn (2.7bn).

A statement from the company said: Weve been informed of the tragic news that Barry and Honey Sherman have unexpectedly passed away.

All of us at Apotex are deeply shocked and saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.
Other Democrats have called on Trump to quit in light of allegations

I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues

Doug Jones will take his seat in the US Senate shortly. Photograph: Networ/Sipa USA/Rex/Shutterstock

Doug Jones, the Democrat who won a shock victory in the Alabama Senate election, said on Sunday he did not think Donald Trump should resign as president in light of sexual misconduct allegations against him.

It was time, Jones said, to get on with the real issues that are facing the people of this country right now.

Multiple women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. The president, who was recorded saying he could grab women by the pussy, denies all such allegations. The White House has said all the women are lying.

Last weekend, however, cabinet member Nikki Haley said the women who have accused Trump should be heard. A group of Trump accusers subsequently called for a congressional investigation and a group of Democratic senators led by Kirsten Gillibrand of New York called for Trump to resign.

Appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Jones was asked if he would join new Senate colleagues including Cory Booker of New Jersey, who campaigned for him, in calling for the president to resign.

He said: Where I am on that right now is that those allegations were made before the election. And so people had an opportunity to judge before that election. I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues.

Lets get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now, and I dont think the president ought to resign at this point. Well see how things go but certainly those allegations are not new and he was elected with those allegations at front centre.

Jones echoed White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who told reporters on Monday: The people of this country, at a decisive election, supported President Trump, and we feel like these allegations have been answered through that process.

Trump said before his election victory over Hillary Clinton that he would sue all his accusers after the election. That has not happened and more accusers have come forward.

Story continues

Since the downfall of the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein over multiple allegations including sexual assault and rape, which he denies, a number of powerful men have been the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct.

On Saturday a third congressional Democrat, Ruben Kihuen of Nevada, announced he would quit Congress over allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Two Republicans, Trent Franks and Blake Farenthold, have also announced the end of their congressional careers.

On CNN, Jones was asked why Al Franken, the Democratic senator from Minnesota who announced his resignation over accusations of sexual misconduct, should have to resign over offences allegedly committed before he was elected if Trump did not.

Jones said: Again, I go back to the fact that those allegations were made and he was elected president of the United States and I think the American people have spoken on that at this time.

Theres other things out there but I think at this point we need to move on and try to work with some real issues that are facing the country and not worry about getting at odds with the president any more than we have to.

Jones, who also appeared on Fox News Sunday, was asked about his opponent Roy Moores refusal to concede the Alabama election. I think its time to move on, he said, adding that Moore was hurting the people of Alabama.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 16:30:04|Editor: Lu Hui

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The second plane of China's homegrown large passenger plane, the C919, takes off from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China, Dec. 17, 2017. The second plane of the C919 made its first test flight in Shanghai on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

SHANGHAI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A second prototype of China's large passenger jet C919 completed its maiden flight in Shanghai Sunday, which was marked as a step closer to China becoming a global aviation powerhouse.

The domestic jet took off shortly after 10:30 a.m. in Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the flight lasted around 2 hours. It tested the performance of the C919 major systems and equipment, such as taking-off and landing, navigation and communication, speed acceleration and deceleration.

The first C919 made its maiden flight in May. It conducted its first intercity test flight in November.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China plans to produce six aircraft for flight testing. More than 1,000 tests will be carried out.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the C919 jet is comparable to the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.
Sikander Imran is accused by his former girlfriend of killing their unborn baby: Arlington County Sheriff's Office

A doctor has been accused of spiking his girlfriends drink with an abortion pill to kill their unborn baby.

Sikander Imran had moved from Rochester, New York, to Arlington, Virginia, for a new job when he discovered his on-off partner of three years, Brook Fiske, was pregnant.

However, Ms Fiske says the 32-year-old doctor told her he did not want the child and tried to discuss the situation when she travelled to his new home.

She claims after she refused to agree to terminate the pregnancy, he slipped the abortion pill Misoprostol into her cup of tea.

He didnt want to have a baby so he tried to talk me into having an abortion, which I didnt want to do, Ms Fiske told local Rochester TV station WROC.

When I was drinking my tea in the evening I got to the bottom of the cup.

There was a gritty substance in there and when I looked at it, I could tell that it was a pill that had been ground up.

Ms Fiske, who was 17 weeks pregnant, says she started having contractions a matter of hours after drinking the tea.

She went into labour and was taken to Virginia Hospital Center, but lost her child.

Ms Fiske added: [Imran] immediately started crying and said that he was a horrible person and that he had done what I thought he did.

According to the nurse at the hospital, its 200 milligrams to induce labour. So he gave me 800.

WROC reported Sikander was charged with "cause of abortion and premeditated killing of a foetus of another".

His trial is scheduled to begin on March 12.
Vladimir Putin, left, and Donald Trump - AP

Donald Trump has conversed with Vladimir Putin for the third time in six weeks as the confusion at the heart of his administration over Russian policy was revealed in a report.

The US president said the call was primarily about getting Russias co-operation on North Korea but added that Mr Putin made some very nice comments about his time in office.

It came as The Washington Post published a 7,000-word expose on the internal battles over Mr Trumps Russia policy in the last year.

The paper reported that Mr Trumps refusal to endorse the intelligence agencies' view that Russia hacked the election had undermined attempts to retaliate.

It said that some officials downplay information about Russia in intelligence briefings with the president for fear of triggering his ire.

Some aides have even adopted a dont walk that last 5  feet position, meaning do not enter the Oval Office amid fears Mr Trump could erupt or overrule decisions, it was reported.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Trump again dubbed claims he colluded with the Russians a hoax and said he wanted to get back to running the country.

The president also declined to rule out pardoning Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser charged with lying to the FBI over his conversations with the Russian ambassador.

Mr Trump called Mr Putin, the Russian prime minister, on Thursday to thank him for acknowledging Americas strong economic performance at a press conference.

It is the latest in a string of recent chats, including meeting in Asia in early November and discussing Syria in a lengthy call later that month.

Mr Trumps first year in office has been overshadowed by questions about his campaigns links to Russia, which are being looked into as part of an investigation into the countrys election meddling.

Since taking office, Mr Trump has made a series of contrasting comments about whether he believes the Russians were involved in disrupting last years election  as America's intelligence agencies have concluded.

Story continues

In a lengthy piece based on interviews with more than 50 current and former US officials, The Washington Post revealed tensions at the very top of the administration over Russia.

There has been no cabinet-level meeting on Russian interference or how to hit back since Mr Trump took office, the paper reported, despite the seriousness of the accusations.

The targeting of the election was estimated to have cost the Russians just $500,000 (375,000), according to estimates quoted in the report.

One unnamed source told the paper that if you mention Russian interference in Mr Trumps daily intelligence briefing it goes off the rails.

There has also been a battle over whether to return to Russian compounds in America that the US government seized as a punishment under Barack Obama.

Mr Trumps supporters note that he has signed legislation bringing in new sanctions on Moscow and closed three Russian diplomatic facilities as proof he has not gone easy on the country.

Asked about his call to Mr Putin, Mr Trump said on Friday: We would love to have his help on North Korea. China is helping. Russia is not helping."

Asked if he would pardon Mr Flynn, Mr Trump said: "I dont want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet. We'll see what happens.
At least 11 Afghan policemen were killed on Sunday when Taliban fighters attacked two checkpoints in the volatile southern province of Helmand, authorities said.

The assaults were the latest in a series of deadly attacks claimed by the Taliban on Afghan police and troops.

Taliban insurgents launched the assaults in the early morning in the Qalai Sang area of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

"Our police fought them back, but unfortunately 11 of our police were martyred and two wounded," provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP, adding that the militants fled after the attack.

Provincial police chief Ghafar Safi said 15 Taliban fighters were also killed during the skirmish.

After 16 years of war the resurgent militants show no signs of fatigue, ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces.

Afghan police and troops -- beset by a high death toll, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll -- have been struggling to beat back the insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Also on Sunday, a suicide car bomb attack on NATO forces in neighbouring Kandahar province killed at least one woman and wounded four other Afghan civilians, General Abdul Razeq, the provincial police chief, told AFP.

NATO confirmed the attack and said there were no victims among its personnel.

"We can confirm a suicide bomber attempted an attack on a patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan today. However, there were no fatalities or injuries sustained by coalition forces," said Captain Tom Gresback, a spokesman for the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Resolute Support.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of Palestine. It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of a future state they seek to be in East Jerusalem, which Israel took in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally. The Muslim nation summit was a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's Dec. 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. His move broke with decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that the city's status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkey's consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador. "God willing, the day is close when officially, with God's permission, we will open our embassy there," Erdogan said. Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islam's third holiest shrine as well as Judaism's Western Wall - both in the eastern sector - and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkey's, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem's unresolved status. A communique issued after Wednesday's summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including U.S. allies, said they considered Trump's move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role "as sponsor of peace" in the Middle East. (Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Reuters) - Several countries, the United Nations and journalist groups are demanding the release of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo from detention in Myanmar. The reporters were arrested on Dec. 12 after being invited to meet police officials on the outskirts of Yangon. They had worked on stories about a military crackdown in Rakhine state, scene of more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh since late August. Myanmar's Ministry of Information has said the reporters "illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media," and released a photo of them in handcuffs. It said the reporters and two policemen faced charges under the British colonial-era Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, though officials said they have not been charged. Their exact whereabouts is not known. Reuters' driver Myothant Tun dropped them off at a police compound and the two reporters and two police officers headed to a nearby restaurant. The journalists did not return to the car. Reuters President and Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said the arrests were a "blatant attack on press freedom" and called for the immediate release of the journalists. Here are reactions to their detention from politicians and press freedom advocates around the world: - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States was "demanding their immediate release or information as to the circumstances around their disappearance." - British Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field said, "I absolutely strongly disapprove of the idea of journalists, going about their everyday business, being arrested. We will make it clear in the strongest possible terms that we feel that they need to be released at the earliest possible opportunity." - Swedish Foreign Minister Margot called the arrests a "threat to a democratic and peaceful development of Myanmar and that region." She said, "We do not accept that journalists are attacked or simply kidnapped or that they disappear ... To be able to send journalists to this particular area is of crucial importance." - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said countries should do everything possible to secure the journalists' release and freedom of the press in Myanmar. Guterres said, "It is clearly a concern in relation to the erosion of press freedom in the country." He added: "And probably the reason why these journalists were arrested is because they were reporting on what they have seen in relation to this massive human tragedy." - Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, the former managing director and editor, consumer news, at Thomson Reuters, tweeted that she was "deeply concerned" by the reports about the arrests. "Freedom of the press is essential for democracy and must be preserved," she said. - President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani called on Myanmar to protect media freedoms and release the two reporters. - Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, information adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, "We strongly denounce arrests of Reuters journalists and feel that those reporters be free immediately so that they can depict the truth to the world by their reporting. - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's spokesman Motosada Matano said his government was closely watching the situation, and that Japan has been conducting a dialogue with the Myanmar government on human rights in Myanmar in general. - The Committee to Protect Journalists said, "We call on local authorities to immediately, unconditionally release Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. These arrests come amid a widening crackdown which is having a grave impact on the ability of journalists to cover a story of vital global importance." - The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said there was no justification for the arrests. Daniel Bastard, the head of the group's Asia-Pacific desk, said the charges being considered were "completely spurious". - The Southeast Asian Press Alliance asked for the immediate release of the journalists. These two journalists are only doing their jobs in trying to fill the void of information on the Rohingya conflict," said SEAPA executive director Edgardo Legaspi. "With this arrest, the government seems to be sending the message that all military reports should be off limits to journalists." - The Protection Committee for Myanmar Journalists, a group of local reporters who have demonstrated against past prosecutions of journalists, decried the "unfair arrests that affect media freedom". "A reporter must have the right to get information and write news ethically," said video journalist A Hla Lay Thu Zar - a member of the group's executive committee. - The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Myanmar said it was "appalled" by the arrests and "gravely concerned" about the state of press freedom in Myanmar. It called on authorities to ensure the reporters' safety and allow their families to see them. - The Foreign Correspondents' Club in neighboring Thailand said it was "alarmed by the use of this draconian law with its heavy penalties against journalists simply doing their jobs." The club called for the journalists to be released. "Wielding such a blunt legal instrument has an intimidating effect on other journalists, and poses a real threat to media freedom," it said. (Compiled by Toni Reinhold and Martin Howell; Editing by Grant McCool and Martin Howell)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The leader of Austria's main conservative party, Sebastian Kurz, has reached a deal to form a governing coalition with Heinz-Christian Strache's far-right Freedom Party (FPO).

Below are some of the policies that Kurz's People's Party (OVP) and the FPO have already agreed on.

For the entire programme in German please click [http://kurier.at/Regierungsprogramm.pdf/302.356.444]

EUROPEAN UNION

** Oppose deeper political integration among EU members states, seek to have more powers returned to national governments. Oppose Turkey's bid to join the EU.

** Rule out a referendum on Austrian membership of the EU.

** Move some departments that deal with European affairs, including the task force preparing Austria's EU presidency in the second half of 2018, to the chancellery headed by Kurz. (The FPO will take control of the Foreign Ministry).

** Push for more relaxed relationship between West and Russia.

LAW AND ORDER

** Introduce tougher minimum sentences for violent and sex crimes.

** Make fighting political Islam a priority.

** Secure Austria's borders nationally to stop illegal immigration until the EU has secured external frontiers.

** Put around 2,100 more policemen on the streets.

BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

** Extend the maximum working day to 12 hours from 10.

** Facilitate immigration only for qualified workers in sectors that are struggling to find suitable Austrian employees.

** Simplify administrative framework in highly federalised Austria.

** Support construction of third runway at Vienna Airport.

EDUCATION

** Focus on improving test results in basic skills such as reading, writing and numeracy, allow children to start school only if their German is good enough.

** Cut social benefits for parents who fail to comply with certain requirements, like ensuring attendance and that their child speaks German well enough.

BUDGET AND TAXES

** Cut public spending to fund tax cuts. Kurz and Strache repeatedly said during their campaigns that they planned to cut public spending by around 12 billion euros ($14.1 billion).

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** Reduce corporate tax burden, for example by exempting profit reinvested in Austria.

** Not introduce wealth or inheritance taxes.

** Introduce public "debt brake" in the constitution.

** Push, also at a European level, for higher taxes on online transactions with foreign companies.

SOCIAL AFFAIRS

** Block newcomers from accessing many social services in Austria in their first five years in the country.

** Cap the main basic benefit payment at 1,500 euros a month for families and provide refugees with a "light" version of regular benefits.

** Cut benefits for refugees and turn cash payments into benefits in kind so as to minimise what they say is a "pull factor" attracting immigrants to the country.

** Reform the state pension system to reflect Austria's ageing population.

** Give families a tax cut worth 1,500 euros per child per year.

** Merge Austria's 22 public health and other social security funds into five entities to cut administrative costs.

ENVIRONMENT

** Produce 100 percent of Austria's power from renewable sources by 2030, compared with roughly 33 percent at present, and keep the national ban on nuclear power plants.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

** Gradual introduction of legislation to allow a referendum to take place if at least 900,000 voters support the issue.

** Rule out referendums on Austrian membership of the EU; support the European-Canadian trade deal CETA.

SMOKING

** Overturn a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants that is due to come into effect in May 2018.

($1 = 0.8497 euros)

(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; editing by Mark Heinrich and Jane Merriman)
Tokyo (AFP) - Uber may be shredding business models for taxi firms the world over but it is struggling to make inroads in Japan, where risk-averse passengers prefer to stick to their high-quality traditional taxi service.

Japan, with its wealthy customer base and megacities like Tokyo, should represent rich pickings for Uber.

In 2015, the national market for taxis had a turnover of 1.73 trillion yen ($15.2 billion), according to transport ministry data.

There are 50,000 taxis in Tokyo alone -- instantly recognisable with their impeccable polished exteriors and doors that open automatically to let valued customers board effortlessly.

And with hailing a taxi rarely taking more than a few seconds in the major cities, there has been sluggish take-up of Uber, where consumers order an unlicensed car via smartphone.

"Japanese people don't like taking risks, they are risk averse. They are quite strict when it comes to the quality of service," said Ichiro Kawanabe, CEO of Nihon Kotsu, the main Tokyo taxi firm founded by his grandfather in 1928.

Given this, "when Uber tried to messily enter the market, no one wanted them", Kawanabe, who is also chairman of the Japanese taxi federation, told AFP.

Uber also ran up against local legislation -- it is strictly forbidden to operate a taxi without a licence.

So it tried to enter the Japanese market via another route, setting up a pilot carsharing service in 2015 in the western city of Fukuoka.

Uber said it was a study into the needs of the local community but authorities quickly slammed on the brakes, saying it could be considered an unlicensed taxi service and raising questions of safety.

Kawanabe also pointed to safety issues as being among the reasons Uber had not enjoyed the same success in Japan as it has elsewhere.

"When an accident happens, they don't take responsibility and say they are just a platform provider. Japan cannot accept this."

An Uber spokesman said the company's priority in Japan was to "partner with taxi companies to get licensed drivers using the app to connect with riders".

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The firm has started another pilot system in two rural towns connecting senior citizens with people willing to drive them around and this time the authorities have not clamped down, as it compensates for a lack of public transport and taxis in the areas.

Japan is also a "very important" market for UberEATS, its take-away food delivery service, the spokesman said.

- 'So rude' -

And Kawanabe, a suave and charismatic 47-year-old known as the "prince of taxis", admitted that Uber had been useful in foisting change on the conservative Japanese taxi industry.

Around nine out of every 10 cab rides in Tokyo is hailed or taken from a rank, with only 10 percent ordered via smartphone, said Kawanabe.

The main reason for this is that fewer than half of the taxis in Tokyo are connected to a smartphone, he said.

"They still use old feature phones instead of smartphones. It's very difficult for us and app operators to convince them to use apps," he complained.

In addition, around 80 percent of taxi fares are paid in cash.

This conservatism -- combined with excellent public transport systems -- led to a decline of one third in taxi passengers between 2005 and 2015, according to the transport ministry.

The industry is just starting to fight back -- dropping fares for short rides around Tokyo, for example.

"It took me two years to convince them (to reduce fares) ... and there is still so much that needs to be done," said Kawanabe.

He has set up a start-up subsidiary, JapanTaxi, to develop apps to connect drivers with passengers and aims to launch a carsharing app next year to push down costs.

But the competition is ferocious.

On the app front, Chinese app developer Didi Chuxing is expecting to launch in Tokyo next year, in partnership with a rival taxi firm.

And Uber is hoping for a large investment from Japanese communications behemoth Softbank.

Between Kawanabe and Uber, there is no love lost.

"They are just so rude, in every way. They think they are like gods and that we are so obsolete," he said.

"From the point of view of the Japanese taxi companies, you can only call them 'devils'."
A female congressional candidate has withdrawn her name from the voting ballot after sexual harassment allegations resurfaced on Friday.

Andrea Ramsey, a 56-year-old Democratic candidate from Kansas, announced the end of her campaign on social media, dropping out of the race to unseat Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan. in the states third congressional district. She did, however, deny the allegations.

Ramsey was accused of sexual harassment in a 2005 lawsuit, which was first reported by The Kansas City Star. A former employee of Ramseys at LabOne, a medical diagnostics company, alleged she sexually harassed him and then fired him after he denied her advances.

The defendant, named Gary Funkhouser, accused Ramsey of unwelcome, unwanted and offensive sexual comments and innuendos beginning in September 2004.

Months later, Funkhouser, who was terminated in June 2005, filed the suit against LabOne, not against Ramsey, who was the executive vice president of human resources at the company at the time.

The company settled the suit in 2006, the Star reported.

When I was the head of human resources at a local company, I had to make difficult business decisions on a daily basis concerning budgets, training initiatives, compensation and benefits, workforce hiring and workforce terminations, Ramsey detailed in her announcement on Friday.

A termination decision is always the most wrenching, because it affects not only a persons livelihood, but also an individuals dignity and sense of self. Sometimes employees dont take the decision well, and do things they wouldnt otherwise do because they are angry in that moment, seeking to retaliate, she continued.

Twelve years ago, I eliminated an employees position. That man decided to bring a lawsuit against the company (not against me). He named me in the allegations, claiming I fired him because he refused to have sex with me. That is a lie, Ramsey said.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated the allegations and decided not to pursue the complaint; the man later decided to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit. Because I wasnt a named party, I didnt have any opportunity to participate in its resolution, she shared.

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Ramsey is the latest to halt their political career amid sexual misconduct and harassment allegations.

Earlier this month, Al Franken, a Democratic junior senator from Minnesota, announced his resignation in an emotional appearance on the Senate floor after multiple women came forward with misconduct allegations against Franken.

Franken, who has been married to wife Franni Bryson since 1975, has repeatedly apologized for his inappropriate behavior, which he said was unintentional but crossed a line for some women.

And in November, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan stepped down as the ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee after the Ethics Committee announced its investigation into sexual harassment accusations against him.

Conyers  the most senior member of the House, holding his seat since 1965  denied the allegations and left his post reluctantly.
The Thomas fire was still burning in the hills south of Santa Barbara on Friday. (Photo: George Rose via Getty Images)

In some parts of Santa Barbara County, the Thomas fire has caused apocalyptic scenes. Ash is everywhere, the air is smoky and theres a persistent pink haze to the light that is like a constant dusk.

The Thomas fire erupted Dec. 4 and has been scorching Santa Barbara and Ventura counties since. The fierce blaze, rare for a December, has torn through 250,000 acres of land, destroyed 700 homes and killed at least two people, including a firefighter who died battling the monstrous flames.

But among the invisible victims of the fire are hundreds of homeless men and women living in the area. While the fires have been burning in the surrounding foothills, the effects on the streets of Santa Barbara are dramatic.

Theres ash blanketing everything. It looks like a snowfall, the Rev. Julia Hamilton, head minister of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, told HuffPost on Thursday. Imagine lying down to sleep in the middle of this toxic ash. Theres nowhere to go.

The Thomas fire's perimeter as of Friday. (Photo: Google)

An estimated 1,500 people in Santa Barbara County live on the street or in shelters, according to a 2017 report by the Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness, although the true number may be higher. For some of those already living outdoors, the health effects have been dramatic, aid workers say.

A primary issue is the air quality. Public health officials warned in past days that, because of the smoke and ash, monitoring stations in the area recorded high levels of fine particulates in the air. They cautioned vulnerable groups, including children and seniors, to remain indoors.

But what if someone doesnt have an indoors? Hamilton noted. Theres no respite for them from the air quality.

Maria Long, a clinical psychologist and executive director of Santa Barbara Street Medicine, an organization that provides medical care to people experiencing homelessness, said people on the streets are already feeling the effects.

People who have a history of asthma or weak lung capacity and respiration conditions are experiencing flare-ups. Its harder to breathe. Theyre getting headaches and eye irritation, Long told HuffPost. In the past days, Longs team has been walking the streets with medications, seeking out anyone who may need medical care.

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Many homeless people suffer from health problems, from the wear and tear of life on the street and from the difficulty of getting medical care for conditions any of us could have. Roughly a third of homeless individuals in the city report having a disability.

Many of the homeless individuals whom aid organizations have served in the past days are seniors with medical conditions.

Aid organizations have worked hard in the past days to provide extra shelter for those that need it, but for those who are still sleeping on the streets or cant stay in shelters during the day, their best bet to avoid inhaling too much smoke is to wear a mask.

Emily Allen, who directs veteran and homeless services at Northern Santa Barbara United Way, said much of her teams work in the past two weeks has been distributing masks to people on the streets, some of whom she said have been resistant to wearing them. On Wednesday, for instance, the sky was deceptively blue. On a day like that, Allen said, people may be less likely to wear the mask or seek indoor shelter.

Long echoed the challenge of communicating the masks necessity. People in shelters didnt take the fire seriously the first day. Some thought people would be less likely to give money to them with their faces covered. But now theyre wearing masks, and theyre scared.

Some homeless men and women have also lost what they call home, said Rick Raine, who works with the Ojai Valley Family Shelter and Catholic Charities in Ventura County. Raine said hed encountered individuals who had been living in the forested areas that have now been swallowed up by the fire.

Thats what they called home, and their homes and all their belongings burned, Raine said. Where displaced residents have evacuated to the homes of friends and family, or even quit town entirely, the homeless cant.

They couldnt evacuate. They were stuck here.

Organizations across the county are pulling together to help homeless people cope.

The Unitarian Society has opened its warming center in downtown Santa Barbara early this year to help get people off the streets and out of the oppressive smoke and ash. They continue to shelter roughly 40 to 50 guests per night.

PATH, another local shelter that typically operates a 100-bed facility for people transitioning out of homelessness, opened up an emergency shelter on Dec. 5 to help get people out of the bad air and ash.

In addition to the warming centers and PATH, there are several other shelters in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, including the Ojai Valley Family Shelter.

But many of those providing services to the areas unsheltered communities said theres simply a shortage of beds for those who need them, partly because one of the largest shelters in the city is being renovated.

Teams of volunteers set up at a Red Cross shelter in Santa Barbara. (Photo: Courtesy of Maria Long)

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Friday that the Thomas fire was just 35 percent contained, and multiple evacuation orders were still in place in parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

But even after the fire is fully contained, the ash will remain, and the homeless populations may face long-term challenges.

Everything they have with them  their packs, their clothes  everything gets infiltrated with this ash. Everything they own will need to be cleaned, Hamilton said.

And reflecting on those who will continue to sleep outdoors, she added: I look around and think, how are we going to get the ash off the sidewalks and out of the street? Its going to be a long time before we can say that its cleaned up.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 16:30:05|Editor: Jiaxin

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- More accusations! Legendary actor Dustin Hoffman is again in the spotlight after three women spoke to U.S. magazine Variety about his sexual misconduct, including exposing himself to a 16-year-old in a hotel room.

Hoffman's attorney Mark A. Neubauer called the accusations against the actor "defamatory falsehoods". Hoffman himself hasn't made comments.

According to the report, Cori Thomas was a high-school classmate of Hoffman's daughter Karina when she met the actor in Manhattan, New York in 1980. When Thomas was waiting for her parents to pick her up, she was left in the hotel room with the actor alone.

Hoffman allegedly came out of the hotel bathroom with a towel wrapped around him and then dropped it and stood naked. He later put on a robe and sat on the bed and asked her to massage his feet, which she did. She then took the chance to leave when her mother called her from downstairs.

Melissa Kester said the Oscar-winner groped her and conducted unwanted sexual conduct with her while recording audio for the 1987 film "Ishtar".

A third woman who didn't reveal her name told Variety that Hoffman also sexually assaulted her in a station wagon while working on "Ishtar". But she had a subsequent sexual encounter with him, which she didn't know how to define.

Earlier, three women stepped forward to accuse the Hollywood actor of sexual harassment which they said happened decades ago. The first was author Anna Graham Hunter, who alleged Hoffman of groping her and making inappropriate comments when she was a 17-year-old intern on the set of the 1985 TV movie of Death of a Salesman. Hoffman had previously denied abusing Hunter.
Current and former female Fox News employees say they are stunned, disgusted and hungry for justice after media mogul Rupert Murdoch on Thursday dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct at the network as nonsense outside of a few isolated incidents with former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes.

In a televised interview, Sky News host Ian King focused on the Thursday announcement that the Disney Company is acquiring most of the assets belonging to 21st Century Fox, Fox News Channels parent, in a deal valued at $52 billion. Disney is not acquiring Fox News Channel or several other broadcast properties as part of the deal.

King asked Murdoch if sexual misconduct allegations had inflicted damage on Fox News Channel.

Rupert Murdoch said sexual misconduct allegations at Fox News amount to a few isolated incidents related to the company's former chairman, Roger Ailes. (Photo: Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters)

Murdoch said, All nonsense, there was a problem with our chief executive [Ailes], sort of, over the years, isolated incidents. As soon as we investigated it he was out of the place in hours, well, three or four days. And theres been nothing else since then. That was largely political because were conservative. Now of course the liberals are going down the drain  NBC is in deep trouble. CBS, their stars. I mean there are really bad cases and people should be moved aside. There are other things which probably amount to a bit of flirting.

Rupert never characterized the sexual harassment matters at FOX News as nonsense, a spokesman for 21st Century Fox told HuffPost in a statement Friday night, five hours after this story was initially published. Rather, he responded negatively to the suggestion that sexual harassment issues were an obstacle to the Companys bid for the rest of Sky.

Under Ruperts leadership and with his total support, the Company exited Roger Ailes, compensated numerous women who were mistreated; trained virtually all of its employees; exited its biggest star; and hired a new head of HR. By his actions, Rupert has made it abundantly clear that he understands that there were real problems at FOX News, the statement continued. Rupert values all of the hard-working colleagues at FOX News, and will continue to address these matters to ensure FOX News maintains its commitment to having a work environment based on the values of trust and respect.

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For this story, HuffPost spoke with 10 current and former female Fox News staffers, all of whom are or were on-air talent and say they have faced harassment or assault by current and former Fox News executives and on-air talent. They said the comment by Murdoch, who controls the Fox News Channel along with his two sons Lachlan and James through 21st Century Fox, not only diminished the scandal that has plagued the network for over 17 months, it also virtually erased a flood of allegations, terminations, forced resignations and settlements.

All the women communicated via text message and asked to remain anonymous, either because they still work at the network or are bound by non-disclosure agreements they signed when they left, or because their current employers dont allow them to speak to the press without authorization.

I have had to put up with a hostile work environment for years, and now Im told that it doesnt exist by a man who doesnt have to walk these halls every day? Im hungry for justice, said one woman who is part of the networks on-air talent.

Hey Rupert - stop with the lies or well go public with the truth. All of it. Including about the talent and executives you still employ who have harassed us and dont give a damn about workplace respect - only money, said a woman who was previously a member of Fox News on-air talent. How much will it take before you actually start caring about your female employees? Is your 52 billion enough? Are we really going to clean house now?

Murdochs comment directly contradicts the public relations strategy of Fox News and 21st Century Fox, which has been to diligently tell reporters the era of Ailes, who died this year, and host Bill OReilly is over. Instead, the press reps say, Fox News has ushered in a new era of corporate responsibility and a workplace free of hostility and retaliation.

The comment is also unusual because Fox News has been the subject of a federal investigation into Ailes settlements for over a year. The U.S. Attorney, the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service are all assisting with the probe, which is looking at whether Ailes payouts violated federal law because they were not disclosed to shareholders. The Postal Service is involved because the investigation includes potential mail and wire fraud violations.

Bill OReilly has settled multiple sexual harassment lawsuits while at Fox News. (Photo: Brendan McDermid / Reuters)

Fox News has been plagued by accusations of sexual misconduct, especially in the last year and a half. In July 2016, former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson stunned the media world when she filed a lawsuit saying Ailes had harassed and retaliated against her over a number of years. 21st Century Fox hired the white-shoe law firm Paul Weiss to conduct an investigation into the allegations, and current and former Fox News staffers and on-air talent told the firm Ailes had subjected them to harassment and retaliation. Ailes was forced to resign three weeks after Carlson filed her lawsuit, and left with a $40 million payout.

Since then, New York magazine, The New York Times and other publications have reported how Ailes used company funds to pay off women who alleged he had harassed and abused them. Laurie Luhn, a former Fox News booker, received a $3.15 million severance in 2011 that Ailes arranged. She told New York magazine Ailes subjected her to psychological torture and harassment for years.

The New York Times also reported in April that OReilly had settled multiple sexual harassment suits while at the network, with the companys knowledge. After virtually all of his advertisers pulled out, OReilly was ousted with a reported $25 million payout.

In August, HuffPost reported that Fox News host Eric Bolling sent unsolicited lewd photos to colleagues. A month later, Fox News ousted him. And in October, the Times reported OReilly had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl for $32 million. 21st Century Fox had seen a draft of the lawsuit and knew OReilly had settled, but it still renewed the hosts contract in February 2017 for four more years, at $25 million a year.

As the scandals have unfolded, Ive spoken to women at the network about their own experiences and responses to the allegations. I have never received more pointed feedback than I did after Murdochs comments.

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In response to Murdoch's comments, Gretchen Carlson said he should "release all women who complained about sexual harassment at Fox News from the secrecy agreements you forced them to sign and let the truth come out." (Photo: Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)

Lauren Sivan, a television reporter who worked at Fox News and now works at a Fox station in Los Angeles owned by 21st Century Fox, said Ailes used to have her sit on his lap so he could monitor her breathing and diaphragm. He did this, she said, under the false premise of helping her speak better on television. Several women at Fox News said Ailes required them to sit on his lap and engage in the same exercise.

What kind of company pays close to 100 million dollars to keep flirting quiet? Sivan said in response to Murdochs quote.

Did this man [Murdoch] just forget the 100 million dollars his company had to pay in settlements for terrible men behaving badly? said a current Fox news host. He now says it was a bit of flirting and an issue related to the fact that Fox News has conservative hosts? Sexual harassment has nothing to do with politics. Many of us are conservative and want the truth to come out. Those of us who still work at Fox News have anxiety issues every time we see another woman coming forward with stories we have all lived through but have never shared.

The harassment was persistent and ongoing, said a former Fox News reporter. It was personally and professionally devastating for some of my colleagues and me. When the person who signs your paycheck and is responsible for promotions and demotions harasses women who rely on him, its more than sort of a problem. Rogers circle of advisors laughed off the problem and enabled his behavior to continue for years. Ruperts dismissal is a crude insult to women. He should know better.

Tamara Holder, a Fox News commentator who settled with the network earlier this year over a sexual assault claim, said, You cannot rewrite history, Mr. Murdoch. The problem was not only with your chief executive. For example, one of your former executives trapped me in his office, pulled-out his penis and shoved my head on it. Thats not nonsense. Thats criminal.

The culture at Fox News wont change until you publicly accept that it has been a breeding ground for sexual misconduct over the past two decades, Holder said.

Rudi Bakhtiar worked at CNN as an anchor and reporter for close to a decade before joining Fox News in 2005. About a year after she joined, she says Brian Wilson, a weekend Fox News anchor who had just been tapped to be the new Washington Fox News bureau chief made unwanted sexual advances towards her while promising her a promotion in exchange. When she complained of his behavior, she was retaliated against and eventually fired. She received a settlement from Fox News which included a non-disclosure agreement. After Gretchen Carlson filed suit against Ailes in 2016, Bakhtiar decided to break her NDA to speak out about the abuses at Fox News. Since being terminated by Fox News, Bakhtiar who held several prominent positions at CNN, has not seen her on-air career recover.

In reaction to Murdochs statement, Bakhtiar told HuffPost, Rupert Murdoch knows the sexual harassment allegations extended well beyond Roger Ailes. In my case it was Brian Wilson, the newly assigned Washington D.C. bureau chief, who offered me the job full time if I would show him the inside of my hotel room. A management culture including then VP Bill Shine who covered up for him and other executives, hosts, and reporters. I broke my NDA because I realized that this had to stop. Shame on Mr. Murdoch. Even now he cant do or say the right thing. Thats precisely why the culture perpetuated and lasted so long on his watch. He knew. He knew and he didnt care. He still doesnt care that his company unfairly destroyed the careers of many hardworking talented women while covering for sexual harassers time after time.

Carlson also replied to the comments, saying, Mr. Murdoch: sexual harassment isnt flirting, nonsense, largely political or simply isolated incidents. Im calling on you to release all women who complained about sexual harassment at Fox News from the secrecy agreements you forced them to sign and let the truth come out. Let the public decide if the behavior to which women were subjected was flirting. She tweeted the same statement soon after.

Some Fox News women who have never come forward publicly with their complaints say they are considering sharing what they experienced, and were willing to walk out if necessary. Some say Ailes sexually harassed them, while others have complaints about on-air talent and executives at the network.

Im contacting a lawyer tomorrow, said one Fox News host. Im sick of this shit.

This story has been updated with comment from 21st Century Fox.

Follow Yashar  or send him a tip  on Twitter: @yashar

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A party with firm control of the state legislature strengthens its grip on power by drawing electoral boundaries that makes it extremely difficult for members of the opposition party to win.

Since 2010, thats largely been the story of Republicans, who had overwhelming control of the redistricting process in 2011 and ruthlessly drew district lines to make it hard for Democrats to win legislative and congressional races. Its an approach that accounts for 16-17 Republican seats in Congress, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Facing that severe disadvantage, Democrats have led a strong push to fight partisan gerrymandering in the courts and through ballot measures that would make the mapmaking process more fair.

But in Maryland, Democrats who want to rein in the unfair process face a dilemma. The party controls the state legislature and benefits from gerrymandering, holding seven of the states eight seats in Congress. Democrats have stymied efforts by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to pass legislation that would require a more neutral process for drawing maps, saying it is an effort to flip a Democratic seat in Congress to Republicans. Hogan said on Wednesday he would push for legislation to implement an independent commission to oversee redistricting for the fourth year in a row.

The situation in Maryland underscores a difficult question facing Democrats and left-leaning groups who are pushing for reform ahead of the next round of redistricting in 2021. Will Democrats, disadvantaged by gerrymandering for so long, support reform in places where it means conceding some of their power?

Del. Kirill Reznik (D), a lawmaker who has introduced his own redistricting legislation, questioned why Democrats should give anything up.

Democrats are always expected to do the political right thing, but then when we expect Republicans to follow, I have this image of them walking off to another room and giggling and pointing at us, Reznik said in an interview. Democrats are expected to act and then Republicans do not follow. They claim they will follow, but they dont follow.

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He noted that California, a Democratic stronghold, had adopted an independent redistricting commission, but Republican states like Texas and Ohio had not followed suit.

Reznik has opposed Hogans proposal for a bipartisan redistricting panel, but last year introduced legislation to adopt a more neutral redistricting process as long as five other states  New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina  did so as well. The idea behind the compact was to make sure any congressional representation Democrats in Maryland lost in a new redistricting process was offset by concessions in other states.

Reznik described the idea as unilateral disarmament, but Hogan vetoed the legislation in May, calling it a phony bill setting reform conditions so difficult they would never happen.

Ashley Oleson, the administrative director for the Maryland chapter of the League of Women Voters and a member of Hogans redistricting reform commission, was skeptical six states could agree to do something together about gerrymandering.

Given the challenges each state has to do their redistricting process, a compact between six states would not be very realistic to get the job done for this next Census, let alone the one following that, she said in an interview. Getting six states to do something substantially similar in this process would take a ton of time and not really get the job done.

Reznik said hes open to a smaller pact between Maryland and Virginia.

In 2015, a bipartisan redistricting commission established by Hogan offered a series of recommendations to make mapmaking fairer in Maryland. Instead of having lawmakers draw the maps, they suggested appointing a nine-member bipartisan panel. To prevent political gerrymandering, the commission recommended the panel not be able to consider past voter information or the addresses of candidates, and should make the data available to the public. The only two members of the commission who didnt support the recommendations were the Democratic appointees from the legislature, said Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the Cato institute and one of the commissions co-chairs.

Hogan did not respond to an interview request and Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas Miller, both Democrats, did not respond to request for comment. When Hogan vetoed Rezniks legislation in May, Busch and Miller released a joint statement saying Hogans redistricting efforts were a ploy to get more Republicans elected to Congress.

Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesman for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a group led by former Attorney General Eric Holder that is focused on redistricting reform, declined to comment on Hogans proposals, saying the group was still evaluating them.

Damon Effingham, the legal and policy director of Common Cause Maryland, a public interest watchdog that supports redistricting reform, said it was a difficult conversation with Democrats in the state, who support it in theory, but are leery of ceding power when Republicans have used the process so strongly to their advantage in other states.

Its a very tough discussion because its always that two step process. We want to get rid of it, but we also dont want to give up this at this moment, he said in an interview.

Registered Democrats outrank Republicans nearly 2 to 1 in Maryland and Effingham frequently tells Democrats a more neutral redistricting process would probably only result in the party giving up one Congressional seat. With Hogans high popularity, Effingham has also tried to tell Democrats it might be to their advantage to have a bipartisan redistricting process if Hogan wins reelection and is in office during the next round of redistricting.

Still, he said, some Democrats are unconvinced.

Some Democrats, I think more entrenched in the general assembly, probably still think they have a good deal of control over the process no matter whos the governor after 2018, which is somewhat true, he said. They just double back to the idea this is done much worse in other states by Republicans and until something happens there, they dont want to give up the one place that has this.

The U.S. Supreme Court could also impact the way maps are drawn in Maryland. In a surprise move last week, the court agreed to hear a challenge to one of Marylands congressional districts in which the plaintiffs argue Democrats violated their First Amendment rights, effectively punishing them for their support of Republican candidates by placing them in a Democratic district. Combined with a case out of Wisconsin, in which Democrats are challenging a Republican-drawn map for the Wisconsin assembly, the high court could for the first time set a standard to determine when partisan gerrymandering violates the U.S. Constitution.

Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine, speculated the court may have taken the Maryland case to show that egregious gerrymandering is a problem for both Democrats and Republicans. The high court may want to show, Hasen hypothesized, it is not siding with one party or the other by striking down a gerrymandered map.

Olson, the co-chair of Hogans commission, said he frequently reminds Republicans who control state houses now that they wont be in power forever and that refusing to fix a problem voters are increasingly frustrated with will only further sap their enthusiasm.

It is power here that seems to be the corrupting factor. Both parties, when in power, have done a whole lot of this, Olson said. The best time to be principled is when youre being magnanimous and no one is forcing this out of you. People remember when youve done the right thing before you had to.

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U.S. President Donald Trump flies via Marine One helicopter over the Tokyo suburbs to meet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan.

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wave to reporters after they signed hats reading 'Donald and Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater'.

President Donald Trump gestures to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japanese professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama looks on, as they play golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, north of Tokyo, Japan.

President Donald Trump pours fish food out as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on while they were feeding carps before their working lunch at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump puts on a U.S. Pacific Air Forces bomber jacket before delivering remarks to members of the U.S. military at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

First Lady Melania Trump shows her calligraphy with Akie Abe, wife of Japanese prime minister, while attending a calligraphy class of 4th graders at the Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

Melania Trump and Japan's first lady Akie Abe visit Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump smiles during a joint press conference with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea.

White House senior staff discuss the situation as U.S. President Donald Trump sits in his car after being grounded from an attempt to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea, at a U.S. military post in Seoul.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania visit the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with opera performers at the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump departs Seoul in Marine One while en-route to Osan Air Base, South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One at Beijing, China.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony at the Great hall of the People in Beijing, China.

President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport.

Melania Trump smiles with children holding U.S. and China flags as she visits Beijing Zoo.

Melania Trump visits the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they pose for a group photo ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit leaders gala dinner in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 10, 2017.

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By Gul Yousafzai and Asif Shahzad QUETTA, Pakistan/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Two suicide bombers stormed a packed Christian church in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding up to 56, officials said, in the latest attack claimed by Islamic State in the country. Police guards stationed at the church entrance and on its roof killed one of the bombers but the second attacker detonated his explosives-filled vest outside its prayer hall just after Sunday services began in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province, said Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister. Baluchistan police chief Moazzam Jah said there were nearly 400 worshippers in the church for the pre-Christmas service. The death toll could have been much higher if the gunmen had forced their way into the sanctuary, he said. Jah said the venue - Bethel Memorial Methodist Church - was on high alert as Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremists over the Christmas season. "We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him," he said. Islamic State claimed the attack, the group's Amaq news agency said in an online statement, without providing any evidence for its claim. Another police official, Abdur Razaq Cheema, said two other attackers escaped. Broken wooden benches, shards of glass and musical instruments were scattered around a Christmas tree inside the prayer hall that was splashed with blood stains. Kal Alaxander, 52, was at the church with his wife and two children when the attack happened. "We were in services when we heard a big bang," he told Reuters. "Then there was shooting. The prayer hall's wooden door broke and fell on us ... We hid the women and children under desks." Maryam George, 20, cried at a hospital where her younger sister Alizeh was fighting for life with two broken legs and multiple other wounds. Pakistani Christians, who number around 2 million in a nation of more than 200 million people, have been the target of a series of attacks in recent years. STRATEGIC REGION Baluchistan, a strategically important region bordering Iran as well as Afghanistan, is plagued by violence by Sunni Islamist sectarian groups linked to the Taliban, al Qaeda and Islamic State. It also has an indigenous ethnic Baloch insurgency fighting against the central government. Middle East-based Islamic State has created an active branch in Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years mostly by recruiting among established militants, and its followers have claimed some of Pakistan's most deadly attacks in recent years. A suicide bomber killed 52 people and wounded over 100 at a Baluchistan Sufi shrine in November last year, in an attack claimed by Islamic State. In February, Islamic State attacked a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, killing 83 people. Violence in Baluchistan has fueled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistans southern deep-water port of Gwadar. The church attack came a day after the third anniversary of a Pakistani Taliban attack on an army-run school that killed 134 children, one of the single deadliest attacks in the country's history. Pakistan's army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, condemned the attack. "Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations," he said. "We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts." Last year's Easter Day attack in a public park that killed more than 70 people in the eastern city of Lahore was claimed by a Taliban splinter group previously associated with Islamic State. The United States strongly condemned "the shocking and brutal attack on innocent worshippers," U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale said in a statement. (Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Stephen Coates and Adrian Croft)
Ms Bro said it was not safe to reveal the location, both for her and for people who worked there: AP

The ashes of Heather Heyer, the anti-fascist activist killed in violence at a far-right rally in Charlottesville, were interred in a secret location to protect them from neo-Nazis.

Susan Bro, the mother of the 32-year-old who was killed after a car was driven into a group of protesters this summer, said her daughter's remains were buried at an unmarked, undisclosed, completely protected location.

Given the threats both she and her late daughter continue to receive, she said could not disclose the location for her own safety and that of the people who work at the facility.

Mr Fields now faces a charge of first degree murder (Provided by Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail )

Its a symptom of hate in society that you should have to protect your childs grave, for Petes sake, Ms Bro told the Daily Beast. So, Im protecting my child now.

Ms Bro spoke out as charges against the man charged with killing her daughter were upgraded. At a hearing in the Virginia college town, James Fields, 20, from Ohio, was told he now faces a charge of first degree murder, which carries a potential punishment of life in prison.

Previously, Mr Fields was charged with second-degree murder, which carried with it a punishment of 20-40 years in prison. Mr Fields, who was attending a rally by far right groups protesting a proposal to remove the statue of a confederate general, is accused of driving a vehicle into group of people, injuring several and killing Ms Heyer on August 12.

At the hearing, a video purporting to show Mr Fields driving his 2010 Dodge Challenger towards a crowd of protesters, was played to the court. It showed the vehicle stop, reverse, and then with with space to build up momentum, speed in the direction of the group of people.

It was the first time the video, captured by a restaurants security cameras, had been viewed publicly. Three of around 20 victims of the violence who were attending the hearing, shouted and asked to leave the courtroom as the video was played.

Mr Fields reportedly showed no reaction to the video or to testimony from those who were present that day.

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In the aftermath of the incident, Donald Trump initially refused to condemn the white supremacists and neo-Nazis for the violence that happened. Instead, he said there was blame on many sides. On hearing his comments, Mr Bro refused to take a telephone call from the President.

Asked if the held Mr Trump responsible in any way for her daughters death, she told the Daily Beast: Im starting to come to that conclusion because he definitely pushes forward a hateful agenda.

There are family members that will possibly not have anything to do with me for saying so. Many family members are strong Trump supporters, and continue to be so despite everything they see.

Acquaintances of Mr Fields have said he had an obsession with Nazi Germany. At the hearing on Thursday, he wore a black-and-white striped jumpsuit and remained handcuffed and shackled. He did not speak.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch said his court-appointed lawyer, Denise Lunsford, did not dispute that her client drove the car into the mass of people.

Rather, in a cross-examination of Charlottesville Detective Steven Young, the lawyer said to portray Mr Fields as both remorseful and without significant ties to any of the extremist groups who were present.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq plans to build a pipeline network to carry oil products across all its territory as an alternative to expensive and hazardous transport by tanker truck, Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi said on Saturday.

The network is part of a "strategic" plan for oil transportation that includes pipelines to deliver crude and oil products to neighbouring countries, he said.

The only crude pipeline now in operation in Iraq links the northern, semi-autonomous Kurdish region to Turkey's Mediterranean coast.

All other crude pipelines were shut down or destroyed in the past 35 years as a result of wars and conflicts. iRAQ, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, once had an extensive network of pipelines to export its crude.

One of them carried Iraqi oil across Syria to Lebanon's Mediterranean coast, another to Turkey's Mediterranean coast, largely bypassing the Kurdish region, and one to the Red Sea across Saudi Arabia.

Iraq earlier this month announced plans to build a crude pipeline to fellow OPEC member Iran.

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Mark Heinrich)
NextShark

A 19-year-old TikTok user has gone viral after sharing a video of their eulogy to their deceased father at his funeral, in which they call him a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, Trump-loving man. The user, identified as Saga, goes by the handle @saginthesunforever and has self-described themselves as a Black supremacist on their TikTok bio. Saga, who uses the pronouns they/them, has received widespread backlash after their viral video was re-posted to Twitter by controversial conservative account Libs of TIkTok on Tuesday.
Ivanka Trump: Getty Images

Ivanka Trump has been accused of a "conflict of interest" after her fashion brand opened a shop in New York's Trump Tower.

The company's first retail outlet, which sits behind the building's security checkpoint and armed police guards, sells handbags, shoes and jewellery in the lobby of the New York City skyscraper.

Ivanka Trump merchandise had previously only been sold through wholesale distributors and online. Some retailers stopped stocking the brand as sales plummeted following her father's election.

Gifts on sale at the shop include scented candles and Christmas ornaments were to be found on the shop's shelves on its opening day, alongside $298 (223) bags and jewellery.

The small shop joins several other Trump-branded business in the Manhattan skyscraper, including a grill, cafe and bar.

It has prompted fresh concerns about the ethics of the Trump family profiting from the President's supporters.

"This is another in a long line of conflicts of interests," Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W Bush, told the The Washington Post. "By selling directly to die-hard Trump supporters, who are already hanging out at Trump Tower, she gets to pocket even higher margins."

Ms Trump made more than $5 million (3.75 million) from her fashion business between January 2016 and March 2017. She stepped down from the day-to-day running of the company after her father became President and appointed her as his adviser.

She also transferred her business assets into a trust overseen by relatives including brother Donald Trump Jnr, who on Friday tweeted a picture of himself "hanging out in the Oval Office".

However, she maintains control of the brand and has faced accusations of exploiting her political position and connections for profit.

The President has also been accused of using his platform to promote Ivanka Trump products.

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In February he lashed out on Twitter at retailer Nordstrom after it stopped stocking the Ivanka Trump line in its 350 stores.

Nordstorm's move was closely followed by a second retail chain, Neiman Marcus, and came after a campaign to boycott shops that sold Trump merchandise.

Both companies denied their decisions were politically motivated and said the products had simply not been selling.

Retailers turning their back on the Ivanka Trump brand is thought to have motivated the company to bypass distributors and begin selling directly to customers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 17:05:10|Editor: Liangyu

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OTTAWA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The recent viral video on a starving polar bear in northern Canada's Nunavut region has led to concern on climate change, as well as doubts about the real cause of the beast's emaciation.

Earlier this month, video and photos were published showing a scrawny polar bear rummaging in the garbage for food in an abandoned fishing camp on Somerset Island of Nunavut.

The heartbreaking scene was shared and retweeted around the world for millions of times, with people in the comments arguing over the phenomenon of shrinking Arctic sea ice because of global warming, which makes hunting harder for animals like polar bears.

"The simple truth is this -- if the Earth continues to warm, we will lose bears and entire polar ecosystems," said Paul Nicklen, photographer right at the "soul-crushing scene" with a documentary team.

The video directly puts the blame on climate change, as the script in the beginning says, "This is what climate change looks like."

Yet there are people doubting the whole thing as agenda driven, saying the polar bear could be terribly sick or suffering from vital injury.

Leo Ikakhik, a resident in Arviat village on Canada's western Hudson Bay, is a polar bear monitor working for organizations like the World Wildlife Fund Canada. According to him, the polar bear's wretched condition is "just part of the cycle."

"Mother Nature is going to do part of that...I would not really blame the climate change. It's just part of the animal, what they go through," Ikakhik said in an interview with CBC Radio One.

While some people refused to take the video as proof of climate change, a conservation group named SeaLegacy hoped the scene could prompt discussions on the negative influence of warming global temperatures on the Arctic and its wildlife.

"(The bear) was starving and we want people to know what a starving polar bear looks like, because as we lose the ice in the Arctic polar bears will starve," SeaLegacy co-founder Cristina Mittermeier told CBC Radio One on Friday.

A study released in October by a climate research group at the University of Calgary suggested that Arctic Ocean could be ice-free much sooner than the previous predictions of the first ice-free Arctic summer to occur between 2040 and 2050.

The consequences would be enormous for polar bears, as these seal-predators' only access to food is from the surface of sea ice.
Muzaffarabad (Pakistan) (AFP) - Several hundred metres underground, thousands of labourers grind away day and night on a mammoth hydroelectric project in contested Kashmir, where India and Pakistan are racing to tap the subcontinent's diminishing freshwater supplies.

The arch rivals have been building duelling power plants along the banks of the turquoise Neelum River for years.

The two projects, located on opposite sides of the Line of Control -- the de facto border in Kashmir -- are now close to completion, fuelling tensions between the neighbours with Pakistan particularly worried their downstream project will be deprived of much-needed water by India.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir is at the heart of a 70-year conflict between the nuclear-armed foes, with both sides laying claim to the conflict-riven territory.

The rivalry on the Neelum is underlined by both countries' unquenchable need for freshwater, as their surging populations and developing economies continue to stress already diminished waters tables.

This situation represents a serious challenge to Pakistan's food security and long-term growth, its central bank recently warned in a report.

The geography of the wider region only exacerbates the problem.

The Indus River -- into which the waters of the Neelum ultimately flow -- is one of the longest on the continent, cutting through ultra-sensitive borders in the region.

It rises in Tibet, crosses Kashmir and waters 65 percent of Pakistan's territory, including the vast, fertile plains of Punjab province -- the country's bread basket -- before flowing into the Indian Ocean.

The Indus Water Treaty, painfully ratified in 1960 under the auspices of the World Bank, theoretically regulates water allocation between the countries and is considered a rare diplomatic success story amid a bitter history.

It provides India with access to three eastern rivers (the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Pakistan with three in the west (the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum), while setting the conditions for water usage.

Story continues

- Underground cathedral -

As a tributary of the Jhelum River, the Neelum theoretically falls into Pakistan's sphere, which launched the Neelum-Jhelum power plant project a quarter of a century ago to counter the legal, but competing Kishanganga project in Indian Kashmir.

At the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum, the gigantic underground cathedral of concrete and steel is near completion -- the four generators are in place, waiting for the transformers and the network to be connected.

More than 6,000 Pakistani and Chinese workers busy themselves in the 28 kilometres (17 miles) of underground tunnels or in the power station itself, buried under 400 metres of rock in the heart of the Himalayas.

After completion, the dam is expected to churn out 969 MW of electricity by mid-2018.

"It is a fantastic feeling to see the outcome of such a historic project," enthused Arif Shah, an engineer working on the site for eight years.

"We hope to finish our hydroelectric plant before the Indians," he smiles, while acknowledging that the real pressure comes from Islamabad, which has promised to end the debilitating power cuts nationwide ahead of the the 2018 elections.

On the Indian side, the Kishanganga power station is also in its final phase, but has delayed its late 2017 completion date, according to an official, in part because of ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley.

- Water and blood -

Pakistan has filed cases at the World Bank against India and the Neelum dam, which it says will unfairly restrict the amount of water headed downstream.

According to the plant's director Nayyar Aluddin, the production of electricity could shrink by 10-13 percent because of the Indian project.

But the hydroelectric projects on the Neelum River are only one of several points of friction between the two countries as the Indus Treaty faces increasingly pressing disputes.

Beyond the technical bickering, Islamabad is especially afraid of India cutting into its precious water supplies during strategic agricultural seasons that are key to feeding the country's 207 million residents.

The possibility of hitting Pakistan's food supply is regularly amped up by both Indian and Pakistani media, stretching perennially taut relations.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at such reprisals following an attack in Indian Kashmir blamed on Pakistani insurgents in September 2016.

"Blood and water can't flow together," he said.

However, a blockade of any significant magnitude is not really technically feasible, while neither party has seriously sought to challenge the Treaty of the Indus.

"The disputes over the barrages are mostly symptoms of poor bilateral relationships," said Gareth Price, a researcher at Chatham House.

The problem is that the rival countries conceive water as a zero-sum game -- if one taps the resource, it means they are lost to the other.

But Islamabad must do its part, wrote Neil Buhne, UN coordinator in Pakistan, in an op-ed calling for the country to diversify "its water resources" while reigning in inefficiencies that wastes water.
Corey Robin looks back at one of the biggest political stories in the week  Doug Jones beating Roy Moore  and highlights the biggest lessons of that victory

Since Tuesdays Senate election in Alabama, when the mild centrist Doug Jones defeated the menacing racist Roy Moore, social media has been spinning two tunes. Politicians tweeted Lynyrd Skyrnyrds Sweet Home, Alabama. Historians tweeted the 1934 classic Stars Fell on Alabama.

My minds been drifting to The Alabama Song. Not the obvious reference from The Doors/Bowie version  Oh, show us the way to the next little girl  but two other lines that recur throughout the song: We now must say goodbye  I tell you we must die.

Its a lyric for the left, which cant seem to let go of its sense of defeat, even when the right loses.

1. This is what defeat looks like

Alabamas a red state, as red as they come. The last time it elected a Democratic senator  a quarter-century ago  he was a Republican. Three years ago, Donald Trumps attorney general, Jeff Sessions, won re-election to the Senate with 98% of the vote: no Democrat had dared challenge him.

When Democrats started wondering if Moores sexual predations might sink him, it seemed a case of either wishful thinking  why would the state that rewarded Donald Trumps alleged harassment with 63% of its vote care about Moores harassment?  or defining deviancy downward. Next to Moore, liberals seemed to suggest, Trump didnt look so bad, a point Paul Begala actually made even before the news of Moores predation broke.

Born

Roy Stewart Moore, 11 February 1947, in Gadsden, Alabama, the oldest of five children of a construction worker and housewife.



Best of times

He had a large slab of Vermont granite inscribed with quotes from the Declaration of Independence, the national anthem and the founding fathers installed in the Alabama supreme court. It was topped off with tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

Worst of Times

In Vietnam, Moore insisted his troops salute him on the battlefield. He was named Captain America and later recalled sleeping on sandbags to avoid a grenade tossed under his cot in retribution.

Story continues

What he says

I think it [America] was great at the time when families were united. Even though we had slavery, they cared for one another.

What others say

After refusing to acknowledge same-sex marriage legislation, Human Rights Campaign said: It is clear that Roy Moore not only believes he is above the law, he believes he is above judicial ethics...



But now that Moore has done what virtually no one thought he could do, liberals have turned around to say his loss is not that significant. What really matters, says Ezra Klein, is the fact that Moore almost won, that he got 48% of the vote and 91% of the Republican vote.

Moore is proof that there is no depravity so unforgivable, no behavior so immoral, that it assures a candidate will lose his partys voters  even though we are not the country that elected Roy Moore, we are the country that almost elected him, and that is still worth reckoning with.

Others focus on the fact that a majority of white voters still voted for Moore, despite his being an unabashed white supremacist and sexual harasser and accused assaulter of underage women.

After every defeat of the right, after every poll shows dangerously low approval ratings for Trump or the Republican, I hear the same response from the left, especially on social media: what about the minority of voters who still support the right? How can they do it? What is wrong with them?

Even though Tuesdays election showed signs of a fairly large switch in the white vote of Alabama, from red to blue, even though 24% of the American people approved of Richard Nixon the day he resigned  eight points lower, incidentally, than Trumps current approval rating  the left cant let go of the voters who remain committed to Trumpism. Even when the candidates of those voters lose major statewide elections twice in a row. In southern states.

But the left doesnt need to convince every last Republican of the error of their ways. It doesnt need to put all Republican voters in the public square, forcing them to recant their beliefs. It doesnt need Christian suasion, encouraging rightwingers to apologize and confess their sins.

In an electoral democracy, the way to break your opponents  especially opponents like these  is to demoralize them, to make them feel they are a small and isolated minority, that their cause is a loser.

On election day, the left needs to convince the right  not through voter suppression or intimidation but through rhetoric and speech  that their movement is going nowhere, so they shouldnt either. Thats exactly what happened in Alabama, where the biggest reason for the shift in counties that voted for Trump last November going for Jones this December is that GOP voters stayed home, according to MCIMaps.

2. This is what winning looks like

Speaking of voter suppression, several commenters have said to me that overcoming the effects of voter suppression seems to require either an extraordinarily bad candidate, like Roy Moore, or an extraordinarily charismatic candidate, like Barack Obama. Id rephrase that to say that it requires extraordinary efforts of all sorts and sizes by all sorts of people.

But thats not just true of elections and voter suppression. Its also true of getting social security (and keeping it), passing the Wagner Act, getting the vote, organizing a union, going on strike, and passing the Equal Rights Amendment  which didnt pass. Thats true of any smidgen of justice, any advance, no matter how small, that youll ever get in this godforsaken country, with all its cockamamie veto points and separated, federated, other-kinds-of-ated institutions.

Thats true of all democracy  theres a reason, the political theorist Sheldon Wolin intimated, that in all those ancient theories of regime cycles, democracy always comes last  but its especially true of democracy in America.

The most ordinary, minimal democracy requires the most extraordinary, heroic acts of individual men and women, of anonymous collectives and faceless social movements  years and decades of grueling work, of hair turned gray and stomachs turned sour. Thats the American story: always has been, always will be. The French took the Bastille in four hours; it took American workers 100 years to get a weekend.

3. The Democrats just got served

As many outlets have reported, black voters played a large role in defeating Moore, though as Matt Bruenig points out, there was also a large and under-reported switch in the white vote, which, in keeping with the lack of enthusiasm in the Republican base, may have contributed as much if not more to the surprise of Tuesdays results.



Regardless of the relative weight of these factors, this, from Eddie Glaude, is indisputably true:

Finally, black voters in Alabama saw their power and exercised it. In doing so, they served notice to the Democratic party. Democrats cannot win without black voters and they must not take our votes for granted. The days of symbolic talk and empty gestures are over. Deliver or pay the price. The national leadership of the Democratic party must understand this or risk continued defeat.

What black voters, particularly black women, have gotten instead is a lot of thank-yous. From liberals and Democrats, on Twitter and Facebook: thank you, black people, for saving us or America or democracy from ourselves.

Its a weird move, with weird overtones. Rather than treating black people as political agents in their own right, acting in their own interest, rather than viewing black people as part of an inclusive movement of the left, the thank-you-note writers treat African Americans as if they were the indispensable helpmates of an addled white upper-middle class, a class thats too harried, busy, or distracted to deal with the hassle of everyday life, the drudgery of daily upkeep, the housekeeping of democracy.

What Glaude rightly is calling for is not a thank-you note  or donations to black organizations, which replicate the same structure of white noblesse oblige  but a political program, for the entire left, thats commensurate with the black vote, a program that confronts the deep divide of race and class that mars this country.

Not just the extreme poverty of Alabama, which predates the rise of Trump and Moore and will continue with Doug Jones, but the racial wealth gap, the crushing debt, the homeownership crisis, the over-policing and imprisonment that have been so relentlessly documented over the years.

As Glaude suggests, the Democrats havent been too forthcoming on that front. Indeed, their last presidential candidate breezily dismissed the centrality of the economic concerns to African Americans with the claim: Not everythings about an economic theory, right?

4. We now must say goodbye

Keep an eye out in the coming days and months for announcements from Republican members of Congress that they arent going to seek re-election in 2018. The number of such announcements was already high, relative to Democrats, back in November: 27 to 7, according to the New York Times. I expect well see a lot more in the new year.


Prague (AFP) - Europe's far-right leaders including Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders will gather for a controversial conference in Prague on Saturday held under tight security amid protests planned to counter groups spreading xenophobia.

Allied within the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF), a European Parliament group established two years ago, the parties -- espousing strong anti-migrant and anti-EU views -- say they plan to focus on cooperation within Europe outside EU bodies at the conference.

Le Pen, who lost the French presidential election run-off to Emmanuel Macron in May, and Wilders, head of the Dutch Party for Freedom, will sit next to Lorenzo Fontana from Italy's Lega Nord or Georg Mayer from the Austrian FPO.

The organisers have also listed Belgium's Gerolf Annemans, Poland's Michal Marusik, Marcus Pretzell from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Janice Atkinson, a former member of Britain's UKIP, among the speakers.

Czech police tightened security as left-wing groups announced several protests, including a blockade of the suburban area of Prague where the conference will be held on Saturday.

Police will also have their hands full with Wilders, who is facing death threats over his fiery anti-Islam rhetoric.

Protest organisers include the No to Racism initiative and Against Hatred, another local group.

- Far-right spike -

The conference takes place two months after the far-right SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura scored over ten-percent support in the Czech general election on a staunchly anti-Islam and anti-EU ticket.

Backed openly by Le Pen, the SPD won 22 seats in the 200-member Czech parliament amid a far-right spike across Europe coming in the wake of the migrant crisis.

Okamura has received backing from Czech President Milos Zeman, a veteran leftwinger known for his pro-Russian, pro-Chinese and anti-Muslim rhetoric, who attended an SPD congress last weekend.

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Zeman, who once called the migrant crisis "an organised invasion" of Europe and Muslims "impossible to integrate", is the odds-on favourite in a two-round presidential election slated for January 2018.

Paradoxically, the Czech Republic, which vehemently opposes the EU's quota system for distributing migrants among its members, has received only 12 migrants under the scheme.

Overall, migrant numbers from the Muslim world are very low in this EU member of 10.6 million people as refugees prefer wealthier European countries such as Germany or Sweden.

Czech parties nevertheless still seized on the political capital to be gained from playing on fears over terrorism and economic welfare to campaign on an anti-Muslim and anti-migrant platform.
Quetta (Pakistan) (AFP) - At least eight people were killed and 30 wounded when two suicide bombers attacked a church in Pakistan during a service Sunday, just over a week before Christmas, police said.

Two women were among the dead at a Methodist church in the restive southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, said provincial Home Secretary Akbar Harifal.

Several of the wounded were in serious condition, police added.

Officials said security forces intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church's main door where he blew himself up.

"Police were quick to react and stop the attackers from entering into the main hall," provincial police chief Moazzam Jah told AFP.

Balochistan provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said around 250 people normally attend the church on Sundays, but the congregation had swelled to around 400 because it was close to Christmas.

"God forbid, if the terrorists had succeeded in their plans more than 400 precious lives would have been at stake," tweeted the home minister.

An AFP reporter at the scene saw shattered pews, shoes and broken musical instruments littered across the blood-smeared floor of the church.

No group has claimed the attack.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people and have long faced discrimination -- sidelined into lowly paid jobs and sometimes the target of trumped-up blasphemy charges.

Along with other religious minorities, the community has also been hit by Islamic militants over the years.

In 2016 Lahore suffered one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks during the Easter season -- a suicide bomb in a park that killed more than 70 people including many children.

The bombing was later claimed by the Jamaat ul Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Police and troops have been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan for more than a decade.

Story continues

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is the largest of the country's four provinces but its roughly seven million inhabitants have long argued they do not get a fair share of its vast gas and mineral wealth.

Efforts to promote peace and development have reduced the violence considerably in recent years.

The push includes ongoing work on a mammoth Chinese infrastructure project -- the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- which will provide Beijing with a modern-day Silk Road to the Arabian Sea through Balochistan's deep-sea port of Gwadar.
Just three in 10 Americans said the US was heading in the right direction, and 52 per cent said the nation was worse off since Mr Trump became President: Reuters

Less than a quarter of Americans think Donald Trump has delivered on promises he made during his presidential election campaign, according to a new poll.

The US leaders campaign included promises to overhaul Barack Obamas healthcare legislation, withdraw from a nuclear accord with Iran, and invest millions in new projects to fix the nations ageing infrastructure  none of which have been delivered.

Only half of people who support his own Republican Party think has made good on his pledges to voters in the almost year since he entered the White House.

Just three in 10 Americans said the US was heading in the right direction, and 52 per cent said the nation was worse off since Mr Trump became President, according to the survey by the Associated Press (AP) NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.

Only 23 per cent think Mr Trump has kept his promises. 30 per cent say he has tried and failed, but 45 per cent believe he has simply not stuck to his word.

Everything has stalled out, said Mark Krowski, 37, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who leans towards the Republican Party but did not vote for Mr Trump last year.

In a second AP-NORC poll conducted this month, the Presidents job approval rating sits at just 32 per cent, making him the least popular first-year President on record. A quarter of Republicans were among those who disapprove of the President.

The only relative bright spot for Mr Trump was the improving economy. With a soaring stock market and unemployment hovering around 4 per cent, some 40 per cent of Americans approved of his handling of the economy.

Thats higher than the three in 10 Americans that approved of the Presidents handling of healthcare, foreign policy or taxes.

Mr Trump has boasted that his first months in office outshine those of his predecessors, but his low ratings and failure to fulfil his promises will undoubtedly worry some of his party as they head into a mid-term election year, in which control of Congress will be at stake.

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There is little doubt that 2017 has been devoid of any significant legislative accomplishments, though Republicans are urgently trying to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nations tax system. The package would give generous tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest tax cuts to low- and middle-income families.

Were very, very close to a historic legislative victory, the likes of which rarely has this country seen, Mr Trump said during a meeting with politicians earlier this week.

Republicans are banking on the tax overhaul being enough to carry them through next years House and Senate contests, elections that will largely be a referendum on Trumps first two years in office and the GOPs stewardship as the majority party on Capitol Hill.

But with the legislation rushed through Congress and negotiated largely in private, the President and lawmakers may have more work to do to sell the public on its benefits.

Theres so much back and forth and so many adjustments being made. Its just so uncertain, Edward Hale, a 72-year-old who was surveyed, said of tax legislation.

The retired federal government employee from Clarion, Pennsylvania, added: It definitely favours Mr Trump and his wealthy friends.

The poll results suggest that with or without a tax overhaul, Mr Trump has work to do in convincing the public that his presidency is benefiting them. Just 25 per cent of Americans think the country is better off since the Republican took office, and only 20 per cent say they personally are doing better.

By contrast, an AP-NORC poll conducted a year ago found that Americans were more likely to think the country had become better off over the course of Mr Obamas presidency than worse off: by 46 per cent to 33 per cent.

Only nine per cent think the country has become more united as a result of Trumps presidency, while 67 per cent think the country is more divided. Thats far higher than the 44 per cent of Americans who said in a poll one year ago that Mr Obamas presidency had served to divide the country.

Even Republicans are more likely to say Mr Trump has divided America than united it, by 41 per cent to 17 per cent.

Notably, the deep-seated pessimism about the President and national politics doesnt extend to local communities. Overall, about half of Americans said they feel optimistic about their local communities.

And that feeling is shared across the political spectrum; 55 per cent of Democrats and 50 per cent of Republicans feel optimistic about the way things are going locally.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 17:40:15|Editor: Liangyu

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KABUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have reportedly launched attacks against police outposts outside Lashkar Gah, the capital city of the southern Helmand province, a local television channel Arianan News reported on Sunday.

According to the media outlet, both the Taliban militants and Afghan government forces have suffered casualties in the battles.

Helmand provincial government officials have yet to make comments on the report.
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp, the maker of the F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, is partnering with plane maker Aerion Corp to develop the world's first supersonic business jet.

Over the next year, the companies will draw up a plan for all phases of the program such as engineering, certification and production to develop the jet, the Aerion AS2, the companies said on Friday.

The head of Lockheed's aeronautic division, Orlando Carvalho, said "new materials, new technologies are making civil supersonic flight a realistic near-term possibility."

Reno, Nevada-based Aerion said it expects the supersonic business jet to be operational by 2025.

During the next year the project could create as many at 40 jobs at Lockheed Martin alone, Carvalho told Reuters in an interview.

In May, General Electric Co's GE Aviation and Aerion announced a joint study to develop a supersonic engine for the AS2.

U.S. space agency NASA last year awarded a contract to a unit of Lockheed to design a low-boom flight demonstration aircraft as part of its Commercial Supersonic Technology Project.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington, D.C., and Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Leslie Adler)
Washington (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday he does not see the need for a stepped-up military posture against Iran, the day after a top diplomat said evidence shows Tehran is supporting Huthi rebels in Yemen.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday presented missile fragments and other military gear that she said came from Iran and had been used against US ally Saudi Arabia.

When asked if he thought such evidence warranted an emboldened or expanded military response from the US, Mattis said: "Not militarily, no."

"It's the reason Ambassador Haley was there and not one of our generals," he told Pentagon reporters.

"This is a diplomatically-led effort to expose to the world what Iran is up to."

Mattis lambasted Iran for its support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, "despite the murder of his own people on the industrial scale," and of its support for Lebanese group Hezbollah.

What Iran is "doing right now is illegal, is contributing to the deaths of innocent people," Mattis said.

"To expose what they are doing is healthy for the international community for their awareness of what's going on there."

Haley on Wednesday said a missile fired on November 4 from Yemen toward Riyadh airport had been made in Iran.
The actresses Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd have commented on the revelation that disgraced film executive Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob orchestrated a smear campaign to blacklist the two women in Hollywood.

(Photo: Getty)

Sorvino tweeted Friday that director Peter Jacksons new account of the blacklisting made her burst out crying. She added: There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure.

Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying. There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. Im just heartsick https://t.co/ljK9NqICbm  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) December 15, 2017

I remember this well, Judd tweeted, with a link to the report containing Jacksons comments to the New Zealand news site Stuff.

I remember this well. https://t.co/wctEhESAS9  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

Judd also tweeted that Jackson and fellow producer Fran Walsh had showed her all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything and asked which role she preferred.

And then I abruptly never heard from [t]hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter, she said.

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Peter & Fran had me in - showed me all the creative, the boards, costumes, everything. They asked which if the two roles I preferred, and then I abruptly never heard from hem again. I appreciate the truth coming out. Thank you, Peter. https://t.co/iXKuK6Xqtx  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) December 15, 2017

Jackson, in the Stuff article, called the Weinsteins second-rate Mafia bullies. He said Harvey Weinstein threatened to fire him from the Lord of the Rings films if he didnt follow demands, and the blacklist prevented Sorvino and Judd from getting roles in the movies.

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I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998, Jackson told Stuff. At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us  but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing. ... I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women  and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.

Both Sorvino and Judd have come forward in recent months to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment.

Jackson told Stuff he had no direct experience or knowledge of the sexual allegations against Weinstein, but had long ago decided to never work with him again.

The Weinsteins names are included on all Lord of the Rings film credits because of a contract. But Jackson split with the brothers after disagreements over the number of movies that would be in the series (Jackson wanted three, Weinstein insisted on two). New Line eventually took the project from the Weinsteins Miramax, yielding the movie trilogy we know and love today.

While Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film they had no input into the casting whatsoever, a spokesperson for Harvey Weinstein said in a statement.

The spokesperson said Weinstein hadnt known about complaints from either Judd or Sorvino until he had read about them in the news, noting that both actresses had been considered for roles in later Weinstein films.

Weinstein didnt know about Judds complaint until she wrote a piece for Variety two years ago, the spokesperson said, adding that Judd was cast in two other films by Mr. Weinstein [Frida and Crossing Over].

As recently as this year, Mira Sorvino called Mr. Weinstein and asked if her husband could be part of the SEAL television series [Six] he was producing and Mr. Weinstein cast him; when Christopher Backus received a better offer, Mr. Weinstein allowed him to amicably break his contact to peruse the opportunity, the spokesperson added.

Jackson said he hasnt interacted with Weinstein in about 20 years.

This piece has been updated to include a statement from Harvey Weinsteins spokesperson, and with additional comment from Judd.

Also on HuffPost

Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd told the New York Times that Harvey Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked her if he could give her a massage or if she wanted to watch him shower.



She told the Times that she thought, How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow told the New York Times that Weinstein touched her inappropriately.



I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, she said, noting that when Weinstein found out she told her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, "I thought he was going to fire me."

Angelina Jolie

I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did, Angelina Jolie told the New York Times. This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet told Variety that she had heard rumors of Weinstein's behavior for years.



"I had hoped that these kind of stories were just made up rumours, maybe we have all been naive," she said. "And it makes me so angry. There must be no tolerance of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep told HuffPost that the women who came forward about Weinstein's behavior are "heroes."



The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," she said in a statement.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan has been vocal about the scandal since the New York Times published its bombshell report on Weinstein's alleged misconduct. McGowan, the Times said, was one of several women with whom Weinstein reached a financial settlement following the alleged abuse.



After The Weinstein Company fired Harvey, the actress and director called on the rest of the studio's board to resign.



"They knew," she said in a tweet. "They funded. They advised. They covered up. They must be exposed. They must resign."

Ben Affleck

"I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades," Ben Affleck posted on Twitter. "The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick."



Actress Rose McGowan denounced Affleck for implying that he didn't know of the abuse before this week, saying that the pair had previously discussed Weinstein's treatment of her.



"You lie," she tweeted.

Lena Dunham

'Girls' co-creator and star Lena Dunham penned an op-ed for the New York Times calling on more men to speak out against Weinstein and others like him.



"Abuse, threats and coercion have been the norm for so many women trying to do business or make art," she wrote. "Mr. Weinstein may be the most powerful man in Hollywood to be revealed as a predator, but hes certainly not the only one who has been allowed to run wild. His behavior, silently co-signed for decades by employees and collaborators, is a microcosm of what has been happening in Hollywood since always and of what workplace harassment looks like for women everywhere."

George Clooney

In an interview with The Daily Beast, George Clooney said that, for decades, he'd heard rumors about Weinstein, but dismissed them as gossip. Calling Weinstein's behavior "disturbing" and "indefensible," Clooney said he had no idea of the severity of the accusations.



"A good bunch of people that I know would say, Yeah, Harveys a dog or Harveys chasing girls, but again, this is a very different kind of thing," the actor told the Daily Beast. "This is harassment on a very high level. And theres an argument that everyone is complicit in it. I suppose the argument would be that its not just about Hollywood, but about all of usthat every time you see someone using their power and influence to take advantage of someone without power and influence and you dont speak up, youre complicit. And theres no question about that."

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy Award for "Silver Linings Playbook," which The Weinstein Company distributed. She called the alleged harassment "inexcusable and absolutely upsetting."



"I worked with Harvey five years ago, and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting," Lawrence said in a statement. "My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward."

Hillary Clinton

Weinstein was a major Democratic Party benefactor, having donated to or raised money for a host of candidates, including Hillary Clinton.



Clinton said that she "was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior."

Barack and Michelle Obama

Weinstein visited the White House multiple times while Obama was in office after having raised huge funds for his presidential campaign. Earlier this year, Malia Obama also reportedly worked for the Weinstein Company.



"Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein," the Obamas said in a statement. "Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture -- including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect -- so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future."

Judi Dench

Judi Dench, who won an Oscar for her performance in the Weinstein-backed "Shakespeare in Love" and was nominated for two other films under his wing, denounced the alleged abuse.



"Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out," she said in a statement.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio worked with Weinstein on blockbuster films like Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Django Unchained.



"There is no excuse for sexual harrassment or sexual assault-- no matter who you are and no matter what profession," DiCarpio said in a Facebook Post. "I applaud the strength and courage of the women who came forward and made their voices heard."

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain has been one of the most outspoken critics of Weinstein and of Hollywood's complicity since The New York Times published its damning report.



"I was warned from the beginning" about Weinstein, she said in a tweet. "The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again."

Julianne Moore

Moore, who starred in the Weinstein-backed film "A Single Man," tweeted that "coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so. But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others."

Colin Firth

Calling Weinstein a "frightening man to stand up to," Colin Firth told The Guardian that reading about the allegations gave him "a feeling of nausea."



It must have been terrifying for these women to step up and call him out. And horrifying to be subjected to that kind of harassment. I applaud their courage."

Tamron Hall

Its a womans worst nightmare to be in a situation where you believe someone more powerful has control over your life, former "Today" show host Tamron Hall told HuffPost. She called the allegations against Weinstein "horrifying."

Blake Lively

Blake Lively spoke out against Weinstein in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.



The actress said that she was unaware of the abuse but admitted that "it's devastating to hear."



"It's important that women are furious right now. It's important that there is an uprising. It's important that we don't stand for this and that we don't focus on one or two or three or four stories. It's important that we focus on humanity in general and say, 'This is unacceptable.'"

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts gave a statement to People, saying, A corrupt, powerful man wields his influence to abuse and manipulate women. Weve heard this infuriating, heartbreaking story countless times before. And now here we go again. I stand firm in the hope that we will finally come together as a society to stand up against this kind of predatory behavior, to help victims find their voices and their healing, and to stop it once and for all."

Ryan Gosling

I want to add my voice of support for the women who have had the courage to speak out against Harvey Weinstein, Gosling wrote in a note on Twitter. Like most people in Hollywood, I have worked with him and Im deeply disappointed in myself for being so oblivious to these devastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse. He is emblematic of a systemic problem. Men should stand with women and work together until there is real accountability and change.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A North Korean official widely deemed as the nations second most powerful figure has been missing for some time, raising speculation that he has been executed.

The apparent disappearance of Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong-so was first reported in November, with South Koreas National Intelligence Service telling lawmakers in Seoul that hed been punished for having an impure attitude about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

SEE MORE: North Korean media appears to show early 'A-bomb photo'

"If Hwang was indeed kicked out of the Workers Party, it would practically mean the end of his political career, and possibly his life, though it is unknown whether or not he is still alive," one South Korean paper reported.

Hwang was reportedly last seen in public on October 13. But there is some reason to believe that he may have only been reprimanded, and not killed, as the New York Times reports that the phrases "purge" and "execution" were not used in the intelligence report.

Newsweek notes that he has vanished before, but not for this long. Hwang was absent for three weeks in December of 2015, a departure a South Korean media outlet suggested was for medical reasons.

The belief that Hwang has been executed is largely based on both the amount of time hes been away and Kim Jong-uns history of handling officials who he believes have betrayed him.

SEE ALSO: The US said it might block North Korean ships  and Pyongyang called it a 'big step' toward nuclear war

The leader has reportedly had numerous officials and even family members killed for reasons ranging from falling asleep in a meeting to perceived betrayal.

The individuals killed include Kims uncle General Jang Song-Thaek, who was declared a traitor.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 18:10:22|Editor: Yamei

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Photo taken on Dec. 17, 2017 shows damaged buildings near the site of an attack in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2017. An Afghan woman was killed and four civilians wounded when a suicide car bomb struck a NATO-led coalition forces' convoy in Kandahar city, capital of southern province of Kandahar on Sunday, a local official said. (Xinhua/Sanaullah Seiam)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb explosion struck a NATO-led coalition forces' convoy in Kandahar city, capital of southern province of Kandahar on Sunday, a local official said.

The blast occurred at around 02:00 p.m. local time in Police District 5 of Kandahar city, along a road which connects the city to the international airport, the source told Xinhua anonymously.

"The explosion caused panic among the residents. We still cannot provide details on causalities. There is fear of possible causalities among the bystanders but details will be shared with media by officials later in the day," he said.

"We heard a huge blast when a convoy of international forces was passing our neighborhood. The whole place has now been sealed off, and no one knows what happened to residents near the blast site," witness Ahmad Ullah told Xinhua.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.
Police are investigating a possible link to recently found human remains and three young boys who have been missing since 2010.

The partial remains were found in the shed of a rental home in Missoula, Mont., after a tenant was evicted from the home, People Magazine reported. A cleaning crew reportedly found a box which contained teeth and bones.

The three missing boys, Alexander, 9, Andrew, 7, and Tanner Skelton, 5, went missing in 2010 from Morenci, Mich. Their father John Skelton is serving 10 to 15 years in prison for unlawful imprisonment after he told authorities he gave the three boys to an unidentified group to protect them from his now ex-wife, according to the report. Authorities told local news outlets at the time of his sentencing that this would give them time to pursue murder charges.

The thing is, there are missing children all over the world. And the thing is, we dont know that this particular case is isolated to the city of Missoula. We dont know where the bones came from, and if they were transported from one area to another, and ended up here, Missoula Police spokesman Sgt. Travis Welsh told KPAX.

Further forensic testing has been ordered for the newly found remains. There are currently no suspects in the case, according to People.
Warsaw (AFP) - Polish Holocaust survivor Kazimierz Piechowski, who spectacularly escaped Auschwitz by stealing the car of a Nazi SS officer, died on Friday aged 98, the state Institute for National Remembrance (INR) said.

Piechowski, who became prisoner number 918 when he was deported to the infamous death camp in 1940, escaped two years later with three fellow prisoners in one of the most daring escape efforts of World War II.

They fled with a report documenting the running of the camp, providing the exiled Polish resistance detailed evidence of the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

Piechowski and the three others managed to escape after stealing uniforms and guns of officers belonging to the Nazis' feared SS branch and hijacking the Steyr 220 convertible belonging to camp commander Rudolf Hoess.

"Some people tell the story that once we were free we sent Hoess a postcard thanking him for letting use the car," Piechowski told the INR institute in 2012.

"The truth is we did nothing of the sort."

After escaping, Piechowski joined a Polish resistance group and was sentenced to 10 years in prison after the war's end by the communist authorities.

His stunning wartime escape featured in a BBC documentary that saw Piechowski star as himself.

Piechowski died Friday in the Polish port city of Gdansk.

More than 1.1 million people died at the hands of the Nazis in Auschwitz, including one million Europe Jews, between 1940-45. mc/via/pg/pvh
Days after President Trump personally pushed allies to pressure Congress to repeal a tax law prohibiting churches and tax-exempt institutions from political organizing in its upcoming tax bill, the Senate parliamentarian blocked language for the change on Thursday night.

On Monday, Trump invited his cadre of religious supporters in the Oval Office where they gave him an award following his plan to move the U.S. Israel embassy to Jerusalem. Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, spoke with Trump about the fate of the half-century-old law called the Johnson Amendment.

We are totally for this, we are 100% on board, but they need to hear from you, these conferees need to hear from you, Reed recounts Trump telling him, referencing the bills conference committee members, who are hammering out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the tax bill.

Trump reminded Reed that he had signed an executive order in May relaxing prohibitions on political organizing by religious groups. But since Congress determines any actual change to the law, Trump expressed concern that a future Democratic administration could just as easily roll back his executive orders, as he has done with Obamas.

Reed walked out of the Oval and called his field and legislative teams. Turn the phones on, he told them.

Faith and Freedom targeted each conferees office with hundreds of phone calls. They also enlisted support from individuals close to the members. We had megachurch pastors and leading businessmen reaching out to them, in private meetings, and regular phone calls, in texts, Reed says. We left it all on the field.

Reed says he was confident they had the votes to include the language in the conference committees version of the tax bill. But because the Senate is using a special budgetary procedure to try to pass the tax bill, the Senate parliamentarian must rule that every part of the bill has a budgetary effect. Thursday night, she ruled that the repeal of the Johnson Amendment did not qualify.

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We always knew that this was a danger, Reed says of the decision, which he describes as erroneous and dead wrong.

We are exploring various options for a workaround, he says.

Trump also raised the issue of the Johnson Amendment with Liberty University president and early Trump endorser, Jerry Falwell Jr., at a White House Christmas party earlier this week.

One of the first things he brought up was the Johnson Amendment, Falwell says of his private conversation with Trump, who visited with Falwell and his wife, Becki Falwell, in the White House residence. Hes got to get some of his people, me included, to deal with this concern that charities would become backdoor ways to donate to political campaigns.

Falwell blames Trumps evangelical advisors for not addressing that concern. He suggests there be a limit to how much nonprofits could spend on lobbying or supporting a political candidate, perhaps pegged to a percentage of their gross revenue. Maybe 5% or less, Falwell says.

If Liberty has $1.5 billion in reserves, there would be a problem if we were allowed to use that to support a political candidate, he says. We have to work that out.

Critics of the repeal have long expressed concern that it would create a campaign finance loophole for tax-exempt institutions. The provision would have allowed partisan campaign activity to permeate tax-exempt organizations, transforming them from charitable entities into quasi-campaign groups, says Maggie Garrett, legislative director for Americans United. People could have donated money to a church or charity and claimed a tax deduction for it, even if that money were used to promote or attack a candidate.

Falwells suggestion could likely open the door to increased government inspection of church books, a move unlikely to have much support among those who think their First Amendment rights to religious freedom are already overly scrutinized. Execution and compliance could be a headache for small nonprofit groups and the Internal Revenue Service alike.

Falwell remains confident that Trump is committed to ending the prohibition on political organizing by churches and other nonprofits. Until the President gets a Senate of real Republicans, he wont be able to make the changes he wants to make, he says.

Last year shortly before the Republican nominating convention in Cleveland, Trump called Falwell to personally tell him that the 2016 Republican Party platform would include the repeal of Johnson Amendment. He thinks it is going to be a revolution in the Christian world, Falwell told TIME last summer.

Social conservatives, and in particular Trumps white evangelical supporters, have long advocated for the repeal of the Johnson Amendment. This year the effort has been one of their top policy priorities, along with nominating a conservative justice to the Supreme Court, repealing the Affordable Care Act, defunding Planned Parenthood and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. At the end of Trumps first year in office, one of those five goals has been fully realized, and the second  moving the embassy  has been announced but is expected to take years to enact.
Bob Corker and Marco Rubio say they will vote in favor of $1.5tn bill

Donald Trump wants sign controversial legislation before Christmas

Bob Corker said: I believe that this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make US businesses domestically more productive and internationally more competitive is one we should not miss. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

The GOPs $1.5tn tax reform bill is heading toward a final vote and possible victory before Christmas with support from key Republican holdouts who had raised concerns about the deficit and a child tax credit.

Bob Corker of Tennessee, a frequent critic of Donald Trump and the only Republican senator who voted against the legislation in the Senate, announced Friday that he would back a final version of the bill despite his concerns about the deficit. Corker said: I believe that this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make US businesses domestically more productive and internationally more competitive is one we should not miss.

Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, also said he would back the bill, a day after he threatened to vote against it if lawmakers did not expand access to a child tax credit for lower-income families. He tweeted that the legislation would allow a higher percent of a child tax credit to be refundable, calling it a solid step toward broader reforms which are both Pro-Growth and Pro-Worker.

For far too long, Washington has ignored and left behind the American working class. Increasing the refundability of the Child Tax Credit from 55% to 70% is a solid step toward broader reforms which are both Pro-Growth and Pro-Worker.  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 15, 2017

The backing of Rubio and Corker means the legislation, a signature policy initiative of Trump, is on track to pass. The news came days after Republican control of the Senate shifted to a tight 51 to 49 margin following the election of Democrat Doug Jones over Republican Roy Moore in the closely watched Alabama Senate race.

The Democrats have called on Jones to be immediately seated so he can vote on the tax bill.

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The controversial legislation was rushed through the Senate early this month after lawmakers received a nearly 500-page document, some of it handwritten, hours before the vote. The legislation represents the most sweeping overhaul of the tax code in decades and stands to benefit big businesses and the rich.

Critics have called the legislation a handout for the super-rich that would hurt lower-income and middle-class families. Bernie Sanders labeled it one of the greatest robberies in American history.

Republicans merged the House and Senate versions of the legislation and released a final bill late Friday, with the goal of voting before taking a recess for the rest of the year. Majority leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would get this bill done next week.

Opponents have said the legislation would further exacerbate inequality in the US, and the latest Republican agreement seeks to gut a key part of Barack Obamas healthcare law. The bill would repeal the individual mandate, which required people to purchase health insurance or pay a fine. Millions could be left without insurance and premiums could rise as a result.

Trump, who has yet to score a single major legislative victory, has called on Republicans to send a bill to his desk by Christmas.

We want to give you, the American people, a giant tax cut for Christmas. And when I say giant, I mean giant, Trump said in a speech at the White House on Wednesday.

The final bill would also open the Arctic national wildlife refuge in Alaska to oil and gas drilling, a proposal that has drawn fierce backlash from environmentalists and tribal groups.

The president has expressed frustration with the lack of movement on his agenda on Capitol Hill, and was left bruised when repeated attempts by Republicans to repeal and replace Obamas healthcare law fell short this summer. Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, have expressed confidence they will not suffer similar embarrassment with tax reform.

The final bill is poised to lower the top tax rate for families and individuals to 37% from 39.6%. It will also lower the top corporate tax rate to 21%, one percentage point higher than the 20% Trump had called for.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised Corkers reversal in a statement Friday. She said: He sees a great entrepreneurial spirit being released in our country and he is a part of that spirit. When these massive tax cuts and incentives kick in, jobs and growth will follow at a very high level.

The Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office, both nonpartisan research groups in Congress, have projected the Republican proposals would disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy people.

Republicans in the Senate are using a process known as budget reconciliation that enables them to pass the tax plan with a simple-majority vote. As a result, they can only afford to lose two votes under their current two-seat majority  a scenario in which vice-president Mike Pence would act as the tie-breaking vote.

If Republicans dont advance their plan before Jones is sworn in, they would have just one vote to lose.

This is what the American people have been waiting for: more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks, House speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement Friday night, saying the bill was now only two votes and a signature away from becoming the law of the land.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 18:10:23|Editor: Jiaxin

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Damaged vehicles are seen at the blast site in southwest Pakistan's Quetta, on Dec. 17, 2017. At least eight people were killed and 44 others injured in a suicide attack at a church in Pakistan's southwest provincial capital of Quetta on Sunday, hospital sources told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Irfan)

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 44 others injured in a suicide attack at a church in Pakistan's southwest provincial capital of Quetta on Sunday, hospital sources told Xinhua.

Waseem Baig, spokesperson for a civic hospital, told Xinhua through telephone that eight people were killed and 44 others injured in the suicidal blast in Quetta.

Local reports said that the death toll may further rise as nine were in critical conditions, and that about 10 to 15 kg of explosives were used in the attack.

Interior Minister of the country's southwest Balochistan Province Sarfraz Bugti said that a group of four terrorists attacked the bethel memorial methodist church located at the Zarghoon Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.

Bugti said one of the suicide bombers was shot dead by police guards at the main entrance of the church before he could detonate his explosives vest while the second one blew himself up outside of the church wall after he got injured in police firing, and that no attacker could enter the church premises.

Earlier, Bugti said that one of the attackers managed to enter the church and blew himself up.

Following the retaliatory fire from police, two of the attackers managed to run away from the site, the interior minister said, adding that the forces have cleared the church and are conducting clearance operation in nearby areas.

At the time of attack around 500 people were offering their prayers in the church.

A state of emergency has been declared in all the hospitals of the city. Following the attack, rescue teams, security forces and police rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the hospitals.

A high security alert has been declared in the Quetta district.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Razzaq said that if security forces had not acted in a timely manner, the number of causalities could have been more, and that it was a successful operation.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack and directed the authorities concerned to provide the best available medical treatment to the wounded people.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Republican candidate Roy Moore told his supporters his senate race was

Failed Republican senate candidate Roy Moore is still refusing to concede the Alabama senate election despite US President Donald Trump calling on him to admit defeat.

Mr Moore has sent a fundraising email to supporters asking for contributions to his election integrity fund so he could investigate reports of voter fraud.

I also wanted to let you know that this battle is NOT OVER! he wrote.

The former judge was defeated by Democrat Doug Jones by about 20,000 votes earlier this week. It is the first time a Democrat has held the seat since 1992.

Under Alabama law, a recount is only triggered if a winning candidates lead is less than 0.5 per cent.

But Mr Moore, whose campaign dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls during the 1970s, is yet to concede the race to fill the seat previously held by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

He told supporters the vote was close and some military and provisional ballots were not expected to be counted until next week.

Mr Moore said his campaign was collecting numerous reported cases of voter fraud to send to the secretary of states office.

Secretary of State John Merrill has nonetheless said it is unlikely last-minute ballots will change the outcome of the election or even trigger a recount.

He added his office had investigated claims of voting irregularities but had not discovered any that have been proven factual in nature.

Mr Trump, who had endorsed the Republican candidate, called Mr Jones to congratulate him on his victory and said on Friday said that he believed Mr Moore should concede.

The Alabama Republican Party has also urged its supporters to accept the result, which has seen the state elect its first Democratic senator since 1992.

The final results of the race are expected to be certified between December 26 and January 3 after counties report official totals.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Robert Mueller has obtained thousands of emails from 12 accounts linked to Donald Trump's transition team.

The special counsel investigating alleged collusion with Russia is using the cache to confirm existing information and open up new leads, according to Axios.

The messages are said to have covered everything from potential appointments to policy planning. Some reportedly came from Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law, who is now a White House advisor.

Kory Langhofer, a lawyer who represented Mr Trumps campaign and worked for the President-elects transition team, has claimed the messages were obtained through unlawful means.

In a letter to the House and Senate oversight committees, Mr Kanghofer wrote that Mr Muellers team had unlawfully obtained the documents from the General Services Administration (GSA).

Career staff members at the agency unlawfully produced [Trump for Americas] private materials, including privileged communications, to the special counsels office, according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. It said the materials included tens of thousands of emails.

The transition team communicated via GSA email addresses in the period between Mr Trumps election in November and his inauguration in January.

Mr Mueller is a former director of the FBI and a seasoned prosecutor.

Mr Langhofer asked Congress to act immediately to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, according to reports.

The transition team attorney confirmed to The Independent that these reports were accurate, but declined to provide a copy of his letter. Mr Langhofer also declined to say why he believed the disclosure had been unlawful.

The special counsels office declined to comment to The Independent.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration would continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expects this process to wrap up soon.

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Mr Mueller is investigating allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in its bid for the White House. He has so far charged four former campaign officials with crimes ranging from tax fraud to lying to the FBI. Two officials  former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos  have pleaded guilty.

Mr Trump has dismissed the special counsels investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt. There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven, he told reporters on Friday. Russia denies interfering in the election.

His legal team has suggested appointing a second special counsel to investigate Mr Mueller and his team for what they see as conflicts of interest. One of the Presidents attorneys, Ty Cobb, told the Washington Post he believes Mr Muellers investigation of the White House will be over by the end of the year.

Mr Trumps personal lawyers are slated to meet with Mr Mueller as early as next week, according to CNN.

Additional reporting by agencies
Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Special counsel Robert Mueller "unlawfully" obtained tens of thousands of emails from Donald Trump's presidential transition team, a lawyer has claimed.

The messages will be be examined as part of the investigation into collusion between Russia and senior member's of the US leader's inner circle before he took office.

But in a letter to the US Congress, Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for the transition team known as Trump for America (TFA) said the General Services Administration (GSA), a government agency had "unlawfully" produced the messages.

He added that it had included "privileged communications" from the in a letter to congressional committees.

The materials included "tens of thousands of emails," according to his letter.

Mr Trump's transition team used facilities of the GSA, which helps manage the US government bureaucracy, in the period between the Republican's November presidential election victory and his inauguration in January.

"When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," said spokesman Peter Carr.

Asked for comment, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: "We continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expect this process to wrap up soon."

Mr Trump himself has loudly declared Mr Mueller's effort a waste of time and branded the investigation a "witch hunt". "There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven," he told reporters this week.

Mr Langhofer's letter was sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

It asked for Congress to act immediately "to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives."

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A number of people who worked on the transition team have been caught up in Mr Mueller's investigation, including as former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The retired general pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.

The FBI had requested the materials from GSA staff on 23 August, asking for copies of the emails, laptops, mobile phones and other materials associated with nine members of Mr Trump's transition team responsible for national security and policy matters, the letter said.

Mr Langhofer argued that, while such transition teams are involved in executive functions, they are considered private, non-profit organisations whose records are private and not subject to presidential records laws.

Russia denies interfering in the election. But US intelligence agencies have concluded in a report declassified in January that President Vladimir Putin personally ordered a campaign to affect the outcome of the vote.
The mother of one of the children killed in the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., is furious about President Trumps decision to host National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre at a White House Christmas party on Dec. 14  the fifth anniversary of the massacre.

December 14th marked five years since my six-year-old son, Dylan, was murdered in his first grade classroom alongside 19 of his classmates and 6 educators, Nicole Hockley wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. Not only did [Trump] ignore the 5-year remembrance completely  not even a single tweet  he slapped us all in the face by having none other than NRA President Wayne LaPierre at his White House Christmas party that night. The appalling lack of humanity and decency has not gone unnoticed.

While they ignorantly partied and remained uninformed on an issue that kills thousands of Americans every year, I was crying myself to sleep, Hockley continued. While they got the chance to kiss their children goodnight, I kissed the urn holding my beautiful boys ashes.

She added: I would request an apology. But Im not sure there are any hearts in the White House that would understand why an apology is the least they could do.

"For the five-year remembrance, and indeed for every year and every day, most people show compassion and humanity. This year, the White House did not  on two occasions." https://t.co/Do9cV1PG35  Sandy Hook Promise (@sandyhook) December 17, 2017

A week after the shootings in Newtown, LaPierre dismissed renewed calls from President Barack Obama and some lawmakers for increased gun control. Instead, he called on schools to arm themselves.

The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, LaPierre said on Dec. 21, 2012.

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If its crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy, he said on NBCs Meet The Press two days later.

At the White House party Thursday, LaPierre posed for a photo with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who posted it to Facebook. In a statement to the New York Daily News, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed that Trump attended the soiree, but said she was not aware whether the two spoke. LaPierre and the NRA endorsed Trump in 2016, and Trump spoke at the gun lobbys annual meeting earlier this year.

President Trump speaks during an event at the White House on Dec. 13; Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, poses with NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre at the White House Christmas party on Dec. 14, 2017. (Photos: Evan Vucci/AP, Facebook)

At a press briefing Thursday, Sanders was asked how the Trump administration is trying to prevent massacres like the ones in Sandy Hook and Las Vegas, where 58 people were killed in a mass shooting in October.

I dont think theres any one thing that you could do that could have prevented either one of those, Sanders said. If you could name a single thing that would have prevented both of these, Id love to hear it, because I dont know what that would look like.

Hockley, the co-founder of the gun violence prevention group Sandy Hook Promise, said Sanderss response showed a remarkable amount of ignorance.

I will happily go the White House and train the administration on regulations like Extreme Risk Protections Orders (ERPOs) and Threat Assessement, both of which could have prevented the Sandy Hook tragedy, Hockley wrote. Id also love to train the White House on recognizing the signs of someone who is at risk of hurting themselves or others, or even about how to store a gun safely and responsibly. Both of these contributed to the Sandy Hook tragedy.

In an interview with Yahoo News this month, Hockley expressed similar frustration with those who refuse to consider any sort of gun safety legislation.

It is frustrating that it constantly becomes a fight, with people retreating to their corners and not willing to listen to each other, Hockley said. I think we can all agree we just want to be safe, and we want to keep our kids safe, and be able to have them go to school during the day and then come home at night. Isnt that something that every parent wants? Thats not about politics. Thats about protection. Thats about prevention. Thats where we need to be having this conversation.

She added: Whenever anyone says its too soon to talk about gun violence, theyre wrong. Its too late. Its too late for us.

Read more from Yahoo News:
BEIJING (Reuters) - A second prototype of China's home-built C919 passenger jet took off for a test flight in Shanghai on Sunday, state television reported, another step forward in the country's ambitions to muscle in to the global jet market. A total of six prototypes will eventually conduct test flights, China Central Television reported, with engine tests to be a particular focus. The aim was to conduct another long-distance test flight in late January, chief engineer Wang Wei was quoted as saying. More than 1,000 tests would be carried out. The narrow-body aircraft, which will compete with Boeing's 737 and the Airbus A320, is a symbol of China's ambitions to penetrate the global passenger jet market, estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next 20 years. The C919 made its maiden flight on May 5 after numerous delays. Analysts have questioned the long periods between previous test flights. It completed its first long-distance flight on Nov. 10, flying for 2 hours and 23 minutes from Shanghai to the central Chinese city of Xi'an, covering more than 1,300 km (800 miles) and reaching an altitude of 7,800 meters (25,590 feet). Its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd (COMAC) [CMAFC.UL], called the maiden flight a milestone that marked the plane's move into an airworthiness certification phase. COMAC is aiming to obtain certification for the plane from Chinese regulators as well as Europe's aviation safety regulator, which agreed in April to start the certification process. The plane has dozens of customers who have placed orders and commitments for 785 jets, COMAC has said. (Reporting by Judy Hua and Benjamin Kang Lim; Editing by Paul Tait)
There are probably a lot of scenes from Star Wars: The Last Jedi now burned into your memory. One, in particular, is, um, a bit more exposed than the others, though.

This post contains gratuitous spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Avert your gaze if you dont want to get spoiled.

In his attempts to draw Rey into his grasp, Supreme Leader Snoke creates a Force-fueled connection between Rey and his student, Kylo Ren. Several times throughout The Last Jedi, Rey and Kylos minds are thrown together into the same consciousness, able to see and touch and hear each other without ever really being in the same place.

If it wasnt obvious enough at first that this back-and-forth was being played up for sexual tension, then the moment when Rey walks in on a shirtless Kylo Ren should have been the kicker.

Id rather not do this right now, a visibly flustered Rey says when their minds accidentally connect at one point.

Yeah, me too, Kylo responds flatly. And, with perfect comedic timing, the camera drops in on Kylo, half naked and looking like he just got out of the shower.

It turns out Kylos been working out. But while its fun to play around with the sexy vibes of the moment as a slightly scandalized Rey asks if Kylo can put a shirt on, theres something else going on here. Because Kylo Ren is only the second character to ever appear shirtless in Star Wars. The other one? Kylos grandfather, Anakin Skywalker.

Actually, Hayden Christensens Anakin had two shirtless scenes in the Star Wars prequels, one in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones while on Naboo and the other, longer one in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith while on Coruscant. Until Kylo, Anakin held the torch as the only half-naked dude to ever appear in Star Wars. And while Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) was forced into a metal bikini against her will in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the circumstances of her situation are very different.

Kylo and Anakins scenes are raw and vulnerable. In the prequels, Anakin awakens at night (shirtless) after horrible, life-altering nightmares. Meanwhile, Kylo is seen shirtless in what we can assume is his private rooms aboard the Dreadnought by a girl an enemy a potential ally who suddenly shares the same mental space as him. Kylo, lost and confused in his own special, angsty way, hasnt had a person see him in such a vulnerable state in, well, a very long time.

Story continues

Of course, this all falls perfectly in line with Snokes plans to manipulate Kylo and Reys emotions, but it works out.

And, apparently, so does Kylo.

ive been working out  Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) December 15, 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is now in theaters.

Photos via Lucasfilm, Entertainment Weekly

Photos via Lucasfilm, Entertainment Weekly

Written by Caitlin Busch

More articles by Caitlin  Follow Caitlin on Twitter

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Ashley McCall of Concord, N.H, an Iraq War veteran, is now without her service dog, and police are hunting for the dognapper.

McCall was getting into her car Thursday afternoon when, she says, a man approached her and began asking her about her dog, Jax.

And he reaches for my door, and he pulls it open. So I shut it back, and as I do that, he takes me and slams me to the ground. And then takes Jax and gets into this silver Ford Focus and leaves and starts speeding off, McCall told Fox25 in an interview.

A Concord NH woman who served a tour in Iraq says a man knocked her to the ground and stole her 3 yr old service dog Jax. The story on @boston25 at 6:14 tonight. pic.twitter.com/aJgKSibnSp  Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) December 15, 2017

McCall has the dog to help her with depression and anxiety, making the episode about more than just the loss of a beloved pet. Ultimately, we just want the dog back. Hes a family member. Hes not a pet. Hes a family member, said McCalls husband, Chris.

Fred Keach, the owner of a local flower shop, told police he had seen two men sitting in a car since that morning. Keach, a former law enforcement officer, became suspicious and approached the men.

The two said they were waiting to pick someone up, but to Keach that didnt make sense, since when in this day and age when everyone has a cellphone, you can pick up the phone, call, and ask them where they are, so from the beginning it looked like there was some ambush that was about to happen at some point.

Keach provided a description of the two men, the car they were driving, and a license plate number to police.

He is a provider of unconditional love, said McCall of Jax in a text to Fox25. Jax helps calm me when anxious. Could really use him now, she wrote.

Story continues

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By Alexander Winning

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The nearly man of South African politics, Cyril Ramaphosa, is at last in with a chance of becoming president after being overlooked for years.

Ramaphosa's political abilities have been apparent for decades. Whenever Nelson Mandela needed a breakthrough in talks to end apartheid, he would turn to the then trade union leader with a reputation as a tenacious negotiator.

Using skills honed in pay disputes with mining bosses, Ramaphosa steered those talks to a successful conclusion, allowing Mandela to sweep to power in 1994 as head of the African National Congress.

Mandela wanted Ramaphosa to be his heir but was pressured into picking Thabo Mbeki by a group of ANC leaders who had fought apartheid from exile.

It has taken more than two decades for Ramaphosa, now deputy president, to get another chance to run the country.

The 65-year-old is one of the two favourites to become ANC leader at a party vote this weekend. Whoever wins the ANC race will probably be the country's next president because of the ruling party's electoral dominance.

"Ramaphosa's ambition for the presidency has been clear through his whole adult life. He was quite clearly wounded by his marginalisation in the Mbeki period," said Anthony Butler, a politics professor who has written a biography of Ramaphosa.

The choice between Ramaphosa and his main rival for the ANC's top job, former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will help determine the pace of reform in South Africa and affect how the country gets on with foreign powers.

A trained lawyer with an easygoing manner, Ramaphosa has vowed to fight corruption and revitalise an economy which has slowed to a near-standstill under President Jacob Zuma.

That message has gone down well with foreign investors and ANC members who think Zuma's handling of the economy could cost the party dearly in 2019 parliamentary elections.

Dlamini-Zuma has promised a radical brand of wealth redistribution which is popular with poorer ANC voters who are angry at racial inequality.

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While Ramaphosa, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has backed "radical economic transformation", an ANC plan to tackle inequality, he tends to couch his policy pronouncements in more cautious terms.

Analysts say the race between Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma, who was previously married to President Zuma, is too close to call.

LABOUR LEADER

Unlike Zuma or Dlamini-Zuma, Ramaphosa was not driven into exile for opposing apartheid, which some of the party's more hardline members hold against him.

He fought the injustices of white minority rule from within South Africa, most prominently by defending the rights of black miners as leader of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

A member of the relatively small Venda ethnic group, Ramaphosa was able to overcome divisions that sometimes constrained members of the larger Zulu and Xhosa groups.

A massive miners' strike led by Ramaphosa's NUM in 1987 taught business that "Cyril was a force to be reckoned with," said Michael Spicer, a former executive at Anglo American.

"He has a shrewd understanding of men and power and knows how to get what he wants from a situation," Spicer said.

The importance of Ramaphosa's contribution to the talks to end apartheid is such that commentators have referred to them in two distinct stages: BC and AC, Before Cyril and After Cyril.

Ramaphosa also played an important role in the drafting of South Africa's post-apartheid constitution.

INVESTOR FAVOURITE

After missing out on becoming Mandela's deputy, Ramaphosa withdrew from active political life, switching focus to business.

His investment vehicle Shanduka - Venda for "change" - grew rapidly and acquired stakes in mining firms, mobile operator MTN and McDonald's South African franchise.

Phuti Mahanyele, a former chief executive at Shanduka, recalled that Ramaphosa was a passionate leader who required staff to contribute to charitable projects aimed at improving access to education for the underprivileged.

By the time Ramaphosa sold out of Shanduka in 2014, the firm was worth more than 8 billion rand ($584 million in today's money), making Ramaphosa one of South Africa's 20 richest people.

To his supporters, Ramaphosa's business success makes him well-suited to the task of turning around an economy grappling with 28 percent unemployment and credit rating downgrades.

In the Johannesburg township of Soweto last month, Ramaphosa called for a "new deal" between business and government to spur economic growth.

Pravin Gordhan, a respected former finance minister, told Reuters that if Ramaphosa was elected ANC leader, "the whole narrative about South Africa's economy would change for the better within three months".

Signs that Ramaphosa has done well in the nominations by ANC branches that precede the leadership vote have driven a rally in the rand in recent weeks.

But Ramaphosa has his detractors too.

He was a non-executive director at Lonmin when negotiations to halt a violent wildcat strike at its Marikana platinum mine in 2012 ended in police shooting 34 strikers dead. An inquiry subsequently absolved Ramaphosa of guilt. But some families of the victims still blame him for urging the authorities to intervene.

"My conscience is that I participated in trying to stop further deaths from happening," Ramaphosa said recently about the Marikana deaths.

Others are unconvinced that Ramaphosa, who has been deputy president since 2014, will be as tough on corruption as his campaign rhetoric suggests.

Bantu Holomisa, an opposition politician and former ANC member who worked closely with Ramaphosa in the 1990s, said he was by nature cautious.

"Cyril has been part of the machinery and has not acted on corruption so far," Holomisa said. "It is not clear whether he will if he gets elected."

($1 = 13.6947 rand)

(Editing by James Macharia and Giles Elgood)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 18:15:23|Editor: Liangyu

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MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and two others injured after a bomb struck a vehicle in the northern Mazar-e-Sharif city, the capital of Balkh province on Sunday, police said. "One person was killed and two others injured after a magnetic bomb planted on a vehicle went off in Mazar-e-Sharif city today afternoon," police spokesman in the province Shir Jan Durani told reporters.

All the victims are civilians, he added.

Without providing more details, the official said that investigation has been initiated.
(MADRID)  Spanish authorities on Friday arrested a homicide suspect wanted for months by Italy after three people were killed a day earlier in Spain, including two Civil Guards.

Norbert Feher, a 36 year-old from Serbia, was arrested near Cantavieja, a town in northeastern rural Spain, after he allegedly shot and killed a civilian and two Civil Guard police Thursday, a Civil Guard spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with internal police rules. The police were investigating a Dec. 5 shooting.

Italy had issued a European arrest warrant for Feher for homicides and home invasion robberies. The chief prosecutor in Bologna, Giuseppe Amato, said Friday that Italy will seek Fehers extradition, even while acknowledging that the multiple homicides in two different countries will complicate the request.

Feher was the subject of an intense, monthslong manhunt after the April slayings of a barman and a guard in Italys northern region of Emilia Romagna. Davide Fabbri was killed on April 1 in the bar where he worked near Bologna, while Valerio Verri was killed days later while on patrol near Ferrara.

Feher is now on trial in absentia in Ferrara, northern Italy, for three home-invasion robberies with a gang in 2015 in which the victims were tied-up, blindfolded and beaten. In one case, they tied up and gagged a 93-year-old man, who was found two days later by his son. They stole a necklace and rings that the victim was wearing.

Two accomplices have already been convicted in the cases, and sentenced to 14 and 15 years in prison.

Spanish authorities say Feher is also the main suspect in the killing Thursday of Victor Jesus Caballero and Victor Romero, the two Spanish police who were investigating a Dec. 5 shooting that injured two people in Teruel province. They and Jose Luis Iranzo, a resident of a nearby town, died after been gunned down by the suspect, who then fled, police said.

The dramatic outcome of his capture  with the killing of three people  demonstrates not only the dangerousness of the subject, but also the absence of scruples, said Amato, the Italian prosecutor.

Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido skipped a weekly Cabinet meeting Friday to travel to the area.
A Taiwanese steel firm behind a toxic spill that killed tonnes of fish in central Vietnam last year was fined for a second time for illegally burying "harmful" waste, official sources said Sunday.

The deadly dump from Formosa's $11 billion steel plant in Ha Tinh province sparked one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes, decimating livelihoods along swathes of coastline and prompting months of rare protests in the authoritarian country.

The firm was initially fined $500 million for pouring toxic chemicals -- including cyanide -- into the ocean in April 2016, and has now been ordered to pay an additional $25,000 on separate charges of burying harmful solid waste in the ground, according to the official Cong Ly newspaper.

A local contractor will also be fined $20,000 for helping to dispose of the 100 cubic metres of waste, added Cong Ly, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Court.

An official in Ha Tinh province confirmed the latest fine to AFP on Sunday, without providing further details.

The waste was buried in July 2016, and local residents reported seeing trucks ferrying the material to a farm belonging to the contractor hired to dispose of it.

Police confirmed the waste came from Formosa and launched an investigation last year. Officials would not comment on why it took more than a year to issue the nominal fines.

The toxic spill set off angry demonstrations against the company and the government in the one-party state that routinely jails its critics, including by affected fishermen who demanded greater compensation.

Several activists have been arrested and convicted for their involvement in the protests, including a 22-year-old blogger who was jailed for seven years last month.

Formosa's huge steel plant, which was under construction at the time of the disaster, was given the green light to resume operations in April after officials found it had addressed dozens of violations.

Several officials were punished or fired after the disaster, which saw beaches littered with fish, including large offshore species.

Communist Vietnam has been accused of ignoring environmental concerns on its march toward rapid development, though the issue has become a central issue for some groups who have taken up the cause on social media.
Jakarta (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Indonesians protested Sunday against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the latest show of support for the Palestinians in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

The rally was organised by the top Islamic authority the Indonesian Ulema Council and supported by the government as well as several other Islamic organisations.

Police said 80,000 protesters gathered at the National Monument, a tower that looms over central Jakarta, waving the Palestine flag and banners reading "Free Palestine" as they chanted "God is greatest!"

"This is my solidarity as a Muslim to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine... the Al-Aqsa mosque, a historical mosque for Muslims, is there (in Jerusalem)," said Hermawati, from the nearby city of Bogor, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Dressed mostly in white, the demonstrators urged the US to change its decision.

Indonesia's religious affairs minister and Jakarta's governor were among those at the protest site just a few metres from the US embassy, which was cordoned off behind coils of razor wire.

"Isn't it the government's job to work on the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians? And the government has tried its best so Palestine can achieve its rights and independence," Religious Affairs minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the crowd.

Indonesia has condemned President Donald Trump's decision, with President Joko Widodo joining other world Islamic leaders last Wednesday in an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

The leaders urged world powers to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of the "State of Palestine" and declared Trump's decision "null and void legally".

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution which would find that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed.

The status of Jerusalem, a city considered holy by Christians, Jews and Muslims, is a sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday defended a Republican tax-cut plan against Democratic charges that it favors the rich, saying it will be "one of the great Christmas gifts" for the middle class with just days to go before Congress votes. With a vote on the biggest tax rewrite in three decades set for Tuesday, Republicans were working to ensure party members were holding the line in favor of the legislation against entrenched Democratic opposition. The plan was finalized on Friday after Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Corker pledged their support. Three Republican senators, enough to defeat the measure in a Senate that Trump's party controls with a slim 52-48 majority, remained uncommitted: Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Mike Lee. Passage in Congress would provide Republicans and Trump with their first major victory since he took office in January. "It's going to be one of the great Christmas gifts to middle-income people," Trump told reporters at the White House before he boarded a helicopter for meetings at Camp David. "The Democrats have their sound bite, the standard sound bite before they even know what the bill is all about," he added. The proposed package would slash the U.S. corporate tax rate to 21 percent and cut taxes for wealthy Americans. Under an agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the corporate tax would be 1 percentage point higher than the 20 percent rate earlier proposed, but still far below the current headline rate of 35 percent, a deep tax reduction that corporations have sought for years. Democrats have slammed the plan as a giveaway to corporations and the rich that would drive up the federal deficit. For months, Trump has touted the bill as a middle-class tax cut. Studies from independent analysts and non-partisan congressional researchers have projected that corporations and the rich would benefit disproportionately. Trump repeated on Saturday that the tax overhaul would help bring in $4 trillion in foreign profits from U.S. companies. The tax plan proposes new rules for repatriating cash held overseas. "This is going to bring money in. As an example, we think $4 trillion is going to be flowing back into the country," he said. "That's money that's overseas that's stuck there for years and years." (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Writing by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Mary Milliken)
Thanks, Obama. It seems that Thursdays vote to repeal net neutrality rules had something to do with the former Democratic president, despite the fact that President Donald Trump picked Ajit Pai to head up the Federal Communications Commission just two days after taking office. At least, thats what Trumps son appears to believe.

In a Twitter post on Friday, Donald Trump Jr. criticized people complaining about Obamas FCC chairman voting to repeal what he referred to as net neutality. He also bet most hadnt heard of it before this week.

Obama appointed two chairman of the commission under his presidency, neither of which were Pai. The first, Julius Genachowski, passed a rule in 2010 that ensured access to legal web content for home internet users, the first net neutrality rules. Under Tom Wheeler, Obamas second chairman appointment, the commission went further in 2015 by classifying internet providers under Title II telecommunications regulations, strengthening the existing rules. Pai was appointed as a commissioner by Obama in 2012.

Trump Jr. obfuscates the reality that his father made Pai chairman though:

Trump Jr's tweet.

Trump Jr.s confusion led to a swift response from Twitter users:

Your father appointed this guy. Isn't Eric supposed to be the idiot?  Pete Forester (@pete_forester) December 15, 2017

You are truly clueless. Who appointed the current FCC chair? Heres a hint: It wasnt President Obama. Apologize please.  Steve Ritchie (@ritchieontrack) December 15, 2017

First, You misspelled #NetNeutrality, you genetically altered butternut squash. Second, you don't know the value of a dollar, you silver-spoon snickerdoodle. Third, sunshine, Reaganomics is like DeLorean. It was sexy in the 80s, but I didn't work then and much less now.  Tony Chacon (@TheTonyChacon) December 15, 2017

Trump has not made any attempt to hide his disdain for net neutrality rules. In 2014, he described Obamas attack on the internet as a top down power grab that would hit conservative media in the same way as the 1949 Fairness Doctrine.

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His administration signalled early on that the net neutrality rules could face the chopping block. Last November, the President-elect declared that he wanted to put a moratorium on new federal agency policies. In May, the commission released WC docket 17-108, outlining Pais intent to reverse the Title II classification.

In the months since, there has been an outpouring of support for the original rules, with John Oliver dedicating an episode of Last Week Tonight to the cause, and Reddit hosting two major days of action. A series of Verizon protests across the United States, aimed at highlighting Pais background as a Verizon lawyer, have also drawn attention.

These protests have been huge. Reddit, which receives over a billion visits per month, saw around 70 percent of front page votes going to net neutrality content on the November 21 and December 1 days of action.

Its unlikely Trump Jr. was serious about his bet that most hadnt heard of it before this week, but he would probably do well to avoid taking that gamble.

Photos via DonaldJTrumpJr/Twitter, Getty Images / Jeff Vinnick

Photos via DonaldJTrumpJr/Twitter, Getty Images / Jeff Vinnick

Written by Mike Brown

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Congressmen and rightwing media ramp up claims of anti-Trump bias



Opinion: What is the Republican playbook for the Mueller investigation?

Donald Trump steps off Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House, after returning from Camp David in Maryland. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP

Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not planning to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating alleged collusion between Trump aides and Russia during the 2016 election.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival back at the White House from Camp David, the president was asked if he intended to take a step that many observers have anticipated and one Democratic congresswoman said could come as soon as Friday.

He replied: No, Im not.

Trump also repeated his contention that there was no collusion whatsoever between his aides and Russia.

Earlier in the day, amidst fevered speculation on the issue, senior administration officials criticised Muellers work.



Director of legislative affairs Marc Short told NBC there was no conversation whatsoever in the White House about firing Mueller and said the reality is that this administration has complied in every possible way with the special counsel.

But he added: Taxpayers have spent millions and millions of dollars on this investigation and it has not yet proven any sense of collusion with the Russians. I think the American people are ready to turn the page.

Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, told CNN Muellers work had become a giant distraction that should be over quickly.

Short and Mnuchin were speaking after Axios reported on Saturday that Mueller has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by 13 senior Trump aides before and during the presidential transition.

Citing people familiar with the transition organisation, the Associated Press said the emails were transferred to Muellers team in September, a move of which the Trump team was not aware.

On Saturday, an attorney for Trumps transition team sent a letter to two Republican committee chairmen in Congress, claiming the emails were provided to Mueller improperly.

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Mueller was prompted to release a rare statement to the press, in which spokesman Peter Carr said: 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.

At the White House on Sunday evening, Trump was asked if he believed the emails had been improperly taken. He said: Not looking good. Its not looking good. Its quite sad to see that. My people are very upset about it. I cant imagine theres anything on em, frankly, because as we said, theres no collusion. Theres no collusion whatsoever. A lot of lawyers thought that was pretty sad.

The 2020 election

The most likely price Trump would pay, if he were perceived guilty of wrongdoing, would be a 2020 re-election loss. He can't afford to lose many supporters and expect to remain in office. Any disillusionment stemming from the Russian affair could make the difference. His average approval rating has hung in the mid-to-upper 30s. Every president to win re-election since the second world war did so with an approval rating in the 49%-50% range or better.

Congress

As long as Republicans are in charge, Trump is not likely to face impeachment proceedings or to be removed from office. A two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to remove a president from office through impeachment.

Public opinion

If public opinion swings precipitously against the president, however, his grip on power could slip. At some point, Republicans in Congress may, if their constituents will it, turn on Trump.

Criminal charges

Apart from impeachment, Trump could, perhaps, face criminal charges, which would (theoretically) play out in the court system as opposed to Congress. But its a matter of debate among scholars and prosecutors whether Trump, as a sitting president, may be prosecuted in this way.

Other

Robert Mueller is believed to have Trumps tax returns, and to be looking at the Trump Organization as well as Jared Kushners real estate company. Its possible that wrongdoing unrelated to the election could be uncovered and make trouble for Trump. The president, and Kushner, deny wrongdoing.



Analysts said however that the letter from the Trump transition lawyer was a political move rather than a sound legal gambit. A spokesman for the government agency which provided the emails to Mueller told BuzzFeed no expectation of privacy could be assumed.

In a statement on Sunday, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House oversight committee, said the Presidential Transition Act simply does not support withholding transition team emails from criminal investigators.

Cummings added: The presidents lawyers have said they want to fully comply with [Mueller] so it is odd that they now suggest they would have withheld key documents from federal investigators.

Mueller was appointed in May, after Trump fired his successor as FBI director, James Comey. The special counsel has indicted four Trump aides, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chair Paul Manafort, and is generally thought to be closing in on the presidents inner circle. Speculation over Trumps next move is rife.

So far, other than issuing characteristic attacks on Twitter, the president has fought something of a proxy war. After it was reported this month that Mueller removed from his team an FBI agent who sent text messages critical of Trump, Republicans in Congress, White House staffers and supportive Fox News hosts have amped up accusations of bias in Muellers team and the FBI.

News about the transition emails added fuel to that fire. On Sunday, former Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo called the investigation an attack on the presidency and told CNN there are more and more indications that the Mueller investigation is off the rails.

Robert Mueller, seen on Capitol Hill in June. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP

Senior Democrats voiced concern about what actions such increasingly heated rhetoric might herald. On Friday, Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, said he thought Republicans were seeking to shut down that panels Russia investigation.

The California congresswoman Jackie Speier, meanwhile, told TV station KQED News: The rumor on [Capitol] Hill when I left yesterday was that the president was going to make a significant speech at the end of next week. And on [Friday], when we are out of DC, he was going to fire Robert Mueller.

Michael Flynn, former national security adviser

Donald Trump Jr, first son

Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman

Jared Kushner, adviser, son-in-law

Jeff Sessions, attorney general

Brad Parscale, former digital director

George Papadopoulos, former foreign policy adviser

Carter Page, former foreign policy adviser

James Comey, former FBI director

Robert Mueller, special counsel

On Sunday, the Texas Republican senator John Cornyn told ABCs This Week that move would be a mistake. Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator from Maryland, told the same network Republicans should should not support a concerted effort out of the White House aimed at subverting Muellers work.

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press, Short insisted there was no such effort. But his contention that the American people were ready to turn the page clashed with the findings of an Associated Press poll released on Friday.

Nearly half (47%) of all respondents said they were extremely or very concerned about whether Trump or others involved with his campaign had inappropriate contacts with the Russian government.

Another key element of the Mueller investigation is whether Trump has attempted to obstruct justice, whether by firing Comey or, according to Comeys testimony, seeking to have investigations of Flynn dropped when he knew his adviser had lied to the FBI. Flynn has pleaded guilty to that offence.

Among respondents to the AP poll, 63% thought that Trump did attempt to obstruct the Mueller investigation.
By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will lay out a new U.S. national security strategy on Monday based on his "America First" policy and will, among other items, make clear that China is a competitor, two senior U.S. officials said on Saturday. Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping while also demanding that Beijing increase pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program and to change trade practices to make them more favorable to the United States. The national security strategy, to be rolled out in a speech by Trump, should not be seen as an attempt to contain China but rather to offer a clear-eyed look at the challenges China poses, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The strategy, which was still being drafted, may also reverse Democratic President Barack Obama's declaration in September 2016 that climate change is a threat to security, one official said. Trump, a Republican, is to lay out his foreign policy priorities, and will emphasize his commitment to "America First" policies such as building up the U.S. military, confronting Islamist militants and realigning trade relationships to make the United States more competitive, the officials said. (Reporting By Steve Holland; editing by Grant McCool)
By Heather Somerville

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Ride hailing company Uber was obligated to turn over to a U.S. federal judge a letter from a former employee that told of the company's "fraud and theft" and mentioned evidence of stolen trade secrets nailed "like a scalp" to the wall, a court official said Friday.

Special master, John Cooper, assigned to a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc by Alphabet Inc's self-driving car unit, Waymo, released a report on Friday stating the company should have produced the letter and was wrong in keeping it from the court.

The letter, from former Uber security analyst Richard Jacobs alleging Uber engaged in illegal and unethical competitive tactics and had stolen trade secrets, is at the heart of Waymo's lawsuit against Uber.

The letter was sent to Uber's in-house lawyer in May and shared with executives and board members, who could easily access it, special master Cooper said in his report.

"This needle was in Uber's hands the whole time," he said.

Cooper's determination marks another setback for Uber in a case in which the judge has blamed Uber for withholding evidence and masterminding a coverup.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup will determine what, if any, consequences Uber faces for not turning over the letter.

The 37-page letter from Jacobs was released publicly for the first time Friday, partially redacted, although its contents had been discussed in detail during court testimony last month.

Because Uber had not disclosed it, the letter turned up just last month when the U.S. Department of Justice notified Alsup about it. The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.

Waymo sued Uber in February, alleging it had stolen trade secrets from Waymo's self-driving car designs, and estimates damages in the case at $1.9 billion. Uber has said no Waymo designs have been used in its cars and rejects the financial damages claim.

Story continues

In the letter, written by Jacobs' lawyer, the ex-Uber employee said Uber's security team had a unit that "exists expressly for the purpose of acquiring trade secrets, codebase, and competitive intelligence," and a second unit that "frequently engages in fraud and theft."

His letter says that Uber stole trade secrets from Waymo, but in court testimony last month he recanted that statement.

Jacobs' letter also describes surveillance operations in which Uber employees bugged meetings with transportation regulators and recorded executives of rival companies, and says that former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick directed these operations.

In a statement on Friday, Uber said it has not substantiated all of the claims in Jacobs' letter, but "our new leadership has made clear that going forward we will compete honestly and fairly, on the strength of our ideas and technology."

Dara Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick as CEO in August, and has been critical of Uber's behavior under its old leader.

Jacobs named Mat Henley, who is on medical leave from Uber, Nick Gicinto, a manager on the security team, as instrumental in Uber's clandestine intelligence-gathering operation. Security chief Joe Sullivan, and legal director Craig Clark, who were both fired last month for their role in concealing a massive data breach, were also involved, the letter said.

Sullivan said in a statement on Friday his team "acted ethically" and an attorney for Clark said has he "acted appropriately at all times."

Matthew Umhofer, an attorney for Henley, Gicinto and other members of Uber, said: "Jacobs' letter is nothing more than character assassination for cash."

Jacobs was forced to resign in April after a demotion, and sent the letter the following month. He struck a deal with for Uber a $7.5 million settlement, and Jacobs continues to work for Uber as a consultant.

(Additional reporting by Joseph Menn and Dan Levine in San Francisco; editing by Clive McKeef)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 18:30:28|Editor: Jiaxin

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JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of Trade and Industry on Sunday called for South Africa and Africa to embrace 4th industrial revolution in order to remain relevant in the digital age.

Rob Davies was speaking at the Progressive Business Forum on the sidelines of the ANC annual conference taking place in Johannesburg. He said the digital disruption will affect South Africa and Africa in many ways and called on the continent to prepare for it and embrace it.

"We are going to see disruptive change at the center of the value chain, future data management companies firms would be at the apex of the value chain. That is what we are beginning to see happening in our industries but South Africa is not yet at the cutting edge of it," said Davies.

He said this is evident in the artificial intelligence and robotics and would affect the production, manufacturing and services industries. He said this would render some of the employees redundant and calls for further skilling of some of the employees.

Davies mentioned that people would need to have another post education qualification in the ICT besides their engineering ones to be employable in some industries.

The minister said Africa should learn from China's industrialization. "We can learn a lot from how China did it as a significant player -- China's state control and nurturing of technology which made them globally competitive."

He also stated that Africa should move away from being the exporters of primary mining resources and agricultural products and importers of refined and finished products. There should be infrastructure put in place to support the 4th industrial revolution like broadband and public policy framework.

He said African countries have to come up with a policy framework for 4th industrial revolution.
Zagreb (AFP) - When tourists fly into Croatia's capital, they land at the gleaming new Franjo Tudjman airport, named after the "father of the nation" -- a figure now implicated by a damning UN war crimes verdict.

Last month's final ruling at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was overshadowed by the dramatic death of Bosnian Croat Slobodan Praljak, who drank cyanide in court after judges upheld his sentence for 1990s war crimes.

But of arguably greater significance to Croatia was the judges' censure of Tudjman, the country's first president, who died in 1999 but remains a hero to many Croats for winning independence, despite the flaws of his autocratic rule.

The appeal judgement handed to six Bosnian Croats at the court in The Hague, said Tudjman had shared their "ultimate purpose" of ethnically cleansing Bosnian Muslims in an attempt to unite the region's Croats.

Around 100,000 people died in Bosnia's 1992-1995 conflict between Croats, Muslims and Serbs as Yugoslavia collapsed into several wars.

Croatian people were "rightly outraged" by the court's ruling, fumed a comment piece the next day in the Novi list newspaper, saying the stain on the country's 1990s leadership "brings into doubt all we think about ourselves".

Despite the verdict, the 18th anniversary of Tudjman's death was marked on December 10 with the usual nationwide commemorations. Top officials laid wreaths in the colour of the national flag by his imposing black marble grave in Zagreb.

Tudjman "was a statesman... he knew exactly his goal and he achieved it, and that was to create Croatia," said pensioner Katarina Hrkac, 66, at a memorial ceremony for Praljak the following day.

The Vecernji List daily, Croatia's most popular newspaper, on Saturday published a magazine dedicated to the "father of the Croatian state".

- Tudjman as Croatia -

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Tudjman, a communist general turned nationalist dissident, led Croatia through its declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and its subsequent four-year conflict with rebel Serbs backed by Belgrade.

Jadranka Kosor, a former prime minister from Tudjman's conservative HDZ party, told AFP that the late leader's "strength and skill" lay in gathering support to oppose "one of the biggest military forces in Europe, the Yugoslav People's Army".

The view of Croatia's own war as a liberation struggle against Serb aggressors is widely shared at home, but opinions are less clear-cut over Tudjman's role -- underlined by the tribunal -- in the concurrent Bosnian conflict.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, also from the HDZ, slammed November's verdict, insisting that Tudjman's policy towards Bosnia was "always directed towards maintaining its territorial integrity".

But "there is no doubt that the military and political leadership of Croats in Bosnia... was under the direct influence and control of officials in Zagreb," said historian Hrvoje Klasic at the University of Zagreb.

He warned against "some kind of personality cult or taboo topics" regarding Tudjman.

"Any criticism of Tudjman and Tudjman's politics is, in a way, considered as criticism of Croatia itself, which is catastrophic."

Former ICTY prosecutor Carla del Ponte said in 2001 that the court was ready to issue an indictment against Tudjman when he died of cancer at the age of 77.

- Reviving legacy -

Despite his successful independence movement, Tudjman's iron-fisted rule was marked by corruption and fraudulent privatisation processes that further damaged an economy already devastated by war.

His disregard for democratic reforms left him internationally isolated -- foreign leaders were noticeable in their absence at Tudjman's state funeral, which was attended by tens of thousands of Croats.

And although the Croatian leaders who followed -- even in his own party -- initially distanced themselves from Tudjman's tainted legacy, a shift to the right since 2012 has seen both his name and repressive tendencies revived.

Croatia's media freedom has dropped in international rankings in recent years, while rights activists warn of a growing climate of intolerance.

Politicians "re-embraced the negative legacy of Tudjman and that is very harmful," said Vesna Terselic at Documenta, a rights group monitoring war crimes issues.

She said the prime minister was "missing a chance" with the UN verdict to again distance the country from this legacy -- a chance she believes is still there.

Marcus Tanner, a Balkans specialist and author of "Croatia: A Nation Forged in War", doubted however that the ICTY ruling would have much significance, given that Croatia is already a member of the European Union and NATO.

"So it feels less beholden and vulnerable as a result of such rulings than it might have done say, 10 years ago," he said.
Washington (AFP) - The US government has requested that Deutsche Bank provide information on transactions potentially linked to Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The request is part of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that brought Trump to office, the paper said.

Flynn has pleaded guilty in a deal under which he agreed to cooperate with Mueller's investigation.

Earlier this week, two sources said that Germany's biggest bank had been subpoenaed for records.

A source close to the matter told AFP that the bank had received a subpoena from Mueller's team for documents related to its dealings with the US president and had already begun to provide them.

A second source familiar with the investigation told AFP that the subpoena was linked to Trump's indicted former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

But the White House denied that the president was directly targeted.
Brenda Fitzgerald, Director of the CDC - FR170493 AP

America's leading public health institute has reportedly been told not to use words including "science-based" and "transgender". The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was instructed by the Trump administration not to use seven words in its documents for next year's budget, the Washington Post reported.

The other words were said to have been - evidence-based, foetus, diversity, vulnerable, entitlement.

In some cases CDC officials were reportedly supplied with alternatives, with a substitute phrase for "science-based" being "CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes".

An analyst at the CDC told the Washington Post staff there were "incredulous".

The analyst said: It was very much 'Are you serious? Are you kidding?'"

Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Center for Science and Democracy, said: "Actions that divert the agency from its grounding in science could compromise the progress they are making in tracking opioid overdoses, reducing teen pregnancy, protecting the elderly from the flu, and slowing HIV transmission among transgender Americans."

The Trump administration has previously been accused of seeking to substitute the phrase "weather extremes" for "climate change" at the Department of Agriculture.

Gwen Moore, a Democrat congresswoman, said: "This is deeply disturbing and offensive."
Washington (AFP) - The White House is to renew efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, officials said Friday, despite outrage over President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Senior administration officials said efforts to push the process forward will be rekindled as soon as next week, in the hope that anger at Trump's move will subside.

Trump on December 6 announced a break with decades of American policy, effectively ignoring Palestinian claims on the Holy City.

The decision has sparked almost universal diplomatic condemnation and deadly protests in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas -- 82 years old and facing the prospect of entering the history books as the leader who "lost Jerusalem" -- took the dramatic move of cancelling a planned meeting with Vice President Mike Pence.

The vice president is due to arrive in Jerusalem on Wednesday, although he is not slated to meet Palestinian leaders.

"We understand that the Palestinians may need a bit of a cooling off period, that's fine," said one senior administration official.

The White House hopes that Pence's visit can begin to draw a line under the issue.

"Obviously the last couple of weeks in the region have been a reaction to the Jerusalem decision," said a second senior administration official. "We've seen a lot of the emotion that has been displayed on that."

"This trip is kind of part of the ending of that chapter and the beginning of the next chapter... We still continue to be focused on a peace process and how we ultimately bring that situation to a conclusion."

The vice president will be joined in Israel by Trump's chief peace negotiator Jason Greenblatt, who has not met his Palestinian interlocutors since December 6.

"We will be ready when the Palestinians are ready to reengage," said the first official.

- Gasoline on the flames -

Story continues

But hopes for a quick resumption of peace talks may prove optimistic. On Friday alone, four Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded in violence with Israeli forces across the Palestinian territories.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the move as a "bomb" thrown at the entire Middle East.

And US administration officials risked pouring gasoline on the flames Friday, stating that the Western Wall -- in largely Palestinian east Jerusalem -- would almost certainly be part of Israel under any deal.

"We cannot envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel," said the first official. "But as the president said, the specific boundaries of sovereignty of Israel are going to be part of the final status agreement."

"We cannot imagine Israel would sign a peace agreement that didn't include the Western Wall."

That stance could open the door to other parts of east Jerusalem falling under Palestinian control, but is likely to be seen as a further sign of pro-Israeli bias in Washington.

Trump's move has called into question whether the US can serve as a fair arbiter, a role it has played for much of the last half century.

The administration is betting that closer ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia open the path to peace.

"The hope in the Trump administration is that the Saudis will use their financial resources to persuade the Palestinians to agree to make peace with Israel on terms Israel will accept," said Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump came to office claiming he could make "the ultimate deal," but that effort now risks being derailed by his own actions.

"We aren't setting any kind of deadlines or timeframes. There's one thing I'm sure of in this job, is that any deadline we set, we will blow past," said a US official.
Victoria Kanger was arrested and charged with child neglect (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

A woman has been arrested in Florida after authorities found three dead dogs in her freezer.

While checking the home of the woman and her small child, sheriffs deputies also saw heaps of trash inside and were overwhelmed by the odour of urine and feces.

The deputies' lower pant legs were covered in fleas when they entered the home.

Authorities said a five-year-old girl living in the home sat on a couch crawling with cockroaches, according to the Associated Press. She directed the deputies to the dogs in the freezer.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that 35-year-old Victoria Kanger was arrested and charged with child neglect.

Ms Kanger told authorities she froze the dogs because she didn't have a shovel to bury them.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Central Florida, officials began investigating Ms Kanger after receiving a tip in October that she had been neglecting her children, ages 5 and 14, the Miami Herald reported. Both kids are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

It is disgusting, non-livable for a 5-year-old (girl). I mean, there's poop all over the floor, there's piles of clothes, there's roaches. She's had lice for the past eight months, a tipster told police during a 911 call.
The student union at a Nesher high school sent a letter last week to the head of the Ministry of Education's Haifa district to protest the cancelation of a meeting for bereaved parentsboth Jewish and Palestinianthat was supposed to take place at the school last Tuesday.

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"Allow us to question, allow us to doubt and allow us to hear others, even if we disagree," wrote the students in the letter requesting of the Education Ministry to reschedule the meeting.

Nesher high school

The meeting has become a decade-long tradition at the school, but after certain members of the board got wind of it they decided to protest it.

A few protesters yelled slurs at the bereaved parents. The Ministry of Education then instructed the school administrators to cancel the event.

In the letter to district head Dr. Saar Harel, the students wrote that at the meetings, they are exposed to both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "We listen to the painful and emotional stories of both sides, share in the grief of families from both sides, engage in dialogue and take another stepalbeit small perhaps, but a steptowards getting to know the other side and cultivating (the art of) paying attention."

The students stressed that "the dialogue at the forum is apolitical The participants devote their life to dialogue about respect, mutual assistance, tolerance and coexistence. There can be no coexistence if we do not listen to the other, if we do not know what they think and feel And open the door for coexistence."

"We are opinionated and concerned youth who want to dream of peace. Please dont take away our dream. Do not underestimate the value of knowing the other, do not harm democracy," they added.

The Haifa education district responded that the activity was not part of the curriculum or cultural program.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction on Saturday called for a massive demonstration next week to protest against a visit to Jerusalem by US Vice President Mike Pence after Washington said it would recognize the holy city as Israel's capital

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Breaking with decades of US policy, President Donald Trump also said on December 6 that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The move has stirred global condemnation and sparked angry protests across Arab and Muslim countries, as well as deadly clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

Clashes on the Gaza border (Photo: AFP)

Abbas to cancel a meeting with Pence , who arrives Wednesday in Jerusalem, and warn that Washington no longer had a role to play in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

"We call for angry protests at the entrances to Jerusalem and in its Old City to coincide with the visit on Wednesday of US Vice President Mike Pence and to protest against Trump's decision," Fatah said in a statement.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Six-Day War and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

Clashes in Ramallah (Photo: AP)

The call to protest came as thousands of Palestinians took part in funerals for three men killed Friday in clashes with Israeli forces during protests in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip and of a terrorist who stabbed and moderately wounded a Border Policeman.

Mourners chanted anti-Trump slogans and masked men fired into the air during one of the ceremonies in the village of Beit Ula in the West Bank.

Funerals were also held for the two other Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, where the enclave's Islamist Hamas rulers had on Friday called for a "day of rage."

Friday's deaths brought to eight the number of Palestinians killed in violence or air strikes since Trump's Jerusalem move, and hundreds have been also wounded.

Western Wall row

Pence will no longer see Palestinian officials during his visit to the region after theyas well as Egyptian Muslim and Christian religious leaderscancelled meetings in protest at the embassy move.

"We understand that the Palestinians may need a bit of a cooling off period, that's fine," a senior White House official said Friday. "We will be ready when the Palestinians are ready to re-engage."

US Vice President Mike Pence (Photo; AFP)

Pence is expected to try to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward after he lands in Jerusalem on Wednesday, US administration officials have said.

They also suggested that that the Western Wallin largely Palestinian east Jerusalemwould almost certainly be part of Israel under any deal, sparking Palestinian condemnation.

"We will not accept any changes to the 1967 border of east Jerusalem," Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for the Palestinian president, said Saturday.

Clashes in Nablus (Photo: Reuters)

"This American position proves once again that the current US administration is completely out of the peace process," he said, adding that Trump's decision on Jerusalem was "totally unacceptable."

A US administration official said Friday: "We cannot envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel."

Another one added: "We cannot imagine Israel would sign a peace agreement that didn't include the Western Wall."

The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray, at the foot of the Temple Mount compound housing the Al-Aqsa mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in Islam.
The Nahal brigade is famous for the pluralism among its ranks, but it seems that David Ben Gurion's description of the IDF as "the melting pot of Israeli society" has taken on a completely new meaning as people from vastly diverging societies converge under the same military umbrella.

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Corporal Amir Rav'e, a 19-year-old Muslim, whose family was born in Hebron, moved to Lod and today lives in Beersheba, was one of the few Muslims who chose to draft into the IDF.

"Some would call me a traitor" said Corporal Rav'e. "But the best way to deal with it is to ignore it. As a child, our family would visit Hebron and we were received nicely I was not scared to visit, if only I could serve in Hebron. If that were to happen I would not feel confused, this is my country and everybody should know how to contribute."

Amir Rav'e

Amir is one of hundreds of Arabs, Muslim and Christian, who have chosen to volunteer for the IDFa slow, but steadily increasing trend.

Amir said that his brother did national service and many of his Muslim friends agree that it is important to serve, but military service is seldom the prefered option.

He is currently serving on the Lebanese border together with his 931 Nahal battalion. When he hurt his foot a few months ago he was compelled to take a non-combat position, but he succeeded in convincing his commanders to send him to officers school.

"When I volunteered to join the army as an Arab Muslim, I was offered many units to join, but I chose the Nahal brigade and I am satisfied with my choice," said Amir. "There were ups and downs throughout my service, but there was always someone who would come and offer support and assistance. These are not friends, they are family.

"My father is proud when I come home in uniform. Although I sometimes receive negative reactions, I learnt how to deal with it If I could, I would draft every Arab into service in the IDF," Amir claimed.

Corporal Netanel Mengistu, a fellow Nahal soldier from Migdal Haemek, also had to fight to make it into the brigade. He accumulated a criminal record and his life trajectory was heading in a negative direction. However, he was able to get his record wiped clean in order to be able to join the IDF and serve in a meaningful capacity.

Netanel Mengistu

The hardships suffered at home, though, did not allow him to remain as a combat soldier and he was forced to withdraw and serve in combat support for the battalion.

"That's when it hit me, how did I go from being a fighter to a clerical position?" he recalled. "I had fought long and hard to remove the stigma that I created for myself I knew that only small steps would bring me to success. At first I wouldnt think of the future, only of the present. I fought hard for three months to get back into combat and although there are still problems at home, the battalion helps. My mother always smiles when she sees me with my green beret and rifle."

Corporal Jesse Amar was born and raised in Melbourne Australia and is serving in Nahal's battalion 50. He left behind the comforts of home to crawl in the dirt and experience the sleep deprivation of a combat soldier in the IDF.

Jesse Amar

"I read about the brigade while in Australia and I chose battalion 50 because many kibbutznikim serve there," said Jesse. "I feel a connection with them. My father came all the way from Melbourne to surprise me at our beret ceremony, it was very touching."

Although the Nahal base near the southern city of Arad is in dire need of renovations lagging far behind the other infantry brigades, the unit takes pride in its "human capital." Plans are underway to transform the base into one of the most advanced training bases in Israel through an investment of tens of millions of shekels.

The training base commander Lieutenant Colonel Yoav Katzenelson told Ynet: "Of the 730 new recruits, all of them chose Nahal as one of their preferred service options. Last August, 100 out of 450 recruits had a special status such as new immigrants or lone soldiers. We pair up the immigrants with teachers who help them with the army lingo."
Employees of the Jerusalem Teva tablet factory are blocking the entrance to Har Hotzvim Junction in the city, in protest of expected layoffs.

Earlier employees blocked the road leading up to the factory.

Chairman of the factory's labor union Itzik Ben Simon said employees were planning to barricade themselves in the factory starting Monday and "until a solution is found."
MELBOURNE  Australian police said on Sunday they had arrested a man accused of working on the black market to sell missile components and coal on behalf of North Korea, the first charges ever brought in Australia over the sale of weapons of mass destruction.

The man had been charged with two counts under an act preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, police said, and with another four under legislation enforcing United Nations and Australian sanctions against North Korea.

The Sydney man was identified by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other media as 59-year-old Chan Han Choi, who they said had been living in Australia for more than 30 years and was of Korean descent.

He was arrested in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood on Saturday and was due to face court later on Sunday, police said. He came to the attention of authorities earlier this year, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 19:20:35|Editor: Yamei

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(Xinhua file photo)

BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- "Gray rhinos" have become the most hunted species in China -- not on the prairies but in the financial sphere.

Slow, heavy and easy to neglect, rhinos can suddenly charge flat out, delivering a fatal attack - as can financial risk across the country.

The term became popular after a 2016 book by U.S. policy analyst Michele Wucker used it to depict a highly probable, high impact financial threat that was often widely ignored.

The People's Daily, the Communist Party of China flagship newspaper, picked up the metaphor in July to warn of financial risks, triggering widespread discussion.

In the past year, authorities have made notable progress in its bid to bring to heel some of the major "gray rhinos," generally shadow banks that pose significant threat to the economy.

Global ratings agency Moody's this month predicted a stable outlook for Chinese financial institutions through 2018, citing strengthening regulations and steady economic growth.

"China's leaders have made financial stability one of their top priorities. Given the size and importance of the Chinese market, with the world's largest banks and second-largest stock market, that is welcome news for China and the world," said Ratna Sahay and James P. Walsh, two senior officials at the International Monetary Fund, in a blog post last week.

SHADOW BANKING

For years, banks seeking higher profits, depositors lacking decent investment returns and companies having difficulties in securing bank loans have combined to drive the fast growth of shadow banking, which takes place outside regulatory scope, causing risks to financial stability.

To curb shadow banking growth, authorities have tightened their grip on interbank activities and off-balance-sheet wealth management products. The country's 100 trillion-yuan asset management business will also be put under stricter scrutiny.

Amid the clampdown, China's total shadow banking assets barely grew during the first six months of 2017 and declined as a percentage of GDP for the first time since 2012, Moody's said in a report last month.

Both interbank assets and liabilities, major indicators for shadow-banking activities, dropped in the first 10 months, while WMP growth slowed sharply from a year earlier, according to the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

"The government will remain keen on adopting coordinated policy measures to curb shadow banking and interbank activities and to address key imbalances in the financial system," said Sherry Zhang, a Moody's analyst.

REAL ESTATE BUBBLES

After soaring property prices made housing affordability and risks of real estate bubbles a growing concern, authorities have reiterated that "housing is for living in, not for speculation."

Since last year, dozens of local governments have passed or expanded restrictions on house purchases and increased minimum downpayments. Property developers, real estate agencies as well as Internet finance and micro-loan companies were prohibited from offering illicit downpayment financing for buyers.

The effort has paid off. Home-buying fever has cooled in hotspot cities, with both new and second-hand home prices in first-tier cities posting slower year-on-year growth for the 13th consecutive month in October.

Leverage in the real estate sector was reduced. In the first three quarters, medium- and long-term loans to residents, mainly individual property mortgage loans, accounted for 37.6 percent of all new loans, down from 45 percent last year, according to the central bank.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEBT

China's local government debt soared during an investment and construction binge following the global financial crisis in 2008. Well aware of the risks, authorities have taken an array of measures to reduce the local debt burden.

Debt ceilings have been set for local governments, a debt-for-bond swap program has been piloted to exchange higher-cost loans with lower-cost bonds, while steps were taken to move some local government fiscal liabilitiess to higher authorities.

This year, authorities tightened regulation on "backdoor" borrowing such as financing through fake public-private partnerships. The "front door" was also opened, with local governments allowed to issue land reserve bonds and toll road bonds to increase their funding capabilities through standardized transparent channels.

Outstanding local government debt stood at 15.86 trillion yuan (about 2.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of June 30, slightly higher than 15.32 trillion yuan at the end of 2016 but below this year's government-targeted ceiling of 18.82 trillion yuan.

In an analysis earlier this month, Moody's said the economic and fiscal performance of Chinese local governments was stable in the first three quarters of 2017, expecting full-year targets to be met.

SOE LEVERAGE

Poor corporate governance, overcapacity and easy credit supply have pushed debt in China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to an alarming level in the past few years. Reducing SOE leverage was given high priority at the National Financial Work Conference, a five-yearly tone-setting meeting, in July.

More centrally-administered SOEs were merged and restructured this year, a mixed-ownership reform scheme was expanded steadily to introduce private capital, while debt-to-equity swaps were accelerated, allowing companies with long-term potential to exchange their debt for stocks.

These moves improved corporate governance and efficiency, with SOE profits posting double-digit growth so far this year. By the end of September, the average debt ratio of central SOEs fell 0.2 percentage points from the beginning of the year.

However, more still needs to be done. Li Yang, chairman of the National Institution for Finance and Development and a renowned economist, estimated that the SOE deleveraging process would likely take three to five years.

"The key of SOE deleveraging is the disposal of 'zombie firms,'" he said.
JAKARTA - Muslim clerics called for a boycott of American products Sunday in Indonesia's largest protest against US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

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Wearing white robes and carrying banners reading "Indonesia unites for Palestine," "Peace, love and free Palestine" and "Save our Palestine," an estimated 80,000 people rallied in the capital of the world's largest Muslim nation in the 10th straight day of protests. Some local media reported the number of the demonstrators was double the police estimate.

Anwar Abbas, a top cleric from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American and Israelis products until Trump revoked his move.

Previous anti-American protests have unsuccessfully lobbied for a boycott of US goods.

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the protesters marched peacefully about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the National Monument Park to the US Embassy, where rows of police behind coils of barbed wire held back the crowd.

About 20,000 security forces were deployed to secure the rally.

In the petition, the clerics urged Trump to immediately revoke his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital because it has hurt international justice, violated human rights of the Palestinians and undermined peace efforts.

It also demanded nations not follow the US in moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss Trump's declaration.

The chairman of the clerics council, Ma'ruf Amin, said "let's fight together with the government and the world for the freedom of Palestine through political, diplomatic and economic ways."

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has strongly condemned Trump's move as a violation of UN resolutions.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and has long been a strong supporter of Palestinian aspirations for a statehood.

Trump's announcement overturned decades of US policy, and a longstanding international consensus, that the fate of Jerusalem be decided as a part of a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians. Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city's eastern sector form the core of their conflict, and Trump's announcement was seen as siding with the Israelis.
New Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz People's Party (OVP) has recently signed a coalition agreement with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), known for its anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi roots.

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So far, there has been no official Israeli response to Kurz's contentious choice of chief partners, who will take possession of the ministries of foreign affairs, defense and the interior.

Jerusalem has chosen the waiting game, to first ascertain the reactions of the United States and other European countries before it makes remarks of its own. However, it seems Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's inclination is to not repeat the mistake of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who ordered the Israeli ambassador to Austria to return for consultations in 2000 when Jorg Haider , then FPO leader, entered the Vienna government.

New Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl previously compared Zionism to Nazism

Perhaps the most intriguing among the figures to assume ministerial posts following FPO's accession to the coalition is intended Minister of Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl, who is not a member of the Freedom Party at all.



Kneissl, 52, is an expert on Middle Eastern studies who holds some controversial beliefs. In her book, My Middle East, she included a paragraph that was widely criticized by the country's Jewish community, in which she equated Zionism with Nazism.

The contentious paragraph noted that Theodor Herzl's Zionist idea was based on the German nationalistic ideal linking a people and its homeland.

The new minister of foreign affairs spent part of her childhood in Jordan as her father was a Royal Jordanian pilot. She holds a doctorate from the University of Vienna in law and Arab studies. She also studied for a time at the Amman University in Jordan and Georgetown University in the US, and even spent some time at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

She speaks fluent Arabic as well as Hebrew, which she studied in an ulpan. She previously served as a diplomat in the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but left after eight years. She also worked as an independent journalist specializing in the Middle East and in energy. Before assuming her ministerial post, Kneissl was a lecturer on diplomacy and military.

It could be said Kneissl's positions on the Middle East underwent several transformations. While she was highly critical of Israel in the past, the Arab Spring revoltswhich she attributed to an over-abundance of hormones within young Arab malesand the refugee crisis in the region caused her to change her stance. She even expressed her support of Israel's aspiration to move foreign embassies to Jerusalem and is considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kneissl is close to Russian President Putin (Photo: Reuters)

Kneissl has quite a few Israeli connections. People who know her said she was highly independent in her opinions, for better or worse, and is about to enter a ministry considered highly suspicious.

"Kneissl has an open line to Israel, and she isn't dogmatic," said an Israeli official.

In the past, she criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel's immigration policy and attacked the immigration agreement between Turkey and the European Union.

Israel displays resistance to Strache

FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache is considered pro-Israeli and visited Israel as a guest of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party, many of whose officials believe he repented and distanced himself from his Nazi roots.

Strache even visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem and placed a wreath there. Likud party MK Yehuda Glick, who met Strache this past June, received a written commitment to move the Austrian Embassy from Ramat Gan to Jerusalem should his party win the elections.





Strache visited Yad Vashem during his trip to Israel (Photo: Reuters)

Not all Israeli officials embraced Strache however, with senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials as well as President Reuven Rivlin rejecting ties with the Austrian vice chancellor-elect. Rivlin went so far as to attack Strache's invitation to visit Israel in a speech concluding Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Lohamei HaGeta'ot kibbutz in northern Israel.

"I'm sometimes taken aback by what appears to be the erosion of our national dignity and the bizarre joining with some of Europe's far-right voices. Several weeks ago, Christian Strache, the leader of an Austrian party that so brazenly calls itself the Freedom Party, visited Israel. He wasn't here on a courtesy call or as a tourist, but was officially invited by Israeli elected officials, and he unfortunately is not the only one," the president said at the time.

"Certain entities are trying to forge alliances and ties with xenophobic and anti-Semitic groups and parties that seemingly support Israel. We, the generation so close to the Holocaust, must be clear: no interest can justify a shameful alliance with those who will not accept responsibility for the crimes of the Holocaust and attempt to stifle it and whose vision wishes to reenact it against any foreigner, refugee or immigrant who dares to 'defile' their living space," Rivlin added.

President Rivlin criticized those who welcomed Freedom Party leader Strache to Israel (Photo: Reuters)

"Political or national leaders who support racist, neo-Nazi or anti-Semitic views will not and cannot be welcomed guests in Israel," the president concluded.

Prime Minister Netanyahu does have an excellent rapport with Chancellor Kurz. After the latter's impressive victory in the October elections, the two spoke on the phone and Netanyahu praised Austria for "making impressive headway in the past few years in protecting the memory of the Holocaust and combating anti-Semitism."

The conversation made no mention of the Freedom Party or the possibility the far-right party will join Kurz's coalition. This, to many, provided a first indication Netanyahu has accepted the newly-minted Austrian coalition government.

Prominent members of the Austrian Jewish community as well as President of the World Jewish Congress Ron Lauder objected to Strache and his party joining the government and exerted as many efforts as they could to convince Kurz to keep him out, but to no avail.

PM Netanyahu spoke with new Chancellor Kurz after his election win (Photo: Reuters)

Netanyahu, meanwhile, had two months since the elections to consolidate his position and the mere fact Israel has yet to put out an official response attests to the country wishing to avoid a confrontation with Austria at this time and prefers to wait it out.

An American response, in fact, may be forthcoming as the American Ambassador to Vienna recently met with Strache, possibly signaling impending US recognition of the new government.
Some 300 employees of the Teva tablet plant in Jerusalem protested at the entrance to their factory Sunday morning. In the afternoon, they barricaded themselves inside the factory while other employees burned tires outside. The factory is expected to close along with one additional factory, simultaneous to massive layoffs the Israeli pharmaceutical giant announced on Thursday.

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Chairman of the Teva factory's workers' union Itzik Ben Simon made good on the threat in the afternoon, with employees barricading in the plant. "We're at the beginning of the process and the struggle will continue. We're beginning to barricade," Ben Simon said.

Teva employees barricading inside the factory

"We'll also set up a protest tent outside. We'll let the women and children go at 4 pm and barricade until further notice. Only the prime minister can get the CEO and senior management out of the factory," the labor union chief said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did indeed comment on the Teva layoff affair in a cabinet meeting Sunday and said he intended to convene a meeting with the ministers of finance, economy welfare and environmental protection.

Burning tires outside the plant (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

Netanyahu also asked Likud ministers to not operate or make statements on the matter without first coordinating their stance with the government's.

Teva employees demonstrated in Jerusalem in protest of factory closures (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said he will be meeting Teva's CEO with the ministers of finance and the economy.

"My first goal is to minimize damage to employees, my second is to prevent closure of the Jerusalem factory and my third to ensure that Teva remains an Israeli company," the prime minister said.



Earlier Sunday, protesters blocked the capital's Golda Meir Junction and moved to Begin Road. They then left for the Prime Minister's Office and blocked a junction adjacent to it.

Teva employee demonstrations in Jerusalem, Petah Tikva and Netanya (:  ,     )

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Demonstrations were also held Sunday in Teva factories in Ashdod, Kfar Saba, Petah Tikva and Netanya.

Lior and Mazi Kalimi both work in the Jerusalem factory and have two children. "We've had a difficult Shabbat. Two salaries, gone in an instant. We were thinking about what's to come and why did they do this to us all through Shabbat. We have nowhere else to go," they said.

Lior (L) and Mazi (R) Kalimi both work in the Jerusalem factory and will be fired

Yair Hasson has been working as a Teva stockkeeper for the past 11 years. "I haven't slept a wink the entire Shabbat. I have nowhere else to go. The factory is our home. how can a company like Teva, who built all of its factories around the world on the backs of the Jerusalem factory, close up shop here?" he wondered.

"We're asking the prime minister and finance minister to intercede. These layoffs will become a problem for the entire economy," Hasson predicted.

Yair Hasson said the Teva factory was his home

Workers' union chairman Ben Simon chose to attack Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. "He should be here. He shouldn't meet with senior management but be down here with us," he demanded.

Barkat did indeed arrive to the protest later, and asked employees to clear the road.

Jerusalem Mayor Barkat asked protesters to clear the road (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Ben Simon also begged famed former Teva CEO, the late Eli Hurvitz, for forgiveness. "His life's work was destroyed, and he's turning over in his grave. People of Jerusalem, we apologize for inconveniencing you. Please understand: we're dealing with the livelihood of 1,200 families," he appealed.

Teva's workers' union chief said former CEO Hurvitz was turning over in his grave (Photo: Shaul Golan)

Nissan Agar, a driver stuck in a traffic jam created by the protest, admitted that he did sympathize with the Teva employees' plight. "But why do I have to suffer? It's become a regular thing nowone day it's the disabled, another day it's people who were fired, what's next?" he lamented.

Speaking on his plan to barricade in the factory, Ben Simon stated, "We have a long day and a long struggle ahead of us. We expect answers. If we don't get them, we'll barricade in the plant starting (Monday) and until we get some answers."

(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

"We also intend to block central roads and junctions until we get those clear answers. We expect Finance Minister Kahlon, Economy Minister Eli Cohen and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to supply us with answers. We're dependant on government decisions. Our plant was shuttered for political reasons," he labor union chief said.

Alongside Teva employee protests in Jerusalem and elsewhere, the Histadrut labor union federation declared a four-hour general strike Sunday in protest of the expected layoffs of 1,700 of the company's employees.
Former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov, who was convicted of fraud and breach of trust, arrived at the Hermon Prison on Sunday morning to begin serving his 15 month sentence.

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Misezhnikov signed a plea bargain, conceding that he acted in a serious conflict of interest during his term in office, transferring NIS 1 million from Tourism Ministry funds to the Eilat Funjoya Student Festival in 2010, and at the same time recommending that the festival organizers employ Yulie Roth, with whom he had a close and discreet relationship.

In addition to time in prison, the court also sentenced Misezhnikov to six months of probation and ordered him to pay a fine of NIS 70,000.

Former minister Stas Misezhnikov arrives in prison (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

According to the amended indictment, Misezhnikov personally promoted the festival with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and demanded that the Director General of the ministry keep him abreast of progress on the approval of the festival's funding.

The former politician did not disclose his connection to Roth, who was employed by Peles Group (the producer of the festival) following his recommendation as Tourism Minister, and the fact that Roth is supposed to receive money for her work in producing the festivalroughly NIS 100,000 in salary.

Former minister Stas Misezhnikov arrives in prison (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

Misezhnikov, the State Prosecutor's Office announced, took advantage of his senior public position and high standing to arrange lucrative ventures for Roth, and in so doing, committed fraud and an act of breach of trust that harms the general public.

Misezhnikov was initially also charged with bribery, disruption of proceedings and possession and use of an illegal narcotic (cocaine). These charges were retracted of as part of the plea deal.
From escalation to easing tensions. That is Israel's goal, to end the current round of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, hence the IDF's measured responses to recent rocket fire, and despite combative threats made by the Israeli defense establishment prior.

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Hamas has entered the current round of hostilities on the back of its 30th anniversary celebrations, which were accompanied by belligerent proclamations. The defense establishment claims that while Hamas does not intend to incite far-reaching escalation, it has upped its operational readiness in fear Israel might be the one to initiate an offensive measure.

Israel has identified increasing tensions in and around the strip, and fears conflict may erupt over a misunderstanding caused by selfsame tensions.

Is Hamas still truly deterred by Israel?

Tensions on the Gaza border resemble the days preceding Operation Protective Edge, and even if no additional round takes place, Israel's defense establishment has clearly not internalized all of the previous one's lessons.

Israeli officials continue analyzing Hamas intentions with absolute certainty and without qualification and are also utterly convinced Israeli deterrence remains in force, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman is of the opinion current escalation has little to do with Israeli deterrence and more to do with intra-Palestinian struggles between different factions. IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis also believes Israeli deterrence did not fall to pieces in just two weeks, which sadly does not correspond to the facts.

In the past week alone, 24 rockets were launched from Gaza, 13 of which landed in Israel. This compared to 40 rockets total launched in the three years and three months since the conclusion of Operation Protective Edge.

A rocket landed in a Sderot kindergarten, joining 22 other missiles launched from the strip at Israel last week (Photo: Roee Idan)

Deterrence can certainly end in a single day or any single event, such as infiltration through a tunnel or a kidnapping in the West Bank, as Hamas has directed its operatives to do from the safety of the strip.

The recent rocket launches have been carried out by so-called rogue factions. The defense establishment used to say Hamas is deterred by Israel and therefore prevents other organizations from targeting Israel. Now, with rocket fire resumed, it's clear that either Hamas is no longer deterred, or saying that it can prevent launchesstill smarting from the lessons of Protective Edgeis untrue.

"Israel is not interested in escalation, but if Hamas wants it, then it should keep allowing extremist factions to fire at Israel. If it's not interested in escalation, however, it should terminate fire completely and soon," Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai told Arabic-language BBC last week.

In the same interview, Mordechai commented on both rockets landing within Israel and the two tunnels the army has uncovered. "Just as there's an aerial Iron Dome, there's an underground Iron Dome and an offensive Iron Dome," he said, sending a clear message.
The Ministerial Legislation Committee has approved an amendment to the Israeli criminal code setting a 5-year prison sentence for assaulting teachers.

The amendment came following teachers' organizations striking recently in protest of teacher assaults.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) insisted Sunday he did not threaten to bring down the coalition government if the "supermarkets bill" he is promoting is not passed in the Knesset.

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"Someone must have needed to gather up a majority that night and wanted to rouse the Likud back-benchers, telling them 'the government is about to collapse, the Knesset will dissolve, so wake up,'" Deri explained in an interview with Ynet.

"I don't make threats. When I tell the prime minister something, it stays between us. I'm not leaving home. This is my home, and I'm fighting inside of it," he added.





Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Photo: AFP)

The legislation Deri is promoting, dubbed "the supermarkets bill," would give him as the interior minister the authority to cancel municipal bylaws, including those permitting some businesses to operate on Shabbat.

"The last thing you can say about the 'supermarkets bill' is that it entails religious coercion," Deri asserted.

"We're the Jewish people, the first nation to bring the message to the world 3,500 years ago that one day a week, on Saturday, everyone should stop what they're doing. This message has been adopted by all nations of the world.

"Regarding commerce on Shabbatif you open a certain category of businesses on Shabbat, like supermarkets and convenience stores, tomorrow you'd want to also open shoe stores. Then it's houseware and then it's everything. And there will be no Shabbat left in the State of Israel," he explained.

"Socially speaking, you are turning everyone, mostly the weaker parts of the population, into a nation of slaves, because those who won't be willing to work seven days a week won't be hired," Deri went on to say.

Despite Deri's claims, the Hours of Work and Rest Law determines employees must receive 36 consecutive hours of rest per week, and cannot be denied employment for refusing to work on the day of rest.

Netanyahu and Deri (Photo: Amit Shabi)

Deri was also asked about the investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and whether he expects the prime minister to resign if an indictment is filed against him.

"The law clearly states the prime minister could continue serving in his role until he has been convicted and the verdict is final," Deri said. "Do you understand what that means? Even a district court verdict can't bring down the prime minister."
US President Donald Trump missed an opportunity to push forward with his peace plan in his speech recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, former United States Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told Ynet in an interview on Sunday.

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"While it's appropriate to recognize Jerusalem, and even move the embassy there, it's only part of the story. It would have been more prudent to not postpone his peace plan but present it then and there," he said.

"The declaration was appropriate, I think, because the fact is Jerusalem is indeed the capital, and there are some people who attempt to deny the obviousboth Palestinians and in United Nations resolutions or elsewhere. But I also think President Trump missed an opportunity to promote our strategic interest, which is an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the two-state solution," the former ambassador continued.

Former US Ambassador to Israel Shapiro said Trump should have presented his peace plan along with Jerusalem recognition (Photo: Reuters)

disqualifying the US as fair mediator in the peace process were out of line. "It's not serious. I'd recommend for them to meet with Vice President Mike Pence this week. Maybe they need a little more time to fully appreciate what they heard, but I think they won't have any other choice but to resume work with the US, because it and it alone can mediate and help the Palestinians achieve their goals," he asserted.

Actually transferring the US Embassy to Jerusalem will take years, Shapiro said, since it will be a "complex, costly process. They should have recognized the capital and temporarily moved the embassy to one of our consular facilities, for instance in the city's Agron Street, along with presenting a peace plan, which would have proven to the Palestinians they can accomplish some of their goals, including those related to Jerusalem. They have claims to having their capital in the eastern portion of the city, after all," the diplomat said.

Shapiro said Palestinians should meet with VP Pence when he comes to the region this week (Photo: AFP)

Shapiro also noted the statement made by senior White House officials saying the Western Wall will remain under Israeli sovereignty as part of any future peace agreement was not new. However, Shapiro said, "It wasn't what they said, but what they didn't say. Palestinians and also Muslims and Arabs interested in an agreement have a justifiable question: what can they expect to receive at the end of the process?"

"Jerusalem has contesting claims from both Christians and Muslims regarding holy sites, so they're bound to have such questions. Even a mediator that's exceedingly close to one of the sides, as the US is to Israel, should be forthright and honest with all parties regarding what they can expect on an issue as sensitive as Jerusalem," he said.

As for his opinion on the performance of current US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley , Shapiro said, "The Obama administration did the exact same thing Nikki Haley is. Israel's problems in the UN run much deeper."

Despite Trump's statements, Palestinians have no recourse but to trust US to mediate, Shapiro says (Photo: AFP)

The former ambassador also said he thoughts the parties were not yet ready for negotiations. "I'd advise the Trump administration to not try and (push them to negotiate), but to present an initiative that firstly defines the goaltwo states," he said.

"Up to now, Trump has more or less never used that phrase, but it's very important to be clear on the serious expectations from such an initiative, and then encourage all partiesIsrael, the Palestinians and Arab statesto do what they can on the ground to preserve the possibility of two states as a realistic goal in the future. Negotiations, however, are still premature.

"We already know how (Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas on the Palestinian side and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israeli side feel about each other. They don't believe one another, and I don't expect negotiations between them to succeed. It's better to preserve the goal and take actual actions in the meantime, but wait until leadership changes take place on one or both of the sides before negotiations commence," Shapiro concluded.
LONDON - Iran on Sunday criticized French President Emmanuel Macron over his tough stance toward Tehran and said Paris would soon lose its international credibility if it "blindly follows" US President Donald Trump.

"To sustain its international credibility, France should not blindly follow the Americans ... The French president is now acting as Trump's lapdog," Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Velayati also criticized US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who last week presented pieces of what she said were parts of an Iranian missile supplied to the Tehran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen. She described the objects as conclusive evidence that Tehran was violating UN resolutions.

"This claim shows she lacks basic scientific knowledge and decency. She is like her boss (Trump) as he also says baseless, ridiculous things. Iran has not supplied Yemen with any missile," Velayati said.
Turkey intends to open an embassy in east Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of Palestine.

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It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital.

President of Turkey Erdogan (R) with PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AP)

The Muslim nation summit was a response to US President Donald Trumps December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. His move broke with decades of US policy and international consensus that the citys status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkeys consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador.

God willing, the day is close when officially, with Gods permission, we will open our embassy there, Erdogan said.

Jerusalem is home to Islams third holiest shrine, as well as Judaisms Western Wall, which is situated by the latters holiest site, the Temple Mountboth in the eastern sector.

Jews have restricted access to the Temple Mount as part of the status quo agreement with Jordan and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkeys, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalems unresolved status, but Israel has long urged countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem and recognize it as the capital.

A communique issued after Wednesdays summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including US allies, said they considered Trumps move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role as sponsor of peace in the Middle East.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 19:50:39|Editor: Yamei

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Photo taken on July 11, 2013 shows workers transferring seedlings at the Saihanba forest in Weichang Man and Mongolian Autonomous County of Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. China's Saihanba afforestation community on Dec. 5, 2017 was announced to be one of the top winners of the annual UN Champions of the Earth Award for its outstanding contribution to restoration of degraded landscapes, amid the national efforts to advance ecological civilization. (Xinhua)

by Xinhua writer He Fei

BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's endeavor to build itself into a beautiful country, which has been defined by President Xi Jinping as a goal to be met by 2035, contributes to promoting ecological development for the world and has won acclamations from the international community.

ADDING DIMENSION TO DOMESTIC POLICY

An environmental focus was incorporated into the country's development plan mapped out in the report delivered by Xi at the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October, an unprecedented move suggesting the country's determination to "provide more quality ecological goods to meet the people's ever-growing demands for a beautiful environment."

"The modernization that we pursue is one characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature," Xi said.

In his speech, Xi vowed to promote green development, solve prominent environmental problems, intensify the protection of ecosystems, and reform the environmental regulation system.

Ibrahim Thiaw, deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), told Xinhua in a recent interview that the congress "was a landmark because the leadership come out strongly to speak about not only social and economic issues, but also environmental issues."

"What we have seen recently in China is a very clear direction from the leadership that air and water pollution should not result in fatality and can be addressed with clear policy. We have seen the Chinese president and government adopt very clear positions and policy to help deal with pollution," Thiaw said.

Given China's status as the world's second largest economy and its political influence and leadership role around the world, China's adoption of domestic polices in regard to the environment has global implications, he added.

OFFERING EXPERIENCE TO GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

China has set prominent examples of successful practices concerning environmental governance, a recent case being Chinese individuals and company garnering half of the United Nations' highest awards on environmental protection this year.

In December, the UNEP honored six inspirational environmental leaders with the Champions of the Earth award in Nairobi, Kenya. The Saihanba Afforestation Community from China's northern province of Hebei was awarded for transforming degraded land into a forest covering 92,000 hectares, preserving and purifying huge volumes of water for major cities in northern China and spurring green sector growth.

"The Saihanba Afforestation Community have transformed degraded land into a lush paradise -- part of a new Great Wall of vegetation that will play a part in helping protect millions from air pollution and preserving precious water supplies," said Erik Solheim, executive director of the UNEP.

The community's work has proved that environmental degradation can be reversed, and that this is an investment worth making, Solheim added.

On the market side, China's bike-sharing company Mobike Technology Co. was awarded for exploring market-driven solutions to air pollution and climate change.

The World Wildlife Fund calculated that as of August 2017, Mobike users alone had collectively pedaled some 5.6 billion km, cutting more than 1.26 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Solheim said the award to Mobike shows the private sector can make a healthy profit while at the same time making huge improvements to people's lives and the environment.

"It proves that environmental challenges are not problems, but opportunities. This work is an inspiration to China and the world," he said.

Mobike has already entered cities in Italy, Britain, Japan, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea, and is venturing out to the Latin American market.

At the technological front, China has been offering expertise and experience in smart, green innovation to the larger world for a harmonious coexistence of nature and mankind.

Claudia Assmann, deputy program officer of the UNEP, said that after years of efforts, China is on a good track of green development, especially in the areas of electric transport, solar energy and the "sharing economy."

SHOULDERING RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

As an important participant, contributor, and torchbearer, China is taking a driving seat in global cooperation to tackle ecological issues.

China is one of the first countries to have ratified the Paris Agreement, and has more than met its carbon emission reduction goals last year, exemplifying a responsible stakeholder's role in global efforts to fight against climate change.

Achim Steiner, administrator of the United Nations Development Program, said the agency and China share many common visions in global cooperation.

Miroslav Lajcak, president of the United Nations General Assembly for the 72nd session, praised China's job in establishing an assistance fund for South-South cooperation in support of developing countries' efforts to implement the agenda.

In 2015, China pledged a package of 3.1 billion U.S. dollars to the South-South Cooperation Fund on Climate Change for developing countries.

One country alone cannot address challenges for all. Besides China's endeavors, Xi also called for concerted efforts of the world to protect the planet.

"We call on the people of all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity," Xi said in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress.

(Zhu Shaobin and Ronald Njoroge in Nairobi also contributed to the story.)
Turkey's president has slammed a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militant group and says he'll clear his country's border of "terrorists."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday his country would not allow "terror nests" near its border, referring to areas held by the People's Protection Units or YPG in northern Syria.

Turkey considers the YPG an extension of a Kurdish insurgency within its borders, and launched an operation in August 2016 to clear part of its border of them and the Islamic State group.

Erdogan announced an expanded list of areas to be cleared. "We will clean Afrin of terrorists, we will clean Manbij of terrorists. We will clean Tel Abyad, Ras al-Ayn and Qamishli of terrorists," he said.

Turkish officials regularly criticize the US for backing Syrian Kurds in combatting ISIS.
Two rockets were fired Sunday night from the Gaza strip, with one exploding near the Hof Ashkelon Regional Coucil near the Gaza border, less than a week after multiple rockets were fired at southern Israel.

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The second rocket landed in an open, uninhabited field nearby.

A residential home suffered damage from the rocket, but there were no casualties in the launchthe 18th to have taken place since President Donald Trump announced Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Where the rocket fell

The attack comes just days after the IAF attacked three Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip last Thursday in response to four rockets that were fired at Israel hours before.

A Code Red Alert was sounded at 8:48pm moments prior to the landing in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and resident of the area reported they heard a large explosion shortly after.

(Photo: Roee Idan)

Tensions have remained high in recent weeks over Trump's announcement, with militants in the strip incensed by the move and using the opportunity to launch rockets indiscriminately at neighboring Israeli communities.

In a statement after the latest provocation, Tamir Idan, head of the Sdot Negev regional council, said: "This evening, again, a red alert sounded in the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, and this time there is also damage to the homes of residents, though thank god no one was hurt."





(Photo: Roee Idan)

"We expect and demand that the security forces respond with force and make it clear to the terrorists that the State of Israel is determined not to allow the continued firing," he added. "We are not prepared for the state of emergency to become routine in our lives, and need to say clearly that we are strong and determined (to fight against ited)."

(Photo: Police Spokesperson's Unit)

Maya, whose house was hit by the rocket, told Ynet that she and her family "returned from lighting Hanukkah candles when the siren caught us at the entrance to the house. We ran to the bomb shelter, me, my husband and my two sons, and then there was a huge explosion."

"My car was destroyed by shrapnel," she added, lamenting that "unfortunately, we are experienced in this. The children are in shock, but we are in control."

On Friday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated his claims that the recent barrage of rockets were not the result of an emboldened Hamas and a diminished Israeli deterrence, but rather the result of internal feuds that have ensued following the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

(Photo: Roee Idan)

But despite the narrative, southern Israeli residents have become increasingly frustrated with the notion that Code Red Alerts are rapidly becoming a norm in their daily lives.
Two IDF soldiers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a brutal attack against a Druze soldier last Wednesday that left him hospitalized, the IDF Spokespersons Unit said on Sunday evening.

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A Druze soldier was attacked by fellow soldiers this past Wednesday in a base in northern Israel where he's stationed, his family said in a Facebook post.

The assaulted Druze soldier

Earlier, the IDF confirmed the soldier was beaten and said, "A Criminal Investigation Division (CID) inquiry is underway. We denounce any incidences of violence.

"He was savagely kicked and punched by two soldiers for refusing to vacate his dorm. The following day, they attacked him again, until he lost consciousness and lay prone, bleeding and humiliated on the ground," his family wrote and accompanied the post with photos they said showed the aftermath of the beating.

The assaulted soldiers grandfather, Sa'id Hussein, slammed the attack against his grandson, saying in an interview with Ynet: To beat a soldier in the IDF until he loses consciousness requires an investigation. This is not the army I served in thirty years ago. I didnt send my grandson to the army for this kind of thing.

Everyone on the base responsible needs to be held to account. It doesn't matter whether he was a Druze soldier, a Muslim soldier or a Jewish soldier. He is a soldier in the IDF," the grandfather said.

According to victims family, he was denied his request by the base commander to be taken to for a checkup in a military vehicle by the doctor after complaining that he was experiencing extreme pain.. The commander reportedly said he could go, but he had to make his own way there.

Only hours later, did the commander finally budge and agree to use a military vehicle. The soldier was also reportedly summoned back to the base despite being told by the doctors that he had to rest at home.

The soldiers who attacked him were not given ny discipline whatsoever, the family complained, and they stayed with the soldier who had been attacked.

The grandfather expressed concern that a discriminatory element guided the commanders decision.

I am not sure that if he was Jewish they would have done this to him, he said. Instead of calling a doctor after he lost consciousness, the officers and soldiers gathered around and no one tried to separate the attackers until he lost consciousness. Only then did they stop hitting him. Instead of evacuating him in an ambulance, they put him in some other vehicle.

Look at the pictures. They speak for themselves. I wouldnt say these were punches. I would say this was an attempted murder, the grandfather vented.

The soldiers, he claimed, beat his grandson with a rock wrapped in a rag. They broke his nose, and made him swollen until he fainted. They didn't stop until he fainted.
A small group of Palestinian protesters on Sunday set fire to placards printed with images of US Vice President Mike Pence and Middle East negotiator Jason Greenblatt outside Jesus's traditional birthplace, days before their arrival in the region.

With Bethlehem's illuminated Christmas tree behind them, about 30 people stood quietly holding candles at Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, the site Christians believe marks Jesus's birthplace, before setting the placards alight.

"Bethlehem welcomes the messengers of peace, not the messengers of war", read some placards with pictures of Pence and Greenblatt as they went up in flames.

The US vice president is due in the region later this week but the Palestinians have said he is not welcome and President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet him during his visit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said last week, a move the White House described as "unfortunate".

Greenblatt, who has held several rounds of discussions with Israeli and Palestinian officials during the past few months in an effort to restart peace talks that have been frozen since 2014, is also due to arrive this week.
The Security Cabinet unanimously decided to accept the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee to Examine Alternatives for Importing Ammonia to Israel.

It was determined that the three alternatives for the import of ammonia for the near term that were found acceptable by the Ministry of Environmental Protection are also acceptable from a security standpoint.

A representative of the Haifa municipality chose to leave the committee before the conclusions were submitted due to their disagreement with the recommendations.
The military campaign against Islamic State in Syria should be completed in February following the end of fighting against the militant group in Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

"On December 9, Iraqi Prime Minister (Haider al-) Abadi announced the end of the war and the victory over Daesh, and I think that by mid- to late February we will have won the war in Syria," Macron said in a broadcast interview, using the Arab acronym for Islamic State.

France would now push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including President Bashar al-Assad, Macron told France 2 televisions, promising "initiatives" early next year.

He did not say how any French proposals would relate to existing negotiations being brokered by the United Nations.

Despite being a leading backer of the Syrian opposition, France has sought a more pragmatic approach to the Syrian conflict since the arrival of President Emmanuel Macron, saying that the departure of al-Assad was not a pre-condition for talks.

Assad's government has been backed by Russia and Iran. President Vladimir Putin last week announced a significant scaling back of Russian forces in Syria, saying their mission was largely complete.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 19:50:40|Editor: Liangyu

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Performers take part in the Macao International Parade in Macao, south China, Dec. 17, 2017. The parade was held here on Sunday to mark the 18th anniversary of Macao's return to China. Over 60 performing groups took part in the parade. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

MACAO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Macao Special Administrative Region on Sunday afternoon held an international parade to mark the 18th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

With the theme "Feature of Local Districts and Historic Monuments", the parade attracted more than 60 participating groups from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong as well as foreign countries including Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Austria, France, Cape Verde, among others.

The parade featured a series of performances such as folk dances, acrobatics, stilt walking, Chinese martial arts and puppet shows.

The parade started from the renowned Ruins of St. Paul's and finally ended at Sai Van Lake Square, where the groups took to the stage one by one.

The parade, one of the major cultural events in Macao since 2011, was organized by Macao's Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao government Tourism Office.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 20:00:42|Editor: Jiaxin

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LONDON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and several others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash in the central British city of Birmingham early Sunday, police said.

The Sky News reported that three people were injured, with one in critical conditions.

A police spokeswoman said the road was closed after the traffic incident, which happened on Belgrave Middleway near Edgbaston at about 0100 GMT.

Police tweeted that this was a "very serious incident", and that the scene was "very difficult and upsetting", asking witnesses to contact them.

The BBC reported that the driver of a black cab died at the scene, along with a female passenger, while a male passenger died later in hospital.

Four men in a car were all thrown from their vehicle and three of them died at the scene. The fourth is in a critical condition.

Police said there were a total of six cars involved in the crash.

The ambulance service said a man and a woman received treatment for minor injuries, another man was discharged after being assessed by paramedics and another said he did not need any assistance.

The West Midlands Fire Service said 40 firefighters were sent to the scene in the wake of the "horrific" crash.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 20:55:49|Editor: Jiaxin

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TOKYO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A sightseeing bus carrying 34 South Korean tourists and a driver had an accident in Hokkaido, northern Japan on Sunday and some of the tourists sustained serious injuries, local media reported.

According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the bus slipped out of the snow-covered road and rolled over around 4:40 p.m. local time on its way to a tourist spot in Furano City.

All the 35 people onboard the bus including the driver have been sent to hospital and several of them were seriously injured, local firefighters were quoted as saying.

Local police have been looking into the cause of the accident.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 21:30:54|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will restrict business activities of insurers with low asset liability management capabilities in a bid to address risks in the sector, according to the country's insurance regulator.

Insurance companies will be rated from A to D by the regulator based on their ability to ensure the matching of maturity, cash flow and cost on both sides of their balance sheets, and those with low ratings will be banned from certain investment activities, according to draft rules released by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC).

Companies with the rating of D, the lowest, will be banned from applying to launch new products within a certain period. Salaries of the top management of these firms will also be restricted.

Insurers with high ratings will be favored by policies to launch new products and use their funds more freely.

The rules are open to revisions and will be implemented next year.

China's financial regulators have been stepping up efforts this year to correct market irregularities, targeting high-risk activities such as off-balance sheet financing.

The CIRC last month banned three life insurance firms from issuing new products in the next six months due serious problems found in the companies' product design and management, and said it would continue to tighten regulatory supervision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 22:01:03|Editor: Jiaxin

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TRIPOLI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- As the UN-sponsored political agreement signed by Libyan political factions in 2015 expires Sunday, the commander of Libya's eastern-based army Khalifa Haftar warned that Libya is entering "a dangerous stage."

"As of December 17, 2017, the so-called political agreement expires. Therefore, all bodies resulted from this agreement automatically lost their legitimacy, which is questioned since day one," Haftar said in a televised speech on Sunday.

The commander said Libya is now entering "a dangerous stage that could cause sharp deterioration in all local affairs without exception."

"This deterioration may extend to regional and international parties and opens the doors to all possibilities," Haftar said.

He criticized the international community for failing to take any serious measures to spare Libya from "this dangerous slide towards the unknown."

Haftar noted that all UN-sponsored dialogues held by Libyan political factions so far are "useless" as they failed to provide any guarantees "leading to a comprehensive and just solution."

He also vowed that he is committed to protecting and defending Libyans and the country's institutions "to the last soldier in our ranks."

Libyan political parties on December 17, 2015 signed a UN-sponsored peace agreement that aims at ending the political division in the country. Under the deal, the Government of National Accord was appointed, but the country has remained in a political crisis amid insecurity and chaos.

Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, on Sunday urged Libyan political parties to "refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process."

Salame proposed an action plan for Libya in September that includes amendment of the current UN-sponsored political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference for all Libya's political factions, adopting a constitution, and finally electing the president and parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 22:16:04|Editor: Jiaxin

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SANAA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ten women were killed on Sunday in an airstrike by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in central Yemen's province of Marib, a provincial security official and medics said.

The women were killed as the bus carrying them while returning home from a wedding party was hit by the attack.

The driver, who is a man, was critically injured, the official and medics in a Marib hospital said.

The airstrike hit the bus in the Hisan area of Harib al-Karamish district, which is under control of the Shiite Houthi rebels, about 170 km northeast of the capital Sanaa.

This is the latest in a series of airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led military coalition against Houthi targets in Yemen since the war began nearly three years ago.

On Wednesday, the coalition launched seven airstrikes on a prison inside a police camp in Houthis-held capital Sanaa, killing 31 prisoners and wounding 59 others, according to Houthis-controlled state Saba news agency.

The Saudi-led coalition has intervened in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015 to roll back the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels and support the internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was forced into exile by the Houthis.

The war has killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children, and displaced 3 million others, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 22:51:14|Editor: yan

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by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Some of Italy's leading opposition political figures have come out in favor of a complicated plan, which allegedly would create a new way to pay government obligations without adding to the country's debt and could, according to some media, open the door to Italy leaving the 19-nation eurozone.

The plan uses so-called Fiscal Credit Certificates, or CCFs, their Italian-language acronym. The Italian Treasury would issue the CCFs, which could be used by companies either as credits against future taxes or as an alternative way to pay bills. A company could decide, for example, to pay vendors or salaries with a combination of euros and CCFs or pay them back to the government in taxes.

If Italy became the first major industrialized country to use CCFs, the certificates could become a kind of currency in circulation parallel to the euro.

The anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and the separatist Northern League both favor economic strategies that employ the use of CCFs. Similarly, three-time former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, also a billionaire media tycoon, has also said he is interested in exploring the possibility of issuing CCFs, though that view is not part of the official plank of Forza Italia, the political party Berlusconi founded and heads.

Of Italy's four largest political parties, only the center-left Democratic Party has aid it opposes the use of the certificates.

The use of CCFs is controversial because widespread use of the certificates could help make it easier for Italy to leave the eurozone. And that possibility emerges as Italian support for the European Union (EU) dips to near all-time lows.

A Pew Research Center poll released earlier this year showed that around 35 percent of Italians were in favor of Italy leaving the EU, tied with Greece for the second lowest level among the 28 EU member states (the EU has less support only in the U.K., which voted to leave the bloc last year). In addition, the Pew poll showed Italy is the only member state where support for the EU has measurably fallen since 2016.

"There are two main reasons a government might issue CCFs," Lorenzo Codogno, a consultant and former chief economist for the Italian Treasury, now a professor at the London School of Economics, told Xinhua. "One is as a first step toward Italy's leaving the eurozone, and the other is as a way to bypass fiscal rules. Neither one of them is a good idea."

Codogno said it would be "irresponsible" for Italy to use CCFs. "Advocates sell the idea by saying it would help spark economic growth without adding to the country's debt, but they would just be a way to hide the debt," he said. "Clearly, they would still be debt."

Gian Marco Committeri, a partner with the Studio Alonzo Committeri & Patner accounting firm, agreed that any plan to use CCFs would be flawed, especially given the lack of details available.

"Right now we don't know how much the CCFs would be worth, who they would be issued to, and under what conditions," Committeri said in an interview. "There are general problems with the idea, but we can't even evaluate the plan until somebody provides more details."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 22:51:15|Editor: Mengjie

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TAIYUAN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to 3D printing technology, three reproductions of Buddhist statues in the Yungang Grottoes, a 1,500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site, are being displayed in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao.

The Yungang Grottoes art gallery, which opened to the public Saturday, displayed three full-size replicas of Buddhist statues from the caves in northern China's Shanxi Province.

The middle one stands 10 meters high, while those beside it are 6 meters high.

"It's hard to believe that they are reproduced. They look so real," said Zhang Zhuo, head of the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute.

The two-year program was jointly launched by Yungang Grottoes Research Institute, Qingdao Publishing Group and Zhejiang University.

Researchers built 3D models for the three statues, then used 3D printers to reproduce them.

"The color was first painted automatically by machines. Then artists from Yungang added color in detail," said Diao Changyu, assistant to the dean of the cultural heritage institute at Zhejiang University.

"It's amazing to see the Buddha figures of Yungang. I plan to visit the grottoes next year," said visitor Cai Meijiao.

The Yungang Buddhist Grottoes in Datong City boast 51,000 Buddhist images in caves stretching for 1 kilometer along a cliff. It was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2001.

According to Zhang, the reproduction programs of two other caves, supported by 3D printing technology, are underway.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 22:56:16|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of new migrants coming to Germany this year will fall for two years in a row since the 2015 European refugee crisis, Germany's federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has said.

De Maiziere told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag published on Sunday that at the end of November new immigrants were around 173,000, and he calculated for the whole year and found it would be less than 200,000.

New migrants coming to Germany in 2016 were around 280,000, while in 2015 the number of new migrants was about 890,000, according to official statistics.

The influx of refugees has led to the rise of anti-Islam and xenophobic populism in Germany, as many of refugees came from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Refugee policy was also considered as one of the major reasons for the lowest ever votes of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Sept. 24 federal election since 1949.

Migrant arrivals in Germany slowed sharply after several Balkans countries closed their borders and the EU in March 2016 reached a refugee deal with Turkey. Maritime efforts to stop migrants reaching Europe from northern Africa in boats have also been intensified.

Merkel's CDU has reached an agreement with its Bavarian sister Christian Social Union in October to introduce a ceiling of 200,000 immigrants for humanitarian reasons every year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 23:01:17|Editor: yan

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YANGON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 China Tibetan Culture Picture Exhibition kicked off in Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda on Sunday afternoon.

Present at the opening ceremony of the two-day exhibition were Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Chairman of Yangon Region Parliament U Tin Maung Htun and other officials as well as eminent monks.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang expressed his belief that the exhibition will be a great opportunity for the Myanmar people to know more about tradition and culture of China's Tibet and it will strengthen the friendship between China's Tibet and Myanmar.

U Sein Win Aung, chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association (Central), said the exhibition aims to exchange culture, friendship and Buddhism between China's Tibet and Myanmar.

It is the first time of visit to Myanmar for China's Tibetan Culture Delegation and the exhibition highlights the bilateral exchange of Buddhism and culture between China and Myanmar, said Zhu Hongli, an official from China's State Council Information Office at the opening ceremony.

Photos portraying everyday lives of Tibetan people, culture, art, language, beauty, natural resources and other significant norms of China's Tibet are being displayed at the exhibition.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 23:26:23|Editor: yan

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KUNMING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sons of a U.S. aviator who helped China fight against Japanese invaders during WWII have donated two blankets, which were gifted by Mao Zedong, to a memorial hall in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Mao presented the blankets from Mongolia with John Paul McConnell as a token of thanks after the U.S. pilot flew the leader to and from Chongqing in September 1945, a month after the Japanese surrender. The blankets have been well-kept by the McConnell family for more than 70 years.

Sons of McConnell, Bruce and Dorsey, made the donation to Dianxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall during a recent trip to Tengchong city in Yunnan. They hoped that the blankets could serve as reminder of the friendship between the United States and China.

"I think that when Chairman Mao gave my father these blankets, he was expressing a hope: that though circumstances might separate us for a time, one day the people of China and the people of the United States would again share deep bonds of friendship," said Dorsey.

John Paul McConnell first came to Asia in 1943 as chief of staff of the China-Burma-India Air Force Training Command at Karachi, India. He was later responsible for training American and Chinese pilots as they took on the treacherous missions of transporting military supplies from India to China over the Himalayan mountains.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 23:41:26|Editor: yan

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COLOMBO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A grand mass wedding ceremony with the participation of 50 Chinese couples took place in Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Sunday as part of the the government's agenda to promote Sri Lanka as an ideal wedding destination.

The ceremony which was held in the Colombo Municipal Council grounds was attended by Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Tourism John Amaratunga, Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Petroleum Arjuna Ranatunga and China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, the Ministry of Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Western Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka, speaking at the ceremony, thanked the couples for choosing Sri Lanka as their wedding destination and said both nations have shared strong and historical ties since ancient times.

"Sri Lanka is very proud to be selected as the destination for these couples to celebrate the most important days of their lives," Ranawaka said.

He added that while this event would also promote Sri Lanka's beauty globally, Sri Lanka itself is undergoing further development with the construction of new hotels and other areas catering especially for tourists.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga told Xinhua that this event would help boost Sri Lanka's tourism.

"We hope through this event, many other couples, from other parts of the world, will select Sri Lanka as their wedding destination," Amaratuga said.

The brides and grooms were dressed in typical Sri Lankan wedding attire, traditional Chinese wedding outfits and gowns and tuxedos.

After the traditional dances, the couples were accompanied into heavily-decorated tents where each couple exchanged rings while a holy thread was also tied on their fingers amidst religious chanting.

Wang Yan, a bride who participated in the mass wedding, said that she had learnt of the event through her friends and she was happy to select Sri Lanka as her wedding destination.

"The people here are very friendly and we have been treated so well. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country," she said.

The couples, on Monday, will be taken on a tour of Yala, Sigiriya and Kandy, which are all popular tourist spots in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists with China currently being the second largest market.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-17 23:51:28|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) announced Sunday that it has formed a ministerial delegation tasked with responding to the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The delegation will respond on the diplomatic and media levels to "the dangerous U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," AL spokesman Mhamoud Afifi said in a statement.

The delegation includes the foreign ministers of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Afifi said the delegation was formed in light of the contacts made by Jordan in recent days, in its capacity as the chair of the Arab summit and the Arab Peace Initiative Committee.

He added that the delegation will hold its first meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman early next week.

Defying strong opposition and warnings from the Palestinians and Muslim countries, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Dec. 6 to recognize the disputed holy city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The move has sparked widespread condemnation and protests from Muslim countries across the world, especially the Palestinians and Arab states in the Middle East. The Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future independent state.

Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal capital in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community which holds that the status of Jerusalem should be resolved in the Israeli-Palestinian final-status talks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:06:32|Editor: yan

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DOHA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised on Sunday Qatar's rejection to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Abbas made the remarks at his meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during which the Qatari leader stressed his country's firm stance of supporting the Palestinian cause and rights.

The emir lauded the progress that Palestinians have achieved to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the two-state solution backed by the international community.

Qatar has close ties with the U.S., which has its largest military base in the Middle East in Doha for launching anti-terror attacks.

Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal capital in 1980. But the Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future independent state.

On Dec. 6, Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, tossing aside 70 years of U.S. neutrality on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

The move has infuriated Muslims across the world, who revered Jerusalem as the third holiest site in their religion.

Waves of protests have been held in the past weeks by the Palestinians and other Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, calling on the U.S. to withdraw its decision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:06:33|Editor: yan

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TIRANA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Albanian opposition leader Lulzim Basha declared Sunday that opposition would start massive protests against current government's decision to elect new General Prosecutor without opposition.

Basha said protests would start Monday while he invited citizens to join protests and prevent government from "catching" top prosecutor's office.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting he had with Democratic Party (DP) chairmen in district, Basha said that opposition here would not allow such thing, saying that Albania didn't need a political General Prosecutor but someone elected through a consensual procedure and support.

On Monday, Albanian government informed it would approve with its votes the new General Prosecutor. The candidate to be appointed in this post will serve as a temporary top prosecutor since the Council of Prosecutors, the structure defining the start and end of the mandate, hasn't been formed yet.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Doha, Qatar, December 17, 2017. (Palestinian President Office (PPO)/Handout via REUTERS)

DOHA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised on Sunday Qatar's rejection to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Abbas made the remarks at his meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during which the Qatari leader stressed his country's firm stance of supporting the Palestinian cause and rights.

The emir lauded the progress that Palestinians have achieved to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the two-state solution backed by the international community.

Qatar has close ties with the U.S., which has its largest military base in the Middle East in Doha for launching anti-terror attacks.

Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal capital in 1980. But the Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future independent state.

On Dec. 6, Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, tossing aside 70 years of U.S. neutrality on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

The move has infuriated Muslims across the world, who revered Jerusalem as the third holiest site in their religion.

Waves of protests have been held in the past weeks by the Palestinians and other Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, calling on the U.S. to withdraw its decision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:21:35|Editor: yan

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AL-GOLID, Sudan, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday denounced the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, citing it is an Arab-Islamic city.

Addressing a rally in Al-Golid town in Northern state, some 414 km north of Khartoum, al-Bashir reiterated the readiness of Sudanese youths to defend Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

"We say to (U.S. President Donald) Trump: who gave you the right to give Al-Quds to the Jews?" said al-Bashir.

The Sudanese leader arrived in Northern state on Sunday morning in a two-day visit to inaugurate a number of development projects and open the 4th session of the Al-Barkel Tourism Festival held in the Karima area.

On Dec. 6, Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The move has infuriated Muslims across the world, who revered Jerusalem as the third holiest site in their religion.

Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal capital in 1980. But the Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future independent state.

Waves of protests have been held in the past weeks by the Palestinians and other Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, calling on the U.S. to withdraw its decision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:21:36|Editor: Yang Yi

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Viktor Axelsen (R) of Denmark and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia pose on the awarding ceremony after their men's singls final match during the Dubai Badminton World Superseries Finals in Dubai on Dec. 16, 2017. Viktor Axelsen won 2-1. (Xinhua/Su Xiaopo)

DUBAI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen won the title of men's singles at Badminton World Federation (BWF) Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017 after defeating Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 19-21, 21-19, 21-15 here on Sunday.

"It was great to play and win in Dubai again, and I love the amazing support from the Danish fans," said Axelsen who is fluent in Mandarin and also known by his Chinese name An Sailong.

Lee, a four-time champion at the World Superseries Finals but who has never triumphed in Dubai, acted cool and collected from the beginning, while 23-year old Axelsen visibly struggled with neck-pain. The 1.94 meters tall Dane could not play his physical dominance to the maximum and his shots landed more often on the wrong side of the court's line and lost the first set at 21-19.

Being aware of his opponent's speedy and agile power play, Li Chong Wei tried to outplay Axelsen with high shots across the court, but the right-handed Dane fought back in the second set to level the score after 1-1 and went on to edge Lee Chong Wei in the third set for the gold medal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:31:38|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The newly-established free economic zone on the Iranian-Armenian border would boost bilateral trade between the two countries, said Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Kazem Sajjadi on Sunday.

"The launch of the Meghri Free Economic Zone will increase the trade turnover volumes between Armenia and Iran," said the Iranian envoy.

Armenia launched Friday the free economic zone in its southernmost city of Meghri on the border with Iran, the Financial Tribune reported.

The zone will house a range of companies in the spheres including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, cargo shipment, storage and tourism.

Companies operating in the zone will be exempt from profit tax, value-added tax, excise tax and customs fees, and pay only the income tax.

Armenian officials expect the zone to attract in the coming years 50-70 companies with investment worth a total of 100-130 million U.S. dollars, and create more than 1,500 jobs.

Trade between Armenia and Iran grew in the 10 months in 2017 to 211.4 million dollars, up 6 percent from 199.4 million dollars in the previous year.

Exports to Iran from Armenia during the period stood at 66.9 million dollars, a year-on-year increase of 2.3 percent. Exports to Armenia from Iran stood at 144.4 million dollars, up 7.8 percent.

Since Armenia's borders with both Turkey and Azerbaijan were closed due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts, Iran remains one of the few channels for landlocked Armenia to link to the outside world.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 00:56:41|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Egypt condemned on Sunday the suicide bombing attack against a Christian church in Pakistan that killed at least eight people and injured 44 others.

"The Egyptian government and people stand in solidarity with the Pakistani government and people against terrorism," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, urging for collaborative international efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism.

Four suicide bombers attacked on Sunday a densely-packed church in Pakistan's southwestern town of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.

One of the terrorists was shot dead by the church guards before detonating his explosives vest, according to Pakistani authorities.

Local affiliates of the terror group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the Pakistani church attack.

IS has also claimed responsibility for most of the deadly terror attacks in Egypt over the past few years.

On Nov. 24, a terrorist attack at a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others, in the deadliest terror attack and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt's modern history.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, though a Sinai-based terror group loyal to IS was the main suspect.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 01:01:43|Editor: yan

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LJUBLJANA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out in a retirement home in Slovenia on Sunday, causing several injuries, including one seriously.

The engulfed retirement home is in the southeastern town of Crnomelj. The head of the retirement home, Valerija Lekic Poljsak, told local media that two elderly people and two employees had been transported to the nearby Novo mesto hospital, while the rest had been evacuated.

The fire broke out soon after 1 p.m. local time and was put out by firefighters in about 30 minutes, according to the report by Slovenian Press Agehcy (STA).

The fire started in a room on the fourth floor, which accommodates some 25 seniors, said Lekic Poljsak, adding that it was too early to assess the damage now, but it was estimated at about 300,000 euros.

Local police and firefighters are still looking for clues as to what caused the fire.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 02:21:55|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for South Sudan , Festus Mogae, has appealed to leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to remain united under one voice and to encourage the South Sudanese leadership to seize the opportunity to restore the Peace Agreement to center stage.

The Chairman made the remarks on Sunday during the 59th extra-ordinary session of the IGAD Council of Ministers in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, according to a statement released in connection with the meeting.

"I appeal to IGAD to be resolute, without fear or favor, in their determination to ensure the success of the revitalization forum. This is a huge opportunity that cannot be wasted or squandered," said Mogae.

The chairman has underlined that the region must approach the revitalization with strength of purpose.

"Collectively, it is critical that the IGAD Heads of State and Governments prevail over the South Sudanese leadership to rethink the current trajectory of the country and take the necessary steps to restore peace and inclusive governance," he said.

The Chairman has called on all the South Sudanese participants at the High Level Revitalization Forum to remain focused on the desperate plight of the people of South Sudan.

"For them, we must stop the fighting, end the violence, deal with criminality, prevent sexual and human rights abuses, reduce human suffering and address the economic crisis," said Mogae.

"I reiterate my call to all South Sudanese stakeholders that, as they come to the table in search of a sustainable political solution, they must renounce violence and demonstrate the political will to compromise and accommodate one another," he said.

"It is simply not possible to overstate the fundamental necessity for an immediate cessation of all hostilities. Without that, we stand no chance of stemming the tide of displacement, enabling unhindered delivery of aid to those in need or contemplating the return of IDPs (internally displaced persons) and refugees to their homes", he said.

The JMEC has been established among others to oversee the implementation of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan.
(FILE PHOTO)Security personnels stand guard outside the Mar Girgis Church in Tanta, Egypt, on May 20, 2017. Memorial activities for the victims of Alexandria and Tanta churchblasts happened last month were held in some Egyptian cities on Saturday, 40 days after the terrorist attacks. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Egypt announced on Sunday to raise the security level to the highest around churches ahead of Christmas to prevent terror attacks.

Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar instructed in a meeting with his security assistants to beef up security in the surroundings of churches and vital state facilities, the state news agency MENA reported.

More security patrols will be deployed to the streets, Ghaffar added.

The measures were taken in the wake of the Nov. 24 terror attack against a mosque in North Sinai that killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others.

It is the deadliest terror attack and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt's modern history.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt focused on targeting police and military men in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic Christian minority as well.

Terrorists attacked two Coptic churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandira in early April, killing a total of 47 people and wounding 106 others.

Most of the attacks were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the terror group Islamic State.
Supporters of former Georgian President and Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili clash with police as they try to break into the building of the International Art Centre in Kiev, Ukraine, December 17, 2017. (REUTERS PHOTO)

KIEV, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Dozens were hurt on Sunday in clashes in central Kiev between police and activists during the protest calling for the impeachment of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, authorities said.

Zoryan Shkiryak, an adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, said in an interview to the local 112 TV channel that at least 30 law enforcement officers injured in the clashes.

Meanwhile, various Ukrainian media outlets reported that several demonstrators were also hurt during the skirmishes.

Earlier, the protest started peacefully at the Khreschatyk street, the central street of Kiev, and later turned violent, when the demonstrators tried to break into a nearby concert hall and set up a "protest headquarter" there.

The police cordoned off the building, where a jazz concert and a kids Christmas party were being held, and prevented the protesters from entering it.

According to the police, about 2,000 activists took part in the demonstration, while the organizers of the protest estimated the number of the rally participants at 5,000.

The protest was headed by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, now a leader of a Ukrainian oppositional political party "Movement of New Forces".

In the recent weeks, Saakashvili has organized several demonstrations in Kiev against Poroshenko, accusing him of insufficient reform progress and corruption.

Saakashvili, 49, served two terms as Georgian president from 2004 to 2013. He was granted Ukrainian citizenship in May 2015 and appointed governor of Odessa region. On July 26, Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly submitting false information while applying for a Ukrainian passport.

Saakashvili faces investigation in Ukraine on charges of "aiding members of criminal groups and covering up their criminal activity."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 03:32:05|Editor: yan

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MOGADISHU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) forces ended a ten-day training course on Sunday in a move aimed at stepping up efforts to counter widespread use of explosives.

The training for the South West state police officers held in the administrative capital, Baidoa in southern Somalia, focused on prevention and detection of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which has become the preferred weapon of choice for Al-Shabaab and other militant groups in Somalia.

AMISOM Inspector of Police, Sahr Emmanuel Kobai-Aruna noted in his closing remarks that the training was meant to enhance the capacity of the South West Police Force, adding that the officers were taken through a number of topics on safety and security.

"This is part of AMISOM's mandate to capacitate Somali Police Force and we taught them some components of IED/ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD); the types EOD/IED and other management course modules," said Kobai-Aruna in a statement issued after the training.

"We even taught them first aid at crime scene and casualty awareness assessment," added Kobai-Aruna.

The training course, which reviewed threats, posed by IEDs was aimed at equipping the Somali police with vital skills to detect explosives planted by terrorists.

"We have just finished the course on IED and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) for 15 participants drawn from Somali police force," said Tresphord Kasale, the AMISOM Police Coordinator for South West State.

"The purpose of this course was to create awareness (among) the officers so that they are able to identify IEDs and be able to call upon experts to come and defuse them," Kasale added.

He said the training was also aimed at creating awareness among the general public on the dangers of explosives and how to identify them.

He urged the public to inform security officers whenever they detect or identify an IED, for safe handling and detonation, to prevent loss of life and destruction of property.

Kasale said the AU mission has played a crucial role in establishing the South West State Police Force, by training 600 police officers, who have played a major role in improving security in the region.

In addition, another 600 police officers in Jubbaland have also been trained and plans are underway to recruit and train more officers in HirShabelle state next year.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech at a press conference after the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency)

ISTANBUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday reaffirmed Turkey's intention to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, which was recognized as the capital of the State of Palestine by Islamic leaders days ago.

"We have already declared East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State but we have not been able to open our embassy there because Jerusalem is currently under occupation," said Erdogan at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party in central Anatolian province of Karaman.

"God willing we will open our embassy there," he was quoted as saying by the Hurriyet daily.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu unveiled Ankara's plan to open an embassy in East Jerusalem on Thursday, one day after leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation met in Istanbul and recognized East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, in respond to the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The unilateral move taken by U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 6 have sparked violent clashes on the Palestinian territories as well as protests in other countries.

"Do not attempt to undertake a Zionist (Israel) operation. If you do, the cost of this will be heavy," the Turkish leader warned.

The status of Jerusalem is among the core issues related to the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 04:07:11|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel on Sunday night, with at least one of them hitting an area of a community in southern Israel without causing damage or injuries, Israel's military said.

"Two projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel were identified," a spokesperson for the army said in a statement.

At least one of the projectiles projectile hit an area of a community in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council in southern Israel, said the spokesperson.

The forces are still searching for the other rockets, the spokesperson added.

The launching prompted sirens across the region but no injuries or damage were reported.

Such rockets are usually launched by militant Islamist groups in Gaza but Israel holds Hamas, which runs Gaza, responsible for any fire from the besieged Palestinian enclave.

At least 20 projectiles have been fired at Israel from Gaza since December 6, when United State President Donald Trump said he recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Israel retaliates the fire with artillery and airstrikes, saying it targets Hamas posts.

Israel seized East Jerusalem, along with the rest of the West Bank and the southern enclave of Gaza, during the 1967 Middle East war. It annexed East Jerusalem shortly later, claiming it as part of its "indivisible capital."

Trump was the first international leader to acknowledge the annexation. His move was widely denounced by the European Union, Russia, China, and other countries.

The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. East Jerusalem's Old City is home to the al-Aqsa compound mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 04:22:12|Editor: yan

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BAQUBA, Iraq, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Sunday killed a local leader of Islamic State (IS) group and two of his aides in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a provincial security source said.

Acting on intelligence reports, an army force ambushed the IS leader and his two aides in al-Nida area in east of the provincial capital city Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, and shot them dead, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In a separate incident, the security forces found the bodies of two physicians and an engineer, who are members of a Hashd Shaabi brigade in Maytah area in north of the province, the source said.

The three Hashd Shaabi members were abducted by unknown militants five days ago, while travelling on a main road at a rural area in north of Baquba, the source added.

Maytah is part of the volatile al-Udhaim area in the northwestern part of Diyala province.

The extremist IS group are using hideouts in the sprawling rugged areas that extend from western part of Diyala to Himreen mountainous area and nearby Mteibijah area in the neighboring Salahudin province.

For the second day, the security forces are carrying out an offensive to hunt down remnants of IS militants in the rugged rural areas near the border between the provinces of Diyala and Salahudin, including Mteibijah and Maytah.

Dozens of IS militants fled their former bases in Salahudin province and Hawijah area in west of Kirkuk after the Iraqi forces cleared these areas from the extremist militants during anti-IS offensives in the past few months.

On Dec. 9, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group.

However, small groups of IS militants resorted to deserts and rugged areas in many areas in Iraq looking for safe havens but the security forces are hunting them down from time to time.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 04:22:12|Editor: liuxin

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Chinese artist Kong Ning poses for photos during her performance in Athens, Greece , on Dec. 17, 2017. Chinese artist Kong Ning performed at the foot of the Acropolis in the center of Athens on Sunday in a bid to raise public awareness on environmental protection. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese artist Kong Ning performed at the foot of the Acropolis in the center of Athens on Sunday in a bid to raise public awareness on environmental protection.

Dressed in a long-tailed dress made of blue biodegradable plastic, the Chinese artist, holding a "Little Blue Man" figure in her hands, together with environmental activists, urged Athenians and tourists strolling along the pedestrian street under the Sacred Rock to take a moment and consider what each one of us can do to protect planet earth.

Kong, who visits Greece for the first time, explained to Xinhua and people who approached her, that her "Little Blue Man" symbolizes that we should live like a drop of water, coming and going without leaving any trace behind.

"I felt that people understood me, and knew that I love the planet just as I love the blue sky above Greece. From their eyes I know that they understand me and love me," she told Xinhua.

"All the people of the world live on one planet and we all love this planet like members of a big family," she said.

The 59-year-old self-taught poet, painter and film-maker and performance artist has been devoted to art projects on environmental protection over the past decade.

She has performed across China, as well as at Times Square and the 9/11 Memorial in New York in November and Paris earlier this month.

The artist chose Athens to stage the performance of her "Little Blue Man" as it is a place drenched in blue sea water and sky, she told Xinhua.

She intends to take the "Little Blue Man" across the globe to showcase the need to protect the environment and promote a new, green way of living. She said she is also ready to join hands with anyone sharing her dream of a "green future".

Greek multidisciplinary artist and passionate environmental activist Demosthenes Davvetas on Sunday welcomed the Chinese artist under the Acropolis and discussed plans for their collaboration in 2018.

"I would like to welcome the performance Kong Ning is giving here. I believe that it is very important for the ongoing discourse of the environment. Today, more than ever, the environment is a subject that concerns us all," Davvetas told Xinhua.

"This time the dialogue between us is not limited to the past, our histories, but concerns also the present," he said regarding the projects he works on with Kong, which includes translation of his poems into Chinese and the Chinese artist's into Greek.

Davvetas has visited China three times so far and presented to Chinese audience his work on the dialogue between Socrates and Confucius.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 04:52:18|Editor: yan

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ISTANBUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Sunday blasted the new Austrian coalition over its attempt to end Ankara's bid to join the European Union, threatening retaliation in case of Vienna pressing ahead with it.

"The unfortunate and shortsighted statement regarding Turkey in the program of the new government of Austria confirms concerns about a political movement which takes discrimination and alienation as its basis," said a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The ministry described the new Austrian government's intention to seek allies in its efforts to block Turkey's EU accession talks as against "political and diplomatic customs," warning Vienna of the risk of losing "the friendship of Turkey" and facing "appropriate response" by Ankara if it insists to do so.

Turkey's membership talks with the EU have been stalled over squabbles about democracy and human rights, in particular after a coup bid which was foiled in Turkey in July 2016. Germany has also threatened to end the talks with Ankara.

The EU has not expanded the existing customs union with Turkey and reduced its financial aid to the accession candidate in a bid to increase the pressure on Ankara.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 05:22:22|Editor: yan

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SANTIAGO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean government confirmed Sunday that landslides on Saturday in Villa Santa Lucia had left five people dead, 12 injured and 18 missing.

According to local media, the vice minister of the Interior, Mahmud Aleuy, had updated the result of search and rescue operations as rubble was progressively cleared.

The landslide was provoked by a the movement of a glacier, swamping Route 7 near Villa Santa Lucia.

Firefighters, army, navy and air force units have all been dispatched to the area, with eight helicopters and four planes leading the search.

A central command post has been set up in Santa Lucia by the Emergency Regional Office to coordinate rescue efforts.

A report published Sunday confirmed that 20 houses had been destroyed.

Given that the country's presidential election is happening this weekend, the government has ordered the Electoral Service to deploy all resources needed to guarantee the normal functioning of polling stations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 05:22:23|Editor: yan

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PARIS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he believed that it was necessary to talk with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his representatives to end the civil war and prepare the way to lasting stability in the country.

"My stance changes from what was done before, where we decided we could not talk with him (al-Assad) anymore," Macron said during an interview with state-run France2 television. "We will win the war against Islamic State in Syria by the end of February".

Breaking with the previous administration's policy which set al-Assad departure as a pre-condition to resolve the conflict, Macron said: "It is necessary to speak with Bashar even if he has to answer for his crimes."

France joined U.S.-lead military coalition to combat Islamic State insurgents in Syria in September 2015. Macron expected the international military offensive would meet its target of liberating Syrian territories from the terrorist group by the end of February.

Syria's conflict, which started with peaceful protests in 2011, has claimed hundreds thousands of lives and forced millions to displace, triggering Europe's worst migration crisis.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 05:32:25|Editor: yan

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by Hummam Sheikh Ali

DAMASCUS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Instead of the baubles, tinsel and toppers, a Christmas tree in the old city of Damascus is festooned with the wishes of people for 2018.

During the seven years since the beginning of the war, the Syrians have clung to their hope in order to endure the difficulties and pass through the tough times of war.

Not far from the frontline east of Damascus, a Christmas tree is set up in an old popular coffee shop in the old Damascus city.

The place is warm and cozy with old stone walls, a wooden chandelier and coffee tables made from tree trunks, with the flickering flame of candles, lending the place a mystical shimmering glow.

People wrote their wishes on colored slits of papers and pinned them on the tree branches.

Pink, yellow, red and blue papers were the new decorations of the tree, and the most prominent wishes were about tough farewells and the "wish you were here" hopes.

"My wish this year is like every year: May God protect you and make this time pass quickly so that we could return and sit down in the same place... I will miss you so much...Your fiance," one wish read, written on a pink paper.

Another wish read: "I hope to have you back in the new year, to be back again here, to live together and write the next year's wish together... I love you."

Other people also posted wishes of peace to befall Syria in 2018.

"I wish for peace and stability in 2018 for me and Damascus," one paper read.

Another one read: "I pray to God to stop the mortar shelling."

The tree also saw an interaction between people, as some people were supporting each other's wishes.

One man wished a quick return to his home in Aleppo and another person wrote on the same paper: "I hope you can have your peace back home."

Bernar Joma, the founder of the idea and owner of the coffee shop, told Xinhua he came up with the idea and called it the "tree of hope because the least we can do in this war is to hope and this is the only right that cannot be taken away from us."

"All of us have hopes, those outside Syria hope to come back to the country while those inside hope to leave the country... people are wishing for different things and it is a healthy way of expression," he added.

Ghada, a woman in her early 30s, brought a photo of her fiance and hung it on the tree, writing: "May God bring you back to me safely."

"My fiance has been a soldier for four years and every year I wished his return to continue our lives together... This war must end one day," she said.

Ghada said she has not seen him for months, as he serves on the western countryside of Aleppo.

"I wish he could come back this Christmas," she said.

Hussam, a regular customer of the coffee shop, told Xinhua that last year he hoped to return to his home in the countryside of Damascus and his wish came true.

"This year I am hoping to see my brother who left the country and resettled in Germany two years ago," he said, wearing a black sweater and sitting in the corner of the coffee shop as he was playing backgammon with his friends.

29-year-old Raghad was pessimistic as she seemed to have given up on hope.

"I think hope is a luxury and it is heart-breaking when it does not come true... I have hoped for a lot of things and they were never answered, so I just stopped it to avoid more disappointment," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 05:32:26|Editor: yan

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SANTIAGO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Debate is dominating the second round of the Chilean presidential election on Sunday, pitting former President Sebastian Pinera and Senator Alejandro Guillier.

Pinera voted at 9:30am at the Republica de Alemania school in central Santiago. However, scuffles broke out at the voting center between his supporters and opponents.

The candidate of the right-wing Chile Vamos coalition, protected by heavy security, rushed out of the school and into a car without speaking to the crowd, before the fighting was contained.

He was then accompanied to the town of Las Condes where his wife, Cecilia Morel, voted. There, he spoke to the press, saying that this "is not the end, but the beginning" of better times for Chile.

"After this election, we could have differences and while that is good, this does not turn us into enemies. We will certainly continue down the path of progress," he said.

"Each time we are divided, losses and pain have followed, but every time we have united, we have seen joy and triumphs. United, we retrieved our democracy, we rebuilt the country after the devastating earthquake of 2010, we found our 33 miners safe and sound. And united, we will succeed to defeat poverty in Chile...and the opportunity of a life with dignity and opportunities," added Pinera.

Alejandro Guillier, the center-left candidate and potential successor to President Michelle Bachelet, had a quiet day. First he had breakfast with a former professor in Antofagasta, a city 1,300km north of Santiago, where he voted.

However, as he left the polling station, some opponents threw eggs at his car without success. Guillier tried to downplay the incident, saying "the Chilean people...in general is very respectful. These are minimal incidents...which shows we are a country that values its democratic institutions," he told the press in Antofagasta.

He expressed his confidence in victory, adding that "we are going to win by a clear margin, tight but clear. We are optimistic."

Guillier also dismissed concerns that the campaign had been polarized by differences between both candidates.

"I did not see any polarization. On Friday, I went shopping and people were very warm...this is the country that we love. Very few countries in the world can have candidates walking down the street and be respected," he concluded.

He then returned to the hotel San Francisco in Santiago to await the results.

As for Bachelet herself, after voting in Santiago, she told the press that the result would have "a close margin."

"I think, in a democracy, one has to respond by being heard through the vote about what type of country or society we want. My only comment is to call on people to go and vote, participate, to join in," she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 06:12:30|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Limited demonstrations took place on Sunday in the Libyan capital of Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi against the UN-backed government.

In central Tripoli, dozens of Libyans protested against the Government of National Accord, describing it as "expired."

They demanded that the eastern-based army commander, General Khalifa Haftar, takes over the country instead of all the existing political factions.

They also demanded to support army and police forces and end the rule of militias in Libya.

However, gun firing of unknown source was heard in the place, sparking fear in the place and forcing demonstrators to leave immediately. No casualties were reported so far.

The protests took place a few hours after General Haftar said in a televised speech that the UN-sponsored political agreement is "expired," warning against a "future dangerous stage" for the country.

"As of December 17, 2017, the so-called political agreement expires. Therefore, all bodies resulted from this agreement automatically lost their legitimacy, which is questioned since day one," Haftar said.

Haftar noted that all UN-sponsored dialogues held by Libyan political factions so far are "useless" as they failed to provide any guarantees "leading to a comprehensive and just solution."

He also vowed that he is committed to protecting and defending Libyans and the country's institutions "to the last soldier in our ranks."

Libyan political parties on December 17, 2015 signed a UN-sponsored peace agreement that aims at ending the political division in the country.

Under the deal, the Government of National Accord was appointed, but the country has remained in a political crisis amid insecurity and chaos.

Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, on Sunday urged Libyan political parties to "refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process."

Salame proposed an action plan for Libya in September that includes amendment of the current UN-sponsored political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference for all Libya's political factions, adopting a constitution, and finally electing the president and parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 06:22:32|Editor: yan

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ALGIERS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- One of the main security challenges that Africa needs to address is the return of foreign fighters of terror groups from Iraq and Syria after their defeat there, said the African Union (AU) on Sunday.

The AU raised the concern on the 11th Focal Points Meeting of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), which started Sunday for three days in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

The AU is worried that the return of African fighters would undermine peace and security in the continent, as the fighters could form new terrorist cells and conduct terrorist attacks, not only in the most vulnerable regions, but also in areas which have never been hit by terrorist threats.

Some 6,000 African fighters, who joined the Islamic State (IS) camps in Iraq and Syria, could return home after their defeat. African countries have to cooperate closely to cope with the serious threat, Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, quoted a UN report as saying.

Chergui further noted that "the international community has to help Africa in dealing with the challenge of terrorism just like it helped and stood up with Iraq and Syria in their fight against the Islamic State."

This meeting is attended by representatives from AU member states, in addition to several other regional and international security organizations, including the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa and NATO.
But their emails. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

A lawyer representing President Trumps transition team has accused special counsel Robert Mueller of unlawfully obtaining tens of thousands of private emails from the accounts of at least 12 top transition officials  reportedly including Jared Kushner. But the move may just be a halfhearted attempt to discredit Mueller and stave off his investigation into Russias 2016 election meddling.

In a letter sent Saturday to House and Senate oversight committees, Trump for America lawyer Kory Langhofer claimed that Muellers office, by obtaining the emails and using them for the investigation, potentially violated attorney-client privileges and the unreasonable search and seizure protections provided by the Fourth Amendment. A source told Politico that Langhofer is also planning on filing a formal letter to special counsel Mueller.

Muellers team apparently obtained the emails from the General Services Administration, the government agency that handles the official transition email accounts. According to Langhofer, Muellers office has made extensive use of the materials, some of which may have been privileged communications. The attorney also blamed career staff at the GSA for unlawfully providing the information, and complained that some of the materials Mueller obtained were subsequently leaked to the press by unknown persons.

Man. Sure does suck to have your entire inbox accessed without your consent. https://t.co/2uDwVwdVfp  Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 17, 2017

According to Axios, the emails are said to include sensitive exchanges on matters that include potential appointments, gossip about the views of particular senators involved in the confirmation process, speculation about vulnerabilities of Trump nominees, strategizing about press statements, and policy planning on everything from war to taxes.

Transition-team members apparently only learned Mueller had all the emails when the messages came up in questioning. As the AP points out, its not clear how valuable the messages might be to Muellers team, since transition officials used other emails accounts in addition to their official ones.

Muellers office dismissed Langhofers claim late Saturday. 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, spokesperson Peter Carr said in a rare public statement.

A GSA official is also pushing back on the accusations, noting that the Trump transition-team members knew what they were getting into, unless they didnt read the terms and conditions. GSA deputy counsel Lenny Loewentritt told BuzzFeed News on Saturday that the Trump transition team was informed that, by using GSA devices, materials exchanged on them would not be held back in any law enforcement [actions]:

Loewentritt read to BuzzFeed News a series of agreements that anyone had to agree to when using GSA materials during the transition, including that there could be monitoring and auditing of devices and that, Therefore, no expectation of privacy can be assumed.

Loewentritt told BuzzFeed News that the GSA initially suggested a warrant or subpoena for the materials, but that the Special Counsels Office determined the letter route was sufficient.

Unimpressed former Obama transition officials weighed in on Sunday, too:

I was the executive director of Obama's '08 transition. Norm is right. There is no expectation of privacy in transition emails: 1) they have a .gov address; 2) they were created with govt-supplied equipment; and 3) they sat on govt servers. This is just whining from Trump team https://t.co/3pROFCbJ9x  Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) December 17, 2017

Democratic lawmakers are already questioning the purpose of Langhofers accusations, worried that it may be an attempt to lay out a rationale for firing Mueller and ending the investigation.

Private documents on a US Government, public email system? What are they afraid was found? Baloney. This is another attempt to discredit Mueller as his #TrumpRussia probe tightens. https://t.co/VZTkwiGmoB https://t.co/q0HTbwpQRK  Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 16, 2017

White House special counsel Ty Cobb tried to dismiss those concerns again on Saturday, rejecting rumors that Trump was planning on firing Mueller just before Christmas and reiterating that such a move was not even under consideration. White House legislative director Marc Short made a similar claim on Sunday.

However, according to former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti, Langhofers letter was indeed a weak attempt to discredit Mueller. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mariotti pointed out that Langhofer didnt actually claim the emails contained privileged communications, just that the messages were susceptible to privilege claims. Mariotti also noted that sending the letter to Congress instead of Mueller was an act of political theater.

Mariotti speculated that the reason Mueller may have obtained the emails from the GSA instead of from transition lawyers was because Mueller didnt trust Trumps team to hand over everything they should have. The bottom line:

If Mueller didnt follow the law, a court would suppress the evidence so it couldnt be used. The reason Trumps lawyers are writing letters to Congress instead of Mueller or a court is because their legal arguments have no merit.

We dont yet know how important the emails have been to Muellers investigation, but fired national security adviser Michael Flynn, who is one of the central Trumpworld figures under investigation and who pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal officers on December 1, was one of the Trump officials who used a transition email account.
The Trump campaign never really ended, and never will. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump plans to be right in the thick of next years midterm elections, according to a new report in the Washington Post. The crowd-loving Trump, who seemed to enjoy campaigning for president much more than he enjoys being president, intends to spend much of the year traveling the country and holding rallies in support of Republican Senate, House, and gubernatorial candidates. He may also involve himself in some GOP primary races, and Trump aides have already met with 116 GOP candidates, with more to come.

Trump and White House political director Bill Stepien are planning to meet weekly over the coming months to go over candidates, endorsement criteria, poll numbers, and Trumps forever-campaign plans, per the Post. Regularly scheduled meetings between Trump and candidates are also in the works.

How beneficial Trump and his busted brand can be to most GOP candidates next year  or ever again  is very much up for debate. A new AP-NORC poll indicates that Trump is the least popular first-year president on record, and the presidents endorsements have panned out terribly so far. In a stunning election result in Alabama on Tuesday, Democrat Doug Jones won Jeff Sessionss vacated Senate seat, beating Trump-endorsed candidate Roy Moore, who allegedly harassed and molested teenage girls. Trump, who won Alabama by 28 points last year, originally endorsed Luther Strange, the candidate Moore defeated in the states GOP primary. And in Virginia, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who Trump backed, Ed Gillespie, was soundly defeated by Democrat Ralph Northam last month. In a recent interview, Gillespie admitted that Trump may have been a big factor in his loss, though its true that plenty of other elements beyond the president played into the recent Republican losses.

If next years fight for Congress becomes a referendum on Trump, it would be a dream scenario for most Democrats. Trumps approval rating has been in the toilet for most of the year, and the Trump-and-Republican-run government is only now on the cusp of its first major legislative achievement  a massively unpopular tax cut for corporations and the wealthy, which may also gut the increasingly popular Affordable Care Act.

Doubtless, the next ten months will bring plenty more chaos from the White House. That doesnt even include what Trump will end up saying at all those rallies, or how he may attack GOP candidates who refuse his help, creating even more problems for the party.

Trumps attention will still come with some benefits for Republican candidates, of course. The Post reports that some GOP fundraising efforts have suffered during the Trump presidency, so the presidents ability to raise money from the donor class could be essential. And in truly safe districts and states for the GOP, Trumps value as a fundraiser, media magnet, and someone still beloved by much of the Republican voter base will be in demand.

But Trump is undoubtedly the person and idea that Democrats most want to run against next year, regardless of the actual GOP candidates they face.

Despite the enormous risk involved  and Trumps well-known love for talking about himself in front of big rooms filled with adoring fans  Stepien told the Post that the presidents motives are entirely pragmatic, and that public poll numbers dont reflect his real popularity.

For the president, this isnt about adulation and cheering crowds  this is about electing and reelecting Republicans, Stepien claimed.

But it might be that the best thing Trump can do to help elect and reelect Republicans is disappear.
Uganda continues to pursue business opportunities in Russia after senior officials from both countries recently met in Moscow to discuss how they can cement trade ties.

Johnson Agara Olwa, Ugandas ambassador to Russia, met Alexander Kopkov, Russias director of International Cooperation Department recently. The two discussed how Russia can widen its interest beyond the extractives to agricultural initiatives such as coffee growing.

While Russia has a keen interest in mining, renewable energy and machinery, among others, Uganda is inviting Russian Investors to consider investing in coffee, tea and fruits among other products that Uganda is exposing to Russian consumers, according to a statement from Ugandas ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was the start of preparations for the 2nd Intergovernmental Commission between the two countries slated to take place in May 2018. The meeting will seek ways to deepen the relationship between the two states.

For much of 2017, Russia and Ugandas discussions have centered around the development of nuclear energy.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in June, which established a framework for cooperation with a focus on development of nuclear power infrastructure in the Republic of Uganda and the uses of radioisotopes and radiation technologies, applications in industry, medicine, agriculture and other areas.

Ugandas foreign affairs ministry said the countrys embassies, under the Commercial Diplomacy Program, have been urged to promote Uganda as an investment destination.
Chinese firms will meet their own costs for the construction of oil roads as government continues to engage Chinas Exim bank for funding, according to a project brief from the Uganda National Roads Authority, writes JEFF MBANGA.

The idea behind Chinese firms meeting their own bills is to quickly start the process of creating a transport network for the transportation of equipment needed to get Uganda producing oil.

Unras project brief notes: Unra had requested the ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to consider works contracts to be pre-financed by the contractors and MoFPED gave a no-objection that was communicated to bidders. This implies that civil works contracts can commence and be implemented for a year while government secures funds from the bank.

The contracts committee at the Uganda National Roads Authority is currently scrutinizing the evaluation reports for bids of civil works as the authority continues to negotiate for Chinese funds to build nearly 600km of road.

Also, the contracts committee is reviewing the bids for supervision services, a component that will be financed by the government of Uganda, according to the Unra brief.

Unra officials, led by the executive director, Allen Kagina, toured the oil areas in late November, where they said they would first concentrate on carving through critical areas such as swamps and sharp corners before embarking on the longer stretches.

Unra has a target of building the 600km in two years, a task that is simply impossible. The United Kingdom Export Finance will finance an additional 98km. All these roads are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

According to Unra, the entire project cost for the roads is estimated at Shs 3.2 trillion ($909.8 million). The Exim bank of China is expected to finance the civil works for the 600km.

The roads have been bundled into packages. That is packages one, two and three (Masindi Bugungu  Pakwach-Buliisa- Wanseko-Bugungu, Hoima - Butiaba- Wanseko, and Buhimba Mulamagi-Bulamagi-Kakumiro. Packages four and five Lusalira-Nkonge Sembabule-Kyotera-Rakai and Hohwa-Nyairongo - Kaseeta-Lwera and Kabaale Kiziramfumbi.

Unra says the procurement for packages one, two and three is to be concluded in December, while for four and five is to start in the same month.

The preliminary designs, draft feasibility studies and the environmental and social impact assessments have been completed. The National Environment Management Authority has already awarded a certificate of approval for the construction of the roads.

Acquisition of land for the roads is expected to be concluded in June 2018. According to a survey conducted by Tullow, Total E&P and Cnooc, at least 800,000 tonnes of equipment needs to move to the oil areas of western Uganda for exploration and production of oil.

jeff@observer.ug
India's exports to China registered a sharp increase of over 53 per cent year-on-year to reach USD 1.24 billion in October, but the trade deficit continued to mount, according to data released by the customs. The trade deficit for October stood at USD 3.86 billion.

Despite the strains in the bilateral ties, India-China trade increased by 13.56 per cent year-on-year to reach USD 6.33 billion in October.

Significantly, India's exports to China increased by 53.04 percent year-on-year to reach USD 1.24 billion though the trade deficit continued to grow. The Indian exports to China around the same time last year was USD 0.81 billion, data showed.

China's exports to India also continued to grow registering an year-on-year growth of 6.87 per cent to reach USD 5.09 billion.

The Indian exports were boosted by natural pearls, precious stones and precious metals, organic chemicals, copper and articles, cotton, including yarn and woven fabric, ores, slag and ash.

Since this year, India s exports which were on the decline for a number of years started showing increase.

In the first seven months, the exports registered 40.69 per cent year-on-year to reach USD 10.60 billion.

However, the trade deficit expanded to USD 44.51 billion in the first seven months despite surge in Indian exports as imports from China continued to increase.

Last year, the trade deficit climbed to USD 52 billion in little over USD 70 billion trade.

India has been pressing China to open up its pharmaceutical and IT software sectors to expand the base of Indian exports.
Musharraf suggested interim govt for Pakistan

Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has suggested that an interim government, authorised by the Supreme Court (SC) to carry out constitutional amendments, was the only solution to the challenges being faced by the country.



He expressed these views while talking to reporters on Saturday. "The proposed technocrat interim government should be provided with a considerable time to hold the corrupt politicians accountable," Musharraf said, adding that the interim setup should not be bound to "hold elections in three or six months", as according to him it would not serve the purpose of its placement.



Commenting on the recent statement by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in which he had voiced fears regarding the future of the incumbent government, Musharraf said the current government "will not complete its tenure". He was in favour of "ousting the PML-N government".



When asked about the PML-N's narrative that apparently the army was plotting to expel the government, he said: "I don't know what the Aabpara [a veiled reference to the military's intelligence arm] is doing, but every Pakistani who is making efforts to oust the government was justified in doing so."



Those politicians who are talking about the greater plan [the perception that the army was planning to oust the government] are corrupt and useless, he said. Musharraf also accused such politicians of nepotism.



"Corrupt politicians have always compelled the army to take over," he said while trying to justify past martial laws in the country.



"I want, from the depths of my heart, the removal of the ruling regime," he said, adding that it would be in the better interest of the state if the incumbent government doesn't complete its tenure. An interim government should be placed to put the country on the right track, Musharraf said.



"In Pakistan, the state and the Constitution often come at odds with each other. We need to save the country and make democratic amendments to ensure that corrupt elements do not come again at the helm of affairs," he said.



The retired general disagreed that politicians can't be ousted until and unless masses reject them. "This narrative will lead to a clash between the judiciary and the executive," he added.



He, however, praised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, saying: "Among an available lot of politicians, only Imran Khan has the charisma to attract masses."



Talking about the role of the judiciary, he said no one was talking about a martial law to bring a positive change in the country, however, masses were looking forward to the SC for some relief.



"The SC will have to find a way [to replace the incumbent government with an interim one]," he remarked.



Musharraf suggested that the judiciary should take a start with striking down the legislation that allows a convicted person to head a political party. "They should declare it illegal and unconstitutional," he added.



"The prevailing rules and laws do not allow a change to take place," he said.



Citing some quotations of Abraham Lincoln, he said the father of democracy himself had confessed that he had broken laws and constitution.



Talking about his vision and future plans, Musharraf said: "We should create more provinces, it is essential to smoothly run the business of the state."



The former president said he wanted to form a multi-ethnic party and spread "Pakistanism". To a question, he said all ethnic entities live in Karachi so it will be good to start a multi-ethnic movement from there.



"I have to approach masses. I don't want to head scattered groups of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), neither they want me to chair them," Musharraf said while negating the impression that he would head a party, comprising various groups of MQM.



"There is a vacuum in Karachi. To me, the MQM is a failure and my approach is not to reinforce failures," he said.



I want to make a new entity and ask the former voters of the MQM to come under its ambit to form a government in their province, Musharraf said, adding that he, however, will not lead them as he considers himself a "national level leader" and that he will "not play on a provincial level".
A Vermont man faces numerous charges after he led police on a high-speed chase from Vermont into Washington County in a stolen vehicle early Sunday, according to police.

Vermont State Police said the driver fled from police in Poultney, Vermont and led them on a chase into adjacent parts of Hampton in Washington County before police discontinued the chase because of safety reasons as the driver topped 100 mph, authorities said.

Vermont State Police determined his identity and arrested him later Sunday morning near the home from which the vehicle was stolen, police said. One Vermont state trooper was injured when he fought with them as they arrested him, authorities said.

The driver was identified as Vincent Striglia, 27, of Poultney, Vermont.

He had allegedly assaulted another person at the home before taking the vehicle and was charged with domestic assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, operating a vehicle without owners consent and issued numerous traffic tickets, according to Vermont State Police.

Striglia was sent to Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland, Vermont, pending court action.
QUEENSBURY  In an effort to increase adult enrollment, SUNY Adirondack is adding an accelerated associate degree in business administration beginning with classes in the fall.

Adult learners are the future of higher education, Rob Palmieri, Dean of enrollment management and marketing, told the colleges board of trustees on Thursday. The number of high school graduates in the area we serve is decreasing and we need to be looking to adult learners. We are excited about this and a little nervous.

Palmieri displayed graphs that showed the number of high school graduates is decreasing throughout the Northeast states.

In Washington, Warren and northern Saratoga counties, where the college primarily draws students from, there were 3,958 high school graduates in 2013, and the expected number for 2025 is far fewer: 3,385.

Thats a 14 percent decrease. We have to respond to that, said Palmieri, who pointed out the number of potential adult learners is rising, from 119,076 in 2013 to an expected 125,463 in 2025.

Right now, he said, 22 percent of the schools students are 25 or older and 67 percent of them are women. Half of the adult students are economically disadvantaged and qualify for Pell grants.

He said the college has received a grant for an adult learner coordinator.

The new program will run on Monday and Wednesday nights for seven-week sessions, and a student who started in the fall of 2018 could finish in December 2019. There would be both classroom and internet components. The college will begin recruiting potential students in January.

Palmieri said the school prides itself on its open-enrollment policies, but noted that for this program, students would need technical and computer skills and be capable of intermediate algebra.

They also need to be self-driven and organized, he said.
Editor:

As many of us taxpayers wait for the final results of the tax bill, we are bombarded from the media and other interests as to what is best for us. At this time, fair reporting seems to go out the door and what we receive seems to be abbreviated.

Case in point, last week a group of the countrys wealthiest people (400) sent a letter to Congress stating that they were doing OK and to give the tax breaks to the people that needed it. Did anyone read that in the paper? When papers like The Post-Star depend on The Associated Press for much of their information, it is hard to report the information when it is not available. Then we hear the words fake news, etc. Maybe many of the supporters of the above letter need to bypass regular channels and go right to the people.

We cannot blame our local papers for the fake news when they have a difficult time assembling all the news from the information provided to them. We do not need fake news or a free press. We need fair news and a (fair) press. Keep your minds and ears open, taxpayers. We are being bombarded by the smog of politics and self-serving interests.

Barrone Knobs, Granville

Editors note: The Post-Star receives hundreds and hundreds of stories a day from The Associated Press. From those hundreds of stories, our copy editors choose 10 to 15 national or international stories to print in the newspaper. The selection is subjective with no right answer. Each person has a different perspective on what they might find of interest. No media outlet will be able to get all the news that every consumer feels is important. We have total confidence in The Associated Press, otherwise we would not be paying for its services.
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Quad-Citians share their pet stories in Creature Feature, appearing Mondays in the Life section. This story was submitted by Shirley Barrett, of Rock Island. If you want to share your pet's story, email your submission to features@qconline.com and attach a photo in JPEG form. Or send a story and photo via regular mail to Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline.com, 1033 7th St., Suite 101, East Moline IL 61244.

He wears a badge and body armor, and he puts in an eight-hour shift. He's smart and handsome -- but when his collar comes off, Argo knows he is just the dog he is.

When Officer David Rummery, Argo's handler and trainer, signs off, then Argo also knows he is heading home. They are members of the East Moline Police Department.

Officer Rummery and Argo were at the new East Moline veterinary clinic, Furever Family, doing a demonstration of what Argo does when my friend Diane called and said, "You've got to see Argo, this wonderful K-9." I called the next day, and sure enough, Argo was happy to do a story with Creature Feature.

Argo's name comes from Greek mythology, the story of Jason and the Argonauts. He is a German shepherd who hails from Slovakia. He is 2 years old and has been with Officer Rummery for a little over a year.

Argo was trained by Officer Rummery to respond to commands in German. He is trained in narcotics, article search, criminal apprehension, tracking, and handler protection. Argo is a very busy K-9 officer.

He and Officer Rummery take part in many desmonstrations at different places. Argo has to be re-certified every year.

Argo has a very nice kennel that is heated and has whatever he needs. He has a very large yard to run in. I saw a few of his demonstrations, and when the officer spoke to him with a command in German, he knew exactly what to do.

Argo gets in some plain old playtime, too. He latched onto a tug-of-war rope when I was visiting and held on tight. Officer Rummery picked him up, and Argo was still holding on. it was only when Officer Rummery gave a command that Argo let go.

Argo's teeth are as white as snow, and very big. I am happy there were no reasons for Argo to check me out. But I love dogs, so I would have given in.

Officer Rummery said hf he says the words "good boy" to Argo in English that Argo knows what that means. He knows he is a good boy.

Argo is supplied with food from Nestle Purina in Davenport. In fact, he gets to go with Officer Rummery to get his food. He just likes to oversee the situation. Nestle Purina donates food to many of the area police dogs.

Argo now and then gets a treat from Chick-fil-A -- a chicken sandwich, of course. Also, back in May, during Police Appreciation Week, Argo got his first taste of Whitey's ice cream. I saw a photo of him eating it, and he looked very satisfied.

Just being able to visit for a short time with Officer Rummery and Argo made me realize how important law enforcement is. It should never be taken for granted.

Argo is just a gorgeous dog, perfect in every way. Argo's always training to become the best. He takes his job seriously. Officer Rummery is proud of Argo. They are a team, now and forever.
Dog ownership correlates with lower rates of mortality and some fatal diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, a recent study concluded.

The study in the journal Scientific Reports found that canine ownership was associated with lower risk of CVD in single-person households and lower mortality in the general population.

The risk of death was found to be about 33 percent lower for single dog-owners than non-owners, and the risk of heart attack was 11 percent lower, according to the study.

Based in Sweden, almost 3.5 million people ages 40 to 80 were observed from 2001 to 2012 for the study. The authors called their findings the biggest investigation of the link from dog ownership to human health by far.

Older studies have suggested that the risk of heart disease is higher among people who live alone. Dogs could help with that. The study says: One mechanism by which dog ownership could reduce CVD risk and mortality is by alleviating psychosocial stress factors, such as social isolation, depression and loneliness -- all reportedly lower in dog owners.

Hunting breeds appear to correlate with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease, the study says.

Perhaps a dog may stand in as an important family member in the single households, said Mwenya Mubanga, lead junior author of the study, in a news release accompanying the study.

However, the exact mechanism by which dogs help peoples health is not clear, with several explanations possible.

We know that dog owners in general have a higher level of physical activity, which could be one explanation to the observed results, the studys senior author, Tove Fall, said in the news release. Other explanations include an increased well-being and social contacts or effects of the dog on the bacterial microbiome in the owner.

Or, as Fall said, could be more a matter of correlation, not causation: There might also be differences between owners and non-owners already before buying a dog, which could have influenced our results.
MIAMI _ In a year where allegations of sexual assault, harassment and rape by powerful men are coming at a rapid-fire pace, Miami-Dade Schools wants to remind its students how to say #MeToo.

Students can report inappropriate sexual behavior to teachers, counselors, schools police officers or principals, all of whom are legally mandated to report suspected abuse.

"Be the one who drags someone from the dark shadows of abuse into the light," urged Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho during a recent school board meeting.

But one board member worried that students and parents aren't aware of their options, or even worse, how to recognize the signs of abuse in their peers or their children.

"We have a lot of procedures, but people don't always know them or follow them because of lack of awareness," said Martin Karp, vice chair of the school board.

At the recent meeting, the school board agreed with Karp's plan to create a campaign that spans all grade levels and reminds students how to report a suspected predator, as well as how to identify warning signs of inappropriate adult behavior.

The plan would also create a class in The Parent Academy that trains parents to recognize the symptoms of abuse in their children and talk to their children about when adults cross the line.

Last month, a physical education teacher at Brownsville Middle School was fired and arrested on charges of sexually battering a 14-year-old girl. He's suspected of sharing nude images of himself with students via a messaging app after starting an innocuous conversation about school.

Karp said parents have approached him with concerns about teachers having untraceable, private conversations with students outside of the approved software for those conversations _ Edmodo. His proposal involves reviewing and possibly revising the rules for adult communication with children.

This proposal, which sets a February deadline for a completed plan on how to pull off the campaign and classes, is Karp's second on the topic. In 2005, he proposed that schools strengthen their anti-sexual abuse curriculum and include warnings about sexual predators on the internet in their classes.

"It's not something that just started happening. It's been going on for a long time and we need to prepare our kids," he said. "If you follow the percentages, you're talking about tens of thousands of students that will experience some type of inappropriate conduct.
Today is Sunday, Dec. 17, the 351st day of 2017. There are 14 days left in the year.

1867 -- 150 years ago: The radical game now is to encourage a split in the party, cause three presidential candidates to be run, and so carry the election into the house where of course, an ultra man will be chosen. Neat, but not likely to succeed.

1892 -- 125 years ago: J.M. Montgomery was elected head of Trio lodge, No 18, Masons.

1917 -- 100 years ago: J.W. Johnson of Rock Island was elected president of the Tri-City branch of the International Stewards association

1942 -- 75 years ago: Mrs. Thomas Duncan was visiting with hew aunt, Mrs. Agnes George in Peoria.

1967 -- 50 years ago: The dissolution of the Memri Drive-In Theater, Inc., Milan and the Semri Drive-In Theater, Inc. Silvis, was officially announced today by the Illinois Secretary of States office. Plans call for the construction of a Twin Cinema on Memri theater property on Andalusia Road at the south edge of Milan. Cost of the total project was estimated at $500,000.

1992 -- 25 years ago: After nearly a year of hype and hoopla, the post office decided Tuesday to spare stamp collectors that last 24 hours of waiting for the new Elvis Stamp. Postmaster Marvin Runyon announced that the stamp honoring the King of rock n roll will go on sale nationwide Jan. 6, the same day it is first issued at Graceland, Presleys Memphis, Tenn., mansion.
Milestones your child reaches age 6: Her first baby tooth comes out. He wobbles through his first bike ride. She can count to 100, and his vocabulary tops 5,000 words. Now theres a new rite of passage  that first Facebook chat.

Yes, Facebook has made it possible. Mark Zuckerbergs social media giant has unveiled a Messenger Kids app that allows children under 13 and as young as 6 to text, video chat and send photos. Parents approval is required, and parents also must sign off on every new person added to their childs contact list. Parents, and not their children, create the account. Kids 13 and older are allowed to use Facebook as any adult does.

Facebook says kids are spending more time on smartphones and tablets and their app offers a controlled environment to connect with relatives and friends. Right now for kids, the time they spend on devices is very passive, David Marcus, vice president of messaging products at Facebook, told The New York Times. The app comes with Snapchat-style filters such as playful masks that can be applied to photos kids send. Facebook also stresses that Messenger Kids will be ad-free.

Alas, the winds of change have turned into gales. For communication and safety reasons, its common now for children under 13 to have smartphones. Preteens text and call each other, they Snapchat one another, they freely exchange Instagram images. Its a social media world.

But thats where parental stewardship, and common sense, come into play. A kid whos 11 or 12 probably can find some utility in Messenger Kids. But a child whos 6 or 7? At 6, most kids are still honing the rough edges of their burgeoning language skills. And 6 or 7 seems young for a kid to wade into the dicey, you-cant-take-it-back nature of social media.

Facebook says its goal is not to turn todays tykes into tomorrows customers. Yet the Messenger Kids privacy policy lays out the raft of data Facebook will be collecting on children. Aside from their names, it includes the texts, videos and audio they send, information on whom they interact with, data on which of the apps bells and whistles they use, and how long they use them. The policy also states that Facebook reserves the right to share information collected in the Messenger Kids app with other Facebook services.

With all of that data collection, some parents will wonder whether Facebook is grooming future users. Why should parents simply trust that Facebook is acting in the best interest of children? James Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, told the Times.

Social media is here to stay. But its incumbent on parents to keep an eagle eye on their kids social media use and head off online overindulgence at the expense of in-the-flesh interaction with real people in the real world.

At 6, most kids are still honing the rough edges of their burgeoning language skills. And 6 or 7 seems young for a kid to wade into the dicey, you-cant-take-it-back nature of social media.
A former Bettendorf family bungalow will be demolished Tuesday as Rivermont Collegiate clears the way for spring construction of a $6 million classroom/dormitory.

Students enrolled in the college preparatory school and others will swing gold hammers and smash into the walls of a 100-year-old, two-story brick bungalow known as the Wallace House, and a backhoe will stand at the ready.

Architectural features in the bungalow most recently used for Rivermont music classes already have been "harvested" by Mike Wolfe of the "American Pickers" show on the History Channel, Drew Boster, director of development, said. Wolfe also filmed a segment for the show, but Boster said he doesn't know when it will air.

Doors and glass were among the items he took, Boster said. Fireplace mantels, light fixtures and wood molding also are gone.

But elaborate plaster molding and paintings on the ceiling as well as decorative elements on the deck of the tile porch are expected to be demolished along with the house.

In the bungalow's place, the school will build a four-story, 22,500-square-foot STEAM Center, with science, technology, engineering, art and math classrooms on the first two floors and dormitory space with the potential of housing 32 boarding students on the top two floors, Boster said.

So far, about $750,000 has been committed in the fundraising campaign, but Boster is expecting a significant boost in that number shortly. If construction begins when expected, the building could be completed by fall, although "a lot of things have to fall into place first," Boster said.

"We'll take it a step at a time as funding comes in."

Whenever the STEAM center is completed, Rivermont will make a big push to recruit more international students, he said.

At present, the school has eight international students who live in the refurbished carriage house, which has a potential for boarding 16. Once the STEAM center is complete, male students will stay in the center and female students will stay in the carriage house, Boster said.

History of the house

It's not known exactly when the Wallace house or "the bungalow" was constructed, but it is at least 100 years old. Joseph Bettendorf, one of two Bettendorf Co. brothers for whom the city is named, his wife and their youngest son, William, lived there while waiting for their mansion to be completed during 1914-15.

Sally Fuller, Joseph Bettendorf's granddaughter who lives in California, said she thinks the bungalow was built especially for her grandfather while they waited. "I don't know for sure, though," she said.

After Joseph moved to the mansion, Joseph's son, Edwin, and his wife, Frieda, moved into the bungalow.

In 1927, Edwin and his brother, Bill  who is Sally Fuller's father  expanded and redecorated the bungalow in an Egyptian theme, according to "Bettendorf, Iowa, the First Century, 1903 to 2003," a book compiled for the city's centennial.

The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 in Egypt sparked international public interest in all things Egyptian, and the Bettendorf family apparently shared the fascination.

The redecorating included painting Egyptian hunting scenes around the walls of the billiard room, according to the centennial book, and installing imitation stone walls and iron grating to make the hallway look like the entrance to an Egyptian tomb.

After Edwin died in 1954, the bungalow was sold to Frank Wallace, caretaker for the then-vacant mansion, because Bill Bettendorf had moved out. Wallace also was founder of Wallace Airfield, located between the Mississippi River and State Street east of the downtown, near Devils Glen Road.

Wallace closed in the porch and added an "orchid room" for his wife, Martha, who lived there until her death in 1971.

The bungalow then was sold to Dick and Phyllis Peterson who plastered over some of the painting, according to the centennial book.

In 1981, St. Katherine's/St. Mark's School, the forerunner of Rivermont, bought the property, using it to house the upper grades until other building projects were finished.

It was used for classes as recently as a year ago, Boster said.

The brick bungalow currently is covered with synthetic stone on the first floor and is stuccoed on the second floor. It's not known if the colorful ceiling paintings still visible in the bungalow are the handiwork of Bill Bettendorf, left over from the 1920s remodeling.
Two Indiana men are in jail after Davenport police say they robbed at gunpoint a Walgreens store early Saturday in an attempt to get prescription drugs.

Rontel Najae Mial, 18, of 4130 Marrison Place, Indianapolis, is charged with one count each of first-degree robbery, trafficking in stolen weapons, interference with official acts while possessing a firearm, and going armed with intent.

David Andrew Madden, 20, of 5601 Winston Drive, Indianapolis, is charged with one count each of first-degree robbery, going armed with intent, interference with official acts while possessing a firearm, and eluding.

Both men have criminal cases pending in the Indiana court system.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Cpl. Pete Owen and Officer Brett Digman, officers were sent to the Walgreens at 1660 W. Locust St. at 3:42 a.m. regarding an armed robbery.

Mial, allegedly armed with a handgun, ordered prescription pills from the clerk and then told the employees to get down on the ground and cover your eyes.

Officers were able to locate the vehicle, a blue 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, in which Madden and Mial fled in the 500 block of East 59th Street.

Madden, who was the driver of the car, allegedly drove the vehicle through a yard in an effort to escape after officers blocked his vehicle with their squad cars.

Officers then used their squad cars to disable the fleeing vehicle in the 1000 block of East 59th Street.

Mial ran from the vehicle in an attempt to flee on foot but officers were able to catch him. Mial had dropped his handgun as he ran. It was recovered by officers.

Under the drivers seat of the vehicle officers seized a BB gun.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries an automatic prison sentence of 25 years, 70 percent of which, or 17  years, must be served before parole can be granted.

The charges of going armed with intent, interference with official acts, and trafficking in stolen weapons each are Class D felonies that carry a prison sentence of up to five years.

Madden was being held Wednesday night in the Scott County Jail on a $36,000 cash-only bond.

Mial also is charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the Nov. 1 armed robbery of the Walgreens at 1525 E. Kimberly Road during which police say he stole numerous amounts of prescription narcotics.

Mial also was being held Wednesday night in the Scott County Jail on cash-only bonds totaling $65,000.

According to the Indiana Judicial Branch website, Mial is scheduled to appear Jan. 8 in Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division 12, for a pretrial hearing on charges of carrying a handgun without a license, possession of marijuana and criminal trespass.

Madden has a Jan. 30 hearing in Terre Haute City Court on charges of driving while suspended, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle.
In the past week, journalist inboxes across the country have been flooded with memos, reports and fact sheets screaming for Democrats to move quickly on passing a Dream Act before Congress' Christmas break. The urgency is to protect the nearly 1,000 "Dreamers" each day who will lose their protection from deportation beginning next March as a result of President Trump repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

There have been citations of the many polls showing that great majorities of Americans (86 percent, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll in September) and even majorities of Republicans prefer allowing Dreamers to stay in the U.S.

And there have been emotional pleas for mercy, spotlighting heart-wrenching stories of fractured families. For example, Osman Enriquez, a former DACA recipient, was put in detention and separated from his fiance and infant after a routine traffic stop. Enriquez had missed a deadline to renew his deportation protections after his DACA forms were delayed in a U.S. Postal Service processing center. He was awaiting the new paperwork to reapply, but it didn't come fast enough -- and he was taken into custody.

Lastly, there have been appeals based on neutral economic facts.

Notably, a commentary published by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) lends its support to the issue: Since the 690,000 DACA enrollees make up only about 1 percent of America's 74.2 million millennials, they don't represent a competitive threat to native-born young people as they search for jobs.

Additionally, MPI says that the different skill sets of DACA participants and other millennials reduce the possibility that anyone will take someone else's job. "DACA participants were less likely than all other millennials, regardless of their race/ethnicity, to work in education, health, and social services. At the same time, black and U.S.-born Hispanic millennials were more likely to work in retail trade than DACA recipients (19 percent versus 14 percent)," the report said.

That's all fine and good, but the fact that the immigrant advocacy PR effort is ratcheted up to 11 indicates the level of anxiety and fear surrounding Democrats' ability to actually make something happen in the realm of immigration.

In fact, the most astute observation I've seen on the matter came courtesy of Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a restrictionist-leaning think tank that the far left has labeled a "hate group:"

"If the DACA amnesty is so popular, why are the Dems afraid to follow thru on their threats to shut govt over it?" Krikorian tweeted. "Don't they think the public would support them?"

Ouch! Krikorian's comment was in response to a Politico story about Democrats backing off from threats to shut down the government.

"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi ... [have] subtly shifted their rhetoric in recent days and aren't insisting that deportation relief be paired with a government funding bill this year ... [ensuring that Democrats] won't get blamed for a possible shutdown and won't upend Senate talks on a bipartisan deal combining relief for Dreamers with border security," Politico reported.

Even the editorial board of the left-leaning Sacramento Bee -- the capital paper of the state with the most Hispanics and immigrants -- said that threatening a shutdown in the name of winning relief for Dreamers was a losing strategy.

Even though agreeing that legislation to help Dreamers was a noble act, the board made a fair point: "There's also the question of whether such a tactic would play into Republicans' hands. Trump has made no secret of his disdain for government in general, relentlessly downsizing it and refusing to fill many open positions. Who is to say he will even care if government offices remain empty for days on end?"

It seems difficult to imagine Trump not using a massive and painful shutdown to rally his base, and why would the Democrats chance it when they know that Hispanics aren't going to vote Republican anytime in the near future and are, therefore, captive (if unenthusiastic, at this point) voters?

The bottom line is that immigrant advocacy groups have every reason to believe that suffering is on the way. After all, history has shown, time and again, that Democrats can bungle immigration issues without any real electoral consequences. Why should anyone expect this year to be different?
Members of the Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Sheriff's Office teamed up to dispense more than justice last week, helping children in need celebrate Christmas.

A news release from the police department said local law enforcement officers went to the Stumer Road Walmart with local children and their families to help them pick out Christmas gifts.

The effort, dubbed "FOP Cops & Kids," has been spearheaded by the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.

FOP Auxiliary, according to the release, is made up of family members of local law enforcement officers, and works to support one another and be a positive resource to the community.

The Rapid City Area School District helped the auxiliary find local children who would most benefit from the event, and a number of private and corporate donations helped make the kids' Christmas dreams come true.

"This effort could not have been made possible without the generosity of our community backing the event," the release says.

Pennington County Sheriff's Office deputies will also help Douglas School District students with some Christmas shopping on Sunday morning.

A news release from the sheriff's office says School Resource Officer Victor Gust and his wife, Nichole of Nichole Gust Photography, have planned a Sheriff's Secret Santa event.

"The husband and wife team have been wanting to do something like this for years," the release says.

Nichole Gust Photography has been raising money for the event, which will help 10 to 15 families with one to two children. Deputies and the selected students will meet at Douglas High School at 8 a.m. Sunday, then take a bus trip to Kohl's, which is providing a 30 percent discount for the event.

After shopping, the group will return to the high school to wrap presents, and for a pizza lunch provided by Dominos in Box Elder. Each family will also take home a food basket.

Foundation donates $1M to RAI

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation donated $1 million to Rural America Initiatives $7.2 million capital campaign to build a new school and community center for RAIs Head Start, Early Head Start, Ateyapi programs and administrative offices.

RAI had raised about $5 million of the total needed, but has begun construction of the building to be built on 8 acres of land near South Valley Drive in east Rapid City, with a slated completion date of late 2018 or early 2019.

Radiothon raises $38K for LifeScape

The inaugural Hope for the Hills Radiothon for LifeScape raised $38,217 to help children with disabilities.

Haugo Broadcasting stations broadcast the radiothon from LifeScape in Rapid City for two days last week, Dec. 7-8. The radiothon included telling stories of the people who have benefited from LifeScape services.

All proceeds stay local to benefit children with disabilities in western South Dakota supported by LifeScape, according to the release. LifeScape offers support through specialized programs and equipment, transportation, therapy, outreach and more.

"No matter the age, no matter the ability, LifeScapes vision is for all people to be valued," the release says. "Our mission is to empower children with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives  the funds raised at the Hope for the Hills Radiothon for LifeScape will do just that."
A local federal court defendant's recent claim of experiencing difficulty paying for his pretrial ankle monitor was rejected after prosecutors said the defendant possessed more than $1 million in bank and investment accounts.

Larry Lytle, 82, of Rapid City is charged with conspiracy, contempt, mail fraud, wire fraud and obstruction for allegedly ignoring a pair of 2015 federal court orders to stop making and selling handheld laser medical devices known as QLasers.

Lytle developed the devices during the 1990s and racked up total sales of more than $16 million in recent years, according to federal court documents, all while lacking necessary clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to legitimize his claims that the devices could treat hundreds of maladies ranging in severity from headaches to AIDS.

Though he has not been jailed while awaiting his trial, Lytle has been required to abide by several conditions of his release, including surrendering his passport, wearing an electronic ankle monitoring device, and paying the costs of the devices operation.

On Nov. 29, Lytles local attorney, Ellery Grey, sought a court order allowing for the removal of the ankle monitor. Greys written motion said Lytle is not a flight risk and caused no problems while on pretrial release for the previous 10 months.

Additionally, Robert Larry Lytle is experiencing difficulty paying for electronic monitoring as required by the Court," said the motion, which used Lytle's full name.

Kevin Koliner, an assistant U.S. attorney from Sioux Falls, and Ross Goldstein, a trial attorney for the Consumer Protection Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C, responded Dec. 4 with a memorandum opposing Greys motion.

The government lawyers attached a Nov. 30 declaration from Wendy Spaulding, an Arizona-licensed forensic accountant, who was hired by the prosecution to review financial records that were obtained during the investigation into Lytle.

As a result of my analysis, Spauldings written declaration said, I have concluded that as of mid- to late-2016, the last date for which records were made available to me for my analysis, Lytle had access to well over $1,000,000 in bank and investment accounts, not including the value of his various real estate holdings.

The government attorneys cited Spauldings findings in their memorandum.

It defies logic that a millionaire such as Lytle is unable to pay for the costs of his electronic monitoring, they wrote.

None of the documents in the case reveal the amount that Lytle is being required to pay, and officials at the local U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services office who were interviewed by the Journal cited privacy concerns while saying they could not divulge information about Lytle's specific situation. But they said the cost of operating an ankle monitor ranges from $1.89 to $3.95 per day, and defendants may be ordered to pay the full amount or enter into a cost-sharing arrangement with the government.

Besides the cost issue, the memorandum from the government attorneys also attacked the notion that Lytle's lack of problems while on release should serve as a justification for removing his ankle monitor.

That Lytle has not fled while wearing the ankle monitor simply does not imply that he would not be a flight risk without the ankle monitor, the memorandum said, using italics to stress the point.

The same day that the government attorneys filed their memorandum, U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann denied the motion by Lytles attorney, thereby leaving intact the requirements for Lytle to wear the ankle monitor and pay for its operation.
The Hamilton Presbyterian Church is hosting its seventh annual potluck dinner on Christmas Day for families and individuals who want to enjoy a meal and companionship.

Organizer Pat Tibbs said the free meal takes a village.

Last year the youth group from Canyon View church assisted, as did 20 people from the Presbyterian Church.

Its a potluck, so if you sign up to come you bring a side dish or dessert, Tibbs said. Ive touched base with the Senior Citizens Center, The Manor, where ever there are people that might want to get together.

The dinner is just for an hour on Christmas Day, from 2 to 3 p.m.

It is for anyone that needs a meal and if they dont have something for the potluck it is okay to just walk in, Tibbs said.

On the menu are four turkeys, two hams, and crockpots full of potatoes, vegetables, dressing, bread, and gravy.

Then people just fill in, Tibbs said. Well have carvers there at 2 oclock to carve.

Tibbs said fellowship is the number one reason to attend the free Christmas day dinner at the Presbyterian Church.

It is nice just to be with somebody on Christmas day, she said.

RSVP at 363-1232. The Presbyterian Church is located at 1220 West Main St. in Hamilton.
In these holidays of merry and bright, some children live in darkness, with parents who cant take care of them.

When children are legally removed from their homes, it can be a difficult, confusing time. Mike Cressler and Denny Sutherland are ready to listen to their fears and concerns, and help make their voices heard.

The two men are the newest Court Appointed Special Advocates in the Bitterroot, part of a handful of CASA volunteers who help make decisions about what is best for these children, and shepherd them through the legal system.

Cressler is particularly well suited to be that guide. Hes a retired military attorney who served in the Army, and a recent Bitterroot transplant. He was looking for an organization where he could volunteer and use his education and expertise.

There are other retired military lawyers that also are in CASA, so its not that unusual, said the father of four.

We want to do something were familiar with, but not make a living doing it, he added with a laugh.

Denny Sutherland also is a retiree, after a long career with the National Park Service as a firefighter. The father of three worked with youth in the past, teaching hunter safety to 11- and 12-year-olds through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

I thought I needed something else to volunteer for, and this was a good way to give back, Sutherland said. Ive always had a big heart for little kids.

The two went through 30 hours of pre-service training to prepare for their new roles, where theyll review documents and records, and interview children, family members and professionals in their lives. Theyll document their findings in written reports for court hearings, appear in court to advocate for the childs best interests and provide testimony, if necessary. They explain to the child what is going on, and act as the glue among individuals and organizations involved in the childs life.

Legally, theyre sworn in as officers of the court. Basically, theyre the eyes and ears for the court system, helping judges decide where to place children from troubled families.

Although it sounds like a lot of work, Julie Crane, the Bitterroot CASAs program manager since its inception in 2002, said the average volunteer puts in about 10 hours per month. They typically have two cases, which may or may not include more than one child from the same family.

The work is front loaded; it might take time to get up to speed initially, with talking to the social worker, reviewing the files, talking to the kids, foster parents and psychologists, Crane said. Then, theres maybe a break; you monitor the case. When its time to submit the court report, it takes some time to refresh your memory about the facts and concerns. But your opinion carries a lot of weight.

Both judges are happy with the caliber of CASA volunteers we bring in. They see the value of having an independent person with no other motive than to be involved with figuring out whats in the best interest of the children.

Often, the CASA volunteers meet children under traumatic, heart-breaking situations. A parent may have a drug problem, and the child doesnt understand why theyre being neglected. A parent may abuse a child, intentionally or unintentionally. A parent may end up in jail, with no one to care for the child.

A lot of ugly things that happen to children can be hard to take in, Crane said. But the volunteers have good self-care. We talk to each other about our frustrations and concerns during periodic get-togethers to talk among ourselves about their cases.

And while they have a good retention rate, lives change and volunteers move on. Right now, Bitterroot CASA has 11 volunteers, and Crane wants to add 10 more. Crane is recruiting volunteers, and hopes to hold the next training session around the end of January.

She noted that last year, Bitterroot CASA advocated for more than 60 children in Ravalli County.

Our volunteers get a lot of satisfaction out of helping children at probably one of the most difficult, frightening parts of their lives, Crane said. They are there for the child and their opinions are valued. Its challenging, but I love to see the satisfaction at the end when children are reunited with their parents in a safe manner, or if that doesnt happen if they are adopted or move into foster care.

On Thursday, Sutherland and Cressler stood tall in the courtroom of Judge James Haynes as he swore them into service while their family members proudly watched.

There is a lot of reward, but in between there is a lot of tragedy, Haynes told the two men. Its good that youre not going in with your eyes closed.

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a CASA volunteer is urged to contact Crane at 961-4535 or email her at bttrcasa@msn.com.
Guwahati : Sounding the election campaign bugle in poll bound Meghalaya Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that, the North East region will become Congress Mukt (Congree free) by 2018.

Addressing a public rally held in Meghalayas capital city Shillong, PM Modi who visited the state second time said that, the wave for change, which began with the Assam elections, is now reaching Meghalaya.

The assembly poll in the north eastern state will be held early next year.

15 years of Congress rule has ruined Meghalaya. But now the people of the state want for change. The entire North East region will become Congress Mukt by 2018, Modi said.

Lashing out at the Congress-led Meghalaya government, Modi said that, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya is a doctor but what is the health sector of the state.

Why are people not getting proper healthcare? See the record corruption in Meghalaya. Why has the Congress Government in Meghalaya committed so many scams, Modi questioned.

PM Modi took note of the lack of infrastructure in primary educational institutions and said that, many irregularities were happened in the appointment of teachers.

Still over 70 per cent primary teachers of the state are untrained. Incompetent people were appointed on the recommendations of Congress MLA and MP. At present there is a shortage of 1,700 teachers in the primary schools of the state. In Meghalaya, there arescams in the meals being given to children, Modi said.

The PM also blamed the Congress government for not being able to ensure clean drinking water despite being in power for almost 15 years accused them for high rate of unemployment in the state.

Modi further said that, it was time for change in Meghalaya and BJPs only agenda is development, speedy development and all round development.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Kevin Eisele repairs shoes and crafts custom boots from a small storefront on Second Avenue North in Billings, the only shop of its kind downtown. He's been there since summer 2016, and he's stayed busy since the day he opened.

"I love it down here," he said.

The custom boot making, which makes up the majority of his business, comes from online orders, referrals from previous customers and work orders from orthopedic doctors. The shoe repair mostly comes from walk-in customers.

"It's the foot traffic down here," he said.

For Eisele, the downtown location has been one of the best things for his business.

The degree of difficulty can be high for launching a specialized, one-service business downtown, where a few storefronts turnover regularly. But, as Eisele found, sometimes that downtown location can help a niche business thrive.

Three blocks away from Eisele's Custom Footwear, Francois Morin's new Le Fournil artisan bakery is up and running. He's been open for a month, squeezed into a storefront between Big Dipper Ice Cream and Rockets Wraps.

Morin, a native of France, only sells traditional French baguettes and loaves of country and sourdough bread. He bakes them daily and when they're gone, they're gone.

"One guy complained," Morin said. "He came in at 5:30 and I was sold out."

Le Fournil is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. He opens Saturday at 9 a.m. and stays open until the bread is gone. His bread shop has sold out every day he's been open.

He fully embraces his status as a niche business.

"It's downtown," he said. "It's good to have niche (stores)."

Walking distance

He pointed to the various coffee shops and lunch spots, to the art stores and gift shops. A person can come downtown, get a cup of coffee, walk down the block and get a loaf of bread and then shop for gifts across the street or eat lunch and get ice cream, he said.

Everything is within walking distance. One store doesn't have to have everything, he said. It's good for owners to be able to specialize in something and that way sell a superior product.

"I don't do pastries. If you want good pastries, go to Veronika's," he said, referring to Veronika's Pastry Shop three blocks east on Montana Avenue. "If you want good bread, come here."

Jilan Hall-Johnson is a big believer in a downtown that offers a unique, one-of-a-kind service. She and her husband are transplants to Billings and have lived all over the country as they follow his military career. After landing in Billings, she wanted to bring a bit of urban culinary variety to her adopted home town.

So in February she'll open The Sassy Biscuit next door to Brockel's Chocolate on North 29th Street. Her shop will specialize in biscuits and gravy, both sweet and savory, and feature specialty versions of pancakes and waffles.

"I wanted to bring big-city living to a small-town place," she said.

Attempting to attract visitors and shoppers to downtown Billings, specifically to give them a big-city experience, can carry a bit of risk. Sam Randall runs Magpie Jewelry Gallery on the corner of North 27th Street and Second Avenue North, and said big city issues like good parking, traffic and a sense of safety downtown can keep potential shoppers away.

Running a small business downtown is a tightrope walk.

"It's very risky," she said.

Randall is moving out of her storefront and joining forces with Zack Terakedis of Terakedis Fine Art on Broadway Avenue.

"I'll maintain my own entity inside his space," she said.

Randall loves being downtown. The city and the Downtown Billings Alliance have done a good job partnering with the Billings Police Department to keep downtown streets safe for shoppers and visitors, she said.

She's believes more can be done to solve the parking problem and to advertise to the rest of Billings what downtown has to offer. She also hopes more stability with the businesses that locate downtown can help give the downtown area a sense of momentum.

"There's been so much fluctuation you never get that solid base," she said. "It's close. We're always on that cusp, it seems like."

Steady traffic

The Downtown Billings ArtWalk has been a boon to her business and the other art galleries in the neighborhood. Consistent foot traffic is vital for niche downtown businesses to survive, she said.

Antonia Craighill agrees. She owns Velvet Cravings, a cupcake shop on the corner of Third Avenue North and Broadway. She's been open for five years and has kept a steady flow of business.

"It's a great location," she said.

On her corner, she's able to plug into the Yellowstone Valley Farmers' Market every summer and fall, and city parades march right past her front door. Parade crowds always find their way into her her shop.

She said roughly 40 percent of her business is walk-in traffic. The rest comes from large cupcake or cookie orders by parties, businesses and weddings. If walk-in business were more consistent she feels like she'd have a little more security.

For example, she said, "Today I couldn't keep a cupcake in the store to save my life."

They all sold out and kept her on her toes. Other days, she doesn't see anyone.

Still, she loves downtown and is invested in seeing it thrive. Kevin Eisele, the boot maker, agrees. The foot traffic he's received being downtown has changed the way he does business.

"I've been building boots for 26 years," he said. "But I've come to like shoes."

His shop is small. He shares a wall with the preschool next door  it gets so loud sometimes that it may as well be a curtain dividing the two businesses, Eisele says.

But he loves what he does and he loves doing it downtown.

"I could use more room," he said with a smile. "But people know where I'm at. That makes it hard to move."
The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC), a joint venture between the Namibian government and De Beers, said it expects to supply rough diamonds worth $390 million this year.

The diamond trader, which has 11 sightholders, had a fixed supply of diamonds worth $430 million under a new 10-year deal signed last year.

NDTC chief executive Shihaleni Ndjaba told Rough & Polished on the sidelines of a diamond conference in Gaborone, Botswana in November that the figure, however, fluctuated annually because it was index-linked to price so that volumes do not decrease relative to any price increases.

He said that the future of diamond manufacturing in Namibia was bright and he would want to see small-scale operators being established as was the case in South Africa.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

You have been at the helm of the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) since 2008. Correct?

Yes!

Can you share some of your experiences as the NDTC boss since you embarked on this journey?

We started that journey from the beginning of an establishment of a diamond industry in Namibia that is in 2008 or rather from 2007 when we started with the journey of cutting and polishing diamonds in Namibia. Today we have a fully-fledged operational diamond industry, which has created jobs to young people, close to 1000. Of course, at some point more than 1000, but due to the economic dynamics in the industry, the number of employees has come a little bit down to close to 1000. Skills have also been created we have seen a pronounced reduction in expatriate experts because most of the roles they were doing are now being occupied by Namibians because they acquired the required skills.

Technology has also been upgraded. Most of the factories are using state-of-the art technology that is helping them for cutting and polishing diamonds and there are also other spin-offs that went to the economy through utilization of the service by the industry like transport services, catering and we have also seen some business activities that have established in Namibia to come and support the industry

How many jobs were created at the peak of the industry?

We had about 1600.

What is the current state of diamond manufacturing in your country and what were the problems that saw the number dropping from 1600 to the current 1000?

I would say the situation is now stable, the drop of the number from what it was to where we are, was in line with the activities and challenges that the industry experienced. 2008 and 2009 was bad globally and a lot of jobs were shed. 2015 was also a bad year because there was a low demand for rough because the manufacturers felt that the polished prices were very low and they were not making earnings and their demand for rough reduced and some jobs were also shed and these are normal cycles in the diamond industry.

How many sightholders do you have in Namibia?

We have 11 sightholders.

Of those, how many are local companies?

Of course, all of them are locally registered companies but most of those firms are kind of subsidiaries of traditional cutting and polishing companies from oversees. So, they came and registered as local companies in Namibia and we require them to take on board local shareholding maybe 20-25 percent. So, they are local in the sense that they are registered locally, although they are owned by overseas subsidiaries and that is the case elsewhere in the region, anyway.

Do they all cut and polish diamonds they acquire from NDTC in your country?

The sightholders are supplied diamonds on fixed term supply contract by NDTC and one of the requirements is that they should put up a factory in Namibia, employ people and create the required skills and then utilise the rough diamond being provided to them locally. Of course, here and there we battle cases were these factories would want to export rough, but we have put measurements in place. For instance, we consider the level of local utilisation in the annual allocation. When we see that you have performed well in utilising your previous year allocation then we can give you more rough and when we realise that you have exported to some extent then we penalise you by reducing your allocations. We have those mechanisms to enforce that as much as possible can be utilised locally. We also recognise that there are some materials that we supply to them that might not be suitable for cutting locally, thats why we have a flexibility of 80:20 that they can utilise 80 percent and 20 for one reason or another they are not able to utilise it, we are not going to penalise them for that.

What if someone comes to you and say Namibia should not export all the diamonds produced by Namdeb Holdings. What would you say to that person?

You know whatever we do at NDTC is based on service agreement that was negotiated between government and De Beers from time to time. Currently we have an agreement for the first time, a period of 10 years. The previous agreements were for five years. That agreement was signed after extensive negotiations between government and De Beers and in the process of negotiating governments take the best consideration in coming up with the formula of what diamonds to be utilised for the local industry because am sure they look also at other requirements of exporting rough for earnings, but they also have to figure out what balance should be used locally for instance under the current agreement, NDTC was allowed more diamonds to allocate to the sightholders, which was an increase from the previous available diamonds. I am sure it is up to the government in its negotiations with De Beers to find wisdom of the proportion of what is to be utilised for local companies and what should be still exported. So, if one day they come up with 100 percent supply am sure it should come from their wisdom because they also have a lot to consider in coming up with the proportion to be utilised locally.

Can you shed some light on the increase of NDTC allocations to sightholders?

Previously, 10 percent in value of all production was reserved for the local market, but in addition to that we also had a provision for what we call aggregated diamonds and maybe in the end if you put them together it came to close to 30-40 percent. Currently we are allowed a fixed amount of $430 million (in value) under the current agreement to allocate to sightholders which is of course fixed to the price index of the value of the diamonds. Also under the current agreement all the large stones above 10.8 carats and the special stones in terms of colour and quality, are required to be sold locally. Previously they were all exported but under the current agreement they were added to the package that NDTC can sell to its clients. So, you can see that the government from time to time, in their negotiations with their partners always come up with changes.

Someone outside Namibia might not understand the role that you play as NDTC with the advent of the state-owned Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia). Can you explain the difference in terms of roles both companies play?

The difference is we handle the whole production of Namibia diamonds from the Namdeb Holdings (Namdeb land and De Beers marine), we handle the whole production which entails sorting and valuing the diamonds produced by those companies and then distribute the diamonds in line with the service agreement. A portion going to De Beers for export, a portion going to the sightholders for local beneficiation and then 15 percent to Namdia to perform their role of price discovery. So Namdia is actually one of our clients, not a sightholder, because the amount they use for their mandate is specified in the agreement and should be supplied to them by NDTC.

When are you going to choose new sightholders?

The sightholder election is an ongoing process because for instance now we have what we call accredited buyer system where somebody can come and put a plant or factory on their own and then they can start feeding with the rough that they can source from their own sources and once they have developed some capacity we will assist them if we find that they have good standards. We can allow them a status of accredit buyer, meaning that we can allow them to compete for diamonds at NDTC like maybe your buybacks or refusals that our sightholders are leaving on the table. They can access those. Once they have proved to have the capacity they can then apply to become sightholders, so its a continuous process.

How many companies are operating under the accredited buyer system?

At the moment we only have one.

Do you know the polishing capacity of rough diamonds in the country?

All I can say is that we have $430 million worth of rough that is supplied on an annual basis to the sightholders in Namibia. I know its not necessarily 100 percent of it that is being utilised. Its a fixed amount, it just changes because its price indexed, so probably this year it will be lower than the $430 million, maybe it will be $390 million.

What do you think will be the future of diamond manufacturing in Namibia?

I think it is positive that is why we have been putting up all these measures to grow the industry, facilitate the creation of skills among our local people, to facilitate the upgrading and growing of technology so that at some point Namibia can become a serious diamond manufacturing centre. So, we have hope that the industry will grow and we also hope that we will venture into encouraging locals to also venture into that business, maybe through programmes like small-scale diamond beneficiators.

Who issues licences to diamond manufactures in Namibia?

All the cutting and polishing licences are issued by the ministry of mines and energy and I think the most important thing is to access the rough because under the current circumstances NDTC is the only distributor of rough diamonds, but as I said we do it in line with the service agreement unless if it is something that was considered to be part of our brief to also be supplying. Like I said with the learning from South Africa maybe we can come up with something that can also incorporate them.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Shirley Contreras lives in Orcutt and writes for the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society. She can be contacted at 623-8193 or at shirleycontreras2@yahoo.com. Her book, The Good Years, a selection of stories shes written for the Santa Maria Times since 1991, is on sale at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, 616 S. Broadway.
 A light dusting of holiday season highlights from Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform | Main | Lawyer asks law profs: "Looking for a chance to persuade the courts that man-mins are unconstitutional?" 

December 17, 2017

Looking at latest notable Texas death penalty realities

This new NBC News article, headlined "Why Texas death penalty capital of the world stopped executing people," reviews how Texas has become fairly representative of the entire United States with a more limited use of capital punishment. Here are excerpts:

Since the Supreme Court legalized capital punishment in 1976, Harris County, Texas, has executed 126 people. That's more executions than every individual state in the union, barring Texas itself. Harris County's executions account for 23 percent of the 545 people Texas has executed. On the national level, the state alone is responsible for more than a third of the 1,465 people put to death in the United States since 1976. In 2017, however, the county known as the "death penalty capital of the world" and the "buckle of the American death belt" executed and sentenced to death an astonishing number of people: zero. This is the first time since 1985 that Harris County did not execute any of its death row inmates, and the third year in a row it did not sentence anyone to capital punishment either. The remarkable statistic reflects a shift the nation is seeing as a whole. The number of executions has been trending downward across the United States, but it's particularly noticeable in Texas and Harris County. The practices that the Harris County District Attorneys Office is following are also significant because they reflect the growing movement in the United States toward reform prosecutors who have pledged to use the death penalty more sparingly if at all, said Robert Dunham, the director of the Death Penalty Information Center. The city of Houston lies within the confines of Harris County, making it one of the most populous counties in the country  and recently it became one of the most diverse, with a 2012 Rice University report concluded that Houston has become the most diverse city in the country. Under these new conditions, Kim Ogg ran in 2016 to become the countys district attorney as a reformist candidate who pledged to use the death penalty in a more judicious manner than her predecessors, though the longtime prosecutor didnt say she would abandon it altogether. Rather, Ogg said she would save it for the worst of the worst  such as serial killer Anthony Shore, who was rescheduled for execution next month. But this year, Ogg appears to have held true to her promise of only pursuing the death penalty in what she deems the most extreme cases. It represents a break from a long pattern of Harris County prosecutors who pushed for the death penalty in nearly all capital cases. The overall idea of what makes us safer is changing, Ogg said. Were reframing the issues. Its no longer the number of convictions or scalps on the wall. Its making sure the punishment meets the crime.... But Ogg said she cannot alone take credit for the recent drop in executions. The trend precedes her slightly and can also be connected to better educated and more diverse jury pools, as well as Texas new sentencing option of life without parole. The state also has a more skilled group of indigent defense lawyers who build up mitigating circumstances  such as an abusive childhood or mental illness  for an alleged murderers crime. Even a state like Texas might stop sentencing alleged killers to death in the near future. And that trend could well extend nationwide. Weve seen a deepening decline in the death penalty since the year 2000, and some states fell faster than others, said University of Virginia law professor Brandon Garrett, who wrote End of Its Rope: How Killing the Death Penalty Can Revive Criminal Justice. He added that the declines are steepest in counties that had sentenced the most people to death.

December 17, 2017 at 02:12 PM | Permalink

Comments

Texas needs to wise up, and go all Italian, in its death penalty practice. Put the money elsewhere, more useful than in lawyer appellate jobs.

Posted by: David Behar | Dec 17, 2017 4:31:45 PM

Even though not a capital case, I think that the exoneraton of Michael Morton after 25 years of incarceraton (and the disbarment and jailing--brief as it was of the Texas district attorney who prosecuted him) has had much to do with the decline of the death penalty in Texas and elsewhere. Kudos to the Texas lawyers and to Barry Sheck of the Innocense Project, who ferociously reopresented Morton. They not only proved his innocence but also uncovered the evidence that ed to real killer of Morton's wife.

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Dec 17, 2017 5:15:18 PM

sorry for typos.

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Dec 17, 2017 5:16:08 PM

Doug, David and Michael:

Some reality.

Why zero executions in Harris County, Texas, in 2017?

That zero executions represents the normal probabilities of death penalty due process, inclusive of lethal injection issues.

Harris County, Texas has averaged 3 executions per year (1976-2017) and averaged less than 1 execution, for 22 of those 42 years (4). The differences, between 0, 1 or 2 executions per year are the normal variables, which exist within all appeals, for each individual case, causing 0 executions in 2017  the normal probabilities of due process.

Leo Jenkins was the only execution from Harris County, in 1996. He was a "volunteer". Would that, otherwise, zero execution year, 1996, mean anything, except that we would expect it, occasionally, as the normal probabilities of due process?

Three Harris County executions were stayed/vacated in 2017, the normal probabilities of due process.

Nationally, "States scheduled 81 executions in 2017, but 58 of them  more than 70 percent  were never carried out.", the normal probabilities of death penalty due process.

Most often, execution dates are required to force the inmates next round of appeals, requiring a stay, as any interested party knows - the normal course of due process.

The Non Effect of Life Without Penalty

There is zero evidence that passing Texas' 2005 LWOP law had any effect on fewer executions or death sentences, anywhere in Texas. There was a huge drop in death sentences, 69%, (48 to 15 , 1999-2005), a 10% average drop per year, prior to LWOP having any effect, with death sentences increasing 36%, the first full year after LWOP became law, 11 (2006) to 15 (2007), with death sentences averaging a little over 10 per year from 2006-2014, an average of a 1% drop for those total 10 years, part of a consistent 15 year (1999-2014) downward trend, unaffected by LWOP, with the 06-14 post LWOP drop, massively, smaller (10%) than the pre LWOP drop (69%).

A note on Bloodthirsty Texas, The Capital of Capital Punishment

Texas sentences murderers to death at a rate below the national mean. (3) or about the same as Oregon.

Since 1973, Texas has executed 0.73% of her murderers after 11 years of appeals, on average (3).

Texas and Harris County execute a miniscule percentage of murderers per murder. Most everywhere else, judges wont allow cases to proceed in a responsible time frame.

China, allegedly, executes about 5000 per year. Harris County, labeled, theCapital of Capital Punishment, averages 3.

2) Press Release: U.S. Sees Second Fewest Death Sentences and Executions in 25 Years -

Public Support for Death Penalty Drops to 45-Year Low as Four More Death-Row Prisoners Exonerated in 2017, DPIC, 12/14/2017, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/YearEnd2017#pressrelease

4) Executions per year, Harris County

0 executions in 1976-1983 and 1985, 2017, or 10 years

1 execution in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1996, 2001, 2011, 2012, 7 years

2 executions 1991, 2002, 2013, 2015, 2016, 5 years

Posted by: Dudley Sharp | Dec 18, 2017 8:02:32 AM

Dudley. I agree with you about the importance of feeling an effect at the gut level, and about finding no real meaning in random variability of a small sample. The death penalty in Texas is meaningless save for its cost, and the living it provides appellate lawyers on both sides, and the lawyer in the middle on the bench. I blame the Supreme Court for the design of this rent seeking system.

I have moved on from the death penalty. I estimated a benefit from attrition and incapacitation to start at 10,000 a year. Say each eligible organ donor could help 5 people, there would be that additional collateral benefit. Consent could be presumed. The eligible condemned would have to affirm his opposition to donation to prevent it.

Now, there are 60,000 opiate overdose deaths. The majority are not criminals, just addicts. The majority are working, and pay for their own addiction. The majority are productive adults with skills, and major responsibilities.

It is an additional major lawyer screw up of catastrophic proportion that the benefit of the death penalty will happen, but at the cost of the loss of life of 50,000 non-criminals.

This profession must be crushed, and restarted from scratch. Nothing stinks as much as the lawyer profession of the United States.

In fairness, the organized medicine societies also oppose the death penalty. They will not allow anyone to die without getting their worthless $250,000 in medical billings prior to every certain death.

Posted by: David Behar | Dec 18, 2017 9:23:15 AM

Post a comment
This well-established Blog is worth visiting on a regular basis for a wealth of information of interest to Armenian nationals and to the Armenian Diaspora world-wide. Although it has a particular role in promoting international recognition of the Genocide, the Blog encompasses much more and includes many articles of general appeal to all those concerned with Armenian affairs. Much of the content is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere and the long list of links provided gives easy access to a plethora of material on social, political, religious, educational and cultural matters, and many news items from around the world.




HCMC Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan and the high- ranking delegation pose with Matthew Pottinger, Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council of the United States at the White House. (Photo: Khac Van)



City party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan shared with the partner that this visit aims to call on assistants as well as create cooperation conditions between Ho Chi Minh City and the USs partners in a start-up eco-system establishment, innovation, development of smart urban project and innovation center in districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc in a context of the National Assembly (NA) that has just approved specific mechanisms for the city.

HCMC Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan; Standing Vice chairman of HCMC People's Committee Le Thanh Liem; Vietnamese Ambassador to US Pham Quang Vinh and the high- ranking delegation work with leaders of Brookings Institution (Photo: Khac Van)



At the meeting, City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan shared potentialities, challenges and development strategies of Ho Chi Minh City, saying that the city hoped to play an important role and lead in the countrys fourth industrial revolution.

At the reception, City party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan highly appreciated the Vietnam- US relationship and he affirmed that 2017 is considered as a blossom year for the two countries relationships.The official visit of President Donald Trump to Vietnam last month showed a special attention of the partner to the Southeast Asian country as well as affirmed wishes in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations, added the city leader.The United States of America received more than 20,000 Vietnamese students which strongly affirmed good relationship in the educational cooperation and human resources training for the countries mutual benefits; in parallel, US pledged to continue promoting trade and investment ties with Vietnam in the coming time.Deputy Minister of US Foreign Affairs Mr. Thomas Shannon announced that the Government of the United States would collaborate with Vietnam in overcoming post-war consequences, cleaning up dioxin in Bien Hoa airport of Dong Nai province, supporting anti-climate change in Mekong Delta region, and strengthening educational cooperation programs as same as Fulbright University Vietnam.Mr. Matthew Pottinger appreciated determination and efforts of the city in environmental protection; and he believed that Ho Chi Minh City would be the top destination of US enterprises in Vietnam.On the same day, HCMC Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan, Vietnamese Ambassador to US Pham Quang Vinh and senior leaders had a meeting with leaders of Brookings Institution as well as attended a discussion with scholars and researchers of Global Cities Initiative Program of the Brookings Institution at Washington capital.Additionally, the city Party chief also desired that the Brookings Institution would organize seminars about innovation center establishment in March or April, 2018. HCMC will invite four cities in the country to take part in the event.

BY KHAC VAN- Translated by Huyen Huong
The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Area tourism and trade fair is opened in Binh Phuoc province



It is a chance for domestic and foreign firms to introduce their products on agriculture, food processing, furniture and handicrafts, consumer goods, industrial machinery, electronics ...

Accordingly, the event is the framework of the eleventh summit of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area in Binh Phuoc from December 15- 20.During five- day exhibition, the enterprises showcase their typical products at 100 pavilions. Of these, Binh Phuoc has registered 40 pavilions.The fair is also an important activity to showcase socio- economic achievements, contributing to boost solidarity, traditional friendship, economy- trade- investment ties between CLVs people.

BY HOANG BAC- Translated by Huyen Huong
GALVA | Administrators and board members serving Quad County Corn Processors had talked about building new office space for several years.

Discussions, according to CEO Delayne Johnson, didn't get real serious until a couple of years ago.

And then a solution presented itself as Johnson discussed a church matter with his wife, Anne Johnson, who owns and operates Sole 2 Soul and The Meeting Place in Galva.

"A member of the Galva First United Methodist Church talked to Anne about the church," said Delayne Johnson, who noted that the church, which had more than a century of history, was closing as members of the congregation joined other Methodist congregations in the area, a reorganization phenomenon not uncommon across the rural Midwest.

"The member of the church asked Anne if she might want to expand and look at the church site for doing so," Delayne Johnson said.

Anne Johnson wasn't in expansion mode for her fitness and adjacent community center. Delayne, however, presided over a business that did, indeed, seek room for a growing corps of administrators serving the 18-year-old ethanol plant south of town along U.S. Highway 20.

Quad County Corn Processors was founded on Sept. 1, 2000, the brainchild and brawn of 350 local growers and investors. Ethanol production began in February 2002. The business expanded four years later, moving from 18 million gallons of production annually to 30 million gallons.

And, in July 2014, the company began producing cellulosic ethanol through an innovative "bolt-on" process that allowed processors to convert the kernel's corn fiber into cellulosic ethanol, a method they've trademarked as cellerate, upon which the company has patents pending.

Along the way, Quad County Corn Processors has grown to include 42 employees, including positions that, several years ago, were farmed out. "We've grown to bring people in-house, like a corn purchaser, an IT (information technology) professional, a person to do information services and someone to handle co-product marketing," Johnson said.

Those people, though, needed office space. And space at the plant on Highway 20 was finite.

"Since 2009 to 2010, we had thought about doing something for an administrative office," Johnson said. "We really got serious about it two years ago."

Before turning any dirt, or finding ground upon which to expand, Johnson got the message from his wife about Galva First United Methodist Church. Officials looked the site over and made an offer that was ultimately accepted.

Quad County Corn Processors bought the church last March. A 4- to 5-month remodel/renovation effort followed before the church fully transitioned into its new role as a corporate setting Aug. 24.

The old pastor's office, for example, has become a smaller board room. A large classroom in the educational wing has become the central board room, both of which possess the bells and whistles representing the latest technological upgrades, allowing for Skype sessions, PowerPoint presentations and such.

The old sanctuary now features Quad County's corporate logo at the back of the old altar, a space Johnson said will host a grain marketing meeting for clients in January and the company's annual meeting in March. The company had been meeting for years in the Rosemary Clausen Center for the Performing Arts at nearby Ridge View High School in Holstein, Iowa.

Beyond the administrative space the ethanol concern found in this 1992 church structure, a community tie remains. The old fellowship hall space, once reserved for wedding receptions, funeral luncheons and such, remains open to the community for multiple visits each year by the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Additionally, a traveling food pantry serving residents in Ida County will set up in this part of the old United Methodist Church. This area is accessible by a door on the east side of the structure. One of the two sets of handicap-accessible bathrooms will also be made available to visitors at the site for the food pantry or Bloodmobile.

In that sense, the rebirth of the church building into a state-of-the-art energy efficient modern structure represents a pair of wins for Galva residents and employees of a homegrown enterprise.

Quad County Corn Processors, Johnson said, put $400,000 into the facility, money spent on carpet, drywall, ceilings, windows and more. Still, that represents a bargain for what the business would have spent on constructing an administrative office complex from scratch.

"We could have spent $1 million on just an office space," he said.

In the meantime, residents here, in a way, still have a church building that's an active part of the community, and one that's now on the tax rolls.

"At our open house, we had 30-some members of the old church here and we gave them tours of the building," said Johnson. "People were pleased. They know it's an asset that's being taken care of."

"We couldn't have dreamed it would end up going this well," said Julie Cameron, a longtime member of the church. "It was unbelievable. I've known Delayne and his family since he was a kid. I know the church will be taken care of."

Additionally, proceeds from the sale were distributed by the Galva First United Methodist Church to seven area churches, local libraries, the community basket pantry entity, the Galva Fire Department and more. The funds will keep working for local families in many ways, Cameron said.

Both Cameron and Johnson lauded Paul Voge, of Galva, president of the board serving Galva First United Methodist Church, for leading the congregation through the process, celebrating the church's final service last Christmas Even while working hand-in-hand with Johnson, helping to direct a 6- to 9-month remodeling process that resulted in a rebirth for the old brick-and-mortar.

"Paul was instrumental in seeing this take place," Johnson said.

In a very direct way, the legacy of the church continues each day at the new home for the administrators of Quad County Corn Processors. And, how's that? It's found in the company's chief financial officer, for one: Kristi Brotherson, she was married here.
SIOUX CITY | When longtime regional ambulance service Siouxland Paramedics Inc. stops responding to emergency calls on Jan. 1, rural residents surrounding Sioux City likely will notice the change the most.

From Akron to Mapleton, small towns and rural areas across the tri-state region will face a void in paramedic service that could leave some patients with few or no options to receive higher-level care while on their way to the hospital via an ambulance.

The pinch will hurt most during hours of the day or night when paramedics from other area agencies aren't available, meaning patients transported by ambulances who need life support measures beyond what Emergency Medical Technicians can provide may not receive them.

Emergency workers around the region say the void will especially impact those suffering from major medical issues such as strokes, heart attacks and diabetic episodes -- circumstances where seconds count.

In the words of Woodbury County Emergency Services Director Gary Brown, it's a "health care crisis."

"We had an elderly person the other day who we couldn't move until we gave them some (pain medication)," Brown said. "We wouldn't be able to do that now without a paramedic. You're going to just have to tough it out, and that's not what we want to do to our patients."

In some areas, directors say they're aware of a desire among local government leaders and health care professionals for solutions. That includes talks in Woodbury County about how rural cities and townships could share the costs of staffing a 24/7 county paramedic service. But, no matter what is decided, the void will not be filled by year's end.

A solution is further along in northeastern Nebraska, where South Sioux City is working toward putting agreements in place that will allow its paramedics to assist agencies in rural areas of Dakota County and potentially neighboring Dixon and Thurston counties when needed.

But in other areas, there's no stopgap on the horizon. And as year's end draws nearer, some emergency medical professionals say they fear the consequences could be serious.

"Without that paramedic assist, were going to be bringing (hospitals) patients that are potentially a lot sicker and a lot harder to bring back to good health," said Lynette Kiger, EMS director for the Akron Fire District, which covers 365 square miles in sparsely populated western Plymouth County, Iowa, and eastern Union County, South Dakota. "Its recognized by us out here that this just cant go on without having a detrimental effect."

Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City, which has the region's highest-level trauma center, also shares an unease that some patients coming from rural areas could soon face longer waits for treatment, said Matt Robins, a hospital spokesman.

"We are concerned about treatment delays that may occur," Robins wrote in an email. "Paramedic care can start some treatments in route that result in quicker care."

What's no longer available

For years, Siouxland Paramedics has provided 911 services to Sioux City and North Sioux City, as well as paramedic assistance throughout the tri-state region. But in August, Health Inc., a joint venture formed by Mercy and UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's that owns Siouxland Paramedics, informed cities it would no longer respond to emergency calls as of Jan. 1, citing financial difficulties.

The nonprofit will continue a downsized service of non-emergency transports of patients between medical facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals, which it says provides better insurance reimbursements and a more sensible business model in the current health care industry environment.

The August announcement spurred discussions among local governments about ways to quickly fill the void in the tight window before year's end.

Sioux City Fire Rescue quickly put its own EMS Division in place -- a move expected to cost taxpayers between $600,000 and $1 million in the remaining months of the city's current budget year, which ends June 30. The city also may soon strike a deal to provide paramedic service to the Dakota Valley Fire District, which includes North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, the Wynstone development and Big Sioux Township.

But those paramedics are not meant to travel beyond their respective boundaries, leaving outlying areas that have traditionally also been served by Siouxland Paramedics without the service.

Siouxland Paramedics responded to 93 paramedic assists in Woodbury County during the fiscal year ending June 30, according to data obtained by the Journal. The agency responded to 40 calls in Plymouth County and a combined 136 calls in Dakota, Dixon and Thurston.

Siouxland Paramedics has traditionally responded to paramedic assists when other nearby paramedics, such as the single paramedic employed by Woodbury County Emergency Services, aren't available.

When more advanced measures are needed, such as pain medication and IVs, local volunteer ambulances carrying patients often meet Siouxland Paramedics rigs along the road to pick up a paramedic, who then administers treatment on the way to the hospital that basic EMTs cant not perform.

"The further away you get, the more critical the paramedic becomes"

Woodbury County Emergency Services is headquartered in Climbing Hill, placing it near the center of the county to offer 24/7 EMS response. The lone paramedic's regular schedule is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The paramedic has every other Friday off and has no replacement during sick days and vacations.

Director Gary Brown said last year, 98 percent of patients who needed paramedic care on a 911 call received it either from the county, Siouxland Paramedics or agencies from other counties. In all, those needing paramedic assistance accounted for about 30 percent of transported patients, he said.

But he said when Siouxland Paramedics stops its services, it will leave a hole in that chain, meaning one less agency will be on hand to provide that service.

Brown said the care provided by a paramedic on board can affect the length of a patient's recovery time, as well as more generally provide comfort on the ride to a hospital -- a ride that in rural areas can take several minutes or even hours, depending on distance and road conditions.

"You get down to Danbury, and you're talking an hour's drive," Brown said. "The further away you get, the more critical the paramedic becomes."

In Plymouth County, Le Mars EMS director Bill Rosacker said the void will mainly affect the Akron area to the west and the Kingsley area to the southeast. He said Le Mars does have its own paramedics, but some areas of the county aren't geographically feasible for one of those paramedics to respond in time.

Unlike Woodbury County, Plymouth County does not employ a paramedic.

"If theyre having 'the big one,' some of the drugs are not going to be administered until they either get a paramedic on or to the hospital," Rosacker said. "For Akron, that could be a 20-minute drive. You can lose some cardiac muscle in that time during the transport."

Kiger, Akron's EMS director, said Akron received paramedic assistance from Siouxland Paramedics on about 16 percent of its calls last year.

"That doesn't seem like a lot, but when (patients) need life-saving interventions, we need them," she said.

Kiger said it's possible her agency could use Mercy Medical Center's helicopter in certain situations, or transport a patient to Avera Health's Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars for stabilization before transferring them to Sioux City.

"We just need to be able to read all the signs, read their condition to figure out what we need," she said.

Monona County Emergency Management coordinator Patrick Prorok said the most affected area in his county will be the northeastern portion of the county near Mapleton, where Siouxland Paramedics responded four times last year.

A paramedic based at Burgess Memorial Hospital in nearby Onawa is available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, but there will be a gap during the other hours of the week, he said.

"It's going to leave a void," Prorok said. "Anytime we can have that advanced treatment for our patients, that's really a benefit."

What's on the table

Brown earlier this fall requested that Woodbury County add three more paramedic positions to upgrade the county to 24/7 response, saying Siouxland Paramedics' absence without more staffing will set county EMS back 30 to 35 years. While none of the five county supervisors argued that point, funding was an issue.

Discussions are now centering on whether other cities can help foot the cost. Brown said Thursday that a Jan. 8 meeting involving local townships, city officials and the board of supervisors will discuss the issue and potential solution.

Regardless of how those talks move forward, Brown said there will be at least a six-week gap between any funding decision and having paramedics on the ground, due to the length of the hiring process.

"If the decision were made today to fund it, I still wouldnt have anyone on (by Jan. 1)," he said. "But that doesnt mean we still shouldnt try and get this resolved."

In Nebraska, local agencies may be able to depend upon a strengthened force in South Sioux City. Fire Chief Clint Merithew said South Sioux City currently provides some paramedic assistance when possible to other cities in Dakota County.

"When they have a patient that is critical with illness or injury, and they need advanced life support, we will be able to assist them with that," he said, then emphasized that the department's primary focus will remain caring for residents within South Sioux City.

Merithew said he is awaiting city approval on agreements that would formally outline the partnership structure and how the city would be reimbursed. He said South Sioux City could also expand the service to Dixon and Thurston. An agreement could be in place sometime in January, he said.

In Homer, Nebraska, which sits 11 miles to the south, Fire Chief Jim Swanson said his department has already received paramedic assistance from South Sioux City, and he's thankful for the upcoming arrangement.

"I can't applaud South Sioux enough in how they stepped up to help us," Swanson said. "The only concern I have is if South Sioux will have the manpower to meet needs outside the city limits to all the rural communities."

Ponca, Nebraska, Fire Chief Brad Krohn said his agency used Siouxland Paramedics about twice a month, mainly for farming accident and heart attack victims. Until he sees something in writing from South Sioux City, he said his crews will either need to call in the Mercy Air Care helicopter for serious events or work with as much speed as possible using what they have.

"Our people, some of them are trained in IV and some are trained for intubation (placing a tube down a patient's throat), so worst case well just have to do that and go," he said. "I guess the bright side of anything on this is we're only 24 miles from the hospital."

Krohn added that losing Siouxland Paramedics is "going to be a bad deal all-around."

For other cities, there's no replacement on the horizon. In Mapleton, Prorok said he doesn't know whether it will be feasible to work with Woodbury County to provide assistance across county lines.

In Akron, Kiger said while she has heard desires from other medical professionals for an answer, she hasn't seen one yet. She described the situation as "frustrating," but she said she is hopeful something will happen.

In the meantime, the volunteer crews will move forward using what they have, she said.

"Were going to do everything we can with the knowledge, the skills and treatment we can provide to get the best for our patients," she said. "That's all we can do."
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Ben Wallace-trainee Easy Lover Hanover brushed to control heading into the final turn and narrowly held the lead at the wire to win his fifth-consecutive $34,000 Preferred at Woodbine Racetrack on its Saturday, December 16 program, which also featured the second preliminary of the Valedictory Stakes.

Positioned third, Easy Lover Hanover was six lengths off of quarter-pole duelers Nirvana Seelster and and Traceur Hanover, who paced the first clip in :26. Jody Jamieson pulled Easy Lover Hanover first over in the backstretch, circling to the front after a :54.4 half. Traceur Hanover edged uncovered again moving into the final turn, towing Champagne Phil second over as Easy Lover Hanover paced to three-quarters in 1:23.2 and laboured through the stretch, holding a neck advantage at the line as Prescotts Hope split horses and rushed into contention for second, and Champagne Phil kicked off cover to finish a close third.

A four-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Pro Bono Best mare Easy Go Go, Easy Lover Hanover, owned by Bradley Grant, won his eighth race in 23 starts this season and his 24th in 56 overall, earning $564,509. He paid $2.70 to win.

Also on the 10-race program were two divisions for the second preliminary of the Valedictory Stakes, for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers who have earned less than $60,000 lifetime through October 31, with Brave World winning the first split from the pocket in 1:53.

Stalking tempo-setter Jk Pridenjoy, Brave World tracked the uncontested leader through fractions of :26, :55, and 1:24.4 before tipping off the rail into the stretch and pursuing the leader to take a neck advantage late in the mile and holding on to win. Odds-on favourite Windsun Gotham closed from second over to finish one-and-a-half lengths off the winner in third.

Owned by Wheelhouse Racing Stable, Brave World, a gelding by Royal Mattjesty out of the Badlands Hanover mare Fit N Bad, won his seventh race in 26 starts this season and in 37 starts overall, earning $62,696. Trained by William Budd and driven by Trevor Henry, he paid $12.90.

Better B Rolling wired the field in the second division, winning by three-quarters of a length as the odds-on favourite in 1:53.4.

Wide through a :27.3 opening quarter, Better B Rolling grabbed the lead into the backstretch from Penzance Hanover, yielding for second. Homey Joe backed into third following a rush for the lead at the quarter, leaving Better B Rolling unchallenged through a :56 half and three-quarters in 1:24.2. Better B Rolling held a two-length lead into the stretch, but Homey Joe swept into competition late, settling for second at the line, with Penzance Hanover taking third.

Winning his ninth race in 12 starts this season, Better B Rolling, a gelding by Roll With Joe out of the Artiscape mare B So Lucky, is conditioned by James Morrison for owner William Donovan. Driven by Louis-Phillippe Roy, he paid $2.60 to win.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
On a drizzly afternoon in mid-September, LeAnn Slagle was on her way to pick up her son Mark from school when she received a text message.

It was from the 7-year-olds case manager at Wallace Elementary School in Kelso.

Uh oh, our little guy. The volcano has erupted, the message said.

Slagles heart sank. Not again, she thought.

Mark has multiple emotional and behavioral disorders. Eighteen different foster care placements over the past three years have made it difficult for him to trust new people. September was Marks first month at Wallace.

When Slagle arrived at school, she found Mark inside a 7-by-6-foot isolation room, one of three at Wallace. It was the fourth time in seven days that Mark had been physically restrained and isolated by a staff member, according to the schools official incident reports. But this time was different. Mark told his mother that a teacher had led him into the isolation room by his wrist and shoved him to the ground as she closed the door.

She hurt me! he told his mom. A doctor at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center later confirmed that Mark had a bruised chest.

The teacher denied the charge, claiming that she repelled the 87-pound boy using a technique she learned through a de-escalation program called Right Response. But Slagle threatened to sue, and she filed a formal complaint with the district and Kelso police. An investigating police officer ultimately closed the case without recommending charges, and a district investigation cleared the accused teacher of wrongdoing.

Nevertheless, the episode illustrates the legal peril school districts now face when staff members use restraint and isolation on students. Kelso, in particular, may be especially vulnerable because state statistics, though incomplete, suggest it uses isolation far more often than any other local school district.

At the very least, Kelsos practices seem to run counter to new state policies discouraging the use of isolation and restraint. And the methods staff at Wallace are using to manage the districts most behaviorally challenged students are excessive in the view of some educators  in particular a Kelso special education teacher who resigned over the matter earlier this year.

The legal risk of using isolation rooms has been highlighted recently by the federal civil rights lawsuit underway in U.S. District Court against the Longview School District. Five families claim their childrens disabilities were aggravated when they were allegedly placed inside a 4-by-4-foot padded box at Mint Valley Elementary School in 2012. Their lawyers say the district should be held liable for tens of millions of dollars in damages if a jury finds in their favor. In an effort to quell a public outcry, the Longview School District junked two different isolation booths less than a week after photos of the Mint Valley booth surfaced online.

The trauma of the use of isolation increases behavioral problems in the classroom, said state Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle), who co-sponsored a 2015 bill designed to limit the use of restraint and isolation in schools to emergencies.

Kelso administrators say staff members only use restraint and isolation as a last resort. They also maintain that the practices are essential tools for dealing with kids who are prone to violent outbursts and need to be controlled.

At Wallace Elementary, 13 students were isolated 54 times between January and June last year, according to data reported to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Throughout the Kelso School District, schools reported isolating 26 students 125 times during that same time span. That would mean, on average, an isolation incident occurred on roughly two out of every three school days.

The alternative is kids who have these kinds of concerns ... on a fairly regular basis, we would really rather not just send them home, said Kelso School District Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich.

Parental consent

Slagle initially refused to authorize the use of restraint and isolation on Mark at Wallace, where hed transferred from Ellsworth Elementary in Vancouver.

Ellsworth also has a special program for students with severe emotional and behavior disorders. When Mark became agitated or belligerent, staff conducted room clears, allowing him to destroy low-cost items while staff protected more expensive items, such as electronics. The approach worked: By the end of the year, according to his previous special education teacher, Mark was able to spend a majority of his time in general education settings.

But during an Oct. 10 individual education plan (IEP) review at Wallace, according to Slagle, Wallace staff told her Mark could be restrained and isolated without her permission. Thats technically true. House Bill 1240  the law Pollet helped pass in 2015  allows schools to include restraint and isolation as part of an emergency response for special education students.

Marks IEP identifies who is authorized to use restraint and isolation on him and under what circumstances. Only staff trained in Right Response techniques with current Right Response certification are permitted to use isolation and restraint, the document says.

Slagle grudgingly consented, but she handwrote a note to the IEP team that Mark should only be restrained or isolated when he becomes physical or is hurting staff or his peers.

The right response?

Two weeks after Marks alleged shoving incident, his case manager, Judah Rister, quit.

He was kind of like (Marks) right-hand man, Slagle said, so she texted him to ask why he left just two months into the new school year.

Rister said he was worried about how the staff who run Wallaces Emotional Behavioral Disorder (EBD) program handle special education students. He feared the EBD teams reliance on Right Response techniques and isolation rooms could jeopardize his teaching license.

In an interview, Rister said he observed numerous incidents of restraint and isolation that could have been resolved using the evidence-based strategies he learned through his special education training. Positive behavior supports, for example, focus on creating situations that are likely to produce good behavior instead of waiting for a child to act out before responding.

The problem, Rister said, is that the Right Response program  which can be completed in 12 hours or less  has supplanted specialized special education training at Wallace.

The copyrighted program teaches trainees how to respond to conflicts when they arise and covers a variety of holds and repelling techniques if a staff member determines a childs behavior crosses the threshold of imminent likelihood of harm.

A degree that takes four years to get in special education is being put to the side, Rister said. Right Response is trumping special education practices and philosophies for a 12-hour training.

Kathy George, a Seattle-based attorney who represents special education students, said Right Response is not a behavior intervention system, calling it an in-the-moment response to something dangerous happening. In addition to Right Response, schools need to emphasize building skills so the danger doesnt materialize in the first place, she said.

Rister said he raised his concerns in a series of meetings with his supervisors, but nothing happened. After requesting a transfer to a different elementary school, he finally resigned on Oct. 9.

It became clear to me that they werent going to change their practices, so it was a liability for me to even be there, he told Slagle. It was a hard decision because I left some really great kids.

The far end of the continuum

Kelso Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich said students are only restrained in emergency situations.

We would rather not put hands on kids, he said in an interview. We would rather not have those students be in isolation. Its at the far end of the continuum.

While research  and state law  has explicitly found theres no educational or therapeutic value to isolating students, Gelbrich said there is value in allowing a student private quiet time to avoid the scrutiny of peers.

There is value in giving a student who may be very agitated and aggressive with a sometimes violent set of behaviors some time to calm down and de-escalate without posing a threat to themselves, their classmates or adults, he said.

Kelso Special Education Director Denise Freund said the district does behavior assessments for students like Mark who need more supports. The goal is to analyze what might be triggering the behaviors and how best to approach de-escalation strategies. Marks IEP does include a behavior intervention plan for when he becomes physically aggressive, disruptive or defiant.

But when asked if Wallaces EBD staff have any specialized training to manage kids with high needs, Freund said the two teachers and five paraeducators who run the program primarily use Right Response training. Gelbrich said paraeducators are generally hired without training in positive behavior interventions; instead they are expected to learn alongside certified teachers.

However, paraeducators also provide about 62 percent of instruction in special education programs, according to the Public School Employees of Washington union.

Freund noted that the level of training can vary from school to school within the district.

Different schools have different levels of training that they go through as a staff, she said.

Chris Breece, an administrator at the Right Response headquarters in Woodinville, Wash., said the program places an emphasis on avoiding conflict. The programs website stresses that restraint and isolation should never be used to force a student to comply with rules or expectations. It also warns that attempting to restrain someone can actually increase the risk of violence.

When it comes to isolation rooms, the program primarily focuses on training people how to comply with regulations, he said.

Its very much up to the districts trainer to make sure that the material is being taught in a way thats reflective of their industry, he said in an interview.

But Rister, Marks case manager, said his 11-hour Right Response training never mentioned isolation rooms.

In fact, thats the same point made in a legal complaint filed by the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit against the Longview School District for its alleged misuse of the isolation booth at Mint Valley in 2012.

Horror stories

The Legislatures 2015 law found there is no educational or therapeutic benefit to children from physically restraining or isolating them. The law prohibits the use of restraint and isolation on any student unless they pose an imminent likelihood of harm to themselves or others. The law also permits restraint if a student seems likely to inflict serious property damage.

George, the Seattle-based attorney, said many of her clients testified before the House Education Committee in 2015.

I had heard horror stories of incredible trauma, said Pollet, who sat on the committee at the time and has led most legislative efforts on special ed in recent years.

Autism advocates recounted stories of children being placed in chokeholds and moved to isolation rooms, he said. Pollet said he also heard about adults lying on top of children, which medical professionals later found had caused physical harm, post-traumatic stress disorder and exacerbated their autistic behavioral responses.

Pollet said members also examined dozens of scientific case studies that found reduced behavioral problems in students who were trained to self-calm instead of being isolated.

Although the state was struggling to fully fund basic education at the time, Pollet said districts were explicitly told to come forward if they needed additional funding or resources to comply with the Legislatures new rules.

The districts were told very explicitly, if you need support for positive behavioral interventions, we need to know that, he said. But no district ever came forward or asked us for any support to do it.

Pollet said the fact that some districts are still frequently using isolation rooms today shows that they are clinging to the past.

Its the opposite of the Field of Dreams, he said. If you have them, they will be used.

Hes going to break a bone

Slagle said Marks behavior has improved recently since he started taking new medication. Hes now on Prozac, which helps with his severe anxiety and emotional outbursts.

But she still fears for her son when she drops him off at school.

She estimates Mark has been restrained and isolated more than 20 times since he started attending Wallace.

When they throw him in this isolation room, he basically beats the (expletive) out of the walls and windows, she said. Its to the point where when I pick him up, his arms are all red from hitting the wall, from hitting the window sill, and hes going to end up breaking a bone doing this.

Slagle said the isolation room often makes the situation worse.

Who wants to be locked in a room by three other people? she said. It escalates his anger and then it gets to the point where its rage and he cant control it anymore.

For his part, Gelbrich said hes not worried about the use of restraint and isolation in the EBD program at Wallace Elementary.

Is it something that they should get better at per se, or that we expect them to get better at? Gelbrich said. No more so than we want people to always work on improving their practice.

Meanwhile, Pollet said the Legislature may need to revisit the issue if it becomes clear that districts arent making significant progress toward reducing the use of restraint and isolation in schools.

Last year marked the first time districts were required to publicly report the number of incidents involving restraint and isolation. A fresh year of data is due to OSPI in January.

The lack of training for both certificated teachers and the paraeducators who work with special education students is a huge problem, Pollet said. Were going to need to keep coming back over and over again on this issue, and we have to get it right because childrens lives are at stake.
Senior Trump administration officials outlined their view Friday that Jerusalem's Western Wall ultimately will be declared a part of Israel, in another declaration sure to inflame passions among Palestinians and others in the Middle East less than two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.



Stressing that the ultimate borders of the holy city must be resolved through Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the officials  speaking ahead of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's trip to the region  essentially ruled out, however, any scenario that didn't maintain Israeli control over the Western Wall.



The issue is sensitive because the wall is situated beyond the pre-1967 armistice lines and abuts some of the Islamic world's most revered sites.



"We cannot envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel. But as the president said, the specific boundaries of sovereignty of Israel are going to be part of the final status agreement," a senior administration official said.



Another official later added by email, "We note that we cannot imagine Israel would sign a peace agreement that didn't include the Western Wall."

In a press briefing, another White House official explained that while "the last couple weeks in the region have been a reaction to the Jerusalem decision and we've seen a lot of the emotions," much of the reaction has been positive. "I think that a lot of people in the region, they really respect the president. They really like this administration. We're working well together."



"[Our] number one priority there is countering Iran; defeating ISIS and terror; and then combating the extremist ideology," the official went on to say. "So they know after this that the president will keep his word. He's not going to be doing things like the last administration. They know that he is very serious and focused on his objectives, and we will continue to pursue it."

The White House has made the positive step of announcing the Western Wall should be part of Israel:This is all good, but, by that same token of logic, the Temple Mount must be part and parcel of Israel too, and no mosque built as a symbol of conquest can change that.They also note:Now that's definitely an accurate statement. Bringing down ISIS and Iran is vital too. But then, so is bringing down the PLO and Hamas once and for all. Such terror outfits cannot be considered valid.

Labels: anti-americanism, anti-semitism, iran, islam, Israel, Israeli Arabs, Jerusalem, jihad, terrorism, United States, war on terror, White House
BNP takes city polls as challenge

Reza Mahmud :

The high command of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is busy with Rangpur City Corporation election to make its candidate victorious.

The party is also working hard to select candidates for Dhaka North City Corporation's by-election.

Ahead of the next Parliamentary polls, the party has taken the two city election as a 'challenge.

The senior leaders of the party said, there is nothing to lose for BNP in the city polls.

They said that it was high time for the government to prove that they are honestly able to hold inclusive election.

If they fail to hold polls in Rangpur and Dhaka North

City Corporation in free and fair manner, then every quarter must support the BNP's stand for election time neutral government before holding next national polls.

The BNP leaders think, in such circumstances, the government must try to hold inclusive election in the two cities.

They also think that their candidates would win and it would be milestones to prove their popularity across the country.

"The people from every corner of the country want a change. If any election is held in free and fair manner, the BNP candidates must win," Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Joint-Secretary General of BNP told The New Nation Friday.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has formed a committee to work for Kawsar Zaman Babla, the party's mayor candidate for the Rangpur City Corporation polls.

She also has directed the party senior leaders to go and work for their Rangpur cadidate.

The party leaders said, the high command has given very importance to the city polls to revive the moral strength of the party grassroots level leaders and activists.

They said, if a party stays out of power for a long time, it makes the party workers morally weaker.

In this situation, the party high command has planned to revive their moral stamina through participating in the polls.

They think the winning of the polls will help them with a message of winning the national polls.

In this view, the senior leaders are all time busy with surveillance of the Rangpur City polls.

BNP Vice-Chairman Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, who is convener of the party's Rangpur city polls conducting committee with other leaders has already reached the city. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders will join them after participating in victory day programme in the capital on Saturday.

Party Chief Khaleda Zia will not go there due to her court hearing, the sources said.

Apart from these, everyday, the party senior leaders are giving speech about the irregularities of the election.

"The government is hatching conspiracy to cancel BNP nominated mayor candidate Kawsar Zaman Babla's candidacy," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday while addressing the birth day ceremony of Professor Dr. Emajuddin Ahmed, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Dhaka University.

Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "The Election Commission has failed to create a peaceful atmosphere in Rangpur for a free, fair and acceptable polls. Musclemen of ruling party nominated candidate are seriously active in the city. There are huge panic prevailing among the voters."

The party also busy with sorting out candidate for DNCC polls. Tabith Awal, the former candidate is likely to get nomination.


Twin suicide bombers attack church in Pakistan's Quetta ahead of Christmas, killing eight

A man carries a boy as he walks out after gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan, Dec 17, 2017. Reuters

Two suicide bombers attacked a packed Catholic church in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least eight people and wounding up to 45 before one of them blew himself up and police killed the other, officials said.



The gunmen wearing explosives-filled vests stormed the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened, exploding a suicide vest and shooting at the Christian worshippers, said Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province.



Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah. He said two women were among those killed.





"There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldn't get inside the services," Jah said. "We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him," he said.



Jah said the venue - Bethel Memorial Methodist Church - was on high alert as Christian places of worship were often targeted by Islamist extremist over Christmas.





Another police official, Abdur Razaq Cheema, said two attackers escaped from the scene.



No one has claimed responsibility.



Baluchistan has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich region's resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination.



The Taliban, Sunni Islamist militants and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan.



The violence has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistans southern deep-water port of Gwadar.



A security force member takes position after gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan, Dec 17, 2017. Reuters



Pakistan has launched several military offensives over the last decade against the Islamist militants who want to install their own harsh brand of religion.



Although beaten and dispersed, the militants have shown resilience to launch spectacular attacks. Early this month, three Taliban suicide bombers attacked an agriculture college in northwestern Peshawar city, killing eight students and a guard.




Japan eyes $46b defence budget to counter North Korea

Japan\'s defence minister said the country plans to purchase long-range cruise missiles from US firms

AFP, Tokyo :

Japan plans a record $46 billion defence budget for the next fiscal year to strengthen its missile defence against the threat posed by North Korea, a report said Saturday.

The government is expected to set aside 5.19 trillion yen for defence in the country's initial budget proposal for the fiscal year starting April 2018, the Nikkei daily said.

It will mark the sixth straight year of increases in defence outlays, topping the 5.12 trillion yen budget for the current fiscal year, the business daily said.

Much of the increase will go on protecting Japan against North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development, the newspaper said.

The extra funding will cover the cost of preparations for introducing the US military's Aegis Ashore land-based missile interceptor system, the Nikkei said. Last week Japan's defence minister, Itsunori Onodera, said the country plans to purchase long-range cruise missiles with a range of some 900 kilometres (560 miles) from US firms.

The move is controversial as Japan's pacifist constitution bans the use of force as a means of settling international disputes.

Global anxiety about North Korea has steadily risen this year, with Washington calling on other UN members to cut ties with Pyongyang in order to squeeze the secretive regime.

The call, however, has fallen short of persuading key North Korean backers China and Russia to take steps to isolate the regime.

Meanwhile, a Sydney-based "loyal agent of North Korea" has been charged with trying to sell missile parts and technology on the black market to raise money for Pyongyang in breach of international sanctions, Australian police said Sunday.

The 59-year-old naturalised Australian citizen of Korean descent, named in local media as Chan Han Choi, was attempting to broker illicit deals that could have generated "tens of millions of dollars" for North Korea, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

Choi was involved in discussions to set up a ballistic missile production facility and the supply of missile construction plans in addition to components, software and the transfer of technical expertise from Pyongyang, police alleged.
The Lame Deer jail, built for just 19 inmates, regularly houses 45. Last year it saw as many as 62 inmates in a single day, more than triple what it was designed for. And while crowding has gotten worse over the years, its been a problem almost since the federal government began tracking it back in 1998.

The number come from a recent Bureau of Justice Statistics annual Jails in Indian Country report.

The Lame Deer jail has been operating above capacity since 1999, a year after the BJS began collecting data on Indian Country jails. That year its midyear count was 20, or one person above capacity, and its peak count was 42. (Peak count is measured on the busiest day in June each year.)

The numbers have climbed since. The average daily population had reached 23 by 2004, 32 by 2010 and hovered at 31 in 2015. (The reports were not issued in 2005 or 2006.)

The Northern Cheyenne jail was built in 1964 and renovated in 1987.

The BIA had definite plans to build a new jail in Lame Deer by 2003, according to the annual report issued in 2000, but that never happened. A BIA spokeswoman declined to comment on why.

Most tribal jails in Montana are owned by the BIA and operated by the tribe, but the Northern Cheyenne jail is both owned and operated by the federal agency.

No other tribal jail in Montana has the same level of crowding, and nationally, most tribal jails are operating with empty beds, at just 62 percent of capacity on average, the report found.

Whats more, the growth in tribal jail capacity has outpaced, by more than double, the growth in inmate populations. In other words, officials have added twice as much space for inmates as was necessary in the past decade and a half.

Yet the small jail in Lame Deer has not seen relief for its crowding. Part of the problem is that with no Crow jail currently in operation, members of that tribe who are arrested on the reservation are held in the Lame Deer jail.

When asked about the crowding, BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling said inmate populations fluctuate daily and the agencys Office of Justice Services relocates inmates to other facilities as warranted.

That could include the county jail in Basin, Wyoming, which has a contract with the BIA. Overflows at Lame Deer might also get transported to the Blackfeet Detention Center in Browning, or the Wind River Detention Center in Fort Washakie, Wyoming.

The five other tribal jails in Montana had 101 empty beds last year, on average. Darling, the BIA spokeswoman, declined to clarify why the facilities weren't used more often to ease crowding at the Lame Deer jail.

The crowding could soon come to an end, however. In November, the BIA announced it would reopen the privately-owned Two Rivers Detention Facility in Hardin by January. The 464-bed prison was built in 2006 with $26 million in bonds, and has since collected debt.

The facilitys opening comes as good news to Crow Chief Judge Leroy Not Afraid, who wrote a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke pushing for the agency to reopen the Hardin prison, and protesting the conditions at the Northern Cheyenne jail.

This overload is a violation of prisoners rights, a health problem and a violation of federal prison standards, Not Afraid wrote.

The judge said the BIA had repeatedly failed to transport Crow inmates from the Lame Deer jail to court hearings in Crow Agency in a timely manner. The trip is roughly 45 miles both ways.

Our complaints to the BIA have been ignored, and the BIA has failed and refused to make immediate and necessary changes to correct these problems, Not Afraid wrote.
Trump allies say Mueller unlawfully obtained thousands of emails

Trump dismissed Mueller\'s efforts as futile and said it has been proven there is no truth to it.

Reuters, Washington :

An organization established for US President Donald Trump's transition to the White House a year ago said on Saturday that the special counsel investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election had obtained tens of thousands of emails unlawfully.

Kory Langhofer, counsel to the transition team known as Trump for America, Inc, wrote a letter to congressional committees to say Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team had improperly received the emails from the General Services Administration, a government agency.

Career staff members at the agency "unlawfully produced TFA's private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsel's Office," according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. It said the materials included "tens of thousands of emails."

Trump's transition team used facilities of the GSA, which helps manage the US government bureaucracy, in the period between the Republican's November presidential election victory and his inauguration in January.

The Trump team's accusation adds to the growing friction between the president's supporters and Mueller's office as it investigates whether Russia interfered in the election and if Trump or anyone on his team colluded with Moscow. Asked for comment, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: "We continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel and expect this process to wrap up soon."

The GSA and officials at the special counsel's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democrats say there is a wide-ranging effort by the president's allies on Capitol Hill and in some media outlets to discredit Mueller's investigation.

Trump himself has loudly declared Mueller's effort a waste of time. "There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven," Trump told reporters on Friday. Russia denies interfering in the election.

On Friday, Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said he fears the committee's Republican majority intends to close its investigation of the topic prematurely. Some Republicans have argued that Mueller is biased against Trump and should be fired.
Amu for more Japanese investment in automobile sector

Business Desk :

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has sought more Japanese investment for setting up automobile industries in Bangladesh and said that Honda has started working to set up a motorcycle production unit here jointly with the industries ministry.

"Japan can go for joint venture with the Bangladesh government in setting up automobile industries here," said Amu when Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi called on him at his secretariat office on Sunday.

Bilateral issues such as Japanese investment in Bangladesh, technology transfer, shifting of different factories to Bangladesh from Japan came up for discussion during the meeting, said a handout.

Terming Japan as one of the major development partners, Amu said Japan has been giving financial support to a number of important development programmes, including conducting prefeasibility study of Padma Bridge and construction of Matarbari coal-fired power plant.

He also urged Japan to invest in solar glass production industry in Bangladesh.

Japanese ambassador said Japan gives priority to socioeconomic development of Bangladesh because of the historic bilateral relations between the two countries.

Japan will continue its assistance for the development of Bangladesh, Hiroyasu Izumi said and urged the industries minister to take steps for the development of infrastructure for industrialization.

Industries secretary Mohammad Abdullah, additional secretary Begum Parag, BCIC chairman Shah Md Aminul Haque and high official from Japan's embassy were present at the meeting.
Electronic system patient registration to introduce

Business Desk :

A nationwide diabetes patient registry will be introduced in Bangladesh electronically with a view to delivering quality care for patient living with diabetes through analysing epidemiology and treatment outcomes. The electronic registry will be implemented through the institutions of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) and its affiliated associations across the country with the support of Novo Nordisk.

The first of its kinds, BADAS President Prof. A.K Azad Khan and Novo Nordisk's Senior Vice President Frederik Kier signed an agreement on Sunday to develop the registry.

"In Bangladesh there is no conclusive study or survey which provides an exact number or figure of the diabetic population", said Prof. Azad Khan. "The new nationwide registry will generate data on patient numbers, blood glucose level before and after meal, three-month average of glucose in blood (HbA1c), renal and cardiac history of patients living with diabetes and other relevance. Quality care will be ensured though analysing these data," he said.

Improving the understanding of diabetes and the need for its prevention is critical, which is why Novo Nordisk works to raise awareness for the diabetes epidemic and its impact in Bangladesh, said Frederick Kier. As a global leader in diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a responsibility to work for improving understanding of diabetes and the need for its prevention, he said.
BCL shatters Victory Day`s wreaths at CU

CU Correspondent :

A group of activists of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL ), Chittagong University Unit shattered the Victory Day`s wreath brought by Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Central Library of Chittagong University (CU).Meanwhile, they also beat up CU Chattra Dal's Joint Secretary ImtiazIkram and the Publicity Secretary Moin Uddin.

The BCL activists are known as the followers of City Mayor AJM NasirUddinChowdhury and led by IqbalHossainTipu ,formerPublication Affairs Secretary of CU BCl unit,on campus.

According to the sources ,JatiyatabadiChhatra Dal leaders and activists came to place wreath on Victory Day like other student organizations of the university. In the meantime, CU Chattra League activists took away the wreath of JatiyatabadiChhatra Dal and chased them. During this incident,BCL activists also beat up CU Chattra Dal's joint secretary ImtiazIkram and publicity secretary MoinUddin .Later, police and proctorialbody brought the situation under control. Afterward,The injured were rescued and sent outside the campus.

Former Publication Affairs Secretary of CU BCl unitIqbalHossainTipu said ``Our activists have resisted them because the nti-liberation force Chattra Dal`s leaders and activists have come to create sabotage and unstable situation on the campus. They got away from the campus after chasing one step.''

CU Chhatra Dal General Secretary Shaheedul Islam Shahid said: "We are not present in any procession but we have come to pay tribute to the martyrs of the war on the Victory Day. But the administration failed to provide security. Some BCl activists beat up our leaders. I doubt that they believe in the sprit of liberation war. ''

Asking about the incident, CU Assistant proctor LitonMitra said that velitationwas took place. Later, the situation was brought under controlwith the help of police.
The journey to Oslo

Christian Ciobanu :

On December 10 in Oslo, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. ICAN started as a grassroots campaign in 2007. Its aim was to shift the paradigm of discussion about nuclear weapons from security and deterrence to the environmental and humanitarian effects of nuclear explosions. As the prize demonstrates, ICAN has succeeded brilliantly. But, as ICAN acknowledges, this is still only the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons.

A key development was the holding of three governmental conferences on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons in Norway, Mexico, and Austria. At every turn, the nuclear weapon states and their allies would claim the humanitarian narrative was reckless and dangerous. IAN remained unwavering in its message: Nuclear weapons must be banned.

By the conference in Mexico, held in early 2014, ICAN was calling for the commencement of negotiations on establishing an international legally binding instrument to ban nuclear weapons. After all, land mines, chemicals and biological weapons were banned through their respective instruments, and then global norms were established against their use.

The negotiations for the ban treaty concluded in July 2017. 122 states voted to adopt the treaty. It opened for signature on September 20 and more than 50 states have signed it. It will enter into force when ratified by 50 states, probably in the next one to three years.

At the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, the Nobel Committee Chair Berit Reiss-Andersen praised ICAN and condemned the use and threat of nuclear weapons on humanitarian, moral and legal grounds.

Speaking at the ceremony, ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn stated that it is insanity to allow ourselves to be ruled by these weapons. Many critics of this movement suggest that we are the irrational ones, the idealists with no grounding in reality. That nuclear-armed states will never give up their weapons.

But we represent the only rational choice. We represent those who refuse to accept nuclear weapons as a fixture in our world, those who refuse to have their fates bound up in a few lines of launch code.

She further asserted "It's an affront to democracy to be ruled by these weapons. But they are just weapons. They are just tools. And just as they were created by geopolitical context, they can just as easily be destroyed by placing them in a humanitarian context."

Fihn further addressed the nuclear umbrella states, including Norway, in her closing remarks. She stated:

To the nations who believe they are sheltered under the umbrella of nuclear weapons, will you be complicit in your own destruction and the destruction of others in your name?

To all nations: choose the end of nuclear weapons over the end of us!

This is the choice that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons represents. Join this Treaty.

Following Fihn's speech, Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, recounted her harrowing survival of the atomic blast that annihilated her school. She heard a voice in the distance, which told her to keep pushing towards the light.

She explained that "Our light now is the ban treaty. To all in this hall and all listening around the world, I repeat those words that I heard called to me in the ruins of Hiroshima: "Don't give up! Keep pushing! See the light? Crawl towards it."

Indeed, the new light and hope is the ban treaty. This treaty must enter into force and it is time for all nations to sign it. All responsible leaders will sign this treaty and history will judge harshly those who reject it as highlighted. Since humanity now has the choice to either accept nuclear annihilation or ban nuclear weapons, it is vital for all states to sign and ratify the treaty. For the time being, it seems unlikely that nuclear-armed states will join the treaty. As to nuclear umbrella states, the situation is fluid. Such states, including Norway, boycotted the negotiations, with the exception of the Netherlands. In fact, in late March, the Secretary of State of Norway, Marit Berger Rsland, mentioned that "Norway and our allies have an aim for a world without nuclear weapons, but as long as others have nuclear weapons, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance."

However, the Norwegian parliament is set to take a vote on convening an inquiry in which parliamentarians, with the engagement of civil society, will examine the consequences of signing and not signing the ban treaty. Furthermore, both the Prime Minister, President, and Chair of the Committee on Defense and Security met with representatives of the ICAN in Parliament.

At the press event with the President of Norway, Ms. Grethe Ostern, Head of the Norwegian People's Aid's Nuclear Disarmament Project, said that it is absolutely vital for the Norwegian parliament to engage in discussions about the utility and the risks related to nuclear deterrence.

Building upon Ostern's statement, Ms. Susi Snyder of ICAN and Pax explained that parliaments in Switzerland, Sweden, and Italy have passed resolutions in which they have instructed their respective governments to explore the ratification of the ban treaty. Snyder concluded her remarks by stating that the parliamentarians will have to think about the consequences of not joining the treaty. They must think about the following question: Are you willing to then be complicit in using nuclear weapons?

We now have the choice to live a world free of nuclear weapons. It is time for the people everywhere to discuss this momentous choice.

Thank you ICAN, for changing the status quo in the nuclear disarmament field.

(Christian Ciobanu is the senior associate, Global Security Institute).
Myanmar`s criminal generals should be brought to book

ACCORDING to the medical charity MSF sources, at least some 6,700 Rohingyas got killed in the very first month of the Myanmar army's crackdown on the ethnic minority in Rakhine State. But it appears Myanmar government is trying to deceive the world by avoiding to take back Rohingya refugees. It is clear it has signed the MOU just to befool the world without action. We must say time is running out the free world such as the USA and EU nations must roll out punitive actions like trying the generals responsible for genocide and economic sanction. Myanmar will not come to terms unless it is forced to understand that the world will not allow it to go unpunished. It will have to take the Rohingyas and for that it will have to create the safe environment in the ground first. The repatriation deal must be rewritten involving UNHCR to make repatriation process meaningful.



What has been uncovered by UN agencies appears staggering -- in terms of the numbers of survivors reporting their family members deaths from violence, and the horrific ways in which they were tortured, raped, severely injured and murdered. This heinous crime against humanity cannot escape justice. Despite global calls for a credible investigation, the Myanmar government has blocked UN fact-finding team from visiting northern Rakhine State. Fearfully enough none can yet ensure whether violence to have stopped.







It is encouraging that the European Parliament on Thursday called for urgent targeted sanctions and punitive actions against individuals in Myanmar military and security services for perpetuating widespread human rights abuses. Moreover, it also called on the UN Security Council to impose a global comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar, suspending all direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer, including transit and transshipment of all weapons, munitions and other military and security equipment including the provision of training or other military and security assistance.





The million dollar question in this regard -- when would the EP's demands for action will be taken seriously? When the USA or the UN would pay heed and act accordingly to these shocking revelations? The international community must work together to investigate into the violence, bring all perpetrators to justice and make sure that Rohingyas will be able to return in safety with their national rights such as citizenship restored.







We must say North Korea like sanctions should be imposed on Myanmar to let it feel that crimes committed by its military generals will not go escort free. We have seen former Bosnian Serb and Croat generals were sentenced to various term for butchering hundreds and thousands of Bosnian Muslims. One general died in the dock taking poison but justice was nevertheless meted out to them for crime against humanity. Myanmar Generals committed similar crimes and even more by carrying out ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. It is not Dark Age; we are part of modern civilization and Myanmar generals must be similarly tried in the International Court in the Hague for their crimes.






DNCC by-polls in Feb

Staff Reporter :

The mayor by-election of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will be held in the last week of February next year. The Election Commission on Sunday confirmed it.

"The Election Commission has taken the decision in a commission meeting held on Sunday," said Election Commission Acting Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed to a group of journalists.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda presided over the meeting in the Commission's Agargaon Secretariat in the capital.

The election schedule will be announced in the second week of January, he added.

The mayor post of DNCC fell vacant with the death of Annisul Huq on November 30.

Elections will also pick-up 18 new councillors for 18 wards of both Dhaka North and Dhaka South each and Six women councillors in reserved seats of Dhaka North.

EC Acting Secretary also said that the updated voters list of the country will be published by 31 January next year.
Suicide attack on Quetta church : 9 killed

Gunmen attacked the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta killing 9 people on Sunday.

Al Jazeera News, Islamabad :

A suicide attack on a church in the western Pakistani city of Quetta has killed at least nine people, hospital officials say.

A second attacker fired upon worshippers during a midday service on Sunday, prompting a police operation in the area, officials told Al Jazeera.

Provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said the second attacker was initially wounded by security forces and has now been killed. He confirmed that the first attacker blew himself up at the gate to the Bethel Memorial

Methodist Church, while the second was wounded in an exchange of fire near the gate as well.

"We have cleared the immediate area around the church, and we are now clearing a peripheral area further out," Ansari said, speaking to the media at the site of the attack.

Witnesses reported a heavy exchange of gunfire in the neighbourhood as police worked to clear the area.

"People were fleeing to the corners [of the church]. I couldn't understand what was happening, it happened so suddenly," said a woman who was at the church when the attack occurred, on condition of anonymity.

Waseem Ahmed, a hospital official at the nearby Civil Hospital, said 33 people were wounded in the attack.

More than 200 people were gathered at the church for the service at the time of the attack.

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has been at the centre of recent violence in Pakistan, and often comes under attack both from armed groups allied with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and separatist groups.

Last month, a suicide attack targeting paramilitary soldiers killed at least four people and wounded 15 others.

Earlier that month, a senior police official was also killed in a similar attack, while in October at least seven police officials were killed in another roadside bombing.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday.
UNSC mulls call for Trump`s Jerusalem decision to be withdrawn

Daily Sabah :

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would affirm that any unilateral decision on the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded, according to the text obtained the news agencies on Saturday.

The proposed measure comes in response to the United States' decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The council could vote on the proposed measure circulated by Egypt as early as Monday, diplomats said.

The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the draft. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trump's decision as "the just and right thing to do."

The draft U.N. resolution "affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council."

It "calls upon all States to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem, pursuant to resolution 478 (1980) of the Security Council."

The draft council resolution "demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions."

A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in December last year "underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations."
Man burnt alive in city

Staff Reporter :

A seven-storied building caught fire early Sunday, killing its owner in the city's Chawk Bazar area.

The fire believed to have been originated from mosquito coil.

Police identified the deceased as Kafi Alam, 55, owner of the building at Kamalbag.

Doctors said, Alam sustained 40 percent burn injuries on his body and died of it.

Victim's son Khokon said that the fire sparked from a burning mosquito coil around 2:00am and quickly

spread. His father was trapped in a room and sustained burn injuries.

He was rushed to the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead around 2:30pm, said Muradul Islam, Officer-in-Charge at Chawk Bazar Police Station.
The following letter was sent on Saturday by the Billings Chamber of Commerce to the Billings City Council and Mayor Tom Hanel regarding the negotiations which broke down between the council and Great Falls City Administrator Greg Doyon who had been unanimously selected to be the next city administrator. Talks between the council and Doyon broke down on Thursday and he withdrew from consideration on Friday.

Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council,

The Billings Chamber of Commerce was disappointed to hear of Mr. Doyons withdrawal from consideration for the Billings City Administrator position. We believe Mr. Doyon was the best candidate for the position and commend City Council for its unanimous decision to select him as the best applicant. We strongly encourage the City Council to re-establish communication and resume negotiation, in good faith, with Mr. Doyon for the following reasons:

(1) According to the Councils unanimous vote, and unanimous support from city staff, Mr. Doyon is the best candidate. Communities that wish to succeed in growing dynamic economies understand how important it is to look beyond whether a candidate is simply qualified for the position. We need someone who will continually set the bar higher and help drive the success of Billings. According to Councils unanimous vote, Mr. Doyon is the right person.

(2) Mr. Doyons initial offer was well within reason of market competitiveness for a growing city of our size. According to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) 2016 Salary Report, the median salary for cities our size in 2016 was $220,000. For cities smaller than ours, the median salary was $186,000. Even within our region, Casper, Wyoming, with little over half our population, pays its administrator a salary of $195,000. Bozemans total compensation (base salary, housing allowance, deferred compensation, and car allowance) for their new city administrator will be more than $215,000 effective November 2018 with guaranteed cost-of-living increases after that. Bozeman has a population and budget approximately 40 percent of Billings, and our city seems willing to pay about 80 percent what Bozemans administrator makes.

(3) Mr. Doyon showed a willingness to negotiate. After the Council directed him to make an offer, Mr. Doyon asked for salary compensation of $170,000. The Councils recruitment brochure mentioned the previous city administrator salary of $155,000 but said starting annual salary would be market competitive. It did not say the starting salary was $155,000. When the Councils subcommittee countered the original offer, Mr. Doyon brought his salary ask down to $165,000, demonstrating a willingness to work with Council. However, the subcommittee did not consider market comparables or the recommendation of the citys own consultant (who suggested $170,000 to $185,000) but instead returned a message of indecisiveness, choosing to punt the salary decision to the full Council. Afterwards, Mr. Doyon decided to withdraw.

(4) This inability to negotiate in good faith and based on objective data sends the wrong message to developers looking to invest in our city. We need to send a signal to potential future partners that our community works well with others and sees the value of mutual benefit. The Councils inability to budge $10,000 does not send reassurances to future investors and business partners that may want to work with our community.

We know the Council is tasked with tough decisions. However, this is not one of them. Please, reconsider your offer to Mr. Doyon, put the right person in that role, and help move our community forward. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

John Brewer, CEO/President

Kris Carpenter, Chamber Board Chair
Unbelievable !

Now question paper leakage at Class II and put on Facebook

M M Jasim :

Believe it or not, the question paper leakage has now started at the level of Class II.

Hearing the news of question paper leakage in 140 government and non-government schools in Barguna, everyone says that it is unbelievable, unimaginable and surprising.

Consequently the examinations of 140 primary schools in Betagi upazila were suspended on Sunday for the aforesaid reason.

When the upazila primary education officials came to know about the question paper leak through social media on Saturday night, they immediately halted the test in 140 government and non-government schools where students were scheduled to sit for the examination on Sunday, said Md A Mazid, Barguna District Education Officer.

The test will now be held on December 21 with a new question paper, he added.

A two-member probe committee has been formed with instruction to submit the probe report within three days.

Meanwhile, the examinations of 113 primary schools in Munshiganj Sadar upazila were suspended on Tuesday last as the question papers of Class II, III and IV were leaked.

The Munshiganj District Administration on Tuesday took the decision in an emergency meeting finding that the question papers of Class II, III and IV were leaked.

Bangla examination for students of Class II, III and IV was supposed to be held on Tuesday.

Candidates were waiting for their examination despite the allegations that a number of question papers had been found on Facebook before the tests. However, this time, those were posted free of cost.

Most of the questions, including letters, essays, seen and unseen passages on some Facebook pages matched with those in the original question paper.

Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Shayla Farzana said that the accusation of question paper leak surfaced on Monday night and after verification the examinations were stopped.

The district's Primary Education Officer Panchanan Bala said the new date would be announced soon.

Police on Wednesday arrested nine persons in connection with the question papers leakage of class II-IV in Munshiganj.

Meanwhile, the country's educationists said, it is a strange incident.

They also expressed their unhappiness over the incident of question paper leakage.

The educationists were talking to The New Nation after suspension of examinations of 113 primary schools in Munshiganj Sadar upazila due to question papers leakage of Class II, III, and IV.

Professor Syed Anwar Hossain of Dhaka University's History Department said, question paper leakage has been a regular phenomenon in the country.

It is beyond understandable how the question papers of Class II, III and IV are leaked. I have heard it for the first time, he said.

"Someone is painting the evil design to destroy the whole education sector. The government should not sit idle. Otherwise, there will be a severe consequence," he said.

Professor Syed Moonjurul Islam of English Department of Dhaka University said, "It was an unexpected incident. It is high time to think about reforming the whole education management from primary to higher education level."

"An unknown group of people have been trying to make the country infertile. Their first target is to demolish the education sector. So, the government must be cautious and take measures to face the problem," Syed Moonjurul said.


Myanmar journos group to don black T-shirts

Reuters, Yangon :

A group of Myanmar journalists said they would begin wearing black T-shirts on Saturday in protest at the detention of two Reuters reporters accused of violating the country's Official Secrets Act, as pressure builds on Myanmar to release the pair.

The Protection Committee for Myanmar Journalists, a group of local reporters who have demonstrated against past prosecutions of journalists, decried the "unfair arrests that affect media freedom".

In a statement on Facebook, the committee said its members would don black T-shirts "to signify the dark age of media freedom" in Myanmar. They demanded the unconditional and immediate release of the two reporters, Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27.

"Journalists all over the country are urged to take part in the Black Campaign," the group said. It said it also planned to stage official protests and prayers.

The group has staged several protests on behalf of

arrested reporters from other media this year, including one in June in which around 100 journalists took part. It was not immediately clear how many journalists have joined the black T-shirt protest. The Protection Committee for Myanmar Journalists was formed in response to the arrest in June of a newspaper editor over the publication of a cartoon that made fun of the military, said video journalist A Hla Lay Thu Zar - one of the group's 21-member executive committee.

"A reporter must have the right to get information and write news ethically," said A Hla Lay Thu Zar in reference to the case of the two Reuters' journalists.

Myo Nyunt, deputy director for Myanmar's Ministry of Information, told Reuters the case had nothing to do with press freedom.

"It's related to the Official Secrets Act," he said. "Journalists should be able to tell what is secret and what is not... We already have press freedom. There's freedom to write and speak... There's press freedom if you follow the rules."

Asked about the local reporters' "black campaign", he said: "Everyone can express his feelings."

The journalists were arrested on Tuesday evening after they were invited to dine with police officers on the outskirts of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, and government officials from Canada, Britain, Sweden, and Bangladesh, have all called for their release.

The two reporters had worked on Reuters coverage of a crisis that has seen an estimated 655,000 Rohingya Muslims flee from a fierce military crackdown on militants in western Rakhine state. The Ministry of Information said the journalists had "illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media", and released a photo of the pair in handcuffs.


The GOP tax plan's top beneficiaries aren't actually rich people, or even corporations, though both groups will indeed benefit mightily. The biggest winners are the nation's tax planners, thanks to the tax-sheltering bonanza this bill is about to unleash.

As my own CPA father likes to say: Congress has once again taken pity upon the nation's poor accountants and guaranteed them all lifetime employment.

Tax-filing is already unbelievably resource-intensive. Every year, the nation collectively spends billions of hours and hundreds of billions of dollars on tax planning, compliance and preparation.

At many companies, tax departments have effectively become profit centers, where armies of accountants and tax attorneys devise ways to legally shortchange Uncle Sam.

With all due respect to my dad and his fellow "regulatory parasites" (his term, not mine), these are surely resources that could be more productively deployed elsewhere.

For all these reasons, Republicans have said that simplification is one of their primary goals in overhauling the tax code. And it's true that their proposal to nearly double the individual income tax's standard deduction would streamline tax preparation for many households (at least for a few years, before this provision expires).

But on the corporate side  and for higher-income individuals who may soon decide to self-incorporate  it's a different story.

"The amount of complexity they're adding is staggering, just unbelievably staggering," fumes the usually mild-mannered Steven M. Rosenthal, a tax attorney and senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.

There are lots of changes to the tax code that will cause a boom in aggressive tax planning. Some of these are deliberate, others clearly accidental.

Among the intentional changes, for example, are new rates and rules for pass-through businesses. These would create an entirely new, parallel system of taxation.

Say you work as a chef at a restaurant. Your tax rate will vary tremendously depending on whether you call yourself an employee, an independent contractor receiving pass-through income for your labor or a corporation contracting out your services to the restaurant.

There are also complicated, as-yet-unsettled new criteria for determining how much of your income qualifies for which rate, as well as what expenses can be deducted. All this creates a mind-boggling number of possible tax-planning permutations for the exact same job.

Or consider the proposed changes to taxation of overseas profits, which would also lead to new opportunities for intricate tax scheming.

Here, too, Congress would effectively create two parallel regimes  one for income earned abroad and one for income earned at home. With these two regimes come incentives to invest in tax attorneys who can find ways to game the system  including whether and how to shift operations, jobs and paper transactions overseas.

Tax experts are already identifying this sloppily written bill's glitches and drafting errors. Some of these have been laid out in a new 35-page paper, written by 13 tax professors and lawyers.

They note that one provision, for example, would encourage U.S. companies to sell goods abroad, only for them to be sold right back into the United States. The interaction of two other provisions would encourage companies to make investments that they know would lose money.

And so on.

"The tax code ought to be about defining a base as broadly as possible, keeping tax rates as low as possible, and removing taxes as a calculation for how you order your economic affairs," Rosenthal says.

This plan, he says, does the opposite.

It will lead more businesses to make decisions based not on market demand, not on where the biggest economic opportunities lie and not on what kind of innovations, investments and expansions hold the most potential, but where the biggest loopholes are. So much for making the U.S. economy more competitive.

The haste with which this bill is being written and voted on  before the public or even lawmakers have time to fully understand what's in it  will do more than just distort business decisions. It will also likely cause the plan to cost considerably more than estimated, as New York magazine's Jonathan Chait has pointed out.

The Joint Committee on Taxation, Congress' official scorekeepers on tax bills, haven't been given sufficient time to identify and model all the ways in which the tax profession will take advantage of accidental loopholes  especially as IRS funding gets slashed.

Congress has a pretty simple choice. It can slow down, find and fix those loopholes now. Or it can let all the regulatory parasites find and exploit them later.
CAIRO  After touring the Elmwood and McBride public housing properties that federal housing officials have been helping residents relocate from since April, Gov. Bruce Rauner said it was very, very sad to see the condition of those apartments.

Very sad, he said. No one should ever live in those conditions. Its frankly outrageous.

Saturdays visit by the governor marked his first trip to Cairo since Housing and Urban Development officials, during an April 10 meeting, told residents of Cairos family public housing complexes that they would have to relocate because the buildings are no longer safe.

During his visit, Rauner announced that members of his administration, working across various departments, have planned a jobs and resources fair for January. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 10 at Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center.

Rauner said that at the event, which will be open to all local citizens, state officials will be on hand to discuss employment opportunities in Pulaski and Alexander counties. The goal is to help match people looking for work with the businesses looking to hire, he said. If additional training is needed to fill available positions, Rauner said staff will work with residents to connect them to job-training resources in the region.

Rauner started his deep Southern Illinois tour on Saturday in Mound City, where he participated in a Wreaths Across America Day ceremony at the Mound City National Cemetery. Afterward, he briefly toured the McBride and Elmwood complexes and stopped by Shemwells Barbecue, Cairos locally famed eatery, where he chatted with residents and ordered a lunch to go.

Terri Childs, a longtime resident of McBride, said she spoke briefly with the governor and he wished her a Merry Christmas and mentioned the job fair. Childs said she told him that she hopes he can help partner with HUD to bring more housing to Cairo. She questioned whether he was just there for a photo opportunity, but said she hopes it becomes more than that for Rauner.

He told me they were going to do a job fair, Childs said. I told him, I have a job. Ive had mine for 23 years. Childs is a teachers aide at Cairo Unit District 1. She has her eyes on a house in Cairo that she wants to buy. Childs said she will find out in the next few weeks if the bank will approve her loan.

Rauner closed out his day in Cairo with a tour of Little Egypt Estates, a 10-unit apartment complex owned and managed by Marion-based Shawnee Enterprises Inc., and a conversation with one of its owners, Jim Covey.

Before leaving town, he also sat down for an interview with The Southern Illinoisan.

Rauner did not offer any concrete plans to address the dire economic conditions facing the city, or dearth of affordable housing. He discussed the pro-business agenda hes been pushing since taking office, such as workers compensation and property tax reform, and regulatory relief for businesses.

The governor said Illinois has not been competitive for decades, and that because of the bad business climate, Indiana is siphoning off jobs that belong in Illinois. But Rauners aggressive approach to pushing his so-called Turnaround Agenda right out the gate in early 2015 led to an epic showdown in Springfield with House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

The standoff resulted in a budget stalemate that went on for more than two years, ending, at least temporarily, with a budget deal in July. In the meantime, the fragile economy of Southern Illinois was hammered by the lack of a budget deal, which hit particularly hard at some of the region's primary employers, including Southern Illinois University and medical providers.

The governor, in his reelection bid, is facing a primary opponent in state Rep. Jeanne Ives next year. Most Illinoisans are anticipating a spirited 2018 general election, as well, as the two leading candidates from their respective parties, Rauner on the Republican side, and J.B. Pritzker on the Democratic ticket, are both personally wealthy. Whats been dubbed the anticipated Battle of the Billionaires is predicted to be the costliest gubernatorial race in U.S. history.

Rauner said his staff at the Illinois Housing Development Authority conducted an assessment of available affordable housing in Cairo after HUDs April 10 announcement that it would begin relocating residents from Elmwood and McBride. He said the survey found that there are not many available homes that would meet the requirements of HUDs voucher program. The governors downstate aide said one local entrepreneur is currently working with IHDA in an attempt to make a few more units available in Cairo.

Rauner also said he was encouraged to hear that the owners of Little Egypt Estates always have their eyes open for additional potential projects that might add to the availability of homes where people could utilize their vouchers within the city. Rauner said he was impressed by the work of Marion-based Shawnee Enterprises, which is the largest private provider of affordable housing in Cairo, and also owns developments elsewhere in the region. Rauner noted that he signed a five-year extension of the Illinois affordable housing tax credit program, in 2016, and is encouraging his staff to work closely with any local entrepreneurs.

Beyond housing, Rauner said solutions have to focus more on improving the economic standing of not only Cairo, but the greater Southern Illinois region as well.

The real answer is more economic growth, more economic opportunity. If we dont have that, we will never have the investment, and were going to have so much need for people who are in poverty, well never catch up. Thats the answer, Rauner said. And the reality is that Illinois has not been competitive in our economy for decades. Thats the genesis of all of this problem. Thats exactly what our administration is working to change every day.

State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, who accompanied the governor on Saturday along with Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman, said efforts are moving along to bring a river port operation to Cairo. Fowler said hes been encouraged by the momentum. Were inching forward, he said.

Fowler said he recently met with SIU Carbondale Chancellor Carlo Montemagno, and the university has agreed to help with putting together a business and marketing plan for the planned port.

People have talked about building an inland river terminal in Cairo for years and years, a fact Rauner noted. But Rauner said he sees the potential, and is interested in the project. Asked if he intended for the state to pony up financial resources for the port, Rauner said that a team of people are meeting about the project, but no decisions have been made to date.

Its been a long grind, the governor said. But persistence is the key.
MARION  During a campaign-stop luncheon hosted by the Southern Illinois Democratic Women on Saturday afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker billed himself as a feminist ally and a proud member of the anti-Trump resistance.

Pritzker, a billionaire investor and entrepreneur, told a crowd of 250 people at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 318 that he was ready to listen  ready to resist and ready for the fight ahead.

After his speech, Pritzker moderated a panel discussion featuring female leaders.

His running-mate, Juliana Stratton, state representative of the 5th District, noted in her introductory remarks that Pritzker was the first candidate in the race to choose a woman for the lieutenant governor position.

This is a partnership, and together, were going to put Springfield back on the side of women and families, she said.

In 2016, Stratton said, Illinois women made an average of $41,327, compared to the average for men of $52,161. She said equal pay for equal work will be a top priority for Pritzkers administration.

Pritzker spoke about his disappointment after the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won the presidency in a stunning upset over Hillary Clinton.

I was sad for our country, I was sad for the direction that it would take us in and for what it meant about and for our values. I was sad that my daughter witnessed a misogynistic, racist man defeating a deeply qualified woman for president, Pritzker said.

Everything changed, he said, with the Jan. 21 Womens March and the women-led grassroots movement that followed. He called women the lifeblood of the resistance movement who have also broken the silence on sexual misconduct and assault with the #MeToo movement.

As I have said over and over and said to men across this state, let me be clear: I believe you, and I will always believe you, Pritzker said.

Pritzker said his involvement in Democratic politics started with his mother, who instilled in him a passion for social and economic justice activism.

One of my very first memories, in fact, as a little kid was getting dragged around by my mother to knock on doors for Democratic candidates, Pritzker said.  My mother taught me how to fight for what I care about, and how to resist  my mother did that.

He said central and Southern Illinois have suffered under Gov. Bruce Rauner with the shuttering of social service programs, and went on to sketch out the basic aspects of his platform, highlighting a need for affordable health care, universal preschool and child care, affordable college education and paid family leave.

Pritzker said public officials must do less talking and more listening, particularly to women.

I need your advice on the challenges that we face and how we move forward. I need the help of women of color, who have been resisting for generations. Together, we will keep up this fight at a grassroots level, keep our momentum going and channel our energy into victory in 2018, and then, after we win in 2018, we are gonna go beat that misogynist in the White House! he said.

Next, Pritzker moderated a panel featuring the founder of Action Illinois and co-founder of Southern Illinois Democratic Women Jennifer Camille Lee; Pamela Smoot, clinical assistant professor in Africana Studies and coordinator of recruitment, retention and outreach at the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University; Stephanie Fortado, a labor activist and lecturer at University of Illinois labor education program; and Stratton, a first-term lawmaker.

In his first question, Pritzker asked Stratton how Democrats could ensure that Doug Jones victory in Alabama is the beginning and not the end of a rising tide of African-American women voter support.

Stratton said she was grateful that black women voters were acknowledged for their role in the Alabama race, but said Democrats must strive to be more inclusive to black women, especially when they make appointments to staff and decision-making bodies.

I think we have to remember that when we have acknowledgement and its not followed by inclusion, or we have acknowledgement and its not followed by listening, or we have acknowledgement and its not followed by really creating space at the table, then its not sufficient.  What kinds of ways are we going to be included so that we can have a voice and a direction in the policies that affect all of us? she said.

Asked what makes campaigns successful, Fortado said the short answer was women.

Every successful campaign Ive been a part of has had a group of women in a room on computers crunching data, she said.

Pritzker asked Lee how to keep the momentum going in the womens resistance into 2018 and beyond. She said there are already marches planned for the anniversary of Trumps inauguration in Carbondale, Springfield and Chicago.

I feel like women have found their voices in the last year, and I just cant see us leaving them behind again, Lee said.

In response to a question about the challenges SIU has faced under Rauner, Smoot said the budget impasse was a terrible, terrible time for the university.

It was a time of doom and gloom, and morale was low among faculty, administration, just all across the campus you could feel the air of despair. I think that one of the biggest challenges of the university and for me as well was to try to reassure the students that this would pass, Smoot said.

Several prominent Democrats were present at the event, including: St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly, who hopes to challenge Rep. Mike Bost for the 12th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; Natalie Phelps Finnie, who was appointed in September to replace Brandon Phelps as state representative of the 118th District and is running unopposed in the primary; Marsha Griffin, who lost to Terri Bryant last year for state representative of the 115th District and is running again; and Tamiko T.C. Mueller, also running for the 115th District seat.

Democratic and Republican primary elections will take place on March 20, 2018.
Editors note: The weekly Illinois Bicentennial series is brought to you by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors and Illinois Press Association. More than 20 newspapers are creating stories about the states history, places and key moments in advance of the Bicentennial on Dec. 3, 2018. Stories published up to this date can be found at 200illinois.com.

If schoolchildren learn one thing about the War of 1812, its that the British marched on and burned Washington, D.C.

But Illinois schoolchildren studying the war could also learn about the burning of a settlement in their own territory, one set ablaze by their own countrymen: the village located where Peoria stands today, in a location that had been settled since the late 1600s.

The conflagration there, almost certainly unplanned, gave rise to a half-century-long legal fight and slowed the citys development.

In the early months of that conflict between the British and Americans, tensions grew in the western territories of the United States, including the Illinois Territory, because of fears that local American Indian tribes were either loyal to the British or being induced to attack American settlers, particularly after such an attack at Fort Dearborn.

Hence the decision by the states territorial governor, Ninian Edwards, to send a group of militiamen  some from Missouri  up the Illinois River in November 1812 to check into conditions in the village of fewer than 100 people.

The Missourians were deeply suspicious of this thriving and peaceful village, unmolested within 10 miles of the main council site for Indian tribes that swarmed Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa, a Journal Star archival piece from 1962 reads.

Capt. Thomas Craigs men began to sack the town while residents were at Sunday Mass.

In the face of protests from Thomas Forsythe, an official Indian agent and  the village priest, the property was temporarily returned, according to another Journal Star historical recounting from 1963. Harmless shots from across the river, probably by hunters, led Craig to say his boats had been fired upon. The French denied it, but Craig demanded the attackers be turned over to him. When the villagers protested, Craig sacked the town.

Its buildings were burned, cattle killed, the wine vaults raided and villagers were taken prisoner and shipped down river. Belated orders from the governor to belay and free the prisoners finally reached the group, with men, women and children being turned loose with few provisions in freezing weather near modern-day Alton. One of the survivors later became the wife of the states fourth governor, John Reynolds, who called out the states militia for the Black Hawk War.

The burning of the village and the stranding of its members in fact helped turn some local Indians against the American settlers.

The destruction cleared the way for the construction of Fort Clark at the corner of what is now Liberty and Water streets in 1813 as a bulwark against now-hostile Indian tribes. It remained on the site for only a few years until rebuilding of residential properties resumed nearby.

One problem: The displaced residents from 1812 had deeds to the property, dating back to the original French settlements there and began to petition Congress in 1813 to be reimbursed for their lost land. That process continued as Illinois entered its early days of statehood.

By 1837, when surveys were made, American settlers were occupying these lots  but the sales to these inhabitants were made subject to the French claims, Ernest E. East writes in an unpublished History of Peoria volume, as later recounted by local historian Bill Adams.

Some 32 former residents or their heirs subsequently filed claims on 70 lots  some of which devolved into lawsuits in county court or federal court. A piece by the Peoria Historical Society explains:

But the legal process moved very slowly, which in turn slowed the development of downtown Peoria. As a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln worked on some of these cases in the 1850s. Eventually, the displaced settlers were paid thousands of dollars in reparations for the loss of their homes.

A handful of those cases first had to go to the state Supreme Court, and one to the U.S. Supreme Court, the latter with Lincoln as one of the attorneys involved.

The litigation ended when real estate baron Charles Balance finally bought out the remaining claims on eight lots for $31,000 in 1867  about $500,000 in todays funds.
The student loan debt plan is on hold, again, and no one knows when (or if) it's coming. What could this mean for you?

Host Teri Barr is talking with Cecilia Clark, a Student Loans Expert with Nerd Wallet, to learn why this newest hold on the program, could take awhile, the 3 things you need to know about and prepare for right now, including making your loan payments again in the New Year.

The latest from Cecilia at NerdWallet:

More episodes on debt:

Support the show: https://omny.fm/shows/pennywise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
DENMARK -- The Denmark Technical College Public Service Department held an Alcohol and Drug Prevention Campaign program on Nov. 30 and had an appearance from some very special guests.

Richland County Sheriff Office deputies Chris Mastrianni and Kevin Lawrence, unlikely stars from the hit television show "Live PD," a series on A&E, gave a presentation and manned one of the vendor tables.

Students and faculty lined up to snap pictures with Mastrianni, dubbed Fastrianni for his speed in running down suspects, and Lawrence, a former Aiken deputy and a fan favorite known for his calm demeanor. The deputies accommodated everyone, speaking with fans and staying until the last picture was taken.

Other attending vendors included Trooper Judd Jones from the South Carolina Highway Patrol Troop 7, the 2nd Judicial Alcohol Task force, AT&T of Barnwell, South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Regional Medical Center, Hope Health, Denmark Police Department Paxen and the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. The vendors had informational tables and some gave in-depth presentations on drug and alcohol abuse.

We are appreciative of all of the organizations and agencies from across our state and region who came together to make this important event a success, DTC Interim President Christopher Hal said. I am especially grateful to Sheriff Leon Lott and the Richland County Sheriffs Department for allowing deputies Lawrence and Mastrianni to attend our event. Even though we are not in Richland County, they did not hesitate in giving their support when I communicated the purpose of our campaign.

The S.C. Highway Patrol brought goggles that mimicked being intoxicated and during his presentation Trooper Jones had attendees log on to an online game to score their drug and alcohol awareness.

Door prizes were awarded to lucky ticket holders and Culinary Arts provided handmade cupcakes and snacks.

Rosaland Kenner, dean of public services, was thrilled with the community involvement.

I would like to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to come to the event, especially all the vendors, Kenner said. It is wonderful to have community support.

The event evolved from an alcohol and drug class in the Human Services Division. Students from the Criminal Justice program, Early Childhood Development and Culinary Arts participated in the program and DTC student Josh Gadson performed a musical tribute, singing a cappella.

Across the nation, alcohol and drug use is a major problem, especially among high school and college students. I am proud that our Public Service Department took an active role in putting this campaign together for our campus and community, Hall said.
Bamberg School District 2s auditor says the districts finances have improved.

Steve Luoma of McGregor and Company issued an unmodified opinion for the districts financial audit.

Luoma said the district has made major positive adjustments in its finances over the past few years.

The districts assets exceeded its liabilities by $2.8 million. He added the district had $405,000 available for capital improvement projects at the conclusion of the audit.

Special revenue funds were all spent in compliance with grant funds received from the federal government, Luoma said.

The district ended the fiscal year with a balance of $2.8 million.

Luoma praised the board and administration for being good stewards of the funds that were available to them.

You all have done a good job eliminating non-essential positions as well as making as much operating efficiency as possible. You have been able to take action and use the funds allotted to you in the general funds and build on that, he said.

Dr. Ruby J. Johnson, director of curriculum and instruction, gave an overview of the districts 2017 state assessment results.

Johnson reported increases in several academic areas for Denmark-Olar middle and high schools. However, the elementary school showed decreases in some areas.

She also reminded the board that the district is required to offer two test options for juniors. In the past, students were taking the ACT only.

Johnson said parents will be invited to an informational session to help them make an informed decision regarding which test their child should take.

During her report, district Superintendent Dr. Thelma Sojourner announced that Rep. Rita Allison will bring a small delegation to the district on Jan. 29. The Lyman Republican is chairman of the South Carolina House Education Committee.

Sojourner said Allison and her team wants to, get a good feeling about what is going on in the district.

Sojourner also reported the district has two new school buses, which brings the total to 10 new buses. She said some of the buses have seatbelts and those buses are used for 4-year-olds.

The superintendent reminded board members that they will need to be trained to handle any possible appeals in reference to third-graders who could be held back regarding the state reading standards.

Second readings were held on online fundraising campaigns/crowdfunding and a proposed policy update on grading assessment systems.

Students of the month recognized by the district for the month of November were:

 Denmark-Olar Elementary s Breanna Eaddy

 Denmark-Olar Middle Schools Caveon Alford

 Denmark-Olar High Schools Kiana Sanders

Teacher of the Month was Juanita Robinson, Denmark-Olar High School.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College has received more than $400,000 from the S.C. General Assembly to revamp and expand its professional truck driver training program.

State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, was on campus Wednesday, Dec. 13, to present the college with a check for $423,129.

The money will be used to hire two additional CDL instructors, purchase two new trucks for the college and expand existing infrastructure for the program.

OCtech currently enrolls 52 students in its truck driving program. With the additional funds, the college will have the capacity to more than double its enrollment to 120 students.

In October, the American Trucking Associations released a report warning that the nations trucking industry could be short 50,000 drivers by the end of 2017 and more than 174,000 by 2026.

In a study prepared last year for the S.C. General Assembly, the state Department of Transportation reported a 10 percent vacancy rate for its 2,500 positions requiring a CDL. SCDOT is just one of the thousands of private businesses and public service agencies statewide that require CDL holders.

I have talked with several industries in the area, and they keep telling me they need truck drivers. They cant get enough truck drivers, Hutto said. This is a career where people can get trained relatively quick, get in the job market and make good money.

OCtech currently operates a fleet of six trucks in its certificate program, which has been cited by the states technical college system and the South Carolina Trucking Association as a best practice for meeting the critical need for truck drivers in the Palmetto State.

The program operates day and evening and has had to turn away students due to limited faculty resources and available equipment. Last year, it became one of the first truck driver training programs in the nation to become Pell Grant eligible.

The program is 16 weeks and now includes courses in electronic logging and the business of truck driving, said Donna Elmore, vice president for academic affairs at the college. Individuals in the program receive their CDL permit after the first two weeks, and they drive the rest of the time and earn their CDL by the end of the semester.

For more information about OCtechs professional truck driver training program or to apply, call Program Coordinator Amanda Eisman-Lindsay at 803-535-1386 or email eismanan@octech.edu.
Bamberg Police Department

Two men were arrested on Dec. 9 on Woodlawn Terrace after dispatch alerted officers of a stolen vehicle, according to a police incident report.

Police spoke with the two men and an additional woman passenger.

The driver said someone gave him the car but he did not know the person, the report said.

Both men were wearing ski masks.

A 17-year-old Denmark man was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. A 19-year-old Barnwell man was charged with driving under suspension and possession of a stolen vehicle.

In separate incidents:

 A 38-year-old Race Street man was charged on Dec. 10 in connection with an incident at his residence four days earlier, according to a police incident report.

On Dec. 6, officers were dispatched to the home twice in reference to a domestic dispute.

A woman at the residence told police that she and the man had been arguing some as he was gathering his things to leave.

She alleged that the man was knocking things around and attempting to damage the TV.

The man voluntarily left at that time.

The following day the woman contacted police to say that the man had returned around 4 a.m., entering the home and causing damage to a window, the TV and other items, the report said.

Damage to items in the home was estimated at $4,000.

The man charged with vandalism to personal property.

 An 18-year-old was arrested on Dec. 7 and charged with breach of trust and failure to comply. The man was again arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with vandalism of property.

The first arrest occurred after police were called to the residence on Dec. 6 and told by the mans mother that her son was threatening her and vandalizing the house, according to an incident report.

The man left the scene in a car and was later located and arrested.

The second arrest came after police responded to the residence where the mans mother said that her son was making threats and destroying the home, the report said.

Officers were shown a damaged door frame.

 A 21-year-old woman was arrested on Dec. 12 and charged with disorderly conduct.

The arrest occurred after officers were given a tip and located the woman at the EZ Shop #18 walking around in circles in the middle of the road, according to a police report.

 An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct on Dec. 11.

Police were called to the Bamberg Job Corps in reference to an altercation.

The man allegedly became angry and was throwing computers, printers and other objects around, according to an incident report.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is offering high school students a broader range of experiences through its Early College program.

For years, local high schools have offered Middle College courses to select juniors and seniors through OCtech. Students were invited to participate by their high school guidance counselors.

Middle College will transition into and become an integral part of Early College this spring, OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin said.

Early College offers a closer-managed college experience for high school students than Middle College did, he said. Students will work in conjunction with their high school guidance counselor and an OCtech college advisor to map out the best route for them to achieve their academic and career goals, but parents and students now have the option to initiate and play a more active role in the process.

This goes beyond simply taking courses to enter college as a second-semester freshman  although Early College students who complete their associate in arts or associate in science degrees at OCtech are often guaranteed admission to a number of South Carolina colleges and universities, including South Carolina State University and Claflin University, Tobin said. High school students can also choose to work toward a degree, diploma, certificate or industry-recognized credential from OCtech and be prepared to enter the workforce sooner in a number of high-demand careers.

In Early College, high school students can choose from three different options:

 Dual-enrollment courses count toward both high school and college transcripts.

 Concurrent enrollment courses are taken on a students own time while they are still in high school to enhance transfer opportunities and career interests.

 Career pathway courses build toward an in-demand degree, diploma, certificate or other credential.

The High School for Health Professions was the first to be introduced to OCtechs new Early College during an open house Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the college. The event featured campus tours, program exhibits, special demonstrations and more.

While the HSHP is the first local high school to partner with OCtechs Early College, all area high schools are invited to speak with the college about offering the option to their students.

Students and their parents are also encouraged to seek out more information by contacting Deborah Cooper-Davis at 803-535-1409 or davisdl@octech.edu.

OCtechs spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 8.
Voting recreationists throughout Montana must look at the methodical, well-planned and rapid taking of our public lands by politicians within our state and federal government.

Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Greg Gianforte, and Matt Rosendale, state land board member, all openly support transferring our public lands. In an interview with the Missoulian (Nov. 7), Rosendale outlined his thought on better management of forest service lands and privatizing them, as well as supporting transfer of public lands alongside of Gianforte during a pre-election meeting in the Metals Bank building in Butte, which some of our members attended.

Rosendale, originally from New Jersey, also thwarted an easement proposal by the three-generation Keogh family land near Whitehall, even though everyone that attended testified for the proposal.

More recently, Daines introduced legislation that would reduce Wilderness Study Areas, which are 100 percent public lands, under the guise that it would create more public access. The public comment period on this is on a fast track. His bill would open access for oil and gas drilling, and other development.

Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is reducing the national monuments in Utah, as well as eyeing the Badger Two Wilderness area in Montana, again, all public lands. Since the Trump administration has opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to gas and oil companies, one wonders if other national wildlife areas and wilderness areas will be axed.

All of these taking actions are being well-funded by out-of-state interests and are firmly founded in their plank in both the state and national Republican platforms. Sen. Jon Tester has always worked to retain public lands.

The rapid takeover of public lands is continuing as we speak and most recreational voters either dont understand what is happening, or they dont realize it.

Under the Trump administration, these takings will make America great again  for the rich and dishonest.

Tony Schoonen

Public Lands and Water

Access Association

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Many people believe that foundations and corporations are the backbone of giving in America. Their contributions are essential, but so is giving by individual Americans.

American individuals, estates, foundations and corporations contributed an estimated $390.05 billion to U.S. charities in 2016, according to Giving USA 2017: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2016. Total giving rose 2.7 percent in current dollars from the revised estimate of $379.89 billion for 2015.

Giving USA, the longest-running and most comprehensive report of its kind in America, is published by Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute. It is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Charitable giving from individuals, foundations and corporations all increased in 2016.

Giving to all major categories of recipient organizations grew, making 2016 just the sixth time in the past 40 years that has occurred. The rise in total giving was spurred largely by giving from individuals, which increased nearly 4 percent in 2016.

Report highlights include:

 * Giving to religion increased 3 percent.

 * Giving to education is estimated to have increased 3.6 percent.

 * Giving to human services increased by an estimated 4 percent.

 * Giving to foundations is estimated to have increased by 3.1 percent.

 * Giving to health organizations is estimated to have increased by 5.7 percent.

 * Giving to public-society benefit organizations increased by an estimated 3.7 percent.

 * Giving to arts, culture, and humanities is estimated to have increased 6.4 percent.

 * Giving to environment and animal organizations is estimated to have increased 7.2 percent.

Not surprisingly, the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons bring out the best in people for giving. More than half of all donations typically are made between Thanksgiving and New Years. But even the organizations that are known for Christmas relief remind everyone: Need knows no season.

Today we offer the annual Community of Giving special section. It features an overview of local philanthropic organizations and how they impact our community. The section introduces you to the volunteer efforts of many of your friends and neighbors and how they experience the joy of helping others -- and is a list of organizations deserving of your help now and year-round.

Included are:

 The Salvation Army  The mission of The Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

 Orangeburg County Community of Character  The initiative, with family at its core, brings together people from the fields of education, business, industry, faith, government, media and private citizens to help develop ways to strengthen character.

 CASA/Family Systems  The agency provides services to the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence as well as to the perpetrators of those crimes.

 Community Foundation for Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties  Its focus is on making a sustainable impact on the community. Donors can establish endowments to benefit non-profit organizations and provide scholarships to students graduating from high school.

 Orangeburg County Library  The librarys mission is to educate, inform and enrich the people of Orangeburg County.

 Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation  The OCtech Foundation supports student scholarships, capital improvements on campus, professional development for faculty and staff, and special projects undertaken by the college.

 Edisto Habitat for Humanity -- Habitat partners with individuals and businesses to make home ownership possible. Families who receive habitat homes put work into building their own homes and building for others.

 The Regional Medical Center Foundation  The foundation is the philanthropic umbrella for the Regional Medical Center and funds hospital operations, clinical services and community programs to improve the quality of life for area residents.

 Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association  Founded in 1992, DORA is dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Orangeburg between Amelia Street to the north, John C. Calhoun Drive to the south, Boulevard to the east and Riverside Drive to the west.

We urge you to take time to review and read the Community of Giving special section today. It will show you just how much good will there is in our community year-round. And it may motivate you to give and/or get involved.
Mashreq Bank, a leading privately owned bank in the UAE, recently honoured its CEO Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair with the Corporate Wellness Leader of the Year award at the Daman Corporate Health Awards.



Described by many of his employees and peers in business circles as a man who walks the talk, Al Ghurairs commitment to personal wellbeing and achievements is inspirational  he is the winner of the UAE level CrossFit challenge for his age-category, ahead of competitors from even the military and police, said a statement.



He constantly pushes leaders (and other employees) from the organisations that he manages to get fitter, often challenging them to compete against him - he personally recognises those that achieve significant success, it said.



Al Ghurairs hands-on leadership of Mashreqs Sahtak programme has ensured its success in ensuring a high-level of employee engagement as well as improving staff performance and productivity, it added.



A firm believer in the value of corporate wellness programmes, he continues to encourage further investments in initiatives that will continue to transform Mashreqs workplace culture for increased staff wellbeing and organisational competitiveness.



Other corporate wellness champions recognised at this years edition of the Daman Corporate Health Awards include Dubai Airports (Corporate Wellness Team of the Year and CSR Employee Engagement of the Year); Expo 2020 Dubai (Daman Award for Corporate Health & Wellness-Organisation); Schneider Electric (Daman Award for Biggest Impact and Workplace of the Year); Clare Patterson, Haddins Fitness (Corporate Wellness Professional of the Year); Gulftainer (Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative); Khidmah (Health & Safety Initiative of the Year); Mashreq (Communications Campaign of the Year); and Eternity (Corporate Wellness Partner of the Year), it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open the main bridge on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street in January, said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of RTA.



The project is part of the Improvement of Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets Intersection Project. Al Tayer further revealed that RTA would open a tunnel linking Al Garhoud and Mina Rashid in both directions in the second quarter of 2018. He noted that entire project had clocked 70 per cent completion.



Al Tayer made these statements during an inspection tour of the project, which forms a vital part of Improvement of Al Shandagha Roads Network Project. The project is located at the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Street in the direction of the northern end of Al Shandagha Network, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street in the direction of the intersection with Al Kuwait Street.



The project is part of RTAs masterplan for the improvement of roads, bridges, crossings and underpasses to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, and ease the traffic movement in all parts of Dubai. It is also part of the overall efforts to implement RTAs strategic plan for upgrading roads and transport infrastructure in Dubai. The objective is to develop integrated solutions of roads and marine network that is safe for users, capable of matching the development plans and demographic growth, and encouraging the development and investment in the emirate.



The project includes the construction of a bridge on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, a tunnel on Sheikh Rashid Street, and a bridge on Zabeel Street in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Street. The objective of such works is to ensure a free traffic movement from the Trade Centre roundabout to the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and Al Kuwait Street through a two-lane bridge in each direction, noted Al Tayer.



The project also entails the construction of a tunnel of four lanes in each direction on the Sheikh Rashid Street in the direction of the intersection with Al Mankhool Street, and a signalised junction under the bridge to provide free turns from main roads to subsidiary roads. The bridge has a one-directional ramp stretching from Umm Hrer Street to Sheikh Rashid Street. It also includes lighting, pavement, irrigation, sewage, storm-water drainage works as well as the shifting of utility lines such as electricity, water and telecommunication, added Al Tayer.



The construction of Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets Intersection Project is concurrent with the opening of the Improvement of Wafi Intersection Project in April 2016. Wafi Intersection is considered one of the vital junctions in Dubai, intersecting with Sheikh Rashid Street and Oud Metha Street.



It encompassed the construction of a three-lane bridge from Oud Metha Street (near Latifa Hospital) in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Street, and from there to Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Saada Street (Upper Deck leading to the Dubai World Trade Center). The bridge extends 700 m and can accommodate 3,300 vehicles per hour.  TradeArabia News Service
The pharmaceutical market in the UAE is expected to grow from Dh9.61 billion ($2.6 billion) in 2016 to Dh14.11 billion ($3.84 billion) by 2020, driven by increased healthcare spend, mandatory health insurance and growing medical tourism.



This was stated by the participants in the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Association Gulf Forum, PhRMAG 2017, which is being held in Dubai under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, and president of the Dubai Health Authority, reported Wam, the Emirates news agency.



In its maiden edition, the Forum is running under the theme "Enhancing Knowledge-Based Economy to Advance Human Health," bringing together private and public sector stakeholders to examine the most pressing issues concerning patients, healthcare providers and the biopharmaceutical sector while also exploring the role of innovative medicines in terms of saving lives, reducing mortality rates and mitigating expensive hospitalisations for patients.



Delivering the event's inaugural speech, Humaid Al Qutami, chairman of the Board and director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, said that great strides have been made in the pharmaceutical industry across the GCC region over the past decades, with Gulf pharmaceutical companies managing to keep pace with the rapid and multi-faceted changes occurring worldwide in the healthcare scene by forming robust partnerships with key players in the market.



Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant under-secretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, MOHAP, offered his insights on a topic titled, "The innovative biopharmaceutical industry invests in research and development and capital improvements, what are the opportunities for the Gulf countries in this strategic, dynamic sector?"



"In keeping with the directives of the country's wise leadership and the National Strategy for Innovation, the Ministry of Health and Prevention is sparing no efforts to provide healthcare services that prioritise safety of patients in the first place," he said, affirming the ministry's unshakable commitment to providing best healthcare services to the people of the UAE in line with best international practices and standards.

PhRMAG Forum 2017 is witnessing the participation of nearly 200 delegates with 10 expert speakers and specialists coming from the UAE and abroad to primarily focus on the "Value of partnership between PhRMAG and various other key stakeholders" in delivering the best quality healthcare systems for patients in the UAE.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Minister of Finance calls on all businesses to comply with the executive regulations of the Federal Law No. (8) of 2017 on VAT and register online via the Federal Tax Authoritys website.



Through the website businesses will receive a tax identification number, and it will help avoid any administrative penalties for violation of tax laws in the UAE, said a statement.



HH Sheikh Hamdan urged businesses to expedite and complete the registration process and update their data, to ensure full preparedness and compliance with the tax system as it will come into effect on January 1.



He said: Applying VAT plays a key role in building a sustainable knowledge economy, contributing to the infrastructure for the future development, strengthening public services, and enhances the global competitiveness of the UAE.



As the entity responsible for the legislative aspects of the tax system in the UAE, and to raise awareness around VAT, the Ministry of Finance announced details of the executive regulations for the Federal Law No. (8) of 2017 concerning VAT, and the Cabinet resolution No. (40) of 2017 on Administrative penalties for violations of tax laws in the UAE.



HH Sheikh Hamdan added: The Ministry of Finance works in coordination with the Federal Tax Authority to ensure an easy application process for the all VAT related tax procedures. We also put great emphasis on supporting all business sectors in the country as they go through the process of VAT related change, allowing them to apply VAT in a simplified manner through accessible and user-friendly digital systems.



These measures have been implemented to avoid imposing fines on affected companies due to non-compliance with tax regulation, and to support them in their financial activities, he added.



VAT will be applied in accordance with the unified VAT Agreement for the GCC, which clarifies provisions relating to commercial transactions between GCC States. It also provides a common agreement on certain provisions such as the basic rate of value added tax and the registration limit, and gives countries discretion to choose treatment in certain sectors where it does not affect intra GCC trade.



Companies and business sectors should seek their internal consultancy to determine VAT transactions on services and supplies provided in the course of their business as from January 1, to ensure the accuracy, completeness and quality of invoices submitted, and transactions related to VAT on invoices related to services and supplies.



Both the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority have held a series of workshops aimed at raising awareness on the tax system and the role it plays in building a sustainable knowledge economy for future generations.



The Federal Tax Authority has also opened the registration process through its website, to provide information to taxpayers, visitors and all members of the community around the clock, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Huawei, a global ICT solutions provider, and GlobalData, a digital media company, have jointly released a new white paper entitled The Future is Now for the Holistic Network Index - Network Experience Index (NEI).



The white paper provides a benchmark or standard for mobile operators to have a macro view of the network that reflects the real end-user service experience, said a statement.



As the mobile network develops, the number of counters, KPIs (key performance indicators), KQIs (key quality indicators) and QoE (quality of experience) indicators across different technologies keep building up, it said.



It is getting more difficult to keep track of which indicators to closely follow. The challenge is to simplify what is becoming more complicated, therefore the need to have an experience-oriented metric is imperative, it added.



Huaweis NEI represents the score extracted from four key categories, namely Voice Experience, Web Experience, Video Experience and Network Capabilities. NEI presents a unified standard from typical experience modeling, ensuring network experience features and trends can be measured.



Network ranking and evaluation can also be generated, which can guide experience-centric network building.



There are different options to collect the NEI inputs; via the NEI APP, SDK (software development kit), drive test and/or from the OSS Network Data statistics. The different scores are aggregated and then presented as the NEI score.



The white paper also includes results from GlobalData on a diverse range of operators, including multinational and local operators spread across various geographies. Insights about the emerging requirements and new approaches to network benchmarking and testing are also provided.



Additionally, the benefits of NEI, as featured in the CMCC Sichuan Mobile (Chengdu) Case Study, are showcased in the white paper. The improvements that NEI contributed to Sichuan Mobile are described, including a significant improvement of the U-vMOS score from 3.15 to 3.9, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban on importing cows from Spain, following the detection of mad cow disease in some farms in the country.



The ministry imposed the ban after receiving a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health confirming an emergence of the disease in Spain, Dr Sanad Al-Harbi, director-general of the Department of Animal Risk Assessment was quoted as saying by Emirates news agency Wam, which cited a statement from the Saudi Press Agency.
Marriott International has announced that the company is set to open nearly 40 luxury hotels in 2018 as it continues to cater to a new affluent traveller, offering an unmatched variety of transformative travel experiences.



Providing globetrotters with a truly global perspective and an unparalleled portfolio of eight distinct luxury brands, Marriott International Luxury Brands include world-renowned hospitality hallmarks The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, Edition and JW Marriott.



With an unrivaled network of landmark hotels and resorts in 60 countries today, Marriott International is set to expand its luxury footprint yet further with 200 hotels in the development pipeline, representing 25 new countries, from Iceland and Nepal to Cuba and the Philippines.



From former palaces in Venice and Vienna, to skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, to intimate, remote escapes in the Maldives and Mexico, the breadth of our portfolio is incomparable and allows us to surpass the expectations of our guests around the globe, said Tina Edmundson, Global Brand officer, Marriott International. We see luxury as a launch pad for self-actualisation, with bucket lists evolving from where you want to go to who you can be. With data showing a global shift in perception around luxury, we are uniquely positioned to provide personalized and truly differentiated experiences that resonate with this next-generation jetsetter.



Personalised fulfillment is the future of luxury

A global luxury study conducted in partnership with Skift, the largest travel industry intelligence platform, revealed that the number one priority for luxury travellers is centered around transformative travel and authentic experiences that provide a new perspective on the world.



Edmundson said: Todays global luxurian defies traditional stereotypes, moving far beyond the antiquated notion of time being the ultimate luxury. Our guests are on a journey towards personal fulfillment, seeking meaningful and purposeful travel experiences that speak to their inner, idealized selves. Whether that be creating a signature dish at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Caymans Culinary Studio, prioritising wellness by tapping into on-demand fitness with JW Marriotts Behind the Barre program, recharging in an over-water villa at The St. Regis Maldives or exploring one of the worlds most energetic cities through a W Insider. With a new lens on luxury and focus on the fast-evolving expectations and aspirations of the global traveller, Marriott International elevates travel with highly contextualised, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury. Access is the new authentic, and our brands are portals to diverse cultures and one-off travel moments, said Edmundson.



The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts further define the luxury landscape in 2018

The Ritz-Carlton, the legendary hospitality brand with 94 hotels in 31 countries, will continue to set the standard in luxury in 2018. Known for creating exceptional experiences, the brand recently celebrated the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de La Paix, Geneva and in 2018 is slated to debut six exciting locations, including Chinas scenic Jiuzhaigou Valley.



The year 2018 will also see renovations of key properties including The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin and The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. With three Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties open, the debut of Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, will further define the brands ability to create an intimate, culturally immersive experience that is set apart by heartfelt care and human connection.



St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, with 42 hotels in 21 countries today, is scheduled to celebrate the renovation of The St. Regis Rome in 2018, as well as openings in destinations such as Cairo and Amman. This follows recent debuts, including The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan and The St. Regis Astana.



Luxury rebel W Hotels spins explosive global footprint

Scheduled to reach 75 hotels by 2020, W Hotels skillfully balances the power of a global brand with the relevance and personality of a local insider. In 2017, the iconic lifestyle brand electrified the skyline with the premiere of W Shanghai  The Bund, and debuted the next generation of boundary-pushing design in the United States with W Bellevue. Defined by visionary design, edgy fashion and buzzing music programing, W Hotels sits alongside luxury, not confined by it. 2018 will be a year of unprecedented growth for the brand with eight hotels set to open, ranging from Dubai to Brisbane and Panama City.



Edition set to reach 20 properties by 2020

With seven new properties scheduled to launch across three continents, and many more in the pipeline, 2018 will mark a pivotal moment for Edition. Created through a ground-breaking partnership between boutique hotel creator and innovator Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the Edition brand is slated to grow exponentially from a collection of four to eleven properties by the end of 2018. Its timeless design, uncompromising quality, true originality and impeccable modern service, further defines the boutique hotel category. Following The Sanya Editions launch in December 2016, Editions Asian presence is scheduled to expand with two additional properties launching in Shanghai and Bangkok in 2018. In addition, the brands second and third European hotels are set for launch in Bodrum and Barcelona. Edition will launch its first outpost in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, whilst Editions plans to increase its US presence with two properties located in New Yorks Times Square and West Hollywood.

The Luxury Collection embodies experiential travel

A rapidly growing ensemble of 102 hotels in more than 30 countries around the world, The Luxury Collection takes guests on journeys to the world's most inspiring places, enriching and transforming modern global travel with authentic and indigenous experiences. From epicurean delights in the heart of iconic wine regions to city landmarks in Paris and Milan to historic masterpieces such Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa nestled in the Italian Dolomites, the brand continues to offer global explorers hotels that define the destination. The Luxury Collection is set to debut 10 properties next year in captivating locations that span the globe, including Los Cabos, Savannah, Vail and Okinawa.



JW Marriott expands global footprint

Inspired by its legendary namesake, JW Marriott is a brand committed to cultivating enriching experiences for guests seeking approachable, modern luxury. With 79 hotels and resorts today in nearly 30 countries, including the recent openings of JW Marriott properties in Vancouver, Jaipur and Phu Quoc, an island oasis off the coast of Vietnam, the brand is looking forward to yet another milestone year with openings slated for 2018 in Nashville and the Maldives. JW Marriott will also continue to reinforce and revitalize its global portfolio with multi-million dollar renovations in more than half of its properties, including JW Marriott Bangkok and Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel. - TradeArabia News Service


When coal was king and Wyoming was churning out 400 million tons a year, it would have been unheard of for two Powder River Basin mines to flip ownership with little to no cash changing hands. Its the kind of deal that happens with distressed assets, underperforming or idled operations heavy with debt. Not crown jewels.

But Contura Energy, a spinoff from coal giant Alpha Natural Resources, announced Monday that it is moving out of Wyoming. A little-known company called Blackjewel is acquiring its two mines and the 500 miners that work them, for the low price of picking up Conturas Wyoming liabilities.

The coal sector has improved gradually since Contura was formed to take Alphas key Wyoming assets. The Powder River Basin, responsible for about 40 percent of the countrys coal production, has been settling into a new normal. The sector is bracing for long-term declines, but many remain hopeful for at least near-term stability.

Thats why the selloff of Conturas assets came as a bit of surprise.

Some say the transfer of these two mines, once considered the best assets in Alpha Natural Resources portfolio, is heralding a period of heightened risk in the Powder River Basin. Others say it could simply be one more way the Wyoming coal market is adapting to the new normal.

Conturas advantage, met coal

Though the news of the Contura sale was unexpected in Wyoming, its not that unusual given the circumstances, some say.

Over the first nine months of 2017, Contura lost money at Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr.

Most of Conturas income was generated at its metallurgical mines in Appalachia. Met coal, used in steel production, is strong right now, said Chiza Vitta, coal analyst for Standard and Poors

By divesting the Powder River Basin mines, Contura will likely be less diverse, but more profitable going forward, he said.

The question for many is not why Contura wants out, but why Blackjewel is buying.

What is the draw?

Few coal experts in Wyoming are familiar with Jeff Hoops or his new company Blackjewel, formed in the summer to acquire Appalachian coal assets from Hoops other company, Revelation Energy. Hoops is also the founder of Lexington Coal Company. He has a long history in eastern coal, but his firms have a checkered past in Kentucky and West Virginia. Revelation is currently facing multiple environmental violations from state regulators, according to federal records.

Hooper declined an interview for this story, but said in an earlier email that Revelation and Blackjewel were separate entities and that the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines still have high potential.

Indeed, Revelation spent the last year picking up challenged assets from Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources. In the Alpha case, Revelation was essentially paid to take Alphas coal leases.

Clark Williams-Derry, a coal analyst for the Sightline Institute, a think tank promoting a move away from fossil fuels, said the Blackjewel deal signifies a troubling trend for Wyoming.

The new reality is that the PRB now attracts small companies and risk-hungry investors, he said. Its a far cry from the old days, when large, well-capitalized businesses dominated Wyomings coal trade.

Rob Godby, director of the Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy at the University of Wyoming, said hes not yet convinced that the Blackjewel buyout represents a fundamental shift in Wyoming coal.

Though smaller companies like Blackjewel bring unique risks, they may also be flexible in a way that the major players are not, he said.

The large, publicly traded firms like Peabody and Arch are responsible to shareholders and have just emerged from bankruptcies that taught them caution. Blackjewel doesnt necessarily have those restraints, he said.

These companies may be more nimble, Godby said. Well have to see if thats a risk or if thats going to help the PRB.

Low heat, no thanks

Wyoming coal has been in a holding pattern for more than a year. Its emerged from the dark days of bankruptcies and layoffs, but uncertainties remain about the coal market long term.

Much has been made of recent coal plant closures that erased large clients for Powder River Basin mines. Peabody Energy and Cloud Peak Energy lost customers this year from early plant retirements, and both face a number of closures in the years to come.

The firms have said they are anticipating the smaller market and can adjust production accordingly.

Blackjewels new asset, Belle Ayr, is facing this same predicament. Its largest customer last year was Comanche Generating Station, a coal-fired plant that recently announced plans to retire two of its coal unites early, to be supplanted by new wind development. It is waiting regulatory for approval.

Its unclear how the Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte transfer fits into a diminished coal sector. They produce a low-heat coal that many firms in the Powder River Basin have struggled to sell.

Low-heat coal is a particularly soft market, at a time when the Wyoming coal sector as a whole is adjusting to contractions, said Godby. In the case of larger firms, they can focus on their high-heat assets at other mines, blend or slow production of 8400 coal.

For Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte, thats not an option, he said. That low-heat product is all they have.

Travis Deti of the Wyoming Mining Association said its impossible to predict how 8400 coal will fit into the fuel mix going forward.

But the coal in the Powder River Basin remains a dependable source of energy across the country despite challenges, he said.

I think we are in a better place than some of the other mining basins, he said. As the long glide away from coal over the next century evolves, the last shovel of coal is going to be mined out of the PRB.

Clean up

Given the challenges to coal, and particularly to these two mines, some are watching the transfer to Blackjewel carefully.

For Shannon Anderson, a lawyer for the Powder River Basin Resource Council, the CEOs environmental violations back East are concerning. The firm simply seems too willing to jump into a risky environment.

They seem to be speculating, and they dont have a proven track record, she said.

State regulators have yet to approve the new ownership, which requires a transfer of permits and reclamation responsibilities. Those liabilities have been a chief concern of the Powder River Basin Resource Council, which lobbied during the bankruptcy period for stricter bonding on coal mines.

But even with bonding in place, the group doesnt want Wyoming to end up responsible for a huge clean up effort if a company should fold.

We think there needs to be a realistic, honest conversation with the community and workers, she said. This isnt monopoly money to Wyoming. These are important assets.
Wyoming is facing a wind boom, and a host of proposed farms are creeping closer to harnessing power from the states brutal gales.

Right now, major utilities and private developers are on a short timeline, looking to take advantage of federal subsidies that make wind highly profitable and are set to expire soon.

Small developers, meanwhile, are hoping to ride in on the coat tails of the wind boom.

Rocky Mountain Power, the largest utility in Wyoming, had 20 small projects from various companies, some wind, some solar, by mid-year each hoping for a contract.

One such small project, the Boswell Springs wind farm proposed in Albany County, recently secured a 20-year contract with Rocky Mountain Power and permitting from the states Industrial Siting Council. It plans to raise up to 170 turbines before 2020.

The rise in wind interest has stoked frustration from some who have long been skeptical about the way small renewable developers get a piece of the power pie in Wyoming. It comes down to a federal law.

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act requires utilities to buy power from any producers if they meet a handful of requirements, the key provision being size. Little farms get an in, via this law, to a monopolized electricity market. State provisions dictate the length of the contracts, currently 20 years in Wyoming, and how much the small developer gets paid for its power.

In the case of Boswell, the whole project is too large to qualify. So its qualifying in pieces, each separated by a mile buffer.

Critics argue that farms like Boswell are bending the intent of the law, using it to qualify a large wind farm for this federal helping hand. They also say a niche market has cropped up around wind, with investors proposing farms that arent needed for the electricity grid, securing long term contracts using the federal provision and then selling the project off to another developer. And in a state that is already conflicted about more turbines on the landscape, why does Wyoming have to embrace these farms that arent necessary, they argue.

Rocky Mountain Power is currently seeking new wind power, but the utility would prefer to get their power where and when they want to rather than be forced into a contract from developers who pop up. Meanwhile, some in Wyoming remain unconvinced that these small facilities pose much of a problem, at least not yet. Theres not enough of these small companies to cause a problem, and not enough transmission to spur more, they say.

Boom time coming

Wyoming wind is calling to those who want to make it big in the growing industry.

The entire industry is going to see a rapid build out, said Jonathan Naughton, director of the Wind Energy Research Center at the University of Wyoming.

With the looming deadline on the federal tax subsidies, there is a rush to get wind development started, he said. And there are other factors, particularly in Wyoming, contributing to the coming wind boom.

Transmission capacity to link Wyoming power to other markets is opening up for the first time in about eight years. And the cost of developing wind is falling rapidly. In areas with really good wind resources, like Wyomings wind alley, building a wind farm would be the cheapest investment by far, according to a recent Lazard study, an annual report of how much developers spent to build various power plants over the previous year.

Wyoming likely would have seen this build out anyway, according to Naughton. The difference is developers are in a rush that will be followed by stable growth, if not a lull, he said.

Renewed criticism

Some argue that the current flush of development, instigated by federal tax subsidies, is like an open season from small developers that arent necessarily needed in Wyoming.

Some are in it to harvest federal tax credits and move on, and federal law allows them to do that, said Kenneth Lay, a local landowner with a long history pushing back on the federal law.

Lay is one of a host of landowners from the Northern Laramie Range Alliance, a roughly 900-member organization that has taken issue with the federal standards in recent years.

And they are responding to the current wind build out with renewed criticism of the status quo.

Its a diverse set of people, with myriad concerns about wind development. One of their key issues with projects like Boswell is that it is actually a large project, but qualifies for the federally mandated contract with RMP because it breaks the farm into parts, each separated by a one-mile buffer. Thats where the argument about gaming the system proves true, Lay said.

Theres simply a lot of distrust for these small developers.

Head of development for Alterra Power Co., the firm developing Boswell Springs, declined to be interviewed for this story.

State law does look at the small wind contracts, and the utility determines a cost that isnt greater than it would procure from its own resources like coal and wind, also according to federal law.

But many are unconvinced that the avoided cost approach is working. The cost of wind power is falling every year, said Lay from the alliance, and these farms are getting a 20-year contract whether or not the utility wants or needs that power.

Unclear outlook

Utilities share some of the landowner complaints about the small farms.

Rocky Mountain Power recently pushed to reduce the contract period from 20 years to three years. Small developers said they couldnt do business without the long-term contract.

It ended in a stalemate, with regulators asking the two sides to work together on a solution. So far, a compromise has not been broached.

The Office of Consumer Advocate, which steps into rate cases on behalf of the general public, agreed that the contract length should be shortened, but not by so much.

We just threw up our hands, said Administrator Bryce Freeman.

Each side was entrenched in its argument, and nobody would budge, he said.

Lawmakers in Wyoming recently considered changing the contract length, and addressing some of the additional costs that should be factored into the contract, but that bill proposed by Sen. Cale Case didnt make it far in the interim session.

For Freeman there are problems with the federal law, and the way the state handles it. But it hasnt been much of an issue in terms of its impact on regular rate payers, he said.

Its not a big worry to me at this point, it could be depending on how things develop, he said.

Freeman doesnt believe the current transmission capacity in the state would lend itself to a big push from small developers. There still just isnt enough room to get power out, he argued.

Are they gaming the system? Sometimes, he said.

Seen it all before

Lay witnessed what he says was a Boswell-type project crop up in his backyard. The Pioneer Wind Park east of Casper was originally proposed to be a larger farm selling its power competitively. Then it went after the federal qualification to get a guaranteed contract and secured what Lay says was a deal for its wind generation that was more expensive than what the utility would have produced on its own.

That increased cost trickles down to ordinary rate payers, he says.

The pushback on Pioneer from landowners like Lay was successful in a way. It pared the farm down to one small facility that qualified for the federal boost. But the problems with the law remain, he said.

He hopes that the wind build out brings change. It may, but the boom is happening fast and politics can be slow.

There is current talk in Washington about amending the federal law, which was written as part of an energy-independence push after the Arab Oil Embargo of the 1970s. Seventeen congressmen sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October asking for an update, particularly addressing the one-mile buffer provision. Others have proposed legislation to overhaul the law.

These are good signs for Lay.

I think everyone realizes that (the federal law) long ago outlived its purpose, he said. I hope that shortly, well be beyond all of this.
Sunday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 10 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 10:15 a.m., 917 N. Beech; noon, 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 6:30 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 6:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 8 p.m., 328 1/2 E. A. Douglas: 1 p.m, Douglas, 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back), womens meeting; 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 6:30 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 15th & Melrose at the church. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Nicotine Anonymous: 5 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club. Info: Pam M., 577-0518.

Decorating for Christmas

Join Christ Episcopal Church, 415 W. Cedar in Glenrock, for the 9:30 a.m. service and the Greening of the Church, decorating for Christmas. All are invited for Holy Eucharist, refreshments, and fun as we hang greenery and candles, decorate our tree, and set up the Nativity. For info, call Deacon Leigh at 258-2524. The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

MV Baptist

hosts play

Mountain View Baptist Church, 4250 Poison Spider Rd., invites all on a special journey told by shepherds, a remnant of nations belonging to a royal line, with the promise of their deliverer. The story, No Room for Its King, is told through song, drama and dance at 9:40 a.m. Like Bethlehem, will we go down in history as a city, a country, a church, that was sleeping and Had No Room for Its King?

Elks breakfast helps Interfaith

Sunday breakfast at the Casper Elks Lodge is open to the public. On December 17, the benefit breakfast will help Interfaith. The new kitchen looks great. Open every Sunday, 8 to 11 a.m. Serving pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage links, potatoes, scrambled eggs, French toast and omelets to order. New to the menu is build your own breakfast burrito. Also served is toast, juice, tea and coffee. All you can eat for $7, children 5 to 12 are $3, 4 and under are free. Come down for the best breakfast in town and see the old crew again. Also, if you have a birthday please let us know and Michael will sing to you. This is open to the public. The Lodge will be open for breakfast only on December 24. For more information, call 234-4839.

Diaper Day at St. Marks

Distribution of free diapers to families in need will next be held at 10 a.m., in the Guild Room at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 7th and Wolcott. St. Marks monthly Diaper Day project is currently funded by The Episcopal Foundation of Wyoming and handled by volunteers at St. Marks.

Childrens program at Calvary

Pastor Matney of Calvary Baptist Church would like to invite the public to the Childrens Christmas program at 10:30 a.m., at Calvary Baptist Church, 1800 S. Conwell. The program is called Jesus is the Light! The following Sunday, Dec. 24 is the Adult Cantata at 10:30 a.m. as well and it is called Silent Night! Holy Night! If there are any questions, please call 266-5417.

Twelve Days of Christmas open

The 12 Days of Christmas is open for its 44th year at 1743 E. Yellowstone Highway from noon to 4 p.m. Shop the 30 different artisans and crafters displaying this year. Enjoy the quilting, fiber arts and jewelry, along with glass antiques and food items. See crafters from throughout the state displaying their crafts.

Keepsake Christmas at First Baptist

Come and create your very own Keepsake nativity and watch as the story comes to life on stage at 5 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 514 S. Beech. Mary, Joseph, and the angel will share memories from the very first Christmas and encourage us to celebrate the best Keepsake of all, Jesus. Everyone is welcome. Dinner will be served. Please RSVP to the church office, 234-6946.
Each Monday in 2017, we visited with folks  individually or occasionally in very small groups  who by their actions, large or small, made a difference in the lives of people in Casper and throughout the state.

We look back on three of those efforts: to promote kindness in everyday gestures, to hand-tie blankets for those in need of warmth and to supply diapers  next to love and food, perhaps the most basic necessity of parenting.

Chris Critter Murray and Leadership Wyoming undertook Random Acts of Kindness Week in February.

Will you tell us about Random Acts of Kindness Week? In Leadership Wyoming, part of what we do is each participant does a project. We team up for projects and part of what my team wants to do is initiate and inspire a culture of kindness throughout the state. And part of the reason is to build a better Wyoming. The project was to inspire kindness, so we linked up with the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

What has the response been? Its been overwhelmingly fabulous. We have a proclamation from Gov. Mead. We have a lot of local governmental proclamations as well. At the state level, we have received a tremendous amount of support from Superintendent (Jillian) Balow. She sent a letter to all school districts in Wyoming and encouraged them to participate, and they are certainly responding very favorably towards that.

Debbie Mestas volunteers in a variety of ways at First Christian Church, and out of the sandwich ministry came the Fleece Blanket Project.

Besides the homeless, who you provide sandwiches to, how do you find recipients for the blankets? We give them to agencies like Interfaith, Community Action Partnership, Self-Help Center, Youth Crisis Center, Youth for Christ at the Link. Weve given them to the police department to put in their cars, to Greta Hinderliter (school district homeless liaison), some to the oncology center, to DFS for foster children and to hospice.

How can people continue to help? We meet the third Saturday of every month at First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are in need of fleece. Every blanket takes two yards of printed fleece and two yards of a solid color. The material is 60 inches wide, so the blankets are big enough for an adult to wrap up in, but weve also made some baby size and some lap size.

(Update: Through Nov. 18, the group had made 506 blankets. The project continues on Jan. 20, Feb. 17, and March 17.)

Kathy Robinson, a retired Episcopal priest, and Margie Roberts, a school district employee, were among a brainstorming group at St. Marks Episcopal Church who looked at the gifts and passions of St. Marks balanced with the needs of the community. From that, a monthly diaper and baby wipes giveaway began, offered to anyone who needs it.

How does the giveaway work? (MR) We have diapers, size newborn to 5, and wipes as well. We give them away the third Sunday of the month from 10:30 to 11 a.m., in the fellowship hall. They are invited to stay and have brunch with us, but there is no obligation to do that.

How about the cost of diapers these days? (MR) Thats why this is so important. Some months you have to make a choice between buying groceries and buying diapers. Cutting back on clothing, heat or prescription drugs can affect family members health and emotional well-being beyond the practical need of having enough diapers.

And there is socio-economic reasoning for this as well? (KR) Disposable diapers can cost as much as $70 to $80 a month, and most licensed child care programs require parents to supply disposable diapers and do not accept alternatives, such as cloth diapers. When parents run out of diapers, that may mean no child care. And federal anti-poverty programs such as food stamps do not cover diapers, leaving poor families without the means to properly diaper their children.

Follow community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur on Twitter @WYOSAS
Suppose a lawyer represents his client in a highly contested divorce hearing in Natrona County District Court. After arguing the case, he walks across the street to Casper Municipal Court, dons judges robes and takes his seat on the bench.

A few weeks later, a man enters the judges courtroom on a DUI charge. He realizes the judge who will decide his fate is also the attorney who represented his wife in the divorce hearing. Will the divorcee feel like he received a fair hearing?

City Councilman Dallas Laird thinks not.

Laird is not alone. He, along with Caspers mayor, the countys top prosecutor and a prominent local defense attorney are asking for changes to Casper Municipal Court, arguing the existing situation could give the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The municipal court handles violations of city law, including public intoxication citations, some drunk driving cases and contested parking tickets. The court does not hear felonies. Other misdemeanor cases are heard in Natrona County Circuit Court and felonies are handled in Natrona County District Court  where municipal judges are free to work as private attorneys.

Laird said he is concerned that Caspers part-time municipal court judges are able to work in private law practices on the side. The judge might listen to a police officers testimony in municipal court and enter Natrona County Circuit Court as a lawyer to cross-examine the same officer.

Although Laird said he does not believe judges conduct themselves in an improper manner, he thinks practicing as an attorney in one court and sitting as a judge in another court may raise eyebrows.

I dont think that its unethical, I just dont like the procedure, Laird said. I want people to go into court and feel like they got a fair hearing, a fair shake.

None of the municipal court judges agreed to speak with the Star-Tribune for this story. When asked about the possibility of an appearance of a conflict of interest, municipal court manager Fleur Tremel said I never thought about it like that.

She compared the municipal court judges to federal magistrates, who also are free to work in law outside of their appointments.

Judges have been known to recuse themselves from cases in municipal court. Tremel didnt know how often that had occurred. But that hasnt quelled the concerns of the lawyers and council members.

A City Council work meeting on the matter is tentatively set for Jan. 9.

Lawyers letters

District Attorney Michael Blonigen wrote a letter dated Nov. 20 to City Manager Carter Napier, which broadly decries the use of part-time judges in the criminal justice system. Blonigen wrote that hiring judges part-time means they will seek outside work, undermining confidence in the municipal court.

Especially if a private criminal practice is retained, Blonigen wrote. It creates an impression that outcomes may be based on considerations other than the law and facts.

Blonigen stated that hiring part-time judges necessarily means those judges will take other legal legal work.

Caspers municipal judges make about $54,000 a year, according to the citys human resources department. Substitute judges are paid $80 an hour.

The prosecutor called for judges to be seated on a full-time basis, in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

The municipal court is often the only judicial experience a citizen will ever have, the letter states. Confidence in that system is best established by prosecutors and judges who have made their duties a full-time obligation.

Blonigen did not respond to request for comment for this story.

Ian Sandefer, a criminal defense lawyer who practices locally, wrote a Nov. 8 letter to Casper City Council mainly focused on the municipal courts alcohol-offense docket. The letter pertains in large part to fixed punishments meted out to defendants on the docket, which is known colloquially as alcohol court. Among Sandefers suggestions for the docket is a request for a full-time judge. The specialized docket is currently governed by one judge who works part-time.

Sandefer wrote that a full-time judge would be insulated from politics and would have some independence on the bench. Sandefer does not specify why such insulation is necessary.

Sandefer did not respond to request for comment for this story.

How its done elsewhere

In Rock Springs, meanwhile, the municipal judge is free to work in private practice, but Richard Beckwith, Rock Springs city attorney, said it is accepted practice to not do so in the city. The full-time municipal judge has enough to do, Beckwith said.

Working full time for the city means you work full time for the city, he said.

Beckwith went on to say that he did not see an issue with part-time judges in Casper working in private law practice.

I dont see how thats a problem, he said. You can certainly easily avoid the conflicts if youre mindful ... You just have to recuse yourself.

Of Cheyennes two judges, one works for the city full time and one handles the juvenile docket on a part-time basis. Silvia Hackl, Cheyennes city attorney, said neither judge works elsewhere, as that is prohibited by the city.

Wyoming Statutes spell out the qualifying requirements for municipal judges in 27 words, requiring only that judges be appointed by the city council and be eligible to vote in Wyoming. Otherwise, qualifications are left up to city ordinance.

Caspers two judges work a month at a time, switching out every month. A substitute, or provisional, judge steps in to cover cases in the case of a full-time judges absence, inability or disqualification, according to city ordinance. If a judge is on vacation or determines that he or she has a conflict of interest, the substitute will take the bench.

A third judge works solely on cases for alcohol court, also on a part-time basis.

Two of the judges, Rob Hand and Nichole Collier, did not respond to request for comment.

Keith Nachbar, the alcohol court judge, declined to comment.

City Manager Carter Napier said he was weighing the advantages and disadvantages of switching to a full-time judge. He said it was unclear to him what the financial impact of such a move would be, but that it would likely cost the city more money than it is spending now.

As part of that calculation, Napier said he would like to keep a substitute judge to cover for conflicts of interest and vacation time. Covering a relatively homogeneous docket full time might be emotionally weary for a judge, making a back-up essentially.

With one judge, Napier said, you could run into the notion of burning a judge out.

Mayor Kenyne Humphrey said shes doubtful a full-time judge would end up costing the city more than three part-time judges.

Either way, its worth it, she said.

Can we really put a price tag on justice?
The crowd overflowing from the chapel Saturday filed out into the falling snow over the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville.

They wiped headstones to read the names and give thanks before placing wreaths at the foot of each one.

Hundreds of volunteers arrived for the local Wreaths Across America event as part of a nationwide effort to place a wreath at every grave of a U.S. Veteran for Christmas.

For the first time, a wreath rests on the graves of the nearly 3,000 veterans buried in Wyomings sole cemetery designated for veterans. The Natrona County Republican Women raised the funds with help from several other organizations and community support to meet that goal, co-chairwoman for the project Kathy Sanford Thomas said.

Speakers at a ceremony before the wreath-laying said theyd never seen a show of community support the size of Saturdays crowd that left standing room only in the the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery chapel.

I am just overjoyed and overwhelmed and ecstatic at this crowd, Natrona County Republican Women Interim President Bonnie Foster said.

The purpose of Wreaths Across America is to remember the fallen, honor those who have served and their families and to teach our young as well as our communities, the value and price of freedom, Foster said during a prayer.

Speakers included U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and Pat Thomas, son of late U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas. The emcee gave volunteers protocol from the non-profit Wreaths Across America to say aloud the veterans name before placing the wreath.

They say a person dies twice, Thomas said, Once when they pass away and again when their name isnt spoken again.

U.S. Navy veteran Rob Todd joined his sister, U.S. Army veteran Nina Stairs, in saluting veterans as they placed wreaths Saturday. Todd, who was twice deployed to Iraq, came to honor the 16 close friends he lost in Afghanistan and Iraq and all veterans, he said.

I think its just amazing that people took the time out of their day, Todd said. Its not warm, its not comfortable, they probably could be doing better things  but they took the time to do this. Its a huge turnout. It just shows you the loyalty and the pride in this country and this state and the sacrifice for what everybody did for this place.

Stairs joins friends and family every Veterans Day and Memorial Day at the cemetery.

Ive never seen a turnout as massive as this, Stairs said. Its been so humbling and just such an honor.

Troy Campbell placed a wreath for his aunts father, Leroy York, who served in the U.S. Army World War II. His wife, Melissa Campbell, and their sons, ages 7 and 3, each placed another wreath.

They brought the boys to show them that we need to honor all veterans, Troy said.

Yorks daughter, Lynne Anthony, expressed gratitude over the phone from Oklahoma for her family members and the others who placed wreaths in the cemetery. She had visited her father before his death a few weeks ago, but couldnt travel for the ceremony, she said.

I just think its wonderful that theyre doing that, Anthony said.

Volunteers last year laid about 200 wreaths through the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America, Sanford Thomas said after Saturdays event. The Natrona County Republican Women approached the Patriot Guard Riders to help raise funds for wreaths at every grave this year. Also involved in the project were the Civil Air Patrol, Kelly Walsh High Schools Deca Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Casper and the VFW in Laramie, Sanford Thomas added.

Wreaths were placed at 1.4 million graves on Saturday through the U.S. and overseas, including throughout Wyoming, Sanford Thomas said. Local volunteers also laid wreaths at the other two cemeteries in Casper. She hopes in the future to locate and place wreaths for all local veterans, wherever theyre buried, she added.

Some estimated 700 to 900 volunteers took part Saturday at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery, Sanford Thomas said.

Wallace and Wendy Trembath were among the last of that crowd to leave. They stood at the grave of his grandfather, Robert Lamb, who served in the U.S. Army in World War II.

It almost brings me to tears, its so beautiful, Wendy said as she gazed at the lines of wreaths.

The timing of Christmas adds to the poignancy for them, Wallace said.

From a spiritual perspective, it reminds us that there was another person who came for us and sacrificed his life too, Wallace said. The combination of the two just makes it meaningful.
A Montana judge has temporarily restricted wolf hunting and trapping near Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and imposed tighter statewide limits on killing the predators. Wildlife advocates sued last month claiming that looser hunting rules adopted in the Republican-controlled state could harm wolf populations. State District Court Judge Christopher Abbott on Tuesday ordered officials to reimpose rules from 2020 that allow the killing of only five wolves per person, instead of 20, and forbid the use of snares for trapping. Abbott also limited hunting and trapping near the national parks. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte criticized the ruling, saying he thinks the judge overstepped his bounds. But state wildlife officials have pledged to comply with the order.
HARTVILLE  As long as animals have been used as test subjects in laboratories, theres been ongoing debate over the ethics of the practice, concerns about the potential for cruelty and more.

But one topic is seldom discussed: what happens to the dogs, cats, pigs and even horses when the experiment is over?

Thats the question that plagued psychologist Dr. David Groobman more than a decade ago, one he decided to find an answer to. In 2006, he purchased property in the rolling hills north of the tiny burg of Hartville in Platte County, Wyo., and the Kindness Ranch was born.

The name came from a simple desire on Groobmans part to offer these former laboratory animals  the ones that survived the experiments, testing and more, anyway  something he believed theyd never had before.

Measure of kindness

He wanted it to be someplace kind for laboratory animals, said Maranda Weathermon, executive director of the Kindness Ranch sanctuary. Theyve not been treated with kindness  well, ever. So, we wanted the whole ranch to embody that we were treating animals kindly.

The first animals to arrive at the ranch when it opened in 2007 were horses, survivors of pregnant mare urine farms, Weathermon said. On the PMU farms, the mares were housed in stalls and kept pregnant so their urine could be collected. The urine is processed to remove a specific type of the
On a Sunday in September, morning light drifted through stained glass as churchgoers in Rock Springs raised their eyes to God.

In Basin, a congregation joined voices to sing an opening hymn. In Thermopolis, they bowed their heads, opened their hearts and asked for mercy.

Then the prayers  recited in each of those Episcopalian churches  became specific.

God of Mercy, hear our prayer for ourselves, our friends and families who hold painful memories of loss, grief and suicide, the priests read. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow and peace for the past.

Amen, the congregations responded. Amen, they said, thinking of those they knew who died by suicide. Amen.

Not many Christian sects have a service specifically dedicated to suicide prevention. In many churches, suicide is taboo  something to be whispered about over after-service coffee but never mentioned from the pulpit. For some, suicide is a violation of the Fifth Commandment  thou shall not kill. For some, those who die by suicide are damned to hell.

But the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming doesnt condemn those souls. Instead, the 49 parishes across the state are actively attempting to save them. They fight the stigma of suicide with efforts like the special liturgy and train their clergy and lay people to recognize the signs. Suicide prevention has been a priority for the Episcopal church in Wyoming for years. But after state lawmakers drastically cut funding for prevention earlier this year, the churchs efforts further intensified.

Its an obligation, Bishop John Smylie said, especially in a state that consistently has one of the highest rates of suicide.

Its become the moral priority for the diocese, he said.

In 2016, more than 130 people died by suicide in Wyoming. In 2015, the most recent year for which national data is available, the state had the highest rate of suicide in the nation  28 deaths by suicide for every 100,000 residents. Wyoming consistently ranks in the top five states with the highest rates.

After lawmakers cut suicide prevention funding this year, the diocese pledged $100,000 for local churches to use toward that aim. Parishes across the state have held trainings and recruited speakers.

But Smylie wants one thing to be clear: This was a one-time gift. Its the job of the Legislature to fund suicide prevention and awareness, not the dioceses, he said.

I dont understand the thinking of the legislators and how they can choose not to care about this profound crisis, he said. This is their responsibility.

***

My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land.  Jeremiah 8:18, as read in the suicide prevention liturgy

***

During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers voted to cut $2.1 million from the Wyoming Health Departments $5.7 million budget for suicide and substance abuse prevention. Legislators reduced state spending by hundreds of millions earlier this year as they faced a major revenue decline due to the downturn in the energy sector.

That cut has deeply affected the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming, the nonprofit that the state contracts with to provide prevention services. The health department said in April that it would no longer contract out suicide prevention work and would instead manage the effort internally.

Because of those cuts, PMO had to eliminate 21 positions at both the local and statewide level, including the position that coordinated suicide prevention efforts in the state, CEO Keith Hotle said. The organization no longer has the money needed for informational campaigns, training materials or prevention efforts focused on specific at-risk communities and is only able to facilitate suicide intervention trainings with the help of the Episcopal diocese.

Local PMO staff partner with the Episcopal church in their area and request funding from the dioceses foundation. The nonprofit can provide the trainer, but money for materials and space now comes from the church.

Its possible we wouldve been able to do intermittent training, Hotle said. But eventually that wouldve dwindled away all together.

It really was a saving grace. A blessing.

At Tuesdays meeting of the Joint Appropriations Committee, health department director Tom Forslund noted that suicide prevention funding took a significant cut last session. He explained that the health department changed how it pays for suicide and substance abuse prevention. Instead of a single contract to the PMO, the department broke the money into three smaller contracts.

Ultimately, Forslund said, the department chose to prioritize issues like smoking and substance abuse, which he said affect more people than suicide.

I dont want to send the message that suicide prevention or the suicide issue isnt important or very devastating to the families or individuals who decide to end their lives, he said. The thought was to focus on the areas that affect the greatest number of people.

But that decision meant less resources for the thousands of people affected by suicide every year in this state. Each death leaves behind loved ones  as many as 115 people per suicide death, one study found  to grapple with loss and bewilderment, anger and grief. During his inaugural suicide prevention symposium in 2016, Gov. Matt Mead estimated that half of all Wyomingites had been affected by suicide.

The Episcopal diocese first started working with the PMO on suicide prevention in 2014, but the relationship became more formal after lawmakers cut the budget. In July, the bishop sent a letter to legislators and the governor condemning the cuts.

The Scripture says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, he wrote. Have you no heart for the individuals and families who suffer so greatly from suicide? Your budget would suggest this to be true.

In the letter, he explained that the dioceses foundation would set aside $100,000 for suicide prevention. However, he made it clear that the money was a one-time contribution. He didnt want lawmakers to think that the private sector would provide a long-term solution for the reduced funding.

This omission of funding for suicide prevention is an embarrassment, one that I trust you will remedy at your next session, the letter ended.

In the meantime, the bishop and his diocese took matters into their own hands.

***

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34, as read in the suicide prevention liturgy

***

Once a month, Rev. Tom Fiske gathers families grieving a loved one who died by suicide. They meet in a room in Gillette Colleges technical education center and discuss their loss, their bewilderment, their healing. Talking doesnt always ease the pain, but at least they know theyre not alone.

Facilitating the support group is separate from his role as an Episcopalian priest, Fiske said. His work with people affected by suicide predates the churchs decision to prioritize the issue. Its personal.

With the survivors of suicide loss, I can wear that t-shirt, he said. I know where theyve been.

Fiske still grieves the death of his sister, Betsy. She killed herself nearly 50 years ago. His father also died by suicide, 12 years earlier.

Sorrow comes in waves: on Christmas, on New Years, on Betsys birthday. It gets better over time, he said, but the loss is too profound to ever truly dissipate.

It still leaves a pit in my stomach, he said.

In his work, he has become especially interested in postvention  or the care of people whose loved ones died by suicide. How can someone support a family while they heal from such a loss? How can he guide his community to embrace those who are hurting?

In 2015, the churchs foundation approved a $23,000 grant for suicide prevention work at Fiskes church. Most of that money was spent on a two-day training so that people in northeast Wyoming could better help those affected by suicide. After the training, the church had about $7,000 left over.

The parish put that money in a savings account. Later, it would be used to help families affected by suicide. Not just for counseling, but also for cleanup of the physical mess left behind.

Since we live in Wyoming, most of the suicides that do occur are by a middle-aged man with a gun, Fiske said. Often theres biohazard material to take care of.

The cleanup and repair can be expensive. Walls have to be mended. Carpets cleaned. The money can help pay for motel rooms for the family while their home is fixed.

So far, the fund has helped four families recover in the wake of a suicide, Fiske said. Donors have helped replenish the money as it is spent. As Fiske sees it, the church is obligated to prevent suicide and care for those left behind.

Whatever it takes, he said. The church is called to affirm life.

On the other side of the Bighorn Mountains, Rev. Lin Davenport has held multiple QPR  Question, Persuade, Refer  trainings at Thermopolis Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The two-hour sessions teach participants to recognize the signs of a suicide crisis, persuade that person to seek help and to refer them to resources.

Davenports own training has made her better able to recognize the symptoms of suicide. Shes no longer afraid to ask the difficult questions, she said.

I dont believe there is one member of my church who isnt aware of suicide prevention and the need for it, she said of her congregation of about 60 people.

Churches in other parts of the state are tailoring the funding to their own needs, said Rev. Bernadine Craft, a priest and a member of the dioceses Episcopal Suicide Prevention Connection. In Fremont County, churches are requesting money to train law enforcement to better respond to people in crisis. In Sweetwater County, the three churches are pooling their money to bring in a man who survived an attempt to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge and now tours the country to educate audiences about suicide.

Craft, a psychotherapist and a former state senator, said the diocese chose to focus on suicide prevention out of a number of potential social priorities because it seemed to be the most underfunded.

We said, This is a void, she said. This is something where we as a faith community can step in.

Partnering with a church and its clergy has a number of benefits, said Hotle, the PMO chief executive. Priests and deacons are often the first person to whom someone might admit depression or suicidal thoughts. Making sure the clergy are educated about suicide and equipped to handle those conversations is crucial, he said.

That is even more true in small, rural communities where there arent formal mental health practitioners, he added. Clergy often act as counselors when professionals are not available  there is nobody to refer the person in crisis to.

Those priests think, Im it, Craft said. That can scare them to death.

The bishop himself is trained in QPR and ASIST, which is described as suicide first aid by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Most of the dioceses 94 clergy have also been certified in one of the courses, Smylie said. Both QPR and ASIST trainings are mandatory in the dioceses training for prospective priests and deacons.

We cant say were Christians and then turn our back on issues that our impacting our population, Craft said.

***

Where there is despair, let us sow hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.  Prayer of St. Francis, as read in the suicide prevention liturgy

***

Clergy, like others who work in suicide prevention, constantly battle damaging cultural myths about suicide and mental illness. Depression is not a weakness, they have to repeat, its a health condition. Discussing suicide with someone will not cause that person to kill themself, they teach.

But within the Christian community, clergy and churchgoers have to combat a deeper theological issue. Among the faithful, there is often a belief that those who die by suicide are condemned to hell, the bishop said. The act of suicide is compared to homicide  the active taking of a life. For many years, some Christian churches would not allow a person who died by suicide to be buried in their cemeteries.

Smylie, along with the larger Episcopalian church, rejects that interpretation. Smylie believes that Gods love extends to everyone who is repentant.

There needs to be a consistent message that suicide does not equate damnation, he said. We want folks to know that theyre going to be heard, loved, listened to.

At the Episcopal Churchs national convention in 2000, church leaders adopted a formal resolution on suicide prevention. In that decision, church members committed to educating themselves on suicide prevention methods and how to best minister to those who have suicidal ideation and to those who lost a loved one to suicide.

In the resolution, the church cited a Bible verse from Romans: Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fiske, the priest in Gillette, was more blunt.

We dont condemn to hell the person who has died of cancer, or in a car wreck, or in a car wreck while they were talking on the telephone, he said. Nor should we condemn the person who has long suffered from depression.

Craft, with the help of others, wrote a prayer for suicide prevention to help battle that belief. Later, others expanded on that prayer and created the Liturgy for Suicide Prevention  the church service that was performed across the state in September. She hoped that the liturgy would help church members know that they would not be judged for their struggles with suicide.

We are called to be the face and hands of God in the world, Craft said. God, as we see him, is loving and giving and compassionate.

Three years ago, a coalition of Sweetwater County organizations and the diocese commissioned a Rock Springs writer to create a one-act play about suicide. His work, Chimes, is a stark portrayal of suicide, Craft said, and has been performed in Rock Springs for the past three years. The play follows a character who is contemplating killing himself. Its not easy to watch, Craft said, but ultimately carries a message of hope.

This year, the play was performed for the first time in a church. The actors recited their lines in front of a large mural of a blazing light, their words rising to the vaulted ceiling like incense.

After the performance, a stranger approached Craft in the dim light. With tears in her eyes, the woman told the priest that her dad died by suicide more than 20 years ago. For all that time, the woman believed that her father was barred from heaven because of the way he died. For all that time, she bore two burdens: that of loss and that of torment.

But that night, for the first time, the woman was able to believe her father wasnt in hell.

Finally, she said, she could believe her dad had found peace.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Dec. 17 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
For as long as retired Tucson educator Dora Martinez can remember, family and friends gathered at her familys south-side home to venerate La Virgen de Guadalupe on her Dec. 12 feast day.

It was a tradition begun by Martinezs late mother, Juanita Martinez, a devoted believer in the Virgin of Guadalupe, considered the patroness saint of Mexico and the Americas.

In April, Dora Martinez left for Japan to begin a one-year job teaching English. It was difficult to leave her family, especially her widower father, Alejandro Martinez.

And as the Japanese spring turned to summer then to fall, Martinez thought of the nine-year-old anniversary of her mothers death which would be followed by the annual Dec. 12 festivities at the Martinez home warmed by the mariachi and carino of everyone there.

This would be the first year that she would not be present. She told friends and family that she would not return.

But on Tuesday, in the Martinez home in the back room that doubles as a chapel, Dora Martinez sat near her father as they and their guests prayed the rosary and sang Las Mananitas, the traditional birthday song sung to La Virgen.

I didnt want my papi to be alone, Martinez said. This is very important to me.

Family bonds, tradition and the clarion call of her late mother and la Virgen Morena, as she is often called by Mexican Catholics, brought Dora Martinez back home to share in the love and connections created by her family for more than 50 years in their Mission Manor Park neighborhood.

I needed to go home, she said.

In many homes and churches in Tucson, across the state, the Southwest, and the rest of the country, and throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries, the faithful gathered on Monday and Tuesday nights to honor the Virgin, who is said to have appeared miraculously to Juan Diego near present-day Mexico City in 1531. They prayed and processed, and they sang and shared food.

While the Virgin of Guadalupe has evolved to become an ubiquitous popular cultural icon  her image appears on shopping bags, memes, curtains, t-shirts and countless other items  she continues to be a powerful religious and even social-political force. People invoke her name. They ask for her intercession. Even the secular are attached to her.

Im not a religious person, said Dora, but I see la Virgen de Guadalupe as a very strong cultural connection.

The Martinez family began their annual night of devotion as soon as they moved into their home. Dora Martinez said her mother specifically chose the street to live on because of its name  Santa Maria. Over the years as the gatherings attracted more people, Alejandro Martinez, a construction worker and a World War II combat infantryman who was awarded the Bronze Star, added one room to accommodate people, then later enclosed an outside patio to create a larger space.

Tuesday night the room was full with nearly 50 people. Thats the way I like it, said Dora.

A string of colorful holiday lights ringed the ceiling and a strand of lights draped in the window behind the altar. Atop the altar, covered with a white table cloth, stood images of the Virgin, other religious figures, vases filled with flowers, a small crucifix and a large photo of Juanita Martinez holding one of her granddaughters. A larger image of la Virgen, a replica of the original that is enshrined in a Mexico City basilica, stands off to the side.

Before Juanita Martinezs death the family took down the altar after December 12. Now it remains year round.

And throughout the house are numerous religious images on walls, on the fireplace mantle, on tables, including 64 images of the Virgin. There are secular images as well, including more than a dozen framed posters of the Tucson Mariachi Conference. Mariachi music is a close second to the Virgin. Doras older brother, Roberto Martinez, was a longtime member of Tucson-born Mariachi Cobre based in Florida.

Tuesday night may have been devoted to the Virgin but it was also a night to remember Juanita Martinezs selflessness. Dora said her mother never failed to help others. She was tireless, Dora Martinez said of her mother. She was a superwoman.

When death neared, Juanita Martinez asked her family to continue the devotion to the Virgin. But it was more than a dying wish, said Dora. Her mother asked that they promise.

So when Dora stepped onto that home-bound plane, she embarked on a personal pilgrimage. She was fulfilling her promesa to her mother and to La Virgen de Guadalupe.
The downfall of Matt Lauer, Al Franken, Kevin Spacey and other men of power has been called part of a national reckoning, drawing attention to an age-old culture of harassment and abuse of women.

But as someone who works with ordinary men and women in abusive situations, I fear that the glaring spotlight on famous and powerful men pushes the experiences of everyday women and men further and further from the conversation.

The more we focus on the powerful and prominent, the easier it becomes to believe this is a problem in Hollywood and Washington, amongst men in powerful roles. This gives everyday men a free pass, an excuse not to examine their own behavior. We cant settle into a false sense of security and continue to act shocked when it happens  as if we didnt know it was happening every day in every one of our neighborhoods.

When we focus on famous men and women who have either perpetrated abuse or been victimized by it, we allow society to say its not all men or its only those men. We do not interrogate the conditions in our communities  all communities  which surround all men, places where the silence is palpable.

We must ensure that this current national reckoning draws attention to the same ways men everywhere get away with abuse and harassment.

At the same time, the current focus on celebrity harassment reinforces the message that some who abuse are worse than others, as if there is a category of abuse that doesnt cross some invisible line of acceptability. As if pressuring a partner to have sex out of love is different from Al Franken forcibly kissing women or from Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women.

I do not pretend to know the answers about which acts are bad enough to constitute removing men from office or firing them from a morning television show. But I do know that its just as important  in fact, probably more important  to create a conversation including all men and women, in every community.

Until all men realize they are products of the same privilege and community conditions as Matt Lauer and other famous accused men, they will be able to hide behind the mantra, its not all men.

This recognition is a prerequisite for meaningful change. We need to create a community where there is a swift response to any person who would victimize others, and a clear message about accountability.

We need a community where the response to victimization does not include qualifiers and conditions that insist it is not all men, but rather asks how all men will take responsibility for the change that is necessary.
Help India!

By Afroz Alam Sahil, TwoCircles.net

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The All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), a confederation of various Muslim organisations in the country, is scheduled to hold its annual elections in the coming months. But like last year, it seems that the process of election and its outcomes are far less interesting than the run-up to the elections, with politics reaching a point where the matter is likely to land up in the court.

Established in 1964, AIMMM commands a lot of respect among Muslim organisations and currently, it represents a conglomeration of about 18 Muslim organisations. In last elections, eight organisations joined the election process.

The upcoming elections will elect a new President and members of their Executive Council, the Majlis-e-Aamla. This year, two candidatescurrent President Navaid Hamid and former Rajya Sabha member Mohammed Adeebwere in the list of potential candidates for the Presidents post while there are 51 people in contention for the 20 posts in its Executive Council. However, the controversy around the elections started on December 3, when Mohammed Adeeb raised a number of serious questions around the election process and withdrew his candidacy. This has left only Hamid in the run for the post of President.

Calling the election process a diversion from the guidelines of AIMM, Adeeb also presented a letter written by Late Mohammed Shahabuddin when he had resigned from AIMMM in February 2017, which, Adeeb alleged, had been hidden by the President of AIMMM.

During his press conference, Adeeb attempted to show several alleged discrepancies that had been allowed in the organisation. He said that during the last meeting of Majlis-e-Amla when he filed his candidacy, there were 202 members. But after that, the number of members went up to 216 without any explanation. It is important to point out here that members of the AIMMM are sent ballot papers by post which they must stamp and send back by post by December 30. The counting is scheduled to take place on December 31.

The third allegation made by Adeeb was regarding the Election Returning Officer Rashid Ahmed Khan (Former Secretary, Bihar government). According to Adeeb, Ahmed is not a member of Majlis-e-Amla.

The fourth and final allegation made by Adeeb pertained to the steps taken by the AIMMM in light of the worsening condition of Muslims in India. He alleged that instead of taking action to rectifying the same, AIMMM indulged in inviting IB Officers for visits along with meeting National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

In response to Adeebs allegations, former National Secretary, Congress (Minority Cell, Anees Durrani has now sent a legal notice to AIMM asking it to answer the charges raised by Adeeb. However, members of AIMMM said they had not received any such notice.

I have sent a legal notice to AIMMM and they must answer the questions raised within three days. If they fail to do so, I shall take the matter to court, said Durrani in a conversation with TwoCircles.net.

When asked why a legal notice was sent to AIMMM which is not a registered organisation, Durrani added, I have checked with legal experts on this matter and the Court has the power to put a stay on the elections.

In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, Adeeb said that he now wished to stay away from Muslim organisations. All these organisations collected money to work for their vested interestsnone of them is interested in working for their community, he said. I did not want to contest the electionswhen Zafarul Islam Khan, the current Chairperson of Delhi Minorities Commission approached me, I refused initially. But when he said that the Jamaat will support you, I agreed, he added. Adeeb also said that unless the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, he would not participate in the process and will instead prefer to resign from AIMMM.

All charges made by Adeeb, and subsequently Durrani, were dismissed by Hamid, the current President of AIMMM. Talking about the letter of Late Syed Shahabuddin, Hamid said, The letter from Late Syed Shahabuddin reached us on February 12 following which a General Body meeting was called on February 13. This letter was not only presented at the meeting, but we also debated over it for over an hour. A resolution was passed following the debate, which is available on our site. In reality, someone had fed wrong information to Shahabuddin and the letter was based on the same wrong information.

Regarding the allegations of increased members, Hamid said that between October and November 2015, Zafarul Islam Khan had added nine members. After the recent meeting of Majlis-e-Amla, 14 more people were added as members. These are all people who have an important role in their societies, Hamid added.

When asked about the issue of Rashid Ahmed Khan and his post of Returning Officer, Hamid said, When Mohammed Adeeb lost the elections in 2015, Khan was the returning officer. Why did he not raise this issue that time? In fact, Zafarul Islam Khan had appointed Khan as the Returning Officer that timethis time, he has been accorded that position by Majlis-e-Amla.

Hamid also said that contrary to Adeebs allegations, AIMMM had in fact, criticised all actions that seek to tarnish the secular and democratic fabric of the country. I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2017 on behalf of AIMMM, following which we were called for a meeting by the PMO. We were also asked to meet NSA advisor Ajit Doval, and a delegation from AIMMM did the same. If someone has not been kept a track of AIMMMs works for two years, what can we do? he asked.

Importantly, last year too the election process of AIMMM garnered much publicity albeit for mostly wrong reasons. Allegations of corruption, favouritism and muscle-power abounded and were confirmed by many members of the AIMMM.
There is a dangerous precedence being set across Europe as Austria become the only western European country with a documented fascist political party to enter government. The Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, has approved a coalition between the Peoples Party (OVP) and the Freedom Party (FPO) after the collapsed of the previous coalition between the Social Democrats (SPO) and the Peoples Party collapsed in May.

Sebastian Kurz has become the countys new Chancellor with Heinz-Christian Strache as vice-chancellor. Straches party will control foreign, interior and defence ministries.

This move creates a dangerous presence of the far-right that needs to not be repeated across Europe.

Who are the Freedom Party?

Founded in 1956, the partys first leader was former Nazi minister of agriculture and SS officer, Anton Reinthaller. In their early years they were the party for pan-Germanists and national liberals, founded from the Federation of Independents (VdU), who were an alternative to the two main Austrian parties, the SPO and the OVP. Reinthaller was asked to take over the new movement by then OVP Chancellor, Julius Raab, rather than let it be led by a more socialist-leaning group.

It wasnt until the 1986, when Jorg Haider became leader, that the party took a more far-right populist turn.

He proposed highly controversial immigration policies and even remarked on how Nazi Germany had decent employment policy. Under Haider, the party had made significant gains despite the controversial rhetoric over immigration and the claim of the dangers of Islamisation and the general increase of the numbers of Muslims within Austria.

In recent years under the leadership of Strache they have continued their anti-immigration stance and continue to push the anti-Islam rhetoric, the latter ironically resonates with their large Serbian support (who are the largest group of immigrants in Austria). Their foreign policy also includes close ties with Israel and Strache was also intrigued by the far-right American Tea Party, has called himself the friend of the Serbs and rejects Kosovos right to independence.

They also call on the Russian sanctions to be lifted.

The party arent well-known away from Austria but behind the nationalist rhetoric of Austrias cultural identity being lost, hides fascist elements that could be projected onto national politics if allowed to thrive and the ministries that they are in control of might just allow that.
The Palestinian-ISRAELI CONFLICT is something that has underlying issues dating back 3000 years to the Israelites and Philistines, but the recent conflict is a direct consequence of the Balfour Declaration and its implementation. Since Israel was created by the UN, it has slowly annexed land from the Palestinian people and slowly reduced the rights of those Palestinians living within Israeli territory. Furthermore, Israel have sustained a military campaign against Palestine with the help from the west, through weapons supplies and funding.

Jeremy Corbyn has been a notable voice of reason against the Israeli government and occupation of Palestinian territory.

Especially as Israel are facing an investigation for war crimes, along with Hamas although the latter is on a much smaller scale.

Finding a solution for peace

There is no definitive solution to how peace can be achieved within the region and certainly long-term peace is something that is almost impossible now, especially since Donald Trump stirred tensions by officially recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, subsequently the Arab league officially recognised East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, a notion rejected by Netanyahu and Israel. What could be done to ease tensions and eventually give a chance for a peaceful solution?

Jeremy Corbyn this week stated that he does not support a blanket ban of Israeli products and he is right not to because we must buy certain products from Israel.

However, the plan for peace in the region encompasses several aspects of what Jeremy Corbyn has said and other ideas. What should be done is a complete boycott of illegal Israeli settlements and universities researching drones, Taser weapons along with surveillance of the occupation in Gaza and elsewhere. Plus, as Jeremy Corbyn suggested, imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel.

Other important aspects are recognising Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Party as a terrorist organisation, begin proceedings of a political removal of him through the UN. Begin talks with moderates from both sides to set up a caretaker government and give all the land taken illegally from the Palestinians since 1967. The next step would be to declare Jerusalem as an independent principality and begin proceedings to create a council, with members from each faith administrating the newly founded principality because historically speaking, it never belonged to either the Jewish, Christians or Muslim peoples from the very beginning.
The details of US President Donald Trumps state visit to the UK have been pretty scant as Downing Street doles out the information, piece by piece. When asked about the state visit, all they could confirm was that an invitation has been extended to the President and that he had accepted it, but they did not confirm a date when it would be taking place and they didnt provide any more details, but did say that such details would be announced in due course.

What kind of state visit will it be? Will it be a formal one, in which he would get to meet the Queen (who has pointed out that she can legally kill him)?

Will Trump get to address Parliament against the wishes of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow? Will it just be an informal visit to open the new American embassy thats being moved to an 800 million complex in Battersea? So many questions and so few answers.

Protests are expected during any state visit

During any state visit that Trump takes to the UK, protests and disruption are expected to spread like wildfire. The London borough of Greenwich has already banned Trump from setting foot in the area, calling him bigoted and saying that he stands against their values of mending divisions  instead, he seeks to create them.
This Week In Politics has largely been focused on Brexit and the Conservative rebels who voted against the government to push through an amendment that upholds parliamentary democracy by forcing Parliament to have a vote on the final Brexit deal. A Conservative-led council awarded themselves an 11% pay rise and over 60,000 people have signed a petition calling for Richard Branson to give back the money he won after suing the NHS.

Meanwhile in world politics, Doug Jones of the Democrats won in Alabama, Saudi Arabias King Salman approved a $19.2 billion stimulus package, net-neutrality took a blow in America plus much more.

UK and Brexit news

After a year of negotiations, which Theresa May conceded to the terms that were being touted before negotiations had started, the EU declared that they were ready to move onto stage 2 of the negotiations, which is setting out the future relationship and trade deal. The EU insisted that this stage would be more difficult than the previous one. Meanwhile, the Conservative government took a blow when they lost a vote that ensured an amendment would insist parliament have a vote on the final deal. The eleven Conservative MPs who voted against their party were subsequently branded traitors by the far-right press and reports have been made of death threats.

In Norfolk, a Conservative-led council have come under severe criticism after they awarded themselves a huge 11% pay rise, backdating the pay rise to May.

The rise will see their allowances increase by around 1000 a year. This decision was made after they argued that they would have to make 125 million worth of cuts over the next 4 years, furthermore, this pay rise comes shortly after the council forced through budget cuts to vital local childrens services.

Virgin Care sued the NHS after it failed to win a 82 million contract to provide childrens health services in Surrey.

The Contract was awarded to a local consortium formed by Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation and two social enterprises. Following Virgin Cares success in suing the NHS, a petition has garnered over 60,000 people calling on Richard Branson, who owns Virgin Care, to give back the substantial amount of money he won. It is a concern that the already financially starved NHS is having to use its money to fight legal battles with private companies, after they fail to win a contract and it highlights the profit before people nature of privately run healthcare.

World news

In America, the Republican majority in the Senate took a blow after Democrat Doug Jones won the seat in Alabama. This will also be blow to Donald Trump after he won the state in last-years presidential race by almost 30 percentage points. Furthermore, he supported known paedophile and white supremacist Roy Moore for the Republicans during the election. Meanwhile the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to scrap rules that ensured an open internet.

The net-neutrality regulations ensured that internet service providers cant block websites or start charging more for a superior service. Furthermore, it kept the internet from being censored and commoditised by profit-driven service providers.

This is both a blow to freedom of expression and consumers but New Yorks attorney-general has said he will sue the FCC to stop the move.

In Austria, the far-right have gained power after the president approved the coalition between the Peoples Party and the Freedom Party, read more here. Following an explosion, a hub that imports gas for European countries was shut down. Italy declared a state of emergency because they are the hubs biggest customer.

In the middle-east, Saudi Arabias King Salman approved a stimulus package of $19.2 billion, this package includes funding for house building and fee waivers for small businesses. The attempt is to boost private sector growth after an economic slump caused by low oil prices. Plus, crown prince, Muhammed Bin Salman, lifted a 35-year old ban on cinemas to make the country look less puritanical.
Robert Mugabe was Africa's longest-serving ruler. He came to power in the eighties of the last century and followed a one-point agenda of remaining in power, irrespective of the fact that Zimbabwe developed or not.His rule has destroyed the economy and reduced a prosperous nation to poverty. The surprise is that despite this, he survived for almost four decades. Earlier on, his agenda of targetting the white settlers, who were the backbone of the Zimbabwe economy paid off as he channelled the resentment of the black community against them.

Everything, however, has a lifespan and the latest act of Mugabe when he dismissed his longtime advisor and friend of decades, Vice-president Emerson Mnangagwa appears to be the immediate reason for this coup.

The army has denied it's a coup but with tanks moving about the city of Harare and the president under House Arrest, it's not anything but a coup. Another reason for the military takeover is the plan by Mugabe to install his wife Grace as president. She is 41 years younger to Mugabe and the president had given clear indications that she would replace him. This is reported by the Express UK

The crisis

Zimbabwe is in a crisis. The army has taken almost 40 years to assert itself and now that like the proverbial genie is unlikely to go back into the bottle. The African nations are concerned and the South African president has deputed his defence minister to try and defuse the crisis. Britain is following the events in Harare with great interest as Mugabe had targetted the British settlers and made most of them to flee the country, as he seized their farms.

The British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson has opined that Britain wants democracy in Harare and not a replacement of one dictator by another as reported by the BBC.

Mugabe is 93 and his health is failing. He is confined to the presidential palace along with his wife and is digging in his heels. He is insisting on completing his term as president but his wife Grace is the one the who is the target.

The coup was probably to forestall her becoming president.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe was earlier known as Rhodesia after the great explorer and colonizer Cecil Rhodes and was a British colony till 1980. For some time a white minority government led by Ian Smith ruled the country but a local insurrection led to its overthrow and brought in Mugabe. This man ruled for 37 years by pandering to resentment against the white settlers but allowed the country to go to seed.

The currency collapsed and the once prosperous nation was reduced to penury. The army has now taken over and it will be interesting to see if the troops will go back to the barracks. The surprising thing is that they acted after decades, despite Mugabe ruining the economy.
pakistan is in the jaws of terrorism. This is partly because Pakistan's government policy of nurturing some terror groups who they feel are their supporters such as the Haqqani faction of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Kashmir. This has been brought home to Pakistan by repeated terror attacks leading to thousands being killed. An attack by two Suicide Bombers on a Methodist church in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan is the latest terror attack. Located in a "secure" area the church was guarded by the Pakistan police it was still a target for the terrorists.

Despite the stringent security, two suicide bombers were able to penetrate the cordon and storm the church. It is small consolation, that both the suicide bombers were neutralised, yet nine Christians have been killed and over 50 injured, including nine who are in a critical condition. The death toll is like to go up. Geo News has given a graphic account of the attack.

Plight of Christians

The Christians constitute barely 1.5% of the population of Pakistan, but they are subjected to repeated terror attacks by hard-line Islamic terrorists. Hundreds of Christians have been killed and in 1998 the Archbishop of Lahore committed suicide, to highlight the plight of Christians in Pakistan.

The terror attack

The Methodist church was carrying out functions in the run-up to the celebration of Christmas. Sadly the two terrorists breached the security cordon and carry out the attack. This breach does not speak highly of the ability of the Pak security forces. The Pak army chief General Bajwa and other Generals have been congratulating themselves the suicide bombers were neutralised in 15-20 minutes, but in that period the bombers killed nine Christians and injured over 50.

This is certainly not something to crow about.

Pak policy

Pakistan will continue to suffer terror attacks as one faction of the Pak army is highly radicalised and dictates policy to the government. The BBC has reported that one facet of that control is the release from house arrest of the global terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed who has a bounty on his head of US$10 million offered by the US.

Earlier the Pakistan government, on prodding from the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan (ISI) had given safe houses for many years to Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar.

The latest attack in a sanitised area is cause for concern and as has been pointed out by the CIA it's about time the Government did a U-turn on supporting so-called 'friendly' terrorists and running terror training camps.
Older generations had a saying of "There is no fool like an old fool," and America is seeing this play out in the case of Roy Moore of Alabama. On Tuesday (Dec. 12) he lost his bid for the US Senate when the election went to Democrat Doug Jones. The staunch Republican has refused to concede and will not congratulate his former opponent. Even though the margin regarding the number of votes is above what would constitute a recount and even though Donald Trump says it is Time To Move on, the judge says he will not give in. Most everyone is telling him "Surrender Dorothy" but the stubborn conservative is continuing to stand his ground.

A report by Yahoo! presented most of the facts used in this article.

Roy Moore is obviously modeling himself after Donald Trump

During the 2016 presidential campaign, a number of women accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment. Number 45 was even caught on an "Access Hollywood" tape admitting he is a predator when it comes to women. In spite of this, he continued his campaign and won the election. It is obvious that Roy Moore is modeling himself after The Donald because he continued his campaign as well and often used Trump's favorite phrase "Fake News." The judge obviously had no idea that it was possible to be defeated and now he is probably in shock.

Roy Moore's stubbornness, along with the assertion that God is going to give him some type of favor is ludicrous and a mockery of true Christianity.

Many Americans, including conservatives, just want the judge to accept defeat and go away quietly. Rather than show himself to be a gracious loser, his actions have people using the famous phrase from "The Wizard of Oz," which is "Surrender Dorothy."

The judge needs to concede

The fact that he will not concede, even in the midst of accusations of being a child molester, just shows the contempt the judge has for the American people.

Moore lost by about 20,000 votes and Secretary of State John Merril has stated on record that he does not believe a recount will change the election results. Merril added that his office has investigated reports of voting irregularities, but none have been found.

Donald Trump, who supported Moore, quickly changed his tune after the election by congratulating Doug Jones and acknowledging that the judge needs to concede and move on.

So far he has not heeded wise council so the cries from the American people of "Surrender Dorothy" will continue. Should a recount ensue, and prove without a doubt that Jones is the winner, the judge will have no choice but to do the walk of shame.
Pools, bathtubs, lakes, and oceans can provide people with hours of fun, yet these water-heavy spots can also be extremely dangerous. Pools, in particular, have proven deadly for young children, with many succumbing to drowning every summer. Yet, as indoor pools become more commonplace, drownings can happen all year long. Noting this, Rita Goldbergwho is the CEO of the British Swim Schooldecided to release a number of Water Safety Tips to help families all over the world stay safe during the holiday season.

Although pools and bathtubs are the biggest risks, even outdoor fountains can prove deadly.

Rita suggests that every adult should be aware of potential hazards like local rivers and waterways, drainage ditches, and even buckets. Toddlers should never be left unattended and children should be taught to avoid watery locations when adults are not present. Moreover, when children go near water, an adult should always be there to supervise them. Even older children who are stronger swimmers should know a standard set of rules such as no roughhousing in the water, no running on slippery surfaces, and even avoiding breath-holding contests. Rita also recommends that adults learn CPR and train themselves to be aware of the signs of drowning as well as having a phone nearby to call 911 if need be.

Rita recently provided an exclusive interview where she discussed her suggestions for water safety and the importance of recognizing the risks.

Water safety and the British Swim School

Meagan Meehan (MM): How did you initially get interested in water safety and how did you find your way to the British Swim School?

Rita Goldberg (RG): After an injury set my Olympic priorities back, I started teaching swimming lessons locally in England.

Due to my background in swimming, I later decided that I wanted to pursue lessons of my own - promoting water safety as an essential life skill in a fun, friendly environment.

In 1981, I opened my first British Swim School in the basement of my home in Manchester, and it was there that I began to develop the unique teaching methods that have become a recognized trademark of the brand.

My initial focus was on teaching beginning swimmers of all ages that the ability to float on their back is the most important water survival skill of all. It enables all swimmers to rest, breathe and call for help, thus alleviating the silent danger of floating face down.

In the decades since, I have continued to develop, improve and fine-tune these methods, with a gradual, gentle and fun process. I have also focused on developing partnerships with national fitness clubs and a variety of other types of locations to grow the business into a national presence. The organization now holds nearly 13,000 lessons per week nationally, and conducted nearly a half million swimming lessons in 2016 for babies as young as three months through adults.

MM: What kind of training and experience did you have to have in order to become the CEO?

RG: My background is purely tied to swimming and the instructional lessons offered  becoming CEO of a franchise system was something I fell into by complete accident. I dont think you can ever be fully prepared for a CEO role, as there are constant changes and things to learn. However, Ive learned from previous mistakes and through trial and error, am discovering new things every day that help me become a better role model for the company.

MM: What about water safety most surprised you and what do you wish more parents knew?

RG: As parents, we all have a deep belief that I am a good parent, this could never ever happen to me!

 But thats like saying "I am a good driver so an accident could never happen to me.

Drowning accidents can and do happen to adored children. We can never be sure of anything  but over the last thirty-five years we do know that the method of rolling over and floating, with the ability to breathe and call for help, has averted many tragedies. We also know that all children can be taught this with great teaching and patience.

Pools, bathtubs, and hazards

MM: Pools and bathtubs are obvious hazards, but is it true that even yard fountains can also be dangerous?

RG: Yes, every body of water poses potential harm for children who are unprepared and uneducated with the basics of water safety and a like-minded skillset.

MM: You have stated that holding-your-breath games can be dangerous, but many kids still play those. Why do you think there is such a lack of awareness about these dangers?

RG: My problem with breath holding is this: If you teach a child to swim forward to a parent, a wall or a side of the pool while holding its breath, the danger is that if they ever fall into water and none of the above are available, the child will start to take in water and eventually drowning will occur. This is why British Swim School developed the method we use, which is rolling over and floating. This will save lives.

MM: What can adults do to keep kids safe and where can you learn CPR and, moreover, can kids learn CPR?

RG: There a few main tips to have in mind when attempting to keep children safe  including knowing when water hazards are present, teaching children to avoid water hazards, proper supervision, setting water-safe rules in place ahead of time, and preparing yourself for water emergencies. One which way to prepare yourself is CPR, and places where adults can learn this include community centers, through Red Cross, etc.

MM: How do you hope to continue raising awareness about water safety in the future?

RG: While developing British Swim School has its obvious advantages, my biggest excitement in growing the brand comes from the satisfaction in knowing that we are helping to save the lives of children all over the country, and teaching the essential life skill that is water safety.

By expanding as we are, the more people we save and awareness we draw to a larger issue. British Swim Schools methods are able to be taught starting from three months upwards. We have huge success, while also advocating gentleness and fun! We feel that teaching swimming and survival should be the foundation of a lifelong love of water and not some short, sharp miserable experience.
The 2016 presidential election will go down as one of the most controversial in American history. As Hillary Clinton continues to speak out and question the results, Donald Trump has decided to fire back.

Trump on Hillary

It all started back in the summer of 2015 when Donald Trump stood on the floor of Trump Tower in New York City and caused a media frenzy by announcing his plan to run for president. The initial reaction was that Trump's candidacy was nothing more than a joke and a possible attempt to drive higher ratings to his reality show. However, as time moved forward, the former host of "The Apprentice" was able to gain steam and quickly vaulted ahead of the other 16 Republicans running in the primary.

After surprising many by winning the GOP nomination, Trump was still the underdog when going into the general election against Hillary Clinton. Despite all the polls and pundits saying otherwise, the billionaire real estate mogul pulled off the upset win and defeated Clinton last November. In the 10 months that have followed, several well-respected news outlets, government agencies, and an ongoing congressional investigation have found that Russia hacked into the election with the goal of helping to elect the new president. As expected, Trump has denied any wrongdoing, but that hasn't stopped the former Secretary of State from speaking out. After Clinton doubled down on Russia's impact on the election earlier this week, Trump lashed out during a November 18 tweet.

Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just cant stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2017

Taking to Twitter on Saturday morning, Donald Trump wasted no time tearing into Hillary Clinton for continuing to blame Russia for her loss on Election Day.

"Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time," Trump tweeted out.

Hillary Clinton on Trumps election: There are lots of questions about its legitimacy https://t.co/HD7vq4Q2aZ pic.twitter.com/P6IheC3XBA  Mother Jones (@MotherJones) November 18, 2017

Not stopping there, Donald Trump continued with his attack on Hillary Clinton.

"She just cant stop, which is so good for the Republican Party," Trump tweeted, while concluding, "Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!"

Twitter reacts

Not long after Donald Trump's attack on Hillary Clinton, critics of the president went off on social media. "She got more votes than you Donald," one tweet pointed out.

You tweet about her so often I think you miss spending time with her  The Ohio State 8-2 (@ftknoxdrill) November 18, 2017

Hilarious! You need to get on with your Presidency and leave her the hell alone. You won and the election is over. Dementia setting in?  Anna (@csanna3) November 18, 2017

"Good lord, put the phone down, flush the toilet and go back to bed," one Twitter user wrote.

"Hilarious! You need to get on with your Presidency and leave her the hell alone. You won and the election is over. Dementia setting in?" an additional tweet wondered.

You are totally obsessed with Hillary Clinton!



Did she turn you down at some point?



Get over it!   JackyDax2017  (@Jackymax) November 18, 2017

You lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 3 million votes. It must be difficult being such a sore winner, especially when you cant handle strong women like Hillary speaking their minds. But try getting on with your life and give the presidency a try!  D.J. Koessler (@DJKoessler) November 18, 2017

You just know he tweets from the crapper every morning! Buwahahaha  chloechloe (@chloechloe616) November 18, 2017

"You tweet about her so often I think you miss spending time with her," yet another tweet read.

"You are totally obsessed with Hillary Clinton! Did she turn you down at some point? Get over it!" a follow-up tweet noted. The backlash continued as questions surrounding the 2017 election continue to be raised.
New changes to the countrys Visa Waiver Program have been finalized and will be effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday. The changes would affect business and tourism travelers from 38 countries who participate in the program.

The Visa Waiver Program started in 1986 as a way to encourage tourism and business travel to the US, while allowing State Department resources to be allocated to higher-risk activities. Under the program citizens and nationals from 38 counties, mostly European, are allowed to travel to the US for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.

In return, those 38 counties allow US citizens to travel to their countries for similar visits and stays.

The US has been expanding the information it collects on immigrants to the US in an effort to strengthen its national security policies.

Stricter Requirements

Under the enhanced requirements, VWP countries are required to screen travelers crossing their borders against US counterterrorism information, and to conduct effectiveness assessments on inside security threats, such as airport workers.

Countries having a greater than 2% rate of travelers overstaying their visas will be required to implement public information campaigns aimed at reducing violations by their nationals. According to Dhs, only four countries had overstay rates higher than 2% last year: Greece, Hungary, Portugal and San Marino.

The trump administration has been exploring ways to reduce the number of immigrants coming to the US illegally as well as legally. Back in September, the Trump Administration announced that it would be discontinuing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, program which deferred deportation for individuals brought to this country illegally, but at a young age and through no fault of their own.

President Trump also endorsed the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy, or RAISE, Act, introduced in the Senate earlier this year. The Act would end immigration based on family connections in favor of criteria such as skills the American economy is in need of. It has been estimated that the RAISE Act could decrease legal immigration by 50% over 10 years if enacted.

The Visa Waiver Program has long been seen as a source of violations of the countrys immigration system. According to a DHS report, roughly 629,000 travelers overstayed their visas last year.

Economic Boon

Theres also a large economic benefit seen to the Visa Waiver Program, despite the high number of violations. An estimated 20 million travelers enter the United States each year under the program. According to the Department of Commerce, VWP travelers spent approximately $84 billion on goods and services in the US in FY 2014 and contributed nearly $231 million a day to local economies.
On Tuesday, December 12, the Democratic candidate Doug Jones won the Alabama Senate seat. This was an unexpected win, as Alabama has voted for the conservative party for the last 35 years. The Republican candidate, Roy Moore, lost the moderate conservative vote when he was accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls, one of whom was only 14-years-old.

Despite this scandal, Jones still only won by approximately 1 percent of the vote, and Moore is demanding a recount. Donald Trump, who was one of the few Republicans that endorsed Moore even after the scandal was revealed, wrote in his congratulatory tweet to Jones that Republicans "will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time."

This could be a reference to Alabama's long history of Republican wins or a sign that he endorses Moore's demands for a recount.

This probably isn't cause for concern. The Alabama Secretary of State says that the recount will go ahead as long as Moore pays for it, but that it probably won't affect the outcome.If this is true, then the Republicans lead in the Senate will drop to 51-49, with only a two-seat advantage.

African-American voters turn the tide for Alabama

According to the Guardian, the Democratic party owes this victory to black voters. An incredible 96 percent of black voters voted for Jones, while he was approved by only 30 percent of white voters. The number of black voters makes sense, as Mr. Jones specifically set out to appeal to black voters during his campaign and is known for his persecution of the Klu Klux Klan members responsible for the 1963 bombing of a Baptist Church.

What's more surprising is that 68 percent of white voters were willing to overlook pedophilia and sexual assault to put a Republican in the Senate. Clearly, this victory wouldn't have occurred without the large turnout of black voters. This should raise questions about the effect strict voter id laws, which many believe are used to target people of color, has on our House and Senate.

Doug Jones will support Democrats while staying true to Alabama

Mr. Jones himself is a 63-year-old attorney who is best known for his work prosecuting two of the KKK member who blew up a church in 1963, killing four young black girls. He is also responsible for the indictment of the bomber responsible for the 1996 Olympics bombing. As for his political views, he plans on following Democratic policy in general, but he promises to work with Alabama's Republican Senator, Richard Shelby, to ensure the states best interest.
Amber Portwood just landed in Malibu, California with her boyfriend, Andrew Glennon. While fans of "Teen Mom OG" haven't yet met the reality star's newest baby daddy, things between them heated up fast, and early next year, they will welcome their first child, a baby boy.

As they await their son's birth, Amber Portwood continues to keep her fans and followers in the loop with her pregnancy and in one of her latest Instagram posts, she and Andrew Glennon were seen sitting on a plane. In the caption, Portwood told fans that she and her man were on their way to Malibu.

"My baby hard at work next to me," she added, citing a bunch of paperwork on Glennon's lap.

Amber Portwood and her boyfriend are residing in a beachfront home

Once they arrived in Malibu, Amber Portwood posted an image of herself and Andrew Glennon lying in bed together with the Pacific Ocean on full display in front of what appeared to be their bedroom window. "Good Morning loves! Wanted to share the beautiful view with everyone," she wrote in the caption.

While Amber Portwood didn't reveal whether or not she was staying at the home of her boyfriend, Andrew Glennon has been known to reside in Malibu, and he may actually live in a million dollar beachfront property. The area is one of the more pricey sections of Los Angeles, and when it comes to a waterfront home, they don't go cheap.

Amber Portwood met Andrew Glennon in Los Angeles

During production on WEtv's "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition," Amber Portwood met Andrew Glennon, who was working as a lighting technician on the show. However, because she was attempting to make amends with her controversial ex-fiance, Matt Baier, Portwood didn't begin dating Glennon until after the show wrapped.

Since then, Portwood and Glennon have been splitting their time between his home on the west coast and her home in Indianapolis, Indiana, where her daughter Leah resides. As fans well know, Portwood shares her nine-year-old daughter with her ex-boyfriend Gary Shirley. Meanwhile, Shirley also has a younger daughter with his wife, Kristina Anderson, whom he wed years after splitting from Portwood.

For more of Amber Portwood, her new boyfriend, Andrew Glennon, and their co-stars, including Farrah Abraham, Maci Bookout, Matt Baier, Ryan Edwards, Taylor McKinney, Gary Shirley, Catelynn Lowell, and Tyler Baltierra. Tune in to new episodes of "Teen Mom OG" season seven on Monday night at 9 p.m. on MTV.
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BISMARCK

The Bismarck Senior Center, 315 N. 20th St., provides meals, activities and nurse and outreach services to senior citizens age 60 and older. For meal reservations, call a day in advance to 701-258-9276; for nurse services, including foot care and home visits, call 701-255-4648 to schedule appointment; www.bismarckseniorcenter.org.

SENIOR CENTER

Monday:

Heritage Center bus trip, 12:30 p.m.

Senior Center Singers practice, 1 p.m.

Pinochle, 1 p.m.

Senior Club Dinner Dance at AMVETS, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Annual advisory committee bake sale, 9 a.m.

Coffee and Coloring, 10 a.m.

Dominoes, 10 a.m.

Christmas celebration

Bridge, 1 p.m.

Wii bowling, 1 p.m.

Bone Builders, 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday: Bone Builders, 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Low vision resource group, 10 a.m.

Pinochle, 1 p.m.

Bingo, 1 p.m.

Sew What!, 1 p.m.

Thursday: Throwback Thursday, 10 a.m.

Manage Stress for Better Health, 10 a.m.

Fuller Family gospel, 12:15 p.m.

Bridge, 1 p.m.

BCCA meeting, 1 p.m.

Hand and Foot, 1 p.m.

Bone Builders, 1:15 p.m.

Bookmobile

Friday: Bone Builders, 9 and 10:30 a.m.

All afternoon activities canceled; close at 2:30 p.m.

MENU

Monday: Chicken strips, cubed potatoes, vegetable blend, plums; or soup (chicken wild rice) and salad bar.

Tuesday: Christmas dinner  roast beef, whipped potatoes with gravy, green beans, pears with cranberry sauce, mini-cheesecake.

Wednesday: Chicken chow mein or sweet teriyaki chicken, white rice/noodle, egg roll, pineapple.

Thursday: Swedish meatballs, whipped potatoes, wax beans, mandarin orange pudding.

Friday: Sloppy Joe or fishwich, potato wedges, mixed vegetables, gelatin with fruit.

MANDAN

Senior citizens age 60 and older are eligible to participate in services provided by Golden Age Services, Mandan. Senior citizens age 55 and older who are members of Mandan Golden Age Club may participate in activities provided by the club. For meal and nurse reservations, call 701-663-6528; for transportation, call 701-223-9001.

SENIOR CENTER

Monday: Wii bowling, 12:30 p.m.

Board meeting, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Bone Builders, 10 a.m.

Card bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Pie and coffee, 2 p.m.

Legal services, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Nurse.

Foot care by appointment, 8-11:30 a.m.

Blood pressure, 11-11:30 a.m.

Business meeting/birthday party/Christmas party, 1 p.m.

Thursday: Bone Builders, 10 a.m.

Progressive bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Bingo, 1 p.m.

Friday: Progressive bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Bingo, 1 p.m.

MENU

Salad bar available except on Wednesday.

Monday: Meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, California blend vegetables, peaches.

Tuesday: Beef stew, three bean salad, biscuit, applesauce.

Wednesday: Christmas dinner  baked ham, candied sweet potatoes, corn, fruit salad, HoHo bread, cheesecake.

Thursday: Oven-fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, blueberry pie.

Friday: Lasagna, salad with dressing, garlic toast, tropical fruit.
New work: Tang stands next to a newly-created painting made from sugar palm leaves. VNA/VNS Photo Cong Mao

Viet Nam News by Luong inh A long time ago, monks in the South used sugar palm leaves to maintain a written record of Buddhist prayers. However, it was in the nineties that the leaves were used to make stunning, meticulous, artistic and unique paintings. The maker of the first sugar palm paintings is artisan Vo Van Tang, who lives in Nui Sap Town, Thoai Son District, An Giang Province. He has made thousands of paintings on various topics and in different sizes, which have been appreciated and collected by many. The first time I learned about sugar palm painting was during my field trip to Long Xuyen, the provincial capital city of An Giang, in the year 2000. In the reception of a hotel, I saw a famous horse painting, 360cm by 235cm in size, in an unusual colour, which appeared different from oil paintings on canvas, since it looked a bit like it was made with water colours. I later discovered the use of sugar palm leaves as the canvas to paint on. Most offices and hotels in the province are adorned with several sugar palm paintings, such as the portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, the landscape of Bay Nui, cedar trees and cranes, tigers and horses. The artist behind these amazing works is Tang, director of the Social Policy Bank in the provinces Thoai Son District. He is always looking for new ways to use materials in fine arts, and is continuously searching and experimenting with techniques. Once, while travelling with his co-workers to appraise and help the ethnic Khmer people with funds for their project to make fans with sugar palm leaves at Vong The Commune, Thoai Son District, Tang was inspired by the idea of making palm leaf paintings. Following the experience of local residents who use sugar palm leaves to make fans, Tang meticulously selected young sugar palm leaves that were over eight years old, so that when he painted, the picture was both of high quality and the colour lasted longer.

Teaching skills: Artists work at Tangs private painting foundation. VNA/VNS Photo Cong Mao

Key ingredient: Tang meticulously selects young sugar palm leaves for his artworks. VNA/VNS Photo Cong Mao

The best time to cut a sugar palm leaf is early summer; it should then be left to dry for two weeks, soaked with alum, then allowed to dry once again.

The next step is to cut the leaf into small slabs, depending on the size of each painting to make the pattern on the frame, Tang said.

To draw the pattern of the painting, he said that a special kind of pen is needed, such as the electric pen that helps to meticulously and painstakingly create elements of darkness and light.

Most of the paintings he has created on sugar palm leaves are copied from landscape pictures, portraits and famous ancient paintings by Vietnamese and foreign artists. Many of his large-size paintings are especially a labour of love and took months to complete.

The artisans style of painting is unique. Not to forget, this style does not need paint or colour but is the combination of patterns with brown, black and yellow lines that are made by pressing and releasing the electric pen to make dark and light lines, depending on the painters desire to present vibrant details, in an impressive water colour-like style, Tang said.

When the painting is finished, it is polished with a special oil that protects the palm leaves, and is then framed. According to the artisan, this oil that helps the leaves retain their colour adds to the artistic value of the painting.

Since the day he made his first painting Tung Hac (Cedars and Cranes) on sugar palm leaves in 1996, up till now, Tang has made thousands of artworks of various sizes and on different topics.

Nguyen Khac Truong, an art lover, said it was really a joy to look at these paintings every day. I have been a fan of sugar palm paintings for a long time. People who collect this kind of art love it because it is natural, unique and inspiring, he said.

Following his retirement in 2003, Tang founded his own sugar palm producing foundation to pass on his skills to workers, implementing many different processes to create various kinds of artwork -- from landscapes of the Vietnamese countryside and portraits to paintings of worship.

His latest painting The Will of President Ho, 1.20m by 2.20m, got him the Guinness record for the best painter on sugar palm leaves in Viet Nam. VNS
New home: A needy family pose in front of their newly built flood-resistant house in Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province. Photo courtesy of NCM

Viet Nam News by thuy hang Anyone who meets Pham Thi Huong Giang, initiator and key operator of the "Nha Chong Lu" (Flood Resistant Houses)  a social project which supports residents living in areas affected by natural disasters, always wonders how this woman has so much energy to handle her heavy workload. More widely known by her nickname, Jang Keu, the smiley 38-year-old is a jack of all trades  from organising several fundraising events for the project, to travelling thousands of kilometres to flood-prone areas to meet needy people, from connecting and collaborating with relevant partners, to supervising the projects implementation. Alongside the Flood Resistant Houses project, Giang also heads her two own businesses, which provide significant financial support for her charity project. Launched in November 2013, Flood Resistant Houses has helped residents build safe houses and earn a living, thus relieving the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. The factor that sets Flood Resistant Houses apart from other charity and social projects is the direct participation of needy people. They are the ones involved in every steps of the process, from planning, to contributing to costs, designing their future homes, and even building the houses themselves. Having experience from working on several NGO projects before, I understand deeply that its the beneficiaries playing the key role in changing their own lives. Thats why, alongside providing assistance so needy people can build their own homes, Flood Resistant Houses also inspires people to be motivated, helping boost their confidence and independence, Giang said. Therefore, any family that agrees to join Flood Resistant Houses, will be asked to contribute 50 per cent of the building cost, while the remainder will be donated by the project. Each house costs between VN50 and 80 million (US$2,200 to 3,500). Each building project has the participation of the beneficiary, Flood Resistant Houses, local authorities, and building material suppliers, Giang said. To avoid problems, we do not give money directly to the households. Instead, we pay the suppliers and for other expenditures, the chief of the Flood Resistant Houses project said. The design of these houses is another important factor. To be able to withstand natural disasters, mostly typhoons and flooding, these houses need to be specially designed: on stilts and with a loft, or two-storey houses where the upper level can be used for storage during floods. Additionally, based on the geological conditions of every region, as well as the habits and living conditions of each family, each house will be individually tailored. While houses for families that raise goats should have staircases for the animals to reach upper levels, ones for households that raise cows should have a covered space, Giang explained about the different house designs.

Charity drive: The founder and key operator of Nha Chong Lu during a recent fundraising event in Ha Noi. Photo courtesy of NCL

Safe as houses: A model of a flood-resistant house that the Nha Chong Lu Project has built. Photo courtesy of NCL

So far, Flood Resistant Houses has presented eight designs, mostly created by architect inh Ba Vinh, another key operator of the project.

Because the recipients can join every step of the project, including the design stage, some houses have the potential to stand out.

The house can be bright blue with a yellow door. However, it doesnt matter because that is their house. They can do whatever they want to do. The project will ensure that the house is safe and stable, Giang said.

The project was officially launched after successfully completing five flood-resistant houses in Son Thinh Commune, Huong Son District in Ha Tinh.

Since then, the project has done an amazing amount of work  more than 520 flood resistant houses were built over the past four years, mostly in seriously flood-hit provinces of Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, and Quang Binh.

As the project targets more and more needy people, a fixed annual amount of VN2 billion ($87,000) from the businesses, plus donations from generous people seems not enough. However, Giang is not alone on her journey. Understanding the meaning of the project, many famous Vietnamese painters have donated their artworks, which will be auctioned to raise further funds for the charity homes.

However, at the beginning, things were not so simple.

at our first few fundraising events, when people didnt yet know about the project, my friends and I had to put up our personal properties to auction, Giang said.

So far, the Flood Resistant Houses project has organised 10 fundraising events. At the most recent event held in Ha Noi, the project raised more than VN2.3 billion ($103,000), which, according to Giang, is enough to build 64 houses for victims of recent typhoon Damrey, which hit south central provinces in October.

Next year, the project will continue to expand its assistance to families in Mekong Delta provinces.  VNS
Romantic: For the more romantic, a table was set under the porch while drizzle wafted in the wind. VNS Photo Phuong Linh

Viet Nam News by Tu Le The winter in Sa Pa has begun, filled with cloud and frost. Despite the harsh weather, riding a motorbike from Sa Pa town to the valley village of Lao Chai is always a pleasure. If you have time, remember to visit Eco Palms House lunch on the way. Eco Palms is actually a homestay with five lovely bungalows overlooking Muong Hoa Valley. Nguyen Thanh Hien, the owner, is an agile and clever person. She warmly welcomed us to the living room and restaurant and the bar, which she and her husband have worked hard to decorate. Hien gave us a menu and did not forget to add more wood to the fireplace, making the whole space bright and warm in the cold weather. Amazed by the pleasant space full of art, we could not read even the first word in the menu. "Let me help you choose the special dish of Eco Palms!" said the owner. The ladys face seemed to have absolute confidence so we agreed without much thought. For the romantic lunch, Hien laid a table on the porch while mist wafted around in the wild mountain air. The meal comprised three hot and extremely colourful dishes: local salmon soup, grilled shrimp salad - and grilled salmon wrapped in banana leaves served with fresh rice noodle and peanut sauce. Nowadays, those who go to Sa Pa generally try salmon or sturgeon, which have been successfully cultivated in the hills. In Sa Pa, salmon is cooked in a hot pot, grilled, or uncooked in the style of the locals.

Baked: The salmon was marinated with mustard and coriander, then rolled in banana leaves and baked over a small fire. VNS Photo Phuong Linh

Personal: Eco Palms House is decorated in a personal and cozy style. VNS Photo Phuong Linh

Fresh flavours: The meal was a delicate blend of local ingredients with an international flourish. VNS Photo Phuong Linh

At Eco Palms, the chef has delicately combines local ingredients in international and local styles. Looking at the dishes, we were extremely moved. The salmon soup was more like a Vietnamese bowl of hot soup.

It was full of spicy hot ingredients the mountain people use to fight the cold of winter, such as lemongrass, anise, cardamom, and coriander. I absolutely love this dish because of its sour and spicy taste reminded me of Thailands tom-yum soup, the only difference was the salmon. The fish was cut into bite-sized pieces. The pieces were firm with a certain hardness that carried a feeling of freshness. This dish was a great appetiser.

Next came grilled shrimp salad made with green mango, carrot, herbs and lots of sesame and peanuts. The shrimps had been quickly grilled so that they became firm and still retained the freshness and "more-ish" taste, then split to soak up the sweet and sour juice.

The shrimps were not frozen as in many lowland restaurants. And much different from lowland salads, Hien added sliced perilla which made the taste outstanding.

Although the first two dishes were great, the third was the main one for our outdoor party: salmon baked in banana leaves. I could never have imagined such a wonderful combination of fish, banana leaves, yellow mustard, green mustard and coriander.

The salmon was carefully marinated with mustard and coriander, then rolled in banana leaves and baked over a small fire. When the package was opened, perfumed steam rose up. Each piece of salmon was delicious, keeping us warm in the cold air of the mountains. Another dish that was memorable was hot fluffy noodles soaked in peanut sauce and fried onion.

We both enjoyed our meal and praised the chef for her creativity. "You should eat a lot to be strong enough to play in the winter," she said.

When we left Eco Palms House to descend to Muong Hoa Valley towards beautiful Ta Van Village, we silently promised to return to Lao Chai, visit Eco Palms House and eat again under the porch. VNS

Adress: Lao Chai Village, Sapa, Lao Cai

Phone: 0169 339 9659

Open hour: all day

Price: around 300,000VN/pax

Comments: artistic decoration, romantic view, subtle and delicious food
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CEDAR FALLS  After years of work by a number of entities, a portion of downtown Cedar Falls has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

While the city has several individual buildings that bear the historic designation, this is the first district in Cedar Falls to make the list.

The district encompasses portions of Main Street, roughly from First to Fifth streets, and includes four properties already listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Cotton Theater at 103 Main, Black Hawk Hotel at 115 Main, Townsend & Knapp at 119 Main and the Odd Fellows building at 401 Main.

The process also identified three properties that could be individually eligible for placement on the registry: Security Savings Bank at 226 Main, Rice-Dayton Mfg./Armory at 115-119 E. Fourth St. and Maid Rite at 116 E. Fourth St.

Some buildings in the district date back to the late 1800s  with the oldest being in the Miner & Case block, 213-215 Main, built in 1862  and feature a range of architecture, including Colonial Revival, Neoclassical Revival, Second Empire, Italian Renaissance and others.

The city was notified of the designation in October, and a ribbon cutting was held last month.

Carol Lilly, executive director of Community Main Street, credited a number of groups with achieving a goal that was years in the making.

We had Community Main Street, the Cedar Falls Historical Society, the University of Northern Iowa history department and the city all working on this, she said. And the Historical Preservation Commission was the entity to apply for the designation.

The process spanned two grant cycles.

In 2014, the Historic Preservation Commission was awarded a $13,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The funds were used to conduct an intensive survey of historic downtown properties.

In 2016, the IDCA awarded an $8,000 grant to be used toward preparing an application to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to have several blocks in downtown Cedar Falls placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Community Main Street provided matching funds for both grants.

Lilly said she was excited to learn the district had been added to the register, but wasnt surprised.

We were more wondering when it was going to happen, not if it was going to happen, she said. We had done all the leg work, and I think we did a really good job of telling our story. I felt pretty confident. We have a strong historic core in place.

Lilly said the main benefit of the designation is it will allow property owners in the district to take advantage of historic tax credits for renovations or historic rehabilitation.

Traditionally, properties within a historic district have a higher assessed value, she said. That protects our property owners investments.

Lilly also said the designation can be a powerful marketing tool.

I think it also provides a quality-of-life benefit and its another way to recognize the downtown. It shows our ability to honor and respect the businesses.

Lilly said Community Main Street is working with the Iowa Department of Transportation to get brown signs for the highway indicating the historic district. Signage within the district will be put up in the spring.

Research was a major part of the designation process, and Tom Connors students at UNI did the bulk of it.

Connors, an associate history professor, said students  both graduate and undergraduate history majors  researched the buildings within the district.

It was great hands-on experience for them, he said. History majors do a lot of internships at local museums and historical societies. All history majors need 15 hours of volunteer field hours. But to research and work on an application for the national register was a unique experience.

Connors said students were each assigned a two-block area. They began gathering information online and then went through records at the courthouse, the historical society and UNIs Rod Library, mostly relying on old city directories.

Connors said he was pleased to learn of the designation and proud of his students contributions.

Its a wonderful way to give back to their college town, he said. It gives them a real sense of accomplishment.

The Cedar Falls Historical Society was the biggest resource for the research, said Karen Smith, the organizations executive director.

Our staff and volunteers worked with the students, she said. It was a great opportunity to go through and see how our system worked and exciting to see the information in raw form, whether it was old photographs, newspapers or city directories.

Smith said buildings are evaluated for their age, integrity and significance.

Buildings must be at least 50 years old, she said. That surprises a lot of people. But the building must look a lot like it did, especially the exterior. ... If someone who lived back when the building was built came back to life now, they should be able to recognize it.

Smith said the districts designation and accompanying tax credits also can serve as an incentive to reverse alterations and return buildings to their original design as much as possible.

The historic designation is a wonderful honor for all the people who really care about Cedar Falls and its history.

City planner Iris Lehmann worked as a liaison between the city and the Historical Preservation Commission.

I did all the administrative work, she said. It was a long process, but an interesting one. I learned a lot.

The designation provides recognition of the downtown historical assets. A lot of people put their hearts and souls into this. Its amazing to see it all come to fruition.
OSAGE  Osage has a new consignment shop, Maxines on Main, located in the space once occupied by R&B and Flat Eye, Red Pie, on Main Street, in Osage. The business is owned and operated by the mother-daughter team of Stacy Valasek and Ashley Ballard.

A love of clothes and good deals was, in part, what inspired Ballard and Valasek to start their business.

I always wanted to own a business, but I didnt know what or when. I love consignment shopping. I got the idea two years ago to do this. Once the building came open, it all sort of came together, Valasek said.

Ballard had a similar feeling after doing a great deal of consigning and consignment shopping during her time in college.

Ive shopped a lot of consignment shops, Ballard said. The thrill of getting an awesome item at a good deal is amazing.

At Maxines on Main, the consigner gets 40 percent of the selling price. Individuals can call and make an appointment for drop-offs. They will be able to view accounts online, including what items have sold and not sold, as well as their account balance.

We werent going to do appointments, Valasek said, But then the backroom filled up and stuff kept coming in, and we realized that appointments would be the best thing to do.

Maxines on Main already has a variety of things from clothing to books, handmade soaps and other items, in addition to mens items, including tools.

They (items) have to be clean and in good working order, not damaged, but we are looking for more mens clothing and tools at the moment, Valasek said. Weve got a wish list started of things customers have asked for, so thats fun to be on the lookout for certain things for people.

Both Valasek and Ballard went to college for business. Valasek has a business administration degree, while Ballard has a degree in business communication and marketing.

I had a few people I worked for open businesses, so I was there for the process, said Ballard, who went to Hawkeye Community College and the business program at Mount Mercy.

It was a good mix of people shopping and asking questions, Valasek said. It went perfect, no hiccups. Nothing went wrong. In fact, we had a line of about six women outside about five minutes before we opened, and from there it was busy all day aside from 10 minutes at noon. It slowed down finally around 4:30 and we closed at 5.

We werent expecting to be so busy, Ballard said. We did start a Facebook page. We will have photos and things on the page, along with specials we will be running. Well also be posting the dates for markdowns on our Facebook page.

Keeping things fresh is an important part of their business. They were pleased by the fact people, who have already come in a couple of times, said they were able to see new stuff on each trip.

People have asked who Maxine is, Valasek said. It is my daughter Ashelys middle name which comes from her great-grandmother. I have hearts dotting the Is in Maxine and Main.

The heart in Maxine symbolizes my love for my daughter and her great-grandmother and heart in Main symbolizes my love of Osage and Main Street.
Blood drive set in Tripoli

TRIPOLI  There will be a Tripoli community blood drive from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Faith United Church of Christ, 408 S. Main St.

Make an appointment at lifeservebloodcenter.org or by calling (800) 287-4903.

Diabetes group slated to meet

CEDAR FALLS  Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is offering a free support group for all persons with diabetes and their family members from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday in the Foundation Conference Room of Sartori Memorial Hospital.

Staff from the Nutrition and Diabetes Education Center lead the group. Various topics for those managing diabetes will be addressed.

The programs is free and open to the public. Call 272-5856 for more details.

Blood drive set at Grout

WATERLOO  Grout Museum District will host an American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 28.

All donors will receive a pass to the Grout sites, as well as a T-shirt while supplies last.

For an appointment, go to rcblood.org/appt or call (800) 733-2767.
WATERLOO  When Consuela Coopers career took her to Houston, the Waterloo native found a bigger world than shed known in Iowa.

Now she would like to help broaden the perspective of Cedar Valley youths  especially those who grew up in the black community, like her  through a visit to Texas colleges and universities.

Cooper is planning and raising money for a chaperoned bus tour that would take up to 30 seventh- through 12th-graders to five Dallas and Houston institutions June 3-6. The 2000 graduate of East High School is working with Waterloo resident DeShai Manning, a 1999 East graduate, on the Loo-Town to H-Town College Tour. The trip will include a mixer in Dallas with Waterloo natives who now live in that city.

Seeing black people being successful can be very eye-opening, said Cooper, noting a historically black college and a university will be among the tour stops. Sometimes you just need to see different options.

The historically black schools include Paul Quinn College in Dallas and Prairie View A&M University in Houston. Other stops will include Sam Houston State University, the University of Houston and Houston Baptist University.

Cooper works at the University of Houston-Downtown as manager of student transition programs. She also teaches a first-year experience class at Lonestar Community College. Neither of those institutions will be on the tour.

Students with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher are invited to apply. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 15.

Travel expenses per student are estimated at $350 with total anticipated cost of $650 when personal spending is included. Organizers hope to at least offset those costs through fundraising. We want to be able to raise the funding so no student has to pay out of pocket, said Cooper, and also cover the cost for 10 chaperones.

While attracting black participants to the tour is important, she emphasized that this is open to students of all colors. Like the state universities and private college on the tour, people of all ethnic backgrounds can be admitted to the historically black institutions.

Exposure to historically black colleges and universities is among the goals of the trip. But she also would like to give students insight into campus life and admissions for any college as well as helping them to set academic and career goals. Part of that will be the focus of a weekend student and parent mentoring session planned for March.

Coopers effort is inspired by a black college bus tour she took in high school through the Talent Search program at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education. It was a really cool trip, she said.

However, it didnt lead her to leave the state for college. She earned bachelors and masters degrees at UNI in Cedar Falls. Later, she earned a doctorate through Walden University.

Cooper hopes students will apply for the trip even if they are uncertain about leaving Iowa for college. And if participants decide to get their education in-state, she believes theyll be making that choice with more knowledge.

She is filing papers for nonprofit status as the fundraising efforts ramp up and has a goal of raising $22,000. A Go Fund Me website will be launched in January, and fundraisers are being planned for March. Five sponsorship levels from $500 to $10,000 have been set for larger donors.

Union Baptist Church, where Manning is a member, is donating the use of its charter bus to the trip. Letters have been sent to other churches asking for donations to fund the bus trip.

In future years, Cooper hopes to arrange college tours to other states. The goal is for this to be the first of many trips, she said.

To receive application materials or to make a donation, contact Cooper or Manning by email. They can be reached at drcmcooper@gmail.com for Cooper and dwhitis2000@yahoo.com for Manning.
WATERLOO  A proposed $13.22 million contract for renovations to the Waterloo Career Center and plans to finance the project will be considered Monday by the Board of Education.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St.

Larson Construction of Independence submitted the lowest of three bids for the project. The others totaled $13.89 million and $13.91 million, with the addition of five alternate bids that are being recommended. The career center is located at the north end of Central Middle School. The renovation work will expand it into unused space at the school, including the buildings second floor, and create a new front entrance.

Bids sought for Waterloo Career Center work WATERLOO  Bids are being sought for the next phase of remodeling at the Waterloo Career Center.

Waterloo Community Schools currently has five career and technical education programs at the center, with another four planned for next fall. When renovation work is completed in June 2019, there will be room for a total of 15 programs.

Larsons base bid is $12.5 million plus another $716,000 in alternates. Those relate to the middle school entrance, window replacements, site irrigation, a radiant snow melt system, and a second re-injection well for geothermal heating and cooling.

The board will also consider a resolution declaring its official intent to issue debt for reimbursement of certain expenditures connected to the project that have already been made. According to a board memo, the district plans to issue $17.4 million in revenue bonds that would be repaid with 1 percent sales tax proceeds. That amount is expected to cover construction costs, architectural fees, contingency, furniture, equipment and technology.

In other business, the board will recognize Elk Run Preschool and Fareway Foods, its Partner in Education, for providing 20 Thanksgiving baskets to families at the school as well as at Kittrell Early Childhood Center, Highland Elementary School and Early Access. Additional community partners included five individuals or business owners plus the city of Elk Run Heights and Evansdale City Hall employees.
WATERLOO  Customers entering one of Iowas largest fireworks stores, Crossroads Fireworks in Waterloo, are greeted by a sign warning them its illegal to shoot off fireworks in the city where the business is located.

Yet co-owner Matt Reisetter said the store is still open for business, legally selling fireworks and drawing customers from throughout Northeast Iowa.

Theres a ton of confusion, Reisetter said.

Fireworks are illegal to shoot in Waterloo but legal in many other places, including nearby Hudson, where hes a member of the City Council. And times and days when the are legal vary.

Reisetter himself was unaware fireworks use is permitted in his home community of Hudson until informed by a Courier reporter. He was absent when that council vote was taken.

There are people who really do want to follow the law. But they just dont know, he said. Weve seen people from a ton of little communities and rural areas. What Ive told them is call your city clerk and find out what you need to do.

While the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls have banned shooting off fireworks, other Black Hawk County communities are marching to their own drummers. And the beats a little different in each city.

A survey of the eight incorporated communities totally or partially within the county revealed a variety of rules regarding discharging fireworks. Only two others besides Waterloo and Cedar Falls  Janesville, which straddles the Black Hawk-Bremer county line, and Dunkerton  have totally banned fireworks.

Raymond and La Porte City have the broadest window, following the period they are allowed to be sold under state law. Evansdale, Elk Run Heights and Hudson have more limited periods for shooting off fireworks.

The Legislature earlier this year lifted an 80-year ban on consumer fireworks and allowed them to be shot off from June 1 through July 8 and again from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3.

Cities can adopt shorter usage windows or ban them entirely, like Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls and now Waterloo.

The Waterloo City Council last week adopted an ordinance banning the use of fireworks, but the measure may be revisited in 2018 after three new council members take office. Council members Steve Schmitt and Jerome Amos oppose a ban but expect it to come up again. The Cedar Falls City Council approved the final reading its fireworks ban Dec. 4 on a narrow 4-3 vote.

In both cities, bans were enacted following citizen complaints about the July 4 holiday and after months of debate. Opponents complained about noise and debris. Proponents raised questions about enforceability and said citizens should be allowed to shoot off fireworks if the state permitted their sale

In the most recent development, a day after the Waterloo councils adoption, the Elk Run Heights City Council voted 4-0 to pass all three readings of an ordinance to limit the discharge of fireworks in that community to noon to 11 p.m. July 4. The city previously had allowed fireworks to be shot off during the same period sales were permitted.

Ive got a good council. I was more than happy with what they did, Elk Run Heights Mayor Tim Swope said of the greater restrictions. If they want to shoot them off July 4, thats fine.

Meanwhile, in Evansdale, we still have the same ordinance we passed three months ago, Mayor Doug Faas said. The ordinance states fireworks can be shot off June 30-July 4 and from Dec. 28 until 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1 within restricted times of day, generally noon to 10 p.m., extending to 11 p.m. on July 4 and the Saturday or Sunday immediately preceding or following July 4 when it falls on a Monday or a Friday, and on New Years Eve from noon to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

Faas said Evansdale had tried to adopt something similar to what Waterloo initially approved prior to the current ban. Given the recent developments in Waterloo and Elk Run, Faas said, Were going to be extremely vigilant and may possibly come up with new times and dates.

It may turn people off, because there are going to be people from Waterloo who have friends in Evansdale coming here and setting them off. I know that. If that turns into an issue, we may revisit our ordinance.

Hudson also has a limited window, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 2-8, extending until 11 p.m. July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 28-Jan. 3, with residents able to shoot of fireworks on New Years Eve until 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1. Hudson Mayor George Wessel said the city experienced few if any complaints.

While the city of Raymond allows fireworks to be discharged in the same time frame as they can be sold, City Clerk Nancy Miebach said the Raymond City Council tabled discussion of the matter until Jan. 8.

The Dunkerton City Council reaffirmed its fireworks discharge ban Oct. 9, City Clerk Sheila Steffen said.

Frank Magsamen, chairman of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors, said the county has not received any complaints or requests to restrict the discharge of fireworks for the countys unincorporated area from the window within which the state permits their sale.

Weve not received any comment from individuals in the unincorporated area, Magsamen said. If there was feedback on it, we would be looking at it.
The presidents decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is facing objections by friends and foes alike, except of course Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Being such a historically thorny and sensitive subject, there are many arguments for and against this decision.

Many argue it reduces our credibility as a peace broker in the Middle East and it angers the Palestinians along with a large portion of the Muslim world. It will also cause more chaos and instability in the Middle East. It could increase the influence of Russia and help Iran, whose leaders for years have banked on supporting the Palestinian cause expecting payoff as they strive for leadership in the region.

Historically, the current situation in the Middle East parallels closely the post 1967 Arab-Israeli war. At that time, the Arab countries were a defeated people, discouraged and dejected. The years that followed gave rise to the likes of Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Hafez al-Assad, Anwar Sadat and later the overthrow of the shah of Iran by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the start of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Some leaders like Sadat of Egypt and Syrias Assad first waged war against Israel in 1973. Despite their losses, both leaders were regarded as heroes. Later Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan made peace with Israel. Others like Assad, Ghaddafi and Saddam Hussein talked tough about Israel mostly to appease the masses, but there was a semblance of a near detente among the old warriors.

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States changed many things. Post 9/11, Saddam Hussein was driven out and Syria continues to suffer in a bloody civil war under the son of Assads son, Bashar Assad. Iran is trying to keep a restless population docile and rebuild its economy while under intense pressure from the U.S. and Israel along with Saudi Arabia. Egypt is in chaos, and the Saudis are throwing their money in every direction to preserve their own leadership. So, the extremists in Israel feel there could not be a better time to push for what they consider to be a godly right; and that is logical, though not without long-term risk. Would there be protest? Would there be special sessions of the U.N. General Assembly to condemn the action of the U.S.? Of course, but such actions are not new and have been seen time and again. Few takes them seriously, and that would not dissuade hardliners in Israel.

The problem is Jerusalem represents a concept that defies logic and impacts the hearts and emotions of the masses. It changes the battle for the Palestinian cause for statehood from a political battle to a religious fight. This, in a region where the lessons of history seem to have no influence on the action of its people, so history is bound to repeat itself. The move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem is a win for the Israeli right, for the Iranian hardliners and for extremist anti-Semites in the west along with all the demagogues and opportunists who try to capitalize on the Palestinian plight for advancing their own agenda. The result is that the forces of extremism are winning, and those striving for a peaceful resolution are in retreat. The action could serve as a catalyst to reunite Islamic extremists who seem to be in search of another 12th century leader like Saladin, whose claim to fame in Arab history is the recapturing of Jerusalem.

Those in the Middle East and in the Islamic world striving for 21st century secular solutions to a geographic conflict will find themselves faced with a few decades of uphill battle. Those are the people many in the west are trying to win over to counter the very extremists we are fighting.
Attention: No identification with actual persons is intended or should be inferred with this column.

While living in nine cities in four states Ive heard stories about men and women who are rumored to have been involved in or affected by what I simply call inappropriate adult behavior.

Ive been a witness in court to testify on behalf of a person accused of misconduct. Ive read documented statements from 45 people who clarified and quickly resolved a he-said, she-said incident. As an academic department head, I have counseled students, faculty and staff about alleged wrongdoing and discussed due process procedures.

A youth minister reportedly gave underage boys cigars at a church outing while he talked with the boys about the accompanying teenage females bodies. College students who lobby at the Capitol on behalf of their university have expressed uncomfortable feelings about certain legislators. It is reported the elected officials hands were on the females (especially) shoulders and arms while greeting them and insisting on a photo, getting way too close, supposedly, for comfort. For quite some time, the Iowa Capitol has been rumored to be a little Peyton Place between legislators, lobbyists, staff, clerks and pages.

There are a multitude of stories. Rumors, or is there any truth to these stories?

We now know many individuals involved in improper behavior go on to become elected officials because no one came forward to report salacious incidents to religious leaders, police, school officials, city administrators, political party officials and employers.

Lets face another reality. Its obvious our political parties havent done their due diligence to thoroughly investigate a candidates background. We need to do a much better job of vetting political candidates, even if they are seeking re-election. A more thorough screening of a candidates reason for leaving previous employers, especially those who are job hoppers, is required.

Iowa citizens are already saddled with paying $1.75 million for the GOP Senates sexual harassment settlement. Enough is enough.

While Im sure it is very uncomfortable for a child, teenager, young adult or adult to report incidences of impropriety, as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and as a society, we need to encourage our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and peers to report inappropriate behavior to responsible adults we trust will investigate the situation and take proper action.

We should not tolerate or protect troubled and immature adult offenders from punishment. If we sweep allegations under the rug, we are as guilty as the perpetrator.

If you have knowledge of improper behavior, elected or otherwise, report the incident. Here are the contacts: 1) faith leader, school administrator, police, sheriff or alleged adults employer, 2) Jeff Kaufman, chairman, Republican Party of Iowa; (515) 282-8105 and/or 3) Troy Price, chair, Iowa Democratic Party; (515) 244-7292.

A watershed moment is before us to stand up and speak out. Lets clean up our communities and state.
Good legislation

LOIS STORK

NEW HARTFORD  The Elder Abuse Prevention & Prosecution Act of 2017, sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Richard Bloomenthal, D-Connecticut, was signed into law by President Trump on Oct. 18. The bill increases penalties for those who financially exploit seniors via illegal or improper use of their funds, property or assets.

Grassley called those who exploit seniors cowardly and said the crimes should be prosecuted as the reprehensible acts they are.

At a time when it appears the Congress and Senate are in complete chaos, perhaps this season would be a good time to acknowledge the efforts of those who continue to work across party lines and create legislation that focuses on the unique needs of the elderly.

Safety officers

PENNY POPP

CEDAR FALLS  I received an invitation to observe training simulations for the Cedar Falls public safety officers Dec. 6 after a remark I had made at the last City Council meeting. I was able to see and speak with many people who are involved in the program, from police officers, firefighters and volunteer participants in the PSO program as well as new hires. In a letter to Jeff Olson, director of public safety services, I shared my thoughts: Based on the wealth of information I received this morning, I must apologize for my remarks directed at the PSO program. I understand that change in long standing traditions, in this case, the separation of police and fire, can be a difficult hurdle to clear. The needs of a city must be assessed and changes will occur. Unfortunately, many in the community are resistant to change, myself included.

The clear and concise answers to my many questions about this program has altered my perspective about the role of our public safety officers and the need to continue the expansion of the program. I hope that you will be able to share more information about this program with the residents to quell the rumor mill of misinformation.

Mental health

PAULA DAVIS

CEDAR FALLS  Regarding the forum comments in the Des Moines Register on Dec. 7 written by Kim Reynolds, Iowa governor. In this forum she states, My administration has taken a number of steps to address the critical mental health needs in our state. Today, Iowas mental health system is serving more Iowans in more modern ways with better services and more local home and community settings than ever before.

Iowa may be serving more Iowans with mental health issues, but we are using jails, not appropriate facilities, not saving money but costing more. I fail to see where the administration has taken any steps to address the critical mental health needs in our state. As for serving more Iowans with mental health issues in more modern ways with better service with local home and community settings, that is inaccurate. The idea behind the local home and community settings is to transition the mentally ill into the modern world. Most of the mentally ill that came from group homes cant be successful in that environment. They would prefer to live like a person without mental illness but cant. Services are worse, not better.

Education state

AMY MOUSEL

WATERLOO  Once again, Iowa is first in the nation  this time in education. This should come as no surprise, though. Over the past six years, education has been a main priority of Gov. Kim Reynolds. From leadership in STEM education to record investment in education and training programs across the state, Reynolds is making sure Iowans are ready for the jobs of tomorrow.

On Dec. 5, the National Center for Education Statistics announced Iowa is ranked No. 1 in high school graduation rates. With a 3 percent increase over the last six years, 91.3 percent of students in the Class of 2016 graduated within four years.

Outcomes like this would not be possible without the leadership of Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Why

Trump?

RODNEY CARY

CEDAR FALLS  How can the federal government ask U.S. citizens to pay student loans back when illegal immigrants are getting a free education? I cant quite figure out how you can proudly wave the flag of another country while on United States soil but consider it punishment to be sent back to where you came from.

Hillary Clinton cant remember a thing under oath, but can remember to write a 512-page book. Need now means wanting someone elses money. Greed now means wanting to keep your own. Compassion is when a politician arranges the transfer. Florida has had 119 hurricanes since 1850, but the last one was due to climate change. Isnt it weird that in America, our flag and our culture offend so many people but our benefits dont? The Russians did not get me to vote for Trump, the Democrats and Clinton did.

Anti-Republican

JAMES E. HINES

WATERLOO  The government claims to have paid $15 million in hush money for sexual abuses by government officials. Why no public notice and names of those who are responsible for the abusive actions causing the payouts?

We now are faced with the biggest liar ever to be president and a party that accepts sexual abuse by its leader. Now the great state that supported George Wallace nearly gave America a child molester. The good old boys in Alabama can again hold their heads high again.

All the Republicans who praise the tax reform know its a fraud. I have not heard one economist agree with their predictions. Of course, I dont deserve the right to not understand why inheriting $22 million tax-free is not enough. Just because my $50,00-a-year job could only provide me enough to spend every darn penny I have on booze or women or movies.

Time to atone

BOB BLACK

WATERLOO  Recently in the Philippines a statue was unveiled of a blindfolded Philippine woman. This statue is a memorial to Philippine women who were forced to provide many forms of comfort, including sexual, to Japanese soldiers during World War II and were known as comfort women. The surviving comfort women were offered financial compensation from Japan. Several refused the money and asked for an apology from Japan instead.

That was 72 years ago. So listen up, sexually molesting presidents, senators, congressmen, entertainers and just plain Joes: Sexual molestation at the point of a gun, loss of a job or any other pressure applied does not diminish with time the emotional destruction it causes.

So, atone for past bad behavior and start behaving like the civilized humans youre supposed to be.
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Dec 17, 2017 | By David

With the festive season rapidly approaching, what better way to celebrate than to read about four fun DIY 3D printing projects that have been shared recently? Some 3D printed cookie molds for the perfect holiday treat and EasyKu ukulele playing aid are just the tip of the iceberg, and your ship is heading right for it.

1. Nod Bang modifies headphones using 3D printing

We all love to nod our head to a nice beat every now and then, whether its one from the rock genre or a hip-hop tune laid down by DJ Jazzy Jeff, Flash Grandmaster, or one of the other beat merchants. But what if your head nodding actually created the rhythm, rather than just responding to it? That rhetorical question has been answered by the Nod Bang, a new device that can modify your headphones to make them into a kind of musical instrument / performance toy.

The Nod Bang makes use of an accelerometer, which attaches to a pair of headphones. This can feed movement data to an Arduino circuit board, and a custom Max code is capable of translating each head nod into a metronome-type beat. The tempo of the output is dictated by the wearer, and four 3D printed, backlit arcade buttons on the top of a control box can be linked up to the modified cans and a laptop, in order to add more MIDI sounds in to the mix. Cymbal crashes, synth drones, and other effects are available to flesh out your nodding into a fully-fledged floorfiller.

Engineer Andrew Lee said he spent around 60 days developing this project, which should apparently keep people entertained for a few minutes.

2. 3D printed EasyKu ukulele playing aid

For those of a certain disposition, theres nothing more enchanting than the sound of a ukuleles strings being strummed in front of a roasting winter fireplace. The diminutive instrument isnt always the easiest to master, though, for musical beginners or even for seasoned guitar players. The EasyKu is designed to make playing chords on the uke a lot easier, and it was put together relatively cheaply using 3D printing technology.

The EasyKu attatches to the fretboard of the ukulele, and comes with large plastic buttons that can play chords for you. All you have to do is press a particular button, which has the name of the desired chord printed on it, and it will press down the required strings in the right place.

The contraption was designed by a team from South Koreas Kaist University, who are presumably music enthusiasts as well as skilled 3D printing hobbyists. They have also made the CAD files available online for free, so anyone with an interest in picking up the cute mini-guitar can modify the EasyKu device as they see fit. More advanced players might want to add extra buttons in order to play more advanced chords, or the attachment could just be altered to make it a little more aesthetically pleasing or comfortable to use.

Designers: Moojin Joh, Chanwook Kim, Hankyung Kim

3. 3D printed Belgian cookie molds

Nothing says Christmas like a plate of spiced shortbread cookies, particularly if youre someone who grew up in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany. These light brown crunchy delicacies are known as Speculoos, and they are often molded with particular patterns or designs on them, such as the Dutch St. Nicholas variant Sinter Klaas or his culturally problematic helper, Zwarte Piet.

3D printing enthusiast Adam, now based in Ohio, was feeling some pangs of nostalgia for these treats from his Belgian upbringing, and so he set to work creating some unique cookie molds in order to make his own on American soil. His molds were made using a consumer FDM 3D printer, and he seems to think that the plastic material they are made from is probably fine to put in contact with something that you are going to eat.

The designs of the molds are traditional motifs from Brussels and the surrounding area, such as a waffle and a wind turbine. The files are all available on Thingiverse to download and send to your own 3D printer, and total 3D printing time shouldnt be more than a few hours. Hes even shared a homegrown recipe for the dough. Eet smakelijk!

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Paul Wiseman wrote at 10/31/2018 5:07:35 PM:Is the EasyKu ukulele playing aid on sae anywhere? (I have lost the top of a finger and need something like this aid to help me play).MakPO wrote at 4/9/2018 12:52:22 AM:Where do you go to download the EasyKu file?




Christopher G. Moore in CulturMag:

Swimming pools of ink have been emptied in the discussions of the intense verbal warfare in America about politics as the president fires tweets like a machine-gunner at a wide range of enemies. In all of these dramatic battles, theres not been much discussion about a central question that defines our humanity: have we loss our sense of empathy? Exactly what makes empathy a desirable trait? I recently read an interview with Nick Bostrom, Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University and Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, who writes about the danger of AI; he is worried that mankind might suffer an existential crisis should AI lack empathy. In an interview with Andy Fitch of the Los Angeles Review of Books Bostrom draws what is, I believe, a useful distinction between two different meanings of empathy.

In the first sense, empathy is our ability to read the mind of others: their intentions, emotions, and feelings. Our theory of mind is based on the words, gestures, posture, and the context that provides enough information to make a reasonably good prediction of what another person wants or is seeking to obtain from his or her own actions. If you can predict with reasonable accuracy what someone is after, this is a huge opportunity to take advantage of anothers vulnerability.

In the second sense, empathy is using the theory of mind to dissect the wants, urges and desires of others, and genuinely being interested in and caring about their intentions and feelings. What makes us human is this innate sense of caring.

More here.
Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times:

Southeast Bangladesh, near the Myanmar border  Ethnic cleansing and even genocide are antiseptic and abstract terms. What they mean in the flesh is a soldier grabbing a crying baby girl named Suhaifa by the leg and flinging her into a bonfire. Or troops locking a 15-year-old girl in a hut and setting it on fire.

The children who survive are left haunted: Noor Kalima, age 10, struggles in class in a makeshift refugee camp. Her mind drifts to her memory of seeing her father and little brother shot dead, her baby sisters and infant brothers throats cut, the machete coming down on her own head, her hut burning around her  and its difficult to focus on multiplication tables.

Sometimes I cant concentrate on my class, Noor explained. I want to throw up.

In the past Ive referred to Myanmars atrocities against its Rohingya Muslim minority as ethnic cleansing, but increasingly there are indications that the carnage may amount to genocide.

More here.
GRAND FORKS  Grand Forks City Council member Sandi Marshall said she wants to tell the world her city is a welcoming, inclusive place to live.

It hasnt been that simple.

Marshall introduced an inclusion resolution at Mondays council committee meeting. Its a statement of values  not a law or regulation  that disavows bigotry and advertises Grand Forks better nature. Notably, it says promoting differentiation or superiority for a list of identities  like race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation  is scientifically false, morally condemnable, hateful, socially unjust and dangerous.

Marshall said shes trying to officialize a positive, inclusive city philosophy  not create a code of conduct. And while most agree Grand Forks ought to be inclusive, the resolutions details are proving politically charged, drawing passionate public comment and leaving city leaders debating its exact language. The debate is reminiscent of the citys 2015 consideration of a diversity commission  a never-formed group that would have advocated for local minorities interests.

In my opinion, this is anti-God, anti-Constitution, anti-America and anti-common sense, said Terry Bjerke, a former City Council member and 2016 Grand Forks mayoral candidate, who characterized the document as a politically correct manifesto at Monday nights meeting. No City Council is ever going to tell me what to think.

City leaders had more moderate criticisms. City Council member Danny Weigel wondered what it means for a local religious group that disagrees with gay marriage. Council President Dana Sande said local churchgoers hold similar concerns and has questioned resolution language that says Grand Forks is committed to establish a welcoming community  we already are one, he said.

Those concerns resulted in a 7-0 vote to table the matter. Its expected to resurface Monday, Dec. 18, before the full City Council, when Weigel and Marshall will provide a revised draft.

Competing concerns

Some observers rankle at the first drafts perceived politics, while others see it as an invitation for marginalized residents to contribute. Robin David is a Grand Forks leader for multiple new American advocacy groups, and shes concerned that Sandes edit  nixing the word establish  could mean ignoring uncomfortable parts of Grand Forks history. African- American Charles Thurber was lynched in Grand Forks in 1882, she said, and as recently as two years ago a racially charged firebombing destroyed the Somali-owned Juba Cafe.

Theres never, I think, a bad time to make a statement like this  making sure that all members of a community feel welcome is critical for their ability to be engaged, productive members of the community, David said on Tuesday.

The resolution also comes as the Trump administration pursues divisive policies that have been criticized and racially charged  including its pursuit of a travel ban from many majority-Muslim countries. The Supreme Court allowed a version of the ban to take effect earlier this month as its debated in lower courts.

There have been threats to the integration of immigrants for kind of a long time now. During the last year particularly. That certainly is something Im conscious of, Marshall said. (But) I cant say that was the driver for this resolution coming forward now in and of itself.

Marshall has said passing the resolution would take the philosophy that some community leaders are already practicing  like in the New Flavors food truck aimed at helping new Americans build a restaurant business  and make it official. It sets the tone for further welcoming policies, she said.

Similar resolutions were also passed in Fargo, and Moorhead, Minn., earlier this fall, by a margin of 4-1 and 8-0, respectively, which Marshall said inspired her own. The resolutions are nearly identical, though Fargos notably omits some of the stronger condemnations of differentiation or superiority, which was among the most concerning language for Grand Forks leaders.

Weigel has suggested alternate language, which says the community condemn(s) harassment, assault or intimidation on a range of identities, instead of a condemnation of promoting differentiation or superiority, which he has said is simpler. His suggested list of identities also says gender instead of gender identity, and omits country of origin, though when contacted on Friday, he said those omissions were unintentional and that his documents language had been borrowed from another community.

Weigel said hes pleased with how the redrafting process is progressing, and Marshall has indicated her willingness to work with him. She said shes more concerned about the welcoming spirit of the document than some of its finer details.

Kyle Thorson is an organizer behind Grand Forks Pride, an LGBT event. Asked about changes that might be aimed at people uncomfortable with gay marriage, he said he wasnt concerned  the changes discussed didnt seem to infringe on gay rights, he said, but allowed churchgoers to express their beliefs in their house of worship.

This is a statement of how do we move together as a community, he said. No advocate or anybody should be out to cut the limbs off of somebody else because of what they believe.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a scheme to provide a pension of Rs 1,500 to transgenders above 18 years of age in the state.

The Andhra cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and was briefed by Information and Public Relations (I-PR) Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu and Municipal Administration minister P Narayana.

The cabinet has in depth discussed about the transgender policy. It is decided to keep the policy online, and to take advice from all sections of the society. Once the policy comes into effect, 26,000 transgenders in the state will be benefitted.

Under this scheme, the transgenders will also be provided skill development for financial stability. The transgenders will also be provided ration cards, plots and scholarships.

They will further be given loans through banks so that they can start small businesses. Special toilets will be built in public places like malls and cinema halls. Subsidized bus passes and health care through Arogyasri scheme will also be provided.

Last month, chief minister Naidu announced a pension scheme for the transgender community in the state.

Andhra Pradesh has become only the next state after Kerala and Odisha to sanction a pension scheme for the transgender community.

The cabinet has also taken a final decision on Assembly building designs. It has given a nod to the Tower design for assembly building.

The cabinet also gave a nod to amending the Police Act in connection with the Director General of Police (DGP) appointment. It has decided to issue an ordinance in this regard that enables the state government to have power to appoint the DGP on its own. The cabinet also decided to bring a fully-fledged Police Act.

A Chandranna pelli kanuka (marriage gift) scheme will also be launched in February 2018, under which the Backward Classes will receive Rs 30,000/-, the Schedule Castes and The Schedule Tribes Rs 50,000/- as gift at the time of marriage. Almost 40,000 people will be benefitted from this scheme in 2018.
These days no one wants to trust exit polls as they are most of the times paid surveys. During the 2012 Uttarakhand assembly polls various Exit Polls predicted a close fight between the BJP and the Congress party. But few also had a forecast that the BJP would return to power. However, the Congress won the election. The predictions were almost correct as the Congress won with just one seat more than the BJP. The saffron party managed to win 31 seats. Congress won 32 and formed the government in 2012.

In 2015, the BJP hoped another mega win in Bihar after sweeping the general elections 2014. And, setting the stage for celebrations, various Exit Polls gave clear lead to the saffron party. Predicting the results, Chanakya-News24 gave the BJP a tally of 155 in the 243-seat House. NDTV and India Todays numbers were close to 120 seats for the BJP. When the actual results were announced, the Exit Poll numbers, once again, did not turn out the way it was projected. The BJP suffered a major defeat. Nitish Kumar-led alliance bagged 178 of the 243 Bihar Assembly seats. And, that is probably the reason now many are rejecting the Exit Poll numbers saying the projections in Bihar were wrong. When it comes to Gujarat, its not only the opposition but BJPs own leader and its alliance refused to believe Exit Polls and they declared Congress as the winner in their own survey. As most Exit Poll surveys predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party to win the Gujarat Assembly polls, its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade has claimed that the party would not win enough seats to form the next government in the state. He claimed that the BJP will not even get enough number of seats to form the government. The Congress on the other hand will reach close to the majority mark. Kakade claimed his team has conducted a survey in Gujarat and his claim was based on the outcome of that survey. He seems to have sent a team of six people to Gujarat. They mostly covered the rural parts of the state where they met farmers, drivers, waiters and labourers. Based on their survey and his own observation, he feels the BJP will not get absolute majority in Gujarat. He also pointed out that BJP leaders did not talk about development in any of the campaign rallies in the last phase.

On the other hand, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the BJP uttered no word on development by the party leaders. There was no mention of employment generation in Gujarat or about any major decision taken by the party during last three years. The rallies were aimed at targeting the opposition and making an emotional appeal to voters. He appeared to disagree with Exit Polls predicting a clear victory for the BJP in Gujarat. There is a big difference between the political atmosphere prevalent in Gujarat and the Exit Poll results. The Exit Polls released after the December 14 voting have given a clear majority for the BJP in the 182-member Gujarat assembly. Almost all exit polls predicted more than 100 seats for the BJP in the state where the party is in power for over two decades. The Sena is part of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra as well as at the Centre.

The battle for Gujarat has been fought. And it has certainly not been a cakewalk for either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress. The campaign for the Assembly polls witnessed everything from name calling to personal attacks to sporadic violence. The first controversy surrounding the Gujarat Assembly elections was the delayed announcement of polling dates. The Election Commission broke the convention as it declared the dates for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls on October 13 but did not declare any dates for polling in Gujarat  notably the counting of both the states are taking place on Monday, December 18, 2017.

In 2002-03, the EC had announced the dates for Gujarat elections on October 28, 2002 while the dates for Himachal Pradesh were announced on January 11, 2003. This difference in announcement of dates had come because of the riots in Gujarat, following which the state Assembly was dissolved prematurely. Apart from this, the EC has always been announcing the dates for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections simultaneously. While the opposition had hit out at the authority for the delayed announcement, the polling authority defended itself saying it was done to avoid an unreasonably long period of model code of conduct in Gujarat.

Both BJP and Congress were aggressive from the inception. And the battle was led from both ends by the major names  Modi and Gandhi. One target of both the parties was the Patidar community, of which some leaders like Hardik Patel have been up in arms against the ruling BJP in the state. There were attempts by both the parties to woo Patidar leaders. The Patidars, however, finally sided with the Congress. But the tie-up came only after its share of drama when some of the Patel community members resorted to violence over the first candidates list released by the Congress party. A presser by Hardik Patel came later to pacify the PAAS members wherein he openly declared his support to the Congress, attributing the same to a reservation formula given by the opposition party. The stage was thus set for the battle to get angrier. The issue that now came to the fore was religion. One register entry at Somnath temple  still not clear if real or fake  raised questions on the religion of Rahul Gandhi. Paying heed to the attack, the Congress released three pictures showing Rahul performing Hindu rituals. The Gandhi scion himself later told a party meet that his family members are disciples of lord Shiva.

The ruling BJP got another shot in the arm with veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar triggering a row by calling Modi neech. The Congress, however, acted swiftly and suspended Aiyar from the party after serving him a showcause notice. Rahul Gandhi also asked Aiyar to offer an apology, and asserted that nothing derogatory must be said about the Prime Minister. Modi himself raised the issue during his rallies, saying it was an insult not to him, but to the Gujarati pride.

Inspite of all the opposition from within the party and outside, as everyone knows if BJP loses Gujarat its not BJP but actually Modi and his Gujarat model is going to lose. And its a matter of fact that everyone of them wants Modi to lose as itll be a big setback for him alone if at all it happens. And its a fact that after so many factors like Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor, GST, demonetisation, Congress playing soft Hindutva card and Hindutva phobia at the same time, caste politics being revived, if at all BJP wins even with a thin margin the entire credit goes to one man thats Modi and hell be unstoppable.

However, the opposition got a similar opportunity to target the ruling BJP when Modi claimed in his rally that Pakistan was trying to influence the results in Gujarat Assembly elections. The opposition hit back saying PM Modi was making such statements as he feared defeat. Even Pakistan foreign office issued a statement saying India must not drag it in its political battle. Now, after months of intense political war, altercation of personal attacks, and questions on constitutional authorities, and the fate of the political parties have been locked. The verdict will be out on Monday, lets see who makes it to the power in Gujarat.



(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
At least eight worshippers were killed and several others injured on Sunday in a suicide bombing at a church in Quetta, the capital of Pakistans restive Southwestern Balochisan province.

Around four militants attacked the church located on Zarghon Road of the provincial capital when the Sunday service was going on, according to police.

Interior Minister of the countrys southwest Balochistan province Sarfraz Bugti said that two terrorists attacked a church located at the Zarghoon Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.

Bugti said that one of the attackers was killed by police guards at the main entrance of church while the second one blew himself up inside the church.

According to Bugti, at the time of attack around 500 people were offering their prayers in the church.

Health Minister of the province, Rehmat Baloch, said that rescue teams have shifted four injured to the hospital so far.

DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema, said that two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police. He said the fleeing militants were chased by police and killed.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Pakistans Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014, which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.
A company selected to provide health care for Alabama's prison system is being sued by the state of Mississippi for its alleged role in a long-running bribery scheme.

The Alabama Department of Corrections said it picked the Pennsylvania-based Wexford Health Sources Inc. to provide medical care in state prisons, and contract negotiations should be complete by February. Commissioner Jeff Dunn said the company, one of four to submit proposals, was picked "based on a combination of quality of care and overall cost."

But Wexford is among a dozen companies sued by the state of Mississippi in February for allegedly using consultants to pay bribes and kickbacks to then-Mississippi prison commissioner Chris Epps, who sentenced to almost 20 years in prison in May in a bribery scheme.

The Alabama Department of Corrections said it was aware of the allegations in the lawsuit and is sticking by the selection of the company.

"Wexford Health has not been accused of any wronging and the department is confident the review committee selected the right company for the health care contract," said a statement by prison spokesman Bob Horton.

In a statement from marketing director Wendelyn Pekich, the Pittsburgh-based Wexford said it didn't know anything about Epps' crimes or the actions of a one-time consultant it hired in Mississippi. The company said it didn't do anything wrong and was "ensnared" in the state's lawsuit only because it had employed a consultant mentioned in the criminal investigation.

"We were never accused of doing anything wrong or inappropriate," said the company, which provides prison medical care in more than a dozen states, Alabama prison officials said.

Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, told the Decatur Daily he heard about the Mississippi lawsuit recently, and that large companies operating in multiple states often are sued. The three other companies competing for the contract "also had knocks against them," said Ward, who chairs a prison oversight committee.

Questions about Wexford "will be on top of the agenda when we meet next month," Ward said. He said he was encouraging Alabama prison officials to "move slowly" because of the massive size of the contract.

The Mississippi lawsuits allege major prison contractors paid millions of dollars in fees to consultants who, in turn, used the money to pay off Epps. Because of the bribes, Epps awarded about $800 million in contracts to the companies, the state alleged.

Epps acknowledged accepting more than $1.4 million in bribes from private contractors, and eight other people have been convicted in the scheme.

The new, three-year health care contract for 28 Alabama prisons will take effect April 1. A previous two-year contract with another company was worth $180 million.

The new contract is supposed to increase staffing in correctional facilities by about 25 percent for both medical and mental health care services, the state said.
A 19-year-old bicyclist died Saturday evening after being hit by a car about five miles north of Prattville.

Garrett Daniel Bracaloni, of Prattville, was traveling in the roadway on U.S. 31 near the 195 mile marker at about 7:20 p.m. Saturday when he was hit by a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Bracaloni was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, and the Impala's driver remained at the scene after the accident.

Alabama State Troopers are investigating the crash.
In the days leading to Tuesday's special Senate election, Lee Sentell and his staff at the Alabama Tourism Department were inundated with snarky tweets from people threatening to boycott vacations in Alabama.

"If Alabamians choose (Roy) Moore ... Major Boycott of Alabama should ensue" one tweet said.

"If Alabama sends Moore to DC, Americans of conscience should boycott Alabama tourism," said another.

If you vacation in Alabama but are disgusted by its support of Roy Moore, let Dir. of Tourism Lee Sentell know about it https://t.co/RHp0mTdY6G https://t.co/GLVTQwJl1I  Pam (@PamelaRozaHayes) December 6, 2017

If Alabama sends Moore to DC, Americans of conscience should boycott Alabama tourism. #BoycottBamaShore https://t.co/sBr3wiDvj4  Boudicca Mic  (@twistedmic24) December 8, 2017

"We had been averaging about 100 aggressive and threatening comments a day on Twitter the last three weeks of the campaign of people saying they would not come here to vacation again," said Sentell, the state's director of tourism. "When Tuesday's nights results came in and it was obvious Jones was going to win, it was like someone taking a switch and the aggressive messages stopped."

Positive headlines

Literally overnight, the social media anger directed at Alabama ended. In its place were national and international media headlines screaming "Thank you, Alabama" or, in the case of one center-left publication in Germany, "the miracle of Alabama."

Now, tourism officials in Alabama are embracing a rare swath of mostly positive punditry in the aftermath of a bitterly contested Senate race in which voters elected Democrat Doug Jones over Republican Moore.

Much of the boycott threats stemmed from the potential of voters electing Moore after accusations surfaced last month that he allegedly molested or had inappropriate relations with teenage girls when he was in his 30s decades ago.

The positive press came mostly from publications appreciative of deep red Alabama voting for a Democrat and against Moore. Jones's victory marked the first time in 25 years that Alabama voters elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.

"It's free publicity and its good publicity," said Dilcy Hilley, vice-president of marketing at the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We don't always have that luxury."

Meg Lewis, director of brand development and special projects with the Montgomery CVB, said "you cannot deny" the positive attention from outside the state. She said the election could spark interest among travelers looking to visit Alabama and learn more about southern U.S. history, and visit Civil War and Civil Rights era attractions.

"The combination of the Senate election that raised the visibility of Alabama over those same (Civil Rights era) issues paired with the state's bicentennial anniversary events last year and the opening of the Equal Justice Memorial ... all of those things stack up," said Lewis.

The memorial is part of a complex that will open in Montgomery in April devoted to showcasing the consequences of slavery and racial tensions.

Said Lewis, "If you look at the headlines across the country, they are saying positive things. That's a good situation the state wants to be in. It's not what you see every day. It also tells people that not only are things unexpected here, they are unexpectedly delightful."

I will show my appreciation to Alabama through tourism dollars. Planning a Spring Break visit to my new favorite state! #SweetHomeAlabama https://t.co/U2FWecnonM  Tereska Bee (@tbella123) December 13, 2017

Alabama's image

Kimberly Severt, an associate professor and hospitality program director with the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Alabama, said the post-election coverage is going to help Alabama's overall image, which could spinoff with a tourism bump.

Severt and a colleague recently wrote a paper, "The importance of destination marketing on image and familiarity," in which they asked visitors and non-visitors on their image of Alabama. For visitors, the No. 1 response, she said was "beaches."

For non-visitors, Severt said "they couldn't think of anything."

In addition, Severt said the study shows 54 percent of people who have never visited Alabama reporting that they have "not heard or seen" an information source about the state. For visitors to Alabama, the information sources were through "family and friends."

Said Severt: "I think we need to redo the study as far as finding out if the political impact changed the people's image of Alabama. Now that we've been in the limelight, I would say that it is actually going to help our image and because it's out there in the news, people are going to hear about us. It's a positive."

Sentell, in his view, doesn't believe the press coverage will affect tourism much. Alabama, for the sixth year in a row last year, set a record in annual tourism expenditure for 2016, and for the number of visitors coming into the state.

Sentell said the massive media attention on the Alabama Senate race will not equate to more visitors such as what the state experiences following hurricanes.

"After hurricanes, on the Gulf Coast, people see our beaches from the television coverage and after seeing that things were rebuilt, more people come," Sentell said. "They'd say we had no idea that Alabama had beaches."

With the political coverage, Sentell said, "this was all politics and not about tourism. I think Alabama will be last week's news."

Joanie Flynn, vice-president of marketing with Gulf Shores & Orange Beach - the tourism arm of coastal Alabama - said in her 30 years working in the industry, she's never seen a political election impact a region's tourism in either a positive or negative fashion.

She said her agency wasn't overwhelmed with negative comments ahead of Tuesday's election, though there were some. Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are the top two tourism cities in Alabama, and the state's beaches are its biggest draw.

"We were concerned we might and we monitored it, but we did not see a major outcry," Flynn said.

Now that the election is over, Flynn said it's "hard to tell" what impact may arise from the Jones win.

"If it makes people willing to look at Alabama as a vacation stop to travel to, I think we will compare very favorably," she said.
Indigenous coffee growers in Peru fight for equality in an industry fraught with discrimination and predatory trade.

Nuevo Amanecer Hawai, Peru  When Victor Pios father was shot dead in the cloud forests of Perus central Amazon in 2013, he inherited a community already hardened by violence and misfortune.

The loggers who had his father executed for denouncing their illegal trade were making new gains on his communitys ancestral land and to make matters worse, a mysterious plant disease had begun to strangle the economic lifeblood of his village: coffee.

Theres been a lot of suffering in this community, said Pio, chief of Nuevo Amanecer Hawai, an isolated hamlet of around 80 indigenous Ashaninka families surrounded by the primary rainforest.

The 38-year-olds struggle is one shared by dozens of coffee-producing indigenous communities in Perus fertile Central Jungle.

After decades of territorial conflict between indigenous groups and loggers and political violence, the communities are now salvaging what is left after a deadly leaf blight crippled yields, and fighting to find fair markets in an industry with a legacy of discrimination against indigenous farmers.

We were left with nothing

Coffee is king in Peru. Its the leading agricultural export and ranks as the seventh most valuable general export commodity after precious metals, natural gas and oil.

The USDA, which analyses international coffee markets, labels the country the largest exporter of organic coffee in the world.

For many indigenous communities like Nuevo Amanecer Hawai, the high cost of chemical fertilizers has always forced them to cultivate organic coffee.

But without an official seal from international organic certification organisations like Fair Trade or Organic  which costs thousands of dollars and requires years of farm inspections -small-scale farmers like Pio are denied access to lucrative international markets for their coffee.

When the plant disease known as la roya, or leaf rust, arrived in Peru from Central America in 2008, it was organic farmers like Pio who were hit the hardest.

Lacking pesticides to fight the fungal infection attacking the leaves of the plants, the majority of his communitys collective plantation was destroyed, leaving them in financial ruin.

Unable to produce coffee for nearly three years, the village elementary school was closed and villagers resorted to planting subsistence crops like yucca and plantain to feed themselves.

We were left with nothing. We had to survive with what we had, with our ancestral foods, Pio said.

Intermediary predators

Now, as the communitys new fungus-resistant plants steadily begin to bear their coveted red and gold cherries, they are left with another problem that has plagued them for decades: getting a fair price for their yield.

In an industry where quantity is power, indigenous communities like Pios struggle to match production with many mestizo or non-indigenous producers, who are often members of powerful cooperatives that export to US and European markets.

Without access to equitable markets, theyre forced to sell their coffee to predatory intermediaries who come into communities and buy at prices far below market value only to turn it around to larger export companies for a profit.

Pio said the intermediaries bring their own scales and manipulate the weight per sack.

Coffee is a product that gives us life. But were not finding anyone to pay us what our product is really worth, he told Al Jazeera.

Indigenous farmers in the region said they are seeking buyers willing to pay $2.50 per kilogram, a price that allows them to recoup production expenses. But due to many factors, including low yields and transportation costs, they are often forced to sell to intermediaries for around $1.60 per kilogram or less.

Without fetching a market price or direct trade relationship with an international roaster, Pio said his community would remain in the same cycle of hardship, forced to sell to intermediaries or haul their coffee to the city  a six-hour journey through rutted jungle roads to the regional capital of Satipo  in search of buyers.

The objective is to export our coffee, to improve our economic situation and the health and education of our community, Pio said.

Local cooperatives, owned and controlled by large groups of farmers who share expenses like organic certification through membership dues, are severely lacking in indigenous membership, Ashaninka and non-indigenous coffee producers told Al Jazeera.

Intermediary buyers declined to be interviewed, but in Satipo, where coffee fuels the regional economy, Jose Estrada, president of the Valle Santa Cruz Cooperative, spoke bluntly about indigenous farmers.

They dont trust us and they lack sensibility, preparation and guidance, he said.

Estrada noted the quality of their coffee is excellent and that his cooperative would be willing to work with any indigenous community that could produce in volume.

Of the 230 members in Valle Santa Cruz Cooperative, only one is indigenous.

Other regional cooperatives interviewed also confirmed a scarcity of indigenous membership.

Victor Pio and other indigenous community members said the farmer-owned cooperatives brand themselves as socially responsible organisations but in practice shut out indigenous participation.

Coffee-producing indigenous communities throughout the region share similar stories of struggle.

In the lush Ashaninka village of Alto Incariado in the neighbouring province of Chanchamayo, Misael Amaringa motioned to a neat plot of mature coffee plants, each stricken with yellowing leaves and void of fruit.

It was a shock, said the 41-year-old coffee grower of the infection that wiped out his crops.

We took out a loan from Agrobanco, but now we dont have the resources to pay it back because of the low price were getting for our coffee, he said.

Amaringas resistant plants, now in their third year of flowering, have recently begun to produce.

Hungry to recoup losses, his communitys hope is to find an alternative to the intermediaries.

Breaking a vicious cycle

Its this vicious cycle that were trying to break by working for justice, quality, love and transparency, said Melesio Mayunga, president of the newly formed Association of Ashaninka Producers of Alto Incariado.

By forming a licensed business association they hope to attract state and NGO financing and secure lucrative direct export agreements with international buyers. Theyre rallying neighbouring communities to join them and emphasising a native brand.

Our vision for our association is to work differently, to recover whats ours and market an authentic Ashaninka product with a sustainable identity, Mayunga, 45, told Al Jazeera.

While an Ashaninka brand is of essence to his association, Mayunga said he welcomes mestizo participation, as small-scale farmers  indigenous and mestizos alike  are victims of what he described as the mafia-like tactics of intermediaries and exclusionary practices of cooperatives.

Our mestizo brothers working just as hard as us are in the same situation, said Mayunga, who is actively recruiting non-indigenous neighbours to join their association as well.

Along with the communitys mestizo neighbour William Vigo Arcos, Mayunga has travelled to surrounding villages to recruit new members.

The Ashaninka in Alto Incariado are like my brothers. We grew up together, Acros told Al Jazeera.

With a background in business administration, Arcos, 33, said he often accompanies his Ashaninka neighbours to assist in business-related trips to their municipality and to help them cut through systematic discrimination.

They make them wait, sometimes for hours. But when Im with them they attend us, he said.

Vigo is studying coffee commercialisation and intends to use his training to help his neighbours build their own brand of specialty coffee. Both men said the associations task now is to recruit as many neighbouring communities as possible, as higher production will give them more negotiating power.

We can do it because of this land that were blessed with, our high altitude, climate, and soil  it all favours us, Vigo said.

Among indigenous and mestizo coffee producers alike in the region theres a sense that the Peruvian government has fallen short on promises to promote Amazonian agriculture, subsidise costly farming equipment, and provide equitable loans.

Americo Cabecilla, who heads the Center for Native Communities of the Central Jungle (CECONSEC), is working to petition the government for more agricultural resources in the region. He sees strong and numerous community associations as a step towards building profitable indigenous-owned businesses working for a greater good.

Itll be a stronger economy not only for indigenous, but a stronger economy working for the good of the entire country, said Cabecilla.

The sun sets over Nuevo Amanecer Hawai as members of the community load their communal truck with over 1000 kilos of sacked coffee. Despite the hardship theres a sense of hope and pride that comes alive in these moments of shared labour.

Theyve recently taken steps to form their own association. But for now, theyre left to sell where they can.

When asked about the communitys name, Chief Victor Pio said that when they returned to their village in the late 90s after nearly a decade of political violence had displaced them, their coffee had been overgrown by jungle. A variety of pineapple called Hawaii was all that survived in the abandoned fields. Pios late father chose the communitys new name of Nuevo Amanecer, or New Dawn Hawai.

In spite of all the injustice, all these things, the community keeps on living. Were still here, said Pio.
Alindao, a bucolic city in the Central African Republics southeast that is home to farmers and artisanal miners, largely avoided violence during the countrys recent civil war.

But today, nearly 23,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) live on the outskirts of town, on the grounds of a Catholic Church. They fled from their destroyed homes in May, after fighting broke out between Christian groups and Muslim ex-Seleka fighters. Thousands more IDPs live in two other sites nearby.

Fearful that the tenuous calm will descend back into clashes, the displaced residents have not returned home, and new arrivals from surrounding villages turn up daily.

Their plight characterises the changing nature of the CAR conflict, which has evolved into a battle over resources. In the countrys north and southeast, deadly clashes between remnants of former armed groups are common, at the expense of civilians.

In early December, a fragile peace agreement between predominantly Muslim ex-Seleka groups and Christians broke, heightening fears that the violence will spread through the countryside.

The IDPs come from the town and the nearby villages, and they had to run to avoid retaliation from different groups, said Sebastien Loth, the mission head for Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, in Alindao. There are too many armed groups to engage  to help the population [that is] most in need. The emergency is in the villages, just a few kilometres from Alindao.
Islamic art is a reminder of a Muslim past that some of todays powers are trying to undo.

Early in the evening of a delightful December Monday, accompanied by an Egyptian and an Italian friend, I entered the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha and I wondered to myself: What are the Saudis afraid of?

Upon our arrival, we noticed a special exhibition called Imperial Threads: Motifs and Artisans from Turkey, Iran and India. We entered and toured the exhibition and I found out what exactly it is that the Saudis are so afraid of.

There was not a single soul except the three of us wondering through those glorious halls. One Christian and two Muslims  one Sunni the other Shia by birth and upbringing  we were engulfed by the generosity of a history of arts and craft that had mapped a different world than the one we left behind entering the museum.

I have for long been an admirer of a number of art institutions in the Qatari capital. I have had occasions to celebrate the generosity of spirit with which the curatorial authorities at MIA have allocated their resources to collecting artifacts from across the Arab and Muslim world without the slightest sense of ethnic or sectarian prejudice.

The site of MIA is an island of peace and serenity crafted masterfully by the legendary Chinese-American architect I M Pei in the midst of a rambunctious cacophony of architectural mayhem perpetrated in this Arab capital.

I have also had more than one occasion to celebrate the other magnificent art institution in Doha  Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the site of the finest collection of contemporary and modern Arab art.

But I have also had reasons and on multiple occasions to cast a critical look at some other curatorial decisions in these important art institutions in Doha. I feel at home in these museums though I do not know a single soul in a position of authority there  I like to keep it that way.

Add to that constellation of galleries and museums various art residency programmes and youll get a sense of collective commitment to a wide spectrum of contemporary, modern, and Islamic art across time and continents, as well as a glimpse of how Doha has carved a niche for itself among Arab capitals.

What are museums for?

Immediately upon your arrival to the Imperial Threads exhibition, you realise you are in the capable hands of a learned, caring, competent and, above all, cosmopolitan curatorial confidence.

The first segment of the exhibition as you enter is dedicated to a marked celebration of the Safavid art and craft. Imagine that! Just a few hundred kilometres away from this museum, the term Safavid has degenerated into a curse abused by some Muslims against other Muslims.

Here, the term is the entry point into one of the most glorious phases of Islamic cultural history.

What we are witnessing throughout the Arab and Muslim world is a battle for the soul of the Muslim past to inhabit the spirit of the Muslim future. by

Imagine, just try to fathom, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the bosom buddy of Jared Kushner and Thomas Friedman, allowing a celebration of the dynasty that for centuries ruled Iran with might and majesty, cruelty and glory. With respect, with love, with admiration for the sublime and the beautiful, the caring hands of a curatorial policy at work here mark a historical period when a Muslim dynasty of Turkic descent ruled a prosperous swath of Muslim lands in Iran.

Then, you move along the same line of recognition and admiration for the Ottomans in Anatolia and the Mughals in India  which leads you to discover the logical progression of the artifacts crafted by artisans from Turkey, Iran and India highlighting the exchange of artistic and material cultures in the early modern era (16th-19th century)  as the curators rightly put it.

We further learn: Focusing on carpets as the prominent medium, manuscripts, metalwork, ceramics, and other objects are also featured to further illustrate the historical and artistic context of this time. That artistic history has the logic and rhetoric of its own, for beginning with the Timurid period in Iran and Central Asia (1370-1507), again in the judicious words of the curators, this exhibition shows the continuation of artistic practices shared amongst succeeding and neighboring dynasties, namely the Safavid in Iran (1501-1736), the Ottomans in Turkey (1299-1923) and the Mughals in India (1526-1857).

This is the rich and empowering Muslim history in full panoramic view  staged just a few hundred kilometres away from Yemen where more than eight million Muslims are a step away from famine. How could have we inherited that history and ended up in this calamity?

Reclaiming a robust past

None of such historic reminiscences is with a sense of misplaced nostalgia for lost Muslim empires or letting the state of Qatar, where MIA is located, off the hook for its own share in the current mayhem in the Arab and Muslim world. No state gets a clean bill of health in this region.

Nor is this to dismiss an entire nation trapped, like all other nations, in the claws of a self-serving Saudi clan, systemically vulnerable to the whims of one prince like Mohammed bin Salman.

What we are witnessing throughout the Arab and Muslim world is a battle for the soul of the Muslim past to inhabit the spirit of the Muslim future. In its ruling elite, Saudi Arabia represents a colossal obscenity of wealth and power dedicated to a peculiar brand of outdated Islamism that combines violent militarism and puritanical fanaticism.

Its arch nemesis, on the other hand, the ruling regime in the Islamic Republic of Iran, is also holding an entire nation of liberating possibilities in the claws of its outdated clericalism. The ruling regime in Iran is only slightly cleverer than its Saudi counterpart in fighting this losing battle for the future of the Muslim soul.

What is staged at MIA in Doha is precisely the opposite vision of Islam in this battlefield of fear and fanaticism: open-minded, generous, forgiving, embracing the best of Muslim past for the freest Muslim future.

I have nothing against giving a robot citizenship in Saudi Arabia, or even having it convert to Islam if that is the thing the robot opts to do. But I am convinced Muslims have far more urgent tasks upon their hands: the critical retrieving of the unresolved trouble spot of their past before they can embark upon any such adventurous future.

Our fates are not in the hands of the ruling families or cliques or ideologies of any state that is under the illusion of ruling over us  particularly the two belligerent states of Iran and Saudi Arabia. We, the people, Arabs and Muslims, configure our own destinies.

The ruling states do their own things and we do ours. In between the pernicious machinations of our ruling states there is plenty of space in which we can dismantle their manufactured hostilities and re-map the contours of our childrens future.

This particular exhibition at MIA is one such crucial space to visit and wonder.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
The WHOs Africa director talks about obstacles, lessons learned from Ebola and future of healthcare in the continent.

A lack of funding is hampering the fight to improve healthcare in Africa, the World Health Organizations (WHO) regional director for the continent has warned, calling for additional resources to improve access to life-saving treatments.

More than 445,000 people were killed by malaria in 2016, with Africa accounting for 91 percent of those deaths.

Last year also saw reported malaria cases rising to 216m, up from 211m compared with the year before, according to the WHOs latest global report. Ninety percent of those cases were in Africa.

The continent also suffered immensely in 2013 when Ebola killed more than 11,300 people and infected some 28,600 as it swept through the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

Al Jazeera spoke to Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHOs regional director for Africa, on the obstacles facing the organisation in the region, what lessons were learned from the Ebola crisis and what future does the continent face in light of the WHOs funding shortage. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Al Jazeera: What are the main challenges and obstacles facing the WHO in Africa?

Matshidiso Moeti: The biggest challenge facing us is working with 47 countries in the sub-Saharan region. We have a large number of lesser-developed and low-income countries and that means they have insufficient resources. It also means that healthcare in those countries is weak and not up to the task of catering to the entire population. Since they are significantly dependent on external funding, it imposes certain restrictions on how they develop their policies.

Lack of funding while working with these countries is a major concern. One of the ways we support these countries is to have expertise in place  good and motivated experts working and being backed up at regional level. But we dont have sufficient funding for all types of expertise.

Al Jazeera: Dr Tedros Adhanom, an Ethiopian, was elected WHO director general earlier this year. What does that appointment mean for Africa and its health agenda?

Moeti: Dr Tedros appointment is very significant for the region. It shows that he has the capacity to lead and play that role at a global level. It makes a difference in terms of the political access of the WHO to the highest level of political decision-makers around the continent. He has access to heads of states who we expect to be supporting the WHOs work.

It also means that we have somebody as a leader who knows the context of Africa as well as the conditions.

Al Jazeera: How big is the fight against malaria and HIV in Africa? And are these fights being won?

Moeti: These are very big fights. But weve been working on these for a number of decades and Id say were making progress. Malaria is very challenging but weve seen significant reduction in mortality from malaria. Innovations around diagnosis and treatment of malaria are starting to have some impact.

While were making progress, it is clearly not enough and it needs to speed up. We need improvement in terms of coverage to win the fight and for that we need additional resources.

Al Jazeera: You said the progress is not enough. What are the reasons behind that?

Moeti: That is due to a combination of issues. Its partly due to lack of funding. We had a partnership in place for a number of years but that that clearly did not work. This partnership has just been reformed and has been relaunched so to speak with a much clearer strategy so that countries and partners have enough money.

The WHO will still need additional money to have all the expertise that we like in different areas. This has also a lot to do with health systems in countries. They are not properly equipped and dont reach far enough quickly. The health workers, the testing equipment and good medication is also need to have a good outcome.

Al Jazeera: The WHOs handling of Ebola in Africa was described as a massive failure and the organisation faced huge criticism. Why did that happen and what lessons were learned from it?

Moeti: The WHO learnt a lot from that, but so did the international health and development community. The WHO couldve performed better. We got on the ground as soon as an unusually and more than expectedly Ebola outbreak started in Guinea.

By that time, the outbreak had spread to other areas and that is linked to the weakness of the health system in the country. The diagnostic capacity was not there in rural areas where it all started. But having said that, I think the WHO couldve done better.

Al Jazeera: What could you have done better?

Moeti: There was a delay in declaring the outbreak. The collective responsibility of countries and the WHO to declare outbreak to stop international spread did not happen. It shouldve at the beginning of this outbreak. We learnt a lot from that in terms of how to strengthen the awareness of member states of their responsibilities and also how to achieve our own responsibility in carrying out certain warnings.

Secondly, the WHOs capacity needed funding. It has been reduced over the years and therefore the capacity to serve and deploy sufficient teams in time to these countries, and in order to make a difference, wasnt there. The WHO did not have the money to be on the ground in time to make a difference.

As a result, we have now started a reform of our contingency fund which enables us to deploy the right sort of experts quickly as soon as there is a concern that an outbreak is happening.

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Al Jazeera: The majority of the WHOs funding comes from donations. Bill Gates donated $2bn from 1998 to 2014. How does the WHO manage its agenda with that of these private donors?

Moeti: About 70 percent of our funding is from donations. Much of that is voluntary contribution. Gates Foundation is our number two donor. But from my own experience, they support us to work on issues that we have identified as priority, for example support us for our work on malaria, child health, polio and education.

So we define the reform agenda and that is promoted by a number of partners and member states. My own experience has been that they are not here to influence agendas.

We wish to have a more balanced funding mechanism. Its very important so we can move money around and address some of the priorities that can be less attractive to donors but which we think are important in promoting health.

Al Jazeera: So with the lack of funding, what does the future hold for health in Africa?

Moeti: Were already seeing improvements taking place, for example reduction in child deaths, malaria and even HIV-related deaths are going down. But its the domestic investment in health that is needed. The countries finance ministers and parliaments need to recognise good health is a major contribution towards development.

That being said, theres still a lot to do. Were also advising countries on how they need to invest in hospitals as well as primary care. We also need to diversify sources of funding for the health sector if we wish to improve the situation in Africa.
Chile is the latest Latin America country to shift to the right after billionaire businessman wins presidential runoff.

Conservative former President Sebastian Pinera has won Chiles presidential runoff in an election that was expected to have a much closer result.

With nearly all of the ballots counted, electoral authorities said Pinera had secured 54.6 percent of the votes. His centre-left opponent, Alejandro Guillier, received 45.4 percent.

Although there were no opinion polls in the lead-up to Sundays election, analysts had expected the race to be tight as Guillier, a senator and popular TV journalist, had appeared to have gained some ground since the runoff last month.

The announcement of the win sparked scenes of jubilation at Pineras campaign headquarters in Chiles capital, Santiago.

I want to renew my commitment to all Chileans, a commitment to unity and dialogue so I invite all previous presidents to share their experience and advice with me so that we can reach national agreements to tackle our biggest problems, Pinera told his supporters.

While Pinera, a billionaire businessman who led the country from 2010 to 2014, has been linked to several business and political scandals, his support from the business community and markets helped pushed him to victory.

I think the general issue is that politicians are now so discredited  that people are just assume that they are liars or thieves and then choose between the lesser of two evils, political analyst Kristen Sehnbrunch told Al Jazeera.

Sundays election followed a first-round win by Pinera who received 36.6 percent of the vote last month.

Guillier came second with 22.7 percent. A candidate needed 50 percent to win outright.

More than half of Chiles eligible voters, some 6.5 million people, did not participate in the elections first round.

Turnout has been low since mandatory voting was scrapped in 2012.

Shift to the right

Pineras win on Sunday represents the latest Latin American country to shift to the political right.

Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman said, however, that Pinera will not have an easy time of it.

This is not only because the electorate has proven itself to be more demanding, but also because he will not enjoy a majority in the legislator, Newman said.

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This means that Pinera will still have a hard time rolling back on still popular social reforms as is happening in Brazil and neighbouring Argentina.

Political analyst Kenneth Bunker said that this Pinera government will be more of an administrative government.

Its going to be very similar to what we saw in his first term in power. Its going to be more short-term oriented and related to jobs, Bunker told Al Jazeera.

Pinera will replace incumbent Michelle Bachelet, a socialist who is Chiles first female president.

Bachelet had enjoyed a high approval rating in his first term.

Her popularity fell through in part because of a corruption scandal involving her daughter-in-law.

Chile is the first of seven Latin American countries to hold a presidential election over the next year.
Politicians from continent meet in Prague to unify efforts against disastrous EU as hundreds protest xenophobia.

Prague, Czech Republic  Far right leaders promised to build a new Europe without the EU, as they rallied against Islam and praised US President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policy at a meeting in Prague over the weekend.

Populist politicians from France, the UK, Poland, Austria and the Netherlands wrapped up their gathering on Sunday, held under the banner: For a Europe of sovereign nations.

The conference was hosted by the Czech Republics anti-Islam Freedom and Direct Democracy party, which won nearly 11 percent of the vote in October and is chaired by Tomio Okamura, a Czech-Japanese politician.

The meeting closed a year of far-right gains across Europe, as demonstrated most recently in Austria.

Members of the Freedom Party of Austria, who were present at the Prague conference, were lauded for having just entered the countrys new coalition government.

The National Fronts Marine Le Pen, who lost out on the French presidency earlier this year after reaching the final round of voting, said the development was excellent news for Europe.

These successes show that the nation states are the future, that the Europe of tomorrow is a Europe of the people, she said.

Along with Dutch Geert Wilders, who leads the Party for Freedom, Le Pen upped a call to unify opposition to the EU under the Europe of Nations and Freedom coalition (ENF)  the smallest group in the European Parliament, launched in 2015.

Closing Europes borders to asylum-seekers is one of the groups key ambitions.

Le Pen: EU is going to kill Europe

Because we like Europe, we say that the EU is going to kill her, Le Pen said on Saturday, calling for supporters to help overthrow the union.

None of us are xenophobic  we are opposed to the EU because we believe it is a catastrophically disastrous organisation.

Migration is close to unbearable  our respective cultures are being destroyed.

We do like diversity but I like the Dutch to be Dutch, the Czechs to be Czech, I like the French to be French and I like the Italians to be Italians.

We must have the courage to have travel bans as President Trump has done in the United States. by Geert Wilders, far-right politician

Wilders, meanwhile, rejected Islam as totalitarian ideology and warned that the continent would be overrun by Muslims.

We must have the courage to have travel bans as President Trump has done in the United States, he told delegates. We must have the courage to send every boat with illegal immigrants back as Australia is doing for such a long time.

He also praised the Czech Republic and the other Visegrad states as heroes for their continued defiance of EU refugee quotas.

We want also to remain the masters of our own house, he said.

Czech Republic accepts 12 of 2,000 refugees

Earlier this month, the European Commission took the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over their failure to accept their required share of asylum seekers.

The Czech Republic has taken just 12 of the more than 2,000 refugees it was assigned.

In the regional sense, the post-communist countries are particularly fragile and have always been, with the arrival with the now perceived danger from foreigners and Muslims, Jan Culik, a lecturer in Czech studies at the University of Glasgow, told Al Jazeera. They have very little immunity to xenophobia and now the Czech Republic and Poland are among the worst in this regard.

I would say it doesnt bode well for those countries that it is happening in Prague.

As meetings continued at a hotel, around 400 protestors held peaceful demonstrations against xenophobia.

They chanted shame, blew whistles and booed far-right supporters as they entered the compound, which was heavily fortified with security and police.

It is important to show people that we are against their actions and what they represent, with their racism and nationalism and hate against people, Jan Matustik, a 22-year-old student, told Al Jazeera.

As in neighbouring Poland and Hungary, anti-Islamic and anti-establishment rhetoric has become a mainstay in Czech politics.

Rising populism helped billionaire and Eurosceptic Andrej Babis become Czech prime minister in the last election; he also stands against EU migrant quotas. Earlier this month, Babis told journalists that he insisted on the issue during an EU summit in Brussels.
Department of Defense confirms it spent $22m a year from 2007 to 2012 to investigate unidentified flying objects.

The US Department of Defense has admitted that it used to fund a covert programme to investigate sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), according to multiple media reports.

The so-called Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program ran from 2007 to 2012, with $22m in annual funding, according to a New York Times report published on Saturday.

It was initially funded at the request of Harry Reid, a retired politician who was the majority leader of the US Senate at the time. Most of the money went to Bigelow Aerospace, a Nevada-based research company owned by Reids close friend and billionaire, Robert Bigelow, the Times said.

The papers report said researchers with the programme reviewed sightings of UFOs and assessed threats posed by the objects.

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They also studied videos of encounters between unknown objects and US military aircraft, including one released in August of US navy pilots chasing a mysterious whitish oval object.

After the publication of the report, Reid said on Twitter: We dont know the answers but we have plenty of evidence to support asking the questions. This is about science and national security.

In another post, he wrote: The truth is out there. Seriously.

If anyone says they have the answers, theyre fooling themselves. We dont know the answers but we have plenty of evidence to support asking the questions. This is about science and national security. If America doesnt take the lead in answering these questions, others will.  Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) December 16, 2017

The Department of Defense said it ended funding the project in 2012 when it determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding.

But The Times, citing a military intelligence official who ran the programme, Luis Elizondo, said that defence officials continued to investigate UFO episodes alongside their daily duties even after the money dried up.

Leroy Chiao, a former US astronaut and ex-commander at the International Space Station, told Al Jazeera that he was surprised by the money spent by the Pentagon at an age of fiscal responsibility and belt tightening.

My issue with it is that I dont think weve been visited. I think the distances are way too vast, he said on Sunday.

The US has a long history of apparent mysterious aircraft sightings, including the discovery of strange metal debris in 1947 by a rancher in Roswell, New Mexico.

News reports at the time said it was a flying saucer, but the military maintains it was just a crashed weather balloon.
The government worries that the vibrant economy could make congestion in the city centre even worse, hoping to replace the vehicles with public transport and push bikes.

Motorbikes are the way to go in Vietnam.

It is estimated that the capital, Hanoi, alone has more than five million motorcycles and scooters.

But the brakes are being put on the two-wheeler boom.

They are now being banned from the city to reduce congestion and pollution.

Al Jazeeras Wayne Hay reports from Hanoi.
Riots break out in Thindpura village after Indian soldiers kill driver who was mistaken for a rebel, officials say.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir  Hundreds of residents clashed with police in the northern part of Indian-administered Kashmir after soldiers killed a civilian driver who was mistaken for a rebel, officials and residents said.

Asif Iqbal, 25, was shot dead on Saturday night when he left his home to transport an ailing neighbour to hospital. His killing sparked clashes between paramilitary police in Thindpura village and residents, who refused to bury Iqbals body.

He died after getting injured in the firing just outside his home. He was preparing to ferry some patient in his cab. He was targeted by the army without any fault, everything was normal here. It was a cold-blooded murder, Sajan Ahmad Shah, who lives in the nearby village, told Al Jazeera.

The officials said that the army had laid an ambush on Saturday evening in Thindpura village, in north Kashmirs frontier Kupwara district, which borders the heavily militarised de facto border between India and Pakistan.

Based on information of presence of terrorists in Thindpura village, the army placed ambushes to maintain surveillance over the area  At around 22:55 hours, an ambush party observed suspicious movement of three persons . The individuals were challenged by troops; however, they did not respond, the army said in a statement.

Thereafter, terrorists opened fire towards army ambush party which was retaliated. In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, resident of Thindpura, was killed due to gunshot wound. It is learnt that he was a sumo taxi driver, the army said.

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Iqbal was taken to hospital, first to the nearby Kralpora area and then transferred to the regions main city, Srinagar, but he died on the way.

He was brought here in a very critical condition as he had a bullet injury to his skull, a doctor from the sub-district Kralpora hospital told Al Jazeera. He had lost a lot of blood on the spot. We gave him first aid and referred him to Srinagar but he had died on the way.

Internet suspended

As news of the drivers death spread along with the clashes, the authorities ordered a shutdown of mobile internet service to prevent the protests from spreading to other areas.

Internet services are frequently suspended in Kashmir valley as a measure to contain dissent.

Kashmir valley has witnessed frequent spells of protests since summer last year, when the killing of a rebel commander in a gunfight triggered a widespread wave of demonstrations in the region.

The police said it has filed a complaint and will investigate the incident.

Superintendent of Police Kupwra, Shamsher Hussain, said the drivers death was a case of mistaken identity.

The sumo driver was asked to stop but he didnt and was then shot by soldiers, a newspaper quoted Hussain as saying.

Soon after news of the drivers death spread, people from nearby villages took to the streets, raising anti-India slogans that also triggered clashes in the area on Sunday, locals said. About half a dozen people were injured in the clashes.

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All entry points to Kralpora were blocked to stop protesters from marching, and, in some places, tear gas shells were used to disperse the protesters, locals said.

Many policemen suffered injuries, including senior superintendent of police, Khalid Jehangir, who heads civil administration in Kupwara, told Al Jazeera.

Senior human rights lawyer Parvez Imroz told Al Jazeera that the incident indicates that there is no accountability in Kashmir, and killings continue to happen.

The forces enjoy impunity here, thats why these incidents are going to happen. Last week a lady was killed by army, and now this driver is killed. As long as there is no accountability they will continue to happen, Imroz said.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep among Kashmirs mostly Muslim population, and most support the rebels cause against Indian rule, despite a decades-long military crackdown to fight the armed rebellion.

Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 for the Indian-administered portion to become independent or merge with Pakistan.

Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. India maintains roughly 500,000 soldiers in the territory.
The chorus of condemnation against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital is getting louder, with protests continuing across the world nearly two weeks after President Trumps decision.

The chorus of condemnation against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital is getting louder, with protests continuing across the world nearly two weeks after President Donald Trumps decision.

In Indonesia, Muslim clerics are calling for a boycott of American products, after an estimated 80,000 demonstrators protested outside the US embassy in the capital, Jakarta.

Al Jazeeras Dessi Arianti reports from Jakarta.
Lawyer says emails were acquired unlawfully, while Democrats discount argument as attempt to discredit Russia probe.

A lawyer with US President Donald Trumps transition team has accused the special counsel that is probing alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election of illegally obtaining tens of thousands of emails during its investigation.

Kory Langhofer, counsel for Trump for America, Inc (TFA), submitted a letter to the primary Senate and House oversight committees on Thursday, outlining how career staff at the General Services Administration (GSA)  unlawfully produced TFAs private materials, including privileged communications, to the special counsels office.

The GSA is responsible for managing and supporting federal agencies.

In the letter, published by Politico, Langhofer argued that the special counsels office was aware that the GSA did not own or control the records in question and that the documents and tens of thousands of emails have been extensively used during the investigation.

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The letter and accusations have been swiftly discounted by Democrats and other legal experts as an attempt to discredit the Russia-Trump investigation.

The probe, headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, began in May to investigate any potential links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign.

So far, four people, including Trumps former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, have been charged as part of the investigation.

Privileged

Langhofer maintains that although the TFA undertakes executive or quasi-executive functions  they are not federal agencies and therefore their communications are private and some are privileged.

The lawyer said the TFA had learned of the disclosure last week.

According to the letter, the FBI requested the copies of the emails, laptops, mobile phones and other materials associated with nine transition members responsible for national security and policy matters on August 23.

Langhofer requested that Congress act immediately to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies.

Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsels office, said in a statement to Reuters news agency that 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.

The GSA had not responded to Al Jazeeras request for comment at the time of publication.

No executive privilege

Democrats and other legal experts have criticised the letter, saying the accusations are another attempt to smear the Mueller investigation.

Courts generally unwilling to find reasonable right to privacy for .gov emails. Also, since Trump lawyers don't know what leads Mueller is investigating, they won't know which emails may be important. This seems like another desperate attempt to smear the Mueller investigation. https://t.co/Z8o64Q6q6E  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 17, 2017

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti tweeted that it is not inappropriate or even unusual for prosecutors to obtain emails from a third party.

Of course Mueller obtained emails from a third party. Prosecutors in most white collar criminal investigations do that. Its not inappropriate or even unusual. Anyone who claims otherwise has no idea what theyre talking about. https://t.co/1JKNobvKJd  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 16, 2017

Congressman Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, questioned how private documents can be kept on a government email system.

He tweeted: Private documents on a US government public email system? What are they afraid was found? Baloney. This is another attempt to discredit Mueller as his #TrumpRussia probe tightens.

Private documents on a US Government, public email system? What are they afraid was found? Baloney. This is another attempt to discredit Mueller as his #TrumpRussia probe tightens. https://t.co/VZTkwiGmoB https://t.co/q0HTbwpQRK  Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 16, 2017

Norm Eisen, who worked as a lawyer on former President Barack Obamas transition team in 2008, said he warned everyone within his team that there is NO expectation of privacy in  transition emails, adding that the clue [is] emails are name [at] ptt.gov.

He also tweeted: Executive privilege does not apply until you are the executive; these documents are from the transition, before Trump became the executive [demonstrating] no executive privilege.

I was the Deputy GC of a Transition (Obama-Biden 08). I warned everyone: there is NO expectation of privacy in your transition emails. The clue: emails are "name@ptt.gov." The whining letter from the Trump Transition tacitly admits this: it ends by asking for a legislative fix https://t.co/RfBJPSMmlt  Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) December 17, 2017

No collusion

Trump and the White House have repeatedly said that absolutely no collusion has taken place nor has been proven by Muellers investigation.

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Former National Security Advisor Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI earlier this month in relation to his contact with the Russian ambassador just before Trump took office.

He is said to be cooperating with Muellers team.

George Papadopoulos, an adviser during the campaign, also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI in October.

Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign manager, and his business associate Rick Gates, were charged with 12 counts, including conspiracy against the US, money laundering and other financial charges, as part of the investigation. They pleaded not guilty in October.
Dozens also wounded after attackers target church packed with worshippers attending a Sunday midday service.

Islamabad  A suicide bomb and gun attack on a church in the western Pakistani city of Quetta has killed at least eight people and wounded dozens of others, hospital officials say.

The attack targeted Bethel Memorial Methodist Church as worshippers gathered inside to attend a Sunday midday service.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of the church, prompting a police operation, officials told Al Jazeera.

A second attacker fired upon worshippers, before being killed by security forces at the scene.

We have cleared the immediate area around the church, and we are now clearing a peripheral area further out, Moazzam Jah Ansari, police chief of Balochistan province, told reporters at the site of the attack.

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Witnesses reported a heavy exchange of gunfire in the neighbourhood as police worked to clear the area.

People were fleeing to the corners [of the church]. I couldnt understand what was happening; it happened so suddenly, a woman, who was at the church when the attack occurred, said on condition of anonymity.

Waseem Ahmed, an official at the nearby Civil Hospital, said 33 people were wounded in the attack.

More than 200 people were gathered at the church for the service at the time of the attack.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement published by its Amaq outlet. The group did not provide any evidence for its claim.

Frequent attacks

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has been at the centre of recent violence in Pakistan.

The city has come under attack both from armed groups allied with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and separatist fighters.

Last month, a suicide attack targeting paramilitary soldiers killed at least four people and wounded 15 others.

Earlier that month, a senior police official was also killed in a similar attack, while in October at least seven police officials were killed in another roadside bombing.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras Web Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim. Additional reporting by Saadullah Akhtar in Quetta
After a shock first round, the race for Chiles presidency is completely open, analysts say.

Chileans are voting in a presidential run off between conservative former President Sebastian Pinera and centre-left candidate Alejandro Guillier, a senator and popular TV journalist.

Polls opened on Sunday at 11:00 GMT and will close at 21:00 GMT. Final results are expected on Sunday night.

Education reform, growing inequality and a stagnant economy are the key issues for voters but many are expected to stay home after a poor turnout in the first round of voting last month.

Billionaire businessman Pinera, who led the country from 2010 to 2014, had been widely predicted to win, but a strong performance in the first round by outsider candidates plunged the race into uncertainty.

The November 19 vote returned a lower-than-expected 36.6 percent for Pinera, while Guillier came second with nearly 23 percent.

A candidate needs 50 percent to win outright.

It could go either way

The main shock from the first round was the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition, headed by journalist Beatriz Sanchez, which took 20 percent of the vote, more than double pollsters predictions.

Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast also exceeded expectations, gaining eight percent, and becoming a key ally for Pinera in the second round as a result.

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Polling is banned in the weeks running up to the election but analysts say the results will depend on which candidate can best draw Chiles disenchanted electorate towards the centre.

At the moment the race is completely open, said Roland Benedikter, a political analyst.

People are thinking if Pinera comes to power, maybe the rich will thrive and there will be more employment, but if the left stays in power, with Guillier, then probably there will be more equality. Theres a mood in the air that it could go either way, Benedikter told Al Jazeera.

Discontent and the legacy of Bachelet

Pinera and Guillier are battling to replace incumbent socialist President Michelle Bachelet, Chiles first female president, who leaves behind a chequered legacy.

Bachelet ended her first term in 2010 with an approval rating of 84 percent, the highest since the country returned to democracy in 1989 following the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. She won the presidency again four years later and will leave office in March of next year.

Bachelet struggled to implement ambitious reforms in her second term which, combined with a slew of corruption scandals, have left voters feeling uninspired.

How could we not be dissatisfied?, said Luis Briones, an English teacher from Temuco, a city in southern Chile.

We dont have enough money to save for a decent pension, pay for our childrens education, health insurance, or to buy a house. We have to choose among those or live in debt, he told Al Jazeera.

More than half of Chiles eligible voters, some 6.5 million people, did not participate in the elections first round. Turnout has been low since mandatory voting was scrapped in 2012.

According to Benedikter, whether Pinera or Guillier come out on top on Sunday depends on who can best persuade voters who chose far-right and far-left candidates in the first round.

Mobilisation of the voters is important for both candidates and that will be the decisive factor in this election, he told Al Jazeera.

There is a new ideological polarisation in Chile but because all elections in Chile are won in the centre, every representative of the right and the left must strive not to go too far towards the wings of their party, he said.

A new political force?

This new polarisation was evident in the results from the first round.

In addition to Sanchez claiming third place, Broad Front also secured 20 seats in the lower house of Congress and its first seat in the Senate in congressional elections that took place on the same day as the presidential vote, ensuring its effect will be felt long after these elections.

I think they will be the new political force in Chile, a third power statistician and pollster Miguel Zlosilo told Al Jazeera.

They will not disappear at the next election. I think its the opposite, they will be stronger, he said.

While the party has not officially endorsed either candidate, key figures including Sanchez and former student leader Giorgio Jackson have backed Guillier, who will be hoping their support will convince Broad Front supporters.

State of transformation

Chiles next president will face an altered political landscape both at home and abroad as the country figures out its own political identity amid a wave of regional elections.

According to Peter DeShazo, a professor of Latin American studies at Dartmouth College and former US diplomat, Chile is in a state of transformation.

The political system is transitioning from the very stable old order of the centre left and centre right coalition to something new and it remains to be seen what that new political order is going to look like, he told Al Jazeera.

With more access to information, voting bases in all countries are looking deeper into the candidates and demanding more, he said.

Chile is the first of seven Latin American countries to hold presidential elections over the next 12 months, including major regional players Brazil and Mexico.

Venezuela is also due to head to the polls by December 2018, however, the countrys President Nicolas Maduro has banned the main opposition parties from taking part.

With six more presidential elections following in 2019, Chiles neighbours will be awaiting Sundays results with interest.








The Arab Bank chairman had been detained for questioning during a business trip to Riyadh.

Palestinian billionaire businessman Sabih al-Masri has been released by Saudi authorities following his detention last week.

Al-Masri told the Reuters news agency on Sunday that he was treated with respect by the Saudis and would be returning to the Jordanian capital, Amman, upon the conclusion of business meetings this week.

In the meantime, he had returned to his home in Riyadh, the news agency reported.

The 80-year-old founder of Zara Investment Holding and chairman of the Arab Bank was held in the Saudi capital for questioning last week about information related to corruption, according to the Arab news website Rai al-Youm.

There were no formal charges against al-Masri, who reportedly also holds Saudi and Jordanian citizenship.

One of Jordans most prominent businessmen, Sabih al-Masri is the cousin of the billionaire Munib al-Masri, the wealthiest person in Palestine.

He also founded the Palestine Securities Exchange and has managed investment companies and financial economic institutions across the Middle East and beyond.

His detention sent shockwaves across Jordan, where al-Masris multibillion-dollar investments are a cornerstone of the economy.

His detention came amid an anti-corruption purge initiated by Saudi Arabia at the beginning of November, an unprecedented crackdown targeting some of the countrys top officials, businessmen and members of the royal family.
Vehicle carrying eight female adults and two girls returning from wedding was struck by coalition air raid, locals say.

At least eight women and two girls heading home from a wedding have been killed in an air attack in central-west Yemen, a health official has told Al Jazeera.

Saba news agency, aligned with Yemens Houthi group, cited a security source as saying that the womens vehicle was struck by three Saudi-led coalition air raids late on Saturday.

The attack reportedly took place at around 11pm local time (20:00 GMT) in the Harib al-Qaramish district of the Marib governorate, east of the capital, Sanaa, where the wedding had taken place.

So far, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels has not commented on the alleged air attack.

Mohammad al-Sheab, head of the health bureau in Marib, told Al Jazeera that the victims were all from the Haysan family. He said the women were between 30 to 50 years old, without providing an age for the two girls.

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In a post on Twitter, Mohammad Abdel Salam, spokesperson for Ansar Allah, the political arm of the Houthis, called the attack a massacre.

In previous tweets, Abdel Salam also accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out three bloody massacres in [the towns of] Taiz, Saada and Hodeidah over the weekend. He added that more than 70 people were killed in those attacks.

Humanitarian catastrophe

Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition at war in Yemen since March 2015, when the oil-rich kingdom intervened to push back Houthi rebels and allied troops, and reinstate the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Despite being mired in the war for more than two years, the coalition has so far failed to achieve its stated aims as Houthi rebels continue to hold Sanaa and control the countrys north.

The war has taken a huge toll on Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country.

More than 10,000 civilians have been killed, and millions of Yemenis have been left without basic necessities.

Last week, the UN warned that some 8.4 million people are a step away from famine in Yemen, which is already battling a massive cholera epidemic.
Egyptian draft resolution following Trumps declaration is unlikely to pass, facing a probable veto by the US.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Monday on a draft resolution rejecting the establishment of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem, less than two weeks after the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital.

The leaked text of the draft, obtained by Al Jazeera, calls on all UN member states not to move their missions to Jerusalem.

Trump declared Washingtons new stance on December 6, saying at the time that the US would be moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The leaked Egyptian-drafted resolution, however, does not mention the United States by name, saying it deeply regrets recent decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem.

Al Jazeeras Mike Hanna, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, said it was understood that countries such as Egypt and the UK wanted to try and keep the language as neutral as possible in a  possibly vain  attempt to keep the US from exercising its Security Council veto.

This caused a degree of anger to Palestinian delegates who wanted to single out the US by name, added Hanna.

As it stood by Sunday night, the leaked text was a restatement of the UNs position on Jerusalem as outlined through decades of Security Council and General Assemblys resolutions, our correspondent noted.

It affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

Unlikely to pass

The resolution, however, is widely expected to face a US veto, which would render it futile.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, as well as 10 non-permanent members.

A veto from any of the five permanent members would block the resolution from passing.

Hanna said that the there may be efforts by the Palestinians and Turkey to take the issue to the UN General Assembly if the US vetoes the resolution.

It would appear that that veto is likely to happen with Israels enthusiastic backing, which describes the resolution as a Palestinian attempt to reinvent history, despite the fact that it is routed on UN resolutions as they stand at present, added Hanna.

Mass rallies

Trumps declaration fuelled widespread anger and protests within Palestine and across the world, with the latest and largest demonstration taking place on Monday in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where some 80,000 people rallied outside the US embassy in the city.

Since the decision, nine Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,900 people have been injured in protests in the occupied territories.

Due to Jerusalems importance to the three Abrahamic religions  Islam, Judaism, and Christianity  the citys status has long been the main sticking point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

After occupying the citys eastern part in the 1967 War, Israel annexed the territory. In 1980, it proclaimed it as its eternal, undivided capital.

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Israels control and sovereignty over the city are not recognised by any country in the world and, as of now, all embassies in Israel are based in Tel Aviv, although some countries have based their consulate offices in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, however, see East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

They have warned that any change to the status quo would mean the end of the peace process premised on a two-state solution.
ANC finally verifies list of credible delegates to vote in landmark conference to elect leader to succeed Jacob Zuma.

Soweto, South Africa  Voting for the next leader of South Africas ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), is expected to commence later on Sunday, the ANC has announced.

In a press briefing at Nasrec conference centre in Soweto, where the ANC is meeting for its 54th National Conference, Jessie Duarte, the partys deputy secretary-general, said that the ANC had finally verified all the delegates who would take part in proceedings.

There are around 4,700 delegates who have been verified  voting will start later this afternoon, and results are likely to be announced tomorrow, Duarte said.

The five-day conference that began on Saturday has already suffered significant delays after the officials battled to vet the eligibility of delegates.

We had to delay credentials by a day due to court challenges in several provinces, Duarte said.



Q&A: South Africas ruling ANC faces a deep crisis

The battle to succeed President Jacob Zuma has already threatened to split the 105-year-old organisation.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the former head of the AU Commission and President Zumas ex-wife, are the frontrunners in a tense battle that will dictate the future of the popular party. It is yet unclear who will win.

Either way, analysts say the ANC faces an uphill battle to get the party back on track with South Africa struggling with low economic growth, high unemployment and rising dissent.

Ebrahim Fakir, independent political analyst, told Al Jazeera that the ANC would battle to resuscitate its values.

There is a deep crisis in the ANC and it goes to every single level, whether it is [the] policy or ideological outlook of the party or personalities or institutional and organisational [issues], or the policy making machine, [or] whether its about the relationship between the policymakers and the parliamentary caucus and the members of the executive, he said.

Fakir added that the fact that there were opposing visions within the ANC for the future of the party and the country, showed that the ANC were at war with itself.

Pinning blame

What can we expect from South Africas ANC conference?

In his final address as ANC president on Saturday, Zuma appeared to endorse Dlamini-Zuma when he said that it was a milestone that there were three female candidates for president.

He also blamed ill-discipline among party cadres and factionalism for the failures of the party, but made no mention of the numerous ways in which he had brought the party into disrepute over several allegations of corruption.

President Zumas unpersuasive and lacklustre report yesterday evening elicited a tepid response from an audience that remained unconvinced by his empty platitudes and pernicious blame-shifting for the state of weak governance in South Africa, Ayesha Omar, lecturer in political studies at Wits University, told Al Jazeera.

Zuma also announced on Saturday that there would be free tertiary education for working class students from 2018. The move follows a series of student-led protests for free education in what became known as #FeesMustFall movement.

Students categorised as poor and working class, under the new definition, will be funded and supported through government grants not loans, a presidential statement said.

While the announcement has been welcomed in some quarters, and is been seen as a step in the right direction, it has also left in its wake, a series of unanswered questions over governments ability to fund the programme.

Steven Friedman, Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg, told local media that he believed that it was a populist ploy to win votes at the ANC conference.

Follow Azad Essa on Twitter: @AzadEssa
Estimated 80,000 protesters call on US president to stop plan to move US embassy to Jerusalem, in largest rally to date.

Protesters have once again poured on to the streets of several international cities in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians, condemning a US decision to officially recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Eleven days after US President Donald Trumps move, mass rallies were held on Sunday in Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan.

The biggest demonstration took place in Indonesias capital, Jakarta, where an estimated 80,000 protesters rallied outside the US embassy.

Waving Palestinian flags, the protesters also called on Trump to stop his plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Al Jazeeras Dessi Arianti, reporting from the massive rally in Jakarta, the fourth since Trumps announcement, said that many of the marchers had travelled from out of town to express their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Men, women and children, carrying Palestinian flags and banners, condemned the US move while rallying at the National Monument in Jakarta at sunrise on Sunday, Arianti said.

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Many people, wearing white Muslim robes, held hands in prayers and called on Israel to leave Palestinian soil. Indonesia has been a long-time supporter of independent Palestine. Protesters called for a resolution to end the conflict and vowed to continue fighting for the cause, our correspondent said.

Rallies in Ankara and Karachi

There were similar scenes in Turkeys capital, Ankara, where protesters raised Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as Jerusalem is ours and will remain so.

Al Jazeeras Natasha Ghoneim, reporting from the rally, said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as a potent advocate for the Palestinians, rallying other Muslim countries to rail against Trumps decision.





On Wednesday, Erdogan hosted an extraordinary summit in Istanbul for the 57-strong Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, during which he called Trumps move dangerous and labelled Israel a terrorist state.

Ghoneim said Erdogan has a lot of support on the Turkish street, adding that there have been protests throughout the country.

I am actually very glad of Trumps Jerusalem decision as it served to unite the Muslim world and get them into action, a male protester holding a Palestinian flag told Al Jazeera.

Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in the Pakistani city of Karachi to condemn Trumps decision.

Trumps announcement overturned decades of US policy, and a long-standing international consensus, that the fate of Jerusalem be decided as part of a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians.

Israeli and Palestinian claims to the citys eastern sector form the core of their conflict, and Trumps announcement was seen as siding with the Israelis.

Boycott US products

Back in Jakarta, Anwar Abbas, a top scholar from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American products until Trump revoked his move.

Dont rely on their products, he said, as the crowd  including men, women and children  responded by waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouting boycott!

Previous anti-American protests have unsuccessfully lobbied for a boycott of US goods.

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the protesters marched peacefully about 3km from the National Monument Park to the US embassy.

Some local media reported that the number of demonstrators was double the police estimate.

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About 20,000 security forces were deployed to secure the rally.

In the petition, the leaders and scholars urged Trump to immediately revoke his recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital because it has hurt international justice, violated Palestinians human rights and undermined peace efforts.

It also demanded nations not follow the US in moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss Trumps declaration.

The chairman of the Muslim leaders council, Maruf Amin, said: Lets fight together with the government and the world for the freedom of Palestine through political, diplomatic and economic ways.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo has strongly condemned Trumps move as a violation of UN resolutions.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and has long been a strong supporter of Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
It is a period of civil war. Liberal filmmakers and lawmakers, striking from their elitist enclaves, have won their first victories against the forces of decency and godliness.

During the battles, liberal spies managed to infiltrate the highest echelons of government, media, and the arts, securing an obscene ruling that same-sex couples may marry. Their goal is to destroy an entire civilization under their perverted view of fairness.

Pursued by the truth, liberal directors and actors race to the screen to indoctrinate audiences into this twisted notion and aid in further enslaving the masses of the planet into their mistaken worldview.

Please forgive me if that revised intro into the Star Wars universe sounds hyperbolic. It's to illustrate that liberal creative types can't be content to entertain us with a movie when there is a culture war at stake. Consider the quotes by two of the newest Star Wars contributors: psychologist J.J. Abrams and biologist John Boyega. I'm sorry  that should be movie director J.J. Abrams and actor John Boyega, who both play make-believe for a living.

In March of 2016, Abrams said this about homosexual characters in the future episodes of the Star Wars franchise: "I would love it. To me, the fun of Star Wars is the glory of possibility. So it seems insanely narrow-minded and counterintuitive to say that there wouldn't be a homosexual character in that world." Yes, J.J., I guess it's also narrow-minded to say there are people who believe that entertainers should entertain and not preach, but that clearly won't shut up liberal blabbermouths with an ax to grind.

In October of 2017, Boyega said: "There definitely is that responsibility, but more the responsibility to hire those from those experiences to share their creative light. That's the pivotal thing. If you hire the same sort of people, you're just getting the same sort of film. It's not wrong, but then there's a lack of variety. I think that Oscar [Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron] is always looking at me with love in his eyes, and I guess that the fans saw it. And then they realized that either he needs to chill or come out." What exactly Boyega was prattling on about in the first two sentences is a mystery, but he got to the point afterward by stating that two dudes who've helped each other in various adventures naturally just want to share a roll in the intergalactic hay.

Aside from their nonsensical babbling about responsibility and narrow-mindedness, and translating a friendship between two men into a sexually repressed homoerotic sideshow, neither Abrams nor Boyega seems to understand what made Star Wars a long-lasting cultural juggernaut. It wasn't about lofty and vague notions about the responsibility to include homosexual characters, engineering longing looks between men, or appeasing liberal sycophantic friends. It was about the ongoing battle between good and evil, and entertaining audiences in the process. To be sure, George Lucas was and is a liberal whose original message behind Star Wars was how primitive societies could whip more technologically advanced societies, which stemmed from his resentment over the involvement of the United States in Vietnam in the 1960s. He needed to overlook the fact that the Star Wars rebels destroyed every Death Star and killed off the Empire via technology, but idealists rarely stop to look at logic or evidence, even in a fictional world.

The libs are aglow with the prospect of two men declaring their erotic feeling for each other in a science fiction movie, regardless of how ridiculously misplaced such a thing would be. Parent company Disney doesn't seem to care, at least publicly, as long as tickets and merch are sold.

Current Lucasfilm president and Star Wars "brand manager" Kathleen Kennedy seemed to quash this notion, at least for now, by saying: "We've talked about it, but I think you're not going to see it in The Last Jedi. In the next six or eight months, we will have some meetings about the stories that we will develop next."

So the issue clearly isn't dead, and as with any liberal cause, they will never give up on it. They'll just develop better marketing, such as "marriage equality" instead of "legalized sodomy," and move forward to their goal.

A same-sex relationship is not new for the Star Wars canon, as some were introduced to in a video game and a couple of their novelizations, but the big screen is the big prize for Abrams and his fellow libs. In their worldview, it makes perfect sense for a same-sex couple to be together, despite the real-world logic that such a couple could never produce offspring and are a tiny percentage of Earth's population. Logic and evidence aside, it's time for the rest of the world to be dragged into their idea of progress. Calmer and more rational heads may prevail and jettison this idiotic plot detail, but expect this issue to be hotly contested in storylines for Episode 9 (or "IX" for purists) of the Star Wars saga.

The denizens of Hollywood are rife with those who seek to corrupt and pervert society through any medium at hand. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi: "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
The Democracy Dies in Darkness Cafe is located conveniently near the Capitol, the Hill and the FBI headquarters. Its open all night and I stopped in for a late-night coffee with my friend, a fiction novelist who was depressed. I spent a year writing about a coup attempt against an outsider who by strategic brilliance defeated the handpicked candidate of a cabal of establishment powerhouses. It involved the highest officials of the FBI and Department of Justice. They manipulated a FISA Court into letting them electronically surveil the candidate and all who worked with him, unmasked their names, leaked what they found, and they still couldnt beat him. Then they engineered the recusal of the attorney general, got his deputy to appoint their bestest pal to be special counsel. Given free rein, he hired fierce partisans of the defeated candidate, used the ill-gotten information against her opponents to prosecute three people with minimal connection to the campaign -- one for a dubious process crime dependent on the notes of an FBI agent who had earlier orchestrated lies about Benghazi, covered up for the misuse of classified information by the losing candidate, and oversaw the investigation into the president.

Sounds great, I said, so why are you depressed?

Every publisher I sent it to rejected it as being too implausible to sell to readers.

It was hard to talk much as the place was rocking. There was a private room to the side, packed with white collar criminal defense counsels drinking champagne and downing tenderloin. Every single one of them had fat retainers to defend the accused, the top brass of the FBI and former Department of Justice officials.

In another corner sat a well-known "womens advocate" (against Republicans only) and her daughter. They looked morose, probably because it had just been revealed that donations had been sought to pay victims of the president, as if paying them to come forward publicly wasnt paying them to lie. In any event, those they found had offered up stories so weak as to be risible, like the gal who claimed hed seen her when she was in a robe, whining that she was naked under it. I mean arent we all naked under our clothing? And it didnt escape attention that a few moments later she was going on a catwalk in a string bikini under which she was still naked.

At the bar sat what were a group of FBI agents belting down drinks at a rapid pace. They were talking so softly in all that din I could barely hear them.

Why was the judge recused in the Flynn case? asked one. Isnt he one of the judges on the FISA court?

Do you suppose the Inspector General asked him why the warrant was issued? Do you think theyre onto the fact the phony Dossier was the basis and the likelihood that the cases may have to be ditched because they were the fruit of an illegal search?

Another piped up, Judge Sullivan is now handling the Flynn case. Remember how furious he was about all the shenanigans we pulled in the Ted Stevens case?

How much longer are we going to get away with refusing to do video interrogations and relying on 302 agent recollections -- which in the Stevens case were written years later and backdated or never written at all if they were exculpatory, and in the Lewis Libby case were in conflict with the recollections of the second agent who was present?

"We all loved it when It was only our word against theirs. Im sure thats about to end. Hell, its hard enough to get anyone to even talk to us without a lawyer these days except when they are off guard and think the visit is about some other thing altogether.

How much longer after this mess will the FBI even have a counterintelligence portfolio? I mean those who have been arguing for years that the two missions are incompatible -- one is to prosecute crimes and the other to keep track of foreign threats? Using the instruments of surveillance to play politics should finally end it. Heck, that's what I thought after Garland, Texas, where to keep his cover, the idiot agent did nothing to stop the jihadis from trying to murder people.

I had to move my chair to the other side of the table we were sitting at. The folks at the media table were so sloshed they were falling on the floor next to me mumbling stuff about fake news and the folly of using Adam Schiff as a source.

And then a dozen Congressmen walked in with their staffs trying desperately to console them They sat down and it was clear they were working to help their top staff find new jobs after they were going to resign as the sex harassment slush fund story was due to break. Frankly, observed one, its going to be hard to do. You can be sure there are no slots you can get in this Administration, the NGOs are suffering cutbacks, the press is laying off people, the Democrat lobbyists arent hiring. If our replacements dont hire you, maybe Amazon needs drivers.

Equally morose was the passel of public interest honchos who fear the new tax law, which reduces the incentive to make contributions, would shutter their doors or at least trim their sails, the green operations who were cut off from the old EPA sue-and-settle scam, and the professional race baiters and agitators no longer being financed by the CFPB.

It wasnt all sadness and gloom, though. The gang in the MAGA hats were having a great time of it.
Geert Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party in the Netherlands, just tweeted Jordan=Palestine. So, the capital of Palestine is not Jerusalem but Amman.

It cant get any simpler than that.

The primary stumbling block to Israel annexing the land she was promised in the Palestinian Mandate and which she conquered in 1967, Gaza aside, is the fact that 1.6 million Arabs live there. All solutions put forward by the Israeli right take a stab at the problem. They range from offering the Arabs a path to citizenship to incentivizing them to emigrate voluntarily.

Amman, Palestine?

There is great opposition in Israel to the citizenship idea as it would present Israel with an Arab population amounting to 35% of the total population. To have an understanding of how big a problem that would be for Israel, just look at the problems European countries are having with a Muslim minority of only 5 to 10%. Israelis want no part of that nightmare. Paying Arabs to leave is a far more attractive solution.

The leading Israeli voice for offering compensation as an inducement to emigration, is Martin Sherman, the founder of Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. He suggests offering $300,000 per family. Such a plan would cost at least $100 billion to get West Bank Arabs to emigrate. This is a mindboggling sum to most Israelis, but Sherman argues that it is affordable.

The Jordan Option represents a different solution, one which would be far less costly to Israel. It requires changing Jordan from a monarchy to a parliamentary democracy.

After the voluntary or forced abdication by King Abdullah, the Jordan Opposition Coalition, (JOC) led by Mudar Zahran, would form the interim government. Given the fact that 75% of Jordanian citizens are Palestinian, i.e., their grandparents were/are Palestinian, this is only fitting. Besides in the last few years, King Abdullah has alienated both U.S. and Israel for different reasons. They now want him out.

New alliances are forming in the Middle East as the feud between Iran and Saudi Arabia heats up. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt are committed to fighting terrorism and the ideology which fuels it. To this end they have banned the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a terrorist organization and have placed sanctions on Qatar who continues to support them and other terrorist organizations.

Jordan hosts the world headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood and its parliament is controlled by both MB and ISIS members.

The King also supports Palestinian resistance to Israel and from time to time encourages them to start an intifada.

As further evidence of the alliances being formed, it is instructive to look at the Islamic Summit held last week in Istanbul. It was organized as a response to President Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Eqypt did not attend. Jordan, on the other hand, did and aligned with Iran, Turkey, and Qatar who dominated the discourse.

Jordan may once have been an ally. It now must be considered an enemy.

Zahran is imminently qualified for the role. He spent much of his youth in the U.S. where he got a masters degree. He also lived many years of his adult life in Jordan where he was employed by the U.S. and served in an intelligence capacity at the U.S. embassy in Amman.

After criticizing King Abdullah one time too many, he was forced to flee and seek asylum in Britain where he now lives. Shortly thereafter, Jordan tried him in absentia for treason and convicted him.

While in Britain, he earned a PhD and continued to build the JOC and to call for the King to abdicate.

It is the intention of the JOC to make Jordan a secular democracy on friendly terms with Israel and the U.S. They also intend to revitalize the Jordanian citizenship of all Palestinians and to welcome them to emigrate to Jordan as a matter of right.

Therefore, all Palestinians in Israel and elsewhere would benefit from this transformation. They could emigrate to Jordan and immediately be full citizens with full rights to pensions, social security and healthcare.

Even if no Palestinians in Israel or Judea and Samaria (West Bank) would emigrate, Israel would also benefit from the regime change in Jordan.

One of the reasons Israel hesitates to annex Judea and Samaria, is that if she doesnt give the local Arabs citizenship or a path to it, she will be accused of being an apartheid regime. But the fact that the Palestinians already have Jordanian citizenship, would negate such criticism.

JOC intends to offer affordable housing to anyone who needs it including new immigrants. Saudi Arabia, U.S., and Israel would pick up the tab. Israel could then incentivize voluntary emigration to Jordan.

Currently there are 1.6 million Arabs in Judea and Samaria and 300,000 in Jerusalem. If only 50% would emigrate, Israel could accommodate the rest. Everyone wishing to emigrate would be paid market value for their homes.

There are many financial benefits from such a plan for Israel, U.S., and Europe.

Israel has spent $300 billion on internal security since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1995. She would no longer have to carry that burden. In addition, Israel would retain title to all state lands being annexed. These lands would be worth tens of billions. Israel would then embark on a massive building program throughout Judea and Samaria which would greatly reduce the cost of housing in Israel. Both the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA would be disbanded thereby saving the U.S. and the EU close to a $1 billion a year which they currently spend. All good.

Thats the Jordan Option.

As Wilders suggests there would be nothing to stop Jordan from changing its name to Palestine and making Amman its capital city.
President Donald Trump broke free of the self-absorbed fantasies of the "international community." He spoke truth to it with his acknowledgment that it "was time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel" and adopt a new approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Jerusalem was established as the Jewish capital by King David around 1010 B.C., and his son Solomon built the Temple in 964 B.C. Jerusalem was captured a number of times by invading armies from the Romans to the Crusaders and Arabs. However, it has for three thousand years always been a holy site for Jews, and the city is cited about 350 times in the Bible.

As a result of the 1948-49 war caused by the Arab military invasion of the newly created State of Israel, the Arab Legion captured the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, and Jerusalem, for the first time, was divided between 1948 and 1967 by the so called Green Line of barbed wire and sandbags. Israelis were not allowed by Jordan, the occupying power, to pray at the Western Wall, to attend the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus, or to live in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.

The Arab Legion in the process of destroying the Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue, Jerusalem, 25 May 1948

During the 1967 Six Day War, Israeli forces captured east Jerusalem which has remained under Israeli control ever since. On July 27, 1967 Israeli law and jurisdiction was extended to east Jerusalem: on July 30, 1980 Israeli law declared that "Jerusalem complete and unified is the capital of Israel."

For a variety of reasons, primarily Palestinian pressure, most countries did not legally recognize this declaration, or the reality on which it is based. At best, Jerusalem was identified as the seat of Israel government, while foreign embassies, including that of the U.S., are in Tel Aviv. Even in the November 29, 1947 UN General Assembly Resolution 181 that proposed partition of the disputed area, Jerusalem was viewed as a city to be accorded a special international status and placed under the administrative authority of the UN.

Trump made clear that he was not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested issues. Those questions are up to the parties involved.

Trump argues that his decision on Jerusalem is combined with determination to broker a peace deal between the parties and reach a two-state solution. He was not preempting future discussion of final status. Not coincidentally, Jared Kushner has met three times with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, with whom he has a close relationship, and also with Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Trump was simply echoing the Congressional law of 1995 that recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and asserted that the U.S. Embassy should be established there no later than May 31, 1999. It provided that the President has to sign a national security waiver every 6 months to keep the Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Trump did sign a six-month waiver, but he kept his frequently reiterated campaign promise with his statement of recognition of Jerusalem.

Negative reaction from Palestinians and leaders of many Muslim countries to Trump's remarks was to be expected and automatic, as well as from the usual chorus of Western pro-Palestinian pressure groups, fellow anti-Israeli travelers and the polically correct usual suspects, though almost all misstated Trump's actual remarks. Instead, the more extreme condemned Trump's collusion with "Israeli racist manipulation and its creeping process of ethnic cleansing, and its disregard for international law."

Instead of examination and discussion of Trump's statement, the Arab call was for violence and hostile demonstrations. Senseless belligerence extended to attacks on Israelis riding on the Light Rail, the line that runs through Jerusalem, regarded by Palestinian groups not as a benefit in quick transport for all citizens but as a symbol of Israeli occupation. Noticeably , the animosity went far beyond the Jerusalem question. The calls were "Zionism must die," a reminder of the lives lost and property destroyed in the August 1929 riots by Palestinians caused by fake news over access to the Western Wall.

The terrorist groups Hamas and Hezballah, and Iran-backed Shiite militia fighting in Iraq and Syria called for a new, a third, Intifada, and the continuation of violence. Those groups recall that this is the 30th anniversary of the first Intifada in 1987. Hamas engaged in its favorite contributions to world peace, firing rockets against Israel from Gaza, and continuing to build tunnels from which to attack Israel.

The Arab lobby was at work with extravagant rhetoric. Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian "negotiator" who never negotiates, said Trump's statement created international anarchy and disrespect for global institutions and law. For him, Trump had taken a step that prejudges the conflict and thus disqualifies the U.S. from any role regarding the conflict.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, held in an absurd statement that Trump had undermined all peace efforts, and given an impetus to extremism and terrorism. It held that Trump was encouraging Israel's colonialism, ethnic cleansing and apartheid.

The persecutor of the Kurds, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, conspicuous for his tirades against the U.S. and refusal to recognize the authority of the present U.S. Ambassador in Turkey, enigmatically stated that Trump and the US had crossed a "red line."

But it is more difficult to understand the quick negative reaction of European leaders, the punditry of former U.S. State Department officials, and the resolution of the UN Security Council on December 8, 2017 that Trump's statement was unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the Middle East, and would arouse the Arab world. This unhelpful approach neglects the realities on the ground and suffers from a number of problems.

The naysayers have argued that Trump has put U.S. allies, moderate Saudi Arabia and UAE, on the defensive, deepened divisions in the Middle East and delays the peace process. Yet both Saudi Arabia, custodian of the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, and the UAE have been involved in friendly discussions with Israel, particularly in security and intelligence co-operation against the menace of Iran. It is fallacious to argue that Trump has left them in the lurch. It was noticeable that that at the OIC conference Saudi Arabia and Egypt were represented at a low level, and that an interfaith Arab delegation from Bahrain visited Israel.

The second point, neglected by the naysayers, is that the Israel-Palestinian conflict cannot be conflated with the "Middle East conflict." It is no longer the main issue in the "Middle East" conflict. It is relatively minor, and one of many issues among the many conflicts raging in the Middle East -- where real violence is continuing. Total casualty figures in the fighting between Israel and Palestinians are about 7% of those killed in the bitter six-year-old Syrian civil war, and the end is nowhere in sight. Similar figures can display the extent of the casualties in other conflicts, Iraq (probably over 100,000 killed), Syria (at least 200,000 deaths), Sudan, Libya, and Yemen.

A third point is that Arab counties are no longer patrons of Palestinians in the light of the challenge to Sunni states from Iran. The real menace comes from that country, not from Israel, and there is no rational reason to support Palestinian animosity or intransigence towards Israel.

There is no blank check being offered by Trump. On the contrary, his statement provides an opportunity for the international community to try to bring Palestinians to the negotiating table. It is time for the UN and other bodies to end the antisemitic bombast of Israel as an apartheid state. They might go back to the dream in Hatikvah, to be a free people in the Jewish land.
One of the greatest evidences that there is a God -- to whom we owe our very lives, and whose Word we are to follow -- is the mere existence of a nation called Israel. Thus the rampant hatred for the children of Abraham. Nevertheless, science again makes clear what Scripture long ago revealed.

A 60 Minutes episode from the year 2000 -- for which I have a transcript -- reported on a genetics study that revealed a priestly Y-chromosome among the general Jewish population. In other words, all those who claimed to be Jewish priests (only males) shared a common male ancestor. As Lesley Stahl reported, The results proved that Jewish priests from all around the world are, in fact, descended from one single man, a common paternal ancestor somewhere back in time.

To tease her listening audience, Stahl asked, How long ago did this great, great, great-grandfather live? The scientist she was interviewing provided the answer: 3,000 years ago. In other words, right in line with the time-line presented by the Bible for when Moses brother Aaron -- the patriarch of the Jewish priesthood -- lived.

Likewise, in the year 2000, a study widely reported on revealed that the Jews and the Arabs shared a common genetic heritage. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at the Y-chromosome -- which is passed directly and unaltered from father to son -- of male Jews and Arabs and found that they shared a common set of genetic signatures.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows -- and believes -- Scripture. The first two sons of Abraham were Ishmael -- the son of Hagar and the patriarch of the Arabs -- and Isaac, the son of Sarah and the patriarch of the Jews. Thus the common genetic signature is the result of both Jews and Arabs being descendants of Abraham.

Most everyone with at least a spotty Sunday school background knows something of the biblical account of Father Abraham. If nothing else, we can probably recall the ancient trilogy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob -- later named Israel -- fathered twelve sons who would become the twelve tribes of Israel and would inherit the Promised Land. The Bible first mentions Abraham -- initially named Abram, a descendent of Noahs son, Shem -- in the chronology given in Genesis chapter 11. Genesis chapter 12 begins with the telling Call of Abram. It reads,

The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your fathers household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Note that the nation born of Abraham will be a blessing to the whole world. Scripture is replete with this theme. Genesis alone has several references. In addition to the above, there are Genesis 18:18, 22:18, 26:4, and 28:14. Without using the word blessing, Scripture makes it clear that Israel is the vehicle through which God -- in multiple ways -- will bless the earth.

Scripture also makes it clear that Israel was not chosen because it was the largest and most powerful nation (Deut. 7:7), or because of her righteousness (Deut. 9:5). In other words, Israel was not chosen for the glory of (or to glorify) Israel, but to glorify the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, God chose the weak -- Israel was in slavery when it became a nation -- so that the world would know that the God of Israel was the one true God. (Egypt was the first to get a dramatic lesson.)

The idea that Israel was set apart as a witness to the nations is also a common thought throughout Judaism and Christianity -- especially evangelical Christianity. Exodus 19:6 declares, [Y]ou will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Isaiah 43:12 reads, You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God. One of the ways Israel was (and is) a blessing to the earth is the testimony of the Jews to the very existence of God. In the late nineteenth century, Englands Queen Victoria reportedly asked her Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Mr. Prime Minister, what evidence can you give me of the existence of God? After thinking for a moment, Disraeli replied, The Jew, your majesty.

A significant manner in which the Jews were a blessing to all of humanity, and another means through which they were a witness to all the earth, was through the written word of God. The Jews were Gods scribes, recording His words and deeds so that people might hear (or read) and believe. As the Apostle Paul, at the beginning of Romans chapter 3 notes, What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. The oral, and eventually, the written Word of God is an amazing testimony of Gods existence, His presence, and His power.

And last, Christianity teaches that the redemption of all mankind came through the Jews. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was a descendant of Abraham, born out of the tribe of Judah. As Paul also reveals in Romans, the Jews and the Gentiles alike are all under sin and in need of salvation. Of course, the message of Paul was the message of Jesus: whether Jew or Gentile, salvation is through Christ alone. Writing to the church in Rome, Paul concludes, A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. (Rom. 2:28-29a)

As I noted in The Miracle and Magnificence of America, long before the Pilgrims departed Europe for a new home, the spiritual heritage of America has been linked with Jerusalem and Israel. Because of events such as the Great Plague, during the fifteenth century there was widespread belief that the end of time was near. Many Christians of this time also believed that before Christ would return, Jerusalem had to be in the hands of Christians. As the result of his study of Scripture, along with his study of the works of first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and noted theologian and philosopher Saint Augustine, Christopher Columbus believed the same. Thus Columbus literally saw himself as an agent of the apocalypse.

As life in Europe became increasingly difficult for the Pilgrims, in spite of what they were hearing concerning the death and destruction at Jamestown, more and more, Gods plan seemed to point to America as their home. The pastor of young William Bradfords congregation at the time was John Robinson. During this time, Pastor Robinson revealed that he believed God was calling them to a New Jerusalem -- in America. Robinson wrote,

Now as the people of God in old time were called out of Babylon civil, the place of their bodily bondage, and were to come to Jerusalem, and there to build the Lords temple so are the people of God now to go out of Babylon spiritual to Jerusalem and build themselves as lively stones into a spiritual house, or temple, for the Lord to dwell in for we are the sons and daughters of Abraham by faith.

The God who spoke to Abraham and Moses is the same God who inspired the Pilgrims and the Puritans -- the people who are most responsible for the founding of the United States. Though Christianity teaches that we are all under a new covenant with our Creator, the nation of Israel still stands as a testimony to the Truth. Thus any move that further legitimizes Israel -- such as official recognition by the United States of Jerusalem as Israels capital, and placing our embassy there -- will be strongly opposed by those who hate the Truth.

Trevor Grant Thomas

At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.

www.trevorgrantthomas.com

Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America

tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com
There are more questions than answers surrounding a big bust in Sydney, Australia, that the assistant commissioner of the Australian Federal Police says  is like nothing we have ever seen on Australia soil.

News.com.au reports:

A KOREAN-born man living in Sydney has been accused of brokering sales and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction on behalf of North Korea. Choi Han Chan, the first person to be charged under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, has been formally refused bail by Parramatta Bail Court. The 59-year-old man did not appear before Magistrate Carl Milovanovic, and is scheduled to appear in Central Local Court next week. He faces six charges relating to provision of services for weapons of mass destruction in North Korea after being arrested at his Eastwood home on Saturday night. As a result of extensive investigations, the AFP alleged the man was acting as an economic agent of North Korea through his facilitation of various exports from North Korea, a statement from the AFP read. The AFP believes the man was generating income for the North Korean government. The man, who is of South Korean descent, has been living in Australia for the past 30 years and the AFP will allege he was involved in brokering the sale of missiles and missile componentry and expertise from North Korea and other international entities.

Hwasong-12 North Korean missile

Court paper allege that Choi brokered the services, being the sale of missiles, knowing that it would assist a weapons of mass destruction program. The documents reveal Choi allegedly brokered the sale of the missiles, a measurement system for the projectiles and related expertise from Kim Jong-uns regime to a man named Raymond Chao.

The name Chao indicates Chinese ethnicity, which may signify that Chinese cooperation helped bring about this arrest. The ultimate destination of the technology is unclear, but Iran and Pakistan would be two possibilities that come to mind first. Were the components smuggled out through China? Are the Chinese actively tracking down sanctions violators? That would be the most reassuring interpretation of this sketchy data.

There was clearly some overseas cooperation behind this arrest:

Were alleging all the activity occurred offshore ... the Australian public should be assured that police have acted to ensure no direct risk to our community. Well be alleging in court this man was brokering the sale of missile componentry and technical expertise from North Korea to other international entities  we believe this man participated in discussions about the sale of missile componentry from North Korea to other entities abroad as another attempt to raise revenue for the government of North Korea. The missile componentry assisted in the guidance of ballistic missiles. The maximum penalty for the offences is 10 years imprisonment.

The screws are tightening on North Korea, the only question being whether it will be fast enogh and drastic enough to change the course of Kim Jong-uns policies. Right now, it doesnt look like it.

Hat tip: John McMahon
A glimpse into the thinking of the Chinese government on North Korea reveals that Beijing is concerned about being dragged into war on the Korean peninsula and that "North Korea is a time bomb" waiting to explode.

Various Chinese security experts who advise the government made it clear at a conference last week that there is a real fear in Beijing that the situation between the US and North Korea may be beyond any diplomatic solution.

Newsweek:

Conditions on the peninsula now make for the biggest risk of a war in decades, said Shi Yinhong, director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing and an adviser to the State Council of China on diplomacy issues since February 2011, during the conference. North Korea is a time bomb. We can only delay the explosion, hoping that by delaying it, a time will come to remove the detonator, he added, reported the South China Morning Post Saturday. Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region, an important military region, warned that a war could begin as soon as March, when South Korea and the United States are slated to hold annual military drills. It is a highly dangerous period, Wang said during the conference. Northeast China should mobilize defenses for war. Chinese officials have sought to improve relations with North Korea amid unusually high tensions between Pyongyang and world leaders over the reclusive nation's growing nuclear program. But local governments in China have also taken precautions to prepare for conflict in case various diplomatic gestures do not succeed. Earlier this month, a government newspaper in Chinas northeastern province of Jilin on the North Korean border published a full-page article advising residents on how to survive a nuclear attack, Quartz reported. Its natural that Jilin province is more sensitive to the situation on the Korean peninsula, given its special geographic location. Its necessary for the provincial paper to publish information on nuclear weapons, wrote state tabloid Global Times in an editorial. As its largest trading partner and main source of food, China is North Korea's most significant ally. It has recently embraced new U.N. sanctions against North Korea while also calling for dialogue. U.S. officials, however, have urged China to do more to temper its neighbor's global threats and nuclear ambitions, Politico has reported.

US domestic concerns have mostly shoved North Korea into the background, but our military buildup and pressure continues and South Korea now appears to be reluctantly coming along with administration policy and strategy. They have embraced the joint military exercises we've been carrying out and while they are still calling for "dialogue" with the North (as is Japan) they appear to be preparing for war.

So 20 years of US dithering and kicking the can down the road on North Korea's nuclear and ICBM program appears to be coming to a head during the Trump administration. Both Democratic and Republican presidents failed to stop the Kim family from constructing a weapon that can threaten United States territory. Now, an intolerable situation must be remedied by any means necessary.

Trump will get the blame for any conflict on the Korean peninsula but a reckoning with North Korea over their nuclear program has only become necessary because of our failure to address the problem when the cost would have been much less. The same people who have urged restraint on North Korea for 20 years will now be advocating that we accept a nuclear North Korea capable of striking US cities in the name of "peace." And they will be the first to stick their face in front of a camera to denounce Trump for doing what they didn't have the balls to do in the first place.

Personally, I think the Chinese view that there will be war in March of next year is optimistic. The next nuclear test or missile test by Kim will be seen by the administration as sufficient provocation to remove the threat. How they go about that militarily will determine how bad the war gets.
You know there is a strong divergence of opinion when "professional" movie reviewers almost universally praise the latest Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, while ordinary reviewers give the film about a 5 out of 10 rating, which is to say not very good.

Warning: spoilers ahead.

Disney, eager to make back the four billion dollars it paid George Lucas for the Star Wars franchise, started cranking out new Star Wars films with The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi is the sequel to The Force Awakens.

1) It features a perfectly diverse cast of protagonists, except for white men. The film stars Daisy Ridley as a female version of Luke Skywalker from the original trilogy, a humble nobody from a desert planet who has a strong connection to "The Force." John Boyega plays Finn, a black American Stormtrooper, who joins the rebels, because black people are no longer allowed to be villains in films. Gwendolin Christie plays "Captain Phasma," the first female Stormtrooper, who wears chrome armor and speaks in the soothing tones of magazine subscription telemarketers. Oscar Isaac plays Poe Dameron, a Aispanic X-Wing pilot. Kelly Marie Tran plays Rose, an Asian rebel fighter. Notice a pattern here?

The only white protagonist in the film is Luke Skywalker, and he dies at the end of the film. Han Solo, the "other white meat" from the original film, was killed in The Force Awakens. With their deaths, there are exactly zero white male protagonists left in the Star Wars universe. Note that I said "protagonists." Adam Driver and Domhnall Gleeson play the villains, and they are white men. It seems that in the Star Wars universe, the only roles left for white men to play are those that were traditionally reserved for British actors.

2) The film is without drama. It feels as though the writers went out of their way to eliminate the mysteries of The Force Awakens. One of them was the identity of Rey's parents. There had been speculation she was related to Luke Skywalker (or, more likely, Obi-Wan Kenobi). It turns out that Rey's parents were nobodies. One source of a potentially interesting storyline was tossed out.

Then the main villain, Leader Snoke (played by Andy Serkis, a  you guessed it  white man), is killed midway in the film by Adam Driver's Kylo Ren. Snoke had been built up as a mysterious, powerful Force-user in The Force Awakens. Here we find out nothing of his past or his powers. He is simply killed off, as if the writers had lost interest in him.

Then the "Boba Fett" villain, Captain Phasma, is killed by Finn easily. Rather too easily. How can she be an effective villain...when she never does anything villainous?

With Snoke dead, the Empire is now ruled by Kylo Ren, a character who acts like an upset teenager.

In short, the mysteries of the protagonists and the antagonists were shortchanged, and any dramatic potential was left unexplored. But the film does have nonstop mindless action!

3) The film kicks the original Star Wars in the face. By the end of this film, combined with the last one, Han Solo is killed by his own son, Leia bitterly divorced Han and was forced to suffer through his death, and Luke Skywalker died a lonely death on the "Ireland Island" planet after a life spent living alone in deep regret. What a terrible ending for the big three from the original films!

Contrast that with the ending of Return of the Jedi, where Han and Leia are in love, and Luke is a super-powerful Jedi, and they are celebrating with the local chapter of the Northern California Gay Ewok chorale. That was a happy ending. Skip ahead to this film, and you find out that they all lived terribly unhappy lives after that. That's unsettling for fans of the original film.

More than that, this film seems to reject the idea of the Jedi entirely. Luke has become a bitter old man who throws his lightsaber away dismissively and hates the Jedi ways. Luke even gets together with Yoda and burns the book of Jedi knowledge. It's that scene more than any other that screams out as if to say all the past movies featuring Jedi have been discredited. Here's the actor Mark Hamill's comments on the way his character was written:

I at one point had to say to [the director] Rian, "I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you've made for this character. Now, having said that, I have gotten it off my chest, and my job now is to take what you've created and do my best to realize your vision."

With the Jedi discredited, the big three having terrible lives, and the Empire run by a moody emo kid, the ideas of the original Star Wars seem to have been intentionally dragged through the dirt to be replaced with...what? A perfectly balanced multicultural cast fighting CGI battles with enemies who have all the depth of characters from the Star Wars Holiday Special. How the mighty have fallen.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been keeping busy in retirement, probably on a lot of things. But the one thing he wants you to know about, via Twitter, is his current fascination with space aliens.

Not based on some serious study of it as some have done, or even some experience, as Jimmy Carter once claimed, but strictly through his Hollywood lens:

Dee dee dee dee, dee dee dee dee...

Is this guy serious? Doesn't sound like it. He's just another bonkers guy out in the desert badlands, thinking he's seeing little green men, per the Hollywood 'narrative.'

Must be getting boring for the old mafioso out there in Searchlight, his brothel-town hometown. The only people left he can talk to now are space aliens.
Exiting her White House communications job in a huff, Omarosa Manigault Newman, vowed to tell a reality-TV-worthy tale. She should be careful what she wishes for.

It ended badly for the former reality-TV star who featured prominently in Donald Trump's earlier television endeavors, came out to support him during his presidential campaign and then got herself a plum job as 'Director of Communictions for the White House's Office of the Public Liaison. She seemed to have been fired or was allowed to resign under pressure for getting on Chief of Staff John Kelly's nerves or maybe not being willing to follow rules, and then there was some dispute about whether she exited freely or had to be escorted unwillingly off the White House grounds. After nearly a year on the job, she was out messily, and then she was talking revenge:

As the only African-American woman in this White House, Ms. Newman said in the Good Morning America interview, I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people. It is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear.

the New York Times reported. Profound? To drive what she was getting at, the New York Times, with just a tad of skepticism, added:

The world will have to wait. Ms. Newman has not elaborated, other than to say that she had been trying to raise grave concerns about an issue that would affect the president in a big way.

So presumably, she was about to go public with tales of a White House staff brimming with racists.

ABC News certainly bit the line and tried to run with it. Their doleful headline:

Omarosa's exit raises questions about African-American officials, diversity in Trump administration

Their pious lede:

Omarosa Manigault Newman's dramatic exit from the White House has brought renewed scrutiny to allegations of a lack of diversity within the Trump Administration, specifically those politically appointed to positions by President Donald Trump.

So there's one that bit. But haven't been too many others, and Omarosa shouldn't forget that other lefties, in the media and otherwise, haven't forgiven her for supporting Trump in the first place. Just that alone makes her persona non grata in the cultural temples of the left.

Aside from ABC News, the left's coverage of the Omarosa Crisis has in fact been pretty negative. Significantly, it has extended into the pop culture realm of tabloids, gossip sheets and late night comedies, which is Omarosa's stomping ground.

Perez Hilton told what probably really went down, no holds barred:

We can't say we're surprised that Omarosa is leaving the White House as her role in the administration was often left unclear. While her title was director of communications for the White House Public Liaison Office, it was widely reported that Manigault would often bust into meetings she was not invited to AND would regularly derail briefings. There was also some drama, back in April, when Manigault showed up at the White House for an impromptu photo shoot with her bridal party. Smh. Not to mention, upon taking the chief of staff job, John Kelly allegedly began cutting off the 43-year-old's access to the president. This would explain why White House correspondent April Ryan has suggested that Omarosa's ousting was far more dramatic than we may realize.

Which would be a pretty good reason to fire someone.

Saturday Night Live then did a skit last night that made Omarosa look like a desperately clinging idiot who did not want to leave. The YouTube of that skit is here. What was it Saul Alinsky said about ridicule?

The New York Post then came up with something bizarre, apropos of nothing: an old tape of Omarosa in a polyvinyl chloride get-up doing a skit attempting to steal Donald Trump's hair. The only reason for dredging something like that up, useless as it is in content, would be to make Omarosa look stupid. It won't help her credibility in her tale to tell any more than the Saturday Night Live skit would.

Even Vanity Fair got into the act, with an article quoting Trevor Noah as kvetching that Omarosa was never one of their own, since she was never leftwing. The hoity toity magazine of the cultural left led with:

Trevor Noah: Omarosa Was Not Fighting for Black People in the White House You cant roll hard with President Trump for a year, and then come back to the neighborhood like, Hey, that was really weird, right?

Then there's the New York Times' Charles Blow. One word: Devastating

So that pretty well leaves Omarosa out on her ear with her tale to tell of racism. She might be better off just admitting she was a bad fit for the job and moving on to another television project where she can be the way she feels most comfortable. The left is never going to love her but she still has President Trump's goodwill - he bade her a cordial goodbye on Twitter - and she can probably leverage that and her own talents into something better suited for what she does best.
For two years, Liam Allan endured "mental torture" as a result of rape charges brought against him. His accuser said she was raped repeatedly over a period of months and told Allan that she did not enjoy sex with him.

But it turns out, that police had exculpatory evidence in their possession all that time. They had 40,000 text messages from the woman that shows she continuously asked for "casual sex" and how much she enjoyed it. Her claims of being raped were the result of Allan rejecting her once he went back to school.

While the incident occurred in England, it could just as easily happen here as prosecutors and police are under enormous pressure to take a woman at her word when she cries rape.

New York Post:

I cant explain the mental torture of the past two years.  I feel betrayed by the system which I had believed would do the right thing, the system I want to work in. The life-changing discovery was made at the 11th hour when a new prosecutor, Jerry Hayes, took over the case one day before the trial began and ordered police to hand over records  including a computer disk that contained 40,000 messages. Mr Allans lawyers had already sought access to the accuserss telephone records and messages but their requests were denied on the basis there was nothing of interest in them. Upon discovering the messages, Mr Hayes said he would offer no evidence in court and would like to apologise to Mr Allan. There was a terrible failure in disclosure which was inexcusable, he said. There could have been a serious miscarriage of justice, which could have led to a very significant period of imprisonment and life on the sex offenders register. It appears the officer in the case has not reviewed the disk, which is quite appalling. Speaking later, he said detectives had previously told him the sexual messages were too personal to share. The defence quickly saw the information blew the prosecution out of the water. If they had not been seen this boy faced 12 years in prison and on the sex offenders register for life with little chance of appeal. This was a massive miscarriage of justice, which thank heavens was avoided, he told the BBC. Judge Peter Gower said Mr Allan was not guilty on all charges. There is something that has gone wrong and it is a matter that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in my judgment should be considering at the very highest level, he said. Mr Allan leaves the courtroom an innocent man without a stain on his character. Mr Allans defence lawyer Julia Smart said she also received details about the text messages the night before she was due to cross examine the accuser, and when she told the court of her findings the trial was scrapped. Mr Allans mum, Lorraine Allan, 46, said the current climate means that many people are treated as guilty until you can prove youre innocent.

We want our prosecutors to be bulldogs because oftentimes, persistence is the only way to bring the guilty to justice. But this is a case where the original prosecutor wanted to win so badly that he deliberately withheld evidence that would have exonerated Mr. Allan almost immediately. Perhaps he even felt that a high profile rape case successfully prosecuted would benefit his career.

Meanwhile, Mr. Allan suffered not only from the vindictiveness of a spurned woman, but a system that's rigged in favor of the accuser in rape cases. Certainly, there was a time when the opposite was true. How a woman dressed, her previous sexual history, and the most personal details of her relationships were fair game for defense attorneys. In "He said, she said" situations, it was easier to believe a man's story about the woman's willingness to have sex.

Now the pendulum has swung and the rights of the accused are being slighted in favor of the politically correct notion that women never make false rape charges and should always be believed. I appreciate the wrenching nature of sexual assault and what it does to a woman physically and psychologically. But we shouldn't abandon our cherished rights - including suspects in rape cases being innocent until found guilty - because the crime committed is so horrible.

Women are capable of lying in order to send someone who hurt them emotionally to jail. Mr. Allan's story is a cautionary tale that a more balanced approach to rape cases must be taken even if that means some discomfort and angst for the victim. Sending someone to jail should never be easy regardless of the crime and treating rape victims differently skews the process and damages the legal rights of the accused.
Lawyers for Donald Trump's transition team have sent letters to members of congress accusing special counsel Robert Mueller of illegally obtaining emails belonging to transition team officials from the General Services Administration.

The GSA hosted the transition team, using their devices and facilities. But the lawyers claim the ownership of private communications belongs to the individuals on the transition team and not the GSA, who turned over thousands of emails to Mueller's investigation.

Update: Mark J. Fitzgibbons comments:

The Trump lawyer raised the 4th Amendment, but that won't fly since the information is on government servers and in government possession. This is somewhat similar to the issue Gorsuch raised in the Carpenter cell phone information case, but that information was in private corporate possession, not government possession.



Conservative outlets and social media were yelling foul. A problem here is that the independent counsel law can be interpreted to allow pursuit into more than the initial matter being investigated if the independent counsel believes there is something to pursue.



Very clever move by Mueller. Even the privileged legal communications may not be protected from him since they are stored with the GSA, although that may need to be resolved in court.



As I wrote for The NonProfit Times this month, never discuss legal issues or even ask legal questions in email. One innocent question in an email put Arthur Andersen out of business.



CNN:

The lawyer, Kory Langhofer, wrote to leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and House Oversight and Government Reform committees because he said the General Services Administration, which supports presidential transitions, "unlawfully produced" private materials of the transition although the GSA "did not own or control the records in question." Langhofer wrote in the letter the Special Counsel's Office "was actively using those materials without any notice" to transition officials. The letter states there were two other occasions where the Special Counsel's Office did not notify transition officials that their records had been requested or received. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, responded to the accusations early Sunday. "When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owner's consent or appropriate criminal process," Carr said. GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt disputed a claim by Langhofer that the GSA's general counsel had agreed in June that any requests for transition records would go to the Trump campaign, BuzzFeed News reported Saturday night. Loewentritt said transition officials were told that "in using our devices," materials "would not be held back in any law enforcement" requests. He added there was a series of agreements between the transition and GSA for using its goods and therefore there was no expectation of privacy. Langhofer's letter also states that Special Counsel's Office had obtained transition laptops, cell phones and at least one iPad after the FBI requested them of career GSA staff without a subpoena. The letter also says a representative of the Special Counsel's Office told transition officials it did not recover any documents from that hardware, but failed "to disclose the critical fact that ... the Special Counsel's office had simultaneously received from the GSA tens of thousands of emails." "The materials produced by the GSA to the Special Counsel's Office therefore included materials protected by the attorney-client privilege, the deliberative process privilege, and the presidential communications privilege," the letter maintains.

Why is Mueller investigating post-election activities of Trump's transition team? Contained within those emails are extremely sensitive communications about personnel and other details that should be irrelevant to Mueller's collusion investigation. Why is he investigating how the Trump White House was formed and developed?

Then, there's this:

The sources say that transition officials assumed that Mueller would come calling, and had sifted through the emails and separated the ones they considered privileged. But the sources said that was for naught, since Mueller has the complete cache from the dozen accounts.

William Jacobson explains the implications:

This is sure to escalate the situation, and has all the appearances of impropriety by the Special Counsels office. We will update as more becomes known. Once again, however, this shows how Mueller is going beyond his mandate and investigating post-election politics and political decisions of an incoming administration. Perhaps this is why rumors started swirling on Capitol Hill that Mueller would be fired.

Mark Fitzgibbons believes the document grab by Mueller may be legal:

Unfortunate, but this document grab by Mueller may be legal under the broad special counsel statute. And due to GSA's role pursuant to presidential transition acts of 1963 and 2015, this doesn't appear to be a 4th Amendment violation. But #Mueller keeps overplaying his hand.  MarkFitzgibbons (@MarkFitzgibbons) December 17, 2017

I think the special counsel can do just about whatever he wants to. That's the whole point of creating the office in the first place so his legal powers are extraordinary.

But here we have transition officials perfectly willing to cooperate with Mueller only to find that he has steamrolled them, seizing what the Trump lawyers believe to be privileged communications - communications that, by definition, have nothing to do with Mueller's investigation of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Obviously, Mueller is finding the collusion angle a dry hole and is casting about for something - anything - he can charge the president and his people with. Perhaps be believes he can find illegality by Trump transition officials and then "flip" them to give up what they know about Russia and collusion. If that's the case, it is a sign of desperation on Mueller's part.

Mueller is ranging far afield of his original mandate with no sign he plans to rein in his investigation. Democrats seem perfectly happy to support an out of control special counsel but Trump and the Republicans are going to start pushing back. You have to think a showdown is coming which almost certainly won't end well for Mueller.








Cooper Tires: MELKSHAM, UK, 15 December, 2017  Cooper Tire 4x4 ambassador Xavi Foj is preparing to enter his 28th consecutive Dakar Rally.





Foj was honoured with Dakar Legend status earlier this year, becoming one of only six competitors ever to be awarded the title. The Spaniard joined Nani Roma, Stephane Peterhansel, Cyril Despres, Franco Picco and Yoshimasa Sugawara in receiving Dakar Legend distinction.





During his Dakar career, Foj has secured two class victories, nine podium finishes and has an impressive run of 13 consecutive finishes to his name. Completing all of the special stages on a single Dakar event is an accomplishment many drivers and riders aspire to.





The Dakar is famously known as the toughest endurance event in global motorsport. In its 40th anniversary year, the 10th edition of the Dakar to be held in South America will start in Peru, crossing through Bolivia and finishing in Argentina after 14 stages and a total of over 8,000km.





The 2018 edition of the Dakar will be the 10th in which Foj has competed on Cooper tyres. His Toyota Land Cruiser 150 will be shod with the all-new Cooper Discoverer S/TMAXX POR  a tyre Foj assisted in developing for extreme off-road adventures.





Foj revels in the challenge of the Dakar, and especially in the T2 category, which is a cross-country class for production vehicles.





Ahead of next months Dakar Rally, Cooper Tire visited Foj at his home in Barcelona to find out more about his extraordinary life, what makes him tick and why he lives and breathes the Dakar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Tkae1viRA .





An architect by trade, 58-year-old Foj also still works at his family business, a limestone quarry just outside his home town of Barcelona. He entered his very first Dakar in 1991 in a converted quarry truck, before switching to cars the next year.





Xavi Foj commented, Dakar is my life, concentrated into two weeks. A lot of my daily time is thinking in motorsport, thinking in Dakar. My objective is to try and win again the Dakar in a production car.





The next edition of the Dakar will be a very strong edition; it is the 40th anniversary  and I think the organisation has prepared a very strong and long race.





Details of the 2018 Dakar Rally can be found at: http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html .





For more information on Cooper Tire Europe, visit www.coopertire.co.uk . Find us on Facebook.





About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd.




News / National

by Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday led Zanu-PF to a new culture of politics, discouraging the singing of praise songs to glorify him but instead urged the party members to sing the national anthem and the all embracing liberation songs.Officially opening the Zanu-PF Extra-Ordinary Congress here, President Mnangagwa said his ascendancy to the Presidency was neither regional nor factional victory as his mandate is to serve all Zimbabweans.President Mnangagwa called for unity and discipline within the party and said the party should reinvents its politics to be in sync with war time templates and practices that won the country's liberation and made Zanu-PF the party of choice for the majority since independence."The role you have given me and the office you have inserted me into, can never be partitioned to anyone. The praise song I desire, if you were to sing one, is that of our national anthem and those from the liberation struggle not for myself, no. If you sing the national anthem, if you sing those national songs then me and you are together," said President Mnangagwa."In light of the above, regionalism, factionalism, and titles such as "G-40" and "Lacoste" must be condemned and migrate from the body of our Party forthwith."As the leadership of the party gathered in this Extra Ordinary Session of Congress let us commit to unite the party membership."President Mnangagwa emphasised the supremacy of the party constitution calling on members to adhere to it."In line with this instruction therefore, my ascendance to the helm of the party must never be interpreted as a defeat of one faction and installation of another."My presidency should not be perceived as a rise in the fortunes of a region, a tribe or a totem. My presidency is about a united Zanu-PF, a national party with a national outlook," said President Mnangagwa."I stand therefore as the President of a united, non-racial Zimbabwe, itself home to many tongues, dialects, cultures, colours and age groups."I am a President of women and men; the young and the old; the able-bodied and physically challenged; the rich and the poor; the well and the sick. I am an emissary of all the veterans and heroes, dead or alive, who through their blood sketched the cause and mission which my presidency must promote, must actualise and advance."President Mnangagwa said the ruling party enjoys a special relationship with the people dating back to the days of the liberation struggle."This fact of Zanu PF's special status and standing as the party of national liberation makes it a national heritage and courier of a national legacy and above all, a definer of our country's future," he said."Thus, Zanu PF as the governing party makes and requires it to be a national home for all."It must also be an instrument available for a national purpose and destiny. Zanu-PF can therefore, not exclude, divide or fragment, nor be allowed to sag or succumb for lack of foresighted leadership."President Mnangagwa reiterated that Zanu-PF must thrive on championing the needs of the people.He encouraged freedom of expression within the party to promote democracy at all levels."Party structures from the cell/village levels right up to the Central Committee must be platforms in which the membership discusses freely without fear or favour matters concerning the party as well as developmental issues which affect their communities and the nation at large," said President Mnangagwa."Equally elections at all levels of the party must be undertaken as guided by the rules and regulations of the party, free of chicanery, manipulation and favouritism."President Mnangagwa also emphasised that the country will hold free and fair elections, predicting a crushing victory for the revolutionary ZanuPF saying there was no opposition to talk about."In the planning and conducting of these elections our position as the ruling party demands that we carry the nation we liberated, securing all who live within its borders, upholding the national constitution, laws and values as well as defending and safeguarding our country's sovereignty," said President Mnangagwa."Above all, we must ensure peace over our land, towards whose nurturing and preservation, we must spare no effort."
News / National

by Staff reporter

FOREIGN investors have renewed their interest to commit funds into the country on the back of amendments to the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and the stance taken by the new administration on attracting investment.This comes as foreign investors recently swarmed the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) stand during the Africa 2017 Forum held in Egypt.The Africa 2017 Forum, which ran from December 7 to 10, is a premier business platform to nurture new partnerships, meet investors and fast track business objectives on the continent, was organised by Egypt's Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, and the Comesa Regional Investment Agency.The endorsement of the country's new administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the subsequent tweaking of the Indigenisation law, comes at a time when the country has approved investments worth US$1,5 billion from January to November 30 this year.Although the approved projects are lower than the US$2,2 billion worth of investment projects approved in the same period last year due to the Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion deal worth US$1,4 billion, it is widely expected that the country is now poised to register more investment enquiries going forward.ZIA chief executive officer Mr Richard Mbaiwa told The Sunday Mail Business in a wide-ranging interview last week that preliminary indications suggest that investors have changed their perception of Zimbabwe as an investment destination.Mr Mbaiwa said although there have been no investment enquiries made which can be directly attributed to events that took place since November 14 when the Zimbabwe Defence Forces stepped in to arrest a potential economic implosion, investors he interacted with in Egypt and some on the phone, are excited about the new political and economic order."FDI is slightly different from the stock market or money market, which respond very quickly to the appointment or firing of a company's manager, but the interest is quite there from what we have seen.". . . I was in Egypt attending the Africa 2017 Forum, which was basically a global forum organised by Comesa and the Egyptian government, and there was participation by investors from all over the world; there were many enquiries that were coming to us."I would say there was quite a lot of interest; and investors also expressing positivity, if I may put it that way."So, what I may say is that now there is a perception change by investors. Previously, when we attended such forums, we never got as many enquiries as we got this time around," said Mr Mbaiwa.The Africa 2017 Forum coincided with the presentation of the 2018 National Budget Statement by Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa on December 7.Minister Chinamasa announced that the 51/49 percent shareholding structure would now apply to the extractive sector  diamonds and platinum, while other sectors are now open.The Indigenisation Act, which came into effect in March, 2010, was seen by foreign investors as an impediment to investment.This resulted in fewer investors considering coming to Zimbabwe, opening opportunities for neighbouring countries such as Zambia and Mozambique, to receive large sums of investment enquiries.While FDI plunged 30 percent to US$294,66 million compared to the year earlier, Zambia and Mozambique attracted FDI worth US$1,6 billion and US$3,7 billion respectively in 2015.Mozambique and Zambia are credited for having a relatively friendly investment environment, which saw them being ranked 138 and 85, respectively, on the World Bank ease of doing business index 2018.Zimbabwe recorded a marginal improvement, moving to 159 from 161 in the last report, despite the efforts that have been taken by Government to improve the investment climate.But Mr Mbaiwa said while the doing business rankings matter from the perspective of addressing investor perception, Zimbabwe's focus is primarily to practically improve the ease of doing business on the ground.He explained that political and legal adjustments that recently took place in the country will ensure that the rankings improve in the future.Mr Mbaiwa said about 120 investors, "serious ones", who attended the Africa 2017 Forum, congratulated them for the "developments" happening in the country."It's exciting times . . . in that regard, it shows that there is positive sentiment from investors in terms of the new dispensation that we have," said Mr Mbaiwa.ZIA plans to host a mega investment conference in the first quarter of next year as part of efforts to attract more investments, and explain some of the developments that have taken place in the country in terms of critical laws such as the Indigenisation Act and ease of doing business reforms.Mr Mbaiwa said the pronouncement by Minister Chinamasa regards the Indigenisation Act clears all the confusion that had existed for a long time.". . . this pronouncement was made when we were attending the investment forum in Egypt and some investors came to us and said this is a good development."To be honest, every time we attended an investment conference or we hosted a delegation, it was one of the issues that came up; whether these are investors from China, Europe or from anywhere in the world, they would always raise the issue of indigenisation in terms of trying to understand it or why they would be expected to have a partner with a shareholding percentage which is prescribed."Most investors actually want to engage local partners out of their own will, but I think the problem is prescribing a percentage to say, 'when you do this sector, the partner must have 51 percent'. I think that is what did not go down well with most investors."So I think the announcement has really excited a lot of our potential investors and we also hope it will bring more traffic in terms of investments," said Mr Mbaiwa.The amendments made by Minister Chinamasa are expected to become law as they will be part of the Finance Act.Once the amendments become law, all anxieties that have gripped investors in the past will be put rest.President Mnangagwa has indicated that his economic turnaround programme will be anchored on agriculture and attracting FDI to tackle high levels of unemployment.
Despite the transformation, it would be a Herculean task for Rahul Gandhi to rejuvenate the Congress which is on a rapid decline.

New Delhi: His rise was on expected lines. But for the new Congress chief, Mr Rahul Gandhi the battle starts now and its a difficult road ahead. Over the years, the BJP had ridiculed, mocked, jeered and had successfully managed to paint him as Pappu (the goof up man). The media often regarded him as a reluctant politician, who preferred to spend time abroad. Even his party men did not take him seriously and wanted his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to replace him.

What surprised all and even the BJP was Mr Gandhis transformation as he lead the campaign against the powerful BJP and its mascot, Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi in Gujarat.

For the first time, the new found politician, Mr Gandhi was holding his nerves, setting the agenda and none other than invincible Modi was responding to him. Mr Gandhis description of GST as Gabbar Singh Tax, attacking Mr Modis development plank saying, Vikas gando theyo chhe (Vikas has gone crazy) had become a virtual anthem for the electorates during the elections. Whatever maybe the outcome of the Gujarat polls, Mr Gandhi seemed to have managed to rattle the BJP in Mr Modis home turf and the saffronites have finally began to take him seriously and not underestimate him.

Despite the transformation, it would be a Herculean task for Mr Gandhi to rejuvenate the Congress which is on a rapid decline. Mr Gandhis electoral record is nothing but pathetic. His gamble to join hands with Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav during the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls sunk both Congress and SP. Congress lost Uttarkhand and is set to lose Himachal Pradesh. A senior Congress functionary said that the main challenge for Mr Gandhi would be to galvanise the party and make himself credible to the electorates. The leader made it clear that at this juncture theres no comparison between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi as far as appeal to the voters go. For him, Modi is far ahead of Rahul Gandhi as a mass leader. Besides being superior in oratorical skill, Mr Modi is viewed as a poor chaiwalla who rose to power on his own, while Mr Gandhi, a scion of Nehru dynasty was born into power and money.

Like his mother, Mr Gandhi has taken charge of the party when it is at its nadir. In 1998 (when Sonia Gandhi took over as Congress president), BJP was flavour of the nation. But in six years, Mrs Gandhi branded as a foreigner by the saffronites, gradually brought the Congress to the center stage of national politics and ousted the BJP in 2004. When Mrs Gandhi took charge in 1998 Congress was in power in just four states-Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Mizoram and Nagaland. At this juncture Congress is in power in five states-Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Mizoram and Meghlaya. Of these the party is set to lose Himachal Pradesh and could find difficult to retain Karnataka.

Mr Gandhi has been hinting of a complete overhaul of the Congress for some time now. However, sources revealed that the leader was not going to go for any drastic changes immediately and wait to put the house in order. As the nation approaches the 2019 general elections, internal dissension continues to plague the party in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala among other states. It has been pushed into oblivion in states like Odisha, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh.

Unlike Mrs Gandhi, the new Congress chief is also not have a great rapport with the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav and former SP president, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. It remains to be seen, how the TMC supremo and the Congress ally reacts to Mr Gandhi in near future, a Congress functionary said.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi had the ability to ally the Opposition. Rahul is yet to be tested on that front, he added.

With nearly 15 months to go for 2019 polls, the Congress under Mr Rahul Gandhi would need to forge a front and round up allies to take on Narendra Modi. In Gujarat, Mr Gandhi did manage to connect with the young turks like Patidar community leader, Hardik Patel andk OBC leader, Jignesh Mevani. He is also close to Akhilesh Yadav (SP chief) and Tejaswi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadavs son and former deputy chief minister, Bihar.
The BJP spokesperson said it was an irony that despite the Congress not being in power for four years, corruption cases were still tumbling out.

Newly elect Congress President Rahul Gandhi receives greetings from supporters after taking charge during an event held at the lawns of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Even as Rahul Gandhi took on the mantle of the President of Congress party, the ruling BJP on Saturday dubbed the Congress as a corrupt thought process and shrugged off his elevation, stating its working style and corrupt ways remained the same.

Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra cited the sentencing of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who was supported by the Congress, in a corruption case to hit out at the party, claiming it would remain corrupt despite the change in leadership.

We all know that Madhu Koda was an Independent MLA, but because of the fact that the government was formed with the outside support of the Congress party, the government then was almost a Congress government run by 10 Janpath, 24 Akbar Road by the help of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ahmed Patel, he said.

The BJP spokesperson said it was an irony that despite the Congress not being in power for four years, corruption cases were still tumbling out.

This speaks volumes about the thought process, the working nature of Congress party. So a new president or an old president, the working style of Congress party, the corrupt ways of Congress party still remain the same, he said.

He said when the Congress talks about a change in leadership, the country is seeing how during its 10-year rule, corruption of ten to fourteen lakh crore rupees took place under their very nose.

"Elections are won not because of riots on streets, not because 'sadak pe aag laga ke'. Elections are won because the mantra of reform, transform and perform works in the country under the able leadership of Narendra Modi," he said.

Meanwhile, senior leaders from across the political spectrum congratulated Rahul Gandhi on his elevation as the President of Congress party on Saturday. Top leadership of several allies of the Congress, including Akhilesh Yadav from Samajwadi Party, MK Stalin from the DMK and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, were among the first to send best wishes to the newly-appointed party chief. In a video message, tweeted by the Congress party's official handle, as he wished him the best in his new role, General Secretary, CPI(M), @Sitaram Yechury recalled an important, often-quoted motto of Congress President Rahul Gandhi taken from Robert Frost "I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep," and hoped that he worked for the betterment of the nation.
Koda will not be able to venture into electoral politics in the light of a 2013 judgment of the Supreme Court that bars convicts from fighting polls.

New Delhi: A special court on Saturday awarded three years imprisonment to former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and ex-coal secretary H.C. Gupta in a coal scam case, ending the controversial politicians dreams of contesting an election again.

Observing that white collar crimes are more dangerous to society than others, special CBI court judge Bharat Parashar also sentenced A.K. Basu, former Jharkhand chief secretary, and Vijay Joshi, a close aide of the ex-chief minister, to three years imprisonment for indulging in corrupt practices and hatching a criminal conspiracy in the allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based company Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).

The convicts were, however, granted statutory bail for a period of two months to enable them to file appeals in the Delhi high court challenging the verdict.

The court also imposed fines of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1 lakh on VISUL, Koda and Gupta, respectively.

Koda will not be able to venture into electoral politics in the light of a 2013 judgment of the Supreme Court that bars convicts from fighting polls.

So far, four out of 30 coal block allocation scam cases have been decided by the special court, including Saturdays order, and 12 people and four companies held guilty.

Reacting to the courts decision, Koda said, I had put forth my views to prove my innocence. I am sad because of the order and will approach the high court after reading the judgment.

The court said, White collar crimes are more dangerous to society than ordinary crimes, firstly, because the financial losses are much higher and, secondly, because of the damages inflicted on public morale. The average loss from ordinary crimes such as burglaries, robberies and larcenies etc. may run into a few thousand rupees but the loss which the white collar crimes may run into crores of rupees.

The coal scam had hit the headlines in 2012 after an audit by the national auditor revealed that the country has lost up to `1.86 lakh crore due to inefficient allocation of coal blocks.

The convicts were tried for offences under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The BJP womens wing has been carrying on a sustained campaign against Venugopal in Karnataka.

New Delhi: Done with Gujarat, a rejuvenated Congress Party under president Rahul Gandhi is expected to focus on Karnataka where Assembly polls are due next year. The first priority is to ensure that the BJP is given no room to embarrass the grand old party. Not only is the Siddaramaiah government fighting anti-incumbency in the state, it is also facing increased violence in the coastal districts, always a cauldron of communal violence.

But the partys biggest challenge will be posed by the repeated attacks on not just the chief minister but also the new man in charge, AICCs Karnataka in-charge, K.C. Venugopal, raising the prospect of a rejig of its team ahead of the crucial state polls, sources said.

It was as recent as July that the party high-command replaced Digvijay Singh, general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, following the partys mishandling of the situation after Goa polls.

However, Mr Singhs replacement, Mr Venugopal, facing charges in a sexual harassment case in his home state Kerala, is causing embarrassment to the party. The Alappuzha MP was indicted by a commission formed by the state government to look into the charges. The report was presented before the state Assembly last month.

The fact that the commission of inquiry had been ordered by none other than Congress chief minister Oomen Chandy during his term makes the case more damaging, sources said.

The BJP womens wing has been carrying on a sustained campaign against Mr Venugopal in Karnataka. The Mahila Morcha has been turning up at events attended by Mr Venugopal shouting slogans like Bhrashtachari Mukhyamantry, Atyachari Prabhari (Corrupt chief minister and exploiter in-charge). The LDF government in Kerala has promised action in the matter.

Questioned on whether a change of guard in Karnataka Congress was imminent, Madhu Yashki Goud, AICC secretary in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, said the new team for the polls was formulated as early as July and this was the team under whose leadership the Assembly polls would be fought.

All charges are politically motivated and they are very old, he added.

Sources, however, said that many senior leaders of Karnataka Congress have expressed apprehensions about the situation to the AICC leadership. However, no initiative has been taken as of now. One explanation for this is the partys total focus on the Gujarat campaign.

Though refusing to come on record, a senior leader said that a change in the state unit cannot be ruled out following Mr Gandhi taking charge as the Congress chief. Mr Venugopal, incidentally, is perceived to be close to the new party boss.

The source added that the extremely aggressive campaign by the BJP in Gujarat has made it evident that it will leave no stone unturned in Karnataka too, and would make this a big issue. Despite repeated attempts, Mr Venugopal remained unavailable for comment.

The names being considered by the Congress for his replacement include senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, R.C. Kuntia, Telangana Congress in-charge, and Avinash Pandey, in-charge of Rajasthan.
The Congress, however, clarified that Sonia Gandhi was only retiring as Congress president and not from active politics.

The response came after the media speculated that Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra would assume an active role in politics to assist her brother, Rahul Gandhi. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Ending speculation that she was ready to take over her mothers constituency, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said her mother, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli.

There is no question of me contesting the 2019 polls. My mother will contest from Rae Bareli, Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters on the sidelines of the function of her brother taking over as the new Congress president.

Speculation began on Friday when Mrs Gandhi indicated that now her role was to retire. The Congress, however, clarified that Mrs Gandhi was only retiring as Congress president and not from active politics.

Speaking about Mrs Gandhi, Ms Vadra said that her mother is the bravest woman for overcoming huge difficulties during her record 19-year tenure as the Congress chief.

Ms Vadra looks after the parliamentary constituencies of her brother and mother, Amethi and Rae Barielly respectively.

There have been murmurs that when Mrs Gandhi retires, Mr Gandhi would move to her constituency of Rae Barielly while Ms Vadra would go to Amethi. However all this speculation was dismissed on Saturday.

Over the last one year, Ms Vadra has become more and more involved in political activity. In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, which concluded early this year, Ms Vadra played a key role. She also played an important role in sewing up the alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Leaders and workers of Uttar Pradesh Congress have long been demanding that Ms Vadra join active politics and contest elections from the state. However, till now, she has kept herself confined to Amethi and Rae Barielly constituencies.
Modi said that the wave for change, which began with the Assam elections, is now reaching Meghalaya.

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on Saturday inaugurated the Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road in Shillong, kicked off the election campaign of the party for the assembly elections in Meghalaya next year.

Addressing a huge public rally at Polo Ground in Shillong, Mr Modi said that the wave for change, which began with the Assam elections, is now reaching Meghalaya. This state can do wonders. 15 years of Congress rule has ruined Meghalaya, said the Prime Minister while asking, The CM of Meghalaya is a doctor but what is the state of the health sector in the state. Why are people not getting proper healthcare?

Mr Modi also regretted the delay in construction of 261 km long 2-Laning of Shillong-Nongstoin Section of NH 106 and Nongstoin- Rongjeng Section of NH 127-B. Pointing out that this road will serve as an east-west corridor of the frontier state, Mr Modi said, It will boost economic activity and establish a direct link between the important towns of the state- Shillong and Tura. The travel time between the two important towns of the state will be reduced to half.

Asserting that central government has sanctioned whopping Rs. 32000 croe for construction of new highways across the northeastern states, Mr Modi said that the motto of his government is transformation through transportation.

Pointing out that central government had formed North East Council for development of the region in 1972 but it was not taken seriously, the Prime Minister said, 

The prime minister also spoke about how he has instructed his ministers to interact with the people of the northeast and at least one of them must visit the region every 15 days.

Asserting that his government is committed to accelerate the pace of development in the northeast he said that central government has also started massive work on linking the northeastern states on rail and air link. He reminded, You know better the the attitude of the previous governments towards northeast.

Earlier, Meghalaya BJP president also addressed a public rally.

Northeast can become a carbon negative zone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a daylong visit of Mizoram on Saturday said that Northeastern states have potential to become the carbon negative zone of India which may convert it into a global destination for tourists.

Mr Modi who inaugurated the 60MW Tuirial hydropower project and addressed a public rally at Aizawl said that besides power generation, the project, which makes Mizoram power surplus state in the region after Tripura and Sikkim would also boost water navigation, pisciculture, tourism and water supply. The Prime Minister, however, regreted the delay in the project.
According to police, Doubting his daughter's affair, the father sent his wife outside the village to shoot his daughter in a drunken state.

A case of 'honour' killing of a minor was reported, in which the victim's father and uncle have been arrested, say police. (Photo: File/Representational)

Dholpur (Rajasthan): A teenage girl was shot dead before being burnt allegedly by her father and uncle over suspected love affair in Rajasthan's Dholpur.

The incident took place in Raghuvir Pura village on December 10.

The Dholpur police has arrested the victim's father, Banay Singh, and uncle Uday Singh on Saturday.

"A case of 'honour' killing of a minor was reported, in which the victim's father and uncle have been arrested. Further investigation is underway," SHO Sarmathura, Puran Mal Yadav said.

According to reports, victim's grandfather Basanta Singh and three more relatives are also under police scanner.

The victim's father had gone to visit the girl in Dholpur's Sarmathura region - where she was pursuing her studies and was a student of Class XI, but could not find her there.

Doubting that his daughter was having an affair, the victim's father sent his wife outside the village and shot his daughter in a drunken state.

The father was later helped by his brother in cleaning the blood and removing all evidences related to the gruesome murder.

Further investigation is underway.
Brahmos missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Su-30 fighter aircraft.

The air-launched variant of the Brahmos, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test fired from a Sukhoi-30 combat jet on November 22. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Work has begun to integrate the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfil critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

The air-launched variant of the Brahmos, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test fired from a Sukhoi-30 combat jet on November 22, marking a major milestone to enhance the precision strike capability of the air force.

"The work to integrate the Brahmos missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft has begun. A timeline for the project is being set," official sources told news agency PTI without elaborating.

It is learnt that the project is expected to be completed by 2020.

The fleet of 40 Sukhoi jets will undergo structural modifications at the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd or HAL for integration of the missile on them.

The 2.5-ton missile flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8 and has a range of 290 km.

The range of the missile, an Indo-Russia joint venture, can be extended up to 400 km as certain technical restrictions were lifted after India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime or MTCR in 2016.

Brahmos missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Su-30 fighter aircraft.

Once the project to integrate the weapon on the combat fleet was over, the capability of the Indian Air Force to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target in sea or land is expected to go up manifold.

"It is a very important project considering IAF's evolving requirement to boost air power when the possibility of a two-front war cannot be ruled out," an official told news agency PTI.

After the test firing of the air-launched version, the air force had said the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30 aircraft will give the force a strategic reach and will allow it to dominate the ocean and the battle fields.

The integration of the missile on Sukhoi aircraft is a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications of the Su-30 jet.

Brahmos is a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM).
Singh also said that it was not BJPs policy that has given rise to dynasty politics in the country.

Bengaluru: Lashing out at new Congress president Rahul Gandhi for accusing the BJP of spreading hatred and violence, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday questioned angrily if the fire of communalism, terrorism and Naxalism in India had erupted due to the BJPs policies.

Speaking at the partys Parivartana Rally here, Mr Singh launched a no-holds-barred attack on

Mr Gandhi and said, I want to congratulate him (Mr Gandhi on his elevation as Congress president). But I also want to remind him that if someone formed governments by setting emotions on fire, it is the Congress. The BJP is trying to douse it.

It is not the BJPs policy that led to the birth of terrorism or Naxalism. The BJPs policy did not lead to the 1984 anti-Sikh violence or Punjab terror. Our policy did not start the fire in Kashmir, he said, adding that it was the BJP which was fire-fighting and not the Congress.

Mr Singh also said that it was not BJPs policy that has given rise to dynasty politics in the country.

In his maiden speech after taking over as the Congress president on Saturday, Mr Gandhi had said, The BJP is spreading hatred and communalism, they break, while we unite. They ignite fire, we douse it.

To buttress his claims, Mr Singh lauded the initiatives taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and contended that India is no longer considered weak and is now a superpower that nobody can question. If not for the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, the Doklam issue would not have been resolved. China too has understood that good diplomatic ties have to be maintained. On the Indo-Pakistan border, our forces are strongly retaliating attacks, as was seen during the surgical strike last year. We will not fire first, but if someone fires at us, we will not sit back, Mr Singh asserted.

Highlighting the economic reforms undertaken by the Modi government, Mr Singh said that steps such as demonetisation have led to a crackdown on benami properties, shell companies and black money.

Further, steps like financial inclusion and strengthening of agriculture have been praised by international agencies such as Moodys and others too, he said.

He said that the whole world realises that the BJP alone knows how to run the nation. The Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results (on Monday) will prove it again. Already exit polls have predicted that we are going to form the government in these two states, he said.

Targeting the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka, Mr Singh said the Congress regime believed in spreading enmity between different communities.

Referring to the killing of RSS activist Rudresh here early this year and VHP leader D.S. Kuttappa in Kodagu district in November, 2015, and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta recently, he said they were murdered in cold blood. Even Gauri Lankesh was killed.

If we come to power in Karnataka, we will get these cases thoroughly investigated, the Union home minister said.

Journalist Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants here in September, leading to a national outrage. The killing has remained a mystery.

Mesta, who was from the fishermen community, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence last week.

The state government has ordered a CBI probe into Mestas death, for which the BJP has blamed the jihadi elements.

Accusing the Congress of dividing the society, Mr Singh said when there was a controversy surrounding the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, the state government should have refrained from celebrating his birth anniversary.

There were many other historical characters for celebrating their birthdays such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda, and (renowned engineer) Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The Karnataka government wants to divide Indian society, he added.
Illnesses are a severe risk and can shave off most of the hard-earned savings in low-income communities.

The National Health Policy 2017 has proposed to increase the public spending on healthcare from a dismal 1 per cent to a meagre 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2020, which is itself well below the world average of 5.99 per cent.

Indias economy is soaring but healthcare remains an Achilles heel. For millions of people the high costs of treatment of illnesses continue to undermine economic progress. This is largely on account of Indias abysmal and chaotic healthcare system that is plagued by falling budgetary healthcare support by the government. India ranks close to the bottom of the pile in international rankings in most health indices.

At an investment 1.3 per cent of GDP in health services, which has remained at the same level in a decade, India ranked 187th out of 194 countries by World Health Organisation (WHO), while carrying 20 per cent of the global burden of diseases. The comparable rates are 1.5 per cent in Sri Lanka, 2.7 per cent in China, and 3 per cent in Thailand. The National Health Policy 2017 has proposed to increase the public spending on healthcare from a dismal 1 per cent to a meagre 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2020, which is itself well below the world average of 5.99 per cent. This is an appalling situation and calls for an urgent action.

Illnesses are a severe risk and can shave off most of the hard-earned savings in low-income communities. They are the number one route to bankruptcy. The Indian ministry of health found that a quarter of all people hospitalised were pushed into poverty by their hospital costs  not including the cost of missed work.

Universal healthcare in India remains a distant reality because healthcare still continues to remain very low on the governments priority card. Nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room. While facilities in Indian metros are competing with the worlds best medical centres, the scenario beyond the urban conglomerates is quite discouraging. The demand and supply in healthcare services still show a significant disparity in urban and rural areas as also regional imbalances. Heres a snapshot:

Thirty per cent of Indians dont have access to primary healthcare facilities.

About 39 million Indians fall below the poverty line each year because of healthcare expenses.

Around 30 per cent in rural India dont visit hospitals afraid of the expenses.

The healthcare needs of 47 per cent of rural India and 31 per cent of urban India are financed by loans or sale of assets.

About 70 per cent of Indians spend all their income on healthcare and buying drugs.

Out-of-pocket spending in India  69 per cent of total health expenditure  is among the highest in the world and much more than in Thailand (25 per cent), China (44 per cent) and Sri Lanka (55 per cent).

Nearly 30,000 doctors, 20,000 dentists and 45,000 nurses graduate from medical colleges across India every year. The doctor-to-patient ratio in India is six for 10,000 people, way below Australia (1:249), the UK (5:1,665) and the US (9:548). The global ratio stands at 15 doctors for 10,000 people. The distribution of these doctors is uneven with low ratio in states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand  just two doctors for 1,00,000 people. There are only six hospital beds and two surgeons per lakh of population. There is one government doctor for every 10,189 people, one government hospital bed for every 2,046 people and one state-run hospital for every 90,343 people. In comparison to these dismal numbers, the US has 24.5 doctors for every 10,000 people and one hospital bed for every 345 citizens.

India has a laggardly record in healthcare. In per capita terms adjusted for purchasing power, Indias public expenditure on health is $43 a year, compared with $85 in Sri Lanka, $240 in China and $265 in Thailand. European nations spent 10 times and the US 20 times. According to Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), the government contribution to insurance stands at roughly 32 per cent, as opposed to 83.5 per cent in the UK. The high out-of-pocket expenses in India stem from the fact that 76 per cent of Indians do not have health insurance.

The recently released National Health Accounts (NHA) 2014-15 shows that the average government spending per citizen per year was just `1,108 against almost `6,300 per Central government employee. According to the NHA, Indias total health expenditure in 2014-15 worked out to `3,826 per person. Of this, what people had to spend from their own pockets was `2,394 (63 per cent). In 2014-15, the governments expenditure on the National Health Mission meant to boost the public healthcare system was `20,199 crores. Spread it over a population of roughly 1.25 billion and you get a paltry `162 per head.

The apathy of the government is reflected in a rather poor prognosis for the health system. Primary health centres (PHC) in villages are supposed to screen and feed medical cases to specialist hospitals in districts and further on to state-level specialist hospitals. PHCs are not present in many villages (about one for every 20 villages), and where present are so acutely undermanned that the access system is broken at the first mile. As many as 18 per cent of PHCs were entirely without doctors. This impacts not only the filtering of patients but also deeply impairs prevention and early detection which is a must if costs in the whole system are to be contained. The only redeeming feature is the committed cadre of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) at PHCs and their sub-centres and accredited social health activists (ASHAs).

Our healthcare facilities have grown significantly in terms of numbers and expertise of our professionals, but this has largely been in the private sector. The governments failure to deliver quality care has led to a rapid expansion of private hospitals, which today account for 93 per cent of all hospitals (up from 8 per cent in 1947), 64 per cent of all beds, and 80 per cent to 85 per cent of all doctors. But mass access continues to remain a challenge. For the private sector, affordability in Tier 3 cities and rural areas is a critical limiting factor for further expansion.

The health infrastructure is heavily skewed in favour of urban areas. Nearly 75 per cent of dispensaries, 60 per cent of hospitals and 80 per cent of doctors are located in urban centres. Doctors cater to a third of the urban population, or no more than 442 million people.

There are around 734 district hospitals across the country, which provide secondary healthcare facilities to people. In addition, there are around 300 other hospitals, such as womens hospitals at the district level. They are powerful nodes in Indias healthcare network and can be revitalised to boost the health infrastructure.

India needs to reform the public healthcare sectors governance and management systems. The approach to service delivery has to be a functional referral linkage and establishing a continuum of care across the spectrum from village to sub-health centre to primary healthcare, sub-district hospital and the district hospitals. The challenge remains to reform the health system and its workforce in particular, so that practitioners, administrators and others have the skills, knowledge and professional attributes to meet the emerging healthcare needs of our community.

Several laudatory policies are already in place. The direction of travel is right but we have to accelerate the pace of the journey. For reforms to be successful we need hard-coded timelines and accountability of those tasked with the administration. It is now for the policy doctors to collaborate with the real doctors to use their ingenuity to come up with radical solutions that can cope with the mounting challenges of healthcare.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE banking sector lost an estimated $70 million after many internet-dependent transactions could not be processed because of the recent data blackout which lasted six hours.On December 5, Zimbabwe experienced a major internet blackout as a result of a technical fault on Liquid Telecoms Zimbabwe's main fibre lines coming from South Africa. This happened close to the Beitbridge border, on the South African side.While millions of netizens were left stranded during the blackout, financial institutions saw their services grind to a standstill.Internet-related financial services now contribute 75% of the revenue for the banking sector. Services such as point of sale (POS) transactions, the real time gross settlement system (RTGs), automated teller machines and mobile money were affected.The banks' dependence on the internet can be seen by the volume of transactions that are conducted as reported by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's (RBZ) weekly economic report in week ending December 1.In the report, a total of $1,936 billion was transacted using the real time gross settlement system, cheque, point of sale machines (POS), automated teller machines and mobile, systems which to some degree rely on internet services.The amount transacted was from a total volume of 20 826 614 transactions.The internet blackout also revealed that many institutions are heavily dependent on Liquid Telecoms internet services and have few backup plans to fall back on in case of such disruptions.In emailed responses to Standardbusiness, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe CEO Joshua Tapambgwa confirmed that they had experienced service interruptions on all their online based platforms with services only returning later on that day."There was indeed an impact on revenue but our major concern was on how our service to our customers was affected, because our main obligation is on meeting our customers' financial service's needs," he said."Technology is constantly evolving and we will continue to upgrade and maintain our systems to ensure that we continue to safeguard the interests of our customers."However, he said in such cases of a data blackout in the country, they did have a disaster recovery platform, which included fortified security measures.CBZ Holdings CEO Peter Zimunya said the internet blackout affected their digital channels that relied on data services networks only."That means we experienced limited access on POS terminals on Econet and NetOne but Telecel was working, limited access on CBZ Touch services on Econet and NetOne and limited internet banking services for customers using data services," he said.He said CBZ Bank was well-prepared for service disruptions and had systems and procedures that they could fall back on.Though most banks claimed to be well backed up, none was willing to provide exact figures of losses incurred during the blackout.Such losses would have provided insight into the extent of the effect of the blackout.Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe CEO Ralph Watungwa said his bank was sufficiently backed up in cases of such blackouts."Our systems are sufficiently backed up to ensure business continuity at all times. Our transaction processing is up to date," he said.In a recent interview with Standardbusiness, financial expert Persistence Gwanyanya said he was surprised by the disturbances that led to the disruptions of the internet services in the country."This is risky and costly to the economy. Imagine the amount of money that was lost by mainly the banking sector due to unavailability of internet at a time when electronic transactions are dominating. Banks and the economy as a whole could have lost millions of dollars due to these disruptions," he said."This calls for urgent intervention by respective regulators and the concerned players to come up with a system of protection to the existing infrastructure as well as a backup system to minimise the risk of system disruptions as we have recently seen."The blackout also revealed that many financial firms do not have redundancy plans in place.An earlier report by the Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technologies (ZICT) showed that banks were susceptible to cybercrimes and that more investment is needed in the IT departments of these financial institutions.ZICT chairman Jacob Mutisi said it was only when the internet blackout occurred that they discovered that one internet gateway enjoyed the lion's share of the market.Liquid Telecoms provides the bulk of internet services in the country followed by TelOne, who also had one of their fibre lines cut accidentally in Kuwadzana by Harare City Council at the time."What worries me even more is that the ICT sector and the country did not have a back-up system in place. They had to make a plan to connect through Botswana after six hours in order for Zimbabwe to have internet access," he said."In Zimbabwe banks use the internet as a means of transacting and obviously with this shutdown the ability to transact was impossible."He said that all internet service providers needed to come together and come up with a long-term solution that would prevent future blackouts.
These are first Assembly polls in both the states with 100% VVPAT or paper trail coverage.

New Delhi: All eyes are set on Monday for the crucial Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election verdict as counting of votes begins in the morning amid tight security.

Even though most exit polls favoured the BJP in both states, the Congress is confident of ending the BJPs 22-year rule in Gujarat and breaking the trend in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh where each Assembly election sees the Opposition coming to power.

Poll pundits feel that the verdict will also set the tone for the big electoral battle of 2019 as these Assembly elections are seen as a test between Prime Minister Narendra Modis magic and new Congress chief Rahul Gandhis leadership.

Mr Gandhi, who assumed charge as Congress president on Saturday, campaigned for almost two months in Gujarat and gave the BJP its toughest fight in Mr Modis home state.

Counting of votes for 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat and 68 seats in Himachal will begin at 8 am and clear trends are likely to emerge by noon. These are the first Assembly elections in both states with 100 per cent VVPAT or papertrail coverage. VVPAT machines from one polling booth in each of the constituencies will be tallied with EVM results. On Sunday, more than 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the re-polling held at six polling booths in four Assembly constituencies of Gujarat, said officials.

In Gujarat, counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the states 33 districts amid tight security. The poll campaign saw the BJP focus on issues like Mr Gandhis temple visits, the alleged Pakistani interference in the polls and suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars controversial remarks against the PM. The Congress questioned the ruling partys development model as Mr Gandhi attacked Mr Modi and the BJP for not talking about the future of Gujarat and skipping key problems faced by people.

On the eve of the counting, Congress general secretary in charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot said: We are confident of victory in Gujarat. The manner in which Rahul Gandhi spearheaded the campaign and used issue-based politics, he put the BJP on the mat forcing them to resort to non-issues for public sympathy.

He added that the BJP had no answers to Mr Gandhis questions and was forced to rake up Gujarati pride.

Incumbent chief minister Vijay Rupani also sounded confident of the BJP retaining power for the sixth time. The election saw the Congress stitching a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and dalit leaders  Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani  in its bid to unseat the BJP after over two decades. Interestingly, Mr Patel led a long agitation of his influential community for reservation, while Mr Thakor led a counter-protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mr Mevani raised his voice against dalit atrocities. A day before the verdict, Mr Patel also accused the BJP of trying to use engineers to hack into the EVMs.

The two main rival parties also tried to counter each other on social media, as the Congress and its supporters launched the campaign Vikas Gando Thayo Che (development has gone crazy), while the BJP launched a counter drive of I am development, I am Gujarat. An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.

The total voter turnout this time saw a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered. In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.

In Himachal Pradesh, where counting of votes will take place at 42 centres, chief minister Virbhadra Singh of the Congress sounded confident that his party will achieve the target of Mission Repeat and the tall claims made by the BJP would be proved wrong. The hill state recorded a record 75.28 per cent turnout in the November 9 election.

In the repolling in Gujarat on Sunday, almost all the six polling booths recorded more than 70 per cent turnout. Booth number 27 in Viramgam recorded an 83 per cent turnout, said officials.

The EC had ordered repolling after the second phase of voting, covering 93 seats, on December 14. However, the poll panel did not specify the reason for fresh polling at these six booths.

The poll panel had directed that the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips of 10 booths in seven constituencies be taken into consideration during Mondays counting of votes as the presiding officers of these booths had failed to wipe out the votes cast during the mock poll from the control units.

In Surat, the wi-fi service at a college was suspended after the Congress candidate from Kamrej Assembly seat complained of possible hacking and tampering with the EVMs, used in the recently held Assembly polls, kept on its campus.

Following a complaint by Congress nominee Ashok Jariwala, the wi-fi service was suspended on the campus of Gandhi Engineering College, situated in the Athwa Lines area.

We detected that a wi-fi network was available near the strongroom (in the college), after which we asked the collector to take action, Mr Jariwala said.
Body of Sunil Kumar Bhatt, a native of Uttarakhand was found in the forest area of Mahipalpur of neighbouring Delhi.

The Delhi Police on Friday informed its Gurgaon counterpart about recovery of a body, which was later identified as of Bhatt, in forest area of Mahipalpur area. (photo: representational | File)

New Delhi: A 27-year-old man was robbed and killed by two persons who later dumped his body in south's Delhi Mahipalpur forest area, police said on Saturday.

Body of Sunil Kumar Bhatt, a native of Uttarakhand who lived with his wife in Gurgaon's Gandhi Nagar area, was found in the forest area of Mahipalpur of neighbouring Delhi.

"Mr Bhatt on Thursday around 7 pm left for Haridwar for a function at his brother's place. He boarded a private cab after its driver and a person masquerading as passenger lured him saying that they were also going to Haridwar," he said.

"While my husband called me to inform that he has boarded a cab, the call got disconnected abruptly. On calling again, his number was found switched off mode," Bhatt's wife Deepa told police.

"Suspecting foul play, she approached the Gurgaon Police did not take swift action and registered only missing complaint," she said.

The Delhi Police on Friday informed its Gurgaon counterpart about recovery of a body, which was later identified as of Bhatt, in forest area of Mahipalpur area.

A case of murder was registered against unknown persons in Delhi Cantt police station, the PRO said.

During investigation, it was found that the accused persons, hit on Bhatt's head with a heavy object. They robbed his valuables, ATM cards and strangulated him with a muffler and also slit his throat before dumping his body, Kumar said.

The accused also withdrew money from Bhatt's ATM cards several times and did shopping using it on Friday morning, the officer said.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Delhi Police and Gurgaon Police. The CCTV footages of ATMs, and major roads are being scanned to identify the accused, he added.

Earlier this month, a woman who took a shared cab from Shankar Chowk to go to Hero Honda Chowk was robbed, molested and tried to rape by three accused persons in a cab. She was later thrown out of a moving cab at Rajeev Chowk.
The accused smashed her head with a stone to destroy evidence and dumped her in a forest about 500 metres from her home, says a top cop.

According to police, Karan (25) who lived next door in Manawar, about 325 km from Bhopal, lured the girl to a deserted place where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. (Photo: File | Representational)

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): A four-year-old tribal girl in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly raped by a man who smashed her head with a stone to make it difficult to identify her and dumped her body in a forest, police said.

Twenty five-year-old Karan, who lived next door in Manawar, about 325 km from Bhopal, lured the girl to a deserted place where he allegedly sexually assaulted her, police said.

Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh said that after allegedly raping the girl, Karan smashed her head with a stone to destroy evidence and dumped her in a forest about 500 metres from her home, Singh said.

"We found her body in the forest and after investigation, we rounded up Karan who confessed to the crime," added Singh.

The body has been sent for postmortem to Indore and further investigations are underway, he said.
The main accused, Suraj Singh, was arrested on Sunday evening by the special task force from Hapur.

The post-mortem was conducted later in the night and the body was taken to Ayodhya on Sunday for the last rites. (Representational image)

Lucknow: The son of a former BJP MLA was shot dead late on Saturday night in the highly secured Hazratganj area of the state capital.

The incident took place less than one kilometre from the chief ministers residence and about 600 metres from the Vidhan Sabha, which is currently in session. The main accused, Suraj Singh, was arrested on Sunday evening by the special task force from Hapur.

According to police reports, the victim, Vaibhav Tiwari (28), lived in a flat number 322 of Kasmanda Apartments with his wife, three-year-old daughter and father Prem Prakash alias Jippy Tiwari, who is a former BJP MLA from Dumariyaganj in Siddharthanagar.

Vaibhav was the village head from Damwapur Jagatpurwa village in Dumariyaganj. Earlier, he had been in real estate business, said the police.

SSP Deepak Kumar told reporters on Sunday that around 10 pm Vaibhav received a call from his former business partner Suraj Shukla who asked him to come down from his flat to discuss some matter.

Suraj was accompanied by one Vikram Singh. Aditya Singh, an eyewitness who lives in the same building, said that Vaibhav had a heated exchange of words with the duo and one of them shot him. The accused fled in their SUV and Aditya Singh informed police about the incident.

The Parks Road police outpost is located barely 50 metres from the scene of the incident. Vaibhav was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where the doctors announced him brought dead.

The post-mortem was conducted later in the night and the body was taken to Ayodhya on Sunday for the last rites.
She is also pregnant with their first child.

A Scottish man's pregnany Indian wife has been refused entry into the UK because her English is "too good", the Daily Mail reported.

22-year-old Alexandria Rintoul is hoping to be with her husband Bobby in St Andrews, Fife. She is also pregnant with their first child.

According to the report, despite passing the mandatory International English Language Testing System (IELTS) she has been denied entry into the country.

Her 33-year-old husband is worried that she will be too pregnant too fly or already give birth by the time this is all sorted out.

"We were ready to start our life together here. It would be our first Christmas in our new house and her first in Scotland," he told the Daily Mail. Adding, "It was her dream and it's been taken away over such a trivial issue."

In a Facebook post, Alexandria wrote: "I'm supposed to be spending money on my baby, my house, my new family and here I am paying bills for this money sucking visa refused because they arent satisfied I come from a country that speaks English...WHAT? Hahaha where do these PEOPLE go to SCHOOL?"

North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins is trying to help the couple. "This is a very difficult time for Mr Rintoul and his family and I have made repeated calls to the UK Visa and Immigration service but, like many of my colleagues, am frustrated by the lack of communication by that department and the impact this has on constituents who are rightly worried about their loved ones," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

Adding, "Too often I am finding constituents who have been left in an incredibly difficult position by a system that makes life unnecessarily stressful for people."
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) recorded 49,000 flamingos in the city in its last count.

Mumbai: The onset of winter has brought much-needed respite from soaring temperatures, but the flock of pink visitors that visit the city annually has not made an appearance yet. Every year, flamingos fly to Mumbai from Kutch, Gujarat in large number by mid-November. Bird enthusiasts who visited the Sewri mudflats, a famous flamingo habitat, were disappointed to find the site vacant.

Lesser flamingos, which are relatively smaller and have a pinker hue than other flamingos, are seen in the Sewri mudflat around the end of November. They gather at the pond near mudflats, but this time it was vacant. Last month, a few greater flamingos were seen in Sewri, but they are in Mumbai throughout the year, said Pradip Patade, a marine photographer and expert.

Lesser flamingos fly over 600km to Mumbai from Kutch during winter and congregate in Sewri-Mahul mudflats, Mulund, Seawoods and Bhandup, among other areas.

Experts have suggested that the Cyclone Ockhi must have also contributed to the delay as the Kutch region recently received good amount of rainfall due to it, making it favourable for the birds to stay there. The birds feed on plants and animals in shallow waters. Flamingos prefer staying on marshy lands with dipping temperatures. Moreover, the wind currents due to Ockhi will also leave them mid-ocean. The wetland in Kutch must be providing favourable conditions and feeding ground for the birds to stay, said Anand Pendharkar, President of NGO Sprouts.

The number of flamingos in Mumbai has significantly increased, according to environmentalists. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) recorded 49,000 flamingos in the city in its last count. Ockhi could have contributed to their delay to some extent. I will wait till the end of December, if they still do not arrive then it is a matter of concern, said Deepak Apte, Director, BNHS.
State education minister Vinod Tawde visited her on Saturday at KEM hospital.

Mumbai: A 13-year-old student from Kolhapur, who was made to do 500 sit-ups for not completing her project work, has been admitted to the civic-run KEM Hospital in the city, for further treatment. Earlier, she was admitted to a privately run hospital in Kolhapur. State education minister Vinod Tawde visited her on Saturday at KEM hospital.

The girl, Vijaya Chaugale, is currently under observation and is receiving treatment from a team of physicians. I am unable to walk without support as I get tremors in my right leg, said Vijaya Chaugale.

When asked about the girls complaint regarding the tremors in her right leg after she was punished, KEM Hospitals dean, Dr Avinash Supe, said, We are evaluating the case and have conducted various tests, for which the reports are pending. After getting the reports, we will be able to comment. Currently, she is fit, responding well with the treatments and is recuperating.

Recalling the horrors of the punishment, Mr Chaugale said, That day, I was not carrying my project and was punished by the principal to do 500 sit-ups. However, I could only manage to do 300, following which I fainted and have no recollection of what happened next.

Promising prompt action against the principal of Ms Chaugales principal, Mr Tawde said, She has been remanded police custody for 14 days as per the Chandgad courts directives. This should be taken as a warning against ill-doers and a message that the well-being of the student will always be a priority of the government and that the state will not tolerate any capital punishment against the students.

The incident took place at Bhavesuri Sandesh Vidhyalaya, in Kanur village, Chandgad taluka of Kolhapur. On November 24, Ms Chaugule was punished by the school principal for not bringing her project.
The proposed school is supposed to be a five-storey structure but till now, only a three-storey structure has been constructed.

Mumbai: More than 900 students in Bandras Bharat Nagar are studying in a congested space in a transit camp, as the new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) school, proposed for these students is stuck due to administrative issues. These students belong to the three civic schools, which were shifted to a transit camp in 2011, when the old building housing their schools was declared dilapidated in 2010. They are still awaiting the new building to be ready for use. The proposed school is supposed to be a five-storey structure but till now, only a three-storey structure has been constructed.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is the planning authority for the school, and so the BMC has to pay a premium amount, which the civic body hasnt paid yet, resulting in the construction work being stalled for nine months. The construction of additional floors is possible only if the civic body pays the premium to the MMRDA for additional FSI (Floor Space Index). Now, we are requesting the authority to allow the construction without charging the premium. BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta has even sent a letter to Metropolitan commissioner regarding this issue, said a civic official from BMCs School Infrastructure Cell (SIC). An official from MMRDA revealed that the case has been transferred to the Urban Development Department (UDD) who will further decide on the matter.

The construction was supposed to be completed by February 2018, however, I couldnt progress with the work as I didnt get the commencement certificate (CC), said the contractor in-charge for the construction. Tthe three schools in the case are civic-run Urdu medium schools  BKC School No. 1, Bharat Nagar School No. 2 and 3.
Its historic decision to allow women to drive from June 2017 has been cheered inside the kingdom and abroad.

In September, King Salman issued a decree saying women will be able to drive from June 2017 as part of an ambitious reform push in the conservative kingdom. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Riyadh: Saudi Arabian women will be able to drive trucks and motorcycles, officials have said three months after the kingdom announced a historic decision to end a ban on women driving.

In September, King Salman issued a decree saying women will be able to drive from June 2017 as part of an ambitious reform push in the conservative kingdom.

The Saudi General Directorate of Traffic gave details of the new regulations that will follow the lifting of the ban on the official Saudi Press Agency late on Friday.

"Yes, we will authorise women to drive motorcycles" as well as trucks, it said, adding that the royal decree stipulates that the law on driving will be "equal" for both men and women.

There will be no special licence plate numbers for female-driven cars, it said.

But women involved in road accidents or who commit traffic violations will be dealt with at special centres that will be established and run by women.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world to impose a ban on women driving and its maintenance was seen around the world as a symbol of repression in the Gulf kingdom.

Its historic decision to allow women to drive from June 2017 has been cheered inside the kingdom and abroad -- and comes after decades of resistance from female activists, many of whom were jailed for flouting the ban.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women.

Under the country's guardianship system, a male family member -- normally the father, husband or brother -- must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.
The two countries have been engaged in frequent talks at various levels since 1981.

For three long decades since then, the two countries have been meeting to discuss the border issue, but so far we have seen unwillingness by both sides to forget the past. (Photo: PTI/File)

The Indian and Chinese special representatives, national security adviser Ajit Doval and state councillor Yang Jiechi, will have the 20th round of talks, ostensibly to discuss the border issue on December 20 and 21 in New Delhi. There is now a monotonous regularity in this, and no resolution seems to be in sight, let alone be discussed. There was a time when with a little bit of give and take this contentious and now protracted problem appeared to be solvable.

In 1960 Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai had suggested something akin to a status quo as a permanent solution. This was repeated in 1982 by Chairman Deng Xiaoping to Indias ambassador in Beijing G. Parthasarathy. Once again it was offered during Rajiv Gandhis tenure as Prime Minister to the then Indian ambassador A.P. Venkateswaran and senior adviser to then Chinese PM Zhao Ziyang. But when Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing in 1988, both countries decided to keep a permanent solution aside and focus on the immediate doables. All along India felt the internal political situation will not allow the government of the day the room to go with it.

What is commonly referred to as the border dispute between India and China has now manifested itself into two distinct disputes. The first is the dispute over two large and separated tracts of territories. One is Aksai Chin, a virtually uninhabited high-altitude desert expanse of about 37,000 sq km. The other is what is now the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a diversely populated hill region with a population of around 1.4 million people spread out over 84,000 sq km, which China claims as Southern Tibet.

Aksai Chin lies between the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Chinas Xinjiang province, both regions that are also riven by separatist conflicts. Arunachal Pradesh borders Tibet, which also has a separation conflict with China. India claims these borders were agreed upon by British India, and independent or semi-independent authorities in Xinjiang and Tibet in the early days of the last century. China doesnt agree with these. Both countries agree that these are legacies of history and cannot be solved in the immediate or near term, and are best left to the future to be resolved.

But what causes the frequent frictions between the two is that they do not have agreed Lines of Actual Control (LAC) to separate the jurisdictions under the control of the armies of the two countries. The perceptions of the LAC differ at many places. At some places it might be by just a few metres, elsewhere by tens of kilometres.

To minimise the inflammability caused by the active patrolling of the security personnel of both sides, the two countries have a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement that sets out norms of behaviour for both. The important things being that nothing of a permanent nature will be built on these disputed areas, and that the patrols take all precautions not to confront each other. Which simply means that if they come face to face, they will both withdraw. The corollary to this is that the patrols will not tail each other. The agreement also requires local commanders to frequently meet and exchange views and sort out local differences across the table.

Despite the adverse geographical and climatic conditions, and the overarching tensions between Asias biggest economies, the troops on the ground are able to show surprising bonhomie and friendliness. But periodically, either due to misunderstanding or local-level posturing by either side, there are frictions that threaten to erupt into a conflict with use of arms. But it has not happened since 1967, when the two armies fought a fierce localised battle in the Sikkim sector, quite close to where the recent Doklam dispute took place.

The two countries have been engaged in frequent talks at various levels since 1981. After Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis visit to Beijing in 1988, both countries had agreed to set up a task force to find a solution to the border issue. Chairman Deng welcoming his young friend suggested that they forget the past as they stood in the centre of the cavernous Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital and the handshake lasted three long minutes.

For three long decades since then, the two countries have been meeting to discuss the border issue, but so far we have seen unwillingness by both sides to forget the past. Since 2003 these talks were elevated to a high-level political dialogue between special representatives, in Indias case the national security adviser and in Chinas case an official at the level of state councillor. The first meeting at this level took place between Indian NSA Brajesh Mishra and Chinese state councillor Dai Bing Guo.

We are now having the 20th round of this dialogue between Indias NSA Ajit Doval and Chinas state councillor Yang Jiechi. A former Indian NSA once told me that the talks are high in style and hospitality, with the Indian side trying hard to match the Chinese, but there has been little traction. This is because of the versions of the claims that have been internalised and now form public opinion in both countries. Both nations are gripped by strong nationalism bordering on jingoism, which makes give and take, so vital in the resolution of such vexatious disputes, extremely difficult.

But the Border Management and Cooperation Agreement is a major outcome of these talks and that has by and large worked. The next logical step of these talks should be to agree on an LAC. But unfortunately even that is now being weighed down by aggressive nationalism driven by the social media which equates giving up with national loss of face. This is something increasingly very important to both countries. We will not be seen giving up anything, even our obduracy and historical short-sightedness.

Both countries are now very different then what they were in the last century. Both India and China are relatively prosperous and militarily powerful. The rise of a new nationalism has also led to a hardening of hearts. Neither now seems capable of giving or taking. So Ajit Doval and Yang Jiechi will meet later this week, but both sides will not be giving away anything and we will have to wait for another time for that.
China will set up funds totaling 50 billion yuan (7.6 billion U.S. dollars) to invest in Belt and Road (B&R) projects in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and ASEAN countries.

The funds will be established jointly by an investment arm of China's policy bank China Development Bank (CDB) and Guangxi Investment Group. They will be used to support infrastructure and industrial projects along the B&R, according to the CDB.

View of the headquarters of the China Development Bank Tower (CDB) in Beijing, China, 26 October 2017. [Photo: IC]

Guangxi is an important border area that connects China with ASEAN countries and plays a key role in the construction of the B&R Initiative.

Proposed by China in 2013, the B&R Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes.

Hong Qi, chairperson of China Minsheng Bank, estimates that infrastructure financing demand along the B&R will amount to 10 trillion U.S. dollars in the next five years.

Seeing opportunities from the booming demand, China's commercial and policy banks have been stepping up B&R related investments.

Besides setting up funds, the CDB also pledged more financing support to Guangxi through tools including loans and securities. The Export-Import Bank of China recently established a branch in Guangxi to help with local industrial upgrades and B&R related projects.
Wolfe was also sentenced to 15 years of probation, to be served after his prison sentence.

Michael Wolfe, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to criminal mischief to a place of worship in a case considered a felony hate crime. (Photo: Brevard County Sherriff's Office)

Fort Lauderdale: A man who vandalised a Florida mosque in January 2016 and left a raw slab of bacon on its doorstep was sentenced to 15 years in prison on a hate crime conviction, a state attorneys spokesman said on Wednesday.

Michael Wolfe, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to criminal mischief to a place of worship in a case considered a felony hate crime, said Todd Brown, spokesman for Floridas 18th Judicial District, which includes Brevard and Seminole counties.

Surveillance video after the 2016 incident showed a man with a shaved head and camouflage clothing breaking windows, cameras and lights with a machete at the mosque in Titusville, Florida, near Cape Canaveral, police said.

Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products including bacon, and hate groups have used pork products as a way to desecrate US mosques, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.

The Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque agreed with prosecutors and defense attorneys in determining Wolfes sentence, Brown said.

The Florida Muslim Community is suffering an unprecedented number of hate crimes, Florida CAIR spokesman Wilfredo Ruiz said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Multiple mosques and Islamic institutions have been broken into, vandalised, and even set on fire.

Wolfe was also sentenced to 15 years of probation, to be served after his prison sentence, Brown said.
Experts say that kind of self-radicalised attacker, completely unknown to authorities, is the main threat countries face today.

Even if they have no battleground experience, those who decide to undertake solo attacks, like the two recently in New York, in the name of the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda are almost impossible to detect in advance. (Photo: File/Representational)

Washington: Returning fighters from the vanquished Islamic State group pose a grave danger to Europe and the United States, but the primary extremist threat comes from people living and radicalised inside their country, US terror experts say.

Even if they have no battleground experience, those who decide to undertake solo attacks, like the two recently in New York, in the name of the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda are almost impossible to detect in advance.

"In France, the US, or elsewhere, there certainly won't be any more large attacks planned from abroad like those of November 13, 2015 in Paris," said Marc Sageman, a former CIA agent and terror expert, referring to the multi-pronged IS operation that left 130 dead.

"Ever since then, attackers here or in Europe have not been guided by IS but acted on their own, imagining themselves to be soldiers of an imagined Islamic community which they want to defend or avenge."

Neither Akayed Ullah, the Bangladeshi immigrant who tried to blow up a New York subway station last week, mainly wounding himself, nor Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek who mowed down people on a New York bike path on October 31, killing 8, had any evident contact with Islamic State jihadists aside from watching their propaganda videos.

Experts say that kind of self-radicalised attacker, completely unknown to authorities, is the main threat countries face today.

Safe haven in a bedroom

While returning IS fighters are definitely a threat, "it's not a primary concern," said Albert Ford of the New America think tank.

"The attacks in this country were made by people who were in the country for years. The real danger is with these not very sophisticated but deadly attacks that we saw lately in New York."

According to New America data, 85 percent of the 415 people accused of Islamist-related crimes in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks have been American citizens. Of them, 207 were born in the United States.

They also were not known to law enforcement: only one fourth had a police record.

"None of the deadly jihadist attacks in the United States since 2014 had a known operational connection to ISIS or its networks," a New America report says, using another acronym for the Islamic State group.

On both sides of the Atlantic, homegrown attacks "are obviously the most dangerous," echoed Thomas Sanderson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Transnational Threats Project.

"Of the 19 last major attacks in Europe, 17 did not have a direct foreign factor element to it."

Homegrown attackers stay under the radar, giving little away that would alert police, Sanderson noted.

"Their safe haven is their bedrooms. They can prepare at home, they don't need the footprint of a camp anywhere," he said.

Overseas threat from IS remains

At the same time, experts say, the threat from IS in Syria and Iraq has not disappeared even if the group has been expelled from nearly all of the territory it held.

For those who survive, according to former US undersecretary of defense for intelligence Michael Vickers,the war isn't over.

"Defeating insurgencies always takes time. It ranges from ten years to multi decades. And this one is a global insurgency, with expanded space and expanded time," he said.

Indeed, the Islamic State group planned for battlefield losses and has a strategy for surviving, noted Bruce Hoffman, a Georgetown University national security expert.

"Two or three years before the Paris attacks, ISIS put in place an external operations network. This network extends beyond Europe," he noted.

"The traction of that strategy was demonstrated last May when a bomb attack was committed in Manchester, England, against a concert venue. That attack was operated by an ISIS cell operating out of Benghazi, Libya."

And the returnees, even if they stand a much higher chance of being spotted by police than self-radicalized homegrown attackers, are still part of that network, added Sanderson.

Even if returnees' numbers have been low, he said, "the returning fighters present a massive potential problem because of the skills and the credibility and the motivation."
H1-B workers may work for more than one employer, says US immigration agency.

The H-1B programme attracts foreign specialised workers to come to the United States for employment, many of them from India and China.

Washington: The Trump administration is considering revoking an Obama-era rule that extends work authorisation to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a move that could affect thousands of Indian workers and their families.

Since 2015, the spouses of H-1B, or high-skilled, visa holders waiting for green cards have been eligible to work in the US on H-4 dependent visas, under a rule introduced by the previous Obama administration.

In 2016, more than 41,000 of H-4 visa holders were issued work authorisation. This year till June more than 36,000 H-4 visa holders were issued work authorisation.

The H-1B programme attracts foreign specialised workers to come to the United States for employment, many of them from India and China.

DHS is proposing to remove from its regulations certain H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorisation, said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a latest regulation.

According to the notice, the changes is being made in light of President Trumps Buy American and Hire American order issued earlier this year.

According to CNN, while changing the rule wouldnt prevent spouses of H-1B holders from pursuing other avenues for work authorisation, it could deter a number of high- skilled immigrants from staying in the US if their spouses cant easily find work.

H1-B workers may work for more than one employer, says US immigration agency. The Wall Street Journal said such a proposal dismayed supporters of the programme.

This announcement places into jeopardy thousands of hardworking, contributing individuals who have started their own businesses  and often have US citizen children  who will needlessly be forced to revert to a status of inactivity, Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney who worked for H-1B as dropping the rule allowing spouses to work, the department of homeland security statement mentioned plans for other changes to the H-1B visa program.

They include revising the definition of what occupations are eligible for the program to increase focus on truly obtaining the best and brightest foreign nationals, CNN said.

That would be a standard potentially far above what is currently understood under the law. The Obama-era rule allowing spouses to work already faces a legal challenge. A group called Save Jobs USA filed a lawsuit in April 2015 arguing that it threatens American jobs. Plans to overhaul the H-1B programme has caused particular alarm in India.
Nawaz Sharifs ideology is aimed at weakening and dishonouring parliament, as he ran the government through remote, he added.

Islamabad: Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that God ousted Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister of the country as he was allegedly crossing his limits. Mr Zardari said he was not part of any conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif till today but he can hatch a conspiracy against him tomorrow.

Addressing a mammoth public gathering in Multan last evening, the Pakistan Peoples Party leader announced that he would form the next government at all costs.

God disqualified Nawaz Sharif but the judges were the source of his disqualification. Nawaz Sharif was having a fight with everyone and finally God imposed his justice because he was destroying the masses, Mr Zardari said. He added: Neither the poor were happy, nor the peasants. Only Nawaz Sharif and his some friends were happy. Countries make progress when the poor become rich.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Nawaz Sharif represented the ideology which he promised at the grave of a dictator Ziaul Haq Nawaz Sharifs ideology is aimed at weakening and dishonouring parliament, as he ran the government through remote, he added.
More than 140 lives, mostly young children were lost as extremists belonging to a banned outfit stormed Peshawar APS.

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said that the sacrifices of innocent people will not go waste in the war against terrorism.

In a message on the occasion of third anniversary of Army Public School Peshawar massacre, the premier said that the memories of martyrs will always be in our hearts, adding that the nation pays tribute to the children who bravely faced terrorist attack. He said that the children who had gone to school for study, returned either in coffins or severely injured.

The Prime Minister viewed that the APS tragedy had led to the historic national unity and promoted the nation to make a firm resolve for unanimously launching a decisive action against terrorists. Valiant security forces of Pakistan defeated the terrorists under the National Action Plan and broke their back consequent to their tireless efforts, he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan observed third anniversary of brutal APS carnage. The dawn that Pakistan saw on December 16, three years ago, unfolded as one of the most tragic incidents in the history of the country. More than 140 lives, mostly young children were lost as extremists belonging to a banned outfit stormed Peshawar APS.

Pakistan army conducted an operation killing over five attackers and secured the premises with both the civil and military leadership coming on same page in bid to rid Pakistan of banned outfits and operatives of terrorist organisations. Pakistans fight against extremism and hatred continues three years after school-going children sacrificed their lives pushing the nation in mourning.
The Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan will also be allowed to accompany Jadhav's family during the meeting.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan's Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India's intelligence agency - the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). (Photo: File)

Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife were being processed.

"Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted on Saturday.

Pakistan Today has reported that the FO, on Thursday, issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother.

The Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan will also be allowed to accompany Jadhav's family during the meeting.

Read: Jadhavs mother, wife must not be quizzed: India to Pak

The Pakistan government had decided to allow Jadhav to meet his wife and mother on December 25, Geo News reported citing Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, as saying.

Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan's Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India's intelligence agency - the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan this year in April.

However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 18, 2017, stayed the hanging after India approached it against the death sentence.

Read also: ICJ rejects Pak claims, stays Kulbhushan Jadhav hanging

India has appealed to the court to impose emergency measures for Jadhav's execution to be suspended until the legal battle in Hague concludes, while also accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide him with consular access and for being in breach of international human rights law.

To this end, India's and Pakistan's written responses have been submitted to registrar Philippe Couvreur of the ICJ.
He's the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

The Australian Federal Police say the 59-year-old naturalized Australian used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction. (Photo: File/Representational)

Sydney: A Sydney man has been charged with acting as an agent for North Korea in Australia by allegedly attempting to broker sales for Pyongyang including components used in ballistic missiles.

The Australian Federal Police say the 59-year-old naturalized Australian used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

Police say the man was generating tens of millions of dollars for Pyongyang by arranging the sale of missiles, componentry and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and was trying to arrange the transfer of coal from the country to Indonesia and Vietnam.

He's the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
The 1971 war veterans of both Bangladesh and India once again got together to celebrate the victory.

Officially three million people were killed during the nine-month-long war in one of the most heinous acts of genocide by Pakistani troops. (Photo: AP)

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Saturday honoured 27 Indian war veterans as it celebrated 'Victory Day' marking its emergence as an independent nation following the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

A 31-gun salute marked the occasion while President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the National Memorial at suburban Savar in a pre-dawn ceremony with army bugles playing the 'Last Post' while thousands followed them as the nation paid homage to the 1971 martyrs and heroes.

Mr Hamid later joined as the chief guest a parade of armed forces and other state-owned organisations at a ceremony, also attended by the premier at the National Parade Square in the capital.

The 1971 war veterans of both Bangladesh and India once again got together to celebrate the victory.

Twenty-seven 1971 war veterans from India and four serving officers arrived in Dhaka on December 14 to join the celebrations on invitation of the Bangladesh government.

Read: Pak must unconditionally apologise to Bdesh for 1971 genocide: Muhajir Congress

Bangladesh Army Chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq hosted a reception for them also attended by some Russian military veterans who aided Bangladesh in demining its coastline after the war.

Retired Lieutenant General Jai Bhagwan Singh Yadava, who took part in the 1965 war against Pakistan and the 1971 Liberation War, led the Indian delegation.

"The delegation will also pay homage to Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial museum, and 1971 martyrs placing wreaths at 'Shikha Anirban' (Flame Eternal) at Dhaka cantonment and visit some of the battle sites of Liberation War," an official familiar with the visit said.

An Indian High Commission statement said reciprocal visits by Bangladeshi freedom fighters (FFs) and Indian war veterans on Victory Day started in 2005 and over 300 Bangladeshis and 150 Indians have joined celebrations in Kolkata and Dhaka respectively since then.

As part of the celebrations streets and buildings in the capital and other major cities were illuminated overnight.

The war in 1971 began after the sudden crackdown at midnight on March 25 that year in erstwhile East Pakistan by Pakistani troops and ended on December 16 as Pakistan conceded defeat and unconditionally surrendered in Dhaka to the allied forces comprising Bengali freedom fighters and the Indian Army.

Officially three million people were killed during the nine-month-long war in one of the most heinous acts of genocide by Pakistani troops.
During the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for the sisters and all kidnap victims: "may they all, on the occasion of Christmas, finally return to their homes." Believers must wait for the Lord who comes with constant joy, persevering prayer and continual thanksgiving. The pontiff told the children from the Roman oratories, who came to the square for the blessing of the "Bambinelli", that If we take away Jesus, what remains of Christmas? An empty holiday. Happy birthday to Pope Francis.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis recited the Angelus prayer with pilgrims in St Peters Square. Before the Marian prayer, he said that constant joy, persevering prayer and continual thanksgiving" are the spirit with which believers must experience the period of Advent.

After the prayer, the pontiff called for the release of six sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Christ, abducted about a month ago from their convent in Iguoriakhi (Nigeria). "I pray with insistence for them and for all the other persons who find themselves in this painful condition: may they all, on the occasion of Christmas, finally return to their homes. The pontiff then urged everyone to recite together a Hail Mary for all kidnap victims.

Earlier, the Pope explained the meaning of today's celebration, the third of Advent, called the "Sunday of Joy", taken from the words of Saint Paul in today's reading (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24) that "invites us to prepare for the coming of the Lord by assuming three attitudes: constant joy, persevering prayer and continual thanksgiving."

The first attitude means always remain in joy, even when things do not go according to our desires. Anxieties, difficulties and sufferings permeate our lives, and so many times the reality around us seems to be inhospitable and arid, like the desert in which the voice of John the Baptist resounded, as the Gospel of today recalls (cf. Jn, 1:23). But the words of the Baptist reveal that our joy rests on the certainty that this desert is inhabited: "Among you there is one whom you do not know" (Jn, 1:26).

This is Jesus, the envoy of the Father who comes, as Isaiah underlines, to bring the good news to the poor, to bind the wounds of broken hearts, to proclaim the freedom of slaves, the release of prisoners, to promulgate the year of grace of the Lord (61,1-2).

The second attitude, "persevering prayer", emphasises that Through prayer we can enter into a stable relationship with God, who is the source of true joy. The joy of the Christian comes from faith and from the encounter with Jesus Christ, the reason for our happiness. The more we are rooted in Christ, the more we find inner serenity, even in the midst of everyday contradictions.

That is why the Christian, having met Jesus, cannot be a prophet of misfortune, but a witness and a herald of joy. A joy to share with others; a contagious joy that makes life's journey less tiring.

The third attitude, the continuous yield of graces, is the grateful love of God. He is indeed very generous with us, and we are invited to always recognize His gifts, His merciful love, His patience. and goodness, thus living in an endless state of thanksgiving.

Joy, prayer and gratitude are three attitudes that prepare us to live Christmas in an authentic way. In this last part of Advent, we entrust ourselves to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary. She is the cause of our joy, not only because she is the Mother of Jesus, but because she continually leads us to Him.

After the Marian prayer and the appeal for the abducted nuns, Francis greeted the children from the Roman oratories, who came to the square for the blessing of the "Bambinelli", the small statues of the Baby Jesus that will be placed in the nativity scene.

"Dear children, said the Pope, I thank you for your joyous presence and I wish you a merry Christmas! When you pray at home, in front of the nativity scene with your families, allow yourself to be drawn to the tenderness of the Baby Jesus, born poor and fragile among us in order to give us his love. This is the true Christmas. If we take away Jesus, what is left of Christmas? An empty holiday. Jesus is the centre of Christmas."

Among the many signs carried in the square, some wished Pope Francis happy birthday. The Holy Father is 81 years old today.
________________________________________

Sheep recognised Baaarack Obaaama

When it comes to picking out a famous face, theres no pulling the wool over sheeps eyes. We learned in September that the humble sheep can pick out a celebrity face almost as well as we can. The animals were trained to associate a few famous faces  including Barack Obama, Jake Gyllenhall and Emma Watson - with a food reward. They were then able to rustle up a snack by identifying the celeb when faced with a choice between the famous face and another, with about 80 per cent accuracy. Even when the celeb faces were displayed at an angle, the sheep were pretty good at spotting them. So, what was the point? Well, scientists use sheep to study Huntingtons disease in humans, a condition that can make facial recognition difficult. So, learning how sheep recognise faces could help develop treatments for the disease.

________________________________________

Boxer crabs didnt half love their anemone mittens

Who knew crabs enjoy wearing mittens made of anemones? We certainly didnt. But, in January, we learned boxer crabs love their anemone mittens so much, they simply wont do without them. The researchers said crabs that lost one of their mittens quickly got their claws on another by pinching an anemone from another crab. And if there...
Egypt's Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said Sunday that Egypt is preparing a UN resolution against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

A protester shouts slogans during a demonstration against US President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the al-Azhar mosque in Cairo on December 8, 2017. [Photo: IC]

Speaking during a parliament session, Abdel-Aal said Egypt has begun contacting all Arab leaders and a number of foreign officials for the resolution.

Abdel-Aal stressed that Jerusalem will remain an Arab city, reiterating Egypt's rejection of the U.S. decision to recognize the holy city as Israel's capital and move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

All Egyptian parliament members appeared at the session wearing a sash with "Jerusalem is Arab" written on it.

Abdel-Aal added that Egypt's representative to the United Nations Security Council had called for holding an emergency session to get the U.S. administration to withdraw its decision.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city.

Trump's declaration sparked widespread criticism and opposition from Arab and Muslim countries.

Jerusalem lies at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, it has not been recognized by the international community.

The Palestinians insist that they should establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the final settlement.

Under the previous Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, the status of Jerusalem should be determined through the final-status talks between Israel and the Palestinians.




By Meg Jing Zeng, PhD candidate, Queensland University of Technology

from www.shutterstock.com

WeChat is the most popular social media app in China. Since 2011, it has transformed from a messaging tool to an all-in-one super portal, with more than 900 million monthly active users. Its parent company, Tencent, is one of the most valuable technology companies in the world.

WeChats success has been powered by the platforms mobile payment service, Wechat Pay, which assists with every aspect of a users life  from shopping for clothes and hailing taxis, to organising hospital appointments and ordering food deliveries.

Now, demand from Chinese tourists is increasing its uptake in Australia, and Australians are using WeChat too. Heres what you need to know if you plan to use it.









Read more: At APEC, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping revealed different ideas of Asias economic future

China is the market leader in mobile payment

A recent study shows that 84% of people in China are willing and able replace cash with mobile payment. In 2016, 38 trillion Yuan (A$7.5 trillion) was exchanged via mobile payment  a sum 50 times larger than the United States, the worlds second biggest market.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping vows to make China a cyber superpower, Chinese tech companies are extending their ambitions to build a cash-free economy beyond the border. To date, WeChat has successfully launched its payment service in 15 countries.

Australia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists and students and it was one of the first offshore markets WeChat Pay targeted. In 2016, Chinese tourists spent A$9.2 billion in Australia, and this figure is expected grow to A$13 billion by 2020.









Tourism Australia





Recently, nine Australian cross-border payment service providers have partnered with WeChat Pay to connect Australian merchants to Chinese consumers. WeChat Pay allows local merchants to receive payments to their Australian accounts within a shorter time frame and at a lower transaction cost than credit cards.













More than 10,000 shops and restaurants in Australia are using the WeChat Pay system. Most early overseas adopters of this service are duty free shops and Chinese restaurants, but in Australia it is also common to see the WeChat pay option available in pharmacies.

Due to the high demand in China for Australian-made baby formula and health supplements, a visit to a pharmacy to stock up is often on a Chinese tourists must do list when visiting Australia.

Exporting mobile payment to the world

At this stage, only customers with Chinese bank accounts can use WeChat to make payments, so the global push still largely relies on Chinese consumers. However, the apps latest venture in Malaysia suggests the company is now planning to target overseas domestic users.

In late November, WeChat obtained an e-payment license in Malaysia that will allow locals to use Malaysian banks to pay. This will make Malaysia WeChats first offshore market whereby all of the platform services can be made available to local users.

Concerns about censorship and surveillance

Although the Chinese Communist Party urges its firms to expand into global markets, the partys intimate relationship with Chinas tech sector has made overseas consumers wary.

Tech products from China, such as affordable smartphones, are regularly accused of having security flaws and even claimed to be tools for government spying. In Early December, the Indian government reportedly blacklisted WeChat, together with another 41 apps, categorising them as spyware.

Although there is no firm evidence to prove that these products have actually been used for government spying, such suspicions are not entirely groundless. Beijing has a dark history of pressuring tech companies to assist with information surveillance.

Read more: China bans streaming video as it struggles to keep up with live content

One famous case was Yahoos complicity in Beijings persecution of two dissidents in the early 2000s. More recent reports suggest that private conversations on WeChat are sometimes monitored by the Chinese police.

Lately, under pressure from Beijing, Apple removed 674 VPN applications  tools that can be used to circumvent censorship  from its Chinese app store.

It is not unusual for internet companies to conduct censorship according to local law, but in a country like China the law can be used to persecute dissidents and activists. Arguably, tech companies are as much victims of the system as users. But as long as the party state controls their right to operate in the Chinese market, they will continue to make profit at the cost of users freedom of speech.

Tips for using WeChat in Australia

According to WeChats own claims, user data is not monitored or stored by the company, as long as there is no requirement from the Chinese authorities. However, Australian users should keep the following in mind:

Once you register your account in China, your communication on WeChat is always censored  even if you connect your WeChat to an Australian number. The most common method of censorship on WeChat is keyword blocking, which means messages containing sensitive words, such as Tiananmen June 4 and free Tibet, wont be received.

WeChat accounts registered outside China as an overseas account are not censored according to the same strict standards that apply to Chinese users. However, when you use WeChat to communicate with a Chinese user, its a different story. A recent study from the Citizen Lab suggests that messages containing censored keywords will still be banned if they are sent to a Chinese account.

In September 2017, China launched new regulations for online chat groups that make the group chat admin liable for the information shared by its group members. Content violation on Wechat can include information identified as rumour by Chinese authorities, messages mentioning politically sensitive topics, and information related to organising protests. Keep this in mind when sending information to a WeChat group hosted by your friend in China.

Until tech companies are willing and able to stand up for the rights of their users, its important to educate yourself about what youre signing up for.

Meg Jing Zeng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Originally published in The Conversation.
David Von Drehle writes a twice-weekly column for The Post. He was previously an editor-at-large for Time Magazine, and is the author of four books, including "Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and Americas Most Perilous Year" and "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America."
Anyone whos paid any attention to the Seminole Heights murders is familiar with the surveillance video of the suspect.

Man who provided Seminole Heights video not thanked

Patrick Holladay says a thank you letter would have been nice

He says video was key to finding the murder suspect



For weeks, the images of a tall thin shadowy figure walking to and running from the crime scenes was the most the public had to go on in finding the person behind the killings of four people.

That video belonged to Patrick Holladay and he says, as of yet, no one has so much as thanked him for it--not to mention offered up any reward money.

It would have been nice to get a little piece of that pie. Hollady said. Wasnt expecting it, but you know a thank you or a letter from the mayor or anything like that would beat the heck out of what we got.

He said the video played a key part in eventually finding, arresting and charging accused serial killer Howell Trai Donaldson with the murders. But Mayor Bob Buckhorn said there are many people to thank.

Obviously we're grateful to everybody," Buckhorn said. There were a lot of people involved in this for the 51 days we were out there."

But he said only one person truly stands out amongst them.

There were people that were giving us tips," Buckhorn said. There were people that were helping us. There were people providing video, but ultimately we would not have solved this case has it not been for the courage of the woman at the McDonald's.

However, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan says there will be a time set aside to thank everyone in the near future.

Once we get through the holidays we're going to bring everybody in a more formal setting and give them a personal thank you," Dugan said. "Because even though thank yous not enough, it is amazing to see what people have done.
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A Moate farmer has expressed pride at the legacy of his late fathers generosity after travelling 6,500 miles to be reunited with a cow donated by him to an African family a decade ago.

Colm Doyle travelled to the heart of Rwanda in eastern Africa to see how a cow donated by his late father Jimmy 11 years ago had transformed the lives of a Rwandan family.

The cow is just one of an ever growing herd sent since the mid-noughties by a local group in Moate through aid agency Bothar to impoverished families in Africa and eastern European.

The cows have had a transformational effect on the lives of an estimated 1,000 plus families as the aid agency returns each year to re-impregnate the cows, with a deal struck with each recipient family that they must pass on the first born female calf to a neighbour.

Prior to being given a heifer, each family undergoes a six-month programme of training in animal husbandry, water-harvesting and basic horticulture practices.

The Moate Bothar group started off 15 years ago by raising funds through the local national school to send out just one goat.

Now they are sending on average 50 cows and up to 80 goats each year, with one year seeing them send out 115 in-calf heifers.

On his return from Rwanda, Colm said his late father would, indeed, have been proud.

He said: It was quite an experience, seeing the heifer and all shes done here after her nine or 10 years. Shes had nine calves, five female and four male.

"Her first female calf would have been passed on so theres another family obviously somewhere down the road who are benefitting from the initial gift as well. That heifer, too, would have most likely had a female calf and that would have been passed on. So the gift keeps on giving."

He was also hugely reassured by the condition the cow is in after 10 years in Rwanda.

He said: Its obvious that the farmer is really treating her well. Shes in fantastic condition. Shes 12 years old at this stage, in fine fettle and theres no reason why she cant continue.

You couldnt but be content and happy that you gave the donation and it has to make you want to do more in the future. I think my father would be very proud.

The Rwandan farmer spoke of his delight at being able to meet the son of an Irish farmer who had transformed his familys life.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said it was the greatest gift ever.

Mpayimana Johanna said: "When the cow came in 2008 the first thing for us was the milk for consumption and the second thing was I could buy a motorcycle to transport milk.

"The third thing was I could buy land. I even had money for the school fees for the children.

When I look at my cow I am very happy because the cow is healthy and even has more milk. Its the greatest gift ever.

"No one could understand what this has done for my family and I am so thankful to the people who gave us this gift, he added.

You can get further information on Bothar's website.
Gardai investigating the assault and false imprisonment of a security man in Co. Laois have made a third arrest.

Officers arrested a 35-year-old man this afternoon and he is being held at Portlaoise Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
IMPACT have suspended a planned one-day strike of Ryanair pilots next Wednesday.

It comes after management at the airline agreed to recognise the union as the representative of pilots based in Ireland.

The union has agreed to meet Ryanair management on Tuesday evening, but says it is available to meet sooner.

Some 117 directly-employed Ryanair pilots are involved in the dispute, making up the majority of the firm's captains in Ireland - meaning any walkout would have severely affected flights.

The dispute is about winning independent representation for pilots in the company, the union said.

They also asked management to release its Ryanair pilot representatives to prepare for and attend the meeting.

The union said it "acknowledged the principled determination of Ryanair pilots", which it said had made this breakthrough possible, and said it looked forward to "establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management".

They added that it hoped the suspension of industrial action would remove any uncertainty for passengers intending to travel on Wednesday.

Earlier today, IMPACT spokesman Niall Shanahan had said: "Realistically, we would meet them today, we would meet them in the next hour or so, because ultimately [as regards] the scheduled industrial action that's due to take place on Wednesday - we're not in a position to make a determination about that action until we've met the company, until we've established the substance in their offer for pilot representation through a trade union."

"All we have at the moment is the letter that came from Ryanair on Friday morning, indicating their willingness to recognise pilot unions.

"There is detail in that that needs to be explored. We need to establish the substance in that offer.

"The sooner we can meet them the sooner we can do that, the sooner we can make a determination about suspending the industrial action."
According to state law, fines, penalties, and license money shall be appropriated exclusively to the use and support of the common schools ... . An exception is fines for overloaded vehicles. Seventy-five percent of those funds go to state highways; 25 percent go to the county general fund where the fine or penalty is paid. Fifty percent of money forfeited or seized in enforcing drug laws goes to counties for drug enforcement. Vehicles seized in drug law cases may be used by law enforcement agencies or sold with the proceeds going to schools.
The IMPACT union has said that it is not in a position to call off Wednesday's planned strike action by Ryanair pilots until it meets with the company.

The airline said that it is now prepared to meet union representatives on Tuesday in a bid to avert industrial action, after initially saying it could only meet them on Wednesday.

However, IMPACT said it needs clarifications from Ryanair on how it will handle matters into the future.

Union spokesman Niall Shanahan has welcomed the progress, but said that they cannot call off the strike just yet.

"We're certainly happy to meet Ryanair on Tuesday," he said.

"Realistically, we would meet them today, we would meet them in the next hour or so, because ultimately [as regards] the scheduled industrial action that's due to take place on Wednesday - we're not in a position to make a determination about that action until we've met the company, until we've established the substance in their offer for pilot representation through a trade union."

He added: "All we have at the moment is the letter that came from Ryanair on Friday morning, indicating their willingness to recognise pilot unions.

"There is detail in that that needs to be explored. We need to establish the substance in that offer.

"The sooner we can meet them the sooner we can do that, the sooner we can make a determination about suspending the industrial action."
Crash investigators in England are trying to piece together what caused a collision which killed six - as one of the victims was named as a loving father.

Three men were killed when they were thrown out of their car while a black cab driver and his two passengers, a man and woman, died after the vehicle was left on its side.

A fourth man travelling in the car remains in a critical condition at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The taxi driver, named locally as Imtiaz Mohammed, had six children all aged under 15 and was described by a cousin as "caring" and "hard-working".

One of his children had been due to celebrate their birthday on Monday.

Liaqat Ali, his cousin, said: "He was a very nice guy, caring and hard-working."

Mr Mohammed worked for local firm Castle Cars, which has offices both in Sandwell, West Midlands, and in Birmingham.

Debbie Ormsby, in a statement on behalf of the cab company, said: "Imtiaz was a wonderful young hard-working family man.

"We were shocked and devastated to learn this morning that it was Imtiaz who lost his life in the serious road traffic collision which had been reported by our drivers in the early hours of Sunday.

"He was loved and respected by all who worked with him and he will be greatly missed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all the other families affected by this tragedy.''

Police said they are following various lines of investigation including the condition of the road when the crash happened at Belgrave and Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road, shortly after 1am this morning.

Superintendent Sean Phillips, from West Midlands Police, told a press conference: "It is way too early to speculate on the causes of the accident.

"It will take some time to unpick the scene and just understand exactly what's happened. It would be unfair for me to speculate at this time."

He confirmed the road had been gritted at 5pm the previous evening.

Asked about the speeds the vehicles were travelling at, and whether all of those involved were wearing seatbelts, Mr Phillips said those will be issues considered during the investigation.

The Ambulance Service, which sent five ambulances and three paramedics to the scene, said it was astonishing that a man and woman in the first car were able to escape with minor injuries despite "extensive damage" to their vehicle.

Three other cars collided as they tried to avoid the scene at the entrance to the underpass.

Of those people, two were taken to Heartlands Hospital with minor injuries.

The ambulance service said they dealt with 13 patients in total.

Police are working to contact families of those involved.

Images of the devastation in the aftermath of the crash have been shared online.

Mr Phillips urged people to send those images to police rather than posting them on the internet.

He said: "It's a harrowing scene. There are families involved, these are real people involved. It is very distressing for everyone.

"To share images that would portray something that is perhaps unwelcome for the families and unhelpful for the investigation at this time - I would urge people not to do that.

"I would urge them to contact police and share it with West Midlands Police. It will be treated as evidence and information that might help us piece together exactly what's happened."

West Midlands Fire Service said 40 firefighters helped in the aftermath of the "horrific" crash, and were met with what they described as a "complex scene, spread over some distance".

The road is likely to remain closed throughout Sunday, police said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian contacts with US President Donald Trump's campaign has gained access to thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of his administration, according to people familiar with Mr Trump's transition organisation.

But the investigators did not directly request the records from Mr Trump's still-existing transition group, Trump for America, and instead obtained them from the General Services Administration (GSA), a separate federal agency that stored the material, according to the same source.

The tens of thousands of emails in question pertain to 13 senior Trump transition officials. Many of the emails that Mr Mueller's investigators have now include national security discussions about possible Trump international aims as well as candid assessments of candidates for top government posts, said those familiar with the transition.

Yesterday, Kory Langhofer, general counsel for the transition group, sent a letter to two congressional committees arguing that the GSA had improperly provided the transition records to Mr Mueller's investigators.

In the letter to the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and the Senate Homeland Security committees, Mr Langhofer contends that the disclosure by GSA was "unauthorised" and it considers the documents private and privileged and not government property.

Mr Langhofer also said that a GSA official appointed by Mr Trump in May had assured the transition in June that any request for records from Mr Mueller's office would be referred to the transition's lawyers.

According to Mr Langhofer, the assurance was made by then-GSA general counsel Richard Beckler, who was in hospital in August and has since died. A copy of the letter was viewed by the Associated Press.

But late last night, another GSA official present for the conversation told Buzzfeed News that there was nothing improper about the disclosure of the emails to Mr Mueller's team.

The GSA has provided office space and other aid to presidential transitions in recent years and typically houses electronic transition records in its computer system.

GSA deputy counsel Lenny Loewentritt told Buzzfeed that Mr Beckler did not make a commitment to the transition team that requests from law enforcement for materials would be routed through transition lawyers.

Mr Loewentritt said the transition was informed that by using government devices, the agency would not hold back records from law enforcement.

Transition officials signed agreements that warn them that materials kept on the government servers are subject to monitoring and auditing, he told Buzzfeed, and there is no expectation of privacy.

The documents were provided to Mr Mueller's team by the GSA in September in response to requests from the FBI, but the transition was not informed at the time, according to people familiar with the transition organisation.

Officials with Trump for America learned last Wednesday that GSA officials had turned over the cache of emails to Mr Mueller's team.

Among the officials who used transition email accounts was former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements to FBI agents in January and is now co-operating with Mr Mueller's investigation.

Mr Flynn was fired by Mr Trump in February for misleading senior administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

It is unclear how revelatory the email accounts maintained by the GSA will be for Mr Mueller. Several high-level Trump advisers sometimes used other email accounts to communicate about transition issues between Election Day and the inauguration.

Mr Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, and Mr Flynn's lawyer, Robert Kelner, declined to comment. Jay Sekulow, a lawyer on Mr Trump's personal legal team, referred questions to the transition group. Spokespeople for GSA did not immediately respond to AP's emailed requests for comment.

The media site Axios first reported on the transfer of the emails to Mr Mueller's team.

- AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his US counterpart Donald Trump to thank him for a CIA tip-off that helped thwart a series of bombings in St Petersburg.

The Kremlin said Mr Putin told Mr Trump during the call on Sunday that the information provided by the CIA was sufficient to track down and detain a group of suspects that was planning to bomb the Kazan Cathedral and other sites in the city.

A spokesman said the Russian leader asked Mr Trump to convey his gratitude to the CIA and said Russian law enforcement agencies will hand over any information they get about potential terror threats against the US, as they have done in the past.

The conversation is the second phone call between the two leaders since Thursday.

In the first call, Mr Trump thanked Mr Putin for his remarks "acknowledging America's strong economic performance", according to the White House.

They also discussed ways to work together to address North Korea's nuclear and ballistic weapons programme.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, announced on Friday that seven suspected followers of the Islamic State group had been arrested for allegedly planning to carry out terror attacks in St Petersburg this weekend.

The agency said the suspects were plotting a suicide bombing in a church and a series of other explosions in the city's busiest areas this coming weekend on IS orders. It said a search of a St Petersburg apartment found explosives, automatic weapons and extremist literature.

Russian news reports said that the Kazan Cathedral was the prime target.

Russian TV stations ran footage of FSB operatives outside an apartment building detaining a suspect, who was later shown confessing that he was told to prepare home-made bombs rigged with shrapnel.

The reports included footage of a metal container, which the suspects used as a laboratory for making explosives, according to the FSB. Another video showed operatives breaking the doors and raiding an apartment used by other suspects.

Last week, the FSB said it also arrested several IS-linked suspects in Moscow, where they allegedly were plotting a series of suicide bombings over the New Year period.

In April, a suicide bombing in the St Petersburg subway left 16 dead and wounded more than 50.

AP
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Software as a service (SaaS) major Zoho Corp is incubating start-ups in different fields, including a medical technology firm, and is expected to come out with announcements regarding them soon.
Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL)s re-entry into its crown property, Taj Mansingh, may not be smooth though the company is gearing for an aggressive bidding in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) auction next month. A number of established hotel  ITC, Oberoi and Marriott  are jumping into the fray for this 294-room iconic property in Lutyens Delhi.
Assam's Dhruv Boruah loves adventures with a purpose and to generate awareness about plastic pollution, he made a special floating bicycle from bamboo and pedalled down the in the UK to clear litter.

He cycled 150 miles (241 km approximately) from Lechlade, Gloucestershire to Tower Bridge near London for nine days in September and collected things such as plastic bottles, cups and glasses, chocolate wrappers, milk bottles and even a packet of chicken breasts.

Daily, he collected two baskets full of litter.

"It was not all of a sudden. It was a gradual process. I have always loved adventure but adventure with a purpose. I love ocean racing and once while sailing from London to Brazil, I saw how the waters are exposed to plastic litter," Boruah, who hails from Dhemaji district of Assam and is now based in London, told PTI.

A former corporate management consultant and now an entrepreneur, the 35-year-old said his 'Biking on the Thames' campaign was born thereafter.

Then the question of his mode of transport arose.

"I wanted the vehicle to be wacky, different. I wanted people to notice it so that my message reaches out to many," he said.

Boruah had made a bicycle from bamboo last year.

"The bamboo was from the UK and Vietnam. I modified it a bit and used the floats from Italy," he said.

And his vehicle was definitely able to grab eyeballs.

"People were curious to see the bicycle and many stopped to have a chat with me. So I was able to tell them what I was doing and urge them to start thinking about ways to reduce plastic," he said.

However, things were not easy for Boruah as he faced a lot of problems on the first day of his adventure.

"I had just started when the bicycle toppled over as I tried to get it off the pontoon. I could see bubbles in the water and thought this was the end of it. On top of it, it was raining heavily. But then I regained my composure and managed to retrieve the vehicle," he said.

In the next spring, Boruah plans to have a go at another Thames cleaning drive but said he would perhaps also involve someone who is interested.

Boruah's motto is: be smart with plastics, and he plans to work with a few government organisations to take his campaign forward.

He is now looking forward to embark on a trip from Seoul to Pyongyang next year on his handmade bamboo bicycle to spread the message of peace.
Women wait to cast votes during re-polling at a booth in Daskroi constituency, Ahmedabad, on Sunday. More than 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the re-polling at six booths in four Assembly constituencies, said officials Photo: PTI
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday called for radical reforms in the judicial and education systems of the country, saying they were long overdue.

He also said the youth needed to be adequately trained so that they became the future leaders in all walks of life.

"Radical reforms are needed in our judicial and educational systems. Reforms have been very belated in these two areas," Jaitley said, speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) here.

Without elaborating on the kind of reforms needed, he said every effort must be made to ensure that the millions of youth in the country were trained well, so that they became the future leaders in all walks of life.

Jaitley advised the graduating students to prepare and train themselves to be eligible to serve those countries which were facing a crisis by way of population de-growth.

"This is the best way to utilise our demographic dividend," he said, adding that the government alone could not create enough jobs.

In this context, Jaitley said the private sector needed to do more to train people and make them skilled and added, "Otherwise, our demographic dividend can become a liability."



Jaitley was, in fact, responding to the criticism and concern expressed by Symbiosis chancellor S B Mujumdar over a recent Supreme Court order, asking the University Grants Commission (UGC) not to allow any private institute to market itself as a university.

In an order passed in early November, the apex court had directed the UGC to restrain all the deemed universities from using the word "university" in their names.

Pointing towards the economic reforms of 1991, that had lifted the economy to its current heights, Jaitley said putting curbs had never worked in any sector and would not work going forward.

"If the survival of the fittest is the rule, it has never been so true as it is today," he said and urged the students to identify their key strengths and become the leaders of tomorrow as there was enough space for everyone to excel.

In his address, noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj, who was awarded an honorary D.Litt. degree by the institute, said there was a reason why industrialists and businessmen were hated by the public in general and the poor in particular.

This was because the income inequalities had been on a steady rise, he said.

The Bajaj group patriarch said this attitude was prevalent, despite the businessmen and industrialists being the highest taxpayers, creating wealth and generating jobs.

He warned that if the inequalities were not looked at and arrested, "our country will not be far from the violent public protests seen elsewhere in the world".

"We should not continue to test the patience of the tens of millions of our poor people," Bajaj said.

Jaitley conferred doctoral, post-graduate and graduate degrees and diplomas to 3,450 students of 17 streams.
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is working to replicating the Vibrant Gujarat model to attract big ticket investors in its own UP Investors Summit 2018.
India's exports to China registered a sharp increase of over 53 per cent year-on-year to reach $1.24 billion in October, but the trade deficit continued to mount, according to data released by the customs.

The trade deficit for October stood at $3.86 billion.

Despite the strains in the bilateral ties, India-China trade increased by 13.56 per cent year-on-year to reach $6.33 billion in October.

Significantly, India's exports to China increased by 53.04 percent year-on-year to reach $1.24 billion though the trade deficit continued to grow. The Indian exports to China around the same time last year was $0.81 billion, data showed.

China's exports to India also continued to grow registering an year-on-year growth of 6.87 per cent to reach $5.09 billion.

The Indian exports were boosted by natural pearls, precious stones and precious metals, organic chemicals, copper and articles, cotton, including yarn and woven fabric, ores, slag and ash.

Since this year, Indias exports which were on the decline for a number of years started showing increase.

In the first seven months, the exports registered 40.69 per cent year-on-year to reach $10.60 billion.

However, the trade deficit expanded to $44.51 billion in the first seven months despite surge in Indian exports as imports from China continued to increase.

Last year, the trade deficit climbed to $52 billion in little over $70 billion trade.

India has been pressing China to open up its pharmaceutical and IT software sectors to expand the base of Indian exports.
The Himachal Pradesh and are set to be announced today. Counting of votes will be held at 8 am for the Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Karnataka, the last big bastion of the Congress, is headed for the Assembly elections next year.

The leaders of three parties  the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the regional Janata Dal (Secular)  have begun their campaigns. For now, all eyes are on Gujarat: Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi return with a huge haul or would the election be an upset for the BJP?

The Gujarat results will influence the BJPs strategy in the southern state, which, in the assembly elections, has a record of electing a party that is in opposition to the one in power at the Centre. It depends on the nature of the verdict in Gujarat. If the BJP gets fewer than the present number (119) (in Gujarat), it will be huge setback for the party and a morale booster for the Congress in Karnataka, says Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst and pro vice-chancellor at Jain University. If they do exceptionally good and breach the 120 mark, it will clearly send a positive message to the BJP cadre in Karnataka.

In the past four decades Karnataka has not returned the party in power. The last time it had done so was in 1978, when the Congress returned to power under D Devaraj Urs, a backward class leader. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, another backward class leader of the Congress from Mysuru, to which Urs also belonged, is attempting to break the 40-year pattern.

Uttar Pradesh is different, Gujarat is different, and Karnataka is different, said Siddaramaiah. In Karnataka, the Congress will return. People here will not be swayed by Modi.

The BJP, which had seen wrangling between its two senior leaders  B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa  has an uphill task in mobilising voters. Operation Kamala is the legacy of its rule (2008-13). The experiment engineered by former ministers G Janardhana Reddy and Sriramulu, his close confidant, led to massive corruption charges, including a scam that involved smuggling iron ore.

Yeddyurappa was also accused of corruption, for which he had to resign. The Karnataka High Court discharged him due to technical reasons.

Yet the BJP is confident of a sweep in Karnataka.

There is a BJP wave sweeping Karnataka. We will ensure we get a majority, said S Prakash, BJP spokesperson for the state. The differences are history. We will fight the elections unitedly and come to power.

Analysts say Siddaramaiah has turned to his favour what seemed to be the BJP's base even two years ago. He has divided the Lingayats through his offer to give them the status of being a religious community.

Gujarat shows that local issues dominate in any assembly elections. Till two years ago, the BJP was setting the agenda. By taking up the local cause, essentially focusing on the Kannada identity, Siddaramaiah has trumped the BJP, says Shastri.

He also says empowering local leaders has given an edge to the Congress in the state as against the BJP, whose leaders rely on the high command of the Modi-Amit Shah combine.

Siddaramaiah built his political career in the Janata Parivar and remained loyal to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. After Gowda ditched Siddaramaiah to favour his son H D Kumaraswamy to be chief minister in 2006, the backward class leader shifted loyalties to the Congress. His statewide rally to mobilise the minorities, backward classes, and Dalits, or what in Kannada is called Ahinda, endeared him to then Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who tasked Siddaramaiah with the job of leading the party in the 2013 assembly elections.

In the past 18 months, Siddaramaiah stepped up his focus on governance, launching multiple programmes targeted at rural Karnataka and reviving efforts to build infrastructure in Bengaluru.

On December 13, he began a month-long tour across the state.
The Gujarat election verdict will be delivered on Monday but the Election Commission is still looking into a plethora of complaints against the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress feels that little was happening to all its complaints against the Bharatiya Janata Party while things moved quickly when it came to grievances against others in the fray.

The stock reply of the Gujarat Chief Election Officer (CEO) to all queries is: "We are looking into it." The CEO's office could not tell IANS for two days the number of complaints it got for violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress has made 20 applications.

Since the announcement of the Gujarat elections on October 25, the code of conduct came into effect, preventing the government from making any policy announcements related to new schemes and preventing all parties from invoking communal and caste tensions.

The parties were also barred from using official machinery to influence voters.

The key instances of allegations of violation of the code of the conduct were against Modi.

The first was during a public meeting he addressed in Palitana in Bhavnagar district on November 29 where he allegedly incited hatred between the Patidar and Rajput communities over a conflict that occurred more than 30 years ago.

In 1982, three members of the Rajput community of Chomal village near Mangadh were killed and 19 Patels were charged with murder but were acquitted.

In an alleged reprisal in 1984, the Rajputs killed nine Patidars in Mangadh. After that, Mangadh village remained embroiled in caste conflict. But time healed matters and since then the area has seen peace.

But Modi stirred passions: "Gujarat cannot forget those days when (Patidar) farmers were looted by a handful of strongmen (Rajputs) who had the blessings of the Congress. Now it is for the people to decide whether they want those days back. Do you want to bless those who carried out murders of innocents in Mangadh?" He repeatedly asked these questions.

Through the Bhavnagar District Collector, the Gujarat Khedut Samaj filed a complaint against Modi and urged the poll panel that he be banned from campaigning further as he was inciting hatred.

Although Election Commission rules prohibit aggravating existing differences or creating mutual hatred or tension, Gujarat CEO B.B. Swain said: "We are looking into it."

The rules also bar campaigners and candidates from appealing to caste or communal feelings. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship cannot be used for election propaganda.

But at an event at the Vadtal Swaminarayan sect temple on November 4, the chief administrator of the shrine, Maharaj Ghanshyam Prasad Das, appealed to the devotees to vote for the BJP -- in the presence of Modi and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Asked about this, Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

But the Commission acted swiftly and issued a notice to the Archbishop of Gandhinagar through the District Collector, asking him to explain the intention and aim in writing a letter in which he asked Christians to organize prayer services so that those elected in Gujarat remain faithful to the Indian Constitution.

Chief Minister Rupani announced a ban on controversial film "Padmavati". Asked if this not a violation of the code of conduct, Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

The code of conduct clearly states that once elections are announced, ministers and other authorities shall not lay foundation stones of projects or schemes.

But on the last day of campaign on December 12, Modi flew off in a seaplane from the Sabarmati riverfront to Dharoi Dam reservoir to announce the launch of the seaplane service by the central government.

When pointed out that this was a clear violation of the code of conduct, Swain maintained: "The Commission is looking into it."

In sharp contrast, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was swiftly slapped with a notice for giving interviews to Gujarati TV channels on the eve of polling for the second and last phase on December 14.

But on the day of polling, Modi, a voter from Ranip in Ahmedabad, while returning from the voting booth, openly displayed his finger during a veritable roadshow.

The Congress complained to the Election Commission. Swain said: "The Commission is looking into it."

The code of conduct prohibits parties and candidates from canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations.

The Congress complained, backed by video evidence, that an outgoing BJP MLA paid money to voters coming out of a polling booth. Swain's comment: "The Commission is looking into it."

The Congress asked the Election Commission to bar three tainted officials from conducting poll duty. One of them, Mahendra Patel, had made personal comments against then Congress President Sonia Gandhi on his Facebook page.

And two police officials were involved in alleged controversial encounter killings and were out on bail -- Rajkumar Pandian (and Abhay Chudasama.

Mohan Jha, the Additional Director General of Police and the nodal officer for the Election Commission's police deployment plan, said: "Since there is no ongoing departmental inquiry against these officials, there is no breach or violation of any rules."

(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.)
With less than 36 hours to go before the counting of votes begins in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, both ruling Congress and opposition BJP are claiming victory.

While the Congress dismissed the exit poll results, which predicted a BJP victory, the saffron party expressed confidence that their performance would better projections.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who returned to Shimla after 18 days, dismissed the exit poll results, saying he could well read the mood of the people of the state and the actual results would be opposite to the exit poll projections.

"I am confident that 'mission repeat' would be achieved and tall claims made by the BJP would be proved wrong," he told reporters.

Singh said he visited every nook and corner of the state during the election campaign and has no doubt the Congress was in a strong position.

"The Congress would certainly for the government."



On the other hand, former chief minister and senior BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal was highly optimistic and said the results would be same as projected in the exit polls.

Talking to reporters at his Samirpur residence, Dhumal said the Congress party was upset with the exit polls and was making vague statements. "In fact, the BJP would win more seats than projected in exit-polls," he said.

Dhumal was declared the chief ministerial face of the BJP towards the end of the campaign.
Assembly in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are over. Another set of state is due in 2018. Business Standard reporters assess the next round of the electoral challenge and how it could change Indias political equations.

Which better caste combination?

Scheduled for April, the Karnataka election campaign is already underway. A Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah, former leader from the Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (S), is fighting for another term. The main challenge is led by B S Yeddyurappa, a former chief minister, once imprisoned briefly on a graft charge. Yeddyurappa has already been named as chief minister (CM) if his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should come to power.

Siddaramaiahs pluses? An excellent orator, from the Kuruba (shepherd) community which is socially and economically backward. This gives him the sort of appeal enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The downside? Not a collegial leader, strongly anti-intellectual and doesnt seem to notice corruption.

Karnataka is a mini country, with all the contradictions and asymmetries. After the information technology revolution, Bengaluru is the hub of all that is creative but the city has next to no urban planning and is growing at a pace the government cant keep up with. In Mandya, wealthy cotton farmers are committed to the JD (S); in arid north Karnataka and coastal Karnataka, the BJP has a base. The state has an assertive and vigorous minority population; one of the largest contingents of kar sevaks during the demolition of the Babri Masjid came from Karnataka.

The real politics is in caste coalitions. In the previous election, the Congress came to power on the back of a carefully wrought combination of some Vokkaligas, some Lingayats (both powerful middle castes) and mainly because of the support of Dalits and Muslims. This time, Yeddyurappa is working furiously to make dents in the Dalit vote. He has criss-crossed the state twice already, eating at Dalit households, holding meetings with them and generally trying to win them over. However, he has acknowledged detractors in his own party, who have made no secret of the fact that they will work to contain him. The BJPs biggest danger is internal sabotage.

Fishing in a tribal brew

The states politics are all its own and heavily tribe-driven. Currently ruled by a Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, in which the primary partner is the Naga Peoples Front (NPF), there is little more than tribal loyalty acting as a glue in keeping the coalition together.

Recently, the NPF split, pushing most MLAs to withdraw their loyalty to T R Zeliang and moving to the faction led by Shurhozelie Liezietsu. The immediate reason was Zeliang announcing 33 per cent reservation for women. However, in a comedy of errors, Zeliang returned to being CM.

The BJP has a good relationship with NPF. The unease lies in the framework agreement of a Naga accord signed between the Indian government and the Manipur-based National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak Muivah) in 2015.

This recognises the militant group as part of the political mainstream. The accord cautiously acknowledges the aspiration of the Naga people to have a homeland or Nagalim.

However, the exact terms have not been made public. The fear is that areas currently known as Nagaland might be made contiguous with Manipur to carve out a Greater Nagalim in which some non-Naga tribes might become minorities. The new entity could threaten existing interests, financial and political, and create new ones.

The election will play out against a subtext of contested and shared sovereignty. The BJPs Ram Madhav is a pivotal figure in extending the partys hold and discourse in the northeast. Yet, the party acknowledges that with the churchs dominanace, the BJP can at best have a creative alliance with political groups, not a sustainable and independent unit.

No more a duopoly

For years, the state had only two parties -- the Congress and the Left Front, principally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In 2016, six legislators of nine originally elected to the state assembly on Congress party tickets switched to the Trinamool Congress. Later, they shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). One of the three remaining Congress legislators has informally joined the BJP, whose national president, Amit Shah, has had triumphant rallies in Agartala and other places in Tripura.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has been in office since 1998, having led the Left to power for four terms. A sensible and no-nonsense politician, leading by example. Also one who crushes all dissent, using state power. The government is now vulnerable to anti-incumbency, especially from its employees who have only recently been grudgingly given a small pay hike. The tribals have remained a devoted voter base of the Communists since the 1960s but this bastion is also under threat. The Congress is moribund, harking back to a feudal royalist legacy. In the circumstances, the BJP believes Tripura is ripe for the picking. While it isnt easy to dislodge the Left, there is no denying the fact that Tripura is seen as a state with potential for growth by the BJP.

New hopes, older realities

We won no seats in the last Assembly election. But, in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP was first in six of the seven Assembly constituencies in Shillong, said Nalin Kohli, Bharatiya Janata Party secretary in charge of Meghalaya. The party has decided it will contest all the assembly seats on its own.

The church plays a big role in . The BJP has pressed into service Union tourism minister K J Alphons to reassure Christian leaders that issues like the beef ban will not be forced on Meghalaya.

The state is ruled by a Mukul Sangma-led Congress government. Two independent MLAs have already crossed over and more are expected to after the current and last session of the state assembly concludes.
Clarification of WCD Ministry regarding item on Bill pertaining to Triple Talaq

An article reported in The Indian Express, dated 17th December, 2017, incongruously stated the stand of Ministry of Women and Child Development on Triple Talaq. The article is deliberately mischievous and factually misleading.

The Ministry has always maintained its stand opposing Triple Talaq. Honble Minister Smt.

Maneka Sanjay Gandhi had requested in January 2017 that a group of ministers be constituted to deliberate on the issue of Triple Talaq as the Ministry was a respondent in the Triple Talaq case in Hon'ble Supreme Court. Ministry WCD has fully supported the Cabinets proposal on Triple Talaq to make instant talaq a criminal offence.

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a Bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence and a Muslim husband resorting to instant talaq can be jailed for up to three years.

Instant triple talaq in any form  oral, written or electronic form  has been banned and made a cognisable offence. The Bill also provides for a subsistence allowance for a harassed Muslim woman and her dependent children and the custodial rights of minor children.

The Ministry consistently endeavours to socially and legally empower Muslim women and has always taken a strong stand in support of them. The article in The Indian Express therefore does not represent the views of the Ministry.

WCD Ministry also strongly opines that it should have been contacted for clarification before the concerned newspaper put out the story on a subject with such serious ramifications
Leela: An Exhibition on the Ramayana Tradition being held at the IGNCA New Delhi extended till 28th December, 2017

Leela: An Exhibition on the Ramayana Tradition being held at the Twin Art Gallery, IGNCA, New Delhi has been extended till 28th December, 2017. The exhibition presents the Ramayana with a difference as it is not merely a retelling of the story of Dasharathi Rama, but explores some fundamental categories of Indian thoughts such as brahman, shabda, dhvani, nama, rupa etc. It then moves on to explore multiplicity of katha traditions, and Ramleela leading into bhakti and finally merging with the great silent cosmic void, the mahamauna.

More than 21 museums all across the country are participating in the exhibition by loaning precious and rare exhibits from their collections. The exhibition has specifically designed installations to explain abstract philosophical concepts. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the exhibits from the collection of Kashi Naresh of Banaras and original Ramlila paraphernalia from the world acclaimed Ramnagar Ramlila. Private collectors, individual artists and scholars have also loaned their objects and art creations for the exhibition.

Rare hand written manuscripts, stone and bronze sculptures, terracotta panels, rare miniature paintings, folk and tribal traditions, textiles, audio-visual projections and multi-media presentations are at display here. More than fifty versions of Ram Katha and Ramleela can be viewed in the audio-visual projection room.

Manuscripts can be flipped through in the form of E-books. Audio-visual projections of Nakkataiya of Banaras, Agra Barat, Nati Imli Bharat Milap are other highlights of the exhibition. South East Asian traditions are explored through masks and puppets. Rare chitrakathi paintings, wooden and clay dolls of Mysore and Andhra Pradesh, Kalamkaris, Patachitra of Odisha, Patua scrolls of West Bengal, Kavad, the wooden story telling boxes of Rajasthan explore the multiplicity of Ramayana traditions. Folk and tribal musical instruments fill the dhvani section. In the shabda section, you can listen to hymns of Rg-Veda in the enchanting voice of Subhadra Desai. Miniature paintings, oleographs and rare stone sculptures, terracotta panels explore the aesthetic form, rupa. Ramnama data bank copies, calligraphy, mandalas, mantras, yantras, Ramnamavatis are at display in the Akara and Nama section. Specifically created music, sound and light make the exhibition an experiential journey.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju will inaugurate here tomorrow the first national-level Training of Trainers programme to sensitise various Central Ministries and Departments on utilisation of Sendai Monitor for developing action plans for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). .

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The three-day programme is being organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction-Global Education and Training Institute (UNISDR-GETI) from December 18-20, 2017. .

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The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), 2015-2030, is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and identifies targets and priority actions towards reducing disaster risks and implementing development that is both resilient and sustainable. India, being a signatory to the SFDRR, is committed to work towards achieving the targets enshrined in the Framework. .

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In June 2016, India became one of the first countries to align its National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) with the SFDRR, which clearly identifies regional, national and local targets along with short, medium and long-term timelines. Various activities are being undertaken across the country to achieve the targets identified in the SFDRR. It is important to monitor and assess the progress towards implementation of these activities. .

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This training programme will build the capacity of the participants to utilise defined indicators to monitor the progress of the Sendai targets. Training modules at the programme will also enable them to lead consultations and train others on the monitoring of the Sendai Framework Targets. .

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During the programme, various case studies on the implementation of Sendai priorities will be discussed to give a practical understanding of the issues to the trainees. .

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Similar training programmes for State Government officials will also be held subsequently. .

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Senior officials of NDMA and UNISDR, and participants from nodal Ministries, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Water Commission (CWC), among others, will attend the programme. .

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The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Teachers' role is crucial in shaping students and the society. He was addressing the Alumni Meet of Sri Saraswati Vidyapeeth, in Hyderabad today. The Chairman of Legislative Council, Telangana, Shri K. Swamy Goud and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. .

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The Vice President said that the classroom is like a mother's womb and everybody should give importance to education. He further said that education will provide knowledge and Teachers should teach the knowledge, charity and integrity to the students. Teachers should learn to educate students with logic and the scientific ideas with which they grow up, he added. .

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The Vice President said that there is no need for anyone to teach India about the issue of tolerance, since it has been a period of tolerance in Indian culture. Everyone should remember their mother, birth-place, mother tongue and the motherland, he added. .

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The Vice President urged everyone to save nature. .

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The Phasing out ceremony of MI 8 PRATAP" helicopters held Formal adieu to the Multi-role helicopter fleet of the IAF

The MI-8 also known as the PRATAP phasing out ceremony was today held at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru. The ceremony was attended by veterans headed by Air Chief Marshall (Retd) Fali Homi Major PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC. He flew the last MI-8 mission along with CO 112HU. Air Marashal SRK Nair PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF was the chief guest on the occasion. Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, VM, Commandant NDA, the senior most MI-8 helicopter was also present on the occasion.

112HU is the alma mater of HeliLift. The unit has the record of passing out 119 pilot courses, 89 Flt Eng courses and 57 Flt gunner courses.

MI-8 also called PRATAP has been the backbone of medium lift combat capability of Indian Air Force and was ideal platform for graduation of MLH aircrew.

The MI-8 helicopter arrived in India in the year 1971 at Bombay and were formally inducted in the Indian Air Force helicopter inventory in the year 1972. Between 1971 and 1988, Indian Air Force inducted 107 MI-8 helicopters, rechristened as the PRATAP. MI-8s served for 45 years after their induction and is currently being phased out.

The MI-8, PRATAP was inducted in ten operational helicopter units and it operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The helicopter also operated extensively in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations across the length and breadth of the country. The MI-8 has also been associated with VIP/VVIP flying for over decades. MI-8 through its glorious service career, did not just establish itself as a mainstay of the helicopter operations but also left an indelible mark on the future by providing the Indian Air Force with a lineage of professional helicopter aircrew. 112 Helicopter Unit based here at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, is the last unit to operate this formidable platform

DPRO/BLR/GP/MS
At least nine people have been killed, including two of the attackers, and another 30 injured after four armed insurgents attacked a Methodist church on Sunday in Quetta in Pakistan.

The attack on the Bethel Memorial church on Imdad square, where around 400 people were present, started at 12.10 pm when a suicide attacker detonated the explosives he was carrying at the church's entrance, police spokesperson Muhammed Ramzan said.

Another of the attackers, who failed to detonate his explosives-laden vest, was killed in a shootout with the police inside the church while the remaining two assailants fled the scene, reports Efe news.

"The police are hunting for those who ran away," a police officer added.

According to the police spokesperson, among the nine killed were two women and five men, in addition to the two attackers. Another 28 people have been injured, including a police officer guarding the church.

However, Hidayat Ullah, a supervisor at the Civil Hospital Quetta, told EFE that 30 people had been wounded, including women and children.

The government of Balochistan declared an emergency in public hospitals of Quetta when the attack started and asked all medical staff to be ready to receive the injured, according to an official statement.

Quetta, capital of Balochistan, is located in one of the most conflict-ridden areas of Pakistan, with the presence of armed separatist groups, Taliban factions and Islamist groups.

There have been frequent attacks on religious minorities in Balochistan, including the last incident in October, in which 18 people were killed and 25 injured in a suicide attack on a Sufi shrine.

Pakistan is a Sunni-Muslim majority country, with four million Christians in a total population of around 200 million residents.
Muslim clerics have called for a boycott of American products in Indonesia's largest protest against President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Wearing white robes and carrying banners reading "Indonesia unites for Palestine," an estimated 80,000 people rallied on Sunday in the capital of the world's largest Muslim nation in the 10th straight day of protests organised by the country's top Muslim clerical body.

Anwar Abbas, a top cleric, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American products until Trump revoked his move.

Previous anti-American protests have unsuccessfully lobbied for a boycott of US goods.
Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would not be derailed from leaving the European Union, laying the groundwork for difficult meetings this week in which she will try to unite a divided cabinet behind her vision for post- Britain.

May was applauded by European Union leaders in Brussels on Friday after securing an agreement to move previously-deadlocked talks forward onto the topic of interim and long-term trading arrangements.

The progress has gone some way to easing concerns of businesses and investors who fear Britain could crash out of the bloc without an exit deal, or that May's fragile government could collapse under the pressure of delivering .

"Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job," May wrote in the Sunday Telegraph. "My message today is very clear: we will not be derailed from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people."

But May can expect some difficult exchanges this week when she and senior ministers discuss the so-called "end state" of the negotiations for the first time since Britain voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June 2016.

The type of long-term relationship the country should have with the EU is a vexed question at every level in Britain, including within May's cabinet where some want to keep close ties with the EU and others want a more radical divorce from Brussels.

Mindful of the need to keep both sides happy, May has so far plotted a careful path.

May says she wants a wide-ranging free trade deal with the EU and a more outward-looking trade policy, but has largely steered clear of the more contentious issues such as whether Britain should stay aligned with EU trading rules and the future role of European courts.

Meetings expected to take place on Monday and Tuesday are likely to force those issues out into the open.

One of the key pro-Brexit voices in the cabinet, foreign minister Boris Johnson, has set out his own view ahead of the meetings, warning May that Britain must avoid becoming subordinate to the EU.

"What we need to do is something new and ambitious, which allows zero tariffs and frictionless trade but still gives us that important freedom to decide our own regulatory framework, our own laws and do things in a distinctive way in the future," he told the Sunday Times newspaper.

He said that mirroring EU laws would leave Britons asking "'What is the point of what you have achieved?' because we would have gone from a member state to a vassal state."
A lawyer for US President Donald Trump's transition team has accused Special Counsel Robert Mueller of unlawfully obtaining documents including thousands of emails without their knowledge, for its ongoing probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Kory Langhofer, counsel to Trump for America (TFA), said in a letter on Saturday to several congressional panels that Mueller's team obtained these emails from the General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that hosted the transition email system, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the seven-page letter, he accused Mueller's team of "unlawfully producing TFA's private materials, including privileged communications, to the Special Counsel's Office".

The lawyer urged the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee "to protect future presidential transitions from having their private records misappropriated by government agencies, particularly in the context of sensitive investigations intersecting with political motives".

Mueller's probe into the alleged Russia meddling entered a new phase earlier this month when former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
At least eight worshippers were killed and 20 injured on Sunday in a suicide bombing at a church in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochisan province.

Around four militants attacked the church located on Zarghon Road of the provincial capital when the Sunday service was going on, according to police.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two attackers were involved.

"One attacker was killed at the gate by police while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives," he said.

DIG police Abadul Razzaq Cheema said that two more attackers were involved but they ran away after one of the attackers was gunned down by police. He said the fleeing militants were chased by police and killed.

No group took responsibility of the attack but the Taliban militants targeted minorities including Christians in the past.

Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in all hospitals across Quetta.

Police teams and rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion, and the area has been cordoned off.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack, which came a day after Pakistan observed the third anniversary of the Peshawar school attack of 2014 which killed at least 150 people, mostly students.
The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would affirm that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded, in response to the US decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital.

Egypt circulated the draft text on Saturday and diplomats said the council could vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday.

Breaking with the consensus, US President Donald Trump this month announced that he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.

The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem", without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

It affirms that "any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded."



Diplomats said they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the 14 other council members were expected to back the draft resolution.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.

The United States found itself isolated at the Security Council last week when all 14 other members, including allies Britain, France, and Italy, condemned its decision.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed the need to end the occupation of that land.

In 1980, the council adopted a resolution stating that "all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying power, which purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal validity."



The United States abstained in that vote, allowing the measure to pass.
Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad on Sunday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to hold talks with Sunni Waqf Board too in connection with Ram temple-Babri Masjid dispute.

"I have requested the chief minister to talk to the Sunni Waqf Board over the Babri Masjid matter to resolve the issue. I want to solve the matter through peaceful means," the Shia Cleric told media after holding a meeting with Adityanath at his residence here.

However, the cleric also said the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board chairman, Zufar Ahmed Farooqui, was not a trustworthy person and he has conveyed the same to the chief minister.

During the meeting, as informed by Jawad, cow vigilante violence was also discussed.

"The chief minister said the state government has issued orders in this regard that strict action would be taken against those who do so (violence). He has also said that if someone does this (cow smuggling), then the public should not take law into their own hands, but instead inform the police," Maulana Jawad.

Reportedly, president of Shia Gau Raksha Dal, Shamil Shamsi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amil Shamsi were also present there.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A group of women belonging to the Mahadalit community in Bihar are breaking stereotypes and freeing themselves from the clutches of patriarchal society.

Painting a picture of women empowerment, Sargam Musical Bandgroup, this all-women band of drummers is marching to the beat of their own drums in the Dhibra village near Patna.

Sudha Varghese, a social worker from an NGO called Nari Gunjan Sanstha, encouraged them to form the band and train for a year and a half to learn the craft. A bandmaster from Patna would come to teach them the nuances of playing the drum and soon their lives took a new turn.

The band performs at weddings, ceremonies and festivals not only in Patna, but also in various parts of the country and has received appreciation for their performances. Savita Devi, the head of the 10-member group said that initially they were dissuaded by their husbands and families, but they continued to strive for learning, while managing their work at agricultural fields and household chores.

"Society used to laugh at us saying that we are doing men's work. We said women are doing everything these days, from driving autos to trains. So why can't we be band drummers," Savita Devi told ANI, while highlighting that now this job is giving them a lot of respect and acclaim.

The economic situation of the women has been strengthened and there is a spirit of self-reliance in the group members. The band charges Rs 10,000-15,000 for their performances depending on the time, venue and customers. They are now financially better off with some even sending their kids to private schools for education.

"A lot of happiness has come into our lives. We are not educated but we are now able to send our children to schools to get education," Pancham Devi, a member of the group said.

Mukesh Kumar, a resident of the Dhibra village, said that these women are setting an example for not only the village, but also the nation, adding, "It gives us happiness that our village has the first all women group of drummers in the country".

Clad in traditional sarees and wearing makeup, these women feel liberated and happy that they are able to use their hard earned money on themselves and are role models in their own spheres.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)